Simple Q&A D&D 3.5 (by RAW) XXII

[Curmudgeon]

A 628 Yes.

While the monster is not considered grappling the player (thus making it capable of taking other actions, rather than only those listed under If You’re Grappling), the player is still considered to be grappling the monster. Furthermore, the criterion for equal chances to hit with a ranged attack is not particular about the grappling situation:

Normal: See the normal rules on the effects of cover and concealment. Without this feat, a character who shoots or throws a ranged weapon at a target involved in a grapple must roll randomly to see which grappling combatant the attack strikes.

Unless you've got mproved Precise Shot you still roll randomly to see which grappling party you hit, regardless of their degree of involvement under the grappling rules.

A 629 No; yes; yes.

Apply any changed physical ability score modifiers in all appropriate areas with one exception: the creature retains the hit points of its original form despite any change to its Constitution.

While using Wild Shape the Druid is held to the above restriction. Whether CON increases or decreases, the hit points are unaffected by that change. Fortitude saves and poison DCs change as usual. As soon as it reverts to its original form it is eligible for hit point gains/losses as a function of CON changes.

[Triaspia]

Q:630

Easy one, although I couldnt find a clear answer on google.
For a Core 3.5 Human Cleric, is the priority for ability points Wis > Con > Cha > Str > Int > Dex?

additionally, are their any feats considered essential?

Everything I found wasnt exclusively core (PH1, DMG1, MM1)

[Demonic_Spoon]

Is there a way to change which stat a extraordinary attack is dependent on for DC? I think I remember being undead switching it to cha?

[Curmudgeon]

A 630

That's asking for opinion, not a RAW answer. Player's Handbook says this (on page 31):

Abilities: Wisdom determines how powerful a spell a cleric can cast, how many spells he can cast per day, and how hard those spells are to resist (see Spells, below). A high Constitution score improves a cleric’s hit points, and a high Charisma score improves his ability to turn undead.

No priority order is given.

[Jon_Dahl]

Q631

Where can I find a ruling that states how many temporary hit points can you have from different sources?

Eg a sorcerer/cleric drains two horses by casting two vampiric touches (first one deals 20 damage and the second one 29). Then he proceeds to cast five Virtues on himself. How many temporary hps will he have and what on you base your answer?

[Kred]

Q632
Can an immediate action be done right after attack/damage roll (e.g. to reduce incoming damage)?

[Pickford]

A631

Technically, no limit as written in the PHB.

Though iirc, the Plane of Positive Energy will make you explode from healing once your total HP = 2x your normal HP.

A632

Any time would indicate yes. Depending on the DM interpreation YMMV.

[Khedrac]

A631 Additional

Eg a sorcerer/cleric drains two horses by casting two vampiric touches (first one deals 20 damage and the second one 29). Then he proceeds to cast five Virtues on himself. How many temporary hps will he have and what on you base your answer?

In this case 30. The temporary hit points from the Vampiric Touches do not stack (bonus from same source therefore only the greater one applies), likewise with 5 Virtues - 29+1 = 30.
False Life, Aid or Heroes Feast, Heart of Earth etc will stack with the above scenario as they are different sources.

[mattie_p]

A 631: Khedrac correctly answered the question regarding hp. The rationale behind this (to answer your question) is found in the SRD under Combining Magical Effects.

Same Effect More than Once in Different Strengths
In cases when two or more identical spells are operating in the same area or on the same target, but at different strengths, only the best one applies.

[Pickford]

A631 Additional

In this case 30. The temporary hit points from the Vampiric Touches do not stack (bonus from same source therefore only the greater one applies), likewise with 5 Virtues - 29+1 = 30.
False Life, Aid or Heroes Feast, Heart of Earth etc will stack with the above scenario as they are different sources.

Except Temporary Hit points aren't a bonus, they're temporary hit points.

The bonuses don't stack means things like: armor bonus, enhancement bonus, deflection bonus, inherent bonus, and so on. (p.s. "edit whoops, you're right, I should have written:" circumstance bonuses from different sources do stack).

Edit: Read the Vampiric Touch entry, your limit on temporary HP from it are: Subject's HP + 10.

If you hit two different subjects that's two different sets of temporary HP, they aren't conflicting in that case.

[Douglas]

Except Temporary Hit points aren't a bonus, they're temporary hit points.

