Simple Q&A (by RAW) VIII [All Games]

[Roland St. Jude]

(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).

If your question is about D&D 4e, check here. 4e questions can be asked here or there.
If your question is about real world weapons and armor ask it here.
If your question is about homebrew rulings start a thread here.
If you are looking for the meaning of an acronym or abbreviation look here.
You may want to skim the last Q&A thread to see if your question has already been asked and answered here.

The Procedure:

Do:
Label your questions with bold Q#s.
Note what game/edition you are asking about
Label your answers with the bold Q# that you are responding to and/or quote the question.
Be sure that your answer is correct before you post it; if you are the least bit uncertain, just let it pass and get the next one.
Try to give your answers in as clear and straightforward terms as possible.
Feel free to quote or link to relevant rules in the SRD, Errata, or FAQ that supports your answer. (You may want to give your answer and then modify it to add support – otherwise someone else may answer while you’re assembling yours.)
Specify if your question is for a system other than D&D (the default for this thread).

Don’t:
Ask Homebrew rules questions here.
Ask trick questions or attempt to “stump the panel,” so to speak.
Answer a question that’s already been answered.
Offer contradictions, clarifications, exceptions, or extensions of prior answers unless, in your opinion, the answer give is plainly and completely wrong.
Post to debate the answers given.
Post to carry on other conversations whether tangentially related or wholly unrelated.

Dispute Resolution Procedure:
If you dispute someone’s answer – meaning that they got it wrong in a critical fashion – post your answer and suggest that the original questioner start a thread to discuss it further if they want it hashed out.
If someone disputes your answer, don’t respond. Just wait to see if the original questioner starts a new thread to discuss it.
If your question leads to a disputed answer, start a new thread if you’d like it discussed further.

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?
Q.5. Where can I find this “Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil” everyone is talking about?
Q.6. What is GURPS?

{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.

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

Q. 001

Should this thread be stickied?

[Defiant]

Q. 002

Are there any Large +0 LA races?

[Brett Wong]

Q. 002 Edit1: Q. 003 (ninja's!!!) Edit2: D&D 3.5

3-4: Lay on hands. Once per day, the blackguard can use this supernatural ability to cure himself or his fiendish servant of damage equal to his Charisma bonus x his level.

Does -his level- mean character level, or blackguard level?

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 002

I am afraid not.

[Defiant]

Curses! It always bothered me that a question such as that was right there, but with no answer. I was afraid to ask it

A. 001

Yes.

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 003

It refers to the Blackguard level.

[Jasdoif]

A003

His blackguard level. In a class description, an unqualified reference to "level" means levels in that particular class; an explicit reference to character level would have to be made if character level is what was meant.


EDIT: Ninja'd by the Popcorn Tyrant!

[Tygell]

Q 4

Copied from Q 673 in old thread

As an incantatrix, could I use Instant Metamagic and Cooperative metamagic to persist an ally Cleric's spell without the normal Persist penalty to spell level?

More or less, I want to know what the best way is to persist a cleric's buffs, without the spellcraft check skyrocketing out of my reach. Thanks!

[Douglas]

A004
I can't check my books for the exact wording at the moment, but I don't think so.

In any case, Instant Metamagic has been errataed to not be able to increase your metamagic cap - if you want to use it to apply a +4 metamagic on a 3rd level spell you must be able to cast 7th level spells, for example.

If you haven't already done so, you may want to look into what spells can increase your bonus. Greater Heroism gives +4 morale to all skills, and a minor ring of spell storing would let your cleric friend transfer a Divine Insight to you for another +8 insight on one check. I'm sure there are others, and if you have a Bard in the party he could Inspire Competence to help.

[enderrocksonall]

Q 5

Can an Incantrix use Metamagic Effect to apply the Persistant Spell metamagic feat to a spell that could not normally be persisted due to high spell level or target.

For example, could an Incantrix use Metamagic Effect to retroactively persist a Bite of the Were-Bear spell that had been cast the previous round?


EDIT: Or the other side of the example: Could they do it to a Bull's Strength cast the previous round?

[Douglas]

A005
Metamagic Effect can apply metamagics that would normally require a spell slot above your highest level slot, but the spell must still satisfy any requirements for the feat. It can Persist Bite of the Werebear, provided you can make the spellcraft check. Whether it can Persist Bull's Strength depends on whether your DM considers Touch range to be "fixed" or not - this is a matter of some debate. It cannot Persist Haste, as Haste's range is not fixed and Haste therefore does not qualify for Persistent Spell.

[enderrocksonall]

Q 6

Posted this question in the last forum, but when I checked the errata I found that there wasn't anything on polymorph, so I'll re-ask it again in this thread.

