Simple RAW thread for 3.5 #31. By now, your question has probably been answered.

[TeeHee]

A) Are the animals on the summon monster spell lists considered Outsiders if they have the Celestial/Fiendish template?

B) So does the Infernal Heritage feat from PHB2 (which adds +2 to the caster level when summoning evil outsiders) apply to the fiendish animals on the summon monster I-III lists?

[Troacctid]

A) Are the animals on the summon monster spell lists considered Outsiders if they have the Celestial/Fiendish template?

B) So does the Infernal Heritage feat from PHB2 (which adds +2 to the caster level when summoning evil outsiders) apply to the fiendish animals on the summon monster I-III lists?

A) No.

Animals or vermin with this template become magical beasts, but otherwise the creature type is unchanged.

Animals or vermin with this template become magical beasts, but otherwise the creature type is unchanged.

B) No.

[ShurikVch]

Planar Bubble spell "creates an area around the target creature that emulates its native planar environment."

Questions:
a) If caster, before casting the Planar Bubble, will Shapechange into something from another plane, then would the Planar Bubble's area emulate environment of caster's original plane, or plane of the new temporal form?
b) If caster is Lesser Planetouched, have Anarchic(/Axiomatic) template, or any other case of (Extraplanar) subtype without clear idea which plane he related to, then which plane will emulate Planar Bubble?

[Andezzar]

A 128

a) No. Shapechange only grants the listed properties of a certain creature. There is no mention that the native plane of a creature is one of the properties of the new form.

b) For the (lesser) planetouched the spell will mimic the prime material plane as they are native to that plane. For creatures without a listed native plane, ask your DM.

[Troacctid]

Planar Bubble spell "creates an area around the target creature that emulates its native planar environment."

Questions:
a) If caster, before casting the Planar Bubble, will Shapechange into something from another plane, then would the Planar Bubble's area emulate environment of caster's original plane, or plane of the new temporal form?
b) If caster is Lesser Planetouched, have Anarchic(/Axiomatic) template, or any other case of (Extraplanar) subtype without clear idea which plane he related to, then which plane will emulate Planar Bubble?

a) Your native plane is independent of your form. Generally speaking, polymorphing won't change what plane you were born on. However, specific exceptions could apply. For instance, if you shapechanged into a creature with the special quality "Plane X Native (Ex): This creature is native to Plane X and gains the extraplanar subtype on any other plane," you would gain that ability and count as native to Plane X.

b) It will automatically emulate their native plane, whatever that is. If you don't know their home plane, the results of the spell should prove enlightening.

[rweird]

Q 129

Does Freedom of Movement protect against movement inhibitions from being buried in a cave-in? Also, does it prevent your movement from being impeded by difficult terrain?

[Curmudgeon]

A 129 No; ask your DM.

Freedom of Movement only allows you to move normally despite impediments, which retard your movement or progress by means of obstacles or hindrances. If you're buried, your movement is not merely impeded; it is instead prevented.

As for nonmagical difficult terrain, you'll need to talk to your individual DM.

This spell enables you or a creature you touch to move and attack normally for the duration of the spell, even under the influence of magic that usually impedes movement, such as paralysis, solid fog, slow, and web.

Freedom of Movement definitely works against magically-induced difficult terrain. However, the "even" qualifier makes it unclear whether the FoM effect is inclusive or exclusive of nonmagical impediments other than being underwater.

[Debatra]

C 129

Movement is also "prevented" instead of "impeded" if you're paralyzed, which FoM specifically trumps.

I agree it won't get you out of being buried, but your reasoning for why it doesn't work seems wrong.

[Curmudgeon]

C 129

Movement is also "prevented" instead of "impeded" if you're paralyzed, which FoM specifically trumps.

Freedom of Movement specifically overcomes magical (Supernatural or Spell-like) paralysis, but not paralysis from toxins. Being buried by a cave-in isn't magical.

[Debatra]

C 129

"Even under the influence of magic that" etc etc. Not "only" against.

Either way, magical paralysis still prevents movement, which you claimed means FoM doesn't work.

