Naerai and Dissolution House Rules: Difference between pages

Revision as of 16:16, 12 April 2013

House rules for the Dissolution campaign.

Basic Conversion

Since Ptolus is a 3.5 production, some basic conversion to Pathfinder was required.

Classes

We add some unofficial classes:

Elemental Druid - a variation of the druid class, based on the four elements instead of animals and nature.
Arcane Hierophant - a divine/arcane prestige class lifted and mutated from 3.5.
Spellsword - a gish prestige class lifted and (severely) mutated from 3.5. After using it for a while, we ditched it.

Critical hits

When you roll within your critical range, you have a choice:

You may roll for a critical hit, as per the standard rules.
You may automatically just take max weapon damage. (If your critical multiplier is ×3, you deal 1.5 times max weapon damage.)

This is a bit of a trade off. All attacks deal three types of damage, and each choice deals with them differently:

Type	Weapon damage	Bonus damage	Ancillary damage
Description	the base dice damage of the weapon	fixed damage from strength, magical plusses, etc.	sneak attack, vital strike, added energy damage, etc.
Standard rules	Make to-hit roll again. If you would hit, damage calculated a number of times equal to your critical multiplier (usually ×2)		Applied only once, even if critical succeeded.
House rule	No additional roll needed. Damage roll treated as if highest number came up on each die. If range is ×3, multiply the result by 1.5 (round down).		Applied only once

To use abilities that trigger off of critical hits (such as critical feats), you must make the confirmation roll to determine if they take effect; however, you can still elect (prior to rolling) either damage option. For example, if someone with the Bleeding Critical feat rolled within their critical range, they could take the max damage, then roll a confirmation to see if the bleeding crit triggers, or they could roll the confirmation and, if successful, roll extra damage and the bleeding crit triggers.

In most cases, the house rule will result in a lower average damage, but is reliable (i.e. you don't need to make the confirming "attack" roll). Some examples, always assuming a critical actually happens:

	Damage Roll				No crit			Standard crit (if achieved)			House rule
Situation	Weapon	Bonus	Ancillary	Crit range	Min	Average	Max	Min	Average	Max	Min	Average	Max
Lostwhite w/ +1 flaming flail	1d8	+9	+1d6 fire	×2	1+9+1= 11	4.5+9+3.5= 17	8+9+6= 23	2(1+9)+1= 21	2(4.5+9)+3.5= 30.5	2(8+9)+6= 40	8+9+1= 18	8+9+3.5= 20.5	8+9+6= 23
Lostwhite w/ +1 greatsword	2d6	+11		×2	2+11= 13	7+11= 18	12+11= 23	2(1+11)= 24	2(7+11)= 36	2(12+11)= 46	12+11= 23
Lostwhite w/ +1 battleaxe	1d8	+7		×3	1+7= 8	4.5+7= 11.5	8+7= 15	3(1+7)= 24	3(4.5+7)= 34.5	3(8+7)= 45	1.5(8+7)= 22
Caralaria w/ fist and vital strike	1d10	+6	+1d10	×2	1+6+1= 8	5.5+6+5.5= 16	10+6+10= 26	2(1+6)+1= 15	2(5.5+6)+5.5= 28.5	2(10+6)+10= 42	10+6+1= 17	10+6+5.5= 21.5	10+6+10= 26
Scoffney w/ +1 rifle	1d12	+1		×3	1+1= 2	6.5+1= 7.5	12+1= 13	3(1+1)= 6	3(6.5+1)= 22.5	3(12+1)= 39	1.5(12+1)= 19
Scoffney w/ +1 rifle and sneak attack	1d12	+1	+3d6	×3	1+1+3= 5	6.5+1+3(3.5)= 18	12+1+3(6)= 31	3(1+1)+3= 7	3(6.5+1)+3(3.5)= 24.5	3(12+1)+3(6)= 44	1.5(12+1)+3= 22	1.5(12+1)+3(3.5)=30	1.5(12+1)+3(6)=37
Oreni's scorching ray	4d6			×2	4(1)= 4	4(3.5)= 14	4(6)= 24	2(4(1))= 8	2(4(3.5))= 28	2(4(6))= 48	4(6)= 24

The moral of all this is that if you have a decent chance to hit, you will likely do more damage using the standard rules, but if you need a good roll to hit, you are better off with the house rule. Also, the larger your bonus damage is, the more advantage you will get from using the standard rule.

