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| 11 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Wow, Feels like I've been waiting for the Advanced Players Guide for ages...
Anyway, my group finally has it, and the game master has officially approved it for our campaign. I had originally made a cleric, but some issues cropped up due to some disputes on the nature of alignments, and the GM using custom gods. I used an evil monk till the APG came out, but now I can use an Oracle, which has a LOT less restrictions. I enjoy being the party healer, so I chose oracle of life. I'm liking it so far, but have some questions about some of the class features that seem a bit vague.
* The book I have lists the bonus spells as level 3, 5, 7 etc... instead of the 2,4,6 etc... of the other mysteries. Is this something specific to the life mystery, or is it a typo?
* Tongues Curse, it says "In times of stress or unease, you speak in
tongues." But later refers to only understanding those languages in combat. There are MANY situations that can be stressful that might apply...like sinking in quick sand or walking down a dark path in the woods late at night. Is this curse effect meant only in combat or in stressful situations in general?
* The Energy Body Revelation... Seems cool but it seems like it needs more description. Does it give you the benefits of the elemental sub-type (like not needing to breath) or is that just for spell effects? Is it a polymorph effect, or something else? The polymorph thing I ask due to armor, as it loses a LOT of effectiveness if you lose armor bonus. Also does it allow for spell casting? It says like a fire elemental, which should be possible.
* In the spell casting section it says oracles do not need divine focus for spells... which makes sense. But does that give them the equivalent to eschew materials?
I know some of these things are a GM decision, but I would kind of like to know what the writers intended when they made it so I can have a better understanding of the class as a whole.
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* The book I have lists the bonus spells as level 3, 5, 7 etc... instead of the 2,4,6 etc... of the other mysteries. Is this something specific to the life mystery, or is it a typo?
I'm confident that its a typo- in the playtest they were giving the bonus spells at 3,5,7 etc. and they probably converted the other spell lists without including this one by mistake. The books great, but its riddled with holes and mistakes. When every other mystery gives spells at 2,4,6 etc. theres no precedent for the spells being at 3,5,7.
* Tongues Curse, it says "In times of stress or unease, you speak in
tongues." But later refers to only understanding those languages in combat. There are MANY situations that can be stressful that might apply...like sinking in quick sand or walking down a dark path in the woods late at night. Is this curse effect meant only in combat or in stressful situations in general?
From a design perspective, I think it was designed for combat. I would say the extent to which you require your player to speak in tonguess or the extent the player RP's it naturally is something to be worked out between any Oracle with tongues and their DM.
* The Energy Body Revelation... Seems cool but it seems like it needs more description. Does it give you the benefits of the elemental sub-type (like not needing to breath) or is that just for spell effects? Is it a polymorph effect, or something else? The polymorph thing I ask due to armor, as it loses a LOT of effectiveness if you lose armor bonus. Also does it allow for spell casting? It says like a fire elemental, which should be possible.
Pass. Not got my APG on me.
* In the spell casting section it says oracles do not need divine focus for spells... which makes sense. But does that give them the equivalent to eschew materials?
A divine focus is not the same as a meterial component, so no.
I know some of these things are a GM decision, but I would kind of like to know what the writers intended when they made it so I can have a better understanding of the class as a whole.
Good luck with that. Perhaps my bump shall help :)
* The book I have lists the bonus spells as level 3, 5, 7 etc... instead of the 2,4,6 etc... of the other mysteries. Is this something specific to the life mystery, or is it a typo?
Typo. One among killions. The Proofreader had his day off or something.
* Tongues Curse, it says "In times of stress or unease, you speak in
tongues." But later refers to only understanding those languages in combat. There are MANY situations that can be stressful that might apply...like sinking in quick sand or walking down a dark path in the woods late at night. Is this curse effect meant only in combat or in stressful situations in general?
GM's call, I'd say.
