Fun Finds v6.0

[zook1shoe]

Dropping a thousand-pound boulder on someone from 40 feat up deals 20d6 damage (1d6 per 200 pounds per 10 feet).  Dropping a thousand rocks, each of which weighs .99 pounds, on someone from the same height deals no damage because objects weighing less than 1 pound do not deal damage to those they land upon, no matter how far they have fallen.

If you jump higher than your speed, it takes you longer to get to the top of your jump than it takes to get back to the ground.

wtf? That's sooo dumb 

[Keldar]

And now you know how all those shows manage to end on a freeze frame with everyone jumping in the air.  They're out of movement.

[littha]

And now you know how all those shows manage to end on a freeze frame with everyone jumping in the air.  They're out of movement.

I had that issue with a battlejumping character I made... easily jumped further than her move speed and ended up frozen in mid air a lot of the time.

[ksbsnowowl]

Yeah, I once had a bad guy hanging mid-air for a round (the PC's killed him before he could continue his movement, though).

[Jackinthegreen]

Hm, Dwarven Chanter might be an interesting base for some homebrew...  http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061128a

[ksbsnowowl]

Hm, Dwarven Chanter might be an interesting base for some homebrew...  http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061128a

That thing has some interesting, but odd, class abilities.

Continuous Spellcasting (Ex): At 5th level, the chanter is able to boost his concentration by focusing his mind on his song, thus ignoring distractions while spellcasting.

While he is reciting this special song, the chanter need not make additional Concentration checks when casting spells for the duration of the chant. In addition, the chant acts as the verbal component of any spell he casts for its duration.

The chanter begins this chant by making a DC 15 Concentration check as a standard action; he is able to maintain incredible focus for one round per point by which he succeeds on this check.

Trance: At 7th level, the chanter learns to focus his mind so keenly on one task that he can perform the task indefinitely. After 10 minutes of uninterrupted meditation, the chanter shuts down all mental and physical functions that aren't necessary for the task at hand. At this point the chanter will begin the set activity (marching, mining, studying, combat, etc.) until a preset condition occurs. For instance, the chanter may have entered a trance to "read until I have read every book in the library."

Trances are never entered lightly, however, because they present a danger to the chanter. The chanter does not eat, drink, or sleep during the trance, straining his body to endure the lack of these vital functions. For every four hours that go by, the chanter must make a Fortitude save (DC 15 + number of previous saves). On a failure, he takes 1d4 points of Constitution damage. A character brought to 0 Constitution in this way dies immediately. A character may not voluntarily end a trance until the preset condition occurs.

Continuous Spellcasting could be interesting.  Auto-succeed on casting defensively, though situational, could be very useful.  It would also allow you to cast even while immersed in lava, and the like, which would normally cause an astronomically high Concentration check to be required.

The Trance... I can't really see what that would be good for.  The crafting rules won't let you craft more than 8 hours a day, so it won't help there.  Having a level of Binder and Binding Nebarius (I think that's the one) would allow you to do it indefinitely, as you would never risk dying of Con damage.  But again, I'm not seeing a whole lot of use out of it, other than long marches.  It's mostly just a role-play aspect, I suppose, such as the suggested "read every book" example.  Though it alludes to combat being an option...

[sirpercival]

The Trance... I can't really see what that would be good for.  The crafting rules won't let you craft more than 8 hours a day, so it won't help there.  Having a level of Binder and Binding Nebarius (I think that's the one) would allow you to do it indefinitely, as you would never risk dying of Con damage.  But again, I'm not seeing a whole lot of use out of it, other than long marches.  It's mostly just a role-play aspect, I suppose, such as the suggested "read every book" example.  Though it alludes to combat being an option...

"Hey Grunthar, I bet you 10gp that you can't pleasure every whore in this brothel!"
"You're on! Hominahominahominahomina"

[Craiconn]

I would re-jigger the Continuous Spellcasting class ability to work something along the lines of the Swift Concentration skill trick or the Extraordinary Concentration feat for piloting "concentration duration" spells.  At least as a game mechanics conversion tweak for the 3.5 Dwarven Chanter.

[Jackinthegreen]

Random thing I found amusing:  The Ordained Champion in Complete Divine does not have any proficiencies listed and this is not corrected in the errata.  Probably meant to be "No new armor or weapon proficiencies" like usual.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

But then I'd need to get it passed by a DM, because the template is 3e, and therefore does not have a listed LA.

