Mini naggings

[Corwin]

Factotum 5//Monk 5

18:14 <Skaya> roll 1d8 lvl5 hp
18:14 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d8 lvl5 hp --> [ 1d8=6 ]{6}

Aside from gaining 8 hp, Skaya gains Opportunistic Piety. Flurry penalty is reduced to -1. +1 inspiration point, arcane spell emulation goes to lvl2 (I'm going to go with Mirror Image and False Life by default), AC bonus from monk raises by 1, Purity of Body gained (both too late to be of use and too weak to have been useful in the first place). +BAB, but saves or feats are next level.

[Anastasia]

A judgment call came up for one of Anne's vows, so I made a ruling. It's crossposted here since it may matter for loot one day.

Anne has taken a vow to tend to the poor. While she is not under a vow of poverty, she has promised to use her skills to provide for the lowest in society. She must uphold this whenever possible and spend at least 50% of her income on support for the poor. Likewise, she honors this vow by serving at an orphanage.  Through this vow she spreads hope in a better tomorrow for those who otherwise would have none.

Additionally, Anne has taken a vow of chastity until marriage. Should she marry and start her own family, she is eligible to have her vows reviewed and changed. Anne has no plans to marry as of now, though the option is left open for the future.

These vows provides Anne relatively few restrictions on her behavior, but in exchange is a large drain on her finances.

Ruling One: When selling things previously purchased from funds already reduced by donations, Anne is not obligated to give 50% of those funds to the poor. It's to prevent situations where she's double taxed on the same income. She may still in some cases as she sees fit. This ruling may be revised if it comes to violate the spirit of Anne's vow or otherwise be detrimental to it.

[Nephrite]

I am trying to create a few extra Abjuration spells for down the line use.

Greater Shield
Abjuration [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time:   1 standard action
Range:   Personal
Target:   You
Duration: 10 min./level (D)
This spell functions like shield, except the armor bonus increases to +8.


Greater Deflect
Abjuration [Force]
Level: Duskblade 4, Sor/Wiz 4, Spellthief 4
Components: V,
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round or until discharged

This spell functions like lesser deflect, except that you gain a shield bonus to AC equal to your caster level against the next attack made against you before the end of your next turn.

[Anastasia]

This is really just a modification of what we talked about, but it changes it from a feat tax to an ACF. I think it's something people who take a Vow of Nonviolence might consider. It's certainly a loss in combat power, but not every character is combat focused.


Alternate Class Feature

Eldath's Quiet Fists

Many of those who follow the path of The Quiet One wish to fight with words instead of weapons, especially a flurry of them.

Class: Monk

Deity: Eldath

Level: 1st

Replaces: If you select this alternate class feature, you do not gain flurry of blows or its improvements.

Benefit: You may use your charisma modifier instead of Wisdom for all monk abilities, if it is higher. At 11th level, you gain a bonus to Diplomacy checks equal to one-half of your Monk level.

We'll give it a try with you and see how it goes.

[Anastasia]

I am trying to create a few extra Abjuration spells for down the line use.

Greater Shield
Abjuration [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time:   1 standard action
Range:   Personal
Target:   You
Duration: 10 min./level (D)
This spell functions like shield, except the armor bonus increases to +8.


Greater Deflect
Abjuration [Force]
Level: Duskblade 4, Sor/Wiz 4, Spellthief 4
Components: V,
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round or until discharged

This spell functions like lesser deflect, except that you gain a shield bonus to AC equal to your caster level against the next attack made against you before the end of your next turn.

Shield's bonus for 2 levels is too high. For example, Greater Mage Armor goes from +4 to +6 from 1st to 3rd level. That aside, I don't want to start escalating armor class too high right now. Shield's also a shield bonus to AC, not armor, those are distinct bonus types. It also increases the duration notably, so I'm going to reject that one.

I'm also going to say no to the second spell. Let's see how well you do with baseline deflect before we roll out a stronger version.

[Nephrite]

That's fine - I can always come up with them later down the road as needed.

[Nephrite]

Loot! Loot! Loot! Loot!

[Nephrite]

Mettle is powerful, but generally speaking most classes can get it at Level 7-9ish via PrCs. I don't think most people would take this, but I also don't think most people would take that many levels of Knight, either...

Alternate Class Feature: Protected by the Grove

Knights of Eldath sometimes choose to protect themselves against magic with their willpower, rather than protecting themselves from attacks with armor.

Class: Knight

Deity: Eldath

Level: 4th

Replaces: If you select this alternate class feature, you do not gain armor mastery (medium) or armor mastery (heavy).

Benefit: You are able to shrug off the effects of most magic. You gain the benefits of the Iron Will feat. If you already have it, you may select another feat. At 9th level, you gain the mettle Supernatural ability.

[Anastasia]

Congratulations, it's level up time! The party goes from level 5 to level 6. Choose your next level wisely.

