Absinth's page

I'm in the process of preparing a future game for our current campaign. It's a seafaring campaign in which the PCs are, for the first time, exploring the unknown south of my homebrew setting.
They now set sails toward a harbour city that has the seedy reputation of a haven for cutthroats, pirates and slavers. The city is run by several drug lords and on its markets you can find almost everything, that's illegal in most other nations. I think you get the idea...

To add flavour to this, I'd like to come up with several drugs, that can be bought there and so I wondered, if any of you ever created exotic or unusual drugs that I could use for inspiration. I'm gathering ideas for unusual drugs with interesting and/or terrible effects or side-effects. I don't want to use the standard stuff that just affects abilities, but substances, that have a weird and/or fantastic feel to them. For example, I'm toying with the idea to create a drug that lets people actually float, but has the side-effect, that it turns them ethereal when used in higher doses. Stuff like this...
Things posted in this threat might also be useful for the adventures of the upcoming LoF AP, wherein the players will visit the markets of Katapesh, which hopefully will live up to the surname Bazaar of the Bizarre.
I'd be happy if you could share already created drugs or ideas and I'll post the stuff I create when I'll sit down to do so this weekend.

Hello,
I know there was a similar thread a while ago, but my search-fu seems weak and I couldn't find it. So please forgive the new thread on an old, old topic. I'd like to know what the status is on the efforts to make it possible to add non-subscription items to shipments of subscription items. I'm desparatly waiting for news on this! There's more and more stuff coming out each month, that I'd really like to order, but being from Germany; shipping costs are an issue for me. I can't afford more than one shipment each month and the current situation feels sub-optimal to me. I really like being a subscriber, but sometimes I'm getting the impression that canceling my subs and placing an order each month with all the stuff I'd like, would be the better option to me. But this way I won't get the PDF and the PF advantage, which would be a real bummer. If this issue can't be fixed (which seems to be the case), than a books-only option for a Chronicles subscription would be great! I would subscribe to PF Chronicles on the spot, if the subscription wouldn't include map folios, cards and other stuff I have no use for!

So, please tell me, if there'll be a solution to this problem in the near future. There are many loyal customers from overseas on the boards and I believe that I'm not the only one with this problem.

While looking at the runes of the drow houses and demon lords on the inside of the front-/backcover, I noticed that there are as many drow houses as demon lords present. I know that there are probably more drow houses and demon lords in Golarion, but I asked myself, if each house is tied to one of the demon lords. It would be cool if someone could shine a light on this...

And where can we expect a detailed article about Golarions drow? Will it be in the Darklands book or will there be an article on drow and their culture in an upcoming Second Darkness issue?

Hey all, this might have been discussed elsewhere, but I couldn't find the thread, if one exists at all. As I was reading about Poisons and Illness in the Alpha 2 release, I wondered if there are rules for determing the level of an illness. These levels range from 1 to 17. The save DC seems to be based on the level, but it isn't the only factor, I guess. Sometimes a Lvl 3 poisons has a DC of 13 and another Lvl 3 poison has only 11. So, I wondered how I could level the poison when I'm creating one myself.
Also, behind the entry on frequency, there are always numbers in brackets. Mostly it's a 1, but it's different for some poisons (like Tears of Death, which has a 5). Does this number show how often a character has to do saves for secondary damage before the poisons effect ends?

Another quick question on the Red Ache illness: It's frequency is stated as 1d3 days/1 day. How does this work? Does this mean a save is required once each day for a maximum of 3 days?

