Ask a Simple Question, Part 18: Lucid Dreaming Ghost Pixie Hood Edition

[Maat_Mons]

Q177 Is there anyway a Druid can where metal armour (specifically Mithral) without losing his spells and abilities?

These non-metal special materials can reduce the category of armor:

• Blue Ice (any metal): armor category 1 lighter, max dex 1 higher, armor check penalty 1 better, Frostburn 80
• Darkleaf, elven (any metal): armor category 1 lighter, max dex 1 higher, armor check penalty 2 better, Arms and Equipment Guide 19
• Dragoncraft (hide, scale, half or full plate only): armor category 1 lighter, armor check penalty 2 better, Draconomicon 117
• Duskwood (breastplate only): armor category 1 lighter, max dex 1 higher, armor check penalty 2 better, Magic of Faerun 178
• Glassteel (any metal): armor category 1 lighter, max dex 2 higher, armor check penalty 3 better, Races of Faerun 158
• Shadowsilk (any cloth or leather): armor category light, max dex 2 higher, armor check penalty 2 better, Tome of Magic 155

These non-metla special material only improve maximum dexterit bonus:

• Chitin (breast, half, or full plate only): max dex 1 higher, Races of the Dragon 121
• Leafweave, elven (any cloth or leather): max dex 1 higher, armor check penalty 2 better, Races of the Wild 168
• Wildwood (any metal): max dex 1 higher, armor check penalty 1 better, armor bonus 1 lower, Races of the Wild 169

I'm not certain that glassteel doesn't count as metal, and it's pretty expensive.  Elven darkleaf definitely works for a druid, is almost as good as mithral, and is pretty cheep (+750 gp for light, +2,250 gp for medium, and +3,000 gp for heavy). 

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Q177

Is there anyway a Druid can where metal armour (specifically Mithral) without losing his spells and abilities?

Wear blue ice armor instead.

[Maat_Mons]

Q178: Sentira (Secrets of Sarlona 135) is grown from crystal.  The description says “For purposes other than those described in this chapter, sentira is treated as mithral.”  Does interaction with a druid's armor restriction count as a purpose not described in that chapter, or does the reference to sentira being made of crystal count as that interaction being described in that chapter? 

[wotmaniac]

Q178: Sentira (Secrets of Sarlona 135) is grown from crystal.  The description says “For purposes other than those described in this chapter, sentira is treated as mithral.”  Does interaction with a druid's armor restriction count as a purpose not described in that chapter, or does the reference to sentira being made of crystal count as that interaction being described in that chapter? 

A178
I would say the latter.

[juton]

Q177 Is there anyway a Druid can where metal armour (specifically Mithral) without losing his spells and abilities?

These non-metal special materials can reduce the category of armor:

• Blue Ice (any metal): armor category 1 lighter, max dex 1 higher, armor check penalty 1 better, Frostburn 80
• Darkleaf, elven (any metal): armor category 1 lighter, max dex 1 higher, armor check penalty 2 better, Arms and Equipment Guide 19
• Dragoncraft (hide, scale, half or full plate only): armor category 1 lighter, armor check penalty 2 better, Draconomicon 117
• Duskwood (breastplate only): armor category 1 lighter, max dex 1 higher, armor check penalty 2 better, Magic of Faerun 178
• Glassteel (any metal): armor category 1 lighter, max dex 2 higher, armor check penalty 3 better, Races of Faerun 158
• Shadowsilk (any cloth or leather): armor category light, max dex 2 higher, armor check penalty 2 better, Tome of Magic 155

These non-metla special material only improve maximum dexterit bonus:

• Chitin (breast, half, or full plate only): max dex 1 higher, Races of the Dragon 121
• Leafweave, elven (any cloth or leather): max dex 1 higher, armor check penalty 2 better, Races of the Wild 168
• Wildwood (any metal): max dex 1 higher, armor check penalty 1 better, armor bonus 1 lower, Races of the Wild 169

I'm not certain that glassteel doesn't count as metal, and it's pretty expensive.  Elven darkleaf definitely works for a druid, is almost as good as mithral, and is pretty cheep (+750 gp for light, +2,250 gp for medium, and +3,000 gp for heavy). 

Thanks, you really went above and beyond!

[lans]

If a spell is as another spell, but with a slight differance can a class that can cast the latter spell cast the former.

Example create wine is as create water only it makes wine.

Exact text

create wine (as create water, but wine instead)

[betrayor]

Q179:Can I use Astral projection if I allready am astral projecting?

[jojolagger]

Q179:Can I use Astral projection if I allready am astral projecting?

yes, but it won't do anything.

[betrayor]

Q179:Can I use Astral projection if I allready am astral projecting?

yes, but it won't do anything.

What?Why not?
If I use Astral projection and then go back to the material plane and  then cast Astral projection again,it should work shouldn't it?

[The_Mad_Linguist]

If a spell is as another spell, but with a slight differance can a class that can cast the latter spell cast the former.

Example create wine is as create water only it makes wine.

Exact text

create wine (as create water, but wine instead)

No.

[jojolagger]

yes, but it won't do anything.

What?Why not?
If I use Astral projection and then go back to the material plane and  then cast Astral projection again,it should work shouldn't it?

Because casting it again will just stack durations, and the duration is as long as you want.

[betrayor]

yes, but it won't do anything.

What?Why not?
If I use Astral projection and then go back to the material plane and  then cast Astral projection again,it should work shouldn't it?

Because casting it again will just stack durations, and the duration is as long as you want.

Yes,but I don't care about duration.....
So you say that when my second body casts Astral projection it just dissappears?Where are you getting this ruling?

