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I very much like the idea of Automatic Bonus Progression removing the dreaded Christmas Tree Effect and reliance on the Big Six. As might be expected from an optional, shoe-horned system, however, it leaves something to be desired in covering all the questions that might arise from its use. I therefore ask the following to my fellow gamers, and would appreciate answers in the preference of A) Official FAQs that I may have missed, B) Unofficial workarounds posted by designers, and last but not least C) House rules and opinions on balance, with a definite preference for things that can be easily ad-hocced via Hero Lab since I use that program to prepare my ongoing Kingmaker campaign.
1) Do the bonuses provide by ABP detect as magical? Can they be dispelled? Voluntarily surpressed? It may be important to know for infiltration/diplomatic adventures.
2) Is progression granted only via class levels? Including NPC classes? Do racial hit dice count? Do creatures without any class levels benefit?
3) Do animal companions, familiars, eidolons, etc, benefit?
4) When applying the weapon enhancement bonus to natural weapons, does it apply only to a specific attack (bite, claw, etc), or to all natural attacks as an Amulet of Mighty Fists would?
I have some ideas for house rules (allowing half of racial hit dice to count, or maybe using their CR as their level for ABP; allowing characters to either give up their own bonuses to boost their companions or perform an expensive ceremony with the cost of the old item in question to enhance them, etc), but am very much interested to hear what others think, especially if any of these questions have anything approximating an "official" answer. Thank you in advance for your time and thoughts.
1. No, No, No.
2. Yes, Yes, No, No.
3. No. Those are class features, not classes themselves.
4. That one I'll leave for others to field.
3) I'd say you can apply them to either yourself or your pet if it could wear an appropriate item. Nope on familiar, though.
4) I'd use the first number of the split weapon attunement. I.e. +1 @ lvl8, +2 @ lvl14, +3 @ lvl15, +4 @ lvl17, +5@two legendary gifts.
That, or you use the weapon attunement for your emergency ranged weapon and buy a AoMF from your remaining half WBL.