Simple Q&A D&D 3.5 (by RAW) XVII

[averagejoe]

(This is a fairly high procedure thread; please read the entire instructions carefully before posting. Thanks.)

Ever have a simple, straight-forward rules question that you can’t figure out the answer to? Ask it here. No question is too simple. No more worrying about whether your question is “worth” starting a thread. Ask here and receive an answer. You are, of course, welcome to start a thread for your question, and if you think your question is subject to many interpretations or will start a debate, you are encouraged to start a new thread for it.

This thread will serve as a catch-all for simple, discreet questions that can be answered quickly according to the RAW (Rules As Written). This thread is for all simple RAW questions about D&D 3.5.

If your question is about D&D 4e or some other system, ask here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6837321)
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Here are some sample questions. “Bad” questions just mean they should be asked in their own thread where you can get many answers and opinions. “Good” questions just mean that these are the types of questions that are amenable to a quick straightforward answer (probably).

Sample “Bad” Questions:
How do I play D&D? (Great question, but not for this thread.)
What is a good 10 level TWF build? (Far too broad and requires much opinion)
What +2 LA race should I take for my sorcerer build? (Again, an opinion question)
Which is better GURPS or D&D?

Sample “Good” Questions:
Q.1. Are there any Large +0 LA races?
Q.2. As a sorcerer/rogue, do I get to add sneak attack damage to my attack spells?
Q.3. What effect would Dispel Magic have on a golem or similar construct?
Q.4. Is there a feat that allows me to get a familiar?

{The first several versions of this thread seemed to run pretty efficiently, but if you have any comments about how this thread could be improved please PM me.}

Please start over with the numbering. Thanks.

[Amiria]

Repost as Q 1

Can an Artificer stack multiple Weapon or Armor Augmentations on the same weapon / armor / shield ? Like i.e. use Lesser Weapon Augmentation and Weapon Augmentation (or any of those x2) to make a weapon both i.e. Keen and X Bane ?

[Koury]

Last question in last thread repost:

Q636
Can you combine Dungeoncrasher and Setting Suns throwing maneuvers? As in, if you throw someone against a wall, would that trigger the bonus damage from Dungeoncrasher?

[Demons_eye]

A:363 No

The Dungeoncrasher works while bullrushing while the throwing maneuvers work with trips.

Reposting Q:2: Is there anyway to increase your natural healing to heal ability damage X per round? Looking for natural healing not magical.

[ffone]

Q3

Can a staff be crafted with only 1 spell? (50 charges, but only one spell.)

[Derjuin]

Resposting Q634 as

Q 4

When using Innate Spell, can one choose to apply metamagic or class abilities (such as Shadow Illusion) to the chosen spell and have the metamagiced version of the spell as an at-will 1/round SLA? For example, if my character is epic and can cast up to 17th level spells thanks to other feats, can I have a Silent Image heightened to 9th level as my Innate Spell?

[Gnoman]

A3
No.

From the SRD


Unlike wands, which can contain a wide variety of spells, each staff is of a certain kind and holds specific spells. A staff has 50 charges when created.

Staves are not made freeform like wands. The kind of staff is selected from a list, and only the listed types may be made.

[Douglas]

A3 dispute

The text of Creating Staffs (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/creatingMagicItems.htm#creatingStaffs) seems to imply at least some degree of customizability and gives a clear explicit formula for cost.

[Merellis]

Q 5
This is kind of a multiple part question.
Do Leap Attack, Power Attack, Powerful Charge and Shocktrooper work with a Full-Attack? As in, can I use all of them with each part of the full-attack or does it only count for the first strike?

And yes, I am using pounce to get a charge and full-attack.

[Lateral]

A 5: Yes, yes, yes, and yes.


Can an Artificer stack multiple Weapon or Armor Augmentations on the same weapon / armor / shield ? Like i.e. use Lesser Weapon Augmentation and Weapon Augmentation (or any of those x2) to make a weapon both i.e. Keen and X Bane ?
A 1: I believe so.

[PlzBreakMyCmpAn]

bah

Q637: If an updated 3.0 monster has polymorph self in its entry then when it is used in 3.5, should the monster be able to polymorph but only on itself? If so can I get a rules quote?

[ILM]

Q6: When playing a Shadowcraft Mage, do enemies automatically get a save to disbelieve:
- direct damage shadow evocations/conjurations?
- save-or-die shadow evocations/conjurations?
- shadow conjuration summons?

[Curmudgeon]

A 637

According to the "Feats, Prestige Classes, and Spells Rules Reference" (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20050110x) for the 3.0 -> 3.5 transition, the replacement for Polymorph Self is Polymorph.

[Curmudgeon]

A 6

The answers are yes, yes, and no. You get a save to disbelieve if you interact with the illusion, which is automatic if that illusion is attempting to affect you. You do not get an automatic save with a summoned creature at the time of casting; that only happens if you interact with it.

[Curmudgeon]

A 5 [correction]

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
The answers are maybe, yes, no, and no.

This attack must follow all the normal rules for using the Jump skill and for making a charge Your DM may decide that "this attack" refers just to the attack at the end of the Jump.

The penalty on attacks and bonus on damage apply until your next turn.

If you have the ability to make multiple attacks after a charge, you may only apply this extra damage to one of those attacks.
That one's very explicit. Shame on you, Lateral; you should look things up if you can't trust your memory.

To use this maneuver, you must charge and make the attack at the end of the charge using your Power Attack feat. The penalty you take on your attack roll must be -5 or worse. Only the first attack is the one "at the end of the charge", and "your attack roll" (singular) can apply only to a single attack.

[DeltaEmil]

Q 7

Does your astral body need to breath, eat (and drink) and sleep?
Does your original body, which is in a state of suspended animation still need to eat (and drink) and breath? Does your original body age?

[Koury]

Q 8
I have Knock-Down and Improved Trip. I hit someone for 10+ damage and take my free trip. Upon success tripping, I get my free attack from Imp. Trip, right?

I'm pretty sure you do, just want to check.

[Curmudgeon]

A 8 Yes.

That's correct for D&D 3.5. (D&D 3.0 had an erratum which disallowed this, but that rule wasn't picked up for the 3.5 edition.)

[SlashRunner]

Q. 9

How do I find out hitpoints at 1st level?

[monkman]

R.9

You roll get the Hit die for your class and add your constitution modifier.

Edit: Sorry for giving out bad information. Next time, Ill check before I post.

[Koury]

A9 Correction

At level 1 you don't roll at all. Hit Points are automatically maxed (assuming we are refering to PCs).

Plus Con mod, as was said.

[Curmudgeon]

A 9

Each class description will have an entry like the following (for the Barbarian):

Hit Die: d12.

For his or her first Hit Die, a 1st-level character gets the maximum hit points rather than rolling (although Constitution modifiers, positive or negative, still apply).
Hit Points: Your hit points (hp) determine how hard your character is to kill. At 1st level, wizards and sorcerers get 4 hp; rogues and bards get 6 hp; clerics, druids, monks, and rangers get 8 hp; fighters and paladins get 10 hp; and barbarians get 12 hp. To this number, add your character’s Constitution modifier.

[ILM]

A 6

The answers are yes, yes, and no. You get a save to disbelieve if you interact with the illusion, which is automatic if that illusion is attempting to affect you. You do not get an automatic save with a summoned creature at the time of casting; that only happens if you interact with it.
Such as when it tries to eat your face :smallbiggrin:. Wonderful, thanks!

edit: well, since I'm here...
Q7: Other than the following, are there any items that increase your caster level or spells of the illusion school (either generally or solely for the purpose of overcoming spell resistance):
- ring of arcane might
- vest of the archmagi
- orange ioun stone
- bead of karma
- third eye penetrate

Q6 part 2: When an Illusion spell allows a Will save that isn't explicitly listed as disbelief (such as Solipsism, SC), is that still a disbelief save or not for the purpose of the Master Specialist's Minor School Esoterica (illusion)? It probably doesn't, but I want to make sure.

[Greenish]

Q10 I remember seeing the rules for Tumbling while charging somewhere. Am I imagining things, or how does it work?

[Taelas]

A10:
Perhaps you are thinking of Twisted Charge, a Skill Trick from Complete Scoundrel, which lets you change direction mid-charge. It requires ranks in the Tumble skill (as well as Balance).

[Curmudgeon]

A 10

There are several sources for this. Starting with just the Player's Handbook: Tumble works with any movement form for which you have a listed speed; that's what "normal movement" means. (You can also Jump while charging.)

Next we have the Tiger Claw Sudden Leap maneuver (Tome of Battle, page 89):
As with any movement, you can attempt a Tumble check to avoid any attacks you provoke with this sudden leap.
Finally, there's Rules Compendium on page 27:

Tumbling during a Charge
You can tumble during a charge, as long as you continue to meet all other criteria for making a charge before, during, and after tumbling.
The standard penalties based on your speed apply. If your charge movement is half your speed or less, the Tumble check has no penalty. Above half speed and up to your full speed, the -10 for Accelerated Tumbling applies; above that speed you incur the -20 Sprinting Tumble penalty (Complete Adventurer, page 103).

[Rainshine]

Q. 11: My question is on the Dire Lion, page 63-64 of the Monster Manual. So, the lion charges a target. How many attacks does it get?


A full attack from pounce (which is +15, +15, +9) in addition to two rake attacks (+14, +14), getting a total of five attacks on its target?

[Cog]

A 11:
Possibly. Rake attacks are dependent on grappling. A creature with Pounce would need to succeed on a grapple check with Improved Grab as well before gaining access to the Rake attacks.

[Keld Denar]

A 11 Continued

Rake is broken.

Contrast Pounce from Dire Lion.

Pounce (Ex)
If a dire lion charges, it can make a full attack, including two rake attacks.
with the rules for Rake.

Rake
A creature with this special attack gains extra natural attacks when it grapples its foe. Normally, a monster can attack with only one of its natural weapons while grappling, but a monster with the rake ability usually gains two additional claw attacks that it can use only against a grappled foe. Rake attacks are not subject to the usual -4 penalty for attacking with a natural weapon in a grapple.

A monster with the rake ability must begin its turn grappling to use its rake—it can’t begin a grapple and rake in the same turn.

So, one source says yes, the other source says no. They both come from the same book, so primary source becomes a lot more murky. One could argue that the creature's text overrides the general rules for rake, except that EVERY creature with Rake in the MMI contains similar contradictions.

Best to show the text of these two abilities to your DM and ask for clarification because you aren't gonna get a RAW answer for this.

