Author
|
Topic:
Overchanneling is not that serious! |
Moridin00
Member Member # 54124
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posted September 19, 2002 06:50 AM
Mention the
word 'overchannel' to a player with a channeling class
character, and they break into a sweat. 'Oh lord', they moan,
'there is a 5% chance I'll get a headache if I overchannel!'.
I think that a shift in perception on overchanneling is
required here.
First of all, I will use the best
evidence possible - Jordan's books.
When a channeler
'overchannels' in the books, jordan describes it as a
channeling act which required more effort than a simple
channeling act. Sometimes, this effort can leave them flushed,
tired, weak, trembly, sweaty, etc. Sometimes it does nothing
at all. My suggestion is that jordan's channelers overchannel
a lot. My next suggestion is that PC's hardly
overchannel at all. My hypothesis is that PC's have
overchannel-phobia which is not a fair and accurate reflection
of overchanneling in the books. As further evidence, I propose
that almost every time a character channels it's an
overchannel. There are very few times when a character
channels and continues 'breathing normally', as it were. Some
examples: Rand floating goblets, Ishamael teleporting,
moiraine using her gem to eavesdrop. Some examples of
overchannleing: (there are hundreds...) Rand swinging the boom
in EOTW, Rand calling lightning in EOTW, Nyn dueling the
windfinder girl, Rand floating many things in the air in the
Stone of Tear, Moiraine's wall of fire, Cadsuane's Master Ward
in Winter's Heart... the list goes on.
Therefore guys,
overchannel freely and often, and screw the madness if you're
a male, cos that's what jordan's characters do.
How
boring is an initiate who says 'ooooh, I can't weave a lvl 5
fireball because I might need to sit down for a bit
afterwards'. No, rather have her weave a fireball so hard that
she needs to lean against the wall until the stars disappear
from her vision, and the trolloc she targeted is a steaming
pile of ash.
Because that's channeling!
*steps off his soapbox*
From:
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Xythlord
Member Member # 70903
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posted September 19, 2002 08:09 AM
HUZZAH!!!
Thank you very much I can't agree more. This is the same thing
that I am trying to get accross to one of my players (actuall
three) but one is the worst, channels like an
accountant.....no life in it at
all.
-------------------- Only two things are
infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure
about the former. Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
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drothgery
Member Member # 4490
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posted September 19, 2002 08:42 AM
Err... I
suspect that Talaan was overchanneling while dueling with
Nynaeve, and Nynaeve wasn't, rather than what you seem to be
assuming, which is the
reverse.
-------------------- Dave
Rothgery Picking nits since
1976 drothgery@alum.wpi.edu http://drothgery.editthispage.com/
Optional d20 WoT Rules at http://home.san.rr.com/drothgery/wot_rpg.htm
From:
San Diego, CA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Okiku Sukikuwa
Member Member # 88920
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posted September 19, 2002 08:48 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Moridin00: Mention
the word 'overchannel' to a player with a channeling class
character, and they break into a sweat. 'Oh lord', they
moan, 'there is a 5% chance I'll get a headache if I
overchannel!'. I think that a shift in perception on
overchanneling is required here.
First of all, I will
use the best evidence possible - Jordan's books.
When
a channeler 'overchannels' in the books, jordan describes it
as a channeling act which required more effort than a simple
channeling act. Sometimes, this effort can leave them
flushed, tired, weak, trembly, sweaty, etc. Sometimes it
does nothing at all. My suggestion is that jordan's
channelers overchannel a lot. My next suggestion is
that PC's hardly overchannel at all. My hypothesis is that
PC's have overchannel-phobia which is not a fair and
accurate reflection of overchanneling in the books. As
further evidence, I propose that almost every time a
character channels it's an overchannel. There are very few
times when a character channels and continues 'breathing
normally', as it were. Some examples: Rand floating goblets,
Ishamael teleporting, moiraine using her gem to
eavesdrop. Some examples of overchannleing: (there are
hundreds...) Rand swinging the boom in EOTW, Rand calling
lightning in EOTW, Nyn dueling the windfinder girl, Rand
floating many things in the air in the Stone of Tear,
Moiraine's wall of fire, Cadsuane's Master Ward in Winter's
Heart... the list goes on.
Therefore guys,
overchannel freely and often, and screw the madness if
you're a male, cos that's what jordan's characters
do.
How boring is an initiate who says 'ooooh, I
can't weave a lvl 5 fireball because I might need to sit
down for a bit afterwards'. No, rather have her weave a
fireball so hard that she needs to lean against the wall
until the stars disappear from her vision, and the trolloc
she targeted is a steaming pile of ash.
