Class and Level Geekery XI - Can Now Argue Three Times Per Page

[Shale]

If Roy readied the action "charge at Miron when he starts casting," would he be able to make an attack of opportunity at the end of it? Or does the spell resolve first?

[Rakoa]

If Roy readied the action "charge at Miron when he starts casting," would he be able to make an attack of opportunity at the end of it? Or does the spell resolve first?

As I recall, charging is a fullround action, and only standard actions can be readied.

[MesiDoomstalker]

As I recall, charging is a fullround action, and only standard actions can be readied.

I am not sure if it applies, but you can make a special Charge if you are restricted to a single Standard Action. This special Charge only allows your normal movement (instead of twice) and a single attack as per normal. I am not positive you can prepare such a special charge with a Readied Action.

[Taelas]

We know from OtOotPCs that you can ready a charge at least in that book. That suggest Rich is OK with partial charges being readied action.

[Living Oxymoron]

At least we know now that Tarquin does not have Exceptional Deflection, since he couldn't deflect or snatch a harpoon.

(If that was a joke? Well...)

[Alaris]

Belkar doesn't have a constitution listed. O.o Weird...

[rodneyAnonymous]

At least we know now that Tarquin does not have Exceptional Deflection, since he couldn't deflect or snatch a harpoon

He didn't try and fail, he didn't try. You don't have to.

[RMS Oceanic]

Belkar doesn't have a constitution listed. O.o Weird...

We generally don't list ability scores we know nothing about. Even if we guessed that his current score is like 1 or 2 because of blood drain, it looks like that's about to be corrected.

[Flame of Anor]

He didn't try and fail, he didn't try. You don't have to.

Besides, it's possible that the ballista bolt was aimed at his square, not at him (and hitting the cloak is just artistic).

[ReaderAt2046]

Besides, it's possible that the ballista bolt was aimed at his square, not at him (and hitting the cloak is just artistic).

Probably. The last thing Elan wants is to catch Tarquin, they're trying to get away from him right now.

[CaDzilla]

[SIZE="4"]

Malack (Deceased), pseudonym
Evil, Lizardfolk

:Wait, aren't you a yua-
: Before you violate copyright, I should clarify that I am not the result of a union between a snake and human, but a "flap-footed" lizardfolk.
: Well now I just feel silly getting you that python for your birthday.

[rodneyAnonymous]

It was never established that Malack was yuan-ti. As far as we know, he was just an unusual lizardfolk. There are real lizards with no legs at all. (I realize the use of "flap-footed" implies you already knew that.)

[Kornaki]

For Haley's armor, based on the price of 16,000 gp (which we can assume is fair both because the scene was intended to show Haley bargaining well, and the fact that for the belt he started off 50% too high, which would correspond to a price of 16,667 gp for the armor), her armor probably has a total magic bonus of+4. Since fire resistance is +18,000 gp for the cost, the heat resistance it provides is either something homebrewed or out of some other sourcebook, or is the 3.0 version which I think was a +1 ability. I checked sandstorm and there is the "cool" ability that eliminates the -4 check to fortitude saves against the elements because of armor that costs 2400 gold to add on as well.

[Flame of Anor]

For Haley's armor, based on the price of 16,000 gp (which we can assume is fair both because the scene was intended to show Haley bargaining well, and the fact that for the belt he started off 50% too high, which would correspond to a price of 16,667 gp for the armor), her armor probably has a total magic bonus of+4. Since fire resistance is +18,000 gp for the cost, the heat resistance it provides is either something homebrewed or out of some other sourcebook, or is the 3.0 version which I think was a +1 ability. I checked sandstorm and there is the "cool" ability that eliminates the -4 check to fortitude saves against the elements because of armor that costs 2400 gold to add on as well.

I think it's pretty certainly the elements one, basically because they would definitely have said it was fire resistance if it was.

[RMS Oceanic]

So can we infer anything from Tarquin sundering a +3 Silver Rapier in a single strike?

MATH EDIT: A +3 Rapier has a Hardness of 16 and 35 hitpoints. This means Tarquin would have to deal 51 damage to break it. Even assuming he has a +5 Dagger and rolled max damage, that would imply he has a strength of 94. I think we can safely rule that out, so then is this just a scene of drama? He can't apply power attack to a dagger, so that's out. What else would explain it?

[Silverionmox]

So can we infer anything from Tarquin sundering a +3 Silver Rapier in a single strike?

MATH EDIT: A +3 Rapier has a Hardness of 16 and 35 hitpoints. This means Tarquin would have to deal 51 damage to break it. Even assuming he has a +5 Dagger and rolled max damage, that would imply he has a strength of 94. I think we can safely rule that out, so then is this just a scene of drama? He can't apply power attack to a dagger, so that's out. What else would explain it?

