Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mtrpcic 10-31-07, 03:06 AM	If you look at the "Assimilate" power (Ninth Level Psion power), it says that you get a +4 bonus to all of your ability scores for 1 hour after fully absorbing a creature. It doesn't state what type of creature... So, could you tell your part, "Ok guys, all of you head out into the woods and bring me back five of any animal.". The other three people bring back 5 animals each, and since it's an un-named bonus to ability scores, it stacks. So back, 15x4 = +60 to all ability scores. Does that actually work?
oyster 10-31-07, 03:18 AM	As to stacking, I'd say no. Just the same as casting two mirror image and getting 5 and 6 respectfully only means you have 6 total. Two same effects don't stack, so two unnamed bonuses from different effects do stack, two from the same type of effect do not. As to the any animal question, I'd say no as well. When I was playing a Psion, I thought of keeping a jar filled with worms... and cast assimilate whenever. My DM ruled no, and he was right (that time ;)). It makes no sense, completely destroys game play and role play and makes this power completely over powered. So, to sum things up: no and no ;)
Fafnir 10-31-07, 08:18 AM	It's no and yes. DMs may rule otherwise, but a creature means any creature.
Slagger the Chuul 10-31-07, 09:32 AM	Don't worry too much about the hunting, though. Just manifest larval flayers or have the party mage fire off a summon and assimilate that. That way when people remember you later they think "I remember Bob, that guy looked kind of creepy", instead of "I remember Bob, that guy looked kind of like a ferret".
Behaigo 10-31-07, 01:00 PM	I thought that I knew the answer, but then decided to look it up in the SRD and it could be looked at a couple of different ways. Combining Magical Effects Spells or magical effects usually work as described, no matter how many other spells or magical effects happen to be operating in the same area or on the same recipient. Except in special cases, a spell does not affect the way another spell operates. Whenever a spell has a specific effect on other spells, the spell description explains that effect. Several other general rules apply when spells or magical effects operate in the same place: Stacking Effects Spells that provide bonuses or penalties on attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, and other attributes usually do not stack with themselves. (Note the word 'usually') More generally, two bonuses of the same type don’t stack even if they come from different spells (or from effects other than spells; see Bonus Types, above). Different Bonus Names The bonuses or penalties from two different spells stack if the modifiers are of different types. A bonus that isn’t named stacks with any bonus. (Note the word 'any') Same Effect More than Once in Different Strengths In cases when two or more identical spells are operating in the same area or on the same target, but at different strengths, only the best one applies. Same Effect with Differing Results The same spell can sometimes produce varying effects if applied to the same recipient more than once. Usually the last spell in the series trumps the others. None of the previous spells are actually removed or dispelled, but their effects become irrelevant while the final spell in the series lasts. One Effect Makes Another Irrelevant Sometimes, one spell can render a later spell irrelevant. Both spells are still active, but one has rendered the other useless in some fashion. I would say it's up to the DM (unless there has been an official ruling on this topic), but if I had to decide I would go tward the side of ballance and say no, it does not work.
Sagetim 10-31-07, 08:57 PM	Don't worry too much about the hunting, though. Just manifest larval flayers or have the party mage fire off a summon and assimilate that. That way when people remember you later they think "I remember Bob, that guy looked kind of creepy", instead of "I remember Bob, that guy looked kind of like a ferret". or elemental envoy, got for emberlings, and start smoking whenever you are in that form. You'll never have to worry about lighting your pipe again. Might be needing a fire proof pipe though. And you'll be 'Bob? I remember that guy...he kept burning my bra strap and snickering about it."
Slagger the Chuul 11-01-07, 02:31 AM	For the world's stupidest suicide, use assimilate on yourself.
Sagetim 11-01-07, 05:55 AM	For the world's stupidest suicide, use assimilate on yourself. no no...use fission to make a second you, then kill him using assimilate...or better yet, get a wizard to cast polymorph any object and turn a sandwich into a rabbit, true mindswitch with the rabbit. Use assimilate on your old body, and have the mage dismiss polymorph. Voila: You are now a sandwich psion with no trace of your old body.
Callix 11-01-07, 06:15 AM	I thought that I knew the answer, but then decided to look it up in the SRD and it could be looked at a couple of different ways. I would say it's up to the DM (unless there has been an official ruling on this topic), but if I had to decide I would go tward the side of ballance and say no, it does not work. This is an instance of Same Effect More Than Once (4th paragraph). The benefit to yourself is non-instantaneous, so it doesn't stack with itself.