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The weather is brisk and clouds move sluggishly across the sky, blocking the sunlight enough to cast a light just dim enough to match the mood. Kendra stands stern faced over the coffin containing the body of her father, Professor Lorrimor. Her eyes are red and puffy, but her face betrays no emotion. Her mouth twists as she looks out at you all, but only for a moment. "You came. None of the other invitees have. I suspect that they are all dead by now. Else some other ill fate has fallen over them so they cannot respond." She lets the sentence hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "Not that it's that much of a surprise, with the way things are in town these days." Quickly changing the subject, she gestures with one hand down the path towards the cemetery. "Father Grimburrow is waiting with the gravediggers down the way. As no one else has arrived, would you mind terribly acting as pallbearers?"
Ennoblement Abbey
Staff of the Trusted Physician
Description
As long as a Staff of the Trusted Physician has at least one charge, its wielder can choose to ignore spell resistance when casting spells that specify spell resistance as yes (harmless). This ability functions regardless of whether the spell originates from the staff or the wielder of the staff. Using the staff to bypass spell resistance in this fashion does not consume charges, but it does require the target of the spell to be willing. If the wielder attempts to use this ability to bypass the spell resistance of a hostile creature, the staff is immediately drained of all charges and cannot be charged for three days. Construction
After much work and some deliberation. I have decided to post this here. This is still very much a work in progress, but I have been assured that everyone will get more use out of an incomplete guide now than a complete guide several months from now. Blurring the Lines for Arcanes and Divines - A Guide to the Mystic Theurge I will be continuing to update this fairly regularly, and comments will be made here indicating what changes were made. This link will always go to the most recent version. Please use this thread for discussion of the guide, it's content, and builds based off of it's content. I hope that this proves useful to you all.
If Believer's Boon is used to obtain the Trickery Domain, is it a Divine or Arcane SLA? Believer's Boon:
Your deity rewards you for your faithfulness. Prerequisites: Wis 13, alignment must be within one
Benefit: Choose one domain granted by your deity. Once per day, you can use all 1st-level domain abilities granted to clerics of that domain. You gain access to this one ability only, not the higher-level domain ability, domain spells, or additional class skills that the domain might grant, or any bonus feats that are listed under its granted powers. Your effective cleric level in regard to this ability is 1st level. Special: You can take this feat twice. When you take it a second time, you choose another domain granted by your deity. If you grossly violate the code of conduct required by your deity, your alignment shifts so that it is more than one step away from your deity’s, or you no longer worship your deity, you lose access to this feat. You can regain it once you atone for your misdeeds to your deity
Trickery Domain Granted Power:
Copycat (Sp): You can create an illusory double of yourself as a move action. This double functions as a single mirror image and lasts for a number of rounds equal to your cleric level, or until the illusory duplicate is dispelled or destroyed. You can have no more than one copycat at a time. This ability does not stack with the mirror image spell. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier. Relevant FAQ:
Spell-Like Abilities: How do I know whether a spell-like ability is arcane or divine?
The universal monster rules for spell-like abilities states: "Some spell-like abilities duplicate spells that work differently when cast by characters of different classes. A monster's spell-like abilities are presumed to be the sorcerer/wizard versions. If the spell in question is not a sorcerer/wizard spell, then default to cleric, druid, bard, paladin, and ranger, in that order." For spell-like abilities gained from a creature's race or type (including PC races), the same rule should apply: the creature's spell-like abilities are presumed to be the sorcerer/wizard versions. If the spell in question is not a sorcerer/wizard spell, then default to cleric, druid, bard, paladin, and ranger, in that order. For spell-like abiities gained from a class, use the spell type (arcane or divine) of that class to determine whether the spell-like ability is arcane or divine. If the class doesn't cast spells, use the above rule for spell-like abilities from race or type. Edit 7/15/13: Wording changed match the precedent in the universal monster rules for spell-like abilities. Edit 9/23/13: Wording updated to clarify racial/type SLAs vs. class SLAs. Unfortunately, this matters immensely for the Mystic Theurge. If it is arcane, than this becomes the only race indifferent way to use early entry to qualify for the arcane SLA. Following the banning of Aasimar and Tiefling in PFS, this would be the only way for PFS theurges to use arcane early entry. Considering I'm currently nearing completion of a guide to the mystic theurge, this can change a wide array of different things in this guide, and affects over a month of work. I would love an official answer and/or debates in favor of either side. The way I'm reading it is currently that RAW, it is an arcane SLA as it is granted by a feat, not by a class. Due to it's not being granted by a class, it defaults to the sorcerer/wizard spell it references, which is Mirror Image, and therefore arcane. However, I believe that is not how it was intended to function, as the feat requires you to worship a deity, be of an appropriate alignment in comparison to that deity, and can be denied if you violate your deity's code of conduct or stop worshipping said deity. I would love a definitive answer, though. And I welcome all debate in favor of either side, as said debate is wonderful for bringing to light other viewpoints on the subject I may not have considered. If you are unsure, or believe that there is discrepancy between the RAW and RAI here, kindly FAQ this post and debate away.