[Tvtyrant]

Q 12: When animating weapons via Animate Object do they gain any bonuses from being Masterwork? And when it says "nonmagical material" what exactly does this exclude?

[KillianHawkeye]

A 11 continued

Having seen felines charge and pounce in real life, I say they should indeed get the rake attacks.

Regardless of how many monsters possess such an exception, we must accept that any rules present in a monster's individual stat block are more specific than the rake ability's general description.

[Curmudgeon]

A 12 No.

Animated objects are constructs, and their attack is based on their size, not the configuration of their material. The fact that the item was a weapon before being animated has nothing to do with its attack characteristics afterward. Perhaps your mental imagery is confusing a dancing weapon with an animated object ─ but these operate under entirely different rules. A chunk of wood and a masterwork sword of the same size have identical properties under the influence of Animate Objects.

If a material is listed as having magical properties, or is the subject of any ongoing magical effect, that excludes it.

[Jon_Dahl]

Q 13:
Manual of Gainful Exercise +1 has a drawback: Character’s gender changes.
Someone has read the manual (48 hours over a minimum of six days), gained +1 to Con and discarded the book.
So... What kind of magic does the book radiate after this and what happens if someone else reads that book again?

[Cog]

A 12 Additional:

A chunk of wood and a masterwork sword of the same size have identical properties under the influence of Animate Objects.
Curmudgeon's answer was correct for the question given, but this line isn't precisely true. Some characteristics (hardness, various special attacks) of the animated object depend on the properties of the original object. These are all given in the animated object monster entry, however.

A 13:

Once the book is read, the magic disappears from the pages and it becomes a normal book.
None and nothing. Drawbacks are tied to use of the item unless otherwise indicated, so the drawback would be lost with the rest of the magic.

[Blinkbear]

Q 14 Invisible attackers, dex to AC and pinpointing

A creature being attacked by an invisible foe generally loses its dexterity bonus to AC. There are some means to pinpoint an invisible foe. Does this change anything regarding defense? Or does it only influence the chances to attack the invisible creature? Further assume the defender has the scent ability. Does that change anything regarding defense?

[Curmudgeon]

Re: A 12 Additional:

Curmudgeon's answer was correct for the question given, but this line isn't precisely true. Some characteristics (hardness, various special attacks) of the animated object depend on the properties of the original object. These are all given in the animated object monster entry, however.
I had thought I'd established the context for my statement, which was that of the animated object's attack characteristics. Apparently I did not do an adequate job in that respect, and I apologize for any confusion.

[Greenish]

Q 14 Invisible attackers, dex to AC and pinpointing

A creature being attacked by an invisible foe generally loses its dexterity bonus to AC. There are some means to pinpoint an invisible foe. Does this change anything regarding defense? Or does it only influence the chances to attack the invisible creature? Further assume the defender has the scent ability. Does that change anything regarding defense?A 14 Pinpointing an invisible enemy only allows you to know which square(s) it occupies. It doesn't make defending easier nor do anything to the 50% miss chance you suffer from attacking enemies you can't see.

Scent allows one to detect and pinpoint the enemy, is all.

[AsteriskAmp]

Q15 Does an invisible creature with rogue attacking another invisible creature get a sneak attack??

[Bakkan]

A15

Yes if the attacking rogue has the ability to see invisibility and the defender does not. No otherwise.

If the defending character can see invisibility, he does not lose his Dexterity bonus to AC and is therefore not vulnerable to sneak attacks.

If the attacking rogue cannot see invisibility, he suffers a miss chance due to concealment and therefore cannot make a sneak attack


A rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.


Q16 If an invisible character is under the effect of a faerie fire spell, does he still gain a +2 to attack and the ability to ignore his opponent's Dex modifier if his opponent cannot see invisibility?

[Greenish]

Q15 Does an invisible creature with rogue attacking another invisible creature get a sneak attack??A 15 Being invisible doesn't allow one to see other invisible creatures. An invisible creature has total concealment from you, and is thus not a valid target for Sneak Attack or Sudden Strike.

[Cog]

A 16:
Yes. The ability of an invisible creature to ignore Dex-to-AC is stated separately from the concealment that invisibility provides. Faerie Fire specifically negates the concealment and pinpoints the invisible creature's location, but does not negate any other benefits of the invisible condition that are not dependent on those two facts.

[Luzahn]

Q17: Are feints performable while using a Barbarian's rage? And if so, will a sneak attack be applicable to the next attack?

[AsteriskAmp]

Q17: Are feints performable while using a Barbarian's rage? And if so, will a sneak attack be applicable to the next attack?

No, it's based on bluff which is based on Charisma, ergo, you can't use it during a rage since it is explicitly stated on rage's description that you can't use skills related to dexterity, charisma or Intelligence with few exceptions, bluff not among them.

[dragonsamurai77]

Q18

An invisible attacker "ignores its opponents' Dexterity bonuses to AC (if any)". I know this is enough to qualify for Sneak Attack, but what about Iajutsu Focus, as it mentions the target actually being flat-footed?

[Curmudgeon]

A 18 No.

Flat-footed is a more severe hindrance than merely being denied DEX to AC, as it also completely prevents the character from making attacks of opportunity.

[Greenish]

A 18 Attacker being invisible doesn't make the defender flat-footed, and is thus not enough to satisfy Iajutsu Focus.

[Edit]: In addition to what Curmudgeon said above, it can be pointed out that flat-footed characters can't perform immediate actions, either.

[Greenish]

Q 19 If an attacker uses a maneuver that makes the defender flat-footed (say, Sapphire Nightmare Blade) against that specific attack, can the defender use immediate action (say, Abrupt Jaunt) to avoid the attack?

[DeltaEmil]

A 19

Yes. You can always take an immediate action as an interrupt or as a reaction to another action, and immediate actions can also be taken while flat-footed, unless the specific action that can be taken as an immediate action specifies that it cannot be taken in such circumstance.

[Curmudgeon]

A 19 Usually yes.

Immediate Magic does have this limitation (Player's Handbook II, page 68):
You can’t activate this ability in response to an attack that you aren’t aware of. So, while Sapphire Nightmare Blade by itself does not prevent Abrupt Jaunt, an invisible attacker using Sapphire Nightmare Blade would keep Abrupt Jaunt from being used.

Edit:

immediate actions can also be taken while flat-footed, unless the specific action that can be taken as an immediate action specifies that it cannot be taken in such circumstance.
That's incorrect.
Immediate Actions

Much like a swift action, an immediate action consumes a very small amount of time, but represents a larger expenditure of effort and energy than a free action. However, unlike a swift action, an immediate action can be performed at any time — even if it's not your turn. Casting feather fall is an immediate action, since the spell can be cast at any time.

Using an immediate action on your turn is the same as using a swift action, and counts as your swift action for that turn. You cannot use another immediate action or a swift action until after your next turn if you have used an immediate action when it is not currently your turn (effectively, using an immediate action before your turn is equivalent to using your swift action for the coming turn). You also cannot use an immediate action if you are flat-footed. The exception works the other way around, such as the provision in the Nerveskitter immediate action spell allowing it to be cast when flat-footed.

[Koury]

Q20

Can a cleric convert domain spells into cures?

[Bakkan]

A20 No.


A good cleric (or a neutral cleric of a good deity) can channel stored spell energy into healing spells that the cleric did not prepare ahead of time. The cleric can "lose" any prepared spell that is not a domain spell in order to cast any cure spell of the same spell level or lower (a cure spell is any spell with "cure" in its name). (underline mine)

[Greenish]

Q 21 Can you hit an incorporeal creature inside a wall with

A) Ghost Touch Brilliant Energy weapon, or

B) Brilliant Energy weapon with [Force] tag, such as from Crystal Helm soulmeld?

[Revenance]

Q22
Supposed you start your Intelligence at 18, then increase it at 4th and 8th level (which'll make it 20), does your new Intelligence modifier increase the skills you get at 8th level and every level after that? If it does, then can I ask where the rule is stated in the Player's Handbook (or any other book)?

[Douglas]

A22

Yes. As per page 58 of the PHB in the Skill Points section of Level Advancement:

Use your character’s current Intelligence score, including all permanent changes (such as inherent bonuses, ability drains, or an Intelligence increase gained at step 4, above) but not any temporary changes (such as ability damage, or enhancement bonuses gained from spells or magic items, such as a headband of intellect), to determine the number of skill points you gain.

Note that this section is after the one for increasing an ability score every 4th level, so the improved bonus kicks in immediately at level 8.

Also note, however, that the increase in skill points is not retroactive - your future levels benefit, but you don't get a huge lump sum of skill points for all your existing levels, so you don't get to suddenly add a whole new maxed-out skill with no previous ranks.

[Cog]

A 21:
Yes to both. The incorporeal creature would still benefit from total concealment, though, unless you have some means of negating that.

[AsteriskAmp]

Q23 According to Stormwrack ship combat rules, a ship can grapple by merely declaring an action and making an appropiate roll, and stop a grapple by trying to escape it with a -8 penalty (I'm not 100% this is correct or if it is only a -4 penalty). However, the first suggested locale describes the grapple in a completely different manner, prioritizing NPC action over ship action, and declaring that to break a graple it is necesary to break the ropes making it happen with no reference to the previously described rules.

Which one is correct?

[Koury]

Q24

Good guys are in a pitch black cave, using the Light spell to see. Bad guy casts Darkness. Good guy uses Daylight. Daylight and Darkness mess each other up causing "the otherwise prevailing light conditions exist in the overlapping areas of effect."

Can the good guys see? Is the original Light spell "the otherwise prevailing light condition"?

[Cog]

A 24:
The Darkness spell is capable of negating both Light and Daylight, and has no limit on the number of spells it can negate. The cave's original pitch black condition would prevail.

[Kuulvheysoon]

A 20.

No, but a Cleric using the Spontaneous Domain ACF featured in the PHB2 can prepare the cure line of spells in their domain slots.

[Koury]

Re: A24

It seems to me to come down to this:

Daylight "brought into an area of magical darkness (or vice versa) is temporarily negated." This doesn't make sense to me because "Higher level light spells are not affected by darkness."

If Darkness is right, then there should be light from the Daylight spell itself. If Daylight is right, then your answer seems correct.

[Gnoman]

Re: A24.


From the SRD


Daylight brought into an area of magical darkness (or vice versa) is temporarily negated, so that the otherwise prevailing light conditions exist in the overlapping areas of effect.

