TOPIC: Focus weapon clairification

jedibcg wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: The bullets make it clear that the weapon is only locked in for that combat mode.

That's why it's easier for me to grok if you say there's now a "casting mode" (or "configuration," or whatever) of combat. And in practice there is because your hands (usually) have to be empty, even if we don't want to call it that because reasons.

Correct but currently there are only 2 combat modes. Melee and Ranged. If something is locked in both those modes it makes it sound like you cannot drop them to cast a spell. That may not be the case but that is what locked in sounds like and why I said confusing.


"Magic use—casting a spell from your character card, performing bardsong, reading a scroll, or using an item which generates a spell—is not a separate "mode" of combat." Post number 25 in this thread

That's exactly the part my mind rebels against, and it's what makes things so confusing to tie down.

In my mind, a "mode" is a configuration of tokens. The only real difference between melee and ranged combat is what you're holding in your hands.

Same with casting, only in that case the configuration is usually "empty/empty."

Almost all of the exceptions and nuances and questions and confusion melt away, in my mind at least, if you just say
A. "casting" is a combat mode, and
B. it takes a free action to swap modes unless you've equipped the same tokens in both modes, and
C. You may only equip a weapon/shield/orb in casting mode if at least one them grants Focus

And even if you don't want to say that, I think that's exactly how it works as explained across these dozens of posts and explanations and clarifications

jedibcg wrote: to my knowledge there is not at this time a range mainhand or offhand weapon token that is part of a set bonus.

Orb of Might can be a weapon for monks and rangers.

Druegar wrote:

jedibcg wrote: to my knowledge there is not at this time a range mainhand or offhand weapon token that is part of a set bonus.

Orb of Might can be a weapon for monks and rangers.

But it isn't equipable in the ranged slot, is it? That was the whole "sleaze" debate of 20-whatever. (See your link )

But there are set shields usable with slings

Yes but all current shields have been ruled to be non-encumbering so you can hold them and it not count as being held.

jedibcg wrote: Yes but all current shields have been ruled to be non-encumbering so you can hold them and it not count as being held.

Oh, yeah, way back on page three.

Then change the last one to:

C. You may only equip a weapon/orb in casting mode if it or another equipped token grants Focus, but you may equip a shield.

Yes, but there CURRENTLY can still be an odd delay of being able to cast.

You start off in melee combat for some reason with a set piece that is locked in. Maybe it has something immune to magic that must be destoryed first by melee. It gets destoryed so you want to switch to casting a spell.

You need to switch to range combat. Requires 1 Free Action.
You drop (or put away or what ever you want to call it but please don't call it unequipping). Requires 1 Free Action.

You cannot switch combat modes and put away (or drop) your weapon in the round. I imagine that it is rare that this will come up and almost no one outside of Eric in Grind would catch you doing it, but by the rules it does seem quite odd imo.

By the old rules, stowing your sword and board, plus drawing your bow (switching combat modes, though the rules call it switching weapons) requires one free action. DM Guide, page 12.

Not sure why just NOT drawing a bow so you can cast would take a second.

Druegar wrote: Orb of Might can be a weapon for monks and rangers.

Brad Mortensen wrote: But it isn't equipable in the ranged slot, is it?

Sorry, I didn't realize you meant "range mainhand or ranged offhand weapon". Ah, the ambiguities of English... never a dull moment!

There are no ranged offhand weapons (I'm counting two-handed ranged weapons as main-hand), so there are certainly no ranged offhand weapons that are part of a set.

Druegar wrote:

Druegar wrote: Orb of Might can be a weapon for monks and rangers.

Brad Mortensen wrote: But it isn't equipable in the ranged slot, is it?

Sorry, I didn't realize you meant "range mainhand or ranged offhand weapon". Ah, the ambiguities of English... never a dull moment!

There are no ranged offhand weapons (I'm counting two-handed ranged weapons as main-hand), so there are certainly no ranged offhand weapons that are part of a set.

So currently you cannot be locked out of casting by having something locked in in melee because you can go ranged, but if we ever get a ranged set piece my understanding would be then you could be locked out of casting by having a locked in melee weapon and locked in range. Is that correct?

Oh the mindless insanity that is this thread.

Can we just get a token that allows you to do any number of free actions in a round so folks can just ignore all this garbage?

People are already messing up free actions and this will just cause them to mess it up more.

#hate-the-free-action-limit

jedibcg wrote: if we ever get a ranged set piece my understanding would be then you could be locked out of casting by having a locked in melee weapon and locked in range. Is that correct?

no
I cannot predict the future nor can I read Jeff's mind, but I feel extraordinarily confident in saying you will never be "locked out" of casting because you have both ranged- and melee-based set bonuses.

I'm pretty sure I'm more confused now then i was before reading this thread. Reasons to love being a barbarian.