Simple RAW Thread for 3.5 #35: 3/2 Score And Four Threads Ago

[Saintheart]

How is it wrong?

[jdizzlean]

Q 257

is there a way to grant "share spells" to say a wild cohort, or some other kind of creature that happens to be your pal, but doesn't have the same progression as a animal companion/familiar?

[Zaq]

Q 257

is there a way to grant "share spells" to say a wild cohort, or some other kind of creature that happens to be your pal, but doesn't have the same progression as a animal companion/familiar?

A 257 Partial
I’m on mobile so I’m not sure, but I think there’s a PrC in the same web article where Wild Cohort originated that gives what you’re looking for.

[jdizzlean]

A 257 Partial
I’m on mobile so I’m not sure, but I think there’s a PrC in the same web article where Wild Cohort originated that gives what you’re looking for.

nope, wild cohort is it's own article, and unfortunately the archives are not search friendly (at least for me) if someone has a link however, that'd be great


**edit**

silverwood arcanist does for the cohort only, but not until it's 5th level, which would be ECL 11th, and entirely to late for my purposes

[ShurikVch]

Q 258

Can Changeling with Racial Emulation feat shift into Warforged and take [warforged] feats?
If yes - would those feats work in other shapes too?
If no - why?


And, once again, bump Q 250 (although Q 216 was anwered)

[heavyfuel]

Q 259

Can a Hagunemnon copy a creature's Martial Maneuvers / stances?

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/monsters/hagunemnon.htm

[Troacctid]

Q 259

Can a Hagunemnon copy a creature's Martial Maneuvers / stances?

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/monsters/hagunemnon.htm

Only if they're (Ex).

Q 258

Can Changeling with Racial Emulation feat shift into Warforged and take [warforged] feats?
If yes - would those feats work in other shapes too?
If no - why?


And, once again, bump Q 250 (although Q 216 was anwered)

Racial Emulation only lets you emulate humanoids.

How is it wrong?

Same reason disguise self can be on the assassin, fatemaker, and vigilante spell lists even though it's only listed as Bard 1, Sorcerer/Wizard 1, and Trickery 1 in its entry in the PHB. Specific beats general, and CAr is the primary source for the warmage spell list, not SpC.

[ShurikVch]

Racial Emulation only lets you emulate humanoid

Yes, I know it; but Warforged can become a Humanoid without stopping being Warforged (IIRR, three different ways).
So, can Changeling emulate Humanoid Warforged and take [warforged] feats?

[Troacctid]

Yes, I know it; but Warforged can become a Humanoid without stopping being Warforged (IIRR, three different ways).
So, can Changeling emulate Humanoid Warforged and take [warforged] feats?

No. There's no such race as "humanoid warforged".

[ShurikVch]

No. There's no such race as "humanoid warforged".

Yes.
There is just "Warforged", and it stays "Warforged" - regardless of Type

[Troacctid]

Yes.
There is just "Warforged", and it stays "Warforged" - regardless of Type

If you have a follow-up question, it should get a new number; if you want to debate the answer, that seems like a matter for a separate thread.

[Blue Jay]

Q 250

Can eyeless creature - such as Grimlock - benefit from eye grafts?
If yes - would it be able to see with the newly grafted eyes?

Also, one possible side-effect from healing in a place affected by Far Realm is to grow an eye in place of your wound (it's RAW); will it be possible to replace such eye(s) with a graft and benefit from it?


And bump to my Q 216!

A 250

I'll do my best to answer, but I'm not terribly confident on this.

There doesn't seem to be any actual anatomical requirements for grafts. I can't find any general text in Fiend Folio or Lords of Madness or Libris Mortis that says you have to put grafts in a certain location, or you have to have a built-in anatomical ability to use a graft. Magic of Eberron defines general body areas where grafts are applied, but also doesn't seem to require anything more specific than that.

So, to me, it looks like you don't need eyes in order to get an eye graft (in general).

Some specific grafts have text that might be restrictive though, like the "gazing eye" Beholder graft from Fiend Folio, which says the eye replaces an existing eye. So, maybe you'd have trouble adding that to a grimlock. But, other grafs, like the "charming eye" Fiendish graft from FF, doesn't mention any sort of restrictions on placement.

There are also a couple Beholder grafts that add eyes, like the "eye stalk" and "third eye" grafts from FF. They don't specifically say you can see with them, so that's probably down to a DM call. But I don't see any specific text that forbids you from getting extra eyes grafted on, and then replacing them with a different eye graft. And I also don't see any text forbidding you from using aberrant eyes from the Far Realm healing, either.

Personally, as a DM, I would ask a player not to milk it too hard, but it does seem like RAW doesn't prevent you from applying grafts in this sort of "unconventional" way.

How is it wrong?

