Questions about AEG's Magic for Mike Mearls

[jaults]

    I am pretty pleased with their most recent product, Magic. However, I do have some questions that could be cleared up pretty easily, I'm sure. Is there anyone at AEG that handles questions regarding their fantasy d20 products? They have a forum (http://www.alderac.com/forum) but it appears to only handle questions related to the Spycraft/Shadowforce Archer line. Would I be better off just writing to Mike Mearls?

Thanks,
    Jason

 

[mearls]

Re: Contacting AEG?

I cruise this forum regularly, though I rarely have time to post, so questions posted here that directly apply to AEG stuff I worked on will get answered. You can also email me at:

mearls@earthlink.net

BTW, I already know of one error in the book: a few spells and abilities referred to in the Tinker's flavor text and spell lists got dropped due to space considerations, but the references to them weren't eliminated. If I have time in the near future, I'm going to post that stuff on my website.

 

[jaults]

    Mike, you rock... Actually, the missing Tinker items was one of the questions I had. When I have the book in front of me, I'll drop you a note here with my questions.

Thanks very much,
    Jason

 

[Crothian]

Could the answers be posted here as well? It'd be great to have the answers before I runn into the questions reading through the book.

 

[mearls]

Could the answers be posted here as well? It'd be great to have the answers before I runn into the questions reading through the book.

Sure, I don't see why not. For archival purposes, they'll probably end up on my web page.

 

[jaults]

Questions about the Tinker class

    I appreciate your willingness to help out, Mike...

    1) The description for the Artificial Minions class ability mentions that the Tinker must use Craft(blacksmith) or a similar skill. What is the Craft DC required to make mechanical minions?

    2) The description for the Artificial Minions class ability states that, "All servitors know a few basic tricks that allow them to function normally." Then it goes on to describe attacking, and coming when called, and mentions accepting a rider if appropriate to the minion shape. Are these "free" in that they do not count against the minion's limit of one trick/Tinker level?

    3) The whole idea of using the Handle Animal skill for guidelines when "training" a mechanical minion without actually using the Handle Animal skill is confusing to me. Can you please specify exactly what from the skill description a Tinker is intended to use when "training" a minion?
    It is even more confusing when dealing with the humanoid minions of low HD. They also reference using the Handle Animal skill; however, there is certainly nothing in the skill description for doing things like teaching a 2HD Mechanical Rogue to pick someone's pocket.

    4) Can Mechanical Vermin be upgraded per the mechanical animals rules?

    5) Missing spells (Bedazzle Construct, Confuse Construct, Construct Growth, Protection from Constructs, Dispel Constructs) referenced in the Tinker Spell List

    6) Missing items ("Flying machines, motorized wagons and other wonders") referenced in the Invention class ability description

    7) Missing Feats ("new item creation and invention feats") referenced in the Bonus Feats class ability description

    8) Restore Construct is listed as Tnk7 in the spell description, but is on the Tinker's spell list as a level 3 spell. I assume it is a 7th level spell?


Thanks,
    Jason

 

[mearls]

Hey,

I'll take a look at my copy of Magic this afternoon and post a reply tomorrow. I think a few of those things were cut because of space considerations. The tinker was written under some interesting conditions (we had two major flakeouts on MAGIC and I had to scramble to fill the gaps), so there are some references in it that were never given game mechanics.

Anyway, I'll post the eratta tomorrow.

 

[Psion]

I'm in the midst of a review and here's one. In the forge magic chapter, both the artifact and the prestige class refer to a "soulbinding" feat, yet the feat is missing. What is the feat supposed to be?

 

[jaults]

    Yeah, I thought it was missing too, since it is not in the section that references it OR in the index. But it is actually in the Arcana section (last chapter). Can't give you a better reference, no book right now.

    Jason

 

[jaults]

    Have you had time to look into these things yet, Mike?

Thanks,
    Jason