I'm just wondering, has anyone used this fighting style from the UA? (quoted below). if so, how has it been? also... are you a target within 5ft of yourself? i.e. can you do it to yourself?
Interception
When a creature you can see hits a target that is within 5 feet of you with an attack, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage the target takes by 1d10 + your proficiency bonus (to a minimum of 0 damage). You must be wielding a shield or a simple or martial weapon to use this reaction
I have not tried it. At a glance it looks slightly worse than protection style. I tend toward casters anyway, but also haven't played a game since the UA came out...
From its wording, I'd guess you can use it to block your own attack, but there would be no point.
Why would there be no point to doing so? It would still reduce damage for you from a hit (also doesn't specify weapon attack. though I expect that to alter by the time it gets out)
I was viewing it better than protection style, just on the inherent clause that you do it after you're aware damage will go through. Where as Protection requires before to give disadvantage. So you might be using it on a low roll anyway. Or maybe its just I feel that way due to multiattack scenarios
Oh, I misunderstood the question. I though you meant can you block and attack from you not at you. But... Yeah, it seems it can do that too. It doesn't have the same clause that protector has that prevents it.
You were once a bodyguard for a royal family member or noble, but during a public ceremony an assassin attacked your noble and you were too slow to intercept the blow.
Thankfully, the strike wasn't fatal, but your failure resulted in your disgraceful ejection from the city watch.
Shunned by your former lawful comrades, you now make a living as an adventurer...and to atone for your failure, you now specialize in wielding a shield...taking the blow for others.
Almost obsessively. You go with them everywhere. And you're pretty paranoid about danger around every corner.
The playstyle would involve the "Interception" fighting style and the "Shield Master" feat. Pick a member of the party you like, and become their personal bodyguard.
Keep people at arm's length from them, shove them away, test their food for poison...extra points for guarding your spellcasters and tackling an enemy while shouting "PROTECT THE WIZARD...!!"
A Cavalier Fighter, Ancestral Guardian Barbarian, or Paladin makes sense...but probably paladin.
Smites will give you some offensive power, since Oppurtunity Attacks will be a regular "thing" with you. Plus, a Devotion Paladin, Crown Paladin, or Conquest Paladin all have unique features that will aid a shield-based protector.
Eldritch Knight is interesting, too..."War Caster" plus "Booming Blade" or "Shocking Grasp" gives you a taser-like effect. The teleport-feature also introduces a flavorful way to "jump" in front of deathblows...the product of the bodyguards obsessive training.
It does not say you can't. And there is a history of things like this having to specifically say you are not a valid target of this ability or something to that effect, so we can assume (until an errata happens) that its intentional.
It also puts this style from 'meh' to 'wow, that's actually really good' in my mind.
At a minimum, it's a reaction to add 3 Damage Reduction at level 1. Which is the same as heavy armor master.
If I were making a Two handed Great Weapon Master Fighter I would give heavy consideration to taking this in order to shore up some of my lacking defense at early levels, especially if I was playing with the Variant rule that would allow me to trade it out later when the style starts to be less useful.
I have not tried it. At a glance it looks slightly worse than protection style. I tend toward casters anyway, but also haven't played a game since the UA came out...
From its wording, I'd guess you can use it to block your own attack, but there would be no point.
A rules lawyer would say that attacking your barbarian to keep him in rage and reducing the damage you do to him might be feasible.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
I mean if you wanted to keep the Barb up and running. Everyone is profienct in unarmed strikes.
and.. I think you can voluntarily tank saves and AC and get auto hit right? (or am I mixing that up with Pathfinder 2?)
So you could punch for 1+str on your barb to keep them going. Which.. thematically/fluff is hilarious and I think acurate to some party dynamics. Slapping to keep them hyped up "YEAH. GET READY. LETS DO THIS. HUH HUH HOOH!" like smacking helmets of football team members
No matter what I seem to toggle, can't seem to get Interception to show as an option for a Paladin. Is anyone else able to choose it within dndbyeond?
The "Interception" Fighting Style was part of the massive Unearthed Arcana "Class Variants" release from last fall.
It will not be released until the entirety of the "Class Variants" are updated here on D&D Beyond...which is a process that has taken some substantial work for the website team, basically having to change the way the site works.
Fret not, however...! The D&D Beyond team has (repeatedly) assured everyone that they are working on it.
I've used it (mostly on myself) and it is strong. The usefulness scales exponentially downwards the more times in a round you are getting hit. Against 1 big bruiser it's amazing, against 4 smaller things with multiattack it falls off.
I play a kensei monk with it. (Taken with a feat) It really helps me stay up in the front line. I'm still no where near as tanky as our barbarian. I also like having the option to help my teammates with it.
If you can use it on yourself, it's great. If you can't, don't bother with it.
Do you guys think the damage reduction should happen before or after a concentration check? If before, it's even better than I originally considered...
I am confused, if I am a fighter with two co-party members within 5 feet and facing three baddies, may i use interception twice in one round to stop the baddie attacks on my two co-PC's? is it limited to just one time a round?
It is limited to once per round as you are use your reaction to do it. However if you have an ability to gain extra reaction ie. buying more with ki points as a monk. You can do it more than once
It is limited to once per round as you are use your reaction to do it. However if you have an ability to gain extra reaction ie. buying more with ki points as a monk. You can do it more than once
Uhh… unless I’m missing something significant that’s not a thing monks can do.
It is limited to once per round as you are use your reaction to do it. However if you have an ability to gain extra reaction ie. buying more with ki points as a monk. You can do it more than once
Uhh… unless I’m missing something significant that’s not a thing monks can do.
It’s a critical role thing. Cobalt Soul gets it at tenth level.
