Ask a Simple Question, Get a Simple Answer 26: Still better than CustServ

[JaronK]

Q 79 Does anyone have any links to suggestions for maneuvers for a twf swordsage? Besides just take maneuvers from shadow hand and tiger claw...

Generally, any boost that gives you something in addition to your full attack.  Burning Blade, Dancing Mongoose, Raging Mongoose, Inferno Blade, and so on are all good examples.  Maneuvers that cause full attacks, such as Pouncing Charge or Time Stands Still, are also solid. 

JaronK

[weenog]

Q81:  Neither ToB for Dummies nor the Warblade Handbook seem to address this, so I might as well ask it here: How is a low to mid level warblade (with the associated small budget) meant to defend himself, without screwing up his jump checks for Tiger Claw maneuvers through ACP and possibly reduced movement speed?

[Sinfire Titan]

Q81:  Neither ToB for Dummies nor the Warblade Handbook seem to address this, so I might as well ask it here: How is a low to mid level warblade (with the associated small budget) meant to defend himself, without screwing up his jump checks for Tiger Claw maneuvers through ACP and possibly reduced movement speed?

I actually have this problem myself. My low-level Warblades never seem to get an AC higher than 16 if I'm using TWFing for Tiger Claw (and I usually gun for Stormguard Warrior).


Best I can think of is Shape Soulmeld and Azurin, then retrain it out.

[JaronK]

Q81:  Neither ToB for Dummies nor the Warblade Handbook seem to address this, so I might as well ask it here: How is a low to mid level warblade (with the associated small budget) meant to defend himself, without screwing up his jump checks for Tiger Claw maneuvers through ACP and possibly reduced movement speed?

You're Int based, so consider crafting your own gear before the game starts (yes, this is explicitly allowed via the DMG in the section on starting after first level).  This will cut the cost to 1/3, allowing you to afford something like a Mithral Breastplate... or better yet a Mithral Chain Shirt, Elven Darkleaf Dastanas, and a Mithral Chahar-aina, with mods like Muffling and Camouflage for extra fun.

JaronK

[Hitoshura]

Q:82 - Can a Duskblade use a Knowstone and UMD to use spells from other class lists. Such as Harm, for example? If yes, what would be the DC of the check? Could he Channel it?

[Lycanthromancer]

Q:83 - There's a metamagic feat that turns whatever spell it's applied to into a necromancy spell. What is it, where is it, and what else does it do?

[PhaedrusXY]

Q:82 - Can a Duskblade use a Knowstone and UMD to use spells from other class lists. Such as Harm, for example? If yes, what would be the DC of the check? Could he Channel it?

A82: I think the DC would be 20, for the Emulate A Class Feature usage (spellcasting is a class feature, and the spell list is tied to that). If he was attuned the knowstone, he should be able to channel it.

[TenaciousJ]

Q84 Is there a way for a Dragonborn Warforged to retain or regain a slam attack permanently?

[Sinfire Titan]

Q84 Is there a way for a Dragonborn Warforged to retain or regain a slam attack permanently?

A84: Second Slam, RoE. Dragonborn specifies that you retain race-based feats, so you keep it even when you lose your normal slam.

[Shiki]

Q85: I used to think you could use Midnight Augmentation + 2 Essentia to fuel a pp recharge w/ Bestow Power, but rereading a bit here and there I'm totally unsure now. The part about augmenting a power is what's bugging me. What do you people think about this? When augmenting a power, are any augment options used considered a seperate augmentation (even though you could use the same) or not? Books/SRD doesn't specifically say AFAIK, so I'm asking for opinions.

[Risada]

Q86 Does Thicket of Blades trigger against effects that "don't provoke AoOs", like Charging Minotaur?

[Sinfire Titan]

Q86 Does Thicket of Blades trigger against effects that "don't provoke AoOs", like Charging Minotaur?

FUCK.


Back to the errata thread...

[rot42]

Q85: I used to think you could use Midnight Augmentation + 2 Essentia to fuel a pp recharge w/ Bestow Power, but rereading a bit here and there I'm totally unsure now. The part about augmenting a power is what's bugging me. What do you people think about this? When augmenting a power, are any augment options used considered a seperate augmentation (even though you could use the same) or not? Books/SRD doesn't specifically say AFAIK, so I'm asking for opinions.

