Spheres of Power Ask Me Anything #2

[Scowling Dragon]

Question 58:

Isn't the Armor Animated Object Option rediculously good in comparison to just about every other defensive option? Bonus HP as well as a large bonus to AC. On top of that it doesn't specify what size your allowed to wear. And so does an armor also add DR as well?

[EldritchWeaver]

I've been thinking about making Empiricist Investigator SoP-compatible which means that I only need to replace the alchemy feature. So my question:

Q59: Is the investigator a pure Mid-Caster with a 15/20 talent progression? Or would you give him full CL for Divination as well?

[Mehangel]

Question 58:

Isn't the Armor Animated Object Option rediculously good in comparison to just about every other defensive option? Bonus HP as well as a large bonus to AC. On top of that it doesn't specify what size your allowed to wear. And so does an armor also add DR as well?

I am sorry, what are you talking about as the "Armor Animated Object Option"?

Are you talking about using Animate Object on a suit of armor that you are wearing? If so, you are Entangled, and must make a Reflex save each round or else become Staggered. (Spheres of Power, pg 30)

Or are you talking about the CP Ability: Armor (Ex; 1 CP)? If so, you must understand that the verbage suggests that the animated object in question must already possess an armor bonus to grant one. For example, if you animate a set of Padded Armor, it will grant a +1 armor bonus to AC to its wearer, but if you were to animate a large quilt sheet and attempt to "don" it, it will not grant an armor bonus to AC, because it does not have one (natural AC is not the same as armor bonus, they are two separate types). (Enhancer's Handbook, pg25)

As for the size, normally suits of armor are considered to be the same size category as the creature they are built for, exceptions do exist. (Telekinetic's Handbook, pg 26); However, as a GM I would probably allow using Animate Object on Magical Items such as Bracer's of Armor, which I would probably consider each individually to be Diminutive size, but paired to be Tiny size. I also wouldn't bestow the entangled condition, but may still require the Reflex save vs Staggered condition.

[Mehangel]

I've been thinking about making Empiricist Investigator SoP-compatible which means that I only need to replace the alchemy feature. So my question:

Q59: Is the investigator a pure Mid-Caster with a 15/20 talent progression? Or would you give him full CL for Divination as well?

A59: The Psyforensic (Investigator Archetype) found in the Diviner's Handbook is compatible with the Empiricist Investigator. But if you only want to replace the alchemy feature, it would be a pure Mid-Caster with 15/20 talent progression.

[Scowling Dragon]

Or are you talking about the CP Ability: Armor (Ex; 1 CP)? If so, you must understand that the verbage suggests that the animated object in question must already possess an armor bonus to grant one. For example, if you animate a set of Padded Armor, it will grant a +1 armor bonus to AC to its wearer, but if you were to animate a large quilt sheet and attempt to "don" it, it will not grant an armor bonus to AC, because it does not have one (natural AC is not the same as armor bonus, they are two separate types). (Enhancer's Handbook, pg25)

Makes sense.

[TheIronGolem]

Q60: For the purposes of the "Hedgewitch Secret" rogue talent, do the "Amateur Whatever" secrets count as tradition secrets? That is to say, can a rogue use that talent to gain (for example) Amateur Black Mage and the associated Oracle Curse? Also, are Grand Secrets eligible choices?

[Mehangel]

Q60: For the purposes of the "Hedgewitch Secret" rogue talent, do the "Amateur Whatever" secrets count as tradition secrets? That is to say, can a rogue use that talent to gain (for example) Amateur Black Mage and the associated Oracle Curse? Also, are Grand Secrets eligible choices?

A60 "Amateur X" secrets are not intended to be taken with the the "Hedgewitch Secret" rogue talent, Grand Secrets are also not eligible.

[TheIronGolem]

A60 "Amateur X" secrets are not intended to be taken with the the "Hedgewitch Secret" rogue talent, Grand Secrets are also not eligible.

Cool, thanks. Expect more Divination-related pestering in the next few weeks.

And on that note: Q61: Since Prescient Dodger acts a lot like the monk's AC bonus, should it interact with abilities that allow a monk to retain their AC bonus when armored and/or shielded?

[Mehangel]

Q61: Since Prescient Dodger acts a lot like the monk's AC bonus, should it interact with abilities that allow a monk to retain their AC bonus when armored and/or shielded?

A61: I am not familiar with any such abilities, but I dont think there should be any problem with Prescient Dodger interacting similarly. EDIT: Digiman619 is most likely correct in that there is probably an official FAQ on the matter that would prevent such interaction, but I am not familiar with the FAQ.

[digiman619]

Cool, thanks. Expect more Divination-related pestering in the next few weeks.

And on that note: Q61: Since Prescient Dodger acts a lot like the monk's AC bonus, should it interact with abilities that allow a monk to retain their AC bonus when armored and/or shielded?

RAW, no. A brawler's flurry is very similar to a flurry of blows, but magic items and prestige classes that advance it won't work for a brawler, as I was irritated to find out.

[A.J.Gibson]

Q62: If I combine crystal blast or any other blast type that requires a reflex save with explosive orb, is there one saving throw or 2? What if I have orb expertise that increases the save DC for the orb, but shouldn't logically increase the save for the crystal blast?

