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

I think we need to consider that whatever it does will probably to be easy to implement in combat.  We are already going through the trouble of calculating all of the to-hit bonuses in the coach area.  There is no way to go through everyones' gear in room 7 and see what bonuses are from magic and which are not.  We'll already have one area of the party card for regular loadout and another part for Smoak loadout with the two rounds of buffing.  I would think trying to mark magical to-hit bonuses in the coach area would be too much to ask in addition to already having to figure out both sets of stats.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm sure Jeff has is all figured out <br /><br />

If the stone is 19 and you are using a keen weapon (or blunt weapon with oil of smiting), do you crit the stone?<br /><br />Also, if the stone is destroyed and you land on it, I suppose that is a hit on the Dragon?<br /><br />Finally, if you are using a Great Club of Bashing, or Holy Great Sword, I presume the extra +3 damage to larger than man-sized or evil doesn't apply if you hit the stone instead of the dragon?

<br />If the stone is 19 and you are using a keen weapon (or blunt weapon with oil of smiting), do you crit the stone?<br /><br />Also, if the stone is destroyed and you land on it, I suppose that is a hit on the Dragon?<br /><br />Finally, if you are using a Great Club of Bashing, or Holy Great Sword, I presume the extra +3 damage to larger than man-sized or evil doesn't apply if you hit the stone instead of the dragon?<br />

<br />It looks like the stone is circling his head and is not the 19 dot on Smoak's chest.  The 19 dot is probably just a vital area.  I'm guessing hitting the stone is just a matter of landing on it.  If that's the case there would be no critting the stone.

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<br />If the stone is 19 and you are using a keen weapon (or blunt weapon with oil of smiting), do you crit the stone?<br /><br />Also, if the stone is destroyed and you land on it, I suppose that is a hit on the Dragon?<br /><br />Finally, if you are using a Great Club of Bashing, or Holy Great Sword, I presume the extra +3 damage to larger than man-sized or evil doesn't apply if you hit the stone instead of the dragon?<br />

<br />It looks like the stone is circling his head and is not the 19 dot on Smoak's chest.  The 19 dot is probably just a vital area.  I'm guessing hitting the stone is just a matter of landing on it.  If that's the case there would be no critting the stone.<br />

<br /><br />That would make more sense.    So the Ioun Stone isn't numbered then?    I couldn't tell from the picture.

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<br />If the stone is 19 and you are using a keen weapon (or blunt weapon with oil of smiting), do you crit the stone?<br /><br />Also, if the stone is destroyed and you land on it, I suppose that is a hit on the Dragon?<br /><br />Finally, if you are using a Great Club of Bashing, or Holy Great Sword, I presume the extra +3 damage to larger than man-sized or evil doesn't apply if you hit the stone instead of the dragon?<br />

<br />It looks like the stone is circling his head and is not the 19 dot on Smoak's chest.  The 19 dot is probably just a vital area.  I'm guessing hitting the stone is just a matter of landing on it.  If that's the case there would be no critting the stone.<br />

<br /><br />That would make more sense.    So the Ioun Stone isn't numbered then?    I couldn't tell from the picture.<br />

<br /><br />Yep.  Jeff has said all you need to do is land on the circle to hit it. Unfortunately, its a small circle.  

<br />I think we need to consider that whatever it does will probably to be easy to implement in combat.  We are already going through the trouble of calculating all of the to-hit bonuses in the coach area.  There is no way to go through everyones' gear in room 7 and see what bonuses are from magic and which are not.  We'll already have one area of the party card for regular loadout and another part for Smoak loadout with the two rounds of buffing.  I would think trying to mark magical to-hit bonuses in the coach area would be too much to ask in addition to already having to figure out both sets of stats.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm sure Jeff has is all figured out <br /><br /><br />

<br /><br />Wow, good luck coaches.  <br /><br />I hadn't thought about it in this respect.  So, now the player cards need to have 3 different numbers for to hit bonuses.  Normal, buffed, buffed but negated by ioun stone.<br /><br />Again, good luck coaches!!!!

I'm feeling extremely sorry for the coaches.

<br />I'm feeling extremely sorry for the coaches.<br />

<br />Actually if you print out the PDF of the official party card of 2010, it doesnt look too bad, there is only the need to track buffed and unbuffed.  The base to hit mod is on the party card  (Barbarian, Fighter, Monk are base +2, Ranger is base +1, everyone is base +0) .  Its in the top left of the "to Hit" box.    So they just have to ignore whatever is written in the box from all the buffs and prep and just focus on the pre-printed number.<br /><br />Damage buffing is not affected by the black pearl, only the To-Hit modifier.  <br /><br />Good news, Barbarians Rage and Bardic Song are not affected by the Ioun Stone - Yeaaaah!!!!  So bust out those Lyres of Rage for +2 to Hit in Melee.  Barbarian can at least lay down a +6 then (+2 Base, +2 Rage +2 Lyre), give him the Cestus of Sundering and the Monsters AC will drop along for the ride (-2 AC each hit for a max of -6AC )  Of course our Bard will be throwing Magic Missiles at the Stone with the Wizard via Scrolls, but once its down, the singing will commence.

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<br />I'm feeling extremely sorry for the coaches.<br />

<br />Actually if you print out the PDF of the official party card of 2010, it doesnt look too bad, there is only the need to track buffed and unbuffed.  The base to hit mod is on the party card  (Barbarian, Fighter, Monk are base +2, Ranger is base +1, everyone is base +0) .  Its in the top left of the "to Hit" box.    So they just have to ignore whatever is written in the box from all the buffs and prep and just focus on the pre-printed number.<br /><br />Damage buffing is not affected by the black pearl, only the To-Hit modifier.  <br /><br />Good news, Barbarians Rage and Bardic Song are not affected by the Ioun Stone - Yeaaaah!!!!  So bust out those Lyres of Rage for +2 to Hit in Melee.  Barbarian can at least lay down a +6 then (+2 Base, +2 Rage +2 Lyre), give him the Cestus of Sundering and the Monsters AC will drop along for the ride (-2 AC each hit for a max of -6AC )  Of course our Bard will be throwing Magic Missiles at the Stone with the Wizard via Scrolls, but once its down, the singing will commence.<br />

<br /><br />Actually I suspect that the Lyre of Rage WILL be negated.  It is not any different from, say, the Crown of Might (+1 to hit).  What is not negated is the base bardsong of +1 to hit/+1 damage.

can the rogue backstab an ioun stone?

I thought backstab only applied to living things.

Usually backstab only applies to things that are vulnerable to criticals.  Not sure if that applies to TD or not.