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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: ironpoet on October 18, 2010, 05:00:47 PM
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I'm interested in creating a wizard who creates mirror images of himself while in combat to throw off enemy attacks. I'd be interested in knowing how other people would build this.
The Intent: The intent is to make enemies choose the wrong target entirely. The duplicates would not attack or act independently.
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You could work it as a block, but I'm not seeing how this sort of illusion could be an evocation. I'm sure someone can imagine a way, but I can't ATM
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You could work it as a block, but I'm not seeing how this sort of illusion could be an evocation. I'm sure someone can imagine a way, but I can't ATM
I'd be tempted to run it straight up as a Veil, with limited control by the caster. That would make it an Evocation block versus their Perception and should draw off attacks.
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You could work it as a block, but I'm not seeing how this sort of illusion could be an evocation. I'm sure someone can imagine a way, but I can't ATM
Well, enchanted items are a possibility as well, so simple thaumaturgy is possible with a high Lore skill rating.
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I'd be tempted to run it straight up as a Veil, with limited control by the caster. That would make it an Evocation block versus their Perception and should draw off attacks.
That's an interesting idea. How would you actually run that? A block limits someone else's actions, so I'm not sure how you can link it to Perception.
Round 1: Wizard casts "Duplicates", with a Block strength of Superb
Round 2: Ogre uses Fists to attack
In theory, the Block would be against Fists, not Perception, right? I guess I'm not clear on how veils (and Stealth in general) would work in Combat.
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If you want to completely draw off attacks, I would go with a maneuver, then compel them to attack the illusion instead of you.
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If you want to completely draw off attacks, I would go with a maneuver, then compel them to attack the illusion instead of you.
I was thinking along those lines as well, but I wasn't sure exactly how I would run it.
Round 1: Wizard uses Defensive maneuver to add "Duplicates" aspect to the zone.
Round 2: Ogre attacks with Fists. Wizard pays a Fate point to compel the attack to miss.
Is that too powerful, since the Wizard didn't have to roll to neutralize the attack? Or is spending a Fate point already pretty expensive?
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Or is spending a Fate point already pretty expensive?
That's it. Although, just compelling to miss is a little boring. I would try to spice it up a bit. Perhaps compel the ogre to put his fist through a wall instead of attacking the wizard.
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The maneuver approach is the way to go for 'distracting' or 'misleading' illusions of this sort.
Note that because this is a compel, though, an opponent with Fate of his own *can* negate the compel, assuming there's a reasonable excuse to do so. So it's not exactly a "Spend a Fate point to negate an attack" sort of a thing.
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I think the block is the way to go.
Its a straight up spirit block against attacks of any kind. It simply works by misleading the attacker to attack a fake target, instead of catching attacks on a shield or something.
Blocks really can take just about any form. For a summoner character one might describe his block as a cloud of little demons around the caster who throw themselves into the line of fire.
I'm thinking of building a caster who uses spirit to increase his own reflexes to defend himself. Thats really just another form of block against attacks.
Don't overthink spell creation. Does it do defense?... it's a block.
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I agree that it is a block.
But I think it is a block against Perception. So if the opponent cannot somehow sense the location of the target, he cannot make a targeted attack against it.
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In theory, the Block would be against Fists, not Perception, right? I guess I'm not clear on how veils (and Stealth in general) would work in Combat.
Check page YS255. Veils are special kinds of blocks that are directed specifically against perception. It would work like this:
Round 1: Wizard casts "Duplicates", with a Block strength of Superb
Round 2: Ogre rolls perception to see if he exceeds the block. If he fails he can't target the caster (doesn't know where the caster is/thinks it is the wrong one) if he succeeds he uses Fists to attack
Veils (and arguably other spells such as stuns, illusions and similar) are unique that way.
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Check page YS255. Veils are special kinds of blocks that are directed specifically against perception. It would work like this:
Round 1: Wizard casts "Duplicates", with a Block strength of Superb
Round 2: Ogre rolls perception to see if he exceeds the block. If he fails he can't target the caster (doesn't know where the caster is/thinks it is the wrong one) if he succeeds he uses Fists to attack
Veils (and arguably other spells such as stuns, illusions and similar) are unique that way.
I only make it here about once a day, ironpoet, so I didn't get a chance to respond sooner. The post by sinker covered exactly what I meant with my earlier post. :)
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i would run it similar to a block but make the attacker roll to see if he hit s when randomly attacking a figure e.g. say there are two duplicates and the wizard so ai'd have the defending player pick a number on a d3 and have the attacker roll and if he got the right number he gets lucky and the attack connects (sorry if this is a little confusing)
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The block idea is interesting. You might even be able to take it a step further and make it a grapple, with the per-turn stress as a reflection of the 'attacks' that the illusions/phantasms/ectoplasmic duplicates make.
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I admit that I really like the idea of adding "Duplicates" as a Scene Aspect. But I think you're right - for the intended effect, a Block is the better approach.
Here's another question: if you are using a special illusion Block (i.e. a Block against someone's ability to perceive/target you), does the Block disappear if someone's Alertness beats it?
Mechanically, magical Blocks dissolve once they are beaten. But since Veils are special-case blocks, I wasn't sure if they followed different rules for this as well. (Just because an enemy locates you once, it doesn't mean that his friends can see you, and it doesn't mean that he'll be able to find you on the next exchange if you move.)
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I love both ideas really (block and maneuver) why limit yourself to one or the other?
As a GM I'd rule that unless the situation changes once someone sees you (I.E. beats the block) they've figured out enough to keep finding you, but I don't think that means his friends know which is which.
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i would run it similar to a block but make the attacker roll to see if he hit s when randomly attacking a figure e.g. say there are two duplicates and the wizard so ai'd have the defending player pick a number on a d3 and have the attacker roll and if he got the right number he gets lucky and the attack connects (sorry if this is a little confusing)
Imho, that's really not necessary.
Basically, for the attacker, overcoming the Block with the attack roll includes picking the right target.
Block strength represents number of duplicates/detail/realism... and so on. The higher the block strength the more difficult to ascertain the right target.
No newly created mechanic required.