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So, I know the wizard and sorcerer's arcane bond has caused a LOT of questions. I did a forum search on arcane bond - there are a ton of threads, all asking pretty much the same few questions and they are all VERY valid questions. The problem is, the threads are all being 'answered' by fellow players and not by Jason or other Paizo staff. So, while the discussions are certainly lively and interesting, we really aren't getting very far since we are all just speculating ...
I find this lack of official clarification a bit ... odd, since Jason and company normally are very helpful and forthcoming with things like this.
The fact that these questions continue to be asked many times over is evidence that this very cool idea of an arcane bond desperately needs OFFICIAL CLARIFICATION from Jason and/or his fellow Paizo staffers.
I can't help but wonder if there is some specific reason we are not getting these answers? Even if it's simply a statement like "have no fear, this has been clarified in the Beta" or something (which I'm really hoping is the case!)
I'm not trying to sound negative - in fact, I LOVE what Paizo has done and I'm a pretty vocal fan of Paizo and the Pathfinder RPG. I'm just trying to figure out why we are getting pretty much no response to these arcane bond questions when it's painfully obvious we need them.
Jason and Paizo, PLEASE throw us a bone here:
1. Please clarify how magical enchantment works when related to an arcane bond.
2. Please clarify exactly what "A bonded object can be used once per day to cast any one spell that the wizard knows, just as if the wizard had cast it" means.
3. Please let us know how these rules differ from arcane bond item vs. a familiar.
4. Please let us know if these have been addressed in the Beta
Really, I think the answer is that the arcane bond Item needs a seperate, fully detailed sub-section in the text, just like the Familiar gets. Bonded items are just too darn cool and interesting (and complicated, it would seem) to get explained in just a few lines.
You can do a quick forum search to read in detail the various specific questions we all have as well as numerous interpretaions folks have come up with ...
Again, keep up the GREAT work guys!
Thanks!!!!!
Some things are relatively self explanatory.
1. Please clarify how magical enchantment works when related to an arcane bond.
What exactly are you asking here?
If you are of the appropriate level, then you act as though you had the crafting feat and can enchant the item at a lower cost.
If you don't yet match the CL for the feat, then you can't take advantage of it. With these two exceptions, all other rules for crafting magical items apply. (remember- normal rules apply except when exceptions are given. Arcane Bond only lists two exceptions. Feat requirement and the cost).
I will admit that I do not /think/ they have clarified the CL bit of the feats. I think that was just a consensus of the board posters. (I could be in error though). Typically bonuses feats that ignore the requirements say you get the feat "even if you don't meet the requirements". The Arcane Object description doesn't say that though. I agree though, clarification one way or the other would be nice.
2. Please clarify exactly what "A bonded object can be used once per day to cast any one spell that the wizard knows, just as if the wizard had cast it" means.
Spells that a wizard knows are the spells in his/her spell book. (otherwise, it would be "spells memorized" or "spells prepared for the day"). The ability lets the Wizard cast, once per day, a spell from his spell book. For free. Better for wizards than sorc's obviously, but for them it's still a free spell cast of any level.
3. Please let us know how these rules differ from arcane bond item vs. a familiar.
The rules for the bond and the familiar are quite separate.
p.49 Second bolded paragraph.
The second paragraph of that section goes into detail about the Bonded Object. Each following paragraph deals with the Arcane Objects specifically, rather than the "arcane bond" in general.
p.50 details the information on familiars.
The two do not overlap. That is to say- if your familiar dies you don't suddenly have to make spellcraft checks to cast your spells, and you can't enchant your familiar as if you had the "appropriate feat". It's either, or. You get the Item and the bonuses/penalties, or you get a familiar. On that the rules are actually quite clear. They separate the rules for the two quite distinctly.
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Some things are relatively self explanatory.
Thanks Selgard. I think, however, if you do a search for arcane bond and then read through some of the threads, you will find that these are actually NOT at all as self explanatory as you would think.
For instance, the defination of "spells known" is very much up for interpretaion (although I tend to agree with the explanation you subscribe to)
Like I said in the original post, I think we need these answers from the "Horse's Mouth".
Take care
So, I know the wizard and sorcerer's arcane bond has caused a LOT of questions.
Why don't you give them a couple weeks and take a peek at the Beta. As you say there has been a lot of discussion since day one it's likely cleared up in print.
Correction, wait roughly 7 days for the Beta to arrive. Then after you have worked it over a bit you can complain that the Arcane Bond is still not clarified. Or.
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Correction, wait roughly 7 days for the Beta to arrive. Then after you have worked it over a bit you can complain that the Arcane Bond is still not clarified. Or.
Um ... I wasn't complaining. In fact, I think I went out of my way to make that clear. Also, these questions are not just mine. I simply tried to distil them into one place from the many other threads in which many other people were asking them. As I've said before, do a quick search of these forums for 'arcane bond' and you can read them for yourself.
As for waiting for the Beta to come out - that's what I'll be doing, certainly. However, I didn't think there would be any harm in trying to get the questions many of us have answered before that though.
Correction, wait roughly 7 days for the Beta to arrive. Then after you have worked it over a bit you can complain that the Arcane Bond is still not clarified. Or.Um ... I wasn't complaining.
Ok, wait 7 days then you can plead in a demanding way with lots of bolded paragraphs and exclamation marks that Arcane Bond is still not clarified.
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Ok, wait 7 days then you can plead in a demanding way with lots of bolded paragraphs and exclamation marks that Arcane Bond is still not clarified.Correction, wait roughly 7 days for the Beta to arrive. Then after you have worked it over a bit you can complain that the Arcane Bond is still not clarified. Or.Um ... I wasn't complaining.
Wow ...
Maybe you can back down a bit, my friend. I'm not sure if you are trying to come off as abrasive, but it certainly seems like you are.
I'm just asking some questions and hoping Jason or one of his co workers in the know would be kind enough to answer. I really wasn't looking to get into some kind of snark battle with anyone.
Thanks
Wow ...
Maybe you can back down a bit, my friend. I'm not sure if you are trying to come off as abrasive, but it certainly seems like you are.
Sorry. I guess my snarky circuit tripped.
Thanks. Hopefully it's been re-set now?Sorry. I guess my snarky circuit tripped.Wow ...
Maybe you can back down a bit, my friend. I'm not sure if you are trying to come off as abrasive, but it certainly seems like you are.
I'm not sure it ever resets, sometimes I'm able to suppress it though. ;)