TOPIC: Friday 6ish 7 Token Nightmare Challenge

Yeah, you will want to be able to hit a 27. It looks like I will be +12 to hit and +7 to damage. It is going to take a lot of hits to kill the final boss.

This will be a challenge.

Ed

jedibcg wrote: Picc how about you do a ranged Bard as best you can and I will play a Paladin. I might forgo the mithral bracers to add a ranged weapon as well. What do you guys think? Also Raven MIGHT play a ranged rogue.

I was gonna reply that I'm not set up as a Ranged Rogue... but realized that working with only 7 tokens means I don't really have to be "set up" for it.

And since my original plan didn't include, say, Boots/Hood of Elvenkind.. I'd be losing a round every combat to set up for Backstab..... Might was well not bother focusing on the hand-to-hand, and go with a Ranged build instead.

Let's see....

1) Assassin's Crossbow .. maybe? I won't have the Str to make a Mighty bow worth it.
2) Relic Redoubt Chain
3) Gloves of the Cutpurse? ... Or Stu-Pendant ?
4) +2 Rod of Persuasion (for Rogue boxes, and to have a melee weapon for those fights which penalize ranged)
5) 5th level boost
6 & 7) Treasure Enhancers

Raven wrote:

jedibcg wrote: Picc how about you do a ranged Bard as best you can and I will play a Paladin. I might forgo the mithral bracers to add a ranged weapon as well. What do you guys think? Also Raven MIGHT play a ranged rogue.

I was gonna reply that I'm not set up as a Ranged Rogue... but realized that working with only 7 tokens means I don't really have to be "set up" for it.

And since my original plan didn't include, say, Boots/Hood of Elvenkind.. I'd be losing a round every combat to set up for Backstab..... Might was well not bother focusing on the hand-to-hand, and go with a Ranged build instead.

Let's see....

1) Assassin's Crossbow .. maybe? I won't have the Str to make a Mighty bow worth it.
2) Relic Redoubt Chain
3) Gloves of the Cutpurse? ... Or Stu-Pendant ?
4) +2 Rod of Persuasion (for Rogue boxes, and to have a melee weapon for those fights which penalize ranged)
5) 5th level boost
6 & 7) Treasure Enhancers

I would say gamble against Ranged (we can take the push damage) and instead get two strength items, chain, +2 Rod, and 5th level boost (and TEs).

Ed

Don't forget your CoS.

This is fun to watch!

Raven I have a Legendary Mail you can borrow. I don't believe I have lent it out yet.

I haven't been factoring in the CoS ... if everyone wants that, I can swap it in, but it'll probably be at the expense of the 5th level bump. Unless I swap out Armour for it, instead.

And really, what that 5th L bump is for, is to give me the ability to use FLANK.
That means (a) one less person lining up at the table while we're pushed for time, and (b) increased odds of someone with a higher Dam bonus hitting the 20.

MasterED wrote: I would say gamble against Ranged (we can take the push damage) and instead get two strength items, chain, +2 Rod, and 5th level boost (and TEs).

Melee build
Stu Pendant
Redoubt Mail
+2 Rod Persuasion
Ring Heroism
Girdle Frost Giant
= AC 23; Melee +6 to hit, +4 Dam; Ranged +6 to hit (+0 Dam)

Ranged build
Redoubt Mail
+2 Assassin Crossbow
Gloves Cutpurse
Rod of Persuasion
Ring Heroism
= AC 24; Melee +2 to hit +0 Dam); Ranged +9 to hit (+0 Dam)

So, looking at it honestly, I won't be hitting any Nightmare monster with melee, unless I'm on the 20.
My Melee strategy is simple: FLANK.

In Ranged, I can't flank... so might as well try for damage... and in order to damage, I need to land the hit. At a +9, I may actually do that. And if I can get on the 20, it's triple damage.

I think my real role will be to help with the puzzles (via Rogue box clue) and to Flank so the fighters have a better chance of hitting.


Hmmm.... With only a 24 AC.. is it better to drop the armour entirely, and take to CoSynergy instead, counting on those 10HP to soak the damage I take (and contributing an extra Hit Point to everyone else wearing a CoS)?

