Ask a Simple Question: Losing the Game Edition

[kevin_video]

Don't forget that you can have any favored class in Pathfinder, and kevin_video beat me to mentioning the APG variant favored class benefit(usually an increase in a limited use class feature, or for the human, bonus spells known sometimes)

Yeah humans are good again considering they lost a bit, not that it mattered. I don't care for the human ranger add-on though, unless you actually have an animal companion. The alternate racial traits are pretty sweet too. Although, I'd have changed the Woodcraft Elf one to add in that they get their +2 INT to be +2 WIS instead.

[Nasteh]

q260 (I think)

Say I have a barbarian5/Black Blood Cultist3. What would my attack routine be while raging?

either Two Claw attacks at max to hit bonus and a bite with -5

or

Two claw attacks at max to hit bonus and a a claw attack at -5 followed by a bite at -5?

I am confused, and hope you can help

/Jacob

[NeverGetDrunkButStaySober]

q260 (I think)

Say I have a barbarian5/Black Blood Cultist3. What would my attack routine be while raging?

either Two Claw attacks at max to hit bonus and a bite with -5

or

Two claw attacks at max to hit bonus and a a claw attack at -5 followed by a bite at -5?

I am confused, and hope you can help

/Jacob

A261: Natural weapons do not normally gain iterative attacks on a full attack, so your first guess (2xClaw/1xbite) is correct.

[kevin_video]

q260 (I think)

Say I have a barbarian5/Black Blood Cultist3. What would my attack routine be while raging?

either Two Claw attacks at max to hit bonus and a bite with -5

or

Two claw attacks at max to hit bonus and a a claw attack at -5 followed by a bite at -5?

I am confused, and hope you can help

/Jacob

A261: Natural weapons do not normally gain iterative attacks on a full attack, so your first guess (2xClaw/1xbite) is correct.

Unless you're using the Whirling Frenzy variant of Rage, which gives you an additional attack. Although I think that'd be a third claw attack.

[kevin_video]

Bumping

Q 247 Is there a way to get around a half iron golem's rust vulnerability?

Q 248 Are there any deities that have the kukri as their favored weapon (for Black Flame Zealot)?

[McPoyo]

Bumping

Q 248 Are there any deities that have the kukri as their favored weapon (for Black Flame Zealot)?

Unless it's from some obscure minor pantheon (I didn't check the little tiny ones in Faiths and Demigods or whatever it is), no.

[kevin_video]

Bumping

Q 248 Are there any deities that have the kukri as their favored weapon (for Black Flame Zealot)?

Unless it's from some obscure minor pantheon (I didn't check the little tiny ones in Faiths and Demigods or whatever it is), no.

Google says that there's a Greyhawk deity, Zephir. Although I don't know if that would count because it says you're supposed to join the Order of the Black Flame. Googling that, I didn't find anything about their deity using a kukri, but rather a whip.

[Nanshork]

Q262: Is the "The Big Guy is with me" build reposted anywhere?  The original thread is hard to read since it's on the old wizards boards that fucked everything up.  I think I have a spin-off idea, but want to see what was done before.  Nevermind, I'll just deal.

[kevin_video]

Q 263 What worthwhile ACF is there for trading out a wizard's familiar? If you know my DMs, you know why I'm very afraid of "If the familiar dies or is dismissed by the spellcaster, he must attempt a DC 15 Fortitude saving throw. Failure means he loses 200 experience points per caster level; success reduces the loss to one-half that amount." It DOES happen. Usually on purpose. Why attack the caster when you can weaken them by killing their familiar with DC 50 attacks?

[Agita]

Q 263 What worthwhile ACF is there for trading out a wizard's familiar? If you know my DMs, you know why I'm very afraid of "If the familiar dies or is dismissed by the spellcaster, he must attempt a DC 15 Fortitude saving throw. Failure means he loses 200 experience points per caster level; success reduces the loss to one-half that amount." It DOES happen. Usually on purpose. Why attack the caster when you can weaken them by killing their familiar with DC 50 attacks?

Are you a specialist, or a generalist? It's significantly easier to find such ACFs for specialists.

[kevin_video]

Q 263 What worthwhile ACF is there for trading out a wizard's familiar? If you know my DMs, you know why I'm very afraid of "If the familiar dies or is dismissed by the spellcaster, he must attempt a DC 15 Fortitude saving throw. Failure means he loses 200 experience points per caster level; success reduces the loss to one-half that amount." It DOES happen. Usually on purpose. Why attack the caster when you can weaken them by killing their familiar with DC 50 attacks?