As I read the Numeria entry in the Gazetteer yesterday, there were some questions coming up in my mind that I'd like to ask (or discuss).
It seems clear that Numeria is a homage to EttBP, but is this really all there is about this country?
A giant spaceship crashed aeons ago and a whole culture evolved around it?
When did the ship crash there? Was it before humans came to Numeria?
And it is said that the wreckage is the scource of adamantine and other Sky Metals. But is Numeria the only scource of adamantine in Golarion and, if so, how does it affect the market price and availability of adamantine? Or was the ship that big that adamantine is still as available as the core rules suggest?
There's mention of the Technic League and "metal men" as well. How can I envision this? There are no examples of the mentioned super-science. What kind of technology is available in Numeria? Laserguns? I don't hope so... Wand-rifles? And the "metal men" seem to be robots from the ship; but how do these look like exactly? Are they more similar to classic robots from 50s/60s SciFi-movies or more like helmed horrors, iron golems and such?
I'm sure that most of my questions might be answered in the upcoming CS, but I'd like to know now! :)

I'm still interested in finding players or to join an existing group in the area.

Hey Paizonians,
I remember that there was some kind of magic coin in one of the 3.5 issues. I can't even recall what effect it had. Maybe it reappeared a short time after you spent it or something. I thought it was in one of the Core Believes articles, but I was wrong. So, it could've been in one of the Bazaar Of The Bizarre or a similar article on magic items. I know that I don't provide many informations to track it, but this seems to be everything I can remember and I don't even know if this is correct. I wanted to look up the coin and figure out, if it could be used in Seven Days To The Grave within the temple of Adabar.
Maybe someone came across the item while reading back issues or something. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Wow, I'm really excited about the recent blog post that gives a first impression on this itemcard-set.
Is the box the same thing that is mentioned in the RotRl-Pathfinder Journal? The box that Eando Kline was after? Seems like...
Will the characteristics of these boxes be revealed in the current AP? Seems like as well...
And can we expect to see a list of the deck before the release? I hope so...
Last questions: Are all of the illustrations done by Vincent again? I really, really like his style! I'm asking this, because Jason did mention the possibility of having different illustrators for future decks in one of the tuesday-chats...

I'm sooo exited on your decision to support and evolve 3.5!
And I'm imagining how this will be, when the real thing is finally released. So, I have a few questions to help me do so...

1. It will replace the current 3.5 PHB that will most surely get out of print after the release of 4E. So, will it have all the rules the 3.5 PHB has (like movement, gods, all the spells)?

2. Will you include certain setting-specific things like f.e. dogslicers in the weapon charts?

3. Will you do an additional DMG or will there be DM-specific chapters included in the rulebook?

4. How will you treat monsters? In the Alpha rules it is noted that some monsters have to be changed to use them with the revised rules; so can we expect a 'Monsters of Golarion'-book or something like this?

5. Will there be new core-classes or will you settle for variant classes? How will you tread PrCs? Are Golarion-PrCs an option?

I just erred if this should have been posted in the subscription channel, but I don't want to double-post.
Well, I guess the customer service guys will find it here too...:)

As I flipped through the pages of PF #6 after receiving it and got to the pages of the bestiary, I was stunned.
The art there is absolutly fantastic!
Who the hell is the guy that did these amazing illustrations?
It is a shame that there's no 'art by'-tag anywhere in the article and that I don't even know who to praise for this outstanding work of art.
I love this guys style, his use of colours and his breathtaking designs.
This one's a keeper, I'd really love to see more of his/her work in PF.
I'm sure that there are some readers that don't like this, but I guess this is always the case when it comes to highly unique styles and design.
I remember the complaints when the first art by Reynolds appeared in WotC books...

I like to express my interest in seeing more art by this mysterious artist and I'd like to know who else likes (or dislikes) these illustrations.
It would be cool if there'd be some support for this guys art so that there'll be a chance to see more of his/her fantastic artwork in the pages of Pathfinder or other Paizo-products.

Hi,
I just reread the awesome Zogonia-strips in Dragon and wondered what happened to Mr. Mosley and his work.
A few months back he announced on his site that he'll take a break, but didn't mention a reason for it.
Now his site is plain empty; there's only the background to be seen and nothing more.
Zogonia was always my favorite RPG-related cartoon (and one of the highlights of the monthly Dragon, at least for me) and I'm a little sad that it seems to have gone and that there's not even the archive anymore.
So, does any of you know what's up with Tony Mosley?

