Min/Max Boards

Hello everyone.
In my next 3.5e DM evening one of my players will find a spellbook, but there is a catch. Its so old that he would have to study each spell before he can use them without problems. Alternatively he could go to a teacher who might show him everything within a couple of days.

If he doesnt, he can still use the spells, but it works like wild magic.
I know the Dnd 5e wildmagic table, which is a bit too long for my taste, but I dont know of anything alike in 3.5e except for some homebrew and those are too long as well.

And so I would like to make a really short list, that you can do with one dice roll and without having a giant paper at you.
A d12 for example, where 1 is the worst and 12 the best result. There might be a middle for "normal" although that doesnt have to be at 5 or 6.

Could look like this: On a D12

1. Full Backfire as if cast on yourself/position instead
2. The spell failed
3. Partial backfire: You take half of the dmg instead
4. Partial failure: dmg halfed, spells without dmg half duration
5. Target blurred for 1 round
6. Normal spell with loud noises and lights
7. Nomal spell
8. Caster blurred for 1 round
9. DC+1/+2vsSR
10. Spell slot not used up
11. Opponent fails its SV
12. Empowered or extended if no dmg

I could go to a D20 and add more "normal spell but this happens as well" to it. 1-5 bad effect, 6-10 normal with bad side effect, 11-15 normal with slightly good effect, 16-20 good effect

Open for ideas. Thanks

Hello everyone. The idea is that a druid (preLv1) was cursed by a lich and got stuck during a wildshape as a badger.
Now he lost all his druidic powers and becomes a paladin of the fey/wild.

Alternatively, which I like a bit more: A celestial beeing, lets say a cel. badger got lost on the material plane. Here he starts doing what he did back home and becomes a badger-paladin.
This character would be like a noble knight, stuck in the body of a badger.

How would you build this in 3.5e or 5e ?
-In 5e a paladin of the wild would be the obvious choice, only the badger would be a bit tricky to do as the base creature is tiny and there is no celestial template that I have seen yet. The giant badger is medium and would likely be a better starting point.
-In 3.5e a badger is only small and there is a celestial template, but +2LA is not funny. You could remove a lot of the powers to get 0LA as he lost his divine connection for too long.
Or simply use a reguar race and switch some things around and call it a badger.
There is also the option of a cleric with a fitting domain.

Edit: D&d5e: Starting from an AAsimar with some flavor changes might do the trick.

Obviously this is not a power build, but one for roleplay.
Lets have some fun with it and tell me your ideas and thoughts. Homebrewing a cel badger for 5e would be fine too.
Thanks.

Hello everyone, as my group basically never really used the spell I wanted to check on it before I might use it.

In my example, my PC is a chaotic gnome who loves trying out new ways of life. So that spell looked like fun and at first I didnt mind the possible effects that much.

The correct use is just a bit confusing:

Undo ALL racial adjustments? For example: My gnome has +2DEX, +2INT, -2STR, -2WIS (Dragonlance) Would all that go to +/-0 or do I keep the INT/WIS/CHA stats?
The thing that I only GAIN changes from the new body based on STR/DEX/CON is what confuses me.
So if I use this spell as a race that gives an edge on mental stats, I would basically loose that without getting anything if I return as a race with INT or WIS bonus. Even if I reincarnated as the same race I would loose those stats and only gain/loose  based on STR/DEX/CON ?

What happens to LV adjustments ?

How do you handle changing size? Usually your size effects weapons and clothing.

You gain ALL abilities and alike of the new form but keep your feats, skills.... so no new skill/feat if I become a human, but I dont loose one either if I was a human?


Thanks,
Dwarfi

Hello everyone,

again some questions came up that I usually dont think about which need clarification.

1) - One of my players has a raven familiar, which can speak. Now he argues that the raven should be able to hold and use wands while flying around.
I believe that it can hold a wand in its claws and fly around, but casting from it? I dont know, is talking all thats necessary to use a wand?

2) - Pin an opponent + potions?
 you pin an opponent, stop him from speaking and then search for a potion and drink it? I am not very used to the rules when it comes to pinning an opponent.

Thanks again.
best, Dwarfi

Hello everyone.
I am currently leading my group through a swamp, complete with a Black dragon at the end. So no dragon encounters needed.
My players are really hyped about this area and so I want to give them some really sweet encounters instead of just some random rolls for random encounters that just die too easily anyway.
And so I would like to ask for some ideas. Basically anything is possible as an encounter, it shouldnt have much treasure if any at all though.

