Ask a Simple Question 25: Welcome to DIE!

[Agita]

Q312: Feats/maneuvers that specifically call for preferred weapons notwithstanding, is there any need for a martial adept to use a martial school's preferred weapons?

For example is there a compelling reason a four-handed Ranger 6/Warblade X with Improved Multiweapon Fighting and Stormguard Warrior should use Iron Heart weapons instead of four light weapons?

A 312

Nope. They're solely for flavor, other than the aforementioned feats, much like a deity's favored weapon.

[Praef]

Q313  How can I make a cleric5/dweomerkeeper2/shadowcraft mage5/dk8 work?  Before level 6 it needs the rune and magic domains, and heighten spell; and before level 8, it needs anyspell (spell domain), and earth sense, earth spell, and spell focus (illusion). Endaire's Shadowkeeper http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7977.0 does it, but I don't see how.  Help?

[PhaedrusXY]

Q313  How can I make a cleric5/dweomerkeeper2/shadowcraft mage5/dk8 work?  Before level 6 it needs the rune and magic domains, and heighten spell; and before level 8, it needs anyspell (spell domain), and earth sense, earth spell, and spell focus (illusion). Endaire's Shadowkeeper http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7977.0 does it, but I don't see how.  Help?

I'd guess he's relying on this part of his post:

-You can worship an ethos to get your desired domains and use substitute domain (Complete Champion 128) freely.

[Shiki]

Q314: Would anyone care if I would make somewhat of a repost of the Revenant Handbook, prettying it up and adding more details? I like the class fluff-wise, and had my share of, mind you, theoretical practical CO. It just seems my playgroup doesn't like numbers.

[Sobolev]

Q315: I think this was asked recently, but how does binding the spirits of whales in to items help anyone do anything?

[Littha]

Q315: I think this was asked recently, but how does binding the spirits of whales in to items help anyone do anything?

Not just any whales, elemental whales.

[Agita]

Q315: I think this was asked recently, but how does binding the spirits of whales in to items help anyone do anything?

A 315

More helpfully, Magic of Eberron has rules on binding elementals to items in item creation. Doing this reduces the final cost of an item as outline on page 13:

Transferring an elemental of a particular size has no effect on the final powers of the item, which are determined by the creator of the item (and thus determine the final cost, as well as the cost in materials). While binding a larger elemental does not add power or extra abilities to the item, it does reduce the cost to create the item.

Emphasis mine.
As whales are Collosal, a whale with the Elemental template of an arbitrary element is usually chosen to procide the maximum discount (20%).

[Sobolev]

Q315: I think this was asked recently, but how does binding the spirits of whales in to items help anyone do anything?

A 315

More helpfully, Magic of Eberron has rules on binding elementals to items in item creation. Doing this reduces the final cost of an item as outline on page 13:

Transferring an elemental of a particular size has no effect on the final powers of the item, which are determined by the creator of the item (and thus determine the final cost, as well as the cost in materials). While binding a larger elemental does not add power or extra abilities to the item, it does reduce the cost to create the item.

Emphasis mine.
As whales are Collosal, a whale with the Elemental template of an arbitrary element is usually chosen to procide the maximum discount (20%).

Thanks, excellent explanation.

[Vinom]

Q 316: What are the best ways to render an opponent, legitimately flat-footed?

[weenog]

Q317: Are martial stances considered maneuvers for the purpose of meeting prerequisites?

I didn't think so, but I saw a build with Stormguard Warrior and the only Iron Heart stuff it had was Exorcism of Steel and Punishing Stance, so that got me wondering.

[Sinfire Titan]

Q317: Are martial stances considered maneuvers for the purpose of meeting prerequisites?

I didn't think so, but I saw a build with Stormguard Warrior and the only Iron Heart stuff it had was Exorcism of Steel and Punishing Stance, so that got me wondering.

A317: Yes, they are. Page 44 has the relevant text.

[weenog]

Hmmm... says they're considered maneuvers for the purpose of meeting a prerequisite to learn a new maneuver, nothing about feats, but it's not much of a stretch.  Thanks.  The condition of my ToB is such that thumbing through it searching for something minor is difficult.

[zook1shoe]

Q314: Would anyone care if I would make somewhat of a repost of the Revenant Handbook, prettying it up and adding more details? I like the class fluff-wise, and had my share of, mind you, theoretical practical CO. It just seems my playgroup doesn't like numbers.

I don't see why not

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Q 316: What are the best ways to render an opponent, legitimately flat-footed?

Either be invisible or make them balance(such as with marbles or a grease spell)

[Saxony]

Q 316: What are the best ways to render an opponent, legitimately flat-footed?

Either be invisible or make them balance(such as with marbles or a grease spell)

If they don't have 5 ranks in balance.

Edit: Also: Win initiative and/or have a surprise round. The boost maneuver Cloak of Deception gives Greater Invisibility for 1 round (you can attack without losing the invisibility). 2nd level shadow hand maneuver, no prerequisites. Take it as a feat, dip into swordsage, or as an item.

[Esgath]

Q 318: What tier is a Dragonfire Adept? And why?

[Sinfire Titan]

Q 318: What tier is a Dragonfire Adept? And why?

A318: Mid Tier 3 IIRC. Good Battlefield Control, a solid damage output, relevant outside of combat, UMD, innate flight, SAD, and not easily rendered useless.

[Agita]

Q 316: What are the best ways to render an opponent, legitimately flat-footed?

Either be invisible or make them balance(such as with marbles or a grease spell)

Being invisible doesn't actually make them flat-footed, however, they merely lose their Dex bonus to AC. Wording indicates that those two are different things, though it's kind of weird.

[PlzBreakMyCampaign]

There's always the 'hasn't taken an action yet' solution. Win initiative.

[kharmakazy]

Q319 Is there some way to attack with a glyph of warding actively? (im eying Fang Trap from serpent kingdoms)