Btw, I know that there's a collection of his cartoons avaiable through Paizo. But I'd like to see more of Mosleys twisted humour...

Hi,
I'm preparing our groups annual x-mas one-shot and for this I have to make up a NPC, that is a vampire hunter.
Sure, I could just use a cleric and give him useful feats like Improved Turning and a crossbow, but I'd like to have something a bit more special.
And so my question is, if any of you know of a vampire hunter PrC or something similar.
I looked into Libris Mortis and Heroes of Horror, but there's nothing in there, that suits my needs.
I'm toying with the idea to modify one of the slayer PrCs, but maybe there's something out there, that is more use- and flavourful.
Hopefully someone can post a helpful advice. Thanks in advance!

I was confused when I stumbled upon this section on the WotC site.
On there, they list all products that'll be compatible to 4E.
Did I get this right?!?
(Maybe I'm wrong, english is not my first language btw...).

So, how can they announce something like this, when the mechanics of 4E are not even finished yet?
I don't think that they're referring to the "fluff"-sections of these books, because then they could announce most of their setting books as compatible.
They must refer to the mechanics, which are 3.5 (at least in DoE, which is the only of the mentioned books I have...).

So, does anybody here know, how this statement is meant?!

In Enemies Of My Enemy Mr. Baur gives the option to provide the players with the stats for the new won allies of the PCs (Iggwilv, Malcathet, Orcus) and to let them run these in the encounter with Major Enderan.
The same is mentioned in the scene in Feedgut where the players can decide the actions of the aspect of Obox-ob.

I was quite surprised to see this option and I'd like to know if DMs around here actually plan on offering this option to their players.
We are not that far into STAP yet, but I'd like to hear some thoughts on this (or even reports on how this worked for your group if you've already gotten this far).
As I first read this I felt hesistation to offer this to my players because I think it gives away too much about these mighty NPCs.
What should be the benefits to the game when the players get to know the full stats for these NPCs?
Mr. Baur states that it could be interesting for the players to see what their new found allies are capable of, but wouldn't they get an insight as well, when these characters are handled by the DM?
Sure, they wouldn't get the full scope and this is the point.
I think in terms of suspende and tension it would be unwise to reveal everything about these mysterious and powerful characters.
I think it would be kinda lame, if the players learned about the specific powers, abilities and "weaknesses" of these guys, just for one encounter.

I can only see drawbacks to this option and nearly no benefits...
So, what do you think about this?

Hey, I found the trailer for the upcoming '300'-movie:
'300'-Trailer

What do you think? I think it looks awesome and the visuals are really, really close to the book. I can't wait to see the whole thing...

In my current campaign one of the characters is a hexblade. The PCs are reaching mid-level and are starting to advance in prestige classes. The player of the Hexblade likes to pick one too and is asking me which PrC might be suitable for his class.
This is the first hexblade in my game and so I never thought about which PrC might be useful.
I'd like to know if any of you played a hexblade with a PrC and which one you chose. I always found the answers to my questions on these boards very helpful. You always provided me with lots of inspiration and I'm looking forward to your answers...

I've got a question regarding the Archivist-class. In the description of the prayer book it is mentioned that the archivist is able to copy spell from other classes that use divine magic (cleric, paladin, druid, ranger etc.), but it isn't mentioned which level the spell will have for the archivist.
If the archivist is able to cast 3rd level spells and he attempts to copy a 3rd level cleric spell into his praybook, will it be treated as an 3rd level spell for the archivist?
I couldn't find notes on copying spells from "foreign" scources in any of my rule books. Is something written about this in DMG II or PHB II? I don't own these books yet...

