ToME WikiRavenRed: Just a quick and dirty idea for a new player ability for all those keen fencers out there...
Feint (5pts, Prereq. Swordmastery @ 20, DEX18, Free to Swordmasters at L12), Creates a one-turn mystic shield effect which will take effect if a monster strikes you, paralysing the monster for one turn. This will allow you to either strike, read a scroll or whatever while the monster regains their balance.
NeilStevens: What, no terrible downside?
RavenRed: Well actually, I thought there might be a chance for the sword to fall out of their hands if...
Sarcasm does not become you, Neil...
Seriously, though, if anyone should get this free, I think it's the rogues.
NerdanelVampire: Is this supposed to be an automatic effect or not? If yes, the affected monsters' melee effectiveness will be halved. If no, and activating it takes one turn, it will have little use except perhaps as battle preparation.
How about
- The effect activates randomly in the name of avoiding both overpoweredness and micromanagement.
- The paralyzation lasts longer for monsters that do big damage since those would get more out of balance.
- Higher level monsters and smart monsters are proportionally less affected.
I agree this should be a rogue thing. I don't dare to plug in any numbers. This could even be a skill.
RavenRed: Automatic if the monster "goes for it" and hits you, yes. It's more low-cost tactic than a major strategy. If a high AC monster is silly enough to fall for it, you get one free hit on the paralysed monster... I would have thought Swordmasters should get it over rogues, but Rogues need sneaky abilities, I suppose...