Snakes and eagles would be thematically appropriate. I wouldn't expect to find eagles inside a temple though. Naga seem like a good advancement of snakes. Which god?
I gm for a bunch of old school players who like the critical fumble rule. I don't much care for it because it always seems to hurt the players disproportionately (because the PC has to play the rest of the game with the outcome of battle while mooks come and go all the time.) So the rule I created was on the result of a natural 1 on an attack roll the character (or creature, or whatever...) loses all additional actions in that round and provokes an AOO from all enemies in range. Seems to work well, not too damning but something that forces a small change up in tactics. Also the AOO seemed to fit well because the failure caused guard to drop and was distracting.
Maybe if the OP includes the fact that it is PFS, rather than relying on the context of the forum. That way, it is clear even if it does get moved, that non PFS answers are useless. However, it still requires people to read the whole first post...
Isn't it ridiculous to expect someone to essentially flag their own post as "in the correct forum?"
I think the point is that the OP wanted to discuss the item in a PFS context. He didn't feel the need to spell that out because he posted in a PFS forum. He is not happy about being second guessed when he posted exactly what he wanted exactly where it should go.
Two weapon fighting does not grant an extra attack, it reduces the static penalties on the attacks to -2/-2. Flurry of blows allows a monk to use class level as BAB AND Reduce the static penalty to -2/-2. You can use them both at the same time all you want. Neither grant extra attacks and both have the same static reduction (ie NOT a bonus, just an adjustment). Waste your feats, have a great time. Tell your friends you use twf and fob together. But it won't change the mechanics of just using fob by itself.
Two weapon fighting does not grant an extra attack, it reduces the static penalties on the attacks to -2/-2. Flurry of blows allows a monk to use class level as BAB AND Reduce the static penalty to -2/-2. You can use them both at the same time all you want. Neither grant extra attacks and both have the same static reduction (ie NOT a bonus, just an adjustment). Waste your feats, have a great time. Tell your friends you use twf and fob together. But it won't change the mechanics of just using fob by itself.
I got really excited about Path of Prestige because I am a huge fan on that mechanic. I was sorely disappointed. sorely. That book should have been released in the GM supplements line rather than the player supplements line as most of them are suitable only for NPC's and the rest are terrible.
I understand your argument for Mystic Theurge. Problem there would be allowing access to 9th level divine and arcane spells at 20 is way over powered.
Paths of Prestige is a campaign setting book, which is primarially a GM line...
Good point, I should have said that instead of sending the book to the printer that they should have sent it to the trash can. Worst money I spent on an RPG book in years.
I got really excited about Path of Prestige because I am a huge fan on that mechanic. I was sorely disappointed. sorely. That book should have been released in the GM supplements line rather than the player supplements line as most of them are suitable only for NPC's and the rest are terrible.
I understand your argument for Mystic Theurge. Problem there would be allowing access to 9th level divine and arcane spells at 20 is way over powered.
As much as I hate it when people say this, that's really what an archetype is for. I truly believe that most archetypes should be prestige classes. I think that locking someone into a particular core class to gain a mechanical sub-option restricts player choices. With a prestige class you are flexible to take as much or little as you chose, when you chose. An archetype relegates you to following a particular path from day one.
That said I think that archetypes have their place, are a cool addition to the game, and provide interesting options for players. In the case of a prestige class that would go on for 15 levels you have really entered that realm of a "single path" that would more appropriately be represented by an archetype.
If other members had feather falls available why not use them? When the first grapple missed the player with FF should have taken an immediate action to cast. Same story with the magus. Ring of feather fall obviously a different story...
When using spellstrike does the weapon damage or the spell damage happen first?
Why is this important?
I am designing an NPC Magus/Cleric/Mystic Theurge. With broad study the NPC will be able to use harm in his spellstrike. If the weapon damage occurs first then the most that could happen to the victim would be reduced to 1 HP with the harm spell. If the spell happens first the victim would be reduced to 1 with the harm, and then further weapon damage applied.
