Attack of the Clones [Archive] - Wizards Community

Attack of the Clones [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Pitiless_Interfector
10-09-07, 05:53 PM I have long been fascinated by the clone spell. I have to date never made Necromancy a prohibited school (except when using the variant transmuter from Unearthed Arcana), simply to enjoy the chance to spit in the cleric's face (after having him cast hallow with an attached gentle repose effect on my stronghold). But a nagging question has been bothering me for quite some time: what happens if a dybbuk (FCI: HotA) possesses a clone? It says that a possessing dybbuk takes on the statistics of the old body but gains none of its extraordinary, spell-like, or supernatural abilities, nor its Int, Wis, or Cha-based skills. It says somewhere that feats are extraordinary abilities, meaning that you couldn't pump out an unstoppable army of Combat Reflexes+Weapon Finesse+Improved Critical (spiked chain) fighters. But it doesn't mention spells. Spells are obviously not extraordinary, supernatural, or spell-like abilities, but it seems like the designers weren't intending to give the creature access to the corpse's spellcasting. I'm torn between giving them an ability like the tsochari's Take Spells (Ex) [Lords of Madness] or stating that since the body never actually prepared (via prayer, meditation, study, etc.) its daily regimen of spells, then the dybbuk can't either. But then, what if the dybbuk rests for 8 hours? Does this mean that all it requires to double your spellcasting power are the clone and planar binding spells?

What do y'all think? It's cheesy, but is it legal? I mean, technically it is, but how should it be modified to make it less broken?
ArcTan
10-09-07, 10:24 PM Spellcasting is a class ability. Does the Dybbuk gain abilities gained from class levels? If not, then it doesn't get spellcasting.
Black Mantha
10-10-07, 12:29 PM Actually, if you try to apply strict Rules As Written (which is needed for cheese like that,) I think a Dybbuk can't use a clone body at all. After all, it's just an object shaped by a spell. It isn't anyone's body until you possess it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Pitiless_Interfector 10-09-07, 05:53 PM	I have long been fascinated by the clone spell. I have to date never made Necromancy a prohibited school (except when using the variant transmuter from Unearthed Arcana), simply to enjoy the chance to spit in the cleric's face (after having him cast hallow with an attached gentle repose effect on my stronghold). But a nagging question has been bothering me for quite some time: what happens if a dybbuk (FCI: HotA) possesses a clone? It says that a possessing dybbuk takes on the statistics of the old body but gains none of its extraordinary, spell-like, or supernatural abilities, nor its Int, Wis, or Cha-based skills. It says somewhere that feats are extraordinary abilities, meaning that you couldn't pump out an unstoppable army of Combat Reflexes+Weapon Finesse+Improved Critical (spiked chain) fighters. But it doesn't mention spells. Spells are obviously not extraordinary, supernatural, or spell-like abilities, but it seems like the designers weren't intending to give the creature access to the corpse's spellcasting. I'm torn between giving them an ability like the tsochari's Take Spells (Ex) [Lords of Madness] or stating that since the body never actually prepared (via prayer, meditation, study, etc.) its daily regimen of spells, then the dybbuk can't either. But then, what if the dybbuk rests for 8 hours? Does this mean that all it requires to double your spellcasting power are the clone and planar binding spells? What do y'all think? It's cheesy, but is it legal? I mean, technically it is, but how should it be modified to make it less broken?
ArcTan 10-09-07, 10:24 PM	Spellcasting is a class ability. Does the Dybbuk gain abilities gained from class levels? If not, then it doesn't get spellcasting.
Black Mantha 10-10-07, 12:29 PM	Actually, if you try to apply strict Rules As Written (which is needed for cheese like that,) I think a Dybbuk can't use a clone body at all. After all, it's just an object shaped by a spell. It isn't anyone's body until you possess it.