2/13/2015 FabulousCats!

Search

Home>Games>D&D>Articles

D&DHome AprilFools
WhatisD&D?
Products FabulousCats!
Previews ByGwendolynF.M.Kestrel
GameRules
Articles
ArtGallery "Rakshasasdonotflop!"
Downloads
Archives Mrrerrow,rakshasasorcerer
CharacterSheets Throughtheyears,catshavedevelopedavarietyoftechniquesfor
Glossary managingthehumanoidsintheirlives.Ascantfewoftheirclosely
Help guardedsecretsarerevealedinthisarticle,whichpresentsanew
skill,severalfeatsofthenewfelinetype,newspellsdevelopedand
Eberron usedbycatsofallsorts,anewcatdomain,anewfelinecreature,and
ForgottenRealms severalnewmagicitemsdesignedforfelinesandtheirhumanoid
D&DMiniatures pets.
RPGA
Skills
MessageBoards
ChatRooms ManycatshaveranksinBluff,buttheirprimaryuseoftheskilldiffers
somewhatfromthestandard.Also,felineshavedevelopedaskill
AprilFoolsArchive calledHandleHumanoid,whichallowsthemtomanagethe
humanoidstheykeepasservantsandpets.BoththenewskillandthespecificnewuseoftheBluffskill
2004:HumorousPCPortraits canbeusedonlybyfelineswithranksintheskill.
2004:TyposofDoom
Illustrated Bluff(ChaTrainedOnlyFelinesOnly)
2003:MonsterMayhem:Pie
Fiend NewUse:"IMeanttoDoThat!"
2003:FabulousCats!
2003:ProductPreview: WheneveryoufailaBalance,Climb,Jump,orPerformcheck,youmayimmediately(asafreeaction)
DiaperandBlankie attemptaBluffcheckopposedbytheSenseMotivechecksofanywitnesses.Successmeansyoufoolthe
2002:Sneakpeekatanew witnessintobelievingthatyoumeanttoachievetheoutcomethatoccurredfailureindicatesthatthe
d20Modernsetting! witnessknowsyoudidnotachieveyouractualgoal.
2002:NPCCloseup:Nijel
Turnbottom,Humanundead ThisuseoftheBluffskillislargelyamatterofprideformostfelines.AsuccessfulBluffcheckhasnogame
wizard effectonafailedBalance,Climb,orJumpcheck,butitdoesenablethefelinetoignoretheincreasedDC
2002:SneakPeek ofasubsequentPerformcheckagainstthesamewitnesses.
ChainmailModels(Not)
ScheduledforanUpcoming HandleHumanoid(ChaTrainedOnlyFelinesOnly)
Release
2002:MapaWeek:Special
HandleHumanoidisthecat'sversionoftheHandleAnimalskill.Youcanusethisskilltomakea
BonusMap!
humanoidobeycommandsorperformtricksitknows,suchasscratchingyourearsproperly,fetching
food,wavingafeathertoyforyouramusement,openingdoorsonyourcommand,andthelike.Theskill
canalsobeusedtoteachthehumanoidnewtricks.

Check:ThetimerequiredtogetaparticulareffectandtheDCforthecheckdependontaskattempted,
accordingtothetablebelow.

Task Time DC
Handleahumanoid Varies 10
"Push"ahumanoid Varies 25
Teachahumanoidatrick 1week 10,15,or20*
*Seethespecifictrick,below.

HandleaHumanoid:ThisusageoftheHandleHumanoidskillinvolvesgettingahumanoidtoobeyyour
commandsorperformatrickthatitknows.Forinstance,commandingahumanoidtoopenadoor
requiresasuccessfulHandleHumanoidcheck(DC10).Ifthehumanoidhastakendamage(specifically
hitpoint,subdual,orabilityscoredamage,orsomecombinationthereof),theDCincreasesby+5.
Handlingahumanoidrequiresamoveaction.Ifthecheckissuccessful,thehumanoidperformsthetask
ortrickonitsnextturn.

