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Wow, Razz I completely concede that you were right about this feat but if you had have taken the time really listen to what I, and others who disagreed with you (who freely admitted to not having access to the book) were saying we could've avoided all this as it was a simple misunderstanding regarding the way you'd paraphrased the feat.

All of my discussion (and presumably Zherog's) was on the assumption that there was an effect from the feat and then a greater effect if you hit more than once. Read back on my comments, it was all talking about it being good open design because the feat scales if you hit more than once. The fact that the feat has no effect if you don't hit more than once was not clear in your initial post and that's what caused the confusion.

I'd agree that there should be the prerequisite of rapid stunning or at least some note that normally you can only deliver 1 stunning fist attack per round or something that indicates how you're expected to use this feat at all.

Frugal wrote:

Wow, Razz I completely concede that you were right about this feat but if you had have taken the time really listen to what I, and others who disagreed with you (who freely admitted to not having access to the book) were saying we could've avoided all this as it was a simple misunderstanding regarding the way you'd paraphrased the feat.

All of my discussion (and presumably Zherog's) was on the assumption that there was an effect from the feat and then a greater effect if you hit more than once. Read back on my comments, it was all talking about it being good open design because the feat scales if you hit more than once. The fact that the feat has no effect if you don't hit more than once was not clear in your initial post and that's what caused the confusion.

I'd agree that there should be the prerequisite of rapid stunning or at least some note that normally you can only deliver 1 stunning fist attack per round or something that indicates how you're expected to use this feat at all.

I apologize for my posts getting more sarcastic and tense, then, because you're right. It was a big misunderstanding because I thought you were, in some strange way, defending WotC's infamous error-laden text in yet another WotC product of theirs LOL

So yeah, now that you guys know what I meant (and now that I know what you meant) sorry if things got out of hand and now we can see why WotC needs to be more careful with what they create. You'd figure the authors possessed encyclopedic knowledge on their D&D books, I know I do.

After owning the book for about five months I'm finally getting around to reading (and correcting) the thing. Here is the errata I've found so far. Some of it likely duplicates things that others have already found.



pg. 47 - Blend into Shadows - Does this feat count as a spell-like ability since it requires you to expend a use of a spell-like ability to activate? If so, what is the effective spell-level?

pg. 50 - Fade into Darkness - Does this feat count as a spell-like ability since it requires you to expend a use of a spell-like ability to activate? If so, what is the effective spell-level?

pg. 50 - Gift of the Spider Queen - The Blinding Vanish option does not provide a level for the spell-like ability. If the save DC is correct then it is the equivalent of a 4th-level spell.

pg. 51 - Master of Poisons - I seem to recall a designer interview in which it was claimed that feats should not duplicate racial or class abilities. The Master of Poisons feat grants the benefit of the Poison Use class feature (used by Ninja and others) and does so with no prerequisites whatsoever.

pg. 51 - Paralyzing Fists - It is normally not possible to use Stunning Fist more than once per round. (I've noted that this has already been covered extensively).

pg. 51 - Radiant Flicker - Does this feat count as a spell-like ability since it requires you to expend a use of a spell-like ability to activate? If so, what is the effective spell-level?

pg. 52 - Spider Companion - The feat indicates that the creature gains "all the benefits normally granted to animal companions." The Animal Companion sidebar on page 36 of the Player's Handbook indicates that animal companions gain bonus tricks; does this apply to vermin despite the fact that they are normally incapable of learning tricks? The PHB also indicates that animal companions can be pushed as a move action; does this apply to vermin despite the fact that page 46 of this book indicates that they cannot be pushed? The PHB also indicates that the animal companions of sufficiently advanced Druids gain a +4 morale bonus to Will saves versus enchantment spells and effects; aren't vermin already immune to such effects because they are mindless?

pg. 52 - Umbral Spell - The feat indicates that it applies to burst-, emanation-, and spread-shaped spells before giving Lightning Bolt as an example. The Lightning Bolt spell is not listed as being a burst, emanation, or spread.

pg. 53 - Verminfriend - Although not actually an error, the feat is constructed in such a way that only one vermin can be effected each round. It would have worked better if the feat required a saving throw by the vermin instead of a Charisma check by the character.

pg. 54 - Gloom Strike - Since the feat creates an "aura of magical darkness" is it considered to be a spell-like ability or a supernatural ability? If it is a spell-like ability then what is the effective spell-level?

pg. 55 - Vow of the Spider Queen - Shouldn't the benefit involving an alternate use for rebuke undead attempts be labeled as a supernatural ability?

pg. 56 - Aleval School - Shouldn't this be listed as both a [STYLE] feat and an [AMBUSH] feat?

pg. 57 - Tormtor School - Since the ranged javelin attack is made as a swift action would it provoke Attacks of Opportunity? The description of swift actions states that spells and powers requiring swift actions do not provoke Attacks of Opportunity but doesn't mention other abilities.

pg. 61 - Bebilith Blessing - The spell grants the recipient two claw atacks in addition to any claw attacks that it already has. The spell also allows you to sunder objects with your claw attacks as if you had the Improved Sunder feat. Does this effect extend to any claws that you already have or does it only appply to the claws granted by the spell?

