ScrotusMaximus's page

Congrats to all! (Especially to Brent in Edmonton!!)

And I'm not entirely sure how to work it.

I've read the guidelines in the bestiary, but I have no idea how to work out the adjustments to his ability scores, nor do I know whether he should start at large size - and if not, what size he should get it!
He's aiming for a Monk/Fighter pugilist, so it's mostly just the Large size thing he wants, doesn't have to specifically be a Minotaur.

Oh dear.

I can't give you any direction in terms of how to wrangle the numbers, but I once played a minotaur in a 2nd edition game. To preserve game balance, the DM made me the subject of some severe racism. Regular folk just aren't used to seeing minotaurs wandering into the local pub!

That is broken. If i am a ranger and can't cast a spell before the third level what is the possible justification for using a wand? At first and second levels you could be training to cast a particular spell, but hey no matter, just by signing up to be a ranger lets me use a wand. Why not take on level of cleric, one level of magic user and then become a fighter who now can use every wand or scroll in the game?

I have to disagree too Norm. Sure, a 1st level Ranger could get a wand with a spell on his list and use it, but how is that going to break the game? The wand will have limited charges, even 50 will run out, and depending on the caster level it will not be cheap. Wands don't grow on trees, and even if a party member makes one it is going to take time, resources, and if I recall correctly XP to make one. If your munchkin-gamer took a triple-class character like that the DM could easily counter by making wands really scarce in loot, and even making the base materials for constructing them hard to get. To say nothing of the penalties for being multi-classed.

What if it was a wizard who had an open 1st level slot? Could they use the arcane energy from that slot to counterspell the charm person?

No, I don't think that would work. A sorcerer's or bard's unused spell slot has a magical 'charge', and when they cast a spell that magic is channeled outward in whatever form the spell takes. With a wizard, that charge is only there after they memorize a spell into it. If a wizard does not memorize her full compliment of spells the extra 'slots' are empty, and devoid of any arcane energy.

Terrific story, loved the attention to detail in the alchemical symbolism, etc. Parts reminded me of Foucalt's Pendulum. Well done, beautiful ending.

Can't wait for part 2!

Speaking as your DM, yes, I agree. We'll use Dispel Magic this way going forward. Thanks, everyone!

WooHoo! I did not know if you had seen this thread, hopefully we'll get back to our game before too long!

Thanks everyone, I thought as much but thought it best to get extra opinions.

Yes, Aberant Bloodline is what I meant, thanks. I knew that rays can be slotted for the Weapon Focus feat, but the Point Blank Shot, etc, specifically say 'Ranged Weapons', and I'm wondering if everyone considers a ray, be it horking an acidic lugie or casting a spell, to be a 'Ranged Weapon' per se.

My sorcerer with the Abberant background spits acid rays, I think ranged weapon feats, such as Point Blank Shot, should apply. Does the same apply to ray spells though, such as Scorching Ray? Discuss

SM

If you look carefully at Charender's step-by-step, that's taken into account.

It is, and perhaps I'm being picky, but in the name of clarity I thought it important to point out that Step 2 is not necessary - absolutely advisable, but not absolutely necessary.

Thanks everyone, you all seem to be basically in agreement with me - I just hope my DM will agree ;)

One clarification though - according to the rules there is no need for a caster to make a spellcraft check to identify the spell being cast if they are using Dispel Magic:

Pg 208
Dispel Magic as a Counterspell: You can usually use dispel
magic to counterspell another spell being cast without
needing to identify the spell being cast.

However, it would likely be a good idea to do so so that you don't end up blowing your Dispel Magic on a silly little cantrip.

Counterspell can counter a spell while it is being cast, the spell level of the spell being countered doesn't matter.

It can not be used to counter spell like abilities, or supernatural ones.

Yes, but the question is whether one can counterspell an instantaneous spell with Dispel Magic, even though it says specifically that they cannot be 'dispeled'. Is a Dispel Magic counterspell 'dispelling' or 'countering'?

Here's one that my DM and I can't seem to see eye-to-eye on:

Spells that have a duration of 'instantaneous' cannot be dispelled with Dispel Magic. No problem, makes sense that once that fireball goes off, it's gone, you can't dispel it later in the round. But what about counterspelling it? If you don't have fireball memorized can't you use dispel magic to counterspell it as outlined in the rules? Things are a bit fuzzy in the text:

Pg 209
Dispel Magic as a Counterspell: You can usually use dispel
magic to counterspell another spell being cast without
needing to identify the spell being cast. Dispel magic doesn’t
always work as a counterspell (see the spell description).

Pg 273
Some spells, as detailed in their descriptions, can’t be defeated by dispel magic...The effect of a spell with an instantaneous duration can’t be dispelled, because the magical effect is already over before the dispel magic can take effect.

Counterspell: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell
targets a spellcaster and is cast as a counterspell. Unlike a true
counterspell, however, dispel magic may not work; you must make a
dispel check to counter the other spellcaster’s spell.

Now, I believe that you can counterspell any spell regardless of it's duration with Dispel Magic as long as you make the dispel check. My DM is stuck on the 'can't be defeated by Dispel Magic' bit. I think there are two distinct uses of the Dispel Magic spell here: the main one, usable to dispel an on-going spell effect (such as bull's strength) that had previously been cast, and the secondary one, counterspelling a spell as it is being cast. In the second case, the Dispel Magic spell targets the spellcaster and 'grounds out' their magic as they are casting it, or as a party member put it, it powers the counterspell. I don't see an imbalance to my interpretation, as using Dispel Magic blows a level 5 spell slot, regardless of what the enemy caster is casting (woo hoo, I blocked that cantrip...), and if I blow the dispel check it's all for naught, whereas the regular counterspell is 100% effective and only uses a spell slot of the same (relative) level.

Thoughts?