Fiendish sorcery: Class abilities

[Allan Piper]

Ok everybody, here it goes again.

I know that there have probably been multiple posts about this, but I have yet to get a clear answer on the Fiendish sorcery class feature on Tieflings. the entry states:

Fiendish Sorcery: Tiefling sorcerers with the Abyssal or Infernal bloodlines treat their Charisma score as 2 points higher for all sorcerer class abilities.

The purpose of this is clearly to offset the natural -2 to Cha that tieflings suffer due to their inherent alien nature, which would prevent them from forcing their self/ideas/personality on others around them in the world, and how much they pay attention/listen (not how good they look). The more Cha one has, the more people pay attention and listen to their ideas. However, this does not tell me which abilities it modifies.

Obviously it would increase the times/rounds I can use the 1st level bloodline powers of each bloodline. I would assume it would increase the spell DC of my spells. But does it give me bonus spells? and what about skills? I mean I get that tieflings would have a natural disadvantage in the diplomacy department, but Use Magic Device? Bluff? Disguise? INTIMIDATE? all of these the tiefling is supposed to be (stereotypically) good at.

Any clarification would be helpful.

Also, on a side note, I would say that if you are playing around with alternate Tiefling heritages (e.g. Daemon- or Rakshasa-born) then they should be able to use this feature when taking those respective bloodlines.

[LazarX]

It doesn't give you bonus spells nor are your skills treated higher because your skills are not part of your class abilities. The first part is arguable, but the second is pretty clear.

[VRMH]

Allan Piper wrote:

But does it give me bonus spells?

Yes.

Quote:

and what about skills?

No.

Quote:

Use Magic Device? Bluff? Disguise? INTIMIDATE?

No. No. No. No. None of these are particularly "sorcererish" anyway.

Quote:

all of these the tiefling is supposed to be (stereotypically) good at.

So use your Tiefling intelligence, and put skillpoints in them.

I never understood why Tieflings get a Charisma penalty in the first place, but them's the breaks.

[Robert "Steel" Cofrez]

yes to spells, no to skills

[Allan Piper]

VRMH wrote:

I never understood why Tieflings get a Charisma penalty in the first place, but them's the breaks.

If you had actually read my post, you would have gotten it. They are given Cha penalties because they are devilish looking by description. This causes others to avoid them. If people avoid them, then they cannot interact with them, thus preventing them from forcing/coercing/compelling/manipulating others to do their will. Charisma is a mental ability, not a physical attribute, although modern american ideology would have us believe otherwise...

And how in the hell is Use Magic Device NOT socererish???

[VRMH]

It's roguish.

And what you say about their social standing makes little sense to me. There's a reason "devilishly handsome" is a stock phrase. People who look like they're mad, bad and dangerous to know will always find willing partners. It's the allure of the forbidden.
It's how Tieflings came to be in the first place.

[LazarX]

Allan Piper wrote:

And how in the hell is Use Magic Device NOT socererish???

Because using the skill has nothing to do with being a sorcerer. A fighter with charisma is just as effective at using the skill as a sorcerer would be. The only difference would be his total modifier, which may not be much if the fighter in question is using the right feat and trait combination.

Remember the skill did not evolve from the magic-user class, but from a thief percentile ability.

[Aioran]

Class skills are for everyone! D: Don't take away my UMD cleric

(Skills aren't class abilities, even if classes have class skills)

I see your hideous tiefling and raise you pitborn, spitespawn, shackleborn, and beastbrood tiefling. +2 cha and you keep your fiendish sorcery.

[Ryu Kaijitsu]

use magical device was the perhaps worst idea as a skill ever

if an item can be used by non-casters it should work for all people the same way, if it was not for non-casters then they shouldn't be able to use it, if it was made so that it can only be used by elves then a dwarf should only be able to use it if the dwarf casts a spell that tricks the item, casters should be able to use both arcane or divine items, because both are just magic items, that is all

[blackbloodtroll]

How it functions with Eldritch Heritage is still a mystery to me.

By the way, not all Tieflings have a charisma penalty.