The bonuses don't stack means things like: armor bonus, enhancement bonus, deflection bonus, inherent bonus, and so on. (p.s. competence bonuses from different sources do stack).

That's the other stacking rule. There is a completely independent rule that the same effect does not stack with itself.

[mattie_p]

Except Temporary Hit points aren't a bonus, they're temporary hit points.

Please see my answer directly above yours which addresses this.

The bonuses don't stack means things like: armor bonus, enhancement bonus, deflection bonus, inherent bonus, and so on. (p.s. competence bonuses from different sources do stack).

No, they do not. Please see the SRD on stacking, you may be confusing it with circumstance bonuses.

Competence Modifier
A competence bonus (or penalty) affects a character's performance of a particular task, as in the case of the bardic ability to inspire competence. Such a bonus may apply on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, caster level checks, or any other checks to which a bonus relating to level or skill ranks would normally apply. It does not apply on ability checks, damage rolls, initiative checks, or other rolls that aren't related to a character's level or skill ranks. Multiple competence bonuses don't stack; only the highest bonus applies.

[willpell]

Q632
Tome of Battle says Crusaders are proficient with all shields. Does that include Tower Shields? If there are such things as Exotic Shields, would they also be available?

[Pickford]

Mattie, the example given for same effect is bonuses. Like the -4 penalty to strength and a -6 penalty to strength.

Temporary hit points are not like this at all, and even if they were, what difference would it make? If you had 15 hp and 10 hp from the vampiric touch and took 25 in damage it would use up 6 hp from the 15, then alternate back and forth until all the temporary damage was used before touching your real hp.

The SRD does not contain the detail of the PHB, which is why this (and many other rule calls based solely on the online sources) can easily be misinterpreted if you don't open up the PHB and read the section.

Edit: Thank you for the vindication Douglas.

[Pickford]

A632

Willpell,

Edit: I, wrongly, trusted that you provided the text as written.

Yes they would be proficient with tower shields.
No they are specifically 'not' proficient with tower shields. Why would you ask the question when it states it in the same sentence?

No they would not be proficient with exotic weapons(i.e. Tortoise Blade, Gnome from Complete Warrior pg 154 or Buckler-axe, dwarven). Those are classified as exotic weapons that also act as a shield (edit: they are weapons, not shields, in case my original explanation left any lingering question.)

Exotic Shield proficiency is also another feat, if it doesn't explicitly say 'proficient in exotic shield (shieldnamehere) then they aren't.

[Douglas]

Rules Compendium page 72:

Temporary hit points gained from multiple applications of the same effect don’t stack. Instead, the highest number of temporary hit points gained from that effect apply.

If temporary hit points are gained from multiple, different sources that stack, keep track of those sources and when they were gained separately. Any damage taken is first subtracted from the oldest effect that granted temporary hit points. When those are gone, subtract damage from the next oldest effect, and so on.

And yes, the example in the PHB uses a penalty. That does not in any way mean that the rule does not apply to anything else. The rule as stated applies to any and all effects of spells, and that includes temporary hit points. The Rules Compendium quote I looked up is a clarification, not a rule change. You could argue that it's extending the rule to non-spell effects, but that's a nit picking detail.

[Douglas]

Edit: Thank you for the vindication Douglas.

What vindication? The rule I just quoted directly contradicts your position quite clearly.

[Andezzar]

A632

Willpell,

Yes they would be proficient with tower shields.
No they would not be proficient with exotic shields (i.e. Tortoise Blade, Gnome from Complete Warrior pg 154 or Buckler-axe, dwarven) as those are classified as exotic weapons that also act as a shield (edit: they are weapons, not shields, in case my original explanation left any lingering question.)

On the other hand they are proficient with the Extreme Shield, the Shield Gauntlet and the Rider's Shield (all RoS) and probably others that actually are exotic shields (until someone finds a rule that exotic shields never are shields). The Gnome battle Cloak (RoS as well) does not fall under that category, because it's description says it is not a shield, and calls for Exotic Shield Proficiency.

Come to think of it of it anyone with shield proficiency should be proficient with those, contrary to the intent:

You can use a shield and take only the standard penalties.

[Pickford]

What vindication? The rule I just quoted directly contradicts your position quite clearly.

This part:
Any damage taken is first subtracted from the oldest effect that granted temporary hit points. When those are gone, subtract damage from the next oldest effect, and so on.

