Of Packages and Poppets

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Careful observers may have noted that a number of recent Pathfinder products credit a few new names as lead developer, namely Thurston Hillman and Ron Lundeen. We have since brought Thurston on as the full-time developer of our Starfinder Society organized play program, but Ron already had a full-time gig (can you believe how much he writes and now develops for us in addition to a 40-hour work week?!) so we had to settle for using his talents on what projects he had time for. Among the first I had the pleasure of working with him on was Pathfinder Player Companion: Adventurer's Armory 2—the follow-up to our most popular Pathfinder Player Companion to date. Here are a few words from Ron on his favorite parts of the book.

Oh, and many thanks to Ron for helping out when we needed it! You're a genuine hero, sir. —Mark Moreland, Developer

As Adventurer's Armory 2 is now hitting shelves and downloads everywhere, I wanted to talk about two of my favorite sections. Mark Moreland has been like my Yoda through this process, and he is going to pen a follow-up Adventurer's Armory 2 blog where he rolls up his sleeves (like on a spider-silk bodysuit, page 6) and pulls back the veil (as found in dancer's garb, page 29) on getting the most out of this book (such as any of its 8 new equipment tricks). So I won't steal his thunder (as delivered by a stormshaft javelin, page 9). Okay, no more games (like the imperial conquest board game, page 29).

First up are equipment packages. These are designed to include everything you'd need for your PC's first few adventures. These are more expansive than existing class-based kits (such as a sorcerer's kit), as they include weapons, armor, and even a few minor magic items. If you don't like the detailed accounting of purchasing starting equipment, or if you get overwhelmed by all the options, equipment packages will definitely interest you. They are designed by role or theme (such as "Daring Bravo" or "Wilderness Warrior"), and not by class, so each equipment package is attractive to a wide range of PCs. Equipment packages are expensive—each is worth around 1,000 gp—so a starting character usually obtains them as a gift from a wealthy patron (when permitted by the GM), after a big score in an early adventure, or through the Well-Provisioned Adventurer equipment trait (which lets you select any equipment package in place of your normal starting gold). Equipment packages take a lot of the detailed work out of shopping and allow a PC to quickly hit the table running. An example? Sure! The Holy Warrior equipment package provides good defense and a great selection of gear for overcoming DR, swarms, and enchantments.

Grab-and-go adventuring!
Illustration by Forrest Imel

Holy Warrior

The holy warrior is prepared to use her might and zeal to take the fight to the enemy, but she understands the importance of having the right equipment to overcome the resistances of her monstrous foes. This equipment package is well-suited to a cleric, inquisitorAPG, paladin, warpriestACG, or even a fighter with a religious background. It's especially suited to characters who focus on supporting their party members and making them more effective in a fight. Even more than with other equipment packages, the GM should consider substituting the masterwork longsword in this package with a masterwork melee weapon appropriate to the PC's faith. If the PC can cast spells, add a spell component pouch.

Armor: Heavy steel shield, masterwork breastplate.
Weapons: Cold iron morningstar, heavy crossbow with 10 bolts, masterwork longsword.
Combat Gear: Alchemist's fire (3), holy water (4), oil of bless weapon, potions of cure light wounds (2), potion of protection from evil, sunrods (3).
Other Gear: Backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, candles (5), chalk (5 pieces), crowbar, flint and steel, holy symbol (silver), mess kitUE, sack, silk rope (50 ft.), trail rations (5 days), waterskin, 7 gp.
Total Weight: 102 lbs. (57-1/4 lbs. for a Small character).

My absolute favorite section in Adventurer's Armory 2—and perhaps my favorite spread in any Player Companion book—is poppets. Poppets! So loveably cute, so utterly disposable! Ahem. These simple constructs are helpful and loyal critters, but they're pretty fragile. Here's what a base poppet looks like:

Someone's ready for a hug!
Illustration by Benjamin Widdowson

Poppet CR 1/3

XP 135
N Tiny construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision;
Perception -3

DEFENSE

AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 size)
hp 5 (1d10)
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will -3
Immune construct traits
Weaknesses vulnerable to fire

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.
Melee slam +2 (1d2-1)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

STATISTICS

Str 8, Dex 14, Con —, Int —, Wis 5, Cha 1
Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 10

Even low-level characters can pick up a poppet with the Craft Poppet feat (available at 1st level), the Poppet Familiar feat (available to 3rd-level casters able to take a familiar), or buying one along with its ownership token—for which you'll pay about as much as you would for a masterwork weapon. But your little poppet need not stay feeble for long! You can augment your poppets with more abilities (such as fire-resistant sealant, climbing hooks, or armor), and even get a larger poppet. Although the rules say it's "Small in size," I prefer to think of it as "the size of a toddler"—and twice as cute!

Maybe three times as cute!
Illustration by Forrest Imel

Ron Lundeen
Contributing Developer

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Benjamin Widdowson Forrest Imel Pathfinder Player Companion

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

LOVE the idea of equipment packages! Reminds of the old adventurer pack A-D.


7 people marked this as a favorite.

Oooo, 1d4 ⇒ 4 goblin babies want a Gom-Gom poppet.

