Inspire Greatness -- Bonus Hit Dice?

[Desdichado]

Your remarks are treading the line, at least, of being personal attacks.

No they're not. They're snarky in tone, no doubt, but at no point do they attack each other personally.

Seriously; a personal attack, or an ad hominem argument—which is almost the same thing—requires that one person impugn the other person involved directly. As long as discussion stays on the arguments themselves, they are not personal attacks and they are not ad hominem arguments.

This post brought to you by a weary, pedantic jerk who is tired of seeing these two terms misused over and over again in a vain attempt to bail oneself out of an argument when someone is clearly in over their head, is clearly wrong and can't admit it, and falsely accuses the other of attacking him personally when he's clearly been attacking his argument instead (which is the correct way to debate rationally, I might add) all along.

 

[Tewligan]

Hobo, could you please ease up on the personal attacks on Artoomis? Otherwise, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the thread. Thanks!

 

[Desdichado]

Hobo, could you please ease up on the personal attacks on Artoomis? Otherwise, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the thread. Thanks!

Can we please lay off the ad hominems please? That doesn't advance the discussion any.

kthxbye.

 

[Umbran]

Can we please lay off the ad hominems please? That doesn't advance the discussion any.

kthxbye.

The moderating staff does not appreciate use of color to make it look like you're moderating, when you aren't. Doubly so when things are tense - you may think it is funny, but it generally only annoys people. Please don't do it again.

Ad hominem or not, the level of snark in here is unacceptably high. We've had multiple complaints, and people who have left the thread because a few of you are overly aggressive and sarcastic.

Learn this - sarcasm, snark, and aggression do not influence people in a positive manner. Someone who has snark leveled at them does not suddenly go, "Oh, that was witty, he must have been right in the first place!"

If your intent is to actually exchange information, and perhaps even teach, you've chosen the wrong tools. If your intent is to look witty to those who agree with you, or to embarrass or browbeat other posters into shutting up, you have come to the wrong message boards.

We expect civility and respect for each other, folks. If you don't intend to show that, don't post.

 

[Artoomis]

Can we get back on-topic?

I am very interested in reponses to my position on Inspire Greatness.

 

[Slaved]

Interesting.

Let's see...

Hmmm, if the negative levels were by spell effect, there is an excellent argument that he would not die until getting 12 total negative levels (an extra 2 to offset the bonus HD), since the HD explicity apply to spells.

I don't think the rules are prefectly clear here, but to avoid a weird result, I'd allow it to work the same way even if the negative levels were caused by creatures. Note that gaining negative levels from, say, a vampire, is "Su" - not a spell, but still a magical effect, so I'd allow the HD to count.

This could be considered a generous ruling, perhaps, but I would not want the results to be different between spell-caused negative-levels and creature-caused "Supernatural" negative levels. That would be too weird and, potentially, too hard to track (what if one had both sources of negative levels at once?!?)

The Spells that give Negative Levels are not Hit Dice Dependent though. These Spells do Explain what Negative Levels do but that is not the same as a Spell such as Color Spray which is Hit Dice Dependent. I do not believe that Negative Levels become Non Functional in an Antimagic Field.

 

[Artoomis]

The Spells that give Negative Levels are not Hit Dice Dependent though. These Spells do Explain what Negative Levels do but that is not the same as a Spell such as Color Spray which is Hit Dice Dependent. I do not believe that Negative Levels become Non Functional in an Antimagic Field.

True enough. I could see this being played out either way.

 

[Slaved]

True enough. I could see this being played out either way.

I Assume that Either Way is whether or not the Character is Dead?

What do you think about the Terms Level and Hit Dice being used Interchangeably in the Dungeon Masters Guide?

 

[Artoomis]

I Assume that Either Way is whether or not the Character is Dead?

Yep. It all depends on how you view Hit Die vs. Spell Effects.

What do you think about the Terms Level and Hit Dice being used Interchangeably in the Dungeon Masters Guide?

It's generally, but not always, true.

 

[Elethiomel]

Fine. If you need it spelled out, read page 5 of the Monster Manual. Specifically, the second sentence under "Reading the Entries".

Cheers, -- N

Thanks, I had missed that when I skimmed that section. It does put a new light on things. I shall consult my books.