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Crazy question about the Factotum: It says that the Factotum gets Inspiration Points at the start of each encounter. Does this mean they do not have them between encounters? And if you stock up and don't use them during encounters, can you overfill your IP pool?
This is a legitimate question, as I have a Factotum in my group and I want to know if she can use her Opp Piety ability outside of combat.
As written, you get X inspiration points at the start of the encounter, and they do not go away. and there is no limit to how many you can have at a time. So you can save them up and use them between encounters, or even stay back for an encounter or two and then blow 3X points on one encounter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tvtyrant
The bulk of D&D's rules deal with combat encounters as such non-combat encounters are poorly defined.
The general implication in the DMG is that non-combat encounters are any challenge encountered outside of combat: crossing a river (skill checks), solving a puzzle, and interacting with npc's, etcetera. Likewise, it states that the encounters may not be worth any XP. But the problem still exists, and it still is an encounter. Therefore the factotum gains their experience points out of combat, provided they see the situation as a problem in need of solving.
Some DMs might object to this, and they are well within their rights to do so (though wrong in my eyes). In such cases, offer the skilltrick option. Skilltricks can only be used once per (combat) encounter, and have the additional limitation that they can only be used once per minute out of combat. Allowing for skillpoints to refresh every minute is prudent. In such a case I would push for the creation of inspiration reservoirs (something like cognizance crystals, pearls of power, spellshards, etc) even if they are oneshot. 1 IP for a single round single-use spark of inspiration ought not cost over 25 gp (as a cantrip potion), taking some sort of action. Swift would actually be the strongest deterrent for a factotum as there's no way (I know of) of getting extra swifts.
I had never read the rules with such an eye for RAW abuse.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eldest
This is worse if allow for non-combat encounter uses. There is danger that way. But perhaps I should point this out.
I am partial to out of combat constant availability myself, seems more reasonable I'd say than stacking IP.
Oh, I was reading it as written and not making any interpretation, since that's pretty much exactly what's written.Quote:
Originally Posted by Guigarci
There is nothing about losing them, having a limit on the number or how long you have them, or restriction on when you can spend them other than the actions associated with it (can't spend a standard to cast a spell when it isn't your turn). However, I'd appreciate you not accusing me of RAW abuse, because that is exactly what the darn thing says. Anything else is a (possibly perfectly reasonable) house rule.Quote:
To represent this seemingly-random body of knowledge, a factotum gains inspiration points that he can use to activate his abilities. At the beginning of each encounter, he gains a number of inspiration points determined by his level (see Table 1-1).
Yeap. Not disagreeing. Just acknowledging that my prior readings were not so critical or careful as they failed to acknowledge the interpretative biases I had in place.
With a RAW reading FoI isn't that vital. All the non-combat encounters encountered and resolved would soon add up to having a lot of IP in the IP pool
This handbook has been extremely useful in designing a factotum//duskblade for an upcoming gestalt game- so thank you very much!
Also, just wanted to point out in the item section, the Shadow Hands Gloves only allow you to access a maneuver- not a stance. Although I would love to be able to get certain stances for only 3000 GP, that is sadly not the case.
I am glad it has been of use. How has duskblade worked with the factotum.
As to the gloves: stances are a type of maneuver, as defined in the book. Not that they grant the use, not the maneuver itself, making them useless for prereq meeting, and the maneuver's prereqs must be met
It has been answered by WOTC at some point that Inspirationpoints are to be considered refreshed "after the character has a few minutes to catch his/her breath", so out of combat it seems to me you can consider them self-replenishing.
Also, just break down the task you are doing in single challenges a.k.a. "encounters" and you should be fine anyways.
The duskblade//factotum's an interesting mix... wouldn't recommend it for a normal campaign, but for gestalt it's fun. All great saves, full BAB, tons of skills, some spells, and interesting abilities all around. Lots of options in and out of combat. Not the most powerful, but my DM is purposely limiting our power level.
Okay, so the ToB actually contradicts itself on whether or not stances are maneuvers. On page 43 it says, "A stance is not a maneuver, but a specific fighting method that you maintain from round to round." Whereas under the quick overview of the book it defined stances as "a special type of maneuver."Quote:
As to the gloves: stances are a type of maneuver, as defined in the book. Not that they grant the use, not the maneuver itself, making them useless for prereq meeting, and the maneuver's prereqs must be met
Most rulings I've seen/been dealt say that a maneuver-granting item like the gloves would not grant stances... because if stances could be subsituted for maneuvers anytime it would change a number of things in game: a 1-level warblade dip, for instance, with 3 maneuvers + 1 stance known could technically grant 2, or 3, or 4 stances, or non-martial adept characters could take martial study to get a desired stance, as it has no requirements (beyond those on the maneuver itself) as opposed to martial stance which does have a requirement.