[Epimetheus]

Q 180 Can you take 1 hand off a 2 handed weapon in order to cast a spell? Or are you forced to take the Complete Mage's feat Somatic Weaponry (pg 47) in order to do so? If you can cast while wielding a 2-handed weapon (via take hand off, cast, and put hand back on), where are the rules for this?

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Yes, you can.

[Toptomcat]

If a spell is as another spell, but with a slight differance can a class that can cast the latter spell cast the former.

Example create wine is as create water only it makes wine.

Exact text

create wine (as create water, but wine instead)

No. You could easily research such a spell, however, and such minor cosmetic changes might possibly be ruled to be within the domain of the PgtF's Spell Thematics feat if your DM is feeling generous.

[Epimetheus]

Q 180 Can you take 1 hand off a 2 handed weapon in order to cast a spell? Or are you forced to take the Complete Mage's feat Somatic Weaponry (pg 47) in order to do so? If you can cast while wielding a 2-handed weapon (via take hand off, cast, and put hand back on), where are the rules for this?

Yes, you can.

What's the source, please?

[Saxony]

yes, but it won't do anything.

What?Why not?
If I use Astral projection and then go back to the material plane and  then cast Astral projection again,it should work shouldn't it?

Because casting it again will just stack durations, and the duration is as long as you want.

Yes,but I don't care about duration.....
So you say that when my second body casts Astral projection it just dissappears?Where are you getting this ruling?

The ruling doesn't exist.

Using Astral Projection multiple times is a known tactic. I thought almost everyone agrees that it works Rules As Written. Full Stop. When something works, it works. Full Stop.

It is broken as all hell. You can copy your equipment as many times as you want. The wealth resource system is destroyed completely. With proper tactics, one doesn't have to fear death.

Why in the hell this spell exists when we have Plane Shift if not to give a game breaker to 17th level spellcasters? I have no idea. Copying equipment and making extra bodies... that sounds perfectly balanced and not at all controversial or group dividing.

For that reason, I suggest you not use it unless your entire group is already using things similar.

[X-Codes]

yes, but it won't do anything.

What?Why not?
If I use Astral projection and then go back to the material plane and  then cast Astral projection again,it should work shouldn't it?

Because casting it again will just stack durations, and the duration is as long as you want.

Yes,but I don't care about duration.....
So you say that when my second body casts Astral projection it just dissappears?Where are you getting this ruling?

The ruling doesn't exist.

Using Astral Projection multiple times is a known tactic. I thought almost everyone agrees that it works Rules As Written. Full Stop. When something works, it works. Full Stop.

It is broken as all hell. You can copy your equipment as many times as you want. The wealth resource system is destroyed completely. With proper tactics, one doesn't have to fear death.

Why in the hell this spell exists when we have Plane Shift if not to give a game breaker to 17th level spellcasters? I have no idea. Copying equipment and making extra bodies... that sounds perfectly balanced and not at all controversial or group dividing.

For that reason, I suggest you not use it unless your entire group is already using things similar.

On the contrary, the first time you cast Astral Projection, you are now under the effect of an Astral Projection spell.  Even if you return to the material, you're under the effect of an Astral Projection spell.  Therefore, if you cast Astral Projection again, the durations will simply overlap.  You will not gain 3rd, 4th, etc. extra lives/duplicate items/etc.

[Saxony]

yes, but it won't do anything.

What?Why not?
If I use Astral projection and then go back to the material plane and  then cast Astral projection again,it should work shouldn't it?

Because casting it again will just stack durations, and the duration is as long as you want.

Yes,but I don't care about duration.....
So you say that when my second body casts Astral projection it just dissappears?Where are you getting this ruling?

The ruling doesn't exist.

Using Astral Projection multiple times is a known tactic. I thought almost everyone agrees that it works Rules As Written. Full Stop. When something works, it works. Full Stop.

It is broken as all hell. You can copy your equipment as many times as you want. The wealth resource system is destroyed completely. With proper tactics, one doesn't have to fear death.

Why in the hell this spell exists when we have Plane Shift if not to give a game breaker to 17th level spellcasters? I have no idea. Copying equipment and making extra bodies... that sounds perfectly balanced and not at all controversial or group dividing.

For that reason, I suggest you not use it unless your entire group is already using things similar.

On the contrary, the first time you cast Astral Projection, you are now under the effect of an Astral Projection spell.  Even if you return to the material, you're under the effect of an Astral Projection spell.  Therefore, if you cast Astral Projection again, the durations will simply overlap.  You will not gain 3rd, 4th, etc. extra lives/duplicate items/etc.

What book says casting a spell on one's self twice does not confer the benefits of that spell twice? I'd like a page number, too.

[jojolagger]

Because casting it again will just stack durations, and the duration is as long as you want.

Yes,but I don't care about duration.....
So you say that when my second body casts Astral projection it just dissappears?Where are you getting this ruling?

I'll give you two choices.
1. you assume counts under stacking effects and that therefor it doesn't work. (combining magical effects, PH 171)

2. you pull off a stupid infinite loop that gives the DM increasing places to kill you, and increasing reason to kill you.

Because abusing the copy effect would likely count as violating a natural law, inevitables will begin to target you, and your sliver cords only have hardness 10 and 20 hp.
some quick numbers

Assuming 1 of the least effective ones, it would take 533.3 attacks assuming it needs a 20 to hit. that's 26 minutes and 40 seconds.
the most effective one would deal 2d6+12+3d6-10 damage  (7 to 32) damage in the first swing, and the second swing would almost total assure death. even if it needs 20 to hit, that's only 2 minutes.
the second most efficient will average death in 8 hits. at two attacks per round and needing 20 to hit it's still only 8 minutes.

Do you really want a CR 9 creature to kill you that easy?