Sneak Attacks and Ranged Weapons

Just a clarification to the standard rules on sneak attacks:

Sneak attacks can be made with ranged weapons, so long as the rogue is within "point-blank" range (30').
Sneak attacks are allowed if the target is denied a Dex bonus, or if the rouge flanks the target.
You cannot normally flank a target with a ranged weapon.

So, as practical matter, the only way you can typically sneak attack with a ranged weapon is by denying the target a Dex bonus (or by using Furtive Shot, below). Targets lose their Dex bonus to AC in any of the following situations:

Target is blinded
Target is cowering
Target is flat-footed and does not have Uncanny Dodge
Target is helpless
Target is stunned
Target is climbing
Attacker is invisible
Attacker successfully feints against the target.
Attacker or ally uses Greater Feint against the target.

Touch Attack Effects

Not sure if this is actually a house rule or just a clarification. Certain powers require a successful touch attack. For such powers that have a limited number of uses per day (e.g. produce flame, chill touch, the touch power from the Evil domain, etc.) we allow these powers to activate on standard natural weapon attacks as well. (If the user is willing to expend a use of the power, why not?) Further, if the user has several of these effects available, they can activate as many of them as they like on the same attack (provided they expend a use of each power, of course). Such activations can also be stacked on top of "always on" effects of a touch attack (e.g. a lich's paralyzing touch, a spectre's energy drain, etc.).

None of these effects can be used during attacks of opportunity.

Note that this rule tends to be much more useful for monsters than it does for PCs.

Feats and Such

Reach Spell

Warning: this house rule is broken (you can tell because it is hard to imagine any caster that wouldn't take this feat). It also changes magic a bit (particularly for clerics and other healers). We know. We don't care. It's fun.

This one started as a mistake, but was active for long enough to make us keep it. This is no longer a metamagic feat. It is a standard feat that lets the caster cast any touch spell as a ranged touch attack if within "point blank" range (30').

Intensified Spell

Since, as written, intensified spell applies to such a small number of spells, we allow it to extend the level caps for certain spells beyond just damage dice. It now explicitly applies to spells that generate a level capped number of items per casting, including magic missile, scorching ray and call lightning.

It also applies to spells with damage formulae such as "2d8 + caster level (max x)", increasing x by five (i.e. most cure spells, produce flame, fire shield, etc.). This change is not all that useful in most cases (e.g. healing spells), as often you are better off casting a higher level spell instead of adding paying the one level metagmagic penalty. Might be worth it for druids casting heals or when using a metamagic rod. This feat still does not apply to non-damage formulae of this form (e.g. ray of enfeeblement).

Vital Strike

From the look of the errata, looks like we read this one wrong as well, but we're keeping it too. We allow any attack to be declared (post attack roll) as a vital strike, but only once per round.

Arterial Strike

This is a new feat, adapted from (but a bit more flexible than) the feat of the same name in Complete Warrior.

Prerequisite: Sneak attack ability, base attack bonus +4.
Benefit: If you hit with a sneak attack, you may choose to forgo one or more +1d6 of extra sneak attack damage to deliver a wound that won't stop bleeding. For each die forgone, the target takes 1 bleed. Bleed from multiple arterial strikes stacks with each other, but not with other bleed effects that deal damage.

Close Shot (Combat)

This is a new feat, which extends "point blank" range.

Prerequisite: base attack bonus +3.
Benefit: Any effect which specifically only works within "point blank" range may be used from an additional 30' away. That is, "point blank" range becomes 60'. Situations that benefit from this feat include:

Using Point Blank Shot.
Sneak attacking with ranged weapons.
Using the Reach Spell feat (see above).
Casting touch spells from wands (see above).
The Furtive Shot rogue talent (see below).

Normal: Point blank range is normally 30'.

Iron Rage

Based on the background of one of the characters, we made an exception to various rules that prevented that character from multi-classing barbarian/monk. Following the general pattern of d20, we added some restrictions, then created a feat that allows the character to get around them. In particular, the ruling was that, normally, while raging the character would lose monk abilities, but this feat (representing special training to "harness your rage") would avoid that. Sort of cheesy, but works in this particular game.