There is no reason to not let them rest a full 8 hours. Even if their sleep is interrupted with combat in the middle of the night, they should still be able to memorize spells in the morning.
they set up camp in the middle of the road when they know that monsters are out and about, and i rolled a nat 20 to see if they encounter anything, wizards have to balanced by game mechanics too, they cant just be the best at everything, the same way that paladins are restricted by alignment, wizards have to have restrictions also, to ignore them would be the same thing as letting a paladin behave like a chaotic neutral barbarian imo
PRD wrote:
Rest: To prepare his daily spells, a wizard must first sleep for 8 hours. The wizard does not have to slumber for every minute of the time, but he must refrain from movement, combat, spellcasting, skill use, conversation, or any other fairly demanding physical or mental task during the rest period. If his rest is interrupted, each interruption adds 1 hour to the total amount of time he has to rest in order to clear his mind, and he must have at least 1 hour of uninterrupted rest immediately prior to preparing his spells. If the character does not need to sleep for some reason, he still must have 8 hours of restful calm before preparing any spells.
You did say 3.x/PF and I picked up on your gather info check so just so there isn't any question; this rule is exactly the same in the OGL SRD word for word.
Rite publishing has a series of three modules from their Kaiden setting that picks up right about where COGD leaves off. Trilogy starts with "the gift." I am running this series now and we played the Kassen series before it. Lots of fun.
The 3.0 epic rules were the same formula, but if you went over the regular bonus limit there is an addition x10 to the cost. So +6 to an attribute would be 36,000 gp where +7 would be 490,000gp
There's an ad in the back of the Core Rulebook, too.
SCaaaaAAAAAaAAAaaarryyyyy!
This is an extremely flip attitude to take toward the concerns of a paying customer. Actually, pretty poor social skills for a representative of any company to display (audience paying or not.)
Wait a second.. IS it not allowed to have a humorous approach to how things are dealt with.
I get you are not happy but humor is humor. It was not at someone's expense or anything like that and it was harmless... not flippant at all. So cut them a break for heavens sake.
I've said my piece on this, and some posts (including a response to me by SKR) have been removed without the normal moderator tag so I am taking this as a sign to let well enough alone.
There's an ad in the back of the Core Rulebook, too.
SCaaaaAAAAAaAAAaaarryyyyy!
This is an extremely flip attitude to take toward the concerns of a paying customer. Actually, pretty poor social skills for a representative of any company to display (audience paying or not.)
I actually prefer his response, i mean what else would he do? Ignore this guy? That seems equally if not more rude. Or perhaps you would like him to give a press release and apology for letting people know that if they like what they bought, they have more stuff to go with it?
How about something professional and not antagonistic toward the customers of the company he works for/represents. i.e. "We use the last page of our products to keep customers who do not frequent our website aware of the other products scheduled to release in the near future. While we understand that page space is at a premium we nevertheless find it a necessity from a business perspective to include this relatively small amount of advertising. I appreciate your feedback, but we will not be making changes to this practice at this time nor any time in the foreseeable future."
There's an ad in the back of the Core Rulebook, too.
SCaaaaAAAAAaAAAaaarryyyyy!
This is an extremely flip attitude to take toward the concerns of a paying customer. Actually, pretty poor social skills for a representative of any company to display (audience paying or not.)
Maybe toning down the gambling and leveling rules. Winner gains a level and gets appropriate wealth by level. (New items only, no upgrades, sell back at half). Also, at time of posting the general discussion thread was being heavily monitored and a bunch of stuff (like this) got dumped in houserules where it doesn't belong and gets no attention. I would suggest reposting with any simplified rules you choose in the GD forum again.
Looking to make a Mr. Game and Watch PC or Villain. I pretty much have decided that a cloak of displacement, lesser is required. Does anyone know of a random attack result mechanic anywhere in the game? ie. you would roll a d10 and that would determine what type of attack you made (either magical, weapon [and what type of weapon], or maneuver.) I suppose I could just make a character with wide options and roll for my own amusement. Also things like prismatic spray might be interesting.
In general, though, I dislike the concept of Divine wands.
Every cure spell is on the Bard and Witch list--they're not strictly divine.
