Concerned player on the Earth Whisperer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Concerned player on the Earth Whisperer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Syn_of_Edin
04-20-07, 12:44 AM I am curious if the Earth Whisperer from Races of Stone gives a save for it's dex drain effect, the reason I ask is because my party has a Malconvoker who is summon these things a plenty and they are wrecking havoc on our new DM's game (I am the normal DM).

Thanks for your answers.
claypigeons
04-20-07, 01:15 AM Special Attacks and Special Qualities

Many creatures have unusual abilities. A monster entry breaks these abilities into special attacks and special qualities. The latter category includes defenses, vulnerabilities, and other special abilities that are not modes of attack. A special ability is either extraordinary (Ex), spell-like (Sp), or supernatural (Su). Additional information (when needed) is provided in the creature’s descriptive text.

When a special ability allows a saving throw, the kind of save and the save DC is noted in the descriptive text. Most saving throws against special abilities have DCs calculated as follows: 10 + 1/2 the attacker’s racial Hit Dice + the relevant ability modifier. The save DC is given in the creature’s description along with the ability on which the DC is based.

There is always a save. I guess the designers just got lazy and didn't put the actual DC in there.
Morwen
04-20-07, 05:15 PM There is always a save. I guess the designers just got lazy and didn't put the actual DC in there.

That quote doesn't say there is always a save. It simply gives you the formula to find the save DC when there is one.

Earth Whisper's Dex-draining ability is a melee touch attack. That's what keeps it from needing to have a save. It does have a save against the petrification-effect that happens when you drop to 0 Dex though.
mythSSK
04-20-07, 07:54 PM Morwen is correct.

The quote says "When a special ability allows a saving throw" not "All special abilities allow a saving throw", claypigeons. Read your own post.
claypigeons
04-20-07, 08:06 PM The quote says "When a special ability allows a saving throw" not "All special abilities allow a saving throw", claypigeons. Read your own post.

I'm well aware of what I wrote, thanks though. :rolleyes:

Earth Whisper's Dex-draining ability is a melee touch attack. That's what keeps it from needing to have a save. It does have a save against the petrification-effect that happens when you drop to 0 Dex though.

The ability is extremely powerful if you don't require a save. Touch attacks are a joke, mostly.
Syn_of_Edin
04-21-07, 01:12 AM My Concern is that our Malconvoker is summoning these things and I pointed out that this is potentially a surprisingly useful way to deal with very dangerous threats (like Dragons) quickly. which is why i was curious if there was an official stance on it.
Morwen
04-21-07, 06:06 PM The ability is extremely powerful if you don't require a save. Touch attacks are a joke, mostly.

Except it's a melee touch attack. So all you need to do is keep the Earth Whisper away from you (and/or kill it first; it only has 22 hit points, after all).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Syn_of_Edin 04-20-07, 12:44 AM	I am curious if the Earth Whisperer from Races of Stone gives a save for it's dex drain effect, the reason I ask is because my party has a Malconvoker who is summon these things a plenty and they are wrecking havoc on our new DM's game (I am the normal DM). Thanks for your answers.
claypigeons 04-20-07, 01:15 AM	Special Attacks and Special Qualities Many creatures have unusual abilities. A monster entry breaks these abilities into special attacks and special qualities. The latter category includes defenses, vulnerabilities, and other special abilities that are not modes of attack. A special ability is either extraordinary (Ex), spell-like (Sp), or supernatural (Su). Additional information (when needed) is provided in the creature’s descriptive text. When a special ability allows a saving throw, the kind of save and the save DC is noted in the descriptive text. Most saving throws against special abilities have DCs calculated as follows: 10 + 1/2 the attacker’s racial Hit Dice + the relevant ability modifier. The save DC is given in the creature’s description along with the ability on which the DC is based. There is always a save. I guess the designers just got lazy and didn't put the actual DC in there.
Morwen 04-20-07, 05:15 PM	There is always a save. I guess the designers just got lazy and didn't put the actual DC in there. That quote doesn't say there is always a save. It simply gives you the formula to find the save DC when there is one. Earth Whisper's Dex-draining ability is a melee touch attack. That's what keeps it from needing to have a save. It does have a save against the petrification-effect that happens when you drop to 0 Dex though.
mythSSK 04-20-07, 07:54 PM	Morwen is correct. The quote says "When a special ability allows a saving throw" not "All special abilities allow a saving throw", claypigeons. Read your own post.
claypigeons 04-20-07, 08:06 PM	The quote says "When a special ability allows a saving throw" not "All special abilities allow a saving throw", claypigeons. Read your own post. I'm well aware of what I wrote, thanks though. :rolleyes: Earth Whisper's Dex-draining ability is a melee touch attack. That's what keeps it from needing to have a save. It does have a save against the petrification-effect that happens when you drop to 0 Dex though. The ability is extremely powerful if you don't require a save. Touch attacks are a joke, mostly.
Syn_of_Edin 04-21-07, 01:12 AM	My Concern is that our Malconvoker is summoning these things and I pointed out that this is potentially a surprisingly useful way to deal with very dangerous threats (like Dragons) quickly. which is why i was curious if there was an official stance on it.
Morwen 04-21-07, 06:06 PM	The ability is extremely powerful if you don't require a save. Touch attacks are a joke, mostly. Except it's a melee touch attack. So all you need to do is keep the Earth Whisper away from you (and/or kill it first; it only has 22 hit points, after all).