Ask a Simple Question, Get a Simple Answer 26: Still better than CustServ

[JaronK]

Q 272 Is there a way to make a spontaneous caster (bard, sorcerer) able to prepare spells each day like a wizard?

Mage of the Arcane Order can do it, with the Arcane Preparation feat.

JaronK

[kevin_video]

I see we have a new one, but this one hasn't hit page 50 yet.

Q 273 Is there a ship mage build anywhere? Not looking for anything grand. Just low level for an NPC pirate ship's second mate.

[PhaedrusXY]

I see we have a new one, but this one hasn't hit page 50 yet.

Q 273 Is there a ship mage build anywhere? Not looking for anything grand. Just low level for an NPC pirate ship's second mate.

What level? I made one a while back, though I don't know if I could find it again. Basically, it relied on Stinking Cloud + Summon Monster. He used Summon Monster to call a bunch of dretches, which are immune to poison and therefore Stinking Cloud, onto the deck of the other ship, after he'd dropped a Stinking Cloud onto it. It was for a low-mid level game. The mage was invisible while doing this, also.

[kevin_video]

I see we have a new one, but this one hasn't hit page 50 yet.

Q 273 Is there a ship mage build anywhere? Not looking for anything grand. Just low level for an NPC pirate ship's second mate.

What level? I made one a while back, though I don't know if I could find it again. Basically, it relied on Stinking Cloud + Summon Monster. He used Summon Monster to call a bunch of dretches, which are immune to poison and therefore Stinking Cloud, onto the deck of the other ship, after he'd dropped a Stinking Cloud onto it. It was for a low-mid level game. The mage was invisible while doing this, also.

The type of mage (sorcerer, wizard, bard) doesn't really matter, just need something that can be somewhat useful. Level would be 5th. Race is human with 16 Int or Cha.

[weenog]

Q274: Is there a permanent or at-will way to use your Intelligence modifier for Concentration checks?
Q275: Is there a way to use your Charisma modifier to determine skill point gain?

[JaronK]

I see we have a new one, but this one hasn't hit page 50 yet.

Q 273 Is there a ship mage build anywhere? Not looking for anything grand. Just low level for an NPC pirate ship's second mate.

Stormwrack has a feat that's actually called "Ship's Mage" I believe.  Might be worth looking into.

JaronK

[Lycanthromancer]

Q274: Is there a permanent or at-will way to use your Intelligence modifier for Concentration checks?

There's a feat in Hyperconscious called Skill Finesse that allows you to use your manifesting score as the ability score for a skill of your choice. Take some psion and that feat, and you're good to go.

[PhaedrusXY]

I see we have a new one, but this one hasn't hit page 50 yet.

Q 273 Is there a ship mage build anywhere? Not looking for anything grand. Just low level for an NPC pirate ship's second mate.

What level? I made one a while back, though I don't know if I could find it again. Basically, it relied on Stinking Cloud + Summon Monster. He used Summon Monster to call a bunch of dretches, which are immune to poison and therefore Stinking Cloud, onto the deck of the other ship, after he'd dropped a Stinking Cloud onto it. It was for a low-mid level game. The mage was invisible while doing this, also.

The type of mage (sorcerer, wizard, bard) doesn't really matter, just need something that can be somewhat useful. Level would be 5th. Race is human with 16 Int or Cha.

The one I used was actually a level 6 sorcerer, but a level 5 wizard would work, also. The "build" doesn't really matter. As with most spellcasters, it's all about the spells.

I was very surprised at how quickly they took this guy out, actually. As soon as he started casting, one PC dove into the water, successfully swam over to the pirate ship where this guy was, climbed over the side (and managed to remain unseen while doing so), and then managed to successfully pinpoint the guy using Listen (caster was Invisible), and rolled a crit and one-shotted him with his first attack. It was a huge streak of luck, and limited the carnage the caster was able to inflict quite a bit. I actually expected most of the crew to die to this guy, and the PCs to have a hard time dealing with him.

[Garryl]

Q 276: Relative to what do fogs/clouds determine their center point and wind speed? Specifically, how does the aforementioned Stinking Cloud work on a moving ship (or an airship or a train or any other moving environment)? Does it stay in place relative to the ship and possibly get dispersed by the relative winds? Does it stay in place relative to the planet/plane beneath and thus sweep across the deck as the ship moves on? Is this one of those not-so-simple questions?

[Eviltedzies]

Question 277: The Factotum ability Cunning Brilliance states "By spending 4 inspiration points as a free action, you gain the benefit and drawbacks of one chosen ability for 1 minute." and shortly after it states "You can use each chosen ability once per day."

My question is about the wording of the ability.
Does this mean we can copy the feats of a level 20 fighter, but that we could only use each feat once? If so, why would the ability stipulate that you gain the benefit and drawbacks of the chosen ability for 1 minute?

