Random DM nagging 2: Endless nagging

[Corwin]

Likewise.

[Nephrite]

[13:40] <Moore> OOC: My grant move action doesn't allow someone to ignore AoOs, correct?
[13:42] <Kotono> OOC: Correct.
[13:43] <Moore> OOC: Okay. And do I need to be visible for my Inspire Courage to function?
[13:44] <Kotono> OOC: No, they just have to be able to hear you. Do me a favor and paste both of these rulings into nagging after your turn too, for reference.
[13:44] <Moore> OOC: Of course.

[Anastasia]

Todo tonight:

1. House rules. Can't believe I forgot that.
2. Wings of Flurry.
3. Wings of Cover.

[Anastasia]

Houserules are up. Toss any questions you may have in here.

[Anastasia]

First off, let's talk wings of flurry. The problem comes from this text:

You evoke flickering dragon's wings that strike at every target in range, dealing 1d6 points of damage per caster level to all designated targets within 30 feet (snip irrelevant information

It says that it strikes every target in range, then mentions all designated targets. To quote from the SRD about targets:

Some spells have a target or targets. You cast these spells on creatures or objects, as defined by the spell itself. You must be able to see or touch the target, and you must specifically choose that target. You do not have to select your target until you finish casting the spell.

So it looks like what we rolled with is the correct application of the rules. We'll see how this shakes out for balance.

Now let's look at wings of cover. This one will be quick on the first part of the ruling.

If your foe is about to attack you with a melee, ranged, spell, or psionic attack,

The attack wasn't melee, ranged, a spell or a psionic attack. It was a gaze attack. As such, it wasn't eligible to be blocked by wings of cover in the first place. To be fair, I didn't notice this until I reread it tonight. So that answers the immediate question.

To the second part of the ruling, that means it doesn't stop a lot of supernatural abilities and oddities. It mentions cover against area attacks, though since the wings are translucent, I'd rule they're ineffective against attacks based on vision. Gazes, rainbow pattern and similar things come to mind here. I'm assuming this section about cover and area attacks is independent of the previous information about blocking targeted melee, ranged, spells or psionic attacks.

This isn't the cleanest ruling but this sort of spell isn't one for clean rulings. Feel free to ask about individual situations when they occur, as I know there's going to be cases that need clarification. DM rulings ahoy!

[Anastasia]

Places and things is updated.

[Iron Dragoon]

6. For the sake of this game, non-healing cantrips/orisons are infinite. If I feel a usage of a particular infinite cantrip is a problem, I'll address it.

I don't suppose this also applies to Arcane Dilettante? It states: "Once you have used a spell, you cannot use it again until you have rested for 8 hours." At level 2 I get one level 0 spell slot, so even if I have 3 Inspiration to spend, I can only cast 1 spell per 8 hours, technically. If your ruling applies to AD, I can cast the spell X number of Inspiration, but I can't change what spell it without 8 hours of rest.

[Anastasia]

6. For the sake of this game, non-healing cantrips/orisons are infinite. If I feel a usage of a particular infinite cantrip is a problem, I'll address it.

I don't suppose this also applies to Arcane Dilettante? It states: "Once you have used a spell, you cannot use it again until you have rested for 8 hours." At level 2 I get one level 0 spell slot, so even if I have 3 Inspiration to spend, I can only cast 1 spell per 8 hours, technically. If your ruling applies to AD, I can cast the spell X number of Inspiration, but I can't change what spell it without 8 hours of rest.

For today I'll rule no. I'll come back to this over the weekend and figure it out, since it'll require looking at Factotum and figuring out how to handle that. I don't have the time before session today.

[Iron Dragoon]

Inspiration: I'm not sure how this may impact mechanics-wise, but is there a way to spend inspiration to take 10 on a bluff check in combat? A modification of Uncanny Feint from IB 3 maybe?

[Anastasia]

Inspiration: I'm not sure how this may impact mechanics-wise, but is there a way to spend inspiration to take 10 on a bluff check in combat?

Not RAW. You'd need a Factotum ACF for that. Off the top of my head, you'd probably trade cunning knowledge for cunning somethingthatletsyoutake10onskillchecksunderpressure. I can draw something up like that real quick, if you'd like.

A modification of Uncanny Feint from IB 3 maybe?

Okay, quick point-out here. From houserules:

20. Design note I've been meaning to add: PrCs don't get ACFs or anything like that. Base classes do. This  comes up every now and again and I'd like to have something to point to rather than explain it each time. So here.

Long story short, ACFs are the domains of base classes. Now this is a case with a custom PrC so it isn't the end of the world to tweak it a bit, but basically that sort of variance is designed for base classes. PrCs are about specialization while base classes are broader.

[Anastasia]

Quickie so I may tidy it up, but how's this look, Iddy?

Alternate Class Feature: Cunning Reliability

Instead of sudden bursts of insight above and beyond, you specialize in inspired reliability.

Class: Factotum

Level: 1st

Replaces: If you select this alternate class feature, you do not gain cunning knowledge.

Benefit: You can inspire yourself to be as steady as a rock. When you make a skill check, you can spend 1 point of inspiration to take 10 on the check, even if you are threatened or distracted. This does not allow you to take 10 in cases where it is not allowed otherwise, such as with Use Magic Device checks.

