Simple RAW Thread for 3.5 #32: More Seasons than the Simpsons

[LibraryOgre]

(This is a fairly high procedure thread; please read the entire instructions carefully before posting. Thanks.)

Ever have a simple, straight-forward rules question that you can’t figure out the answer to? Ask it here. No question is too simple. No more worrying about whether your question is “worth” starting a thread. Ask here and receive an answer. You are, of course, welcome to start a thread for your question, and if you think your question is subject to many interpretations or will start a debate, you are encouraged to start a new thread for it.

This thread will serve as a catch-all for simple, discreet questions that can be answered quickly according to the RAW (Rules As Written). This thread is for all simple RAW questions about D&D 3.5. If your question is not about the RAW for 3.5, please look in the appropriate threads in the appropriate forums.


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Here are some sample questions. “Bad” questions just mean they should be asked in their own thread where you can get many answers and opinions. “Good” questions just mean that these are the types of questions that are amenable to a quick straightforward answer (probably).

Sample “Bad” Questions:
How do I play D&D? (Great question, but not for this thread.)
What is a good 10 level TWF build? (Far too broad and requires much opinion)
What +2 LA race should I take for my sorcerer build? (Again, an opinion question)
Which is better GURPS or D&D?

Sample “Good” Questions:
Q.1. Are there any Large +0 LA races?
Q.2. As a sorcerer/rogue, do I get to add sneak attack damage to my attack spells?
Q.3. What effect would Dispel Magic have on a golem or similar construct?
Q.4. Is there a feat that allows me to get a familiar?

Please start over with the numbering. When this one reached 50 pages, please report it so that we can start a new one. Thanks.

[nyjastul69]

Q1 Are warforged affected by a rust monster's Rust(Ex) ability? MM 3 says nothing about WF being affected by RM's. The errata is silent. RM's can normally only target objects.

The Eberron CS indicates WF are affected by a RM's rust ability as though it were a Rusting Grasp spell. The ECS is the more recent book I believe.

Is the RAW that WF are not affected by RM's if the ECS is being used, it overwrites the MM3? If the ECS is not being used then the standard reference is MM3 and WF are affected?

[Troacctid]

Q1 Are warforged affected by a rust monster's Rust(Ex) ability? MM 3 says nothing about WF being affected by RM's. The errata is silent. RM's can normally only target objects.

The Eberron CS indicates WF are affected by a RM's rust ability as though it were a Rusting Grasp spell. The ECS is the more recent book I believe.

Is the RAW that WF are not affected by RM's if the ECS is being used, it overwrites the MM3? If the ECS is not being used then the standard reference is MM3 and WF are affected?

The warforged's racial ability is clear:

The iron in the body of a warforged makes him vulnerable to rusting grasp, taking 2d6 points of damage from the spell (Reflex half; save DC 14 + caster’s ability modifier). A warforged takes the same damage from a rust monster’s touch (Reflex DC 17 half ).

Warforged take 2d6 damage from a rust monster's touch, with a Reflex save for half.

[nyjastul69]

The warforged's racial ability is clear:

Warforged take 2d6 damage from a rust monster's touch, with a Reflex save for half.

Okay thanks. Only Eberron warforged are affected by RM's.

[Sir Chuckles]

Q2

Can a Bard who trades away Fascinate also trade away Suggestion, or does losing the former deny the option to trade away the latter? I can't seem to find a clear answer.

[Metahuman1]

Q 3: Would a Gestalt Sorcerer/Shugenja be able to use a custom rune staff to snag access to Shugenja Spells in addition to Sorcerer Spells?

Addendum: Would they be able to use said staff to access spells for there opposite discipline on the Shugenja side if so? (I.E.: Fire Shugenja able to cast Water spells and vice versa, in this manner?)

[ShurikVch]

Q 4

Say, character somehow don't have a feat from the 1st level (for example, Incarnated Construct)
Question: is there any way to fill that empty slot later?
If yes, then may that feat be from those which are "1st level only"?

[Mr Booze]

Q5

When creating a PC at higher levels, does the WBL define the wealth at the start of the level or just before leveling up? Should characters get the full WBL when created?

