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Tabletop God	Re: Incorrect power for 17-18 level runechildren	#21	[-]
Posts: 428 (08/06/03 04:28:59) Just showed up Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	My post, which Monte is replying to: Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Does fast movement for oathsworn stack with flight speed for flying races? What about boots or spells that increase movement? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The intention was that it was just ground speed. A generous DM with a spryte oathsworn would allow it to be flight speed as well. Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is it possible for a runethane to swap out known runes later in her career? Let's say that at 15th level, one of her low level runes just doesn't make sense for her anymore. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'd let them use a ceremony like with swapping feats. Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are the NPC classes in the DMG the recommended NPC classes for AU and The Diamond Throne or will we see alternates in TDT? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The DMG NPC classes are available (but I'd think twice before using the adept in a straight AU game). Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will we ever see "ex-class" sections for people like Champions and Oathsworn and the like? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hmm. Maybe. Monte www.montecook.com
St M	Re: spell casters and spell slots	#22	[-]
Posts: 3283 (08/08/03 10:40:12) Just showed up Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	{This may be kinda dumb but I want to make sure I got it right.} This thread is intended as a place to post Monte's answers to specific questions. It's not a place to ask questions in hopes of an answer (though apparently it's possible to luck out ). Please start a new thread to ask new questions, and then copy Monte's answer into this thread, should he reply. Edit: If the Council desires, one of us Mods could delete out the inappropriate posts. Just let us know. St. /\/\ www.chapel-perilous.com
Michael Tree	Re: Runethanes	#23	[-]
Posts: 378 (08/08/03 21:41:46) Just showed up Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	A few questions about runethanes and their runes: *Quote:* Firstly, is there a particular reason why runethanes don't get Search but magisters do? It seems incongrous to me that magisters can find traps well, while runethanes, who have tremendous attention to detail and potentially great skill at disarming traps, can't search for them well. Assigning skills is difficult. I wanted to make sure that most classes got some kind of interaction skill, a perception skill, and so on. If you don't agree with my assignments, you can always switch them around a bit. *Quote:* Can runes and/or their effects be dispelled with dispel magic, or is the Erase Rune class ability the only way to remove them? Are inscribed runes no more difficult to erase than regular runes? Runes are spell-like, so they are subject to dispel magic. *Quote:* Is there a range limit on erasing runes? A runethane needs to know a rune's location, but if he knows the location of one half way across the planet can he erase it? Line of sight seems to make sense. (Good question.) *Quote:* If a runethane wants to activate one his touch-trigger runes, what kind of an action does it take? Standard. *Quote:* Are inscribed runes subject to the "no rune can be used more than once per hour" rule? I suspect not, since it explicitly mentions a touch trigger rune being used once per round, but I wanted to make sure. No, you're right. *Quote:* When using the ultimage rune to replicate the effects of a spell, does it use the spell's casting time and does the caster need special components listed in the spell description, or does the spell effect just go off when the rune is touched? No to the casting time, but in regard to the special component, I'd probably deal with that on a case by case basis as a DM (as a general rule, probably not, but for some spells, it might make sense). Monte
hudarklord	Greenbond Spells	#24	[-]
Posts: 30 (08/09/03 04:04:35) Help me. Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The book says (I think) that Greenbonds get access to all spells with a nature or positive energy descriptor. Does that include Exotic spells too? Or should this be considered errata (since it doesn't say all simple and complex spells, but _all_ spells)? Lee *Quote:* Paraphrasing Monte: They Get ALL Positive & Plant spells.
