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

[KillianHawkeye]

A 98

A spell which protects against intrusion, by definition, will only prevent someone from entering the protected area.

[Sniper]

Q99 Maneuvers such as War Masters Charge grant a charge attack. Does this granted charge attack work with either of the feats Shield Charge or Shield Slam?

Q100If the free trip from Shield Charge does work with maneuvers granting a charge, does the +4 and free attack from improved trip apply, as I haven't sacrificed an attack to make a trip attack?

[Draculstar]

Q101

Iron Heart Endurance heals "2 x your level" in HP. Is that character level or initiator level?

[VisitingDaGulag]

A80 Not that I'm aware of. The place to check is over there.

Persistent spell reads, "Spells of instantaneous duration cannot be affected by this feat, nor can spells whose effects are discharged." [CArc81]

Q 91: Clearly Divine Insight [SpC70] cannot be persisted because its duration says "x/level or until discharged." But Death Throes [SpC60] has a duration of "x/level or until y" but y is not specifically "discharged". Since the y effect does end the spell, does this count as "discharged" for persisting even though the spell never uses the term?

Page bump

[mattie_p]

Persistent spell reads, "Spells of instantaneous duration cannot be affected by this feat, nor can spells whose effects are discharged." [CArc81]

Q 91: Clearly Divine Insight [SpC70] cannot be persisted because its duration says "x/level or until discharged." But Death Throes [SpC60] has a duration of "x/level or until y" but y is not specifically "discharged". Since the y effect does end the spell, does this count as "discharged" for persisting even though the spell never uses the term?

A 91: It may not be affected by Persistent Spell.

Discharge is a defined term:

Discharge
Occasionally a spells lasts for a set duration or until triggered or discharged.

Death Throes is triggered by the character's death, therefore it may not be persisted.

Q99 Maneuvers such as War Masters Charge grant a charge attack. Does this granted charge attack work with either of the feats Shield Charge or Shield Slam?

Q100If the free trip from Shield Charge does work with maneuvers granting a charge, does the +4 and free attack from improved trip apply, as I haven't sacrificed an attack to make a trip attack?

A 99: Yes (to shield charge). No (to shield slam) From p39-40 of Tome Of Battle

Actions during a Maneuver:The Initiation Action line of a maneuver provides the action required to use that maneuver. For example,
the initation action of the radiant charge maneuver is 1 full round action. Thus, as part of your full round action, you bring about the effect in the maneuver description. In this case, the maneuver allows you you to make a charge attack with a number of additional benefits.

A character may make an attack during a charge with their shield during a charge, thus triggering shield charge. Shield Slam requires its own "initation action" of a full round action or a charge action and is incompatible with the maneuver.

Q:100 Yes. After the attack as part of the charge, the trip attempt is automatic (as is the bonus from improved trip, which is not an action), and if successful in the trip attempt, the free attack from improved trip is as well. You make the free attack at the same attack bonus as your initial attack with the shield.

[Thurbane]

Q101

Iron Heart Endurance heals "2 x your level" in HP. Is that character level or initiator level?

A 101

Compare to the text for Burning Blade:

For the rest of your turn, your melee attacks deal an extra 1d6 points of fire damage + 1 point per initiator level.

IHE lacks the "initiator level" clause, so I think it safe to assume it does not refer to IL.

The D&D glossary says this:

level
A measure of advancement or power applied to several areas of the game. See caster level, character level, class level, and spell level.

character level
A character's total level. For a character with levels in only one class, class level and character level are the same thing.

class level
A character's level in a single class. Class features generally depend on class level rather than character level.

It's not 100% clear whether you would use your class level (i.e. Warblade level) or character level. As this boost can theoretically be picked up with the Martial Study feat, I'd be inclined to say character level, but check with your DM.

[Debatra]

C 101

Wait, does that mean that the parts of spell descriptions (duration, range, etc) that just refer to level and not specifically "caster level" are actually checking for character level as well? That seems counter-intuitive; but now that I think of it, I can't recall any RAW that says otherwise.

[KillianHawkeye]

C 101

Wait, does that mean that the parts of spell descriptions (duration, range, etc) that just refer to level and not specifically "caster level" are actually checking for character level as well? That seems counter-intuitive; but now that I think of it, I can't recall any RAW that says otherwise.

A 101 continued

No. Look for the details in the Magic Overview section.