[KillianHawkeye]

Q5

When creating a PC at higher levels, does the WBL define the wealth at the start of the level or just before leveling up?

A 5

There is no defined granularity to say whether or not a character should have that amount of wealth at the beginning or end of a particular level. It is simply the amount of wealth a Level X character is expected to have. Note that the WBL chart is nothing more than a guideline for DMs.

Should characters get the full WBL when created?

That is up to each individual DM to decide, although it's generally considered common practice (at least where Internet discussions are concerned). There is nothing wrong with running a game where the PCs don't get as much wealth or one where they get much more than usual, I would just advise telling your players ahead of time when you make such a decision about an upcoming campaign.

[kkplx]

Repost from the last thread:
Q 6
If a monster casts area dispel magic into a space where an invisible pc is hiding, does the creature know something was hit by the dispel magic if it does not remove the character's means of being invisible?
A) If the dispel does not manage to remove anything from the character, does the monster know something was hit?
B) What if something irrelevant to the character's hiding was dispelled?

[Khedrac]

A 6 No.
The player of the caster of an area dispel magic knows how many caster level checks the DM asked them for (so number of creatures + number of objects + number of areas spells).
The caster of the Dispel Magic gets no information back on the effects of the spell other that what their senses discern, e.g. person (or thing) becoming visible, flyer falling out of air, lights going out etc.

[St Fan]

Q 007 Bond, James Bond

Escape Artist mention how to escape from ropes or manacles, and Use Rope specifies you need 1 minute to bind someone. However...

A) "Bound" isn't defined as a condition summary. It's just listed among the possible way to get the"Helpless" condition. What exactly can and cannot do a character who is bound?

B) How long does it takes to put on manacles on a creature?

C)Is there way to bind or put on manacles on an opponent during a fight, or is it needed first to turn it helpless?

[Troacctid]

Q2

Can a Bard who trades away Fascinate also trade away Suggestion, or does losing the former deny the option to trade away the latter? I can't seem to find a clear answer.

Yes. They are separate class features.

Q 3: Would a Gestalt Sorcerer/Shugenja be able to use a custom rune staff to snag access to Shugenja Spells in addition to Sorcerer Spells?

Yes, if the spell is an arcane spell that appears on your class spell list. Note that

Addendum: Would they be able to use said staff to access spells for there opposite discipline on the Shugenja side if so? (I.E.: Fire Shugenja able to cast Water spells and vice versa, in this manner?)

Yes. Shugenja are prohibited from learning spells of their prohibited element, but the spells are still on their class spell list, and they can use items of them just fine. (This is in contrast to specialist wizards, who cannot use wands or scrolls of spells from banned schools.)

Q 4

Say, character somehow don't have a feat from the 1st level (for example, Incarnated Construct)
Question: is there any way to fill that empty slot later?
If yes, then may that feat be from those which are "1st level only"?

The effect that caused them to gain an Intelligence score will say if it gives them feats.

Q 007 Bond, James Bond

Escape Artist mention how to escape from ropes or manacles, and Use Rope specifies you need 1 minute to bind someone. However...

A) "Bound" isn't defined as a condition summary. It's just listed among the possible way to get the"Helpless" condition. What exactly can and cannot do a character who is bound?

A character who is bound tightly enough that they cannot move is considered helpless. Other degrees of binding are undefined by the rules, unless there's some source I'm unaware of.

B) How long does it takes to put on manacles on a creature?

Undefined, but binding a creature with rope takes 1 minute, so binding a creature with manacles probably wouldn't take longer than that.

C)Is there way to bind or put on manacles on an opponent during a fight, or is it needed first to turn it helpless?

A Justiciar (Complete Warrior) can do this.

[St Fan]

Q 008

I have a little trouble understanding how exactly the Wall Jumper skill trick works.

If you have succeeded on a Climb check to ascend or descend a wall during this or your previous turn, you can leap horizontally from that wall as if you had a running start.

A) Does this jump itself count as a move action, or is it part of the climb move action?

B) "Leap horizontally as if with a running start"... does that means the equivalent of a long jump?

C) What is the direction of the leap? Does it have to be away from the wall, or can be at an angle, or even close to parallel with the wall?