Additionally, each of you have the Sphere of the Elements. Bear in mind that the level adjustment of that template has to be paid off as racial hit dice. If you choose to use your sphere now, it can be done before or after you level up, as you prefer.

There's a lot of elementals out there, including para and quasi elementals. Bear in mind that not all have 3.5 or even 3.0 templates. If you're interested in one that lacks a 3.5 template, talk to me and we'll go over it. I'll make one for you if necessary, but only one and only once you've chosen one you really want. This will come after discussion so there shouldn't be any surprises.

[Nephrite]

I would be curious in the following:

Radiance
Positive
Astral (?? it is a plane!)

[Anastasia]

Astral doesn't have elementals so that's out.

For positive there's the vivacious creature template, which has some issues and is a big commitment. To be honest I'm on the fence of allowing it anyway since the incorporeality is a big issue.

Radiance is fire and positive energy, so probably similar to half fire elemental, but more light. Blindness/light immunity in place of fire immunity. Probably tweaks to the SLAs to fit as well.

[Nephrite]

I'd be fine with something like vivacious creature, just without the incorporeality, if you wanted.

[Anastasia]

I think the homebrew healer I did has that as a capstone, actually. Go check that and see what it does for that and report back.

Yes, I'm tired after swimming and delegating ruthlessly. It's in homebrew.

[Nephrite]

So just to have it all in one place:

Size and Type: The creature's type changes to outsider. Not native outsider - https://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm

Important bits about outsiders:

Darkvision to 60 ft, don't need to sleep, eat. Die when they are killed.

Speed: A vivacious creature gains a fly speed equal to its base land speed with perfect maneuverability.

Armor Class: Gains a deflection bonus equal to its Charisma modifier or +1, whichever is higher.

Special Attacks: A vivacious creature retains all the special attacks of the base creature, although those relying on physical contact do not affect non-ethereal creatures. It also gains the following special attack.

Positive Energy Ray (Su): A vivacious creature can fire a positive energy ray once every 1d4 rounds with a range of 60 feet.

With a successful ranged touch attack, the vivacious creature infuses a target with positive energy equal to 1d4 + its Cha modifier. This attack damages undead and heals living creatures. Creatures that exceed their full normal hit points from this effect need to make Fortitude saves as if in a positive-dominant environment.

Special Qualities: A vivacious creature has all the special qualities of the base creature. In addition, it gains the following special qualities.

Fast Healing (Ex): Vivacious creatures regain hit points at a rate of 5 hit points per round.

Limited Spell Resistance (Negative Energy) (Ex): A vivacious creature has spell resistance equal to 15 + Hit Dice (maximum 35) against any spell or spell-like ability that uses negative energy, including inflict spells.

Positive Energy Aura (Su): Any living creature within 10 feet of a vivacious creature gains 1 hit point per round due to the aura of positive energy surrounding it. Creatures that exceed their full normal hit points from this effect need to make Fortitude saves as if in a positive-dominant environment. Creatures with immunity to positive energy effects, as well as other vivacious creatures, are not affected by this aura. If conscious, a vivacious creature can suppress this aura as a free action.

Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Constitution +2, Charisma +2.

Level Adjustment: Original LA is +5, you could probably reduce it to 4 since you're losing out on a lot of the better stuff?

[Anastasia]

Since Rina's made her mind up already, she's going to use the Sphere of Elements and become half fire elemental as well as reach level 6. She'll do it before she levels and start paying off the +3 LA immediately.

Rina reaches level 6!

- Half Fire Elemental 1 and Scout 6.
- Rolls a 5 on a d8 for a total of 11 hit points and a grand total of 73 hit points.
- +1 BAB for a total of +6.
- Gains flawless stride. Mildly useful.
- All saves rise by two.
- All skills go up as normal.
- Darkstalker(6) as her new feat. She needs it sooner or later, so may as well get it now.

Now for the Half Fire Elemental template.

- Type changes to outsider.
- Gains darkvision 60ft. A useful pickup.
- No longer needs to eat, drink or sleep. Breathing's somewhat optional for Balmuria outsiders, this is something outsiders shed sooner or later, and stronger ones never need to in the first place. With Rina's lungs air's likely to soon become a suggestion rather than a need.
- Gains the fire subtype.
- Gains immunity to fire.
- Gains vulnerability to cold. Yuki-Onna's Sword gives resistance 10 to cold, which certainly helps mitigate that.
- +1 bonus to natural armor. More AC helps her as always.
- +4 Dex. A big gain for her considering she uses weapon finesse and has evasion.
- +2 Int. Not huge for her but it lets her grab and max another skill. She takes Knowledge(Geography).
- +2 Cha. Not huge for her again, but a larger bonus opens up some possibilities down the line.
- Gains 3 SLAs she already has. The daily uses stack so she has 2/day of burning hands, produce flame and flaming sphere.