Caster Level

A spell’s power often depends on its caster level, which for most spellcasting characters is equal to your class level in the class you’re using to cast the spell.

You can cast a spell at a lower caster level than normal, but the caster level you choose must be high enough for you to cast the spell in question, and all level-dependent features must be based on the same caster level.

In the event that a class feature, domain granted power, or other special ability provides an adjustment to your caster level, that adjustment applies not only to effects based on caster level (such as range, duration, and damage dealt) but also to your caster level check to overcome your target’s spell resistance and to the caster level used in dispel checks (both the dispel check and the DC of the check).

Close

The spell reaches as far as 25 feet away from you. The maximum range increases by 5 feet for every two full caster levels.

Medium

The spell reaches as far as 100 feet + 10 feet per caster level.

Long

The spell reaches as far as 400 feet + 40 feet per caster level.

[St Fan]

Q 102

A few shapeshifting effects, like Wild Shape or Alter Self (if you choose so) allows you to merge the whole of your equipment into the transmuted form. They naturally cannot be used any longer, and magical items stop having their effect as long as merged.

A) Can the magic of items so merged is still noticeable by effect such as Detect Magic?

B) Can Locate Object or similar magic still pinpoint a merged item? In other words, are such items still in existence?

C) What if one piece of equipment merged is an Item Familiar? Clearly, its powers as a magic item cannot be used, but is it still considered to be in possession of the character? If life energy, skill ranks or spell slots have been invested in the item, does the character still have access to them?

Q 103

Somewhat related to the above: Baleful Polymorph and similar effects have, on the contrary, for rule that "All items worn or carried by the subject fall to the ground at its feet, even if they could be worn or carried by the new form."

What happens if a character sporting the "Monk Tattoo" magical item falls victim of a Baleful Polymorph?

[daremetoidareyo]

Q 102

A few shapeshifting effects, like Wild Shape or Alter Self (if you choose so) allows you to merge the whole of your equipment into the transmuted form. They naturally cannot be used any longer, and magical items stop having their effect as long as merged.

A) Can the magic of items so merged is still noticeable by effect such as Detect Magic?

B) Can Locate Object or similar magic still pinpoint a merged item? In other words, are such items still in existence?

C) What if one piece of equipment merged is an Item Familiar? Clearly, its powers as a magic item cannot be used, but is it still considered to be in possession of the character? If life energy, skill ranks or spell slots have been invested in the item, does the character still have access to them?

Q 103

Somewhat related to the above: Baleful Polymorph and similar effects have, on the contrary, for rule that "All items worn or carried by the subject fall to the ground at its feet, even if they could be worn or carried by the new form."

What happens if a character sporting the "Monk Tattoo" magical item falls victim of a Baleful Polymorph?

A 102A
It appears that detect magic can detect the auras of magic items subsumed in wildshape form, as there is only one clause saying that they may be obscured, and that has to deal with how powerful an effect the wildshape is relative to the strength of the item's enchantment. http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/detectMagic.htm Wildshape is a supernatural ability, but it does present a magical aura as a magical based ability. So yes, detect magic can detect the item's magical signature. Nothing in the abilities say that the magic auras are subsumed.

A102 B
This is much more clear: locate object cannot detect the object as it is pinned to a mental picture in the caster's brain. Now if the caster saw the aura of said item through a previous casting of detect magic...I would rule zero that cleverness. But that area is uncovered by RAW. But looking for a specific item based on it's non-aura appearance would fail.

Attempting to find a certain item requires a specific and accurate mental image; if the image is not close enough to the actual object, the spell fails.

A 102 C
When an item familiar is inside your altered form, it is literally IN your possession. However, the particular type of activation of the item familiar's ability will be affected if it requires an action type by the possessor. You need to manipulate the object somehow in order to activate any of it's actions, but it appears that continuous effects would continue to occur. If the item itself is activating powers, that is the DM's call. It would typically need line of effect, and may not be able to swing that from inside a creature depending on the particular power.

A 103
This is again, DM territory. The monk tattoo classification as an item is a paraphyletic one. So it makes sense that the tattoo would be a part of the transformed shape. It also makes sense that it would be over-ridden by the magic of the polymorph curse. Perhaps a magic item saving throw is the best way to adjudicate this one.

