Darvozk's page

After playtesting 2 different scenarios, I'm of the opinion that the spell Bless, on both the Divine and Occult spell lists, is just not good any more. Admittedly, I have been playing a bard, but having it on my spell list just feels so dumb.

Bless is a 2 action cast that only grants a +1 bonus to attack rolls, and requires Concentration to keep it active, up to 1 minute. While ok, a Bard at level 1 gets Inspire Courage as a cantrip, which is a 1 action cast, but only lasts a round. Inspire Courage does all that Bless does, granting the +1 bonus to attack, AND also grants a +1 bonus to damage and saves against fear. It is the same bonus type as Bless gives, so they can't stack, and casting it every round, for 1 action, is essentially the same as taking a Concentration action every round to maintain Bless. Functionally the spell ending at the beginning of the round versus the end of the round isn't enough of a benefit to outweigh the other benefits that Inspire Courage gets.

So, why is Bless even on the Occult list, other than for Sorcerers?

Battle Skill reads:

"At 2nd level, a battle host's magic item skill ability applies only on checks with weapons, armor, and shields.

This ability alters magic item skill."

Magic Item Skill reads:

"At 2nd level, an occultist's knowledge of magic items grants him a bonus when attempting to use them. He gains a bonus on all Use Magic Device checks equal to 1/2 his occultist level."

This is a bit confusing. I can understand how to activate other magic items that you may not have discovered the activation phrase for, like on many rings, amulets, as well as wands. You just apply Use Magic Device, and you're good. As I can't think of a single piece of armor, shield, or weapon that doesn't have powers that are always on, how does this apply to checks to use them. Usually, with weapons, you are just making an attack roll, and with armor you aren't making any checks.

So, what is Battle Skill meant to do?

I know that running this scenario at GenCon, or another convention where it is running at multiple tables, counts as running a Special for the 5 star GM requirements. Is this also true if it is run as a stand alone scenario? Is this like Bonekeep I, where it counts as an Exclusive/Special regardless of whether or not it is run at a convention?

Pathfinder Adventure Path #67: "The Snows of Summer"
Equipment: all equipment except cauldron of overwhelming allies and spear of manhunting are legal for play; Spells: flurry of snowballs, ice spears, Irriseni mirror sight, and snowball

So, why does the official PFS page say that the Spear of Manhunting is illegal for play, yet the sheet for "The Snows of Summer" clearly lists the item on it with a full item description?

Is it illegal because the site says so, or is it legal because the chronicle sheet says so?

I know that part of this has been discussed elsewhere, but is there any reason that a Cavalier couldn't take the Flagbearer feat and display his flag on his mount other than the rules never take into consideration mounts and states you need to have the flag held in one hand? Can the flag be mounted to a lance which is held in one hand and still give the benefits?

I know that Banner and Flagbearer benefits are both moral bonuses, so some of them won't stack (the bonus to saves against fear and the +to attack roles on charges), but Flagbearer also gives bonuses to all attack roles, damage roles, and saves versus charm effects. It would not be optimal, but would add more buffing to what a cavalier already grants.

My Cavalier just hit level 7, so my wolf mount should become large. I don't want that. I'm a halfling and want a medium sized mount. Now, I know I can change to a riding dog, which I believe should stay medium in size. However, I was wondering if there were other options for mounts. I looked in the resource guide and there is no mention that you can't just buy a different mount. I looked at the class feature and it says what you can start with, but says that any animal of appropriate size and with the strength to carry a rider can be used as a mount. So, are there any restrictions in PFS for just buying a creature as a mount?

I'm rather curious as to why the Synthesist variant of the Summoner is banned in PFS play. It seems less powerful than even the base Summoner, as we have seen how overpowered summoners and their pet Eidelons can get in society play. So, why would the synthesis be banned? It cuts out the main problem that many pet classes have of having multiple actions and the ability to just buff up you pet and then get your own attacks while your beefy pet charges in and takes the brunt of the attacks.

Escape Route
You have trained to watch your allies' backs, covering them as they make tactical withdraws.

Benefit: An ally who also has this feat provokes no attacks of opportunity for moving through squares adjacent to you or within your space.

Solo Tactics (Ex): At 3rd level, all of the inquisitor's allies are treated as if they possessed the same teamwork feats as the inquisitor for the purpose of determining whether the inquisitor receives a bonus from her teamwork feats. Her allies do not receive any bonuses from these feats unless they actually possess the feats themselves. The allies' positioning and actions must still meet the prerequisites listed in the teamwork feat for the inquisitor to receive the listed bonus.

This is a bit confusing. Thematically, I am watching my allies back, so I am the one providing a benefit to them by destracting the monster so it can't take an attack of opportunity on them.

So, does Escape Route work with the Solo Tactics ability or not, since it looks like my ally is the one gaining a benefit even though I am the one using the feat to make squares around me not threaten for them?

Witch: Can you use the healing hex (page 66) to damage undead?

The hex acts like the appropriate cure wounds spell, so it damages undead.
—Sean K Reynolds, 06/30/11

As stated from the FAQ, the Healing Hex acts like the appropriate cure wounds spell.

Also, taken from the Witch character section:

Unless otherwise noted, using a hex is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity.[/QUOTE}

No where in the description of the Healing Hex does it state that it provokes attacks of opportunity. So, should one assume that since it is just like casting the appropriate cure spell, that if a witch were to use this while adjacent to an enemy (say to use it to make a touch attack against an undead) that they would provoke, or since it doesn't say in the Hex description that it provokes, then it doesn't, as per Witch Hexes normally not provoking?