How does the serpent Domain work?

as the domain says that it modifies venom immunity , the class feature.

typically domains are just domains. a cleric can take them, a druid with the right purview could take them.

but the serpent domain at 6th level modifies Venom Immunity. I've never seen another domain modify a class feature, only add on to abilities.

wtf?

nothing ? no conflict of intent there from the developers?

1. Clerics don't get these domains. Just Druids and "nature-themed classes". Note that calls out 'nature themed classes', not 'nature themed characters', so a cleric would not have these as an option.

2. Is there rules precedent for replacing abilities that the character doesn't have? If not, then the character would get nothing as they have nothing to replace.

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateMagic/spellcastingClassOptions/d ruid.html
Presented in the section below are new rules for animal and terrain domains—domains for druids whose focus is more specific than the Animal, Plant, Weather, or elemental domains.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Other nature-themed classes with access to domains may select an animal or terrain domain in place of a regular domain.

I've never seen another domain modify a class feature, only add on to abilities.

wtf?

It seems odd because the domain is giving you a minor boost, in exchange for a major nerf. You'll be immune to snake and [Reptilian] venom 3 levels earlier (6th), but will be subject to other poisons until 12th, long after monster poisons start getting really nasty.

Clerics and Inquisitors can most certainly take Animal and Terrain Domains.

Druids can take Subdomains and Inquisitions as well.

Clerics and Inquisitors can most certainly take Animal and Terrain Domains.

What makes those classes nature-themed?

Well, what other classes can grant domains?

Would not the worship of a Nature god make a Cleric or Inquisitor "Nature themed"?

Why would they call out that other classes can take them, if no other class qualifies?

Blackbloodtroll counters with a very good argument, Grick What do you have to say? Will it be admitting defeat? or will blackbloodtroll be on the receiving end of a well thought out retort? Join us next time in the Pathfinder's Court.

(sound of gavel slamming home... <fade to black>)

Blackbloodtroll counters with a very good argument, Grick What do you have to say?

Either there are currently no other classes that really qualify as "nature-themed" (leaving room for future versions but effectively limiting those domains to Druids) or every class can be considered "nature-themed" making that rule completely meaningless.

I suspect the intent was something like "Other nature-themed characters whose class grants access to domains may select an animal or terrain domain in place of a regular domain."

So, what is your RAW declaration of a "Nature themed" class?

My Ranger is nature-themed. Just saying.

Rangers don't get domains.

The problem is its a domain, which is supposed to add, not take away. But it's acting like a half-archetype.

I think clerics of nature deities or nature themes patroness clerics would qualify.
My big problem is its a domain which grants a very minor boon, at the cost of a much more powerful ability. No other domain restricts other class abilities.

I don't know that this will help much, but under the Familiar ability granted by the serpent domain it specifically calls out levels in Druid:

Familiar: You gain a viper familiar. Your effective wizard level for this ability is equal to your druid level. Your druid level stacks with levels from other classes that grant familiars when determining the powers of your familiar.

It really sounds like they were writing it as an archetype, but threw it in as a domain last minute. Animal domain that grants a companion references your effective Druid level being your cleric level -3. A Druid can select the animal domain. His EDL for the animal companion is still his Druid level -3 not his full Druid level. It's just an artifact of writing the domains as intended for certain classes.

Nearly all the Druid archetypes for shamans replace Venom Immunity altogether.
With an archetype, we know you can't mix archetypes if they replace the same ability.
With a domain it's not clear.
For example a shaman taking serpent domain would lose venom immunity. Does that disqualify them from taking the Serpent domain? Or can they take the domain and still get the lesser venom immunity at 6th and full venom immunity at 12th?

it looks like the Animal/Terrain domains are Druid Only versions of the Nature Bond, hence the fact that these domains are not linked to the Cleric Domain list. That said i'm referencing d20pfsrd, and can't find this domain at all on the PRD from Paizo...

its in Ultimate Magic

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateMagic/spellcastingClassOptions/d ruid.html

Some Druid archetypes don't have Venom Immunity either.

Also, just because it's power is meaningless, doesn't mean you can't take the Domain.

An Inquisitor can take the Sun Domain, or Serpent Domain, but they would end up with some powers that modify something they don't have, thus being useless.

Nearly all the Druid archetypes for shamans replace Venom Immunity altogether.

With an archetype, we know you can't mix archetypes if they replace the same ability.
With a domain it's not clear.
For example a shaman taking serpent domain would lose venom immunity. Does that disqualify them from taking the Serpent domain? Or can they take the domain and still get the lesser venom immunity at 6th and full venom immunity at 12th?

Yes, it disqualifies them. Archetypes that replace or alter the same class ability cannot be taken together.

**EDIT** Hmm, on re-reading that question I'm less certain, but would follow the general rule of, "If you don't have it, you can't benefit from things that affect it". So you could take the domain, but would gain no benefit from the ability which alters Venom Immunity unless you actually had Venom Immunity.

yeah , Ssalarn, this isn't an archetype. Thats my problem with it. Its a Domain, but whoever wrote it modified class abilities as if it were an archetype, without providing additional clarification for how its supposed to interact.

And there's the question of whether you could take an archetype that modifies Venom Immunity if you have the Serpent domain, a question of which came first: you have the domain, so you can't take the archetype? or you have the archetype, so the domain does nothing for you?

If you don't have it, then the Domain does nothing in the case of altering it. You can still select it.

See Sun Domain for the Inquisitor example above.

eh fine i'll drop it.
Still a badly formed domain.

A Cleric or Inquisitor can select the Serpent Domain, but it won't do much good.

Necro'ing since this has come up over on the PFS forums. And there are 2 questions about it.

1. How does is function for another "nature themed class" with no 'Venom Immunity class feature?

2. Can a druid still choose this domain if they lose venom immunity to an archetype?