Exploding Schemers

[NezMaster]

Campaign Quality Spirited allows rerolls of action dice that come up a 1

Schemer causes 1's to raise up to Int bonus (which will prob be 3 or 4 lets presume 3)

So would this still explode then add together, or each one counts as 3 and keeps rerolling, (making the ability pretty strong) or give the player choice..reroll or accept a three..(making the ability pretty weak)

[Morgenstern]

If it explodes on a 1, it explodes on a 1. If the final result of that die is still less than the character's Int mod, then it bumps up to the Int mod.

[Crafty_Alex]

Here's a secret about Campaign Qualities - not all all qualities preserve a perfect balance of class abilities, because campaign qualities modify the baseline. Blockbuster, for example, essentially gives characters Evasion I in addition to increasing blast radius. Spycraft's classes are by necessity designed without considering the use of 50+ campaign qualities that might be in effect (ultimately, a futile exercise). So if you want as close to perfect balance as Spycraft gets, don't use campaign qualities. I'll call you crazy for it, but it would be "balanced"

[ducky185orc]

Read the title, and thought "Schemer goes BOOM!" Oh well. Good question.

[Psion]

Here's a secret about Campaign Qualities - not all all qualities preserve a perfect balance of class abilities, because campaign qualities modify the baseline.

I'd noticed that. Jack-of-All-Trades is a kick in the pants for all the pointmen out there.

But then, I sort of assumed, looking at the sample genres, that class availability/recommendations is as much of an element of campaign design as campaign qualities are.

[Crafty_Pat]

But then, I sort of assumed, looking at the sample genres, that class availability/recommendations is as much of an element of campaign design as campaign qualities are.

Just as they are for settings. It's one of the ways we plan to tinker with our various toolkit setting books.

[NezMaster]

Similar Question...

Adaptable Schemer. Schemer makes the die a minimum roll, and Adaptable adds after the die roll..so an int 18 adaptable level 5 schemer would have a minimum action die total of 6?

[Crafty_Alex]

No. As Morg says, the Schemer's ability applies to the final result of the die roll. Adaptable's bonus, and every other bonus and penalty, is added to the die roll in order to determine the final result.

To avoid futher confusion, let me apply a little programming order of operations to the Schemer's ability here.

1) Roll action die.
  a) IF die=max value, roll and add again. Repeat until die does not equal max value.
  b) IF campaign qualities=Spirited, this applies to results of 1 as well.
2) Add bonuses and penalties to rolled result.
3) Calculate final result.
  a) IF core ability=Calculating, check final result. If final result < Int modifier, increase final result=Int modifier.

Does that make more sense?

[tenebrae]

I'm guessing both of you are referring to the pre-most-recent-errata Schemer, since the aforementioned errata has the following gem:

"After rolling 1 or more action dice to boost a check result, saving throw result, or damage roll, you may replace the value shown on the single lowest action die with your intelligence modifier (before any other modifiers are applied to the action die's result)."

[Crafty_Alex]

  Ah yes...this both makes it easier to use and more useful...considering the Schemer's core ability was less usable as he went up in level (and increased his AD size). TOTALLY forgot about that 

[NezMaster]

I'm guessing both of you are referring to the pre-most-recent-errata Schemer, since the aforementioned errata has the following gem:

"After rolling 1 or more action dice to boost a check result, saving throw result, or damage roll, you may replace the value shown on the single lowest action die with your intelligence modifier (before any other modifiers are applied to the action die's result)."

Wait, so by THIS rule, then adaptable would add after schemer, AND exploding dice could also be affected (though not as dramatically as I first proposed, hence contradicting the previous answers?

[Crafty_Alex]

I'm guessing both of you are referring to the pre-most-recent-errata Schemer, since the aforementioned errata has the following gem:

"After rolling 1 or more action dice to boost a check result, saving throw result, or damage roll, you may replace the value shown on the single lowest action die with your intelligence modifier (before any other modifiers are applied to the action die's result)."

Wait, so by THIS rule, then adaptable would add after schemer, AND exploding dice could also be affected (though not as dramatically as I first proposed, hence contradicting the previous answers?

Yes. Note that it explictly states the timing ("before any other modifiers are applied to the action die's result", emphasis mine), whereas the original version stated that it was applied after the final result is calculated.

[Morgenstern]

I'm guessing both of you are referring to the pre-most-recent-errata Schemer, since the aforementioned errata has the following gem:

"After rolling 1 or more action dice to boost a check result, saving throw result, or damage roll, you may replace the value shown on the single lowest action die with your Intelligence modifier (before any other modifiers are applied to the action die's result)."

Thanks for posting that. Having the current text at hand often simplifies questions enough that the rules-guru answer can be, "Well, what does it say to do?"