Are you a specialist, or a generalist? It's significantly easier to find such ACFs for generalists.

Generalist.

[Agita]

Q 263 What worthwhile ACF is there for trading out a wizard's familiar? If you know my DMs, you know why I'm very afraid of "If the familiar dies or is dismissed by the spellcaster, he must attempt a DC 15 Fortitude saving throw. Failure means he loses 200 experience points per caster level; success reduces the loss to one-half that amount." It DOES happen. Usually on purpose. Why attack the caster when you can weaken them by killing their familiar with DC 50 attacks?

Are you a specialist, or a generalist? It's significantly easier to find such ACFs for generalists.

Generalist.

In that case, the only one that comes to mind right away is the Wizard of the Sun and Moon ACF from Dungeonscape. It kind of blows, but it's better than nothing. Arguably.

[Nanshork]

Q264: Is it just me or does the Id Forger, p4 of this sample pdf seem like a great idea for a Psychic Warrior "Big Guy" build?

Edit: The sample doesn't give all of the abilities and their explanations.  Basically your psicrystal gains all of the abilities of an astral construct of the appropriate level, including size.  You also gain some other stuff, obviously.    The whole class is in The Mind Unveiled: Prestige Classes by Dreamscarred Press.

[kevin_video]

Q 263 What worthwhile ACF is there for trading out a wizard's familiar? If you know my DMs, you know why I'm very afraid of "If the familiar dies or is dismissed by the spellcaster, he must attempt a DC 15 Fortitude saving throw. Failure means he loses 200 experience points per caster level; success reduces the loss to one-half that amount." It DOES happen. Usually on purpose. Why attack the caster when you can weaken them by killing their familiar with DC 50 attacks?

Are you a specialist, or a generalist? It's significantly easier to find such ACFs for generalists.

Generalist.

In that case, the only one that comes to mind right away is the Wizard of the Sun and Moon ACF from Dungeonscape. It kind of blows, but it's better than nothing. Arguably.

Yeah the only one I know of was the one that sacrificed your spellbook, familiar, and scribe scroll, but all of your spells were memorized with your photographic memory. There's also the focus item one (dragon 348), kind of like the one Pathfinder has, but I don't know if that's a viable choice.

Folow up 264 IYO, what's the best domain a wizard can take? http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#wizardVariantDomainWizard  It looks like you don't sacrifice anything to get this, other than being able to specialize, and I'm fine with not doing that.

The character will be wearing twilight armor and using a halbred (fighter/wizard/eldritch knight core only-based). I was thinking Battle Domain for this guy.

[Agita]

Yeah the only one I know of was the one that sacrificed your spellbook, familiar, and scribe scroll, but all of your spells were memorized with your photographic memory. There's also the focus item one (dragon 348), kind of like the one Pathfinder has, but I don't know if that's a viable choice.

The former actually sounds pretty good considering your DMs. I'd say go for that.

Folow up 264 IYO, what's the best domain a wizard can take? http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#wizardVariantDomainWizard  It looks like you don't sacrifice anything to get this, other than being able to specialize, and I'm fine with not doing that.

The character will be wearing twilight armor and using a halbred (fighter/wizard/eldritch knight core only-based). I was thinking Battle Domain for this guy.

Transmutation and Conjuration domain both have solid spells at every level. If you're going for a gish, Transmutation is likely better. Battle is meh - GMW, Moment of Prescience, and Time Stop seem to be the best spells on the list.

[kevin_video]

Yeah the only one I know of was the one that sacrificed your spellbook, familiar, and scribe scroll, but all of your spells were memorized with your photographic memory. There's also the focus item one (dragon 348), kind of like the one Pathfinder has, but I don't know if that's a viable choice.

The former actually sounds pretty good considering your DMs. I'd say go for that.

Considering last week all of his minions kept disarming us and stealing our weapons so we couldn't be effective, I think you're likely right. I can just take the feat back with a bonus feat later.

Folow up 264 IYO, what's the best domain a wizard can take? http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#wizardVariantDomainWizard  It looks like you don't sacrifice anything to get this, other than being able to specialize, and I'm fine with not doing that.

The character will be wearing twilight armor and using a halbred (fighter/wizard/eldritch knight core only-based). I was thinking Battle Domain for this guy.

Transmutation and Conjuration domain both have solid spells at every level. If you're going for a gish, Transmutation is likely better. Battle is meh - GMW, Moment of Prescience, and Time Stop seem to be the best spells on the list.

