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I love the picture, and her writeup is really great for an NPC in her situation. Not to dangerous, but no pushover either. And the Enforcer feat really fits that stern look. But wasn't she supposed to be a level 6 sorcerer?
Don't get me wrong, this is way better , I am just curious about the change.
Will future adventures have some kind of advancement for her (so she isn't always in mortal danger when near the PCs)?
Creative Director
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There were several errors in "Seekers of Secrets," one of which indicated she was a sorcerer.
Her levels were first revealed in Pathfinder #2, YEARS before we released Seekers of Secrets.
So... it wasn't a change at all. Seekers of Secrets was wrong all along.
As for her future level advancement... we have no plans on providing that. NPCs don't gain levels nearly as fast as PCs. ESPECIALLY in a case like this, where Sheila Heidmarch isn't really "near" the PCs for the bulk of the adventure path in the first place.
Its odd, she LOOK like a wizard, TALKS like a wizard, has a BACKSTORY like a wizard, but she's...a fighter/monk? Guess the dress is her casual wear, not necessarily something she'd adventure in.
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Its odd, she LOOK like a wizard, TALKS like a wizard, has a BACKSTORY like a wizard, but she's...a fighter/monk? Guess the dress is her casual wear, not necessarily something she'd adventure in.
Obviously you have never been invited to the high end adventures, they all have a dress code.
My first reaction was the same, Sebastian. When the final cover was announced I was like: Gosh, SorcWizSomekindofarcanecasterforsure - you can stil find her Sorc6 alter ego here.
I don't really see a problem changing her classes from fighter/monk into sorcerer.
While canon describes her as the former, I as GM invoke rule 0.
Heck, actually, if you do not plan to get her involved more directly, classes do not matter at all. She's "just" a powerful contact, which sets the AP in motion and serves as benefector later on (I assume).
Obviously you have never been invited to the high end adventures, they all have a dress code.
So tell me, what's your dress code like?
Ruyan.
Guess the dress is her casual wear, not necessarily something she'd adventure in.
I love that dress, and wish there was something that looked like it for my main WoW character (if/whenever I get around to playing that again).
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There were several errors in "Seekers of Secrets," one of which indicated she was a sorcerer.
Her levels were first revealed in Pathfinder #2, YEARS before we released Seekers of Secrets.
So... it wasn't a change at all. Seekers of Secrets was wrong all along.
As for her future level advancement... we have no plans on providing that. NPCs don't gain levels nearly as fast as PCs. ESPECIALLY in a case like this, where Sheila Heidmarch isn't really "near" the PCs for the bulk of the adventure path in the first place.
That you for your explanation. And as I said those stats are very.. well sexy (if there is a -phile for great stats and writeups thats me :) ) and with that look on her face ... she sure does look intimitdating.
As for future advancement, jade regent hat a sidebar suggestion how the siginificant NPC could level up so taking them into battle would not be murder.
Maybe I am just a bit worried, that she could die in the last adventure when the artefact completed - but maybe that's just overthingking it... and maybe my players will learn tactics one of these days ^^.
What happened to Mandali? Did Sheila bring him with her to Magnimar?
If someone (JJ?) can assure me that he doesn't show up (in one way or another) in future chapters, I'm going to have him be the bodyguard/manservant/butler at Heidmarch Manor. Who wouldn't want that?!
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Creative Director
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What happened to Mandali? Did Sheila bring him with her to Magnimar?
If someone (JJ?) can assure me that he doesn't show up (in one way or another) in future chapters, I'm going to have him be the bodyguard/manservant/butler at Heidmarch Manor. Who wouldn't want that?!
Mandali is still around. He doesn't have an official role to play in Shattered Star, though.
As for why Sheila looks like a sorcerer... that's because not even Creative Directors are immune to being confused by the unfortunate errors in Seekers of Secrets.
