TOPIC: Player Brainstorming on a New and Improved MeC!

It's been observed by a few folks that MeC may be confusing to some players, leading to accidental abuse, such as:
* Doubling the base damage and spell bonus
* Doubling multiple spells in one round
* Doubling AoE damage instead of adding to a pool.

I wonder if we could clean this all up in a side-print version that instead does something like:

Add a damage pool of:
+5 for 0th level spells
+10 for 1st
+15 for 2nd
+20 for 3rd
At a cost of -10 HP

?

It might be easier for everyone to manage and harder to misinterpret?

I don't play Wizard, is that the base damage for this spells at those levels?

I don't think that would solve the once per turn issue. Maybe not the AoE problem either

Basically, all that was needed was slightly cleaner wording.

Currently the token reads:
May double base damage (including skill check) or spell but wearer takes 10 pts of damage. requires 20 Intelligence.

Maybe something like
1/round, may add bonus damage to spell equal to base damage, but wearer take 10 pts of damage. requires 20 Intelligence.


Or something similar. I tried to keep the number of characters about the same. Here's the key points to remember.
- You "may" use it, meaning the wizard has the choice of using it this round or not
- It does not really double your base damage, which is why people (including myself at one time) thought this meant all monsters. It really is just giving you a bonus equal to the base damage, which by defnition, bonus damage goes into a pool to be allocated to the monsters being impacted by the spell.
- Base damage includes the skill check
- The spellcaster takes 10hp of damage (after the spell goes off, or approximately at the same time)
- You have to have 20 Intelligence or higher to use this charm (or even really equip it)
- It is only usable once per round meaning you can't use it on two spells in the same round
- My understanding is that it also only works on spells, not spells cast as a scroll (I've heard of that happening as well)

I think the charm is good as-is... but agree that misusing it is something that should be addressed...

Grekel! wrote: I think the charm is good as-is... but agree that misusing it is something that should be addressed...

Completely agree. On both points.

Mike Steele wrote: I don't play Wizard, is that the base damage for this spells at those levels?

I don't think that would solve the once per turn issue. Maybe not the AoE problem either

Spell damage on 5th level human wizard card is:
Level 0: 6 spells at 3-6
level 1: 1 spell at 6-9, three at 8-11, one at 12
level 2: 2 spells 15-18
level 3: One spell 20

Dave wrote: Basically, all that was needed was slightly cleaner wording.

Currently the token reads:
May double base damage (including skill check) or spell but wearer takes 10 pts of damage. requires 20 Intelligence.

Maybe something like
1/round, may add bonus damage to spell equal to base damage, but wearer take 10 pts of damage. requires 20 Intelligence.


Or something similar. I tried to keep the number of characters about the same. Here's the key points to remember.
- You "may" use it, meaning the wizard has the choice of using it this round or not
- It does not really double your base damage, which is why people (including myself at one time) thought this meant all monsters. It really is just giving you a bonus equal to the base damage, which by defnition, bonus damage goes into a pool to be allocated to the monsters being impacted by the spell.
- Base damage includes the skill check
- The spellcaster takes 10hp of damage (after the spell goes off, or approximately at the same time)
- You have to have 20 Intelligence or higher to use this charm (or even really equip it)
- It is only usable once per round meaning you can't use it on two spells in the same round
- My understanding is that it also only works on spells, not spells cast as a scroll (I've heard of that happening as well)

If the token were reprinted today I would just try really hard to find room to add 1/round

Once per round info is on the Tokendb page

jon wrote: Once per round info is on the Tokendb page

Ya but people dont always read it. If it were on the token in some form it would be harder to ignore.

I'd recommend:

1/room, add bonus damage to spell equal to base damage, wearer take 10 pts of damage.

Matthew Hayward wrote:

Mike Steele wrote: I don't play Wizard, is that the base damage for this spells at those levels?

I don't think that would solve the once per turn issue. Maybe not the AoE problem either

Spell damage on 5th level human wizard card is:
Level 0: 6 spells at 3-6
level 1: 1 spell at 6-9, three at 8-11, one at 12
level 2: 2 spells 15-18
level 3: One spell 20

How many bonus spells beyond that do the Wizards now have the ability to cast, with the MEC applied to them (with the 1/round limit of course)? Those bump those numbers up, and I'd guess that more tokens like that will continue to be created.

Even at a limit of 1/room, that's somewhere between 15-20 points of extra damage per combat room, which is very good for a UR.

I know we're not even talking about the same thing. Your focus is on trying to bring balance to what you perceive to be an overpowered token. I assume you believe this is necessary for the good of the game.

I'm trying to argue that MEC adds fun to the game. I could care less about balance. I believe more effects like this are needed to increase fun and that is equally needed for the good of the game.

I do not perceive any of these recommendations as an "improved" MEC. The only reason I'm even bothering to post is on the off chance Jeff takes this seriously that he also considers there's another perspective out there.