"Push"aHumanoid:Pushingahumanoidmeansgettingittoperformataskortrickthatitdoesn'tknow
butisphysicallycapableofperforming.ThisusageoftheHandleHumanoidskillrequiresafullround
action.Ifthecheckissuccessful,thehumanoidperformsthetaskortrickonitsnextturn.

TeachaHumanoidaTrick:Youcanteachahumanoidaspecifictrick,suchas"come"or"feedme"(see
below)withoneweekofworkandasuccessfulHandleHumanoidcheck.Youmustspendhalfthattime
(attherateof3hoursperdayperhumanoidbeinghandled)teachingthehumanoidbeforeyoumakethe
skillcheck.Ifthecheckfails,youcannotteachthattricktothathumanoid.Ifthechecksucceeds,youmust
investtheremainderofthetimerequiredtocompletethetraining.Ifthetimeisinterruptedorthetraining
isnotfollowedthroughtocompletion,anyfurtherattemptsyoumaketoteachthathumanoidthetrick
automaticallyfail.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Ffools%2F20030401c 1/6
2/13/2015 FabulousCats!
Ahumanoidcanlearnamaximumofsixtricks.Possibletricksinclude,butarenotlimitedto,thefollowing.
TheDCfortherequiredHandleHumanoidcheckappearsafterthenameofeachtrick,inparentheses.

Come(DC15):Thehumanoidcomestoyou,evenifitnormallywouldnotdoso.Forexample,youcan
commandittofollowyouintoadangerousalleyway.

Defend(DC10):Thehumanoiddefendsyou,orisreadytodefendyouifnothreatisactuallypresent.

FeedMe(DC15):Thehumanoidacquiresandservesfoodoncommand.

FeedMeGourmet(DC20):Ahumanoidpreviouslytaughtthe"feedme"trickcanberetrainedtoserve
onlythechoicest,mostpalatablefoods.(Thistrickreplacesthe"feedme"trickinthehumanoid'strick
repertoire.)

Fetch(DC15):Thehumanoidgoesandgetssomethingforyou.

Open!(DC15):Thehumanoidopensadoor,window,portcullis,orothersealableapertureatyour
command.Youneednotpassthroughitthereafter.

Perform(DC15):Thehumanoidperformsavarietyofsimpletricksforyouramusement,suchaswavinga
feathertoyordraggingastringaround.

Retry:Yes.

Special:Youcanusethisskillonamonstroushumanoidorgiant,butyoutakea5penaltyonthecheck.
Suchacreaturecanlearnthesamenumberoftricksasahumanoidcan.

Untrained:AnuntrainedfelinecanuseaCharismachecktohandleandpushhumanoidsbutcannot
teachthemtricks.

NewFeats
AnordinarycatfromtheMonsterManualhasfewoptionswhenitcomestofeats.ItreceivesWeapon
Finesse(bite)andWeaponFinesse(claw)asbonusfeatbydefault,butyoucouldeasilysubstituteanyof
thefeatsbelowthatbetterfittheindividualcatyouhaveinmind.

Variant:Ifyouwanttomakethefelinefamiliarsinyourgamemoreexciting,considerlettingthemgain
additionalfeatsatthesamerateastheirmastersdo(atmasterlevels3rd,6th,9th,12th,15th,and18th).
Inthisway,a10thlevelhumansorcerercouldhaveacatfamiliarthatpossessedfourfeats.

Feline:Featsofthefelinetypeareavailableonlytocatsandotherfelinecreatures,includingCheshire
cats(seebelow),lions,rakshasas,tigers,tressym(ForgottenRealmsCampaignSetting),andother
felinecreatures.

Don'tMindMe[Feline]

Youhaveaknackformaneuveringunnoticedintopositionforanattack.

Prerequisite:Reach0feet.

Benefit:Youdonotprovokeanattackofopportunitywhenyouenteranopponent's
square.

