Midgame malaise

[Derakon]

It's one of the big ways that breath weapons are distinguished from spells. They usually have a much higher damage cap than spells do at the starts of fights, but become far less dangerous as the fight progresses, while spells remain equally powerful throughout. That's an interesting distinction IMO.

(of course, Vanilla has conical breaths now, which is another way to distinguish them...)

[Pete Mack]

One other thing: most breath damage goes down as a function of distance, EXCEPT lightning breath. So electricity is doubly dangerous: no distance attenuation, and no double resistance (unless you are playing Mage.) At 20 squares away, breath will be doing 1/2 to 1/3(?) of nominal damage. For more powerful monsters, the radius at which attenuation begins can be as high as 10 squares.

[Nick]

One other thing: most breath damage goes down as a function of distance, EXCEPT lightning breath.

Wait, really?

[Pete Mack]

I assume so, since it is a beam rather than a cone.

[Nick]

I assume so, since it is a beam rather than a cone.

Lightning breath is in cones, same as everything else - I just checked a couple of monsters. Are you thinking of rods of lightning?

[Pete Mack]

I guess I am. I just recalled incorrectly.