Group: LV11- some nice armor items and weapons but overall not overequipped
Wizard of high sorcery-necromancer
Beguiler (my PC)
Fighter
Fighter/cleric

NPCs: We have 3 other gnomes and a Lv7 kobold wizard with us as well. The kobold helps in battles.

We are using 2 boats and a raft tied to it as means of transport and we will travel for 3 days until we reach a ruin in the swamp, where the dragon lives.
Day 1- open marsh - belly deep swampy water, grass and a lot of water ways and fog, some trees here and there. At the late afternoon we come across a 12 headed hydra, which was a lot of fun to beat up.

Other ideas so far:Letting them decide which path to take:
Deeper water but faster travel: (CR10)
Wyndlass- Kind of close to the Hydra encounter, bigger surprise attack and more dangerous in deeper water for sure. 10 attacks, grapple lots of damage. Can die as easily as the Hydra if it eats a ray of exhaustion or a hold monster. The guide on the boat would definately warn them about possible dangers on this way. If it manages to stay underwater and attack from there then its even more dangerous. Potent but a bit repetative with the previous Hydra.

Water path through the forest: (CR11)
2d6 x shocker lizard (tribe) + 1 Behir
Maybe the PCs see some signs for a tribe, like totems and then meet only one of them, which returns with a group and a Behir to attack.

Vinespawn - x1 (CR7) x4 (CR11)
Pretty disgusting as it is a plant type (useless beguiler). Very strong, fast and can dish out lots of damage. The effect of the "spawn" is a great element to describe ingame. ^^

Swamp gas ? negative effects or igniteable when fire is used?

What have you played so far, or what comes to your mind?

Hi everyone,

I am currently running an adventure for my 4 man group in a dragonlance setting.
Usually the encounters are pretty easy thanks to our group composition:

1-tauren fighter
2-human mystique/fighter mix
3-wizard black robe, focus on necromancy and some other spells
4 Beguiler (my character)

But right now we are about to face a boss character, which is almost perfectly made to fight our group, if I just play it after the book.
Not to mention that he is really powerfull:

We are all Lv10, the CR is 12 although we defeated other CR like that with easy already.
The problem is that it is a construct with 250HP and Chaos spells.
Not just any, Cloak of Chaos, Chaos Hammer, Confusion, Word of chaos, 4x +25 slam attacks for a lot of dmg, +45 grapple/trip, constrict, smite law.... even if all players were Lv12 this would be hard, but Lv10... I have serious doubts.
The cloak of chaos alone is a Lv8 spell with no save if I remember correctly.

All the melees and I think the wiz as well are lawfull and thereby prone to the anti law effects.
The tauren fighter uses a fire whip which is bad against constructs (because of the fire dmg)
The necromancer because he cant debuff it
And my char can at least use illusions or haste, so maybe I can buy them some time.

I would like to hear some feedback and ideas from you as I dont want to kill my entire group with this.
What would you do?


 

Hello everyone. This will be a mini homebrew thing.
I am currently working on a build based on a dwarfen Monk> Fighter> Kensai
Its a core game, but I think I can get the Kensai, simply because of the utter lack of any fighter PrC in core.

Now are Monks usually not dwarfs from what I know, but who cares. As long as you can make it believable by reflavoring, and some houseruling.
As long as you are having fun and its not getting unfair.
The whole idea is a dwarfen weapon-monk, who lives in a blacksmith instead of a regular cloister, throwing in some dwarfen things, weapon crafting and stuff like that.

The Kensai class, plays right into that idea of making your own weapon in the "cloister"

I could just take a regular core monk for 2 Levels or the passive way monk, which would be slightly better. therefore we only design around the first 2 Levels.
But why take the ordinary when you can spice it up and give it your personal touch? 


If the DM has a problem with the passive way monk, then just use the regular monk and replace evasion on LV2 for the skill focus on Lv1 and if he is generous give you the limited weapon proficiency for free, as you are still forced to put points into craft that way.

Iron monk

Skin made of iron and steel in the bones. - Anvil Hammerhand - Iron Monk Master

There are no dwarven monks! Thats what humans and elve think. Usually because they dont exactly look like regular monks.
In the dwarven society working hot iron is considered a high form of art. Creating your own Masterwork weapon is the highest form of this process and fighters wielding their own weapon are highly respected and can become a Kensai.

