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

[Flame of Anor]

Re: A 180 [correction]
That erroneous answer is easily corrected by quoting those rules of effort.

But those aren't named "rules of effort". That's all I meant--it's not a specific term.

[Curmudgeon]

A 185 Other.

From the definition:

negative level

A loss of vital energy resulting from energy drain, spells, magic items, or magical effects.

It's a negative level from a spell directly, rather than from an energy drain or negative energy effect. As such, protection against those specific attacks does not block negative levels from Fell Drain.

A 187a

Yes, you can target a square you have line of effect to but simply can't see. The AC of a square is 5 (base 10, -5 for 0 DEX). If your attack is high enough to hit the square's AC you'll be on target; if there's a creature in that square and your attack is also high enough to hit their AC then there's a 50% hit/miss chance.

Total Concealment

If you have line of effect to a target but not line of sight he is considered to have total concealment from you. You can’t attack an opponent that has total concealment, though you can attack into a square that you think he occupies. A successful attack into a square occupied by an enemy with total concealment has a 50% miss chance (instead of the normal 20% miss chance for an opponent with concealment).

If your attack is not high enough to hit AC 5 then you'll miss the square.

A 187b

You'll have to ask your DM in this case. There are rules for where your shot goes with a missed thrown weapon; it's a 1d8 roll to choose adjacent squares (see page 158 of Player's Handbook), and your DM could adopt that mechanism as a house rule for projectile-driven ammunition. Note the following, though:

Generally speaking, ammunition that hits its target is destroyed or rendered useless, while normal ammunition that misses has a 50% chance of being destroyed or lost.

A damaged magic item continues to function, but if it is destroyed, all its magical power is lost.

An Illuminating (Magic Item Compendium, page 36) arrow which is destroyed on impact can't illuminate anything.

[kardar233]

Q188:

If a character has used Celerity to gain a single standard action out-of-turn, can that action be used to execute a partial charge?

Q189:

If a character has a Caster Level greater than their Hit Dice, can they use Shapechange to change into a shape with a number of Hit Dice greater than their own Hit Dice but still below their Caster Level?

[Curmudgeon]

A 188 No.

If you are able to take only a standard action or a move action on your turn, you can still charge, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to double your speed). You can’t use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action or move action on your turn.

When you cast Celerity outside your turn, you're not restricted to taking only a standard action on your turn; you're restricted to taking a standard action out of turn.

A 189 No.

This spell functions like polymorph, except that it enables you to assume the form of any single nonunique creature (of any type) from Fine to Colossal size.

The assumed form can’t have more Hit Dice than your caster level (or the subject’s HD, whichever is lower), to a maximum of 15 HD at 15th level.

Shapechange inherits the HD limitation of Polymorph.

[MizuDevil]

Q190:
Is some feat to make Intimidate as non standart action?
Q191:
If I can intimidate as move action (for example) does it provoce attack of opportynity in fight or not?
Q192:
If I stand in front of someone and talk to him, and suddenly decide to attackhim, will I have an surprice round or not (If I have Quick Draw).
Q193:
The same, as Q192, but before talk, writed to GM that I will attack him, if hi will make something strange, and, for example, he made it.

[Flame of Anor]

A 190

See this thread.

A 192

No, because he's aware of you--but if you win initiative, he will be flat-footed against your attack.

A 193

That could be resolved as a readied action, but there's not much mechanical advantage to using one. You'd have to begin combat rounds in order to ready the action. Then if he wins initiative, he acts before you've readied the action. And if you win initiative, then you have your readied action, but since you're in combat rounds now and you aren't attacking in the first round, he won't be flat-footed when your readied action goes off.

[kkplx]

Q 194

Spoiler: some context

Show

A 187a

Yes, you can target a square you have line of effect to but simply can't see. The AC of a square is 5 (base 10, -5 for 0 DEX). If your attack is high enough to hit the square's AC you'll be on target; if there's a creature in that square and your attack is also high enough to hit their AC then there's a 50% hit/miss chance. If your attack is not high enough to hit AC 5 then you'll miss the square.

A 187b

You'll have to ask your DM in this case. There are rules for where your shot goes with a missed thrown weapon; it's a 1d8 roll to choose adjacent squares (see page 158 of Player's Handbook), and your DM could adopt that mechanism as a house rule for projectile-driven ammunition. Note the following, though: An Illuminating (Magic Item Compendium, page 36) arrow which is destroyed on impact can't illuminate anything.

I am the DM in this particular game, so sadly I can't give away that responsability ;) The group has reacted very positively to the rulings given in this Q&A, and in most cases I acted the same.