Daylight counters or dispels any darkness spell of equal or lower level, such as darkness.

[Koury]

Re: A 24

Isn't that line only relevent when it comes to Counterspelling? Or if you cast the Daylight spell on the exact same object as the Darkness spell?

[Cog]

A 24 continued:
Darkness provides a general rule. Daylight provides a more specific rule for handling its own effects, and so to find out what happens to that spell in a certain situation, that spell's own description would take priority. Also, the countering/dispelling rules only apply to countering and dispelling.

[Blackjackg]

Q 25: Are all natural attacks (including bite, gore, sting, etc.) considered light weapons for the purposes of the Power Attack feat? If not, which are and which are not?

[Jon_Dahl]

Q 26

If you heighten (using the feat) Mark of Justice to a 6th-level spell, does it become immune to Break Enchantment-spell?

[Curmudgeon]

A 25 Yes.

All unarmed strikes and other natural weapons are considered light weapons (see Rules Compendium on page 45).

[Curmudgeon]

A 26 Yes.

The normal susceptibility of Mark of Justice to Break Enchantment is because it's 5th level or lower. Using Heighten Spell to increase the spell level can make Mark of Justice exceed the limits of Break Enchantment.

[Kuma Kode]

Q 25: Are all natural attacks (including bite, gore, sting, etc.) considered light weapons for the purposes of the Power Attack feat? If not, which are and which are not?

Note that the fact that natural attacks are light weapons does not stop a Power Attack from being used; power attack specifically states it can be used on unarmed strikes or natural attacks despite their status as light weapons.

[ILM]

Bumpage for:

Q7: Other than the following, are there any items that increase your caster level or spells of the illusion school (either generally or solely for the purpose of overcoming spell resistance):
- ring of arcane might
- vest of the archmagi
- orange ioun stone
- bead of karma
- third eye penetrate

Q6 part 2: When an Illusion spell allows a Will save that isn't explicitly listed as disbelief (such as Solipsism, SC), is that still a disbelief save or not for the purpose of the Master Specialist's Minor School Esoterica (illusion)? It probably doesn't, but I want to make sure.

Also, Q27: I've seen it mentioned a couple times here so I wonder, do the Paladin of Tyranny's Aura of Despair and the Blackguard's Aura of Despair stack? Same name, same effects, but different source...

[Elric VIII]

Q 28

Are there any races with large size or the ability to have greater than 10ft reach with a reach weapon with a +0 or +1 LA and no RHD?

[Curmudgeon]

A 27 No.

Aura of Despair is the name of the source of this saving throw penalty. Two instances of Aura of Despair don't stack.
Stacking

In most cases, modifiers to a given check or roll stack (combine for a cumulative effect) if they come from different sources and have different types (or no type at all), but do not stack if they have the same type or come from the same source (such as the same spell cast twice in succession).

[Kuulvheysoon]

Q. 29

Extended Abjuration (Abjurant Champion, CM), Rune of Extending (Spellcarved Soldier, RoE) and Extended Spellstrength (Suel Arcanomach, CAr) -how do they interact? Is it legal to combine 2/3 of these?

[AsteriskAmp]

Q.30 Can I keep skill points at level up to be used at a later level?

[Cog]

A 28:
Yes. Many races qualify for the Aberration Blood and Inhuman Reach feats. (They do not come with greater reach, but they "have the ability to have greater reach" by taking the feats.) Similar methods are available here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7081777).

[Cog]

A 29:
None of those abilities stack; they all refer to the Extend Spell rules, which doubles only the "normal" duration - i.e., the base duration of the spell.

[Cog]

A 30:
No. You may choose where to assign your points, but not when.

[theterran]

Q31

Does the Dragonwrought feat change the lifespan of a Kobold (if so, what is their new aging table), or just the aging process?

[Taelas]

A31:

The age of kobolds (and the influence the Dragonwrought feat has on them) is detailed on page 39 of Races of the Dragon.

[CigarPete]

Q32. When enchanting weapons or armor, are abilities that have a bonus cost cumulative, so a +1 weapon with Lightning Burst (+2) and Keen (+1) is a +4 weapon with all CL requirements (12th level) to create as well as the associated cost? Or do they come from a zero base, so Lightning Burst costs what a +2 enchantment would, and Keen costs what a +1 enchantment would, with CL requirements associated only with the total actual enhancement bonus and the individual enchantments.

[theterran]

A31:

The age of kobolds (and the influence the Dragonwrought feat has on them) is detailed on page 39 of Races of the Dragon.

/headdesk

How did I miss that...

Thanks!

[Douglas]

A32

For pricing, they are cumulative - a +1 Keen Shocking Burst weapon costs the same as a +4. The CL = 3 times bonus requirement is specifically only for the actual enhancement bonus, however, so that would only dictate a minimum CL of 3. Special abilities have their own individual required caster levels, though, and the weapon's CL must satisfy the highest requirement for any of its abilities. +1 requires CL 3, Keen requires CL 10, and Shocking Burst requires CL 10, so a +1 Keen Shocking Burst weapon would be minimum CL 10.

[CigarPete]

A32

For pricing, they are cumulative - a +1 Keen Shocking Burst weapon costs the same as a +4. The CL = 3 times bonus requirement is specifically only for the actual enhancement bonus, however, so that would only dictate a minimum CL of 3. Special abilities have their own individual required caster levels, though, and the weapon's CL must satisfy the highest requirement for any of its abilities. +1 requires CL 3, Keen requires CL 10, and Shocking Burst requires CL 10, so a +1 Keen Shocking Burst weapon would be minimum CL 10.

Thanks. That's what I thought, just want to make sure I have my facts in order to discuss it with my DM :smallamused:

[ILM]

Q33: Does WBL work off HD or ECL?

[Taelas]

A33:
ECL.

[ILM]

A33:
ECL.
Thanks. Is there a source somewhere I missed about this?

Q34: Do abilities that are fueled by bardic music usage but not strictly speaking bardic music (such as Doomspeak) benefit from Requiem?

[QuadraticWizard]

Q35:

Which creatures that can be summoned using Summon Monster (any/all level) can use a version of Cure Wounds or Heal?

[AngelisBlack]

Q 36

Can splash weapons, such as Acid or Alchemist Fire, or other alchemical items (such as Ditherbombs from ROTD) be thrown as part of an iterative attack? (assuming one has quick draw of course)

[Curmudgeon]

A 34 No.

Requiem's benefits are limited to "mind-affecting bardic music and virtuoso's performance abilities".

[Curmudgeon]

A 36

Yes, but only if the splash weapon requires no additional steps to use. As an example, a flask of oil can be used as a splash weapon, but requires a full round to prepare the flask with a fuse.

[Rosarius]

Q37
What's the point of taking TWF, ITWF and GTWF in a Spiked Chain AoO Fighter Build (triper)? I mean, I don't even use two weapons and I pretty much never full attack.

[OMG PONIES]

A37: While it may be simple, this question delves more into opinions than the rules as written, and as such may deserve its own thread.

[PlzBreakMyCmpAn]

Q38: Does a more recent version of an exactly named feat/spell/item/class invalidate its previously 'version' automatically, or does each instance require its own rules stating that this is the case per each example?

[Cog]

A 38:
The more recent version takes precedence.

[Curmudgeon]

A 38

Generally yes, if the source with the updated material is used in any part of your campaign. (There's no requirement to go out and buy books your group doesn't have.) Since all Errata files are freely available, those aren't optional; they immediately update the prior material. There are also some specific named replacements here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20050110x), and spell replacements named at the start of Spell Compendium (pages 5-6).

[Warclam]

Q 39
Are there any martial double weapons that aren't in a super-obscure book? If not, any that are?

[Cog]

A 39:
None that I'm aware of, but some racial and regional abilities can modify what a weapon is considered as. For example, in Eberron, Valenar elves consider the double scimitar to be a martial weapon.

[Curmudgeon]

A 39 additional

There are of course the dwarven urgroshes and gnome hooked hammer for members of the associated races.

[Rosarius]

Q40

Does Hold the Line stack with Thicket of Blades (Devoted Spirit)? Does it give me two attacks every time I get charged?

[Zaq]

A 39 comment

The quarterstaff is a double weapon, but it's simple, not martial. (I don't know if you're after "not exotic" or specifically "martial," but it bears mentioning.)

[Curmudgeon]

A 40 Yes.

Hold the Line provokes when the foe enters a square you threaten while charging; i.e., they provoke before you threaten them, and the AoO is resolved later. Thicket of Blades provokes only when foes you already threaten move. These are separate triggers. Thicket of Blades is subject to the usual movement restrictions for attacks of opportunity.
Moving out of more than one square threatened by the same opponent in the same round doesn’t count as more than one opportunity for that opponent.

[Thurbane]

Q 41

I'm looking for Sor/Wiz spells with the Chaotic descriptor. So far I've found: Abyssal Army, Demonic Blood Infusion, Fierce Pride of the Beastlands, Magic Circle against Law, Maw of Chaos, Protection from Law, Summon Monster* and Wall of Chaos. Have I missed any?

[Curmudgeon]

A 41
Align Weapon*
Anarchic Storm (M)
Anarchic Water (M)
Chaos Hammer
Cloak of Chaos (F)
Dispel Law
Gate
Mantle of Chaos
Planar Ally*
Planar Ally, Lesser*
Planar Ally, Greater*
Planar Binding*
Planar Binding, Lesser*
Planar Binding, Greater*
Summon Bralani Eladrin
Summon Nature’s Ally n*
Word of Chaos
* - situational

[ILM]

Q42: Does the Undead Leadership feat in LM allow you to get an ECL 18 cohort at level 20, or are you still stuck with ECL 17 as per the normal Leadership feat?

[Greenish]

Q43 If an attack (say, unarmed attack without the feat) provokes an AoO, and you use that AoO to start a grapple and succeed, does the attack that provoked the AoO suffer the penalties of being in a grapple?

[Cog]

A 42:
You still make use of the standard Leadership table, and so are still limited to a 17th level cohort pre-epic.

[Cog]

A 43:
Yes, just as being tripped on the AoO would apply the penalties of being prone. The interruption resolves first.

[ILM]

A43: Yes.


Attacks of Opportunity

Attacking unarmed provokes an attack of opportunity from the character you attack, provided she is armed. The attack of opportunity comes before your attack. An unarmed attack does not provoke attacks of opportunity from other foes nor does it provoke an attack of opportunity from an unarmed foe.

An unarmed character can’t take attacks of opportunity (but see "Armed" Unarmed Attacks, below) [note: therefore he doesn't get an AoO when you try to grapple him].

