Ask a Simple Question 23: You know the drill

[Echoes]

Q 141: What is the DC of the knowledge check to get the information of the creatures traits? And where in the rules can I read it?

Same for type and subtype.

A141
you can find the info on the SRD.  Here's the relevant rules info (to my knowledge, this is about as specific as it gets):

:/ I hoped there were more specific rules to this. So arguably it would be a check against 10 + HD to know what type, and a subsequent check against 10 or 15 to know what that type/subtype/trait means. amidoinitrite?

If you look in later 3.5 books (MM IV has them, at the very least), they usually include a "what you learn" chart with the monsters. The first entry is always a "this is a blah, who are blah. This result also reveals the type/subtype and associated traits". You can use those as a guideline. In general, if you roll high enough to identify the creature at all, you get the type/subtype and what those do.

[ksbsnowowl]

Q 142: Looking at possibly making an unseen seer.  Does the wording of the Master Spellthief feat allow the increased steal spell abilities to only rely on base caster levels?

IE - A Spellthief 4/Wizard 4 steals spells as a spellthief 8.  What about a Spellthief 4/Wizard 1/Unseen Seer 3?  Steal spells as level 5 or level 8?

[Esgath]

If you look in later 3.5 books (MM IV has them, at the very least), they usually include a "what you learn" chart with the monsters. The first entry is always a "this is a blah, who are blah. This result also reveals the type/subtype and associated traits". You can use those as a guideline. In general, if you roll high enough to identify the creature at all, you get the type/subtype and what those do.

Thanks, I've read it now and page 6 of the MM IV tells me everything else

[Echoes]

Q 142: Looking at possibly making an unseen seer.  Does the wording of the Master Spellthief feat allow the increased steal spell abilities to only rely on base caster levels?

IE - A Spellthief 4/Wizard 4 steals spells as a spellthief 8.  What about a Spellthief 4/Wizard 1/Unseen Seer 3?  Steal spells as level 5 or level 8?

A 142: The latter. You use your full spellcaster level with Master Spellthief. Prestige Classes that advance spellcasting increase your spellcaster level in one or more base classes for all purposes, so they count just as much as your base class levels.

[SeekingKnight]

Q143

What are all the classes that have advanced learning for their class features?  I am sure for Dread Necromancer and Warmage but if I am wrong please inform me.

[Echoes]

Q143

What are all the classes that have advanced learning for their class features?  I am sure for Dread Necromancer and Warmage but if I am wrong please inform me.

A 143: Beguilers (PHBII), Dread Necromancers (HoH), and Warmages (CArc).

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Q143

What are all the classes that have advanced learning for their class features?  I am sure for Dread Necromancer and Warmage but if I am wrong please inform me.

Unseen seer has something similar as well.

[kevin_video]

We have two Q 137's so I'll bump up the question number by one.

Q 145 How do you figure out the least CL needed for items like belt of magnificence, or amulet of health when running an E6 or E8 game? With the amulet of health, it says CL 8th for all three versions (+2 to +6), when if you were make your amulet of health from scratch, you could theoretically go with Spell level x CL x 2000 and pay 12000 for an item that gives you a continuous +4 to CON instead of paying 16000.

[Bobikus]

Q 146:  A lot of caster builds like Malconvoker look like they don't fully hit their stride until level 10+, especially keeping in mind the lost caster level.  What are some good 20 level Wizard builds that start picking up well in the 7-9 range?

[Echoes]

Q 146:  A lot of caster builds like Malconvoker look like they don't fully hit their stride until level 10+, especially keeping in mind the lost caster level.  What are some good 20 level Wizard builds that start picking up well in the 7-9 range?

A 146: This is a really open-ended question, but a few are: Illusionist 5/Shadowcraft Mage 3 (using Heighten Spell + Earth Spell and the UA Illusionist variant to grab Hide as a class skill) hits it's stride at 8th and promptly rides off to crazy-town. Wizard 5/Incantatrix 3 also really gets going at 8th level, with Metamagic Effect-persisted buffs coming online (the Spellcraft checks are pretty brutal though).

In general, any full-casting Wizard will really start hitting their power-up around level 7, since level 4 is chock-full of so many amazing spells (evard's black tentacles, celerity, orbs of foo, greater mirror image, greater invisibility, polymorph, etc).

[Bobikus]

Thanks, and as sort of a follow up.

Q 147:  Two part question I suppose: What are some methods of getting Spellcraft bonuses up in that 6-8 range without relying on any cheese that would get a book thrown at me more than Incantatrix itself might, and what are some good early Feats/ACF/Race Choices for a Conjurer Incantatrix?

[Esgath]

Thanks, and as sort of a follow up.

Q 147:  Two part question I suppose: What are some methods of getting Spellcraft bonuses up in that 6-8 range without relying on any cheese that would get a book thrown at me more than Incantatrix itself might, and what are some good early Feats/ACF/Race Choices for a Conjurer Incantatrix?

A 147: Although I don't quite understand what you mean with that "6-8 range", I suppose you mean to get spellcraft up enough so that it matters at lvl 8.

Characterlevel 8: 11 rank + 5 int + 2 familiar (aid another) + 2 item(circumstance) (PHB p. 130) + 5 item(competence) (DMG p. 285) + 2 heroism (morale) + 3 skill focus + 2 knowledge (arcana) (synergy)  = 32 + take 10 = 42

Assuming 16 starting int, 2 increases via level, 2 via item. If you can put more money into the competence-bonus item, do it.

[geniussavant]

Q?148: Is there anyway to gain a level draining touch or attack, without becoming undead or taking up class levels? (as a PC)

Edit:It has to be permanent, so a spell won't work. . .

[Ithamar]

A148:  Be a warforged and wield a Lifedrinker.

[geniussavant]

A148:  Be a warforged and wield a Lifedrinker.

Thanks, that'll work

[Bobikus]

Q 149: What are some good early Feats/ACFs for a Conjurer / Incantatrix?

[Ithamar]

A149:  Probably the most famous and arguably most useful is Abrupt Jaunt, from PHBII.

[Bobikus]

Thanks.  Is dipping into Master Specialist worth it from 3-4 for the free skill focus, or is there a good Wizard ACF to take at level 5 instead?

[Ithamar]

Spontaneous Divination (Comp Champ I think) seems to be rather popular as I recall.

[Sobolev]

Spontaneous Divination (Comp Champ I think) seems to be rather popular as I recall.

There is also a ACF that lets you trade for a Domain Power, which can be pretty good.  If nothing else take Magic and you can activate Wands/Scrolls from your banned school.