Fun Finds v5.0

[Kethrian]

Actually, the gem is a material component.  And since material components get annihilated during the casting process, there's no gem left for the soul to get trapped in, so the soul gets released immediately!  Yes, the gem should be a focus component.

[TuggyNE]

The Molydeus demon from FC1 gets Trap the Soul as an SLA 1/day.
Remember how SLA's don't require any Material components?
And how Trap the Soul has a Focus Component?
I guess I'm just saying this demon runs around with the souls of failed adventurers. Still cool huh?

fify.

The point is moot, since SLAs don't require focus components either.

[Leviathan]

Actually, the gem is a material component.  And since material components get annihilated during the casting process, there's no gem left for the soul to get trapped in, so the soul gets released immediately!  Yes, the gem should be a focus component.

Maybe the spell consumes the gem, then creates an identical gem with the creature's soul trapped inside?

[Kethrian]

Either way, Trap the Soul needs serious errata to function.

[SorO_Lost]

Actually, the gem is a material component.

You're right, it's tagged for the Trigger Object only. You cannot legitimately use Spell Compilation since Material Components are consumed.

The point is moot, since SLAs don't require focus components either.

RC>MM's Glossary.

[linklord231]

The Molydeus demon from FC1 gets Trap the Soul as an SLA 1/day.
Remember how SLA's don't require any Material components?
And how Trap the Soul has a Focus Component?
I guess I'm just saying this demon runs around with the souls of failed adventurers. Still cool huh?

fify.

Spell-Like abilities don't require foci either.

Edit: aaand I missed the fact that the post I quoted was the last one on the page, and that someone had already pointed this out. Carry on.

Further Edit: 

The point is moot, since SLAs don't require focus components either.

RC>MM's Glossary.

Rules Compendium also says that Spell-Likes don't need foci. 

[SorO_Lost]

8 minutes after I posted and you missed the fact I already addressed it.

I take it you're posting while eating supper again

[ksbsnowowl]

As others have already stated:

No verbal, somatic, or material components are required to use a spell-like ability, nor does using one require a focus or have an experience point cost.

For completeness:

A spell-like ability has no verbal, somatic, or material component, nor does it require a focus or have an XP cost.

So the spell itself doesn't work right, RAW, or at least not as it was intended to work.  The spell never actually says that the gem the target is trapped in is the same gem as the material component (unless I missed it somewhere).  So RAW, it requires two gems, one with a certain value (based on target HD) that gets consumed, and another of indeterminate value that their soul and body is trapped in, which could just as easily be a 4 gp hunk of agate.  The fact a Molydeus can cast it as an SLA just removes the first one, apparently.

Although RAW the SLA doesn't need the focus component, you can only trigger that version of the spell by having said focus component for the target to pick up.  The Focus isn't required for the SLA, but there is nothing preventing the Molydeus from using one anyway.

Edit: Another interesting quirk - Shades (Sor/Wiz 9) can duplicate any Sor/Wiz Conjuration (summoning) or (creation) spell of 8th level or lower.  Trap the Soul is Conjuration (Summoning).  Shades (by virtue of inheriting much of itself from Shadow Conjuration) only has verbal and somatic components.  The only downside is that the target gets an extra Will save, and if it is successful, then the spell is only 80% likely to function.  The spell would either have to create a gem out of shadow-stuff, or you would have to provide one of indeterminate amount.

Edit 2: Pleasure Devils (FC2) also get Trap the Soul as an SLA, as do Ak'chazar Rakshasas (MM3).  Shadow Giants (FF) get Shades as an SLA.

[SorO_Lost]

As others have already stated:

No verbal, somatic, or material components are required to use a spell-like ability, nor does using one require a focus or have an experience point cost.

I like the MM's version better now. Focus and XP are directly listed along side the other Component rather than appearing as an additional sentence. Helps old people like me remember things correctly rather than oh the RC removed them from the list.

[SorO_Lost]

It's true, Familiars are broken!

Warmage (Miniatures Handbook): Expanding the warmage spell list isn’t recommended. The warmage has a limited list of spells to balance its power and adding spells might tip that balance. If you’d like to add to the list anyway, try replacing access to spells rather than simply giving the warmage a wider range of spells to choose from. Of course, when a warmage gains the advanced learning class feature, the evocation spells in this book offer many options.

Known

Code: [Select]

X: Sorcerer (maximum known by the 20th level) / Warmage (obtains full value on spell level access)
C: 9 /  4
1: 5 / 13
2: 5 / 11
3: 4 / 10
4: 4 / 12
5: 4 /  7
6: 3 /  8
7: 3 /  8
8: 3 /  7
9: 3 /  6If your DM allows full swapping to w/e you want. You obtain more Known Spells, free Sudden Metamagics, and the Warmage's Edge over the Sorcerer to compensate for that over-powered familiar.

(click to show/hide)

Also, what do the numbers do with the glow tag? 50/3000 has no discernible difference over 2/300 to me.

[deadkitten]

This lovely feat is from Player's guide to Eberron pg. 151

Shocking Fist [ Warforged ]

(click to show/hide)

Your slam attack can deal a shock.
Prerequisite: Warforged, base attack bonus +3.
Benefit: As a free action, you can channel some of your life force into a slam attack. You must declare that you are using this feat before you make your attack roll. When you use this feat, you deal damage to yourself (any amount equal to or less than your base attack bonus). If the attack hits, you deal ld4 points of electricity damage to the target per point of damage you dealt to yourself. For example, if you dealt 3 points of damage to yourself, a successful attack would deal an extra 3d4 points of electricity damage. If the attack misses, the attempt is wasted (but you still take the damage you dealt to yourself).
You can attempt a shocking fist attack any number of times per day, but only once per round.

