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

[Andezzar]

A 653

Most likely yes. Gauntlets (whether spiked or not) say nothing about preventing the use of touch attacks. Additionally it is not mentioned that touch attacks must be performed with a hand.

[KillianHawkeye]

Q652

does the following combo work?

Sorcerer dips Abjurer Wizard to qualify for Master Specialist Abjurer (advancing Sorcerer casting). Proceeds to cast AMF apontaneously applying reach spell and chain spell to it. Now every target has an AMF with no save or SR.

A 652

No, that does not work.

I'll ignore the bit about the multiclassing since I don't want look up whether you can do that or not, so I'll just point out that you cannot apply the Reach Spell metamagic feat to antimagic field as the feat only works on spells that normally have a range of "touch" and AMF does not fall into that category. Thus, Chain Spell also fails to have any effect.

For reference, antimagic field is a 10-foot radius emanation centered on the caster (and only on the caster) that moves as the caster moves. You cannot put it onto another creature.

[heavyfuel]

A 652 contention

No, that does not work.

I'll ignore the bit about the multiclassing since I don't want look up whether you can do that or not, so I'll just point out that you cannot apply the Reach Spell metamagic feat to antimagic field as the feat only works on spells that normally have a range of "touch" and AMF does not fall into that category. Thus, Chain Spell also fails to have any effect.

For reference, antimagic field is a 10-foot radius emanation centered on the caster (and only on the caster) that moves as the caster moves. You cannot put it onto another creature.

That's what Master Specialist is for... So this doesn't really answer my question

[HaikenEdge]

Q654

In a game where Psionics will be treated as spell-like abilities, does it qualify for Ability Focus (Psionics), or does Ability Focus need to be applied to individual powers?

Or, to clarify, I'm working under the assumption that it'll be like the Mind Flayer's Psionics ability, which is listed as:

Psionics (Sp): At will—charm monster (DC 17), detect thoughts (DC 15), levitate, plane shift, suggestion (DC 16). Effective caster level 8th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

In that sense, when a Mind Flayer takes Ability Focus for its psionics, is it per ability, or does it cover the entire gamut of its psionic abilities?

[heavyfuel]

A 654

Ability Focus is per ability. The ability is "Psionics (Sp)" and as such you can pick Ability Focus (Psionics) for +2 on everything

[heavyfuel]

Another page, another post. Seriously, can someone please answer these questions? Even if it's just "ask your DM"?

Q 627

How does the Invisible Blade's Uncanny Feint (free action) interact with a Pounce Charge?

Can I charge and feint as soon as I get into melee range (required for feint)? Can I feint in between two of the Pounce attacks?

Q 631 - Cont

[snip] The spell (Spider Climb) says I need both hands free to climb, but do I need them free to have a Climb Speed?

Q 651

How do the "Artisan" feats interact with each other? Exceptional Artisan, Legendary Artisan, Extraordinary Artisan and Magical Artisan (from ECS, ECS, ECS and PGtF respectively).

Say I'm forging a ring with a market price of 10'000 GP. That mean's I'll normally be paying 5'000 GP + 400 XP right?

If I add Extraordinary artisan, the 10k price drops to 7,5k. as such I now only pay 3,75k GP and 300 XP? If I then add Magical Artisan, does the price drop again to 5625 GP and 225 XP? Adding Legendary Artisan do I reduce XP further to 169?

Q652

does the following combo work?

Sorcerer dips Abjurer Wizard to qualify for Master Specialist Abjurer (advancing Sorcerer casting). Proceeds to cast AMF apontaneously applying reach spell and chain spell to it. Now every target has an AMF with no save or SR.

[HaikenEdge]

A 627
By RAW, you should be able to, since it's a free action, so it doesn't interrupt your full attack. Ask your DM, tho.


A 631
RAW doesn't say you do, so you don't. Plus, some creatures have climb speeds but no hands. Think of it like having sticky feet.

[KillianHawkeye]

A 652 contention



That's what Master Specialist is for... So this doesn't really answer my question

Re: 652

Sorry, I didn't know Master Specialist let you do that.

However, now that I have looked it up, my answer is still no. Based on the wording of the Master Specialist's spellcasting advancement, it cannot be applied to advance your Sorcerer spellcasting.

Spellcasting: At each level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in the wizard class. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained.

