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

[Troacctid]

It does not matter if it is considered new. The RC only overwrites "preexisiting" books. A book from 2012 did not exist in 2007.

You asked for a RAW answer, I gave it to you. If you didn't want to hear it, you shouldn't have asked. *shrug*

[Duke of Urrel]

The Rules Compendium states in its introduction that it supersedes all sources that predate it. The PHB predates the RC and is therefore superseded by it. There is no printing of the 3.5e Player's Handbook that does not predate the Rules Compendium; you can confirm this for yourself by comparing the years in their respective copyright sections.

There is a printing of the PHB from 2012. The RC is from 2007.

The 2012 printing still has the earlier year in its copyright date; it is not considered a new publication.

It does not matter if it is considered new. The RC only overwrites "preexisiting" books. A book from 2012 did not exist in 2007.

A 426: Let's take this to another thread.

I think it's clear that this question can't be resolved here – but it does interest me!

[Eladrinblade]

Q 427

If a magic trap has a detect spell (like detect evil) as the trigger, does it go off as soon as a good-aligned creature enters it's range, or does it need to "concentrate" for a round first?

[Xaroth]

A 422 This cannot really be answered except by "yes and no".
Yes if a creature gains a template then its CR should be recalculated - this is a significant problem with the classes and prestige classes that grant templates (e.g. lich) as a capstone. The rules look as if this is not the intention, but it is RAW.
Now a humanoid cannot have "12 hit dice in human" because humans only get class hit dice - and humanoids cannot get hit dice in human.
If you mean 12 hit dice in humanoid, how did you find a 12HD creature with CR3? I am not aware of any CRs that low for hit dice that high.
Now if the temnplate is CR +0 then the type change will not change the CR as the hit dice effects (BAB, skill points etc.) are not retrospecitively changed (unless the template says they are). The creature becomes "monstrous humanoid (augmented humanoid)" which is not quite the same thing as "monstrous humanoid".

I suggest reading Urpriest's Monstrous Monster Handbook - it will give you a good grounding in the basics here..

The 12 hit dice in humanoid was meant purely as an example, for an example of something that increases in CR per 4 hit dice changing to something that increases in CR per 3 hit dice. I would've equally done something like a Monstrous Humanoid gaining the Half-Dragon template, as an example of something increasing in CR per 3 hit dice to something that increases in CR per 2 hit dice.

[Xaroth]

Q 428

The Half-Dragon template from the SRD increases hit dice by one size. However, it also changes the type to dragon. If the increased hit dice is lower than a d12, and then the creature obtains another racial hit die, does the creature gain a d12 as per the Dragon type, or the changed hit dice size?

[Morphic tide]

Q 428

The Half-Dragon template from the SRD increases hit dice by one size. However, it also changes the type to dragon. If the increased hit dice is lower than a d12, and then the creature obtains another racial hit die, does the creature gain a d12 as per the Dragon type, or the changed hit dice size?

... Half-Dragon boosts hit dice size? Like, making Fighters d12 HD size? What does it do to Barbarians/other d12 HD things? Does that increase specify racial HD, because if not, then it boosts class HD, which causes problems.

[Xaroth]

... Half-Dragon boosts hit dice size? Like, making Fighters d12 HD size? What does it do to Barbarians/other d12 HD things? Does that increase specify racial HD, because if not, then it boosts class HD, which causes problems.

Sorry, racial hit die. Here.

Q 429

I'm beginning to think that Multi-attack doesn't work the way I think it works.

Prerequisite
Three or more natural attacks.

Benefit
The creature’s secondary attacks with natural weapons take only a -2 penalty.

Normal
Without this feat, the creature’s secondary attacks with natural weapons take a -5 penalty.

Does this mean a character with claws and a bite and a tail can attack with both of their claws again at a -2 penalty? Or does this mean he can attack with whatever natural attack they would normally be penalized for at a -2 penalty?

[Troacctid]

Q 429

I'm beginning to think that Multi-attack doesn't work the way I think it works.



Does this mean a character with claws and a bite and a tail can attack with both of their claws again at a -2 penalty? Or does this mean he can attack with whatever natural attack they would normally be penalized for at a -2 penalty?

