Please rate Divine Might

[0-hr]

Just thought I'd share this response from the FAQ guys:

- - -
In a message dated 12/27/02 3:21:10 PM, Ki Ryn writes:

<< In the last paragraph of the 10/15/02 DoF FAQ you indicate that using
Divine Might is a free action (in direct contradiction to the DoF text). Did
you really mean to make such a change (and in a FAQ rather than erratta)? >>

Read the FAQ again.
It's *not* a free action.
It's not an action at all (which means you can use the feat anytime you
attack, even on AoOs).
Yes, this was/is deliberate.

 

[Stalker0]

Just thought I'd share this response from the FAQ guys:

- - -
In a message dated 12/27/02 3:21:10 PM, Ki Ryn writes:

<< In the last paragraph of the 10/15/02 DoF FAQ you indicate that using
Divine Might is a free action (in direct contradiction to the DoF text). Did
you really mean to make such a change (and in a FAQ rather than erratta)? >>

Read the FAQ again.
It's *not* a free action.
It's not an action at all (which means you can use the feat anytime you
attack, even on AoOs).
Yes, this was/is deliberate.

Well I say forget the FAQ guys on this one.

And Nail, yeah the paladins only really good against evil things, but most of what people fight is evil anyway

And I wouldn't call the ability to heal yourself, and charisma bonuses to all your saves one shot wonder abilities

 

[Kraedin]

What bothers me is other divine feats. Should this ruling be extended to those as well? My current character, a 5th level paladin, has the Divine Shield feat and would really like to know.

Edit: A little comma happy.

 

[shilsen]

What bothers me is other divine feats. Should this ruling be extended to those as well? My current character, a 5th level paladin, has the Divine Shield feat and would really like to know.

Since there's no clear information about this, it's up to you. I'd suggest keeping it consistent between the different divine feats. I'm allowing them to be triggered as a free action, and capped Divine Might and Divine Shield's bonuses at +5 (pe-emmpting the Aasimar paladins with 24 Cha ) .

 

[reapersaurus]

I find it interesting that many, many people bemoan the "CHA as dump stat" aspect of 3E, yet the second CHA becomes useful (Divine Might), they cry foul.

 

[Kraedin]

Wow. My opinion of the Sage has just jumped dramatically. He responded to my email, the day after it was sent, on a weekend, during xmas vacation. Here's his answer.

In a message dated 12/28/02 5:49:53 PM, [email address omitted]
writes:

<< In the Defenders of the Faith FAQ, there is a ruling on the
Divine Might feat that changes its activation time from a standard
action (which is the time listed in Defenders of the Faith
and the Epic Level Handbook) to not an action. <<

Wow! You actully *read* the answer (most folks wonder out loud why it has
become a *free* action, which it has not.)

>> Should this
ruling be taken as a change to divine feats in general,<<

No.

>> or as a
change to Divine Might only? >>

Yes.

The *truly* correct answer is that activating the feat takes a standard
action, and using the damage bonus requires no action at all (so long as the
bonus lasts). But WotC has insisted on the one in the FAQ.

And there you have it.

 

[Iku Rex]

Wow! You actully *read* the answer (most folks wonder out loud why it has become a *free* action, which it has not.)

The *truly* correct answer is that activating the feat takes a standard action, and using the damage bonus requires no action at all (so long as the bonus lasts). But WotC has insisted on the one in the FAQ.

This has to be the stupidest FAQ entry yet. (Yes, the FAQ entry, not the Sage answer above.)

Apparently "using" a feat is different from "activating" a feat. This is not self evident to anyone except WotC.

In other parts of the rules, "use" means "activate". ("Unless noted otherwise, a spell-like ability has a casting time of 1 action, making its use a standard action." - from the DnD glossary, spell-like ability. I doubt if this means that spell-like abilities with a duration have to be "renewed" over an over once they're activated.)

And do you mark of a turn undead attempt each time you make an attack roll? Because if "using divine might" actually means "adding the extra damage from divine might", that's what the FAQ says....

("Using Divine Might does not require an action at all. You can use the feat any time you attack, and you simply announce that you're using it and mark off a turn/rebuke use for the day.)

 

[Corwin]

IMO, this is just an example of F.I.M.S. (Foot In Mouth Syndrome). The Sage made an incorrent entry in the FAQ and is now trying to fix his error. Subtly.

Of course the feat requires a standard action to activate, per DotF. THat's clear. And it is also pretty clear the Sage seems to be ruling contrary in the FAQ. My belief is that, at the time he was writing his original response in the FAQ, he confused Divine Might and Smite. But that's just my opinion. I have nothing to base it on.

I just wish he'd come clean when he does something like this and just admit when he's wrong. We all make mistakes. I'd fault him much less if he'd just be frank about it.

Now, whether or not it should be a free action or not is another story. I think they should change all Divine Feats to free actions. Makes them more usable. As they stand now, there are very few instances where it is worth wasting your action turning them on.

 

[0-hr]

The difference between a free action and a "not an action" is trivial with respect to the issue at hand.

What kind of action is it?
It's a "not an action" action of course!

And that FAQ entry must be a "not a mistake" type of mistake.

Geez, those bozo's jut couldn't think up a word for "free'er" when they realized that there was stuff even faster than a free action. And now they get pedantic about it when we're catching them in a bonafide bone-headed error.

 

[Stalker0]

The difference between a free action and a "not an action" is trivial with respect to the issue at hand.

Actually, the difference is huge, because not an action meaning I could use the feat whenever I felt like, even when its not my turn

Imo, this would make some of the divine feats very useful. Using divine cleansing right before getting hit with a poisoned arrow, or using divine resistance as a red dragons breaths, would make the feats actually worthwhile.