---

Q. 104
Magic of the dragonheart has the following text and lasts hours per caster level:

While this spell is active, you are considered to have two more draconic feats than normal for the purpose of determining the benefit of your draconic feats.

A. Do these virtual draconic feats stack?

B. If I am a dragonblood sorcerer 4th level sub level where you trade spell slots to turn a spell into an SLA, does magic of the dragonheart activate your draconic feats at half of your caster level when used as an SLA?

[RoboEmperor]

Q105

Can you use Magic Vestment on Mage Armor and Greater Mage Armor?

[Debatra]

A 105 You can not.

[ranagrande]

Q. 104
Magic of the dragonheart has the following text and lasts hours per caster level:


A. Do these virtual draconic feats stack?

B. If I am a dragonblood sorcerer 4th level sub level where you trade spell slots to turn a spell into an SLA, does magic of the dragonheart activate your draconic feats at half of your caster level when used as an SLA?

A 104

A: No. Due to the wording of the spell, no matter how many times you cast it you will still only be considered to have two extra feats.

B: Yes. The SLA should have the same effect as the spell.

[Yael]

Q106 Does a skeleton with a fighter base retains its armor proficiencies?

Q107 Does a skeleton with Exotic Weapon Proficiency retains its weapon proficiency even after losing the feat?

[flappeercraft]

Q106 Does a skeleton with a fighter base retains its armor proficiencies?

Q107 Does a skeleton with Exotic Weapon Proficiency retains its weapon proficiency even after losing the feat?

A106 No, it loses all class HD and with losing those comes losing class features

A107 No, you lose the benefits of feats if you lose the feats

[2gig]

Q108 Can a character with fewer than four levels in ranger (no spells known, no spell slots) use wands and scrolls for ranger spells without UMD?

[flappeercraft]

Q108 Can a character with fewer than four levels in ranger (no spells known, no spell slots) use wands and scrolls for ranger spells without UMD?

A108

Wands are Spell Trigger so yes

Spell Trigger
Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it’s even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Anyone with a spell on his or her spell list knows how to use a spell trigger item that stores that spell. (This is the case even for a character who can’t actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin.) The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Scrolls are Spell Completion

Spell Completion
This is the activation method for scrolls. A scroll is a spell that is mostly finished. The preparation is done for the caster, so no preparation time is needed beforehand as with normal spellcasting. All that’s left to do is perform the finishing parts of the spellcasting (the final gestures, words, and so on). To use a spell completion item safely, a character must be of high enough level in the right class to cast the spell already. If he can’t already cast the spell, there’s a chance he’ll make a mistake. Activating a spell completion item is a standard action and provokes attacks of opportunity exactly as casting a spell does.

More rules on activating a scroll

To have any chance of activating a scroll spell, the scroll user must meet the following requirements.

The spell must be of the correct type (arcane or divine). Arcane spellcasters (wizards, sorcerers, and bards) can only use scrolls containing arcane spells, and divine spellcasters (clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers) can only use scrolls containing divine spells. (The type of scroll a character creates is also determined by his or her class.)
The user must have the spell on his or her class list.
The user must have the requisite ability score.
If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell’s caster level, she can automatically activate the spell without a check. If she meets all three requirements but her own caster level is lower than the scroll spell’s caster level, then she has to make a caster level check (DC = scroll’s caster level + 1) to cast the spell successfully. If she fails, she must make a DC 5 Wisdom check to avoid a mishap (see Scroll Mishaps, below). A natural roll of 1 always fails, whatever the modifiers.

This should be enough to answer your question

TL;DR: Yes for Wands. Yes for scrolls but there is a chance of mishap

[KillianHawkeye]

A 108 addition

Before level 4, a Ranger has no Caster Level, so they may be considered unable to make the CL check necessary to activate a scroll.

[Thurbane]

A 108

FWIW, the official 3.5 FAQ says this (in regards to wands), in agreement with the answers above:

For example, a paladin of 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level has not yet gained any spellcasting ability, but she still can use spell trigger items that store spells on the paladin class list.

.

It is silent of how this interacts with spell completion items.

[ArqArturo]

I'm building a character: A Goliath Paladin, but I'm going to add the Dragonborn Template.

Does the template (thus removing the racial and extraordinary abilities of the Goliath) also remove the +1 Level adjustment?.

[Hish]

Q109 I'm building a character: A Goliath Paladin, but I'm going to add the Dragonborn Template.

