Simple RAW Thread for 3.5 #37: 3d12+1

[Jay R]

Q 667

When myconids use their spores on the party (and the party fails their saving throws), can the members of the party communicate telepathically with each other, or only with the myconids?

The relevant passage is "Myconids do not speak, but these spores enable them to establish telepathic communication with each other and with outsiders. A successful Fortitude saving throw (DC varies; see individual descriptions) negates the effect, but it is harmless. Rapport lasts for 30 to 60 minutes with outsiders, but for 8 hours with other myconids." [Monster Manual II, pp. 154-155]

I can parse the English either way. According to the sentence structure, the myconids have rapport with outsiders, and the myconids have rapport with other myconids. But the meaning of "rapport" is a mutual understanding, which would imply that it's a single group ability, not separate ones.

Is there any FAQ, or example in a published module, that makes it clear?

[Darg]

Q 667

When myconids use their spores on the party (and the party fails their saving throws), can the members of the party communicate telepathically with each other, or only with the myconids?

The relevant passage is "Myconids do not speak, but these spores enable them to establish telepathic communication with each other and with outsiders. A successful Fortitude saving throw (DC varies; see individual descriptions) negates the effect, but it is harmless. Rapport lasts for 30 to 60 minutes with outsiders, but for 8 hours with other myconids." [Monster Manual II, pp. 154-155]

I can parse the English either way. According to the sentence structure, the myconids have rapport with outsiders, and the myconids have rapport with other myconids. But the meaning of "rapport" is a mutual understanding, which would imply that it's a single group ability, not separate ones.

Is there any FAQ, or example in a published module, that makes it clear?

A 667

Telepathy works from the ability holder to a target. As the ability doesn't say that each creature affected can communicate with each other, they can't. That said, it isn't unreasonable to think it couldn't set up a group chat for simplicity's sake. Though I would probably say that all communication goes through the myconid and they have the ability to filter anything they want.

[Guylux]

Q 668

Baleful Transposition 3.5.

The spell states: Two target creatures, of which you can be one, instantly swap positions. A solid object such as the ground, a bridge, or a rope must connect the creatures. Both subjects must be within range."


Would you consider an invisible creature a viable target?

[Khedrac]

A 668 Yes, but you must be able to target both creatures, so if you do not have some way of pinpointing the invisible creature (see invisibility, glitterdust or faerie fire after-effects or similar) then you cannot target the invisible creature.

[St Fan]

A 668 Yes, but you must be able to target both creatures, so if you do not have some way of pinpointing the invisible creature (see invisibility, glitterdust or faerie fire after-effects or similar) then you cannot target the invisible creature.

And please note that this is the rule for all "targeted spells", that is all spells that directly affect a target: the caster must have line of sight, or the spell fail.

(Unlike with "projectile spells", that is spells needing a roll to hit; those can be fired blind.)

[Beni-Kujaku]

A 669 Shouldn't we open a new thread, since this one has reached 51 pages?

[King of Nowhere]

Q670: our party went into combat with a dragon. we were prepared, and we were all immune to fear (from heroes' feast), so we didn't bother rolling for the frightful presence.
two rounds later, we were dispelled. disjoined, actually. we all lost all buff spells, we are no longer immune to fear.
do we have to roll for frightful presence now?
or, since we already fought with the dragon for two rounds without being afraid, we can still count ourselves immune?

[Darg]

Q670: our party went into combat with a dragon. we were prepared, and we were all immune to fear (from heroes' feast), so we didn't bother rolling for the frightful presence.
two rounds later, we were dispelled. disjoined, actually. we all lost all buff spells, we are no longer immune to fear.
do we have to roll for frightful presence now?
or, since we already fought with the dragon for two rounds without being afraid, we can still count ourselves immune?

A 670

You are no longer immune to the frightful presence and are thus subject to its effect when next activated. So no, not now, but rather "when the creature performs some sort of dramatic action (such as charging, attacking, or snarling)." Which is usually done on the creature's turn.

[St Fan]

Q 671
I've seen discussions that seemed to assume that an immediate action, since it can be taken out of turn, can also interrupt another character's action, just like a readied action. However, I cannot find confirmation of it on the SRD or Rules Compendium.

A) Can a character, for example, with the Invisible Fist ACF become invisible just as he is targeted by a mage casting magic missile, the spell failing since it's a targeted spell (if the caster is unable to see invisible)?

