Archivist's Dark Knowledge Class Ability [Archive] - Wizards Community

Archivist's Dark Knowledge Class Ability [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Myrmidias
07-03-07, 09:16 PM The Dark Knowledge class feature is a little vague in its description. When the archivist activates his Dark Knowledge class ability against a monster, do his allies get all of the benefits allowed by his class level, or must he pick one?
Chimaera2000
07-04-07, 01:11 AM (Here's the link to the Archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3) if anyone wants a reference)

From how I read the ability, it looks like you only gain one of the benefits of Dark Knowledge, chosen when you activate the ability. It's this line that suggests this to me in particular:

The archivist's dark knowledge can affect a single creature or all creatures of the same race, depending on the effect used.

I do agree that there is some ambiguity in the ability, though.
danielinthewolvesden
07-04-07, 02:51 AM No, it reads to me- and the only sane way to do it- is that the Achivist gets them all, upon a successful role. Otherwise it is so nerfed it is crazy.
Fabius Maximus
07-04-07, 06:07 AM No, it reads to me- and the only sane way to do it- is that the Achivist gets them all, upon a successful role. Otherwise it is so nerfed it is crazy.
Hmm?

It would be logical that the Archivist chooses one of the Dark Knowledge features and uses 1 use of the abiltiy to "activate" it.

The ability is not scaled by adding up the new abilities, but by raising the possibility of success through adding skillpoints to the relevant Knowledge skills.
danielinthewolvesden
07-04-07, 03:57 PM The ability gets you a +1 to +3 "to hit" vs around 10% of the monsters. It can be used only a few times a day. The bard gets +1 or +2 vs all foes and a small + to saves also.

The only sane way of reading this is that he archivist gets all of the abilities from one roll- IF said abilities are useful vs a certain monster.

The line "The archivist's dark knowledge can affect a single creature or all creatures of the same race, depending on the effect used." is referring to some of the higher level abilities which specifically effect only a single foe.
IRememberCecil
07-04-07, 04:33 PM I make them get all the bonuses on a successful roll. At higher levels, the Archivist is probably going to be using this ability on the characters that need it most, and at that level they'll probably be needing all of them.
Fabius Maximus
07-04-07, 04:44 PM The ability gets you a +1 to +3 "to hit" vs around 10% of the monsters. It can be used only a few times a day. The bard gets +1 or +2 vs all foes and a small + to saves also.

The only sane way of reading this is that he archivist gets all of the abilities from one roll- IF said abilities are useful vs a certain monster.

The way I understand you is that the boni coming from the single Dark Knowledge abilities is weaker than the Bard's Inspire Courage and therefore the Archivist should get all of his available boni at once.

You essentially want to make a very powerful class even stronger?

Remember: The Bard is a Jack of all trades, a support character. He needs a strong ability like his music.

The strong point about the Archivist are his spells and the ability to learn all divine spells. Dark Knowledge is just a nice and flavourful additional ability.

By the way: the Foe ability is really powerful, especially against enemies with damage reduction. It reduces the time used for combat significiantly.

I make them get all the bonuses on a successful roll. At higher levels, the Archivist is probably going to be using this ability on the characters that need it most, and at that level they'll probably be needing all of them.

Dark Knowledge affects all the Archivist's allies, not only one of them.
IRememberCecil
07-04-07, 06:19 PM Dark Knowledge affects all the Archivist's allies, not only one of them.
I know. I meant that the ones who will be most affected by them are the ones who will need them the most.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Myrmidias 07-03-07, 09:16 PM	The Dark Knowledge class feature is a little vague in its description. When the archivist activates his Dark Knowledge class ability against a monster, do his allies get all of the benefits allowed by his class level, or must he pick one?
Chimaera2000 07-04-07, 01:11 AM	(Here's the link to the Archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3) if anyone wants a reference) From how I read the ability, it looks like you only gain one of the benefits of Dark Knowledge, chosen when you activate the ability. It's this line that suggests this to me in particular: The archivist's dark knowledge can affect a single creature or all creatures of the same race, depending on the effect used. I do agree that there is some ambiguity in the ability, though.
danielinthewolvesden 07-04-07, 02:51 AM	No, it reads to me- and the only sane way to do it- is that the Achivist gets them all, upon a successful role. Otherwise it is so nerfed it is crazy.
Fabius Maximus 07-04-07, 06:07 AM	No, it reads to me- and the only sane way to do it- is that the Achivist gets them all, upon a successful role. Otherwise it is so nerfed it is crazy. Hmm? It would be logical that the Archivist chooses one of the Dark Knowledge features and uses 1 use of the abiltiy to "activate" it. The ability is not scaled by adding up the new abilities, but by raising the possibility of success through adding skillpoints to the relevant Knowledge skills.
danielinthewolvesden 07-04-07, 03:57 PM	The ability gets you a +1 to +3 "to hit" vs around 10% of the monsters. It can be used only a few times a day. The bard gets +1 or +2 vs all foes and a small + to saves also. The only sane way of reading this is that he archivist gets all of the abilities from one roll- IF said abilities are useful vs a certain monster. The line "The archivist's dark knowledge can affect a single creature or all creatures of the same race, depending on the effect used." is referring to some of the higher level abilities which specifically effect only a single foe.
IRememberCecil 07-04-07, 04:33 PM	I make them get all the bonuses on a successful roll. At higher levels, the Archivist is probably going to be using this ability on the characters that need it most, and at that level they'll probably be needing all of them.
Fabius Maximus 07-04-07, 04:44 PM	The ability gets you a +1 to +3 "to hit" vs around 10% of the monsters. It can be used only a few times a day. The bard gets +1 or +2 vs all foes and a small + to saves also. The only sane way of reading this is that he archivist gets all of the abilities from one roll- IF said abilities are useful vs a certain monster. The way I understand you is that the boni coming from the single Dark Knowledge abilities is weaker than the Bard's Inspire Courage and therefore the Archivist should get all of his available boni at once. You essentially want to make a very powerful class even stronger? Remember: The Bard is a Jack of all trades, a support character. He needs a strong ability like his music. The strong point about the Archivist are his spells and the ability to learn all divine spells. Dark Knowledge is just a nice and flavourful additional ability. By the way: the Foe ability is really powerful, especially against enemies with damage reduction. It reduces the time used for combat significiantly. I make them get all the bonuses on a successful roll. At higher levels, the Archivist is probably going to be using this ability on the characters that need it most, and at that level they'll probably be needing all of them. Dark Knowledge affects all the Archivist's allies, not only one of them.
IRememberCecil 07-04-07, 06:19 PM	Dark Knowledge affects all the Archivist's allies, not only one of them. I know. I meant that the ones who will be most affected by them are the ones who will need them the most.