Font of Inspiration [Archive] - Wizards Community

Font of Inspiration [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
mrwonx
03-14-08, 08:18 AM Here's my issue - I'm playing a Factotum in a game with my friend who's obviously taken skill ranks in Profession - Rules Lawyer. He's trying to push the point that the text reads that you get 1 inspiration point the first time you take it, and only get 1 point every time you take it. To which I point out the example, in the write up (The second time you take it, you gain +2), and he's trying to sell the fact that it only proves him right, that your total bonus by the feat goes up to 2.

Example: Say you have 4 total point and take the feat three times

My Thought: 4+1+2+3
His Thought: 4+3 (The 3 acting almost like a save or base attack bonus)

Granted, I'd much rather have the 10 then the 7.

What I'm looking for is added proof to stop him in his tracks. Half of this is about my beloved Inspiration points, were the other half is about me winning the argument.

For those who don't know, The Font of Inspiration Feat can be found here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070606).
ReaderOfPosts
03-14-08, 08:33 AM you gain 2 inspiration points if you take the feat a second time
You're not gaining the previous inspiration point when you take the feat a second time. You already have it. Therefore, the second time you gain 2 inspiration points.

Even though it's an identical feat, it's still a separate one. He's treating it like one feat that you devote extra feat slots too, rather than a feat that explicitly states what happens each time you take it.
Fallenangel359
03-14-08, 08:56 AM you get it multiple times, your answer is correct
MaverickWolf
03-14-08, 09:30 AM I don't see where your friend is getting his ideas from. The feat clearly state that the amount gained goes up each time you take the feat. On top of that, using his logic, every feat that can be taken multiple times should give you the total if you take it more than once. e.g., Toughness should state that it can be taken multiple times, and each time you take it the amount gained goes up by 3, for a total of 6 after 2 times, etc. I really can't understand how it could be interpreted any other way.
mrwonx
03-14-08, 09:54 AM I relayed the topic to my friend (he works for the county, so they have all but e-mail blocked, so he can not participate in the discussion), and he wanted me to post this reply:

The problem is that it doesn't "explicitly" say anything, hence the argument.

If the feat was treated as a stackable, it would do all but ruin the class. Someone could cross class into Factotum, and then just take these feats and still have more points then someone with full levels in it would if they didn't take the feat. Yes, I understand that they would be limited in the way they could use the points, but it's excessive.

Someone needs to get a hold of the person who wrote it and ask them.

I can see the point, I guess. If it was my way, then it should be written on 2 lines and keep it simple: "This feat adds 1 inspiration point. Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Each time you take this feat you gain 1 point."

But I didn't write it and some people have complicated ways to explain simple feats. The feat is either broken or mis-worded.
- Show quoted text -
MaverickWolf
03-14-08, 10:29 AM I'd like to call out a specific portion of this feat.

Each time you take this feat after the first time, the number of inspiration points you gain increases by 1 (for example, you gain 2 inspiration points if you take the feat a second time).

Take note of each time and gain increases. The only gain from taking this feat is what's given by the feat. Any inspiration points already had are NOT gain when a new feat is taken. They were already there.

Therefore, the only possible interpretation is for the amount granted by the feat to increase compared to when it was taken.

I'd like to make an additional point that balancing is not done by what can be done with multi-classing. There's too many combinations, and some are just inherently broken. If you judged balance by what you could do multi-classing, the fighter and sorcerer are the two most broken classes in the game, and the druid is one of the weakest.
baronvonboxy
03-15-08, 12:46 PM Your friend fails at Rules-lawyering, does he have the +3 suspenders.

Font of Inspiration

You have unearthed of well of inspiration from within your soul.

Prerequisite: Int 15, Must have Inspiration as a class feature.

Benefits: When you take this feat for the first time, you gain 1 inspiration point.

Special: You can take this multiple times. Each time you take this feat after the first time, the number of inspiration points you gain increases by 1 (for example, you gain 2 inspiration points if you take the feat a second time). The maximum number of times you can take this feat is equal to your Intelligence modifier.

