If you see anything that you think should be added/ammended, LMK and I'll do so. (but this is for Frequently Asked Questions only, not quirky rules debates)
- chonjurer
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Links to other FAQs
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Q: Is this FAQ "official"?
A: Yes and no. WOTC does not live and die by the answers in here, but I have tried to make them as accurate a representation of the rules, and their intent, as I can. Sage advice, game designer clarification, boards debates, official FAQs, erratas and common sense/reason were all conglomerated together in my head to make this document. In the end you are the one who has to make the decision, and this document will hopefully help you to make an informed one.
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Barbarians
Q: When a Barbarian goes unconscious and is raged, does he drop out of his rage?
A: By a strict reading of the rules, no.
Regardless, if a 4th level Barbarian is dropped to -2 on his new HP total, and falls out of rage (for whatever reason), he instantly loses the 8 HP he gained from the rage. This puts him at -10, meaning that he is dead. This also means the Barbarians should be careful when raging.
Q: Can a Barbarian sneak attack when raging?
A: Yes. Skip has clarified this, as it does not require concentration to sneak attack, only the opportunity to use it.
Clerics
Q: Are clerics supposed to worship a god?
A: The core rules allow for godless clerics, who instead draw their power from the *forces* of the cosmos, or from an appropriate deity who has a similar cause. Note, however, that the cosmic *force* of good is going to be less forgiving of transgressions in upholding goodness than a deity would most likely be. Hence Paladins, who serve the force of good, have a seemingly stricter code of conduct than a cleric. The DM should enforce these constraints on godless clerics.
Furthermore, all clerics are mainfestations of their god's power. Abusing that power or ignoring the will of the church will cause them to lose all of their clerical powers. Power from the gods comes at a price.
Q: Can a good cleric summon a Baaetzu?
A: No. Summoning an evil creature adds the descriptor [Evil] to that particular use of the spell, and clerics are forbidden from casting spells of opposing alignment. The same applies to Druids, but *not* arcane spellcasters. Furthermore, the same restriction applies to the Law/Chaos axis as well. A lawful cleric cannot summon a chaotic creature.
Druids
Q: How many HD of animal companions can a Druid travel with?
A: In the second printing of the PHB, it was clarified/errataed that a travelling Druid may have their Class Level in animal companions, and a Ranger may have 1/2 of their Class Level, and both restrictions apply while travelling around. That is doubled if they stay in the same area. (this is also in the 1st printing of the DMG)
Q: What's with the Druid's weapon restrictions?
A: Unknown. In Forgotten Realms, the goddess Mielikki does not impose the restrictions upon her Druids, so you may want to consider being one of her followers. There seems to be a general concensus that removing the restrictions upon their weapon use (especially for the bow) would not unbalance them or be against the general druidic idea/flavour. Talk to your DM about it.
For another take on the Druid, check this link out: Sir Galahad's Druid FAQ
Monks
Q: Can a Monk use TWPF and flurry of blows?
A: No. Flurry of Blows is the Monk version of TWPF, and does not stack.
Q: How does the Monk's UAB (unarmed attack bonus) work when multiclassing?
A: The monk's UAB does not stack with other classes' BAB bonus. The only exceptions are PrCs that were designed with the monk in mind (i.e. Red Avenger). So a Monk 3/Fighter 3 has a BAB of +5 and an UAB of +2.
Rangers
Q: Can a Ranger or Paladin who can't cast spells (i.e. < 3rd level) use a wand of Cure Light Wounds?
A: Yes. Their caster level is 0, but they are still allowed to use the appropriate scrolls and wands because the spells are on their spell lists (i.e. it is listed in the PHB on their spell tables).
Q: Can a ranger 1/whatever X use the Two-Weapon Fighting (TWPF) and Ambidexterity (AMB) feats?
A: Yes. As long as the character is using light or no armor, they still have access to their virtual feats.
Q: Does a Ranger 9 automatically get Improved Two-Weapon Fighting?
A: No. He must buy it with a free feat slot like any other class. He may use his virtual feats to cover the pre-reqs, however. If (for any reason) he loses access to his pre-reqs, he also loses acccess to the ITWPF (just like all other feats which have pre-reqs).