Prerequisite: monk, rage special ability, member of the Path of Iron.
Benefit: Retain monk benefits while raging. While raging, add barbarian and monk levels to determine unarmed strike damage and damage reduction ability (if any). Multiclass freely between the monk and barbarian classes. Must remain lawful.

Furtive Shot

This is a new rogue talent:

Furtive Shot (Ex): If within point-blank range of a target that is flanked by two or more of your allies, you may sneak attack that target with a ranged weapon.

Magical Items

Pearl of Power

Spontaneous casters can use a pearl of power to restore a spell slot, with one restriction: that slot can only be used to cast a specific spell that the user has already cast that day (specified when the perl is used). Also, anyone using a pearl must spend a full action to do so.

Wands

We treat wands as if they all have the Reach Spell feat (see above). That is, if they cast a touch spell, they can do so as a ranged touch attack from 30 feet away.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==Personality==
+House rules for the [[campaign::Dissolution]] campaign.
-Lake many harrow elves, Naerai feels the darkness within him, but has spent most of his life as a loner, often living in the forest, battling confusion and temptation. The forest was often his only companion and source of comfort, his growing connection to the earth keeping him grounded and keeping him from straying toward evil intentions. He came to the city to learn more sorcery in the hope of getting a better handle on himself. He may join an adventuring team simply to reaffirm to himself that he can remain in control of any evil temptations.
+== Basic Conversion ==
-==Appearance==
+Since ''Ptolus'' is a 3.5 production, some basic [[Ptolus Pathfinder Conversion|conversion to ''Pathfinder'']] was required.
-Naerai's yellowish skin is less scarred than many of his race. He has red eyes and black hair.
+== Classes ==
-==History==
+We add some unofficial classes:
-==Affiliations==
+* [[Elemental Druid]] - a variation of the druid class, based on the four elements instead of animals and nature.
+* [[Arcane Hierophant (Pathfinder)|Arcane Hierophant]] - a divine/arcane prestige class lifted and mutated from 3.5.
+* [[Spellsword_(Pathfinder)|Spellsword]] - a gish prestige class lifted and (severely) mutated from 3.5. After using it for a while, we ditched it.
-Spending most of his life alone, Naerai's closest connection is to his animal companion, a poisonous viper named ???. This animal is both his familar and companion animal.
+== Critical hits ==
-Out of necessity, Naerai is a guildsman in the [[Delver's Guild]], giving him access to guild information, library, maproom and waystations. He also gains a 10% discount at Ebbert's Outfitters.
+When you roll within your critical range, you have a choice:
-Naerai has paid the 10gp membership fee to join Finelle's Pleasant Diversions, a Rivergate club for games of intellect and skill, such as board games (like Dragonscales, Ten Bobbers, and Horseman) and card games (like Gempot, Seven Thrones, Sword and Helm, Riverside, and Kutch).
+* You may roll for a critical hit, as per the standard rules.
+* You may automatically just take max weapon damage. (If your critical multiplier is &times;3, you deal 1.5 times max weapon damage.)
-Religiously speaking, Naerai feels the strongest connection to Myliesha, Mistress of the Wind’s Path. This elementally based elven goddess, popular with displaced elves living among humans, offers an ideal to strive for when fighting his darker urges.
+This is a bit of a trade off. All attacks deal three types of damage, and each choice deals with them differently:
-==Associations==
+{| class="wikitable"
+|-
+| '''Type''' || Weapon damage || Bonus damage || Ancillary damage
+|-
+| '''Description''' || the base dice damage of the weapon || fixed damage from strength, magical plusses, etc. || sneak attack, vital strike, added energy damage, etc.
+|-
+| '''Standard rules''' || colspan="2" | Make to-hit roll again. If you would hit, damage calculated a number of times equal to your critical multiplier (usually &times;2) || Applied only once, even if critical succeeded.
+|-
+| '''House rule''' || colspan="2" | ''No additional roll needed''. Damage roll treated as if highest number came up on each die. If range is &times;3, multiply the result by 1.5 (round down). ||  Applied only once
+|}