D) What about the vertical height? Do you reach as high as an ordinary long jump?

[PseudoPanda]

Q009

Some Weapon special abilities that are applied to ranged weapons bestowed onto the ammunition fired from that weapon. How does this interact with Raptor Arrows (MIC 56) which do not break on impact? I.e. if I lend the arrows to my ally who fires it from his +1 flaming longbow during an encounter would it retain the flaming WSA when he gives it back to me later and I fire it from a masterwork Longbow?

[Troacctid]

Q 008

I have a little trouble understanding how exactly the Wall Jumper skill trick works.



A) Does this jump itself count as a move action, or is it part of the climb move action?

Jumping and climbing are both part of normal movement.

B) "Leap horizontally as if with a running start"... does that means the equivalent of a long jump?

Yes.

C) What is the direction of the leap? Does it have to be away from the wall, or can be at an angle, or even close to parallel with the wall?

It can't be towards the wall, because there's a wall in the way. Other than that, I don't see any restriction on direction.

D) What about the vertical height? Do you reach as high as an ordinary long jump?

Yes.

[jok]

Q010

How does the Highten Spell metamagic feat interact with the Vestige Metamagic class feature from anima mage?

[Metahuman1]

Q 11: Is there a spell that allows the caster to be treated as trained in a skill even if they have no ranks in it and allows them to designate that skill?

Or are there spells that will at least do that specifically for the handle animal and craft skills?

[TheCrowing1432]

Q12. Several Guides to the Spellwarp Sniper say that the Spellthief is a good starting class because it gives you the ability to cast spells in light armor. However, Spellthief specifically says that only Spellthief spells can be cast in light armor and spells from other classes (Sorceror or Wizard for example) still follow their normal arcane spell failure chance.

Is there something Im missing or is there a way that Spellthieves casting in armor extends to other spellcasting?

[Troacctid]

Q010

How does the Highten Spell metamagic feat interact with the Vestige Metamagic class feature from anima mage?

Vestige metamagic applies the metamagic feat to the spell without increasing its effective level. You can use it with Heighten Spell if you choose; however, the spell's effective level will not increase, so there is very little point in doing so.

Q 11: Is there a spell that allows the caster to be treated as trained in a skill even if they have no ranks in it and allows them to designate that skill?

Or are there spells that will at least do that specifically for the handle animal and craft skills?

Wieldskill (Player's Guide to Faerun)
Combined Talent (Complete Mage)
Share Talents (Player's Handbook II)

Note that no such spell is required for Craft, which can be used untrained.

Q12. Several Guides to the Spellwarp Sniper say that the Spellthief is a good starting class because it gives you the ability to cast spells in light armor. However, Spellthief specifically says that only Spellthief spells can be cast in light armor and spells from other classes (Sorceror or Wizard for example) still follow their normal arcane spell failure chance.

Is there something Im missing or is there a way that Spellthieves casting in armor extends to other spellcasting?

No, you are correct.

[Kaje]

Q 13
If I join an initiating class at a high level, do all the maneuvers learned at class level 1 have to be free of prereqs? If I become a swordsage at level 15, can I take Zephyr Dance (Swordsage 3; req 1 Desert Wind maneuver) at the first class level as long as I also take another DW maneuver?

[jok]

Q010 clarification

Vestige metamagic applies the metamagic feat to the spell without increasing its effective level. You can use it with Heighten Spell if you choose; however, the spell's effective level will not increase, so there is very little point in doing so.

I understand what you are saying, but wouldn't this interpretation also entail that Vestige Metamagic actually does nothing? No matter the metamagic used.
20srd says: "Spells modified by a metamagic feat use a spell slot higher than normal."
Vestige Metamagic says: "... without increasing its spell level." As I understand it, under strict RAW interpretation, both rules talk about different things.
But I hope I am missing something.

[St Fan]

A 013

You are correct. It doesn't matter what level a maneuver is when you take your first level, as long as you have all the prerequisites for it (initiator level, discipline access, and eventual specific prereqs for the maneuver).

Note that it is true for maneuvers, but not for stances, however. The text for all 3 martial adept classes specify that the first stance taken must be 1st level.

