Too Good to be True?

That’s a lot of damage. However, there are some problems with it:

Ability Die : 2d6! (d12 + Might Rune on armor)
Weapon : 1d12
Neroth’s Grasp : +2 {talent and magic item?}
Fervidite : +1 {untyped}
Fine Q. : +1 {item}
Necronic Rune : +1 {magic item}
Fire Rune : +1 {magic item}
Forward Stance : 1d4 {talent}
Smite Heretic : 1d6 {spell}
Brittle Bones : 1d10 {spell}
Mighty Swing : +5 {maneuver}

You can only have 1 of each category of bonus for each of die and static. Therefore, you have to lose Necrotic Rune, Fire Rune, and Smite Heretic (or Brittle Bones) for a total “loss” of 1d6+2 (5.5 average) which still leaves 31.5 avg damage which is still high but it requires 2+ talents, a rune, and at least one spell.

I would argue that the brittle bones and smite heretic would work together, since the brittle bones is actually cast on the target prior to the attack, while the smite heretic is part of his attack. Though I think that is complicated, since they are both spell bonuses, but on different targets.

Of course, if the brittle bones were cast by an ally, it would become ally source rather than spell and would stack. Additionally, since you don’t have a static spell bonus you could factor in a benediction of the gods bonus, and take your forward stance up to a 1d6 for tier two to increase your damage as well.

But the different runes would definitely not stack.

With casting the brittle bones ahead of time, activating the might rune, and the spell/mighty swing combo, this is a 15 tick attack, with 6 recovery, that causes 2 strain damage to the caster. So compare this to 5 tick 3 attacks for damage comparison…

On a damage per tick basis dropping the spell casting is certainly more effective. However, if I need to bypass a some of the really high AR’s we have been seeing, or I want to be assured of doing a wound due to massive stamina damage, then this is part of that plan of attack.

The idea of sitting out 15 ticks for any maneuver makes me wince. I’ve got a character that regularly sits out between 6 and 8 ticks and it feels like an eternity.

I’d also be very careful about assuming that the damage will be sufficient to wound. Sure it might be likely, but if the adversary spends a fate point to bump his defenses, or your damage comes in a bit on the low side you might not get the wound you’re looking for. It’s really good damage, it’s just a lot of eggs in one basket. With exploding dice, it’s still possible to get that big damage in a faster shot, though far less likely.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

What this has done for me has started me thinking about the brittle bones spell. I never liked it before because it required two things to happen – first I have to effect it, then someone else has to hit. Why do that when I can get more effect out of spells that immediately do damage?

The answer may be that by assisting your beefy damage dealers at a critical time with an additional 5 points of damage, it may help cause more wounds.

I’ll have to think about that.

GrandMaster (Chair Leg)?

Step 1: Hit them with the chair you were sitting on (improvised) to break it
Step 2: Hit them with the club (chair leg) you just created.