Ask a Simple Question: Losing the Game Edition

[Littha]

Q178: Prestige Classes like Sapphire Hierarch say that they give you +1 Level of existing meldshaping class (or whatever), does this include allowing you to qualify for feats that require things like "Meldshaper Level 9"?

yes, you gain all the benefits of taking the meldshaping class you were part of other than class features. If i remember correctly the wording on the actual ability is pretty exaustive.

[A_Shadow_of_Life]

Q179: Is there anywhere I can find assistance in determining what is retained as a Dragonborn? It seems pretty much straight forward a Feral Half-Minotaur Dragonborn won't gain pounce.. But not sure. Help?

[kevin_video]

Q179: Is there anywhere I can find assistance in determining what is retained as a Dragonborn? It seems pretty much straight forward a Feral Half-Minotaur Dragonborn won't gain pounce.. But not sure. Help?

From what I got told when I asked the question, you only keep your size, and your ability stats. That's it. Oh, and your blood so you still count as whatever you were before (ie for weapons, PrC requirements, feats, and favored enemy).

[A_Shadow_of_Life]

That's what I read and thought, just wanted clarification. *Removes -useless- dragonborn, kicks it twice, feeds it to Solo.*

[kevin_video]

That's what I read and thought, just wanted clarification. *Removes -useless- dragonborn, kicks it twice, feeds it to Solo.*

It's not useless. It's perfect if the face is half-orc or orc. You lose absolutely nothing of value. Nothing. People think it's the kobolds, but that's not quite correct.

[dna1]

Q 180. Can a Homunculous be a player character? Or a NPC with class levels? And can you create them to look like anything?

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

Q181
Does a Changling with Racial Emulation Qualify for Beholder Mage?
If not, what do I need to do to qualify a non True Beholder for the class (I know there is a trick to do it somewhere.)

[BruceLeeroy]

Q175: If you have Improved Grab and are using it to not be considered grappling while holding an opponent, can you use a free hand to attack your opponent normally?

Q175B: As an extension to this, could you use one or two-handed weapons to attack your opponent, since even though being in a grapple normally disqualifies those from use, you don't count as being in a grapple because of Improved Grab?

Q175C: Would such an attack be made with the grappled opponent denied DEX to AC vs you? Normal grappling says than when grappled you are denied DEX to AC against opponents not in a grapple - but a creature grappling with Improved Grab doesn't count as in a grapple despite grappling a creature.

A175(B):From the SRD (bolding mine):
Unless otherwise noted, improved grab works only against opponents at least one size category smaller than the creature. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the improved grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a -20 penalty on grapple checks, but is not considered grappled itself; the creature does not lose its Dexterity bonus to AC, still threatens an area, and can use its remaining attacks against other opponents.

That sounds a lot like you you grab someone with one limb and then treat the rest of your actions that don't involve that limb as if you are not grappled. So, if you're a monk using unarmed strike to attack with any part of your body (eyebrows?) and grapple someone, then you could hit them with your quarterstaff for the rest of your full round action while they wrestled with your eyebrows.

(C)

SRD: You lose your Dexterity bonus to AC (if you have one) against opponents you aren’t grappling. (You can still use it against opponents you are grappling.)
Your improved grab doesn't do anything here, because they are still grappling you, and therefore retain their dexterity bonus to AC against you.

[Shadowhunter]

Q181
Does a Changling with Racial Emulation Qualify for Beholder Mage?
If not, what do I need to do to qualify a non True Beholder for the class (I know there is a trick to do it somewhere.)

A181: The "common" way is for someone to PAO you into a Beholder.
Then, whilst you are a Beholder, someone PAO you into another Beholder.
While the first PAO would have a limited duration since the changes are so great, the second PAO would only check the difference between the old form (Beholder 1) and the new form (Beholder 2). With so little difference in changes, the effect becomes permanent.

And I use "common" in the loosest sense possible.

[Zombieboots]

Q182 I saw a feat recently and I'm trying to find it's Name and where it is from:

The feat increases your BASE AC, meaning the AC 10 everyone gets is increased, to a total of 17 by level 20. I'm fairly certain it was from a 3.0 book.

[weenog]

Q 183:  I've lost track of the info on magic item body slots for animals, little help please?