Oddly enough, my experience with DM's who have nostalgia for the old days of 1e/2e (and especially those who try to make 3.5/PF feel like that game) are completely oblivious to Bardic healing powers, and have never even looked at the witch class. And they HATE the idea that PC's could obtain an item they wanted, versus one that got dropped.
Alot of guys who have been playing for 25+ years just assume they can jump in with only a basic sweep of the rules. You can usually spot them when you start hearing about how crafting rules are broken, when they ask about how to run a "low magic" game in pathfinder, or when they complain about a 750gp wand "Breaking" their game.
The idea is to utilize the synergy between a 4x crit weapon and coup de grace action. I chose to use the Witch's slumber hex to achieve helpless condition (though I am NOT married to this idea, if anyone has a better one.) Build is 3rd level, standard wealth (I may have overspent 50~100 GP) 20 point build. This in an E6 game so advancement ideas are appreciated, but anything beyond level 6 will not be helpful. All paizo material is open. (wotc 3.5 permitted case by case, if you have an idea toss it out there.)
Overall reasoning behind choices:
Fighter (weapon master) 1, Witch 2 - Extra feat, weapon, armor, and tower shield proficiencies, 10HP at level 1. Slumber Hex, marginal utilities available.
Power Attack - to hit no important, get the damage up high enough that the coup de grace fort save is nearly impossible. (Min DC 34)
Scorpion Familiar - Initiative bump
Chain Mail and Tower Shield - High AC, and Slumber is (Su) so not affected by ASF%
Level 1 Witch spells intentionally left open to prepare as needed, no real combat options better than the main schtick anyway.
Everything else is pretty self explanatory.
Please feel free to challenge my choices and double check my math, I will not be offended.
Also, does anyone know of a patron which grants Fox's Cunning?
Thanks!!!
Laurena
Female Human (Varisian) Fighter (Weapon Master) 1 Witch 2
NG Medium Humanoid (human)
Init +6; Senses Perception +5
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Defense
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AC 22, touch 12, flat-footed 20 (+6 armor, +4 shield, +2 Dex)
hp 25 (1d10+2d6+6)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +3
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee +1 Heavy pick +1 (1d6+4/x4)
Special Attacks hexes (healing, slumber [dc 17])
Witch Spells Prepared (CL 3):
0 (at will) Message, Light, Read Magic, Detect Magic
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Statistics
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Str 13, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 11, Cha 7
Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 15
Feats Ability Focus Hex, Accursed Hex, Brew Potion, Power Attack -1/+2
Traits Killer, Magical Knack (Witch)
Skills Acrobatics -13 (-17 jump), Climb -14, Diplomacy +1, Escape Artist -13, Fly -13, Knowledge (arcana) +10, Knowledge (history) +10, Linguistics +7, Perception +5, Ride -13, Sense Motive +5, Spellcraft +10, Stealth -13, Swim -14
Languages Common, Dwarven, Halfling, Polyglot, Samsaran, Shoanti, Thassilonian, Tien, Varisian
SQ +4 bonus on initiative checks, empathic link with familiar, patron spells (moon), share spells with familiar
Combat Gear Potion of cure light wounds (10), Potion of fox's cunning (3); Other Gear Chainmail, Tower shield, +1 Heavy pick, Alchemy crafting kit, Backpack, masterwork (24 @ 39.5 lbs), Bedroll, Blanket, Cooking kit, Fortune-teller's deck, Sarenrae, Manacles, Marked cards, Shaving kit, Silk rope (3), Spell component pouch, Traveler's outfit, Waterskin, 12 GP, 8 SP
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Special Abilities
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+4 bonus on initiative checks You gain the Alertness feat while your familiar is within arm's reach.
Accursed Hex Target a creature with a hex a second time that day if it made its save the first time
Empathic Link with Familiar (Su) You have an empathic link with your Arcane Familiar.
Healing (1d8+3) (Su) Use cure light wounds once per day/person.
Killer Add weapon's critical modifier to its critical bonus damage.
Magical Knack (Witch) +2 CL for a specific class, to a max of your HD.