One of the VERY first things that happens for an Adventure Path is that I write art orders for all six covers. I knew that we'd illustrated Sheila Heidmarch in Seekers of Secrets, so I went there to get the page number to send that to the art department for reference so that Wayne, when he painted her, would make her look similar to that reference. And there I was on that page where it was talking about her, and since that page listed her as a sorcerer, that's what I took to heart when I wrote a sentence describing what she carried and looked like to Wayne.
Of course, when I went on to get more into the development of the adventure AND started writing Magnimar, City of Monuments, I realized that there'd been an error (in fact, that there were MANY errors—wrong class for Sheila, wrong map for her manor, and a few more errors along those lines in Seekers of Secrets).
Which is frustrating, on one level. But on another, since Seekers of Secrets is an older book that's pretty much sold out, and since Shattered Star and the Magnimar book and this season's Pathfinder Society adventures all heavilly detail Magnimar, Sheila, Heidmarch Manor, and the like, it was a PERFECT opportunity to get in there and do some ret conning to fix those errors.
Switching Sheila back to her fighter/monk mix was easy enough in the text, but Wayne had already finished his art of her for the cover. And she DOES look like a sorcerer there because, as I explained above, that's what we asked Wayne for. Which caused me a bit of stress and frustration, because a fighter/monk who wields a quarterstaff and doesn't wear armor is self-nerfing her fighter bonuses and monk bonuses pretty significantly. Which is fine for some characters, but not for a famous pathfinder.
FORTUNATELY, there were a pair of really perfect archetypes to solve the problem, and now, I actually think that all of that worked out to make Sheila a MUCH more unique and interesting character than what a standard "fighter/monk pathfinder" would have ended up looking like.
As for why Sheila looks like a sorcerer...
I like the pictures as they are. The dress is gorgeous, and it makes her seem even more like a buttkicker if she's going around staving people in a dress like that.
Mandali is still around. He doesn't have an official role to play in Shattered Star, though.
As for why Sheila looks like a sorcerer...
Awesome. Thanks, JJ.
I LOVE that Sheila doesn't look like a Fighter/Monk. I think it adds layers of personality to her that wouldn't have been there if she did look just like her class(es).
Will we get an NPC write-up or at least a statblock for Sir Canayven as well?
We definitely got around the discussion about her tight-fitting breast... wait!
What happened to Mandali? Did Sheila bring him with her to Magnimar?
If someone (JJ?) can assure me that he doesn't show up (in one way or another) in future chapters, I'm going to have him be the bodyguard/manservant/butler at Heidmarch Manor. Who wouldn't want that?!
Mandali is still around. He doesn't have an official role to play in Shattered Star, though.
As for why Sheila looks like a sorcerer... that's because not even Creative Directors are immune to being confused by the unfortunate errors in Seekers of Secrets.
One of the VERY first things that happens for an Adventure Path is that I write art orders for all six covers. I knew that we'd illustrated Sheila Heidmarch in Seekers of Secrets, so I went there to get the page number to send that to the art department for reference so that Wayne, when he painted her, would make her look similar to that reference. And there I was on that page where it was talking about her, and since that page listed her as a sorcerer, that's what I took to heart when I wrote a sentence describing what she carried and looked like to Wayne.
Of course, when I went on to get more into the development of the adventure AND started writing Magnimar, City of Monuments, I realized that there'd been an error (in fact, that there were MANY errors—wrong class for Sheila, wrong map for her manor, and a few more errors along those lines in Seekers of Secrets).
Which is frustrating, on one level. But on another, since Seekers of Secrets is an older book that's pretty much sold out, and since Shattered Star and the Magnimar book and this season's Pathfinder Society adventures all heavilly detail Magnimar, Sheila, Heidmarch Manor, and the like, it was a PERFECT opportunity to get in there and do some ret conning to fix those errors.
Switching Sheila back to her fighter/monk mix was easy enough in the text, but Wayne had already finished his art of her for the cover. And she DOES look like a sorcerer there because, as I explained above, that's...