But that bring up the idea of being filled with spiders.

Thoon would be pleased.

Also there is totally a guy in WotC in canon whose brain is made of spiders.  He's a guy who got stuck on the Far Realm.

Also reminds me of this one boss I ran, though he was filled with hands.

Variant of the Worm That Walks, or a very slight refluff of some Warlock stuff.

Thanos did something like this, when he had the Infinity Gauntlet.

[Amechra]

The Cumbrous line of feats have to be some of the most WHY WOULD YOU USE THESE feats I've read in a while.

Cumbrous Fortitude: Give yourself a +6 bonus to one Fortitude save, be Staggered for the rest of the encounter!
Cumbrous Reflexes: Give yourself a +6 bonus to one Reflex save, be Prone and Dazed! Of note is that no duration is given for the Daze caused by the feat, so your Dazed forever if you use it once (I think the intent was one round.)
Cumbrous Will: Give yourself a +6 bonus to one Will save, be Shaken for the rest of the encounter! Not that shitty, comparatively, but the Shaken caused by the feat stacks with itself.
Cumbrous Dodge... ...is actually semi-useful: +2 untyped bonus to AC for the remainder of the encounter, you're Fatigued at the end of it. Might be something nice to pick up (if only because untyped) if you're immune to Fatigue.

Improved Web, also from Savage Species, is an interesting feat for anyone who has the ability to use Webs as an Extraordinary ability; namely, you can full-attack with them, attacking a number of creatures equal to your Dexterity modifier. The only limit is that they have to be within 10' of each-other.

[SorO_Lost]

Cumbrous Will is pretty handy, Iron Will can be picked up for 3k (or so) and with Fear Immunity you net a total +8 to Will. Same with the rest (undead:fort, tumble/dazeimmune:reflex) but they, like many others, fall by the wayside for better Feat selections.

[Nunkuruji]

Cumbrous -> DM feats IMO
You can use those feats cleverly to scare lower level adventurers.
Put one or many of the feats on a higher CR creature.
I would initially anticipate PCs to initially crap themselves "You're throwing WHAT at us!?", until they force a save and effectively debuff the critter.
Then again, if the PCs aren't in the business of forcing saves...

[phaedrusxy]

In any game that allows ToB, these have effectively been replaced with feats/items to pick up the Diamond Mind counters. They would still be good on big dumb brute NPCs, though (well... Cumberous Will would... the others not so much).

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Hm, Dwarven Chanter might be an interesting base for some homebrew...  http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061128a

That thing has some interesting, but odd, class abilities.

Continuous Spellcasting (Ex): At 5th level, the chanter is able to boost his concentration by focusing his mind on his song, thus ignoring distractions while spellcasting.

While he is reciting this special song, the chanter need not make additional Concentration checks when casting spells for the duration of the chant. In addition, the chant acts as the verbal component of any spell he casts for its duration.

The chanter begins this chant by making a DC 15 Concentration check as a standard action; he is able to maintain incredible focus for one round per point by which he succeeds on this check.

Expend Psi Focus for the Take 15, but usually an Expend is part of some other action entirely.  Might subvert the purpose of this ability, into an effective bonus standard action.  Anyway, it's easy to make this as an out-of-combat long acting buff.

[Snowbluff]

So I've been shown the Execution Rules in BoVD, page 39. They looks pretty need, if hard to use. Animate Rope, anyone? Have we found the use for a grappler monk?

[zook1shoe]

Justicar is the only combat-efficient rope grappler

[linklord231]

Is there a clause preventing Executions from working on things immune to crits?  If not, that seems rather... counter-intuitive. 

[zook1shoe]

its not a critical hit, so it doesn't need one (except the axe, below). the creature just needs to fulfill the requirements for each w the appropriate body part.

crucifixion cross requires limbs
draw and quarter requires vital organs
hanging requires a neck and a failed check strangles
executioner axe requires a neck and a failed check becomes a coup de grace

(click to show/hide)

EXECUTION EQUIPMENT
Execution of prisoners, far from light and hope of rescue, is
something all creatures fear when venturing into realms
where vengeance or brute malice holds sway. Despicable
overlords and despotic states alike enjoy particularly cruel
forms of execution, deriding even the idea of lesser penalties.
And even an otherwise enlightened society may find
that vengeance is more important to it than reformation of
the convicted. And so the executioner’s profession never
lacks for work.
The executioner seeks death for the condemned with a
swift stroke. Sometimes, death by torture is the command
given to the executioner, but in such a case he will often
remand the client to a torturer to carry out the sentence.
However, many execution devices are also extraordinarily
painful for those destined to feel their cruel, final embrace.

