Defenders of the Faith question

[molonel]

The Command enchantment for armor and shields. Defenders of the Faith, page 23. It's a +2 enchantment. I thought I'd found something, because the actual text of the description says, "gives a +4 competence bonus to Charisma and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves to all allies within 30 feet."

It seems to me that this should be a +4 competence bonus to all Charisma-based checks. Does that seem right?

 

[Dark Magus]

*wishes he still had his splats*

That sounds about right, but the +4 doesnt confer to allies, and i'm not sure if it affects leadership scores or not.

 

[ShadowX]

I read it as a +4 to the ability score charisma. This affects charisma everything based on charisma not just skills.

 

[molonel]

digging a little further

I think it's a misprint. Digging further in other books, I am convinced of this now.

Every other instance where I find the words "Charisma ... competence" is always followed by the words "... based skill checks." Even looking at the DMG (pg. 177), the competence bonus is associated with attacks, saves and skill checks, but not ability scores. The only bonus types that ever apply to ability scores are inherent and enhancement.

 

[Hejdun]

It's probably only supposed to apply to Charisma based checks (a la the Breastplate of Command in the DMG), but the Errata didn't say anything about it.

 

[Anubis the Doomseer]

It is a bonus to Charisma based checks only, and not to Charisma itself - the corrected version is in the Arms and Equipment Guide.

 

[reapersaurus]

Anubis - A&EG is not DotF.

molonel - you're right, in that it SEEMS that the DotF Command enchantment would be for CHA checks, but it isn't.

In the DotF book, in the FAQ, and in the errata, it nowhere contradicts the text of DotF which quite plainly states that it is a competence bonus to CHA.

 

[molonel]

"In the DotF book, in the FAQ, and in the errata, it nowhere contradicts the text of DotF which quite plainly states that it is a competence bonus to CHA."

So a misprint isn't a misprint unless someone else catches it?

Look in the DMG. There is no such thing as a competence bonus to a stat.

 

[Anubis the Doomseer]

Originally posted by reapersaurus
Anubis - A&EG is not DotF.

It only contains the corrected version, but if you are going to be anal about it, you can not have a competance bonus to a ability score, DMG, 3.0.

Otherwise it is a very broken power, because it is an item which gives a +4 boost to an ability score, on top of the other power (the bonus to fear saves), for half the cost of a +4 booster item (a "+2 enchantment" being equivalent to 4000gp, since the armor need to have at least +1 itself then it costs 9000gp, a +4 stat booster costs 16,000gp minimum, doesn't grant protection like armor, and has no bonus to fear saves).

- Ma'at

 

[LokiDR]

DMG, 3e, breastplate of command:

When worn, this +2 breastplate bestows a +2 circumstance bonus on Charisma checks, checks using skills for which Charisma is the key ability, and turning checks to its wearer.

The A&EG has an ability that is identical to DotF, except it adds the "based checks" after charisma.

On the other hand, DotF has never been errata'd or FAQ'd to change the written material which does, effectively, change your charisma stat.

The result: either there are two different versions of "command" armor or DotF ability is modified by A&EG. Any character who orders custom magic items based on some rule book can have the first, then be kicked out the game for metagaming. Those of use who use logic will follow the latter conclusion.