Simple RAW Thread for 3.5 #33: Doesn't everything popular die when 33?

[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.

[Wacky89]

Q 1

How does the harpoon from frostburn interact with the Returning weapon enchantment?
Does the harpoon return without doing additonal damage?
Does it leave a wound since the "harpoon condition" can only be removed by doing a FRA or a heal check?
Does the harpoon just return doing nothing?

[Debatra]

Reposting some unanswered questions from the last thread:

Q2
Assuming undead aren't involved, can Bracers of Entangling Might (MIC 80) be used with Chill Touch to deal extra Strength damage?

Q3
Assuming a caster level of 20, what first-level spell gives the largest bonus (of any type) to AC?

Q4
What if any rules exist for when flight has no listed maneuverability?

Q5
If you have both the Knock-Down and Vae School feats, do you get two attempts to trip an enemy if they're flat-footed when you deal at least ten damage to them with a whip or spiked chain?

[MesiDoomstalker]

Q6
Is a Mind Flayer's Mind Blast a 'mental action' that can be used with the secondary mind of the granted by the Schism power?

[Hurin]

Q7

If an elven wizard becomes a necropolitan at level 3 (getting bumped to level 2), can she no longer take the 3rd level elf wizard substitution level because she's undead?

[Andezzar]

A 7

You can still take the substitution level. Race and type and subtype are three distinct properties. To qualify for the substitution level you must be of the correct race. The Necropolitan template does not change the base creature's race.

[Kaleph]

A6

Yes.
Mind blast is a spell-like ability. According to the SRD, activating a SLA is a mental action.
I cannot find a limitation in the schism power that says the partitioned mind is limited to psionic powers, or conflicts with the usage of a SLA.

[Hish]

Q8
According to the BoVD addiction rules, what save is allowed to avoid addiction? Assuming the character voluntarily took the drug.

[ksbsnowowl]

Q 9:

What does a Confused creature do when his Confusion is the result of a trap (something like Symbol of Insanity) and the percentile roll for the round comes up with "Attack Caster..."?

Attack caster with melee or ranged weapons (or close with caster if attack is not possible).

Does he attack the trap? Attack where the symbol is/was?

[Khedrac]

A 9 The answer is in the spell description:

A confused character who can’t carry out the indicated action does nothing but babble incoherently

[Thurbane]

Q8
According to the BoVD addiction rules, what save is allowed to avoid addiction? Assuming the character voluntarily took the drug.

A008

Upon initial exposure (anytime a character imbibes or applies a drug with an addiction rating), the character must succeed at a Fortitude save or become addicted, as shown below.

Each drug has it's own listed DC for the Fortitude save, as shown on table 3-4.

[Jowgen]

Q 10

Does the Saint's Holy Power ability increase the DC of Ravages and/or poisons used by the Saint?

[justiceforall]

Q11

Can Iron Heart Surge be used to remove fatigue not caused by a spell with a duration?

The wording of Iron Heart Surge says an effect lasting one or more rounds, but fatigue does not have a duration, it is simply removed by resting 8 or more hours.

[Andezzar]

A 11

Ask your DM. This is one of the many ambiguities of the maneuver.

[Kaleph]

Q10

No, unless it's a Special attack of the creature, like "Touch of golden ice".

[St Fan]

Q 12

The Step of the Wind stance from the Tome of Battle specifies:

While you are in this stance, you ignore penalties to speed, movement, or skill checks associated with movement (such as Tumble, Jump, and Climb checks) incurred by moving through difficult terrain.

I understand this mean you can move at full speed over difficult terrain. The rules on Terrain and Obstacles from the SRD also mentions, though, that "You can’t run or charge across difficult terrain."

Does Step of the Wind also remove this limitation (since you ignore penalties to movement), and thus allow you to run or charge even over lightly obstructed (scree, light rubble, shallow bog, undergrowth) or severely obstructed (natural cavern floor, dense rubble, dense undergrowth) terrain?

[Debatra]

A 12

Yes.

[unseenmage]

Q13
Can a summoned Elysian Thrush (BoED) charge the Energy Transformation Field (SC) which summoned it with it's healing song Su ability?