A +5 dagger of Plot Advancement could do it. Alternatively, a dagger that has a bonus on sundering. Tarquin himself also should get a circumstance bonus because this is important - it's about his legacy. Offscreen buffing? I don't think there was anything that was particularly damaging to Elan's rapier before.

Laurin keeps casting her wormholes like she has a fetisj for them, even after Durkon's draining attack (and perhaps she even used one to get back to Tarquin down in the desert). Can that tell us anything? It's rather relevant for the coming fight.

[RMS Oceanic]

A +5 dagger of Plot Advancement could do it. Alternatively, a dagger that has a bonus on sundering. Tarquin himself also should get a circumstance bonus because this is important - it's about his legacy. Offscreen buffing? I don't think there was anything that was particularly damaging to Elan's rapier before.

Laurin keeps casting her wormholes like she has a fetisj for them, even after Durkon's draining attack (and perhaps she even used one to get back to Tarquin down in the desert). Can that tell us anything? It's rather relevant for the coming fight.

Wormhole can't, not directly, but her use of Disintegrate can: She got two negative energy levels, and thus has lost access to two of her highest level powers, but she can still manifest Disintegrate. This raises her minimum level to 13, to have spare powers to keep Disintegrate handy.

[Hecuba]

So can we infer anything from Tarquin sundering a +3 Silver Rapier in a single strike?

MATH EDIT: A +3 Rapier has a Hardness of 16 and 35 hitpoints. This means Tarquin would have to deal 51 damage to break it. Even assuming he has a +5 Dagger and rolled max damage, that would imply he has a strength of 94. I think we can safely rule that out, so then is this just a scene of drama? He can't apply power attack to a dagger, so that's out. What else would explain it?

• He could have a level in Marshal and add his Cha to the opposed roll, but not the damage.
• He could be using Stone Dragon's Fury or Mountain Hammer for extra damage: or at least he could if he were still on the ground.
• There are several options for adding energy damage, but that is generally shown in the comic.
• He could be binding Aym and suppressing the sign, but that doesn't really fit with what we've seen thus far for T.
• There are also weapons that are more effective for sundering, but the only such dagger I know of is Dragon Mag. material (I think there might be a PF version too).
  
• If the dagger is adamantine, it would ignore the hardness*

*There are a host of other ways to ignore a % or static amount of hardness, but they're all far more exotic and less effective below 20 hardness.

The italics seem the best place to start, but on its own seems insufficient.

[RMS Oceanic]

• He could have a level in Marshal and add his Cha to the opposed roll, but not the damage.
• He could be using Stone Dragon's Fury or Mountain Hammer for extra damage: or at least he could if he were still on the ground.
• There are several options for adding energy damage, but that is generally shown in the comic.
• He could be binding Aym and suppressing the sign, but that doesn't really fit with what we've seen thus far for T.
• If the dagger is adamantine, it would ignore the hardness*

*There are a host of other ways to ignore a % or static amount of hardness, but they're all far more exotic and less effective below 20 hardness.

Ooh, I forgot about Adamantine, that's a good catch. However that would reduce his strength to 62, still insanely high.

[Emanick]

Is there some ability he could be making use of that allows him to deal critical hits to an object? That might explain part of it.

[Chronos]

Not only does he sunder the sword, he also injures Elan in the same swing: He has a new blood mark on his face that wasn't there before. I expect there's probably a feat somewhere to do that, but I don't know what it would be.

[Hecuba]

Not only does he sunder the sword, he also injures Elan in the same swing: He has a new blood mark on his face that wasn't there before. I expect there's probably a feat somewhere to do that, but I don't know what it would be.

Combat Brute (feat) or Cipher Adept's (bad PRC) Combination Strike come to mind.

Ooh, I forgot about Adamantine, that's a good catch. However that would reduce his strength to 62, still insanely high.

Found a couple more damage increasing options:

• Sundering weapon-- MIC 44 -- +1d6 and grants Imp. Sunder
• Marshal Major aura - untyped attack damage increase - scales from +1 tp +4

[RMS Oceanic]

Not only does he sunder the sword, he also injures Elan in the same swing: He has a new blood mark on his face that wasn't there before. I expect there's probably a feat somewhere to do that, but I don't know what it would be.

That's a good point: Could I have looked at this wrong and this is an abstraction of a full attack? Hit sword - Break sword - Slash face?

That would bring his strength down to (almost) sane levels. If he breaks it in two hits, that's a maximum of 18 damage + Strength X 2, giving him a strength of 28. Very high, but attainable.

However that's speculation.

[Quartz]

If the dagger were a Sunblade analogue he could use Power Attack.

Injuring Elan as well indicates either the Cleave feat or a sufficiently high BAB to attack multiple targets.

[CaDzilla]

Didn't Rich say that the dagger did 1d4+plot damage?

[Gusion]

So can we infer anything from Tarquin sundering a +3 Silver Rapier in a single strike?

