Random DM nagging.

[Anastasia]

A reminder about posting the tower shield book in case it slipped through the cracks.

I'll finally read it!

Oh yes, that's a mastery book?

[Anastasia]

Let's ranger it up for Lisa. Evil outsiders as main favored enemy, combat option builds on making searing light viable vs devils.

Okay, Lisa and Ellese are on tap for this weekend. Lisa will be something like wolf 26//ranger 26.

[Anastasia]

1) There's a 3.0 Feat from Races of Renown - Bastards and Bloodlines named Lost Tradition. According to my understanding it allows you to use a different stat with a casting class (ie if you wanted Wis-based Favored Souls). This basically means spell DCs and bonus spells. If it is allowed I would like it to make my Archivist Cha-based rather than Int-based. Of course, if there's another way to do it that I overlooked, please let me know.

Isn't that a third party homebrew book? I'd have to see if I have a copy and make a judgment call. I'll come back to this since it'll take some digging.

2) Confirming that when we get Stat X to AC untyped permanently from a class feature (in Lucy's case, Cha), and a spell like Beauty Triumphant gives the same Stat X to AC as a named bonus (in that case, deflection) temporarily they stack for the spell's duration due to the different bonus types.

Generally not, I go out of my way to avoid that situation. The exceptions are usually deific in nature and intentional, as deities get to break some rules that mortal creatures don't. The other exception is a situation like Jetina - she applies Wis to Will saves twice due to Serenity.

3) Mage of the Arcane Order doesn't have an epic progression, but I'm presuming that lvl11 gives me spells, +0BAB and opens up the next level of Spellpool spells (10-12) in line with previous Spellpool advances. If I'm mistaken on anything, just say the word.

I'll whip one up this weekend to settle that. Lucy won't see combat right away so that should be okay until then.

4) Do the succubus traits draw from succubus HD or overall HD? I know Spell Resistance goes off total HD with the way you treat it, but what about Energy Drain or the Succubus SLAs?

Total for those two.

5) Perhaps related to that, her DR is 10/cold iron. Does it gain 'epic' due to her level alone to become 10/cold iron and epic?

Depends on how many racial hit dice you have. How many do you have?

6) I'm presuming she's starting play with no funds but keeps her original items.

That's fine, run her items past me just to be sure?

[Anastasia]

Lucy post #2, Magic!

A) Like we talked earlier, I'm interested in going with an acid theme. Assuming there's no issue, it means a palette swap on relevant spells and feats.

Searing Spell gains a Corrosive Spell variant where it comes to feats,

That's fine. Write it up for me and it'll go in houserules.

and spells like Chain Lightning, Delayed Blast Fireball, Iceberg or Polar Ray gain [Acid] variants in addition to their originals. I don't want to use energy substitution on the original spells, but rather have the variants as spells known if there is no issue.

Also, going by the last posts in the thread Iddy is aiming for an acid approach, actually? Iddy, are you cool with this?

My general take on that is this: A variant or two is fine, especially for more common spells. If you're going whole hog on it, it's better to invest in energy substitution. It starts feeling like you want the theme of energy substitution but don't want to blow the resources for it, which feels like an end run around it.

B) I'd like to verify how Arcane Spellsurge would work.

Specifically, what about interactions with Spellpool? Does it speed up spell retrieval from the Spellpool? What about after the spell had been called, does it affect the casting time?

I believe the answers are no and yes, but would like a confirmation.

You are correct.

C) Wings of Flurry. As you'll recall, I brought up that it's listed under both banned and changed spells in the houserules. I believe the banned version is the mistake, given the spell was adjusted and that it's not a lvl2 spell but a lvl4 one. Unless you meant to write Wings of Cover? Lucy had both in Lost Realm without issues, so let me know if you want to change anything there.

Fixed that, I believe from text the banned one was meant to be wings of cover. Houseruled wings of flurry is fine. Wings of cover is okay for now. It may well get nerfed hard, but we'll try it.

