Ask a Simple Question: Ragnarok Edition

[ksbsnowowl]

Because Norse bikini babes are hot, and completely historically inaccurate.

Q 1: A Draegloth has 4 arms, but only two of those arms have claw attacks.  If a Draegloth had a template that granted two claw attacks as part of the template, would it get 4 claw attacks, or would it only get the original 2 (but use the better of the two damages)?  Does it make a difference if the template specifies that the base creature gains two claw attacks, but does or doesn't specify to use the better of the two damages if the base creature already has claw attacks?

[Surreal]

Q 2: How does that qualify for a bikini, and how does one go about acquiring said bikini + girl combo?

Q 3: Assuming the girl is a Thor-girl equivalent, do you suppose the artist actually knows his mythology in that Thor has red hair, or do you think he just likes drawing buxom redheads?

[Agita]

Q 3: Assuming the girl is a Thor-girl equivalent, do you suppose the artist actually knows his mythology in that Thor has red hair, or do you think he just likes drawing buxom redheads?

A3

I'm pretty sure it's the latter.

[ksbsnowowl]

Q 2: How does that qualify for a bikini, and how does one go about acquiring said bikini + girl combo?

Flash the cash, that's how...

Q 3: Assuming the girl is a Thor-girl equivalent, do you suppose the artist actually knows his mythology in that Thor has red hair, or do you think he just likes drawing buxom redheads?

Maybe he's like me and just has a thing for redheads... (so sad my wife isn't a redhead....)

[snakeman830]

Q4: If your caster level increases while you are casting a spell, does the spell use your original or your new caster level?

Example: Bob the level 15 Cleric has no caster level boosts, but has cast Consumptive Field.  In combat, he decides to cast a Summon Monster spell.  While he is casting it, his Rogue buddy stabs some poor sap into the negatives, who then fails the Fort save vs. Consumptive Field.  Does the resulting Summon Monster spell have a caster level of 15 or 16?

[Kuroimaken]

Because Norse bikini babes are hot, and completely historically inaccurate.

Indeed. But that could be classified as risqué in a good case scenario, much less if it were historically accurate (in which case the redhead would need to be nude).

EDIT: A4:
The spell checks for caster level at the moment of the casting, presumably the beginning. While there is no actual rules text on this that I can recall, it would be the logical conclusion.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Q4: If your caster level increases while you are casting a spell, does the spell use your original or your new caster level?

Example: Bob the level 15 Cleric has no caster level boosts, but has cast Consumptive Field.  In combat, he decides to cast a Summon Monster spell.  While he is casting it, his Rogue buddy stabs some poor sap into the negatives, who then fails the Fort save vs. Consumptive Field.  Does the resulting Summon Monster spell have a caster level of 15 or 16?

15, I think.  After all, metamagic effects are applied before you start casting, so it seems like that sort of effect should be determined at the beginning; otherwise there could be issues with extending and round/level spells.

[ksbsnowowl]

Q 5: The Dekanter Goblins from Monsters of Faerun are listed as Monstrous Humanoid (goblinoid).  In the web enhancement for Player's Guide to Faerun they are updated to type Humanoid (goblinoid).  Were they errata'd prior to the 3.5 update?  What type are they listed as on their Miniatures stat card (can't find mine after the move....)?

[Surreal]

A 5: The web enhancement is dated March 2004, which is after 3.5 came out.

[ksbsnowowl]

A 5: The web enhancement is dated March 2004, which is after 3.5 came out.

Right, is that the first time they were errata'd?  Have they always been Humanoids in 3.5?

[snakeman830]

Q4: If your caster level increases while you are casting a spell, does the spell use your original or your new caster level?

Example: Bob the level 15 Cleric has no caster level boosts, but has cast Consumptive Field.  In combat, he decides to cast a Summon Monster spell.  While he is casting it, his Rogue buddy stabs some poor sap into the negatives, who then fails the Fort save vs. Consumptive Field.  Does the resulting Summon Monster spell have a caster level of 15 or 16?