Silver Crusade

Three times as cute indeed, I love the Poppets ^w^


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Already seeing a few things that will get a big, giant "NOPE" stamp when it comes to PFS play. Oh, well.


Poppets will be a perfect addition to my creepy doll halfling mesmerist in my group's Strange Aeons campaign. I might even retrain some feats in order to pick up a familiar poppet. Perhaps one that looks just like me.


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Orko!!!


Can poppets be created with craft construct if a character already has that?

Liberty's Edge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Is that Orko?

Dark Archive

2 people marked this as a favorite.
J-Bone wrote:

Is that Orko?

Utini!

Dark Archive

Aw dang it, now I have to figure out what I rather have, either a puppet or a leshy!

Silver Crusade

Eviljames wrote:
Can poppets be created with craft construct if a character already has that?

They have their own Feat.

Silver Crusade

ulgulanoth wrote:
Aw dang it, now I have to figure out what I rather have, either a puppet or a leshy!

Why not both?


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Eviljames wrote:
Can poppets be created with craft construct if a character already has that?

Yes. They can be made with either Craft Construct or Craft Poppet.

Silver Crusade

Luthorne wrote:
Eviljames wrote:
Can poppets be created with craft construct if a character already has that?
Yes. They can be made with either Craft Construct or Craft Poppet.

*rereads Poppets section*

Ah, neat. I missed that in the construction section.


So if you make it a familiar it takes your familiar slot.

However, can you have several non-familiar ones?

The Exchange

4 people marked this as a favorite.

"'Ello poppet."

Silver Crusade

Lemartes wrote:

So if you make it a familiar it takes your familiar slot.

However, can you have several non-familiar ones?

Yep, you can collect/create as many as you like.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Bottom Picture and all i can think is I need a Tiger riding barbarian with that thing to hang around and fail at spell casting.

RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32

4 people marked this as a favorite.

Melee boop +2 (1d2-1)


Now I can fully roleplay Achamian from the Prince of Nothing series.


Potion belts? Fast-Donning Straps? Riding Straps? Augment Crystals? Yes? No?

Paizo Employee Developer

Berselius wrote:

Potion belts? Fast-Donning Straps? Riding Straps? Augment Crystals? Yes? No?

None of these appear in this book.


Mark Moreland wrote:
Berselius wrote:
Potion belts? Fast-Donning Straps? Riding Straps? Augment Crystals? Yes? No?
None of these appear in this book.

(grumbles)


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Finally a preview that has nothing to do with Starfinder.

I like the poppets, they would make good low-level toy themed monsters, maybe on day they will get more customizing options.


Rysky wrote:
Lemartes wrote:

So if you make it a familiar it takes your familiar slot.

However, can you have several non-familiar ones?

Yep, you can collect/create as many as you like.

Thanks.


And thanks a lot Ron for all your work.


I want a Poppet!

need 0HD Poppet...

O_o

String Poppet?

o_O

Hand Poppet?

@_@

Quote:
Although the rules say it's "Small in size," I prefer to think of it as "the size of a toddler"—and twice as cute!

Does it help parents cope with the grief of losing a young child?

- - - - - -

Which Paizo staffer had the biggest "Squeeeeee! I want one!"?


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Rysky wrote:
Three times as cute indeed, I love the Poppets ^w^

I feel loved!

Silver Crusade

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Poppet wrote:
Rysky wrote:
Three times as cute indeed, I love the Poppets ^w^
I feel loved!

You are!

*cuddles*

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16

1 person marked this as a favorite.

The poppets are perfect for my witch who makes plushies.

Contributor

4 people marked this as a favorite.
Frencois wrote:
And thanks a lot Ron for all your work.

Work I love! Thanks!


looking forward to picking this one up just because of all the rules confusion and controversy it seems to be causing already :P But here's hoping i can finally make my katana monk concept a thing.

Paizo Employee Developer

4 people marked this as a favorite.
Nutcase Entertainment wrote:
Which Paizo staffer had the biggest "Squeeeeee! I want one!"?

Definitely Linda.

Grand Lodge Developer

5 people marked this as a favorite.
Mark Moreland wrote:
Nutcase Entertainment wrote:
Which Paizo staffer had the biggest "Squeeeeee! I want one!"?
Definitely Linda.

I said I was too busy to work on this book, and then people told me about the poppets spread. Dammit, they have my number ^_^


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Poppet wrote:
Rysky wrote:
Three times as cute indeed, I love the Poppets ^w^
I feel loved!

So cute!

*drools*

Are you edible?


1 person marked this as a favorite.

These would have been adorably cute for me, when i was evil. Gravewitches already have poppets, but not like those.


Just got the book. Poppets are awesome!


I just saw the movie 9 for the first time a few days ago. I wonder if it provided any inspiration for the poppets.

Contributor

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Gisher wrote:
I just saw the movie 9 for the first time a few days ago. I wonder if it provided any inspiration for the poppets.

Not from my end--but now that I know about it, I really want to see that movie.


I wonder when Additional resources will have implemented what content is and is not available.

Poppets in PFS, could be fun.

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