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Possibly true, but I'd argue that most NPCs, even those with backgrounds etc. will take the tactical sound decision. Evils are almost always in the game for themselves, so will take the most tactically sound option. Neutrals are gunning for themselves in preference to their opponents, and will...

True. Like I said, whilst attacking downed opponents is good, CDGing them is usually bad...only if the opponent in question has a truly obscene AC or your damage capability is truly feeble is CDGing a downed opponent a solid strategy. Simply attacking them is far better.

At the risk of being cliche, the bard is probably the best choice. His social skills are extremely good, probably the best in the game (only rivalled by a pure social rogue). His healing magic is solid enough to cope in a single player campaign. Access to enchantment and illusion spells can...

There are two points to be made here. Firstly, healing magic outstrips capability to deal damage at high level. Secondly, anyone dead is effectively out of the battle period; whilst someone who is down can quite easily be healed again. Let us assume you face two opponents, one down (on e.g...

The new Hold Person is probably more dangerous than the old Hold Person even if it is weaker, but the one that slipped through the net is Color Spray. Hold Person was nerfed, Sleep was nerfed (reduced HD affected, increased casting time), but Color Spray was left as is... ...when in fact it is...

What many people forget is the prevalence of battlefield healing magics, which make a downed opponent potentially at least as dangerous (or more, if he was more dangerous standing) than his active colleagues. In light of this, any villain (and even neutral pragmatic 'heroes') fighting against...

It's a finessable simple weapon that can be thrown. For rogues of any level, it's a godsend. At high levels, this cannot be underestimated. As soon as the rogue gets his second attack, he is wasting key sneak attack opportunities if he's having to wander around the battlefield before stabbing...

I fully appreciate that Improved Initiative is only useful in the first round of combat- indeed, only in the first action of combat. After that, the 'turn' merely alternates. However, the ability to 'strike first' is not to be underestimated. As I've been pointing out, the ability to Finger...

My take as a DM is a sort of 'passive' approach to Knowledge skills, much like Sense Motive ('you aren't sure he's being entirely honest') and Listen ('you hear something behind you'). Essentially, when a PC comes across something where his knowledge might be useful and relevant, I might slip...

Perhaps they should rename 'Quick Reply' as 'Barrage Reply' :p

Oops...double post.

Hang on a sec. You've just asserted that initiative is unimportant, and then say that it is unimportant because the elf rogue can zap you- erm, presumably because he beat you on Initiative. If you beat him on initiative, you can zap him (Finger of Death) before he zaps you (sneak attacks). If...

As a DM, I rule that you can go into 'virtual' negative numbers. So in this case, you would go to a 'virtual' -2, which means that you would have a strength score of 0. If you went to 'virtual' -1 or 0, you would be okay, having a strength score of 1 or 2 respectively. As an interesting...

Evidently you don't play to high levels! Being able to cast Finger of Death on the opposing mage before he casts it in you is phenomenally useful. If the spell is extended to party-affecting spells such as Confusion, Mass Hold Person, Greater Command or Wail of the Banshee, the initiative roll...

I'd say abuse. I've been DMing a Fighter/Rogue/Ranger/Holy Liberator/Order of the Bow Initiate/Templar, and, frankly, it was silly. The character was way past the power level of any other PC, immune to most things and could kill pretty much anything solo. For me, a class is not just a flat...

Personally, I think that this is probably a bad idea. The simple fact is that the arcane classes probably have the greatest capacity for damage-dealing of any class in the game (possible exception: assault druid). They have one primary weakness: a poor HD. Moreover, they can circumvent this...

Could you care to name the 'many, many' feats or shall we take your word for it? Personally, I think that Toughness is definitely a tad on the weak side. I like that 3+Fort save personally, since not only does it scale with level well (though not too well!) but it is much more equitable...

Hear, hear! This point cannot be emphasised enough. Most people do not follow a prescribed dogma or alignment, but simply make their way through life treading a path between self-interest and conscience. Very few people indeed think in terms of cosmic good and evil. I'm not an experienced...

As a combat spell, as it stands, Disintegrate is now definitely on the weakish side. 22d6 sounds a lot at 11th level, but bear in mind that a Maximised Scorching Ray does 72 damage with no save at one level lower. Unless the victim has a truly abysmal Fort save, saving only on a natural 20, or...

The interesting aspect of evil, of course, is that in a civilised society it can actually be a constructive force. After all, it is the evil members who tend to be the most ambitious, ruthless and pragmatic in their aims. In a war, for example, an evil general could well be more effective than...