Battlefield Amplifier

Rules Discussion House Rules
1

Hey guys, I’ve been working on this new homebrew feat. I wanted to allow a player to invoke a boon on an exceptional success instead of a bane.

What do you think about this? Is it balanced? Do you have a suggestion for a better name to call it? Is there anything else that needs adjustment? Give me your feedback! Thanks!

Newest Version here:
#Battlefield Amplifier (I - II)
Cost
3 points

Prerequisites
Tier 1-2: Boon Focus I feat in chosen boon

Description
Your success in battle gives you power that you can use for yourself or your allies.

Effect
Choose a single boon that you can invoke that has an Invocation Time of 1 Major Action or 1 Minor Action. Whenever you attack, as a free action, you may invoke the chosen boon at a power level less than or equal to the attribute score of the attribute you used for the attack if your attack roll exceeds the target’s defense by:

  • Tier 1: 10 or more.
  • Tier 2: 5 or more.

For the purpose of this feat, the rules for invoking boons are still the same, except that the chosen boon may be invoked as a free action. Any applicable feats still apply, including, but not limited to: Boon Access, Boon Focus (I-III), Multi-Target Boon Specialist (I - V), and Multi-Target Boon Expert. The free action granted by this feat does not count towards boon invocations when using the Heightened Invocation (I-III) feat.

Special
In addition to purchasing multiple tiers of this feat, you may take this feat multiple times and select a new boon each time. Your tier of this feat is independent for each boon.

Original Version here:

Battlefield Amplifier (I-II)

Cost
2 points

Prerequisites
Tier 1-2: Ability to invoke the chosen boon

Description
Your success in battle gives you power that you can use for yourself or your allies.

Effect
Choose a single boon that you can invoke that has an Invocation Time of 1 Major Action or 1 Minor Action. Whenever you attack, as a free action, you may invoke the chosen boon at a power level less than or equal to the attribute score of the attribute you used for the attack if your attack roll exceeds the target’s defense by:

Tier 1: 10 or more.

Tier 2: 5 or more.

For the purpose of this feat, the rules for invoking boons are still the same, except that the chosen boon may be invoked as a free action.

Special
In addition to purchasing multiple tiers of this feat, you may take this feat multiple times and select a new boon each time. Your tier of this feat is independent for each boon.

4 Likes
2

As I was reading this, you made the first change I thought to recommend: a cap on the allowed invocation time. I would phrase it as “no more than a major action,” though. That way it doesn’t disqualify boons that can be invoked faster.

I would also consider limiting the options for the boon’s target to the caster or someone fairly close.

Edit: you already addressed my first point as I was writing. Way to be on top of things.

1 Like
3

Haha yeah I immediately realized what could go wrong there.

I thought about limiting the target too, but

  1. I felt there’s a lot of conditions the player already has to meet for this.
  2. I don’t want to limit players who specialize in range.

Do you think making it a higher cost would be reasonable?

4

Personally, I think that’s reasonable. I believe that 3-point feats are supposed to be ones that have really big impact on gameplay. This seems to fit the bill, especially since you aren’t currently limiting any of the following:

  • Requiring the boon to use the same attribute as the attack
  • Limiting the number of targets for the boon (this one will have huge impact)
  • Proximity of the boon’s target(s) to either the caster or the target of the original attack
  • The current wording, combined with the fact that it is invoked as a free action instead of a minor action, means that an opportunity attack could trigger a SECOND free boon in the same turn

Additionally, I think that these points should be addressed explicitly:

  • Does the boon invocation still require a roll?
  • If no roll is required, at what level is it invoked?

I really like the concept here. With a bit of tweaking (and some play testing, and more tweaking based on results) this could be really neat.

Edit: actually, you did address the question of maximum power level. I’m not reading well tonight, it seems.

5

I think a lot of these can be addressed with the simple addition of

Prerequisite: Boon Focus I in chosen Boon.

2 Likes
6

So I would say it should probably be limited to the same Attribute to be able to invoke the boon.

At 10 plus and even 5 plus, in most cases you will already achieve the highest PL for the boon, using the same roll.

LIke conrad said, boon focus I would help solve a lot of issues/questions/concerns.

If you restricted it to being the same attribute, and boon focus I, then a cost of 2 points might still be kept.

I’m a little bit leaning on saying only 1 tier, and not allowing it to happen for less than 10 points over.

Interesting idea for a feat overall :slight_smile:

2 Likes
7

I figured this:

would be enough to answer that, but I suppose making it explicitly clear might be a good idea, unless I’m going to add Boon Focus I as a prerequisite.

I hadn’t even though about this: :open_mouth:

But I kind of like the possibility of it! :grin:

But anyways, I think this:

is perfect!

As for this:

I want to keep it free from restrictions regarding which boon you can cast. I think I ought to raise the cost to 3, add the Boon Focus I prerequisite. I really really like Tier 2, so I’m gonna keep it! :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes: Hopefully it would still be balanced!

Thanks @Carl, @ConradCurtis, and @Great_Moustache!

1 Like
8

I’m also adding this:
Any applicable feats still apply, including, but not limited to: Boon Access, Boon Focus (I-III), Multi-Target Boon Specialist (I - V), and Multi-Target Boon Expert. The free action granted by this feat may not count towards boon invocations when using the Heightened Invocation (I-III) feat.

1 Like
9

could we possibly update the main post to show the changes planned for this feat? I realy like it and am planning on using it in my campaigns, but digging through the thread to find the changes would be a bit of a pain lol

1 Like
10

That’s a good idea @John_L, but for some reason, I can’t edit the main post

11

might be too long since it was posted. Probably time limit.

If you post it below here, I’ll edit the post for you.

12

@Great_Moustache
#Battlefield Amplifier (I - II)
Cost
3 points

Prerequisites
Tier 1-2: Boon Focus I feat in chosen boon

Description
Your success in battle gives you power that you can use for yourself or your allies.

Effect
Choose a single boon that you can invoke that has an Invocation Time of 1 Major Action or 1 Minor Action. Whenever you attack, as a free action, you may invoke the chosen boon at a power level less than or equal to the attribute score of the attribute you used for the attack if your attack roll exceeds the target’s defense by:

  • Tier 1: 10 or more.
  • Tier 2: 5 or more.

For the purpose of this feat, the rules for invoking boons are still the same, except that the chosen boon may be invoked as a free action. Any applicable feats still apply, including, but not limited to: Boon Access, Boon Focus (I-III), Multi-Target Boon Specialist (I - V), and Multi-Target Boon Expert. The free action granted by this feat does not count towards boon invocations when using the Heightened Invocation (I-III) feat.

Special
In addition to purchasing multiple tiers of this feat, you may take this feat multiple times and select a new boon each time. Your tier of this feat is independent for each boon.

13

updated the original post

2 Likes