a couple of questions

[meltinbradley]

thanks guys.

Thanks guys. I was on the same page about vorpal attacks.
The issue I have is a PC is a bone knight from Five nations eberron book. He has created so many combos through feats and pestige classes its a vicious character. I am trying to figure out ways of killing him. Vorpal is one way and i have figured out another way through antimagic and lots of tough guys who do damage regardless of being within a anti magic field. But Im always trying to find out more. If there is a way to negate the bone knights armor of immunity that would be nice.
My other question is about the ordained champion ability to channel spells through his weapon.
So he channeled blade barrier through his weapon which basically did 20d6 or however much it does every round for 30 minutes.
It states even if it affects a area or ray it just affects the target.
So it sounds within the rules. How do you all feel about that?

 

[Dandu]

Thanks guys. I was on the same page about vorpal attacks.
The issue I have is a PC is a bone knight from Five nations eberron book. He has created so many combos through feats and pestige classes its a vicious character. I am trying to figure out ways of killing him.

Shivering Touch.

My other question is about the ordained champion ability to channel spells through his weapon.
So he channeled blade barrier through his weapon which basically did 20d6 or however much it does every round for 30 minutes.
It states even if it affects a area or ray it just affects the target.
So it sounds within the rules. How do you all feel about that?

I feel that it completely disregards the rules as written.

Channel Spell (Sp): At 3rd level, you can channel any spell you have available to cast into your melee weapon. Doing so requires a move action and uses up a prepared spell or spell slot just as if you had cast the spell. The channeled spell affects the next target you successfully attack with that weapon, though saving throws and spell resistance still apply normally. Even if the spell normally affects an area or is a ray, it still affects only the target in this case. On a successful hit, the spell is discharged from the weapon, which can then hold another spell. You can channel your spells into only one weapon at a time. A spell channeled into a weapon is lost if not used within 8 hours.

 

[irdeggman]

Concerning vorpal and foritification.

From the FAQ (which paraphrases what several people have already said)

Since a vorpal weapon needs a successful confirmation
roll to confirm a critical before its attack lops off someone’s
head, can the successful use of the fortification armor
ability stop a vorpal weapon critical from taking off a
head?

No. A vorpal weapon’s trademark effect is triggered on a
special kind of critical—on the roll of a 20 (and a confirmed
critical) it cuts off a head. Creatures without a head are, of
course, immune to this effect, but the description calls out a
number of creatures immune to critical hits, but that have
heads, as subject to the weapon’s effect. Furthermore, it states
that while these creatures can be subject to a vorpal weapon’s
decapitation ability, the decapitation might not kill or destroy
them. These statements create an exception to the normal
critical hit rules in a way similar to (though not as clear as)
some of the weapon burst powers featured in MIC.

Because of these exceptions, being immune to a critical or
having an ability that negates a critical has no effect on the
vorpal’s head-taking properties. Only the lack of a head makes
you immune to the vorpal’s decapitation, and only in the cases
where a head is not necessary for the creature to be alive (or it
does not destroy creatures that are not alive) can a creature
survive its decapitation effect.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Concerning vorpal and foritification.

From the FAQ (which paraphrases what several people have already said)

And it still isn't completely correct. Silly FAQ, rules are for DMs.

 

[irdeggman]

And it still isn't completely correct. Silly FAQ, rules are for DMs.

What part?

Or is this a case of the FAQ is wrong too many times so disregard it all of the time?

 

[Dandu]

Well, it's certainly not reliable enough for me to call it the final word on the matter.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I have some questions, actually...

1) Does every coup de grace with a vorpal weapon result in head-loss? A CDG is a confirmed crit afterall, and since many weapons can only crit on a 20 (and indeed, that you auto-hit at all implies a nat 20), seems logical. It probably is the case and there's definitely nothing wrong about it, IMO. Just something I never thought of before.

2) Warshapers may be a unique case... Their crit immunity clearly doesn't protect them and the head DOES come off. But...how badly affected would they be? They have a pretty unique reason for imunnity: warshapers have a continuous spin cycle going on with their vital organs. I'm sure that at least means the brain is saved (it's undeniably a vital organ, if you take the stricter interpretations that vitals refers only to organs, which may be more limiting than it should be) and the warshaper can still function and live. But would it be blinded and deafened, or can the eyes, ears, nose, etc... be "saved"?

Well, it's certainly not reliable enough for me to call it the final word on the matter.

Definitely not. That said...*shudders* I agree with the FAQ on this. Vorpal specifically lists crit immune creatures among examples of things losing their head, so clearly it doesn't need to actually be a critical hit, just confirm a nat 20. It makes sense...you're rolling to see if you really did slice right at the golem's neck, so that the head falls off. It may not take any additional damage or penalties from that, but you still roll to make sure it struck true.

 

[irdeggman]

Well, it's certainly not reliable enough for me to call it the final word on the matter.

Never said to take it as the sole authority.

I always look for a preponderance of evidence and the FAQ is just one of the pieces. I don't dismiss it outright as some do.

In this specific case - I see nothing wrong (or in error with the rules as written) in the answer provided.

 

[ValhallaGH]

What part?

Or is this a case of the FAQ is wrong too many times so disregard it all of the time?

It (understandably) neglects the possibility of a head that is already disconnected from the body. Which is the Lumi situation. Not a major flaw, and certainly not one I would trouble them with, except that WotC published the damn race and put Vorpal Immune into their racial features.
*grumble* *grumble* *grouse*

 

[ValhallaGH]

1) Does every coup de grace with a vorpal weapon result in head-loss? A CDG is a confirmed crit afterall, and since many weapons can only crit on a 20 (and indeed, that you auto-hit at all implies a nat 20), seems logical. It probably is the case and there's definitely nothing wrong about it, IMO. Just something I never thought of before.

DM call. Just because it's an auto-crit doesn't mean that it was a "natural 20". Also, CDG is survivable (barely), where Vorpal is not.
Of course, if the target fails ....

2) Warshapers may be a unique case...

Their head comes off. How much of a problem that is ... ask someone who knows about Warshapers.

It makes sense...you're rolling to see if you really did slice right at the golem's neck, so that the head falls off. It may not take any additional damage or penalties from that, but you still roll to make sure it struck true.

Eh, I always saw it as the magic of vorpal.
Player: "I stab the giant in his ankle!"
Sword: *snicker-snack*
DM: "... a phantom scythe blade flashes through the giant's throat and his head falls off."
Player: "... Cool! Ankles are a giant's weak spot."
DM: *groan*