EDIT: Although I'd say preventing something also impedes it, though not necessarily the other way around.

[Andezzar]

A 129 Addendum

FoM also does not define what moving normally means. Moving 0 ft while buried under rocks is totally normal, as is being slowed by wearing heavy armor.

[Drakonus]

Q130 What is a tier? (When referring to a class.)

[Troacctid]

Q130 What is a tier? (When referring to a class.)

Technically not a RAW question, since tiers aren't part of the game rules, but it refers to a common ranking system used to evaluate relative power between classes.

Original tier system by JaronK
Explanation of why classes are ranked in those tiers

The TL;DR is that spells are overpowered.

[KillianHawkeye]

A 130 additional

I just wanted to add an extra clarification that the class tiers are entirely fan created, and not at all a part of the rules. Also, I'm pretty sure the tier system ranks the classes on versatility, not raw power.

[Darklady2831]

Q 131

Do melee touch attacks, or more specifically spells that require melee touch attacks, benefit from the Weapon Finesse feat?

[Troacctid]

Q 131

Do melee touch attacks, or more specifically spells that require melee touch attacks, benefit from the Weapon Finesse feat?

Yes, per the weaponlike spell rules.

The following feats can be chosen to enhance the performance of weaponlike spells in combat (for full details on each feat, see Chapter 5 of the Player’s Handbook).
[...]
Weapon Finesse: You can treat touch spells as light weapons and use your Dexterity modifier (instead of your Strength modifier) on your touch attack rolls with such spells.

[Arael666]

Q 132

Is there any rule that prohibits a wizard from shapechanging into a whale above a target and crushing it?

[Denver]

Q133

The Artificer (Eberron Campaign Setting, p.29) has an ability called Item Creation. Part of the ability regarding the necessary Use Magic Device check refers to the spells that are prerequisites, but the example given (a Bottle of Air) then shows the Artificer making a UMD Check vs. DC27 - which is the Caster Level of the item, not the minimum spellcaster level of the spell required to make it. (i.e., the "prerequisite")

Relevant entries from the SRD, under "Magic Item Descriptions"

Caster Level

The next item in a notational entry gives the caster level of the item, indicating its relative power. The caster level determines the item’s saving throw bonus, as well as range or other level-dependent aspects of the powers of the item (if variable). It also determines the level that must be contended with should the item come under the effect of a dispel magic spell or similar situation. This information is given in the form "CL x," where "CL" is an abbreviation for caster level and "x" is an ordinal number representing the caster level itself.

For potions, scrolls, and wands, the creator can set the caster level of an item at any number high enough to cast the stored spell and not higher than her own caster level. For other magic items, the caster level is determined by the creator. The minimum caster level is that which is needed to meet the prerequisites given.

Prerequisites

Certain requirements must be met in order for a character to create a magic item. These include feats, spells, and miscellaneous requirements such as level, alignment, and race or kind. The prerequisites for creation of an item are given immediately following the item’s caster level.

Am I missing something regarding the example given in the text? Is there a reason why the check would be against 27, and not 25?

[Curmudgeon]

A 132 Yes.

The primary reason this scheme does not work is that there is no "fall and crush" option for creatures under the normal rules. The game only has rules for falling object damage, which cannot apply to creatures.

creature

A living or otherwise active being, not an object. The terms "creature" and "character" are sometimes used interchangeably.

The Wizard would need something (feat, class feature, or other) which adds a D&D mechanic for crushing another creature to the rules.

[Eladrinblade]

Q 134

Under armor spikes on pg 124 of the PHB, it states they allow you to deal extra piercing damage on a successful grapple check; does this mean in addition to your unarmed damage?

Q 135

Since a gauntlet lets you deal lethal damage with an unarmed strike, would it let you deal lethal damage on a successful grapple check?

Q 136

Is the damage dealt from a successful grapple check the result of a successful "attack"? Can you deal sneak attack damage with a successful grapple check (if the target is currently vulnerable to sneak attack)?