Because
that's channeling!
*steps off his soapbox*
Great Read, Great Read. I have never laughed so
much at a post on this board Bravo! ![[Big Grin]](Wizards_Com Boards Overchanneling is not that serious! (1)_fichiers/biggrin.gif)
-------------------- Standing under the
sun, I clean the blade in my sheath. I stare at Lanfear and
smile, looks like it will be a long night.
From:
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Grayswandir_Blade Member Member
# 92933
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posted September 19, 2002 11:16 AM
I beg to
differ, but only to a certain extent (I mostly agree). It's
not always the overchanneling that makes channelers tired;
it's channeling. Simple fatigue from wielding a lot of power
is already represented: spell slots.
*blink* My, that
was concise, for me...
![[Cthulhu]](Wizards_Com Boards Overchanneling is not that serious! (1)_fichiers/cthulhu_green.gif)
-------------------- "We laugh in the face
of danger, just before it hits us and knocks us out" -
Lysander. :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E:
:88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E:
:88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E:
:88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E:
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:88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E: :88E:
:88E:
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theSaj
Member Member # 96041
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posted September 19, 2002 01:05 PM
Why I don't
over-channel...(much)
Simple, 1) MADNESS, which makes
over-channelling much more serious for my character than say
an Aes Sedai. 2) Seldom have the
need....
-------------------- "To Die is to Live No
More!"
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RocPhoenix
Member Member # 105620
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posted September 19, 2002 04:56 PM
If I ever
run an NPC for WoT, I hearby promise to overchannel at every
opportunity. Why just light a candle when you can burn the
building next to you and have enough heat for the night?
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Merclaar
Member Member # 67223
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posted September 19, 2002 11:53 PM
You say it:
a NPC.
![[Roll Eyes]](Wizards_Com Boards Overchanneling is not that serious! (1)_fichiers/rolleyes.gif)
-------------------- cu
-- Merclaar
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Moridin00
Member Member # 54124
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posted September 20, 2002 12:34 AM
What do you
guys think of the suggestion that jordan's characters
overchannel a lot?
Would it be fair to say that in
jordan's descriptions of channeling (i.e. the ones that
actually appear in the books, not hypotheses on channeling
culture), more of them are overchannels than
not?
theSaj, not wanting your male channeler to
overchannel because he will get slightly more mad is kinda
beside the point, isn't it? If you're that worried about
madness, why are you playing a male channeler? (and don't just
say 'because it's cool!') You also mentioned that you seldom have the need to
overchannel... you must be a powerful channeler becuase Rand
overchannels all the time.
GraySwandirBlade: finishing
your weave slots is not tiring, but when you start
overchanneling because your slots are finished is
tiring. Therefore it's still the overchanneling that makes
channelers tired.
i think Xythlord summarised it
nicely... channeling like an accountant is boring. Roleplay it correctly - the OPower is almost
overwhelimgly addictive, and weaving it seems to provide some
sort of rush to channeleres. Let your PC's enjoy some of this
rush, and you'll impress other players and possibly yourself
and the DM too.
From:
Cape Town, SA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Merclaar
Member Member # 67223
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posted September 20, 2002 02:09 AM
quote:
Originally posted by
Moridin00:
[snip] You also mentioned that
you seldom have the need to overchannel... you must be a
powerful channeler becuase Rand overchannels all the
time. [snip]
Or there are more diplomaty adventures than fighting
adventures...
-------------------- cu
-- Merclaar
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The Great Gray
Skwid Member Member
# 34606
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posted September 20, 2002 07:36 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Merclaar: Or there
are more diplomaty adventures than fighting
adventures...
...or your character isn't an idiot, and is
adept at using the Power in small ways so as to be useful
without being caught out. We'll be levelling up to 4th pretty
soon (like, tomorrow, maybe), and none of the other characters
have even figured it out, yet!
It helps that my character has illusion as
his one and only talent, and 0 directly offensive weaves.
Circle of Silence and occasionally one of the "invisibility"
weaves to help sneaking bits...Harden Air to extinguish a
watchman's torch so you can remain hidden that crucial moment
longer, then Arms of Air to make a distraction when you make
your move...and, of course, Healing.
Don't
underestimate the power of quiet, discrete
channeling.
-------------------- Evan "Skwid"
Langlinais The Humblest Mollusk on the Net http://www.thehumblest.net/ Ask me for
information about the Texas Darkfriends!
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Xythlord
Member Member # 70903
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posted September 20, 2002 07:49 AM
Hey Skwid,
I know its kinda off subject but I just read you portion of
the WoT FAQ, regarding the analysis of taint and its removal.
