LPJ Design is looking for person(s) who can help us with game mechanics for our Pathfinder Roleplaying Game licensed products. We are looking for someone who loves “crunchy bits”; game mechanics and how to make them interesting and balanced. WE ARE NOT LOOKING for people who want to write “fluff” material; background information and fiction. We are only looking for those who want to take ideas and game mechanics, break them apart and see what makes them tick. All interested persons, please feel free to contact me directly at LMPjr007 (at) Aol (dot) com with the title “Game Mechanic Expert”. This is a paid position and all those interested WILL BE TESTED. Good luck!

Peace,
Louis Porter Jr.

sent an e-mail, I'm sure you saw that coming. Wasn't sure exactly what you wanted said in the e-mail though so I kept it light hoping to just answer questions as they come.

I did the opposite. My email is longish, partly because I want to demonstrate a bit of experience, and list some published works. And, partly because I got a little excited and gushed about my love for design and mechanics. And I added some references.

How many new folks are you looking for?

How many new folks are you looking for?

Yeah, I kept mine rather short and sweet as well, highlighting a bit of my experience but using a more conversational tone. Haven't gotten a reply back though, but it's no big deal, I'm sure LPJ has a schedule planned out for this.

Well unfortunately I have no experience, I just recently decided to seriously consider writing RPG material and while I've submitted things for review, I have no credit to my name, so based on that, I'm probably not likely to be much considered, I also kept it in a conversational tone, I figured I'd wait to see what was requested of me before attempting to be more loquacious or formal.

Well, in your favor, the Origonal Post claims all interested parties will be tested. I'm sure LPJ would want to look into all the options deeper than just a brief overview before making his choices. There's alot more that goes into somebody's game engineering capabilities than can be presented very well in an introductory email without elaborate guidelines on the desired content.

Good luck LastKnightLeft.

Well, in your favor, the Origonal Post claims all interested parties will be tested. I'm sure LPJ would want to look into all the options deeper than just a brief overview before making his choices. There's alot more that goes into somebody's game engineering capabilities than can be presented very well in an introductory email without elaborate guidelines on the desired content.

Good luck LastKnightLeft.

Good luck to everyone. Everyone deserves his or her shot at doing something they have a passion for.

Tossed my hat in the ring too. Especially interested in seeing the processes others use to bring a design to publication...

I'd be interested in hearing more about this position.

Are you hiring an employee, or is this a contract position? Can your game mechanic expert telecommute? Also, what level of time commitment are you expecting from your game mechanic expert? Full-time? Part-time? Per contract?

I'd be interested in hearing more about this position.

Are you hiring an employee, or is this a contract position? Can your game mechanic expert telecommute? Also, what level of time commitment are you expecting from your game mechanic expert? Full-time? Part-time? Per contract?

Good news!!! I have received emails from a lot of people who are interested in this position and now I am going over the results of the test that we sent out. A few people did very well and were incredibly descriptive in their answers. I will make an announcement on Monday Oct. 19th, of who have been hired to the position of Game Mechanic / Stat Monkey for Louis Porter Jr. Design after we move into the new LPJ Design headquarters. So stay tuned...

Good news!!! I have received emails from a lot of people who are interested in this position and now I am going over the results of the test that we sent out. A few people did very well and were incredibly descriptive in their answers. I will make an announcement on Monday Oct. 19th, of who have been hired to the position of Game Mechanic / Stat Monkey for Louis Porter Jr. Design after we move into the new LPJ Design headquarters. So stay tuned...

LMPjr007 wrote:

Good news!!! I have received emails from a lot of people who are interested in this position and now I am going over the results of the test that we sent out. A few people did very well and were incredibly descriptive in their answers. I will make an announcement on Monday Oct. 19th, of who have been hired to the position of Game Mechanic / Stat Monkey for Louis Porter Jr. Design after we move into the new LPJ Design headquarters. So stay tuned...

Wow, judging by the time stamp on this e-mail you got responses aparently before I was even able to look at my e-mail lol, that doesn't bode well.

Good luck guys! I only wish I'd checked this forum a week ago. :)

It's great to see someone actually hiring for something like this, especially openly drawing on the talent of the community. Hope to see some great stuff from you guys.

lastknightleft wrote:

LMPjr007 wrote:

Good news!!! I have received emails from a lot of people who are interested in this position and now I am going over the results of the test that we sent out. A few people did very well and were incredibly descriptive in their answers. I will make an announcement on Monday Oct. 19th, of who have been hired to the position of Game Mechanic / Stat Monkey for Louis Porter Jr. Design after we move into the new LPJ Design headquarters. So stay tuned...

