Fired weapons and Missile Shield.

Fired weapons, i absolutely hate non blockable damage, with the exceptions of spells, that can be saved.

I know that anyone can buy a scroll of missile shield for 12000 gold to protect from all except a Archer. This is great, but it has created the need for another consumable. Something i hate gathering.

You can argue that you dont have to gather the scrolls as you can buy them, but to be true you need to gather the gold to buy the scrolls.

We had trip and flight scrolls that could be bought. Now to reduce the pain of gathering this items, there is a Staff with ample charges you can buy, or a Wand with decent charges that you can gather.

Perhaps we can also reduce the pain of gathering gold for Missile scrolls, and at the same time reduce unblockable damage influence in combat.

What if we could shield block arrows ? It does make sense.

And at mastery it would still allow around 50% of the arrows in. But now any character learned with shield block has a chance to block it, as any other meele attack.

This means, a Warrior/Berserker/Ranger would have more use for using a shield. As there is no incentive to play defensive and draw out a fight as Fired weapons will drain your HP's.

Clerics/Healers/Shamans would also have a easier time with fired arrows, and perhaps not depend so much on the Scrolls to block it 100%.

Archers should also be allowed to create a armor piercing arrow that can reduce the efficiency of shields.

Another things.

Why the hell are Battlemages not immune to Arrows ?

It makes no sense in my opinion. They have lots of shields to protect them against many forms of attacks. But not one for arrows ?

They even surround themselves in a shield of Air at all times that is quite effective against non magical weapons.

Mages in D&D did not worry about Arrows, they just casted shield and relaxed.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shield.htm

Shield

Abjuration [Force]

Level: Sor/Wiz 1

Components: V, S

Casting Time: 1 standard action

Range: Personal

Target: You

Duration: 1 min./level (D)

Shield creates an invisible, tower shield-sized mobile disk of force that hovers in front of you. It negates magic missile attacks directed at you. The disk also provides a +4 shield bonus to AC. This bonus applies against incorporeal touch attacks, since it is a force effect. The shield has no armor check penalty or arcane spell failure chance. Unlike with a normal tower shield, you can’t use the shield spell for cover.

This isnt D&D

You guys are always tough on Mya. This place would be so much less entertaining without her!

I could see something similar going to a battlemage since they are warrior/ranger slayers. Dunno. I don't code.

Actualy i mage a tiny tiny bit mistake. "Shield" only protects from "Magical Missile".

It's the Entropic Shield that blocks arrows.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/entropicShield.htm

Abjuration

Level: Clr 1, Luck 1

Components: V, S

Casting Time: 1 standard action

Range: Personal

Target: You

Duration: 1 min./level (D)

A magical field appears around you, glowing with a chaotic blast of multicolored hues. This field deflects incoming arrows, rays, and other ranged attacks. Each ranged attack directed at you for which the attacker must make an attack roll has a 20% miss chance (similar to the effects of concealment). Other attacks that simply work at a distance are not affected.

Guys I dont want to be funny but I played an archer ranger for a LONG time. Those missile scrolls suck big time. I know they have been changed recently but for the longest time they completely negated a whole ranger path.

STOP being so god damn soft.

Were you wrapped in cottonwool as a child or something? Kept in doors? 6pm curfew untill you moved out of house?

1. 12000 gold takes less then 2 seconds to make.

2. Its your choice to use them or not. Make it either way but I dont want to hear your complaining.

3. If arrows are turning the battle due to attrition that much one of you is doing something VERY wrong.

4. H.T.F.U.P.

And for those of you who have a problem with that post remember its not directed at someone who just started playing, I would of gone about it differently.

Its directed at a player who has played here a VERY long time and this sort of thing shouldnt be an issue they need to whine about.

Maybe Im just in a** bad **mood?

You guys are always tough on Mya. This place would be so much less entertaining without her!

Yeah, and a colonoscopy would be a lot more fun without the six foot pipe up my ***. I read mya's posts that are OOC, she's got a great sense of humour and is fun there. As soon as she posts something that throws DnD into the equation, or makes a suggestion about a current problem, I want to strangle small animals.

FL is NOT DnD. It never was. Ever. EVER. NEVER ONCE! It has roots in it... because FL is based off ROM based off Merc, etc. etc. etc. And the guys who started muds back in the day probably played a lot, and a lot of people who still play muds still play DnD.