pg. 61 - Dominate Vermin - I find it odd that a 'Dominate' spell is a Transmutation rather than an Enchantment but understand that since vermin are immune to mind-affecting abilities that this makes sense. Unfortunately, the wording of the spell leads to many questions that are unanswered. The text indicates that "you invest your psyche into a single vermin" and grant it "your intelligence." Does this indicate that while affected by the spell the vermin becomes vulnerable to mind-affecting abilities? The text also indicates that "you can direct it with simple commands." If it has your intellect then why is it limited to simple commands? Unless you have an IQ of 3 something that has your intelligence should be capable of actions as intricate as those that you yourself are capable of performing. Finally, the text indicates that "if the vermin is slain, your mind is forced out of the creature violently." If your mind is inside the creature during the duration of the spell then is your physical body cabable of actions while the spell is active? Can you see through the vermin's eyes? I think that the spell would work better if it were renamed "Control Vermin" and if the text indicated that the transmutation simply forces it to move and act at your whim as if it were some sort of remote control puppet.

pg. 63 - Spider Form - Is the spell only supposed to grant the same 5 temporary hit points as Spider Form, Lesser?

pg. 63 - Spider Form, Greater - Is the spell only supposed to grant the same 5 temporary hit points as Spider Form, Lesser?

pg. 63 - Yochlol Blessing - While not an error I do have a question. This spell temporarily grants the shapechanger subtype. If you cast it on a party member who has been transformed into a harmless creature via Baleful Polymorph and they use it to resume their natural form, what happens when the duration of Yochlol Blessing ends? Will the character change back into an animal or will he retain his normal form? Similarly, will resuming his natural form end Yochlol Blessing since his natural form does not have the tentacles granted by the Yochlol Blessing?

pg. 63 - Spider-Shape - Are the fiendish abilities of the spider based upon your HD or those of the spider?

pg. 63 - Sudden Swarm - Isn't adding your Warlock level to the poison DC of the swarm a bit extreme? That would start the DC at 17 and it would hit 31 at 20th level.

pg. 65 - Spellcasting - The fourth line of the entry indicates that you gain levels in a "spellcasting class" while the seventh line indicates that it is an "arcane spellcasting class." Table 3-2 on the next page indicates "existing spellcasting class". Since two of the three entries don't specify arcane spellcasting I assume that divine casters can benefit from the spellcasting progression.

pg. 65 - Handle Spiders - This class feature is useless unless that character takes the Vermin Trainer feat (which is not a requirement to enter the prestige class) or has taken levels in the Vermin Keeper prestige class from Underdark.

pg. 65 - Spider Domain - The entry's handling of Domain spells for those without levels of Cleric differs from the rules for handling such things presented on page 20 of Complete Divine. Do these rules supercede those from Complete Divine?

pg. 68 - Derzen Vrinn -
The character's tremorsense entry should note that it requires a swift action to activate, can be used 5/day and lasts for 5 rounds.
The character has Kuo-Toan as a starting language despite the fact that it is not listed as a bonus language on page 36. Since it was listed as a bonus language in the Monster Manual you can either assume that it was accidentally left off of page 36 or that it was purposefully removed but that the example character did not take the change into account.
The character's number of starting languages assumes that he began at 1st level with an 18 Intelligence. Indications are that the character's Intelligence did not reach 18 until 8th level. Remove one language (preferrably Kuo-Toan).
The character is short 2 hp. The writer seems to have given the NPC average hp at 1st level, calculated hp totals for both the base class and the prestige class seperately, and then rounded both totals down before combining them.
The character's saving throw line should list a conditional +3 modifier for saving throws versus spiderkind poison due to the Spider Box in the character's Combat Gear (only 3 of the 4 points count sincethe bonus is of the same type as that granted by the cloak of resistance).
Although the character's ranks in Knowledge (Religion) don't technically provide a +2 synergy to his ability to rebuke vermin you may wish to add the bonus anyway as it fits thematically for a worshiper of Lolth.
Reduce the character's caster level from 9th to 8th.
Why does the character know the Polymorph spell? Isn't WotC avoiding the spell in NPCs because of the polymorph errata?
The character cannot cast Dispel Magic because Abjuration is one of his prohibited schools.
The character's ability scores start out beyond the 25 point Elite Array no matter how you assign the 4th and 8th level stat increases.
The character's SQ should indicate his ability to sense hidden doors when passing within 5 feet.
The character's Spellcraft entry should note the +2 bonus to learn Transmutation spells.
The character's skill block only adds up if you assume both that his Intelligence score was increased to 18 at 8th level and that a few skill points were wastefully used cross-class. If you want the skills to be used more effectively then eliminate Intimidate and reduce Listen by 1 point so that you can increase Knowledge (Nature) by 7 points (Which results in a +2 synergy to Survival checks made in aboveground natural environments). I recommend this because it seems absurd that a character whose prestige class is all about an obsession with spiders has only the minimum ranks in the appropriate knowledge skill necessary to enter the prestige class.

runestar wrote:

One question: is the demonbinder really supposed not to improve your eldritch blast?

Sadly, it does seem as if the Demonbinder does not get an increase to eldritch blasts.

Page 18 of Complete Arcane specifically indicates that classes that grant "+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class" or "+1 level of existing spellcasting class" grant an increase to eldritch blast. The Demonbinder instead has an Invocations Known entry that states "+1 level of existing class". Since this entry does not match either of the two examples the Prestige Class does not grant an increase to eldritch blast.

This is further supported by the last paragraph of the Advancement entry on page 74. It states outright that Demonbinders do not improve their eldritch blast.

A short bit of errata for the Dark Sniper. I was impressed that they managed to account for the character's speed bonus to Jump checks and that they remembered his racial ability to notice hidden doors.



pg. 75 - Dark Sniper -
The character's AC entry should note his conditional Skirmish bonus.
The character is not proficient with the longbow. Change his weapon to a shortbow.
The character's SQ should not indicate poison use (unless he is substituting poison use for trapfinding in the manner of a Drow Rogue using the Rogue Alternate Class Feature, in which case he should not have the trapfinding ability).
The character's Skill list should include Survival due to his conditional synergy from the Search skill.