Simple RAW Thread for 3.5: Score and Nine

[Duke of Urrel]

Q 559

Uncanny Dodge (Ex)

At 2nd level, a barbarian retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.

Sneak Attack

If a rogue can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for extra damage.

The rogue’s attack deals extra damage any time her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the rogue flanks her target.

The phrase "would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC" confuses me.

Does this mean that a rogue can still make a sneak attack against an opponent with the Uncanny Dodge feat whenever this opponent is flat-footed, even though this feat allows the opponent to keep his or her Dexterity bonus while flat-footed?

I believe I read this interpretation in some thread somewhere, but I would like to determine whether this is really a generally accepted interpretation of the RAW. If there is some controversy, please invite me to devote a separate thread to this question.

[Andezzar]

A 559

No. You can only sneak attack under one of two conditions: The target is denied its DEX bonus to AC or you are flanking the target. Being flat-footed is not one of them, even though being flat-footed often causes the target to lose its DEX bonus to AC. Uncanny Dodge explicitly removes the loss of the DEX bonus to AC. So a character with Uncanny Dodge can only be sneak attacked by fulfilling the other condition (i.e. flanking him). Improved Uncanny dodge removes the flanking condition as well for all but the most advanced sneak attackers.

[Chronos]

Re 559:

Uncanny Dodge explicitly removes the loss of the DEX bonus to AC.

Correction: Uncanny Dodge explicitly removes the loss of Dex bonus due to two specific situations. A character with Uncanny Dodge will not lose Dex bonus due to being flatfooted, or due to an attacker being invisible. He might, however, still lose it due to being blinded, or due to being incapacitated, or due to a few other effects.

[Curmudgeon]

A 448 Yes.

Shadow Conjuration mimics Sorcerer/Wizard spells. In doing so, it mimics the descriptors of those spells.

A 448a Yes.

Shadow creatures have 20% of the hit points of normal creatures of their type, but the regular number of hit dice. Detect <alignment> spells will register the same aura power as if they were creatures summoned normally.

[Kezeal]

Q 460

Does str bonus x1.5 only apply to damage roll or the hit roll as well?

[Curmudgeon]

A 460 Damage only.

[unseenmage]

Q461

Could a Tsochar (LoM) occupy the body of a small size willing humanoid shaped Aberration without harm to either?

[WarKitty]

Q462

Is there any non-magical way to change your character size, preferably something available at character creation? Thinking specifically of warforged here.

[Chronos]

A 462:

Most simply, you could start as a different race, or apply a variety of templates. Anything that gets you to Larger or larger, and almost anything that gets you to Tiny or smaller, will have an LA attached to it, though.

[With a box]

Q463:
When x/day items recharge?
1. Reset at midnight
2. 24hour later of each use

[Curmudgeon]

A 463

Most items which specify a recharge time state dawn or morning. None that I know of state midnight or after 24 hours. You'll need to get your DM to decide for unstated items, but the "dawn" refresh pattern is pretty clear:

Undead Controlling armor property (Dungeon Master's Guide)
Manticore Greatsword (Magic Item Compendium)
Meteoric Knife (Magic Item Compendium)
Viperblade (Magic Item Compendium)
Warlock's Scepter (Magic Item Compendium)
Acrobat Boots (Magic Item Compendium)
Amulet of Tears (Magic Item Compendium)
Belt of Battle (Magic Item Compendium)
Bone Ring (Magic Item Compendium)
Boots of Jumping (Magic Item Compendium)
Bracers of Accuracy (Magic Item Compendium)
Brute Gauntlets (Magic Item Compendium)
...

[Metahuman1]

Q 464: If a character has a pair of spiked gauntlets per the entry in the players handbook as a weapon (Presently with just a casting of greater magic weapon on them form the party caster, but will later have actual enchantments on them.) Can they were items such a Gloves of Dexterity under them on the grounds that one is there to be a weapon and the other is there to be an actual item?

[WarKitty]

Q462 Followup

Is there any template that just changes size, or changes size without changing many other things?

[Andezzar]

A 464

The character can wear both the gloves and the gauntlets but only the item equipped first will provide any abilities. It is irrelevant whether one is used as a weapon or not or whether the bonus on the gauntlets is permanent or due to a spell:

A humanoid-shaped body can be decked out in magic gear consisting of one item from each of the following groups, keyed to which place on the body the item is worn.
[...]
One glove, pair of gloves, or pair of gauntlets on the hands
[...]
Of course, a character may carry or possess as many items of the same type as he wishes. However, additional items beyond those listed above have no effect.

Also note that a pair of gauntlets enchanted to provide an enhancement bonus to attack and damage are two magic weapons.

You could avoid the whole problem by using DEX enhancing bracers.

[Metahuman1]

Except that were in the dungeon and player got the gloves on a loot drop, so no chance to transfer them before we get to the final boss whom I'm fairly certain is gonna kill at least 1 or 2 characters. I was hoping by technicality she could do both and increase her AC, Reflex Save and Initiative by that extra +1 with out having to give up damage output when she TWF's. *Sigh.*

[Andezzar]

Cast magic weapon on daggers or clubs. Problem solved. The latter can even be made from chair legs in dungeons in a day.

[Andezzar]

Cast magic weapon on daggers or clubs. Problem solved. The latter can even be made from chair legs in dungeons in a day.

Q 465

Are there any light sticks that are as easy to make as one-handed clubs?

[AvatarVecna]

Q466

By RAW, two-handed weapons require a full round action to throw, while light weapons and one-handed weapons can be thrown as a standard action.