Making an Attack of Opportunity

An attack of opportunity "interrupts" the normal flow of actions in the round. If an attack of opportunity is provoked, immediately resolve the attack of opportunity, then continue with the next character’s turn (or complete the current turn, if the attack of opportunity was provoked in the midst of a character’s turn).
So you'd resolve the AoO and then continue on with the action that provoked it, meaning that yes, the attack would suffer the penalties.

edit: I try to contribute for a change, and I get ninja'ed. :smallfrown: Thanks for answering my question though. :smalltongue:

[Greenish]

^Don't worry, I appreciate the effort.

Q44 Does a creature standing still on grease (or other slippery surface) count as balancing (and thus flat-footed without 5+ ranks in Balance)? The wording on Balance skill seems to suggest only moving will cause the checks.

[Curmudgeon]

A 44

The answer comes from deciphering what "while balancing" means. Balance itself requires no action, so the state of balancing must therefore be a persistent aftereffect of making a Balance check. Hence a creature counts as balancing on Grease if they've made any Balance check in the area of the Grease spell, but not otherwise.

[danzibr]

Q45

How does having several natural attacks work with having a regular weapon?

Suppose I'm a Warblade Totemist with a two-hander, 4 gorilla arms, 2 slams, a bite, 2 claws on my legs and a tail and my BAB is +11. Would I get 3 attacks with my two-hander then all of my natural attacks at -5?

[abadguy]

Q46

Am I allowed to target a holy symbol or spell component pouch as part of a sunder attempt?
On that note where can I find hardness and HP values for such items?

[Taelas]

A45:

Removed as it was incorrect.

The correct response is that you incur the -5 penalty on all natural attacks while wielding a manufactured weapon, -2 with Multiattack.

[Greenish]

You cannot use natural attacks and a weapon at the same time without using the Two-Weapon Fighting rulesA45 dispute: Two-weapon fighting doesn't have anything to do with using natural attacks. You can't use natural attacks as an offhand weapon (unless they specify that you can, such as skarn's spikes), and you don't take TWF penalties for using your natural attacks as secondaries.

[cd4]

Q47

Is there any way to change an attack roll for a different roll? (eg a skill, AC, save etc.)

[danzibr]

A45:
The correct response is that you incur the -5 penalty on all natural attacks while wielding a manufactured weapon, -2 with Multiattack.

I probably should have clarified... so I would be able to get 3 attacks with my two-hander and ALL other attacks? Or would wielding the two-hander remove two of my 4 gorilla arm attacks?

[Cog]

I probably should have clarified... so I would be able to get 3 attacks with my two-hander and ALL other attacks? Or would wielding the two-hander remove two of my 4 gorilla arm attacks?
The latter.

[Curmudgeon]

A 46

Yes, if you can see those items. When you first have line of sight to those items you will get a reactive Spot check to notice them, with penalties for distance and perhaps distraction. From the Difficulty Class Examples (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/usingSkills.htm#tableDifficultyClassExamples) table in the Skills chapter of the Player's Handbook:

{table=head]Difficulty (DC) | Example (Skill Used)
Very easy (0) | Notice something large in plain sight (Spot)[/table]

Each size category difference adjusts the DC opposing Spot by +/-4, so a Fine size object like a holy symbol or pouch will be DC 20 to Spot within 10'.

Action: Varies. Every time you have a chance to spot something in a reactive manner you can make a Spot check without using an action. Trying to spot something you failed to see previously is a move action. If you succeed on your initial reactive Spot check you would later be able to target those items. If you did not succeed initially you would be incapable of targeting items you can't see, until you used a move action Spot retry with a successful check.

You'll need to check with your DM about the material properties of these items. Wood (some holy symbols) has hardness 5 and 10 hit points/inch of thickness. Leather (some pouches) has hardness 2 and 5 hit points/inch of thickness. Other construction details aren't given.

[Lateral]

Q 48 Are there any ways to get extra power points on a Psion besides Psionic Talent, Cognizance Crystals, or Manifester weapons?

[dextercorvia]

Q 49

Follow up to the answer to 46. Does it matter if the object changes in size or position after your first check? If a cleric comes into your LoS 100' away, and you don't spot his holy symbol, because of the distance, but he proceeds to come closer and become larger, would you still fail to see his holy symbol if you don't spend a move action on it?

[Cog]

A 48:
Azure Talent, Psiforged Body, and various racial features are probably only the start of the list. If the Psion's ML is less than their HD, Practiced Manifester will do this also.

[Curmudgeon]

A 49

Yes, that requirement has no qualifiers for distance or size. You must use a move action recheck.
Trying to spot something you failed to see previously is a move action.

[Kuulvheysoon]

A 48:
Azure Talent, Psiforged Body, and various racial features are probably only the start of the list. If the Psion's ML is less than their HD, Practiced Manifester will do this also.

A48.

The first two work, the third doesn't. Practiced Manifester only raises your effective ML in the case where ML=/=HD. What this allows is for more PP to be spent in augmentation, either via the power options or via metapsionic feats. Also for overcoming Power Resistance.

[Douglas]

A48.

The first two work, the third doesn't. Practiced Manifester only raises your effective ML in the case where ML=/=HD. What this allows is for more PP to be spent in augmentation, either via the power options or via metapsionic feats. Also for overcoming Power Resistance.
Increasing ML does not grant additional PP equivalent to a levelup, true, but it does increase the bonus PP from a high ability score.

[Kuulvheysoon]

Increasing ML does not grant additional PP equivalent to a levelup, true, but it does increase the bonus PP from a high ability score.

...How has this escaped me for so long? I've always assumed that table goes by CLASS LEVEL - yet in the text immediately beside, it EXPLICITLY says key ability modifier*0.5ML

Well, my shadowmind just gained 8PP. Awesome....

[Canarr]

Q 50

Probably an easy one, but I've never played a druid, so here goes: can a druid in wild shaped form cast Animal Growth on himself, to enlarge his form?

[Curmudgeon]

A 50 No.

Wild Shape changes the outward appearance, but type and subtype remain unchanged. Unless the Druid were of Animal type before using Wild Shape, Animal Growth will fail.

[Edhelras]

Q51 Hi, I was puzzled by something that came up in the discussion concerning Comic 789 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0789.html)in OOTS; specifically whether the Break enchantment (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/breakEnchantment.htm)spell can reverse the lvl 6 Sor/Wiz spell of Flesh to Stone (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/fleshToStone.htm). I made a lengthy post wondering about this issue:

Hm. I don't understand this. Seems to me there was in fact made a mistake, when in Comic 70 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0070.html)Break enchantment (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/breakEnchantment.htm)was used to free Celia from the Flesh to Stone (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/fleshToStone.htm)spell.

True, Break enchantment can reverse even instantaneous effects, and the Flesh to Stone (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/stoneToFlesh.htm)transmutation spell is such an instantaneous effect. BUT, the text for Break enchantment specifies that if the effect is one that cannot be dispelled by Dispel magic (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dispelMagic.htm), then Break enchantment can only reverse the spell if it is level 5 or lower. Dispel magic specifies that it cannot dispel instantaneous effects, so it follows that Dispel magic cannot dispel Flesh to Stone. Therefore, Flesh to Stone (a level 6 spell), is one of those spells that Break enchantment cannot reverse, because it's 1) an instantaneous effect and 2) a level 6 spell.

So, there must've been a mistake in Comic 70 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0070.html), when that scroll of Break enchantment was used to reverse Flesh to Stone. That spell, in turn, was also cast by Zz'dtri (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0053.html), so it must've been a level 6 Sor/Wiz spell back then too.

As far as I can understand, this means that both Celia back then, and Haley now, needs Stone to Flesh (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/stoneToFlesh.htm)spells to be released. That is a level 6 Sor/Wiz spell as well, and it's Transmutation. So even if V doesn't know the spell, she could easily cast it from a scroll (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/scrolls.htm), provided he could get access to it. Durkon cannot cast it (at the moment I cannot remember if there are any divine spells that can do the same effect).

Stone to Flesh isn't on the Bard spell list, so Elan couldn't cast it just by activating it. However, he could cast it by using Use magic device (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/useMagicDevice.htm), which is among the Bard skills (although I don't recall having seen Elan use that skill before? Not sure how many INT points he has, it wouldn't surprise me if he had a low INT score, even a penalty, and thus less skill points to spend).

To cast Stone to Flesh from a scroll using Use Magic Device, Elan would first have to decipher the scroll, for instance by using Read magic (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/readMagic.htm), if he has picked that Cantrip (or else he would need to make a Spellcraft (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/spellcraft.htm) check, which I guess would be beyond him, especially given his obvious lack of spellcrafting know-how (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0478.html)demonstrated earlier...). Then, he would need to make a Use Magic Device check with a DC of 26 (20+level of the Stone to Flesh spell). UMD is CHA-based, so I guess that might be possible for Elan, even with his potentially low ranks in that skill. But then again, he would need to have an INT score of at least 16 to be able to cast a level 6 spell, and I doubt his INT score is that high? So he would probably have to make a separate UMD check to emulate an ability score of INT=16. This would require a UMD result of 31 (15+required ability score), which is quite hefty. It would [I]really[I] be easier just to leave it to V...

IF Break enchantment was effective to reverse Flesh to Stone (which, I believe, it's not), THEN perhaps Elan as a Bard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/bard.htm) could use the Song of Freedom bardic music to free Haley, provided he's at least level 13 (he must be level 12 Bard, and at least one of his levels was spent on Dashing Swordsman) and has 15 ranks in Perform. But his Bardic music skills (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0004.html)haven't been too impressive in the past (they might have improved since).

My conclusion is that Break enchanment cannot reverse Flesh to Stone, because the latter spell is an instantaneous effect, thus an effect that Dispel magic cannot dispel, and it is a spell of level 6, thus it is among those spells that Break enchantment cannot reverse.

But it would be very interesting to hear a qualified opinion on this matter!

(The juice part here is of course that Rich made use of a Break enchantment scroll to free Celia from the Flesh to Stone spell way back in Comic 70 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0070.html)...)

[CTrees]

Since apparently I should ignore the first post guidelines on where to ask this...

Q52
In Pathfinder, the SRD notes that permanent Animated Objects may created using the Craft Construct feat, but I can't seem to find any indication of rules on caster level, spells needed, cost, etc. for using the craft construct instead of Animate Object (which is sadly not permanent, normally). Guidance?

