Simple Q&A by RAW for Pathfinder 4

[Tar Palantir]

Q131

I seem to remember finding at some point a type of magic item in Pathfinder that would let you cast a specific spell once or twice a day, like an eternal wand or schema in 3.5. Does such a thing exist, and if so where are the rules for it?

[Cieyrin]

A 130 They need to save against all 3 but it doesn't stack, as effects from the same ability don't generally stack. Assuming that enemy fails against all 3, it would need to hit them all for the effect to end while all the Archons are still in range.

[JDL]

Q 130b

Where is the rule regarding multiple penalties from the same source not stacking? I can only find the following:

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/basics-abili...y#TOC-Stacking

Stacking

Stacking refers to the act of adding together bonuses or penalties that apply to one particular check or statistic. Generally speaking, most bonuses of the same type do not stack. Instead, only the highest bonus applies. Most penalties do stack, meaning that their values are added together. Penalties and bonuses generally stack with one another, meaning that the penalties might negate or exceed part or all of the bonuses, and vice versa.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/basics-abili...ry#TOC-Penalty

Penalty

Penalties are numerical values that are subtracted from a check or statistical score. Penalties do not have a type and most penalties stack with one another.

Only the rules for bonuses, not penalties, specifically states that multiples bonuses don't stack:

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/basics-abili...sary#TOC-Bonus

Bonus

Bonuses are numerical values that are added to checks and statistical scores. Most bonuses have a type, and as a general rule, bonuses of the same type are not cumulative (do not “stack”)—only the greater bonus granted applies.

The important aspect of bonus types is that two bonuses of the same type don't generally stack. With the exception of dodge bonuses, most circumstance bonuses, and racial bonuses, only the better bonus of a given type works. Bonuses without a type always stack, unless they are from the same source.

Does this mean that the enemy would take a -6 assuming all three saves fail?

[Firest Kathon]

A 131: You can create any kind of item, including a wand-like item, to cast a specific spell a limited number of times per day. You can find the price on the Table for magic items gold piece values. The formula (for 2 uses/day) is Spell Level x Caster Level x 800gp (+ 50 x costs for material components, if applicable). It can be used by any class (unlike a "real" wand) and requires Craft Wondrous Item (instead of Craft Wand).

[ellindsey]

Q132:

Is there any feat, archetype, trait, or other method in the rules to make an Oracle use a stat other than Charisma for their casting stat? Something similar to how it's possible to make a Sorcerer run off Int or Wis?

[grarrrg]

A132: Not that I've ever seen.
Paizo has an "unofficial" rule that Prepared Arcane uses INT, Prepared Divine uses WIS, and Spontaneous use CHA.
There are a couple exceptions, but Sorcerer (and Scarred Witch Doctor) are the only ones that can currently "switch" their casting stat.

[Cieyrin]

A 130b

The same principle applies to penalties- a character taking two or more penalties of the same type applies only the worst one, although most penalties have no type and thus always stack.

Same Effect More than Once in Different Strengths

In cases when two or more identical spells or effects are operating in the same area or on the same target, but at different strengths, only the one with the highest strength applies.

They're identical effects, so even though they're untyped, they don't stack. They're all in effect if the target fails the save against all 3 but it just keeps them from losing the penalty till it resists/attacks all the Archons successfully. If I could cast Empowered Maximized Summon Monster V while having Superior Summoning to get 9 Lantern Archons, creatures within range would have to make 9 saves against their Aura of Menace but failing it more than once just means they have to hit more Archons to get rid of it. At least til I get them to Voltron into their super form, b/c who doesn't want that?

[Nibbens]

Q133:

Perhaps a story will explain the situation we encountered better than a generic question. Our Brawler grabbed a character with witch levels. The witch cannot "cast spells with somatic components because she is grappled." However, if the witch uses a hex... what then? from what I'm reading Su, Ex, and Sp do not require somatic components to activate, however the Su hex that the witch was using was Slumber which says "as per the spell sleep" in it's description.

Which condition trumps the other - is it "as per the spell" so therefore requiring V,S and M? Or is it simply a Standard action with no restrictions as to the grappled state.

... What piece am I missing here?