Personally, I'd apply it whenever danger is involved and there is some kind of time restraint (once you have to roll initiative, or only have X rounds to do something before bad things happen.)
As for your points:
So there's some sort of "stress threshold" that will trigger this.
Of course, you could play a high-strung oracle that will flip out at the slightest sign of stress.
* The Energy Body Revelation... Seems cool but it seems like it needs more description. Does it give you the benefits of the elemental sub-type (like not needing to breath) or is that just for spell effects?
Since you gain the elemental subtype, I'd say you get all the baggage that comes with it.
Is it a polymorph effect, or something else? The polymorph thing I ask due to armor, as it loses a LOT of effectiveness if you lose armor bonus. Also does it allow for spell casting? It says like a fire elemental, which should be possible.
I would say that it is a polymorph effect
* In the spell casting section it says oracles do not need divine focus for spells... which makes sense. But does that give them the equivalent to eschew materials?
Now, it gives you the equivalent to Eschew Divine Focus. Material components are still required.
* The Energy Body Revelation... Seems cool but it seems like it needs more description. Does it give you the benefits of the elemental sub-type (like not needing to breath) or is that just for spell effects? Is it a polymorph effect, or something else? The polymorph thing I ask due to armor, as it loses a LOT of effectiveness if you lose armor bonus. Also does it allow for spell casting? It says like a fire elemental, which should be possible.
Energy Body (Su): As a standard action, you can transform your body into pure life energy, resembling a golden-white fire elemental. In this form, you gain the elemental subtype and give off a warm, welcoming light that increases the light level within 10 feet by one step, up to normal light. Any undead creature striking you with its body or a handheld weapon deals normal damage, but at the same time the attacker takes 1d6 points of positive energy damage + 1 point per oracle level. Creatures wielding melee weapons with reach are not subject to this damage if they attack you. If you grapple or attack an undead creature using unarmed strikes or natural weapons, you may deal this damage in place of the normal damage for the attack. Once per round, if you pass through a living allied creature’s square or the ally passes through your square, it heals 1d6 hit points + 1 per oracle level. You may use this ability to heal yourself as a move action. You choose whether or not to heal a creature when it passes through your space. You may return to your normal form as a free action. You may remain in energy body form for a number of rounds per day equal to your oracle level.
An elemental is a being composed entirely from one of the four classical elements: air, earth, fire, or water. An elemental has the following features.•Immunity to bleed, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning.
•Not subject to critical hits or flanking. Does not take additional damage from precision-based attacks, such as sneak attack.
•Proficient with natural weapons only, unless generally humanoid in form, in which case proficient with all simple weapons and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
•Proficient with whatever type of armor (light, medium, or heavy) it is described as wearing, as well as all lighter types. Elementals not indicated as wearing armor are not proficient with armor. Elementals are proficient with shields if they are proficient with any form of armor.
•Elementals do not breathe, eat, or sleep.
That is the elemental subtype -- while using the Energy Body ability this is the list of stuff you get. It isn't specifically a polymorph effect, and therefore should stack -- however I could see issues if you go to energy body then polymorph instead of the other way around.
Abilities not listed in the elemental subtype, or in the power's description are not granted by the ability.
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I appreciate the help guys, you answered a lot of my questions. But I'm still confused on some things.
The energy body revelation, the biggest question I have is whether I lose my armor bonus. The polymorph section of (pg 211-212) of the core rulessays I lose it, but it's not stated as a transmutation/polymorph spell effect.
On pg 213 of the core book, it states:
If the Components line includes F/DF or M/DF, the arcane version of the spell has a focus component or a material component (the abbreviation before the slash) and the divine version has a divine focus component (the abbreviation after the slash).
As I've seen, few cleric spells require actual material components or basic focus outside of the ones that have GP value, most have only Divine focus if they need anything. The question is does my new character benefit from eschew materials feat, or is it a waste of a feat slot?
