Fantasy Craft Second Printing Q&A Thread

[Crafty_Pat]

What's new in the Second edition character sheets?

They're completely updated to incorporate all Second Printing errata (like the Size mods, for example), and they're also overhauled to correct a number of small spacing and spelling errors. Plus, Michal E. Cross has done a wonderful job setting them up as form-fillable, with several upgrades over the previous iterations there as well.

[tenebrae]

Unlike the previous form-fillable sheet, when I click on a field in this version I get a notice that I cannot save a filled-in copy of the sheet. Is there a way to fix this? It somewhat eliminates the purpose of the sheet if you have to spend 30 minutes filling it out each time something gets changed.

[Crafty_Pat]

Unlike the previous form-fillable sheet, when I click on a field in this version I get a notice that I cannot save a filled-in copy of the sheet. Is there a way to fix this? It somewhat eliminates the purpose of the sheet if you have to spend 30 minutes filling it out each time something gets changed.

What software are you using to open the file?

[tenebrae]

Acrobat reader (9.3, the same version I was using to open the previous file)

[ComicJam]

Ah, yes. Sorry about that. I think I know the problem and I'm looking into it and fixing now.

Cheers,
Michal

[tenebrae]

While you're at it, any chance you could add in a fillable box for Distract on page 2? Also, if there's any way to reduce the font size in the fillable fields for feat/class abilities/etc, it would be really handy (I'm always having to decide what to cut so everything fits).

On a related topic, the hover-over text for the Downloads button from the main page reads 'Spycraft Downloads', which might need an update at some point.

[ComicJam]

While you're at it, any chance you could add in a fillable box for Distract on page 2? Also, if there's any way to reduce the font size in the fillable fields for feat/class abilities/etc, it would be really handy (I'm always having to decide what to cut so everything fits).

We'll have to see what the big man says.

Cheers!

[Crafty_Pat]

While you're at it, any chance you could add in a fillable box for Distract on page 2?

I've sent along an updated sheet to ComicJam with new spaces for Anticipate and Distract.

Also, if there's any way to reduce the font size in the fillable fields for feat/class abilities/etc, it would be really handy (I'm always having to decide what to cut so everything fits).

We're looking at it, but I'm not sure there's much we can do. To gain any appreciable length there we'd have to go pretty darned small - probably too small...

Also, and for French- and Spanish-speaking players, I'm working with folks to get new translations up as well. With any luck we'll pull together form-fillables of those as well!

On a related topic, the hover-over text for the Downloads button from the main page reads 'Spycraft Downloads', which might need an update at some point.

There are a stack of minor website updates coming when we get the webstore up. I'll add this to the list.

[nfelddav]

First off, i wanted to say that I absolutely love the Fantasy Craft system. That said, I have a couple questions I've run into while playing or GMing.


The Levitate spell: am I missing something? The caster can move a hostile target vertically, out of combat, and the target has no way to get down. When the rest of the combat is over, the caster can move the target an arbitrary distance vertically... and then dismiss the spell. This sounds like save or die to me, hardly "harmless."


Blindsight: The description states that the character sees all hidden characters up to 10 increments of 10*wisdom without restriction. Hidden is effectively anyone the character can't see. So a character with blindsight "sees" everyone within a quarter mile, independent of intervening terrain, or walls?


And one question from the errata:
"Adventurer’s Luck (page 94): This feat’s Benefit applies only once per roll."
I can't imagine what this means. Does this mean that the party only rolls twice for one roll in a given set of rolls? Or is this meant to prevent some absurd interpretation generating an infinite number of rolls? Or something else I haven't thought of?


And one remark: I find your solution to the Achilles Heel problems quite beautiful. 

[Doublebond]

And one question from the errata:
"Adventurer’s Luck (page 94): This feat’s Benefit applies only once per roll."
I can't imagine what this means. Does this mean that the party only rolls twice for one roll in a given set of rolls? Or is this meant to prevent some absurd interpretation generating an infinite number of rolls? Or something else I haven't thought of?