[St Fan]

A bunch of related questions pertaining to multiple attacks.

Q 014
When a character fights with a double weapon to make an extra attack, the off-hand end is treated as a light weapon -- but only for the two-weapon fighting modifiers, right? (That is, -2 to hit with the Two-Weapon-Fighting feat, and Strength damage bonus halved for this end.) The off-hand end is not treated as a light weapon for any other modifier... for example, it cannot benefit from Weapon Finesse, and if a disarm attempt is made with this end, its still count as done with a two-handed weapon, correct?

Q 015
Can a full attack mix melee and ranged attacks? For example, a character dual-wielding a rapier and a dagger down her closest enemy with a rapier attack, and has no other opponent within melee range, can she throw the dagger to another enemy during the same full attack action?

Q 016
The rule for iterative attacks states that you make first the attacks at full BAB, then those with a lesser bonus. However, the rule for Two-Weapon Fighting states that you can choose to strike first with either weapon. Does this means that, when dual-wielding, you can make all your iterative attacks with one weapon first, and then all the other with the other weapon? Or do you have to make all additional attacks with a similar BAB penalty at the same time, just choosing which of either weapon goes first?


Q 017
A few about the Snap Kick feat:

A) "There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed. A monk may thus apply her full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all her unarmed strikes." However, a Snap Kick "is an unarmed attack that deals damage equal to your base unarmed attack damage + 1/2 your Str bonus."

In this case, does specific trump general? That is, does a monk doing a Snap Kick still halves her strength bonus to damage for that unarmed attack?

B) "When you make a melee attack [...] you can make an additional attack at your highest attack bonus." Does that mean that the attack counting as the snap kick cannot be the first in the round? Do you need to make at least another attack (already with the -2 penalty) before being able to use a Snap Kick this round?

C) Finally, in case of a full attack for a character with a BAB +6 or more, does the Snap Kick needs to made at the same time as the other attacks at full BAB, or can it be delayed to after them? (For example, can a character with a reach weapon make his full contingent of armed attacks toward an opponent at 10', then take a 5-foot-step to get closer and conclude with a Snap Kick?)

[Khedrac]

A 015 Yes

A 016 You have to make attacks in order from highest attack bonus to lowest. Where attacks have the same bonus you can choose which order to attack in.

A 017
A Specific trumps general - especially as the snap kick is not an "off-hand attack" but a specific attack that sues half strength bonus.

B It can be first, but you must decide that you will be making it before you make any attacks so as to apply the -2 (same as Rapid Shot)

C Yes, the Snap Kick needs to made at the same time as the other attacks at full BAB

[Troacctid]

Q010 clarification




I understand what you are saying, but wouldn't this interpretation also entail that Vestige Metamagic actually does nothing? No matter the metamagic used.
20srd says: "Spells modified by a metamagic feat use a spell slot higher than normal."
Vestige Metamagic says: "... without increasing its spell level." As I understand it, under strict RAW interpretation, both rules talk about different things.
But I hope I am missing something.

No, it wouldn't mean that.

[No brains]

Q 18
Are there any applicable skills or general methods that would allow one to create a spell component pouch, or can they only be bought/ found?

[Wacky89]

Q 19
I have a question about Blindsense, Abrupt jaunt and Invisibility.
Is the wizard able to abrupt jaunt in response to the opponents attack if the opponent is invisibility?

Q 20
Second question:
Do you have to make the listen check dc by +10 to make out what is being said during the cast of a spell from an opponent the is invisible to be able to make a spellcraft check? For example casting a spell is DC 0, distance is 50ft. so its a DC5, I roll a 8. Do I get to make a spellcraft check?

[Wacky89]

Q 21

Are you able to spring attack with a touch spell if you're holding the charge?

[Hecuba]

A21: Yes, though it takes some doing. To use spring attack, you need to be making the attack action and using a melee weapon.

Touch spells are called out under '"Armed" Unarmed Attacks", which fall under "Unarmed Attacks," which are in turn part of the attack action.

To qualify as using a melee weapon, however, you'll need to use the option to discharge the spell as part of an attack with either unarmed strike or natural weapon (which both have further implications).