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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 3:01PM
#41
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Noted, but I can still imagine it getting denser so I'll only adapt the current text a little. I'd make it writhe around the body and perhaps detach partially if it was my character and I was in a mood for flashy things.  (See Summon Living Dragonmark in Dragonmarked, though the picture there is actually too flashy.)
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 4:30PM
#42
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Date Joined:
Nov 13, 2008
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I like images, perhaps others do too. Least Mark of Hospitality, Scribing and Sentinel (the last looks a bit complex for its size though)
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Lesser or Greater Mark of ? and Aberrant mark
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Siberys Mark of Warding
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 4:55PM
#43
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Date Joined:
Feb 25, 2003
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Noted, but I can still imagine it getting denser so I'll only adapt the current text a little.
I'd make it writhe around the body and perhaps detach partially if it was my character and I was in a mood for flashy things. (See Summon Living Dragonmark in Dragonmarked, though the picture there is actually too flashy.)
Actually, I like the bit about detatching a little. A character in Son of Khyber does something similar whenever he uses the most powerful ability of his dragonmark. I think that imagery fits.
Planes Wanderer
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3 years ago ::
Aug 13, 2010 - 5:44AM
#44
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Changelog - 08/13/2010:
- The Siberys Mark of Passage now reduces the penalty to attack from running to -1 (stealing Paulos' idea for the Apotheosis): I like the thought of the Orien heirs as blurs running around the battlefield.
In exchange, Quick Step does not increase to 4 squares: 3sq is plenty already for a minor action and there are tons of teleport boosters if one wants to make it better.
- added scaling to Storm's basic benefit (Paulos' suggestion)
- changed Warding's basic benefit to +1 AC until BONT when using Second Wind or Total Defense. The previous benefit was way too situational, and this one 1) favors dwarves 2) is somewhat related to the benefit of the original feat.
I think I'll change one of the Warding powers at some point.
- added some all level 30 benefits to the ED, many of them lifted/adapted from other EDs (I mentioned the source). I don't know how definitive these will be, but for now I like most of them and they fit fairly well. My only concern is that they sometimes invalidate existing powers (gaining a fly speed makes your other flight powers redundant).
If there are Marks that you like more than others I'm interested to know the reasons, preferably with a focus on a mechanics rather than flavour (but I like to think they're intertwined). Thanks for the pictures Paulos ; I should have reserved more posts at the beginning to add this kind of resource.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 13, 2010 - 8:51AM
#45
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Date Joined:
Nov 13, 2008
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Wow, I do like that ED even more now. Although I'd like to know who really gets to benefit from the level 30 feature in real games. Way to go sifting through other EDs options for ones that really seem to fit the flavor of the various marks.
I love the Planeshaper feature and have always wished the rest of the ED was more attractive, now you've made it very attractive by attatching that to the Mark of Making. It does make Blockade redundant however.
The Storm Apotheosis sounds very awesome, but is it perhaps too effective? Essentially, by turning all your damage into lightning and thunder, you can pierce all resistance (except resist all and immunity) of targets in your aura. On second thought however, they only lose resistance if they enter the aura or start there, so the PC couldn't move the aura over them and then attack, I suppose. Although 10 is still a pretty big chunk of the battlefield. (how big are level 30 encounter areas?)
As for Mark of Storm falling benefit, I think that paragon or epic benefit could be "never take damage from a a fall and always land on your feet" It may seem powerful, but you can get that from various items by level 13 (Winged Boots (14), Davros Elden's Aerial step (13), Ring of Flight (20), Airstriders (25) etc.) Although "Feather Touch" feature of the Wind-rider PP gives Feather Fall as an encounter power.
The gliding power I spoke of that's not as powerful, is the property of the Winged Bracers, for reference.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 13, 2010 - 9:15AM
#46
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Wow, I do like that ED even more now. Although I'd like to know who really gets to benefit from the level 30 feature in real games. Way to go sifting through other EDs options for ones that really seem to fit the flavor of the various marks.
Yay, I agree: the level 30 feature are like delicious-looking candy... that you know you'll never have.
I love the Planeshaper feature and have always wished the rest of the ED was more attractive, now you've made it very attractive by attatching that to the Mark of Making. It does make Blockade redundant however.
I thought about it, but it's not quite the case: the ED feature creates permanent blocks, while in some cases you may wish only temporary cover (that doesn't block your 10x10 corridor forever), or a bridge that others can't follow you across, or... One could almost make a platform game out of this: use the right kind of block at the right place to finish the level. 
The Storm Apotheosis sounds very awesome, but is it perhaps too effective? Essentially, by turning all your damage into lightning and thunder, you can pierce all resistance (except resist all and immunity) of targets in your aura. On second thought however, they only lose resistance if they enter the aura or start there, so the PC couldn't move the aura over them and then attack, I suppose. Although 10 is still a pretty big chunk of the battlefield. (how big are level 30 encounter areas?)
I haven't played in Epic at all yet so I won't be the best judge of balance, but it seems fine to me.
There are many other ways to avoid resistances in Epic (feats like Irresistible Flame or Paladin's Truth, class features like the Sorcerer's, items, ...).
Plus it synergizes very nicely with the PP and the level 26 power.
As for Mark of Storm falling benefit, I think that paragon or epic benefit could be "never take damage from a a fall and always land on your feet" It may seem powerful, but you can get that from various items by level 13 (Winged Boots (14), Davros Elden's Aerial step (13), Ring of Flight (20), Airstriders (25) etc.) Although "Feather Touch" feature of the Wind-rider PP gives Feather Fall as an encounter power.
Your last remark is right on the mark: that's why I'm not expanding the benefit. It still allows some cool moves (jumping from a not-too-tall building, ...).