While not what you're looking for, really, I think it shows that he has "Improved Sundering" as a feat. (not already noted for him on page 1)

That would bring his strength down to (almost) sane levels. If he breaks it in two hits, that's a maximum of 18 damage + Strength X 2, giving him a strength of 28. Very high, but attainable.

For an epic level fighter, 28 is easily attainable... so I think this is probably the answer. Which raises the question of how many rounds are shown in the strip, but that's for a different thread.

Start with 18 and assume the +1 goes to strength each time... plus a belt of giant strength... (hell a +6 is only 36k gold)... 28 is easy.

[RickDaily12]

There's also this: Sundering Elan, while he had a melee weapon...

Then grabing Haley with both arms, while she held melee weapon...

...both done without a single damned needed AoO....

Aren't there specific feat requirements he'd need for that?

[RMS Oceanic]

Power Attack + Improved Sunder for Elan, Improved Unarmed Strike + Improved Grapple for Haley. This would also fit with his teaching Grapple techniques to Malack.

Dunno about breaking her arm - *Shudder* - I can't recall rules for stuff like that.

[R. Malcovitch]

Figured this would be the place to post this. Apologies if this data is already known.

I went strip by strip logging every power Lauren used, with its level:

Spoiler

Show

disintegrate - 6
wormhole - 9
dimension door - 4
single stun - ?
dimension door - 4
telekinesis - 3
dispel - 3
body adjustment - 1
brain lock - 2
mass stun - ?
wormhole - 9
wormhole - 9
wormhole - 9
wormhole - 9
brain lock - 2
brain lock - 2
wormhole - 9
mind probe - 5
disentegrate - 6
big wormhole - 9
teleport - 8 (This is presumably how Lauren got to the EoB)

I then used this program:

Spoiler

Show

#include <fstream>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

int powerPoints(int level){
    return (level*2) - 1;
}

int cost(string line){
    char dash = *"-";
    char space = *" ";
    char letter;
    int number;
    for (int i = 0; i < line.length(); i++){
        if (line[i] == dash){
            if (line[i+1] == space){
                letter = line[i+2];
                number = letter;
                //restrict to numbers: 48 - 57
                if ((number <= 57)&&(number >= 48)){
                    //-48, *2, -1
                    number = ((number-48)*2-1);
                    return number;
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

int main(){
    ifstream lauren;
    lauren.open("lauren");
    int PowerPoints = 0;
    int pointOfPower;
    string power;
    
    while (!lauren.eof()){
        getline(lauren,power);
        PowerPoints += cost(power);
    }
    cout << PowerPoints << endl;
}

to analyze the data and came up with a minimum power cost of 199, plus the cost of the unknown powers, plus the cost of whatever augmentation were made. A 20th level Psion has a minimum of 343 power points per day, so she's nowhere near out, which supprised me because I went into this expecting to find her out or nearly out of power points.

Just food for thought.

[orrion]

Figured this would be the place to post this. Apologies if this data is already known.

I went strip by strip logging every power Lauren used, with its level:

Spoiler

Show

disintegrate - 6
wormhole - 9
dimension door - 4
single stun - ?
dimension door - 4
telekinesis - 3
dispel - 3
body adjustment - 1
brain lock - 2
mass stun - ?
wormhole - 9
wormhole - 9
wormhole - 9
wormhole - 9
brain lock - 2
brain lock - 2
wormhole - 9
mind probe - 5
disentegrate - 6
big wormhole - 9
teleport - 8 (This is presumably how Lauren got to the EoB)

I then used this program:

Spoiler

Show

#include <fstream>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

int powerPoints(int level){
    return (level*2) - 1;
}

int cost(string line){
    char dash = *"-";
    char space = *" ";
    char letter;
    int number;
    for (int i = 0; i < line.length(); i++){
        if (line[i] == dash){
            if (line[i+1] == space){
                letter = line[i+2];
                number = letter;
                //restrict to numbers: 48 - 57
                if ((number <= 57)&&(number >= 48)){
                    //-48, *2, -1
                    number = ((number-48)*2-1);
                    return number;
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

int main(){
    ifstream lauren;
    lauren.open("lauren");
    int PowerPoints = 0;
    int pointOfPower;
    string power;
    
    while (!lauren.eof()){
        getline(lauren,power);
        PowerPoints += cost(power);
    }
    cout << PowerPoints << endl;
}

to analyze the data and came up with a minimum power cost of 199, plus the cost of the unknown powers, plus the cost of whatever augmentation were made. A 20th level Psion has a minimum of 343 power points per day, so she's nowhere near out, which supprised me because I went into this expecting to find her out or nearly out of power points.

Just food for thought.

What happened to that argument about Laurin losing her top two powers to Durkon's level drain? If that still holds true then Wormhole can't be a 9th level power, right?

Oh, and I also heard mention that she lost the powers' cost in PP when she was drained. Did you include that?