Epic Combat Expertise...WTF?

[Infiniti2000]

I houseruled that expertise penalties do not apply to opposed rolls for disarm or sunder. YMMV.

But then you do apply the penalty on the return disarm attempt, right? Or, better yet, do you just plain not allow the return disarm attempt?

In any case, I find that it does make sense. The actual flavor of combat expertise is unspecified, but it seems like you take it to mean just avoiding any blows whatsoever. I take it to mean that you use your weapon(s) to deflect incoming blows more than you do dodging anything. Granted, it's a Dodge bonus, but it comes only when you attack with your weapon(s). If you don't attack anything, you don't get a bonus; thus your weapon must somehow play a part in the bonus.

If anything, characters using CE and even ICE could easily be considered to get an additional penalty vs. disarming and sundering. You're certainly not focused on keeping your weapon(s) out of harm's way. In fact, you're doing the opposite, you're putting them in harm's way to protect your body.

 

[Hypersmurf]

How did your T-Rex make the Int pre-reqs?

Headband of Intellect +6 and a Tome of Clear Thought +1 should do it

-Hyp.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Headband of Intellect +6 and a Tome of Clear Thought +1 should do it

-Hyp.

I think you and Rystil missed the part in the half-fiend template about requiring an Int score of 4 or more. You can't add half-fiend in the first place.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I think you and Rystil missed the part in the half-fiend template about requiring an Int score of 4 or more. You can't add half-fiend in the first place.

You can if it's a Half-Fiend Half-Dragon Tyrannosaurus!

Don't even need the Tome of Clear Thought, then... the Headband will bring him up to Int 14!

-Hyp.

 

[Rystil Arden]

You can if it's a Half-Fiend Half-Dragon Tyrannosaurus!

Don't even need the Tome of Clear Thought, then... the Headband will bring him up to Int 14!

-Hyp.

Or what if he read a Tome of Clear Thought +2 back when he had animal intelligence and couldn't read

 

[Hypersmurf]

Or what if he read a Tome of Clear Thought +2 back when he had animal intelligence and couldn't read

Well, a Helm of Comprehend Languages and Read Magic would get around the 'can't read' problem.

However, it's unclear whether he could benefit from it while his Type was Animal.

An animal possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

- Intelligence score of 1 or 2 (no creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher can be an animal).

Also, you'd then have the problem of applying an inherited template to a creature who's already up and about...

-Hyp.

 

[GuardianLurker]

Well, a Helm of Comprehend Languages and Read Magic would get around the 'can't read' problem.

However, it's unclear whether he could benefit from it while his Type was Animal.

An animal possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

- Intelligence score of 1 or 2 (no creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher can be an animal).

Also, you'd then have the problem of applying an inherited template to a creature who's already up and about...

-Hyp.

Does that mean if I advance an animal more than 4 HD I can't put it's stat plus-up into Int?

 

[Rystil Arden]

Well, a Helm of Comprehend Languages and Read Magic would get around the 'can't read' problem.

However, it's unclear whether he could benefit from it while his Type was Animal.

An animal possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

- Intelligence score of 1 or 2 (no creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher can be an animal).

Also, you'd then have the problem of applying an inherited template to a creature who's already up and about...

-Hyp.

Maybe it merged with a fiend

 

[Ditch]

Maybe some druid awakened it? J/K

 

[Hypersmurf]

Does that mean if I advance an animal more than 4 HD I can't put it's stat plus-up into Int?

I don't believe you can. With an Int of 3, it can't be an animal, and you can't change its type just by advancing it, so you can't increase its Int to 3.

-Hyp.