Wow, judging by the time stamp on this e-mail you got responses aparently before I was even able to look at my e-mail lol, that doesn't bode well.

Well if you are good then that will show through, not just when you got the material in to me.

It's great to see someone actually hiring for something like this, especially openly drawing on the talent of the community. Hope to see some great stuff from you guys.

Hydro wrote:

It's great to see someone actually hiring for something like this, especially openly drawing on the talent of the community. Hope to see some great stuff from you guys.

Personally, I want to work with people who LOVE Paizo and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Those kinds of people make work a pleasure and not just work. I can say most people who work for me, work for me because they like working for me not just the pay.

Thanks for throwing the invite out in the open :)

Since so many people missed this post, I though it would be fair to place the actually test that we send out so you would see how well you might fare. Enjoy!

So here is the little test for our game mechanic expert. Please give me the correct CR for this NPC (OGL 3.5 based rules):

Size/Type: Large Quasi-Construct

Hit Dice (max): 14D10+30 (170)

Initiative: +5

Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)

Armor Class: 36 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +9 natural, +8 armor, +3 enhancement, +4 shield, +2 ring), touch 10, flat – footed 35

Base Attack/Grapple: +11/+23

Attack: Large Great Maul +23 melee (3d8, +2d6 force, +15, plus special, x3 19-20)

Full Attack: Large Great Maul +23/+18/+13 melee (3d8, +2d6 force, +15, plus special, x3 19-20)

Space/Reach: 10 ft / 10 ft

Special Attacks: Shattering, smite, spellcasting, Trembling Strike

Special Qualities: Construct traits, Corpsespawning, Necrogeneration

Saves: Fort +10, Ref +5, Will +15

Abilities (54 point buy): Str 26 (+2 racial, +6 item), Dex 12, Con – (4 point expenditure), Int 16 (+1 level), Wis 24 (+2 level, +4 item), Cha 14

Skills: Concentration* +19, Diplomacy +12, Intimidate +18, Jump +13, Knowledge: Arcana +8, Knowledge: History +8, Knowledge: Religion +3, Knowledge: the Planes +8, Spellcraft +22

Feats: Combat expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Critical (great maul), Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved trip, Power attack, Weapon Focus (great maul)

Environment: NA

Organization: Leader of the Folding Circle

Equipment (150,000 gp): Full plate +3 (17,650 gp), Aro (+3 indestructible shattering great maul) (50,300 gp), Belt of Giant Strength +6 (36,000 gp), Animated Heavy Steel Shield +2 (16,170 gp) Periapt of Wisdom +4 (16,000 gp), Ring of Protection +2 (8,000 gp), potion of Fly (750 gp), scroll of heal*3 (4,950 gp)

Spells Prepared (Casts as an ??th level Cleric, Destruction and War Domains):

6th—~Blade barrier (11d6 DC 22), Summon Monster VI (usually used to summon 1d3 achaierai), Word of Recall

5th—~Flame strike (11d6 DC 21), Righteous Might, Spell Resistance, Symbol of Pain (DC 21)

4th—Air Walk, Dismissal, ~Divine Power, Freedom of movement, Spell Immunity

3rd—Animate Dead, Bestow Curse (DC 20), ~Contagion, Dispel Magic*2, Magic Circle against Good, Prayer

2nd—Aid, Desecrate, Eagle’s Splendor, Hold Person (DC 19), Resist Energy, Silence, ~spiritual weapon (1d8+3 x3, +14/+9)

1st—Bless (x2), Command (DC 18) (x2), Divine Favor (+3), Entropic Shield, ~Inflict Light wounds (1d8+5), Sanctuary (DC 18)

0—cure minor wounds *2, detect magic, light, mending, read magic

Special Attacks

Trembling Strike (Ex): As a standard action, Makesh may slam Aro into the ground, causing a small tremor. This is resolved as a Trip attack versus all opponents within 15 feet of his position. Each is resolved separately, and each opponent that is tripped is subject to a free attack.

Shattering: This is a special power that Aro possesses. Not only can Aro cause sundering an object, Aro gains an additional +4 bonus on this roll. When used against a living target, Aro’s critical threat range doubles (in this case, from 19-20 to 17-20).

Indestructible: Aro cannot be damaged, sundered, disarmed, or destroyed by any means. The weapon also bypasses hardness as an adamantine weapon.

Smite (Su): Domain power. +4 hit, +11 damage, 1/day.

