Bah, isn't that kind of splitting hairs? "As if" usually means "it works exactly like X, except where specified otherwise".
Actually, in this case, not really. You can
shape them as if you knew them normally. It discusses the shaping of formulae, not the knowledge of them.
And anyway, what's the harm in letting this qualify you for things? It would let someone pick up a few spellshape formulas via items and feats without actually dipping into the classes that grant them, which is certainly possible with standard magic items. I don't see what the harm is. You can already do this via feats, I know, but why not items? After all, you've already put more restrictions on the items like the Crown of Searing Flames than the original ToB items had, anyway.
Thing is, I'm actually not a fan of being able to qualify for things using magic items. In my mind, qualification for feats and prestige classes should be based off of your character's capabilities, not the capabilities of their magic items. I'm just...irked by the idea.
The reason that the {Equipment} of {Circle} items are more restricted than their
Tome of Battle equivalents is twofold.
The first reason is that, unlike maneuvers, many formulae require that you have access to a specific attack form. You can initiate Stone Dragon maneuvers and Shadow Hand maneuvers with the same sword, but a Crushing Stone-centered spellshaper who picks up a Devouring Shadow formula may not be able to shape it. To avoid weird situations like that, I chose to impose more restrictions.
The second reason is that, despite my initial plans, spellshapers
are more powerful than martial adepts. It's not a difference on the scale of fighter vs. wizard, but it's there. Restrictions allow me to slightly muzzle things.
It
is worth noting, of course, that I just started a system-wide revision, so changes may be applied. Especially since I've lately found myself disliking the model currently offered by spellshaping scrolls and {Equipment} of {Circle} items.
Anyway, I think you should specifically say it doesn't count towards meeting prereqs if you don't want it to. Otherwise, it is ambiguous at best as written.
It shall be done! (When I get there in the revision.)
I apologize. I looked for an answer to this, as I suspect it has already been asked, but couldn't find one. How often can a formula gained from an item (Crown of Searing Flames, or Spellheart armor) be used outside of combat? I expect this works like the related Tome of Battle items, but I don't actually know how those work outside of combat, either...
Actually, the {Equipment} of {Circle} items flat-out grant you the knowledge of the formula in question for as long as you wear them. You prepare it and shape it normally, so you can shape that formula as often as you could shape any other.
Elemental Adept changes: Three associated circles (you decided to choose your second associated circle, I approve), automatic incantation access for your element, and then adjusted ACFs.
Did I miss anything?
Blessing of the Elements was moved to 18th level, while Master's Adaptation was added at 19th level. It is no longer the case that a 17th-level elemental adept is filled with existential uncertainty about the next two levels in his class.
Also, do you gain the spellshape attack for the associated circle that you didn't pick?
You do not. I completely changed the wording on the elemental adept's "spellshape attacks" entry, bringing it in line with the standard. You gain access to the spellshape attacks associated with the circles to which you have access.
This was done for two reasons. First, since you now choose from two secondary circles, I couldn't just tell you which attack you got based on your chosen element. Secondly, the old wording had you learning the spellshape attack from the element opposing your chosen element--even though you didn't have access to that circle. This change removes that silliness, while preventing new silliness. Having two spellshape attacks from circles to which you don't have access felt weird to me.
For Corrosive Touch's replacement, maybe some sort of divination triggered by getting hopped up on acid fumes?
Not a bad idea. Let's see what I find.
So, slight changes to the plan! Rather than moving numena to their circles first, I'm going to rewrite the Rules of Spellshaping section before anything else. Then, I'll be moving numena
and incantations to their appropriate circles. Which brings us to a point of uncertainty. There are now several different types of abilities--four, in fact--and I'm trying to figure out how to organize them. My gut instinct was:
Screeching Roc
The way of the Screeching Roc, like many circles, is associated with a particular way of viewing the world. While students of circles such as Devouring Shadow and Glimmering Moon might pursue less obvious and more secretive agendas, spellshapers who study Screeching Roc make their presence known.
Numen
While under the effect of the Screeching Roc numen, you and your allies gain a +5 bonus on Listen checks and are immune to magical deafening effects. In addition, an enemy that misses an affected creature with a melee attack takes 2 points of sonic damage. This damage increases by 2 for every five shaper levels you have, to a maximum of 10 points of sonic damage at 20th level.
Spellshape Attack
The spellshape attack associated with the Screeching Roc circle is sonorous pulse. A sonorous pulse is a wave of destructive sound with a range of 60 feet and the [Sonic] descriptor. It is a ranged touch attack that affects a single target, dealing 1d6 points of sonic damage. For every four shaper levels beyond 1st, you deal an additional 1d6 points of damage to the subject, to a maximum of 5d6 at 17th level.
Incantations
The incantations of the Screeching Roc circle allow a spellshaper to control nearby sounds, speak and comprehend all languages, and manipulate creatures with words alone.
