Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed Updates, Errata, and Clarifications

When it came to set down the text for Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved, I wanted to make sure to update the rules that had been confusing to players in the past (or that were flat-out wrong). I also wanted to make sure that owners of Monte Cook’s Arcana Unearthed could get all this basic information for free, without having to buy the new book. You can download this information from this page.

This document offers rules updates and clarifications for Monte Cook’s Arcana Unearthed variant player’s handbook. The notes here reflect the rules as presented in the “director’s cut” edition of Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved. Errata” are corrections to mistakes in the book. “Clarifications” are examples or further details to explain a tricky rule. “Updates” are changes added to make Arcana Unearthed reflective of the material as it currently appears in Arcana Evolved. DMs should feel free to ignore the “updates” if they are happy with the rules as they are and have no desire to make things compatible with Arcana Evolved; “updates” do not reflect changes necessary for game balance.

Note that this document refers to the second printing of Arcana Unearthed. If you have the first printing, you'll also want to take note of the errata listed below on this page.

This document does not include the all-new material from Arcana Evolved. (You can find out what material is all-new by visiting our FAQ page.) To read this new material you’ll need a copy of Arcana Evolved.

This document also does not refer to the bonus material added to Arcana Evolved from The Diamond Throne (prestige classes, crystal and crystal-laced equipment, spell catalysts, monsters, magic items, gazetteer) and the Arcana Unearthed Player’s Guide (roleplaying and character creation tips, class archetypes, conversion guidelines) that is included in Arcana Evolved.

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Previous Errata

Every time a new rulebook is published, there are always a few things you wish you'd caught before the book went to press. While we're happy that we've found relatively few errata points in Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed, we want to do what we can to make your play experiences as good as possible. So we're providing you with this list of errata to help clear up some problem areas. We think you'll find that these are all fairly minor points. Thanks to our message board regulars who pointed out these trouble spots.

Note: These errata points were corrected in the book's second printing and in the Arcana Unearthed full PDF edition and excerpt PDFs: Way of the Sword, Way of the Staff, and The Grimoire.

Introduction
Creating Characters (Buying Equipment) (page 6): Roll 5d4 x 10 gp to determine starting gold, not 4d4 x 10 gp

Chapter Two: Races
Runechild (page 21): 17–18th level powers should have psychic blast rather than mind stab.

Chapter Three: Classes
Akashic (page 28): Learn Secret should be Lesser Learn Secret
Akashic (page 29): Learn Secret should be Greater Learn Secret
Champion of Darkness (page 33): The champion of darkness can use any spell-completion or spell-trigger magic item involving a spell with the negative energy spell descriptor, not the tainted spell descriptor.
Greenbond (page 39): Spiritform is usable 1x/day
Mage Blade (page 41): Weapon Finesse bonus feat should not have an asterisk.
Oathsworn (page 48): Despite the text reference in the “Fast Movement” ability, Large oathsworn do not move faster than Medium oathsworn.
Runethane (page 54): The rune of slaying cannot be made permanent.
Totem Warrior (page 55): Weapon Finesse bonus feat should not have an asterisk.
Totem Warrior (Bear) (page 57): Strength of the Bear is usable 1x/day and is a free action to activate.
Totem Warrior (Bear) (page 57): Shape of the Bear stats should be as a black bear +1 HD for every level above 3rd, not 11th.
Totem Warrior (Bear) (page 57): Ferocity of the Bear is a free action to activate.
Totem Warrior (Shark) (page 58): Shape of the Shark stats should be as a medium shark +1 HD for every level above 3rd, not 7th.
Totem Warrior (Wolf) (page 59): Shape of the Wolf stats should be as a wolf +1 HD for every level above 3rd, not 7th.
Totem Warrior (Wolverine) (page 60): Ferocity of the Wolverine is a free action to activate
Unfettered (page 61): Weapon Finesse bonus feat should not have an asterisk.
Witch (page 69): Regarding the mindblade manifestation, dispelling the blade isn’t a standard action, it’s a free action.

Chapter Five: Feats and Talents
Massive Two Weapon Fighting (page 115): Should say “The character can use any one-handed weapon in her off-hand as though it were a light weapon.” Ignore the Normal entry.
Martial Weapon Proficiency (page 116): Ignore the special note.

Chapter Six: Equipment
Equipment List (Simple Weapons) (page 119): Gauntlets do not inflict subdual damage, but regular damage.
Reach Weapons (add to page 118): Reach weapons add +5 feet to the wielder’s natural maximum reach and starting reach, so a medium character with a reach weapon has a maximum reach of 10 feet but a starting reach of 5 feet—which means that he cannot attack those targets closer than 5 feet, i.e., those that are adjacent to him.
Equipment List (Martial Weapons) (page 120): Guisarme should have an asterisk, marking it as a reach weapon.
Lance, heavy or light (page 124): These weapons are treated as one size larger if the wielder is not mounted.

Chapter Eight: Magic
Truenames (page 172): “Anytime a spellcaster casts a spell using a somatic component…” Should be “a verbal component.”

Chapter Nine: Spells
Null Magic Zone (page 222): Range should be 25 feet + 5 feet/2 levels
Resistance (page 230): The heightened effect should be to increase the duration to 1 hour/level.
Tears of pain (page 241): This spell has a duration of 1 day/level

Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed Additional Errata

These late-breaking points arose after the publication of the PDF excerpts of Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed. However, the second printing of the hardback has incorporated all these notes, as has the full edition of the PDF.

Chapter Two: Races
Page 24. The loresong faen (both male and female) weight modifier of should be x1d3, not x2d6.

Chapter Five: Feats
Page 98. Bite: Replace the second paragraph after the table with this one:
If a character uses a weapon (or unarmed attack) in the same round as the bite attack, both the bite attack and the other attack suffer a –2 penalty. A character fighting with a weapon in each hand (or a double weapon) can make a bite attack, but all attacks suffer a –4 penalty in addition to normal two-weapon fighting penalties the character might incur. The feats Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting do not modify the penalties associated with the Bite feat.

Chapter Six: Equipment
Page 118. Delete the reference to the x3/x4 critical. Add this:
* 19-20/x3 The weapon scores a threat on a natural 19 or 20 and deals triple damage on a critical hit.
Page 134. Containers and Carriers. Witchbag should weigh 3 lbs.
Page 135. The caption for the drawing of Flint and Stone should read "Flint and Steel".

Chapter Eight: Magic
Page 164. In the example under "Readying Spells," a 2nd-level mage blade has readied three 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells, due to bonus spells. However, at 2nd level, mage blades have a base of three readied 0-level spells, so he'd have four 0-level spells readied instead of just three.

Chapter Nine: Spells
pages 181 and 208. Enfeebled Mind should have the Truename descriptor
page 231. Ride the Lightning: Saving Throw should be Reflex half
page 237 Spell Magnet: Range should be Close ( 25 feet + 5 feet/2 levels)

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Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed What if there were a whole new player’s handbook, presented just like the 3rd Edition book but with different races, classes, skills, feats, and spells?