Anyway, my question: Can you therefore aim a spell with an area of effect to originate from a grid intersection that you do NOT have line of sight of due to vision range, NOT a physical barrier. (physical barrier means no line of sight or line of effect, so an automatic no-no, as far as I'm aware)

[Curmudgeon]

A 194 Yes.

Aiming at a square, or at a grid intersection, both require line of effect but not line of sight. Here's what it says under Aiming A Spell:

Line of Effect

A line of effect is a straight, unblocked path that indicates what a spell can affect. A line of effect is canceled by a solid barrier. It’s like line of sight for ranged weapons, except that it’s not blocked by fog, darkness, and other factors that limit normal sight.

You must have a clear line of effect to any target that you cast a spell on or to any space in which you wish to create an effect. You must have a clear line of effect to the point of origin of any spell you cast.

[kkplx]

Q 195 (Q194 followup)

Since you can have a spell originate form a grid intersection that you cannot see, what happens if you try to do so, but due to an obstacle you lack Line of Effect, but don't know that's the case due to your vision range? Do you lose the spell, does it originate at the obstacle, or do you automatically know "you cannot do that" (and does that knowledge constitute a free, movement or standard action)?

[Khedrac]

A 195 (Q194 followup)

Unfortunately this is not well defined in the rules - it depends on the spell.

For example, fireball's description clearly states that the fireball detonates early (because it originates at the caster and proceeds at the target, bursting if it either hits a solid object or reaches the target).

I think technically (i.e. RAW) most other spells e.g. glitterdust simply fail, the most relevant rule being:

Spell Failure
If you ever try to cast a spell in conditions where the characteristics of the spell cannot be made to conform, the casting fails and the spell is wasted.

The logic being that you have specified an impossible centre for the spell (i.e. one you do not have line of effect to) thus the spell cannot be made to conform.

There is nothing I am aware of that implies the caster should be aware of whether the spell worked or not (unless it is visually obvious) or why it failed. Compare with saving-throw based spells - in a lot of cases the caster will be unaware of whether the save was made until the target's action (if then).

In summary read the spell description carefully and then make a reasoned judgement and you should be OK. It could also be wise to explain your reasoning to your players, if they disagre they may have some logic that you missed behind their understanding that means you actually want to change your mind. (Then again they may not.)

[MizuDevil]

Q196:
If I will take 2 lvlv of Avenging Executioner and get Rapid intimidation will intimidate provoke attack of opportynity?

[Renen]

A: 196

While I may be wrong I want to try and answer. Looking over intimidate skill, I dont see it saying that it provokes AoO.
Rapid Intimidation doesnt say anything about AoO. As such, the effect on being attack of opportunitied is the same as before.

So if Indimidate never provokes AoO, then that stays the same.
If it does, it still stays the same.

[Drathric]

Q197: Is it possible to create multiple objects with the same minor image/ silent image spell as long as they are within the area of effect?

Q198: If you can, would each object get a different will save to disbelieve, because each one would have to be interacted with to get a will save?

[Renen]

A: 197

Nothing in the text of the spell indicates multiple images. It says:

This spell creates the visual illusion

Note the singular form used

[Lord Talmanes]

Q 199

Where can I find a template for a traveling merchant adventurer with all the bells and whistles

[Flame of Anor]

Re 199

Are you sure you want a "template" per se?

[Gildedragon]

Q 199

Where can I find a template for a traveling merchant adventurer with all the bells and whistles

I don't think there is a template for this per-se. There are races fluffed to have said schtick. Might be worth starting own thread for this.

[Muggins]

Q 200

Are Factotums considered to have an arcane caster level for the purposes of feats such as Obtain Familiar? I know that Warlocks are explicitly stated to qualify for such things in Complete Arcane, but I can't find anything of the like for Factotums.

[Eaglejarl]

Q201

Am I correct that wizard spells max out at 4 for each level, regardless of level? So, even a 50th level wizard would still only have 4 3rd level spells?

[Andezzar]

A 201

No, first of all there are ACFs and Feats that can increase the number of spells that a wizard gets for free each level. Secondly those free spells can be used for spells of any level he can cast, so he could have more lower level spells instead of higher ones. For example a wizard who gains his third level could take levl 0 or level 1 spells instead of level 2 spells.
Thirdly the wizard can inscribe an unlimited number of spells into his spellbooks.

[Eaglejarl]

A 201

No, first of all there are ACFs and Feats that can increase the number of spells that a wizard gets for free each level. Secondly those free spells can be used for spells of any level he can cast, so he could have more lower level spells instead of higher ones. For example a wizard who gains his third level could take levl 0 or level 1 spells instead of level 2 spells.
Thirdly the wizard can inscribe an unlimited number of spells into his spellbooks.