D) Mage of the Arcane Order has the New Spell feature. The way it's written is a bit unclear in my situation, given that Lucy does actually use spellbooks (an arcane one due to the Arcane Preparation feat, and a divine one called a prayerbook from Archivist).
It's not quite what the ability is for, but can I use it to learn a non-wizard spell instead of my spell known? Like that cache of divine spells prepared as arcane that Baleruk grabbed, or something from the bard list?

No. That's way, way, way outside of the scope of what the ability does. It doesn't give you the ability to learn spells from outside of your spell list.

E) Can Superior Shadow Evocation exist?

At present, the Shadow Conjuration and Shadow Evocation spells are:

Shadow Evocation lvl5 (20%)
Shadow Evocation, Greater lvl8 (60%)

Shadow Conjuration lvl4 (20%)
Shadow Conjuration, Greater lvl7 (60%)
Shades lvl9 (80%)

To go with the pattern, Superior Shadow Evocation would be a lvl10 spell that mimics evocation but up to 9th level and 80% real.

Yeah, something like that's fine. Write it up and at worst it proves horribly broken and houseruled away.

[Anastasia]

OOC, I'm curious what the ring became, since it's been a quest since May of 2012!

+7 perfection bonus to AC, immunity to fire, constant protection from evil on the wearer, CL21st.

[Yuthirin]

perfection bonus

wat

[Corwin]

perfection bonus

wat

Translation: "stacks with everything" bonus

[Corwin]

1) There's a 3.0 Feat from Races of Renown - Bastards and Bloodlines named Lost Tradition. According to my understanding it allows you to use a different stat with a casting class (ie if you wanted Wis-based Favored Souls). This basically means spell DCs and bonus spells. If it is allowed I would like it to make my Archivist Cha-based rather than Int-based. Of course, if there's another way to do it that I overlooked, please let me know.

Isn't that a third party homebrew book? I'd have to see if I have a copy and make a judgment call. I'll come back to this since it'll take some digging.

It seems to be an actual book, though for 3.0. I sadly didn't have an appropriate example from elsewhere, just stuff like Serenity or stuff like Ascetic Mage.

2) Confirming that when we get Stat X to AC untyped permanently from a class feature (in Lucy's case, Cha), and a spell like Beauty Triumphant gives the same Stat X to AC as a named bonus (in that case, deflection) temporarily they stack for the spell's duration due to the different bonus types.

Generally not, I go out of my way to avoid that situation. The exceptions are usually deific in nature and intentional, as deities get to break some rules that mortal creatures don't. The other exception is a situation like Jetina - she applies Wis to Will saves twice due to Serenity.

I get where you're coming from, but it does feel a bit off. Jaela got the spell, she has a stat to AC like most if not all PCs (cha, ovbiously), she also has +6 deflection to AC from a ring of protection +6. I assumed that using the spell would give her (CHA mod - 6 existing deflection) extra deflection AC, by not stacking with the deflection bonus but stacking with the normal one. Is that actually wrong?

5) Perhaps related to that, her DR is 10/cold iron. Does it gain 'epic' due to her level alone to become 10/cold iron and epic?

Depends on how many racial hit dice you have. How many do you have?

The 12 that the 'monster' class progresses. Unlike the succubus features running off total HD, this runs off levels, then? I hoped any character with 21+ levels and DR automatically had 'epic' tagged on to it.

6) I'm presuming she's starting play with no funds but keeps her original items.

That's fine, run her items past me just to be sure?

