3.5 gleanings from Fiend Folio

[EricNoah]

Bluff should modify Disguise, too.

It does, but only in a certain circumstance. The entry reads

Disguise +1 (+3 acting)

 

[Ruvion]

I love the new finesse change for 3.5e if it is true. I must admit, I am a little apprehensive of Rogues getting two-weapon fighting for the coast of just 1 feat (unless they do not get sneak attack with off-hand...hehe).

 

[EricNoah]

I just wanted to ask: the level adjustment listed is not the same as ECL right? Rather, you add that to the creature's hit dice, and that's the Effective Character Level, yes? I suppose I can see why they listed level adjustment and not ECL, but I wish they had gone with the latter.

They actually do spell it out in the text under "Characters" at the end of the entry. So the stats list Level Adjustment, and then in the text they add up or otherwise present the ECL and give you an example. For example, a Level Adjustment 1 creature:

"Due to their starting Hit Dice [3] and unique powers, a shadar-kai's effective character level (ECL) is +4. Thus, a 1st-level shadar-kai rogue has an ECL of 5 and is the equivalent of a 5th level character."

Edit: Unfortunately, I've found at least one place where they themselves have apparently gotten mixed up. Let's look at the Dark Ones:

Dark Creepers, 1 HD humanoid, Level adjustment 4, ECL in text is given as +4 and that's right -- because a 1 HD humanoid is going to lose that 1 HD in exchange for 1st character level.

Dark Stalkers, 3 HD humanoid, level adjustment listed as 5, ECL in text is also given as +5. That's not correct. So either the ECL in the text is wrong (thus ECL should be +8), or the Level Adjustment in the stats are wrong (thus Level Adjustment should be 2). I believe it is the latter -- the Dark Stalkers have 2 extra hit dice, but only gain +1d6 sneak attack, ability to cast Fog Cloud 2 per day, and "poison use" which means they don't accidentally poison themselves (big whoop, right? ). So if we set their Level Adjustment to 2, their ECL is +5, which is only one greater than the dark creeper's, which seems fair.

Unfortunately, if there are more errors like this we'll need to make the judgement call on a case by case basis. My guess, though, is that the ECL in the text is more likely to be right (because they have to come up with an example) and that if anything is wrong, it's the Level Adjustment.

 

[Tsyr]

Considering that's the way I've been running Weapon Finess for a long time now, that's a nice bit of news

 

[the Jester]

Do plants, vermin and oozes get skills and feats now?

That's my big question.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Behold the violet fungus with Combat reflexes, 10 ranks in tumble, and whirlwind attack!

 

[the Jester]

Behold the violet fungus with Combat reflexes, 10 ranks in tumble, and whirlwind attack!

That's not funny...

 

[EricNoah]

Do plants, vermin and oozes get skills and feats now?

That's my big question.

Skill points:

Vermin and oozes, no.

Plants can (at the 2 per HD rate) ... but only if it has an INT score (and a lot don't).

Feats: Fiend Folio doesn't actually spell out the rate at which feats are gained, and for what creatures. I would guess, from looking at a few examples, that the feat progression for all creatures is as a PC (1 at first level, and one at every 3rd level beyond that) but again only if it has intelligence.

 

[the Jester]

Thanks Eric!

 

[Darkness]

Would be kinda pointless [to buy Weapon Finesse if your Str is > your Dex].

Except to qualify for a certain prestige class, of course.