varianor	Re: Runethanes	#25	[-]
Posts: 12258 (08/09/03 19:17:43) Moderator Supreme Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Okay, we're closing this thread to non-mod posting folks. Sorry, but we're trying to keep it to answers only. We'll try to figure out a way to let you all continue to help though! Thanks everyone for your efforts. Please repost unanswered questions to the main board. We will delete all posts that do not contain Monte answers by Friday, 8/15/03. ~Council of Magisters ~ Diamond Throne~ Arcana Unearthed ~
Thrommel	Compiled Q & A	#26	[-]
Posts: 6210 (08/10/03 08:19:17) Runechild (admin) Council of Magisters Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Q: I noticed that light hammers were listed in the equipment chapter, but no heavier hammers. I'm not complaining about this, exactly, but I'm curious as to why they didn't seem to be there. Is it for flavor, realism, or game balance reasons? A: Hmm. Good question. It's true that I've never liked the aesthetic of carrying around a big hammer, but they might have just been edited from the list by mistake. It's easy enough to bring them in from D&D. I'd advise that you leave the spiked chain where it is, though. Q: Does the runethane know when his runes are erased or dispelled? Imagine a runethane creating a rune to protect his house door. Then he goes on an adventure. That rune counts against the maximum number of runes he has in existance. When he creates runes in his adventure, he knows that rune exists, and that he can create less runes. Then a thief breaks in his house and active or dispel or erase his rune. Does the runethane feel that? Does he start knowing that he may now create at least one lesser rune more. He feels the power coming back to him? But automatically knows that that rune in his house has been destroyed? The same kind of question for the ultimate rune. A: The answer to every question in your post is "yes." Q: As far as I can tell, the only way for a spellcaster (even a magister) to create a new spell is to take the Unique Spell feat at 1st level. So, individual spellcasters only get to create ONE new spell, ever? That'll slow down magical innovation a bit, no? Am I missing something? A (Wycen Admantite) : Monte wants to have you and the DM talk to each other about making those kinds of decisions. So, you could do it the hard way, take the feat, or do it another way, which could be more difficult or easier depending on what you and your DM come up with. Monte: I literally couldn't have said it better myself. Q: Found a little discrepancy between two listed weights for the witchbag - On pg. 134, in Containers and Carriers, it states that the witchbag weighs .25 lbs. On pg. 136, in Class Tools and Skill Kits, it states that the witchbag weighs 3 lbs. A: Should be 3 pounds. Q: I'm sure I overlooked something, but is there a magical spell for low-level characters to create food and water? A: No, there is no such spell. (There's a high level spell that creates large amounts of food.) One of the underlying assumptions for AU is that there isn't a spell to take care of every problem, particularly at low levels. Q: I was thinking...occasionally a nice DM (very occasionaly, maybe even rarely) could include a book about a certain exotic spell at random. This makes it more likely some of those 0-5th level exotic spells would actually be amongst a PC's list. It wouldn't be random treasure. There would be a reason it was there, after all. In fact it'd probably be part of a library in a place the PCs are raiding, or perhaps a well guarded chest. A: If I wanted to do that, I'd make it some kind of special one-time magic item that added an exotic spell into your repertoire and then count it as hefty treasure. Ooh. Or here's an idea. An item that makes you switch out a specific complex spell that you know for a specific exotic spell, so you have to sacrifice something. That's kinda interesting. Q: Just wondering if this should be errata. Most, if not all, energy damage area spells (which RtL is) have a save for half damage. The other bolt type spells share the same area of effect cross section i.e. "a line 5 feet wide" as Ride the Lightning, but give only partial reflex saves. Why the difference? A: Should be Reflex half. Q: The example under the war template is charm, which is a touch spell. How does this work? Normally you can only make one touch attack per round, so I would assume the spell is "armed" for a number of rounds equal to the number of targets. A: Yeah. Q: Should a weapon under the Animate Weapon spell be treated exactly like it was being wielded by the caster? Attacks of opportunity with and against? Occupy a square? Threaten adjacent? Reach? A: Yes, although I'd say reach only applies to a reach weapon. Q: Venomblade has no listed save. Surely that's a mistake? A: You get a save versus the poison, as normal (the DC being equal to the spell's DC). But the spell has a range of personal and affects the caster's weapon. Neither the caster nor the weapon gets a save. Q: Ok, I must be missing a spell or set of spells, but I can't see how to create the basic stat boosting items. Ability boost and Ability boost (lesser) have n/a as the cost of making items of that type. Additionally I note that you can't target the stat to boost with either of those spells. A: Remember that AU doesn't replace the DMG. Use the formulas found there for stat boosting items, defection bonus AC items, armor bonus AC items, and all the standards (using Craft Constant Item rather than Craft Wondrous Item). Q: On page 199, the spell defensive field is given a range of personal and a target of you, but its description implies that it could be cast on someone else. Can defensive field be cast on someone other than the caster? A: It can't be cast on anyone else. Q: One design decision I'm curious about: why does a spryte's flight maneuverability jump all the way from average to perfect on getting their 3rd racial level? Shouldn't there be a progression to good somewhere in there? A: Perfect allows them to hover, which allows them to remain aloft in melee. The difference between good and perfect is minimal. Basically, the only difference between good and perfect is that perfect is easier to play. So I used perfect rather than good.
Thrommel	Incorp Undead, Oathsworn, movement spells	#27	[-]
Posts: 6210 (08/10/03 22:33:27) Runechild (admin) Council of Magisters Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Q: The template for incorporeal undead, on page 232, mentions twice that such creatures assume the undead type, but no mention is made of the incorporeal subtype. Should the incorporeal subtype be applied to these creatures? If so, should the subtype be used as written in D&D, except for the different AC calculation in the AU template? A: Yes and yes. Q: If a Oathsworn were forced to take a Drug of some type, what would the effects be if he became addicted? Now, I don't remember if the effects of Drugs count as being a Poison/Disease, but if they don't, the Oathsworn could be in for some big problems relying on this drug to get through the day... A: Drugs usually count as poisons. Also, the point of the Oathsworn isn't in finding loopholes in his requirements or specifically following the "letter of the law" when it comes to what he can and can't do. It's all about frame of mind, and intent. Q: It appears there are no land-speed movement-enhancing spells in the core book. Does anyone know if this is part of the design philosophy? And as a related question, how much impact do you think the introduction of one would have on the flavor of the game? A: I like making people fast because they're fast (the fleet of foot feat) not because they have the right spells. Overall, there are things--and this is certainly one of them--that I pulled back on in regard to spells. I don't like spellcasters showing up everyone in what is supposed to be the non-spellcaster's expertise.
