5 foot step trick

[Hypersmurf]

“Evasion can be used only if the rogue is wearing light armor or no armor.” a literal interpretation implies that a rogue cannot use a ring of evasion while in armor, even though other PC’s can.

This one's interesting, because the restriction on rogues and monks is not found only in the description of the class feature under Rogue and Monk respectively, but it also appears in the description of Evasion under Special Abilities in the DMG.

It doesn't matter what source the Evasion derives from; a rogue or a monk can't use it in Medium armor.

If this restriction didn't appear under Evasion, but rather only in the class feature description, I wouldn't have any trouble reading it that the restriction only applied to the class feature, and not to any other instance of Evasion the character might possess.

-Hyp.

 

[mvincent]

It doesn't matter what source the Evasion derives from; a rogue or a monk can't use it in Medium armor.

But can you understand how the majority of players might not agree with you, despite this being a literal interpretation of RAW? To many, this would be the same type of preposterous ignoring of the writer's intent that is similar to my other examples.

Curious: how would you rule for multi-class rogues?

 

[Artoomis]

This one's interesting, because the restriction on rogues and monks is not found only in the description of the class feature under Rogue and Monk respectively, but it also appears in the description of Evasion under Special Abilities in the DMG.

It doesn't matter what source the Evasion derives from; a rogue or a monk can't use it in Medium armor.

If this restriction didn't appear under Evasion, but rather only in the class feature description, I wouldn't have any trouble reading it that the restriction only applied to the class feature, and not to any other instance of Evasion the character might possess.

-Hyp.

What it actually says is:

Rogues and monks cannot use evasion in medium or heavy armor. Some creatures with the evasion ability as an innate quality do not have this limitation.

This would seem to imply that only those with evasion as an innate quality do not have the limitation.

Whether or not the ring gives you evasion in a manner like an innate quality or not is, I guess, a judgement call. Either way, it would not matter whether you are a monk or a rogue.

Here's my interpretation:

Being more generous:

1. Any class with evasion as a class feature cannot uses it in meduim or heavier armor.
2. Those with evasion as an innate quality do not have that limitation (unless a description says otherwise).
3. The ring gives you an innate-like evasion ability, so the restriction does not apply if you are using the ring.

Being less generous:

1. Any class with evasion as a class feature cannot uses it in meduim or heavier armor.
2. Those with evasion as an innate quality also have that limitation unless a description says otherwise ("some" do not have this retriction").
3. The ring does not avoid the restriction because it does not say it does.

Since this is a defensive ability, I go with the more generous reading.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Curious: how would you rule for multi-class rogues?

Someone who has at least one level in Rogue is a Rogue.

-Hyp.

 

[mvincent]

Someone who has at least one level in Rogue is a Rogue.

Would you rule that (for example) a 14th level fighter in plate-mail that has been using the ring could no longer benefit from it if he picks up a level rogue on his next level advancement?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Would you rule that (for example) a 14th level fighter in plate-mail that has been using the ring could no longer benefit from it if he picks up a level rogue on his next level advancement?

I think that that's what the text of the Evasion ability says.

-Hyp.

 

[Thurbane]

I feel being able to interpret writer's intent is important in rules discussions, otherwise you can get weird things like:
“A defender wearing spiked gauntlets can't be disarmed.” Taking the Rules As Written literally here would imply that spiked gauntlets prevents someone from disarming any of your weapons.

Strangely enough, that's exactly what my current DM thought when he first read this text. It is extremely badly worded.

 

[Thurbane]

So, let me get this straight: the prevailing attitude is that any Joe Schmuck can use a Ring of Evasion while wearing medium or heavy armor, yet the exact same ring slipped on the finger of anyone with so much as 1 level in Rogue or Monk can't make use of this ring if they are in Medium or Heavy armor?

Talk about counterintuitive...