It is limited to once per round as you are use your reaction to do it. However if you have an ability to gain extra reaction ie. buying more with ki points as a monk. You can do it more than once
Uhh… unless I’m missing something significant that’s not a thing monks can do.
It’s a critical role thing. Cobalt Soul gets it at tenth level.
Heyo.
I'm just wondering, has anyone used this fighting style from the UA? (quoted below).
if so, how has it been?
also... are you a target within 5ft of yourself? i.e. can you do it to yourself?
Interception
When a creature you can see hits a target that is within 5 feet of you with an attack, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage the target takes by 1d10 + your proficiency bonus (to a minimum of 0 damage). You must be wielding a shield or a simple or martial weapon to use this reaction
I have not tried it. At a glance it looks slightly worse than protection style. I tend toward casters anyway, but also haven't played a game since the UA came out...
From its wording, I'd guess you can use it to block your own attack, but there would be no point.
Why would there be no point to doing so? It would still reduce damage for you from a hit (also doesn't specify weapon attack. though I expect that to alter by the time it gets out)
I was viewing it better than protection style, just on the inherent clause that you do it after you're aware damage will go through. Where as Protection requires before to give disadvantage. So you might be using it on a low roll anyway. Or maybe its just I feel that way due to multiattack scenarios
Oh, I misunderstood the question. I though you meant can you block and attack from you not at you. But... Yeah, it seems it can do that too. It doesn't have the same clause that protector has that prevents it.
I have to reevaluate this style now.
Background: City Guard / Investigator
You were once a bodyguard for a royal family member or noble, but during a public ceremony an assassin attacked your noble and you were too slow to intercept the blow.
Thankfully, the strike wasn't fatal, but your failure resulted in your disgraceful ejection from the city watch.
Shunned by your former lawful comrades, you now make a living as an adventurer...and to atone for your failure, you now specialize in wielding a shield...taking the blow for others.
Almost obsessively. You go with them everywhere. And you're pretty paranoid about danger around every corner.
The playstyle would involve the "Interception" fighting style and the "Shield Master" feat. Pick a member of the party you like, and become their personal bodyguard.
Keep people at arm's length from them, shove them away, test their food for poison...extra points for guarding your spellcasters and tackling an enemy while shouting "PROTECT THE WIZARD...!!"
A Cavalier Fighter, Ancestral Guardian Barbarian, or Paladin makes sense...but probably paladin.
Smites will give you some offensive power, since Oppurtunity Attacks will be a regular "thing" with you. Plus, a Devotion Paladin, Crown Paladin, or Conquest Paladin all have unique features that will aid a shield-based protector.
Eldritch Knight is interesting, too..."War Caster" plus "Booming Blade" or "Shocking Grasp" gives you a taser-like effect. The teleport-feature also introduces a flavorful way to "jump" in front of deathblows...the product of the bodyguards obsessive training.
It does not say you can't. And there is a history of things like this having to specifically say you are not a valid target of this ability or something to that effect, so we can assume (until an errata happens) that its intentional.
It also puts this style from 'meh' to 'wow, that's actually really good' in my mind.
At a minimum, it's a reaction to add 3 Damage Reduction at level 1. Which is the same as heavy armor master.
If I were making a Two handed Great Weapon Master Fighter I would give heavy consideration to taking this in order to shore up some of my lacking defense at early levels, especially if I was playing with the Variant rule that would allow me to trade it out later when the style starts to be less useful.
A rules lawyer would say that attacking your barbarian to keep him in rage and reducing the damage you do to him might be feasible.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
I mean if you wanted to keep the Barb up and running. Everyone is profienct in unarmed strikes.
and.. I think you can voluntarily tank saves and AC and get auto hit right? (or am I mixing that up with Pathfinder 2?)
So you could punch for 1+str on your barb to keep them going. Which.. thematically/fluff is hilarious and I think acurate to some party dynamics. Slapping to keep them hyped up "YEAH. GET READY. LETS DO THIS. HUH HUH HOOH!" like smacking helmets of football team members
No matter what I seem to toggle, can't seem to get Interception to show as an option for a Paladin. Is anyone else able to choose it within dndbyeond?
The "Interception" Fighting Style was part of the massive Unearthed Arcana "Class Variants" release from last fall.
It will not be released until the entirety of the "Class Variants" are updated here on D&D Beyond...which is a process that has taken some substantial work for the website team, basically having to change the way the site works.
Fret not, however...! The D&D Beyond team has (repeatedly) assured everyone that they are working on it.
Thanks for the quick response! I am so impressed with the incredible work done here.
I've used it (mostly on myself) and it is strong. The usefulness scales exponentially downwards the more times in a round you are getting hit. Against 1 big bruiser it's amazing, against 4 smaller things with multiattack it falls off.
I play a kensei monk with it. (Taken with a feat) It really helps me stay up in the front line. I'm still no where near as tanky as our barbarian. I also like having the option to help my teammates with it.
If you can use it on yourself, it's great. If you can't, don't bother with it.
Do you guys think the damage reduction should happen before or after a concentration check? If before, it's even better than I originally considered...
Con check is only for total damage dtaken isn't it?
So if you have resistence and such, that applies. As well as stuff like Absorb Elements. Those should all work for conc right?
Yes. Interception reduces the damage From an attack, and Concentration checks happen after damage has been applied.
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I am confused, if I am a fighter with two co-party members within 5 feet and facing three baddies, may i use interception twice in one round to stop the baddie attacks on my two co-PC's? is it limited to just one time a round?
It is limited to once per round as you are use your reaction to do it. However if you have an ability to gain extra reaction ie. buying more with ki points as a monk. You can do it more than once
Uhh… unless I’m missing something significant that’s not a thing monks can do.
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It’s a critical role thing. Cobalt Soul gets it at tenth level.
I can’t remember what’s supposed to go here.
Ahh, thank you.
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