I know people have debated their interest in fiction appearing in the AP as well as the number of monsters, and it seems everyone likes the deity articles, so let’s assume the format and type of articles goes unchanged to avoid rehashing those arguments.
I’ve also noticed that much of this material never shows up in reviews of the AP chapters. Why do you think this is? Do you think people are mainly focusing on the adventure at hand and consider the last third of the book to be extra? As someone who’s written a fair number of monsters and articles in the last third of those books, maybe I’m just sensitive. :)
What do people like and dislike about everything other than the adventures in the volumes of the APs?
What has stood out to those of you buying and reading the APs?
Which articles have seen the most use in your campaigns?
Which articles have seen the least use in your campaigns?
For tzitzimitl, チチミトル (chichimitoru) would be my best guess, but I personally pronounce it as "tsitsimɪʔl" (using IPA).
Nahuatl is weird and parts of it can be hard to pronounce. Here's my best take on tzitzimitl:
Tz (like “ts” in cats) + i (like the “I” in police) + tz (like “ts” in cats) + i like the “i” in police) + m (like “m” in moon) + i (like “i” in police) + tl (this sound doesn’t really exist in English and is like the l in clue without the c before it)
So...
Tsee tsee mee (weird breathy “l” sound with some “h” to it)
Sure I was only there for a few hours, but I enjoyed the time to run a game and hang out with the PFS crew.
I had about 1.5 whiskeys too many the night before and stayed up way too late, so 8am came quickly and the drive to Houston from Austin was less than thrilling in that state at that hour. However with coffee and a steadfast perseverance I wheeled onto the Rice University campus a full three hours before my game began. I promptly found my cousin John and we made our way over to the building PFS was going on. Walking in I saw Carlos and Jon talking at a spare table and we hung out, taking chances to say hey to folks during breaks from their games. It was good to see all the Houston folks and all the kick-ass PFSers that came from all around. My highlight was that my cousin and Carlos got into my game...AND the other three players were awesome! I haven’t gamed with my cousin since we were kids, so that was super cool! You guys in my game kicked ass with clever tactics, good rolls and a certain amount of luck. (That natural 20 with the rug was awesome!) Thanks for a fun game!
[Edit] It was also fun getting Rene to help me fill out all the sheets at the end of the game. He seemed tickled that I was as ignorant as I was. :)
Thanks to Kelly for his organization skills. There’s always something at the end of a convention that organizers (and attendees) think could be better and no show goes perfectly, but everything ran wonderfully and there was a sea of smiles on people’s faces as far as I could tell. While Saturday will always be busier than Friday or Sunday, I wouldn’t factor this particular Sunday too hard into plans for next year. It was Superbowl Sunday, after all.
Thanks all for a fun day! It was great seeing familiar faces and great meeting new folks!
According to Wes in another thread (which my cunning search is having trouble locating), the word Azruverda was a slight adjustment to the word Ayurveda. So it was inspired by Indian medicine/beliefs, but the concept for the creature was all new...
As the one who wrote the entry, I can attest to this. The word sounded familiar, but I did my best to follow Wes' outline for the monster. I now feel I may have slightly missed my mark...but only slightly. I nailed bug, gardens, good, and weird. ;)
Just a thought, how would the locals at Sevenarches react to an elven Pathfinder? According to 'Guide to the River Kingdoms' (p. 5) "the ruling druid circle, the Oakstewards, do not allow elves inside their borders."
I'm thinking it would be wisest to just handwave this issue, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
By the way, is Parke Rangston actually a Venture-Captain or simply a high ranking Pathfinder?
(I use PFS scenarios in order to update the wiki site)
Yep, I'm pedantic and annoying. :)
I don't have my copy with me and it's been a while since I've read it again, but...I've always handwaved elven PCs in Sevenarches, at least for this adventure. Also, I think Parke is just a high-ranking Pathfinder, not necessarily a venture-captain, but again, I don't remember with 100% accuracy these days.
While you are not physically touching the surface, you'd be safe, but as far as springing the traps go, you'd have to look at what the Trigger part of the trap stat block says to know if you'd set it off. I'd say you'd be safe from a location and touch trigger, but maybe not a proximity trigger. Chances are the trap didn't have a visual, sound, timed, or spell trigger, so you're probably clear there too.
My cousin sent me an email last night because he noticed I was a "special guest" this year at OwlCon. He lives in Houston and the previous years I've been to OwlCon we've tried to meet up, but he's always had to work. This year he's off the whole weekend and is gonna make it to the con. We might even get to game together. This is especially cool because he's the one that got me into gaming when we were little kids.
No worries at all, Russell. I really appreciate the feedback. You play more of these than any of us write, so I think you’re certainly qualified to point out the blemishes. This wasn’t my best work and I can see the issues you and your group had with the scenario.