Sure.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Items: CASH 418.25gp, Arcanist's Gloves [MIC p72; 1,000gp swift 2/day to raise CL of lvl1 spell by 2], Conduit Rod [MIC p155; 6,000gp swift/energy res 20 for 1 round], Lesser Rod of Chain Spell [MIC p165; 14,000gp], Lesser Rod of Extend Spell [3,000gp], Lesser Rod of Enlarge Spell [3,000gp], Necklace of Adaptation [9,000gp], Scrying Beacon: 1,500 gold [MIC], Courtier's Outfit + Jewelry [80gp], 2 daggers [4gp], Spellbook [0/100 pages full, 15gp], Black Knight's Sword: Greatsword+1. Grants a +2 bonus to the caster level of spells and spell-like abilities from the school of necromancy. [8,000gp]

Two of Miimi's best clocks, stopped at the same time.
Black veil: Protects eyes from the sea of light. Does not inhibit vision otherwise.
Rod of Wonder: Has 5 charges left. Causes a wild magic surge, identical to the ones that destroyed the ship. Another item infused with the chaos of the ship's explosion. Probably not a lot of value here, unless you find a wild mage. Conversely, using it could bring reward or ruin. Depends on how lucky you feel. No idea on a price here, either. CURRENTLY, HAS 0 CHARGES.

[Anastasia]

perfection bonus

wat

It's in the BoED. It's rare but it is a type of bonus.

[Corwin]

Spells-wise, I'm getting Burst of Glory and Nerve Overload. I'm unsure of Legion's Gates, and will probably drop Energy Immunity since I can access it via domain now (likely in favor of Cleansing Rain which is awesome). I need to figure out what to do for lvl11 slots and possibly a lvl12 one. Did you ever have any ideas for elven pantheon-themed spells? Selune and Lathander give a bunch of spells to their devout followers, just to name a couple, so it'd be neat to have something.

I haven't personally, who I design epic spells for tends to boil down to where my ideas go plus NPCs I stat out for posting. CL's always been on the docket but he's a low priority since greater deities need a lot of work and I've never been inspired.

Spells to play off the aspects of the Seladrine are certain possible. The Triune's easy, just focus on spells with 3 in 1 aspects and combinations. They're a gestalt deity, so that should be a prominent factor.

Sure, I'll think of something.

Do I get more spell slots for pre-epic Divine Crusader casting? Judging by both epic and pre-epic progressions, they go from 0 to 3, but the pre-epic class stops at lvl6 and lvl7 spells get only 2 slots when the pre-epic class ends. Basically, now that it's continuing do I get another lvl7 slot to bring me up to 3, and another lvl8 slot the next level and so on for lvl9?

Sure, whatever.

Thanks! Adjusted on sheet.

[Corwin]

Mass Power Word Stun might work as War 12, so I'll focus on War 11 for now. I figured I'd go on a 'Greater Divine Power' tangent here, using the lvl11 cleric spell Martyr's Kiss as inspiration of where to take it.

Divine Power

Spoiler: ShowHide

Evocation
Level:    Clr 4, War 4
Components:    V, S, DF
Casting Time:    1 standard action
Range:    Personal
Target:    You
Duration:    1 round/level

Calling upon the divine power of your patron, you imbue yourself with strength and skill in combat. Your base attack bonus becomes equal to your character level (which may give you additional attacks), you gain a +6 enhancement bonus to Strength, and you gain 1 temporary hit point per caster level.

Martyr's Kiss

Spoiler: ShowHide

Abjuration [Good]
Level: Clr 11
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 full-round action
Range: Touch.
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: Special; see text
Spell Resistance: No

This spell protects a martyr to be, making them a dynamic force in a dramatic sacrifice. They gain a +10 sacred bonus to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, caster level checks, armor class and saving throws. The target of the spell does not automatically fail a saving throw on a natural 1. Further, reducing his hit points to 0 or less does not incapacitate the target of the spell at all, nor does being reduced to -10 or lower hit points cause the death of the character. They are immune to petrification, imprisonment, temporal stasis or any other attempt to imprison or bind them.

At the end of the duration, when the target is slain, if this spell is successfully dispelled or as a standard action when the target desires, his body explodes in a titanic burst of holy light. This deals damage equal to the target's current hit points + 50 to all targets within 40ft of the target. A fortitude save halves this damage. Obviously, this explosion kills the target if he is not already dead. Dying in this matter bypasses regeneration and other similar abilities, as the body is completely destroyed.

