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Hi folks,
I have a kind of argument on a french board about one ability of the kensai (complete warrior) at 4th or 5th level :
-> he can use concentration checks instead of reflex saves checks for reflex saves (a very good ability if you consider a 12th level PC with a concentration bonus around +15) ;
If that PC choose the feat "steady concentration" (races of stone) that allow to take 10 on concentration checks, is it possible to use this feat when making a concentration check to save from a spell like fireball or such ?
My take is that this feat is made for a caster PC when trying to cast a spell while in melee, on a horse on while running (etc...).
It is not possible to use this feat for a "concentration checks used for a reflex save".
How do you use this ?
I think I read something about this in a Dragon's sage advice : does anybody could telle me in which Dragon I coulf find this ?
Thanks folks.
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Hi folks,
I have a kind of argument on a french board about one ability of the kensai (complete warrior) at 4th or 5th level :
-> he can use concentration checks instead of reflex saves checks for reflex saves (a very good ability if you consider a 12th level PC with a concentration bonus around +15) ;If that PC choose the feat "steady concentration" (races of stone) that allow to take 10 on concentration checks, is it possible to use this feat when making a concentration check to save from a spell like fireball or such ?
My take is that this feat is made for a caster PC when trying to cast a spell while in melee, on a horse on while running (etc...).
It is not possible to use this feat for a "concentration checks used for a reflex save".
How do you use this ?
I think I read something about this in a Dragon's sage advice : does anybody could telle me in which Dragon I coulf find this ?
Thanks folks.
I don't know which Dragon issue this was in, but, in my campaign, when we don't have a true answer, we look to logic.
How, in any world, would looking at a fireball and thinking for a while about dodging it, would it make it easier to dodge said fireball? I don't think that you should be able to take 10 on a reflex save.
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I'm not a sage, but I play one in my game.
Whenever you're looking at combining feats, or prestige class features, or spells, from different auxiliary books (like the races or "Complete" series), you always run the risk of assembling a combination that's more potent than its composite pieces would expect. Around some of my friends, we call this kind of a combination a "crock". (The term is not entirely derogatory; there's a kind of admiration in it.) And there's always the question of whether a DM should allow any given crock into a game.
On the "yes" side are the arguments that it'll be fun for the player (that is, he'll get a more powerful character) and it's following 'the rules as written'.
On the "no" side are the arguments that it'll be less fun for the other players (unless they're looking for crocks too), and that there's no clear understanding that it's following the 'rules as intended'.
In this case:
A prestige class allows a character to take a poor chance to save, and replaces it with a better chance to save. A feat would allow the character to decide to remove the element of chance.
(An aside: I'm not wildly thrilled with either of these. The class ability replaces a saving throw --which a character automatically fails on a 1-- with a skill check, where a roll of '1' might still work fine, if the skill is high enough.)
If I were the DM, I'd allow it, but I'd require the kensai to decide whether he were going to "take 10" before knowing the DC of the save in question.
Good luck.
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(An aside: I'm not wildly thrilled with either of these. The class ability replaces a saving throw --which a character automatically fails on a 1-- with a skill check, where a roll of '1' might still work fine, if the skill is high enough.)
Well, thanks for your answers, both of you.
I hope to get more answers !!Regarding what you have written, the kensai DOES NOT make a concentration check instead of a reflex save.
He uses his concentration bonus instead of his reflex bonus : it means he can still fail on a roll of "1" ; it's not a skill check.
My guess, and I hope a precise answer on this, is that the "steady concentration" applies ONLY on concentration's skill checks, and not on the use of a concentration roll as a reflex save !