[Thurbane]

A 51

The PHB description of the spell includes something important (and very relevant) which the SRD version does not:


Break enchantment can reverse even an instantaneous
effect, such as flesh to stone.

[Edhelras]

A 51

The PHB description of the spell includes something important (and very relevant) which the SRD version does not:

Wow. I'm... actually this is the first time I was made aware that the SRD wasn't simply enough. How could they have omitted this? It explains everything. So, thanks!

But still... I trusted that website, I really did... :smalleek:

[Curmudgeon]

A 51 additional

The SRD is the version of D&D rules which Wizards of the Coast has provided for free distribution, and WotC is responsible for stripping out many examples (and thus you shouldn't lay the blame for incompleteness elsewhere).
This spell frees victims from enchantments, transmutations, and curses. Break enchantment can reverse even an instantaneous effect. The information you need is still there, since Flesh to Stone is an instantaneous transmutation effect.

[Edhelras]

Q51 Discussion Sorry didn't mean to blame anyone, just that up to now I've been rather impressed how accurate and sufficient the SRD was. Now I'm gonna be more careful to consult my books as well.

But still: Aside from the specific inclusion of Flesh to Stone in the written text of the PHB - if you look at the description of how Break enchantment functions, isn't my argument correct? That actually Flesh to Stone should've been beyond that spell, because it's 1) instantaneous and 2) too high level spell for Break enchantment to work?

Anyway, I'm satisfied with the answer, even though it seems a bit illogical.

[Taelas]

A51, additional:

The sentence refers to spells that dispel magic can specifically not dispel, such as bestow curse (these are specified in the individual spells' descriptions), not instantaneous effects. Dispel magic cannot affect instantaneous effects, but that is because the result is no longer magical, not because the magic cannot be dispelled. Break enchantment can only affect magic which cannot be dispelled if the effect is 5th level or lower.

[ILM]

Q53: Is there an errata somewhere for the DMG2? The wording on the Slippers of Battledancing is a bit weird: "As long as he uses his base land speed to move (a fly, swim, burrowing or climb speed), he gains a +2 insight bonus on initiative checks." Whuh? :smallconfused:

[Cog]

A 53:
The list of errata is here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20040125a), and does not include the DMG 2. However, simply inserting a not at the beginning of the parenthetical clause both makes the entire paragraph consistent and is compatible with the items being slippers.

[Thrack]

Q54: When Range and Damage for spells is configured where do you start?

Example:

Level 1 Caster: My level 1 Arcane Caster casts a "Close Range" spell. Detailed at 25 feet, +5ft per 2 full caster levels, what is my range?

Level 1 Caster For sake of arguement im going to be performing something impossible and casting Vampiric Touch as a CL 1. The spell specifys 1 d 6 damage every 2 Caster Levels. Do I have a D6 of damage at CL 1, or would I have to be CL 2 to gain 1 d 6 of damage?

Please post only if you are absolutely sure of this answer, and if any text in the SRD/PHB gives further insight to your call that would be more appreciated.

[Douglas]

A54

In general, if you wind up with a fraction, round down, even if the fraction is one-half or larger. (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/theBasics.htm#roundingFractions)

The level 1 caster's Close range spell has a range of 25 feet.

Vampiric Touch at CL 1, if it were possible, would trigger the exception ("Exception: Certain rolls, such as damage and hit points, have a minimum of 1.") and do exactly 1 damage.

[OMG PONIES]

A53 discussion


A 53:
The list of errata is here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20040125a), and does not include the DMG 2. However, simply inserting a not at the beginning of the parenthetical clause both makes the entire paragraph consistent and is compatible with the items being slippers.

Yes, but doesn't doing so also completely change the RAW? As written, you CAN fly, swim, burrow, or climb to activate the slippers. With your addition, you could not.

[Lateral]

A53 clarification:

A53 discussion



Yes, but doesn't doing so also completely change the RAW? As written, you CAN fly, swim, burrow, or climb to activate the slippers. With your addition, you could not.

I don't believe so. It's a parenthetical clause that contradicts the actual text. It's a bit like one of those example builds for a prestige class that can't actually take the prestige class or has something wrong (like Abjurant Champion's sample using one spell as an Abjuration when it isn't.) This is more iffy, but the nonparenthetical clause takes precedence.

Maybe this should be moved to another thread.

[Greenish]

Q55 When a totemist/barbarian takes her first level in totem rager, will she gain literacy (assuming she hadn't bought it earlier)?

[ILM]

A53 clarification:I don't believe so. It's a parenthetical clause that contradicts the actual text. It's a bit like one of those example builds for a prestige class that can't actually take the prestige class or has something wrong (like Abjurant Champion's sample using one spell as an Abjuration when it isn't.) This is more iffy, but the nonparenthetical clause takes precedence.

Maybe this should be moved to another thread.
Yeah. My question was really just checking if there was an errata or other official word on the question. I wasn't fishing for a discussion, because it's pretty clear to me (as in "that's how I'm going to play it at my table", not "if you see it differently you're all morons", mind) that RAI is land speed only, no fly/burrow/etc. Since there isn't any official update, I'll just go with this. :smallsmile:

[Curmudgeon]

A 55 Yes.
A barbarian who gains a level in any other class automatically gains literacy.
If you gain a level in any other class (except barbarian), you automatically gain literacy. A barbarian who gains a totemist level remains illiterate. Illiteracy is not on the class features list of the Totem Rager (Magic of Incarnum, pages 153-157) so the "any other class" clause grants the Totemist/Barbarian/Totem Rager literacy.

[Chess435]

Q56: Does Cunning breach allow a factotum to bypass a golem's magic immunity?

[Cog]

A 56:
No. Cunning Breach applies when an SR check is made; Immunity to Magic never allows an SR check to be made.

[Godskook]

*Cast summon Curmudgeon*

Q57

Do ranged touch attacks from spells(such as Orb of Fire or Scorching Ray) or maneuvers(such as shadow garrote) take "shooting into melee" penalties as appropriate?

Q58

Can a swordsage apply SA damage to maneuvers that generate their own attack, such as shadow garrote or fan the flames?

[Yora]

A57: Ranged attack is ranged attack. So yes, all modifiers for shoting into melee apply. (Never thought of that before, until you mentioned it.)

A58: All spells that require an attack roll can deal Sneak Attack damage. Unless ToB specifically mentions it's not the case, the same would apply to Maneuvers.

[OMG PONIES]

Q59a: Can a half-giant use the at-will SLA of the Primordial Giant template? It says the caster level is equal to the creature's racial hit dice--for a half-giant, that's 0.

Q59b: If not, can Practiced Spellcaster raise the half-giant's CL for purposes of this SLA?

Q59c: may have found my own answer. Further down under Primordial Giant, it says "Magical Knack: Primordial Giants use all SLAs at +1 caster level." Does this mean that the CL for their at-will SLA is actually 1 (0 RHD + 1 Magical Knack)?

For reference, Primordial Giant is in Secrets of Xen'drik, page 81.

[Curmudgeon]

A 59a
For creatures with spell-like abilities, a designated caster level defines how difficult it is to dispel their spell-like effects and to define any level-dependent variables (such as range and duration) the abilities might have. The creature’s caster level never affects which spell-like abilities the creature has; sometimes the given caster level is lower than the level a spellcasting character would need to cast the spell of the same name. This means the primordial half-giant can manifest one of these SLAs at will (as a standard action), but the duration will be 0.

A 59b No.

Practiced Spellcaster only affects the caster level of a spellcasting class, and has no effect on spell-like abilities.

A 59c No.

The specific statement for the Spell-Like Ability part of the template sets CL = racial HD for those particular SLAs. Magical Knack sets a general rule for all other spell-like abilities.

[Constans]

Q60 My playing group recently found itself divided by a simple question : do you count the weight of a cloak in your carrying capacity or not, if you are wearing it?

One side said no, as a cloak is clothing, the other side said yes, as it is a magical item... :smalleek:

[ffone]

Q61

Does an Aptitude weapon (ToB) automatically grant its wielder proficiency (assuming she is proficient with any other type of weapon)?

If not in general, would it do so if she had take a weapon proficiency as an 'a la carte' feat? Or if she had racial weapon proficiencies (such as most elves have)?

[Taelas]

A60:

Clothing generally counts against your carrying capacity, except for the first set of clothes your character starts with, at least as far as I have been able to find.

[Geigan]

Q62: Do natural attacks count as school weapons for the Shadow hand school(ToB)? I wish to know if shadow blade would apply to them since unarmed is one of the school weapons.

[Greenish]

Q62: Do natural attacks count as school weapons for the Shadow hand school(ToB)? I wish to know if shadow blade would apply to them since unarmed is one of the school weapons.A62: Unarmed Strike is a discipline weapon for Shadow Hand, other natural weapons aren't (in the same way as claw is a Tiger Claw weapon, but bite isn't).

[Blackjackg]

Q63: Can a Dervish (Complete Warrior) performing a dervish dance make an attack while in the same space as an ally?

[Curmudgeon]

A 60 additional info
A beginning character is assumed to have an artisan’s, entertainer’s, explorer’s, monk’s, peasant’s, scholar’s, or traveler’s outfit. This first outfit is free and does not count against the amount of weight a character can carry. These outfits vary in weight from 2 lbs. to 10 lbs. (for Medium size characters). If you start with an explorer's, scholar's, or traveler's outfit you can have a cloak that isn't counted against your weight allowance. If you replace that included cloak with a magical garment of similar weight you will still be wearing an outfit that doesn't count against the amount of weight your character can carry.

So the answer depends on the basic outfit you choose for your character's equipment.

[Curmudgeon]

A 63

This is covered by the squeezing (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/movementPositionAndDistance.htm#squeezing) rules. You take a -4 penalty to attacks and movement costs double, among other things.

[VacantPsalm]

Q 64

What are the rules on marshes and line of effect? Is it like water where only the surface blocks line of effect of fire spells, or does it block more things? How thick does mud have to be to block LoE?

[samster712]

Q64

Druid animal companion: do I really have to get two feats in order for my animal companion to attack undead?

also does the DM control my companion and does it control it's initiative or is it's initiative based on my inititative?

also how can i get access to celestial companions in the material plane?

[AngelisBlack]

Q 66

If a dwarf has improved stonecunning or regular stonecunning, is he entitled to multiple automatic checks? For example, at 20 feet a dwarf with improved stonecunning can make his automatic check, does he get another one when he moves to 15 feet, or can he get another one when he moves from 15 feet to 10 feet?