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Share Spells with Familiar Can cast spells with a target of "You" on the familiar with a range of touch.
Slumber (3 rds) (DC 17) (Su) Foe in 30 ft falls asleep for duration, or until damaged or roused by ally (Will neg).
Grimoire (Familiar)
Female Scorpion, Greensting
NG Tiny Magical Beast ((vermin))
Init +3; Senses darkvision; Perception +7
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +2 size, +4 natural)
hp 12 (1d8)
Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +3
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee Sting (Scorpion, Greensting) +7 (1d2-4/x2)
Space 2.5 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 3, Dex 16, Con 10, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 9 (17 vs. Trip)
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Climb +7, Diplomacy -1, Fly +7, Linguistics +3, Perception +7, Sense Motive +3, Spellcraft +3, Stealth +15, Swim +3
Languages
SQ improved evasion, poison
Other Gear You have no money!
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Special Abilities
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Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Improved Evasion (Ex) No damage on successful reflex save; half on failed save.
Poison (Ex) Sting - injury; save Fort DC 10; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect sickened for 1 round; cure 1 save.
Game 4: Experimental Rule Set. This is where stuff like Words of Power or Alternate Armor rules go. Stuff most of us won't use in our game, but that we might buy and give a go. If things work they can get moved down to the other rule sets eventually, but this really is the Dev playground.
This. I would love it if Paizo would leave the dubious at best alternative rules systems out of hardcover books, or collect them all in a seperate book that I wont buy. This would be great because I wouldn't be spending money on stuff with absolutely no chance of being seen in any game I play ever, but also would open up space in the books like "Ultimate Magic", to have stuff in it like "Cantrips."
As someone who purchased CRB hot of the shelf in August of 2009, and played with a group who all did the same: I can say that the first print run of the the book was absolutely horrible. Every sinlge book at our table fell apart. Pages came out, binding gave way, corners frayed. These are books that only got taken from a shelf to a game and then back to the shelf. The discussion forum for the CRB has dozens of similar stories and while the paizo staff deny knowledge of any systemic issues, they did change printers after the second print run. All the books printed I own that were printed by the original printer (A first print CRB, 2 second print CRB's and a first print Bestiary) have completely come apart while all books purchased since have had no issue. I own a fifth print as well, but have had no problems with it.
When I ran this module, I had a player claim that he could not see his reflection from the outskrists of the room because of reflection mechanics. That he should only be subjected to the trap if he leaned over the edge of the pool and looked in.
When I explained that it was a maigcal trap and simply being in the room with it triggered the trap, he got so upset that after posting handdrawn relfection diagrams in my obsidian portal forums, he publicly quit the game and also kicked everyone playing in my game out of the other weekly game that he hosted.
Lesson: visual based traps make people angry. play nice. Or, avoid playing with douchebags.
its not quite rules bending, but mirror image is so ridiculously powerful that our 14th level characters are still using it. For the love of Asmodan, it gives you better miss chance than invisibility or displacement. I would never leave home without it.
This reminds me of another "rules bender". Caster has images up? Close your eyes as a free action right before you swing, reduce miss chance to 50/50. Even better, true strike eliminates miss chance from concealment (blindness) so use true strike and then close your eyes, mirror images negated altogether
One could argue that a maximized time stop + 3 or 4 maximized delayed blast fireballs is a pretty cheesy use of the rules.
Sure, it's 4 or 5 spells, but it's also 240 to 300 damage.
One 9th level and 4 or 5 8th levels. It's a lot of destruction quickly, but that is a lot of resources. Hope you don't have more than one encounter that day or god forbid you unstop time just to watch the enemy Improved Evasion away =p
Even normal evasion can make you cry. A must have for Paladins and such is a Ring of Evasion. :3
Hmm:
PRD wrote:
Ring of Evasion
This ring continually grants the wearer the ability to avoid damage as if she had evasion. Whenever she makes a Reflex saving throw to determine whether she takes half damage, a successful save results in no damage.
...
Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level and higher, a rogue can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the rogue is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless rogue does not gain the benefit of evasion.