I’d like to ask for a little advice on expanding the bloodline-feats from Dragon #311 and #325.
I really like the idea of gaining further abilities because of unusual anchestors.
In my campaign world, many nations were ruled by monstrous races in the past and the inclusion of the bloodlines would make this more clearly.
As described these bloodlines are for sorcerers and other spontaneous casters and they are gaining an additional known spell on each level.
I’d like to expand this idea a little further. I want to change it so, that it doesn’t only grant an additional known spell but the mentioned spell as a spell-like ability. It wouldn’t be avaiable only to sorcerers etc. but to every class. This would be far too powerful in relation to other feats so I’d like to add drawbacks to it so that it would turn out a little more balanced.
First, the feat can only be taken at 1st level. In addition, the character could only make use of one spell-like ability per day, regardless of how many he actually knows.
And I’m thinking about including drawbacks like, for example, a -4 malus on CHA for a character with the necromantic bloodline or light sensivity for a drow bloodline (I can’t remember if a drow bloodline even exists) and similar things.
Do you think this would balance the benefits a little more?
What kind of drawbacks or limitations would you add to make this work?
Should the caster-level be equal to the character level or how should this be figured out?

I just stumbled upon a product entry for Fiendish Codex, a WotC book written by Eric Mona & James Jacobs and sheduled for a summer 2006 release, on Amazon.com
Here's the link:
FiendishCodex
I was really exited and surprised to see this and I'd like to ask if it would be possible to have some information on the book.
WotC couldn't pick better authors for a book with this theme.
Will this book be part of the creature-series (Draconomicon, Libris Mortis etc.)?
Also, its labeled as Vol. 1 so we can expect to see at least a second volume. Will this be written by the same authors?
And is it possible that there'll be stuff from the Demonomicon-series included?

I just stumbled across a section of the adventure background for 'Three Faces Of Evil', that made me wonder...
It was already mentioned (in AoWO and 'The Whispering Cairn'), that the Ebon Triad is fooled into believing they'd pave the path for the coming of an overgod that is an adhesion of Vecna, Hextor and Erythnul, but are, in truth, preparing the return of Kyuss. The whole charade seems to have been planned over centuries or even millenias with the manipulations of mortals that, for example, scribed the 'Way Of The Ebon Triad'.
I believe even Vecna was fooled as he was still a mortal by the nearly god-like beeing that is Kyuss.
The passage that made me wonder was the section about the grimlocks that came out of the underdark after having received "lore of the Ebon Triad in a revelation from one of Erythnuls agents". This must've been an avatar or some other kind of divine beeing, that was send by the god itself, right?
If this would be the case, it would suggest that even the mentioned gods do believe in their "rebirth" as an overgod.
Is this right? Is Kyuss so powerful that he's capable of fooling even the gods themselves?

In my future campaign, one of my players would like to play a paladin. The problem is, that he chose devotion to a god, that isn't normally worshipped by classic paladins.
If i remember correctly, there's been an article in Dragon about non-good paladins, but i can't find the issue. Damn, we need an index...:)
I only found the anti-paladin article from Dragon #312, but this doesn't help me, 'cause the character shouldn't be evil.
Can anybody help me out?

I'm playing a LE orc ranger in one of my campaigns and i plan on taking the 'Trophy Hunting'-feat described in the class act-section of Dragon #332.
While reading the article a few questions came to my mind and i'd like to ask if anyone can help me out.
The DC for gaining the benefits of eating a heart is described as 10 + 1/2 HD + Con-modifier.
Is it 1/2 the HD of the slain favorite enemy?
And whose con-mod. is added? The one from the enemy or the mod. of the PC?
I'd guess in both cases it means the favorite enemy, but it's not clearly described.

The benefits from eating the heart and from wearing pelt are quite similar to each other.
But i think that the benefit from the pelt is more powerful than the heart-benefit but doesn't require a save or involves any other kind of risk.
Is it meant to be like that or did i get something wrong?