So effectively unless the temporary hit points last less than 1 combat round, you're going to 'use' them as if they stacked.

[Douglas]

This part:
Any damage taken is first subtracted from the oldest effect that granted temporary hit points. When those are gone, subtract damage from the next oldest effect, and so on.

So effectively unless the temporary hit points last less than 1 combat round, you're going to 'use' them as if they stacked.

That clause explicitly applies only to effects that stack with each other. Temporary hit points from lesser or equal applications of the same effect are gone instantly, tossed out by the stacking rule, not kept around for separate tracking until they're relevant.

[Pickford]

On the other hand they are proficient with the Extreme Shield, the Shield Gauntlet and the Rider's Shield (all RoS) and probably others that actually are exotic shields (until someone finds a rule that exotic shields never are shields). The Gnome battle Cloak (RoS as well) does not fall under that category, because it's description says it is not a shield, and calls for Exotic Shield Proficiency.

Come to think of it of it anyone with shield proficiency should be proficient with those, contrary to the intent:

Didn't realize there 'was' an exotic shield proficiency. In that case definitely not. It says proficient with all shields, not proficient with all exotic shields.

p.s. this was a trick question apparently:

"and with shields (except tower shields)."

So no, they aren't proficient with exotic weapons, exotic shields or tower shields.

[Pickford]

That clause explicitly applies only to effects that stack with each other. Temporary hit points from lesser or equal applications of the same effect are gone instantly, tossed out by the stacking rule, not kept around for separate tracking until they're relevant.

A vampiric touch that steals from two different entities 'is' two different sources.

[Douglas]

Only from a very loose fluff perspective, taking into account that Vampiric Touch is "stealing" the hit points from someone. For game rules, the temp hp are from Vampiric Touch. Period. And Vampiric Touch does not stack with Vampiric Touch.

[Andezzar]

Didn't realize there 'was' an exotic shield proficiency. In that case definitely not. It says proficient with all shields, not proficient with all exotic shields.

Unless someone can quote that exotic shields are not shields, exotic shields are a subset shields, just like exotic weapons are a subset of weapons.

p.s. this was a trick question apparently:

"and with shields (except tower shields)."

So no, they aren't proficient with exotic weapons, exotic shields or tower shields.

As above. They are not proficient with exotic weapons or tower shields. All other shields can be used without penalty.

[Vaz]

Q633
Would having a "Mass" version of a spell like ability count towards having the none Mass version prerequisite? Ie. you have "Mass Charm Person" but not "Charm Person"; could you get into Mindbender with that (having met all other prequisites)?

[Pickford]

Unless someone can quote that exotic shields are not shields, exotic shields are a subset shields, just like exotic weapons are a subset of weapons.

As above. They are not proficient with exotic weapons or tower shields. All other shields can be used without penalty.

Exotic shields as a concept seem to have been introduced in that book, so unless you can cite an example of someone specifically being proficient in an exotic shield...they would function akin to exotic weapons, default is no proficiency.

[Ranting Fool]

Q634

Beholders, can they use more then one eye stalk per round?

[Douglas]

A634

Yes. They can use all ten eye rays each and every round, provided that their targets are sufficiently spread out to satisfy their limit of 3 rays per 90 degree arc.

[cd4]

Q635 What methods exist to counter a silence spell cast on you? I know about dispelling and counterspelling it, what else?

Q636 What is the base listen DC for a bard who is using a stringed instrument to make a bardic music affect? What about singing?

Q637 If there is a silence spell between you and the target, can you hear the target? (Assuming something like a dungeon corridor with no other way to get the sound around the spell.)

[Curmudgeon]

A 633 No.

You need to meet the specific prerequisite. Having something "better" isn't good enough.

A 635 partial

Amplify (Spell Compendium, page 10). Antimagic Field + Silent Spell.

A 636 Ask your DM.

Hearing someone singing or playing an instrument is approximately as easy as hearing people talking (DC 0). Your individual DM may decide it's a bit easier or a bit harder, though.

A 637 Yes.

Sound doesn't have any equivalent to "line of hearing" in the D&D rules. Most solid materials will transmit sound. However, there will be overall attenuation of the sound (as it goes from air to solid material and back to air) and changes in pitch (differences in attenuation at different frequencies depending on the material). The end result will be a significant increase in Listen DCs. Exactly what specific DC changes will be up to your individual DM.