If the Components line includes F/DF or M/DF, the arcane version of the spell has a focus component or a material component (the abbreviation before the slash) and the divine version has a divine focus component (the abbreviation after the slash).
As I've seen, few cleric spells require actual material components or basic focus outside of the ones that have GP value, most have only Divine focus if they need anything. The question is does my new character benefit from eschew materials feat, or is it a waste of a feat slot?
Depends on your spell selection.
Basically you get to ignore the DF, F/DF, and M/DF spell components requirements as a class feature.
If you select mostly V,S,M spells, then you still get something out of Eschew Materials. If you select V,S,M/DF spells, you get to ignore the M/DF requirement already as a class feature and Eschew Materials doesn't do much for you.
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Addition Oracle of Life question
It lists Cure Critical Wounds, Mass as the 8th level bonus spell. But Oracles can automatically add the Cure spells to their list of known spells. Is this a typo? or does the Life Oracle just get hosed if he chooses to add all the cure spells to his spell list?
This usually means they get the spells without having to spend their normal spells known on them.
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AK, get off the forums!! :P
As far as the question goes, I sort of assumed that the 'Mass Cure' spells were not included in the 'all Cure Spells for free' benefit. That was just the base assumption I went with. Doesn't really matter, as either way, I'm getting Mass Cure Critical, as you mentioned.
I've pulled this from the PRD for Clerics, although the Oracle stuff is close enough that it makes no difference. (emphasis mine)
Spontaneous Casting: A good cleric (or a neutral cleric of a good deity) can channel stored spell energy into healing spells that she did not prepare ahead of time. The cleric can “lose” any prepared spell that is not an orison or domain spell in order to cast any cure spell of the same spell level or lower (a cure spell is any spell with “cure” in its name).
An evil cleric (or a neutral cleric who worships an evil deity) can't convert prepared spells to cure spells but can convert them to inflict spells (an inflict spell is one with “inflict” in its name).
A cleric who is neither good nor evil and whose deity is neither good nor evil can convert spells to either cure spells or inflict spells (player's choice). Once the player makes this choice, it cannot be reversed. This choice also determines whether the cleric channels positive or negative energy (see Channel Energy).
| 5 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Looking for an interpretation on the Energy Body revelation. Here's the pertinent part of the rule:
Body (Su): As a standard action, you can transform your body into pure life energy, resembling a golden-white fire elemental. <snip> Once per round, if you pass through a living allied creature’s square or the ally passes through your square, it heals 1d6 hit points + 1 per oracle level. You may use this ability to heal yourself as a move action. You choose whether or not to heal a creature when it passes through your space. You may return to your normal form as a free action. You may remain in energy body form for a number of rounds per day equal to your oracle level.
Do you interpret this as the Oracle can heal each ally once per turn if they share a square? Or do you think that she can choose to heal any one ally during the turn? If the latter, is the "move action" option to heal herself in addition to the ability to heal one ally per turn?
| 1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. |
* The book I have lists the bonus spells as level 3, 5, 7 etc... instead of the 2,4,6 etc... of the other mysteries. Is this something specific to the life mystery, or is it a typo?
Definitely typo. And if it weren't, I would change the rule.
* Tongues Curse, it says "In times of stress or unease, you speak in
tongues."
As others have stated, I think it's an opportunity for good roleplaying. More crunchy: if you can't take 10 on a skill check, the tongues takes affect.
* The Energy Body Revelation...
As Abraham stated so thoroughly (with cut and paste).
* In the spell casting section it says oracles do not need divine focus for spells... which makes sense. But does that give them the equivalent to eschew materials?
As stated by others: no, you don't have Eschew Materials.
I know some of these things are a GM decision, but I would kind of like to know what the writers intended when they made it so I can have a better understanding of the class as a whole.
Dude, I have been trying to divine "what the writers intended" for 30 frickin years.....