It's more clear in the errata, at least, where it has the "no matter how many characters possess this feat." It's to prevent a party filled with characters who each have adventurer's luck from getting an absurd amount of treasure. No matter how many people present have that feat, you only get a maximum of one additional role.

The Levitate spell: am I missing something? The caster can move a hostile target vertically, out of combat, and the target has no way to get down. When the rest of the combat is over, the caster can move the target an arbitrary distance vertically... and then dismiss the spell. This sounds like save or die to me, hardly "harmless."

Are you taking into account the distance limitations?

[Deral]

I've got a series of questions all kinda related to the same thing, this hasn't come up in any of my games or anything, I just wanted to see what the official ruling is.

Lets start with a hypothetical Soldier, Level 9 with Cleave Basics, Mastery, and Supremacy and Greatsword Basics, Mastery, and Supremacy, Contempt, Darting Weapon, and Flashing Weapon and the Soldier Weapon Specialist abilities Most Deadly and Decisive Attack (not all of this will come into play). We'll say he's using a Claymore, threat range 19-20 (18-20 vs standard characters).

The Solder attacks a Standard Character with Tough I, rolls a natural 18 on the die and hits- can he activate the critical for 0 action dice as if he has spent 2 (killing the standard character)? (-1 from Cleave Supremacy, -1 from Most Deadly)

Now what if he used the Greatsword trick Spiral Cutter with 5 standard characters in range- would only one critical activate, or could you normally have spent 5 separate action dice to activate the threat on each of the five targets?

Since I don't know how that one will rule, we'll get rid of Tough and say that he kills all 5 of those Standard Characters with damage alone, but he's got +1 reach with that Claymore and so there are more standards within a 5ft's step so now, how does killing those 5 interact with Cleave B/M/S? It's only one attack, so it makes sense it would only give one extra, but with the wording I could see argument for it giving him multiple.

[Sletchman]

I've got a series of questions all kinda related to the same thing, this hasn't come up in any of my games or anything, I just wanted to see what the official ruling is.

Not official, but I'll give you my take on it [I'm curious what the official ruling would be too].

The Solder attacks a Standard Character with Tough I, rolls a natural 18 on the die and hits- can he activate the critical for 0 action dice as if he has spent 2 (killing the standard character)? (-1 from Cleave Supremacy, -1 from Most Deadly)

Yup - both abilities are -1 AD cost, minimum zero - you're just activating a 2 die crit for -2 dice.

Now what if he used the Greatsword trick Spiral Cutter with 5 standard characters in range- would only one critical activate, or could you normally have spent 5 separate action dice to activate the threat on each of the five targets?

With abilities that effect multiple targets, I believe the rule is you can activate the crit against multiple targets by spending more action dice.  With his -2 cost, he could crit each target once for 3 action dice, or kill them for a total of 8 [youch!].

Since I don't know how that one will rule, we'll get rid of Tough and say that he kills all 5 of those Standard Characters with damage alone, but he's got +1 reach with that Claymore and so there are more standards within a 5ft's step so now, how does killing those 5 interact with Cleave B/M/S? It's only one attack, so it makes sense it would only give one extra, but with the wording I could see argument for it giving him multiple.

This I would rule entirely based on circumstance and abuse level.  If the player used spiral cutter and killed 5 guys [say a huge mob of enemies was charging towards him] and wanted to 5ft step into the mob and keep swinging I would totally let him.  The visual is fantastic, and I can't see it coming up too often.

On the other hand, if the player carried around a sack of rats [or other small creatures] and wanted to spiral cutter cleave into my BBEG 15 times as a full round action, I'd likely bitch slap him and tell him no.

Ironically, I actually used the sack of rats + AOE + great cleave trick exactly once back in 3.0, before my GM said no more.

[Deral]

With abilities that effect multiple targets, I believe the rule is you can activate the crit against multiple targets by spending more action dice.  With his -2 cost, he could crit each target once for 3 action dice, or kill them for a total of 8 [youch!].

I actually hadn't thought about this one this way- I had figured one of the possibilities would that that each would be it's own separate critical to activate, meaning each standard affected would start, effectively, with a 2 action die critical to the face and any extra action dice would be spent later.