It might be a good idea to at least have a note by the gloves to check with a DM whether or not they work with stances, as continuously-active stances are definitely more powerful than a once-per-encounter (pending recovery methods) maneuver.
Regarding Inspiration points refreshing, your answer is here http://community.wizards.com/go/thre...35797/?pg=last
:smallsmile:
Thank you themightylex. Being able to link to the FAQ for validation that IPs are available for challenges and that unspent IPs don't carry over is great.
Small suggestion that may or may not have been mentioned :)
But I'm a huge fan of well thought out spoiler tags in handbooks, particularly when there are (or could be) a lot of sections.
Refer to: Rogue's Handbook
Here's a picture I used for my last factotum.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V0Q1Imk8Uz...nning+Plan.jpg
Update: added the FAQ rulings on factotums. Boosted Uncanny Trickster's rating and elaborated further on it.
To Do: Elaborate on ranged attacks
Fill up the spells section
Suggest some more useful items: schemas and wands
Racial suggestion: Vanara from Oriental Adventures!! +2 Int, +2 Wis, -2 Str. LA 0!
Good enough already, but add a 20' climb speed, +8 bonus to Climb checks (using either STR or DEX mod), can always take 10 on Climb
Low-Light vision, +4 to both Balance and Jump checks, +2 to both Hide and Move Silently.
I added the Unseelie Fey template for a 60' (average) fly speed, -2 STR, +2 DEX, -2 CON, +2 CHA, +4 Intimidate. Faerie Mysteries Initiate feat. So, 32 point buy 14/14/8/17/9/14 base yields stats of 10/16/6/19/11/16. Don't care about the CON 6 since the FMI lets me use INT mod to HP instead and have highest stats in INT>CHA/DEX>WIS>STR>CON.
At level 1, I have an extremely smart, intimidating, medium sized apelike creature (I think of him as a small wookie) with a bow.
Question:
What are the sources for "Fancy Hat"?
You should put a hyperlink in the Font of Instpiration description. Have you posted this at minmaxboards? Handbooks on this site have a bad tendency to become locked.
Furthermore - the reference for Omniweapon (dr 347) is wrong - scoured the whole thing and no evidence of it in there.Quote:
Originally Posted by teh_steve
Seems fairly straightforward, it's a magic item made using the various magic item combination rules. Hat of Disguise is normally 1,800gp and Circlet of Persuasion is normally 4,500 both are located in the DMG. Combined using the rules for stacking magical items in the same slot as one ability +1.5 times the other ability. I'm not quite sure how they got 9850 as the base price here, as far as I can tell it would be 7,200 (4500 +1.5*1800) for those. It then uses the rules in MIC for adding standard bonuses (Stat boosts, +NA, +Deflection, +Resistance etc) to other items at their normal price to stick an Int boost on there as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Guigarci
Ah, fair, thanks for the info! Are there any restrictions on number of abilities you can stack together other than GP and XP costs?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dread_Head
May we get a link to the 8 Bit Theatre Red Mage Factotum, G?
Great handbook. I'm big fan of the factotum, ever since discovering it I've had a soft spot Int focused builds for non-traditional classes.
Here's some more PF feats & traits a factotum (or an Int character) might find useful.
Feat:
Artful Dodge
Requires: Int 13
Benefit: +1 dodge AC when your the only one threatening an opponent. Unsure if the applies to multiple opponents if flanked/surrounded, probably don't want to test it :smalltongue: .
Special: Acts as the Dodge for prerequisites. Can use Int rather than Dex for feat prerequisites.
src
Traits:
Clever Wordplay Use Int for one Cha based skill
Bruising Intellect Use Int for Intimidate
Student of Philosophy Use Int for Diplomacy to persuade and Bluff to lie
Precise Treatment Use Int instead of Wis for Heal
Also, while the fluff is very different, the PF class Investigator is mechanicaly pretty similar to the Factotum in terms of using Int and a resource pool (also 2/3rds casting) to make themselves awesome at pretty much everything.
Facto3 Swash3 Swordsage2? has been mentioned, and it's pretty sick.
Facto is MAD and this combo lets you take advantage of that. Perhaps with Chameleon on top.
Facto with max UMD let's you use any scroll ever written. Scribe Scroll if your campaign looks like that, and your Facto has all day ammo.