Looking for an interpretation on the Energy Body revelation. Here's the pertinent part of the rule:
Body (Su): As a standard action, you can transform your body into pure life energy, resembling a golden-white fire elemental. <snip> Once per round, if you pass through a living allied creature’s square or the ally passes through your square, it heals 1d6 hit points + 1 per oracle level. You may use this ability to heal yourself as a move action. You choose whether or not to heal a creature when it passes through your space. You may return to your normal form as a free action. You may remain in energy body form for a number of rounds per day equal to your oracle level.Do you interpret this as the Oracle can heal each ally once per turn if they share a square? Or do you think that she can choose to heal any one ally during the turn? If the latter, is the "move action" option to heal herself in addition to the ability to heal one ally per turn?
My reading is once per round IF either event happens then there is healing, as it isn't written in the "once per round each ally..." or "Once per round per ally" or any such thing.
I personally would say you could probably heal yourself with the move action in addition to the ally per turn, but I'm not 100% on that... more like 70% on it.
Maybe someone can help me out:
If you choose the 'Channeling' revelation you gain the ability to channel positive energy like a cleric of the same level. So far everything's fine.
What about feats like 'Selective Channeling'? They require the channel energy class feature. Right know we aren't sure if you can use this features combined, because you get the Ability as a revelation, not like a paladin or a cleric...
What do you think about this?
Maybe someone can help me out:
If you choose the 'Channeling' revelation you gain the ability to channel positive energy like a cleric of the same level. So far everything's fine.
What about feats like 'Selective Channeling'? They require the channel energy class feature. Right know we aren't sure if you can use this features combined, because you get the Ability as a revelation, not like a paladin or a cleric...
What do you think about this?
Revelations are a class feature for the oracle class.
the proofreaders must have been blind.
There were proofreaders involved? I think they skipped that step because they wanted the book out for Gencon.
Do you interpret this as the Oracle can heal each ally once per turn if they share a square? Or do you think that she can choose to heal any one ally during the turn? If the latter, is the "move action" option to heal herself in addition to the ability to heal one ally per turn?
Please clarify your questions, as I want to answer but I'm not sure what you mean, and I'd rather answer your actual question than the question I think you're asking. :)
P.S. Sean -- can you fix the wording of this FAQ that you answered? It looks like you did some helpful trimming, but it got garbled somehow with the untrimmed question. Everything after "What other aspects of that spell (save, number of targets, and so on) apply?" should be deleted, I think.
Done. :)
Do you interpret this as the Oracle can heal each ally once per turn if they share a square? Or do you think that she can choose to heal any one ally during the turn? If the latter, is the "move action" option to heal herself in addition to the ability to heal one ally per turn?Please clarify your questions, as I want to answer but I'm not sure what you mean, and I'd rather answer your actual question than the question I think you're asking. :)
I think that he wants to know precisely when an Oracle can heal himself... Always as a move action? When someone share a square in addition to the ally heal as a move action ? How many ally can the Oracle heal ? 2 (2 move action) ? all ? all and himself ? etc.
Exactly someone who makes the choose to get all of the cure spells at 1st level gets jipped a bonus spell. Also sinse its an ORACLE OF LIFE why wouldnt they select to add all cure spells to their spell list at 1st level. I dont see many oracles of life leaping on the idea of adding all the Inflict spells to their spell lists over the Cure spells. Im sure there is a concept out there in someone's head that would fit but in general.....
Aucontraire. If I ever get to play him I do have an Oracle of Life who chose inflict as his automatic spells. Of course he also takes the cure spells. He believes it is his duty to study all aspects of life both healing and harming, injury and recovery. Of course he is also a sociopath who sees nothing wrong in experamenting on any living things to further his knowledge.
The book I have lists the bonus spells as level 3, 5, 7 etc... instead of the 2,4,6 etc... of the other mysteries. Is this something specific to the life mystery, or is it a typo?
I did a search on other threads and couldn't find an official response. Could we please get a Paizo staff response to this please? Sean?