If a lich uses polymorph to turn into a non-undead creature, does it lose all the undead traits that it had?

Also, since polymorph changes type and subtype, does the creature using it gain traits of the type they are changing into?

For example, would a human wizard who cast the spell and turned into a black pudding gain blindsight, and immunity to critical hits, poison, sleep effects, paralysis, and stunning, despite the fact that polymorph states that you do not gain qualities like blindsight?
__________________

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 006

Yes, you get the traits of the new form except for extraordinary qualities noted in those traits.

The RotG series article on polymorphing part 3 deals specifically with the Polymorph spell.

[KevLar]

Q. 007

Can you enhance Bracers of Armor with magic armor properties, e.g. Acid Resistance? (Assume that enhancing/improving magic items is allowed in general, the problem is if a magic property intended for armor applies to the Bracers.)

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 007

No, by RAW you can only get an armor bonus from the bracers.


EDIT: Ha! But at least you made that little joke.
It would not be very secret if I told you now would it...ooops.....

[Jasdoif]

A007

No, Mr. Bond.

Bracers of Armor are not armor, despite the name, they are wondrous items.


(EDIT: Once again, I have been ninja'd by the Popcorn Tyrant. Does this make him a secret agent ninja? )

[AslanCross]

Q 008

When do armor spikes deal extra damage when grappling? Only during the initial grapple attempt (as the RAW says "successful grapple attack") or with each successful grapple check made to deal damage? (Including Constrict from say, the Crushing Weight of the Mountain stance)

[Tygell]

Q 09

A. Does the Spontaneous Divination alternate class feature for Wizards only let me spontaneously cast divination spells i have previously learned and added to my spellbook?

B. Or does it let me cast ANY arcane divination spell?

C. Or even better, does it let me cast ANY divination spell, regardless of origin? Including classes that get div spells earlier than others, i.e. Legend Lore from a bard spell list.

Spontaneous Divination is from Complete Champion I think, to save people time looking it up.

[Douglas]

A009
As per errata, only divination spells you know.

[Defiant]

Q. 010

Although no such things are listed in the wondrous items category, is it acceptable to be able to purchase ability-boosting magic items of odd numbers? For example, +1STR gauntlets, for the average/usual price of 1000gp.

[Curmudgeon]

A 007 correction

Yes, you can add armor special properties to Bracers of Armor. This is detailed on page 130 of Arms and Equipment Guide: "Bracers of Armor and Armor Special Properties". AaEG is a 3.0 book, but still RAW according to page 4 of the 3.5 Dungeon Master's Guide:

This is an upgrade of the d20 System, not a new edition of the game. This revision is compatible with all existing products, and those products can be used with the revision with only minor adjustments

No retraction has been made for this AaEG rule regarding Bracers of Armor, and the base rules for the item have not changed from version 3.0 to 3.5.

[Curmudgeon]

A 008

The term "a successful grapple attack" in the description for armor spikes refers to:

• Step 3 ("Hold") in the initial attack
• "Attack Your Opponent" option if you're grappling
• "Damage Your Opponent" option if you're grappling

Basically wherever an unarmed attack is permitted in a grapple, you can instead attack with your armor spikes.

[monty]

A 010

That would probably be covered under the custom item pricings.

[Curmudgeon]

A 010 No.

The even-number limitations are in place to keep players from getting discounts on stat-boosting items where they have odd-numbered ability scores.

Magic Item Compendium presents official rules for adding common item effects to existing magic items.

Table 6-11: Adding/Improving Common Item Effects provides a comprehensive list of ability boost options, and these are restricted to even numbers. Odd number boosts are not part of these "official rules".

[Defiant]

You were referring to this, but I wanted to see by RAW. Well, shucks...

Q. 011

Other than being able to cast spells and feat prerequisites, how are odd numbers beneficial over even numbers regarding ability scores? (i.e. how is 15 better than 14)

[monty]

A 011

An odd strength score still gives you a higher carrying capacity, but besides that, I don't think there's any benefit other than the fact that it's easier to get it up with a Manual/Tome or level boosts.

[Glimbur]

Q 12 D&D 3.5

Say I'm a kobold with three natural attacks: two claws and a bite.

Say further that my buddy casts a Haste spell on me. Do I get an extra hasted attack? If so, with which attack(which is academic as they do the same damage for me)?

[monty]

A 12

One of them will be your "primary" attack. You get one more with that one.

On an unrelated note, shouldn't the old thread be de-stickied?

[Thurbane]

Q. 002

Are there any Large +0 LA races?

A 002 suggestion

If you can afford it, you could take a standard LA +0 race and get a Permanent Enlarge Person cast on you. You ruin the risk of having it Dispelled, however.