Factotum question: Brains over Brawn

[Jackinthegreen]

I'm curious about some things this feature entails. Supposedly Brains over Brawn allows a Factotum to use his Int in place of Dex for the Initiative modifier since it's counted as a Dex check. What about the Dex portion of armor? Would a Factotum's Int bonus apply instead of Dex for that armor modifier? It does seem to be a Dex check essentially.

Also, the wording is ambiguous on whether BoB -replaces- Str and Dex skill modifiers, or is in addition to what's there. Could someone give some insight on this?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Not in place of. On top of. Brains Over Brawn lets you add int to dex and str checks and -based skills. Initiative is in fact a dex check, so you get Dex AND Int added to it.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

What about the Dex portion of armor? Does my Int apply to that too, on top of Dex? It seems too good to be true to be honest. My DM might have a fit with this.

 

[xigbar]

Most of the worst things that can happen to you at higher levels don't target AC, although the bonus to Init, and I'm assuming reflex saves, is nice.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

What about the Dex portion of armor? Does my Int apply to that too, on top of Dex? It seems too good to be true to be honest. My DM might have a fit with this.

No. Only to str and dex checks and skill checks.

You get Int to AC on top of dex by spending an inspiration point, and even then it's only for one round against one opponent. See "Cunning Defense." IMO, it's a pretty crappy use of an inspiration point unless you REALLY need it.

However, at level 16, you DO get to permanently add int to AC (Improved Cunning Defense), but only while wearing light or no armor. By then, adding int to AC is pretty tame compared to what the wizard's doing, and a lot of classes and prestige classes could have given you a second stat to AC well before then anyway.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

Alrighty. Thanks everyone for your feedback!

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

BoB does Not grant a bonus to AC.

StreamOfTheSky already explained the method a Factotum accomplishes AC increases.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

Something I just thought about: Is carrying capacity a Strength check? If it is, BoB seems to apply to it too.

I'm tempted to think it is, since a Factotum has studied so much he innately knows how to carry himself to be better and more efficient with strength and dexterity-based tasks.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

No, it's in no way a check. It's just a number on a table that you look up, there's no dice rolling involved. Sorry.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Something I just thought about: Is carrying capacity a Strength check? If it is, BoB seems to apply to it too.

I'm tempted to think it is, since a Factotum has studied so much he innately knows how to carry himself to be better and more efficient with strength and dexterity-based tasks.

I asked this question once months ago. I was told BoB doesn't apply, but someone suggested a homebrewed approach called "Clever Packing" that would allow it to apply, if I could get it past my DM.