Shadow Blade feat from TOB [Archive] - Wizards Community

Shadow Blade feat from TOB [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Salernodc
05-07-07, 10:55 AM I posted a thread awhile back that involved some comparison of the elegant strike class ability from the Champion of Corellon and the Shadow Blade feat from TOB. Several people (including 2 uncon prizewinners) posted that Shadow Blade was superior because it combined strength & dexterity mods to damage rolls WITHOUT losing the ability to affect creatures normally immune to crits.

The actual feat description is ambiguous. But check the shorter description on page 30. It clearly states that the character can use DEX mod instead of strength mods for damage rolls. NOT both mods....

Alas....alack....
wonlee76
05-07-07, 11:00 AM Text of feat beats the tables. I made the same mistake with the Shadow Blade feat myself, taking the table text to be what the feat was supposed to do before reading the actual feat.

Generally, Shadow Blade feat as written is better than Elegant Strike. The only situation where I can see Elegant Strike being more useful is due to preference of weapon choice since Shadow Blade has a limited selection of weapons that it can work on vs. Elegant Strike which works on any finesseable weapon.
Salernodc
05-07-07, 11:45 AM [QUOTE=wonlee76;12323029]Text of feat beats the tables. I made the same mistake with the Shadow Blade feat myself, taking the table text to be what the feat was supposed to do before reading the actual feat.[QUOTE]

That doesn't make a lot of sense. I have never read anywhere what a player should do in reference to text vs. table. The very fact that the table is stated as it is gives some hints as to what the designers wanted to do. Plus, the text is very ambiguous. There is no mention of strength at all....which means that one doesn't know for surewhich way the pendulum swings.

Thanks for the input.
starfire311
05-07-07, 12:00 PM That doesn't make a lot of sense. I have never read anywhere what a player should do in reference to text vs. table. The very fact that the table is stated as it is gives some hints as to what the designers wanted to do. Plus, the text is very ambiguous. There is no mention of strength at all....which means that one doesn't know for surewhich way the pendulum swings.

Thanks for the input.

Read the 3.5 errata sometime, the 1st entry in it is about primary sources, adn it says descriptions are considored the primary source and take precedent over table entries.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Salernodc 05-07-07, 10:55 AM	I posted a thread awhile back that involved some comparison of the elegant strike class ability from the Champion of Corellon and the Shadow Blade feat from TOB. Several people (including 2 uncon prizewinners) posted that Shadow Blade was superior because it combined strength & dexterity mods to damage rolls WITHOUT losing the ability to affect creatures normally immune to crits. The actual feat description is ambiguous. But check the shorter description on page 30. It clearly states that the character can use DEX mod instead of strength mods for damage rolls. NOT both mods.... Alas....alack....
wonlee76 05-07-07, 11:00 AM	Text of feat beats the tables. I made the same mistake with the Shadow Blade feat myself, taking the table text to be what the feat was supposed to do before reading the actual feat. Generally, Shadow Blade feat as written is better than Elegant Strike. The only situation where I can see Elegant Strike being more useful is due to preference of weapon choice since Shadow Blade has a limited selection of weapons that it can work on vs. Elegant Strike which works on any finesseable weapon.
Salernodc 05-07-07, 11:45 AM	[QUOTE=wonlee76;12323029]Text of feat beats the tables. I made the same mistake with the Shadow Blade feat myself, taking the table text to be what the feat was supposed to do before reading the actual feat.[QUOTE] That doesn't make a lot of sense. I have never read anywhere what a player should do in reference to text vs. table. The very fact that the table is stated as it is gives some hints as to what the designers wanted to do. Plus, the text is very ambiguous. There is no mention of strength at all....which means that one doesn't know for surewhich way the pendulum swings. Thanks for the input.
starfire311 05-07-07, 12:00 PM	That doesn't make a lot of sense. I have never read anywhere what a player should do in reference to text vs. table. The very fact that the table is stated as it is gives some hints as to what the designers wanted to do. Plus, the text is very ambiguous. There is no mention of strength at all....which means that one doesn't know for surewhich way the pendulum swings. Thanks for the input. Read the 3.5 errata sometime, the 1st entry in it is about primary sources, adn it says descriptions are considored the primary source and take precedent over table entries.