I really like the concept of corrupt spells from the BOVD and Dragon #300 and i'd really like to see more of these.
It's cool to have powerful evil magic that requires more than just expensive material components.
My players are turning pale when i'm just mentioning corrupt magic...
Is there any chance to see some more in future issues?
Wouldn't it be a good idea, to integrate some corrupt spells into one of the future Demonomicon-articles?
Maybe in an installment that focuses on a demon lord that is associated with arcane magic?

I think it would be a good idea to include an index in the last issue each year where the content of every issue (from the certain year) is listed in short.
This would make navigating in my growing collection of Dragon more easy.
Sometimes, when i'm creating my adventures and i'm looking for a certain spell, item or whatever it takes a lot of time just searching for the article.I don't think of an index like in the DMG or similar products with references to certain words, 'cause i think this would be too much and would involve a lot of work.
It would be enough to just reproduce the listed content for every issue.
I'm writing down the content of every issue since a few months and making my own index, but i think this could be a helpful ressource for your devoted readers.
Magazines like National Geographic are providing indexes (don't know the proper plural) at least for subscribers.
What do you think?

I just had the idea to transform the Medusa into a monster-template and would like to know, what you think of the idea.
Just imagine, for example, humanoids like giants with Medusa-features.This could be an interesting twist to a mayor villain.
Sure, this would separate the Medusa from it's mythological roots, but it could be fun and would be a mayor surprise for players.

If there's interest, i'd post the template, when i'm done with it.
Or has this been done before?

I know that this is an old one on RPG-message boards, but this always inspires me...:)

I'd like to know your favorite creatures to throw against players in your D&D-Campaigns.
My Top 5 are, in no particular order, these critters:

Troglodytes
These are my favorites since 1st edition.Creatures that are able to to put you down just with their disgusting smell.

Illithids
The perfect villains for higher levels.
Strange, alien and evil.
With the use of psionics they are even more unique and scary.

Were-Rats
These are my favorite lycanthropes and have been a real pain in the ass for some of my players.
But i've taken it a little to far lately, so i have to give these guys a little break.
My players were real paranoid, whenever an ugly and shadowy NPC made an appearance.

Gnolls
I don't really know why, but these are my favorite wild and barbaric humanoids.I was so glad that the Wizards brought back the flinds in MM 3.
I'd really like to see a well written ecology-article on these guys.

Ghouls
My favorite undead. I found them scary since i first read Lovecraft's 'The Dream Quest For Unknown Kadath'.
The Gravetouched Ghoul from Libris Mortis is even better.

I'd really like to see more articles on psionics.
I hoped that after the release of the Expanded Psionics Handbook the psionic-stuff would loose its exotic status, but this didn't happen.Sure, there are mentionings of psionics in the Eberron-CS and some of the latest FR-books, but that's not really much.
It would be great to see some articles on psionics, but not just new powers or feats.
I would find it interesting, if there'd be an article on how a society where psionics are common would be like.
How would it be different from a land ruled by wizards (like, for example, Halruaah in the FR)?

I also would like to see one class act per issue devoted to a psionic class or an ecology-article on a race with psionic powers like the half-giants or the githzerai.

I think a regular article on psionics (like the Mind's Eye-articles on the WotC-site) would be a great addition to the mag. This could be a way to introduce more readers to psionics and could be a way to make it more popular.

Absinth
Hamburg, Germany

Hi, i just want to let you know how much i've enjoyed James Jacobs Article on the demon prince Pazuzu in issue 329.
It is one of the best written and most informative article in months and i liked the fact, that you seemed to continue the concept from the 'Ebon Maw'-Article (including stats for followers and stuff) from issue 312, which i found very useful.
I really hope that these Demonomicon-articles will become a regular feature in the magazine as you announced previousley.
In the preview for Dragon 330 there was no mentioning of another Demonomicon-article and i really hope, that you didn't change your mind...
Will the next articles in the series be written by Mr.Jacobs too?
And which demon prince will be next?
Will there be articles on demon princes that were already covered in the Book Of Vile Darkness, like Graz'zt and the boyz?
:)