15, I think.  After all, metamagic effects are applied before you start casting, so it seems like that sort of effect should be determined at the beginning; otherwise there could be issues with extending and round/level spells.

There are plenty of times when metamagic is applied at casting, though, just like caster level is (spontaneous casting, metamagic rods, etc.).  My question is if the caster level is determined at the beginning or the end of casting, really.

[Negative Zero]

It doesn't make any real sense to check for caster level at any time other than the beginning. If you cast Body Outside Body and you're 1 CL short of another clone, and then someone chucks an orange ioun stone at your head, another clone shouldn't pop into existence. You already made the clones, you  can't retroactively make more.

[bearsarebrown]

It doesn't make any real sense to check for caster level at any time other than the beginning. If you cast Body Outside Body and you're 1 CL short of another clone, and then someone chucks an orange ioun stone at your head, another clone shouldn't pop into existence. You already made the clones, you  can't retroactively make more.

That's different. They're not talking about during the duration. They're talking about during casting.

[snakeman830]

It doesn't make any real sense to check for caster level at any time other than the beginning. If you cast Body Outside Body and you're 1 CL short of another clone, and then someone chucks an orange ioun stone at your head, another clone shouldn't pop into existence. You already made the clones, you  can't retroactively make more.

That's different. They're not talking about during the duration. They're talking about during casting.

Indeed.  Once a spell is cast, it's cast.  Caster level and the like are locked in.  My example with the question was a caster level boost occouring (from Consumptive Field) while the cleric was in the middle of casting a spell (1 round casting time).

[Anklebite]

I would personally rule that spells check casterlevel at the moment the spell is released, IE at the end of the casting time.

but, then, that's just my interpretation which has no RAW backing. 

[ksbsnowowl]

I would personally rule that spells check casterlevel at the moment the spell is released, IE at the end of the casting time.

but, then, that's just my interpretation which has no RAW backing. 

That would also coincide with summoning spells targeting the placement of the summoned creature at the end of casting, would it not?

[Anklebite]

I would personally rule that spells check casterlevel at the moment the spell is released, IE at the end of the casting time.

but, then, that's just my interpretation which has no RAW backing. 

That would also coincide with summoning spells targeting the placement of the summoned creature at the end of casting, would it not?

why yes, yes it does; my interpretation now has the power of logic behind it! 

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Q4: If your caster level increases while you are casting a spell, does the spell use your original or your new caster level?

Example: Bob the level 15 Cleric has no caster level boosts, but has cast Consumptive Field.  In combat, he decides to cast a Summon Monster spell.  While he is casting it, his Rogue buddy stabs some poor sap into the negatives, who then fails the Fort save vs. Consumptive Field.  Does the resulting Summon Monster spell have a caster level of 15 or 16?

15, I think.  After all, metamagic effects are applied before you start casting, so it seems like that sort of effect should be determined at the beginning; otherwise there could be issues with extending and round/level spells.

There are plenty of times when metamagic is applied at casting, though, just like caster level is (spontaneous casting, metamagic rods, etc.).  My question is if the caster level is determined at the beginning or the end of casting, really.

Exactly, at the beginning.  Otherwise quicken wouldn't work, since it'd be applied at the end of the full round action.

[Negative Zero]

It doesn't make any real sense to check for caster level at any time other than the beginning. If you cast Body Outside Body and you're 1 CL short of another clone, and then someone chucks an orange ioun stone at your head, another clone shouldn't pop into existence. You already made the clones, you  can't retroactively make more.

That's different. They're not talking about during the duration. They're talking about during casting.

Indeed.  Once a spell is cast, it's cast.  Caster level and the like are locked in.  My example with the question was a caster level boost occouring (from Consumptive Field) while the cleric was in the middle of casting a spell (1 round casting time).

Ah! My apologies; I thought you meant that after you summoned a monster, if your CL increased, did the duration increase accordingly.
Carry on.

[Nunkuruji]

Q 2: How does that qualify for a bikini, and how does one go about acquiring said bikini + girl combo?

A 2: Clearly standard female leather at 2 AC. Just ask your local Maiden of Pain.