Modulate Tone
Screeching Roc (Incantation) [Sonic]
Level: Least
Shaping Action: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target: One sound or mixture of related sounds
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 min./level; see text
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You shape and alter existing sounds. You can target one sound, such as a person speaking or singing, or a group of related sounds, such as the patter of many raindrops or the tramp of soldiers passing by. A sound as quiet as a snapping finger can be controlled. You can substitute any sound you have heard for the target sound. For instance, you could replace the sound of a dragon's snoring with the sound of a trickling waterfall. You could change the words of a speaker into inarticulate babbling or into other words entirely (though a speaker generally comes to a halt quickly when he realizes that every word coming out of his mouth is unintended). If you attempt to exactly duplicate the voice of a specific individual, or an inherently terrifying sound (such as a dragon's roar), you must succeed on a Bluff check with a +5 circumstance bonus opposed by the intended listener's Sense Motive check to avoid arousing suspicion.
You can entirely muffle a noise or magnify a sound to such loudness that it drowns out all other conversation in the immediate area. In this way, you can provide yourself or any with a +4 circumstance bonus on Move Silently and Listen checks.
Alternatively, you can use up the incantation in an instant. You do this by modulating a sound into a one-time destructive impetus that shatters nonmagical, unattended objects of crystal, glass, ceramics, or porcelain (vials, bottles, flasks, jugs, mirrors, and so forth) in the area.
Tone of Comprehension
Screeching Roc (Incantation)
Level: Lesser
Shaping Action: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 10 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: No
This incantation grants the creature touched the ability to speak and understand the language of any intelligent creature, whether it is a racial tongue or a regional dialect. The subject can speak only one language at a time, although it may be able to understand several languages. Tone of Comprehension does not enable the subject to speak with creatures who don't speak. The subject can also make itself understood as far as its voice carries. This incantation does not predispose any creature addressed toward the subject in any way.
Tone of Command
Screeching Roc (Incantation) [Language-Dependent, Mind-Affecting]
Level: Greater
Shaping Action: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Targets: One creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart.
Duration: 1 hour/level or until completed
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
You influence the actions of the target creatures by suggesting a course of activity (limited to a sentence or two). The same suggestion applies to all these creatures. The suggestion must be worded in such a manner as to make the activity sound reasonable. Asking the creature to stab itself, throw itself onto a spear, immolate itself, or do some other obviously harmful act automatically negates the effect of the incantation. However, a suggestion that a pool of acid is actually pure water and that a quick dip would be refreshing is another matter. Urging a group of bandits to stop attacking your party so that the bandits and party could jointly loot a rich treasure elsewhere is likewise a reasonable use of Tone of Command.
The suggested course of activity can continue for the entire duration, such as in the case of the bandits mentioned above. If the suggested activity can be completed in a shorter time, the incantation ends when the subjects finish what they were asked to do. You can instead specify conditions that will trigger a special activity during the duration. For example, you might suggest that a noble knight give her warhorse to the first beggar she meets. If the condition is not met before the incantation's duration expires, the activity is not performed.
A very reasonable suggestion causes the save to be made with a penalty (such as -1 or -2) at the discretion of the DM.
Formulae
The formulae of the Screeching Roc circle focus on disorienting and confounding foes, overwhelming them with bursts of deafening sound.
Deafening Clamor
Screeching Roc (Minor) [Sonic]
Level: Spellshaper 2
Prerequisite: One Screeching Roc formula
Shaping Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn, see text
As your attack lands, the intense sound that it generates leaves your foe unable to hear the calls of her allies.
You shape your attack such that it damages the ears of your foes. Until the end of your turn, any creature that takes damage from your sonorous pulse attack must make a Fortitude save or be deafened for 1d4 rounds.
Deafening Surge
Screeching Roc (Minor) [Sonic]
Level: Spellshaper 4
Prerequisite: Two Screeching Roc formulae
Shaping Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn, see text
A blast of sound echoes forth from your target, deafening all who hear it.
You use your sonorous pulse attack to create a wave of deafening noise. Until the end of your turn, any creature that takes damage from your sonorous pulse attack generates a 20-ft. radius burst of sound. Enemies within this area, including your original target, must make Fortitude saves or be deafened for 2d4 rounds.
And so on, for the rest of the formulae.
Does that look like it works? I'm also trying to figure out whether I should include an incantation list in the style of the existing formula list. Thing is, you learn them so differently that I'm not sure if it makes sense.
Anyway, general game plan is:
- Revised rules chapter
- Numena and incantations moved to the appropriate circles
- Caymir and anchorite revisions
- Spellsoul armor and spellshape champion revisions
- Masked one and savant revisions
- Living spellshape and spellsage revisions
- Cambian and impulse mage revisions
- Everything else