Very nice piece of work, siccintly put and right on target
imho.
-------------------- Only two things are
infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure
about the former. Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
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theSaj
Member Member # 96041
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posted September 20, 2002 01:08 PM
"theSaj,
not wanting your male channeler to overchannel because he will
get slightly more mad is kinda beside the point, isn't
it?" [[[No, not really, Rand is aware of the dangers of
madness. I am also travelling with an Aes Sedai
Initiate...essentially, the idea is to avoid the taint and
prolong my life as much as possible. Remember, I am not the
Dragon Reborn. I do NOT have to get powerful enough to fight
the Dark One. Therefore, it is good to conserve my sanity and
use my strength when necessary.]]]
"If you're that
worried about madness, why are you playing a male channeler?
(and don't just say 'because it's cool!')" [[[ Because it's
cool..., naw, actually when I made the character I didn't know
a thing about Wheel of Time. I discovered WoT by joining a
friend's RPG group. ]]]
"You also mentioned that you
seldom have the need to overchannel... you must be a
powerful"
In fact, my character design sucked. I had a
healer...so here I was for the first couple levels a channeler
who couldn't engage in combat. And I royally sucked in
physical combat. One fight went like this...
ME: Swing
an miss... OPP: Swing and miss (repeat for 7
rounds) ME: Swing hit for 2 points of damage... (GM, OPP
stumbles on rock falls and breaks neck...just to end the
battle, I royally sucked at combat.)
Recently I added
Fireball to my knowledge of weaves and elementalism as a
talent. (Hey, truth of the matter is a level 4 Fireball weave
doesn't really need overchannelling much. 2 weeks ago I
toasted 4 trollocs.) My biggest problem had been in close. I
had no short range abilities, hence I just took harden
air.
Also, I try to be innovative when I can. Example:
Being charge by horse&rider, cast tool of air. Opponent
runs right into prybar of air. Knocked off horse, party
armsmen stabs.
(one on one we let our armsman do most
of the physical combat, group...I take
over...)
-------------------- "To Die is to Live No
More!"
From:
New Haven, Connecticut | Registered: Jul 2002
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The Great Gray
Skwid Member Member
# 34606
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posted September 20, 2002 01:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Xythlord: Hey Skwid,
I know its kinda off subject but I just read you portion of
the WoT FAQ, regarding the analysis of taint and its
removal. Very nice piece of work, siccintly put and right on
target imho.
Gawrsh, thanks. I'm actually pretty proud of this WoT
FAQ in general. I put a lot of work into proofreading that
monster.
-------------------- Evan "Skwid"
Langlinais The Humblest Mollusk on the Net http://www.thehumblest.net/ Ask me for
information about the Texas Darkfriends!
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Jkol the
Butcher Member Member
# 106364
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posted September 27, 2002 03:30 AM
I'd just
like to point out that according to the stats - rand is only a
level 12 wilder (which i think is a load of crap) though the
armsman stuff does seem to fit as well. If you recall - even
while shielded and surrounded on his way to the tower (before
dumai's wells) He killed a warder with his bare hands and
another was mortally wounded past healing - just because he
saw min was captive too. Anyways the point is that at level
twelve he would have to overchannel just to cast to use
gateways - not to mention the frequency with which he
overchannels. Ignoring that they have likely underpowered him
as a channeler - they obviously expect him to overchannel
regularly.
-------------------- Self Proclaimed
Member # 001 of the Kill Paladins and Join the Blackguards
Foundation (KPJBF)
We are the Sorg. You and your sig
will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. (Please put this
in your sig to show that it has been asimilated.)
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Moridin00
Member Member # 54124
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posted September 27, 2002 07:43 AM
Yeah, Jkol
hit the nail on the head there.
Notice that Rand has
already taken the Mental Stability feat as well.
Even
if taken at the time of Book 6, rand would be overchanneling a
lot to produce the weaves he does.
Therefore,
overchannel a lot! It's what Jordan expects you to do.
From:
Cape Town, SA | Registered: Dec 2001
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theSaj
Member Member # 96041
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posted October 02, 2002 12:52 PM
Uh, another
thing to remember is that Rand is Ta'veran
What
additional benefits that truly has....*shrug* but I am sure
that's equivalent to a few levels.
I mean, take Mat in
book 6. What level is he? Did you factor in the fact that he
has certain knowledge and skill levels of a Master General?
Oh and Rand, how can he do all these weaves...let us
not forget that a bit of Lews Therin is in him. Therefore, he
probably has more talents than normal individuals would at his
level....
-------------------- "To Die is to Live No
More!"