Okay, I read her post to make sure I wasn't blowing up for the wrong reason. The idea anyone with a shields has a chance of deflecting arrows? I like. Anyone can wear a shield.

But I can't think of a single time I've had to fight someone who killed me because of their fired weapons. Ever.

But just drop the "in DnD..." thing already. It pisses me off more than, "In real life, Ninja's/Monks/whatever" This is neither real life, or the apex of fantasy DnD. How do I know? I'm ugly as a mud fence and not a virgin. So... that takes care of Real life and DnD.

a-g

What is the hardest you have seen an arrow hit? I have seen OBLITERATES several times. I think that is why people freak out about it. As for me... I buy the damn scrolls.

I guess I'm just lucky. I've never seen higher than a devastates. Unless it was a ranger under the archer path.

a-g

You have to get above lvl 40 to see that sort of unblockable damage.

Yeah, probably should be block or dodgable, though I don't know enough to comment really. And I've never tried missile immunity. Does seem expensive though, I hate spending hours and hours gathering ****, infact, I just flat out dont have the time to do it. I remember shadowstrike when it was internal damage. It was right screwed really. He could not hit you at all, and the shadowstrike damage would end up wearing you out. Yeah, screw you Barnok & Moriath

Aulian obviously loves his rangers

I think this could be a good way to make shields more useful. I'd say at least give them a chance to block arrows. Or we could add an uber dodge warrior lore for dex warriors that gives them a chance to dodge arrows, bashes, bodyslams etc...

I don't think anything should have a 100% chance of hitting. But archer rangers should be able to get you with upwards of 75% of their shots.

edit: And yes, it would allow for a new ind of arrow, armor piercing, or shield piercing.

Shield expertise already does this, but sadly it is a fairly useless lore at the moment.

Combine shield expertise and Shieldbash. Make shieldbash automatic. Done.

What is the hardest you have seen an arrow hit? I have seen OBLITERATES several times. I think that is why people freak out about it. As for me... I buy the damn scrolls.

Is that hitting a vuln unsanced?

WC

I would like to think so.

To answer your question, Mya:

Balance.

Battlemages do not need any more advantages on Rangers. The Archer path was, as many have said before, the weaker of the paths. This was somewhat alleviated with the change.

However, the staff has discussed the idea of Shield Block having some use against arrows - but we ultimately decided that it would negatively affect balance.

I don't think ninjas should ever have been given fired weapons.

EDIT: Since when has archery ever been a weaker path? I'd say its the strongest for many reasons. Beastmaster I've always considered the weaker.

I don't think ninjas should ever have been given fired weapons.

EDIT: Since when has archery ever been a weaker path? I'd say its the strongest for many reasons. Beastmaster I've always considered the weaker.

He's not talking about defeating areas he is refering strictly to the ability used in PK..

With missile immunity it would take ONE SCROLL to COMPLETELY negate the skills of an entire path. That would mean it was the weakest ranger path for in that instance it played as if the skills didnt exist. (obviously for those whom could use scrolls which is a huge percentage of the player base (considering it is quite small atm)).

What is the hardest you have seen an arrow hit? I have seen OBLITERATES several times. I think that is why people freak out about it. As for me... I buy the damn scrolls.

To be honest, thats utter crap. That would be without sanc and protection (if applicable) and in that case without sanc and hitting a vuln your normal hits can do that damage easily (aka soulblight in the hands of a warrior/blademaster against an ogre. or any fire weapon vs a feral.)

**RE Toten: **

I've merely played a few of every single path successfully for a very long time with each. I know the ins and the outs so I can tell you when something isnt working right or if there might be a minor imbalance (aka scrolls negating the path completely or warriors being able to fire 9 rooms back at an archer ranger. Or the effects of sheathed weapons comming through (all of which are being/have been adressed by the staff [thank you].))

Oh yeah, and I prefer my druids thanks

That scroll only lasts for like 6 ticks. It is very easy to just dance around until it wares off.

Being able to sleep any mob is a huge bonus. Being able to plague any mob is also a huge bonus.

Hitting fire and ice vuln. Huge bonus.

That scroll is also very expensive. I don't carry around more than 3 at a time myself.