I'm pretty close to hitting seventh level on my inquisitor, so a friend and I were discussing what gear I should buy. I was thinking about bringing up my pathetic AC (19 before buffs or shield), but he's suggesting I save up for a Bane Baldric, since it would (supposedly) give me Greater Bane early. I know James Jacobs explicitly said it doesn't work that way, but a lot of people on the forums seem to disagree. I'd like to know for sure how that item works before I spend 10,000 gold on it.
Nope, you don't have the greater bane ability yet, so the clause saying "your bane and greater bane abilities" can't affect greater bane.
Nope, you don't have the greater bane ability yet, so the clause saying "your bane and greater bane abilities" can't affect greater bane.
Sorry for the late reply, but I wanted to present the counterpoint I've been hearing. People have said that greater bane modifies the existing bane ability starting at twelfth level, rather than being its own ability. Thus, so the argument goes, since the baldric adds five levels to your level for bane, a seventh level inquisitor would be treated as twelfth and get greater bane.
Bane and Greater Bane are each bolded abilities in the class description. If it said you gained Greater Bane at 12th level under the Bane class feature, I would agree, but it's a separate class feature. The fact that it modifies a previous feature does not matter.
This.
Here's a neat question for you guys: Does a character with 1 level in inquisitor get Bane from bane baldric?
A vast majority of abilities are known to not grant you early access to abilities just because your considered higher level for them. It is quite the pointed technicality that makes many such builds less desirable. This, as the developer has stated, one of those cases.
I would also say they were the same, except even in the text of greater bane it says "when you activate your bane ability". So you're activating the Bane ability, that when you reach 12th level is modified. An item treats you as a higher level for the original ability, so by the rules it should stack.
The same as the sorcerer robes give you the capstone at level 16, by increasing the level of your Bloodline, even though they have different bonuses by tier.
And lets face it, an additional 2d6 for X rounds is in no way near the level of the other X class level boost items.
Greater Bane is a separate ability that adds an effect that occurs when you use your other ability (Bane). If the text had been included under the Bane heading (as an "at 12th level, yadda yadda"), then you'd be in business. Since it's a separate ability, it doesn't matter that Greater Bane is triggered by the use of Bane any more than it would matter if it was triggered by standing on one foot.
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Bane Baldric, since it would (supposedly) give me Greater Bane early.
Some people have strange RAW interpretations. The general rule is if you have any of the following emotions about the rule interpretation then it probably doesn't work the way you want:
1) You get something early
2) You feel like you are playing twister
3) You debate the meaning of the word "augment"
Ultimately, whatever your DM says you can do is fine. But try to be a considerate player and if he doesn't agree that something works the way you feel it does and he has read your "evidence" then go with what he says.