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Post by Omega M. on Apr 29, 2004 15:07:28 GMT
Regarding the competition with Altan, I agree that it's winnable if you use the Silver Helm, Alether, and Mindblast/Psi-Surge. I just don't think someone as honorable as Lone Wolf would use them. The contest is supposed to determine who's best at archery, not who's best at collecting magic items or messing with other people's minds. By this reasoning, the only bonuses that seem "right" to use are Lore-Circle and Weaponmastery bonuses. Of course, with only these your Combat Ratio can be at most -7 (= 30 - (19 + 1 + 3)), so my interpretation is no doubt too strict.
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Post by Sarra on Apr 29, 2004 15:32:38 GMT
Regarding the competition with Altan, I agree that it's winnable if you use the Silver Helm, Alether, and Mindblast/Psi-Surge. I just don't think someone as honorable as Lone Wolf would use them. The contest is supposed to determine who's best at archery, not who's best at collecting magic items or messing with other people's minds. By this reasoning, the only bonuses that seem "right" to use are Lore-Circle and Weaponmastery bonuses. Of course, with only these your Combat Ratio can be at most -7 (= 30 - (19 + 1 + 3)), so my interpretation is no doubt too strict. Took the words out of my mouth...
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Post by The Tagazin Poodle on Apr 29, 2004 17:16:46 GMT
I'm not sure the Silver Helm would have any effect in this case. I would've considered the +2CS to be a defensive bonus.
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Nerethel
Kai Lord
I wear pants.
Posts: 75
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Post by Nerethel on Apr 29, 2004 17:24:39 GMT
Actually, I would consider the helm to be a little helpful here, too, because of some inherent magical property. A normal helmet only adds to EP, not CS. The shield can be used in conjunction with a weapon, with bashing, deflecting... Active defenses. The helm just kinda sits of your head passively, like the chainmail or padded waistcoat just sit on you and add EP.
So, with this (assumed) little bit of focus the silver helm would add, I would say it could help you in an archery contest.
Nerethel
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Post by Relenoir on Apr 29, 2004 23:27:30 GMT
I totally agree. This is a special helm, because any other one in the series would only add EP, not CS. This adds to CS, and it is obviously magical. Since it sits on your head, it must affect your thinking, awareness, etc. Whether or not Lone Wolf would take Alether or use Mindblast? I think he would; he knows that he'll be on the road for a good amount of time to find the Lorestones, and that a bow of such fine quality could go far to aid him in his quest. And it does! I think he'd see the practicality of doing everything he could to win without shooting his opponent. Maybe part of the reason Altan's CS for the contest is so high is because of his own "special bow." Only Joe knows. . .
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Post by Archdruid on Apr 30, 2004 0:15:16 GMT
Maybe he's created some sort of intravenous form of Adgana. I wouldn't put it past him.
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Post by Archdruid on Apr 30, 2004 0:17:08 GMT
Sorry, I just noticed that my last post put us at 666 posts and this post is to remedy that. It's final exam season and I don't need to add divine displeasure to my list of disadvantages.
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Post by Relenoir on Apr 30, 2004 3:35:47 GMT
Yeah, he certainly looked like the shady type in that picture in the book. By the way, has anyone else noticed that the owner of the horse changes depending on whether or not you win the archery contest? What a cheap shot!
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Post by Archdruid on Apr 30, 2004 4:18:21 GMT
So Altan stole the horse so he could trade it to you in your moment of need?
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Post by Archdruid on Apr 30, 2004 4:29:20 GMT
I wonder what Altan's backstory is. I mean, the Kai Lords were supposed to have Combat Skill above and beyond the average human's, and Altan has CS far above a Kai Lord's, so there must be more there than there appears. Maybe he is just selling syringes full of Adgana throughout the Stornlands, but it seems to me that he might be more fascinating than his brief part in the book would have you believe.
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Post by SuperNovice on Apr 30, 2004 9:10:37 GMT
A different kind of difficult enemy - how do you manage the competition for the Silver Bow of Duadon in book 6? Altan has CP 30, and I had CP 18. Ok, assuming I have WeaponMastery in Bow, I get 21. Still -9 and hopeless. Would Psi-surge be reasonable? Then it's 25 against 30. Still problematic (and I don't want Psi-surge in book 6 already). Silver Helmet? 27 against 30. This seems maybe doable. But are these really within the rules? Or am I missing something completely? What's your solution? hehe. My solution was 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.'
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Post by Banedon on Apr 30, 2004 11:39:18 GMT
I wonder what Altan's backstory is. I mean, the Kai Lords were supposed to have Combat Skill above and beyond the average human's, and Altan has CS far above a Kai Lord's, so there must be more there than there appears. Maybe he is just selling syringes full of Adgana throughout the Stornlands, but it seems to me that he might be more fascinating than his brief part in the book would have you believe. Maybe his "CS" is just his archery skill. You never fight him in actual combat, so who knows what his "real" CS is?
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Post by Relenoir on May 2, 2004 4:48:04 GMT
Well, you have to figure he's gotta be tough to get by in that terrain, because all the mountains to the north of the Varetta area pretty much border on The Darklands!!! There is some bad stuff going on in those hills near Lake Vorndarol, i.e. The Legacy of Vashna, and he's alive to tell the tale. It would be neat to learn more about him. I originally wondered if he were a Sommlending Border Ranger, but I think Joe would have been more specific about that if he were. Must be one heck of a shot with that bow of his. . .
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Post by Wild Horse on May 2, 2004 5:34:06 GMT
Well, he could be a Lyrisian Ranger for all we know...at least that was what mentioned in the Legends...
Anyway, Sommerlund's not the only place to have rangers...
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Post by Relenoir on May 3, 2004 1:22:35 GMT
I haven't read that one yet, guess I know which path Lone Wolf took with Cyrilis in that one. As a Lyrisian Ranger, I suppose he could have scouted in the Quarlen range as well, which are probably less dangerous.
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