[3.5] PBP Solo Game Request: I Have Something to Prove

[sirpercival]

Sure, why not?

[phaedrusxy]

Great. What's the point buy? Roll for starting gold? Or max? I'm tempted to ask about crafting my own starting gear for 1/3rd cost, but I'm sure that wouldn't be allowed by many DMs, so I'll resist.

Rolled 2d4 : 2, 1, total 3
Rolled 2d4 : 3, 1, total 4
Rolled 2d4 : 3, 1, total 4
Rolled 2d4 : 1, 4, total 5
Rolled 2d4 : 1, 1, total 2
Rolled 2d4 : 1, 4, total 5
Rolled 2d4 : 1, 4, total 5
Rolled 2d4 : 3, 2, total 5
Rolled 2d4 : 3, 2, total 5
Rolled 2d4 : 1, 1, total 2

[phaedrusxy]

Bah, I typed roll 2d4x10, and it rolled 10x2d4. I'll go with the first one, so 30 gp starting, assuming we're rolling and not taking the max.

[sirpercival]

I do have to say, though, that the two will not be exactly identical.  It won't be just a set of encounters, I don't do that.  The story/plot will be exactly the same, but I'm sure you two will make different choices and interact with it differently.  I'll make sure the encounters are roughly equivalent, however.

Now then.  Let's do my usual array for stats: 10 12 14 16 16 18
Max starting gold.  I don't care if you craft your starting equipment, either.

I'm going to request a board with two private subforums.  You'll post your builds in there.

[dipolartech]

Hey SirP, Im not entirely how it would work or help but id love to assist as a DM. Not sure what I could do for u but im interested in challenge.

[sirpercival]

Hey thanks, DPT.  I'm still figuring some stuff out, but I'll let you know.

[Endarire]

Thanks for the update.  (Those stats are better than a 32 point buy, which I expected!)

I still have more questions!

Does max HP per HD also apply to animal companions, special mounts, psicrystals, familiars, etc.?  (Familiars and psicrystals normally have a max HP of half their master's.)

To clarify:  Is an Erudite's unique powers per day in this game unique powers per power level per day?  (That's how it was in "Dragon," and how I understood it.)

Do powers from other classes (like Psychic Warrior) count as discipline powers for the purpose of an Erudite learning powers?

In this game, do Undead (or at least intelligent Undead) in general get their CHA bonus to HP instead of their CON modifier?

Monetarily, how close to wealth by level are we sticking?

If as a Wizard or Sorcerer I sacrifice my familiar for a class feature, can I take Obtain Familiar to regain it?

Can I rearrange my psicrystal's stats so he starts with 11 CHA to use Hidden Talent?  (For example, trade 1 point of INT for 1 CHA.)

Does Spell Focus also apply to psionic powers of the same discipline/subdiscipline due to transparency?  (Feats normally don't.)

Page 110 of the PHB says I can talk to you, the GM, about customizing my character.  I plan to be a Warforged, but I hoped to trade my CHA penalty for a STR penalty.  (This guy is meant to be a mastermind and manipulator.  Plus, we can do intrigue!)  May I also trade the Warforged CON bonus for an INT bonus or at least to remove the WIS penalty?

Further customization:  I hoped to trade some Wizard and Erudite class skills for Diplomacy, Bluff, Sense Motive, Search, Disable Device, and maybe Handle Animal.  What's a fair trade?

Can Mindsight be toggled?  (Normally not, but having the constant radar is annoying.)  If so, what action is it to toggle?

To clarify about the Lady's College:  The spiffy benefit is being able to use their labs to make any metaphysical item even if you didn't have the feat.  Doing so increases the creation cost by 10% compared to crafting, and still requires all other parts of the item, like spells.

Do I need to keep a close count on how many pages I've used in my spellbook?

Masterwork holy symbols exist for all schools except Evocation and Conjuration.  May I buy a holy symbol for Conjuration?  Whose would it be?  If I get a Transmutation holy symbol instead, whose would it be?