OR

Does this mean that if I choose Sneak Attack, Fighter Feats, and Manuevers as my list of mimicable abilities for the day I can only use each ability 1/day instead of say using Sneak Attack twice and Fighter Feats once?

[JaronK]

Question 277: The Factotum ability Cunning Brilliance states "By spending 4 inspiration points as a free action, you gain the benefit and drawbacks of one chosen ability for 1 minute." and shortly after it states "You can use each chosen ability once per day."

My question is about the wording of the ability.
Does this mean we can copy the feats of a level 20 fighter, but that we could only use each feat once? If so, why would the ability stipulate that you gain the benefit and drawbacks of the chosen ability for 1 minute?

OR

Does this mean that if I choose Sneak Attack, Fighter Feats, and Manuevers as my list of mimicable abilities for the day I can only use each ability 1/day instead of say using Sneak Attack twice and Fighter Feats once?

The second option is correct.  The first doesn't make any sense, as you wouldn't be using it for a minute if you were only using it that one time.

Q 276: Relative to what do fogs/clouds determine their center point and wind speed? Specifically, how does the aforementioned Stinking Cloud work on a moving ship (or an airship or a train or any other moving environment)? Does it stay in place relative to the ship and possibly get dispersed by the relative winds? Does it stay in place relative to the planet/plane beneath and thus sweep across the deck as the ship moves on? Is this one of those not-so-simple questions?

Not defined in the rules.  The same issue pops up for Immovable Rods.  Relativity is never mentioned in the rules, one way or another.

JaronK

[jojolagger]

Not defined in the rules.  The same issue pops up for Immovable Rods.  Relativity is never mentioned in the rules, one way or another.

Reminds me of an item I heard of.

Q 278 Does anyone have/know the stats for a truly immovable rods? (or words to that effect)

[kevin_video]

I see we have a new one, but this one hasn't hit page 50 yet.

Q 273 Is there a ship mage build anywhere? Not looking for anything grand. Just low level for an NPC pirate ship's second mate.

What level? I made one a while back, though I don't know if I could find it again. Basically, it relied on Stinking Cloud + Summon Monster. He used Summon Monster to call a bunch of dretches, which are immune to poison and therefore Stinking Cloud, onto the deck of the other ship, after he'd dropped a Stinking Cloud onto it. It was for a low-mid level game. The mage was invisible while doing this, also.

The type of mage (sorcerer, wizard, bard) doesn't really matter, just need something that can be somewhat useful. Level would be 5th. Race is human with 16 Int or Cha.

The one I used was actually a level 6 sorcerer, but a level 5 wizard would work, also. The "build" doesn't really matter. As with most spellcasters, it's all about the spells.

I was very surprised at how quickly they took this guy out, actually. As soon as he started casting, one PC dove into the water, successfully swam over to the pirate ship where this guy was, climbed over the side (and managed to remain unseen while doing so), and then managed to successfully pinpoint the guy using Listen (caster was Invisible), and rolled a crit and one-shotted him with his first attack. It was a huge streak of luck, and limited the carnage the caster was able to inflict quite a bit. I actually expected most of the crew to die to this guy, and the PCs to have a hard time dealing with him.

Well this guy will just be the first mate. They'll still have to deal with the captain, the first mate, and the crew.

[Vinom]

Q 279: Has there been anything definite printed on the alignment of slavery?

[X-Codes]

Q 279: Has there been anything definite printed on the alignment of slavery?

It's not explicitly evil, although many aspects of slavery are called out in BoVD as being evil acts.  As such, I'd say it's possible to have a morally-neutral system of slavery, but incredibly unlikely.

[zugschef]

Q 272 Is there a way to make a spontaneous caster (bard, sorcerer) able to prepare spells each day like a wizard?

Mage of the Arcane Order can do it, with the Arcane Preparation feat.

you need arcane preparation to get into motao as a sponaneous caster, yes, but you don't need it to use arcane preparation.

[kremti]

Q280: Is there any way to be in Shadowcraft Mage, and Chemeleon together? (thinking of Gestalt here and having problem coming up with Gnome and Able Leather)

-K

[PhaedrusXY]

Q280: Is there any way to be in Shadowcraft Mage, and Chemeleon together? (thinking of Gestalt here and having problem coming up with Gnome and Able Leather)

-K

I think you can be a changeling and take a feat that lets you count as the race you're emulating. I forget the name of the feat, though (racial emulation?). IIRC, Changelings can take Able Learner due to their human heritage by default.

[Lycanthromancer]

Q280: Is there any way to be in Shadowcraft Mage, and Chemeleon together? (thinking of Gestalt here and having problem coming up with Gnome and Able Leather)

-K

Most people use the racially neutral adaptation that's right in the shadowcraft mage entry.

Otherwise, changeling with the Racial Emulation feat (in Races of Eberron, p 110), as stated.

[kremti]

Ohhhh, thanks much for quick responses.

-K