(underlining for emphasis)

[heavyfuel]

Q 631 - Cont

What the spell says is: "The subject can climb and travel on vertical surfaces or even traverse ceilings as well as a spider does.
The affected creature must have its hands free to climb in this manner.
The subject gains a climb speed of 20 feet"

It seems that you need both hands free to climb on ceilings, but that you gain the Climb Speed regardless of having your hands free given that it's mentioned after the "hands free" limitation

Q 652 - Cont.

Fair enough, but what if instead of sorcerer with wizard level, we just used a wizard with uncanny forethought? Would that work?

[Andezzar]

A 652

Uncanny forethought does not help:

The spell is resolved as normal, but for the purpose of the spell, your caster level is reduced by two.

This means that the feat does not grant true spontaneous casting, A wizard cannot apply metamagic during casting. So no reach spell or chain spell.

Q 655

Is there a language (or more precisely letter) barrier for reading explosive runes?

[bekeleven]

Q 656

Does anything prohibit a character having multiple bloodlines (assuming all are tracked separately)?

[Duke of Urrel]

Q 655

Is there a language (or more precisely letter) barrier for reading explosive runes?

A 655

By the rules, there are only two barriers to reading Explosive Runes.

1. When you try to read them, they blow up.

2. If you're illiterate, then you can't read anything at all, including Explosive Runes. (Fortunately, this helps you avoid making them blow up.)

The rules do say this (on page 228 of the Player's Handbook).

You and any characters you specifically instruct can read the protected writing without triggering the runes.

I suppose it all depends on what the word "instruct" means and how much power it confers. For example, can you simply give your friends a password that magically makes your Explosive Runes comprehensible to them as well as stops the Runes from exploding? I think that's up to your dungeon master.

[Andezzar]

1. When you try to read them, they blow up.

That is not what the rule says, an attempt is not enough:

The runes detonate when read, dealing 6d6 points of force damage.

That is why I asked. What happens if a character sees the rune, but does not know that the particular combination of lines and dots means "when you can read this, you are screwed"?

[heavyfuel]

A 655

There is in fact a Language Barrier. If you write you runes in Draconic, a character that doesn't know Draconic can't activate them. From the Speak Language skill in the SRD:

• You don’t make Speak Language checks. You either know a language or you don’t.
• A literate character (anyone but a barbarian who has not spent skill points to become literate) can read and write any language she speaks.

If you don't know the language, per SRD you can't read things in that language. Since Explosive Runes require someone to actually read what's written, then characters that don't know the language can't activate them

[Curmudgeon]

A 655 additional

You trace these mystic runes upon a book, map, scroll, or similar object bearing written information.

Anyone familiar with this spell obviously can read that mystic text with the same difficulty as reading a scroll (a standard action). For anyone not familiar with the spell, your individual DM must fill in the blanks. The Decipher Script skill would work (likely DC 20, for the simplest message), and so should Read Magic (no check needed). Your DM might come up with other ways, such as picking a particular language (based on a runic alphabet, of course) for the text.

[justiceforall]

Q 657

a) When using the Invisible Fist Monk ACF ability, when does the the invisibility effect end if:

- character uses it as an immediate action in response to an attack?
- the character uses it during their own turn?
(is there even a difference?)

b) After one has used said ability, when is it next ready for use? At the start of the 3rd round, or at the start of the 4th round (after 3 full rounds have elapsed)?
Eg:

round 0 - PC uses ability, does something (eg: invisibly punches someone). Effect ends.
round 1 -
round 2 -
round 3 - available?

[Curmudgeon]

A 657

The invisibility of Invisible Fist lasts for 1 round. The Monk must wait 3 rounds after that before they can use the effect again. Any duration of n rounds ends just before the initiative count at which it began, n rounds later.

There is no connection between the limitations of the invisibility of the Invisibility spell and the invisibility of Invisible Fist; attacking and other actions will not end it, and it always lasts exactly 1 round.

[Andezzar]

Q 658

What is a magical trap? Is it some contraption that releases a spell or is it a spell that has some kind of trapping function (alarm, explosive runes, etc.)? Is it either?

[Curmudgeon]

A 658

Magic traps as a group consists of both spell traps (a trap which consists only of a spell, like Glyph of Warding), and magic device traps. A magic device trap has one or more spells included in its construction along with mechanical components. See Dungeon Master's Guide starting on page 67 for more information.