Normal:Acreaturewithareachof0feetprovokesanattackofopportunityuponentering
anopponent'ssquare.

Flop[Feline]

Youcangracefullyfalldownandcaptivateanearby
humanoidwithyourremarkablecuteness.

Benefit:Asastandardaction,youcanfallprone,
forcingonehumanoidofyourchoicewithin10feetof
youtomakeasuccessfulWillsave(DC10+1/2your
HitDice+yourCharismamodifier)orbedazedfor1
round.Thetargetmustbeabletoseeyou.This
extraordinaryabilityisamindaffectingeffect.

HealingChi[Feline]

Curlingupwithyoumakesinjuredcreaturesfeelbetter.
Youknowhowtofocusyourchitohelphealthe
injuriesofafavoredcreature.

Benefit:Toprovidehealingchi,youmustcuddleup
withthewoundedcreatureforonedayormore.While
sotended,thepatientautomaticallyrecovershitpoints
orabilityscorepoints(losttotemporarydamage)at
twicethenormalrate:2hitpointspercharacterlevel
plus2abilityscorepointsforeachdayoflightactivity,
or3hitpointspercharacterlevelplus4abilityscorepointsforeachdayofcompletebed
rest.Youcantendonlyonepatientatatime.UsingHealingChicountsaslightactivityfor
you.YoucannotuseHealingChionyourself.

Special:ThisfeatcanbeusedwiththeHealskilltobenefitsomeoneunderlongtermcare.
Anyonebenefitedbyboththefeatandtheskillrecoversattriplethenormalrate:3hit
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Ffools%2F20030401c 2/6
2/13/2015 FabulousCats!
pointspercharacterlevelplus3abilityscorepointsforeachdayoflightactivity,or4hit
pointspercharacterlevelplus6abilityscorepointsforeachdayofcompletebedrest.

ImprovedFlop[Feline]

Youcangracefullyfalldownandcaptivatemultiplehumanoidswithyourremarkable
cuteness.

Prerequisite:Flop.

Benefit:Asastandardaction,youcanfallprone,forcingeachhumanoidwithin10feetof
youtomakeasuccessfulWillsave(DC10+1/2yourHitDice+yourCharismamodifier)
orbedazedfor1round.Thetargetsmustbeabletoseeyou.Thisextraordinaryabilityisa
mindaffectingeffect.

InterspeciesGrace[Feline]

Youcancaptivatemonstroushumanoidsandgiantswithyourremarkablecuteness.

Prerequisites:Flop,ImprovedFlop.

Benefit:Asastandardaction,youcanfallprone,forcingeachhumanoid,monstrous
humanoid,andgiantwithin10feetofyoutomakeasuccessfulWillsave(DC10+1/2your
HitDice+yourCharismamodifier)orbedazedfor1round.Thetargetsmustbeableto
seeyou.Thisextraordinaryabilityisamindaffectingeffect.

SlowFall[Feline]

Contrarytopopularbelief,youdon'talwayslandonyourfeet.TheSlowFallfeathelpsyou
landunhurtfromafall.

Benefit:Whenyou'readjacenttoaverticalsurface,youcanuseittoslowyourdescentin
afall.Youtakedamageasifthefallwere20feetshorterthanitactuallyis.

Special:Youcantakethisfeatmultipletimes.Theadjustmentstotheeffectiveheightofthe
fallstack.

TwiningTrip[Feline]

YoucanuseyourDexteritytomaketripattacksbytwiningyourbodyaroundthe
opponent'slegs.

Prerequisites:Don'tMindMe.

Benefit:Whenattemptingatripattack,firstmakeameleetouchattack.Ifthatsucceeds,
makeaDexteritycheckopposedbythedefender'sDexteritycheck.Successatthischeck
meansyoutriptheopponent.

Normal:Whenattemptingatripattack,firstmakeameleetouchattack.Ifthatsucceeds,
makeaStrengthcheckopposedbythedefender'sDexterityorStrengthcheck,whichever
providesthehigherbonus.Successatthischeckmeansyoutriptheopponent.