The feat even states that if you take it a second time you get 2.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mrwonx 03-14-08, 08:18 AM	Here's my issue - I'm playing a Factotum in a game with my friend who's obviously taken skill ranks in Profession - Rules Lawyer. He's trying to push the point that the text reads that you get 1 inspiration point the first time you take it, and only get 1 point every time you take it. To which I point out the example, in the write up (The second time you take it, you gain +2), and he's trying to sell the fact that it only proves him right, that your total bonus by the feat goes up to 2. Example: Say you have 4 total point and take the feat three times My Thought: 4+1+2+3 His Thought: 4+3 (The 3 acting almost like a save or base attack bonus) Granted, I'd much rather have the 10 then the 7. What I'm looking for is added proof to stop him in his tracks. Half of this is about my beloved Inspiration points, were the other half is about me winning the argument. For those who don't know, The Font of Inspiration Feat can be found here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070606).
ReaderOfPosts 03-14-08, 08:33 AM	you gain 2 inspiration points if you take the feat a second time You're not gaining the previous inspiration point when you take the feat a second time. You already have it. Therefore, the second time you gain 2 inspiration points. Even though it's an identical feat, it's still a separate one. He's treating it like one feat that you devote extra feat slots too, rather than a feat that explicitly states what happens each time you take it.
Fallenangel359 03-14-08, 08:56 AM	you get it multiple times, your answer is correct
MaverickWolf 03-14-08, 09:30 AM	I don't see where your friend is getting his ideas from. The feat clearly state that the amount gained goes up each time you take the feat. On top of that, using his logic, every feat that can be taken multiple times should give you the total if you take it more than once. e.g., Toughness should state that it can be taken multiple times, and each time you take it the amount gained goes up by 3, for a total of 6 after 2 times, etc. I really can't understand how it could be interpreted any other way.
mrwonx 03-14-08, 09:54 AM	I relayed the topic to my friend (he works for the county, so they have all but e-mail blocked, so he can not participate in the discussion), and he wanted me to post this reply: The problem is that it doesn't "explicitly" say anything, hence the argument. If the feat was treated as a stackable, it would do all but ruin the class. Someone could cross class into Factotum, and then just take these feats and still have more points then someone with full levels in it would if they didn't take the feat. Yes, I understand that they would be limited in the way they could use the points, but it's excessive. Someone needs to get a hold of the person who wrote it and ask them. I can see the point, I guess. If it was my way, then it should be written on 2 lines and keep it simple: "This feat adds 1 inspiration point. Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Each time you take this feat you gain 1 point." But I didn't write it and some people have complicated ways to explain simple feats. The feat is either broken or mis-worded. - Show quoted text -
MaverickWolf 03-14-08, 10:29 AM	I'd like to call out a specific portion of this feat. Each time you take this feat after the first time, the number of inspiration points you gain increases by 1 (for example, you gain 2 inspiration points if you take the feat a second time). Take note of each time and gain increases. The only gain from taking this feat is what's given by the feat. Any inspiration points already had are NOT gain when a new feat is taken. They were already there. Therefore, the only possible interpretation is for the amount granted by the feat to increase compared to when it was taken. I'd like to make an additional point that balancing is not done by what can be done with multi-classing. There's too many combinations, and some are just inherently broken. If you judged balance by what you could do multi-classing, the fighter and sorcerer are the two most broken classes in the game, and the druid is one of the weakest.
baronvonboxy 03-15-08, 12:46 PM	Your friend fails at Rules-lawyering, does he have the +3 suspenders. Font of Inspiration You have unearthed of well of inspiration from within your soul. Prerequisite: Int 15, Must have Inspiration as a class feature. Benefits: When you take this feat for the first time, you gain 1 inspiration point. Special: You can take this multiple times. Each time you take this feat after the first time, the number of inspiration points you gain increases by 1 (for example, you gain 2 inspiration points if you take the feat a second time). The maximum number of times you can take this feat is equal to your Intelligence modifier. The feat even states that if you take it a second time you get 2.