Kinaniz and Dissolution House Rules: Difference between pages

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When the spirit of the city of [[Q'in Sanizaj]], in a desperate attempt to stave off the Wyld forces assaulting it, attempted but failed to create a stable merger of itself, the city and its inhabitants, the tragic result was an unshaped, Wyld monstrosity, an entity now known as Kinaniz.
House rules for the [[campaign::Dissolution]] campaign.


Formed from a slowly shifting mix of environments, some urban, some natural, some a disturbing or wondrous melding of both, Kinaniz moves slowly, using its outer waypoints like the legs of an insect to propel itself. When stationary, it will elevate itself on a tree trunk miles in diameter and a hundred miles high, and arrange its waypoints into a more defensible arrangement, generally forcing visitors to enter through the hall of glass.
== Critical hits ==


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


Little is known about Kinaniz's history, even to Kinaniz itself. Barely sentient when initially formed, it's first act was to eject [[Wyr'palja's mausoleum]], it's reality engine irritating the innards of the beast. It then assimilated, destroyed or expelled the vast majority of the raksha who had been trapped by its formation, shaping what remained of them and their freeholds into itself. Those citizens, both alive and dead, who were incorporated into Kinaniz remained protected by the unshaped as best it could manage, and many of these ghosts remain within Kinaniz today. As the Fair Folk invasion of Creation continued, it wandered the Wyld. By the time the Empress had expelled the invaders, Kinaniz was in the Deep Wyld, slowly mutating even further.
* 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.)


Stories of its existence would surface occasionally in Fair Folk courts, usually as an unstoppable force that wondered in from the deep Wyld, absorbing or destroying those foolish enough to try to tame it, then wandering back out again.
This is a bit of a trade off. All attacks deal three types of damage, and each choice deals with them differently:


As time progressed Kinaniz become more intelligent, self-aware and focussed. About a century ago, it realized that it was once a city, and wasn't sure what to make of that. A few decades later, it realized that not only had it been a city, but it was possibly one of the greatest cities ever made. A few decades after that, he decided it could be so again and began looking for its original location. During its search, it also realized that, quite naturally, it was the site of a great deal of treachery, murder and conflict. Concluding that this must be the natural state of all great cities, certain changes began to take place within itself to embody this idea.
{| 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 ×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 ×3, multiply the result by 1.5 (round down). ||  Applied only once
|}


Most recently, it came across [[Wyr'palja's mausoleum]], which had come under the control of [[Cahlenna]] a high ranking member of the [[Opal Court]]. Without realizing exactly what it was, Kinaniz realized the tomb was once important to the city and promptly surrounded it. Cahlenna, of course, led an expedition into Kinaniz to get the tomb back, which did not end well for Cahlenna. Most of the expedition was destroyed, and Cahlenna and her entourage were bested and force to swear an oath to protect the tomb. She remains within, torn between scheming to escape and scheming to gain control of Kinaniz.
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.


The tomb itself is now nestled like a pearl within Kinaniz, its reality engine now more of a source of comfort than irritation to the rest of the unshaped's body.
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:


== Structure ==
{| class="wikitable centeredcells"
|-
! !! colspan="4" | Damage Roll !! colspan="3" | No crit || colspan="3" | Standard crit (if achieved) || colspan="3" | 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 || &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
|-
| '''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/>19
|-
| '''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)=29.5 || 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
|}


An an unshaped Kinaniz is a mobile freehold, currently containing 16 waypoints. As a freehold, it contains an arcane redoubt, a stronghold, a fountainhead and a glory, but lacks a throne room. This means the unshaped has purpose, strength, self-awareness and majesty but no real society. Life within the freehold functions much like an ecosystem or immune system would, guided by its own internal forces but without any guiding society. While the guiding intelligence and more powerful fair folk function on a network of oaths, the vast majority of manikins, poppets, ghosts and common fair folk do as their natures dictate. The result is a city without a society, making the majority of the freehold a somewhat familiar urban setting hosting extremely unorthodox behavior (and, occasionally, vice versa).
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.


The urban landscape is more dense with both structure and ideas. As such, the narrative waypoints that make up Kinaniz are fairly compact for waypoints, usually only a one or two miles across. Some are even smaller. Kinaniz may occasionally grab additional waypoints, usually sections of wyld forest, with which it surrounds itself.
== Sneak Attacks and Ranged Weapons ==


<center>[[Image:KinanizWaypoints.png]]</center>
Just a clarification to the standard rules on sneak attacks:


===The Glass Lamentation===
* 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.


Remnants of the neighborhood turned into glass. Guarded by a glass dragon behemoth?
So, as practical matter, the only way you can typically sneak attack with a ranged weapon is by denying the target a Dex bonus. Targets lose their Dex bonus to AC in any of the following situations:


===The Perpetual Bustle===
* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Blinded blinded]
* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Cowering cowering]
* 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.