If so how long does it have to sing before the ETF eats the ability and the bird has to start again?


Q14
Without considering class abilities or magic items, what's the longest one could make a Summoned Monster persist?
Could one ever last long enough to cast Contingency on?

[DeltaEmil]

Q 15

Is there a magic item that grants something similar to the empathic link supernatural ability that a wizard or sorcerer has with its familiar?

[Chester]

Q16

Do an Occult Slayer's Magical Defense and Mind Over Magic abilities apply to a Beholder's eye ray attacks?

[KillianHawkeye]

A 16

No. Magical Defense and Mind Over Magic protect against spells and spell-like abilities. A beholder's eye rays are supernatural abilities.

[Thurbane]

Q 15

Is there a magic item that grants something similar to the empathic link supernatural ability that a wizard or sorcerer has with its familiar?

A 015

I'm not aware of an exact match, but there's a couple of items that perform vaguely similar functions:

• Collar of Healing (MIC p.89) [know exact hit point total of animal companion, familiar or special mount]
• Helm of Telepathy [send telepathic messages]
• Linked (armor property) (MIC p.12) [telepathic communication]
• Contact Medallion (MIC p.90) [telepathic bond]
• Crystal Ball with Telepathy [telepathic communication]
  

[Khedrac]

A14

Without considering class abilities or magic items, what's the longest one could make a Summoned Monster persist?
Could one ever last long enough to cast Contingency on?

This is not a "simple" RAW question, but there is no hard limit - with a duration of 1 round per level (before extensions) then an arbitrarily high level produces whatever duration one needs.

[St Fan]

Q 15

Is there a magic item that grants something similar to the empathic link supernatural ability that a wizard or sorcerer has with its familiar?

A 15
Also not quite the same thing, but the various symbionts from the Fiend Folio link with their host in a manner quite similar to a familiar empathic link.

[Debatra]

A 14 Additional

Also, Contingency is a Personal spell. Unless you have some ability that says otherwise, you can't cast Contingency on another creature.

[unseenmage]

A 14 Additional

Also, Contingency is a Personal spell. Unless you have some ability that says otherwise, you can't cast Contingency on another creature.

There are a couple of summons that get access to 6th level spells which coukd cast it themselves if they last long enough.

[daremetoidareyo]

Q16: If you are standing in the midst of an inhaled poison, do you have to make a fort save every round?

Q17: how long does it take to apply a graft? Not craft it.

[St Fan]

Q 18

A few about the drug rules from the Book of Vile Darkness.

A: Drugs are described as functioning like poison. If a character has full immunity to poison (for example, a 9th-level druid), does it protect him from all effects of a drug?

B: Drug addictions are described as functioning like disease. If a character has immunity to diseases (for example, a 5th-level monk), does it make him immune to any risk of addiction?

C: Assuming A) is true, if a character is already addicted to a drug, and then gains immunity to poison, does this mean the satiation effect of the drug no longer apply to him, and thus he's forced into withdrawal?

[kkplx]

Q 19

If you activate a Talisman of Undying Fortitude, can you then stop holding it (drop it, stash it away) for the duration of its effect, or do you need to keep holding on to it (presumably with one hand)?

[Thurbane]

Q 19

If you activate a Talisman of Undying Fortitude, can you then stop holding it (drop it, stash it away) for the duration of its effect, or do you need to keep holding on to it (presumably with one hand)?

A019

There's nothing in the item description that states you need to keep holding the Talisman, it simply states the immunities that you gain when you activate it. So yes, so could put it away, or hand it to another creature to use if you wanted to.

The entry for the item in question lists its slot as "- (held)", indicating a non-slot item. Further on in the MIC (p.219) it specifies that for items of this type "You must hold the item or otherwise manipulate the item with your hand for it to function or be activated.".

The Talisman in question is quite specific that the benefits are granted to you upon activation. It could be argued that the "to function" clause means you need to keep holding it throughout the duration.

I think this is a case of "ask your DM", as I believe it could be argued both ways.