WeightFocus[Feline]

Youcanaccuratelyfocusyourweighttoseemmuchheavierthanyoureallyare.In
addition,youhaveanuncannyknackforfindingsensitivepointsuponwhichtopressina
grapple.

Benefit:Whenmakingagrapplecheck,usethespecialsizemodifierforacreatureone
sizecategorygreaterthanyourowninsteadoftheoneyouwouldnormallyuse.Ifyou
successfullypinanopponentinagrapple,youcandealsubdualdamageasifyouwere
onesizecategorylargerthanyouactuallyare.

Writhe[Feline]

Youcanmakeanothercreaturewanttopetyouby
stretchinggracefullywithinitsvisualrange.

Prerequisites:Flop,InterspeciesGrace.

Benefit:Whileprone,youcanusesuggestion,asthe
spell,tomakeonecreaturewithin30feetofyouuseits
nextactiontomoveintoyoursquareandattempta
meleetouchattacktopetyou.Thetargetcanresistthis
effectwithasuccessfulWillsave(DC10+1/2yourHit
Dice+yourCharismamodifier).Ifanaffectedtargetissomehowpreventedfromcarrying
outthesuggestion,itneverthelessspendsitsnextactionintheattempt.UsingWritheisa
standardaction.

Spells
Fewhumanoidclericsevenknowthecatdomainexists,butitisapopularchoiceamongfelineclerics
andclericsofotherraceswhoservefelinedeities.

CatDomain

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Ffools%2F20030401c 3/6
2/13/2015 FabulousCats!
Deities:Bast,Felix,Garfield,Morris,Schrodinger.

GrantedPower:Catsareinordinatelylucky.Yougainthepowerofgoodfortune,whichisusableonce
perday.Thisextraordinaryabilityallowsyoutorerollanyonerollthatyouhavejustmade.Youmust
accepttheresultofthereroll,evenifit'sworsethantheoriginalroll.

CatDomainSpells
1Cat'sgrace
2Allergicreaction(seebelow)
3Seeinvisibility
4Repelvermin
5Communewithnature
6Catgravity(seebelow)
7Hairball(a.k.a.repulsion)
8Mindblank
9Foresight

AllergicReaction
Necromancy
Level:Cat2
Components:S,M
CastingTime:1action
Range:Close(25ft.+5ft./2levels)
Target:Onelivingcreature
Duration:1round
SavingThrow:Fortitudenegates(seetext)
SpellResistance:Yes

Coughingandsneezingcausedbyasevereallergicreactiontoyourpresenceleavesthetargetdazed
forthedurationofthespell.Thedazedsubjectisnotstunned(soattackersreceivenospecialadvantage
againstthatcreature),butitcan'tmove,castspells,usementalabilities,ortakeanyotheractions.

Anybonusesorpenaltiesthetargethasonsavingthrowsagainstpoisonalsoapplytothesavingthrowto
negatetheeffectofthisspell.

MaterialComponent:Aflakeofcatdander.

CatGravity
Enchantment(Compulsion)[MindAffecting]
Level:Cat6
Components:S
CastingTime:1action
Range:Personal
Target:You
Duration:1round/level(D)
SavingThrow:Willnegates
SpellResistance:Yes

Yousurroundyourselfwithasphereofpowerthathasaradiusof5feetpercasterlevel.Eachcreature
withinthisareamustmakeasuccessfulWillsaveorbeaffectedasifbyaslowspell.

[EditorialNote:WesuggestyouvisittheartistRobinWood'swebsiteforthecompletestoryoncatgravity,
assheistheoriginatoroftheTheoryofCatGravityandforemostexpertonthetopic.]