Q201, revised

Sorry, I meant spell slots, not spells. My mistake. Can a wizard have more than 4 spell slots per level?

[Andezzar]

A 201 Revised

He is not limited to 4 spells per day either. Specialists can prepare one more spell of their specialty school per day. There also is the Extra Slot feat.
Due to the ambiguous wording of Versatile spellcaster a wizard with the Spontaneous Divination ACF might even be able to use that feat to cast any of his spells with two slots of a level lower.

[Curmudgeon]

A 200 No.

The Factotum has a caster level, but not an arcane caster level or a divine caster level. Factotums use SLAs; they are not spellcasters — either arcane or divine. From page 72 of Complete Arcane:

... requirements for feats and prestige classes based on specific levels of spells cast (“Able to cast 3rd-level arcane spells,” for example) cannot be met by spell-like abilities or invocations—not even spell-like abilities or invocations that allow a character to use a specific arcane spell of the appropriate level or higher.

[Flame of Anor]

A 201 additional

Also, the wizard would get bonus spell slots for his Intelligence score. You should look up the table, but it's something like one extra spell slot for every level X such that your intelligence bonus is at least X, and another extra spell slot for every level Y such that your intelligence bonus is at least Y+4, and so on. (But not level zero spells.)

[Oddman80]

Q 202
If my Half-Orc Barbarian gets into the Stoneblessed Prestige Class for the Goliath Progression, after 3 levels, he gains the ability Stoneborn.

Stoneborn (Ex): At 3rd level, a stoneblessed completes the bond with her chosen race. The stoneblessed gains a permanent +2 increase to her Constitution score. In addition, for all effects related to race, a stoneblessed is considered a member of the race to which she is bonded…

A) Would he be able to retrain his Rage Ability into Mountain Rage, as it is a Goliath substitution level?

B) Would my Half-Orc gain Powerful Build as a racial ability?

C) Would I still be able to have Enlarge Person Cast on me, as it does not say anything about changing the base creature’s type (Goliaths are typically considered Monstrous Humanoids).

The goal being to go into a Mountain Rage, and have Enlarge Person cast on me in order to become Huge.

[Andezzar]

A 202

a) No. Since you are replacing a class level this is a job for rebuilding that level, not for retraining a class feature. Rebuilding that level would work on the other hand, since for some reason you do not have to prove previous eligibility as with retraining. Only if not having regular rage would mess wit the rest of the build would you be unable to rebuild that barbarian level.

b) No. The Half-Orc is considered a Goliath for effects but he does not gain traits or features from the Goliath race.

c) Yes, the Half-Orc is only considered a member of the Goliath race (a largely undefined term) and Enlarge Person works on all creatures of the humanoid type, which he still is.

Conclusion, what you attempted would work.

[kkplx]

Q 203

Stone Shape, greater from the spell compendium:

203a Could a caster close a tunnel made from stone with it?
203b If creatures occupy the tunnel at the moment of casting, what happens to them? Similar effect to the spell Tunnel Swallow? Does the spell fail? Do the creatures get moved to the next free square, without damage?

[Curmudgeon]

A 203a

Yes, you could close a tunnel with Stone Shape, Greater. Note that neither this spell nor Stone Shape creates any stone; they just shape it. So to put stone across a tunnel opening you would need to move it from somewhere else.

A 203b

If creatures occupy the tunnel at the time of casting, you can only affect 5' cubes which are not occupied. The target of Stone Shape, Greater is stone only; a target of stone + creatures is not valid and attempting to cast the spell with such a target will fail.

Spell Failure

If you ever try to cast a spell in conditions where the characteristics of the spell cannot be made to conform, the casting fails and the spell is wasted.

You can close off the tunnel if there's an unoccupied portion and you have enough stone to shape (from unoccupied cubes) for the purpose. The creatures elsewhere in the tunnel are not affected, except for their movement options being altered.

[Eaglejarl]

Q204

Can you cast Time Stop inside a Time Stop in order to increase the duration? The SRD version of Time Stop does not address this, and Google is not giving me an answer.

[Curmudgeon]

A 204 Yes.

You can try to extend the duration of Time Stop with a second casting, but the results of these overlapping spells will both be variable (unless you're applying Maximize Spell metamagic to them). The second casting could have a shorter duration than the remaining time left from the first casting.

If a spell’s duration is variable (power word stun, for example) the DM rolls it secretly.