Special Qualities

Construct traits: 10 sided hit dice, No constitution, Low-light vision, 60 ft darkvision, immunity to all mind-affecting effects, Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, and harmful necromancy effects. Cannot heal damage on his own, but is affected by healing magic, unlike normal constructs. Not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability damage or drain, exhaustion, or energy drain. Immunity to any affect that requires a fortitude save unless it affects objects or is harmless, cannot die from massive damage, cannot be raised or resurrected.

Corpsespawning (Su): Makesh not only traps the souls of those he slays, but he may animate their bodies. Whenever Makesh kills a humanoid creature of any type, it rises as a 5 HD ghast under his control the following round. Makesh may animate up to 3 times his level in hit dice of undead in any given combat.

Necrogeneration: Through the power of the Ashkean Gate, Makesh may directly absorb the life energy of those he strikes in combat. Necrogeneration causes Makesh to regain 10 hit points for every strike he lands in melee combat, as he drains the life force from the foes he strikes.

In Combat
By mid to high level, Makesh has become a bit of a monster. He only enters combat if he is prepared with Divine favor and righteous might, often following this up with Aid. He likes to emblazon a symbol of pain on his chest at all times, which he is immune to - but which others certainly suffer from. He will use Desecrate and prayer to strengthen any ghasts that rise, and will often take to the air to simply watch a fight, dropping achaierai into the fray to soften opponents up through their cloud ability. He is not above trapping opponents in a ring of death with blade barrier. If Makesh is surprised or unprepared, he will always use word of recall to flee, later scrying on his opponents and planning an ambush. If he is badly hurt but wishes to continue fighting, he will use a heal scroll as necessary.

Since so many people missed this post, I though it would be fair to place the actually test that we send out so you would see how well you might fare. Enjoy!

LMPjr007 wrote:

Since so many people missed this post, I though it would be fair to place the actually test that we send out so you would see how well you might fare. Enjoy!

Okay my eyeballs are bleeding from staring at this entry again, and still not finding the answer, what is the plus special in his damage entry refering to?

lastknightleft wrote:

LMPjr007 wrote:

Since so many people missed this post, I though it would be fair to place the actually test that we send out so you would see how well you might fare. Enjoy!

Okay my eyeballs are bleeding from staring at this entry again, and still not finding the answer, what is the plus special in his damage entry refering to?

Necrogeneration: Through the power of the Ashkean Gate, Makesh may directly absorb the life energy of those he strikes in combat. Necrogeneration causes Makesh to regain 10 hit points for every strike he lands in melee combat, as he drains the life force from the foes he strikes.

Yep, just saying that's what its referring to, took me a few looks to figure out that's what it meant too as that's the only ability on the list that triggers off a melee hit.

I can tell you how that BAB was calculated, but since LPJ is still using this NPC as a test, I think it best I wait until the testing is done.

Ya, it was a very interesting test (I submited my answer a couple days ago). It took me a little while to really break things down. If anything, it was fun!

I think I overvalued corpsespawning. :P But yeah, it was pretty fun!

I can tell you how that BAB was calculated

I think I overvalued corpsespawning. :P But yeah, it was pretty fun!

Yep, just saying that's what its referring to, took me a few looks to figure out that's what it meant too as that's the only ability on the list that triggers off a melee hit.

Also, I'm not entirely sure what's confusing about the BAB. That part's bog-standard.

riatin wrote:

Yep, just saying that's what its referring to, took me a few looks to figure out that's what it meant too as that's the only ability on the list that triggers off a melee hit.

Actually, it isn't ;)

Also, I'm not entirely sure what's confusing about the BAB. That part's bog-standard.

riatin wrote:

Yep, just saying that's what its referring to, took me a few looks to figure out that's what it meant too as that's the only ability on the list that triggers off a melee hit.

Actually, it isn't ;)

Also, I'm not entirely sure what's confusing about the BAB. That part's bog-standard.

apparently it's not based on hit die like I always thought BAB was supposed to be based on. but like the guy said it's currently being used to test peoples system mastery so we shouldn't be talking about it yet.

lastknightleft wrote:

apparently it's not based on hit die like I always thought BAB was supposed to be based on. but like the guy said it's currently being used to test peoples system mastery so we shouldn't be talking about it yet.

Actually, from the email that I got, we only had 24 hours to give him the answer. Now, I got my email on Tuesday, so by now, answers should be in.

Zurai wrote:

riatin wrote:

Yep, just saying that's what its referring to, took me a few looks to figure out that's what it meant too as that's the only ability on the list that triggers off a melee hit.

Actually, it isn't ;)

Also, I'm not entirely sure what's confusing about the BAB. That part's bog-standard.

Until it changes due to a spell the guy commonly casts :D Though that isn't reflected in his stat block of course.

Well, looks like no matter how good I am I'm most likely out of it, and I'd like to think I'd have made a good addition to the team.

