Any questions/comments post here as my e-mail is apparently not as reliable as I thought it was...
Q. What is the purpose of this FAQ?
A. To answer any frequently asked questions about information from the Sword and Fist Guidebook for Fighters and Monks.
Q. Are there FAQs more appropriate to my other questions?
A. Here is an archived list of D&D board FAQs … -=FAQ LINKS=-
Q. How do I submit new Q&A or corrections to this FAQ?
A. Post them here and I will update this post as needed.
FEATS
Q. What feats can I use as bonus Fighter feats?
A. Close-Quarters Fighting, Death Blow, Dual Strike, Expert Tactician, Hold the Line, Improved Overrun, Improved Sunder, Knock-Down, Off-Hand Parry, Pin Shield, Power Lunge, Prone Attack, Rapid Reload, Sharp-Shooting, Shield Expert, and Snatch Arrows.
Q. Can I use Circle Kick with multiple attacks in a round?
A. Circle Kick uses a full attack action. You make one attack, if this attack hits you get a second attack at the same attack bonus as the first.
Q. Does Dirty Fighting give me a bonus of 1d4 damage on each hit with multiple attacks in a round?
A. Dirty Fighting takes a full attack action and therefore can only be used once in a round. Nice for low level characters, but loses effectiveness once you gain multiple attacks in a round.
Q. Is Dirty Fighting effective against opponents that are immune to critical hits?
A. Nope. Dirty fighting is not effective against opponents not subject to critical hits.
Q. Does Dirty Fighting stack with a Rogue's Sneak Attack ability?
A. No, they both rely on the ability to hit in a vital area.
Q. Why can I make any partial action with Expert Tactician just because one of my opponents is denied his Dexterity bonus?
A. You can't, this feat was clarified in the Song and Silence sourcebook to allow you to make ONE extra melee attack (or anything that can be done as a melee attack) against ONE foe who is within melee reach and denied their Dexterity bonus against your melee attacks for any reason.
The Song and Silence version supercedes the version in the Sword and Fist and changes the prerequisits to Dexterity 13+, BAB +2, and Combat reflexes.
Q. Is the Bluff check for Feign Weakness a standard action or a free action?
A. It is a standard action just like a Bluff check for a feint (PHB pg 64), but you do get to make your attack immediately if you succeed.
Q. Close-Quarters Fighting allows you to add the damage you do to an opponent with a successful attack of opportunity to your grapple check to avoid being grappled. But according to the PHB pg 137 if the attack of opportunity deals damage the grapple attempt fails. Is this a useless feat?
A. If you get multiple attacks in a round you can attempt to start a grapple multiple times (at the next BAB), so you could use it against the next attempts.
The feat also allows you to make an attack of opportunity against opponents with the Improved Grab ability.
Q. If I have Knock-Down and I have 2 attacks and I hit with both doing 5 damage each time, does this bring Knock-Down into effect? Or do I have to do 10 damage on one hit?
A. 10 points of damage from one hit.
Q. If I use the Knock-Down feat to trip an opponent, can I get a free attack from my Improved Trip feat?
A. Nope. You have to use an attack to trip an opponent and then get an attack. You get a free action to trip your opponent with this feat (ie - you haven't given up an attack to trip them, you have already taken it, so you do not get another one).
Q. Can I use Cleave or Great Cleave to get an extra attack if I drop my opponent with Knock-Down?
A. Nope.
Q. How does Lightning Fists work with multiple attacks?
A. You add two attacks and all of your attacks are at a -5 penalty for the next round. ie - if you are able to make an Attack of Opportunity, it is also at a -5 penalty.
Q. Does Lightning Fists stack with Flurry of Blows?
A. Nope.
Q. Why would I take Pain Touch when I already have Stunning Fist to stun my opponent for a round?
A. Pain Touch has been clarified, opponents who fail their saving throw are stunned for one round and then nauseated the round after that.
Q. Stunning Fist is a prerequisite for Pain Touch, but it has a prerequisite of +8 BAB and Pain Touch only has a prerequisite of +2 BAB, why?
A. Monks may use their Stunning Attack class ability as a virtual feat.
Q. Can I use the Prone Attack feat to regain my feet as a free action even if there is nobody in my threatened range to attack?
A. Nope. However the official DnD FAQ does allow for you to use the strike an object rule to attack the floor and use that to get up if you hit (ie - don't roll a one). This would still leave you with a move action once you were up.
Q. Can I use the Snatch Arrows feat more than once in a round?
A. Nope.
Q. Can I use the Throw Anything feat to throw an arrow or a crossbow bolt?
A. Nope. Ammunition is not considered a "weapon". You can also not throw your bow or crossbow as a "weapon".
[b]PRESTIGE CLASSES[/b]
Q. Why does the Cavalier gain Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) without having to purchase it with skill points at first level, since they already have it to qualify for the Prestige Class?