-*'''Merchael Finetooth''', a male gnome, runs Finelle's Pleasant Diversions. Naerai originally went there hoping to see Zalisartaram, a female harrow elf (and, incidentally, one of the world's best Dragonscale players), but she has never been there while he was. Merchael, however, has taught Naerai a number of the games.
+To use abilities that trigger off of critical hits (such as critical feats), you ''must'' make the confirmation roll to determine if they take effect; however, you can still elect (prior to rolling) either damage option. For example, if someone with the Bleeding Critical feat rolled within their critical range, they could take the max damage, then roll a confirmation to see if the bleeding crit triggers, or they could roll the confirmation and, if successful, roll extra damage and the bleeding crit triggers.
-*'''Karetsan''' leads one of the only communities of harrow elves in Ptolus, a small collection of buildings in North Market called the Zar'at, in which nearly all of the city's harrow elves dwell. She is wise, but quick to anger. As a strong wizard, she taught Naerai all he knows about arcane magic, and often tries to convince Naerai to come live in Zar'at.
-*'''Ladris''' owns a store in the Narred section of Midtown called Ladris' Fine Foods. A centaur, Ladris is known mostly as being a compatriot of one of the most famous harrow elf adventurers, '''Kargas the Bold'''. Kargas often hangs around Ladris' store, which is what drew Naerai there, but he turned out to be a bitter, mean-spirited shell of a man, who Naerai disliked almost immediately. Ladris, on the other hand, was quite sociable. After a number of cordial meetings, the two ended up discussing the lurking "evil" inside harrow elves in general, and Naerai and Kargas in particular. Since then Ladris has been a good ally to have around, keeping him on the straight and narrow.
-*'''Lakimos''', a friend of Karetsan and harrow elf, runs an unmarked pub called Lackie's in the the slums of the Warrens. He is staunchly opposed to chaos cults and chaositech.
-*'''Ketir Levihaos''' is a harrow elf guard in Iridithil's Home, an elves-only retreat/resort/temple in Emerald Hill. This place contains the only shrine to Myliesha in the city, so Naerai just wandered in one day. While Naerai was not particularly welcomed, Ketir saw to it that he wasn't thrown out either, once he determined what Naerai was up to.
-*'''Myraeth Tuneweaver''', a male shoal elf runs Myraeth's Oddities Delver Square, ''the'' place to buy and sell second hand magic items in Ptolus (although not weapons and armor, nor any newly created items). He is extremely popular with adventurers and knows most of them by name. His inventory changes constantly.
-*'''Wynthaes''' lives on the Docks. A cherubim elf, his wings match those of his four bet eagles. It is slightly crazy, and obsessed with preventing the docks from being used by slave traders (though it is unclear is this threat is real or imagined). He is a druid, and though often unapproachable, on good days has taught Naerai his skills in the class.
-==Rumors==
+In most cases, the house rule will result in a lower ''average'' damage, but is reliable (i.e. you don't need to make the confirming "attack" roll). Some examples, always assuming a critical actually happens:
-* The monastic '''Brotherhood of Redemption''' offers a bounty of gold for any living evil creatures handed over to them, who they claim to "redeem" into useful members of society. Rumor is that their process uses alchemy, magical light, music and other procedures to turn them good against their will. They do not take humans, elves and the like, but that has not stopped some from trying. Naerai knows of two incidents where overzealous citizens captured an "evil" harrow elf from Zar'at and turned them over to the Brotherhood. In both cases, the Brotherhood immediately released them.
+{| class="wikitable centeredcells"
-* Naerai has met most of the harrow elves in Ptolus, but continues to hear rumors of one he hasn't met. '''Tuea Silverwing''' is said to be a paladin in an organization that no one has really heard of called the '''Knights of th Golden Cross'''. Allegedly altruistic, they are supposedly based somewhere in Oldtown.
+|-
-* Though some claim the '''Dreaming Apothecary''' is a myth, Naerai fairly sure it is a real organization. It is said to completely monopolize all aspects of the the market for newly created magic items in Ptolus, except for potions and scrolls. Naerai was once told that Myraeth Tuneweaver is allowed to operate through a deal with the Dreaming Apothecary, which is why he refuses to sell or create new magic items.
