Favored in Guild fringe benefit [Archive] - Wizards Community

Favored in Guild fringe benefit [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tempus665
07-11-05, 01:30 AM Many of the guilds desribed in the Waterdeep book say that you can use their Favored in Guild fringe benefit once per character level. Does this mean once per character level in your entire life? Or does it mean something else?
Kessalin Talira
07-11-05, 01:43 AM Once you've used it, at 5th level for example, you can't use it again until you level up to 6th. Then you get another use.

If you're familiar with Eberron, the fringe benefits are roughly analogous to action points. You get X at each level, can use them at that level, and if you don't use them, they don't roll over to the next level and are lost.
Bocklin
07-11-05, 08:51 AM Another question: I understand that getting the Fringe benefit is tied to having the Favored in Guild Feat.

But I also kind of understand that having this Feat exempts you from paying your dues to the organisation and frees you from other obligations (like "spend x hours in a tenday doing a or b for your guild"). Is that correct?

So by taking this Feat you become something like a lifetime member of the guild (provided you remain within the spiritual/moral boundaries of the guild)?

Bocklin
Kessalin Talira
07-12-05, 03:39 PM I would say no, you still have to pay the guild's dues even with the Favored In Guild feat. The wording of the feat, specifically the "normal" entry, could easily be read as a person with this feat doesn't pay dues, however.

The reason I would require the payment of dues, even with the feat, is the minor Skill Focus-like benefit with a guild associated skill, in addition to the fringe benefits, some of which can be significant. Most of the wizard's guilds give ~10% discounts to material prices for magical items, and Blackstaff Academy gives a very good one, IMO. Another free spell every level, access to some of Blackstaff's personal spells, and access to Blessed of the Seven Sisters spells? I can get a +2 on Spellcraft checks on top of that, with all the implications that holds for Epic characters? Deal!

The other reason I would require dues to be paid even with Favored in Guild is the existence of the Guildmaster feat in the DMG II. It's an "enhanced" version of Favored in Guild, and that one explicitly states that you no longer pay dues.

So it would essentially work out, assuming Favored in Guild exempted the character from paying dues, that they're getting all the benefits without the payment, whereas a character without the feat would still have to pay to gain the benefits... I'm not sure the guild dues are high enough to merit the kind of benefits some guilds give without spending a feat. Conversely, I don't know that just spending a feat and not paying dues would be enough, either.
Bocklin
07-13-05, 03:13 AM Hi Kessalin,

So, basically, you think that the benefits are good enough so that it would warrant payment of a Feat AND payment of the dues, right? Do you also include the side obligations (e.g. "spend 10 hours guarding the temple" every tenday) when you say "dues" or do you just mean "payment of the fee" stricto sensu?

I guess that in some cases I would agree with that, but not all of the fringe benefits are so exciting as the one you get at Blackstaff tower...

Anyway, what does the Guildmaster Feat do exactly? I am not asking for full details, but maybe just the jist of it.

Bocklin
Kessalin Talira
07-13-05, 06:53 PM Overall, yes, I think payment of the dues as well as spending a feat is an appropriate payment. I also think the other requirements that might be mentioned, such as donating items, etc., are also appropriate. As far as the dues are concerned, it's really not that much, anyway... 20 gp/month for the Watchful Order, for example. Toss a couple hundred gold at them from your most recent adventure and you're covered for most of the year.

Many of the benefits are significant, though not necessarily flashy like the Blackstaff Academy. Most of the wizardly organizations reduce magical item creation prices by 10%; it's not as significant at low levels, but wait until the wizard wants to create that staff of power, or a +5 Vorpal weapon for his fighter companion... that's a savings of 20,000 gp in the case of the weapon. In light of that, I would say paying the dues and meeting the requirements for membership is a good tradeoff.

As for the Guildmaster feat, it gives +2 to ALL guild associated skills, no dues payments (or, IMO, other requirements like magical item creation or donation), and the ability to exchange your cohort for another guildmember on a daily basis.
Bocklin
07-14-05, 03:44 AM As for the Guildmaster feat, it gives +2 to ALL guild associated skills, no dues payments (or, IMO, other requirements like magical item creation or donation), and the ability to exchange your cohort for another guildmember on a daily basis.

Wow! Are you kidding me? A +2 bonus to four/five skills (or more) with one single Feat? And you get other benefits on top of that?

Sounds like something's wrong...

Bocklin
Kessalin Talira
07-14-05, 04:21 AM It's more reinforcement for the need to meet all the requirements for the feats, IMO. The Guildmaster feat itself has a time requirement, much like many of the guilds do. Because of the benefits gained, I would certainly require that both requirements be met. With Guildmaster, not meeting the time requirements results in a temporary loss of access to the feat. It also requires certain skills to be maintained at their maximum rank, with loss of feat access again being the penalty for not doing so.

It also has three feats as prerequisites, at least one skill has to be at maximum rank, and all your cohorts and followers have to qualify to join the guild of which you're a master.
Bocklin
07-14-05, 06:44 AM Sounds like a nice concept. I might buy the DMGII after all... ;)

Bocklin

It's more reinforcement for the need to meet all the requirements for the feats, IMO. The Guildmaster feat itself has a time requirement, much like many of the guilds do. Because of the benefits gained, I would certainly require that both requirements be met. With Guildmaster, not meeting the time requirements results in a temporary loss of access to the feat. It also requires certain skills to be maintained at their maximum rank, with loss of feat access again being the penalty for not doing so.