Kitten'sCuteness
Transmutation
Level:Brd2,Clr2,Pal2,Sor/Wiz2
Components:V,S,M/DF
CastingTime:1action
Range:Touch
Target:Creaturetouched
Duration:1minute/level
SavingThrow:Willnegates(harmless)
SpellResistance:Yes

Thetransmutedcreaturebecomescuter,cuddlier,andmoreappealing.Thespellgrantsthesubjecta+4
enhancementbonustoCharisma,addingtheusualbenefitstoCharismabasedskillchecksandother
rollstowhichtheCharismamodifierwouldnormallybeapplied.Sorcerersandbards(andother
spellcasterswhosedailyspellallotmentsdependonCharisma)donotgainanyadditionalbonusspells
fortheirincreasedCharismascoreswhileundertheinfluenceofkitten'scuteness,butthesaveDCsfor
anyspellstheycastduringitsdurationincreaseaccordingly.

ArcaneMaterialComponent:Abitoffurfromakitten.

NewCreature
ThefabledCheshirecathaslongbeendescribedinbards'talesbutisrarelyseenbecauseofitsunusual
invisibilitypower.

CheshireCat
SmallFey
HitDice:3d6(10hp)

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Ffools%2F20030401c 4/6
2/13/2015 FabulousCats!
Initiative:+7
Speed:30ft.
ArmorClass:14(+1size,+3Dex),touch14,flatfooted11
BaseAttack/Grapple:+1/7
Attack:Claw+5melee(1d24)
FullAttack:2claws+5melee(1d24)andbite+0melee(1d34)
Face/Reach:5ft.by5ft./5ft.
SpecialAttacks:Spells
SpecialQualities:Controlledinvisibility,DR5/coldiron,lowlightvision
Saves:Fort+1,Ref+6,Will+4
Abilities:Str3,Dex17,Con10,Int10,Wis12,Cha15
Skills:Balance+11,Climb+13,Diplomacy+8,HandleHumanoid+8,Hide+11*,Jump+7,Listen+7,
MoveSilently+13,Spot+7
Feats:Don'tMindMe,EschewMaterials(B)**,ImprovedInitiative,WeaponFinesse(bite)(B),Weapon
Finesse(claw)(B)
Climate/Terrain:Temperateforests
Organization:Solitary
ChallengeRating:3
Treasure:None
Alignment:Usuallychaoticgood
Advancement:Bycharacterclass
LevelAdjustment:+3

ACheshirecatisastrange,feycreaturethatappearstobealargerthanordinaryhousecatweighing
between20and40pounds.Itoftenlurksintrees,waitingforthegullibleandunwarytopassbysothatit
canteasethem.Cheshirecatsenjoyusingtheircontrolledinvisibilityabilityandspellstocreatemischief.

Combat

Cheshirecatsusuallyendeavortoavoidphysicalcombat.Theyprefertosolveconflictsdiplomaticallyor
throughthejudicioususeoftheirspells.

Spells:ACheshirecatcastsspellsasa3rdlevelsorcerer.Itprefersillusionsandenchantmentsbut
avoidsnecromancyspells.

TypicalSorcererSpellsKnown(6/6saveDC12+spelllevel):0daze,detectmagic,ghostsound,light,
resistance1sthypnotism,magearmor,ventriloquism.

ControlledInvisibility(Su):ACheshirecatcanbecomewhollyorpartiallyinvisibleatwill.Wheneverit
usesthisability,itcanchoosethepreciseportionsofitsbodythatbecomeinvisible.Ifitchoosestoleave
anyportionofitsbodyvisible,itgainspartialconcealment(20%misschance)otherwiseithastotal
concealment(50%misschance).Activatingthisabilityorchangingthedegreeofconcealmentitgrantsis
astandardaction.ACheshirecatoftenchoosestoleaveonlyitssmile,whichisunusuallywideand
ratherunfeline,visible.

Skills:ACheshirecatreceivesa+4racialbonusonClimb,Hide,Jump,andMoveSilentlychecks.*In
areasoftallgrassorheavyundergrowth,itsHidebonusrisesto+8.Forrunningjumps,itsJumpbonusis
+8.Likeanormalcat,italsoreceivesa+8racialbonusonBalancechecksandusesitsDexteritymodifier
forClimbandJumpchecks.ACheshirecathasskillpointsequalto6+Intmodifier(minimum1)x(HD+
3).