+! !! colspan="4" | Damage Roll !! colspan="3" | No crit || colspan="3" | Standard crit (if achieved) || colspan="3" | House rule
-* An old, powerful druid named '''Andach''' is said to  have retired to an island in a park in the middle of the Necropolis. Since the Necropolis is known to be infested with undead, it's not clear why anyone would want to live there.
+|-
-* The area surrounding Ptolus was once a vast wilderness guarded by a group of powerful druids called the '''Circle of Green'''. Over a thousand years ago, '''Ghul the Half God''' poisoned their reputation to isolate them, then slaughtered them all and took over the region. While intact, though, the Circle of Green was served by the '''Viridian Lords''' a group of nature warriors who can bond living plants into their skin. While the Circle is no more, the Viridian Lords still exist, largely responsible for keeping the roads around the city safe. The Lords enjoy a high status within Ptolus, which seems to Naerai be disproportionate to their only occasional presence within the city itself.
+! Situation !! Weapon !! Bonus !! Ancillary || Crit range !! Min !! Average !! Max !! Min !! Average !! Max !! Min !! Average !! Max
-*Naerai has not been back to Zar'at in a while, but has heard that the community has disavowed Karee, one of Karestan's closest friends, and now considers Karee a betrayer and hated foe.
+|-
-*Many people speak of the '''Beggar King''', a mysterious, possible mythical figure who supposedly lords over all beggars. Rumors about him are elaborate and contradictory.
+| '''Lostwhite w/ +1 flaming flail''' || 1d8 || +9 || +1d6 fire || &times;2 || 1+9+1=<br/>11 || 4.5+9+3.5=<br/>17 || 8+9+6=<br/>23 || 2(1+9)+1=<br/>21 || 2(4.5+9)+3.5=<br/>30.5 || 2(8+9)+6=<br/>40 || 8+9+1=<br/>18 || 8+9+3.5=<br/>20.5 || 8+9+6=<br/>23
-*Wynthaes is convinced that somewhere in Midtown is a '''Dark Market''', where slaves and illegal goods are bought and sold.
+|-
+| '''Lostwhite w/ +1 greatsword''' || 2d6 || +11 || || &times;2 || 2+11=<br/>13 || 7+11=<br/>18 || 12+11=<br/>23 || 2(1+11)=<br/>24 || 2(7+11)=<br/>36 || 2(12+11)=<br/>46 || colspan="3" | 12+11=<br/>23
+|-
+| '''Lostwhite w/ +1 battleaxe''' || 1d8 || +7 || || '''&times;3''' || 1+7=<br/>8 || 4.5+7=<br/>11.5 || 8+7=<br/>15 || 3(1+7)=<br/>24 || 3(4.5+7)=<br/>34.5 || 3(8+7)=<br/>45 || colspan="3" | 1.5(8+7)=<br/>22
+|-
+| '''Caralaria w/ fist and vital strike''' || 1d10 || +6 || +1d10 || &times;2 || 1+6+1=<br/>8 || 5.5+6+5.5=<br/>16 || 10+6+10=<br/>26 || 2(1+6)+1=<br/>15 || 2(5.5+6)+5.5=<br/>28.5 || 2(10+6)+10=<br/>42 || 10+6+1=<br/>17 || 10+6+5.5=<br/>21.5 || 10+6+10=<br/>26
+|-
+| '''Scoffney w/ +1 rifle''' || 1d12 || +1 || || '''&times;3''' || 1+1=<br/>2 || 6.5+1=<br/>7.5 || 12+1=<br/>13 || 3(1+1)=<br/>6 || 3(6.5+1)=<br/>22.5 || 3(12+1)=<br/>39 || colspan="3" | 1.5(12+1)=<br/>19
+|-
+| '''Scoffney w/ +1 rifle and sneak attack''' || 1d12 || +1 || +3d6 || '''&times;3''' || 1+1+3=<br/>5 || 6.5+1+3(3.5)=<br/>18 || 12+1+3(6)=<br/>31 || 3(1+1)+3=<br/>7 || 3(6.5+1)+3(3.5)=<br/>24.5 || 3(12+1)+3(6)=<br/>44 || 1.5(12+1)+3=<br/>22 || 1.5(12+1)+3(3.5)=30 || 1.5(12+1)+3(6)=37
+|-
+| '''Oreni's ''scorching ray''''' || 4d6 || || || &times;2 || 4(1)=<br/>4 || 4(3.5)=<br/>14 || 4(6)=<br/>24 || 2(4(1))=<br/>8 || 2(4(3.5))=<br/>28 || 2(4(6))=<br/>48 || colspan="3" | 4(6)=<br/>24
+|}
-==Future Advancement==
+The moral of all this is that if you have a decent chance to hit, you will likely do more damage using the standard rules, but if you need a good roll to hit, you are better off with the house rule. Also, the larger your bonus damage is, the more advantage you will get from using the standard rule.
-Some possibilities for future advancement. This is not an exhaustive list.
+== Sneak Attacks and Ranged Weapons ==
-The obvious choices for Oreni's next level are to continue in either warrior or sorcerer. These would provide:
+Just a clarification to the standard rules on sneak attacks:
-* Druid 3: +1 BAB, +1 Reflex save, Trackless Step, animal companion benefits (+2 HD, +2 AC, +1 Str, +1 Dex, bonus trick, Evasion), cast two 2nd level spells per day, +1d8 hp, +7 skill points.
+* Sneak attacks ''can'' be made with ranged weapons, so long as the rogue is within "point-blank" range (30').
-* Sorcerer 3: +1 Fort save, +1 Will save, familiar benefits (+1 AC, +1 Int, can delivers your touch spells), +1d4 hp, +5 skill points, learn additional 1st level arcane spell, cast one additional 1st level.
+* Sneak attacks are allowed if the target is denied a Dex bonus, or if the rouge flanks the target.
+* You cannot normally flank a target with a ranged weapon.