B) Likewise, can another character with the Feign Death ACF activate it just as he's targeted by a finger of death to become immune?

C) In either case, if having several options, does the character have the time to make a spellcraft or psicraft check in order to identify the threat and select the appropriate defense, before activating the immediate action?

[Beni-Kujaku]

A 671 Unless the effect says that you can use it as an interrupt (e.g. the shadowcaster's Flicker), you cannot use an immediate action as an action is decided but before it resolves, contrary to a readied action. But you can use it between two actions, including a movement and an attack from an opponent, or between attacks of a full attack. Basically it can be used whenever a creature, including an opponent, could use a swift action, but it's "first in, first out" rather than "last in, first out" like most trading card games like Magic the Gathering.

[Darg]

A 671 addendum

A) No. Being targeted by a spell implies the spell is already cast (all decisions about the spell are done when the spell is cast). If already cast, you can't immediate action in response to the cast to act before the cast. See C.

B) No, however you could feign death after succeeding your save to pretend you died from the spell. See C.

C) You Spellcraft check prior to the spell being cast and you can use an immediate action prior to a spell being cast during the cast time of the spell. It's how the Dampen Spell feat from the PHBII or Divine Metamagic works: identify then immediate action or free action during cast. No interruption necessary. If this is the order of events for A or B then yes you could do this to make the spell fizzle, technically.

[St Fan]

Q 672
Wondering how much Shaper of Form is abusable...

Modify Self (Ex): At 1st level and every three levels thereafter (at 4th, 7th, and 10th level), the shaper of form can gain one effect from the following list, achieved through applying shaping magic to her own body. The effect is permanent. The shaper of form can choose the same ability more than once—the effects of each ability stack with themselves. For example, a shaper of form who takes the resilience ability three times has a permanent +3 natural armor bonus to her Armor Class. These effects cannot be removed by any means short of a wish or miracle, and each use of one of those spells removes only a single effect of this ability (thus, multiple wishes must be used to eliminate multiple benefits).

Prowess: The shaper of form gains a +1 inherent bonus to a physical ability score (Strength, Constitution, or Dexterity).

Quickness: The shaper of form adds +10 feet to her base land speed.

Renaissance: The shaper of form changes race, gender, or general physical appearance. She cannot change type and no ability score adjustments occur as a result of the change. Thus, if the character is weak and becomes an orc, she becomes a weak orc. The shaper of form cannot choose to become a member of a race with a level adjustment.

Resilience: The shaper of form gains a +1 natural armor bonus.

Toughness: The shaper of form gains +10 hit points.

A) If a character gains a 1st level of Shaper of Form and apply the Modify Self feature on herself, but (considering the part about "The effect is permanent") lose the level shortly afterward (thank to level drain or whatever), does the effect still last?

B) Can a changeling with levels of Shaper of Form use the Renaissance effect to change the "general physical appearance" of her true form to pass of (for example) as a human or elf even in an antimagic shell, but without changing her race and still being able to use minor shapechange otherwise?

[Troacctid]

Q 672
Wondering how much Shaper of Form is abusable...



A) If a character gains a 1st level of Shaper of Form and apply the Modify Self feature on herself, but (considering the part about "The effect is permanent") lose the level shortly afterward (thank to level drain or whatever), does the effect still last?

B) Can a changeling with levels of Shaper of Form use the Renaissance effect to change the "general physical appearance" of her true form to pass of (for example) as a human or elf even in an antimagic shell, but without changing her race and still being able to use minor shapechange otherwise?

A. Yes, unless the level drain was caused by a Wish, Miracle, or comparable effect. Anything less than that will fail to reverse the modification.

B. Whether or not general changes to physical appearance are limited to the normal scope of variation for your race (and to what degree they can deviate if not) is ultimately a DM call; RAW does not address this.

[Bobur]

Q 673
Yuan Ti: produce acid? What action does it take to activate this and make the body acidic?
It says it becomes useless almost immediately, so is it only useful when already in a grapple or does that mean it stays for 1 round?
This ability confuses me as to how to use it.

[H_H_F_F]

Q 673
Yuan Ti: produce acid? What action does it take to activate this and make the body acidic?
It says it becomes useless almost immediately, so is it only useful when already in a grapple or does that mean it stays for 1 round?
This ability confuses me as to how to use it.

There's a new thread.