Empowered Awaken

[Ridley's Cohort]

So if I've been acquiring the nine hit points I just rolled for the last month, why did I fall unconscious when I took twenty-five damage yesterday? 24 was my max hit points a month ago... surely, the day before I determined that the hit points I've been acquiring for some time brings my total to 33, I must have been on at least 30! ... right?

No weirder than the initiative rules and readied actions, or a thousand other examples I could pull out of the RAW.

When something "happened" and when something is resolved are not necessarily related in any straightforward manner. We pick points of resolution so that the mechanics are suffiiciently convenient as to preserve DM sanity, not necessarily because it makes our game feel like an accurate simulation (as if that were possible).

 

[Hypersmurf]

We pick points of resolution so that the mechanics are suffiiciently convenient as to preserve DM sanity, not necessarily because it makes our game feel like an accurate simulation (as if that were possible).

But since there is a point of resolution when hit points are rolled, why can't I use the Luck Domain ability to reroll it?

After all, you can use it to reroll a Spot check or a Will save, as long as you do it before the DM announces success or failure, and they might both be situations the character is unaware of.

The Luck domain ability is inherently a metagame concept (the character never rolls dice, so the character can't choose to reroll a die), so applying it to metagame situation like levelling up isn't at all odd.

-Hyp.

 

[Crothian]

except a spot roll doesn't alter the character in any way like a hit point roll does.

 

[Hypersmurf]

except a spot roll doesn't alter the character in any way like a hit point roll does.

How is that relevant to the Luck domain?

-Hyp.

 

[Crothian]

not the luck domain your comment of

The Luck domain ability is inherently a metagame concept (the character never rolls dice, so the character can't choose to reroll a die), so applying it to metagame situation like levelling up isn't at all odd.

I think it is odd becasue it is a roll that permantly changed the character. The luck domain ability to reroll has been given to many prestige classes and they all limit the die roll. I think the luck domain should (assuming it hasn't in an FAQ or Errata somewwhere) be likewise altered. Allowing it to effect HP rolls makes it "broken"

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

The Luck domain ability is inherently a metagame concept (the character never rolls dice, so the character can't choose to reroll a die), so applying it to metagame situation like levelling up isn't at all odd.

The difference is that the character is making a tangible effort in game for most dice rolls, even if he does not roll the dice himself.

IMHO hit points are something that happens to the character. Like the weather. Can a Lucky cleric reroll the weather for the day? Can my Wizard create an item that will give him an enhancement bonus to his hit point rolls? Why not?

In the case of Awaken I would rule the roll is being made for the plant, not the Druid.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Can my Wizard create an item that will give him an enhancement bonus to his hit point rolls?

An Amulet of Health, you mean?

-Hyp.

 

[green slime]

To the original question: Yes.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

An Amulet of Health, you mean?

I suppose you could think of it that way if you do not consider the eentsy side effect that removing the Amulet while wounded may cause you to die of any import.

But technically speaking your example is incorrect. Consider a Wizard with a natural Con of 4. It is not actually the same as a modifier to the roll in the usual sense.

 

[Nail]

The intention here would rule out post-effects such as later weapon damage and the like. If hit points are not affected, then it's conceivable that ability scores should also be shielded from the maximize effect.

...but the fundamental difference is that the ability scores gained are a direct result of the spell Awaken. The weapon damage of a summoned monster is an indirect effect: Your spell summons the monster, then the monster tries to hit and damage an opponent.

With an empowered Awaken, there's no middle man. The creature gets the mentals stats because of the spell.

Awaken is a 5th level spell. An empowered Awaken is 7th, a maximized Awaken spell is 8th level. I'm not sure that's beyond the scope of power...especially since the spell gives no control or assumed authority over the awakened creature.

Still, it is wacky.