[stack]

Q62: If I combine crystal blast or any other blast type that requires a reflex save with explosive orb, is there one saving throw or 2? What if I have orb expertise that increases the save DC for the orb, but shouldn't logically increase the save for the crystal blast?

A62: Unfortunately, unlike most blast types, the 'creature that takes damage' language is not used, muddying the waters. I would rule that it should be a separate Reflex save, though combining them into one would be a perfectly reasonable houserule to streamline play. I will let Adam weigh in on if the distinction here is deliberate. Wording on the feat also specifies the orb blast shape, rather than blasts using the explosive orb blast shape. This was authorial oversight and will be added to the book's errata.

[masterjoda99]

Q 63 How would one best make a Green Lantern style character with spheres, beyond the obvious bits (take Light and Creation spheres, the Hard Light feat, and the Focus Casting drawback)?

[Kentama]

Question 64

In the dark sphere, do the negative effects from talents like snagging/looming/hungry darkness effect the caster as well? Do you need to take the Clearsight talent and cast it on yourself to avoid these effects?

[khadgar567]

Q65 how you say this class has both expert on combat and expert on magic?

[Ualaa]

A 64
My reading of the book would suggest the darkness affects the caster fully, unless they have their own Clearsight up.
The same as if a Wizard were to move into their own Black Tentacles spell.

I didn't see anything that said the spherecaster would have immunity to their own effects, as nice as that would be. That is aside from Clearsight, which has a spell point cost.

[EldritchWeaver]

Q65 how you say this class has both expert on combat and expert on magic?

What do you mean with "class" exactly?

[khadgar567]

What do you mean with "class" exactly?

C65 any thing from barbarian to expert aka all pc and npc classes

[stack]

Q65 how you say this class has both expert on combat and expert on magic?

What do you mean with "class" exactly?

C65 any thing from barbarian to expert aka all pc and npc classes

Your question seems to be missing something. Are you asking what class works best as a master of combat and magic? If so, various gish builds would be up for discussion, though out of the box I would say magus.

[khadgar567]

Your question seems to be missing something. Are you asking what class works best as a master of combat and magic? If so, various gish builds would be up for discussion, though out of thr box I would say magus.

question 65 withdrawn as i can waith for the proper book to come( sphere magic and might fusion one).

[Kentama]

A 64
My reading of the book would suggest the darkness affects the caster fully, unless they have their own Clearsight up.
The same as if a Wizard were to move into their own Black Tentacles spell.

I didn't see anything that said the spherecaster would have immunity to their own effects, as nice as that would be. That is aside from Clearsight, which has a spell point cost.

Thanks! I don't even have all of pathfinder's rules down 100% and have never played a Wizard.

Another Question, In the death sphere, does the basic exhausting strike (first ghost strike you learn) applying the automatic 1 round fatigue even upon a successful save always happen, or only if you spent your spell point to buff the spell to exhausted. (sorry for weird syntax)

Also in the death sphere, when it says multiple ghost strikes don't stack, lets say you cast exhausting strike on a target to fatigue them (no spell point) then next turn cast it again with a spell point for exhaustion, does this stack? This is mainly relevant for the purposes of The Killing Curse talent

[EldritchWeaver]

Q67: What kind of attack is Bludgeon from the Telekinesis sphere? Melee or ranged?

[Omnificer]

Q 63 How would one best make a Green Lantern style character with spheres, beyond the obvious bits (take Light and Creation spheres, the Hard Light feat, and the Focus Casting drawback)?

A 63 I'd definitely suggest the Destruction sphere with the Energy Focus (Light) drawback. A standard destruction blast is very similar to a generic green lantern blast. The Illuminating Admixture feat will then let you use Light talents with your blasts.

As far as classes, I'd definitely suggest the ArmigerArmorist. Just fluff your weapons and armor as hard light. If you don't want that then I'd suggest at least a few Protection talents to give you that green lantern force field.

[EldritchWeaver]

As far as classes, I'd definitely suggest the Armiger.

Don't you mean Armorist?

[Omnificer]

Don't you mean Armorist?

I absolutely did, thank you for pointing that out.

[khadgar567]

Don't you mean Armorist?

actualy armiger shows their kilowogg/ batman training and their odd dependence of barrage of weapons aspect

[Doc_Maynot]

Q68: If you use Alteration upon an incorporeal target, is it still incorporeal, or corporeal? As alteration states: "The target loses any extraordinary or supernatural abilities, natural attacks, and movement types dependent on their original form (darkvision, scent, wings, claws, etc.) and gains the listed benefits in their place." and Incorporeal under Universal Monster Rules is listed as an (Ex) Defensive Ability.

[Milo v3]

Is there a few to get flight on a character without getting things like shapechanging or telekinesis which don't fit the concept?

[inuyasha]

Is there a few to get flight on a character without getting things like shapechanging or telekinesis which don't fit the concept?

Well, let's see. What is the concept you're going for? Because it's pretty easy to refluff as appropriate, telekinesis being a lot easier for this.

[Milo v3]

Well, let's see. What is the concept you're going for? Because it's pretty easy to refluff as appropriate, telekinesis being a lot easier for this.

Mystical monk who uses ki and body-control to do his powers, so his powers only affect himself. Alternatively, fire elementalist who shoots fire to fly around....

Also, I don't really see how telekinesis is easier for refluffing considering most characters with flight in fiction don't have telekinesis....?