[Griffin]

Q134

The weapon ability Furyborn, reads as follows:

This special ability can only be placed on melee weapons. A furyborn weapon draws power from the anger and frustration the wielder feels when battling foes that refuse to die. Each time the wielder damages an opponent with the weapon, its enhancement bonus increases by +1 when making attacks against that opponent (to a maximum total enhancement bonus of +5). This extra enhancement bonus goes away if the opponent dies, the wielder uses the weapon to attack a different creature, or 1 hour passes.

My questions is, if the weapon is, for example +2, will furyborn only add a +3 bonus or the full maximum bonus it can add? (+5)

Thank you!

[Psyren]

A133: Grapple does not affect supernatural abilities; the Witch can still Hex. (Basically, the "works like sleep" part refers to the effect, not how you activate/cast it.)

A134: It adds a stacking +1 "each time you damage an opponent." So it will go +3 on the first hit, +4 on the next, to a maximum of +5 on the third. This bonus last until an hour has passed after the last hit, until you switch targets, or until your opponent dies - whichever of those comes first. (Note that you must damage the target, so some effects like DR can keep the bonus from increasing.)

[Nibbens]

Q135

The second paragraph, first sentence under "Awarding Experience" of this pageon the Piazo website, has this little gem:

"Keep a list of the CRs of all the monsters, traps, obstacles, and roleplaying encounters the PCs overcome."

The game explicitly states CRs for monsters traps and obstacles. But unless I'm misreading something (which is common for me, but still) the books never go on to describe how to calculate a CR for a "roleplaying encounter."

If there is a place in one of the sites that discusses this, could someone provide a link? If there is not a place in the sites, could someone point me toward a resource that goes into the theory behind this?

[JDL]

A 135:

From the same paragraph you quoted:

Pure roleplaying encounters generally have a CR equal to the average level of the party (although particularly easy or difficult roleplaying encounters might be one higher or lower).

A roleplaying encounter is judged to be an encounter with a CR the same as the party's level. For example, a roleplaying encounter to convince the tough, roguish starpilot to give you passage to the Alderaan system would award experience as if the party had faced a level appropriate monster. If the check is more difficult than normal, such as bluffing the officer on the comlink not to send troops down to investigate your weapons malfunction because you've had a reactor leak, increase the CR, or for a simple check to convince the stormtrooper that they're not actually the droids they're looking for, decrease the CR.

[Psyren]

A 135:

From the same paragraph you quoted:

Pure roleplaying encounters generally have a CR equal to the average level of the party (although particularly easy or difficult roleplaying encounters might be one higher or lower).

A roleplaying encounter is judged to be an encounter with a CR the same as the party's level. For example, a roleplaying encounter to convince the tough, roguish starpilot to give you passage to the Alderaan system would award experience as if the party had faced a level appropriate monster. If the check is more difficult than normal, such as bluffing the officer on the comlink not to send troops down to investigate your weapons malfunction because you've had a reactor leak, increase the CR, or for a simple check to convince the stormtrooper that they're not actually the droids they're looking for, decrease the CR.

I see what you did there

[Spore]

Q136 If an Alchemist prepares an Extract of Resist Energy: Does he have to specify which element to protect against beforehand? I read it as no but how would someone explain this RAW in the game? Am I wrong? If I infuse this Extract and give it to someone else I can't "infuse the chemicals and reagents in the extract with magic siphoned from his own magical aura" while drinking it (and altering the effect).

What is the crunch for these situations, how would you fluff it. Similar for the polymorph spells a plenty in the Alchemist's arsenal (who mostly HAVE a distinct material component linked to a specific outcome).

[Firest Kathon]

A136: You make the choice when you drink it (FAQ entry). This does not change when you pass out the extract through the infusion discovery.

I would fluff it that the Alchemist passes out the proper material component together with the extract and the drinker adds it just before. It just happens to be the one the drinker needed .

[Nibbens]

A 135:

From the same paragraph you quoted:

Pure roleplaying encounters generally have a CR equal to the average level of the party (although particularly easy or difficult roleplaying encounters might be one higher or lower).

A roleplaying encounter is judged to be an encounter with a CR the same as the party's level. For example, a roleplaying encounter to convince the tough, roguish starpilot to give you passage to the Alderaan system would award experience as if the party had faced a level appropriate monster. If the check is more difficult than normal, such as bluffing the officer on the comlink not to send troops down to investigate your weapons malfunction because you've had a reactor leak, increase the CR, or for a simple check to convince the stormtrooper that they're not actually the droids they're looking for, decrease the CR.

