TOPIC: Proposed Mechanic Change - Dracolich Claw Charm

As I have said before, I feel spellcasters are behind on damage compared to the other classes and builds. As such, I would like to propose the following change:

Allow the Dracolich Claw Charm's bonus damage to affect ALL spells.

Currently, the charm adds +2 to melee/ranged damage. The issue comes in at what exactly is "ranged". As other items have done, ranged seems to affect only sliding spells.

As such, I have heard several rulings on how this charm is applied:
1. Bonus damage is only on Melee/Ranged weapon attacks, no spells
2. Bonus damage is only applied on Melee/Ranged weapon attacks AND sliding spells.

As it goes, Spell damage could easily fall under ranged damage, so I suggest the Dracolich claw charm be allowed to affect all spell damage in addition to melee/ranged.

That's my two cents on the matter.

I like this idea! it makes the token more equally powered. i don't know if that is a good or bad idea. but i am for it!

You're playing with fire.

If you make a combo token weaker, especially one that either is or is about to go out of print, you risk the fury of those who invested in it and now it's worth less.

But when you make it stronger, you still risk the ire of those who chose to trade away their ingredients instead of making one, and now they have to buy them back at a premium if they want it.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea. This would have been a great discussion to have two years ago, but I'm afraid now it's far too late.

I like the idea. Wizards especially are short changed. They used to be able to use the Ring of Focus, but now, since the advent of no swapping rules, and the introduction of a ton of great rings. The Ring of Focus IMO is useless.

While the charm slot is beginning to get crowded with great tokens also, the charm necklace provides some relief.

It would be fairly simple to add a line in the token guide for the Draco Lich Claw Charm that says:
"in this case ranged means both missile attacks and spell attacks".

This may actually be a good time todothis since quite a few people posted that they drew one of the charms from the treasure boxes this year. And the no swapping rules came after this token (I think).

Brad Mortensen wrote: You're playing with fire.

If you make a combo token weaker, especially one that either is or is about to go out of print, you risk the fury of those who invested in it and now it's worth less.

But when you make it stronger, you still risk the ire of those who chose to trade away their ingredients instead of making one, and now they have to buy them back at a premium if they want it.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea. This would have been a great discussion to have two years ago, but I'm afraid now it's far too late.

This isn't the first time I've posted about this token, or spellcaster damage in general. I did so sometime after the last GenCon, but never got a consistent ruling from anything. Besides, if we get the change early enough, people will still have until December to make it.

Although I don't play a spell caster I think the change wouldn't be as overpowered due to the competition for the charm slot. Many want to use the Charm of Heroism, Synergy, and Good Fortune. They would have to make a choice with the DragoLich Claw (just like us melee have to do).

I have to agree with Brad that changing what tokens do after the fact is bad mojo. I am not against a token that does +2 to Damage for spells, just not a token that folks already know about. I am actually surprised we never got a Magic to counter the Might set. Basically give the +1 level for casters with things that would be helpful to them besides melee bonuses.

I'm against it. Why confuse the issue especially since we have other tokens that boost ranged attacks. Would they now all retroactively boost all spells? It's just a bad a idea to mess with mechanics like that. Want a +2 damage to spells charm? Then get Jeff to make one as a UR or combo. Don't invite additional confusion into the mess.

I agree with Brad and Henwy, errata is to be avoided wherever possible, its just a can of worms. Now that said I'm not against a +2 damage with spells charm but opening existing tokens to revision seems like a bad idea.

henwy wrote: I'm against it. Why confuse the issue especially since we have other tokens that boost ranged attacks. Would they now all retroactively boost all spells? It's just a bad a idea to mess with mechanics like that. Want a +2 damage to spells charm? Then get Jeff to make one as a UR or combo. Don't invite additional confusion into the mess.

I agree, I think I will let Henwy start doing all of my talking for me..we have been on the same page lately

henwy wrote: I'm against it. Why confuse the issue especially since we have other tokens that boost ranged attacks. Would they now all retroactively boost all spells? It's just a bad a idea to mess with mechanics like that. Want a +2 damage to spells charm? Then get Jeff to make one as a UR or combo. Don't invite additional confusion into the mess.

The problem is its already confused. Ever since the issue concerning ranged affecting sliding spells in the last year or so. Some DMs ruled that it affected no spells, others only sliding spells. I'm just asking that it be officially changed to reflect all spells. And believe me, when the new token list comes out, I will be first in line to trumpet for +Spell Damage tokens, especially our Boots back next year instead of two years out.

Currently it's an issue with DM and perhaps coach training. What you're suggesting is to bork the entire situation so that those who have been doing it right would now be doing it wrong. The average DM would read the text as not suggesting it would work with all spells. You're making an anti-intuitive change to boot. So to fix a small problem of whether sliding spellls are included, you would create a larger one of whether all spells are.