-There aren't many prestige classes that take advantage of the druid/sorcerer combination, though many build on the druid's wild shape ability. Some possibilities:
+So, as practical matter, the only way you can typically sneak attack with a ranged weapon is by denying the target a Dex bonus (or by using Furtive Shot, below). Targets lose their Dex bonus to AC in any of the following situations:
-* The [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/mysticTheurge.htm Mystic Theurge] mixes arcane and divine magic together. This class requires the ability to cast both 2nd level arcane and 2nd level divine spells, so Naerai doesn't yet qualify. Each level of Mystic Theurge would increase his caster level in sorcerer and druid at the same time. The drawback is that other abilities (such as the druid's Wyld Shape ability) are not increased and attack, save and hit point progression is slower.
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Blinded blinded]
-* The Geomancer embraces the magic of nature, slowly adding mutations to the character.
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Cowering cowering]
-* The Warshaper extends a druid's wyld shape ability with esoteric combat shapeshifting tricks.
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Flat-Footed flat-footed] and does not have [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/basic-classes/rogue#TOC-Uncanny-Dodge-Ex- Uncanny Dodge]
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Helpless helpless]
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Stunned stunned]
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/climb climbing]
+* Attacker is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Invisible invisible]
+* Attacker successfully [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/combat---final#TOC-Feint feints] against the target.
+* Attacker or ally uses [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/greater-feint-combat---final Greater Feint] against the target.
-All characters gain a feat every three levels. Since hist next level will make his total character level (CL) 6, he gets a new feat of her choice. His next such feat will come at CL 9. Some of the feats you have the prerequisites for are (there are, of course, others):
+== Touch Attack Effects ==
-*Naerai has the Track feat, which allows him to use Search skill to follow trails. In retrospect, this may not fit into Naerai's character concept. It also might be less useful in a campaign based in a city. Les will allow Naerai to swap another feat for Track if desired.
+Not sure if this is actually a house rule or just a clarification. Certain powers require a successful touch attack. For such powers that have a limited number of uses per day (e.g. ''[[pfsrd-spell:p/produce-flame|produce flame]]'', ''[[pfsrd-spell:c/chill-touch|chill touch]]'', the touch power from the Evil domain, etc.) we allow these powers to activate on standard natural weapon attacks as well. (If the user is willing to expend a use of the power, why not?) Further, if the user has several of these effects available, they can activate as many of them as they like on the same attack (provided they expend a use of each power, of course). Such activations can also be stacked on top of "always on" effects of a touch attack (e.g. a lich's paralyzing touch, a spectre's energy drain, etc.).
-*Retroactively applying the "alternate class features" from ''Complete Mage'', Les would allow Naerai to swap his Animal Companion and Wild Empathy abilities for the Elemental Companion ability. This replaces his familar/animal companion with a small elemental (air, earth, fire or water). This would require some minor skill changes as well.
-*Retroactively applying the "alternate class features" from ''Complete Mage'', Les would allow Naerai to swap one of his highest level sorcerer spells for the Stalwart Sorcerer ability, if desired. This gives him two additional hit points per level of sorcerer. When you gain a new sorcerer level, you gain two more hit points, and sacrifice one of you highest level spells, but get back a previous spell you sacrificed. For example, at 5th level, you reduce your 2nd-level spells known from two to one but you gain the previously unavailable 1st-level spell (increasing your 1st-level spells known from three to four).
-*Reach Spell: Cast spells that require touch attacks as rays from up to 30 ft. away.
-*Insightful: Use ''detect magic'', ''detect secret doors'', and ''read magic'' as spelllike abilities 1/day.