If I take Precocious Apprentice as a specialist Wizard, do I get specialty L2 slots as well?  After all, I can still cast a L2 spell some of the time!

I'm also for Rich Burlew's Diplomacy.  This should be interesting considering my character's persuasive slant.

What source material is allowed?  (I checked your pre-approved homebrew.)  I ask about Faerun's regional feats specifically.

Do you rule that spell slot level = spell level?  Normally this isn't so due to the existence of Heighten Spell, which seems to exist only to allow early entry and Shadowcraft Mage goodness.

How do metamagic reducers work with item creation?  I assume I'd need to create such items myself.  For example, an item that casts Persistent shield at +0 metamagic due to, say, an Incantatrix's Metamagic Effect should cost as much as the same shield item without any metamagic feats applied.

FYI: I plan to start as a Conjurer and sell most my spellbook.  There are 61 Wizard cantrips (according to the Ultimate Spell List with slight additions in the Spell Compendium).  I plan to keep 8, getting me +2650G!  It's far beyond expected WBL, but gosh darnit, I want that money for minions!

[sirpercival]

Thanks for the update.  (Those stats are better than a 32 point buy, which I expected!)

I still have more questions!

Does max HP per HD also apply to animal companions, special mounts, psicrystals, familiars, etc.?  (Familiars and psicrystals normally have a max HP of half their master's.)

They have half your hit points.  Your hit points are maxed... math is simple

To clarify:  Is an Erudite's unique powers per day in this game unique powers per power level per day?  (That's how it was in "Dragon," and how I understood it.)

Do powers from other classes (like Psychic Warrior) count as discipline powers for the purpose of an Erudite learning powers?

Yes to both.

In this game, do Undead (or at least intelligent Undead) in general get their CHA bonus to HP instead of their CON modifier?

IIRC that's an ability that some undead have but not all; I'm going to stick with that.  However, since we're in Eberron and not Greyhawk I'd be willing to discuss altering the racial prereq for Faerie Mysteries Initiate.

Monetarily, how close to wealth by level are we sticking?

This is hard to answer.  You're going to be facing off with equivalent EL encounters, which means by the books you'd have 4x the treasure.  I'm not sure if that's what you intended for the challenge, but either way it's more than I'm comfortable with.  You're likely to get more than WBL, but how much more is likely to be fluid.

If as a Wizard or Sorcerer I sacrifice my familiar for a class feature, can I take Obtain Familiar to regain it?

Is there any DM which doesn't allow this?

Can I rearrange my psicrystal's stats so he starts with 11 CHA to use Hidden Talent?  (For example, trade 1 point of INT for 1 CHA.)

2 points down for 1 point up.  Phae, you can do the same wrt animal companion.

Does Spell Focus also apply to psionic powers of the same discipline/subdiscipline due to transparency?  (Feats normally don't.)

No.  Psiotheurgist is a special case for grouping together. 

Page 110 of the PHB says I can talk to you, the GM, about customizing my character.  I plan to be a Warforged, but I hoped to trade my CHA penalty for a STR penalty.  (This guy is meant to be a mastermind and manipulator.  Plus, we can do intrigue!)  May I also trade the Warforged CON bonus for an INT bonus or at least to remove the WIS penalty?

The example given in the PHB explicitly leaves stat adjustments the same.  I tend to be a rather permissive DM (phae can attest to this), but this smacks of "I'm going to design the race I want la la la".  However, I do like to give players what they want, so compromise time.  You can move one of the penalties to another stat by removing the bonus.  (Yes, that would leave you with two penalties and no bonuses.)  Does that sound ok?  Or too harsh?

Further customization:  I hoped to trade some Wizard and Erudite class skills for Diplomacy, Bluff, Sense Motive, Search, Disable Device, and maybe Handle Animal.  What's a fair trade?

Well, you'd get Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Info, Intimidate, and Sense Motive as a specialized enchanter at the cost of some feats.  I'm disinclined to let you simply swap skills on a 1-for-1 basis...

