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13 months ago ::
Jun 03, 2012 - 5:17AM
#1
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Date Joined:
May 12, 2009
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Which format do you prefer for Spells, Vancian or Power ?
Burning Hands
evocation (fire)
Level: 1
Range: 0
Area: 15-foot cone
Target: Eah creature in the area
Saving Throw: Dexterity for half damage
Duration: Instantaneous
Components: N/A
You evoke flames in a 15-foot cone originating
from you. Holding your hands with your thumbs
touching and your fingers spread, a thin sheet
of flame shoots forth from your outstretch
fingertips. Each creature caught in the cone takes
fire damage equal to 2d4+ your magic ability
modifier. A creature can duck out of the way to take
half damage with a successful Dexterity saving throw.
The spell ignites unattended flammable objects in the area.
VS
Burning Hands
1st-level evocation
Holding your hands with your thumbs touching
and your fingers spread, a thin sheet of flame shoots
forth from your outstretch fingertips.
Effect: You evoke flames in a 15-foot cone
originating from you. Each creature caught in the
cone takes fire damage equal to 2d4+ your
magic ability modifier. A creature can duck out of
the way to take half damage with a successful
a Dexterity saving throw.
The spell ignites unattended flammable objects
in the area.
Yan
Montréal, Canada
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13 months ago ::
Jun 03, 2012 - 6:34AM
#2
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Date Joined:
May 31, 2007
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Ok, how about this? (ok, burning hands dont have Components and Xp, but you get the point)
Burning Hands
1st level evocation (fire)
Components: V, S, C (500po), XP (500) (how?)
Target: Each creature in the area 15-foot cone (where?)
Effect: Instantaneous 2d4+magic modifier of fire damage (what?)
Save: Dexterity for half damage, Spell Resistance (how do you defend?)
Holding your hands with your thumbs touching
and your fingers spread, a thin sheet of flame shoots
forth from your outstretch fingertips.
And then Martial was a new exciting new source of power, its practitioners manipulating the energies emanating from the plane of oiled-up burly weightlifters.
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13 months ago ::
Jun 03, 2012 - 7:04AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Oct 24, 2007
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I definitely prefer the latter 4e style. I think the spells are easier to read and understand when the game mechanical effects are seperated from the flavor text. Just my opinion.
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13 months ago ::
Jun 03, 2012 - 7:27AM
#4
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I prefer your "Power" version that is not really a 4th edition power version  . A sentence in a power description! You have to be kidding me!
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13 months ago ::
Jun 03, 2012 - 7:32AM
#5
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Date Joined:
May 12, 2009
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I prefer the older Vancian format personally.
Yan
Montréal, Canada
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13 months ago ::
Jun 03, 2012 - 7:40AM
#6
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I picked a more complex spell, to see how my formating preferences play out. Here, the playtest Grease spell actually lacks its own flavor text, and for the most part is a lengthy technical description. Level-1 Grease
[Flavor text.]
You conjure: an oily slickness to cover the surface,
Shooting: in short range (100 yards).
If blasting: in a melee (1-yard) radius,
At: all non-personal surfaces.
Then at: each creature already on the surface or later moving on it,
Versus: Dexterity,
The conjuration causes: each to fall prone.
Unless: successfully catching one’s balance.
If at: an item (such as a ladder, rope, or weapon in hand, etcetera).
Then at: each creature using the slippery item,
Versus: Dexterity,
The conjuration causes: each to lose one’s grip (thus the creature falls from a ladder, slips down a rope, or drops a weapon, etcetera).
Unless: successfully grabbing the item.
If at: a creature,
Then the conjuration causes: an advantage (on each check or saving throw) for the slippery creature to escape each grab (such as when grappled by a foe or restrained by manacles).
Until: the encounter ends, when the oily surface dries off (and flakes off).
Note, an encounter equates to roughly 15 minutes. I prefer simplified combat ranges. And simplified rules for grab/grapple/restrain/immobilize/grip.
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13 months ago ::
Jun 03, 2012 - 8:23AM
#7
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Date Joined:
May 31, 2007
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Let me try :P
Grease
1st level conjuration
Components: -
Target: Everything in a 1 yard radius area around a point until 100 yards, until the end of combat
Effects:
* Creatures fall prone, Save: Dexterity
* or: Creatures drop items, Save: Dexterity
* or: Creatures gains advantage on grapple, escape artist and similar
[Fluff]
And then Martial was a new exciting new source of power, its practitioners manipulating the energies emanating from the plane of oiled-up burly weightlifters.
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13 months ago ::
Jun 03, 2012 - 8:37AM
#8
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Let me try :P
Grease
1st level conjuration
Components: -
Target: Everything in a 1 yard radius area around a point until 100 yards, until the end of combat
Effects:
* Creatures fall prone, Save: Dexterity
* or: Creatures drop items, Save: Dexterity
* or: Creatures gains advantage on grapple, escape artist and similar
[Fluff]
Thats pretty good, but its only one creature or one item.
Also, its often important to distinguish between what “you” do and what your “conjuration” does. Many spells are ambiguous (with regard to ranges, effects, and so on).
:P I will try integrate your improvement for my format.
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13 months ago ::
Jun 03, 2012 - 9:07AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Aug 18, 2007
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I definitely prefer the latter 4e style. I think the spells are easier to read and understand when the game mechanical effects are seperated from the flavor text. Just my opinion.
I'll second that. 
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13 months ago ::
Jun 03, 2012 - 9:46AM
#10
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Date Joined:
May 25, 2009
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It doesn't read like your goal at all. It just looks like someone went bonkers with line breaks and bolding. Makes it flow horribly both narratively and mechanically.
On topic, I prefere my fluff and mechanics separate. Makes it far easier to quickly reference, and allows for more intuitive reflavoring as players desire.
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