-*Weapon Focus (raw spell): Gain +1 to attack rolls with spells that shoot rays.
-*Somatic Weaponry (requires five ranks of Concentration): Use in-hand weapons to trace the somatic requirements of spells, instead of needing the fingers of a free hand.
-*Eschew Materials: Cast spells without relying on material components less than 1gp in value.
-*Scribe Scroll: Make your own magical scrolls.
-*Point Blank Shot: Adds +1 to attack and damage for ranged attacks at less than 30 ft. Also acts a as gateway feat to a large number of other ranged attack feats.
-*Precise Shot (requires Point Blank Shot): Eliminates the -4 penalty for firing into melee.
-*Rapid Shot (requires Point Blank Shot): Gain an extra ranged attack per round when making a full attack. The attack is at your highest base attack bonus, but each attack you make in that round (the extra one and the normal ones) takes a -2 penalty. This feat does not provide any additional reload ability.
-*Rapid Reload: Reload a light crossbow with a free action, or a heavy crossbow with a move action. You still need both hands free to do this and reloading still provokes an attack of opportunity.
-In order to qualify for Mystic Theurge, Naerai also needs six ranks each in Knowledge (arcana) and Knowledge (nature). He might also want to learn a single rank in Use Magic Device to take advantage of the racial bonus he gets in it. To get better at games at Finelle's Pleasant Diversions, he'd want Profession (gambler).
+None of these effects can be used during attacks of opportunity.
-Naerai has a pretty high chance for arcane spell failure (35%), though Les forgot to make him roll it most of the time. This comes from the armor he wears. Bear in mind that this only affects your sorcerer spells, not your druid spells. Naerai can use light or medium armor and shields as long as none of it is metal. He was originally set up with armor to give him the best AC he could get through mundane means: masterwork hide armor (+3 AC, +20% arcane failure), heavy darkwood shield (+2 AC, +15% arcane failure). You could reduce your arcane chance by getting lighter/magical armor. Some possibilites:
+Note that this rule tends to be much more useful for monsters than it does for PCs.
-* Downgrade to leather armor (+2 AC, +10% arcane failure), or even padded armor (+1 AC, +5% arcane failure). As you are in a major city, it should be possible to find such armor with minor enchantments on it, some of it even relatively cheap. For example, +1 leather runs about 1,200gp, +2 about 4,200gp.
+== Feats and Such ==
-* Downgrade to a darkwood buckler (+1 AC, +5% arcance failure). Bucklers are also built to keep your off hand free for wands, spells, etc.
-* In place of (or in addition to) armor, get some magical non-armor protection. Minor rings of protection can be found for sale in the city: +1 2,000gp, +2 8,000gp, +3 18,000gp. Bracers of armor (+1 1,000gp, +2 4,000gp, +3 9,000gp), amulets of natural armor (same as ring) or other items may also be found.
-* A typical mechanism for reducing the arcane impact of armor is to use mithral armor. This isn't an option available to you, though, because druids can't use metal armor.
-* As an alternative, you can use wooden armor. This doesn't sound great, but there is a spell called ''ironwood'' that makes wood as hard as steel. This would allow you to wear heavier armor. (Unfortunately, this would also mean higher arcane spell failure.) So, you could make (or hire a craftsman to make), say, a breastplate out of wood, then buy a scroll containing ''ironwood'' to enchant it. The scroll is a 6th level druid spell and, while not expensive (around 1,500gp), may be hard to find. The result would be a wooden breastplate, with all the properties of a metal one (+5 AC, +25 arcane failure). If you took a the Heavy Armor Proficiency feat, you could wear even heavy armors made this way, such as ironwood full plate (+8 AC, +35% arcane failure).
-* You should also be on the lookout for "wild" armor, which allows you to keep its AC bonus when you take your druids wild shape (which you can't do yet). This armor is rare and expensive, however (+1 wild leather, if you could find it, would run you over 16,000gp).
-* You also might want to pick up a light crossbow.
-==Data==
+=== Reach Spell ===
-*[http://rpg.divnull.com/ptolus/naerai.pdf Character sheet]
+''Warning: this house rule is broken (you can tell because it is hard to imagine any caster that wouldn't take this feat). It also changes magic a bit (particularly for clerics and other healers). We know. We don't care. It's fun.''
-[[Category:Dissolution]]
