Author Topic: Archmage SLA  (Read 2845 times)

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Archmage Joda

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Archmage SLA
« on: May 13, 2009, 05:54:17 AM »
I was reading the archmage PrC in my DMG, and read the section on the Spell-Like Ability High Arcana. I noticed that while XP components were specifically not waived, the material components part of the spell being turned into an SLA only had a clause converting expensive material components to XP based on their price. Let's use, for example, the infamous Ice Assassin spell from Frostburn. Would archmage's spell like ability thus bypass the need for material components such as the DNA sample (I know, sounds too sci-fi when I say it like that, but it's essentially what it is) in Ice Assassin?
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Sinfire Titan

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2009, 06:28:25 AM »
I was reading the archmage PrC in my DMG, and read the section on the Spell-Like Ability High Arcana. I noticed that while XP components were specifically not waived, the material components part of the spell being turned into an SLA only had a clause converting expensive material components to XP based on their price. Let's use, for example, the infamous Ice Assassin spell from Frostburn. Would archmage's spell like ability thus bypass the need for material components such as the DNA sample (I know, sounds too sci-fi when I say it like that, but it's essentially what it is) in Ice Assassin?

Some things, such as artifacts, have no price listed, but are extremely hard to obtain. I, for one, feel that this would limit the Archmage's ability to use such a spell as an SLA unless the player was able to procure the material component and convert it into a focus the way the class specifies.


That's just the way I'd rule on this. As written, the text would agree with your assessment. As such, I feel this would be more appropriate in the TO section of the boards.


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Runestar

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2009, 10:01:01 AM »
Quote
I noticed that while XP components were specifically not waived, the material components part of the spell being turned into an SLA only had a clause converting expensive material components to XP based on their price.

I think the archmage makes such a provision because it is assumed that your spell component pouch will provide for any inexpensive material component (ie: anything without a gp cost). So if you can pull one out of your pouch, you can pull 5, 10, 50 or however many you require.

Stuff like DNA sample (I am going by what is listed here because I can't access my books at the moment), I suppose your DM will have to adjudicate if your component pouch can provide such an item. I think he may require you to have a larger sample to serve as a focus of sorts.

And this is why I have never really liked the idea of joke spell components.  :lol
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Endarire

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2009, 02:49:37 PM »
Typically, artifacts have no GP cost listed.  Can I safely assume I can freely use artifacts as spell components RAW?
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Negative Zero

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2009, 03:59:23 PM »
Yes, you can.

Archmage Joda

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #5 on: May 13, 2009, 04:37:02 PM »
Where is that thing about converting the material component to a focus stated? I could not find such a thing in the ability description in my book.
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Sinfire Titan

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2009, 04:48:19 PM »
Where is that thing about converting the material component to a focus stated? I could not find such a thing in the ability description in my book.

My bad, that's in the CArc feat that gives you an SLA at will.


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archangel.arcanis

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2009, 04:49:02 PM »
Typically, artifacts have no GP cost listed.  Can I safely assume I can freely use artifacts as spell components RAW?

just be prepared for the inevitable book flying at your head. Not even using this trick just telling the DM about it i got multiple books and a sandwich thrown at me. Fortunately i was hungry and ate the sandwich as retaliation.
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Archmage Joda

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2009, 05:03:58 PM »
Well, it's not really something I'd actually use, and that's also why I tell my DM about things like that over the internet, since all he can throw at me over an IM is links that I probably shouldn't click.

So yeah, I guess Sinfire was right about this being more TO, but I had forgotten this site had a TO section.
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Archmage Joda

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2009, 05:48:36 AM »
A thought occurs to me: why is it that, for ice assassin stunts like making a clone of a god for divine rank, that it's always the ice assassin spell used, and not simulacrum instead?
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The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2009, 08:08:10 AM »
A thought occurs to me: why is it that, for ice assassin stunts like making a clone of a god for divine rank, that it's always the ice assassin spell used, and not simulacrum instead?

It has no HD cap.  And "the ice assassin possesses all of the skills, abilities, and memories possessed by the original," is far more open ended than "the appropriate hit points, feats, skill ranks, and special abilities for a creature of that level or HD". 
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Archmage Joda

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Re: Archmage SLA
« Reply #11 on: May 14, 2009, 03:42:17 PM »
Well, looking at archmage's Spell-Like ability again, I get the feeling that it couldn't be done without either being in epic levels with a thought bottle, or destroying the character, since with ice assassin's 20,000 gp diamond and normal XP cost of 5000, which with Spell-Like ability, would make using the ability cost at least 205,000 XP.
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