[Curmudgeon]

A 64

Marsh terrain is described on pages 88-89 of the Dungeon Master's Guide. A watery surface always blocks line of effect for fire spells. Additionally, many marsh features will provide concealment, providing a miss chance against magical attacks; or total concealment, making targeting impossible. Hedgerows and occasional trees in marshes will provide total cover, negating line of effect. In a bog, for purposes of adjudicating spell effects any mud that a creature can move through can be treated as water (after making allowances for concealment, since mud is never transparent), and mud that a creature can stand on can be treated as earth.

[Curmudgeon]

A 65 partial

Your Druid's animal companion follows the normal rules for initiative, with its own initiative modifier and roll; the rules do not stipulate any connection between the PC's initiative and the NPC's unless the animal companion is also being used as a mount. The DM handles the animal companion's actions as with any NPC; the Druid player is limited to what the link ability (to use Handle Animal as a free action) allows as input to the animal companion's actions. Following the standard restrictions of free actions, Handle Animal is used on the Druid's turn (and thus not on the animal companion's turn).

[Savannah]

A 65 partial


Q65
Druid animal companion: do I really have to get two feats in order for my animal companion to attack undead?

No, but you do have to use two of the tricks that the animal can learn on learning "attack" and "attack unnatural creatures".


Normally, an animal will attack only humanoids, monstrous humanoids, giants, or other animals. Teaching an animal to attack all creatures (including such unnatural creatures as undead and aberrations) counts as two tricks.


also how can i get access to celestial companions in the material plane?

To the best of my knowledge, you cannot have a celestial animal companion. The celestial template makes animals into magical beasts with Int 3, and you cannot have a magical beast as an animal companion.

[Curmudgeon]

A 66

The Dwarf Paragon's Improved Stonecunning improves the stonecunning Search radius to notice unusual stonework; it does not create a separate check.
A dwarf who merely comes within 10 feet of unusual stonework can make a Search check as if he were actively searching, and a dwarf can use the Search skill to find stonework traps as a rogue can. There is no actual specification of "automatic" checks, merely an allowance for one. (In practice, this allowance can be put into action by telling the DM that the Dwarf always does a Search check when near worked stone.) In any case, the allowance to make "a Search check" limits this to one such check when the Dwarf comes within range. Other checks will require the PC to spend the normal full-round action per Search check.

[samster712]

thank you....one other question Q67

my guide says that A Forest master (faerun prestige class) with the oakheart ability becomes more "wood and leaf rather than meat and bone". I was just thinking can a druid possibly use his 'wood shape' spell on his own hands to make his hands into piercing weapons kind of like lances since they are technically now made out of wood??

even better can a forest master combine wood shape and ironwood on his hands to make steel like lance protusions? and if so can those 'lances' or whatever be considered unarmed combat and be affected my a monk's belt??

[Thurbane]

Q 68

Silversheen and Gauntlets of Weaponry Arcane allow a weapon to count as silver, while the Ring of Adamantine Touch allows them to count as adamantine.

Is there any item, spell or other ability that would allow a weapon to count as cold iron (other than the Metalline weapon property - I'm specifically trying to avoid weapon enchantments).

[Savannah]

A 68 partial

It is very unlikely for there to be a magic item or spell that does that. The sidebar on DMG 183 specifically notes that there's no cold ironsheen because the cold iron is supposed to be resistant to magic and therefore a magic item mimicking it would defeat the purpose. (It is possible that later designers ignored this, but I don't know of any instances.)

[Curmudgeon]

A 67 No.

Wood Shape can only affect "One touched piece of wood", not the wood parts of a creature also composed of leaves and other materials.

[Curmudgeon]

A 68 partial

In the "other ability" category, the Planar Monk 16th level substitution level, Ki Strike (unarmed attack treated as cold iron) replaces normal Ki Strike (unarmed attack treated as adamantine).

[Greenish]

A68 partial: Hah, since this answer is in style at the moment, I'll pitch in with Argent Fist gaining the ability to treat his unarmed strikes and monk special weapons as Cold Iron at level 7.

[Bakkan]

A61

Oddly enough, it is possible to be proficient with a weapon without having the Martial Weapon Proficiency feat.

The Aptitude weapon property only helps if the wielder has feats related to the use of a particular type of weapon. Since the Martial Weapon Proficiency feat requires you to choose a weapon and affects its use (in particular removing the -4 penalty to attack rolls), it is affected by the Aptitude property.

If the description of a race, class, or class feature says that it grants the Martial Weapon Proficiency feat for a weapon, or if a character has taken the Martial Weapon Proficiency feat as a feat in one of his normal slots, he can use any martial Aptitude weapon.

Note that elves do gain the Martial Weapon Proficiency feat for their signature weapons:


Weapon Proficiency: Elves receive the Martial Weapon Proficiency feats for the longsword, rapier, longbow (including composite longbow), and shortbow (including composite shortbow) as bonus feats.


Clerics with the War domain also gain the feat:


Granted Power: Free Martial Weapon Proficiency with deity’s favored weapon (if necessary) and Weapon Focus with the deity’s favored weapon.


However, fighters do not gain the feat, as that section of the fighter class description does not say that they gain the feat:


Weapon and Armor Proficiency

A fighter is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, medium, and light) and shields (including tower shields).


Similarly, rogues do not gain the feat, even though they are only proficient with some martial weapons. Once again, note the absence of any language implying that rogues gain the feats related to those weapons:


Rogues are proficient with all simple weapons, plus the hand crossbow, rapier, sap, shortbow, and short sword. Rogues are proficient with light armor, but not with shields.


The feat description confirms this interpretation, by saying that creatures with martial weapon proficiency do not need the feat (but not that they have the feat):


Barbarians, fighters, paladins, and rangers are proficient with all martial weapons. They need not select this feat.


So an elven wizard would be proficient with an Aptitude greatsword, but a human rogue would not be.

[ILM]

Q69: A number of abilities have the condition "doesn't function in daylight" or the like. The SRD only has three levels of illumination: bright, shadowy, darkness. Does that mean that such abilities need shadowy illumination to function, or can they work in bright light, just not daylight?
Side question: the spell Darkness creates magical darkness but what level of illumination is it? Shadowy or just pure black?

[OMG PONIES]

A 65 correction


To the best of my knowledge, you cannot have a celestial animal companion. The celestial template makes animals into magical beasts with Int 3, and you cannot have a magical beast as an animal companion.

The feat "Exalted Companion," found in the Book of Exalted Deeds, allows you to choose a celestial animal as your companion, among other choices. However, I can never remember if that book is 3.5 or 3.0.

[HalfDragonCube]

A 69: Depends on the ability, most have a note in their description saying what happens. By RAW, it would seem that it would only stop functioning in daylight.

The Darkness (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/darkness.htm) spell creates an area of shadowy illumination, which means it does actually light an area up if you are in an area of no light at all.

[sengmeng]

Q 70:

What would be the reach for a Large creature wielding a Huge lance?

[Curmudgeon]

A 70

Exactly the same as for a Large creature wielding a Large lance: 2x the natural 10' reach = 20' [Edit] ─ or 2x the natural 5' reach for a Large (long, rather than tall) creature = 10'.

[sengmeng]

Q 70.5: does a large creature with a reach weapon also threaten foes 15 feet away, since he can attack within his natural reach?

[Curmudgeon]

A 70.5

A Large (tall) creature normally can reach foes at 5' and 10' distances. With most reach weapons they can reach foes at 15' and 20' distances, but not closer.

[yugi24862]

Q71
If a arcane caster with a familiar takes Improved Familiar and picks a elemental, does it grow in size as the caster grows in level?

[Urpriest]

Q71
If a arcane caster with a familiar takes Improved Familiar and picks a elemental, does it grow in size as the caster grows in level?

A71

No. Familiars only gain those benefits given to them by the Summon Familiar class feature, and a size increase is not among them.

[samster712]

A 67 No.

Wood Shape can only affect "One touched piece of wood", not the wood parts of a creature also composed of leaves and other materials.

but isn't your hand as to the ability technically 'a piece of wood' or is that stretching it too much?

[Blue Bandit]

Q. 72

If a specialized wizard multiclasses into sorcerer, can he gain "sorcerer spells" from a school that is prohibited by his wizard class?

[Harbinger_]

Q. 73

What information would you recommend a beginner Dungeon Master's screen to have?

[Kuma Kode]

A72
Yes. The wizard school prohibition only affects wizard spells.

A73
While an excellent question, it is too broad and subject to opinion for this thread, which is focused on rules as written (RAW). I suggest you start a new thread for your question.

[sengmeng]

Q 74: is there a chart for improvised weapon damage based on weight?

[Cog]

A 74:
Complete Warrior, page 159.

[PlzBreakMyCmpAn]

A 38

Generally yes, if the source with the updated material is used in any part of your campaign. (There's no requirement to go out and buy books your group doesn't have.) Since all Errata files are freely available, those aren't optional; they immediately update the prior material. There are also some specific named replacements here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20050110x)TY

Q75: Does that link mean that RAW the Master Samurai PrC is not valid in 3.5 (overwritten in Complete Warrior) but that the 3.0 Samurai base class is?

[Cog]

A 75:
No. Anything with the same name is automatically a replacement if you're using the more recent source.

[Taelas]

A65 addendum:

Book of Exalted Deeds is 3.5.

[Curmudgeon]

but isn't your hand as to the ability technically 'a piece of wood' or is that stretching it too much?
No, your hand doesn't meet that qualification unless you both remove it from your body and also remove any parts that aren't wood (leaves, & c.). Wood Shape does not affect creatures or parts of creatures, so any target that isn't only a piece of wood cause the spell to fail.

[Thurbane]

Q 76

Would the Overcome Spell Failure feature of the Rage Mage, and the Ignore Spell Failure Chance feature of the Spellsword stack? Both provide a reduction to ASF %, but as they have different names, I was wondering if they would overlap, or stack?

[PlzBreakMyCmpAn]

A76: they stack. Keep in mind there are easier ways to get around ASF


A 75:No. Anything with the same name is automatically a replacement if you're using the more recent source.I suspected that reasoning, but I lack a rules quote. Does anyone have it?

[Hirax]

Q77: A caster with an int of 20+ gets bonus 5th level spells according to the SRD table (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/theBasics.htm#tableAbilityModifiersandBonusSpells) . However, if you currently don't have access to 5th level spells because your level is too low, or never will in the case of an assassin, can you assign that bonus 5th level spell to another spell level? So for instance, if an assassin had an int of 26, would the get 2 bonus 1st-4th spells, and 4 bonus spells of any level?