I read Midnight Augmentation (Magic of Incarnum 38) as changing the line on bestow power from For every 3 additional power points you spend, the subject gains 2 additional power points (SRD version) to For every 1 additional power points you spend, the subject gains 2 additional power points when you invest two points of essentia in the feat. Is your proposed alternate reading that you could spend 3 pp to bestow 2 pp, 4 to bestow 4, 7 to bestow 6, and 2 for each further 3 points spent? An argument against that reading would be that effectively that is just one pp per essentia per manifestation, which is worse than the Azure Talent feat until you spam the chosen power.

I do not think that you are a valid target for your own Bestow Power manifestation (RAW depends on whether you interpret the first sentence as restricting the Target line; RAI, certainly not), for what that is worth. http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/bestowPower.htm

A bit more iffy would be the augments on, say, the augments on Defensive Precognition - an option for adding three power points and an option for adding six (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/precognitionDefensive.htm). If you invest three points in the feat, does it decrease the cost of the first option to one and the second to three? Or does the reduction cap on one option apply to the other? By my reading, three essentia and six power points would give you +3 to your saves as a Swift action (one to manifest, two to augment the power twice, then three points to make it Swift).

[Shiki]

@rot42: Well, here's the thing: does MA decreases those options cost or the total cost in pp of the manifestation? I'd be inclined to say like you on this, but I certainly can see that other possibility. Being able to target yourself w/ Bestow Power is an old debate, and I favor it being possible though. Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Anyone else has an opinion on this?

Oh and Q87: Is Trip possible underwater? I can't seem to find anything on this.

[Tr011]

Q88: Any idea how the price of an item would increase for switching the item on/off via swift action? Want to get a on/off enlarge person...

[PhaedrusXY]

Q88: Any idea how the price of an item would increase for switching the item on/off via swift action? Want to get a on/off enlarge person...

It's basically like adding Quicken Spell, which means it would be for a 5th level spell instead of 1st...

[Tr011]

But it isn't like casting the spell again, it's more like the ability to turn on/off an item. Think this is something diffrent.

[kevin_video]

Q 89 How long has everyone known this, and just ignored it?

FAQ
Does a wizard (or other character that uses a spellbook), receive bonus spells to add to his spellbook when he gains a level in a prestige class that grants an increase to spellcasting?

No. The increase to his spellcasting level does not grant any other benefits, except for spells per day, spells known (for spontaneous casters), and an increase to his overall caster level. He must spend time and gold to add new spells to his spellbook.

–Jason Bulmahn (11/24/10)

[Sinfire Titan]

Q 89 How long has everyone known this, and just ignored it?

FAQ
Does a wizard (or other character that uses a spellbook), receive bonus spells to add to his spellbook when he gains a level in a prestige class that grants an increase to spellcasting?

No. The increase to his spellcasting level does not grant any other benefits, except for spells per day, spells known (for spontaneous casters), and an increase to his overall caster level. He must spend time and gold to add new spells to his spellbook.

–Jason Bulmahn (11/24/10)

A89: Since the FAQ was created.

[Sobolev]

Q90: For a plot reason, I have a good cleric who can cast [Evil] spells, as long as the spell doesn't do something EVIL.  That means I can cast things that are [Evil] for no good reason, like Deathwatch, and things that oppose Good but don't actually do something Evil, e.g. Protection from Good.  Creating Undead for example, is still a no-no.

For a related plot reason, whenever I cast such spells I have +1 CL, +2 Save DC, +2 bonus to overcome SR, and whenever someone is affected by an evil spell I cast they are Shaken for Rounds/Spell level with no save.

What do?  I already have Corrupt Spell to use in conjunction, but I need good (that is powerful, not alignment) spells to apply it to.  Vile Damage is plot over the line, so the spell cannot do damage.  I had hoped to find a nice fear spell that made people shaken on a save so it would stack to frightened anyway, but Cause Fear has a HD cap and Fear isn't a Cleric spell.  Even something simple like a Cleric version of Entangle, that could bone people with difficult terrain and cause them all to be shaken with no save would be nice.

I already thought of Aura of Doom (PF: Ultimate Magic) but the DM said it's the actual casting of the spell that frightens people, so I would have to cast it in combat to get the shaken with no save.  Granted, I might do that occasionally, but I was generally just planning to keep it up all the time so that won't work.

I'm a level 14 Cleric, and as such have access up to spell level 7, with spell level 8 approaching but still a ways off.

I also realize the setup to this question doesn't seem "simple" but since I expect an answer of like 3-8 spell names and that's it, I thought it would go here rather than it's own thread.