Arcanist Dimenionsal Slide and Standard Actions

[Lady_Prisca]

So my GM and I had a disagreement over what an Arcanist can and can't do after using Dimensional Slide. Here is the text:

The arcanist can expend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to create a dimensional crack that she can step through to reach another location. This ability is used as part of a move action or withdraw action, allowing her to move up to 10 feet per arcanist level to any location she can see. This counts as 5 feet of movement. She can only use this ability once per round. She does not provoke attacks of opportunity when moving in this way, but any other movement she attempts as part of her move action provokes as normal.

So my argument is that because Dimensional Slide is only part of a move action that the arcanist can still use her standard action to say, cast a spell. My GM argues that it functions as dimension door (note the lack of any comparison in the description) and that I have to take the Dimensional Agility feat in order to do anything else.

Any help would be appreciated. I hate wasting a feat to do something that to me seems already permitted in the text.

[Gauss]

No, Dimensional Slide is not Dimension Door.

Tell your GM that there are many forms of teleportation effects, Dimensional Slide is one of them. Of those forms of teleportation effects Dimension Door is pretty unique in that it limits what you can do after you use it.

If it does not reference Dimension Door then there is no penalty associated with Dimension Door.

Here is an example of an ability that references Dimension Door:

Advanced Players Guide p147 wrote:

Shift (Su): At 1st level, you can teleport to a nearby space as a swift action as if using dimension door. This movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity. You must be able to see the space that you are moving into. You cannot take other creatures with you when you use this ability (except for familiars). You can move 5 feet for every two wizard levels you possess (minimum 5 feet). You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier.

Point out the ability to him and then ask why it is missing from Dimensional Slide if it functions like Dimension Door.

[Some Other Guy]

I second Gauss.

Shift, Abundant Step, Sun Stride, and probably other abilities specifically state as if using dimension door.

Travel domain, travel blessing, dimensional hop, and other abilities including dimensional slide specifically do not state as if using dimension door.

[Lady_Prisca]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it. I'm with you there.

I doubt it will change his mind because his boyfriend is kind of a rules freak when it comes to other people's characters. He claims to have seen a developer post that said that all teleportation effects are the same. Anyone heard of this?

[Gauss]

Lady_Prisca, no, not all teleportation effects are the same.

If they were all the same then Dimension Door would have a chance to land in the wrong place like the spell Teleportation (it doesn't) and after using the spell Telelportation you wouldn't be able to act (you can).

I suggest he find the Dev post and show it to you, he may be taking it out of context.

[Johnny_Devo]

Keep in mind that dimensional slide has its own set of advantages and disadvantages as well. First, dimensional slide can't be used to escape a grapple, while dimension door can, for example. The other example is the one already brought up, where the dimensional slide user can act after the use of it.

Very different abilities, even if they both involve teleporting.

[Snorter]

I'm playing an arcanist, in a home game now, and I picked up the dimensional slide as my first exploit, because it is undeniably good.
Maybe even the best.

Some of the other exploits don't come into their own until higher levels (metamagic and counterspelling requires a higher level slot, so good luck with that, using your sorcerer progression...), or highly situational, such as the energy attacks, but I don't think there's many situations when you'll regret having teleportation.

I concur with Gauss, that the slide is better (except for range, and carrying passengers) than D Door, as it doesn't disorient the user, and is even possible to be used in the middle of a move.
So you can walk, slide, carry on walking, then carry out a standard action.

Is it too good?
Depends what the other PCs are using, and what your group is used to.
I don't feel any guilt for using it, after seeing what my fellow players are bringing to the table.

If the GM is an old-school player (pre-3rd Edition), it's likely he'll consider any teleportation effects (no matter the distance) as being high-powered magic, that shouldn't be in the hands of low-level PCs, especially if there's no downside of ending your turn or going off course.
Abilities like this will set off his balance sensor, and he's convinced himself it can't be as good as you're saying.