Otherworldy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Otherworldy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Merryadocc
04-20-07, 02:50 AM In the Players Guide to Faerun there is a feat called Otherworldly that on top of granting Darkvision and a +2 bonus to Diplomacy makes one a native outsider.
The Monster Manual says that an Outsider, including a Native Outsider is proficient with all Simple & Martial Weapons and with all types of armor of the same weight upto they are wearing in their description, and shields if they are proficient with any type of armor. (I have quoted this as best I can from memory)

Does anyone see this as a feat that is too powerfull? I used it in a build and was called a powergamer in a rather negative tone, though my Elf felt quite happy with his Low-light & Darkvision, along with all his new found proficiencies and immunities granted from his outsider status.

Your thoughts on this feat please. :)
ibayboy
04-20-07, 04:01 AM i don't think you won't gain any immunities, other than what the base race gives you.
runestar
04-20-07, 04:53 AM Well, you are now a native outsider, so I guess he is referring to being unaffected by spells normally targeting only humanoids, like charm person.:)

Regional feats are supposed to be somewhat stronger than conventional feats(roughly about 1.5 times as powerful).

You will get the martial weapon prof for sure, but I am not so sure about the armour proficiencies, since I am sure no splatbook would have listed your character or whatever armour he would have been wearing...:P

One nice side effect is the new alter self and polymorph options it opens up(outsider forms). I think there used to be a trick letting you access shapechange(caster lv20) at 5th lv, but I digress...:D
Bocklin
04-20-07, 07:26 AM In a very old "ask the FR designers thread", Rich Baker said something like "the Otherworldly Feat is only supposed to get you off the hook for Hold Person spells and the like; nothing more".

The designer just meant it to be that: you gain darkvision, +2 on Diplomacy and are immune to spells targetting humanoids only. Nothing more.

So: no weapon proficiency, no becoming extraplanar or losing the extraplanar tab (for the Star Elves), etc. Just the immunity to "... Person" spells.
ibayboy
04-20-07, 07:27 AM The OP said he was an Elf, they are wearing studded leather in the MM, so he would be prof in any armor up to that. I tend not to think of the 'humanoid type' effects, not working as immunities, and i am currently playing an Aasimar and a Goliath !.
Bocklin
04-20-07, 07:34 AM The OP said he was an Elf, they are wearing studded leather in the MM, so he would be prof in any armor up to that. I tend not to think of the 'humanoid type' effects, not working as immunities, and i am currently playing an Aasimar and a Goliath !.

The Elf in the MM is of the Warrior class, that is what grants him the proficiency. Races with 1 racial HD have proficiencies, etc. based on their class, except if their race entry specifically states otherwise (e.g. expanding the list explicitly, like in the case of the elf).

They are not "immunities" per se, but being of another type makes you an invalid target and causes the spell to fail.
BugHunter
04-20-07, 07:34 AM You should not get all simple and martial weapons or be proficient in all types of armor. If you look at the Planetouched entries for AAsimar and Tiefling they are not proficient in all weapons and armors as native outsiders.
runestar
04-20-07, 07:44 AM According to this (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20060731a), they do...:)

I would say just allow it. I don't see it as being overly game breaking. If an elven wizard wants to wield a greatsword, then so be it. He already gets access to most of the better proficiencies(rapier, bow). And if you are a fighter, you will already have them anyways.

It does allow for easy entry into the eldritch knight prc without having to take 1 lv of fighter. Not sure if that really is a problem though.:P
Bocklin
04-20-07, 08:00 AM Indeed it would seem that they do...

I'd stick with Rich Baker's "ruling" that one should not take that Feat too far, though (it's already quite powerful as it is).
MikeN
04-20-07, 02:40 PM The only real drawback to the feat is the opportunity cost (only eligible to certain races, and they're strapped for feats generally), things that target outsiders (rare), and spells such as Tasha's Hideous Laughter getting +4 DC on most of your targets (you're an outsider, not a humanoid).