Q78: Are assassins are spontaneous casters in the vein of sorcerers? Can spontaneous casters use a 4th level spell slot to cast a 3rd level spell, for instance?

[KillianHawkeye]

A 77 No, you can't reassign bonus spell slots from a high casting stat.

A 78 That's actually something that ANY spellcaster can do, spontaneous or prepared. You don't need to be a Sorcerer or have Sorcerer-like spellcasting.


Also, NOTE:

An assassin casts spells just as a bard does.

[Savannah]

A 77

No, the bonus spell slots are for that level, and you only get access to them when you're high enough level to cast them.

[samster712]

q79:
Does vow of poverty prevent a druid from using the "spellstaff" spell or just external staffs that contain spells already imbued within?

[Curmudgeon]

A 79

Yes, Vow of Poverty prevents a Druid from using the result of a Spellstaff spell.
You may not use any magic item of any sort Once the spell is cast, the staff is a magic item.

[NecroRick]

Q 80

(Potential cheese combo: Dragon Shaman has an aura that will fast heal you - but only up to half hit points.)

I'm sure I've seen other classes where they have some boost that kicks in at half hit points or less. Any ideas what that might have been?

It might have been something that assumed you would using barbarian style hit dice, but then if you multi-class into something arcane and drop down to d4s you can get under that height restriction. E.g. hit points less than 5 (or maybe 6) per level....?

[KillianHawkeye]

Re: Q 80....

That question doesn't seem very simple. You might want to start a thread about it to get better responses.

[cd4]

Q81

Can a vampire have more than one coffin home to flee to when it is reduced to 0 hitpoints?

[Yora]

A81: The monster description speaks only of one coffin and "his" coffin instead of "a" coffin. So by RAW, he has only one.

[ILM]

Q82: Do Tibbits use their Strength for attack rolls in cat form? Nothing seems to indicate otherwise, but I find it extremely surprising that they'd slap a -10 to Strength and then not give them dex to attack in cat form - especially considering cats don't usually seem that bad as stratching one's face off (yes I know, realism and D&D... I just want to make sure :smalltongue:)

[Cog]

A 82:
They normally use strength. Natural weapons are always considered light for the purposes of Weapon Finesse.

[ILM]

Ok, so a level 5 Tibbit Warblade in cat form has a maybe 50% chance of hitting a barn door, while a CR 1/4 cat has a +4 attack bonus. Oh, and due to the same -10 to strength, a Tibbit in cat form struggles to jump over a mi-sized puddle of rain. My God, who writes those things? :smallannoyed:

[Essence_of_War]

Q 83

The SRD says that as a standard action, a character may ready a move, standard, or free action. (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialInitiativeActions.htm)

Swift/Immediate actions do not exist in non-psionic core, so is there any errata to the readied action rules that would allow one to ready a swift action?

I'm having trouble thinking of reasons why one might want to do this, but it may be useful if you could.

[yugi24862]

Q84

What book is the "Tooth of Leraje" in?

[OMG PONIES]

A84: Tome of Magic, page 77.

[Forbiddenwar]

Q85

How do you calculate the DC on swordsage's maneuvers when the description of the maneuver only says reflex half (like Hatchling Flame)

Q86

Tome Of battle has a great chart showing what the highest level of maneuver a character can access according to initiator level, but what about stances? Where is that chart or am I missing the text that say maneuvers and stances are the same?

[Douglas]

A85

Same as with spells, the DC is 10 + maneuver level + ability score modifier. Which ability score to use is not specified in the book, but WotC gave an answer that is archived in the Tome of Battle Q&A (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19525942/Tome_of_Battle_Q38;A).

A86

With regard to level and prerequisites, maneuvers and stances are the same.

[Greenish]

A86 additional: Stances are maneuvers. From Introduction (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20060802a&page=1) (page 5):
A stance is a special type of maneuver.

[Curmudgeon]

A 83

Swift actions were introduced as supplementary rules, explicitly stated as such, and thus no errata (Latin for "corrections") are required for them. The rules do allow you to Ready a swift action, if you put the pieces together:
You can ready a standard action, a move action, or a free action.
Swift Actions

A swift action consumes a very small amount of time, but represents a larger expenditure of effort and energy than a free action. You can perform one swift action per turn without affecting your ability to perform other actions. In that regard, a swift action is like a free action. However, you can perform only a single swift action per turn, regardless of what other actions you take. You can take a swift action any time you would normally be allowed to take a free action. Or incorporated into the rules in just one place (Rules Compendium on page 110):
You can ready a standard action, a move action, a swift action, or a free action.

[Tvtyrant]

Q87 Are gods immune to spheres of annihilation?

[Elric VIII]

Q 88

The Specialist Wizard variants in Unearthed Arcana say something like, "An abjurer using this variant permanently gives up the ability to obtain a familiar." (SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm))

Does this prevent them from gaining one via the Obtain Familiar feat?

[Curmudgeon]

A 88 Yes.

That's what "permanently" means.

[Firechanter]

Q 89
Can you cast the Keen Edge spell on a Bow or Crossbow?
The spell description just reads "on a piercing or slashing weapon or a stack of ammunition", and the weapon table entry reads "Piercing" for the weapons (but "-" for the quarrels/arrows).

[Curmudgeon]

A 89 No.

A bow or crossbow is not a "piercing or slashing weapon". Also, neither the Keen Edge spell nor the keen weapon special ability pass that enhancement from projectile weapon to ammunition; only those abilities with an entry like the following do that:
Bows, crossbows, and slings so crafted bestow the fire energy upon their ammunition.

[PlzBreakMyCmpAn]

Anything with the same name is automatically a replacement if you're using the more recent source.I suspected that reasoning, but I lack a rules quote. Does anyone have it?bumping from last page

[PollyOliver]

Q90

Does step of the wind stance allow you to charge through difficult terrain?

[Curmudgeon]

A 90 Yes.

Step of the Wind makes it so that difficult terrain does not hinder your movement, and thus you do not fail to have a clear charge path to your opponent for that reason.

[Keld Denar]

A 90

Difficult terrain states: "You can’t run or charge across difficult terrain."

Step of the Wind states: "you ignore penalties to speed, movement, or skill checks associated with movement <snip> incurred by moving through difficult terrain."

It seems that explicitly, Step of the Wind does not grant you the ability to ignore the statement in difficult terrain that prevents you from running or charging. I was thinking that the restriction was a function of having your movement restricted (which means that it would be allowed because Step of the Wind removes movement restrictions), but I can't find any evidence to support it. It simply allows you to move across difficult terrain without paying double movement for the.

Contrast to taking a 5-foot step: "You can only take a 5-foot step if your movement isn’t hampered by difficult terrain or darkness."

In Step of the Wind stance, your movement would not be penalized due to difficult terrain, and thus you COULD make 5' steps on it if you wanted.

[Turok117]

Q91 - If a magic item that boosts an attribute score is worn, does it grant bonus spells?

E.g. a level 7 cleric wears a periapt of wisdom +2, increasing his wisdom from 16 to 18. Would he get to prepare an extra 4th level spell as the rulebook says for those with a wisdom of 18?

[Keld Denar]

A 91 Yes

Items that are continuous would grant bonus spells. If at any time you were to take off the item, you would lose the slots, and if you put it back on, those slots would still be wiped clean.

[Turok117]

A 91 Yes

Items that are continuous would grant bonus spells. If at any time you were to take off the item, you would lose the slots, and if you put it back on, those slots would still be wiped clean.

Thank you!

[Taelas]

A 90

Difficult terrain states: "You can’t run or charge across difficult terrain."

Step of the Wind states: "you ignore penalties to speed, movement, or skill checks associated with movement <snip> incurred by moving through difficult terrain."

It seems that explicitly, Step of the Wind does not grant you the ability to ignore the statement in difficult terrain that prevents you from running or charging. I was thinking that the restriction was a function of having your movement restricted (which means that it would be allowed because Step of the Wind removes movement restrictions), but I can't find any evidence to support it. It simply allows you to move across difficult terrain without paying double movement for the.

Contrast to taking a 5-foot step: "You can only take a 5-foot step if your movement isn’t hampered by difficult terrain or darkness."

In Step of the Wind stance, your movement would not be penalized due to difficult terrain, and thus you COULD make 5' steps on it if you wanted.

A90, addendum:
Being unable to charge due to difficult terrain is a penalty to your movement, which Step of the Wind explicitly removes.

[Keld Denar]

A 90

No, costing double the movement to cross the square is a penalty to your movement, which Step of the Wind removes. The fact that you can't run or charge across difficult terrain is because it says you can't run or charge across it (as I cited), NOT because your movement is restricted. Some other things restrict your movement but still allow you to charge and other things restrict your movement and deny you the ability to run or charge.

Basically, being able to run or charge is NOT a function of how much movement it does or doesn't take you to get somewhere, but rather a specific case that is confirmed or denied by specific circumstances. Difficult terrain prevents you from charging. Step of the Wind does not say that it removes this restriction. Thus, Step of the Wind does not allow you to charge over difficult terrain, by RAW.

[ffone]

Q92

Does an Aptitude weapon (ToB) automatically grant its wielder proficiency (assuming she is proficient with any other type of weapon)?

If it doesn't in general, would it do so if she had take a weapon proficiency as an 'a la carte' feat? Or if she had racial weapon proficiencies (such as most elves have)?

And are there any (other) weapon enhancements which do grant proficiency?

[Taelas]

A 90

No, costing double the movement to cross the square is a penalty to your movement, which Step of the Wind removes. The fact that you can't run or charge across difficult terrain is because it says you can't run or charge across it (as I cited), NOT because your movement is restricted. Some other things restrict your movement but still allow you to charge and other things restrict your movement and deny you the ability to run or charge.

Basically, being able to run or charge is NOT a function of how much movement it does or doesn't take you to get somewhere, but rather a specific case that is confirmed or denied by specific circumstances. Difficult terrain prevents you from charging. Step of the Wind does not say that it removes this restriction. Thus, Step of the Wind does not allow you to charge over difficult terrain, by RAW.

A90, continued:

Charging is a form of movement (which is why you can tumble while charging, for example). Step of the Wind explicitly allows you to ignore any penalties to your movement incurred from passing through difficult terrain. Being unable to charge through difficult terrain is a penalty to movement incurred from difficult terrain, thus Step of the Wind allows you to ignore it.

If you wish to continue this discussion, we should take it elsewhere.