Since this DOES come up with spells, I believe (activating one threat several times to inflict wound points on multiple targets), that is something that would be nice to see clarified, if I have Casting Supremacy and have the opportunity to activate a threat against 2 targets, is it 1 fewer action die for each target (total 0 for 1 action die critical against each) or for the overall critical (total 1 for 1 action die critical against each)?

This I would rule entirely based on circumstance and abuse level.  If the player used spiral cutter and killed 5 guys [say a huge mob of enemies was charging towards him] and wanted to 5ft step into the mob and keep swinging I would totally let him.  The visual is fantastic, and I can't see it coming up too often.

On the other hand, if the player carried around a sack of rats [or other small creatures] and wanted to spiral cutter cleave into my BBEG 15 times as a full round action, I'd likely bitch slap him and tell him no.

Ironically, I actually used the sack of rats + AOE + great cleave trick exactly once back in 3.0, before my GM said no more.

And this one I hadn't put into bag-of-rats format, yeah, definitely wouldn't allow that sort of abuse.

[Crafty_Alex]

First off, i wanted to say that I absolutely love the Fantasy Craft system. That said, I have a couple questions I've run into while playing or GMing.

Thanks nfelddav, and welcome to the boards!

The Levitate spell: am I missing something? The caster can move a hostile target vertically, out of combat, and the target has no way to get down. When the rest of the combat is over, the caster can move the target an arbitrary distance vertically... and then dismiss the spell. This sounds like save or die to me, hardly "harmless."

To be a little cheeky, it's not actually the spell that kills you...it's the fall afterwards But Levitate does actually combat applications which can be used to nullify an enemy without ranged attacks. However, moving that character requires 1 half action, and can only be done once per round - so it's putting the caster at a disadvantage (and, incidentally, preventing him from casting other full-round spells). Also note the target character can propel himself at 1/2 speed along a surface - so he can move himself back down, or to a outcropping or chandalier he can grab onto, or whatever. If the a character with 30 ft speed really wants to get down, he can spend both his half actions moving at 1/2 speed to get down, meaning he will move a net of 10 ft. close to the ground (so long as he has something to grab on to). There's enough ways for a levitated character to make his way down that we don't see a particular problem with it. 

Blindsight: The description states that the character sees all hidden characters up to 10 increments of 10*wisdom without restriction. Hidden is effectively anyone the character can't see. So a character with blindsight "sees" everyone within a quarter mile, independent of intervening terrain, or walls?

Effectively, yes. Blindsight is awesome.

And one question from the errata:
"Adventurer’s Luck (page 94): This feat’s Benefit applies only once per roll."
I can't imagine what this means. Does this mean that the party only rolls twice for one roll in a given set of rolls? Or is this meant to prevent some absurd interpretation generating an infinite number of rolls? Or something else I haven't thought of?

Like others have noted, this was mainly to prevent multiple characters in a party from trying to apply it to the same roll.


And one remark: I find your solution to the Achilles Heel problems quite beautiful. 



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[nfelddav]

To be a little cheeky, it's not actually the spell that kills you...it's the fall afterwards But Levitate does actually combat applications which can be used to nullify an enemy without ranged attacks. However, moving that character requires 1 half action, and can only be done once per round - so it's putting the caster at a disadvantage (and, incidentally, preventing him from casting other full-round spells). Also note the target character can propel himself at 1/2 speed along a surface - so he can move himself back down, or to a outcropping or chandalier he can grab onto, or whatever. If the a character with 30 ft speed really wants to get down, he can spend both his half actions moving at 1/2 speed to get down, meaning he will move a net of 10 ft. close to the ground (so long as he has something to grab on to). There's enough ways for a levitated character to make his way down that we don't see a particular problem with it. 

Okay, I think it was the harmless tag that threw me, though I guess that doesn't mean anything but usually beneficial

Effectively, yes. Blindsight is awesome.

Yes it is.

Like others have noted, this was mainly to prevent multiple characters in a party from trying to apply it to the same roll.

Ah, that makes sense. I figured it was trying to prevent some sort of exploitation.



Thanks for the answers!