Well, she's clearly just wearing her "I'm noble, so I guess it won't hurt looking like one occasionally" outfit rather than her butt-kicking one. I'm pretty sure non-iconics are allowed more than one outfit in their wardrobes. ;)
Will we get an NPC write-up or at least a statblock for Sir Canayven as well?Probably not in this adventure path.
Thank goodness! That means I can flex my NPC-making muscles! Huzzah!
According to here he's an lvl8 ranger - so not much headroom.
Then again, this info stems from the dreaded SoS...
Ruyan.
According to here he's an lvl8 ranger - so not much headroom.
Then again, this info stems from the dreaded SoS...Ruyan.
It's the same in Magnimar, City of Monuments so I think it's a safe bet :p
Hehe, wasn't sure, because I do not have access to my books right now.
Heh. I did that to my PCs once:
DM: You see a man in robes approaching the room.
Rogue hidden behind the door: Ha. A wizard. I got this. SNEAK ATTACK!
Turned out it was a monk's robe. :)
Heh. I did that to my PCs once:
DM: You see a man in robes approaching the room.
Rogue hidden behind the door: Ha. A wizard. I got this. SNEAK ATTACK!Turned out it was a monk's robe. :)
Heee.
::rolls perception, initiative, attack roll, damage::
DM: The guy in robes holds out his fist and you run right into it. He looks unsurprised and somewhat bored.
Rogue: Bwah?!
But shouldn't the rogue at least get a Reflex save to avoid the fist?
Heh. I did that to my PCs once:
DM: You see a man in robes approaching the room.
Rogue hidden behind the door: Ha. A wizard. I got this. SNEAK ATTACK!Turned out it was a monk's robe. :)
Heee.
::rolls perception, initiative, attack roll, damage::
DM: The guy in robes holds out his fist and you run right into it. He looks unsurprised and somewhat bored.
Rogue: Bwah?!
And now I hope this is how Sajan is introduced in the comics.
Her apparel might be a tactic .
PC : 'She looks like that ? Ok , she must be a sorc or a wizard. I run and grapple her '
DM : Evil Grin ...
Reminds me of an old Greyhawk adventure/sourcebook, where the PCs encountered a group of wizards - except one was a fighter dressed in robes (and bracers of defense) wielding a quarterstaff - at a relative high level, with specializiation and high strength, it was a nasty surprise.
But shouldn't the rogue at least get a Reflex save to avoid the fist?
Maaaaaybe a reflex save to avoid taking damage but the fist stays. Rule of funny. I use it.
Mandali is still around. He doesn't have an official role to play in Shattered Star, though.What happened to Mandali? Did Sheila bring him with her to Magnimar?
If someone (JJ?) can assure me that he doesn't show up (in one way or another) in future chapters, I'm going to have him be the bodyguard/manservant/butler at Heidmarch Manor. Who wouldn't want that?!
Mandali has become somewhat of a regular drinking buddy to my Grey Gardner character
Will we get an NPC write-up or at least a statblock for Sir Canayven as well?Probably not in this adventure path.
After reading this read I am glad I wasn't imagininging things. I went back to seekers of secrets and Sir Canayven is listed as aristocrat 3/rogue 3..it didn't seem to give with his history of jungle adventures..
so the ranger works better..but then I kept thinking he was only ranger 6 instead of range 8..and its because Seekers of secrets has him at 6th level..argh..
Should I hang on to Seekers as a collectible? Is paizo quietly buying them back?
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Should I hang on to Seekers as a collectible? Is paizo quietly buying them back?
I'd hold onto it simply for its value as a book. Sure some of the information and delivery was off the mark and now outdated, and sure I had some misgivings about some elements, but there are still plenty of ideas to mine from the book and inspiration to be found.
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After reading this read I am glad I wasn't imagininging things. I went back to seekers of secrets and Sir Canayven is listed as aristocrat 3/rogue 3..it didn't seem to give with his history of jungle adventures..Will we get an NPC write-up or at least a statblock for Sir Canayven as well?Probably not in this adventure path.
He's still listed as aristocrat 3/ rogue 3 in The Dead Heart of Xin, p. 10. :P