Main street life, but all at once. A parade, revolts, stabbings, happy couples, friends greeting, etc. Manakins and dream creatures going about daily life.
== Reach Spell ==


===The Consummate Repose===
This one is really a mistake that 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').


Mish mash of houses. Sleep.
This changes magic (particularly clerics and other healers) quite a bit. It also fits the definition of a broken rule, as it is hard to imagine any caster that wouldn't take this feat, but so be it. It is pretty fun.


===The Vaporous Anchorage===
== Wands ==


On top of trees, towers flying vehicles would connect to.
Similarly, we treat wands as if they all have the Reach Spell feat. That is, if they cast a touch spell, they can do so as a ranged touch attack from 30 feet away.


===The Vicious Bazaar===
== Vital Strike ==


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


===The Antediluvian Necropolis===
== Arterial Strike ==


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


===The Amaranthine Esplanade===
'''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 [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.


A city park, sort of.
== Close Shot (Combat) ==


===The Sauroid Mnemonic===
This is a new feat, which extends "point blank" range.


Remnants of Dragon Kings.
'''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 [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'.


===The Impecunious Propinquity===
== Furtive Shot ==


A maze of slums.
This is a new [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/basic-classes/rogue#TOC-Rogue-Talents rogue talent]:


===The Imminent Eminence===
''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.
 
Glory. Center and focus of majesty of the freehold. Magical and wondrous place. Hall of Memory? Causes beguilement throughout freehold (pg 190). Might be some stray mortals hanging around. Hanging Gardens style place.
 
Misplaced Promise has embedded his own Cup into the spiritual structure of the freehold, forming this glory.  This allows him to prevent selected raksha within from naturally regaining Essence. He can also Cup-shape in any of the freehold's waypoints, and defend the waypoints from Sword-shaping. He could also reflexively give himself the Curse of Alienation though he would be unlikely to do so.
 
===The Determined Citadel===
Stronghold. Center for active and aggressive strength.
 
Symbolism using both trees and the idea of power from the people.
 
The Regency has embedded his own Sword Grace into the structure of Kinaniz to form its stronghold. This allows the freehold to control 40 waypoints, which the Regency may arrange has he sees fit. He can also Sword-shape in any of the freehold's waypoints, and defend the waypoints from Sword-shaping. He could also reflexively give himself the Curse of Namelessness, though he would be unlikely to do so.
 
=== The Avian Valence===
 
Fountainhead gives freehold self-awareness and identity. Feminine/passive symbolism. A wooded glen, filled with [[Tribute Birds]]. These birds are elemental birds, made in tribute to Wyr'palja's love of birds. They hate Misplaced Promise and will bargain against him, but they hate each other more, so will undermine attempts of others.
 
Hoi Polloi has embedded her own Ring Grace into the spiritual structure of Kinaniz to form its fountainhead, making the freehold conscious. This allows her to sense anything that happens in the freehold or near its pennants or cysts. She can also Ring-shape in any of the freehold's waypoints, and defend the waypoints with Ring-shaping. She could also reflexively give herself the Curse of Meekness, though she would never do so.
 
===The Angelic Sacrifice===
 
Before Q'in Sanizaj fell prey to the Great Contagion and the Fair Folk, a handful of raksha called the city home. One of these, an entertainer named Angel Finger, witnessed the formation of Kinaniz, and willingly joined it. Heartbroken at the loss of the city she loved, she volunteered her Heart to Kinaniz, sacrificing her existence to become the bonefire at the center of the unshaped's existence and turning it into a mobile freehold.
 
A single cathedral-like room makes up this waypoint, Kinaniz' arcane redoubt. The room originally was an unrivaled First Age music hall, one of the wonders of  Q'in Sanizaj, constructed from equal parts crystalline and vegetative technology of the Dragon Kings. The room has been warped nearly beyond recognition, of course, the tall silver bonefire burning in the center. Air flows through the massive crystal and wood organ pipes, driven by large, misshapen bladders that expand and contract on their own accord. Gilded cages have been added over the centuries, holding wyld creatures possessing unnatural voices that sing, act, lecture or recite poetry. The choir loft is filled with what appears to be the happily singing heads of a mortal children's choir, all connected to the same millipede-like leather body. Instruments of all varieties, including an abundance of those not yet invented, play and move on their own accord, occasionally dancing to the music of their brethren. Individually, every sound, voice and song within the redoubt would make mortals weep with their beauty and passion, but combined the noise can nearly drive men mad.
 
Misplaced Promise has attuned his heart to the redoubt, which allows him to enflesh himself within the freehold, becoming aware of all things the happen within and shape as if present anywhere within (all such test adding Essence successes). He can also spy on any carrying the freehold's pennants or cysts, and may wither this objects at will.
 
===The Thoroughfare Lattice===
 
Web of streets. You can fly inside if you want, but this makes you vulnerable to shaping? (Sorcery that allows flight, but forces you to respect the temple.)
 
