Post/Author/DateTime	Post
lamrar 03-27-08, 05:58 AM	Hi guys! These four questions came up during our last session and I wanted to check with the board: 1a: What happens when a creature tries to enter the square of an invisible creature that he is not aware of? 1b: Is there any diffrence if the two creatures are of diffrent size? 2a: How does does the skill points gained every lvl interact with diffrent boni to int? 2b: If you use a headband of intellect +2 do you get one extra skill point per lvl (retroactively (sp?))? 2c: one extra skill point for all lvls you gain while wearing the headband? 2d: Or no extra skill points for the headband? 2e: What if you take it off? 3a: My wizard wanted to create a pair of bracers that gave displacement (as the spell) for 5 rounds, three times a day. Am I right when I think this item should cost 16875 gp? 3 x 5 x 1800 / 1.6 = 16875 Spell level x 5 x 1800 / (5 / 3) 3b: Is using a command word a free action? 4: Can you use a lesser rod of empower (can empower up to third lvl spells) on a split ray of stupidity (a second lvl spell, but when split uses a fourth lvl spell slot)? I apologise if anything is unclear, if you want more specific examples or something, just let me know.
Merestil Haye 03-27-08, 08:53 AM	Hi guys! These four questions came up during our last session and I wanted to check with the board: 1a: What happens when a creature tries to enter the square of an invisible creature that he is not aware of? 1b: Is there any diffrence if the two creatures are of diffrent size?By default, a creature cannot pass through the square of an enemy creature, even if the moving creature is not aware of the other's presence. The are not allowed to enter the square. Certain circumstances may alter this, including special movement abilities (eg if the moving creature was attempting a Tumble to avoid AoOs then I'd allow it provided he'd made 25 or more on the skill check), or if the invisible creature was prone or helpless. If the creatures are of wildly disparate sizes, then movement is not impeded. I believe it's 3 size categories different, but it may be 2. ETA : The rules you want are on page 29 of the DMG. In summary, creatures three size categories apart can occupy the same square without restriction, but subject to the normal limits of creatures of their size. Creatures two size categories apart can occupy the same square, but only one half the number of the smaller creatures that could normally fit into the space can do so (discarding fractions). Thus two Tiny creatures can occupy the same square as a Medium creature, but a Medium creature cannot occupy one of the squares of a Huge creature's space. 2a: How does does the skill points gained every lvl interact with diffrent boni to int? 2b: If you use a headband of intellect +2 do you get one extra skill point per lvl (retroactively (sp?))? 2c: one extra skill point for all lvls you gain while wearing the headband? 2d: Or no extra skill points for the headband? 2e: What if you take it off?The description of the Headband of Intellect explicitly states you get no extra skill points from the enhanced ability. Nothing happens when you take it off, because it was not changing your skill points in any way. 3a: My wizard wanted to create a pair of bracers that gave displacement (as the spell) for 5 rounds, three times a day. Am I right when I think this item should cost 16875 gp? 3 x 5 x 1800 / 1.6 = 16875 Spell level x 5 x 1800 / (5 / 3) 3b: Is using a command word a free action?You have the right formula, but the wrong result. 5/3 ≠ 1.6; it's 1⅔, which is a little larger. The correct price is 16,200. You then have to consider whether it is an appropriate power for the arm or wrist slots. I would not consider it so; the power is more protective than offensive, and is thus appropriate for a cloak or throat slot item (indeed the Cloak of Displacement is very similar). Thus you need to increase the cost by 50% to 24,300. Using a command-word activated magic item is a standard action, unless the item specifies otherwise. If you want to specify otherwise, you'll find the price skyrockets. 4: Can you use a lesser rod of empower (can empower up to third lvl spells) on a split ray of stupidity (a second lvl spell, but when split uses a fourth lvl spell slot)?Arguments in favour : Metamagic feats don't increase the actual level of the spell cast (thus although you are using a 4th level slot, you only need a 12 in your casting ability to prepare the spell, and any save is based on the unenhanced spell level). This would argue it's a second level spell. Arguments against : You're using a fourth level spell slot. There are precedents in the item creation rules that you use the spell slot (rather than the spell level) to determine the cost of an item storing a metamagiced spell (even one that was prepared normally and spontaneously metamagiced). Metamagic rod rules.Lesser and Greater Metamagic Rods Normal metamagic rods can be used with spells of 6th level or lower. Lesser rods can be used with spells of 3rd level or lower, while greater rods can be used with spells of 9th level or lower.The issue isn't that you're using a 4th level spell slot; if you had prepared an unenhanced 2nd level spell in the 4th level slot, you would need only a lesser rod. The issue is whether the precedent set by using the increased spell level for item costing purposes is applicable to this interaction. On balance, and for power level reasons, I would rule that it is applicable and a regular rod is required. I recognise that this is debatable, and am comfortable with calling it a houserule if consensus goes the other way.
wrecan 03-27-08, 10:00 AM	1a: What happens when a creature tries to enter the square of an invisible creature that he is not aware of? Treat this as a modified overrun. 1) The invisible creature gets an AoO. If taken, this alerts the person of the invisible creature's presence, allowing her to stop the move, if she chooses (but not until after the AoO). 2) The invisible creature may elect to avoid the person, thus allowing her to pass through the square unaware of the invisible person (assuming no AoO was taken). 3) If the invisible person chooses to block the passage of the person, the person bumps into the invisible person and has two choices. Either use a standard action to finish the overrun attempt or end the move action in the first occupiable square before the square the invisible person occupies. 1b: Is there any diffrence if the two creatures are of diffrent size? Yes. If either creature is three Size Categories smaller than the other, they may share the same space (i.e., the mover doesn't have to end a turn in a different quare). Otherwise, it only matters with regard to the size bonus/penalty on their respective checks to resolve any overrun attempt. 2a: How does does the skill points gained every lvl interact with diffrent boni to int? First, skill points are never gained retroactively, even for increases to Intelligence bonuses from level increases. Second, only the unenhanced Intelligence score is used to determine skill points (this rule is buried in the description for the headband of intellect) 2b: If you use a headband of intellect +2 do you get one extra skill point per lvl (retroactively (sp?))? No. This is explicitly set forth in the description for that magic item. 2c: one extra skill point for all lvls you gain while wearing the headband? No. 2d: Or no extra skill points for the headband? Exactly. 2e: What if you take it off? No effect because you don't get bonus skill points for the headband. 3a: My wizard wanted to create a pair of bracers that gave displacement (as the spell) for 5 rounds, three times a day. Am I right when I think this item should cost 16875 gp? 3 x 5 x 1800 / 1.6 = 16875 Spell level x 5 x 1800 / (5 / 3) 27,000 = 3 (Spell level) x 5 (Caster level) x .6 (3/day) x 2000 (use activated) x 1.5 (uncustomary space limitation) If you make it a command word (x1800) instead of use-activated (x2000) it would be 24,300 gp. I would impose the "uncustomary space limitation" penalty because displacement seems better suited for a cloak or amulet body slot, than bracers. 3b: Is using a command word a free action? No. Activating any magic item with a command word is a standard action. 4: Can you use a lesser rod of empower (can empower up to third lvl spells) on a split ray of stupidity (a second lvl spell, but when split uses a fourth lvl spell slot)? A ray of stupidity is still a third level spell even when it occupies a fourth level spell slot. So I would rule that the rod of empower will work on the spell, even if other metamagic feats have been applied to it.
mvincent 03-27-08, 01:09 PM	I would rule that it is applicable and a regular rod is required.Ditto. This may not be strict RAW, but it appears to be RAI.