[Anastasia]

<Lucy> OOC: I want to prepare a nice and useful index for future use and sort things out. Categories are: maps/information about other places; magical theories that deviate from the standard (spellpool/metamagic/cooperative magic/etc); the magic that the snake coven used to drain people; Flanagan's personal research and notes

Maps and information on other places

There's not much in the way of maps. Flanagan doesn't seem to be much of a cartographer, something he mentions in one of his research entries.

The majority of his information about places is things in and around Rossalund. It looks like was around the island a fair bit, generally in the service of the medusas. There's a lot of information here, though it largely looks outdated with the tragedy that befell Rossalund.

There's a fair bit of information about Freeport Rock. Mostly notes about reliable places to stay/eat/get supplies (this will help if you care to use it for that) and the like. There's a short list of people to avoid and contacts in the magical world there. Or the hedge wizards as he calls them, doesn't seem to think much of the community there.

Beyond that it's scattered references and jottings. You'd need to spend some time parsing it all and gathering facts together

Magical theories that deviate from the norm

There's not a whole lot here, but there's a few bits. Flanagan did some research into 'runic magic', a system to cast purely by prepared runic carvings. It seems to be the domain of the occasional dwarf who comes to the Lost Realm. He didn't get beyond some surface observations due to a lack of material to study. His tentative conclusion is that it's promising but unrealistic to study unless a tutor or information source is found.

There's a short section on 'arcane divining', which seems to be a method of casting clerical magic as arcane spells. It's centered around a strange study of a feathered jungle serpents who teach worthy mages. Highly promising, but the serpents are rare and seldom take students. They also don't like medusas, he notes.

There's also some observation about light mages. These wizards call on the power of the light sea to fuel magic. They're intensely powerful, having magic that deals devastating amounts of damage if properly channeled. There's only one flaw - the rituals to first tap into the power involves ritually blinding yourself in the light sea. Also, the majority of them end up a little 'off', as he puts it. If this is a function of the ritual or a fact of those who would willingly blind themselves isn't clear.

Finally, there's some notes on spellpools. Mostly jots and doodles about notes on the concept. He mentions hearing that there may be one in Saraduel and he notes interest in studying it. The knowledge here is far from revolutionary - just the base basics beyond that possible lead. It looks solid but it's entirely surface information.

The magic the snake coven used to drain people

Nothing productive here. He doesn't talk directly about their capabilities much. He does mention Mistress De'natha and a passing reference alludes to it being a complication of vampirism. He never goes deeply into her situation, however, beyond a mention or two of it being an unfortunate mess.

Flanagan's other personal research and notes

Flanagan appears to be a jack of all trades. He studies a lot of things in light to moderate depth rather than specializing. It's a broad pool to wade through (and also parts are covered above). There's nothing immediately worthwhile here, but a long study could probably glean out useful insights. It's just not the sort of thing that a few hours of reading will reveal.

[Anastasia]

Re: Feline and talking to low intelligence (1-2) cats.

The Dragon Compendium briefly discusses feline in tibbit languages. It says that tibbits can use feline to talk to any cat. It mentions the stuff about diplomacy in another section (automatic languages if you're looking for it). My take is going to be this:

1. Tibbits can use feline to talk to cats of any intelligence. Lower intelligence felines talk in an extremely basic way that's as much empathic cyphering as real discussion.
2. Feline can't be spoofed by tongues. This is mostly to keep tongues from butting in on speaking with animals and the like. Effects greater than tongues (such as a deity being able to communicate with any creature that has a language) can spoof feline. These are pretty rare to see, so whatever.
3. With both of these in mind, I'm going to rule that using feline to communicate with lower intelligence felines is a supernatural ability. It's just a thing tibbits can do. Catfolk and other cat-flavored humanoids may or may not be able to use feline to do the same feat as tibbits, I'll leave that open for the moment since Dragon Compendium material doesn't always 100% line up with other books. Anyway, as tibbits have a cat form, I feel it's both best and RAI that they can communicate with basic cats.
4. Feline and telepathy. Telepathy would allow communication with a tibbit that only knew feline. However, it wouldn't allow it with a low intelligence feline. They don't know the language (or any for that matter), but a tibbit with feline can still use it to communicate them.

Any further questions on this one?

(This ruling is mostly making feline as written work. I'm half tempted to just give tibbits a racial ability to communicate with felines instead of as a language thing. It would work better than how they use feline to accomplish this and with less headaches. If y'all feel this is a bullshit ruling, let me know and I'll do that. It won't matter anything on your ends, but it'll make this little tangle a non-issue.)

[Corwin]

Is there some sort of item that lets you summon something (via the Summon Monster line or similar spells)? I'm talking about something that's either X times a day or uses up your magic when you activate it, not perishables.

[Anastasia]

Is there some sort of item that lets you summon something (via the Summon Monster line or similar spells)? I'm talking about something that's either X times a day or uses up your magic when you activate it, not perishables.

A custom item that can use summon monster or similar spells x times per day? I'm sure there's other things that do it too, but nothing comes immediately to mind.