RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I noticed there's a Druid archetype that has an ability to "tap into ley lines" to gain +1 caster level for 1 round.
So... what's a ley line? Is that just fluff, or do I have to actually find such a thing in order to activate that ability?
Fluff text, good sir
DM discretion, but IRL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ley_line
I noticed there's a Druid archetype that has an ability to "tap into ley lines" to gain +1 caster level for 1 round.
So... what's a ley line? Is that just fluff, or do I have to actually find such a thing in order to activate that ability?
It's fluff. More specifically, during the early 20th century, Ley lines were a theory put forth by a British archaelogist that in prehistoric times, straight-line footpaths developed between natural landmarks as a way of navigating the densely forested island.
Really, they are almost assuredly a statistically insignificant coincidence, but there are straight-line paths between many landmarks. Those are ley lines.
Later, ley lines got seized on by UFOoligists and new age mystics as being proof of aliens and sources of natural magic, respectively. Currently, they are viewed as paths of natural energy, and you see them in supernatural fiction every once in a while (I know, for example, that they feature prominently in Artemis Fowl). They have also become closely associated with the fey, probably because of the confluence of subject matter (natural magic) and sound. So they are a pretty good choice for a bit of druid fluff.
EDIT: Or yeah, just check the wikipedia article.
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It's fluff, but I believe the "theory" is that there are magical energies flowing the world naturally, especially in particular locations (known as Ley Lines), and that the druid archetype simply knows how to draw a tiny amount of that excess energy as they cast their spells.
Mechanically, you get +1 CL a few times a day.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I just came up with another question for that same archetype:
Spirit Sense (Sp): At 1st level, a menhir savant can detect the presence of undead; fey; outsiders; and astral, ethereal, or incorporeal creatures. This ability functions like detect undead, and the druid detects all of these creatures rather than trying to detect one kind. This ability replaces nature sense and wild empathy.
So... how many times/day can I do that?
I just came up with another question for that same archetype:
Spirit Sense (Sp): At 1st level, a menhir savant can detect the presence of undead; fey; outsiders; and astral, ethereal, or incorporeal creatures. This ability functions like detect undead, and the druid detects all of these creatures rather than trying to detect one kind. This ability replaces nature sense and wild empathy.So... how many times/day can I do that?
If it doesn't give you a limit, then you can do it at will, which seems pretty reasonable since it is replacing 2 always on abilities.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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If it doesn't give you a limit, then you can do it at will, which seems pretty reasonable since it is replacing 2 always on abilities.I just came up with another question for that same archetype:
Spirit Sense (Sp): At 1st level, a menhir savant can detect the presence of undead; fey; outsiders; and astral, ethereal, or incorporeal creatures. This ability functions like detect undead, and the druid detects all of these creatures rather than trying to detect one kind. This ability replaces nature sense and wild empathy.So... how many times/day can I do that?
That was my first thought, but it's emulating a 1st-level spell and then some, and becomes available at first level. That notion gives me pause, you know?
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Well, Detect Evil is activated as a Move Action, so a Menhir Savant could activate this ability 28,800 times in a 24 hour stretch (assuming he subbed out all his standard actions for move actions).
Or did I miss the point?
That was my first thought, but it's emulating a 1st-level spell and then some, and becomes available at first level. That notion gives me pause, you know?If it doesn't give you a limit, then you can do it at will, which seems pretty reasonable since it is replacing 2 always on abilities.I just came up with another question for that same archetype:
Spirit Sense (Sp): At 1st level, a menhir savant can detect the presence of undead; fey; outsiders; and astral, ethereal, or incorporeal creatures. This ability functions like detect undead, and the druid detects all of these creatures rather than trying to detect one kind. This ability replaces nature sense and wild empathy.So... how many times/day can I do that?
ehh. Paladins get detect evil. Inquisitors get detect alignment (although I think one might not be until 2nd level?)
It's a 1st level spell at will, yeah. But its not the most versatile spell to get at will.
Well, Detect Evil is activated as a Move Action, so a Menhir Savant could activate this ability 28,800 times in a 24 hour stretch (assuming he subbed out all his standard actions for move actions).
Or did I miss the point?
It doesn't work like a paladin's detect evil class ability, but like the detect undead spell.
It's a standard action to activate. In round 1, he knows if anything of any of those categories is there (but not which categories). In Round 2, he gets the number and strength of things in those categories (but still not which categories). If any have HD > 2xcharacter level, then he is stunned for 1 round and the SLA ends. On Round 3 he gets the location, strength, and type of each aura in the cone.
Well, Detect Evil is activated as a Move Action, so a Menhir Savant could activate this ability 28,800 times in a 24 hour stretch (assuming he subbed out all his standard actions for move actions).
Or did I miss the point?
It doesn't work like a paladin's detect evil class ability, but like the detect undead spell.
It's a standard action to activate. In round 1, he knows if anything of any of those categories is there (but not which categories). In Round 2, he gets the number and strength of things in those categories (but still not which categories). If any have HD > 2xcharacter level, then he is stunned for 1 round and the SLA ends. On Round 3 he gets the location, strength, and type of each aura in the cone.
Now why would you muck with my bad joke? Math jokes are the best.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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I noticed there's a Druid archetype that has an ability to "tap into ley lines" to gain +1 caster level for 1 round.
So... what's a ley line? Is that just fluff, or do I have to actually find such a thing in order to activate that ability?
It's just flavor text. It carries a soft implication that something like ley lines exist, but also presupposes that they are freely available and criss-cross essentially everywhere. I believe in the original turnover you would get a new terrain type every so many levels and could use the ability there, representing a greater sensitivity to certain kinds of ley lines, but that was dropped in the final version.
In other words, there is no game-mechanical or world-building crunch involved in the term "ley lines" as used by the menhir savant.
The ley line tapping ability is 3+wis/day.
The other ability the archetype gets (spirit sense) is usable at will.
I thought the "Menhir Savant" his "Spirit Sense" ability was a Constant like the "detect evil" of a Hound Archon and not at-will like that of a Paladin.
And the "stunned for 1 round" only occur if the HD > 10 && HD > 2xcharacter level.(Overwhelming Aura)