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TOPIC: Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion

Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #1

Having just finished my first dungeon DM experience in a while, I really would like to see some sort of default non-offensive action available at the start of combat, as a general rule.

I'd say about 1 out of 3 newer groups of players will really want to use certain potions or spells, such as Ironskin, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, etc. The only official answer I can give is "sure, that would be cool if you could use that token or spell that you are exited about, however it means you can't attack the first round of combat". I just call that "un fun".

Bard has to choose between Bardsong OR Lore Check OR combat. Unless they have the Lyre of Lore that's a un-fun choice too, because lore checks are fun for the Bard, or at least some of them.

My suggestion would be to create a new rule that would allow each player to take one non-offensive action at the start of combat. Lore check, potion, scroll, spell, as long as it is not an offensive action.

As it stands now every year we print quite a few common and uncommon potions and scrolls that are almost never used. At the high level where everybody might have a Pouch of Tulz they aren't that good. At a low level (sealed pack runs or newbies) they aren't worth a whole standard action. I'd really like to see them used.

Thoughts?
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Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #2

I LOVE this idea. Especially the points you call out for the fun addition for new players. I can't tell you how many newbie groups I have run with that see all these spells on their cards, but when they realize its either cast Cat's Grace or a damage/heal spell they look disappointed. It sits in really quick that they will almost always make the latter choice. It also could help them get a heal off before the combat "begins". Maybe we could make it situational based on winning the initiative roll?

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Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #3

It certainly makes polymorphing a lot better for newer druids and wizards.
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Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #4

Kirk Bauer wrote: Having just finished my first dungeon DM experience in a while, I really would like to see some sort of default non-offensive action available at the start of combat, as a general rule.

I'd say about 1 out of 3 newer groups of players will really want to use certain potions or spells, such as Ironskin, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, etc. The only official answer I can give is "sure, that would be cool if you could use that token or spell that you are exited about, however it means you can't attack the first round of combat". I just call that "un fun".

Bard has to choose between Bardsong OR Lore Check OR combat. Unless they have the Lyre of Lore that's a un-fun choice too, because lore checks are fun for the Bard, or at least some of them.

My suggestion would be to create a new rule that would allow each player to take one non-offensive action at the start of combat. Lore check, potion, scroll, spell, as long as it is not an offensive action.

As it stands now every year we print quite a few common and uncommon potions and scrolls that are almost never used. At the high level where everybody might have a Pouch of Tulz they aren't that good. At a low level (sealed pack runs or newbies) they aren't worth a whole standard action. I'd really like to see them used.

Thoughts?

it depends on the Dm. Some elf wizards, walk in saying cast alertness, so I don't know why players couldnt say I am drinking this(before the Dm says anything

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Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #5

I like the idea of it, and very much like the rationale behind it.

That said, I think implementation can be difficult.

I can see a prep round before some rooms, but honestly I don't think there should be one every time.

Maybe add more of them on normal difficulty, take them away at hardcore and above?

I could see that as a thing. Expect 1 to 2 prep round rooms on normal, 0 to 1 on hardcore, very rare on NM or EPIC.
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Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #6

Another option would be to create some uncommon/rare tokens in the future that allow more creative play, such as:

  • Cast 2 or 3 non-offensive non-healing spells as a single action
  • As a standard action, drink 2 or 3 potions (perhaps requiring different types, so one healing, one stat boost, etc)

Even on our hardcore sealed pack run I kept out some tokens that I thought might come in handy but then never could afford to sacrifice my whole action to use them.

In other words, why have tokens in 10-packs that are effectively unusable by both new players and by sealed pack runners? Other than the obvious GP but at least that has a specific purpose for transmuting.
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Last edit: by Kirk Bauer.

Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #7

Maybe prep time for sealed runs, normal mode and none lethal

If your running hardcore you likely have enough stuff to work around it unless you are playing sealed as a challenge.

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Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #8

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lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

Kirk Bauer wrote: Having just finished my first dungeon DM experience in a while, I really would like to see some sort of default non-offensive action available at the start of combat, as a general rule.

I'd say about 1 out of 3 newer groups of players will really want to use certain potions or spells, such as Ironskin, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, etc. The only official answer I can give is "sure, that would be cool if you could use that token or spell that you are exited about, however it means you can't attack the first round of combat". I just call that "un fun".

Bard has to choose between Bardsong OR Lore Check OR combat. Unless they have the Lyre of Lore that's a un-fun choice too, because lore checks are fun for the Bard, or at least some of them.

My suggestion would be to create a new rule that would allow each player to take one non-offensive action at the start of combat. Lore check, potion, scroll, spell, as long as it is not an offensive action.

As it stands now every year we print quite a few common and uncommon potions and scrolls that are almost never used. At the high level where everybody might have a Pouch of Tulz they aren't that good. At a low level (sealed pack runs or newbies) they aren't worth a whole standard action. I'd really like to see them used.

Thoughts?

it depends on the Dm. Some elf wizards, walk in saying cast alertness, so I don't know why players couldnt say I am drinking this(before the Dm says anything


I agree... to some extent it is already happening.... and frankly- I’m the example of alertness, it only works if you do it before combat.

The ruling would need to be clear, and it would need to be explicitly stated either what was allowed or what was disallowed.
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Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #9

Kirk Bauer wrote: Another option would be to create some uncommon/rare tokens in the future that allow more creative play, such as:

  • Cast 2 or 3 non-offensive non-healing spells as a single action
  • As a standard action, drink 2 or 3 potions (perhaps requiring different types, so one healing, one stat boost, etc)

Even on our hardcore sealed pack run I kept out some tokens that I thought might come in handy but then never could afford to sacrifice my whole action to use them.

In other words, why have tokens in 10-packs that are effectively unusable by both new players and by sealed pack runners? Other than the obvious GP but at least that has a specific purpose for transmuting.

I would suggest using uncommon charms / ioun stones for some of these abilities, as new players have these slots available very frequently. I find if you're sticking to red or less for builds, like most of my group, I still have problems filling charm and ioun stone slots.

Ex:
Imbibing charm. Uncommon. May drink a non-healing potion as a free action 1/ room.

Ioun Stone of the Norns. Uncommon. May cast a level 0 or level 1 spell as a free action. This spell cannot deal damage or heal. 1 / room.

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Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #10

Give players a prep round at Normal and Non Lethal.

It's a mechanic that has been used before and we know how it works.
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Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #11

It would nerf Tulz, Things of Retrieval, and Shield of the Scholar, just to make a few.

Parchment is already the most expensive Tier 1 Trade token, and Ink isn’t far behind. This would make them even rarer.

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Consumable Token Idea/Suggestion 5 years 4 months ago #12

Brad Mortensen wrote: It would nerf Tulz, Things of Retrieval, and Shield of the Scholar, just to make a few.


Well, those would let you do it again during the first round of combat, so doubling your consumption ability.
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