Ask a Simple Question: The Revenge of the Grue

[kevin_video]

Don't pick summon swarm - you already can cast it.

He has access to it, it's not that he can already cast it. There's lots of 2nd lvl druid spells he can take over that one. But again, it depends on whether he's a true summoner or not. In which case he'd either have or not have feats that boost his summoning. If he takes the rage ability, the spell Blood Frenzy gives him an extra use. RAW says it does.

[kevin_video]

Q 226 A Pathfinder druid gets to choose whether they want an animal companion, or a cleric domain, at lvl 1. I'm not a companion kind of person so I'll be going with the domain. Which of the list would be best? The choices are: Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Water, or Weather.

[Viletta Vadim]

Q 226 A Pathfinder druid gets to choose whether they want an animal companion, or a cleric domain, at lvl 1. I'm not a companion kind of person so I'll be going with the domain. Which of the list would be best? The choices are: Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Water, or Weather.

A226 Treantmonk advises Weather, but he only really recommends the domain route for heavy-casting Druids.

[kevin_video]

Q 226 A Pathfinder druid gets to choose whether they want an animal companion, or a cleric domain, at lvl 1. I'm not a companion kind of person so I'll be going with the domain. Which of the list would be best? The choices are: Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Water, or Weather.

A226 Treantmonk advises Weather, but he only really recommends the domain route for heavy-casting Druids.

Fair enough. I'll likely be a heavy caster, despite the lack of spells per day a druid gets now (1 less per level up to 6th). I like casting for some reason.

[Viletta Vadim]

Fair enough. I'll likely be a heavy caster, despite the lack of spells per day a druid gets now (1 less per level up to 6th). I like casting for some reason.

Mind that the domain comes with the extra domain slots, which is a large part of why Treantmonk advises domains for heavy casting PF Druids.

[kevin_video]

Fair enough. I'll likely be a heavy caster, despite the lack of spells per day a druid gets now (1 less per level up to 6th). I like casting for some reason.

Mind that the domain comes with the extra domain slots, which is a large part of why Treantmonk advises domains for heavy casting PF Druids.

Yeah, it makes up for the 1 less you get with Pathfinder.

[Slaughterhouserock]

This is a tough one. The easiest answer would be "check with your DM".  FWIW, only the monk's unarmed strike seems to count as a natural weapon when it comes to pretty much anything. An unarmed strike does not, for example, pierce DR if you happen to have the same kind (i.e. if you have DR 5/magic and a natural weapon, your weapon is considered magic for the purpose of bypassing DR). Natural weapons also get wonky when it comes to calculating iteratives and full attacks.

I could see a case being made for it, but insofar as rules are concerned I can't recall anything saying "natural weapons count as having IUS for the purpose of qualifying for feats".

Cheers.  It's good to know I'm not alone in thinking it seems alright, and my DM ok'ed it.  Though I did find this article that says "natural weapons are not a substitute for Improved Unarmed Strike" in case anyone else has this issue pop up.

[Kuroimaken]

This is a tough one. The easiest answer would be "check with your DM".  FWIW, only the monk's unarmed strike seems to count as a natural weapon when it comes to pretty much anything. An unarmed strike does not, for example, pierce DR if you happen to have the same kind (i.e. if you have DR 5/magic and a natural weapon, your weapon is considered magic for the purpose of bypassing DR). Natural weapons also get wonky when it comes to calculating iteratives and full attacks.

I could see a case being made for it, but insofar as rules are concerned I can't recall anything saying "natural weapons count as having IUS for the purpose of qualifying for feats".

Cheers.  It's good to know I'm not alone in thinking it seems alright, and my DM ok'ed it.  Though I did find this article that says "natural weapons are not a substitute for Improved Unarmed Strike" in case anyone else has this issue pop up.

Glad to be of help, and thanks for the article.

[snakeman830]

Q227: Is there any interest in a "tiers for templates" list?  I'm thinking it would be comparing the benefits and drawbacks of the template for its LA cost.  Probably 4 categories: Obscenely Great (Feral), Strong (Dark), Fair (Necropolitan) and Overpriced (Half Dragon).  Perhaps a 5th category of severely overpriced (Vampire) as well.  Dragonborn would not be included in these because of the extreme variation depending on the base race.  Any interest?