The Spell Compendium says that it only deals with the spell lists of the core classes (see the "Other Spellcasting Classes" section on page 3), so it specifically is not an authoritative source for non-Core spell lists.

[Afghanistan]

Q#260

For Paragnostic Apostle lists Knowledge (Nature) as the requirement for Humanoids, when the Knowledge associated with Humanoids is Knowledge (Local) and not Knowledge (Nature).

Discern Weakness: Choose one creature type or subtype from the ranger’s favored enemy list (PH 47). If you have 8 ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill (such as Knowledge [arcana] for dragons, or Knowledge [nature] for humanoids), the save DC of every spell that you target on a creature of that type increases by 1. You can select this ability multiple times, choosing a different creature type each time.

Local (legends, personalities, inhabitants, laws, customs, traditions, humanoids)

I checked the errata's and it doesn't appear it was ever updated. Is this the case and Knowledge (Nature) would benefit me for both Humanoids and Monstrous Humanoids or would I have to go into Knowledge (Local) to get Humanoids?

[Khedrac]

A 260 Knowledge Local.

Good catch, (when I think of the number of times I have read that without noticing...) Looking at the text, it does actually contain the answer to your questions:

Discern Weakness: Choose one creature type or subtype from the ranger’s favored enemy list (PH 47). If you have 8 ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill (such as Knowledge [arcana] for dragons, or Knowledge [nature] for humanoids), the save DC of every spell that you target on a creature of that type increases by 1. You can select this ability multiple times, choosing a different creature type each time.

The reference to know. nature is bracketed and proceeded with the words "such as", this means that it is not the rule, it is an (incorrect) explanation of the rule. At this point the 'specific v. general' rule doesn't need to apply - the PHB's rules on which knowledge skills apply to which creature type remain the only actual rules and know. local is the skill for humanoids.

[DeTess]

Q261: can melee touch attack abilities such as those from the lightning gauntlets soulmeld be used to make an attack of opportunity?

[Venger]

A261 No. Using things like lightning gauntlets specifically requires a standard action, which you do not have while making an aoo.

[Thurbane]

A 261 additional

Touch attacks that don't require an action to activate, such as holding the charge on a spell, can be used for an AoO.

[daremetoidareyo]

q262 If I have a +6 BAB and a viper (serpent kingdoms) scourge with 3 vipers, as a full attack action, do i get only 3 attacks or 6? Alternatively, If i have flurry of blows with that scourge, do i have 6 attacks?

Viper: Upon command, a viper weapon transforms its blade or lash into a viper one size category smaller than the wielder for which it is sized. For example, the blade of a greatsword sized
for a Large character temporarily becomes a Medium viper, while the blade of a dagger sized for a Small character temporarily becomes a Tiny viper. The wielder of a viper weapon uses his own attack bonus or that of the viper, whichever is higher, when making an attack with the transformed weapon. The damage dealt is always equivalent to the base damage for the bite attack of the appropriate kind of viper, plus the weapon’s enhancement bonus and any other applicable modifiers. A successful attack also delivers the viper’s poison. When thus transformed, viper weapons are always treated as piercing weapons. This ability can be applied up to three times to a scourge, with each application converting one lash into a viper. When a viper scourge is used with an attack action, only one viper can attack; when it is used with a full attack action, all three can attack.

[Maat Mons]

Q 263: If a human cast Disguise Self, can he look like a raptoran? Or would adding wings count as changing body type?

Q 264: If a two-armed human casts Disguise Self, can he look like a one-armed human?

Q 265: If a one-armed human casts Disguise Self, can he look like a two-armed human?

Q 266: Can a changeling use Minor Change Shape to look like a raptoran? Or would adding wings count as changing body type?

Q 267: Can a two-armed changeling use Minor Change Shape to look like a one-armed human?

Q 268: Can a one-armed changeling use Minor Change Shape to look like a two-armed human?

[St Fan]

Note: when you have string of closely related questions like this, the usage it more to conflate them into one unique question number with sub-sections A, B, C, etc.

Q 263: If a human cast Disguise Self, can he look like a raptoran? Or would adding wings count as changing body type?

A 263:
Indeed, "winged humanoid" is a different body type from "plain humanoid", so a raptoran is not a legit appearance for a human through disguise self. You need stronger magic, like alter self, to add appendages.

Note the reverse is also true: a raptoran casting disguise self can look like any kind of winged humanoid (avariel, angel, succubus), but not make the wings disappears altogether.

The following questions are trickier. I know how I'd adjudicate them as GM, but I can't swear this is 100% RAW.

Q 264: If a two-armed human casts Disguise Self, can he look like a one-armed human?

A 264:
Disguise self is an illusion. It can change rather radically the appearance, including equipment. It stands also to reason that it can make parts of the body invisible, since it can make you look up to 1 foot smaller (thus the taller head need to be unseen). So yes, I'd say a one-armed appearance would be within the spell's capacity. The arm is still there, of course, and the caster must be careful not to knock something with it and reveal the trickery.