That said, it's only a slight benefit to get martial weapons because you either won't use them much or already have them anyway from your class. The other bonuses are pretty decent but as stated, regional first-level feats are SUPPOSED to be stronger than general ones.
runestar
04-21-07, 02:05 AM Actually, as of champions of valour, any race can now qualify for the otherworldly regional feat by virtue of the "celestial attended birth" character background.:)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Merryadocc 04-20-07, 02:50 AM	In the Players Guide to Faerun there is a feat called Otherworldly that on top of granting Darkvision and a +2 bonus to Diplomacy makes one a native outsider. The Monster Manual says that an Outsider, including a Native Outsider is proficient with all Simple & Martial Weapons and with all types of armor of the same weight upto they are wearing in their description, and shields if they are proficient with any type of armor. (I have quoted this as best I can from memory) Does anyone see this as a feat that is too powerfull? I used it in a build and was called a powergamer in a rather negative tone, though my Elf felt quite happy with his Low-light & Darkvision, along with all his new found proficiencies and immunities granted from his outsider status. Your thoughts on this feat please. :)
ibayboy 04-20-07, 04:01 AM	i don't think you won't gain any immunities, other than what the base race gives you.
runestar 04-20-07, 04:53 AM	Well, you are now a native outsider, so I guess he is referring to being unaffected by spells normally targeting only humanoids, like charm person.:) Regional feats are supposed to be somewhat stronger than conventional feats(roughly about 1.5 times as powerful). You will get the martial weapon prof for sure, but I am not so sure about the armour proficiencies, since I am sure no splatbook would have listed your character or whatever armour he would have been wearing...:P One nice side effect is the new alter self and polymorph options it opens up(outsider forms). I think there used to be a trick letting you access shapechange(caster lv20) at 5th lv, but I digress...:D
Bocklin 04-20-07, 07:26 AM	In a very old "ask the FR designers thread", Rich Baker said something like "the Otherworldly Feat is only supposed to get you off the hook for Hold Person spells and the like; nothing more". The designer just meant it to be that: you gain darkvision, +2 on Diplomacy and are immune to spells targetting humanoids only. Nothing more. So: no weapon proficiency, no becoming extraplanar or losing the extraplanar tab (for the Star Elves), etc. Just the immunity to "... Person" spells.
ibayboy 04-20-07, 07:27 AM	The OP said he was an Elf, they are wearing studded leather in the MM, so he would be prof in any armor up to that. I tend not to think of the 'humanoid type' effects, not working as immunities, and i am currently playing an Aasimar and a Goliath !.
Bocklin 04-20-07, 07:34 AM	The OP said he was an Elf, they are wearing studded leather in the MM, so he would be prof in any armor up to that. I tend not to think of the 'humanoid type' effects, not working as immunities, and i am currently playing an Aasimar and a Goliath !. The Elf in the MM is of the Warrior class, that is what grants him the proficiency. Races with 1 racial HD have proficiencies, etc. based on their class, except if their race entry specifically states otherwise (e.g. expanding the list explicitly, like in the case of the elf). They are not "immunities" per se, but being of another type makes you an invalid target and causes the spell to fail.
BugHunter 04-20-07, 07:34 AM	You should not get all simple and martial weapons or be proficient in all types of armor. If you look at the Planetouched entries for AAsimar and Tiefling they are not proficient in all weapons and armors as native outsiders.
runestar 04-20-07, 07:44 AM	According to this (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20060731a), they do...:) I would say just allow it. I don't see it as being overly game breaking. If an elven wizard wants to wield a greatsword, then so be it. He already gets access to most of the better proficiencies(rapier, bow). And if you are a fighter, you will already have them anyways. It does allow for easy entry into the eldritch knight prc without having to take 1 lv of fighter. Not sure if that really is a problem though.:P
Bocklin 04-20-07, 08:00 AM	Indeed it would seem that they do... I'd stick with Rich Baker's "ruling" that one should not take that Feat too far, though (it's already quite powerful as it is).
MikeN 04-20-07, 02:40 PM	The only real drawback to the feat is the opportunity cost (only eligible to certain races, and they're strapped for feats generally), things that target outsiders (rare), and spells such as Tasha's Hideous Laughter getting +4 DC on most of your targets (you're an outsider, not a humanoid). That said, it's only a slight benefit to get martial weapons because you either won't use them much or already have them anyway from your class. The other bonuses are pretty decent but as stated, regional first-level feats are SUPPOSED to be stronger than general ones.
runestar 04-21-07, 02:05 AM	Actually, as of champions of valour, any race can now qualify for the otherworldly regional feat by virtue of the "celestial attended birth" character background.:)