[kevin_video]

Q227: Is there any interest in a "tiers for templates" list?  I'm thinking it would be comparing the benefits and drawbacks of the template for its LA cost.  Probably 4 categories: Obscenely Great (Feral), Strong (Dark), Fair (Necropolitan) and Overpriced (Half Dragon).  Perhaps a 5th category of severely overpriced (Vampire) as well.  Dragonborn would not be included in these because of the extreme variation depending on the base race.  Any interest?

*flails arms and jumps up and down* Oh me definitely. I'd be very interested in that list. You can add half-medusa at LA +3 in there as well. I got my DM to accept it as a +2. The reason it's got a +3 is because you have a high CHA score, that's supposed to up it the additional +1.

[bearsarebrown]

Q227: Is there any interest in a "tiers for templates" list?  I'm thinking it would be comparing the benefits and drawbacks of the template for its LA cost.  Probably 4 categories: Obscenely Great (Feral), Strong (Dark), Fair (Necropolitan) and Overpriced (Half Dragon).  Perhaps a 5th category of severely overpriced (Vampire) as well.  Dragonborn would not be included in these because of the extreme variation depending on the base race.  Any interest?

Interested. I know this isn't the place for it, but I'm put Necropolitan at Strong. I'd also support the +2/+1/+0/-1/-2 format from PrC tiers.

[kevin_video]

I didn't realize there was such a tier for PrCs.

Q 228 Question regarding wealth and NPCs levels. Found this wonderful site http://dicefreaks.superforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=566 and if of course lists both sets of wealth. If an NPC Fighter 4 has 3300 gold, what would a Warrior 4 have? Half because they're half the CR? The same?

EDIT: Got another question as well. Q 229 What does "Grd" and "App" stand for when it comes to NPC classes? I'm looking at a premade tournament 3-part campaign. The App has d6 with arcane spells, and the Grd has d6 as well.

[ksbsnowowl]

Warlocks and Crusaders can, strangely enough, apparently still advance even after changing alignment to an ineligible one (there is no "ex-warlocks" or "Ex Crusaders" paragraph).

Fair enough. Still though, it says what they are. Or rather, what they SHOULD be. And if they're designed by WotC, they should know better.

One of the Warlock PrC's from Complete Mage (Enlightened Spirit) allows Alignment: Any Good, which is a contradiction to Warlocks needing to be Chaotic or Evil, so it can happen, and doesn't seem to hinder their already-gained abilities.  The sample character is a LG Warlock 5/Enlightened Spirit 5.

I know, I know... Johnny-come-lately with the answer.

[kevin_video]

One of the Warlock PrC's from Complete Mage (Enlightened Spirit) allows Alignment: Any Good, which is a contradiction to Warlocks needing to be Chaotic or Evil, so it can happen, and doesn't seem to hinder their already-gained abilities.  The sample character is a LG Warlock 5/Enlightened Spirit 5.

.......That just hurt my brain. 

[ksbsnowowl]

Asking again.

Q 216 Anyone know where I can find a write up on an axe lute? Apparently they exist, or so says the DM and we're supposed to quest for one for the bard/fighter half elf.

Check 3.0 Song and Silence.  That would be my best guess.

[kevin_video]

Asking again.

Q 216 Anyone know where I can find a write up on an axe lute? Apparently they exist, or so says the DM and we're supposed to quest for one for the bard/fighter half elf.

Check 3.0 Song and Silence.  That would be my best guess.

Just looked. Afraid not.

[Agita]

What if you just take a double axe, split it in half and add a lute on the other end with Sovereign Glue?

[BowenSilverclaw]

Also, going with your DMs in general, are you sure it's not something homebrewed?

[kevin_video]

Also, going with your DMs in general, are you sure it's not something homebrewed?

Actually this was something a player wanted, but she doesn't remember where she saw it. So the DM said it's something she'll have to quest for once she's able to show it to him. She's fine with that, but it's starting to get to her that she just can not find this item.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Also, going with your DMs in general, are you sure it's not something homebrewed?

Actually this was something a player wanted, but she doesn't remember where she saw it. So the DM said it's something she'll have to quest for once she's able to show it to him. She's fine with that, but it's starting to get to her that she just can not find this item.

Well, I honestly can't say I've ever seen such an item...
Maybe she's thinking of one of the other items mentioned? I guess it can't hurt to talk with her about it/showing her those items already mentioned...