Simple Q&A 28: Revenge of the Monktopus

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Q167:  Can I get both Bluff and Disguise as class skills (for max rank cap purposes) in 2 levels of base classes, without losing any BAB?  How?

The Skill Prodigy feat seems made for this situation. I can't remember the source exactly though - I think it's either from Dragonlance Campaign Setting or Kingdoms of Calamar.

It's from Player's Guide To Kalamar.

[Redeemer of Ogar]

Q168: Is there any easy way for a Bard to gain heavy armor proficiency without dropping a level of casting or costing more than one feat?  (One feat would be fine, so if the bard could get medium armor proficiency, that would do the trick.)

A168: Depends on whether you actually need the proficiency as a pre-req, or just the armor. The easiest option for the latter is to get Mithril Heavy Armor, which counts as medium armor thanks to Mithril's qualities.

[Faithless tbe Wonder Boy]

Q168: Is there any easy way for a Bard to gain heavy armor proficiency without dropping a level of casting or costing more than one feat?  (One feat would be fine, so if the bard could get medium armor proficiency, that would do the trick.)

A168: Depends on whether you actually need the proficiency as a pre-req, or just the armor. The easiest option for the latter is to get Mithril Heavy Armor, which counts as medium armor thanks to Mithril's qualities.

As a pre-req, sadly.  I don't even need the ability to cast in heavy armor; just having proficiency so I can take the appropriate prestige class would be enough.

[Redeemer of Ogar]

A168: Depends on whether you actually need the proficiency as a pre-req, or just the armor. The easiest option for the latter is to get Mithril Heavy Armor, which counts as medium armor thanks to Mithril's qualities.

As a pre-req, sadly.  I don't even need the ability to cast in heavy armor; just having proficiency so I can take the appropriate prestige class would be enough.

Custom item of Heroics maybe? (Spell Compendium p113, grants a feat from the fighter's bonus feat list). Seems like there would be a PrC to cover it (there's something Wizards don't get?), but all the ones that are springing to mind cost at least one caster level for entry.

[Garryl]

Q168: Is there any easy way for a Bard to gain heavy armor proficiency without dropping a level of casting or costing more than one feat?  (One feat would be fine, so if the bard could get medium armor proficiency, that would do the trick.)

A168: Depends on whether you actually need the proficiency as a pre-req, or just the armor. The easiest option for the latter is to get Mithril Heavy Armor, which counts as medium armor thanks to Mithril's qualities.

As a pre-req, sadly.  I don't even need the ability to cast in heavy armor; just having proficiency so I can take the appropriate prestige class would be enough.

Take a PrC. There are a few that grant proficiency and don't cost a level of casting. Dragonslayer gives proficiency and casting at level 1, and you can get Iron Will through a magical location (Otoyugh Hole, I think) meaning you need only take Dodge.

[snakeman830]

Q169: Would it be worth writing up a quick guide for alternate options to meet prerequisites?  I'm talking things like Expeditious Dodge/Desert Wind Dodge/Midnight Dodge in place of Dodge, a Soulknife's Free Draw ability counting as Quick Draw, or centaurs qualifying for Arcane Archer.

[McPoyo]

Q169: Would it be worth writing up a quick guide for alternate options to meet prerequisites?  I'm talking things like Expeditious Dodge/Desert Wind Dodge/Midnight Dodge in place of Dodge, a Soulknife's Free Draw ability counting as Quick Draw, or centaurs qualifying for Arcane Archer.

Yes

[Ithamar]

Yes, snakeman, that'd be very useful.

Q170:  Is there a guide or handbook to maxxing out your favoured enemy bonuses?

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Q169: Would it be worth writing up a quick guide for alternate options to meet prerequisites?  I'm talking things like Expeditious Dodge/Desert Wind Dodge/Midnight Dodge in place of Dodge, a Soulknife's Free Draw ability counting as Quick Draw, or centaurs qualifying for Arcane Archer.

Yep! 

