Talk:Optica, Lord of Eyes (3.5e Vestige)
Power Level[edit]
This is rather weaker than most 1st level vestiges, it only passive bonuses with limited application. Make it shoot eye lasers or something (playing on the old greek concept that vision was rays emitted by your eyes). --Leziad (talk) 16:44, 15 November 2015 (UTC)
- I have to agree with the others. This is surprisingly underpowered, even for 1st level, and that influence is strangely harmful. Ignoring the fact that it happens even if you save, the most it should ever do is shaken you. Frightened and panicked is way too much. That, and the duration is not there. I know what you said later in the talk page but that can be a very variable duration.
- I recommend making it shaken on effects that dazzle or blind regardless of save for 1 round, or the duration of the effect. Drop daze, it has nothing to do with vision. Add one or two more powers. I recommend something like... you're all about eyes, you can ignore miss chance (scaling from 5% to 50%). That's useful at all levels, and it's something at least. Maybe you can give them darkvision and low-light vision (which stacks with darkvision or gives superior low-light if you have some already). That would make it worth it. -- Eiji-kun (talk) 09:56, 17 November 2015 (UTC)
- Getting better. I'll probably summarize some things, and I recommend just referring to superior low-light vision since it already exists, but better.
Everything Else[edit]
So, this article (as it currently stands) reads like it was written on a whim. That's generally a bad idea, since it's difficult to properly balance mechanical function with new and fun and interesting. Why is it so insulting toward Optica? Why is it so insulting towards eyes and liking eyes? Seriously, why? This is insulting to the reader. It aggravates. It's also not particularly interesting, which is even more aggravating when it could be interesting. There's stuff here that's even non-functional. You need some practice with mechanics, and practice with making vestiges, and starting with a 1st level one is the way to go to get introduced to the feel of it. With some refinement, you could probably get there with this, you just have to be willing to make changes.
Now, let's talk about one of those non-functional elements and how the word "could" is screwing things up for you here. Here's the Influence text as it currently reads:
"You become extremely protective of your eyesight. You must always look away from creatures with gaze attacks, automatically become shaken whenever subjected to an effect that could dazzle you, become frightened when subjected to an effect that could daze you, and become panicked when subjected to an effect that could blind you."
So, whenever subject to one of these optical effects, regardless of saves, immunities or rolling natural 20s or whatever, these fear effects happen as written. That causes some weirdness (being afraid of stuff that doesn't harm you), which most notably is becoming frightened while dazed. Did you read what frightened actually does and how that interacts with dazed? Now, I know I said that that was the most notable thing, but actually, durations are the most notable thing as a problem here, because those fear effects don't have any.
Also, elves don't work like that. They get a check. It's not automatic. You could however totally have it be that way though (or at least at will ability). --Ganteka Future (talk) 00:20, 16 November 2015 (UTC)
- I meant to imply that you still have to make the check, but I was under the impression that elves don't have to actively be searching for secret doors and other such things in order to find them, while members of other races do.
- The fear effects should last until you've gotten the hell away from whatever could mess with your precious, precious vision. And, yes, there's no save against the fear effects; the mere threat of having your eyesight taken away from you scares you s***less. --Luigifan18 (talk) 01:50, 16 November 2015 (UTC)