Iron Monk

Races:Dwarv
Alignment: Lawful
Starting Gold: Like a regular monk except the changes in iron adebt.
Starting Age: Like a dwarven fighter

Class Skills
Like the regular monk 4+INT/Level

Hit Dice: 8

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: As a regular monk

Change: On Lv1: You gain proficiency with a weapon that you made yourself and trained with for at least 1 week.
You do not gain the usual dwarven proficiencys and you loose the proficiency if you loose the weapon.

Iron adept: At 1st level an iron monk masters his art more then any regular smith. He gains Skill Focus Weaponsmith as a Bonus feat.
Depending on the DM he learns either the usual feats or the feats from the passive way monk.
Starting bonus on Lv1: You begin your journey with a selfmade weapon, on Lv1 you gain A +2bonus for MW tools and +2 bonus for working in the blacksmith. However you still have to pay for it.
You keep the weapon as well as the tools.

At 2nd level an Iron Monk learns Impr Trip, just like a passive way monk. He does not gain the Evasion feat though as dwarves dont doge, they take it and go on.

NPC Reaction
Almost all races see an Iron monk as a highly skilled blacksmith, but nothing more. Only dwarfs recognize them and treat them with respect for their skills.

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+0	+2	+2	+2	Impr. unarmed strike +Combat expertise(instead of impr grab)   Flurry of blows, Iron adebt
2nd	+1	+3	+3	+3	Impr. Trip,

Hello everyone.
I am currently trying to build a PrC for a field control build based on the idea of the PHB2 knight. (Which sucks beyond the idea and the LV3 ability)
The purpose of this class is to be as core-ish as possible, so no bonus feats that use any material outside of that. I know that a knight isnt core, but that one is fine.

Give me your ideas and thoughts. Too much, too little? Or something else?


Knight of the spear
aka master of opportunities   
"Foul monster! you will not lay a hand on these people as long as I can stand! "

 A noble fighter, devoting his life to the protection of those in need and danger.

BECOMING A Knight of the spear
Usually knights or paladins become knights of the spear, as they already devoted themselfs to a higher goal and code of conduct.

 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Alignment: Law/Good
BAB:+5
Weapon focus: Any reach weapon (A large weapon doesnt count for this purpose)
Feats: Impr. Trip,
Maybe: Sense motive or heal?

Special code of conduct: Your order isnt as bound to the idea of honor as regular knights. Instead they follow a different path that replaces any previous codex.
Save the weak: If anybody asks you for protection to save his or some others life you will help him, equally you wont stand by when the weak are beeing preyed on.
A knight never strikes a flat-footed opponent. Instead, you allow your foe to ready himself before attacking.
A knight never deals lethal damage against a helpless foe. You can strike such a foe, but only with attacks that deal nonlethal damage.

Class Skills
 The Knight of the spear's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are....
Clim, Jump, Ride, swim, knw. Local, knw.nobility, diplomacy, heal, sense motive, spot, intimidate
Skills Points at Each  Level : 4 + int

Hit Dice: D10


   BAB  Fort    Ref    Will  Abilities
1. +1    +0     +0     +2    Edge of opportunity, Take me instead, The knight's code
2. +2    +0     +0     +3    improved reflexes, Avenger,
3. +3    +1     +1     +3    I see an opening,
4. +4    +1     +1     +4    Edge of oportunity, Improved reflexes,
5. +5   +1     +1     +4    Battlefield presence, Take me instead-greater
6. +6    +2     +2     +5    Improved reflexes,
7. +7    +2     +2     +5    Take me instead,greater, edge of oportunity
8. +8    +2     +2     +6    Size doesnt matter



Weapon Proficiencies: You gain no additional weapon or armor proficiencies
 
Abilities:
Edge of opportunity: Your order favours the way of controlled battle over a bruttal attack.
You gain +1ATK/+1DMG on every a.o.o. you make, simultaneously you gain +2 bonus on every STR check used for a trip, disarm or sunder attempt. This increases to +2/+4 on Lv4 and +3/+6 on Lv7

Take me instead: To protect the weak, to shield others with your own live is what defines a true knight.
Once per turn, you can make an immediate action to absorb the dmg an adjacent ally would have taken. This only works on melee and ranged melee attacks, not on spells, except area of effect spells that allow a save to half the dmg. In this case you take half of the dmg your ally would have taken, he still takes the other half.