Raven wrote: I haven't been factoring in the CoS ... if everyone wants that, I can swap it in, but it'll probably be at the expense of the 5th level bump. Unless I swap out Armour for it, instead.

And really, what that 5th L bump is for, is to give me the ability to use FLANK.
That means (a) one less person lining up at the table while we're pushed for time, and (b) increased odds of someone with a higher Dam bonus hitting the 20.

MasterED wrote: I would say gamble against Ranged (we can take the push damage) and instead get two strength items, chain, +2 Rod, and 5th level boost (and TEs).

Melee build
Stu Pendant
Redoubt Mail
+2 Rod Persuasion
Ring Heroism
Girdle Frost Giant
= AC 23; Melee +6 to hit, +4 Dam; Ranged +6 to hit (+0 Dam)

Ranged build
Redoubt Mail
+2 Assassin Crossbow
Gloves Cutpurse
Rod of Persuasion
Ring Heroism
= AC 24; Melee +2 to hit +0 Dam); Ranged +9 to hit (+0 Dam)

So, looking at it honestly, I won't be hitting any Nightmare monster with melee, unless I'm on the 20.
My Melee strategy is simple: FLANK.

In Ranged, I can't flank... so might as well try for damage... and in order to damage, I need to land the hit. At a +9, I may actually do that. And if I can get on the 20, it's triple damage.

I think my real role will be to help with the puzzles (via Rogue box clue) and to Flank so the fighters have a better chance of hitting.


Hmmm.... With only a 24 AC.. is it better to drop the armour entirely, and take to CoSynergy instead, counting on those 10HP to soak the damage I take (and contributing an extra Hit Point to everyone else wearing a CoS)?

Well at 24 AC you probably have a slightly better than 50/50 miss chance at Nightmare. If the best To Hit you get is +9 then yes likely need an 18 to hit. You are probably right maybe your role is clue/Flank. Focus on AC so you have a 25% shot of being hit (one less to guard and heal).

Ed

Wade Schwendemann wrote: Don't forget your CoS.

This is fun to watch!

It may come down to not everyone having CoS. Example the cleric may need LoDS/CoE, Healing Bonus (2 Eldritch), and level bump for more spells.

Ed

Just a thought wouldn't it be better to wear a cloak of shadowskin over any armor for anyone but the pally? That little AC isn't likely to save anyone.

Acherin wrote: Just a thought wouldn't it be better to wear a cloak of shadowskin over any armor for anyone but the pally? That little AC isn't likely to save anyone.

Huh.

That is a very, very, valid point, Acherin.

MasterED wrote: Well at 24 AC you probably have a slightly better than 50/50 miss chance at Nightmare. If the best To Hit you get is +9 then yes likely need an 18 to hit. You are probably right maybe your role is clue/Flank. Focus on AC so you have a 25% shot of being hit (one less to guard and heal).

Ed

I can frequently slide an 18. And, depending on the combat board, (and the +2 to hit from our Bard's singing!) would guess that I'd hit most of the time on Ranged. .. But still, that's only going to be an extra 4-9 pts of damage (or 8-13, including +4 from the Bardsong) .. we'll be counting on our Spellcasters for the bulk of our Ranged combat.

I am not worried about time. The number of sliders we will have is minimal. Druid and Cleric are not sliding. The Paladin is probably going weaponless to get more AC so I am not likely sliding. The Bard likely isn't sliding. The Wizard is only maybe sliding on sliding spells. So we have 5 sliders?

The Wizard build is the most dependent on the CoS. That self harm thing, you know...

If we drop the CoS, I'd throw on Icecrag Hero Earcuff. The Con boost would add 5 hp and the regen might come in handy as well. The cold resist could come into play as well.

For my Barbarian, I'd substitute Amulet of the Champion. 5 hp from Con and another +1+1 to melee. The one point of AC is not likely to matter.

Or maybe Boots of the Four Wind to truly run the glass cannon theme. Or maybe the Rod of seven parts and go with berserker subclass and be able to Fight After Death so I can fight on in Room 7.

Too much thinking for a barbarian. My brain hurts...