Corner Case Clean Up


Alpha Release 1 General Discussion

The Exchange Owner - D20 Hobbies

I'd like to see PRPG clean up a lot of corner cases in the rules.

Here are some examples of rules clean up:

1) The general spell casting rules need to clarifies how to handle spells added that are not currently on their class spell list. For example, for a Wizard to add Heal as a known spell he must have an ability that grants Heal by name or explicitly states it can add any spell from any spell list (with the critical part "from any spell list".) For example Extra Spell and Expanded Spellbook have FAQ/Errata, but those wouldn't be needed if the rules for spell casting made it clear that "add any spell to your spell list" is inherently limited to your class list and to gain spells from other lists the ability needs to explicitly say any spell list is fair game.

2) The general spell casting rules need to clarify what it means to be able to cast X level spells. Feats (and classes) that trigger off spell levels you can cast (like Extra Slot, Versatile Spellcaster, "ability to cast 3rd level spells" PrC) should be clarified in the spell casting rules. A general statement that in order to cast a spell of X level (or be considered to be able to cast a spell of that level), you must have something other than "-" in that spell level column in a class levels. So regardless of the use of DMM Heighten, a 3rd level Wizard can only ever gain an extra 1st level Slot with Extra Slot. Versatile Spellcaster likewise can't allow you to cast 3rd level spells as a 4th level Sorcerer even if you have a Knowstone of Fireball.

3) Metamagic effects should be clarified that a -1 Level Adjust to a spell is not allowed unless the ability states it is a negative level adjust. This is needed when combining metamagic lowering effects using +0 Level Adjustment effects like Energy Substitution to result in -1 Level Adjustment Energy Substitutions because there is no general rule that the concept of -1 LA is not valid.

4) Abilities that allow you to cast Arcane spells as Divine or vis versa don't qualify for spell casting of that type. In other words, clarify that if you are a Cleric, you cast Divine spells and don't qualify for "able to cast arcane spells" unless the ability specifically states you prepare/cast as another class (like Magical Training says you can now prepare and cast 3 level 0 Wizard spells as a Wizard does.)

5) There needs to be rules tightening up corner cases like "saving up feats" and spells and effects that alter your character. Feats need to say they must be chosen when they are chosen and can't be saved up (like taking 20 levels of Fighter and not choosing any feats until level 18 so you qualify for multiple "must have +18 BAB" feats.) Also issues like using spells (Wish) or effects (Psionic feat retraining) need to be clarified with a general rule that any effect that modifies your character as if done in your past must meet all the same qualifications you would have at that time. So for example retraining a 3rd level feat at 10th level would require you to meet the prereqs with what you had at 3rd level. A more specific rule allowing you to break pre-reqs would still be allowed (like the way Skill retraining works in PHBII)

6) Gauntlets need to be clarified. Does a 20th level Monk have the advantage of using a +5 Gauntlet to deal 20th level Monk damage with +5 to hit/damage at much less money than an Amulet of Mighty Fists? If so, why have the amulet? Or do Gauntlets deal damage based on your size only, so a 20th level Human Monk would deal 1d3 with a Gauntlet. This corner cast has not been settled with the FAQ yet.

7) Spells per day are per 24 hours (or however long the planet takes to rotate.) The concept of "I can get 3 of my daily spells allotment in a day by resting multiple times in a day" should be specifically prohibited more clearly. The FAQ addresses this, but the rules are not as clear as they should be.

8) Evasion needs to clarify it never works on melee attacks or ranged attacks that do not bypass damage reduction (for example Splinterbolt.)

9) Damage and Ability Damage need clarification. There isn't enough distinction between the two to close off issues. There needs to be a general rule that stats abilities (like Sneak attack, Power Attack, etc) that add additional damage always deal hit point damage even if the primary attack doesn't deal ability damage. It needs to have rules for what type of damage it is if there is no damage type listed. In other words, attacks that deal ability damage (say 1d6 Str) never deal additional Str damage (except Criticals) and instead deal some type of hit point damage.

10) Can you combine Two Weapon Fighting to gain an additional attack using Unarmed Strike for both the primary and secondary weapon? In other words a 1st level Human Fighter with TWF can get two attacks using Unarmed Strike for both.

11) Can you combine TWF and Flurry for -4 to hit and 3 attacks as a 1st level Monk?

12) Same source rules need to be clarified. Can you use multiple items to gain the same benefit more than once? (Orange Ioun Stone, Nightstick, Defending weapon properties) If so, the rules need to say so. If not, the rules need to expand on Same Source rules to block identical items from stacking or multiple different items using the same source spell to build the item (or some other rules.)

13) There needs to be a general rule that prohibits a benefit if the benefit that has a cost (ability damage, sacrifice, or corruption) that can not be paid. In short abilities that say "pay X to gain Y" should not be allowed if X can not be paid (like Undead and Con damage) or is reduced to zero (like having an ability that reduces ability damage by 1 and needing to pay 1 Con damage.) If the ability says "Gain y and then Pay X", then allow the action.

14) Scribe Scroll needs to be clarified that whoever provides the spell sets the type. So if a Cleric provides a spell, it can only be a Divine scroll and if a Wizard provides a spell, it can only be an Arcane scroll.

15) Are Unarmed Strikes considered Natural Weapons for everyone or for just Monks? There is no rule saying Unarmed Strikes are natural weapons, but some use spells that say "a natural weapon or an unarmed strike" to equate the two together. There needs to be a general rule saying whether or not explicitly an unarmed strike is a natural weapon or not.

16) Any ability that grants "+1 existing class" can not provide a benefit beyond the end of the class. For example a 5th Rogue/10th Assassin can not advance Assassin using a PrC that advances spell casting to "11th level" Assassin spell casting (since there is no such thing on the table.) This needs to be a general rule on the meaning of the "+1 level of existing class" type abilities.

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