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New Haven, Connecticut | Registered: Jul 2002
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Jkol the
Butcher Member Member
# 106364
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posted October 02, 2002 03:27 PM
True but
the stats for Rand are given - supposedly after book seven (he
is called king of illian) and name him a level 12 wilder - now
he has been using balefire since, well several books. As at
level twelve (and the stats try to take into account tav'eren)
He should only be casting a maximum of level 7 weaves without
overchanneling - even his access to angreal on occasion does
not explain this. Aside from the point that the stats are
obviously skewed (Rand should be in epic levels to say the
least - he is the saviour of Humanity after all and one of the
most powerful channelers in existence (Level 12??)) The intent
is clearly that the shortfall should be made up with
overchanneling.
-------------------- Self Proclaimed
Member # 001 of the Kill Paladins and Join the Blackguards
Foundation (KPJBF)
We are the Sorg. You and your sig
will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. (Please put this
in your sig to show that it has been asimilated.)
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Arat'nil
Member Member # 108145
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posted October 02, 2002 07:28 PM
Nooo...
Overchanneling is a piece of cake... Hmmm
I'm playing a
2 lvl wil/1 lvl init. I met a black sister and tried to
shield her. So far so good... I rolled a natural 1 on my
consentration roll to overchannel 3 levels. I missed the DC on
my fortitude save with twenty-something...
Great
fun...
-------------------- -What! You don't know
how to make a holy bartender?
From:
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Melriken
Member Member # 48882
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posted October 02, 2002 10:26 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Xythlord: Hey Skwid,
I know its kinda off subject but I just read you portion of
the WoT FAQ, regarding the analysis of taint and its
removal. Very nice piece of work, siccintly put and right on
target imho.
where is this FAQ? Tower
Library?
-------------------- The prior post is in
no way intended to represent the thoughts and/or opinions of
the author. Read at your own risk.
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Nov 2001 | IP: Logged
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Moridin00
Member Member # 54124
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posted October 03, 2002 12:21 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Arat'nil: [QB]I'm playing a 2
lvl wil/1 lvl init. I met a black sister and tried to
shield her. QB]
Arat'nil, your 3rd lvl channeler has barely begun
learning about the OP. In terms of strength equivalence, think
Eg or Elayne just before they are raised to Accepted (Eg and
El being powerful channelers).
Therefore it should be
virtually impossible to force enough of the power through
her/him to shield a fully trained sister.
I never said
overchanneling completely out of your league is easy, I just
said overchannel often. You can probably overchannel 1 level
with no problem at all by now...
If you want a power
over-channeler on 1st level, play a wilder with: Concentration
3 ranks, Skill Emphasis - Concentration, Constitution
18+.
This leaves you with an overchannel check of at
least +15 on 1st level. More than enough to get overchannels
out safely!
From:
Cape Town, SA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Merclaar
Member Member # 67223
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posted October 03, 2002 12:32 AM
Uhm, I'm
not shure, but i belive wilder and initiate need WIS for
concentration... (maybe a type in the
rule-book...)
cu
-------------------- cu
-- Merclaar
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Xythlord
Member Member # 70903
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posted October 03, 2002 08:48 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Melriken:
quote:
Originally posted by Xythlord: Hey
Skwid, I know its kinda off subject but I just read you
portion of the WoT FAQ, regarding the analysis of taint
and its removal. Very nice piece of work, siccintly put
and right on target imho.
where is this FAQ? Tower Library?
Well you can find it here at theWheel of Time FAQ
Also this was
created from replies by Charles Ryan on this board when the
WoT game first came out and has many of the correction to the
rule book that are considered cannon. Tower Library
FAQ
-------------------- Only two things are
infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure
about the former. Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
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Melriken
Member Member # 48882
|
posted October 03, 2002 10:55 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Merclaar: Uhm, I'm
not shure, but i belive wilder and initiate need WIS for
concentration... (maybe a type in the
rule-book...)
cu
nope, concentration is a constitution
skill.
-------------------- The prior post is in no
way intended to represent the thoughts and/or opinions of the
author. Read at your own risk.
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Nov 2001 | IP: Logged
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Freya
Member Member # 93267
|
posted October 03, 2002 11:39 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Melriken:
quote:
Originally posted by Merclaar: Uhm, I'm
not shure, but i belive wilder and initiate need WIS for
concentration... (maybe a type in the
rule-book...)
cu
nope, concentration is a constitution
skill.
For everyone except channelers. Look at the skill lists
for each channeler class and they will have
concentration(wis), not
concentration(con).
-------------------- felicia AKA
Freya Culadin
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