Take me instead, greater: A knight will give his life for others, that doesnt mean that he is easy to kill though.
This ability works like the previous version, but now you only take dmg from melee attacks if the attack would have beaten your AC. If you shield an ally against an aoe spell it still deals half the dmg to you, but none to you ally.

Improved reflexes: You training made you more aware of enemy mistakes.
You gain +1 additional Aoo for each turn, this increases to +2 and +3 additional uses on Lv3 and Lv6.

Avenger: If you cant protect them you must avenge them!
If an enemy that you threaten damages and ally with a melee attack you can make an a.o.o.

I see an opening: Your keen eyes can make out openings in the defences of all enemys to land stunning blows.
As an immed. action you can use up one attack of opportunity (from the number of possible aoos you would have each round) to increase the power of a melee attack. If your attack deals damage, the enemy must make a Will saving throw or become dazed for 1 round. DC10+ your knight level+ STR modifier. You must decide to use this ability before you make the attack, if you miss, the effect is lost.

Battlefield presence: An enemy that starts his turn in an area that you threaten must watch out for your strikes. He looses -2ATK on all Attack rolls as long as he stays within your reach.

Size doesnt matter: You have mastered your weapon and you skills, enemys no longer gain a size advantage against you when it comes to trip or disarm attacks. They still gain a bonus from Strength or because of having more then 2 legs and alike though.

PLAYING A Knight of the spear

 Combat: You goal is not to kill an enemy as fast as possible but to ensure that your allys are save. You use your quick reflexes to stop enemys as soon as they come into your reach.
 Advancement: -
Resources: You are a member of a knightly order, therefore you can expect help from other orders or paladins with simmilar goals. You basically find a free bed and food in everey city where such an order is present. You are also more respected, especially by travelers.

Knight of the spear IN THE WORLD
„I will never forget how the man held off those monsters all by himself until every last one of my family was save behind the city walls.“

Usual reactions: Positive, most people know of the good deeds of the spear order and praise them as companiens and guards on journeys.

 

Hello everyone, its been a while.
DnD 3.5

So in my current adventure, my Lv8 gnome beguiler met its maker in the shape of a giant ogre greatsword.
My group is currently trying to find a creative way to bring me back to life... more or less. We are extremely short on wealth so a real resurrection is out of the question. Reincarnation would be possible but there is no  temple around the desert in which we are.
Our latest addition to the group is an elvish wizard with a liking to necromancy and some other dark arts. One of his posessions is a magical staff made from a spine and a skull.
We havent completely figured out what this thing is capable of, since we found it, but it can cast death knell to gather charges, which can be used up to cast certain spells. (None of them is anywhere near "good")

And so the idea came up, to revive me in the form of a zombie... which I dont like.
Or a vampire , which would actually be very cool. It fits the beguiler and the character. The problem is obvious, that I would instantly become way more powerfull then the rest of the group.
Not to mention the usual vampire problems like travelling, crossing water and the +8LV adjustment.

Therefore I was looking around for alternatives.
So far the vampire spawn seem more fair for a game then a full blown vampire lord.
But the problems remain.

Of course its up to the DM what can or cant be done, but he likes to hear ideas if we want to play something in particular.
Maybe some homebrewing.

A+1Lv adjustment would be ok for me
So what do you think would be a fair deal for that, slightly more powerfull then a spawn, not too powerfull ? Have you played a vampire before?
Stuff like telepathy, dominate or enthrall would be fitting abilities.
My character is a masterfull alchemist, so maybe I can produce an extra strong sun lotion of some sort... and as I am a gnome I can use a really small coffin to carry it around on my horsy.

I am open for ideas.

As my group rarely used effects like this I'd like to ask to be sure:

DnD 3.5

Fog effects (like the Lv1 spell)
give total cover when more then 5ft away from the viewer.
Half cover if 5ft away

Q1:
If I stand in the outer fields of the fog I can look out of the fog, but if I shoot somebody outside (bow or ranged touch) I still have a 20% miss chance.
Same goes if somebody from outside the fog looks at me when I am in a field on the edge of the effect.

Q2: Can I make a hide check in such an "edge" field to become semi invisible for the ones outside the fog?
Interesting for sneak attacks and other effects.

Q3: Can I move at full speed through a normal fog ? Or do I have to slow down ?

Thanks.