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Domain granted power

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
marius4
Jul 03, 2004 12:18:47 My question is really specific and probably rather boring. It is regarding the Sensitivity domain granted power, which is listed in AoM as "All Divination spells with a range of Personal are cast at +1 caster level." Since the domain generally improves your awareness of auras I thought this sounded pretty cool, until I sat down to figure out which spells would be affected.

Going thru the PHB I found 20 Divinations with Range: Personal, only 7 of which are on the cleric spell list. (These latter are augury, commune, comprehend languages, divination, find the path, find traps, and read magic.) Of the domain spells, four of them are Personal (and also wizard) spells: see invs, legend lore, grtr arcane sight, and foresight. Eleven spells--Divinations at that--cast at +1 level doesn't seem like much of a granted power. Did I miss some spells? If not, does anyone else agree/disagree that this is underpowered?

Some alternatives might be:
A) All Personal and Emanation Divinations cast at +1 caster level.
B) All Personal Divinations cast at +2 or +3 caster level.
C) All Divinations cast at +1, Sense Motive is a class skill. (Similar to Knowledge domain.)
D) All Divinations that affect or target living creatures cast at +1, +2 to Sense Motive checks, Sense Motive is a class skill. (This parallels Academy Thesis: Divination)

Thanks in advance for any replies.
#2
zombiegleemax
Jul 03, 2004 12:57:11 option A really seems like what they meant, without having to actually check each spell, the way you have. I think that would be the best alternative to a minor boost to a small number of spells.
#3
zombiegleemax
Jul 03, 2004 14:25:21 If you're a player, the real danger here isn't what you consider the modest benefit of the domain power. It's the chance the DM is unprepared to really handle divination spells. Those things, used well, with a DM not prepared to handle them, can short circuit whole campaigns.

I might look for other domains to stack it with to get some of the other spells normally not available to the cleric.

But as to your specific question I might just add sense motive as a class skill.
#4
marius4
Jul 05, 2004 10:20:29 I would have thought Option C or D was closer to what they were after (assuming they weren't after exactly what we've got). The Alteration and Channeling domains both have "Transmutations cast on living creatures +1 level" as their granted power, and I figure Sensitivity would follow suit but with Divinations. The Sense Motive I threw in b/c Divinations are typically not as directly useful as Transmutations, etc. Plus the Knowledge domain granted power improves ALL Divinations and then gives additional class skill(s) as well, and the Academy Sorcerer's Arcane Thesis (Divination) gave the character Search plus a bonus to checks.

As for DMs and preparedness for divinations, that's true...I hadn't thought of that. Still, I guess you've got to hope for the best. We're more or less at the hands of the DM anyway, Divinations or not. ;)

So, things could always be changed or improved upon, but does anyone think the granted power is sufficient as is?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 marius4 Jul 03, 2004 12:18:47	My question is really specific and probably rather boring. It is regarding the Sensitivity domain granted power, which is listed in AoM as "All Divination spells with a range of Personal are cast at +1 caster level." Since the domain generally improves your awareness of auras I thought this sounded pretty cool, until I sat down to figure out which spells would be affected. Going thru the PHB I found 20 Divinations with Range: Personal, only 7 of which are on the cleric spell list. (These latter are augury, commune, comprehend languages, divination, find the path, find traps, and read magic.) Of the domain spells, four of them are Personal (and also wizard) spells: see invs, legend lore, grtr arcane sight, and foresight. Eleven spells--Divinations at that--cast at +1 level doesn't seem like much of a granted power. Did I miss some spells? If not, does anyone else agree/disagree that this is underpowered? Some alternatives might be: A) All Personal and Emanation Divinations cast at +1 caster level. B) All Personal Divinations cast at +2 or +3 caster level. C) All Divinations cast at +1, Sense Motive is a class skill. (Similar to Knowledge domain.) D) All Divinations that affect or target living creatures cast at +1, +2 to Sense Motive checks, Sense Motive is a class skill. (This parallels Academy Thesis: Divination) Thanks in advance for any replies.
#2 zombiegleemax Jul 03, 2004 12:57:11	option A really seems like what they meant, without having to actually check each spell, the way you have. I think that would be the best alternative to a minor boost to a small number of spells.
#3 zombiegleemax Jul 03, 2004 14:25:21	If you're a player, the real danger here isn't what you consider the modest benefit of the domain power. It's the chance the DM is unprepared to really handle divination spells. Those things, used well, with a DM not prepared to handle them, can short circuit whole campaigns. I might look for other domains to stack it with to get some of the other spells normally not available to the cleric. But as to your specific question I might just add sense motive as a class skill.
#4 marius4 Jul 05, 2004 10:20:29	I would have thought Option C or D was closer to what they were after (assuming they weren't after exactly what we've got). The Alteration and Channeling domains both have "Transmutations cast on living creatures +1 level" as their granted power, and I figure Sensitivity would follow suit but with Divinations. The Sense Motive I threw in b/c Divinations are typically not as directly useful as Transmutations, etc. Plus the Knowledge domain granted power improves ALL Divinations and then gives additional class skill(s) as well, and the Academy Sorcerer's Arcane Thesis (Divination) gave the character Search plus a bonus to checks. As for DMs and preparedness for divinations, that's true...I hadn't thought of that. Still, I guess you've got to hope for the best. We're more or less at the hands of the DM anyway, Divinations or not. ;) So, things could always be changed or improved upon, but does anyone think the granted power is sufficient as is?