Ask a Simple Question: Losing the Game Edition

[Mixster]

Q38
What's the name of the spell that turns you into some tiny flier for rounds/level?

A38 Shapechange?

I've kept thinking there's one that does it at a much lower level. Something like level 2, a polymorph spell that turns you into a sparrow or something and gives you a flight speed. Along with it is a spell that turns you into a fish, but that's not as awesome as turning into a flier.'

Can anyone remember the name?

[something random]

Q42: Can a  totemist bind a soulmeld to both the chakra it occupies and the totem chakra at the same time?

[PhaedrusXY]

Q38
What's the name of the spell that turns you into some tiny flier for rounds/level?

A38 Shapechange?

I've kept thinking there's one that does it at a much lower level. Something like level 2, a polymorph spell that turns you into a sparrow or something and gives you a flight speed. Along with it is a spell that turns you into a fish, but that's not as awesome as turning into a flier.'

Can anyone remember the name?

Well... Alter Self can turn you into something with a flight speed, as long as there is something with the same creature type that's within 1 size category of you.

[Agita]

Q42: Can a  totemist bind a soulmeld to both the chakra it occupies and the totem chakra at the same time?

A 42

Only if he is at least 11th level and has the Totem Chakra (double bind) ability. Otherwise, no, just like an Incarnate cannot bind a soulmeld to the arms and hands chakras at the same time, even if it can be bound to either.

[kevin_video]

Q 43 If a wand has a spell in it that can be cast as a swift action normally, does it go off as a swift action as well? Same for full round action spells?

[PhaedrusXY]

Q 43 If a wand has a spell in it that can be cast as a swift action normally, does it go off as a swift action as well? Same for full round action spells?

A43 Yes, per the Rules Compendium. Before that book was published, no.

[Ithamar]

Q44:  Perhaps not so simple, but is the Corruptor of Fate's (MMIV) bestow curse and unluck ability as amazing as they sound?  Or is it simply too easy to gain immunity to Necromantic / Mind-Affecting effects?

[dna1]

Q 45. What are the best spells for a cleric11 to up his AC. Or just good defensive spells?

[JaronK]

Q 43 If a wand has a spell in it that can be cast as a swift action normally, does it go off as a swift action as well? Same for full round action spells?

A43:  Sort of.  The DMG had two rules on this subject:  Wands always take the same time to cast as the spell, and Wands always take at least a standard action.  The Rules compendium restated point one, but didn't state point two at all (for or against).  Was this an intentional change, or did they only state part of the rule?  This isn't nearly as clear as one would like.  Stupid Rules Compendium.

JaronK

[Agita]

Q 45. What are the best spells for a cleric11 to up his AC. Or just good defensive spells?

Greater Luminous Armor gives you +8 AC and -4 to enemies' attacks against you, for an effective +12. The +8's an Armor bonus, though.

[McPoyo]

Q 43 If a wand has a spell in it that can be cast as a swift action normally, does it go off as a swift action as well? Same for full round action spells?

A43:  Sort of.  The DMG had two rules on this subject:  Wands always take the same time to cast as the spell, and Wands always take at least a standard action.  The Rules compendium restated point one, but didn't state point two at all (for or against).  Was this an intentional change, or did they only state part of the rule?  This isn't nearly as clear as one would like.  Stupid Rules Compendium.

JaronK

Intentional, since spells with casting times shorter than one standard action, except for feather fall which had special rules written into itself intentionally), didn't exist when the DMG was written. In fact, until what, Complete Arcane?, swift action casting spells didn't exist in the system.

[kevin_video]

Q 45. What are the best spells for a cleric11 to up his AC. Or just good defensive spells?

Greater Luminous Armor gives you +8 AC and -4 to enemies' attacks against you, for an effective +12. The +8's an Armor bonus, though.

Q 46 Does that stack with the dragonscale husk from Dragon Magic?

[GawainBS]

A 46: No, since both are armour bonuses, IIRC.

[weenog]

A 46:  Pretty sure you already heard that nothing stacks with the dragonscale husk, RAW.  Even if you rule it only to not stack with armor bonuses, an armor bonus from a spell is still an armor bonus.

[kevin_video]

A 46: No, since both are armour bonuses, IIRC.

Fair enough.

Q 47 Other than Armor Beard, what armor bonuses (especially spell based armor) stacks with armor?

[weenog]

A 47:  None that don't say they do.  The general rule is, like bonus does not stack with like bonus (except Dodge).  No armor bonus stacks with another armor bonus.  Specific exceptions may exist but if they don't explicitly say they stack like bonuses, they don't.

[kevin_video]

A 47:  None that don't say they do.  The general rule is, like bonus does not stack with like bonus (except Dodge).  No armor bonus stacks with another armor bonus.  Specific exceptions may exist but if they don't explicitly say they stack like bonuses, they don't.

So in other words, only the Dastana from Oriental Adventures, and the Silver Beard spell, can stack with armor? Or at least that's what's being said right now.

For those that don't know silver beard.

SILVERBEARD
Transmutation
Level: Pal 1
Components: V, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/level
Your beard grows and turns to pure and magically hardened silver, increasing the armor bonus of your armor by +2. An outfit of regular clothing counts as armor that grants an AC bonus for the purpose of this spell. If you do not have a beard, you grow one for the duration of
this spell (even if you are a creature that cannot normally grow a beard, such as an elf or a female human).
You get a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy checks against dwarves.

[GawainBS]

Silverbeard increases your armour bonus, which makes the question of stacking irrelevant.

The Dastana and Kairhana both stack with armour.

[Kuroimaken]

A 47:  None that don't say they do.  The general rule is, like bonus does not stack with like bonus (except Dodge).  No armor bonus stacks with another armor bonus.  Specific exceptions may exist but if they don't explicitly say they stack like bonuses, they don't.

So in other words, only the Dastana from Oriental Adventures, and the Silver Beard spell, can stack with armor? Or at least that's what's being said right now.

For those that don't know silver beard.

SILVERBEARD
Transmutation
Level: Pal 1
Components: V, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 minute/level
Your beard grows and turns to pure and magically hardened silver, increasing the armor bonus of your armor by +2. An outfit of regular clothing counts as armor that grants an AC bonus for the purpose of this spell. If you do not have a beard, you grow one for the duration of
this spell (even if you are a creature that cannot normally grow a beard, such as an elf or a female human).
You get a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy checks against dwarves.

...I totally need someone to use this spell in-game. For reals.

[kevin_video]

Silverbeard increases your armour bonus, which makes the question of stacking irrelevant.

The Dastana and Kairhana both stack with armour.

Stacking, increasing. I'll take what I can get. Is the Kairhana also in OA?

Your beard grows and turns to pure and magically hardened silver, increasing the armor bonus of your armor by +2. An outfit of regular clothing counts as armor that grants an AC bonus for the purpose of this spell. If you do not have a beard, you grow one for the duration of
this spell (even if you are a creature that cannot normally grow a beard, such as an elf or a female human).
You get a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy checks against dwarves.

...I totally need someone to use this spell in-game. For reals.

I use it quite often actually (with my half-elf). Pious Templars get that spell too.