Glossary of Terms: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Line 146: | Line 146: | ||
* Resistance Bonus | * Resistance Bonus | ||
===Activate Magic Item=== | ===Activate Magic Item=== | ||
| Line 159: | Line 158: | ||
[[Afflictions]] | [[Afflictions]] | ||
===Challenge Rating=== | === Challenge Rating === | ||
===Extraordinary Ability (Ex)=== | === Extraordinary Ability (Ex) === | ||
:''Extraordinary Abilities'' are unusual abilities that do not rely on magic to function. They are not something that just anyone can do or even learn to do without extensive training. Effects or areas that suppress or negate magic have no effect on extraordinary abilities. | :''Extraordinary Abilities'' are unusual abilities that do not rely on magic to function. They are not something that just anyone can do or even learn to do without extensive training. Effects or areas that suppress or negate magic have no effect on extraordinary abilities. | ||
===Illumination=== | === Illumination === | ||
* [[Types_of_Senses#Light_and_Darkness|Epic Path Light and Darkness Rules]] | * [[Types_of_Senses#Light_and_Darkness|Epic Path Light and Darkness Rules]] | ||
we removed 'normal light' from the game, and changed "Supernatural Darkness" to "True Darkness". If you think they should be located somewhere else (they're located in the "types of senses" page) to be easier to find, let me know. | we removed 'normal light' from the game, and changed "Supernatural Darkness" to "True Darkness". If you think they should be located somewhere else (they're located in the "types of senses" page) to be easier to find, let me know. | ||
===Line of Sight=== | === Line of Sight === | ||
* [[Line of Sight]] | * [[Line of Sight]] | ||
===Line of Effect=== | === Line of Effect === | ||
* [[Line of Effect]] | * [[Line of Effect]] | ||
| Line 179: | Line 178: | ||
:* Thrown Weapon | :* Thrown Weapon | ||
=== | === Ray === | ||
* [[Spells#Ray|Ray]] | * [[Spells#Ray|Ray]] | ||
===Supernatural Ability (Su)=== | === Supernatural Ability (Su) === | ||
===Spell-Like Abilities (Sp)=== | === Spell-Like Abilities (Sp) === | ||
''Spell-Like Abilities'' are magical and work just like spells (though they are not spells and so have no verbal, somatic, focus, or material [[components]]). They go away in an [[Antimagic Field (Spell)]] and are subject to [[Spell Resistance (SR)]] if the spell the ability is based on would be subject to [[SR]]. Just like spells, spell-like abilities provoke attacks of opportunity unless the creature activating it makes a [[caster check]] to combat cast. If a monster is using a spell-like ability, its caster level is equal to its CR. | ''Spell-Like Abilities'' are magical and work just like spells (though they are not spells and so have no verbal, somatic, focus, or material [[components]]). They go away in an [[Antimagic Field (Spell)]] and are subject to [[Spell Resistance (SR)]] if the spell the ability is based on would be subject to [[SR]]. Just like spells, spell-like abilities provoke attacks of opportunity unless the creature activating it makes a [[caster check]] to combat cast. If a monster is using a spell-like ability, its caster level is equal to its CR. | ||
=== Aura === | |||
An aura is an inherent emanation that is part of the possessor's being. Unless specifically described otherwise, an aura is always present and cannot be removed in any way by either the owner of the aura or the actions of others. Note that while an aura is always present, it may or may not apply effects on others, depending on how the possessor of the aura uses it. | |||
An aura has the effects that are laid out in the aura's description at all times, and only ceases operation when the possessor of the aura is dead. However, an aura described as spell-like, supernatural, or gained as a spell effect, is subject to anti-magic effects. Conversely, an aura described as an Extraordinary ability is not subject to anti-magic. | |||
An aura does not effect the owner of the aura unless stated explicitly in the description. | |||
A creature can suppress or express the effects of their aura during their turn as a swift action. | |||
An aura cannot harm a creature unless the owner of the aura has line of effect to the victim of the aura. | |||
An aura's effect is always triggered by the owner of the aura. This trigger is a free action. An aura can trigger its effect in one of three ways, once per round: | |||