This spell functions only on willing targets who are aware of what the spell does. If forced on a target or they are not aware of how it works, Kiss of the Martyr fails.

Material Component

A pair of tears shed at the completion of the spell, one by the caster and one by the target.

Greater Divine Power

Spoiler: ShowHide

Evocation
Level: Clr 11, War 11
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

Calling upon the divine power of your patron, you imbue yourself with strength and skill in combat. Your base attack bonus becomes equal to your character level (which may give you additional attacks) as well as gaining a +10 sacred bonus to attack rolls and weapon damage rolls, and you gain 2 temporary hit point per caster level.

I believe we talked about this one and some changes, but it didn't go any further? Refresh me.

This is correct. The next link (here it is again) continued the discussion on my side. I believe it's the last one, as you never replied to it.

[Corwin]

A reminder about posting the tower shield book in case it slipped through the cracks.

I'll finally read it!

Oh yes, that's a mastery book?

Correct!

[Corwin]

Greater Displacement

Remind me tomorrow, need to do a bit of DM homework on one part of this.

Reminding!

[Corwin]

Lucy post #2, Magic!

A) Like we talked earlier, I'm interested in going with an acid theme. Assuming there's no issue, it means a palette swap on relevant spells and feats.

Searing Spell gains a Corrosive Spell variant where it comes to feats,

That's fine. Write it up for me and it'll go in houserules.

and spells like Chain Lightning, Delayed Blast Fireball, Iceberg or Polar Ray gain [Acid] variants in addition to their originals. I don't want to use energy substitution on the original spells, but rather have the variants as spells known if there is no issue.

Also, going by the last posts in the thread Iddy is aiming for an acid approach, actually? Iddy, are you cool with this?

My general take on that is this: A variant or two is fine, especially for more common spells. If you're going whole hog on it, it's better to invest in energy substitution. It starts feeling like you want the theme of energy substitution but don't want to blow the resources for it, which feels like an end run around it.

The problem with energy substitution is that even if the level adjustment is +0, a sorc will end up taking the entire round to cast those spells. Metamagic specialist lets me ignore metamagic penalties 8/day, which is doable for the occasional quicken or maximize, but won't be possible for every spell meant to fit a theme.

If that doesn't work, I'll cherry-pick spells from a given element or forego this approach altogether, so let me know?

E) Can Superior Shadow Evocation exist?

At present, the Shadow Conjuration and Shadow Evocation spells are:

Shadow Evocation lvl5 (20%)
Shadow Evocation, Greater lvl8 (60%)

Shadow Conjuration lvl4 (20%)
Shadow Conjuration, Greater lvl7 (60%)
Shades lvl9 (80%)

To go with the pattern, Superior Shadow Evocation would be a lvl10 spell that mimics evocation but up to 9th level and 80% real.

Yeah, something like that's fine. Write it up and at worst it proves horribly broken and houseruled away.

Superior Shadow Evocation
Illusion (Shadow)
Level:
Sor/Wiz 10

This spell functions like shadow evocation, except that it enables you to create partially real, illusory versions of sorcerer or wizard evocation spells of 9th level or lower. If recognized as a superior shadow evocation, a damaging spell deals only four-fifths (80%) damage.

[Iron Dragoon]

From IRC:
I mean, I'm not going whole hog into it, but there are spells that have really good secondary effects or range and stuff but are like Fire or something else that's semi-commonly resisted by devils.
Energy Sub: Acid thing was just to have a vehicle to make those spells more viable without the work of rewriting stuff endlessly.
Like Simmer's Surprise for example.
Great spell and she uses it great, but she's got all kinds of stuff to punch through fire resistance and immunity. I don't.
So I need to change the damage type to something more suitable.

New:
Which is why I wanted it more than 3/day on the staff. Granted I asked for unlimited and looking back that's a bit excessive, but yeah. More times per day would be super nice.