james.zwiers wrote:
Zac, my point about it not being magical was that it is also not subject to things like Unravel the Thread. It is a two-edged sword, and not meant necessarily as 'it is worse than magic'.
Sure, and I get that. And yet Challenge
is worse than similar magic.
As we know there is quite the discussion to be had about that hole in the waterline where individual interpretation leaks in.
And in person Eric has patiently explained to me that as Challenge relies on Intimidate it will age very poorly as the tiers grow. I'm not 100% convinced it must be so, but I also understand that ranks in melee: anything will be a better investment than trying to race the wind with a social skill.
No mistake; I love Challenge. I have three LoA characters and two of them have it. I think the heart of heroism is to put yourself at risk in the place of someone else and Challenge is magnificent for that.
Hell the shortest line to solving this problem on the local level is just to let it ride out as written; when that trio of Shadow Lions jumps the party in
Long March, Dark Coda D'Serrat made it to point to Challenge two of them and block the path of the third.
She had AR 5 armor complete with the
slow quality and ~80 vitality.
And then she was down and Vanquished before the Challenge had worn off.
If the increased lethality rules had been in effect she'd be lunch meat; she easily took more than her 3 wounds worth of hits in vitality losses greater than her Fortitude defense.
I'd be unhappy about it, but I wouldn't be complaining here as the downside of wanting to be that brave is succeeding!