I don't see anything that allow the ring to bypass the need to be in light or no armor. Generally the paladins use heavy armor. Granted you can decide that in a high level game AC don't matter and have your paladin go around in light armor but it isn't a standard choice.
Doesn't say gains evasion "as a rouge", doesn't even say gains evasion "as a ranger" which would allow for medium armor. The ring simply grants the ability. No prerequisite required.
I did this voluntarily with a character I knew was only a few levels away from retiring. This tale along with an equally horiffic tale involving a sphere of annihilation and the loss of his first familiar caused him to slip from NG to True N. After later adventures he eventually fell all the way to LE. He is now a major foe in the world time line. I (as a player) thought is was a cool and fun thing to do with my character but it was definately a decision I made, not one pushed onto me.
Spoiler:
A passage from The Rise and Fall of Nero: the Abhorrent –
A shockwave of displaced air washes over Nero as he rounds the corridor into the main cave chamber. From around the stone wall Alverious placed a few moments ago he can see a spray of blood, sinew, muscle bits, and bone fragments blast across the battlefield in front of him.
Then Silence. Not like the silence in the corridor before, but a silence that rang so loud in his ear it was deafening. Without seeing, Nero knew the fate of the Vanguard. Of the many spells he had cast in preparation of this battle one was a message spell with his familiar, Maximo. Nero could hear breathing in his mind now and knew the somehow Maximo must have survived.
He looked to the right, around the angled stone wall and saw Maximo tucked next to the short edge of the wall facing the entry. He had cast mirror image and was inside of a globe of invulnerability. Nero thought to himself how impressed he was that his familiar had fared so well so far from his master in this contest. Indeed, Maximo had fared far better than the rest of the Vanguard.
Nero readied himself mentally for the images about to enter his mind and rounded the far edge of the wall to reveal the last scene of the battle. The images were nothing short of horrific. Nero, only 19 years old had seen more battle and death than many men of 70 years, but to see all of his companions laid out in death throws was more than Nero could emotionally reconcile with. He fell to the ground and wept.
There lay Dravos, perhaps the death Nero felt most deeply. During the battle, after Kierenan had fallen, Nero began to give direction to the others. He clearly remembers telling Alverious to abandon Dravos and tend to Nicholas. The decision was sound. The mage Elock required the strongest hand in the Vanguard to defeat him. Dravos, while very skilled, was not up to the task of dropping this Necromancer. Nero remembered the look in his eyes when, for a moment, Alverious looked toward him to silently confirm the order.
After he looked about it seemed to Nero that Elock must have had a death trap, because there was nothing left of his body, and it seemed that everyone else had died in the middle of an action. Nero stood up and brushed himself clean the best that he could. He opened his portable hole and placed it on the ground.
Not knowing any repose magic, Nero cast prestidigitation on the bodies of his fallen allies in an attempt to clean their wounds and ward off infection or other things which may cause the bodies to prematurely decay. He laid them one by one upon his bed in the hole, except for Dravos whom he had to leave standing, hunched against the side of the hole in order to fit his large frame.
Nero then took to removing the possessions of his fallen foes. With all of their items gathered, he walked about the room, with great perception and detecting for magic, to locate any other items of seeming import. He bundled all of these together and placed them in the portable hole alongside his companions. Nero wrapped the hole backup, placed it carefully into its mithril protective case, and slung it over his shoulder. He then summoned Maximo to his side and activated his last dimension door spell of the day and exited this dungeon into the clearing just in front of the dais where the hanging tree stood.
Nero knew that he had only about 10 hours left before his overland flight spell would fail, and then he would be on foot in the forest trying to make his way back to the small town from which they launched their mission. It had taken two days with the aide of a know the path spell on the forward trip, hopefully he could at least match that on his return trip. His limited spells would make it very difficult as Nero did not plan to stop and rest until he was at least back in town and preferably in Greyhawk where he could arrange for the resurrection of his comrades.
