Eagle's Splendor and Turning

[Ridley's Cohort]

The reason why I'm asking is because I have an 8th-level paladin in a low-magic campaign who doesn't have access to Charisma boosting items. I was wondering if eagle's splendor is a good way to boost my turn attempts per day (for uses of divine might, of course).

Sure, that will work. But as someone playing a similar level Paladin, it seems unlikely that would be an improvement over Bull's Strength -- especially if I might share that spell and boost the special mount from Str 20 to Str 24 in the bargain.

+2 to saves and +16 healing is nothing to sneeze at though. And I could see that Eagle's Splendor might be more attractive if you are going up against Undead. The extra turning becomes very flexible.

 

[Shadeus]

Wow, here I was just looking for advise on a specific situation and now I somehow found a spell that sucks that...doesn't suck! Forgot about lay on hands ability on top of it. So for a paladin, its a bonus to:

- Saves (Divine Grace: +2 to all saves)
- Damage (Divine Might...if you have the feat: +2 to dmg)
- Healing (Lay on Hands: +2 hp healed/level)
- Attack bonus on Smite (Smite: +2 to hit)

Wow, that's almost broken! Well, except for the fact the duration is too short to be useful for more than 1-2 fights at best. Ten minutes at level 20 is underwhelming.

 

[Shadeus]

Sure, that will work. But as someone playing a similar level Paladin, it seems unlikely that would be an improvement over Bull's Strength -- especially if I might share that spell and boost the special mount from Str 20 to Str 24 in the bargain.

+2 to saves and +16 healing is nothing to sneeze at though. And I could see that Eagle's Splendor might be more attractive if you are going up against Undead. The extra turning becomes very flexible.

You know, that was my exact thought process as well. It came down to bull's strength vs. eagle's splendor. He's a solo character, so if he needs remove paralysis...it's too late! He's got Cha 20 now and Str 16. So he's got 8 turn attempts per day to use on divine might. As a general rule, I use the pretty much every attack because if he's in more than 8 rounds of combat, he's dead.

But I think in a normal party situation, bull's strength is a better bet. But now I have to consider the eagle's splendor as a possible alternative.

 

[Len]

'hold on! we cant talk yet until I make myself pretty'

nah, its duration is just too low for any real social situation, gather information takes hours even

But if you're disguised you could drink the potion just before an important encounter (e.g. passing through a guarded door).

And guess what, my character just found a Hat of Disguise. Sounds like there's one more thing I need to add to my handy haversack.

 

[Scion]

the spell would be more or less fine, with a decent duration. As is the paladin can get some use out of it though.

Also, paladins who like to cast their spells like to have practiced spellcaster. It makes their caster level much better vs dispels, helps durations, and is just plain nice. Unfortunately it costs a feat, but at least no multiclassing required

 

[Scion]

But if you're disguised you could drink the potion just before an important encounter (e.g. passing through a guarded door).

Depending on the guard, using a 300gp item or simply slipping him some amount of gold (10gp is a lot to some guards) isnt a very tough choice, the second may very well be much more likely to work anyway

Crazy 3 minute duration potions!

Even failing that however, a +2 competence item to a skill is only 400gp!

 

[Shadeus]

the spell would be more or less fine, with a decent duration. As is the paladin can get some use out of it though.

Also, paladins who like to cast their spells like to have practiced spellcaster. It makes their caster level much better vs dispels, helps durations, and is just plain nice. Unfortunately it costs a feat, but at least no multiclassing required

Practiced spellcaster works with paladins?!? Wow!

But let me think...practiced spell caster or divine vigor...hmm....

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

But I think in a normal party situation, bull's strength is a better bet. But now I have to consider the eagle's splendor as a possible alternative.

Well, in a one or two PC party, failing a save can be very, very bad. And that healing can be critical to keeping you alive. I can easily see choosing Eagle's Splendor.

The deciding factor for me would be the special mount. If you think you will probably have your mount available for any combat in the coming day, I would go with Bull's Strength. Even with your good stats, it is a good bet your mount fights better than you do. (No offense intended. I know from first hand experience.) Share that spell and for four minutes per day your enemies will fall like wheat.

 

[Len]

Depending on the guard, using a 300gp item or simply slipping him some amount of gold (10gp is a lot to some guards) isnt a very tough choice, the second may very well be much more likely to work anyway

I'm pretty sure that my DM wouldn't let us bribe a guard for 10gp at this point, unless he's so useless that I could just gank him without breaking step.

Even failing that however, a +2 competence item to a skill is only 400gp!

Oh, you're right! If such an item exists, anyway. But more like 800gp, since I'll be wearing the Hat of Disguise. (I'm pretty much out of body slots.)

Still, given how seldom I get a chance to disguise myself, I'll probably only ever need one potion of Eagle's Splendour. I'll pick one up when I can spare the gold. I believe that every rogue should carry a Heward's Handy Haversack containing one of everything.

 

[Scion]

I'm pretty sure that my DM wouldn't let us bribe a guard for 10gp at this point, unless he's so useless that I could just gank him without breaking step.

For a guy who might be getting a couple of silver a day? 10gp is a nice little boost. Still, push it to 100gp, that is a good amount and it had better give a good boost to that check assuming that it is possible to bribe the guy. If the guy looks down his nose at that then I doubt that a +2 to cha bonus would really help at all, given the dc's on diplomacy