# The aura may be triggered at the end of a move action. This allows the aura owner to move up to victims and affect them. | |||
# The aura may be triggered at the beginning of a full round action or a standard action. This allows the aura's owner to incorporate the aura's effect into their attacks. | |||
# The aura may be triggered by other events as described in the aura. This allows auras to activate upon the death of the owner, or when they use another talent, power or ability, or some other circumstance defined in the description. | |||
If a victim has been affected by an aura once in a round, it is immune to any further applications of the aura's effect until the beginning of its next round. | |||
The effects of an aura last until the end of the aura owner's next round unless they are instantaneous (damage) or otherwise removed earlier. | |||
=== Defenseless === | |||
A creature which is defenseless against something takes double damage from it. | |||
=== Gaze === | |||
A gaze special attack takes effect when foes look at the attacking creature. The attack can have any sort of effect, see each writeup for details. While the gaze attack power is active, each opponent within the range of that gaze attack must attempt a saving throw each round at the beginning of his or her turn in the initiative order. Only looking directly at a creature with a gaze attack leaves an opponent vulnerable. Opponents can avoid the need to make the saving throw by not looking at the creature, in one of two ways. | |||
: '''Averting Eyes:''' The opponent avoids looking directly at the creature, instead looking at it out of the corner of the eyes in fleeting glimpses, watching its shadow, tracking it in a reflective surface, etc. Each round, the opponent has a 50% chance to avoid having to make a saving throw against the gaze attack. The creature with the gaze attack, however, gains partial concealment (20 percent miss chance) against that opponent. | |||
: '''Wearing a Blindfold:''' The foe cannot see the creature at all (also possible to achieve by turning one's back on the creature or shutting one's eyes). The creature with the gaze attack gains total concealment (50 percent miss chance) against the opponent. | |||
A creature with a gaze attack activates the power as described in the ability. | |||
Since they are based on vision, gaze attacks can affect creatures with line of sight but not line of effect, even including beings that are ethereal, [[Cloistered]], [[Displaced]], or [[Exiled]]. The creature with the gaze attack does not need to know an enemy is near: the saving throw is based upon the actions of the enemy creatures, not the actions of the creature with the gaze attack. | |||
A creature is immune to gaze attacks of others of its kind unless otherwise noted. Allies of a creature with a gaze attack might be affected. All the creature's allies are usually considered to be averting their eyes from the creature with the gaze attack, and have a 50% chance to not need to make a saving throw against the gaze attack each round. | |||
=== Hardened === | |||
A creature which is hardened against something takes half damage from it. Many creatures are only hardened against precision damage, for example, rather than being completely immune to it (e.g. oozes, incorporeal creatures, elementals, etc.). | |||
=== Immunity === | |||
A creature which is immune to something takes no damage from it. (See also: Hardened) Creatures with no discernible anatomy are often immune to flanking, for example. | |||
Few creatures should ever be immune to precision damage (unless that is their schtick), since it essentially takes several classes out of the fight entirely. Similarly, immunity to magic should probably be represented by Spell Resistance instead of immunity. | |||
===Natural Attacks=== | |||
Many creatures use natural attacks instead of weapons during combat. Such monster attacks are defined in their Monster blueprint, and will have the unique effects described for each monster. If a player character is granted a natural attack byt an ability, spell, or other effect, it is resolved as an unarmed strike unless otherwise defined, and does not normally provoke an attack of opportunity. | |||
===Vulnerable=== | |||
A creature which is vulnerable to something takes 1.5x damage from it. For example, many undead are vulnerable to positive energy. Fey are nearly always vulnerable to cold iron. (See also: Defenseless.) | |||