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Racial abilities
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:06 pm
by Storm Queen
Do racial abilities (e.g. Move Silently for an elf) act the same as a class ability? Would an elf wizard be able to move silently as a human rogue would? (Does the elf wizard's move silently equal Level + Dex Bonus versus a CB of 12?)
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:58 pm
by serleran
Possession of an ability by race or class always means level is added, unless there is some very peculiar situation where the Castle Keeper decides it would not be added. However, class abilities are always better than race abilities -- that is, an elf wizard could not do some of the things a half-orc rogue could do pertaining moving silently; the difference is very subtle. This is to reinforce the game as a class-driven archetype-based system.
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:08 pm
by Fiffergrund
Are you certain that level is always added for a racial ability? I'd look again myself, but I don't have my books. I'm not sure this is the case.
Either way, I'd rule opposite of Serleran as a house rule to place further emphasis on class archetypes. A racial affinity is not the same as a learned and practiced skill, in my opinion.
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He Who Hides Behind The Elephant's Back
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:22 pm
by serleran
With emphasis:
Page 112, PHB 3rd Print wrote:
There will be times when a player will want a character to attempt an action that intrudes in the realm of the class ability of another character class.... It is up to the Castle Keeper to decide if such an action is even possible. In general, it is recommended that the Castle Keeper should disallow a character a chance of success in attempting a non-class ability.
If a Castle Keeper, for whatever reason, does allow a character to attempt a non-class ability, then the SIEGE engine attribute mechanic changes in on significant way. The character does not add his level to the attribute check roll.
So, there are two ways to view this. Either level is added to racial abilities, as they become, effectively, class abilities, or the character is allowed the check, regardless of class, when otherwise he would not, but does not get level added. Prime allocation is still important, of course.
Likely, it is the second option that was intended, though I prefer the former.
The PHB could use an example of racial ability vs. class ability, for absolute clarity.
Re: Racial abilities
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:38 pm
by gideon_thorne
I asked Steve this question once upon a time. I believe the answer was yes.
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Peter Bradley
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:55 pm
by Fiffergrund
It's an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a...
What are the chances Steve could clear this up for us? If the answer is yes, I'll still disagree, but that would clear it up for the purposes of this forum.
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Sir Fiffergrund, Lord Marshal of the Castle and Crusade Society.
He Who Hides Behind The Elephant's Back
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:06 pm
by gideon_thorne
Fiffergrund wrote:
It's an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a...
What are the chances Steve could clear this up for us? If the answer is yes, I'll still disagree, but that would clear it up for the purposes of this forum.
Errr... I'll bring it up in a couple days. If I ask him right now, he might throw something at me. Dude's a bit preoccupied. ^_~`
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Peter Bradley
Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:16 am
by serleran
Heh, if he ever comes here to clarify it for all, what's the wager he won't agree with me? He hates saying I'm right.