Daggers, clubs, shortspears, spears, darts, javelins, throwing axes, light hammers, tridents, shuriken, and nets are thrown weapons. The wielder applies his or her Strength modifier to damage dealt by thrown weapons (except for splash weapons). It is possible to throw a weapon that isn’t designed to be thrown (that is, a melee weapon that doesn’t have a numeric entry in the Range Increment column on Table: Weapons), but a character who does so takes a -4 penalty on the attack roll. Throwing a light or one-handed weapon is a standard action, while throwing a two-handed weapon is a full-round action. Regardless of the type of weapon, such an attack scores a threat only on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a critical hit. Such a weapon has a range increment of 10 feet.

Since attacking with a weapon is normally a standard action...

Making an attack is a standard action.

...does that mean that a character wielding a light or one-handed thrown weapon can full attack with said thrown weapon?

[Eloel]

A466
Almost. You can't make a full attack with a thrown weapon unless you have a weird thrown weapon. You need multiple thrown weapons, and a method of drawing them for free. Quick Draw helps with that.

A character who has selected this feat may throw weapons at his full normal rate of attacks (much like a character with a bow).

[AvatarVecna]

A466
Almost. You can't make a full attack with a thrown weapon unless you have a weird thrown weapon. You need multiple thrown weapons, and a method of drawing them for free. Quick Draw helps with that.

Well, yes, that's a given; obviously, multiple such weapons or Bloodstorm Blade 4 would be necessary to achieve such a full attack. Incidentally...

Q467

Does the text of the "Quick Draw" feat override the normal rules about the actions necessary to attack with a thrown weapon? For instance, can a character with BAB +16 and 4 sheathed greataxes full attack with said greataxes, despite the normal rules of throwing two-handed weapons saying that it would take a full round action to throw a single two-handed weapon?

[No brains]

A 465

This may not be exactly what you meant, but technically any suitable material (which is likely the purview of the DM) is only a few hours away from becoming a club due to their low cost and minimal craft DC.

[Curmudgeon]

A 467 No.

A character who has selected this feat may throw weapons at his full normal rate of attacks (much like a character with a bow).

The feat doesn't say you may throw all weapons at full normal rate of attacks. It's true if you can do so with some thrown weapons.

[Kezeal]

Q 468

What do Elans look like?(google image search gave way too varied pictures to determine what was Elan and what wasn't)

[Troacctid]

A 468

They look similar to humans.

Elans typically stand just under 6 feet tall and weigh around 180 pounds, with males generally taller and heavier than females. Because the council members who make the selection of aspirants have their own preferences, elans of a certain “generation” often share certain physical characteristics. The current council members favor aspirants with pale skin, red hair, and a youthful quality. Overall, elans vary in looks as widely as humans do. An elan dresses in a style typical of the area in which she lives (to all the better pass herself off as human), including the adoption of unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, body piercing, and the like.

You can find a drawing of a female Elan on page 7 of the Expanded Psionics Handbook.

[DeltaEmil]

A 468
This is the official description of an Elan.

Spoiler

Show

Elans typically stand just under 6 feet tall and weigh in the neighborhood of 180 pounds, with men sometimes taller and heavier than women, but not always.

Q 469
Can a creature with no special ability like improved grab or similar initiate a grapple despite having no free hand (like for example a human bandit wielding a shield and a one-handed weapon)?

[AvatarVecna]

Q 468

What do Elans look like?(google image search gave way too varied pictures to determine what was Elan and what wasn't)

A468

Elans are essentially humans that have been transformed via psionic rituals into immortal aberrations; as such, they are as varied in appearance as humans are. There are only two addendums to this: firstly, despite appearing to be completely human, some difficult-to-define quality makes Elans stand out from humans, although this is not so much an aspect of their appearance so much an aspect of their idiosyncrasies putting people off a bit; secondly, as Elans-to-be are selected by existing Elans (or sometimes other people), a particular generation of Elans may share traits preferred by those involved in the selection process (for instance, in the Expanded Psionics Handbook, it is mentioned that the current Elan generation has a tendency towards "pale skin, red hair, and a youthful quality").

[KrimsonNekros]

Q470

Spoiler: For Iron Chef Competition clarification.

Show

How does the Bounding Assault feat interact with the Tempest's Two Weapon Spring attack ability?

Two-Weapon Spring Attack (Ex): When a 5th-level tempest makes a spring attack, she can attack once each with two different weapons as an attack action.

Bounding Assault: When using the Spring Attack feat, you designate two foes rather than one. Your movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity from either of these foes. While using an attack action with the Spring Attack feat, you can make a second attack with a –5 penalty. You can use both attacks against one of the opponents targeted with this feat, or split your attacks between them.

Does this result in a total of 4 attacks (once with each weapon per attack action), or 3 (two with the main hand, and once with the off-hand)

[Curmudgeon]

A 470

Spoiler: Hidden Question -> Hidden Answer

Show

Three attacks total, with limitations. Two-Weapon Spring Attack lets you attack once each with two different weapons, while Bounding Assault gives you an extra attack, which must be the second attack made as part of your Spring Attack (thus split between the two Two-Weapon Spring Attack attacks).

[sjeshin]

Q 471 I have read that some other forms of turning call out that they may be used in the place of turn undead for divine feats. What are these other forms of turning that may be used for this purpose, and in what source material is it clarified? Thanks in advance.

[Eloel]

A 471 partial
Greater turning from Sun domain is one. It's turning for all purposes except the listed.
It's significant because the PrC from Complete Divine, Radiant Servant of Pelor, boosts the number of attempts you get.