New Main FAQ Update

[dcollins]

A rundown of additions to the Main Official D&D FAQ, v11222002 (posted by Wizards on 12/14/2002):


List of Additions
(1) Point-buy ability scores first, then apply racial modifiers.
(2) "Mighty smiting" (OA) gives only one extra smite/day, even if the character has multiple different smiting abilities (which is rather rare).
(3) For sneak attack vs. uncanny dodge (can't be flanked), stack up all class levels in the relevant ability for either character, then compare.
(4) When losing a level, lose the highest class level first. If equal, you must randomly determine the loss.
(5) Prestige classes that do not mention multiclassing restrictions have no multiclassing restrictions.
(6) Spending skill points on Speak Language allows you to speak new languages, not merely become literate in languages youi already speak.
(7) Martial and Exotic Weapon Non-proficiency penalties do not stack. However, if you are Medium-size and lack Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), then you are entirely prohibited from using it one-handed.
(8) An extended example that critical hit damage multipliers work in the usual way. "...extra damage from a two-handed weapon (Str x1.5) is multiplied for a confirmed critical hit."
(9) You may Take 10 on a Spellcraft check for copying a spell into a spellbook.
(10) While force effects from the Material can affect the Ethereal, the reverse is not true. Manifested ghosts are an exception to this rule.
(11) Someone taking cover behind someone with a "shield" spell gains no protection from the "shield".
(12) If using "true strike" against an invisible person, you must still guess the correct space, and only then does it negate the miss chance. "True strike" only negates miss chances from concealment (e.g., not "blink").


Opinion/Editorial
As usual, most of the FAQ clarifications are pretty clear and correct when compared to the core rules.

However, I think that the following may be controversial and/or counter to how the core rules treat the subject:
- Item #4: This is the first I've heard of any requirement to randomly determine equal-levels-to-be-lost.
- Item #7: The phrasing in the PHB doesn't really support the banned-from-a-bastard-sword-in-one-hand-without-Exotic-proficiency ruling.

 

[CCamfield]

First, thanks for posting this.

How is the bastard sword description unclear?

"A bastard sword is too large to use in one hand without special training; thus, it is an exotic weapon. A Medium-size character can use a bastard sword two-handed as a martial weapon, or a Large creature can use it one-handed in the same way."

It's clear from the 2nd sentence that the 1st sentence applies to Medium-sized creatures. Martial: 2-handed, Exotic: 1-handed.

 

[dcollins]

Re: Re: New Main FAQ Update

How is the bastard sword description unclear?

"A bastard sword is too large to use in one hand without special training; thus, it is an exotic weapon."

Since "special training" is not a technical rules term, the first clause looks like simply flavor text.

Since "Exotic Weapon" proficiency is a defined term, it is the latter part providing the actual rule ("thus", what it counts as under the rules). Under "Exotic Weapon Proficiency", the "Normal" entry refers only to a nonproficiency penalty, not that a person might be entirely banned from the weapon.

 

[Stalker0]

Re: Re: Re: New Main FAQ Update

Since "special training" is not a technical rules term, the first clause looks like simply flavor text.

Since "Exotic Weapon" proficiency is a defined term, it is the latter part providing the actual rule ("thus", what it counts as under the rules). Under "Exotic Weapon Proficiency", the "Normal" entry refers only to a nonproficiency penalty, not that a person might be entirely banned from the weapon.

The general rule is that large weapons can't be used in one hand without monkey grip, that's the normal case of events. THe bastard sword allows you to get around this by acquiring a feat, it creates an exception to the rules. The nonproficiency thing is another exception to the rules which isn't mentioned in this case and so shouldn't be used. I can't use a greatsword one handed for a -4 penalty and you can't do it with a bastard sword.

 

[Darkness]

Re: Re: Re: Re: New Main FAQ Update

The general rule is that large weapons can't be used in one hand without monkey grip, that's the normal case of events.

That's right.

However, a bastard sword is not a Large weapon; it's a Medium-size weapon.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Main FAQ Update

However, a bastard sword is not a Large weapon; it's a Medium-size weapon.

That's right, but it also states that it can't be used with one hand without an EWP feat. In fact, it specifically states that it's "too large to use in one hand...". It's only treated as a medium-size weapon if you have the EWP for it, otherwise, it's treated as large.

 

[Legildur]

kreynolds wrote:

It's only treated as a medium-size weapon if you have the EWP for it, otherwise, it's treated as large.

I never thought I'd say this, but I think kreynolds is not quite right on this one.

To me, if you want to use a bastard sword with one hand without the EWP, then you pay a price for that; the -4 attack penalty for non-proficiency (ie too large to wield in one hand). And this applies equally regardles if the character is proficient with martial weapons or not.

If you took the 'too large...' part too seriously, then you'd also need to take the Monkey Grip (S&F) feat in order to wield it in one hand, and the EWP (BS) to negate the non-proficiency penalty (too many to/toos!!!).

Any character can take EWP (BS) and wield it one handed, or take MWP (BS) and wield it 2-handed (of not martial weapon proficient already).

Also, BS is a martial weapon for large characters to use in one hand. To me, that supports the arguement that while awkward to use, it can still be wielded in one hand by a medium-sized character, albeit with the penalty.

 

[Deset Gled]

I believe that, since the weapon is labeled as a medium weapon, I would have to agree that the weapon should be usable with one, facing the -4 penalty for being nonprofficient. However, the ruling of the FAQ would work out perfectly if the weapon was labeled "large" instead of "medium". The ablility to weild a specific large weapon with one hand would makes sense with Exotic Weapon Proficiency.

Basically, this is a case of dealing with a weapon that is in between the two sizes. When writing it into the rules, they had the option of labeling it medium, and giving it options to be used as large, or labeling it large and allowing it to be used as medium. With the release of the FAQ, it seems that the folks at WotC would like this weapon to be interpreted as a large weapon that can be used as a medium one under certain circumstances. However, in the core rules, its labeled the other way around. It is a bit of a discrepancy. But labeling it as medium does have a few other implications (example: disarming), so it's possible that those were the reasons it was labeled the way it is. Or, it could just be a mistake that will be revised eventually.

 

[Saeviomagy]

You missed something else which doesn't add up with the core rules - specifically #6 also stated that speak language was NOT treated like a skill (despite being listed under 'skills') and therefore was NOT subject to a limit on maximum ranks acheivable by character level, something which is certainly not made clear in the core rules.

ie - while before it could be assumed that someone was limited to buying (level+3) or (level+3)/2 extra languages, they are now not limited at all.

 

[dcollins]

...#6 also stated that speak language was NOT treated like a skill (despite being listed under 'skills') and therefore was NOT subject to a limit on maximum ranks acheivable by character level, something which is certainly not made clear in the core rules.

I guess I'm not surprised by that one. PHB p. 73: "The Speak Language skill doesn't work like a standard skill... instead of buying a rank in Speak Language, you choose a new language that you can speak."

Since it has no ranks, it can't encounter the maximum-ranks limit. In addition, I personally assumed that each Speak Language (X) acted as separate skill like Knowledge (X), et. al.