Author Topic: Favorite badly-written rule  (Read 17415 times)

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The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #40 on: April 12, 2009, 04:14:52 PM »
It uses the verb "jump".

That is:

Jump(n): to spring clear of the ground or other support by a sudden muscular effort; leap: to jump into the air; to jump out a window.


I'm just irritated by arguments like that...

Anyway, let's get back on topic
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Operation Shoestring

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #41 on: April 12, 2009, 04:19:18 PM »
I was always fond of the "everything in a round happens more or less simultaneously" rule. It allowed for the commoner railgun, which I have actually used in one game. Successfully.

Is that where a billion commoners pass an item to the next in, technically moving it at lightspeed over 1 round?

If not, what is it?

BowenSilverclaw

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #42 on: April 12, 2009, 05:20:19 PM »
That's the one :)
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jameswilliamogle

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #43 on: April 12, 2009, 05:22:27 PM »
I hate the rule that the off-end of a double-weapon is considered a light weapon.  Completely made them un-usable.  And its not that clear in the SRD, but is explicitly mentioned in the FAQ.

(Otherwise, you could use TWF + Power Attack on a double weapon to great effect, though its feat intensive, but its just fine even in core.)

woodenbandman

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #44 on: April 12, 2009, 05:42:13 PM »
Sudden leap is technically not a jump. You "Make a Jump check as a swift action and move the distance determined by your check result." There are no restrictions besides "in a straight line." You can jump, then Sudden leap midair and jump 30 feet vertically. Awesome, right?

Did this one get missed? Jump while in midair, people?

Operation Shoestring

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #45 on: April 12, 2009, 08:57:27 PM »
Sudden leap is technically not a jump. You "Make a Jump check as a swift action and move the distance determined by your check result." There are no restrictions besides "in a straight line." You can jump, then Sudden leap midair and jump 30 feet vertically. Awesome, right?

Did this one get missed? Jump while in midair, people?

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Surreal

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #46 on: April 12, 2009, 10:08:15 PM »
The intent is pretty obvious, even if it is not stated. It's kind of like the fact that the rules don't say that you can't continue running around and stabbing people while you're dead.
Mind you, this in a world where we have necropolitans and vampires and liches running around... but I know what you mean ;)
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Bozwevial

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #47 on: April 12, 2009, 10:19:17 PM »
Oh, just remembered a good one. The Sand Shaper's ability to make simple items of 1 cubic foot in size or smaller in -5 minutes.

Sinfire Titan

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #48 on: April 12, 2009, 10:31:32 PM »
Oh, just remembered a good one. The Sand Shaper's ability to make simple items of 1 cubic foot in size or smaller in -5 minutes.

I prefer Shapesand's ability to make Major Artifacts with a DC 16 Wis check.

Edit: And the fact that you can use Craft to turn one human being into the raw materials for 3 more. Or Warforged for the same purpose.


[spoiler][/spoiler]

jameswilliamogle

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #49 on: April 12, 2009, 10:46:47 PM »
Oh, just remembered a good one. The Sand Shaper's ability to make simple items of 1 cubic foot in size or smaller in -5 minutes.

I prefer Shapesand's ability to make Major Artifacts with a DC 16 Wis check.
Excuse my ignorance, but... WHA?!?!?!?

Quote
Edit: And the fact that you can use Craft to turn one human being into the raw materials for 3 more. Or Warforged for the same purpose.
now THAT is hilarious!  Fabricate + Heal?  Bunches of Agent Smiths?

The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #50 on: April 12, 2009, 10:49:09 PM »
Or the fact that RAW a spell component pouch contains EVERY ARTIFACT KNOWN TO MAN.


You see, spell component pouches contain every material component without a price listed.  Apocalypse from the Sky has an artifact as a material component.  And artifacts have no listed price.
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veekie

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #51 on: April 12, 2009, 10:51:33 PM »
rofl
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Sinfire Titan

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #52 on: April 12, 2009, 11:23:00 PM »
Oh, just remembered a good one. The Sand Shaper's ability to make simple items of 1 cubic foot in size or smaller in -5 minutes.

I prefer Shapesand's ability to make Major Artifacts with a DC 16 Wis check.
Excuse my ignorance, but... WHA?!?!?!?

As Major Artifacts are one of a kind, shapesand has to duplicate the effects of that artifact exactly. Turning shapesand into an ordinary hammer gives it all of the qualities of the ordinary hammer. Turning it into something like the Desert Wind or Sword of Kas gives it those abilities too, as it has to duplicate their abilities exactly seeing as the Desert Wind is an ordinary version of the Desert Wind.

Unfortunately, my copy of Standstorm is glitching. I need to redownload the damn thing now. If someone can give me a direct quote of the wording on shapesand, I can show you the loophole.


[spoiler][/spoiler]

jameswilliamogle

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #53 on: April 12, 2009, 11:29:30 PM »
« Last Edit: April 13, 2009, 12:57:33 AM by jameswilliamogle »

sonofzeal

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #54 on: April 13, 2009, 12:29:49 AM »
The
objects created have no magical properties, though they
radiate faint transmutation magic.
Doesn't that sort of shut down the whole "major artifact" thing?

Bozwevial

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #55 on: April 13, 2009, 12:31:27 AM »
No, no, that's the Sand Shaper's Sand Shape ability. What Sinfire is talking about is an item (IIRC) called Shapesand.

...This has to be one of the most confusing posts I've ever made.

jameswilliamogle

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #56 on: April 13, 2009, 12:57:50 AM »
lol, ok, updated it w/ shapesand.  I still don't get it...
« Last Edit: April 13, 2009, 12:59:29 AM by jameswilliamogle »

Sinfire Titan

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #57 on: April 13, 2009, 01:06:40 AM »
Quote
The new object is made of sand, but serves as a normal item of the same sort

It's arguable that a major artifact is a normal item of it's kind, seeing as they are unique objects (despite sharing stats with other mundane objects like longswords). As written, it has to duplicate all of the qualities of the artifact.


Furthermore, you can use it to duplicate other alchemical items (like Tangelfoot Bags) and then recollect the sand when the effect ends.

Finally, you can use it to duplicate otherwise expensive material components or foci. Turn the sand into Xgp Diamond Dust to get a cheap and easy method of Rezing.


[spoiler][/spoiler]

Operation Shoestring

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #58 on: April 13, 2009, 04:21:19 AM »
Chill touch.  can't tell you how many dumb arguments over that i've heard.  To add insult to injury, the somewhat similar Umbral Touch does make it clear how it works... and they never errata'd Chill touch to comply with this superior standard of clarity.

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Re: Favorite badly-written rule
« Reply #59 on: April 13, 2009, 08:04:23 PM »
2nd ... Dark Speech
3rd ... Dark Unity Hive Mind
4th ... super-secret  :smirk