Can Mindsight be toggled?  (Normally not, but having the constant radar is annoying.)  If so, what action is it to toggle?

Um, sure.  Let's say a swift action.

To clarify about the Lady's College:  The spiffy benefit is being able to use their labs to make any metaphysical item even if you didn't have the feat.  Doing so increases the creation cost by 10% compared to crafting, and still requires all other parts of the item, like spells.

That's pretty kewl.  We'll incorporate that into one of the affiliations.

Do I need to keep a close count on how many pages I've used in my spellbook?

  No.  The spellbook rules always kind of annoyed me, to be honest.

Masterwork holy symbols exist for all schools except Evocation and Conjuration.  May I buy a holy symbol for Conjuration?  Whose would it be?  If I get a Transmutation holy symbol instead, whose would it be?

I think Conjuration would be Onatar, and Transmutation would likely be the Traveler.

If I take Precocious Apprentice as a specialist Wizard, do I get specialty L2 slots as well?  After all, I can still cast a L2 spell some of the time!

Nope, not even as a focused specialist.  The feat doesn't give you a real L2 slot until you can cast 2nd-level spells normally (though you can still cast a 2nd-level spell, so you still qualify for early entry stuff).

I'm also for Rich Burlew's Diplomacy.  This should be interesting considering my character's persuasive slant.

Nice.

What source material is allowed?  (I checked your pre-approved homebrew.)  I ask about Faerun's regional feats specifically.

What were you looking for?  I like the regional feats and am willing to discuss prereq alternatives to adapt them to Eberron.

Do you rule that spell slot level = spell level?  Normally this isn't so due to the existence of Heighten Spell, which seems to exist only to allow early entry and Shadowcraft Mage goodness.

This is a complicated question and doesn't have a blanket answer (other than "sometimes").

How do metamagic reducers work with item creation?  I assume I'd need to create such items myself.  For example, an item that casts Persistent shield at +0 metamagic due to, say, an Incantatrix's Metamagic Effect should cost as much as the same shield item without any metamagic feats applied.

Let's say this.  Static metamagic reducers such as Inc10 or Arcane Thesis can be incorporated into items if you do it yourself.  Dynamic reducers like Instant Metamagic or Metamagic Effect or Vestige Metamagic can't be built into items.

FYI: I plan to start as a Conjurer and sell most my spellbook.  There are 61 Wizard cantrips (according to the Ultimate Spell List with slight additions in the Spell Compendium).  I plan to keep 8, getting me +2650G!  It's far beyond expected WBL, but gosh darnit, I want that money for minions!

Sell your spellbook in what way?

[sirpercival]

OK gentlemen, the board is up.  There are two subforums.  Hopefully you can each see your own and not the other's.  If that's not the case, post in the General Discussion thread.

[Endarire]

By sell my spellbook, I mean going to a merchant and exchanging my starter spellbook (with spells) for money.  Mind you, I would have two spellbooks, and pay for the second if necessary:  The first spellbook has the spells I plan to keep.  The second spellbook has the spells I intend to sell.

-A spellbook has 100 pages and level 1 and 0 spells each take up 1 page.
-It normally costs 100G per spellbook page to add a spell to a spellbook due to material costs.  Thus, a full 100 page spellbook has a market value of 10,000G (100G per page x100 pages).
-In "Spellbooks," a Wizard begins play with all L0 Wizard spells in his spellbook that aren't of an opposed school.  A Wizard also starts with a number of level 1 Wizard spells equal to 3 + his INT bonus.

I learned of this trick when Lycanthromancer posted about it.  (Second reference.)

Next question!

If I'm a Spell-to-Power Erudite with the Magic Mantle, can I take Cerebremancer to advance my manifesting at twice the normal rate?  (I'd take Mantled Erudite, swap out my "Psicrystal Affinity" bonus feat, swap my normal bonus feat for Spell-to-Power, then rock the house.)