Can the ACG Feat Believer's Boon be used to take Inquisitions? Believer's Boon:
Believer’s Boon
Your deity rewards you for your faithfulness. Prerequisites: Wis 13, alignment must be within one
Benefit: Choose one domain granted by your deity. Once per day, you can use all 1st-level domain abilities granted to clerics of that domain. You gain access to this one ability only, not the higher-level domain ability, domain spells, or additional class skills that the domain might grant, or any bonus feats that are listed under its granted powers. Your effective cleric level in regard to this ability is 1st level. Special: You can take this feat twice. When you take it a second time, you choose another domain granted by your deity. If you grossly violate the code of conduct required by your deity, your alignment shifts so that it is more than one step away from your deity’s, or you no longer worship your deity, you lose access to this feat. You can regain it once you atone for your misdeeds to your deity (see the atonement spell on page 245 of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook). Inquisitions:
While inquisitors often take on the domains permitted to the clerics of the faith, they are privy to special lore not open to priests and other agents of their religion. These divine pursuits, called inquisitions, grant inquisitors the tools necessary for the fight against enemies of the faith. An inquisitor may select an inquisition in place of a domain.
If an inquisition’s granted power calls for a saving throw, the DC of the save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the character’s inquisitor level + her Wisdom modifier. Unless otherwise stated, the caster level for granted power spell-like abilities is equal to the inquisitor’s class level. Inquisitions are intended for inquisitors, not for other classes that give access to domains. While a cleric or other domain-using class can select an inquisition in place of a domain (if appropriate to the character’s deity), inquisitions do not grant domain spell slots or domain spells, and therefore are much weaker choices for those classes. These other classes use the appropriate class level as their inquisitor level for the purpose of inquisition granted powers (clerics use their cleric level as their inquisitor level, and so on). I could see it going either way, but I'm inclined to say that you cannot, due to the emphasized in "While a cleric or other domain-using class can select an inquisition in place of a domain".
There are several variant channel abilities listed that I cannot find durations for in Ultimate Magic or the errata. Given the durations listed on similar abilities, I expect that they last somewhere between one round and one minute. If there is another source that I have missed, kindly point me to it. If there is not, kindly hit the FAQ Button. Either way, thank'ye kindly. Freedom: Heal—Creatures gain a channel bonus on Escape Artist checks, CMB checks to escape a grapple, and saving throws against becoming entangled, paralyzed, or slowed. Madness: Heal—Creatures gain a channel bonus on saving throws against confusion, insanity, rage, and similar effects Monsters: Harm—Creatures gain a channel penalty on attack and damage rolls against summoned and called creatures. Nightmares: Harm—Creatures gain a channel penalty on concentration checks and saves against fear and phantasms. Sun: Heal—The illumination level in the area increases by one step, and creatures gain a channel bonus on saves against blindness and light-based effects. Weather: Heal—Creatures gain a channel bonus on saving throws against electricity, sonic, and wind effects.
Spoiler:
After a rolled random encounter resulted in three members of the party becoming weresharks, the party flew off of every rail in the book and used their newly discovered monstrous forms to impress the grindylows of Bonewrack Isle. As the party could easily communicate in Aquan and had just slaughtered the Brinebrood Queen in less than two full rounds, the grindylows began to suspect that the party, obviously deformed in their own right, had been sent by Lamashtu to strike down a false priestess. Throw in a few truly stellar diplomacy and bluff checks, and the Grindylows are now following the party's ship as it moves through the shackles.
Given that the party has never explicitly stated they were working for the mother of monsters, nor dissuaded the notion, I'm allowing the grindylow's attitude towards the party to be based solely on the party's actions. Amusingly, the party has appeared to the grindylows to have embraced deformity at every turn. The party has even begun to hold mandatory Aquan lessons for the remainder of the crew so that they can speak more clearly with the grindylow's following. Should this change, however, the grindylows, now with class levels from their time working with and studying alongside the remainder of the crew, will quickly turn on the party. I'm not exceptionally worried about combat balancing at the moment, either. There have been enough easily scaled encounters to keep the party challenged, and I'm sure there will be plenty more. Barring this sudden but inevitable betrayal, I'm having a hard time figuring out what a chaotic and evil cult would do to attempt to earn favor in the eyes of the living powers they're following. I assumed there would be the occasional living sacrifice, militant defense, and some word of mouth stories, but considering grindylows are something akin to goblins. I've been debating taking it further in that direction and leading to screeching choirs singing hymns that sound like the christmas caroling of gremlins, grindylow sorcerer's claiming to be oracle's receiving divine power from the party, grindylow parents overheard telling their children about the wonderful carnage that the party has caused, etc. In summary, a tribe of grindylows are worshiping a relatively indifferent party as divine soldiers of Lamashtu. What kind of things could this tribe be expected to do to show their devotion?
