Simple Q&A 28: Revenge of the Monktopus

[Maat_Mons]

Bump. 

Q 126:is eligible for persistent spell.) 

[jojolagger]

Q 145: What happens if a ghost uses Malevolence to possess someone then de-manifests?

[Garryl]

Q 146: When an animal companion becomes a Magical Beast from an Arcane Heirophant's Companion Familiar ability, are the HD and BaB recalculated for the new type or do they remain as they originally were for the Animal type? The relevant differences are d10 HD and full BaB instead of d8 and 3/4 BaB. Also, Magical Beasts get darkvision.

If the HD change applies, would it modify all of the hit dice, or just the companion's normal HD for the purpose of hit points? The text of Animal Companion specifies that the bonus HD are d8s.

[kremti]

A146: This phrase "The Hit Dice, hit points, attack bonus, saving throws, feats, and skills of the familiar companion are determined as normal for an animal companion." appears to indicate that they are as originally were for the animal type as "determined as normal for an animal companion" clause.

-K

[Garryl]

I thought so, but then I considered that it might have been in reference to how familiars determine them instead of in reference to the type change. Thanks for the confirmation.

[kevin_video]

Q 147 A large-sized undead is wearing spiked armor and is going to use a slam attack against an opponent. How do you determine what the damage dealt is?

[snakeman830]

Q 147 A large-sized undead is wearing spiked armor and is going to use a slam attack against an opponent. How do you determine what the damage dealt is?

Slam attack damage.  It's stupid, but there isn't really a way to combine Armor Spike damage to a slam attack unless you're a Warforged Juggernaut (and even then, you have some hurdles).

[kevin_video]

Q 147 A large-sized undead is wearing spiked armor and is going to use a slam attack against an opponent. How do you determine what the damage dealt is?

Slam attack damage.  It's stupid, but there isn't really a way to combine Armor Spike damage to a slam attack unless you're a Warforged Juggernaut.

Dang. I wondered what was up when all I could find was "in addition to grapple damage" in the write-up.

[kevin_video]

Q 148 Just how "permanent" is the Permanent duration of a spell?

[archangel.arcanis]

Q 148 Just how "permanent" is the Permanent duration of a spell?

I believe it has no natural end, but as it isn't instantaneous, it can meet an unnatural end (such as a dispel or suppression in AMF).

[balluga]

Q149a: What can a Glimmerskin (MM2, pg. 114) that has used its Heroic Bond feature do during combat?

Q149b: Can a Glimmerskin that has used its Heroic Bond feature be attacked directly?

Q149c: Do creatures that are subject to the Heroic Bond that "explode" from a Glimmerskin's Energy Touch survive? The text says that the Glimmerskin's host automatically benefits from the additional HP, but gets no save to reduce the damage from the blast. I take this to mean that the extra energy explodes outward, not the creature.

Thank you in advance.

[kevin_video]

Q 150 Is there a spell list somewhere that lets you know what arcane spells don't have to worry about arcane spell failure? I know WotC made a list of core spells for the Eldritch Knight when they did a write up for that, but I'd like something with more book sources involved.

[Maat_Mons]

Q 150 Is there a spell list somewhere that lets you know what arcane spells don't have to worry about arcane spell failure?

The search function on IMarvinTPA lets you search for spells without somatic components.  

[kevin_video]

Q 150 Is there a spell list somewhere that lets you know what arcane spells don't have to worry about arcane spell failure?

The search function on IMarvinTPA lets you search for spells without somatic components.  

Ah. That'd probably be why I couldn't make it work. I was actually looking for "arcane spell failure" on it.

Unfortunately, not all of the books are on that site. Majority are though.

[ksbsnowowl]

Q 151: Aside from specific instances where they spell out a monster's associated classes (like they do with the Verdant Prince in MM4), is there any sort of guideline for what is and isn't an associated class for different creatures, other than "if it enhances it's combat ability, for a melee monster, it's associated," etc?

I'm building some Half-fiend and Fiendish trolls, and putting 4 levels of Warlock on a Half-Fiend Ice Troll for only +2 CR just seems dirty, especially when I give him Hideous Blow.  Now he can fly around, cover my party with Darkness (and see just fine, thanks to Devil's Sight) and blast my party with Mortal Bane'd Eldritch Blasts...

And taking 10 on UMD checks to auto-activate wands seems dirty too...  

[Littha]

Q 151: Aside from specific instances where they spell out a monster's associated classes (like they do with the Verdant Prince in MM4), is there any sort of guideline for what is and isn't an associated class for different creatures, other than "if it enhances it's combat ability, for a melee monster, it's associated," etc?

I'm building some Half-fiend and Fiendish trolls, and putting 4 levels of Warlock on a Half-Fiend Ice Troll for only +2 CR just seems dirty, especially when I give him Hideous Blow.  Now he can fly around, cover my party with Darkness (and see just fine, thanks to Devil's Sight) and blast my party with Mortal Bane'd Eldritch Blasts...

And taking 10 on UMD checks to auto-activate wands seems dirty too...  

I am not sure but I feel I must warn you that those are stupid rules and lead nowhere good.

[Vasja]

Q152: This is probably stupid, but what stops a spellcasting prestige class from advancing another spellcasting prestige class? Why can't, for example, Archmage advance Ultimate Magus spellcasting (as long as the UM in question has 7th level spells)?

[kevin_video]

Q 151: Aside from specific instances where they spell out a monster's associated classes (like they do with the Verdant Prince in MM4), is there any sort of guideline for what is and isn't an associated class for different creatures, other than "if it enhances it's combat ability, for a melee monster, it's associated," etc?

I'm building some Half-fiend and Fiendish trolls, and putting 4 levels of Warlock on a Half-Fiend Ice Troll for only +2 CR just seems dirty, especially when I give him Hideous Blow.  Now he can fly around, cover my party with Darkness (and see just fine, thanks to Devil's Sight) and blast my party with Mortal Bane'd Eldritch Blasts...

And taking 10 on UMD checks to auto-activate wands seems dirty too... 

It's not brought up until Pathfinder, actually. That's when they go into detail, but there's no specific class. Basically you have to figure out what the "role" of the creature is. If it's beating the crap out of PCs with their fists, then fighter, or something with full BAB will suffice as "associated", while wizard or warlock would be "unassociated".

Q152: This is probably stupid, but what stops a spellcasting prestige class from advancing another spellcasting prestige class? Why can't, for example, Archmage advance Ultimate Magus spellcasting (as long as the UM in question has 7th level spells)?

Because it specifically will state that it only advances one, while Ultimate Magus says it'll do two. Hence why you'll read "If you have two spellcasting classes, pick one and only that one will progress".

[weenog]

Q152: This is probably stupid, but what stops a spellcasting prestige class from advancing another spellcasting prestige class? Why can't, for example, Archmage advance Ultimate Magus spellcasting (as long as the UM in question has 7th level spells)?

A spellcasting prestige class will advance the spellcasting of another prestige class, if the other prestige class has its own spellcasting.  A prestige class that simply advances (possibly with modification) the spellcasting of one or more previous classes contributes nothing like that to advance.

[weenog]

Multiplying Damage

Sometimes you multiply damage by some factor, such as on a critical hit. Roll the damage (with all modifiers) multiple times and total the results. Note: When you multiply damage more than once, each multiplier works off the original, unmultiplied damage.

Exception:

Q153:  What is an "extra" damage die, exactly?  Would your natural weapon damage from beast strike count and not be multiplied?