User:Hoopy Froodle/Sandbox page

Infobox-ability/sandbox introduces or refines the meanings of numerous terms useful for categorization and/or display. All of them are open to discussion, and alternative suggestions are welcome. In many cases, they depart from established precedent.

Ability type
An ability is the generic term for those many aspects of a character that impart the ability to do something. The term is overloaded with ability scores, but I couldn't think of anything better. (I considered power, but that sounds so pretentious.)

The recognized ability types are: spells, SLAs, &#91;bard] songs, ki abilities, Channnel Divinity abilities, feats, and enhancements. The first five are referred to internally as magic types, although this term is not currently exposed. Any of the types can stand alone, but the magic types are often paired with one of the others, so you get things like SLA feats and song enhancements.

Source
Every ability is gained from one or more sources.

Feats

 * A universal feat is granted to all characters, possibly with a level requirement. Examples include Sneak, Trip, and Improved Heroic Durability.
 * A universal feat is a type of free feat, granted to all characters who meet the prerequisites.
 * A trainable feat is acquired using a feat slot. A heroic feat is trained (typically) at levels 1/3/6/9/12/15/18, an epic feat at levels 21/24/27/30, an epic destiny feat at levels 26/28/29, and a legendary feat at level 30.
 * A repeatable feat is a trainable feat that can be taken more than once, possibly with conditions. Examples include Toughness and Spell Focus.
 * A class feat is granted to all members of a class as they advance levels (and is thus free to those characters). Examples include Tower Shield Proficiency for Fighter, Uncanny Dodge for Barbarian and Rogue, and Trapmaking for Rogue and Artificer. A class feat may also be trainable to members of other classes, as Tower Shield Proficiency.
 * A bonus feat may optionally be taken using a class-specific bonus slot. Examples include Weapon Focus for Fighter, Spell Focus for Wizard, or Deflect Arrows for Monk. Rogue optional abilities are considered a type of bonus feat.
 * A class exclusive feat is only available to members of one or more classes. Examples include Weapon Specialization for Fighter, Inspire Excellence for Bard, or deity feats for and Cleric, Favored Soul, and Paladin. Many exclusive feats are also class feats, such as Uncanny Dodge, or bonus feats, such as Deflect Arrows. Currently an exclusive feat generates a category but no display.
 * A racial feat is granted to all members of a race. Examples include Shuriken Expertise for Drow, and Small Size Bonus for Gnome, Deep Gnome, and Halfling.
 * A racial exclusive feat is only available to members of one or more races. Examples include Small Size Bonus and Adamantine Body.

Enhancements
There's nothing new about the terminology of enhancements per se. It's worth mentioning, however, that something is only considered a "X enhancement" if its primary means of acquisition is through an enhancement. Thus, Arcane blast is an SLA enhancement, but Electric Loop is a spell, not a spell/SLA enhancement, because its primary means of acquisition is as a spell, and only secondarily through the Air Savant and Half-Elf enhancements. The practical impact of this

Usage
Every ability has one or more usage modes. A passive


 * prerequisite    =
 * prerequisite of =


 * class feat      =
 * bonus feat      =
 * racial feat     =
 * deity feat      =
 * warforged body  =


 * enhancement tree =
 * action points   =
 * ranks           =


 * school          =
 * descriptor1     =
 * descriptor2     =
 * descriptor3     =
 * descriptor4     =


 * artificer       =
 * bard            =
 * cleric          =
 * druid           =
 * favored soul    =
 * paladin         =
 * ranger          =
 * sor n wiz       =
 * warlock         =


 * past life       =
 * favor reward    =
 * dragonmark      =
 * granted by      =


 * from item       =
 * from spell      =


 * passive         =
 * active          =
 * toggled         =


 * target          =


 * cost            =
 * range           =
 * area            =
 * duration        =
 * save            =
 * dc              =
 * cooldown        =


 * metamagic       =
 * sr              =


 * school          =
 * descriptor1     =
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 * descriptor4     =
 * components      =


 * melee           =
 * ranged          =
 * tactical        =


 * death           =
 * damage          =
 * debuff          =
 * charm           =
 * turn undead     =
 * summon          =


 * health          =
 * ability         =
 * skill           =
 * save bonus      =
 * ac              =
 * dodge           =
 * prr             =
 * mrr             =
 * movement        =
 * spellcasting    =
 * music           =
 * ki              =


 * proficiency     =
 * item            =


 * grants          =

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 * description     =