Q 137

Improved Precise Shot lets you ignore less-than-total cover and concealment on ranged attacks, and when using a reach weapon it is treated as a ranged attack regarding soft cover, so improved precise shot would then let you ignore soft cover with a reach weapon? Does Improved Precise Shot let you ignore regular cover and concealment with a reach weapon?

[ShurikVch]

Q 138

Higher-Order Ability: Once per day, you may cast a spell from the cleric domain you have chosen, as though you had prepared the spell normally.

Is it possible to use that 1/day spell to powering [reserve] feat(s)?

[Curmudgeon]

A 134 No.

If you consult Table 7–5: Weapons (Player's Handbook, page 116, or here) you'll see that spiked armor deals 1d4 damage if Small, or 1d6 damage if Medium. This is extra damage compared to unarmed strike (1d2 if Small, 1d3 if Medium).


A 135 Yes, but only with the "Attack Your Opponent" option.

Attack Your Opponent
You can make an attack with an unarmed strike, natural weapon, or light weapon against another character you are grappling. You take a -4 penalty on such attacks.

A gauntlet is still a weapon, so you must follow the Grapple rules which allow weapon use.


A 136 No.

From the Glossary:

attack

Any of numerous actions intended to harm, disable, or neutralize an opponent. The outcome of an attack is determined by an attack roll.

Attack Your Opponent is an option if you're grappling, so you can deliver a sneak attack (assuming you qualify) in that way.


A 137 Yes, but only against non-adjacent opponents.

When making a melee attack against a target that isn’t adjacent to you (such as with a reach weapon), use the rules for determining cover from ranged attacks.

A 138 No.

Reserve feats may be used with either of two mechanisms. From Complete Mage on page 37:

A spellcaster who prepares spells each day (such as a wizard) must have an appropriate spell prepared and not yet cast that day.
...
A spellcaster who does not need to prepare spells (such as a sorcerer) must know an appropriate spell and must have at least one unused spell slot of that spell's level or higher.

From the Glossary:

known spell

A spell that an arcane spellcaster has learned and can prepare.

A beneficiary of the Catalogues of Enlightenment does not prepare spells, nor do they have their chosen Cleric domain spells as known spells. They may cast a spell as if they had prepared it, but actual preparation, or a known spell, is required to use Reserve feats.

[Talakeal]

Q 139

Does being attacked while hidden make you visible?

For example, I am hidden, but one of my opponents has the spot / listen skills necessary to pinpoint me. If he runs up and hits me with a sword, am I still hidden from his less observant comrades?

[Troacctid]

Q 139

Does being attacked while hidden make you visible?

For example, I am hidden, but one of my opponents has the spot / listen skills necessary to pinpoint me. If he runs up and hits me with a sword, am I still hidden from his less observant comrades?

No, it does not make you visible. Unless your attacker has some special ability that reveals you, such as a weapon with the sparkling property, you will remain hidden from their allies. The attacker could communicate your location, allowing them to guess what square to attack, but you would still have total concealment from them.

[Eladrinblade]

Q 140

Is a brilliant energy weapon first made of a material? For instance, if it was a cold iron weapon, then enhanced to become a brilliant energy weapon, does it overcome DR/cold iron?

[Troacctid]

A 140

Yes.

[backwaterj]

Q 141: Does an Unseen Seer's Damage Bonus allow sneak attack (or skirmish, sudden strike) dice if he did not previously possess the ability?

[Andezzar]

A 141

No. The class feature only increases the sneak attack damage i.e. the extra damage gained when performing a sneak attack. The class feature does not grant the ability to perform sneak attacks.

[St Fan]

Q 142
Two questions about the Retraining rules from the Player's Handbook II.

142 A: The rule states that you get one go at retraining each time you attains a new level. Does that include the Bloodline Levels granted through the Bloodlines optional rules from the Unearthed Arcana?

142 B: The rules cover Class Feature retraining, as well as substitution level retraining. However what about variant class retraining? For example Cloistered Cleric instead of Cleric, or Mystic Ranger instead of Ranger. Would that be covered by Class Feature retraining? Or instead fall more into Character Rebuilding?

[Andezzar]

A 142

Ask your DM. AFAICT there are no rules for the interaction between the new systems of those books.