+This one started as a mistake, but was active for long enough to make us keep it. This is no longer a metamagic feat. It is a standard feat that lets the caster cast any touch spell as a ranged touch attack if within "point blank" range (30').
-[[Category:Character]]
+=== Intensified Spell ===
+Since, as written, intensified spell applies to such a small number of spells, we allow it to extend the level caps for certain spells beyond just damage dice. It now explicitly applies to spells that generate a level capped number of items per casting, including ''magic missile'', ''scorching ray'' and ''call lightning''.
+It also applies to spells with damage formulae such as "2d8 + caster level (max ''x'')", increasing ''x'' by five (i.e. most cure spells, ''produce flame'', ''fire shield'', etc.). This change is not all that useful in most cases (e.g. healing spells), as often you are better off casting a higher level spell instead of adding paying the one level metagmagic penalty. Might be worth it for druids casting heals or when using a metamagic rod. This feat still does not apply to non-damage formulae of this form (e.g. ''ray of enfeeblement'').
+=== Vital Strike ===
+From the look of the errata, looks like we read this one wrong as well, but we're keeping it too. We allow any attack to be declared (post attack roll) as a vital strike, but only once per round.
+=== Arterial Strike ===
+This is a new feat, adapted from (but a bit more flexible than) the feat of the same name in ''Complete Warrior''.
+'''Prerequisite''': Sneak attack ability, base attack bonus +4.<br/>
+'''Benefit''': If you hit with a sneak attack, you may choose to forgo one or more +1d6 of extra sneak attack damage to deliver a wound that won't stop bleeding. For each die forgone, the target takes 1 [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/conditions#TOC-Bleed bleed]. Bleed from multiple arterial strikes stacks with each other, but not with other bleed effects that deal damage.
+=== Close Shot (Combat) ===
+This is a new feat, which extends "point blank" range.
+'''Prerequisite''': base attack bonus +3.<br/>
+'''Benefit''': Any effect which specifically only works within "point blank" range may be used from an additional 30' away. That is, "point blank" range becomes 60'. Situations that benefit from this feat include:
+* Using [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/point-blank-shot-combat---final Point Blank Shot].
+* Sneak attacking with ranged weapons.
+* Using the Reach Spell feat (see above).
+* Casting touch spells from wands (see above).
+* The Furtive Shot rogue talent (see below).
+'''Normal''': Point blank range is normally 30'.
+=== Iron Rage ===
+Based on the background of one of the characters, we made an exception to various rules that prevented that character from multi-classing barbarian/monk. Following the general pattern of d20, we added some restrictions, then created a feat that allows the character to get around them. In particular, the ruling was that, normally, while raging the character would lose monk abilities, but this feat (representing special training to "harness your rage") would avoid that. Sort of cheesy, but works in this particular game.
+'''Prerequisite''': monk, rage special ability, member of the Path of Iron.<br/>
+'''Benefit''': Retain monk benefits while raging. While raging, add barbarian and monk levels to determine unarmed strike damage and damage reduction ability (if any). Multiclass freely between the monk and barbarian classes. Must remain lawful.
+=== Furtive Shot ===
+This is a new [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/basic-classes/rogue#TOC-Rogue-Talents rogue talent]:
+''Furtive Shot ([http://www.d20pfsrd.com/basics-ability-scores/glossary---final#TOC-Extraordinary-Abilities-Ex- Ex])'': If within point-blank range of a target that is flanked by two or more of your allies, you may sneak attack that target with a ranged weapon.
+== Magical Items ==
+=== Pearl of Power ===
+Spontaneous casters can use a [http://www.pathfindersrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items#TOC-Pearl-of-Power pearl of power] to restore a spell slot, with one restriction: that slot can only be used to cast a specific spell that the user has already cast that day (specified when the perl is used). Also, anyone using a pearl must spend a full action to do so.
+=== Wands ===
+We treat wands as if they all have the Reach Spell feat (see above). That is, if they cast a touch spell, they can do so as a ranged touch attack from 30 feet away.