Normally, there is a -5 penalty on any attack you make with a secondary natural weapon. Multiattack reduces this penalty to -2, effectively a +3 bonus to attacks with secondary weapons. Does this answer your question?

[Xaroth]

Normally, there is a -5 penalty on any attack you make with a secondary natural weapon. Multiattack reduces this penalty to -2, effectively a +3 bonus to attacks with secondary weapons. Does this answer your question?

That does indeed, thank you.

[Khedrac]

A 428 No - the original hit dice size is used.

The Half-Dragon template from the SRD increases hit dice by one size. However, it also changes the type to dragon. If the increased hit dice is lower than a d12, and then the creature obtains another racial hit die, does the creature gain a d12 as per the Dragon type, or the changed hit dice size?

As I said, the type doesn't actually change to "Dragon" - it changes to "Dragon (augmented [original type])" which is not the same thing. To put it slightly differently, it may be a dragon, but it doesn't have (and doesn't qualify for) dragon hit dice, it still has animal hit dice (or whatever its orginal type was).

Seriously - go read Urpriest's Mostrous handbook as I linked last time.

[SirNibbles]

Q 430 How much damage does the Scorpion Kama (Magic Item Compendium, page 201) do?

It says, "This +1 kama deals damage equal to your unarmed strike damage (if that is greater than the normal damage for a kama)."

What is it counting as my Unarmed Strike damage? Is it the monk base damage (let's say 2d10 at level 20) that would replace a kama's 1d6?

If I have Greater Mighty Wallop to make my Unarmed Strike treated as Colossal but I only have a Medium kama, does the kama deal 2d10 or 12d8?

Do any enhancement bonuses to damage on my fists (such as Magic Weapon, Greater at +5) also apply to the kama since that's part of my Unarmed Strike damage?

If my Unarmed Strike deals 12d8+20, would the Kama deal (12d8+20)+STR+ENH+Weapon Focus, etc. or just 12d8+20, or 12d8+STR+ENH+Weapon Focus, etc?

Thanks in advance.

[Lateral]

Q 431

What action is it to open and/or close a portable hole?

[Andezzar]

A 431

Standard action, by default:

Activating a magic item is a standard action unless the item description indicates otherwise.

[St Fan]

Q 432

I’d like some clearing up about the notion of “flat-footed”. It often tends to be used as synonymous to “denied your dexterity bonus to AC”, but I believe the two conditions are distinct.

What I mean is the following: if a character has both Uncanny Dodge and the Combat Reflexes feat, the two main disadvantages of being flat-footed (loosing your Dexterity/Dodge bonus to AC and being unable to make attacks of opportunity) are negated. However he would still count as “caught flat-footed” for other effects dependent on it.

For example, the “Hit-and-Run Tactics” alternate class feature (from Drow of the Underdark) gives a competence bonus equal to the Dexterity modifier against a flat-footed opponent. A character with Uncanny Dodge is still vulnerable to that, isn’t he?

Likewise, some martial maneuvers (Baffling Defense or Supreme Blade Parry, to name a few) only work if you are not flat-footed against the attack. Once again, Uncanny Dodge and Combat Reflexes wouldn’t change a thing to it, am I right?

[HeadlessMermaid]

A 432

The two conditions are indeed distinct, not that many designers paid attention to that. By RAW, Hit-and-Run affects normally flat-footed targets with Uncanny Dodge and/or Combat Reflexes. You cannot use the Baffling Defense maneuver if you are flat-footed (as you cannot use any immediate action if you are flat-footed). Similarly, the damage reduction provided by Supreme Blade Parry stance doesn't apply if you are flat-footed. In all of these cases, Uncanny Dodge and Combat Reflexes are irrelevant.

Now, if you can't be caught flat-footed at all (such as with the Foresight spell, or the Mark of Stars feat), then Hit-and-Run deals no extra damage to you. And even before acting in the initiative order, you can use Baffling Defense (and generally immediate actions), and benefit from Supreme Blade Parry's DR, and make Attacks of Opportunity (whether you have Combat Reflexes or not).

[ShurikVch]

Q 433

Diminutive Dagger do 1 damage; Alchemical Silver cause -1 penalty on the damage roll; does it mean Diminutive Alchemical Silver Dagger isn't a weapon (i. e. don't do any damage at all), or does it free from that penalty?