Q 265: If a one-armed human casts Disguise Self, can he look like a two-armed human?

A 265:
Similarly, since it is illusory, adding an arm where there is none should be within what the spell can do. Having the hand move naturally, now, is another question entirely. Since there is no fingers to guide the illusion, the fake hand might very well look inert. And it will go through solid items if you're not careful, again revealing the trickery to anyone observant enough.

Q 266: Can a changeling use Minor Change Shape to look like a raptoran? Or would adding wings count as changing body type?

A 266:
Same answer as 263. Minor Change Shape has key differences with disguise self, but it follows the same basic limitations. A changeling cannot gain appendages with it.

Q 267: Can a two-armed changeling use Minor Change Shape to look like a one-armed human?

A 267:
That's where it gets tricky. Minor Change Shape is not an illusion but a physical change, concerning the body only (not equipment), so I'd say seemingly removing a limb goes beyond the "minor physical alteration" allowed by the power. Unlike with the illusory spell, a changeling can't fake amputation.

Q 268: Can a one-armed changeling use Minor Change Shape to look like a two-armed human?

A 268:
Likewise, regrowing a limb goes beyond the "minor physical alteration" the power allow. An amputated changeling can still take many shapes, but those will stay one-armed.

And yes, since the power doesn't involve any healing, any visible wound probably won't be hidden by it, making it harder to fake an identity. That's a big limitation of the ability.

[St Fan]

Q 269

How does a character diagnose whatever ailment another is suffering from, and what spell is more adequate to heal?

PCs usually know what hit them, but with NPCs (or any unconscious individual), how do you determine whether they've been wounded, poisoned, drained, diseased, cursed, etc., and the most adequate healing spell to the situation?

A) Is there any RAW usage of the Heal skill that covers this?

B) Is there any spell or power you'd know that allow it?

[Grim Reader]

Q 270: How does the ability score changes from Wild Shape interact with Ability Drain? Constitution especially.

For example, a Master of Many Forms in the form of a Troll, with an Amulet of Health +4 Has a Con of 27, but did not get any hp from Wild Shape resetting his Con to 23. What happens if he gets Drained of, say, 10 Con? Is the Drain an ongoing penalty, does it get reset every time he wild shapes, does the Wild Shape Con work as temp hp, or does it affect his normal Con ignoring the Wild Shape ? Does he lose hp as his Con falls even if he did not get hp from that Con originally?

[Jowgen]

Q 270

In the case of touch spells whose charge is being held and that allows/requires decisions about the spells function to be made (e.g. bestow curse), at what point does the caster make said decisions? When casting spell spell, or when discharging it?

[Venger]

A270 like targeting a 1 round casting time spell, you can put off these decisions til the last second since circumstances may change. you can and probably should make decisions when you discharge it since your primary target might've been dropped or protected themselves from your planned avenue of attack or what have you.

[PraxisVetli]

Q271
Are there rules for Hardness/Hp of Wondrous Items?
Not Weapons or Armour, but things like Amulets or Cloaks or Rings.
Is it just based off the material they're made out of, or does the magic increase it at all?
I know items worn by a player aren't usually affected, but I'm entering a situation where they can be.

[Venger]

A271 No, you just default to the hardness of th ematerials for unattended magical items that can't be sundered like held can.

[Zaq]

Q 269

How does a character diagnose whatever ailment another is suffering from, and what spell is more adequate to heal?

PCs usually know what hit them, but with NPCs (or any unconscious individual), how do you determine whether they've been wounded, poisoned, drained, diseased, cursed, etc., and the most adequate healing spell to the situation?

A) Is there any RAW usage of the Heal skill that covers this?

B) Is there any spell or power you'd know that allow it?

A 269

The expanded use of the Heal skill in Complete Adventurer (pg. 101) allows using Heal to determine cause of death, but it doesn't specifically say that it can be used to determine cause of malady in someone who hasn't died yet. It is a reasonable interpolation, but there is not specific rules text for it. That is, however, the closest I have found.

[False God]

Q272: Is there a Enspell Familiar equivalent or similar feat(shorter range, conditional) for psicrystals?

[Elves]

Q273

Checking:
Is a two-handed creature with a slam attack prevented from using the slam with a two handed weapon?

[Blue Jay]

q262 If I have a +6 BAB and a viper (serpent kingdoms) scourge with 3 vipers, as a full attack action, do i get only 3 attacks or 6? Alternatively, If i have flurry of blows with that scourge, do i have 6 attacks?

A 262

My interpretation is that you'd get 1 bite attack with a standard action, or 3 bite attacks in a full attack. I think there's some wiggle room there to interpret it as giving you 3 bites per iterative attack in a full attack, though.