In reply to Gar (msg # 170):


I vote yes to the Blink Dog, but abstain from the character portion of the vote, since I think we need more information on how a player can replicate supernatural abilities, such as if a feat is being used, etc.

http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Blink_Dog

The text for blink dog pretty clearly states they can stop and start blinking as a free action.



However, this is a supernatural ability, so unless the character somehow acquires the ability to replicate supernatural abilities, than I'm not sure they are able to replicate this same effect.

As for the free actions portion, I think it would be good if the GM just set an action conversion table, such as 3 free actions = 1 standard = 2 swift actions. If there already is a table like this out there though, lets use that!

RAW, I believe the dog can do this, as can anyone changed into one. I think it is fair enough for the dog, but shapechange abilities, despite their 3.5 HP nerf, are still quite powerful.

I vote a person changed into a blink dog cannot ignore the blink miss chance for their own attacks, if they choose to have blink active at any point that round. Absolutely a house rule unsupported by RAW. Otherwise people will just have to ready their actions for when the dog stops blinking to attack and it just gets unnecessarily complicated.

TL;DR: Vote for house rule that blink dogs can't evade the miss chance for their own attacks.

I vote A. Yes !

I say by RAW, a blink dog could, so yes

I'm dubious about anyone with the ability to assume the supernatural ability of a blink dog, using said ability to assume the supernatural ability of a blink dog. Let them have at it.

I vote yes.

I agree with Talon that there should be some kind of limit/conversion for free and swift actions.

In a single round:

"3 free actions"

      -or-

"1 free and 1 swift/immediate action"


With that, and even though I think it makes blink dog a borderline overpowered creature, I'd say yes
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Mon 12 Aug 2013.

see invisibility and ghost touch weapons, suddenly blinking is worthless.

I disagree with the limit on free actions, it has a potential for unforeseen consequences. Rather if you must limit this ability, follow the trend of the game. Quickened spell were 1/round free actions, now they are swift actions. Feather Fall was a free action you could use at any time, now it is an immediate action. Simply call the blink dog's ability a swift action.

Cai's idea is pretty good as well.  A simple fix, and it won't affect the current mechanics of the game.

Yes

Raw seems pretty clear, and it's hardly excessive use of free actions. I would save a free action limit for genuinely ridiculous stuff like standing on a stool and dropping infinite daggers.

No need for house rules either - this isn't very powerful.

Answer: B

I think all toggle-able abilities should be covered by this and I vote for B (either or, not both)

Remember, despite the "turns" setup, everything is supposedly happening (more or less) simultaneously, so if a Blink Dog turns off his blink everyone should get a shot at it (not just those that readied against such an event).

This vote is closed. I'm clarifying one person's vote and then I'll display the results.

Votes on blink issue:

Yes - keep as is: Thorn, Thomas, Sen, Cai and Gar = 5
No - change it: Bogan, Trindon, Shard = 3

Yes wins and it will stay as is.

Any chance of Verstile Spellcaster (Races of Dragon p 101) being allowed? it wouldn't benefit wizards, druids or clerics since it says "you can... to cast" not "you can ... to prepare and cast"

The pre-req alone (Ability to spontaneously cast spells) precludes Wizards.  Clerics and Druids could (theoretically) benefit from it, but only when converting spells (IE a Cleric burning a spell for a cure/inflict or a Druid burning a spell for SNA), or that's the way I interpret it.

Given that a spell of a given level is only stronger than two spells of one level lower in terms of action economy, I'd say the feat is fairly balanced.

Naturally, this is Marcus's game so it's his decision, but I'd recommend allowing it.

I would warn that for theurge-type characters the ability to burn spells from one class to fuel spells of another is very strong for sustained casting.

I wouldn't allow cross burning unless it was a class feature (IE no making a Cleric/Sorc Theurge and burning Cleric spells for Sorc spells or Sorc spells for Cleric spont heals unless the class explicitly allows you to burn spells/spell slots of one kind for the other)

I agree it should work that way, but that would need to be a specific ruling on the use of the feat, since the feat iself doesn't make that distinction.

It's a blind eye that ignores the example in the feat not the writers.

They're 'examples'; by definition, they illustrate a general application of the feat, not all applicable circumstances to which the feat could be applied.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:01, Mon 04 Nov 2013.

Virtually every caster explicitly mentions that their spells known and spell pool are strictly for their own casting and that multi-class casters keep each spell set separate.  Further, most 'thurge' classes only advance casting for two classes; there are some that allow cross-casting [it's usually something to the effect of burning casting on one side to apply metamagic on the other or for some inefficient slot gain (burning 2 slots on one side for 1 slot of the same level on the other or burning 1 slot on one side for a slot of a lower level on the other)] but they are rarer.

In general, if you're trying to do something beyond what a feat/spell/whatever says you can, you should have to justify it and, even if you can, there's always rule zero to slap your cheese down.

So any verdict on this? (Allowing Versatile Spellcaster from RoD)?

Cai, Since all Casters spell lists are separate you couldn't mix and match just to activate a feat. It would have to be a special ruling just to rule it the way you wanted to use it Cai.

No to versatile spellcaster.

Decent feats get taken away when you start trying to exploit them stop it.