Suggestions for future versions of IA Options

[rbeverjr]

I'll be making several suggestions (or at least bringing ideas) to the appreciated, great IA game developers. Even if you don't like my idea, maybe it will spark one of your own. Critto can let me know when he's no longer interested in hearing these ideas from me.

My first idea has to do with weapon proficiencies. Simply put you get more proficiency slots as you spend more time with weapons. Dual classes would get slots according to whatever class they are currently.
Maximum weapon proficiency slots per weapon type:
1 for wizards and sorcerers;
2 for clerics, druids, thieves, ranger-cleric mc, thief-cleric mc, and bards;
3 for caster-melee types (rangers, paladins, multi-class caster-fighters);
5 for straight melee classes (all fighters and barbarians).
Wizards/sorcerers can’t have combat styles, but all others can. APR increases are not limited to warriors. Kits can’t increase the number of proficiency slots, except in very rare cases. For instance, rangers in more modern DnD versions can specialize in the use of 2 weapons or in archery. Consequently, it makes sense to me that a ranger specialized in archery can have 5 slots in bows.

This post has been edited by rbeverjr: Feb 22 2019, 12:20 AM

[rbeverjr]

OK, I will give you two things to consider today.

First, in the immortal words of Lilarcor: "BORING! BOOOOORING!"

The indestructible mage: Improved Invisibility, minor or regular Globe of Invulnerability, Stoneskin, Mirror Image, Fireshields, Blur, Protection from Magic Weapons ro Mantles, and Spell Immunity: Divination combination is the bomb for a higher-level mage. Routinely, you see IA arcane casters use most or all of these spells in their protection burst pre-battle. All 3 illusions (improved invisibility, mirror image, and blur) will stay, because of SI:D. You can’t remove SI:D, because you are not high enough level for Remove Magic to work and can’t see the target to use other spell removal spells. All spells that require a target (as opposed to area of effect) will not work against the mage. Often this is combined with the enemy monster’s spell resistance. Many of the casters you face will have magical resistance (yuanti mage, most/all bosses, and many other enemies), spell immunity (lich, through L5; rakshasa, through L7; demilich through L9; and other IA enemies), and good saves (often at least 65% save rate vs spells). Unless Mirror Image coding has been fixed, area of effect damage spells can be thwarted by mirror image. On top of that, the minor globe negates all spells of levels 1-3; globes get 1-4. These protections prevent Breach from working, because you can’t target what you can’t see (not even with items like the Wand of Spell Striking in IA). Remove Magic won’t work, because the mage is at a higher level. So, you can cast higher level spells and hope you get lucky. Your melee guys are largely ineffective too. First, they must be protected from the fireshields (and re-protected after enemy Remove Magic). While you are at it, protecting them from fire and magical energy (and sometimes other things), is a good idea. Then, your melee guys have to cut through Mirror Image and Stoneskin. In some cases, the enemy mages will also happily cast PfMW or the Mantle spell-line. Of course, with PfMW you can still switch to normal weapons, as long as the enemy is not immune to normal weapons – liches and several other IA monsters are. Even if the enemy isn’t immune to unenchanted weapon, you will still have mirror images and stoneskins to chew through. Many casters have several castings of these defensive spells (stoneskins, PfMW). You can send in the summons, but if the enemy caster can see you, he will prefer to cast Chaos or other spells at you. This is another thing I find boring (BOOORING) – watching Sikret monsters battle Sikret monsters.

I understand that these protections are reasonable and optimal. I get it. However, I want to encourage you to mix things up! Add some variety and spice. Try different things to enhance a battle's difficulty rather than the same oh, same oh. I have faced mages like this over and over and over. Yes, I can kill them, but I must confess I find it to be a grind.