Q: Is it true that any class can Track?
A: Firstly, you need to take the feat: Track. Secondly, the feat requires the use of the skill Wilderness Lore, which is only a class skill for Rangers, Barbarians and Druids. So only those 3 classes have a chance of being any good at it, but yes: any class can track if they take the feat (or if the DC is 10 or less, as described in the PHB). But is the DC is > 10, you must have the feat.
Paladins
Q: Can a Paladin kill baby kobolds?
A:
![[Bored]](graemlins/dozey.gif)
D&D is based on absolute morality. From the PHB, pg. 87:Good and evil are NOT philosophical concepts in the D&D game. They are the forces that define the cosmos.
Using that as your jump-point, you can go and join an existing argument on the subject.
Good characters protect innocent life (which is what a baby kobold is)
Evil characters debase or destroy innocent life
Lawful characters tell the truth, keep their word, respect authority, honour tradition, and judge those who fall short of their duties
Chaotic characters follow their consciences, resent being told what to do, favour new ideas over tradition, and do what they promise if they feel like it.
PHB, pg. 88
That's pretty cut and dry for defining a paladin's code of action.
Rogue
Q: When can a rogue use the evasion ability?
A: He can use it anytime there is more than about a 2'X 2' area to manouever in. It does *NOT* matter if he is stuck in the middle of the AOE of a Fireball, or if he is in 10'X10' room with a dragon breathing in it. As long as there is some minimal amount of room to move in, he can use it. Once you can explain how the wizard can fire balls of fire from his fingertips, then we will field explanations on how the rogue avoids it. Until then, accept that this is fantasy.
Q: Can a rogue sneak attack with a ranged weapon?
A: Yes. As long as the target is denied his dex bonus versus the rogue, and the target is within 30', then he can sneak attack it. Note: you *cannot* flank with a ranged weapon, as flanking is defined for melee weapons only. Furthermore, a rogue can make as many sneak attacks in a round as the target is "sneak-attackable" for. There is no limit.
Sorcerers
Q: Can a sorcerer learn healing spells?
A: No. The unless a spell has Wiz/Sor in the level description, it is *NOT* a wiz/sor spell. The flavour text in the PHB was added to allow sorcerers to learn spells from future supplements.
Q: Can a sorcerer make use of the Quicken Spell Feat?
A: ONLY if they have taken the Arcane Preparation feat from FR (Forgotten Realms). Otherwise it is of no use to them (and this was the game designer's intent, as clarified by WotC_Ted - like it or lump it).
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General Questions
Q: What is dual classing?
A: Back in the days of 2nd edition, humans had to dual class (which was very similar to current multiclassing) whereas demihumans (i.e. non-human races) had to multi-class. The distinction was removed in 3rd ed and all races follow the same multiclassing rules now. (thank god)
Q: Why is there only one experience table for PCs?
A: In 2nd ed, each class required a different amount of XP to gain a level. This distinction was also removed in 3rd ed, as the classes were created with a greater sense of balance at each level in mind, supposedly making them equal across levels. If everyone believed this, this board would get a lot less traffic
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Q: How does multi-classing work?
A: Each time you go up a level, you choose what character class you want to advance in (gain a level in). You are no longer required (apart from DM discretion) to advance in the class you chose at the beginning of the game, and you may chose as many different classes as your DM will allow to advance in, one at a time. They may also be taken in any order that you wish. There are some caveats, however, that will limit your effectiveness if you multiclass too much:
- CON: there is a 20% experience (XP) penalty if your levels in each class are too different. Each race has a "favoured" class, and that class is ignored when calculating XP penalties. After you have eliminated that class, the other classes must be within 1 level of each other or the 20% XP penalty is assigned. This represents the strain of trying to maintain a bunch of different professions all at different competence levels. (i.e. a Human Wiz 10/Clr 1/Ftr 2 has no multiclassing penalties, but a Human Wiz 10/Clr 1/Ftr 3 does)
- PRO: BAB and saving throw bonuses are added together, and you get the special abilites of all the classes you have taken
- CON: If you are a spellcaster, you are sacrificing your *highest* spellcaster level to gain the abilities of another class. i.e. a Wiz 4/Rogue 1 is a 5th level character. The character, however, has decided by taking that Rogue level to sacrifice his 5th level wizard abilities, sacrificing his 3rd level spells for 1st level Rogue abilities. At higher levels, it is even worse. A Wiz 16/Rogue 1 has sacrificed his 17th wizard level, meaning that he cannot cast those 9th level spells for another whole level, just to gain some minor rogue abilities. In the end you have to ask yourself: is it worth it in the long haul?
