I think the answer's "No," but....
If a monster has a Charisma score of 15, can it only use SLAs resembling spells up to 5th level (as would be the case for a bard or sorcerer) or are there 12 Cha monsters capable of having, say, Deep Slumber as a spell-like ability?
My follow-up question is: if a 16 Charisma monster with SLAs falls prey to a Bestow Curse spell that drops its Cha to 10, can it then only cast any 0-level SLAs on its list?
Thanks in advance for the help.
I don't think spell-like abilities are tied to casting stats that way, unless specified (such as with the gnome's alternate racial traits).
Might be wrong, though.
Well, here's the thing. If SLAs are simply spells without spell components and are otherwise treated as spells, then the same casting requirements should apply.
But, they're not.
They don't qualify you for Arcane Strike. They don't qualify you for prestige classes.
They are simply abilities that replicate spells, and use the same basic rules (caster level, effects, range, etc.) of the spell named.
SLA's don't depend on charisma modiers in order to be cast.
But, they're not.
They don't qualify you for Arcane Strike. They don't qualify you for prestige classes.They are simply abilities that replicate spells, and use the same basic rules (caster level, effects, range, etc.) of the spell named.
I realize that they don't qualify as spells for other class ability requirements, however, your second sentence is exactly the reason why the ability score *should be* a requirement to use the SLA.
Caster level is just as much a requirement to cast a spell as a minimum ability score.
/shrug
The key here is the wording, the second word to be precise. Spell LIKE Ability, it's not Spell Ability. Spells are tied to a stat because they are learned, most (if not all) spell like abilities are part of a creature's make up kind of like human's ability to walk up-right or having thumbs.
If SLA's required a certain charisma score then the ones granted by class would need to specifically call out, that the class allows you to bypass the SLA.
Yes, I am aware the OP called out "monster SLA's", but in that case there would need to be a rule saying there is a difference between SLA's granted by race and those granted by class.
With all of this aside if I go flipping through the bestiary I am sure I can find a monster/creature casting an sLA that his charisma score would not let him cast if charisma was a requirement. Once again the monster would need something saying it did not need to meet the requirement.
Once can argue that monsters and classes granting SLA's like this are errors, but I don't see it as being likely.
One may argue that classes and monsters are unwritten exceptions, but since those are where +90% of the SLA's come from that just means nobody(no devs) cares about the rule but that really makes no sense.
Oh, agreed. I know that SLAs don't have an ability requirement. There are a lot of illogical inconsistencies in the rules.
Should they? I think so.
Oh, agreed. I know that SLAs don't have an ability requirement. There are a lot of illogical inconsistencies in the rules.
Should they? I think so.
I saw your "should be" as "is" when I wrote that. After reading it again I see we agree.