3.5 gleanings from Fiend Folio

[BASHMAN]

weapon finesse

I dont think somebody should need to USE a feat if the weapon can be used with finesse-- that should be a special attribute applied to the weapon. Moreover, I don't think someone should be ALLOWED to use their strength bonus to hit with a rapier, and I especially don't think they should save a feat by doing so. If you are using a rapier with all your strength attempting to pierce plate mail (rather than dextrously finding a crack in the plates) the result will be scratched plate mail and a broken rapier. To be honest strength giving a bonus to hit is stupid and a damage bonus as well just makes it unbalancing. To hit with ANY weapon should be dex based-- a clumsy dwarf with bulging biceps is still gonna miss with that axe on occasion.

Yes, I have heard the argument that the "to hit' roll is based on one's ability to penetrate armor. Then riddle me this-- why should you be allowed to use your strength bonus to hit a monk? He wears no armor. Your chance to hit him is a contest of your coordination with a weapon against his ability to dodge you. Strength should play only one roll- how much damage it does-- and people will still desire it. The only reason Dex is not used to hit with weapons is because when the game was created in the seventies, they used strength with the previous argument. Also, I suppose it would become a balance issue, making dex too important. My response-- SO WHAT? Dex IS important for warriors!

If the reason STR gives a hit bonus is it helps penetrate armor, why give armor the hit or miss ability it currently has? Armor should reduce damage. That is what it is for. Stonger characters will still be better at penetrating because they do more damage. I just think the STR to hit thing is silly, especially making someone spend a feat to use a rapier with coordination rather than brute strength!

 

[BASHMAN]

Rope Use

I agree about rope use being a waste of a skill as well. I don't think that they should roll it all into one skill, but should make it default to several possible skills such as:
profession- sailor
profession- torturer
profession- guard/police/interrogator, etc
escape bonds skill (how did you learn how to get out of knots if you don't know how to tie them?)
survival (setting snares for animals requires rope use)
handle animal- anyone who knows how to handle an animal had better know how to tie a knot, (handle animal does not only mean being cuddly with bunnies you know-- that is animal empathy. Handle animal would include things like hog-tying, tying dogs up to a tree, hitching horses, etc)
These are just a couple of ideas, I am sure that there are several ways one would pick up the ability to tie good knots.

 

[Alzrius]

5) Most interesting to me is one thing that is NOT 3.5 compatible -- Damage Reduction. FF uses the old way (10/+1) instead of the new 3.5 way. My only guess as to why is that the DR issue, from what we've read in Dragon Magazine, apparently came up fairly recently -- maybe after FF was already "done." So it looks like we'll all be penciling in the correct DR info into our Fiend Folios.

I just wanted to point out that this just got mentioned over at the WotC website. In this Fiend Folio Personality Spotlight the first question asks about 3.5E, and James Wyatt mentions that although the revised DR wasn't included, the 3.5E DR ratings will be made available "just about as soon as the Revised Monster Manual is available."

Looks like there's going to be a lot released on the website when the new books come out.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

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

While I don't think your place is in one of those if you're stronger than you're agile, you're right.

I dont think somebody should need to USE a feat if the weapon can be used with finesse
[...]
Yes, I have heard the argument that the "to hit' roll is based on one's ability to penetrate armor.

Two reasons:

1. It's easier that way. We don't want a hundred rules on this simple matter. Before long we end up with a dozen rolls per attack - one to your attack, one to his defense, several to determine where you hit him, one for rolling damage, one for negating damage..... and you need an our play time per round. Better keep it fast and easy
2. Strength can be speed. The agile-as-a-cat elven swashbuckler's attacks won't be so lightning-fast anymore if he had to use the massive greataxe. His attacks will be slow and awkward. While the seven-footer barbarian will lift that axe like a matchstick and for him there will be hardly any difference between striking with his hand and striking with a big, heavy weapon.
3. It's easier that way.
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[the Jester]

Hum, howzabout constructs? They get skill points and feats?

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Nope, because constructs have no Int score.

 

[Knight Otu]

Nope, because constructs have no Int score.

There are quite a few examples in the core rules already of constructs with an Int score, unless that changes in R3E. Of course, none of them get skills IIRC. The only example of an construct that gained skill points and feats is the tomp tapper in the MonoF book.

 

[Gez]

I did a list of construct with Int score once on the Wizards board, IIRC. Of course, impossible to find it with their Search function.

It included: Homonculus (Monster Manual, aka Core Rulebook 3), Bogun (Monster Manual 2), the Gemstone Golems (MC: Monsters of Faerûn), and myriad others. Just open your WotC book with monsters, look up at the Creature by Type and Subtype listing, and check every one with the Construct type. You'll nigh always find at least one with an Int score.

Nothing in the description of construct prevent them from having an Int score. Most don't have one, but that just that.

It's like undead, zombies and skeletons don't have Int score, but lichs and vampires do.

The only creatures that can't have an Int score are Vermin and Ooze.

The only ability that undead and construct can't have is Constitution.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

According to Savage Species, Construct PC's get 2+int Skill points and 1 feat every 3 levels (plus 1st).

 

[EricNoah]

According to Savage Species, Construct PC's get 2+int Skill points and 1 feat every 3 levels (plus 1st).

But, just as with Plants, they have to have an INT score in order to get Skill points (not sure about feats but I think it's the same).