Cockatrices' Spine

[Butterfingers]

Nobody is really sure how this dart came into existence, but, it appears to be made from a cockatrices' spine. It still carries the fearsome powers of the creature it used to be.

THAC0 +1
Damage 1d4+1
Strikes as a +4 weapon
RoF 4 (One extra attack per round)
5% chance on each hit that victim is petrified. Save vs petrification at -4 or be turned to stone.
Wielder is immune to all forms of petrification magics, and is granted free action.

So tell me, what do you think? Is the dart just powerful enough and useful enough to look past the fact that it could petrify and possibly destroy loot? It would be most useful against Beholderkin, as they don't drop loot anyway, fast rate of fire, not to mention immunity to Beholder petrification rays. Would it make a decent backup weapon for a mage? Would be great for slaying trolls...

Any modders feel free... the game needs better darts.

[ 04-14-2003, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: Butterfingers ]

[Dace De'Briago]

Why the free action?

I can see why the petrification immunity, and the petrification is relevant.

Also, why the extra attack? Dart(ists ) users get loads of attacks anyway because of the nature of the weapon. I'm not convinced they *should* get another attack - I mean, it comes from a chicken lookalike

Also... (monsterours manual)'While the fatal touch of a cockatrice's beak will affect victims clothed in leather or fabric, it will not work through metal armor. The touch will, however, extend into the Ethereal Plane.'

Any chance of a serious THAC0 penalty against opponents in metal armour?

Sounds pretty good though, and I suppose darts REALLY need something to redress the balance towards them...

[Seraph]

Any chance of a serious THAC0 penalty against opponents in metal armour?

Isn't this what Armor Class does?

[Butterfingers]

Cockatrices are immune to all petrification and paralytic attacks, hence the free action. They are naturally quick, hence, the extra attack. Notice the THAC0, it's only +1, so, a mage using this against a fighter in platemail and shield is going to have a hard time sticking him. However, a fighter using this would be quite effective methinks. Let's face it, most fighters will never use a dart, not even this one. For mages or assassins, it's quite balanced and could be put to good use.

[Annatar]

Do you want it created Butterfingers? I can probably come up with it... around tonight..

Don't know if you able to create it for your own, if not I can do it for you.

Let me know.

[Lord Demerol]

Annatar... keep in mind Butterfingers uses a Mac, AFAIK...

[Annatar]

Yes, but I don't think that this is important when it comes to custom items, does it Butterfingers?

[Lord Demerol]

If he wants the item to have a history/description, the item will have to be imported into his game, either as *.tbg or *.iap files, and this requires some specific tools - I don't know if they're available for Macs.

If he has an "Override" folder with *.itm files in it (Mac files have extensions, I assume), then the item should work ok, even if it doesn't have the description and history...

[img]smile.gif[/img]

[Vedran]

I made the dart.
The only thing I cannot think of is whether to make petrification effect:
-dispellable and allow resistance,
-dispellable and bypass resistance,
-not dispellable and bypass resistance.
It seems the best to make it not dispellable and allow a resistance, but that is not an option.

[Annatar]

dispellable does not matter here, petrification cannot be dispelled at any level, it can only be un-done with the use of stone to flesh scroll/spell.

So go for the dispellable and allow resistance option.