[kevin_video]

Q 184 How would I go about making a thri-kreen able to use regular sized weapons in all four hands (ie four longswords instead of one longsword and three shortswords)? It's already got the Multi-Weapon feats switched out for Two-Weapon Fighting that a ranger gets.

[BruceLeeroy]

Q185 If a warblade necropolitan were haunt shifted into the body of a dead warforged, would the warblade be able to utilize manuevers with the animated object body? Would a Psion  be able to utilize powers with a range of personal on the animated object body?

[dna1]

Q 180. Can a Homunculous be a player character? Or a NPC with class levels? And can you create them to look like anything?

BUMP

[Senevri]

Q 180. Can a Homunculous be a player character? Or a NPC with class levels? And can you create them to look like anything?

A 180: 1. Not without trickery - the '-' in LA means "Not appropriate for player characters", but you could, I think, mind switch/possess it with correct magic.
2. NPC? Sure, a DM can do anything. Although it's advancement is capped at 6HD, you could add class levels, and it has int, wis and cha scores, so...
But, it would probably require a master leaving a homunculus alone for a really extended period of time, perhaps with something blocking the connection between them.
3.  The creature’s master may assemble the body or hire someone else to do the job. Creating the body requires a DC 12 Craft (sculpting) check or a DC 12 Craft (pottery) check.
Since it's crafted, yes it can look like anything. I think the example in the MM was made by your average magician who just put that 1 rank into the skill, or something.

[Maat_Mons]

Q 184 How would I go about making a thri-kreen able to use regular sized weapons in all four hands (ie four longswords instead of one longsword and three shortswords)? It's already got the Multi-Weapon feats switched out for Two-Weapon Fighting that a ranger gets.

You can already use one-handed weapons in all hands.  The only issue is that when you use light weapons in your off hands, you take only a -2 on attacks, and when you don't, you take -4 on attacks. 

It would be quite reasonable to adapt the oversized two-weapon fighting feat (Complete Adventurer) to multi-weapon fighting. 

[kevin_video]

Q 184 How would I go about making a thri-kreen able to use regular sized weapons in all four hands (ie four longswords instead of one longsword and three shortswords)? It's already got the Multi-Weapon feats switched out for Two-Weapon Fighting that a ranger gets.

You can already use one-handed weapons in all hands.  The only issue is that when you use light weapons in your off hands, you take only a -2 on attacks, and when you don't, you take -4 on attacks. 

It would be quite reasonable to adapt the oversized two-weapon fighting feat (Complete Adventurer) to multi-weapon fighting. 

That's what I mean. You can use them, but you get a heavier penalty.

Strongarm Bracers allow you to wield a weapon one size larger. However, you can only wear one set, unless you've got the right monstrous feat which allows you to wear more items.

Is there an ability you can put on weapons that make it count as one category smaller? Much like the sunsword can be treated like a shortsword?

If a Marilith can do it, there's gotta be a way for other multilimbed creatures to pull it off too.

[Sobolev]

Q186: Can a Totemist bind a soulmeld to his Totem and to another body slot? >_>

[Zombieboots]

Q187
What's decent Armour for a new Warblade10/Eternal Blade 3? 13th level that's 110,000 starting gp. All books (except Eberron)

Q182 (Repost so soon) I saw a feat recently and I'm trying to find it's Name and where it is from:

The feat increases your BASE AC, meaning the AC 10 everyone gets is increased, to a total of 17 by level 20. I'm fairly certain it was from a 3.0 book.

Obviously worried about AC.

[Maat_Mons]

Q186: Can a Totemist bind a soulmeld to his Totem and to another body slot?

Only if you have 11 levels in totemist.  This is noted in the last paragraph of the totem chakra bind ability description.  

Q187: What's decent Armour for a new Warblade10/Eternal Blade 3? 13th level that's 110,000 starting gp. All books (except Eberron)

Mithral Mechanus gear (Planar Handbook) is nice.  It costs 10,750 gp, provides +10 base AC, has a +2 max dex bonus, and limits your move speed to 15 feet if it is normally 30.  If you can get the tooth of Savnok, you can move at full speed while wearing it.  There is only one tooth, but it nevertheless has a market price of 2,000 gp.