[Keld Denar]

A 92

Proficiency is not normally a feat. A feat can give you proficiency, but having proficiency is not a feat. Aptitude only allows you to apply weapon specific feats. If you spent a feat on Martial Weapon Proficiency, you could then wield a +1 Aptitude Spike Chain as if you were proficient with it, since MWP is a weapon specific feat and thus would allow you to apply it to the chain. You could also just take EWP: Spiked Chain, though...

Complete Arcane has the Skillful weapon enchant. Its a +2 equiv that gives proficiency, and if your BAB is below 2/3, gives you 2/3 BAB.

[Curmudgeon]

Re: A 90

Difficult terrain states: "You can’t run or charge across difficult terrain."
That's just a note about the normal consequences of difficult terrain (Player's Handbook, page 148), and is not implicit in the definition.
difficult terrain

An area containing one or more features (such as rubble or undergrowth) that costs 2 squares instead of 1 square to move through. There are explanations of how difficult terrain impacts tactical movement in two places in the Player's Handbook; the other one is on page 163:
You can’t run or charge through any square that would hamper your movement.
The issue is whether the charge special full-round action rules out difficult terrain by itself, or because it slows movement. There are only two references to difficult terrain in the rules for charging (Player's Handbook, pages 155-156).
You must have a clear path toward the opponent, and nothing can hinder your movement (such as difficult terrain or obstacles).
...
Second, if any line from your starting space to the ending space passes through a square that blocks movement (such as a wall), slows movement (such as difficult terrain), or contains a creature (even an ally), you can’t charge. Difficult terrain is used only as an example in both cases. Because Step of the Wind makes it so that difficult terrain does not hinder or slow your movement, it no longer is an impediment as stipulated under the charge rules.

You've been following a single isolated explanatory note, Keld Denar, and have gone astray ─ ignoring both the definition of difficult terrain and the charge rules themselves. :smallsigh:

[Curmudgeon]

Re: A 92 [correction]

Aptitude only allows you to apply weapon specific feats. If you spent a feat on Martial Weapon Proficiency, you could then wield a +1 Aptitude Spike Chain as if you were proficient with it, since MWP is a weapon specific feat and thus would allow you to apply it to the chain.
That example is incorrect, and thus the answer is misleading. Martial Weapon Proficiency only applies to martial weapons, and a spiked chain is an invalid target (an exotic weapon).

Effect: A wielder who has feats that affect the use of a particular type of weapon, such as Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, or the like, can apply the benefits of those feats to any weapon that has the aptitude quality. The weapon-specific feat Martial Weapon Proficiency provides no benefits to a spiked chain wielder (excepting one with special class features which make that a martial weapon, of course), so an aptitude spiked chain yields no benefit to anyone based on that feat. You need the right feat: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (for any weapon).
Activation: An aptitude weapon's magic is worthless in the hands of someone who lacks the appropriate feats, but anyone with the right feats gains the benefit by just wielding it. Aptitude does not apply to all weapon-specific feats ─ only those appropriate to the particular aptitude weapon.

[Curmudgeon]

Re: A 91


Items that are continuous would grant bonus spells. If at any time you were to take off the item, you would lose the slots, and if you put it back on, those slots would still be wiped clean.
The bolded statement isn't RAW. The consequences of such an action are simply not covered by the rules.

[Urpriest]

Q 93

Does the Hardness of a Psicrystal reduce damage taken via the power Share Pain?

[Curmudgeon]

A 93 No.
hardness

A measure of an object's ability to resist damage. Only damage in excess of the object's hardness is actually deducted from the object's hit points upon a successful attack. If you target your psicrystal with Share Pain (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/sharePain.htm), damage caused to the psicrystal by the power happens automatically when you are damaged, with no attack on the psicrystal required. Hence hardness has no effect.

[Thurbane]

Q87 Are gods immune to spheres of annihilation?
I'll take a stab at this one:

A87

Assuming you somehow catch the god unawares or otherwise bring him in contact with the Sphere, the Sphere description says "Any matter that comes in contact with a sphere is instantly sucked into the void, gone, and utterly destroyed." It mentions no SR or other resistances to this effect.

Looking at the Divine Ranks & Powers OGL section of the expanded SRD (reprinted from Deities & Demigods, I believe), gods have A LOT of resistances and immunities, but none that seem relevant to the Sphere.

Gods of DR 1 or higher are immune to death and disintegration effects, but by RAW, the Sphere is neither of these (personally, I think there is a strong RAI argument that it should be counted as a disintegration effect...).

Deities of DR 6 or high have immunities including "effects that imprison or banish them". Again, by RAW, the Sphere is not such an effect.

Futher down, it says "The only way for a deity to die is through special circumstances, usually by being slain in magical or physical combat.". I would say that the Sphere firmly fits into this category.

Do note, however, that under the description of the Sphere, it states "Only the direct intervention of a deity can restore an annihilated character." - so it's entirely possible that an allied deity can pop the god back into existence.

TL;DR? Yes, SoA can destroy a god.

[Tvtyrant]

I'll take a stab at this one:

A87

Assuming you somehow catch the god unawares or otherwise bring him in contact with the Sphere, the Sphere description says "Any matter that comes in contact with a sphere is instantly sucked into the void, gone, and utterly destroyed." It mentions no SR or other resistances to this effect.

Looking at the Divine Ranks & Powers OGL section of the expanded SRD (reprinted from Deities & Demigods, I believe), gods have A LOT of resistances and immunities, but none that seem relevant to the Sphere.

Gods of DR 1 or higher are immune to death and disintegration effects, but by RAW, the Sphere is neither of these (personally, I think there is a strong RAI argument that it should be counted as a disintegration effect...).

Deities of DR 6 or high have immunities including "effects that imprison or banish them". Again, by RAW, the Sphere is not such an effect.

Futher down, it says "The only way for a deity to die is through special circumstances, usually by being slain in magical or physical combat.". I would say that the Sphere firmly fits into this category.

Do note, however, that under the description of the Sphere, it states "Only the direct intervention of a deity can restore an annihilated character." - so it's entirely possible that an allied deity can pop the god back into existence.

TL;DR? Yes, SoA can destroy a god.

You sir a scholar and a saint. Thank you :smallbiggrin:

[ILM]

Complete Arcane has the Skillful weapon enchant. Its a +2 equiv that gives proficiency, and if your BAB is below 2/3, gives you 2/3 BAB.
A 92, correction: I had to take a look at this after I went OMGWTF (oh look, BAB is now a dump stat after like level 5, when you can afford one of those babies :smallconfused:) and it's actuall 3/4, not 2/3.

[zagan]

Q 94

How does the True strike ability of a pseudonaturalCar p160 creature work ?
Does the creature need to use a standard action to activate it (like the spell) and then make the attack next round ? Or does it attack and as part of the attack activate it (like a smite) ?

[Curmudgeon]

A 94
True Strike (Su): Once per day, a pseudonatural creature can gain a +20 insight bonus on a single attack roll.
Supernatural Abilities (Su)

Supernatural abilities are magical and go away in an antimagic field but are not subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or to being dispelled by dispel magic. Using a supernatural ability is a standard action unless noted otherwise. There's no "otherwise" notation, so the attack will be no earlier than the next round (unless the pseudonatural creature has some way to get extra actions in a round).

[zagan]

I knew it was too good to be true, well thanks for the confirmation.

[Blood_caller]

Q 94
a) where do i find those wands which can cast a spell like 3/day
b) and which spells can be put in to make me able to sneak attack things immune (undeads, constructs, elementals...) and were do i find them

@\/ thx that was exactly what I was looking for

[OMG PONIES]

A94 partial Eternal wands function 2/day. Is that what you're looking for? If so, they can be found in Magic Item Compendium, pp 159-160.

Grave Strike, Golem Strike, & Vine Strike (Spell Compendium) will allow you to sneak attack undead, constructs, and plants respectively.

[Forged Fury]

Q 95
With respect to two or more special attacks applied to a single attack, how are the attacks resolved? Do they happen simultaneously or can the attacker choose what order they occur? For instance, if an assassin used a (Con Damage) poisioned blade to execute a death attack., could the assassin choose to resolve the poison damage first in order to potentially reduce the likelihood that the target passes its Fort save against the Death Attack?

[Curmudgeon]

A 95

If the PC controls the effect, the player gets to decide the order. However, since the PC has no way to affect whether any particular type of poison enters the target's system faster than the attack risks the victim's death, the order of adjudicating simultaneous effects is a DM's call.

[OMG PONIES]

Q96: If for some reason you have a negative CL, can you still cast a spell or activate a spell-like ability that has a fixed duration? For example, can you cast Endure Elements at CL -3, since its duration is listed as 24 hours?

[zagan]

Q 97

I know that if I used power attack, the penalty apply until the start of the next round. But does it also apply on attack roll made to resist being disarm ? In that case you don't deal damage so I'm not sure.

[Cog]

A 96:
No. As per the SRD:


You can cast a spell at a lower caster level than normal, but the caster level you choose must be high enough for you to cast the spell in question, and all level-dependent features must be based on the same caster level.

A 97:
Power Attack applies a penalty to your attack rolls. Disarm uses an attack roll, and so takes the penalty.

[dextercorvia]

A 96, clarification

If he isn't choosing to cast that spell at a lower CL, then that clause would not apply.

It can be parsed as:

"You can cast a spell at a lower caster level than normal, but if you choose to do so,the caster level you choose must be high enough for you to cast the spell in question..."

[Cog]

A) The character is choosing to cast.
B) The character is casting at less than the required level.
Therefore:
C) The character is choosing to cast at less than the required level.

As choosing to cast at a lower caster level is a choice which is available at all times, choosing to not take advantage of that ability is itself a choice. Every time a spellcaster casts a spell, they are choosing what caster level to cast at. That this choice is rarely stated and is usually assumed to be at full CL does not make it any less of a choice.

[Forged Fury]

A 96, Clarification

The caster is still choosing the CL at which they cast the spell, it's just that the maximum CL they can choose has been restricted due to feat choice or some other effect. Since there is a choice to cast a spell at a lower CL, it follows that casting a spell at Full CL is a choice as well (even if Full CL has been restricted for some reason). Compare the CL available to the CL required to normally cast the spell/SLA, if available CL is lower, the spell/SLA cannot be cast.

[dextercorvia]

Q 98

Is the minimum CL to cast a spell given anywhere in the RAW?

[Taelas]

Sometimes, I really do answer too quickly. Sigh.