Cunningallusionment's page

Yeah, it helps to ask the question you actually have.

The question I actually had was "is the term ability well defined in the rules" because this has come up a couple of times. The issue about whether traits are abilities is just what reminded me that I couldn't find an answer to this last time. It seems like the answer to my core question is "no".

A weapon trait really isn't an ability.... I would probably let you as the player choose

This seems contradictory. If a weapon trait isn't an ability, than RAW, Ruffians should get both sneak attack and fatal because Ruffian's only prohibit applying sneak attack to weapons whose die size was increased due to an ability.

Do you have an ambiguous use case where it matters?

Is a weapon trait an "ability" for the purposes of Ruffian's restriction on what weapons it applies sneak attack to? Does fatal negate Ruffian's sneak attack? I feel like a weapon trait is not an ability. But the PC1 section you quoted seems like a trait is an ability, but if the spell "electric arc" is not an ability, but casting a spell is, then maybe the fatal trait is not an ability.

There is no general definition for what an "ability" is. There are your "ability modifiers" and "item abilities", "familiar abilities", "creature abilities", actions and activities seem to be abilities, but is electric arc an ability? Is a trait on a spell or ability or item itself an ability?

Darkness surpresses light in the area. There is nothing for the golem to be immune to. Mudpit makes mud, normal mud.

The spell effects of Wall of Force and Grease, or Entangle, or Rime Slick, or Web - are active things that interect with the Golem. The difference is clear to me.

Grease makes grease. Mud Pit makes mud. Why are these things different in your mind?

Other tables must be having considerably more lethal games than I do if this implication of the Wounded condition comes up in every significant fight. I don't think after playing 1-18 my table has had a single occasion where the 'struck while Wounded and Dying' would have affected play.

Wow. I must be running a deadly game I guess because this change would've killed my whole party several times over.

3 years later, it'd be really nice for an official errata that clarifies this hugely impactful game mechanic that comes up in every significant combat at every table.

It seems like very few people actually play with the "harsh version" described on the GM screen but I think that might be the intended rule. It'd be nice to know for sure.

If you put a +1 potency rune on a bow, is the damage dealt by arrows fired from the bow magical?