A. This has been errata'd to be a +2 bonus on all checks using this skill.
Q. My Devoted Defender wants to use Deflect Attack, why is it a Reflex save against a static number (other than magic bonus' to attack)?
A. It has been errata'd to be an opposed attack roll with the bonus from Table 2-2 added in. If you beat the attacker, you deflect the blow.
Q. The Drunken Master has a prerequisite of Base Unarmed Attack Bonus +4, does that mean that only a Monk of 6th level or above can qualify?
A. The Sage has ruled that any character with a BAB of +4 and has the Improved Unamred Strike feat can qualify.
Q. Can I get six unarmed attacks with the Drunken Master if I'm a Monk 10/ Drunken Master 10?
A. No, the Drunken Master cannot attack more than 5 times per round, however your DM may rule differently if you apply feats such as Lightening Fists or Flurry of Blows.
Q. Does the Halfling Outrider really not advance their BAB?
A. They advance their BAB as a Fighter (+1 per level).
Q. Does a Lasher's Crack of Fate stack with Rapid Shot?
A. No, they are both full attack actions. "A full-round action consumes all your effort during a round.", PHB pg 121. "Full attack is a full round action.", PHB pg 124.
Q. Does a Lasher's Whip Sneak Attack stack with other Sneak Attack abilities (ie - from Rogue levels)?
A. Yes.
Q. How long does the Ravager's Aura of Fear last?
A. The Aura of Fear lasts for "as long as they remain in range". While a hard and fast duration is not stated, the fact that a Ravager would fight to the death means it would last as long as combat lasts, unless those affected managed to leave the range of the Aura of Fear. There is no saving throw.
Q. The Weapon Master PrC has a class skill called Knowledge (weaponry), but it is never explained further. What is it for?
A. Knowledge (weaponry) was removed from the Weapon Master skill list in the Oriental Adventures reprint, most likely it was left in Sword and Fist by accident.
[b]TOOLS OF THE TRADE[/b]
Q. Bladed Gauntlet, what's up with that?
A. A Bladed Gauntlet now has a critical range of 19-20 and a multiplier of x2.
Q. Mercurial Longsword, what's up with that?
A. A Mercurial Longsword now does 1d8 damage and critical multiplier of x4.
Q. Mercurial Greatsword, what's up with that?
A. A Mercurial Greatsword now does 2d6 damage and critical multiplier of x4.
Q. Fullblade, what's up with that?
A. A Fullblade is now a Huge weapon, does 2d8 damage, and is too large for a medium creature to use at all.
Q. Orc Shotput, what's up with that?
A. No changes from the errata, it does only have a range increment of 10 feet and weigh 15 pounds (where are you storing them?). It is also a Large weapon, so a medium sized character must use a full round action to throw it (PHB pg 97).
Q. Bow of True Arrows, what's up with that?
A. It may seem overpowered, but it is a spell trigger item (like a wand), meaning that you need the spell on your spell list (ie - a Sorcerer or Wizard).
It also 1. Takes a standard action to activate it AND 2. You only get ONE attack at +20 the next round.
Q. Does a Ring of Shocking Blows give me an extra 1d8 + 3 damage on all my unarmed attacks in a round?
A. It has been errata'd so that the wearer can only make one touch attack each round.
[b]MAY NEVER BE ANSWERED[/b]
Q. How many times can I use Feign Weakness on a single opponent?
A. According to the Sword and Fist Errata, you may only use it once per encounter as your opponent would be too wary after your first attempt.
According to the DnD FAQ, as many times as your DM allows it. The opponent should get a +5 bonus to their Sense Motive check for the successive attempts however.
Q. For the Order of the Bow Initiate's Ranged Sneak Attack ability the descriptive text lists the progression as every odd level (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.), but the chart shows a different progression. Which is correct?
A. While there is no official ruling on this Table 2-14 shows the Ranged Sneak Attack at 1st, 3rd, and 5th following the progression of the text. The progression does break down at 7th level, as the table next shows Ranged Sneak Attack at 8th and 10th.
I would think that Banked Shot is the quintessential OotBI feat. That should probably be the 10th level Special, bumping the Ranged Sneak Attack progressions back to were the text places them and bumping Superior Weapon Specialization to 8th level. Note that the text does not state what levels the OotBI gets Superior Weapon Specialization or Banked Shot.
VOCABULARY
BAB: Base Attack Bonus.
OotBI: Order of the Bow Initiate.
PHB: Players Handbook.