I  just KNOW there have to be things you can do with this feat.

[Nytemare3701]

This lovely feat is from Player's guide to Eberron pg. 151

Shocking Fist [ Warforged ]

(click to show/hide)

Your slam attack can deal a shock.
Prerequisite: Warforged, base attack bonus +3.
Benefit: As a free action, you can channel some of your life force into a slam attack. You must declare that you are using this feat before you make your attack roll. When you use this feat, you deal damage to yourself (any amount equal to or less than your base attack bonus). If the attack hits, you deal ld4 points of electricity damage to the target per point of damage you dealt to yourself. For example, if you dealt 3 points of damage to yourself, a successful attack would deal an extra 3d4 points of electricity damage. If the attack misses, the attempt is wasted (but you still take the damage you dealt to yourself).
You can attempt a shocking fist attack any number of times per day, but only once per round.

I  just KNOW there have to be things you can do with this feat.

Two points of interaction here

Anything that triggers on you taking damage
Anything that triggers on dealing electricity damage

If you figure out how to heal off electricity (like the mechanatrix does), then you have masochistic healing. Otherwise? not much I can think of.

[Keldar]

You could put it on a Warforged Vigor/Share Pain build and spam some +15d4 electrical slams til your heart's content.  Or use with Stone Power for +5d4 a round.  Or use Devoted Spirit strikes to heal the damage the moment you take it.  And for a Crusader it means always having your BAB in damage delayed for hit bonuses.

[Sinfire Titan]

Shocking Fist [ Warforged ]
Your slam attack can deal a shock.
Prerequisite: Warforged, base attack bonus +3.
Benefit: As a free action, you can channel some of your life force into a slam attack. You must declare that you are using this feat before you make your attack roll. When you use this feat, you deal damage to yourself (any amount equal to or less than your base attack bonus). If the attack hits, you deal ld4 points of electricity damage to the target per point of damage you dealt to yourself. For example, if you dealt 3 points of damage to yourself, a successful attack would deal an extra 3d4 points of electricity damage. If the attack misses, the attempt is wasted (but you still take the damage you dealt to yourself).
You can attempt a shocking fist attack any number of times per day, but only once per round.

It's kinda known, although not wide-spread. Turning your entire body into a taser for 20d4 Electricity isn't too shabby, especially for a PsiWar/Crusader. The damage is often easily ignored (min 1, man 80, typically going to do between 2-50 depending on BAB). It's also the only source of Ex energy damage that I'm aware of that doesn't involve Alchemical items, so it's a way to bypass all forms of DR if you want to use AMF as a debuff (although that usually shuts down DR anyway).

The key, however, is the underlined part. Any effect that can raise that damage above your BAB means even more output. The Shared Pain loop can theoretically generate infinite damage with this feat without needing Hostile Empathic Transfer. Of course this requires reading the underlined part as-written, instead of the intent (where only the damage the feat deals matters).

[ksbsnowowl]

Yeah, Shocking Fist on a Warforged Crusader with Stone Power was an easy combo I remember recognizing after I bought PGtE.

[deadkitten]

This lovely feat is from Player's guide to Eberron pg. 151

Shocking Fist [ Warforged ]

(click to show/hide)

Your slam attack can deal a shock.
Prerequisite: Warforged, base attack bonus +3.
Benefit: As a free action, you can channel some of your life force into a slam attack. You must declare that you are using this feat before you make your attack roll. When you use this feat, you deal damage to yourself (any amount equal to or less than your base attack bonus). If the attack hits, you deal ld4 points of electricity damage to the target per point of damage you dealt to yourself. For example, if you dealt 3 points of damage to yourself, a successful attack would deal an extra 3d4 points of electricity damage. If the attack misses, the attempt is wasted (but you still take the damage you dealt to yourself).
You can attempt a shocking fist attack any number of times per day, but only once per round.

I  just KNOW there have to be things you can do with this feat.

Two points of interaction here

Anything that triggers on you taking damage
Anything that triggers on dealing electricity damage

If you figure out how to heal off electricity (like the mechanatrix does), then you have masochistic healing. Otherwise? not much I can think of.

Unfortunately, it seems that the type of damage that is dealt to you is untyped so healing off of electricity will not work.
When I first saw the feat I thought of a Gestalt Rouge/ Magus using Vampiric Touch and possibly using The Feral combat training feat to have the slam deal unarmed strike damage. But that's just cause my DM LOVES to combine 3.5 and Pathfinder.
Other than that, good old Duskblade channeling Vampiric touch with Arcane Strilke and Hunters Eye up just for a fist full of dice.

[linklord231]

The healing thing would work by attacking yourself. You're guaranteed to at least break even, and even that is only if you roll all ones.

[SorO_Lost]

Unfortunately, it seems that the type of damage that is dealt to you is untyped so healing off of electricity will not work.

The healing thing would work by attacking yourself. You're guaranteed to at least break even, and even that is only if you roll all ones.

Indeed. Take 3 damage to hit your self with your Slam damage plus 3d4 Electricity damage.

You can mitigate the Slam damage by choosing to deal nonlethal and taking the Improved Resiliency Feat.

[linklord231]

Unfortunately, it seems that the type of damage that is dealt to you is untyped so healing off of electricity will not work.

The healing thing would work by attacking yourself. You're guaranteed to at least break even, and even that is only if you roll all ones.

Indeed. Take 3 damage to hit your self with your Slam damage plus 3d4 Electricity damage.

You can mitigate the Slam damage by choosing to deal nonlethal and taking the Improved Resiliency Feat.

Or by just doing nonlethal and remembering that every point of healing also removes an equal amount of nonlethal damage.

[SorO_Lost]

Meh, you risk punching your self into the negatives that way and Improved Resiliency is handy