Combat Expertise: Why is this still spell casting inturuptable?

[Bunker]

Casting as a divine or arcane aside. As a monk, if using a finishing move keeps you centered, one would think combat expertise should stay active. It is a bummer that it shuts off. Would like it to stay on.

As for divine and arcane casters. Spells aren't enough?

[Varr]

Using CE represents your character focusing his attention on using his/her martial skill to parry incoming attacks. That is why you take a penalty to-hit while it's active.

It's kind of impossible to remain focused on that when you are concentrating on casting a spell, drinking a potion, ect.

It's deffinately impossible to do so when you're focus is on forgoing accuracy in order to place all your might behind a swing ( using power attack ).


Now; I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with the way it's implemented in the game, but I will say that given the above, I certainly understand " why " it was done.

This is the crux of my issue.............i can see a nimble spell caster that has spent a feat in training to be dodgy and harder to hit during combat when casting.........avoiding hits fliting around.
What I find harder to see is enraging to swing with all your might, adreneline at max, being less of a deterent to casters then a defensive stance. If power attack deactivated on cast, then I would have little basis to make such a request. But to me, once youve jsutified power attack is not casting disruptable, I find it hard to see how CE's dodgy shifty movements should be more penillized than the -5 to hit and feat cost that you spend on power attack. I would go as far as to say, I woudl be ok if casting deactivated power attack also as a sloution.........I dont see how what looks to me as the less impactual combat effect should be greater penelized. Deactivate both on cast or neither in my opinion.

[bandyman1]

But power attack only takes effect when you're swinging.

There's really no reason for it to deactivate, because there's no benefit to it being active while you're spell casting, drinking a pot, ect.

CE is not dodging. It's using that scepter, dagger, or staff in your hands to try and deflect incoming attacks. Hard to do while you're drinking a pot, or waving your hands in the air while mumbling incoherent words ( spellcasting ).

[Yajerman01]

I like the supression timer concept very much.

I have halfling dragonmarks and while I agree that casting a heal is technically distracting you from performing combat expertise, the deactivating in its entirety is uncalled for considering the player who is activly casting a spell ALSO is activly going back into defense right after.

actions dictate the supression during a cast, not a deactivation.

[Emili]

But power attack only takes effect when you're swinging.

There's really no reason for it to deactivate, because there's no benefit to it being active while you're spell casting, drinking a pot, ect.

CE is not dodging. It's using that scepter, dagger, or staff in your hands to try and deflect incoming attacks. Hard to do while you're drinking a pot, or waving your hands in the air while mumbling incoherent words ( spellcasting ).

Actually... I see his points and many others... I also disagree with some of the sentiment that it should be relatively easy to go back to stance the second a spell or ability is launched... there is no drawback then what so-ever to the casting class except for one swing... I feel both effects of PA and CE should be supressed upon change of standard action and then stance should then automatically be reapplied - but not after just initial cast but inclusive of cool downs.

PA and CE have always been complete round devices in DnD... This reflects the nature of the DnD round and nature of the feats. The spell cool down in DDO is there for a reason presents some reflection of the round... it lessens complete spamming because the standard action has been erroded in the replacement of rounds to realtime.

Other things I find annoying are I can drink a cure potion but cannot drink a bloody remove curse potion while raged... maybe my eyes are flared up but **** my eyesight is just as well as it ever was, I may not be thinking clearly ... but why are some potions barbarian proofed?

[Phidius]

I could get behind a timed suppression of CE and Power Attack.

I think it's funny when we try to support our arguments with real-world illustrations, though... like we actually have spell points in the real world.

[Borror0]

I think it's funny when we try to support our arguments with real-world illustrations, though... like we actually have spell points in the real world.

"Comparing the lethality of all these different weapons in reality vs. a game is counterproductive - though it's always good for a giggle to see people arguing about how lethal a fireball is compared to phaser." -LOTRO dev.

[Meriadeuc]

Another way to improve the utility of CE a bit without provoking balance issues would be to have it deactivate when casting certain "offensive" spells, but not when casting other "defensive" ones. Since invisibility already works this way, it should be pretty simple to implement this idea: Casting a spell that breaks invisibility also takes you out of CE. Casting a spell that preserves invisibility also preserves CE.

[Yajerman01]

like we actually have spell points in the real world.

SSSShhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

I already have the whole Cloak and Sceptor thing going on at the house, its bad enough the headset gives it away...or the fact that my friends laugh at me for even having a headset....

Dont ruin the fantasy!!!!!

BTW - I saw at our Fry's outlet store they have "Mana" drinks for sale.... Go figure

[Xyfiel]

My Cleric/monk/rogue has CE and gets around the timer.
My wizard has CE and gets around the timer.
My Monk splashed melee have CE and have to decide if finishing moves are worth it.
A long time ago, and I am too lazy to find the quote, a dev said that CE would be fixed to stop breaking on finishing moves. Actually, I will spend a bit to try to find it.

[Superspeed_Hi5]

But power attack only takes effect when you're swinging.

There's really no reason for it to deactivate, because there's no benefit to it being active while you're spell casting, drinking a pot, ect.

CE is not dodging. It's using that scepter, dagger, or staff in your hands to try and deflect incoming attacks. Hard to do while you're drinking a pot, or waving your hands in the air while mumbling incoherent words ( spellcasting ).

Well than if you look at it that way then CE should only deactivate when being attacked. So if you are in melee range and cast a spell it should deactivate. If you are getting shot at by archers and cast it should deactivate. Otherwise it should stay on.

[Razcar]

Not signed. I agree it shouldn't turn off for monk finishers though.

"Comparing the lethality of all these different weapons in reality vs. a game is counterproductive - though it's always good for a giggle to see people arguing about how lethal a fireball is compared to phaser." -LOTRO dev.

A phaserball is the most lethal. Any nerd worth his salt knows that.

[Monkey_Archer]

/almost signed

I'd like to see CE work like invisibility... stay active while casting passive/defensive spells and only deactivate when using offensive spells.

[bandyman1]

Well than if you look at it that way then CE should only deactivate when being attacked. So if you are in melee range and cast a spell it should deactivate. If you are getting shot at by archers and cast it should deactivate. Otherwise it should stay on.

True, but at that point; What does it matter if it deactivates or not???

I'm just saying, is it really going to matter to anyone if they lose 5 AC for a few seconds, if they aren't being attacked to begin with?

[GeneralDiomedes]

I propose they change it so you only get a +5 DODGE bonus while standing still and shield blocking.