TOPIC: Black Pearl, what does it specifically negate (*spoilers*)

<br />I plan to just slide nothing but 20's.<br />

<br />Having adventured with you, I believe you are completely capable of doing this, are you using the spear of dragonslaying or is it just going to be you on that 20 spot?

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<br />I plan to just slide nothing but 20's.<br />

<br />20's or $20's<br />

<br /><br />I'm hoping they're exchangable.

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<br />I plan to just slide nothing but 20's.<br />

<br />Having adventured with you, I believe you are completely capable of doing this, are you using the spear of dragonslaying or is it just going to be you on that 20 spot?<br />

<br /><br />Nah, no spear. It'll have to be a slugfest.<br /><br />I've done great sliding some adventures where it's 20 after 20 after 20, but last year I had a stint in grind's last room where i couldn't buy a 20. The magic monster hit me with so many spells he ran out. I burned out 2 spell-sucking ioun stones.

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<br />I plan to just slide nothing but 20's.<br />

<br />Having adventured with you, I believe you are completely capable of doing this, are you using the spear of dragonslaying or is it just going to be you on that 20 spot?<br />

<br /><br />Nah, no spear. It'll have to be a slugfest.<br /><br />I've done great sliding some adventures where it's 20 after 20 after 20, but last year I had a stint in grind's last room where i couldn't buy a 20. The magic monster hit me with so many spells he ran out. I burned out 2 spell-sucking ioun stones.<br />

<br />maybe in that room is was $40 for 20's

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<br />I plan to just slide nothing but 20's.<br />

<br />Having adventured with you, I believe you are completely capable of doing this, are you using the spear of dragonslaying or is it just going to be you on that 20 spot?<br />

<br /><br />Nah, no spear. It'll have to be a slugfest.<br /><br />I've done great sliding some adventures where it's 20 after 20 after 20, but last year I had a stint in grind's last room where i couldn't buy a 20. The magic monster hit me with so many spells he ran out. I burned out 2 spell-sucking ioun stones.<br />

<br />So you think you will out damage the dragon, I am guessing you will have decent AC thanks to mithral so that way even a failed save won't kill you.  But what is your average damage going to be (as fortunately the Black Pearl does not nerf damage, only + to hits)

Having now seen the silhouette, I have to say it's incredibly generous. It's pretty much guaranteeing everyone a 17 or better.  With the 20 that small, I figure even skill will have to bow to chance as the main driving force for crits. I remember critting the beholder a couple times and the 20 there was about the limit for accuracy. Assuming this board is no bigger than others...it looks lke the 20 is the size of a quarter. <br /><br />We can assume the dragon has an AC over 20. That means pearl removal really does become the key. It's too bad there's no 'let our powers combine' boost system in TD. If there were a way that a character's action could give a boost to another's attack, I would say that everyone should aid the cestus players. Land 2-3 cestus hits and smoak will go down like a ton of bricks.

<br />Having now seen the silhouette, I have to say it's incredibly generous. It's pretty much guaranteeing everyone a 17 or better.  With the 20 that small, I figure even skill will have to bow to chance as the main driving force for crits. I remember critting the beholder a couple times and the 20 there was about the limit for accuracy. Assuming this board is no bigger than others...it looks lke the 20 is the size of a quarter. <br /><br />We can assume the dragon has an AC over 20. That means pearl removal really does become the key. It's too bad there's no 'let our powers combine' boost system in TD. If there were a way that a character's action could give a boost to another's attack, I would say that everyone should aid the cestus players. Land 2-3 cestus hits and smoak will go down like a ton of bricks.<br />

<br /><br />Actually the board is bigger about 15-20% bigger (there is a lore picture showing Smoak board next to a Marilith board and it is wider and longer).<br /><br />Once Jeff weighs in on how spells work on the pearl it may be feasible to get it down quickly, but hopefully before smoak takes to the air.

So, the Ioun Stone only negates the pluses on attacks vs. Smoak, right?  All of our magical pluses should still work against the stone itself, if I understand it correctly.  Or is it more like hitting a stirge, with either a hit or miss slide?

<br />So, the Ioun Stone only negates the pluses on attacks vs. Smoak, right?  All of our magical pluses should still work against the stone itself, if I understand it correctly.  Or is it more like hitting a stirge, with either a hit or miss slide?<br />

<br />There is no seperate board for the Stone, its a physical spot on the board, so you have to hit that spot (the same size of the 19 it looks like) to hit the stone.  So your modifiers to hit I would believe do nothing vs. the stone.  At least that is my interpretation of things as we know it right now.  Jeff needs to obviously weigh in, both on how to attack the stone and how spells work against the stone - all we know is its 40 hp, and Smoaks MR does not protect the stone itself.<br />

So here it folks from Jeff himself from the lore board.<br />

<br />More Info on Ioun Stones<br /><br />Smoak's Spell Resistance does not work any Ioun Stone.<br /><br />Only these tokens (and spell) automatically hit an Ioun Stone:<br /><br />1) Magic Missile (spell, scroll and wand)<br />2) Ring of the Ram<br /><br />No other magic effect will damage an Ioun Stone as they are highly resistant to magic (other than "force damage").<br /><br /><br />Attacks Against Ioun Stones<br /><br />Because Ioun Stones move so fast, it is impossible for a character to grab a stone with their hand or any other device (like a Mage Hand).  It can only be struck with a weapon that lands touching the Ioun Stone area.  No "to hit" bonuses affect this slide.  You must land on the Ioun Stone to damage it.  <br /><br /><br />

This... this...<br /><br />Bonuses to strength should not be considered magical +to-hit bonuses! Do we now lose the +DMG that comes with the strength buff, too? That makes just as much sense!<br /><br />Losing the +2 from the sword, fine. Losing the +1 from the Crown of Might, fine, but bonuses to your strength or dex should not be counted in this.

<br />This... this...<br /><br />Bonuses to strength should not be considered magical +to-hit bonuses! Do we now lose the +DMG that comes with the strength buff, too? That makes just as much sense!<br /><br />Losing the +2 from the sword, fine. Losing the +1 from the Crown of Might, fine, but bonuses to your strength or dex should not be counted in this.<br />

<br /><br />I agree with this.  Magic that increases Strength or Dex is a magical stat increase.    The improved chance to hit is a secondary effect, as the magic was the ability increase.  I don't think the pearl should nerf it.    However, losing other magical non-stat bonuses to hit would be more in line with the power of a rare.