Plus I have to go back and forth: I tend to want to give out too much, so I come back later and prune some of it, then begin anew...
Changelog - 08/13/2010 (part 2):
- added Death to the ED. I'm not completely satisfied with the level 26 power ; not that it matters much since I doubt anyone will actually ever use it!
- changed the CA that Corner the Prey granted to offer +2 to attack as an alternative since the Finding PP grants CA already (but Rogues might want to keep the CA).
I've started to think about a Death PP.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 13, 2010 - 10:08PM
#47
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Date Joined:
Nov 13, 2008
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Just curious what your thinking was for dropping the second "dark scythe" property of the Death ED to only an encounter power. I'm intrigued by aberrant marks as well, but, like you said, who knows if anybody would actually use them.
I'd still recommend something like the Winged Bracers for Mark of Storm, but I'm waiting to see if you come up with something good in place of the Wind Wall. I think if you're worried about getting too close to the gith power, you could do like genasi resistance boost feats where it either grants fly, or if you already get flight from somewhere else, it could increase flight distance by 2, or not grant OAs on a limited basis.
I understand that its easier to want to put cool stuff, so thanks for being the bad guy. Do you have any thoughts for Siberys shards which traditionally are used to amplify the dragonmark powers? For instance, the Çannith Creation Forges required an operator with not only the Mark of Making, but a sufficient Siberys Shard to amplify the power of the mark and thus power the forge. They're usually made into devices or tools for such amplification I believe. Could be interesting.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 16, 2010 - 6:00AM
#48
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Just curious what your thinking was for dropping the second "dark scythe" property of the Death ED to only an encounter power. I'm intrigued by aberrant marks as well, but, like you said, who knows if anybody would actually use them.
That ED doesn't have a "0 HP" feature whereas HoS does. Plus the level 30 also triggers from your killing enemies.
I'd still recommend something like the Winged Bracers for Mark of Storm, but I'm waiting to see if you come up with something good in place of the Wind Wall. I think if you're worried about getting too close to the gith power, you could do like genasi resistance boost feats where it either grants fly, or if you already get flight from somewhere else, it could increase flight distance by 2, or not grant OAs on a limited basis.
I finally looked at the bracers: it's an interesting idea. I could see integrating something like that in the basic benefit as well.
I'm still thinking about it all... Sometimes things click together fast, sometimes they take longer.
I understand that its easier to want to put cool stuff, so thanks for being the bad guy. Do you have any thoughts for Siberys shards which traditionally are used to amplify the dragonmark powers? For instance, the Çannith Creation Forges required an operator with not only the Mark of Making, but a sufficient Siberys Shard to amplify the power of the mark and thus power the forge. They're usually made into devices or tools for such amplification I believe. Could be interesting.
Very intriguing! I don't think I'll explore those possibilities for now, but feel free to post any ideas you might have!
I could see some shards passively improving an existing Dragonmark power and others creating a different effect when you expand your use of an encounter power. I'd need to re-read the 3.5E shards...
Changelog:
- Greater Mark is not a prereq for the ED anymore. If you have it, you gain the +2 to a score ; if you don't, you gain the Mark and Greater Mark feats instead. That's one of the solutions I mentioned earlier - feel free to be opinionated about it.
- the level 21 feature lets you recharge a dragonmark power when you first become bloodied... kinda like a dragon. In counterpart it doesn't take an action anymore (I suspect minor actions can be at a premium in epic).
- Death PP is up - a preliminary version.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 23, 2010 - 7:11AM
#49
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Changelog:
- reformatted the main posts so that they're easier to browse
- introduced Updraft as a Mark of Storm power.
Waiting for you comments, Paulos.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 23, 2010 - 8:25AM
#50
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Date Joined:
Nov 13, 2008
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Nice! I've been eagerly awaiting this change, jumping on it in anticipation even before my Google Reader subscription registered the change.
I like the attempt toward a different 'feel' of flight power, unlike other flight options available. This one probably allows unforeseen strategic uses in and out of combat. I believe it is limited enough to not be overpowered in heroic while likewise still useful in paragon. (I don't know anything about epic, but the double speed and passengers seems a fitting way to scale its utility. Likewise many items, powers can increase flight speed, but would they apply to this power?
I do like the no OAs on ascension, and if used wisely can be similar to a decent teleport or long shift. I'm sure my players would run into the situation of wanting to insert an attack either at the apex of the move before floating down, or somewhere throughout the drift down. I wonder if that can be integrated, or if it should be kept as an isolated move that must be resolved before adding extra actions. If not inserting an attack, I can see wanting to do other minor things throughout the movement, like grabbing a ledge or item, or integrating either an upward or downward charge. My particular PC joining the Lyrandar ranks is a melee-only earthwarden, so I'm sure she will think of Updraft as a tool for reaching flying targets once per encounter.
My first major question concerns ceilings. While Updraft is great for 3D mobility situations, and will allow about 3 squares horizontal movement overall given enough altitude allowance (And lots of possibilities if you Updraft yourself over a ledge, thereby basically gaining a semi-unlimited natural paragliding ability), but I wonder how useful Updraft will be a majority of the time, which probably will be in a typical 'dungeon' environment, assuming standard 10' ceilings. Up 2 without OAs but then down and over 1 will still provoke OAs from all adjacent enemies, and will turn out to be basically the same as moving 1 square, or shifting without the OA-protection. I don't know what the answer to this is, because allowing the updraft to 'follow the wall' i.e. horizontal movement in place of vertical when against a vertical obstruction might be too powerful or too similar to standard flight... Then again, it could be interesting in its own ways, if used creatively.
Those are my immediate reflections. I look forward to further discussion.
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