[St Fan]

Q 659

The Archivist Handbook seems to suggest that you can scribe a scroll while another character provides the spell to be scribed. I seriously doubt it is legit, but still, I'm checking.

Sure, the general item creation rules says:

Note that all items have prerequisites in their descriptions. These prerequisites must be met for the item to be created. Most of the time, they take the form of spells that must be known by the item’s creator (although access through another magic item or spellcaster is allowed).

But one the other hand, the Scroll Creation chapter specifies:

The creator must have prepared the spell to be scribed (or must know the spell, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) and must provide any material component or focus the spell requires.

So it's a case of specific trumps general, right?

[Kefkafreak]

Q 660

Monsters (well, anything without class levels) continue gaining BAB indefinitely, right? So, can they use feats like Power Attack with their full BAB even if it exceeds 20?

[Chronos]

A 660:

Yes, but you never gain more than 4 attacks due to BAB, even if it's 21 or higher.

A 659:

Both statements are correct. An item can have multiple creators; at least one of them must have access to each of the relevant spells, and at least one of them must have the appropriate item creation feat.

[titans4ever]

Q 661

With the factotum's cunning knowledge boost to a skill, it a one shot deal. Right? You cannot use it and then take a 20. It is for 1 roll and taking a 20 means you spend 20x as long assuming eventually you do your very best at it. Am I right in the interpretation? That is why you cannot do it more than 1x to a particular skill each day.

[heavyfuel]

A 661

Yes, your interpretation is correct. You can't use Cunning Knowledge and then Take 20 because you can only take 20 when there's no penalty for failure on a bad roll. When you use Cunning Knowledge, you now have a penalty for a bad roll, because on the eventual second roll, you won't get your level in bonus.

Note that this doesn't apply to Taking 10, which you can still do if you're not distracted or threatened.

[Ianuagonde]

Q 662

The skill Use Magic Device lets you use scrolls and wands as if you had the spell on your class spell list. Does this mean that someone without a spell list (a Rogue, for example), cannot use these functions of UMD?

If yes, can such a character still activate the scroll or wand with the 'Activate blindly' function of UMD?

[nyjastul69]

A 662:

Any character with UMD can attempt to use a wand with a UMD check DC 20. No spell list is required for this usage. A character with a spell list can automatically activate a wand if the spell is on his list, even if that character has yet to attain an appropriate level to cast spells. Any character, regardless of a spell list, can attempt to activate a scroll with a UMD check of 20+CL of the scroll.

Blind activation is not necessary in either case, but may preferable in the case of scrolls, depending on the CL of course.

[Kazyan]

Q 663

Can two wand chambers (DS) be built into a double weapon, or in a more extreme case, can three be built into an Elvencraft (RotW) longbow? I cannot find any text relating wand chambers to double weapons, and it is often suggested that they can have two, but I want to be sure about the RAW.

[Cyanide]

A 663: It's specified in the DMG that the two ends of a double weapon must be, for example, enchanted separately, and carry separate costs for the masterwork crafting. Since the wand chamber addition requires, if I remember correctly, a weapon with enough space to hold the wand, so I'd say the two ends of a double weapon could both hold a wand chamber, much like both could hold an enchantment.
An elvencraft longbow would be treated as a quarterstaff, which is a double weapon, thus being able to hold two wands.

[Skevvix]

Q664

The Undead Type states they are immune to Ability Drain, but not damage. Can Undead be hit with Shivering Touch effectively?

Q665

Is there a way to remove the "Saving Throw:Fort" from spells by a feat?

[Curmudgeon]

A 662 additional info

Use a Wand
Normally, to use a wand, you must have the wand’s spell on your class spell list. This use of the skill allows you to use a wand as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list.

The above statement is without qualifiers, which means that even if you don't normally have a class spell list, you are treated as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list (i.e., you would have a class spell list with one spell on it), though you can't actually cast spells.

However, there is a limitation that's concomitant with the way Use a Wand works by treating you as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list.

Spell Trigger

Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it’s even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Anyone with a spell on his or her spell list knows how to use a spell trigger item that stores that spell. (This is the case even for a character who can’t actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin.) The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

The Use a Scroll feature of Use Magic Device has a companion feature (Decipher a Written Spell) to know what spell is contained on a scroll. Use a Wand does not. If you do not have a way to determine what spell is stored in the wand you cannot make a Use a Wand check, but would instead have to rely on Activate Blindly.