[Jack Simth]

[/quote]

douglas said:
Here I was, all set to argue that he's considered merely incorporeal when manifesting, so at worst I'd have a 50% miss chance and by a strict reading of the rules even that only applies to damage, when I noticed that the Manifestation ability specifically disallows a ghost's touch spells from affecting material targets. Technically it doesn't say anything about touch spells from material sources not affecting the ghost, but it makes some sense that it would go both ways, so I won't argue. Hmm, maybe we should get a pet of some sort for him to ride in when we're travelling long distances with Wind Walk.

Well... he doesn't currently have a familiar... hmm... what to get...

douglas said:

What's the DC? Spellcraft for identifying a spell being cast is 15+level, and that implies knowledge of the specific gestures, incantations, etc used to cast it. I'd imagine knowledge of a spell's existence and a general idea of its effects would be considerably lower DC. I'm not sure how or even if using Knowledge (Religion) instead would change it - it's more specific (cleric spells only), but it's also not as focused on that particular subject.

Oh, 10+spell level to know it exists for either; better rolls give more information

douglas said:

Oops, I didn't look at the class skills list very closely and just assumed that any primary divine caster would have Knowledge (Religion) on the list just like every arcane spellcasting class I know of has Knowledge (Arcana).

Hmm, I just checked, and Favored Soul is the ONLY divine spellcasting class I could find that doesn't have either one of Knowledge (Religion) and Knowledge (Nature) on its class list, and the Epic Spellcasting feat makes it pretty clear that those two knowledge skills, along with Knowledge (Arcana), are considered very highly related to spellcasting in general. Given that, it just doesn't make sense to me for a primary spellcasting class to not have the appropriate knowledge skill on its class list when classes like Paladin and Ranger, which give spellcasting as a minor or secondary feature, do. Knowledge (Arcana) is on the Favored Soul list, but it's linked to arcane spellcasting, not divine. I think Knowledge (Religion) was left off the list or replaced with Knowledge (Arcana) by mistake.

Spellcraft is specific knoweledge about spells; it's the theory of how magic works (arcane or divine); every primary (and most secondary) spellcaster has Spellcraft on their class list (including the Favored Soul), as far as I'm aware. Knoweledge(Arcana) is "ancient mysteries, magic traditions, arcane symbols, cryptic phrases, constructs, dragons, magical beasts" - more a history of magic and magical critters; it's almost impossible for a Wizard to do without Spellcraft (can't copy spells!), but Knoweledge(Arcana) is mostly for synergy (with spellcraft), clues, some monster information, and epic spellcasting; Knoweledge(Arcana) is about the stuff; Spellcraft is about the magic. Knoweledge(Religion) is very similar to Knoweledge(Arcana): "gods and goddesses, mythic history, ecclesiastic tradition, holy symbols, undead" - church theology, traditions, history, symbols (plot-related clues, mostly) and undead (monster info).

Also, an inherent limitation of the class (such as relying on two spellcasting stats); helps balance those monk-perfect saves, energy resitances, and eventual flight and DR 10.

douglas said:
Edit: In case you want to argue that the Favored Soul's lack of scholarly study is the reason, consider this quote from the PHB concerning Sorcerers and the fact that Knowledge (Arcana), their relevant "spellcasting" knowledge skill, is on their class list anyway: "Since sorcerers gain their powers without undergoing the years of
rigorous study that wizards go through, they don’t have the
background of arcane knowledge than most wizards have."

Sorcerors studying arcane secrets is a common thing in fiction, so Sorcerors have access to the magical history skill and spell theory; however, a Sorceror can get by quite readily without either Spellcraft or Knoweledge(Arcana), and so doesn't need rigorus training (regular will do, or even none at all) although both are still useful (identifying scrolls, potions, and spells (spellcraft); recognizing ancient magical artifacts, predicting magical beasts, and solving those ancient puzzles (Arcana)) the Sorceror's short but flexible spell list makes knowing about the critter in question far less useful than it is to a wizard's long but restricted spell list - the sorceror can see if the fireball or the lightning bolt does better (and has the extra spell slots to do so), and lay down more of whichever was more effective; the wizard must prepare in advance.

douglas said:
Ok, that makes sense. The character decides it would be nice if he could do a particular thing, and the deity looks for a spell that matches.

For instance, Destruction would be wanting to make your enemies simply go away... for good.

douglas said:
Except that this one actually has decent damage on a successful save (10d6) and it's a bit harder to bring someone back who got killed by it than usual - nothing short of True Resurrection, Wish, or Miracle will do.

Yep; a single Cleric or Wizard two levels above the party (or a Rogue or Bard with Use Magic Device and a scroll or two; perhaps a Sorceror or Wizard with Planar Binding (for Ifreet - they can grant three wishes to a mortal in a single day)). Not so hard, really, for a DM.

Mind you, save-or-die effects work both ways. How does a CR 16 encounter with a Favored Soul 16 with the Divine Reach metamagic feat, Harm, Heal, Wind Wall, spell reistance, Distruction, Protection from Energy, and a Bead of Karma (Caster level 20; Dispel Magic DC 31....) standing in winged boots sound? Fort save-or die for the Rogue & Wizard, Will save or die for the Paladin, Death for the ghost (half of 150 is death for Jason; although of a temporary nature, so the will half doesn't matter), spells mostly fail, arrows don't hit, and swords can't reach. And nominally only CR 16; a "Very Difficult" but hardly game-breaking encounter, by the book, although the extra wealth could probably push it to Encounter Level 17.