RULES OF EXECUTION
The condemned must first be secured by being tied in place,
pinned in a grapple, or successfully restrained in a stationary
execution device. If restrained in an execution device,
the condemned can attempt to make a Escape Artist check
every round against the DC noted in Table 3–2, unless magically
held or otherwise helpless. If grappled, the condemned
can attempt to break the grapple normally.
Once the victim is secure, the executioner can attempt
the chosen method of execution. The executioner makes a
Profession (executioner) check against the DC given for the
device on Table 3–2. If the check is successful, the condemned
is slain according to the nature of the device. If the
executioner fails, the execution is botched, and the executioner
can make another check the following round.
Botched attempts deal the damage noted for the device, so
the condemned may be killed even if the executioner
botches the attempt. Prideful executioners—which
includes most of them—take it as a personal point of dishonor
if they kill the condemned on a botched execution.
Execution Devices as Weapons: Some execution devices, such
as headsman’s axes, make adequate melee weapons. In
melee, such an item deals normal damage for an item of its
kind (such as a greataxe) and cannot kill instantly. Most
other devices of execution cannot be used in melee.
Masterwork Devices: Masterwork execution devices provide
a +1 circumstance bonus on the executioner’s Profession
(executioner) check. They cost twice as much as the
versions given in Table 3–2.

EXECUTION DEVICES
Hundreds, if not thousands, of execution methods are possible
beyond those described here. Table 3–2 identifies
common techniques from which more exotic forms of execution
can be extrapolated.
Crucifixion Cross: This device consists of two lengths
of wood or other strong material, plus several nails. The executioner
affixes the condemned to the structure by driving
nails through the wrists and the arch of each foot. When
affixed, the condemned is considered crucified. On a successful
Profession (executioner) check, excruciating pain
slowly kills the condemned over the next several hours: She
loses a number of hit points equal to 10% of her full normal
total hit points each hour. If the executioner botches the
crucifixion, the condemned is not securely fashioned to the
cross and gains a +10 bonus on Escape Artist checks. She
still loses 10% of her total hit points each hour she remains
on the cross.
Draw and Quarter: First, the executioner forcefully
affixes a specially prepared cord to some vital internal
organs of the client, usually the intestines; this procedure
deals 3d4 points of damage. Once the cord is affixed, the executioner
either draws the cord himself, or attaches the other
end to a horse that subsequently gallops away. The cord
draws taut, pulling the intestines from the torso of the condemned.
On a successful Profession (executioner) check,
the condemned dies instantly. On a botched attempt, the
cord comes loose prior to disembowelment, but the condemned
still takes 5d6 points of additional damage.
Hanging Rope: A rope used for this purpose has usually
been boiled and stretched beforehand to eliminate further
stretching and coiling. The knot is lubricated with wax to
ensure a smooth slide as it tightens around the neck of the
condemned. The noose is placed so that the knot is behind
the left ear of the condemned; then a trapdoor opens below
or a stool is knocked away and the condemned plummets.
On a successful Profession (executioner) check, the condemned
dies instantly. If the execution is botched, the condemned
is not killed by the fall but instead slowly strangles,
taking 1d3 points of damage per round.
Headsman’s Axe: When specially sharpened and held
with the proper technique, a greataxe (or a greatsword) can
serve the executioner as the instrument of execution. The
condemned is restrained, with the neck vulnerable to the
strike readied by the executioner. On a successful Profession
(executioner) check, the condemned dies instantly. If
the executioner fails the attempt, the headsman’s axe delivers
a coup de grace against the condemned (automatic critical
hit, and the condemned must succeed on a Fortitude
save or die). The coup de grace simply completes the executioner’s
task more messily.

[SorO_Lost]

Have we found the use for a grappler monk?

It is nice that is states Grapple counts as being at someone's mercy for the axe based execution, it gives a supporting argument for Coup De Grace'ing.

Maybe we'll see more Grapple builds and next Monday GitP will explode again