Random DM nagging.

[Yuthirin]

I have a wands question. Would a wand have a caster level of the minimum class level required to create it, or be otherwise 1 unless stated?

[Anastasia]

The spell in a wand is the minimum level needed to cast it, unless stated otherwise. In those cases the wand is more expensive, such as the various advanced wands here: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wands.htm

So by default, a level 1 spell wand is CL 1, a level 2 spell want is CL 3 and so on.

[Yulia]

That's why wands suck except for things where CL barely matters, and even then it's a problem if dispels come along. As a pixie and thus an expert on all things magic, I highly recommend using staves instead.

[Yuthirin]

Your cheapo boss didn't give me enough money for staves!

[Anastasia]

You need more steam pixie.

[Anastasia]

I might houserule arcane strike to be a supernatural ability. Still debating, it came up in the goldenfire thread and IRC chat.

[Ebiris]

I always assumed it and anything else with arcane in the name would be Su.

[Corwin]

I think it's arcane magic, but more importantly using it is no different than precasting true strike or using the weapon's +1 enchantment. As in, I can't see circumstances where arcane strike's bonus would be eliminated but not these other examples.

[Anastasia]

This one's aimed at Iddy, though it's a good refresher for everyone.

When you use time stop, go ahead and immediately roll the duration and declare your actions for those rounds. I'll sort it out, call for any rolls and tell you if something won't work and would change your other actions. I'd rather have a few posts than two pages of back and forth over a time stop. Quicker that way, especially if we aren't posting back and forth to each other.

It's not a big deal, Iddy. More of a live and learn. It's your first time using time stop, so don't worry about it this time.

[Yuthirin]

Was just gonna assume, thought better of it. Would Ectoplasmic Shambler Fall under the same rules as other summoning abilities, making them standard actions?

[Anastasia]

Was just gonna assume, thought better of it. Would Ectoplasmic Shambler Fall under the same rules as other summoning abilities, making them standard actions?

Yes, unless there's a compelling reason otherwise.

[Yuthirin]

It's really just a swarm without the nausea

[Anastasia]

So it came to my attention on IRC that this happened: http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,103687.msg1060146.html#msg1060146 Neph mentioned the drow in passing, which don't exist in Balmuria. Just want to remind people of that. It isn't a big deal and I flat missed it at the time in that big text block. More relevantly, this does beg the question of the Lost Realm in Balmuria. Does it exist?

Maybe. The question's left highly open ended on purpose. I intentionally chose not to answer it when Neph and I did Moore's chargen. It could be a real, it could be an illusion, it could be a thousand other things. The answer isn't important. So anything from the Lost Realm should be regarded with a large grain of salt and not assumed to automatically be canon or not.

Also the reasons for why no drow are in the spoiler box below.

[spoiler]

I've never really cared for the drow nor do I get anything out of them. At best they get a dull sort of apathy from me and at worst I actively dislike them. That's one thing, but the real problem is that this saps the will and ability to properly DM them. Imagine you're a player who likes the drow and wants to deal with them. I give it a shot, but my heart's not in it. Moreover, you know a lot about the drow and expect certain things. I may not know that or may not adequately portray that. That means you don't get what you were hoping for and it's a bad thing all around.

I'd rather not run something that's inherently disinteresting to me, as I feel that's a recipe for failure. It's the same reason I'd never run a hard sci-fi campaign - it's not in my wheelhouse and I'm not going to do a good job at it. I'd rather focus on things that work for me so I can put forth the best game possible for all of us. Doing something that sabotages it is in no one's interests. Though y'know, maybe Eb or someone should run a second drow game in the Saturday slot. That's an idea.

Incidentally, it was mentioned that the gnomish God-King obliterated a deity and the race that worshiped it before being sealed away. That might well have been Lolth and the drow. If it was, more proof that Balmuria's gnomes are really big jerks.

[Merc]

Good for the gnomes if they managed that. They can always bring it up at parties to impress the elven girls or something.

[Anastasia]

Good for the gnomes if they managed that. They can always bring it up at parties to impress the elven girls or something.

Scary thought v2.