Aximatic Creatures and Epic Weapons

[Caliber]

The Axiomatic template in Manual of the Planes says that Axiomatic creatures share one mind. If one isn't flanked, none of them are flanked. If one isn't flat-footed, none of them are flat-footed.

My question is, does this mean that they are basicly immune to sneak attacks? As long as one is still safe, that is?

Note that you can bestow your familiar with the Axiomatic template with the spell Planar Familiar (its on WotC's site.) If you make it Axiomatic, its mind link is with you.

Secondly, several Epic Weapon enhancements provide a negative level per hit. Something whose negative levels equals its HD dies right? Just making sure thats as deadly as it sounds.

 

[Alzrius]

As I dont have my books with me, my answers come more from what seems to make sense (and a vague memory of what I read) than from any real check into the mechanics, but here you go.

Yes to your question about axiomatic creatures. Since they all share one mind, what one knows, the other knows. If even one of them spots a hidden attacker preparing to make a sneak attack against another Axiomatic creature, all of them know the person is there, and he cannot make sneak attacks against any of them unless he attempts (and succeeds) to Hide from them all again.

When you take as many negative levels as you have Hit Dice (or levels, or combination levels/Hit Dice) then yes, you die.

 

[AuraSeer]

Note that you can bestow your familiar with the Axiomatic template with the spell Planar Familiar (its on WotC's site.) If you make it Axiomatic, its mind link is with you.

I don't buy it. Even if the familiar is Axiomatic, you still have your own distinct mind. The master/familiar empathic link is far less efficient than the Axiomatic single mind, so you wouldn't gain any special benefits.

If master and familiar both had the Axiomatic template, then I'd allow the mind-link to have its full effects. Otherwise, I think it's too much benefit for too little cost.

 

[Caliber]

Planar Familiar
Transmutation
Level: Clr 3
Components: V, S, DF, XP
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

In order to cast this spell, you must have a familiar, special mount, animal companion, or other companion acquired as a class ability. The spell does not function on outsiders or undead. When you cast the spell, the target creature undergoes a transformation into a celestial, fiendish, axiomatic, or anarchic creature, depending on the alignment of your patron deity (or your alignment, if you have no patron deity). If your patron deity is good, the creature becomes celestial. If your patron deity is evil, the creature becomes fiendish. If your patron deity is lawful neutral, the creature becomes axiomatic, and if your patron deity is chaotic neutral, the creature becomes anarchic. The axiomatic and anarchic creature templates are detailed in Manual of the Planes.

If the target creature is your familiar, it gains energy resistance, fast healing, damage reduction, and additional damage for its smite attack as though its Hit Dice were equal to your character level. Otherwise, use its actual Hit Dice to determine these qualities. If the target creature becomes axiomatic, its linked minds ability applies to you (and only to you).

You cannot cast this spell on another character’s companion creature. Most creatures consider the transformation harmless and beneficial, but if the creature resists, a successful Fortitude save negates the spell.

XP Cost: 500 XP.

This is the exact wording of the spell over at WotC (emphasis added by me.)

I agree that it is a lot of benefit. After all, how often is a raven flanked?

But it seems that this is how the rules work ...

 

[AuraSeer]

Well, blow me down. [/popeye]

I should read more carefully.

 

[Bob Mackenzie]

Erm what the definition of creature?

The description say you have to have a familair to cast it it also says you can't cast it on anothers familiar. However the middle paragraph definately says you can cast it on things other than famiars

Do other party members count as creatures?

Cheers

Bob

 

[AuraSeer]

Do other party members count as creatures?

Well, if you want to be tremendously nitpicky about the exact wording of the spell, you could argue that there's a loophole. It says that you need to have a familiar or companion creature in order to cast the spell, but it doesn't explicitly state that the spell can only be targeted on said companion creature.

The intent of the spell is obvious, though. You can only cast it on your own familiar, animal companion, or other companion creature gained as a class ability.

 

[Caliber]

I would say it defintely has to be a familiar or other kind of animal companion.

If the wording was a little bit more vague, I might say maybe a Cohort. But it says the companion has to be from a Class Ability, not a Feat.

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

What that line means is that this spell is of less use to a Paladin, than it is a Wizard. A special mount would not share the link, where as a familliar would. The mount would not gain the smite damage or energy resistance, the familliar would.

I don't think it's TOO powerful, but I wouldn't be against bumping the XP cost for using it on a familliar to 1,000 XP. A Wizard with a bird familliar is going to be in a good situation, and Arcane Tricksters just got even more fun.

 

[Caliber]

Actually, I believe you are misreading the second paragraph.

It is saying that if the creature is a Familiar, use its Master's level for determing their special abilities, like DR, Energy Resistance, and Smite damage.

The line about Axiomatic creatures sharing the Mind Link with their masters is completely seperate. The Mind Link would still connect a Paladin and his Axiomatic mount, for example.