It also has three feats as prerequisites, at least one skill has to be at maximum rank, and all your cohorts and followers have to qualify to join the guild of which you're a master.
Kessalin Talira
07-14-05, 05:59 PM I'd recommend it... I'm over the ten year mark playing, most of that DMing, and I really like it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tempus665 07-11-05, 01:30 AM	Many of the guilds desribed in the Waterdeep book say that you can use their Favored in Guild fringe benefit once per character level. Does this mean once per character level in your entire life? Or does it mean something else?
Kessalin Talira 07-11-05, 01:43 AM	Once you've used it, at 5th level for example, you can't use it again until you level up to 6th. Then you get another use. If you're familiar with Eberron, the fringe benefits are roughly analogous to action points. You get X at each level, can use them at that level, and if you don't use them, they don't roll over to the next level and are lost.
Bocklin 07-11-05, 08:51 AM	Another question: I understand that getting the Fringe benefit is tied to having the Favored in Guild Feat. But I also kind of understand that having this Feat exempts you from paying your dues to the organisation and frees you from other obligations (like "spend x hours in a tenday doing a or b for your guild"). Is that correct? So by taking this Feat you become something like a lifetime member of the guild (provided you remain within the spiritual/moral boundaries of the guild)? Bocklin
Kessalin Talira 07-12-05, 03:39 PM	I would say no, you still have to pay the guild's dues even with the Favored In Guild feat. The wording of the feat, specifically the "normal" entry, could easily be read as a person with this feat doesn't pay dues, however. The reason I would require the payment of dues, even with the feat, is the minor Skill Focus-like benefit with a guild associated skill, in addition to the fringe benefits, some of which can be significant. Most of the wizard's guilds give ~10% discounts to material prices for magical items, and Blackstaff Academy gives a very good one, IMO. Another free spell every level, access to some of Blackstaff's personal spells, and access to Blessed of the Seven Sisters spells? I can get a +2 on Spellcraft checks on top of that, with all the implications that holds for Epic characters? Deal! The other reason I would require dues to be paid even with Favored in Guild is the existence of the Guildmaster feat in the DMG II. It's an "enhanced" version of Favored in Guild, and that one explicitly states that you no longer pay dues. So it would essentially work out, assuming Favored in Guild exempted the character from paying dues, that they're getting all the benefits without the payment, whereas a character without the feat would still have to pay to gain the benefits... I'm not sure the guild dues are high enough to merit the kind of benefits some guilds give without spending a feat. Conversely, I don't know that just spending a feat and not paying dues would be enough, either.
Bocklin 07-13-05, 03:13 AM	Hi Kessalin, So, basically, you think that the benefits are good enough so that it would warrant payment of a Feat AND payment of the dues, right? Do you also include the side obligations (e.g. "spend 10 hours guarding the temple" every tenday) when you say "dues" or do you just mean "payment of the fee" stricto sensu? I guess that in some cases I would agree with that, but not all of the fringe benefits are so exciting as the one you get at Blackstaff tower... Anyway, what does the Guildmaster Feat do exactly? I am not asking for full details, but maybe just the jist of it. Bocklin
Kessalin Talira 07-13-05, 06:53 PM	Overall, yes, I think payment of the dues as well as spending a feat is an appropriate payment. I also think the other requirements that might be mentioned, such as donating items, etc., are also appropriate. As far as the dues are concerned, it's really not that much, anyway... 20 gp/month for the Watchful Order, for example. Toss a couple hundred gold at them from your most recent adventure and you're covered for most of the year. Many of the benefits are significant, though not necessarily flashy like the Blackstaff Academy. Most of the wizardly organizations reduce magical item creation prices by 10%; it's not as significant at low levels, but wait until the wizard wants to create that staff of power, or a +5 Vorpal weapon for his fighter companion... that's a savings of 20,000 gp in the case of the weapon. In light of that, I would say paying the dues and meeting the requirements for membership is a good tradeoff. As for the Guildmaster feat, it gives +2 to ALL guild associated skills, no dues payments (or, IMO, other requirements like magical item creation or donation), and the ability to exchange your cohort for another guildmember on a daily basis.
Bocklin 07-14-05, 03:44 AM	As for the Guildmaster feat, it gives +2 to ALL guild associated skills, no dues payments (or, IMO, other requirements like magical item creation or donation), and the ability to exchange your cohort for another guildmember on a daily basis. Wow! Are you kidding me? A +2 bonus to four/five skills (or more) with one single Feat? And you get other benefits on top of that? Sounds like something's wrong... Bocklin
Kessalin Talira 07-14-05, 04:21 AM	It's more reinforcement for the need to meet all the requirements for the feats, IMO. The Guildmaster feat itself has a time requirement, much like many of the guilds do. Because of the benefits gained, I would certainly require that both requirements be met. With Guildmaster, not meeting the time requirements results in a temporary loss of access to the feat. It also requires certain skills to be maintained at their maximum rank, with loss of feat access again being the penalty for not doing so. It also has three feats as prerequisites, at least one skill has to be at maximum rank, and all your cohorts and followers have to qualify to join the guild of which you're a master.
Bocklin 07-14-05, 06:44 AM	Sounds like a nice concept. I might buy the DMGII after all... ;) Bocklin It's more reinforcement for the need to meet all the requirements for the feats, IMO. The Guildmaster feat itself has a time requirement, much like many of the guilds do. Because of the benefits gained, I would certainly require that both requirements be met. With Guildmaster, not meeting the time requirements results in a temporary loss of access to the feat. It also requires certain skills to be maintained at their maximum rank, with loss of feat access again being the penalty for not doing so. It also has three feats as prerequisites, at least one skill has to be at maximum rank, and all your cohorts and followers have to qualify to join the guild of which you're a master.
Kessalin Talira 07-14-05, 05:59 PM	I'd recommend it... I'm over the ten year mark playing, most of that DMing, and I really like it.