Within this reality, rasksha will use a shaping action to declare that "the heroes see the impressive display and run away, avoiding the freehold's guards." If the players accept this reality, they will have +1 die to escape the freehold. If they refuse, they suffer environmental penalties as per pg 134. Other raksha will form similar realities. Single target at a time?
 
Perhaps other locations attempt to move the party in specific directions.
 
===Tomb===
 
==Inhabitants==
 
===Guidance===
 
The primary guiding intelligence of Kinaniz, [[Misplaced Promise]] is all that remains of the original spirit of [[Q'in Sanizaj]]. He has embedded his own graces in both the redoubt and the glory, and spends most of his time enfleshed in the body of Kinaniz. He occasionally takes the form of a winged, parrot-headed man. He seeks to return the city to its former glory, but has some confused notions about what its former glory. He will be torn about intruders trying to breach the tomb, concerned about what they might take or damage, but extremely curious about what is inside.
 
===The Regency===
 
In addition to everything else it was, Q'in Sanizaj can legitimately claim to be the first city taken over by a largely mortal revolt (with the help of Dragon Kings, god-blooded and a raksha or two). All that remains of this revolutionary spirit and the government-by-the-people it spawned has coalesed into the [[Regency]], the second guiding intelligence of Kinaniz.
 
===Hoi Polloi===
 
 
Pulled in during the merge. Slightly insane
 
Deeper Into Trouble
Technique, Furiously Stalling Destiny, Ill-Approving
Eyes, Inauspicious Moment for Attack, Laughing Monster
Stance, Subtle Hammer; plus Assertion of a Greater
Vision, Howling Dream Consumption Prana, Sapphire
Emptiness Kata, Shuffling the Pieces, Thieves
Fall Out and Unitary Being Forge.
This model is suitable for an unshaped wielding
litany bones and focusing on defense and support. The
guiding intelligence with this model would enter into
battle with Howling Dream Consumption Prana and
Laughing Monster Stance active, using Shuffling the
Pieces to collapse the defense of enemies already
wounded by its lesser minds.
 
[http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/2633916 Potrait]
 
==Inhabitants==
 
===Raksha===
 
Misplaced Promise does not trust the Fair Folk (a reaction against the Fair Folk's destruction of Qin, which he remembers only subconsciously). As a result, Promise tends to turn the Sword grace of any raksha he defeats into behemoths with Great Words of the Sword. He then forces the raksha to maintain the behemoth and take the shape of a [[Tribute Bird]]. The graces of common raksha are usually forged into a [[Mute Sentinel]]. Those of nobles, typical of the "run by the common man" nature of Qin, are usually forged into mounts of the sentinels. Some, however, become more esoteric beasts that prowl the labryth.
 
===Behemoths===
 
*[[Revolting Proletariat]]
*[[Diamaskratos]] and [[Erratic Threnody]]
*[[Mute Sentinel]]
*Mortals mutated by Behemoth-Forging Meditation
 
===Others===
 
*Poppets
*Awakened Dream Manufacture, some as citizens, some as their tools.
*Shape Forged Servant
*Tainted Creature Command
 
== Booty ==
 
*[[Regrettable Evacuation Curse]] - Held by Misplaced Promise
 
== Statistics ==
 
Freehold <span style="font-size: smaller;">&#x25CF;&#x25CF;&#x25CF;&#x25CF;&#x25CF;</span><br>
Heart: Embedded by Misplaced Promise.<br>
Stronghold: <span style="font-size: smaller;">&#x25CF;&#x25CF;&#x25CF;&#x25CF;</span> - formed using the Regency's sword grace. 40 waypoints maximum<br>
Glory: <span style="font-size: smaller;">&#x25CF;&#x25CF;&#x25CF;&#x25CF;&#x25CF;</span> Misplaced Promise embedded own cup grace<br>
Fountainhead: <span style="font-size: smaller;">?&#x25CF;</span> - formed using
Hoi Polloi's ring grace<br>
Throne Room: none<br>
Tokens: Cyst <span style="font-size: smaller;">&#x25CF;&#x25CF;</span> (Misplaced Promise), Cyst <span style="font-size: smaller;">&#x25CF;</span> (The Regency), Cyst <span style="font-size: smaller;">&#x25CF;</span> (Hoi Polloi), six pennants
 
[[Category:Forgotten Suns]]
[[Category:Location]]
[[Category:Freehold]]
[[Category:Raksha]]

Revision as of 00:12, 1 January 2011

House rules for the Dissolution campaign.

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=
19
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)=29.5 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. Targets lose their Dex bonus to AC in any of the following situations:

Reach Spell

This one is really a mistake that 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').

This changes magic (particularly clerics and other healers) quite a bit. It also fits the definition of a broken rule, as it is hard to imagine any caster that wouldn't take this feat, but so be it. It is pretty fun.

Wands

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

Vital Strike

From the look of the errata, looks like we read this one wrong as well, but we're keeping it as well. 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'.

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.