varianor	Re: Official Answers Thread	#28	[-]
Posts: 12258 (08/12/03 06:23:54) Moderator Supreme Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Eric Noah: *Quote:* Spell Magnet (p. 237): stat block says Range: Touch, description describes a ray effect requiring ranged touch. Anyone know the correct range? Monte: *Quote:* Should probably be close. Thanks for the catch. Ainatan: *Quote:* What's the use for schools of magic in AU? Monte: *Quote:* Organization (detect magic can tell you the school, and thus a small clue as to an item's function). Mostly, though, it's for compatibility with D20. Kiron Larethian *Quote:* Can you apply the Fire Template to spells twice? Monte: Nope. Remember that there's a general (albeit mostly unwritten) rule that says when in doubt, like effects can't stack. You can't charm someone twice to make them doubly charmed, for example. Ainatan: *Quote:* A multiclass character, mageblade 1 / magister 19, may use his athame to cast a 9th level complex spell with no somatic components (thus, wearing armor and not suffering spell failure chances)? Monte: No. If the question was regarding simple spells, the answer would be yes. Spellcasting classes stack, but Magister levels--because only they get complex spells--are treated a little differently. You could play a 1st level mage blade/19th level magister, wear (light) armor, and cast only simple spells, but I'm not sure that's an optimal choice. dragmorian: *Quote:* does anyone know what the ranges on the witchery word abilities are suppose to be? Monte (from the chat): should be range: close Eric Noah: The spell list and the spell description differ for two spells: Tracer (list says Complex, spell desc. says Simple) and Stabilize Soul (list says Simple, spell desc. says Complex) I'm assuming the spell description trumps the list? Monte: Actually, in these cases list trumps description. Jaws9: On page 183, the 7th level spell Stabilize Soul is listed as Simple. But when you go to page 238 of the spell description, it states it is Complex. I have a feeling it is Simple because Revivification is simple. Monte: Yeah, simple. Zelgadas: If you were to undergo the Bond With Item ceremony, and your chosen item was your witchbag, would you then receive a +1 luck bonus to the save DCs for your spells, provided you used your witchbag while casting? What if you bonded with your magister's staff? Technically, a staff is a weapon; however, a magister uses it primarily for spellcasting, as a focus component. Would the +1 apply to spellcasting or attack rolls? A mage blade's athame would probably only allow a +1 to attack rolls, but how many of you out there would allow a PC to choose between an attack bonus or a DC bonus? Monte: The witchbag idea isn't a bad one (it's not unbalancing to take a feat and get +1 to save DCs). The staff thing is stretching it, since the staff is primarily a weapon. It wouldn't be unbalancing to allow your idea, though. It would be to allow the bonus to spells and attacks probably. LStyer: Do the slightly increased XP requirements per level in AU have much effect on party wealth? If it does, is the effect pretty consistent across the board, or does it accelerate or decelerate as the characters increase in level? Is the effect significant? Monte: The effect is minimal. If you follow the charts in the DMG regarding encounters and wealth per encounter, at about 10th level, the party will have about 1 level higher amount of wealth (very roughly speaking) If you decrease the amount of treasure you give out in any given encounter by about 10% or so, there will be no change. ~Council of Magisters ~ Diamond Throne~ Arcana Unearthed ~
varianor	Re: Official Answers Thread	#29	[-]
Posts: 12258 (08/15/03 19:18:46) Moderator Supreme Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	A few things from the bottom of the forums. Warning: possible redundancy. Amaranthine: Picking up an Exotic spell...seems to be very dependant on what level you pick it up at. Would a character picking up an Exotic spell ever consider taking a 2nd level Exotic spell when one of 3rd level was available? Monte: If I understand your question, it's true that it's often unlikely that you'd take an exotic spell of anything less the the highest level spell you can currently cast. So if you take it at 3rd, you're likely to get a 2nd level spell, but if you take it at 6th, you'd probably go for a 3rd level exotic spell. Psyfire: can you weave spells to create a slot higher then your highest level? Monte: You can't weave anything to get a spell higher level than you could normally However, that's not always the case. Most exotic spells offer functionality that exists nowhere else in the spell list. The best low level AC spell, eldritch armor is a 1st level exotic spell. Want a good disguise spell? Sorcerous guise is the best one at 2nd level. You'll be happy to have either of those spells even when you're casting 7th level spells. Also note that at certain points in a character's career, he can perform a ceremony that allows him to "switch out" one feat for another feat. This is significant to