Hello, new poster here. I'm running Balazar solo through Wrath of the Righteous and plan to get the 'eidolomancer' role, mostly because of the power
[] When you are displaying a cohort that has the Eidolon trait, you may use your Strength skill instead of your Constitution or Fortitude ([] or Dexterity or Stealth) skill on your checks.
Which (I think) is meant to synergize well with his cohort Padrig
... when you attempt a strength check and do not play a weapon, you may put a card on top of your deck to add your Arcane skill plus the scenario's adventure deck number to that check...
However, I notice the rules are very particular about the difference between checks, skills, and dice. See, for example, the discussion here (http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2sa9g?Tips-on-using-Balazar-please) on why glibness can't be used for a strength check when activating Padrig's ability.
My question is: can I use Padrig's ability to add my arcane skill when I use the 'use strength instead of constitution' power?
Padrig requires that I be performing a strength check; if I use the power won't I be performing a constitution check with my strength skill?
Thematically, though, I feel like this should work. Otherwise the power would simply substitute a d6 for another d6 (perhaps with a +1).
Yes, you can use Padrig in those situations. When you use a skill "instead of" another skill, your check is defined by the skill you are using and the skill b becomes a trait of the check.
Determine which skill you're using... Some cards allow you to use a particular skill for a specific type of check, or to use one skill instead of another. (These cards generally say things like “For your combat check, use your Strength or Melee skill,” or “Use your Strength skill instead of your Diplomacy skill.”) You may play only 1 such card or use only 1 such power to determine which skill you’re using... The skill you’re using for the check, and any skill referenced by that skill, are added as traits to the check.
It is when you "add" a skill that the skill doesn't become a trait of the check.
If a power adds an additional skill to a check, that skill is not added as a trait to the check.
Padrig is technically played during "Play cards and use powers that affect the check". So, if you had that power from his role card and were making a Constitution check, you would use that power during "Determine which skill you're using" to determine that you were using Strength instead of Constitution. You would then use Padrig during "Play cards and use power that affect the check." So you would be rolling 1d6 + 1d10 + 2 + strength feats. And for each monster you banish, you'd add 1d6 (since you have a role card).
Your check would be a Strength check and not a Constitution check.
You would then use Padrig during "Play cards and use power that affect the check." So you would be rolling 1d6 + 1d10 + 2 + strength feats.
+ Charisma feats, which I suspect Balazar would take before Strength feats.
Ah yes, plus charisma feats too.
Great, this answers my question. Thanks Hawkmoon and First World Barb.
And, to be pedantic, I'll point out that Padrig also adds the scenario's adventure deck number. So a Eidolomancer Balazar would be rolling 1d6 + 1d10 + 2 + strength feats + charisma feats + adventure deck number on a little old constitution check. Fancy!
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Padrig (and his little sidekick Balazar) is quite the Death Chicken.
The one negative to his power is that it does not have the magic trait so he cannot defeat banes that require the magic trait.
Sounds like a good reason to carry Enchanted Fang. In fact, it can be the card you put on top of your deck to power Padrig until you need it.
The magic trait issue came up for me in "The Traitor's Lodge" because the villain Karsos requires the magic trait to defeat. My solution was (and continues to be) to use the Sacred Prism, which can be recharged to add the magic trait to any check by a character at my location.
Playing solo tends to bring characters' health very low so the Prism's second ability (bury to shuffle 1d4 cards from discard into deck) is incredibly useful.
Another solution to the magic trait issue is simply using spells the regular way - Balazar must banish any spells with the "Attack" trait once he casts them, but I rarely cast spells. Often, I just discard them to draw a monster. So I keep a spell I would banish after casting (like lightning touch or cure) in my deck between scenarios and only cast them when absolutely needed.
The magic trait issue came up for me in "The Traitor's Lodge" because the villain Karsos requires the magic trait to defeat. My solution was (and continues to be) to use the Sacred Prism, which can be recharged to add the magic trait to any check by a character at my location.
Playing solo tends to bring characters' health very low so the Prism's second ability (bury to shuffle 1d4 cards from discard into deck) is incredibly useful.
Another solution to the magic trait issue is simply using spells the regular way - Balazar must banish any spells with the "Attack" trait once he casts them, but I rarely cast spells. Often, I just discard them to draw a monster. So I keep a spell I would banish after casting (like lightning touch or cure) in my deck between scenarios and only cast them when absolutely needed.
I can't believe I haven't thought of this. I rarely use any of his spells either and it sucks seeing some spell come up that I think might be useful at some point but I don't bother keeping it because I don't want to banish it. But in a pinch it's better than having 2 glibness in hand, which I have yet to use ever.
So, we're all in agreement then? Balazar roflstomps everything in his path?
Totally agree.
I'm not totally sure I understand what you are asking. Are you saying "where does it say that if your Strength is 1d6 + 2 because you've taken 2 skill feats for it, you get to add the +2?"
You don't get the modifier for Strength just because your check had the "Strength" trait. You get it because the card you play said to use your Strength skill. And skill means die + modifiers.
RULES: SKILLS, DICE, AND MODIFIERS
If your character card says “Strength d10,” and the “+1” box next to that has been checked, your Strength skill is d10+1, and your Strength die is d10. (The “+1” is called a “modifier.”) If your character card also says “Melee: Strength +3,” your Melee skill is d10+4, your Melee die is d10, and the modifier is +4.
Padgrig says that Balazar uses his Strength skill. If he has 2 skill feats, that means 1d6 +2.
Is that what you were asking?
Sidebar. Balazar can only ever get to Str +1
This ability of Balazar's just literally saved my bacon. Little did I know when I selected this feat that the next scenario would be an audience with a deity demanding he roll an 80 with a d4
That he can now roll his d6 + d10 + 16 is a great start, that blessings added to his strength checks are d12 should get me over the hump.
And it was an 82...... "Phew"