Ah well, I did my best, no regrets. And who knows, I just might get in anyway. ('might' being the operative word.)

Well, looks like no matter how good I am I'm most likely out of it, and I'd like to think I'd have made a good addition to the team.

Ah well, I did my best, no regrets. And who knows, I just might get in anyway. ('might' being the operative word.)

And I'm starting to feel like I'm spamming now, but I do want to comment that nearly everyone who's posted on this thread is on my short list of people I've hoped to see respond over here.

Yeah but we can't be sure we all got our e-mails on the same day...

For future tests like this one, I would recommend that LPJ Design first send out a head's up that the test is scheduled to start in a few days. Then everyone knows to check their email on the day the test starts (or has the opportunity to reschedule the test for a different 24-hour period, if necessary).

lastknightleft wrote:

Yeah but we can't be sure we all got our e-mails on the same day...

Quite true.

For future tests like this one, I would recommend that LPJ Design first send out a head's up that the test is scheduled to start in a few days. Then everyone knows to check their email on the day the test starts (or has the opportunity to reschedule the test for a different 24-hour period, if necessary).

(Still frustrated over miss-applying that spell effect, good grief I was distracted)

lastknightleft wrote:

Yeah but we can't be sure we all got our e-mails on the same day...

Quite true.

For future tests like this one, I would recommend that LPJ Design first send out a head's up that the test is scheduled to start in a few days. Then everyone knows to check their email on the day the test starts (or has the opportunity to reschedule the test for a different 24-hour period, if necessary).

It didn't help that we started diving into the awesome that is the skinsaw murders that night, so I was also trying not to think of the barnyard fight that was coming since the PCs left off in Hambleys fields after only two scarecrow fights. Oh and one of their guards they took with them had been bitten and is now infected with ghould fever so that should be fun in a few days. I'm thinking that maybe the guy gets all paranoid and tries to hide how sick he gets, I don't know we'll see if the PCs save any of the humans that are infected but not ghouls yet. On the other hand even if I don't make it, the night I got the test wound up being exciting and awesome partly because of it, so as stressful as it was, it sure made for a great night.

riatin wrote:

Yep, just saying that's what its referring to, took me a few looks to figure out that's what it meant too as that's the only ability on the list that triggers off a melee hit.

Actually, it isn't ;)

Also, I'm not entirely sure what's confusing about the BAB. That part's bog-standard.

Sorry, left out an important qualifier. He gets to use it on full round attacks as opposed to Trembling Strike being a standard action. It could also mean Shattering I guess now that I go back and look, but that was sort of a confusing ability imo.

Zurai wrote:

riatin wrote:

Yep, just saying that's what its referring to, took me a few looks to figure out that's what it meant too as that's the only ability on the list that triggers off a melee hit.

Actually, it isn't ;)

Also, I'm not entirely sure what's confusing about the BAB. That part's bog-standard.

...list that triggers off every melee hit.

Sorry, left out an important qualifier. He gets to use it on full round attacks as opposed to Trembling Strike being a standard action. It could also mean Shattering I guess now that I go back and look, but that was sort of a confusing ability imo.

Remember, this "test" wasn't to figure out everything that is wrong with the character, or everything it could do, or check every number, or anything else.

It was a test to determine what the CR would be of the monster, just as if it were in the Monster Manual.

why does he do +2d6 force damage?

Remember, this "test" wasn't to figure out everything that is wrong with the character, or everything it could do, or check every number, or anything else.

It was a test to determine what the CR would be of the monster, just as if it were in the Monster Manual.

why does he do +2d6 force damage?

why does he do +2d6 force damage?

Missed it by a few days ... maybe next time :)

Well, after reading the entry, I was mostly convinced it was a trick question. Sometimes I overthink things. I assumed that because the stat block was missing data or had erroneous data that I should give it a CR and point out it wasn't mechanically ready for publishing. I interpret the jobs of a stats guru to clean that stuff up and make sure it is balanced.

So, I know my email qualified as one of those really elaborate answers, but if I was really just supposed to send in a CR, I probably stepped on someone's toes and lost out.

Then again, we all like tight stats blocks, right?

Best of luck to everyone. It was a fun exercise.

I can tell you how that BAB was calculated, but since LPJ is still using this NPC as a test, I think it best I wait until the testing is done.

Tom Baumbach wrote:

I can tell you how that BAB was calculated, but since LPJ is still using this NPC as a test, I think it best I wait until the testing is done.

I assumed it was just a mistake, as the BAB in the top stat block ought to just list the BAB from HD, and there's not a list in the actual block of spells in progress.