Shadow Jumping

RandomPrecision · Mar 18, 2005

I didn't see where this has been discussed before, but I can't seem to search the fora for any previous threads. Firstly, the Shadowdancer's Shadow Jump ability says that it functions like the spell Dimension Door. I had only previously thought of this ability as affecting only the Shadowdancer, but I realized earlier today that Dimension Door allows you to take other willing people with you (1 every 3 caster levels). So, a starting question is this: Does Shadow Jump allow a Shadowdancer to take other people with him/her? If yes, then the question that follows is whether or not this impacts the limited use of Shadow Jump (20 ft. at 4th level). When a 4th-level Shadowdancer makes a 10 foot jump with someone tagging along, does this consume all 20 feet of jumping?

hong · Mar 19, 2005

By a strict reading of the rules, there's nothing stopping you bringing other people along; this wouldn't affect the range either. However, I'd rule that the ability is self-only, because it just makes more sense that way. Precedent: demon/devil teleport, which is also self-only.

sullivan · Mar 19, 2005

The problem is that there is no caster level. Since there is no caster level (effectively 0 level) I'd say that there can be no extra "passengers" on that magical ride. Further it the text says that "shadowdancer gains the ability to travel between shadows as if by means of a dimension door spell". The bolded part, along with it being Su not Sp, implies that it is not even a DD spell. So I'd rule by RAW it can't be done.

That said I wouldn't call it that bad a house rule. *shrug* Maybe I'd limit it to 1 passenger person per 3 Shadowdancer levels?

hong · Mar 19, 2005

sullivan said:
The problem is that there is no caster level.

"If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature's HD" -- MM p.315

Since there is no caster level (effectively 0 level) I'd say that there can be no extra "passengers" on that magical ride. Further it the text says that "shadowdancer gains the ability to travel between shadows as if by means of a dimension door spell". The bolded part, along with it being Su not Sp, implies that it is not even a DD spell. So I'd rule by RAW it can't be done.

Not this idiotic "X treated as if Y means X is not treated as Y" argument again.

RandomPrecision · Mar 19, 2005

hong said:
"If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature's HD" -- MM p.315

I'd rule that only levels in Shadowdancer count toward caster level for this ability.

hong · Mar 19, 2005

RandomPrecision said:
I'd rule that only levels in Shadowdancer count toward caster level for this ability.

Given the book in which the quote appears, and how monster HD is generally treated equivalently to levels in a class, that would make sense.

Telas · Mar 20, 2005

I'll add my vote to those who say "Shadowdancer levels only" are used for calculating the passengers.

And I hope my Shadowdancer-wannabe player doesn't see this thread....

Telas

sullivan · Mar 20, 2005

hong said:
"If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature's HD" -- MM p.315

Not this idiotic pulling a sentence out of context argument again.

You have failed to include the begining phrase of that paragraph: "For creatures with spell-like abilities". Shadow Jump is not a spell-like ability. You can extend this to supernatural abilities if you want, but I'm not sure there is a solid rule behind that. Please include that if you can.

Not this idiotic "X treated as if Y means X is not treated as Y" argument again.

Given that the supernatural ability has other important differences from the spell, meaning start and end points and distances, it certainly isn't the spell. *shrug* It just says that the type of travel of the character from one place to another is like the spell.

Of course I did mention (the one part of my post you didn't quote) that levels of Shadow dancer (as opposed to HD) might make some sense to be ruled to use.

hong · Mar 20, 2005

sullivan said:
Shadow Jump is not a spell-like ability.

I hate it when you do that. Have I said how much I hate it when you do that? I really hate it when you do that, I mean, really really hate it when you do that. Really.

sullivan · Mar 20, 2005

hong said:
I hate it when you do that. Have I said how much I hate it when you do that? I really hate it when you do that, I mean, really really hate it when you do that. Really.

Hey, how can you have a caster level when there is no casting? ;P

Shadow Jumping

RandomPrecision

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hong

WotC's bitch

sullivan

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hong

WotC's bitch

RandomPrecision

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WotC's bitch

Telas

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sullivan

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hong

WotC's bitch

sullivan

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