[HeadlessMermaid]

A 433

Damage from an attack is always at least 1 point, even if a subtraction from a die roll reduces the result to 0 or lower. Silver diminutive daggers deal [1 (weapon damage) -1 (alchemical silver property) + Strength modifier] points of damage. So basically your damage equals your Str modifier, unless that is 0 or lower, in which case your damage is 1.

[GilesTheCleric]

Q 434: What happens with Power Attack when you're wielding a weapon with more than two hands?

[Andezzar]

A 434

The same thing that happens as when you wield the weapon with exactly two hands, because you are wielding the weapon with two hands (and one or more other hands). Are there even weapons that give you a benefit for doing that?

[GilesTheCleric]

A 434

The same thing that happens as when you wield the weapon with exactly two hands, because you are wielding the weapon with two hands (and one or more other hands). Are there even weapons that give you a benefit for doing that?

Yes. There's a set of Marilith scissors with three blades that require six arms to use. I think there's a few other weapons noted for diopsids or thri-keen that also mention being usable with more than two hands.

[Morphic tide]

Q 435: If Half Dragon is applied to an Outsider, what is the resulting hit dice size? IIRC, Outsiders have d12 HD already, and half-dragon increases that dice size.

This question also applies to Half-Dragon Dragons, who have the same question of increasing hit dice size of a d12 hit dice creature type.

[zergling.exe]

Q 435: If Half Dragon is applied to an Outsider, what is the resulting hit dice size? IIRC, Outsiders have d12 HD already, and half-dragon increases that dice size.

This question also applies to Half-Dragon Dragons, who have the same question of increasing hit dice size of a d12 hit dice creature type.

A 435
Outsiders have a d8 HD, so it would increase to a d10. Any creature already with a d12 gains no increase, as spelled out in the half-dragon template:

Hit Dice
Increase base creature’s racial HD by one die size, to a maximum of d12. Do not increase class HD.

[Keral]

Q 436a


Is there a way to increase DFA's invocation DC besides increasing charisma? If yes, which?

I'm considering giving up Frightful presence: it was neat the first few levels, but now dc 17 even with 18CHA is kinda lame by level 11, and it will only get worse. It's nice that it's a swift action and all, but it has come to the point where it's only slowing the game down in the hope that someone gets a terrible save roll...

[Xaroth]

Q 436

Does the Swiftblade's Innervated Speed allow it to attack during its "time stop"? If it doesn't I don't understand what the point of the ability is, but I don't see them explicitly stating one way or the other.

[Troacctid]

Q 436a


Is there a way to increase DFA's invocation DC besides increasing charisma?

Yes.

If yes, which?

Ability Focus is the easiest way. Some Heritage feats offer bonuses to invocation save DCs as well. And there are various other options, although a complete listing of them would be outside the scope of this thread.

Q 436

Does the Swiftblade's Innervated Speed allow it to attack during its "time stop"?

No.

[Debatra]

Q 436

Does the Swiftblade's Innervated Speed allow it to attack during its "time stop"? If it doesn't I don't understand what the point of the ability is, but I don't see them explicitly stating one way or the other.

At risk of leaving the realms of RAW, the "point" is presumably the same as a normal caster using the actual Time Stop spell. You can move to somewhere more advantageous, buff/heal yourself, take advantage of the Delay Spell Metamagic feat... Let's just say you have options.

[GilesTheCleric]

Q 437: Are creatures with "Advancement: By character class" playable as PCs, or must they have a listed LA?

[Troacctid]

Q 437: Are creatures with "Advancement: By character class" playable as PCs, or must they have a listed LA?

They must have a listed LA. The advancement line is irrelevant for players, because PCs always advance by character class regardless of their kind.

[Doctor Awkward]

Q 438:
Are races automatically proficient with weapons that are specifically described as being "of" that race? For example, gnomes and their quickrazors, goliaths and their greathammers, and so on?

[HeadlessMermaid]

A 438

No. When a race (e.g. Elf) or type (e.g. Outsider) gives a weapon proficiency, it is stated explicitly in the entry.