... a face palm doesn't even begin to describe my feelings right now...

[Shadowscale]

Q137 What repercussions are there for a paladin to have a fellow party member who is evil yet done no acts that violate his code of conduct or have shown them as such? Do they have to fall?

[Psyren]

A137: If they are totally unaware the character is evil, nothing. If they are aware, but the evil character is doing nothing to "offend their moral code," then they must seek an atonement spell "periodically." Whether this is 1/week or 1/year really depends on your GM, roleplaying through your deity, church or higher power. If they are aware and the evil character is consistently being a bell-end, the alliance must be terminated, and one of you is probably best off rerolling and/or having an OOC conversation.

Keep in mind too that "exceptional circumstances" can describe almost any campaign. After all - if it were a run-of-the-mill job, you all would be NPCs, not the protagonists in a shared story.

[JDL]

A 137

By RAW:

Code of Conduct

A paladin must be of lawful good alignment and loses all class features except proficiencies if she ever willingly commits an evil act.

Additionally, a paladin's code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, not using poison, and so forth), help those in need (provided they do not use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and punish those who harm or threaten innocents.

Associates: While she may adventure with good or neutral allies, a paladin avoids working with evil characters or with anyone who consistently offends her moral code. Under exceptional circumstances, a paladin can ally with evil associates, but only to defeat what she believes to be a greater evil. A paladin should seek an atonement spell periodically during such an unusual alliance, and should end the alliance immediately should she feel it is doing more harm than good. A paladin may accept only henchmen, followers, or cohorts who are lawful good.

Thus the arrangement is fine for a temporary alliance, but unless the Evil character converts to a non-evil alignment they will be unable to continue to remain allied with the Paladin. It's a good idea to have an OOC chat with the DM and discuss what their viewpoint on this is, since you risk losing the majority of your class features for violating the code.

[Unbodied]

Q138

Does all magical weapon special abilities count as 1 towards the weapons +10 maximum limit or do more powerful effects take up extra space?

[Psyren]

A138: They count as however much space they say they equal on the table. So a +2 ability like Flaming Burst takes up two spaces and you only have +8 left to work with on that item. (+7 really, since you need the minimum +1 enhancement to add any other attributes.)

Note that some abilities don't take up any space at all, instead having a flat GP cost - as long as you have enough gold, you can add as many of these as you like. So for example, you can have a "+10" sword, and then make it Impervious, Glamered and Dueling.

[Unbodied]

Q139

Can Cryptics research powers?

[Psyren]

A139: Yes - "Any kind of manifester can create a new power."

[Unbodied]

Q140a

Does the Tireless Logic trait work on attempts to craft magic items and other checks for stuff that takes a long time?

Q140b

What are the various intelligence ability checks?

[Psyren]

Q140a

Does the Tireless Logic trait work on attempts to craft magic items and other checks for stuff that takes a long time?

Q140b

What are the various intelligence ability checks?

A140a: Yes, it will work on crafting.

A140b: This is an involved question (several spells involve intelligence checks for instance, plus there are ways to substitute Int-based checks for other checks etc) so your best bet is to make a thread about it to crowdsource the community.

[Unbodied]

Q141

Does the Attraction power count as providing ongoing control for the purpose of the Mediator trait?

[Psyren]

A141: It's not clear - you may have to ask the DSP folks about that.

[Kurald Galain]

Q142: I find the description of woad painting confusing. Do I understand correctly that this consumable magical item lets me prepare any spell as affected by the Still Spell feat, at a cost of 60 gp per spell, assuming I pass the spellcraft check? If not, what does it do actually?

[Psyren]

A142: It was recently errataed. It does three things.

1) While preparing a spell, you can paint symbols representing that spell onto your skin. On its own this does nothing.
2) For that same spell, you can also grind up the material component for that spell into the paint, letting you cast that spell without needing the component at hand, as though you had Eschew Materials. Since it works like Eschew Materials, by RAW this won't benefit spells that have expensive material components.
2) For that same spell, you can make the symbols more complex - this takes 10 minutes and requires a successful 15+spell level Spellcraft check. If you succeed, you can also cast that spell as though you applied Still Spell to it for free.

You can only prepare one spell in this way at a time. Once cast, the paint loses its power and must be replaced the next time you can prepare a spell if you want to use the benefits again.

[Shadowscale]

Q143 is it at all possible for a single class fighter to gain favorite enemy?