True. I was looking at Transmutation, but polymorph isn't allowed. I think baleful polymorph still is though. Not sure about shapechange. We haven't gotten to that high of a spellcasting level to see if it is or not. Conjuration's mage armor isn't any good to me because I'm already wearing twilight armor, but the others don't seem too bad. Battle Domain's protection from arrows is going to be invaluable. Pot shots do not make me happy.

[BeholderSlayer]

Yeah the only one I know of was the one that sacrificed your spellbook, familiar, and scribe scroll, but all of your spells were memorized with your photographic memory. There's also the focus item one (dragon 348), kind of like the one Pathfinder has, but I don't know if that's a viable choice.

The former actually sounds pretty good considering your DMs. I'd say go for that.

Considering last week all of his minions kept disarming us and stealing our weapons so we couldn't be effective, I think you're likely right. I can just take the feat back with a bonus feat later.

Folow up 264 IYO, what's the best domain a wizard can take? http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#wizardVariantDomainWizard  It looks like you don't sacrifice anything to get this, other than being able to specialize, and I'm fine with not doing that.

The character will be wearing twilight armor and using a halbred (fighter/wizard/eldritch knight core only-based). I was thinking Battle Domain for this guy.

Transmutation and Conjuration domain both have solid spells at every level. If you're going for a gish, Transmutation is likely better. Battle is meh - GMW, Moment of Prescience, and Time Stop seem to be the best spells on the list.

True. I was looking at Transmutation, but polymorph isn't allowed. I think baleful polymorph still is though. Not sure about shapechange. We haven't gotten to that high of a spellcasting level to see if it is or not. Conjuration's mage armor isn't any good to me because I'm already wearing twilight armor, but the others don't seem too bad. Battle Domain's protection from arrows is going to be invaluable. Pot shots do not make me happy.

If Polymorph is banned, Shapechange is absolutely positively banned.

Conjuration is probably the most solid one after Transmutation, with Web, Stinking Cloud, Maze and Gate (though Gate might be banned too).

Battle looks pretty weak to me. Protection from Arrows is fairly weak. GMW, MoP and Time Stop are the stars on that list, with the lower level spells being fairly weak in general.

You might consider talking to your DM, and seeing if he will let you use one of the Polymorph subschool spells in place of Polymorph, which he might go for. The subschool spells allow you to assume only one form, rather than leaving it open-ended (which is the strength of Polymorph). You'd have to ask for advice later on Shapechange, though it's likely you'll never see that level.

[kevin_video]

If Polymorph is banned, Shapechange is absolutely positively banned.

Conjuration is probably the most solid one after Transmutation, with Web, Stinking Cloud, Maze and Gate (though Gate might be banned too).

Battle looks pretty weak to me. Protection from Arrows is fairly weak. GMW, MoP and Time Stop are the stars on that list, with the lower level spells being fairly weak in general.

You might consider talking to your DM, and seeing if he will let you use one of the Polymorph subschool spells in place of Polymorph, which he might go for. The subschool spells allow you to assume only one form, rather than leaving it open-ended (which is the strength of Polymorph). You'd have to ask for advice later on Shapechange, though it's likely you'll never see that level.

After looking at the spell, Protection from Arrows doesn't look like the spell for me. Wind Wall looks closer to what I'm needing at this point. If you're talking about Alter Form, he'll allow that, yes. There's already a character that has that (a changeling).

[Zombieboots]

Q265:Any feats, Items, Powers, Spells, excreta that duplicate or are at least similar to the Aboleth's Slime ability?

Q265b: Similar question for the Aboleth's Mucus Cloud ability?

No grafts allowed or it would have been easy to pick out the Mucus Projector from LoM

[Maat_Mons]

Q 263 What worthwhile ACF is there for trading out a wizard's familiar? If you know my DMs, you know why I'm very afraid of "If the familiar dies or is dismissed by the spellcaster, he must attempt a DC 15 Fortitude saving throw. Failure means he loses 200 experience points per caster level; success reduces the loss to one-half that amount." It DOES happen. Usually on purpose. Why attack the caster when you can weaken them by killing their familiar with DC 50 attacks?

You could use the unearthed arcana variant to trade your familiar for an animal companion.  Your animal companion wouldn't be very good, but you wouldn't be penalized for its death. 

If your DM allows variant chaining, you could trade the animal companion for a familiar using urban companion.  The net effect of this is to remove the penalty for the death of your familiar, increase your familiar's HP by 50%, and double the time it takes your familiar to gain special abilities.