Post/Author/DateTime	Post
groveborn 11-21-07, 05:09 PM	I'm on an explosive runes kick today... Let's say you have in your possesion, 45 pages of Explosive Runes. And just for fun, you'd like to mess with a Big ol' bad dude with a high SR. Now, at what point can you gain benefits from Assay Spell Resistance to overcome his spell resistance? At the time you placed the explosive runes on the page (assuming you can see the guy at the time), and only during the spell's duration? Or... Any time after that, so long as you are within the spells duration (and can successfully cast it). Or... Never, Explosive Runes is a permanent effect that is on an object, and only uses the caster's level at the time of casting, and can't be boosted.
risner 11-21-07, 05:51 PM	Never, Explosive Runes is a permanent effect that is on an object, and only uses the caster's level at the time of casting, and can't be boosted. I believe this is the most supported stance.
Vegepygmy 11-21-07, 07:17 PM	I would rule that the benefit applies so long as the explosive runes spell is cast before the assay spell resistance expires. You do not need to see the target at the time you cast explosive runes, only when you cast assay spell resistance. So, you could cast assay spell resistance while looking at the target, and thus better understand how to penetrate his spell resistance, then run off into another room and cast explosive runes before that knowledge fades from your memory, and then, whenever the target finally reads the explosive runes, they'll be especially formulated to penetrate his SR. I believe this ruling conforms most closely to the rules both as they are written and as they are flavored.
groveborn 11-22-07, 04:26 AM	I would rule that the benefit applies so long as the explosive runes spell is cast before the assay spell resistance expires. You do not need to see the target at the time you cast explosive runes, only when you cast assay spell resistance. So, you could cast assay spell resistance while looking at the target, and thus better understand how to penetrate his spell resistance, then run off into another room and cast explosive runes before that knowledge fades from your memory, and then, whenever the target finally reads the explosive runes, they'll be especially formulated to penetrate his SR. I believe this ruling conforms most closely to the rules both as they are written and as they are flavored. I'm mostly in agreement with you, however, since the runes are permanent, and the assay is not, I'm just not sure.
Gnarl 11-22-07, 07:09 AM	I mostly agree with Vegepygmy on this one. Assay Spell Resistance is a personal spell that gives you a bonus on Spell Resistance checks against a single creature for 1 round per level. The spell description is pretty clear IMHO, why would it be any different with spells with a (permanent) duration or even spells cast before the casting of Assay Spell Resistance? There's nothing in the rules (that I know of) nor in the spell description to support that the Assay Spell Resistance needs to be cast before the Explosive Rune. The rules do say that if a creature triggers the Explosive Rune before you get a chance to cast Assay Spell Resistance, then you don't get the bonus on SR checks (logical ain't it :D).