tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post1500006478377579878..comments2024-03-26T15:35:56.004-04:00Comments on Delta's D&D Hotspot: Can Superheroes See Invisible?Deltahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-67723364343390115392024-01-02T07:29:58.410-05:002024-01-02T07:29:58.410-05:00I never played OD&D, so I am speaking here onl...I never played OD&D, so I am speaking here only of the AD&D version. I always played it as a "sensing" of an opponent, or of "something". Over time, I'd let players make a second roll, save vs. magic and give them a better "sense": "you feel like you are being watched by someone far off" (scrying), "it's as if someone was moving around you" (invisibility), etc... but never actually told them exactly what it was.<br /><br />And we did use it, because it actually it's easy to remember: a 7th level/HD charactercan sense invisible at 5% if he has Int 17, and each added level increases his chances by 5% (and reduces the threshold under at which he will have the initial 5% chance. Presumably, a 7th level character with Int 18 would have a 10% chance, and the DM would have to determine whether a 6th level character had a 5% chance with Int 18. Actually easy to remember.JoseFreitashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13799512235188753569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-39482714817360494782023-06-01T22:10:56.210-04:002023-06-01T22:10:56.210-04:00Even spammers can be correct some of the timeEven spammers can be correct some of the timeJoshua Macyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10838733328132877699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-47285035590225207822023-05-29T10:29:29.646-04:002023-05-29T10:29:29.646-04:00I like this rule for fighters, and I've been u...I like this rule for fighters, and I've been using it for a while now. I let fighters of 8th+ level automatically sense the presence of invisible enemies that come within 40' of them, they can target and attack them normally in melee at no penalty, and they can even target and shoot at them in missile combat at only −2.John Higginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06522143715905888511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-81665273122588725712023-05-25T15:05:07.898-04:002023-05-25T15:05:07.898-04:00In common with folks above, this looks to me like ...In common with folks above, this looks to me like a genre emulation rule. "Superhero"-level fighters, your Conans and John Carters and so forth, are able to fight even invisible foes in the stories, defend themselves in pitch darkness, etc. Due to their supremely heightened fighting abilities and keen senses. <br /><br />And yes, it looks like Gary decided to tone it down/make heroes less heroic in AD&D, which was a common trend of his in the OD&D to AD&D transition.Shimrodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14950780684532279227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-42793100017015899382023-05-20T22:01:30.264-04:002023-05-20T22:01:30.264-04:00Alan's point is most germane. Detecting the pr...Alan's point is most germane. Detecting the presence of something is not the same as seeing it directly, but still a huge benefit. I'd totally play it that way.Hobo Ogrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05431382722661731621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-43317641735293773082023-05-17T16:24:55.261-04:002023-05-17T16:24:55.261-04:00I think there's justification for it in fictio...I think there's justification for it in fiction. IIRC Benedict from Zelazny's Amber series could fight invisible enemies by some combination of heightened senses and anticipating where they must be. Maybe in OED this could be an advanced feat, only available at levels 8+.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18141889085810300674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-70587988528738065872023-05-16T15:55:34.951-04:002023-05-16T15:55:34.951-04:00I lean towards Josh's interpretation. But I gu...I lean towards Josh's interpretation. But I guess it could be the basis for an OED Blindfighting Feat.Baquieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357103428591599364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-71764106322246484692023-05-15T22:50:32.435-04:002023-05-15T22:50:32.435-04:00I’ve always interpreted the ability along the same...I’ve always interpreted the ability along the same lines as described in the above comments by Alan and James. I usually port the Chainmail ability over in my house-ruled OD&D games because of the entry on Pixies that you cited. No rolls to detect. Superheroes are simply aware of (or “sense” or are alerted to) invisible opponents within 30 ft of their position. My personal preference would not be to attach a roll to the ability; although, I can see the appeal of your suggestion for some in that any level fighter could attempt to detect/sense invisible opponents. But for me, I prefer to keep it as an acquired ability over time with experience. Once the fighter reaches 8th level, it’s a persistent ability (assuming the fighter is conscious) that captures that fighter’s honed fighting senses.The Rambling Clerichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09866256742022384323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-59615619246958112782023-05-15T13:07:58.480-04:002023-05-15T13:07:58.480-04:00It sounds very Conanesque. IIRC, there is a scene ...It sounds very Conanesque. IIRC, there is a scene in the dungeons of Tsotha-lanti where Conan fights an invisible demon-thing, not by sight so much as by sixth sense. There are other examples of such in the old fantasy pulps and Conan pastiches.James Mishlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03510782553325944558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-41823950397713244812023-05-15T12:51:40.312-04:002023-05-15T12:51:40.312-04:00It's worth noting that the character won't...It's worth noting that the character won't actually see the invisible opponent, just be aware of its presence due to air disturbance, keen hearing or smell. It sounds a bit like spidey-sense. Also, even if a character detects the invisible creature the -4 attack penalty remains. <br /><br />We used it a little bit when we had characters of high enough level, but it didn't seem to make a huge difference in gameplay. Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06184950390585208722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-10171245909806376462023-05-15T08:57:04.035-04:002023-05-15T08:57:04.035-04:00I wouldn't for D&D proper, but I think for...I wouldn't for D&D proper, but I think for mass combat I'd be willing to assume that by 8th Level a fighter has some magic thingummy that would do it: a sword that detects enemies or some such Joshua Macyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10838733328132877699noreply@blogger.com