Ability Focus: Spells?

[WarlockLord]

Can I take Ability Focus to add +2 to the DCs of my spells? The way I see it, the prereq is a special attack. In the MM it lists spellcasting as a special attack. So how does that work?

 

[Nyaricus]

In the MM it lists spellcasting as a special attack. So how does that work?

Page reference would be of help here

 

[Dog Moon]

Considering that there's a Spell Focus feat that increases spell DCs by 1, I don't think the Ability Focus: Spells would work...

 

[Infiniti2000]

Can I take Ability Focus to add +2 to the DCs of my spells? The way I see it, the prereq is a special attack. In the MM it lists spellcasting as a special attack. So how does that work?

Which monster are you playing?

 

[WarlockLord]

umm...a drow wizard. The spells as a special attack are listed in the stat blocks of the couatl, dragons, and other monsters that cast spells, and also in the back, with the monster design section (spellcasting is listed as one of the special attacks you can give the creature)

 

[Infiniti2000]

umm...a drow wizard. The spells as a special attack are listed in the stat blocks of the couatl, dragons, and other monsters that cast spells, and also in the back, with the monster design section (spellcasting is listed as one of the special attacks you can give the creature)

There's a difference between a spells "special attack" and spells from class levels. With the "special attack", for example, you don't gain any class abilities. A drow wizard, on the other hand, has levels in wizard and that is not the same thing. There will be further confusion when you try to come to grips with the conflict that special attacks are explicitly a subset of special abilities, which are explicitly one of three options: Ex, Sp, or Su. Spells from a class, however, are none of the three. So, if spells are a special attack, then they have to be one of those three things, which will drastically change those spells. It's far better to assume spells are not, in fact, grouped with "special attacks" for purposes of things applying explicitly to "special attacks" (e.g. ability focus). Otherwise, you'll have lots more problems to deal with (like why your spells require components when Sp special attacks by definition do not).

All that said, I was sure the FAQ or RotG had a segment on this.

 

[jasin]

Can I take Ability Focus to add +2 to the DCs of my spells?

Obviously not. If you want to focus on your spells, you take... (wait for it)... Spell Focus.

When situations like this come up, you need to ask yourself two things:

1) Do you honestly think that's the way it's intended to work?
2) Can you honestly say you would allow it if you were the DM?

 

[Nyaricus]

1) Do you honestly think that's the way it's intended to work?

Sometimes the difference between the way something was intended to be used and the way it is used is quite shocking. Just sayin'.

cheers,
--N

 

[Darklone]

Sometimes the difference between the way something was intended to be used and the way it is used is quite shocking. Just sayin'.

cheers,
--N

Oh, right, you're talking about RPG stuff.



Nothing to see here, move on!

 

[Hypersmurf]

There's a difference between a spells "special attack" and spells from class levels.

Not necessarily.

Take the Hound Archon Hero from the MM, for example. He has 'Spells' listed in the Special Attacks section of his stat block. Whence do said spells derive? From his 11 Paladin class levels.

Likewise the Celestial Charger - an 8 HD unicorn with 7 levels of cleric - has spells listed as a special attack. The only spells he has are those from his cleric levels.

A Kuo-Toa's Pincer Staff and a Sahuagin's Blood Frenzy are two other examples of Special Attacks that are, apparently, exceptions to the "Special abilities are Ex, Sp, or Su" rule.

-Hyp.