New Errata - Casted effects et al

Raidrthebetrayr wrote: Therefore, I would like to propose that all damaging casted effects (those that deal direct damage- fireballs and such that utilize a spell packet) should be able to be blocked by a shield. things like poison ivy, chains of justice, the wind one that knocks you back are still able to go off if impacting a shield, but the directly damaging ones can now be blocked.

Of course by this logic, a level 1 character with a shield trumps all tier 4 damage dealing spells.

Also, in all games, remember this - I can run out of spells if I run out of casting points or spell packets to throw. You cannot run out of swinging a sword.

Now, I'm not a rules marshal, but the way the various lists at Knight realms balance is a bit of paper rock scissors.

Warrior lists are Rock, and they clobber Rogue lists in a fight which are Scissors, and Caster lists tend to be paper and can zap warrior lists in the face but get stabified by Rogues. That's why a lot of people spread out their lists to shore up their weaknesses and have more tools in their toolbox. So yes, the mystic tends to trump the muscle, but the guile will trump the mystic pretty handily, normally, and the muscle crunches the guile.

I will say this, though. My character is completely mundane, no mystical abilities whatsoever, but he's still considered useful and terrifyingly powerful on the battlefield. Roleplay can trump rules in terms of personal interaction, and there are a lot of logistical difficulties for a caster that a warrior doesn't have. You can't run out of sword after all

Now Grim is not so much like rock but like a mountain. And don't you get tired after gutting the 30th npc that decides he wants to be a hero only to die like a peasant.

And wouldn't this work against the big nasty spells that cause direct damage? Or am I wrongfully throwing spells and abilities together?

Defiant Cover (Shield) – 
Traits: Defense, Superior, Weapon (Shield)

The Master Warrior may defend against any ability that would drop her into the Serious or Critical stage of her death count or kill her instantly.

This thread has strayed from questions about the errata to a discussion about the errata. While the Rules team is certainly open to receiving feedback on our work, this isn't the place for it; we want to keep the question and answers thread as questions and answers so that players can more easily reference it.

I will address one point that's been brought up repeatedly: there has been no "nerf" to Berserker Rage, nor has Quell been increased in strength. We did not change how these abilities function at all in this errata, only clarified their interaction. The intention was always that Quell, Calm, and similar effects that terminate rages worked on Berserker's Rage, despite it's immunity to Mental effects. Quell has always caused the detrimental effects that follow a rage (while Calm does not).

To address your question, Bill, You can use Defiant Cover to stop any spell, skill, or attack that would drop you into any stage of your death count or that would instantly kill you (such as Litany of Doom).

Can I ask why we can't bind natural transposition and leader of the pack to a bound item? That makes no sense to me at all.

hmmm.... I knew I was going to stir up something with this, but it had been gnawing at me and needed to be said, more as a caution than any form of intended animosity. I also had a hunch that the first response to a glaring issue would be the response of "there's this ability on a higher list!" Then again, I guess my lack of higher levels of emotional IQ and having all the tact of an Abrams tank in a china shop is why I never got promoted past Corporal.

I look at balance in this fashion: If I'm playing Archie the Assassin, and I have to take down Murderyourface the Marauder, I'm not taking him on head to head. I'm going to grab every advantage I have. Alchemy, poisons, traps, disguises and my goal is to string him out. death by a thousand papercuts. I'm not striking during the day. I'll hit at night. I have to pick my fights.

The intent is to convince players of the need for better communications and the need to pick their battles. Example:

Danny Druid, Wilhelm Warrior and Barry Berserker are attacked by three orcs. One orc is sword/board, one is just a one handed sword, and one is two axes. Knowing that his poison spell will not work if it hits the shield, he entwines the sword/board orc with vines, and the two fighters go to work on the other two, backed by the druid's hindering (grasp with roots, poison ivy) and damaging spells. Pick your fights within your capabilities, and don't use the metaphorical 120 MM cannon, when the coaxial machine gun will get the job done. this kind of thinking is what I do in every fight and would not be a bad thing for everyone to do.

since I apparently derailed the conversation beyond what anyone intended, if there are questions about what I am thinking of, I will be willing to discuss this via PM. Oh, and everyone thank Matt. He let Evil Raider out to play, while Good Raider is still stumbling around in a daze after the doors were blown open.