[weenog]

Q169: Would it be worth writing up a quick guide for alternate options to meet prerequisites?  I'm talking things like Expeditious Dodge/Desert Wind Dodge/Midnight Dodge in place of Dodge, a Soulknife's Free Draw ability counting as Quick Draw, or centaurs qualifying for Arcane Archer.

Definitely.  Trying to figure out how to get a warblade or swordsage into chameleon ASAP without screwing up the BAB has been giving me a headache without such a guide.

[PhaedrusXY]

Q168: Is there any easy way for a Bard to gain heavy armor proficiency without dropping a level of casting or costing more than one feat?  (One feat would be fine, so if the bard could get medium armor proficiency, that would do the trick.)

A168: Depends on whether you actually need the proficiency as a pre-req, or just the armor. The easiest option for the latter is to get Mithril Heavy Armor, which counts as medium armor thanks to Mithril's qualities.

As a pre-req, sadly.  I don't even need the ability to cast in heavy armor; just having proficiency so I can take the appropriate prestige class would be enough.

Does Bind Vestige (Savnok) do it? I forget.

[TenaciousJ]

Q171 Does anything exist to make psionics usable while raging?

[Gnomeo]

Q168: Is there any easy way for a Bard to gain heavy armor proficiency without dropping a level of casting or costing more than one feat?  (One feat would be fine, so if the bard could get medium armor proficiency, that would do the trick.)

A168: Depends on whether you actually need the proficiency as a pre-req, or just the armor. The easiest option for the latter is to get Mithril Heavy Armor, which counts as medium armor thanks to Mithril's qualities.

As a pre-req, sadly.  I don't even need the ability to cast in heavy armor; just having proficiency so I can take the appropriate prestige class would be enough.

Does Bind Vestige (Savnok) do it? I forget.

The feat alone gets you Savnok's heavy armor, but not the proficiency.  Binding Savnok provides the proficiency, but that will cost you a level of Binder, 4 skill points in Indimidate, and Improved Binding.

[kevin_video]

Q 172 Player's going to be getting an animal companion soon. Want a good way to introduce it to the player than just stating "you're leveled up, you get one." Any one-shot adventure's that would work?

[PhaedrusXY]

Q168: Is there any easy way for a Bard to gain heavy armor proficiency without dropping a level of casting or costing more than one feat?  (One feat would be fine, so if the bard could get medium armor proficiency, that would do the trick.)

A168: Depends on whether you actually need the proficiency as a pre-req, or just the armor. The easiest option for the latter is to get Mithril Heavy Armor, which counts as medium armor thanks to Mithril's qualities.

As a pre-req, sadly.  I don't even need the ability to cast in heavy armor; just having proficiency so I can take the appropriate prestige class would be enough.

Does Bind Vestige (Savnok) do it? I forget.

The feat alone gets you Savnok's heavy armor, but not the proficiency.  Binding Savnok provides the proficiency, but that will cost you a level of Binder, 4 skill points in Indimidate, and Improved Binding.

That pretty clearly seems like an oversight to me. I'd ask your DM about this...

[tomasmans]

Q 173

My DM says that I can't use Legacy Champion/Uncanny Trickster to improve class features past a PrC normal level, is there any literature/raw/faq/sage/custServ/whatever to convince him otherwise?

[PhaedrusXY]

Q 173

My DM says that I can't use Legacy Champion/Uncanny Trickster to improve class features past a PrC normal level, is there any literature/raw/faq/sage/custServ/whatever to convince him otherwise?

Nope.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Q171 Does anything exist to make psionics usable while raging?

You could probably do it with Phrenic, but that's not quite the same.

[Littha]

Q171 Does anything exist to make psionics usable while raging?

You could probably do it with Phrenic, but that's not quite the same.

You could possibly adapt rage mage if you put your mind to it... but its an awful PRC

[PhaedrusXY]

Q171 Does anything exist to make psionics usable while raging?

You could probably do it with Phrenic, but that's not quite the same.

Ask your DM how Schism would work on someone who is raging. Maybe their "second mind" can be free from the influence of Rage. Not RAW maybe, but seems pretty reasonable to me.