Ask a simple question: Monty Python edition

[PhaedrusXY]

Okay, my math skills are too rusty to deal with this question. If you buyoff the LA from say a Goliath, at what level, if ever, would you catch up to the rest of the party?

Check out this article here, but be warned that it can be fairly hard to read.
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19872242/Experience_is_a_River

To cut a long story short (and assuming I am interpreting the chart correctly), you will catch up in about 10 lvs, or ~lv14. By lv13, you should be around 30xp behind.

it'll also depend on how often xp is handed out.  if it is handed after every encounter, etc., then it can take a while.  if it is handed out in large chunks after several encounters (i.e., much more than would be needed to make the next level), then you can catch-up in only a few levels (at least by my experience).

:twocents:

Along these lines... what actually matters is whether you're the same level as the party or not, not your relative amount of experience vs. theirs. Long before you actually catch up completely on the experience, you'll be the same level as the party much of the time. Of course, during the times that you're the same level as them you won't be gaining any extra XP, which is one of the reasons that it actually takes so long to catch up completely, but you also won't be behind in levels. So you'll effectively be "caught up" much of the time (in levels) long before you're actually caught up in total XP.

[Architect]

Q56: Is there a write-up of the Epic Factotum anywhere, and would it effect his spellcasting? Alternatively, I haven't seen many write-ups for how to gain caster-levels with prestige classes that have already been maxed. This is shown differently in Epic Handbook with a couple Prestige classes... How is this handled?

[kevin_video]

Q51: Does anyone have a good list of sites for looking up character portraits? I already know of Deviantart but I'm afraid of stepping on people's toes about it.

I just Google Image that stuff. I've found a lot of good ones that way.

Q55: Where would I find the Executioners Mace? I know its in Dragon somewhere...i just don't where.

Don't know the book, but it's 75 gold. Executioners’ mace: 2Hand 2d6 B/P or S/P X3 crit (you choose). No Exotic pro required. 12 lbs.

EDIT: Found it. AoW module. Dungeon 135 page 61

[Kuroimaken]

Q51: Does anyone have a good list of sites for looking up character portraits? I already know of Deviantart but I'm afraid of stepping on people's toes about it.

Bump!

[CantripN]

Q51: Does anyone have a good list of sites for looking up character portraits? I already know of Deviantart but I'm afraid of stepping on people's toes about it.

Bump!

Well, let go of your fear, and there's your answer. I routinely use it, and so long as it's not commercial use, but rather private, I fail to see the problem.

[Agita]

Q51: Does anyone have a good list of sites for looking up character portraits? I already know of Deviantart but I'm afraid of stepping on people's toes about it.

Bump!

Check out this page. For female characters, visit /c/ and have a look around.

[McPoyo]

Q51: Does anyone have a good list of sites for looking up character portraits? I already know of Deviantart but I'm afraid of stepping on people's toes about it.

Bump!

Well, let go of your fear, and there's your answer. I routinely use it, and so long as it's not commercial use, but rather private, I fail to see the problem.

As long as you don't edit out the artist's signature, and it's for personal or private use only, it passes DA's regulations. If the artist doesn't sign their art, that's their own fault.

[BOTDuo]

Q57: What is the feat (I think it's a feat at least) that lets you spend your psionic focus to regain up to 5 spell slots? (I remember reading about it after looking up both thrallherd builds as well as war weaver builds but cannot seem to refind the thread.)

Edit: Changed talent to feat (Must be playing Borderlands to much). Also in hindsight it could have been a class feature as well. I'm really not sure though as I went through a lot of material that day.

[Hasmadad]

Q58: I´m entering into War Hulk (Miniatures Handbook) and have Item Familiar (Unearthed Arcana) that contains some knowledges and perform. Do I lose them because of the War Hulk lvl 1 "ability" No Time To Think, or does the Item Familiar override them, seeing as how the skills are actually stored outside my head? =)

[Talore]

Q59: Is there a list/guide anywhere for picking good mounts? Particularily those whith a climb/fly speed or feasibly accessible? I couldn't find any in the handbooks. Thanks!