More:
It DOES seem like an errand adventure. I mean, it’s essentially a “grab these random pieces and bring them here” kinda deal, and those are hit and miss in the fun zone. I also missed a few options that should have been more obvious. For example, one of the first reviewers pointed out how effective command undead could be for the ghost encounter and how protection from evil can cut out a fair amount of danger from a few encounters. I’m sure there are more, but you can’t predict everything.
Going back, I think my biggest flaw in approaching this was trying to fit a lot of cool interactions into a small space and stay as close to the given outline with the changes I made. I should have either kept it more simple or cut some other junk to make more space for further explanations. I know it made sense to me at the time, but you can't rely on your own brain when you're the idea's daddy. I know there were a couple of people in the “Brainstorm a PFS Scenario” seminar at PaizoCon that were bummed I didn’t stick super close to the outline, but I wanted sex up the “find parts of a broken sword” adventure. (I wasn’t at the seminar, I just got the notes.)
It’s been so long since I wrote it I’d have to go back and find my notes to see what I was thinking at the time. The only thing I can remember is that I really wanted to play around with hags and harpies, and at least I did that decently. :) I know Josh changed some elements in development (one encounter was cut and the ghost part was changed, I recall), so I’d have to go back and compare the two again to give a better detailed response. Regardless, thank you again for the feedback. I won’t let you down again. :)
Where do I look, who do I talk to, where do I get information about this kind of stuff? I'm not even certain what is expected for an exhibitor to put into a booth! Or how much one costs, or anything! Gah!
Help me Obiwan Kenobi! You're my only hope!
I'm pretty sure Jeff Alvarez would be the best person to talk to. His email is on the contact page...or here - jeff.alvarez@paizo.com.
Another important distinction: Moderators here are not just moderators. They do a bunch of other jobs, so anytime they're needed takes away from more productive work.
Also, they are not therapists, parents, or village elders; folks need to know what's positive and what's negative on their own.
The easiest way is to have the possessing monster increase the CR of the host monster through use of its abilities. I did something similar in a monster I created for Kobold Quarterly's first King of the Monsters contest (The creature won, too!). I called it the spark, and because of how it interacted with its host and gave its host additional powers and abilities, it increased the CR of the host by 2. To get the best use of this, the host should be a higher CR than the possessing creature and there should be some sort of thing that would perhaps let the host and possessor work symbiotically to represent this boost.
I don't want to support making snap judgments on appearance, but one of those two boys looks like a dick and the other one looks creepy enough to stab a dude 12 times in the chest.
Is there a particular theme for this issue like there was for Wayfinder #6? Now that I have plenty of time to work on a submission, I'd like to give it a go :)
The theme this time is Varisia and the early material since this is an anniversary issue.
One of the things I’ve found interesting about this movement is the call from outsiders to have the movement define its actual motivations and explain what it’s about.
In order to buy someone off, you must first know what they want. :P
Too cynical? :P
Not at all. Just about the right amount, I'd say. ;-)
For example: This looks a lot like near-home, but damn, an encounter on that walkway and cabin in a true swamp would be awesome.
** spoiler omitted **
Adam, why is that? I'm from Arkansas, and we have our share of swamps, sloughs, bogs, and bayous. Is it that people don't seem to know how in the world to describe them?
I have no idea, but it seems most of the time what is described and mapped always feels like northern marshes, more like wetlands in Wisconsin than wetlands in Louisiana. *shrug*
I of course, as a result of my Cajun upbringing, always flavor it otherwise.
If they were organized then this argument might hold water.
This statement could be be similar to saying. "If they were moneyed...", which is kinda the problem. ;)
Spoiler:
Don’t forget that there’s an extremely long history of moneyed interests that have made the concept of democracy and self-rule a non-issue since the history of human culture. Power exploits and the weak suffer. No ruler in history has allowed “the masses” to actually hold any sort of power. The slips are accidental.
One of the things I’ve found interesting about this movement is the call from outsiders to have the movement define its actual motivations and explain what it’s about (which I think the base call to get moneyed interests out of politics seems clear enough). However, there’s not a similar call for established political forces to define themselves and actually stick true to those established ideals.
I mean, if everyone already expects politicians to lie and swindle, what else are you expecting? Are you selling out your vote for some sort of comfort?
It looks great! Still have to read it in detail, but first impression is good.
Also, I wanted to give a particular shout-out to Frank Hessefort for drawing Bram and Liut, they look amazing! (You can draw characters for me anytime!) (=
Thank you, glad you like them.
Can't promise anything about those Characters though. My schedules are pretty tight outside vacations. ^^°
I've said it before for previous issues, but I'm gonna say it again.
Most of the folks contributing art, design, and words to this publication are doing it out of their love of the game and the love of the setting. The only reward they get is knowing that they've supported the community and the feedback they get for doing so. Please find time to enjoy this publication and provide feedback either on this thread or by reviewing the magazine (Feel free to go back and review older issues too). It would mean a lot to those who agonized over their work. I only did some editing for this issue, but I always delight in seeing the love put into Wayfinder.
Show some community love to some of the folks supporting the community.
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