[PnP] Elf Shot questions

[J Hooten]

A few problems with that methodology
1) If handed out for use, and Mana required, how is that done? Only 
mages or does it take from Enl for non mage
2) If mana used at shot, and MDV applies for that then it does not 
differ much from a direct attack spell yet has many more limits

Spell check for use without Mana keeps it with advantage of precast  and 
does not require user to pay for it.
It becomes effectively the same rules as a poisoned weapon which should 
be fair.
Then the restriction on preparation control and limit its use and 
balance the precast advantage.

Original rules was precast only, the note clearly specified no cast on 
use. It had few restrictions on how many could be prepared. This was 
obviously too lax and made the spell potentially one for abuse. Limiting 
quantity of arrows, restricts use in serious encounters to only a few 
shots which puts it closer to spell use limits in a combat, thus is 
fair. Adding a Bl check or Spell check puts it on par with poison rules 
so should be a fair limitation. Though I think its pushing the spells 
usability down too much as compared to direct spells.

Paralysis is a BMC 3 direct capture spell, it limits by strength which 
will differ a little from ElfShot but for many targets it wont be a 
large difference.
For similar Els the Paralysis spell check has the same success rate as 
the Elfshot spell check but does not need the bow, arrow, or damage done 
limitations. Thus it should work far more often. Drawback could be 
chance of abysmal in combat where the Elfshot should not have that.
So did Elfshot really need that many extra limitations?

I would have stopped with limiting the quantity of arrows prepared as 
that blocks serious abuse.
The big question is should the caster be allowed to make multiple 
dedicated bows?
As a cheap semipermanent magic, total quantities from the caster should 
be limited in some manner.
One Bow and El+1 arrows does not make it hard for the caster to use 
them, it does make it hard to hand them out.
The spell never said they could be handed out, though it did not say 
they could not be either.
I don't think I ever saw examples of handed out elfshots, Sprites cast 
their own.
Of course finding a dedicated bow and arrows after a combat is possible
So balance will depend on many factors
If you can hand out many, then it needs a spell check in use. Cheap 
powerful magic for the minions is too abusive.
If you cant hand out many, then spell check is not needed. Most likely 
used by the caster in this case.

Well thats my views on things, but as in all games its a GM call as to 
how they wish to use things.
How its limited chooses how its used and may greatly effect those few 
races that use it.




Albert Sales wrote:
> As I said, I strongly appreciated the input.  I never aplied armor 
> penetration requirements, as the effect is magical (damage wasn't even 
> rolled in my examples).  One thing that I've noticed, however, is 
> there are tons of combat modifiers, and, with good range, bows 
> typically hit.  I think I'm going to go with this for any future uses: 
> Arrow Limit of (EL+1), permanently connected, Must be crafted by the 
> dedicater (who does not need to be the user), Armor penetration 
> required, Regular arrow damage (for penetration) and fatigue, Harming 
> a paralyzed target harms the arrow, Spend the mana for casting at use.
>  
> I feel the mana cost at usage is a minor but adequite balancer.  The 
> BMC is only 1, so a true peon is castable instantly by anyone, and, 
> using the MEL5 EL2 example, even a competant guard can be neutralized 
> same phase (20 hp limit). The highest level is the only one that would 
> need an extra phase.  This should work.  The only drawback will be 
> managing EP and MEP, which will be a slower progression from this 
> spell, but that's what training is for. 
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