this discussion because since exotic spells are gained through feats, you can switch out one exotic spell for another if you wish. So if you took the feat at 1st level and have a 1st level spell, but now you're 10th level and you want a 5th level spell (and are willing to give up the 1st) you can switch it. Akoss: How is death magic being handled in AU? Monte: There are no (or practically no) save or die spells in AU. However, there might very well be some corner case of a spell that you can use that if a save is failed, the victim ends up dying. Amaranthine: does the Greenbond have access to all Exotic plant and positive energy spells? Monte: Yes. Vaebn: *Quote:* I'm hugely concerned that the Akashic class might make it very, very difficult for a DM to come up with puzzles or mysteries without unfairly crippling the Akashic's cool powers. Sure, it might be argued that 'not everything is accessible to the Akashic', but I don't want to be forced into having every single mystery or puzzle involve lost civilizations or artifacts too old for anyone to remember... Monte: *Quote:* I wrote the akashic (and the spells) with these kinds of concerns in mind. I don't like spells and effects that ruin plots and adventures, whether its "ask god a question" or "find the path" type spells. (I've often said that "find the path" can be renamed "ruin the adventure.) Many people say that a good DM can get around these things, and that's true, but one of the goals with AU is to empower the DM, not restrict. But I digress... You'll find that the akashic's abilities should not ruin mysteries but enhance them. If anything, the akashic's delve into the collective memory ability (specifically) is more limited than the bard's bardic knowledge. ~Council of Magisters ~ Diamond Throne~ Arcana Unearthed ~
varianor	XP & More	#30	[-]
Posts: 12258 (09/01/03 17:50:59) Moderator Supreme Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Wycen Adamantite: *Quote:* AU characters start at 1st level with 2 feats, (or feat and talent), except humans who start with 3. The second feat is ceremonial, from when they learned their true name. Monte: *Quote:* Either institute truenames (and thus ceremonial feats) in your game, or don't. If you're using both together (3.X and AU) it would be hard, I think, to justify that only certain classes have truenames. ~Council of Magisters ~ Diamond Throne~ Arcana Unearthed ~
varianor	Re: Official Answers Thread	#31	[-]
Posts: 12258 (09/10/03 16:32:59) Moderator Supreme Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Fedifensor: *Quote:* why does a spryte's flight maneuverability jump all the way from average to perfect on getting their 3rd racial level? Shouldn't there be a progression to good somewhere in there? Monte: the difference between good and perfect is minimal. Basically, the only difference between good and perfect is that perfect is easier to play. So I used perfect rather than good. ~Council of Magisters ~ Diamond Throne~ Arcana Unearthed ~
varianor	Re: Official Answers Thread	#32	[-]
Posts: 12258 (12/05/03 20:07:52) Moderator Supreme Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Schatten asked: Q: Should bodkin arrows ignore natural armor? OK, bodkin arrows ignore 2 points of an armor bonus to AC. Does that ONLY apply to armor bonuses, or should it also apply to natural armor. The logical issue that brought this up is the fact that it seems like it wouldn't help pierce a creatures hide, but if you skin the creature and wear the skin, suddenly everything's different. Monte: I can assure you that the design intent was for only armor bonuses, not natural armor bonuses, to be bypassed. ~Council of Magisters ~ Diamond Throne~
varianor	Re: Official Answers Thread	#33	[-]
Posts: 12258 (12/12/03 16:07:54) Moderator Supreme Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	godboyimmaculate: Can Delve into Personal Memory be used to determine a person's truename? The ability says it finds a single word in the person's memory. A truename is a single word that is definitely in a person's memory. By a literal reading, you could do this. However, from a balance perspective, it normally requires a 6th level spell to determine. This would make Akashics something to fear indeed. Monte: The official answer is: no. Caledonian: Any chance you could give us an official ruling for the mysterious and puzzling Sturdy feat? Monte: If you normally would gain a +2 bonus to your hit points at 3rd level, and take the feat, that level you get a +4 bonus to your hit points instead. It replaces [the normal Con bonus.] ~Council of Magisters ~ Diamond Throne~
Monte Cook	Re: Official Answers Thread	#34	[-]
Posts: 9841 (01/31/04 14:17:34) Strange Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Canny effort should not be allowed to affect skill checks that take longer than the duration of the spell. Monte http://www.montecook.com
Ale Golem		#35	[-]
Posts: 3 (01/12/08 14:40:44) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Does a player using a staff one handed still gain the parry bonus?

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