*NEW* Ask A Simple Question, Get A Simple Answer

[JaronK]

Q178 Do negative ACs exist? Shock Trooper is why I ask.

Yes, though it rarely matters except against other people using Power Attack (and even then, it usually only matters on iterative attacks).  But yes, Shock Trooper could make you have a negative AC, and that could be very dangerous against an any who's also using Power Attack.

JaronK

[The_Mad_Linguist]

A 179: Cloudy Conjuration (CMag 40) happens when any conjuration spell is cast. An SLA works in all ways as a spell of its namesake, so I think this works.

too bad I can't qualify for it with my sla-only character.

also, it doesn't seem like it would be that good at level 9.

[McPoyo]

Penalties to BAB produce negative to hit modifiers. Negative DC's for skills via modifiers, as well as negative rolls. Yes, I think that negative AC's are supported.

where are there any negative DCs?

Can you see a mountain from over a mile away?

Spot gets a -1 per 10 feet of distance.

Not quite, the distance required for the penalty depends on terrain. Specifics that deviate are called out in their terrain entries, like mountains.

[Viletta Vadim]

Q180 If you make a UMD check to use a wand/scroll and fail, is the charge/scroll still expended?

[NeverGetDrunkButStaySober]

Q180 If you make a UMD check to use a wand/scroll and fail, is the charge/scroll still expended?

A180: UMD is unclear on such respects, so my best guess is that the charge or scroll is expended only on a mishap (ie, fail by ten or more). So if you try to Activate it Blindly (because you don't know the function), you have a chance of a mishap and thus expenditure. If you know what it does, you can Use the Scroll or Use the Wand without having the chance of a mishap, and thus without a chance of losing anything later.

[Chemus]

A 179: Cloudy Conjuration (CMag 40) happens when any conjuration spell is cast. An SLA works in all ways as a spell of its namesake, so I think this works.

too bad I can't qualify for it with my sla-only character.

also, it doesn't seem like it would be that good at level 9.

Conjurer not required: Req: Spell focus (Conjuration) [general].

As to the quality of the ability, you're likely correct, but it was the only thing that I could think of. Crinti Shadow marauder?

[PhaedrusXY]

Q180 If you make a UMD check to use a wand/scroll and fail, is the charge/scroll still expended?

It doesn't say failing uses a charge, so I'd say it doesn't. It should certainly specify if it did, like the Arcane Spell Failure rules do, and Attacks of Opportunity, etc. That kind of stuff is explicitly stated.

[Runestar]

Q181) Do the claw attacks from a totemist's girallon arms soulmeld add on to your existing allotment of claw attacks, or does it supersede them? How does this work on creatures with more than 2 arms?

Eg: Say I am a lizardfolk totemist2. With girallon arms, how many claw attacks can I make each round?

a) 4 (because the claws from girallon arms supersede the lizardfolk's original 2)
b) 6 (because 2+4 = 6)?

What if I was a thrikeen instead? Do I get 6 claw attacks or just 4? Or 8?

[Tenebrous Apostate]

A 181 you gain an aditional pare of hands so an aditional pare of claws and as for existing claws you use the better damage value so yes a thri kreen will have six claw attacks

[Runestar]

Q182) Also on totemists, some of the soulmelds such as the chimera and displacer beast ones grant natural attacks, but their wording seems somewhat awkward as to what I may combine them with.

For example, the threefold beast one grants me 3 head attacks, and states I may attack with them all as a full-round action. Does this mean that if I want to apply str mod damage to each of them, I can only attack with them and nothing else (so no claw attacks etc) or can I still follow up with my other natural attacks (as secondary attacks if need be)?

Same for the 2 tentacle attacks granted by the displacer beast soulmeld. Am I allowed to attack only with them (and nothing else) as a full-round action?

Thanks for your responses. 

[Tenebrous Apostate]

A 182 I'm not a fan of incarnum but I'm a fan of natural attacks so I suggest to see the descriptions about Primary and secondary attacks. Creature with many types of natural attacks can allways use all of them no matter how many they have. Claws bites tentacles are all fair game. So why shouldn't a character do it? Usually though when a PC aquires natural attacks like slams or bites they are labeled as "secondary" wich means that you first hit with your stick and then with your claws or slam or what have you. Since you only use natural weapons learn what's your primary weapon  (or chose it if the descriptions are vauge) and do the same to secondary, tetartiary and so on appling the -5 penalty (or -2 i never remember) to hit.

[Runestar]

here is the exact wording.

As a standard action, you can attack with any one of these heads, applying your full Strength modifi er as a bonus on your damage roll. As a full attack action, you can attack with all three heads, applying your full Strength modifi er on all three damage rolls. Alternatively, as part of a full attack, you can make a secondary attack with one head at a –5 penalty, applying only one-half your Strength modifi er as a bonus on your damage roll.

So am I correct in thinking that I can bite/bite/gore as primary attacks and still be able to follow up with the rest of my natural attacks as secondary attacks?

I have only recently started to take a second look at MoI. Most of it seems straightforward enough, but there are a few areas which seem somewhat confusing. 

[EjoThims]

So am I correct in thinking that I can bite/bite/gore as primary attacks and still be able to follow up with the rest of my natural attacks as secondary attacks?

No.

This is a special case, however.

You either attack with all 3 heads, and nothing else (including manufactured weapons) as a full attack action but get full Str to all 3, or you attack with one of the heads as a secondary attack added on to your standard attack routine (including all your other natural attacks).

[DerWille]

Q183: Does the Marshall's Motivate Strength minor aura also apply to attack rolls? The reasoning that an attack roll is a strength based check and follows the same pattern as grapple. By the same logic, would it also apply to damage rolls? Being that those too are strength based.

[Agita]

Q183: Does the Marshall's Motivate Strength minor aura also apply to attack rolls? The reasoning that an attack roll is a strength based check and follows the same pattern as grapple. By the same logic, would it also apply to damage rolls? Being that those too are strength based.

A 183

No. Ability checks are a specific subset of rolls, separate from attack rolls. Ability checks include straight ability checks, skill checks, Initiative rolls, and rolls for special maneuvers that are stated as such, like grapple or bull rush checks. An attack roll is not a strength check, it is an attack roll (and doesn't even necessarily use Str). You can also see this difference in how you can take ten or twenty on ability checks, but not on attack rolls.

[DerWille]

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't sure how to interpret it.

[Majere]

Q184 Is there any way to get the Dragon type, except from the half-dragon template and the dragonwrought cobold?

[snakeman830]

Q184 Is there any way to get the Dragon type, except from the half-dragon template and the dragonwrought kobold?

Play a dragon, Polymorph into a dragon...

That's about it.

[Viletta Vadim]

Q185 What book do platinum weapons come from?

[Vinom]

Q184 Is there any way to get the Dragon type, except from the half-dragon template and the dragonwrought kobold?

Play a dragon, Polymorph into a dragon...

That's about it.

If you have the dragonblood subtype, you basicly have the dragon type.