A somewhat stupid (and first time) question... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A somewhat stupid (and first time) question...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jun 21, 2005 14:49:37 Figure I'll start out by saying I've been reading around here for a while now but never had much to ask so this is a first post for me.

I've played DS all the way from the original setting and love all the updates done by the folks over at Athas.org but I have a question for anyone who might answer.

The Athas.org 3.5 rules state under Feats "Hidden Talent" is described in the XPH and would replace the "Wild Talent" feat. Unfortunately, I don't have the XPH and was wondering if anyone could sum up for me what exactly the differences were?
#2
ruhl-than_sage
Jun 21, 2005 14:58:34 Go to www.wizards.com and look up SRD (or System Refrence Document) on their search bar. That document is free and contains all of the OGC (or Open Game Content) rules published by WoTC. The rules, but not the fluff, of the Expanded Psionics Handbook is contained in that document... If you want I think you can even download that part seperately, but why not get the whole thing :D . Its very usefull to have if you want to make varient rules and whatnot for your own use.
#3
Kamelion
Jun 21, 2005 15:21:08 Hi Arow, welcome aboard

It's not a stupid question at all. The Hidden Talent feat isn't actually in the SRD, unfortunately. However, you can consider it to work just like the Wild Talent feat, with the additional characteristic of allowing the possessor of the feat access to a 1st-level power. There are a couple of other considerations (check a copy of the XPH for those), but you can work with that as a starting point.
#4
jon_oracle_of_athas
Jun 21, 2005 15:41:44 If it was in the SRD, we would have quoted it in the DS 3.5 Core Rules. Kam's description isn't off.
#5
nightchill
Jun 21, 2006 6:47:40 Bit of a resurrection here but, going off Kamelion's answer, why doesn't DS3 say something similar, such as:

"It replaces the Wild Talent feat, with the additional characteristic of allowing the possessor of the feat access to a 1st-level power."

Was the DS3 feat "nerfed" from Kamelion's answer to current version (which just "replaces the Wild Talent feat") or am I missing something in the DS3 rules? Likewise "this feat is described in the XPH" is perhaps a bit misleading (since there's no feat called Hidden Talent there). Nitpicky nitpicky..

Thanks in advance
#6
Kamelion
Jun 21, 2006 7:04:53 Hidden Talent is on page 67 of the XPH - it's separated out from the feat section for some reason.

Hidden Talent, unfortunately, isn't Open Content, so we can't reference it too closely in the DS3 Core Rules. It's a fine line that we need to avoid crossing for legal reasons.

My answer above gives more details as these boards are owned by WotC and this allows for a little more wiggle-room, but not much - which is why I deliberately omitted any references to the mechanics of the feat, such as how to determine save DCs, effective manifester level and the like.

There are ways around this as, technically speaking, the concept of intellectual property doesn't govern the pure mechanics of a rule, only its mode of expression. So theoretically you devise a feat called, say, Latent Prodigy (or whatever) that works just like Hidden Talent. So long as you presented it in a different fashion and language to Hidden Talent, you aren't trampling on WotC's intellectual property.

Personally, I consider this kind of sidestepping to be poor form and somewhat dishonourable in these circumstances. Athas.org receives support and recognition from WotC as the official DS site and I feel it's only right that we offer them the same degree of respect in return. I'm happy with encouraging DS fans to go out and buy a copy of the XPH - it is a damn fine book imho.

Cool questions, btw - a bit of examination of the OGL crunchines is always a good thing
#7
nightchill
Jun 21, 2006 7:08:09
Hidden Talent is on page 67 of the XPH - it's separated out from the feat section for some reason.

Ack, that's where I was getting confused. It's not even in the Feats section! ;)

Thanks for your speedy reply.
#8
radnovius
Jun 21, 2006 11:55:22
Ack, that's where I was getting confused. It's not even in the Feats section! ;)
Yeah, I had to hunt it down using the index. :whatsthis

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jun 21, 2005 14:49:37	Figure I'll start out by saying I've been reading around here for a while now but never had much to ask so this is a first post for me. I've played DS all the way from the original setting and love all the updates done by the folks over at Athas.org but I have a question for anyone who might answer. The Athas.org 3.5 rules state under Feats "Hidden Talent" is described in the XPH and would replace the "Wild Talent" feat. Unfortunately, I don't have the XPH and was wondering if anyone could sum up for me what exactly the differences were?
#2 ruhl-than_sage Jun 21, 2005 14:58:34	Go to www.wizards.com and look up SRD (or System Refrence Document) on their search bar. That document is free and contains all of the OGC (or Open Game Content) rules published by WoTC. The rules, but not the fluff, of the Expanded Psionics Handbook is contained in that document... If you want I think you can even download that part seperately, but why not get the whole thing :D . Its very usefull to have if you want to make varient rules and whatnot for your own use.
#3 Kamelion Jun 21, 2005 15:21:08	Hi Arow, welcome aboard It's not a stupid question at all. The Hidden Talent feat isn't actually in the SRD, unfortunately. However, you can consider it to work just like the Wild Talent feat, with the additional characteristic of allowing the possessor of the feat access to a 1st-level power. There are a couple of other considerations (check a copy of the XPH for those), but you can work with that as a starting point.
#4 jon_oracle_of_athas Jun 21, 2005 15:41:44	If it was in the SRD, we would have quoted it in the DS 3.5 Core Rules. Kam's description isn't off.
#5 nightchill Jun 21, 2006 6:47:40	Bit of a resurrection here but, going off Kamelion's answer, why doesn't DS3 say something similar, such as: "It replaces the Wild Talent feat, with the additional characteristic of allowing the possessor of the feat access to a 1st-level power." Was the DS3 feat "nerfed" from Kamelion's answer to current version (which just "replaces the Wild Talent feat") or am I missing something in the DS3 rules? Likewise "this feat is described in the XPH" is perhaps a bit misleading (since there's no feat called Hidden Talent there). Nitpicky nitpicky.. Thanks in advance
#6 Kamelion Jun 21, 2006 7:04:53	Hidden Talent is on page 67 of the XPH - it's separated out from the feat section for some reason. Hidden Talent, unfortunately, isn't Open Content, so we can't reference it too closely in the DS3 Core Rules. It's a fine line that we need to avoid crossing for legal reasons. My answer above gives more details as these boards are owned by WotC and this allows for a little more wiggle-room, but not much - which is why I deliberately omitted any references to the mechanics of the feat, such as how to determine save DCs, effective manifester level and the like. There are ways around this as, technically speaking, the concept of intellectual property doesn't govern the pure mechanics of a rule, only its mode of expression. So theoretically you devise a feat called, say, Latent Prodigy (or whatever) that works just like Hidden Talent. So long as you presented it in a different fashion and language to Hidden Talent, you aren't trampling on WotC's intellectual property. Personally, I consider this kind of sidestepping to be poor form and somewhat dishonourable in these circumstances. Athas.org receives support and recognition from WotC as the official DS site and I feel it's only right that we offer them the same degree of respect in return. I'm happy with encouraging DS fans to go out and buy a copy of the XPH - it is a damn fine book imho. Cool questions, btw - a bit of examination of the OGL crunchines is always a good thing
#7 nightchill Jun 21, 2006 7:08:09	Hidden Talent is on page 67 of the XPH - it's separated out from the feat section for some reason. Ack, that's where I was getting confused. It's not even in the Feats section! ;) Thanks for your speedy reply.
#8 radnovius Jun 21, 2006 11:55:22	Ack, that's where I was getting confused. It's not even in the Feats section! ;) Yeah, I had to hunt it down using the index. :whatsthis