Appendix: Rule Updates

This appendix contains rule updates for powers and the Stealth skill. Visit the Wizards of the Coast website for other updates.

READING A POWE

The Player’s Handbook introduces how to read a power, starting on page 54 of that book. This section touches on some of the information discussed there: the format of player character powers and their keywords. The information here incorporates clarifications and new rules, and it supersedes previous sources.

The Power Format

Player character powers are designed to be easily referenced during play. Even though other kinds of powers, such as monster powers, have different formats, many of the guidelines here also apply to them. Sequence: The order of information in a power

description is a general guide to the sequence in which the power’s various effects occur. For example, an “Effect” entry might appear above attack information in a power description to indicate that something happens before you make the attack.

Indentation: When information is indented in a power description, that means the information is contingent on the information directly above it. For

example, a “Secondary Attack” entry indented below a “Hit” entry is a reminder that you can make the secondary attack only if you hit with the primary attack.

The Power Description

A power description contains various entries, some of which appear in every power description, whereas other entries appear only when needed by a particular power. Here are explanations of the various entries, presented in their typical order.

Power Name and Level: The name of a power and the power’s level appear in a colored bar on the first line of the power’s description. The color of the bar indicates how often you can use the power; green means the power is an at-will power, red means it’s an encounter power, and black means it’s a daily power. Flavor Text: The next line, in italicized text, briefly

explains what the power does, from the perspective of your character in the world. The rest of the power

description is rules text, but this material is intended to help you narrate what your character is doing.

Usage: The first word on the next line tells you how often you can use the power, that is, whether it is an at-will, an encounter, or a daily power.

Keywords: The power’s keywords appear next. The keywords tell you the power source, any damage types associated with the power, accessories you can use with it, and other associated effects. If “Varies” appears among the keywords, that means the power has variable keywords, which you or circumstances determine.

Action Type: The next line begins with the type of action required to use the power: standard, move, minor, free, immediate reaction, immediate interrupt, or opportunity. Some powers require no action to use. See the Player’s Handbook, page 267, for more information about action types.

Trigger: Powers that are immediate actions (interrupts or reactions) or opportunity actions have a trigger, which defines when you’re allowed to use the power. Some powers that are free actions, or that require no action to use, have a trigger as well.

Attack Type and Range: The power’s attack type and range appear on the same line as its action type. The attack types are melee, ranged, area, and close.

Each attack type has rules for range and targeting, detailed on pages 270–273 of the Player’s Handbook.

Prerequisite or Requirement: Some powers are usable only if you meet a precondition. You must meet a prerequisite to select a power. You must meet a requirement to use a power.

Target: If a power directly affects one or more creatures or objects, it has a “Target” entry, specifying whom and what the power affects.

Attack: A power’s attack entry specifies the ability score you use to make the attack, any special modifiers that apply to the attack roll, and which of the target’s defenses you check against.

Hit: This entry describes what happens to each target that you hit with the power’s attack.

Miss: This entry describes what happens to each target that you miss with the power’s attack. In

THE MARKED CONDITION

When you mark a creature, you force it to engage you or suffer the consequences. While that creature is marked by you, it takes a –2 penalty to attack rolls for any attack that doesn’t include you as a target. In addition, powers, class features, magic item properties, and feats might have effects that trigger when the creature takes certain actions.

A creature can be subject to only one mark at a time, and a new mark supersedes a mark that was already in place. The effect you use to mark a creature determines how long the creature remains marked by you. Regardless of the mark’s duration, it ends if someone else marks that creature, unless an effect says otherwise.