Simple RAW for Pathfinder Thread V: Golarion Strikes Back

[KillianHawkeye]

A 320

Because sonic might be an energy type, but it doesn't come from one of the four classic elements (earth, fire, wind, water) and has no corresponding plane in the D&D/Pathfinder cosmology. You can summon a Fire Elemental, but you can't summon a Sonic one.

Also, probably for balance reasons.

[Psyren]

A320a: While we don't always have insight into developer rationale, we have an indication that they consider Sonic to be more powerful. The Expanded Draconic Bloodlines entry in Dragons of Legacy states the following:

Energy Types: Several of these new draconic bloodline options include nonstandard damage types. For the sake of game balance, many of the damage types available to the bloodlines below somewhat differ from those produced by the parent dragon. Specifically, force energy, negative energy, and sonic energy have been altered to different types of energy.

So options to deal sonic are limited, and therefore options to convert to sonic are all but nonexistent.

A320b: You can make a Sonic Bard with the Sound Striker archetype, and further combine this with Magician if you want to focus on your castery aspect. Throw in the Discordant Voice feat and you can buff your allies' attacks with sonic damage too.

[Red Bear]

A319 clarification: Total cover actually blocks line of effect, not necessarily line of sight. What specifically are you trying to do?

maybe I'm overthinking this, if I use the shield to grant me total cover, can an enemy in front of me use his turn to hide?

[Psyren]

maybe I'm overthinking this, if I use the shield to grant me total cover, can an enemy in front of me use his turn to hide?

No, it only counts as total cover for attacks coming your way. No other purpose.

[Red Bear]

No, it only counts as total cover for attacks coming your way. No other purpose.

oh, you're right, I didn't realize that, thank you


Q321 are there rules to make an indirect fire attack with a bow? (or any ranged weapon)

[Psyren]

A321: You mean bypassing cover? Improved Precise Shot would be the main one. If you want to beat total cover, you'll probably need magic - e.g. the Arcane Archer ability.

[Miry]

Q322

Magic item crafting say:

Note that all items have prerequisites in their descriptions. These prerequisites must be met for the item to be created. Most of the time, they take the form of spells that must be known by the item’s creator (although access through another magic item or spellcaster is allowed). The DC to create a magic item increases by 5 for each prerequisite the caster does not meet. The only exception to this is the requisite item creation feat, which is mandatory. In addition, you cannot create potions, spell-trigger, or spell-completion magic items without meeting its prerequisites.

Does that mean that i can ignore prerequisite like: "creator must be XXth level", exemple: Dusty Rose Prism Ioun Stone

Thank you.

[Cieyrin]

A321: You mean bypassing cover? Improved Precise Shot would be the main one. If you want to beat total cover, you'll probably need magic - e.g. the Arcane Archer ability.

Lob Shot simulates indirect fire for getting around cover.

A 322 Yes.

[Calthropstu]

Q323: Airwalk and tripping. What happens when someone with airwalk is tripped. It says a person may walk on air as if it were ground... so they are not flying and are vulnerable to trips.
Do they fall from the sky?

[Psyren]

A323: Being able to trip fliers is not a default rule in PF. I'd recommend porting in those associated rules from 3.5.

[Boggartbae]

Q324

Does Vital Strike multiply the extra damage dice from the Culling weapon property?
(assume I took feats that let me use vital strike with Cleave)

[Psyren]

A324: Unfortunately no, Vital Strike only multiplies base weapon damage. Damage from any other source (including bonuses and properties on the weapon) is not multiplied. This is one of the reasons it is commonly seen as such a weak feat.

On top of that, Culling only activates on a Cleave (a standard action) which would make it incompatible with Vital Strike anyway (as that also needs a standard action.)

[Draconi Redfir]

Q325 if i duel-class as two seperate classes (or archetypes), and each of them grant me a familiar, do i get two familiars, or are there rules for just making the one stronger in that case?

@v first one just gets stronger then, thanks!

[Psyren]

A325: Multiple classes that grant a familiar stack with each other (to a maximum of your character level) to determine that creature's abilities; you don't get a second one unless you have an ability that specifically grants multiple familiars. The same is true of animal companions, eidolons, and phantoms.

[Lateral]

Q 326: Are there any feats that work like Combat Reflexes (i.e. provide extra attacks of opportunity equal to an ability modifier) but use a mental ability score? 3pp sources (particularly DSP and Drop Dead Studios) ought to be fine.

[Boggartbae]

A 326

Shield Check by Rogue Genius Games uses your wisdom for extra AoO, but only if you use a shield
Elven Battle Training gives you an additional AoO using an elven weapon
Off-Handed Opportunity by the Knotty Works gives you a limited extra AoO when dual-wielding

[Calthropstu]

A323: Being able to trip fliers is not a default rule in PF. I'd recommend porting in those associated rules from 3.5.