Does the template (thus removing the racial and extraordinary abilities of the Goliath) also remove the +1 Level adjustment?.

A109
No. Goliath is worth +1 LA, adding a suboptimal template that overrides its abilities doesn't change that.

[DeTess]

Q110

If a creature gets hit by am effect that reduces an attribute but that can't reduce it below 1(such as ray of enfeeblement), and then gets hit by something that damages the same attribute and that can bring it to 0, does the 'non-lethal' effect correct the damage so the creature remains at 1, or does it get downed?

Numerical example: minion 85 has 11 strength. He first gets hit by ray of enfeeblement that deals 6 str damage that drops it's strength to 5. Minion 85 then takes 5 str damage from another source, does the damage from ray of enfeeblement correct to effectively 5, so minion 85 now has 1 str, or does it get dropped to 0?

[KillianHawkeye]

Re: 110

You example is flawed. Ray of enfeeblement does not deal Strength damage.

The subject takes a penalty to Strength equal to 1d6+1 per two caster levels (maximum 1d6+5). The subject’s Strength score cannot drop below 1.

So if Minion 85 gets hit by ray of enfeeblement and takes a -6 penalty to Strength, he still has a Strength of 11 but operates as if it were only a 5 for the duration of the spell. If he takes 5 points of actual Strength damage from another source, his Strength score will drop to 6 with an effective value of 1 because ray of enfeeblement's penalty cannot drop it all the way to zero.

[flappeercraft]

Q111 Is there any way to apply a metamagic feat multiple times to a spell?

[St Fan]

Q 112

Is there any limitation (beyond the creation costs in time, money and XP) on the number of spells/powers that can be added to a single magical item through the Items Creation rule?

[Ripptor]

Q 113

So, I have a question about grappling/dragging:

A Giant Wasp with the Flyby Attack and Barbed Stinger feats zips by, stings someone, uses improved grab and wins the grapple at -20 to use it's Stinger to Grapple without bring 'in a grapple'.

Can she continue to fly away with the target, dragging them around? Can she drag them into the air, flying off with them?

[Thurbane]

Q 112

Is there any limitation (beyond the creation costs in time, money and XP) on the number of spells/powers that can be added to a single magical item through the Items Creation rule?

A 112

The limitations of the custom magic item creation guidelines are very much at the discretion of the DM, so this is definitely gong to be an "ask your DM" scenario.

I would add, however, that no item can be worth more than 200,000gp pre-epic.

Q 113

So, I have a question about grappling/dragging:

A Giant Wasp with the Flyby Attack and Barbed Stinger feats zips by, stings someone, uses improved grab and wins the grapple at -20 to use it's Stinger to Grapple without bring 'in a grapple'.

Can she continue to fly away with the target, dragging them around? Can she drag them into the air, flying off with them?

A 113

The grappling rules are a bit of a hot mess, but they do say this:

Move: You can move half your speed (bringing all others engaged in the grapple with you) by winning an opposed grapple check. This requires a standard action, and you must beat all the other individual check results to move the grapple.

So in your scenario, no, the Giant Wasp can't fly off, because it doesn't have a standard action to spend that round.

Unless I'm mistaken, the option to take a -20 to your grapple check to maintain your grapple without being considered grappled yourself can only be done if you have the Improved Grab special ability, and isn't part of the standard grappling rules.

The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally or simply use the part of its body it used in the improved grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on grapple checks, but it isn’t considered grappled itself. Thus, the creature isn’t denied its Dexterity bonus to AC, still threatens an area, and can use its remaining attacks against other opponents.

[ZamielVanWeber]

Q 114
If a nezumi uses his racial ability to take the Scent feat becomes a dragonborn does the feat continue to function?

[ZamielVanWeber]

A109
No. Goliath is worth +1 LA, adding a suboptimal template that overrides its abilities doesn't change that.

A 109 Clarification
Templates only change what they explicitly change. Dragonborn removes many racial features, which LA is not, and lists no change to LA, so a Goliath dragonborn is LA +1.

[Debatra]

A 113

Unless I'm mistaken, the option to take a -20 to your grapple check to maintain your grapple without being considered grappled yourself can only be done if you have the Improved Grab special ability, and isn't part of the standard grappling rules.

C 113

That would be covered by the Barbed Stinger feat (Serpent Kingdoms, 144), which gives that ability.