After many hours, Nero began to feel the heavy weight of fatigue upon his body. He struggled to maintain his composure and continue the seemingly endless journey to Badwall. Suddenly, Nero found himself lying on the ground. He had no idea how long he had been sleeping. Panic set in as he searched about for the mithril case. It was still securely fastened to his back. Nero reoriented the case to hang across his chest and held it firmly with both hands. He then once more began to walk in the direction he believed would take him home, having gained no respite from his fatigue despite his unsolicited rest.
I would really like to see some posted examples of "broken" PC's. I think more times than not it is just a DM not using smart tactics and or taking full use of the abilities of the NPC's.
If you think a Two handed fighter who takes the two handed fighter archetype, picks up the weapon focus/specialization feats and power attack/furious focus and puts all thier spare attributes into STR is "broken" you are sorely wrong.
Compare what ever you think is "broken" to that build and tell me if it is worse?
At level 5 ask yourself the same question about Haste.
At level 7 ask yourself the same question about Black Tentacles.
At level 9 ask yourself the same question about Feeblemind.
Most reasonable people will realize that what they thought was "broken" was just new or different. Because you never anticipated it before dosen't make it broken.
I recently retired a force mage that was an arcane bloodline sorcerer. Gm allowed school focus and GSF to count toward trip attempt, also ruled that toppliing metamagic would count as "combat expertise" for purposes of prerequiste of "improved trip." I always played as one trip attempt per target no matter how many missiles hit them, but in a crowd control sitution this is not a big deal. GM also allowed "highten spell" to increase attempt by 1 for each spell level raised. As a side note, take a look at the force missile mage prestiege class from dragon mag 328. Lots of fun options for a force specialist.
Almighty James Jacobs, knower of all things Golarion! In which of your fine published materials might a person find a gazetteer for Tamran? After finding a small gazetteer for Kassen in Crypt of the Everflame, I thought there might be one for Tamran in Masks of the Living God. Alas, I was made sad.
Thanks Wicht! As I siad I was already using the Pathfinder Society as a recruiting tool for the one of the Coliseum's benefactors. It would be perfect to have the pathfinders send the PC's off on a quest knowing they will be totally destroyed (like making sure your kids get the chicken pox) in order to hedge their financial and training interests. I don't think the benefactor nessicarily be from Kaidan but just know of it's power and then use it as a tool.
I'll let you know how it plays out in overe the next few months!
1. What is the point of the deed to plot of land in Absalom the PC's can find in one of the Herald's room.
2. How are the characters supposed to figure out how to go Isle of Terror short of Reginar just plain telling them to go rathar than figuring it our from the evidence?
Thanks for all the responses. I think I will probably pick up the Curse of the Golden Spear, because that is really the levels I am needing to fill in for these guys (and I intend to run the ruby phoenix tournament module) so this should be a great fit.
Great Choice! Please, let us know how those work out for you.
I certainly will do so, we just finished Masks of the Living God, and will move into The City of Golden Death. They should be close to the correct APL to just right into Golden Spear at that point.
Wicht, while I have your attention for a minute, I wonder if you might give any broad ideas on how to blend some of the story arc's from golden spear with Coliseum Morpheuon? One of the things I have done so far is to have the "pathfinders" interact with the PC's in a more encouraging way than they might otherwise. The idea that the pathfinders are actually recruiters for the Coliseum, pushing, training, driving, and challenging PC's to become ready for the contests. The PC's are running through a few side encounters to make the world seem more rich with the spirit of game and tournament. Actually, the reason they were sent to retrieve the Everflame was to fulfill a law in Kassen that only those who have borne the Everflame may represent Kassen in contest.
I am also trying to play up Desna as a more powerful deity than she may be in traditional Golorian settings. For example, the PC's recently almost all died (were unconscious) as they were being called home by Pharasma, Nethis, Cayden Cailean, and Sarenrae, Desna converted their death visions to dreams as the only surviving PC (Divine Channeler BTW) cleric of Desna channeled energy to bring them back to positive HP.
Anyway. this became longer than I anticipated. I really just wanted to know about any tips to use or open hooks in the either Curse or Coliseum that I should use to help with continuity.
Thanks! Really looking forward to running both adventures!