I've decided to play my first character in any system that is not some variation of bard. That being said, I decided to get as close as I can to an Oni Monk of Lamashtu, but have been having trouble settling on a build. If anyone feels so inclined, I was hoping that some of ya'll could cast the most constructively critical eyes upon my build ideas in the hopes of pointing out my potential foolishness before I bring it to a table and get the character locked into something terrible.
Hungerseed monk: CN Oni Blood Tiefling (hungerseed)
Stats are 16 STR (10 points), 14 DEX (5 points), 14 CON (5 points), 14 INT (5 points), 9 WIS (-1 point), 7 CHA (-4 points) before racial adjustments. Stats are 18 STR, 14 DEX, 14 CON, 14 INT, 11 WIS, 5 CHA after racial adjustments. Tiefling claws alternate racial Prehensile Tail alternate racial fiendish sprinter alternate racial Scaled Skin (fire) alternate racial Mother's Bite, Religion Trait
1: Barbarian 1, Urban Barbarian Archetype, Level feat: Extra Rage
Having been playing diplomacy and face characters exclusively for some time, I think I'm going to have a lot of fun playing up the complete lack of tact that accompanies a charisma of 5. The int is mostly for extra skill points for linguistics and bonus languages, as I wanted the character to speak both Ignan and Tien at character creation. The level of witch is fairly important for flavor reasons, although the barbarian levels are decidedly less important. I'm planning on playing up the willful deformity aspect of Lamashtu, by both intentionally scarring and tattooing the character and by having her offer to tattoo everyone she likes with Profession(tattooist), and ignoring outright the less family friendly aspects of the god. As far as equipment is concerned, I'm planning on limiting myself to only items and effects that cause physical changes to the user. A proper worshiper of Lamashtu doesn't put much faith in magics that don't physically shape you into being better at your task.
The backstory for this character is largely written, but fluid in case of new ideas. Apart from that, my largest concerns are about legality and functionality. I'd rather have an unoptimized character that played how I wanted and was indisputably legal than a character that was an absolute monstrosity on the battlefield, but that relied on vague and potentially incorrect interpretations of the rules.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the Evangelist archetype for Clerics on my first pathfinder character, and I have a couple of quick rules questions about how it interacts with other class abilities/items. I've spoilered relevant entries below. If I were to take levels in bard in addition to cleric, would the cleric and bard levels stack for the purpose of the shared performances? My assumption is no, as it is not specifically listed that they do so. Would I qualify to use the Banner of Ancient Kings wondrous item using Evangelist alone? Again, my assumption is no, as it specifically states a bard wielding the item. If neither of these are the case, it certainly won't kill my enjoyment of the character, I'd just prefer to avoid uncertainty with PFS legality. Thank you for your time. Sermonic Performance:
An evangelist gains the ability to deliver a select number of supernatural and spell-like performances through the force and power of her divinely inspired preaching and exhortation. This ability is similar in all respects to bardic performance as used by a bard of the same level (including interactions with feats, spells, and prestige classes), using Perform (oratory) as the evangelist's performance skill. However, an evangelist gains only the following types of bardic performance: countersong, fascinate, and inspire courage at 1st level; inspire greatness at 9th level; and inspire heroics at 15th level. Sermonic performance replaces the 1st-, 9th-, and 15th-level channel energy abilities. This caps the cleric's channel energy damage at 7d6 points. Banner of Ancient Kings: This tattered white canvas banner looks like an old piece of sailcloth, or perhaps a winding shroud—a 4-foot-by-6-foot rectangle with loops that can fit over a spear haft or pole running up one side. If mounted on a longspear or pole at least 8 feet in length, the banner shifts in appearance to match the heraldry or coat of arms of the person who attached it. If that person has no device, the flag instead displays a device that echoes the owner’s personality (such as a favorite animal, favored weapon, or holy symbol of the wielder’s deity).
When carried into battle, a banner of the ancient kings confers several benefits. As long as the longspear or pole to which the banner is attached is firmly wielded in two hands, its carrier gains a +4 circumstance bonus on Initiative checks. In addition, when so wielded, it grants the wielder and all allies within 30 feet a +2 resistance bonus on all saving throws against mind-affecting effects. If the carrier of the banner fails a saving throw against a mind-affecting effect, he may attempt a new saving throw against that effect every round he continues to wield the banner of the ancient kings—once he releases his firm grip on the banner’s haft, though, he no longer gets this benefit, even if he wields the banner properly at a later point while still under the effects of the mind-affecting effect.
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