To RoytheOdd, here's a thread for questions and answers

[pech21]

22) What does Imp Feint do?

 

[Bill Door]

23) doEs thE toMe beaR a coMPuTer chaRacTeR geNeRatioN tooL?



asK.

 

[ShadowStar]

I work with Roy and currently have the PHB so I'll field these.

1) The new druid apparantly has animal companion "powers" now listed in a chart similar to a familars. Could you tell us what those powers are?

Their not as 'magical' as the Wizard familiars. Druid's companions gain bonus AC, Hit Dice, Str/Dex, and a couple of special abilities. Also they get the Share Spells ability and Druids have bonuses when training and dealing with them

2) Could you tell us how the new polymorph spells work? This would explain the druid's wildshaping.

I'm looking at it and not seeing many differances. You can't Polymorph someone into something with more HD than your caster level (up to a Max. of 15) and you can only turn things into a creature that falls into one of these catagories: Aberation, Animal, Dragon, Fey, Giant, Humanoid, Magical Beast, Monsterous Humanoid, Ooze, Plant, and Vermin.

3) Can you tell us what new bardic music there is, or how some of the old ones might have been changed?

I don't have the 3rd Ed book here so I can't say how they are different but the 3.5 Bard Songs are Countersong, Facinate, Inspire Courage, Inspire Competence, Suggestion, Inspire Greatness, Song of Freedom, Inspire Heroics, and Mass Suggestion.

4) Does the ranger get a better reflex save? Is it a "good" save, or a "medium" one?

REF is now a 'Good' Save for Rangers along with FORT.

5) How does the rogue's "trap sense" work?

Trap sense provides a Reflex Save and AC bonus when dealing with traps.

6) Could you tell us about the Greater Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Specialization feats including prereqs and abilities?

Abilities are that they stack with the originals. Reqs: Greater Weapon Focus: Fighter level 8; Greater Weapon Specialization: Fighter level 12.

7) Does the sorc get any kind of "spell swapping" ability ever so often, and if so, how does it work?

Nope, sorry

8) Has school specialization for the wizard been changed at all?

Wizards who Specialize gain +2 on Spellcraft checks when dealing with their school and have to choose 2 other schools (any to) that they will be unable to use. They cannot however choose Divination.

9) I've noticed that so far the barbarian, ranger, and druid seemed to get some powerful new abilities at there higher levels (17-20). Is this a trend that is seen in some of the other classes, like paladin, rogue, monk, etc and could you tell us what they are?

Nothing new that I can see, Rangers continue to get abilities at later levels but they are few and not terribly exciting with their abilities topping off at 11th level. Paladins have nothing new that I can see (though I haven't played one in 3rd ed yet so I'm not totally sure) and Monks have seen alot of changes but are pretty similar at the late levels.

10) This is a question if you happen to already answer the others, or just to think about as your looking over your phb. Could you tell us about any new spell that was put in the book?

Sorry, don't have the original book to see what's new.

 

[ShadowStar]

11. Do dwarves have the ability to wear medium/heavy armor without it reducing their movement?

Yes, they also continue to move at 20' with Medium and Heavy loads.

12. How does the Two-Weapon Defense feat work?

+1 AC all the time (no sacrificing attacks), +2 AC when taking a total defense action.

13. What are the bard's new abilities, and how does his casting in armor work?

That I can see there's no special not about casting in armor so Bards seem to be just as limited as Wizards in that respect.

 

[Swack-Iron]

Thanks, ShadowStar, for stepping up in Roy's absence!

24) With Haste now nerfed, has the Quicken metamagic feat changed at all? In other words, how many spell levels does Quickening a spell add?

Edited for spelling!

 

[ShadowStar]

Sorry, a change on the "nope sorry" for Sorcerer spell swapping. I was expecting something like that to be in the special abilities but it's actually described in the Spells section. Sorcerers can "Swap" a spell at 4th level and then at each even level thereafter (6th, 8th etc.)

 

[Kershek]

25) We have heard next to nothing about changes to the cleric. Have there been any changes?

BTW, you can look at the SRD for what is in 3.0e: http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/srd.html

Edit: removed sorcerer spell swapping question since it was answered

 

[ShadowStar]

14. Any new skills added to the sorcerer skill list? (And/or any taken away?)

Thanks.

Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Knowledge (Arcana), Prefession, and Spellcraft. I don't know if this has changed at all.

 

[ShadowStar]

15. What can you tell us about the monk?

Many of the Monks feat replacement special abilities (Stunning Fist, Deflect Arrows) have been changed into bonus Feats with 2 options as to what to take. For example at 1st level a Monk can take either Stunning Fist or Improved Grapple. The attacks that Monks get has changed alot too, now Flurry of Blows is the only method that Monks have to get more strikes than Fighters but the ability improves as you go up in level. At 20th level Monks BAB line (with Flurry of Blows) is +15/+15/+15/+10/+5. I haven't played a 3e Monk so I'm not sure about the other changes but the Damage and Movement line look like they've been changed to me.

16. How is the binding of the book? Any warping of the covers, like has been noticed on recent wotc hardbacks?

Thanks!

Looks good so far, no warping or splitting yet.

 

[ShadowStar]

17. What changes to the Half-Elf are there, if any?

Don't jump on me if these aren't actually changes but they look different to me. Half-Elves no longer get the Elven find secret doors ability but they now get +2 on all Diplomacy and Gather Information checks.