Feats:ACheshirecatgainsfeatsasthoughitwereahumanoid.

**TheEschewMaterialsfeatappearedinTomeandBlood:AGuidebooktoWizardsandSorcerers.

EschewMaterials[Metamagic]

Youcancastspellswithoutmaterialcomponents.

Prerequisite:Anyothermetamagicfeat.

Benefit:Aneschewedspellcanbecastwithnomaterialcomponents.Spellswithout
materialcomponentsorwhosematerialcomponentscostmorethan1gparenotaffected
bythisfeat.Aneschewedspellusesupaspellslotofthespell'snormallevel,modifiedby
anyothermetamagicfeats.

NewEquipment
Felinesandthehumanoidsthatservethemoftenpurchasethefollowingitems.

MundaneEquipment

Thebelledcollarisdesignedforthebenefitofhumanoidsassociatedwithfelines.It
enableshumanoidcompanionstokeeptrackofafeline'smovementsmoreeasilythan
theyotherwisecould.

BelledCollar:Thismundanebutornamentalcollarhasalittlebellthattinklesasitswearer
moves.Itsuseimposesa10penaltyonthewearer'sMoveSilentlychecks.

MarketPrice:5cp.

MagicItems

Thefollowingmagicitemsaredesignedforthecomfortandbenefitoffelineusers,though
othercreaturescanalsomakeuseofthemifdesired.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Ffools%2F20030401c 5/6
2/13/2015 FabulousCats!
CollarofPerpetualAttendance:Atwill,thewearerofthiscollarcancallanunseen
servant,asthespell,toattendandcleanupafterhimoranothercreaturehedesignates.
Theunseenservantperformssuchmundanetasksascleaninguphairballsandpolicing
thewearer'slitterbox.Italsogroomstheweareroncommand,removingburrs,smoothing
tangles,andensuringthatthewearer'sfurremainssoftandwelltended.

CasterLevel:1stPrerequisites:ForgeRing,unseenservantMarketPrice:2,000gp
Weight:1/4lb.

FleaPowder:Thismagicdusthelpsridtheuserofpeskyvermin.Asingleapplication
producesthesameeffectasoneuseofarepelverminspell.

CasterLevel:7thPrerequisites:CraftWondrousItem,repelverminMarketPrice:1,400gp
perapplicationWeight:.

AbouttheAuthor

GwendolynF.M.KestrelworksasaneditorfortheRoleplayingGames
R&DdepartmentatWizardsoftheCoast,Inc.sothatElvisandPuck,the
twohalfSiamesecatsthatownher,canliveinalovelyhousewithsoft
furnitureandendlesssuppliesoffood.Gwendolyn'srecentcreditsinclude
editingSavageSpecies,FaithsandPantheons,andEpicLevelHandbook
anddesigningpartoftheBookofChallenges.Whileshe'sawayatwork,
ElvisandPuckfollowarigidscheduleofmaximizingthelethargiceffects
oftheinfrequentWashingtonsunbeams.Theyallowhertofreelanceasa
frequentcontributortotheWizardsoftheCoastwebsitebecausetheycan
sitonherlapwhileshetypesonthecomputerathome.Also,checkout
thewebsitetheyallowedhertocreatedforherhusband,AndyCollins.

GototheD&DmainnewspageformorearticlesandnewsaboutthenewD&Dorcheck
outtheD&DmessageboardsforalivelydiscussionofallaspectsoftheD&Dgame.

WHAT'SNEW CORPORATEINFO WHERETOBUY INTERNATIONAL HELP SITEMAP PRODUCTS

19952008WizardsoftheCoast,Inc.,asubsidiaryofHasbro,Inc.AllRightsReserved.
TermsofUse PrivacyStatement

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Ffools%2F20030401c 6/6