[weenog]

Q58: I´m entering into War Hulk (Miniatures Handbook) and have Item Familiar (Unearthed Arcana) that contains some knowledges and perform. Do I lose them because of the War Hulk lvl 1 "ability" No Time To Think, or does the Item Familiar override them, seeing as how the skills are actually stored outside my head? =)

Better jam it back in there just to be sure.

[Agita]

Q58: I´m entering into War Hulk (Miniatures Handbook) and have Item Familiar (Unearthed Arcana) that contains some knowledges and perform. Do I lose them because of the War Hulk lvl 1 "ability" No Time To Think, or does the Item Familiar override them, seeing as how the skills are actually stored outside my head? =)

You'd be treated as having 0 ranks as normal, but you'd still get the bonus from your Item Familiar. For maximum effect, buy ranks only in physical skills, store them, and apply the bonuses to mental skills (note that you don't have to apply the bonus to the same skill you invested). However, remember that you still have 0 actual ranks, so you won't be able to use trained-only skills like knowledges.

[weenog]

Q60: Can the war hulk's No Time To Think ability disqualify you from feats you've already taken?  For example, can it shut down Practiced Spellcaster (requisite: Spellcraft 4 ranks) on an ogre cleric 8/warhulk rest?

[Agita]

Q60: Can the war hulk's No Time To Think ability disqualify you from feats you've already taken?  For example, can it shut down Practiced Spellcaster (requisite: Spellcraft 4 ranks) on an ogre cleric 8/warhulk rest?

Looks lik it, yes.
If you want to have access to trained mental skills from time to time, get a way to shrink yourself. Shrinking to smaller than Large size will cause you to lose the abilities of the PrC, including No Time To Think, until you grow back to Large size or larger.

[Ithamar]

Q61:  What is a good bludgeoning weapon with reach to combine with Greatery Mighty Wallop?

[CantripN]

Q60: Can the war hulk's No Time To Think ability disqualify you from feats you've already taken?  For example, can it shut down Practiced Spellcaster (requisite: Spellcraft 4 ranks) on an ogre cleric 8/warhulk rest?

Looks lik it, yes.
If you want to have access to trained mental skills from time to time, get a way to shrink yourself. Shrinking to smaller than Large size will cause you to lose the abilities of the PrC, including No Time To Think, until you grow back to Large size or larger.

Huh. So you can be a scientist by day, and a hulking menace when threatened. Hope no one Banners this.

[weenog]

Don't think I hadn't already thought of being a were-ape, shaving a lot and dying myself green.

But really I'm just trying to think of a way to effectively use Three Mountains with a DM that has limited race options a lot and favors big monsters with ridiculous Fort saves.  Need stupidly high Str for a decent save DC, and need base attack to get multiple hits and trigger TM in the first place.  Divine Power seems like the best option but with a caster level that low, I'd like to get Practiced Spellcaster in there.

[Agita]

Don't think I hadn't already thought of being a were-ape, shaving a lot and dying myself green.

But really I'm just trying to think of a way to effectively use Three Mountains with a DM that has limited race options a lot and favors big monsters with ridiculous Fort saves.  Need stupidly high Str for a decent save DC, and need base attack to get multiple hits and trigger TM in the first place.  Divine Power seems like the best option but with a caster level that low, I'd like to get Practiced Spellcaster in there.

Persistify the Divine Power with DMM and don't worry about the duration? With a +0 Cha modifier, you only really need a Nightstick for that.

[weenog]

DM don't like nightsticks, and werestuff isn't available to PCs with this guy.  Ogre's the best available option if you want to be at least Large and have hands.  Cha -4 racial, but at least he reduces the LA to +0.

The ring of reduction from lords of madness might be a worthy investment though, come to think of it.  I wouldn't blow 20 grand just on the ability to temporarily shut off my class features, but being able to get through pinch points in dungeons easily would be useful.

[ksbsnowowl]

Huh. So you can be a scientist by day, and a hulking menace when threatened. Hope no one Banners this.

Already been done.  Goliath Barb sub levels.  Raging Hulk smash!