Ability Focus: Spells?

[Nifft]

If a player were silly enough to try this, I'd argue that Spells doesn't have a single DC, rather each spell has its own DC (determined by spellcasting rules and feats like Spell Focus).

Similar to how Improved Grab is a special attack that has no DC (and is thus not a valid choice for Ability Focus).

Cheers, -- N

 

[pawsplay]

Does the disease appear in the Special Attacks line of the stat block?

Special Abilities
A special ability is either extraordinary, spell-like, or supernatural in nature.


Is spellcasting (Ex) or (Su)?


Extraordinary Abilities (Ex)

Extraordinary abilities are nonmagical, though they may break the laws of physics. They are not something that just anyone can do or even learn to do without extensive training.

These abilities cannot be disrupted in combat, as spells can, and they generally do not provoke attacks of opportunity. Effects or areas that negate or disrupt magic have no effect on extraordinary abilities. They are not subject to dispelling, and they function normally in an antimagic field...

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp)
Usually, a spell-like ability works just like the spell of that name. A few spell-like abilities are unique; these are explained in the text where they are described.

 

[Thanee]

Given that Ability Focus (Fists) applies to all saves related to that special attack, is there a reason it couldn't take Ability Focus (Spell-Like Abilities)?

There's a precedence at least with the Warlock.

I do not consider 'spells' or 'spell-like abilities' to be a viable special attack. It's just a collection of special attacks (and others... many spells included under 'spells' are quite clearly no attacks ).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Hypersmurf]

Special Abilities
A special ability is either extraordinary, spell-like, or supernatural in nature.


Is spellcasting (Ex) or (Su)?

Is a Kuo-Toa's Pincer Staff Special Attack Ex, Su, or Sp?

Is a Sahuagin's Blood Frenzy Special Attack Ex, Su, or Sp?

-Hyp.

 

[pawsplay]

Either "spells" is a special attack, which is a special abilility of some kind in which case

a) it would qualify, but
b) spellcasting itself would break down as a result of self-contradiction

or

"spells" is a special attack, which is not a special ability in which case

a) it qualifies, and
b) special attacks are no longer defined as being any particular kind of ability unless spelled out

or

"spells" is not a special attack as such, but is listed there for convenience

or

"spells" is a special attack which is not a special ability, but Ability Focus was only intended to apply to natural, extraordinary, spell-like, and supernatural abilities

 

[pawsplay]

Is a Kuo-Toa's Pincer Staff Special Attack Ex, Su, or Sp?

Is a Sahuagin's Blood Frenzy Special Attack Ex, Su, or Sp?

-Hyp.

I don't have the kuo-toa handy, but as to the other:

Natural Abilities
This category includes abilities a creature has because of its physical nature. Natural abilities are those not otherwise designated as extraordinary, supernatural, or spell-like.


EDIT: Which mean it is not a special ability. Hence, special attacks are not always special abilities, although the monster introduction implies otherwise.

 

[irdeggman]

No, this is explicitly not allowed in the FAQ. Given that a Warlock cannot take Ability Focus for a single Invocation, I'd definitely rule that anyone with spells cannot take Ability Focus for all of their spells (or even one of them).

Hmm actually I think this is incorrect.

The FAQ lists eldritch blast as a spell-like ability that AF can be used with - it does not say that a warlock can not take AF for a specific invocation (like say charm, baleful utterance or miasmic cloud - all allow saving throws)

If a warlock selects Ability Focus (Monster Manual page 303) and chooses for it to affect his eldritch blast, does it still apply when he uses a blast shape or eldritch essence invocation?
Yes. Whether the warlock is using a frightful blast, an eldritch cone, or an utterdark eldritch doom, Ability Focus (eldritch blast) increases the save DC by +2.

Does the Ability Focus feat (Monster Manual, page 303) apply to spell-like abilities?
Yes, although each selection of the feat applies only to a single spell-like ability. A dretch could select Ability Focus (scare) or Ability Focus (stinking cloud).

 

[Hypersmurf]

EDIT: Which mean it is not a special ability. Hence, special attacks are not always special abilities, although the monster introduction implies otherwise.

So Spells (not defined as Ex, Su, or Sp) may not be a special ability... but it is a special attack.

Fortunately, Ability Focus doesn't require a special ability; it requires a special attack. Like Spells.

-Hyp.

 

[Pyrex]

*ponders*

In my game I'd probably rule that "spells" is shorthand for a collection of special attacks.

If a player in my game really, really wanted Ability Focus(Fireball), I'd probably let them take it.

 

[Nifft]

Fortunately, Ability Focus doesn't require a special ability; it requires a special attack. Like Spells.

Yep yep. So maybe you could take it. But it would be worthless; because "Spells" has no DC. Only individual spells have a DC.

Similar to how both Rend and Poison are (Ex) special attacks, but you can only take Ability Focus for one of them.

Cheers, -- N