- PRO: If you are a fighter class, you essentially lose nothing by multi-classing into other fighter classes. You can, in general, pick up many different cool abilities while still becoming a primo fighter and multiclassing.
Q: Do prestige classes (PrC) count when determining multi-classing penlaties?
A: No. Pg. 27 of the DMG specifically states so.
Q: If I am a Wiz 7/Rogue 5, how many feats do I have?
A: You are a total of 12th level, so you get your bonus feats at 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th levels.
If you are a human or a strongheart halfling, you get an extra feat.
You get a bonus feat at 5th level wizard, and that feat must be chosen from the list in the PHB under the wizard class description.
You get Scribe Scroll for free for being a Wizard.
So that makes 7 (8) feats.
Q: What are my max ranks for my skills if I am a Wiz 5/Ranger 5?
A: It depends which class the skills are class skills, cross-class skills or exclusive skills for.
So when gaining your 5th Ranger level (10th character level):
- Your Wilderness Lore skill costs 1 skill point to gain 1 rank (class skill), and has a max of 13 (class skill for rangers)
- Your Knowledge: Arcana skill costs 2 skill points to gain 1 rank (cross-class skill), and has a max of 13 (class skill for wizards)
- Your Perform skill costs 2 skill points to gain 1 rank (cross-class skill), and has a max of 6.5 (cross-class for all of your classes)
- Your Animal Empathy skill costs 1 skill point to gain 1 rank (class skill), and has a max of 8 (exclusive ranger skill)
- Your Scry skill cannot be advanced while gaining a Ranger level
1) Is it a class skill for the class I am gaining a level in? (determines rank cost)
2) Is it a class skill for any class that I have a level in? (determines max ranks)
Q: Do bardic abilities work on character level or class level?
A: Whenever an ability is a special ability of a class (lay on hands, bardic knowledge, familiar abilities, etc.), it is always *class* level dependent unless it states otherwise. So a Bard 5/Wiz 5 gets to use his Bardic knowledge as a 5th level bard, and gets the familiar abilities, feats, etc. of a 5th level wizard.
Q: What about the bard's Bardic Music?
A: Yes, you can take one bard level and then max out your perform ranks as, say, a rogue and still gain all of the benefits of Fascinate, etc. You can still only use it once per day though (unless you take feats from S&S that increase that number). The bard considers himself an "ally" for the purposes of his song, so his inspire courage, etc. works on himself.
Q: Can spellcasters (i.e. sorcerers, wizards, Wu-Jen, shaman, shugenjas, soheis, clerics, druids, bards, paladins, rangers) learn spells off of other lists?
A: As above, no. The spell level descriptor *must* list the class if it is to be learnable/castable by that class. The only exception is if a DM allows the PC to specifically research a certain spell. This should be a rare occurance indeed, and should never give one class the same spell as any another class at the same or lower level.
Q: Which class is the best?
A: Which class is best is completely dependent on the DM, the campaign, the level of the character, the house rules, the player playing the PC, and the price of wheat germ in Madagascar.
If you want to convince the world of why Class X sucks/rocks, there are *plenty* of threads around here for you to get ingrossed in.
Q: Where can I find the Monte Cooke Alternate Ranger?
A: http://www.geocities.com/montejcook/images/Ranger1.pdf
Some people think it is overpowered and/or unneccessary (myself included), and some like it. Take your pick. There are so many ranger variants posted on these boards that you just have to throw a dime around here and you'll hit one.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Warning: the following threads contain lots of flames and are very long:
If you want to see Jack Daniel's analysis of the class issue, > Click Here <
For Tom Jackson's active Bard thread, > Click Here <
For the archived one, > Click Here <
For Ian Chapman [Polaris'] Ranger thread, > Click Here <
[ November 22, 2002, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: chonjurer ]