Flyers are specifically immune to trip. Airwalk is an entirely different mechanic and is literally called out as being able to "walk on air as if it was solid ground." Lying prone is, by definition, NOT walking. So there is nothing indicating that you can lay prone in the air. Air walk does not indicate you gain a flyer's immunity to trip.
But there is also nothing for dealing with trip... so do you fall? Can you leap from side to side as you fall to avoid falling damage? Do you fall and suddenly hang upside down from your feet? Do you go prone in mid air? Do you break causality and suddenly get ported into null space?
I can see nothing in the rules, and the paizo forums were little help.

[Psyren]

A323 addendum: The list of creatures that cannot be tripped is inclusive rather than exclusive (i.e. "such as flying creatures.") So it could go either way. My answer remains unchanged, your GM will need a ruling because PF is vague on this.

[Calthropstu]

A323 addendum: The list of creatures that cannot be tripped is inclusive rather than exclusive (i.e. "such as flying creatures.") So it could go either way. My answer remains unchanged, your GM will need a ruling because PF is vague on this.

I AM the GM. So...I know I can rule it however, but it's a tad silly that this was never considered. It's a fair question to ask, and I have ruled it that you fall but can make an acrobatics check to halve the damage, and a second to stop the fall completely if you are still in the air on your turn. Combined with featherfall, it will stop the fall completely after 60 feet automatically with a move action (to "stand up").
I may allow a reflex save to only fall 30 feet before getting your feet underneath you with an acrobatics check to avoid any damage... that may be more amenable to my players.

[Psyren]

I AM the GM. So...I know I can rule it however, but it's a tad silly that this was never considered.

My opinion on the rule (or absence thereof) is beyond the scope of this thread.

[Boggartbae]

Q327

Can you use the extra attack granted by a mighty cleaving weapon against the SECOND creature you hit with cleave? The only restriction in the mighty cleaving description is that you cannot use it to strike the first creature, so I'm assuming you can hit the second creature twice (once from the extra attack from the Cleave Feat, and once from the extra attack from Mighty Cleaving Magic Weapon Ability)

[Psyren]

A327: Yep, that's how it works - 1, 2, 2.

[unseenmage]

Q328
Are Magic Device Traps technically magic items or no?

Am looking to figure out if Magic Device Traps can be Intelligent Magic Items.

Q329
Is there an analogue to 3.x's Lair Wards from Draconomicon or Wondrous Architecture from Stronghold Builder's Guidebook in PF? Or will I have to make do with Custom Magic Device Traps?

[Psyren]

A328: It's not clear but I believe they are, given that you need CWI to make them. So intelligent traps could exist.

329 I honestly don't know (I don't have SBG) so I'll leave that one open.

[unseenmage]

Q330
A question of stasis and ongoing magical/spell effects...

The spell Scribe's Binding as well as other spells and some magic items (Mirror of Soul Snaring comes to mind) keep the subject creature in stasis.

Do forms of stasis halt ongoing magical and/or spell effects?
Would a Shadow Duplicate made by a Book of Night Without Moon persist in this state?
What about a Lesser Simulacrum?
A summoned creature?

[Calthropstu]

A330: Nothing in stasis implies it it bypasses a spell ending effect. Nor does it imply it sustains active spells.
So no, none of those would continue existing beyond their spell duration. Likewise, a creature put in stasis with active spells would not have those spells active once they come out of stasis (assuming the spells expire before stasis ends)

[unseenmage]

A330: Nothing in stasis implies it it bypasses a spell ending effect. Nor does it imply it sustains active spells.
So no, none of those would continue existing beyond their spell duration. Likewise, a creature put in stasis with active spells would not have those spells active once they come out of stasis (assuming the spells expire before stasis ends)

I hate to be a bother but what is the RAW basis for this position?
Am less contending it and more just looking to be better able to thoroughly explain it at a later date.

EDIT
Started a thread to discuss as well.

[Psyren]

I hate to be a bother but what is the RAW basis for this position?
Am less contending it and more just looking to be better able to thoroughly explain it at a later date.

The RAW basis is that spells end at the end of their duration:

Timed Durations

Many durations are measured in rounds, minutes, hours, or other increments. When the time is up, the magic goes away and the spell ends.

The onus is therefore on you to prove that putting a creature in stasis suspends a spell's duration.

[Calthropstu]

I hate to be a bother but what is the RAW basis for this position?
Am less contending it and more just looking to be better able to thoroughly explain it at a later date.

"No force can harm it" "Its physical condition becomes fixed." The wording is such that temporal stasis only affects the creature, not the spells affecting the creature. Since the spell that summoned the creature is not put in stasis, the duration continues to tick down.
When it reaches zero, it stops sustaining the existence of said creature. Stopping the sustaining force enabling a creatures existence is not an attempt to harm the creature, it's merely an expiration of what causes it to exist.

[Boggartbae]

Q331 I could swear that in one of the Bestiary updates that Paizo published, they clarified that Undead can go into rage if they want to, and that the bonus to Constitution should be applied to Charisma instead. Can anyone verify this for me? I can't seem to find it anymore :small annoyed:

Edit: forgot to add question number