GeraintElberion's page

groping toward some kind of definition;

lawful - likes to use pre-existing systems, structured organisations, hierarchies and authority figures. If these things don't exist they try to create/embody systems, hierarchies, etc.

neutral - takes a pragmatic approach and uses whichever tools seem most likely to get the job done.

chaotic - instinctively favours working outside of established systems, structured organisations and rejects the assumed status of authority figures and hierarchies. Also unwilling to accept such authority or a place in a structured organisation/hierarchy.

on the basis of which most fantasy societies are lawful, and most of the people within those societies are neutral.

GeraintElberion wrote:

However, I am surprised at the suggestion that what you're already getting from RotRL is not good value. Even more good stuff is always popular with me, but I reckon that the current contents of my RotRL is pretty good value for money.

Unfortunately, Pathfinder, like the adventure path modules, are a lot easier to run with everyone starting new PCs for each one than they are to integrate into an existing campaign.

And it is much easier to integrate the higher level modules than the lower level ones. We are including bits and pieces of the past few adventure path modules into at least three different home game adventures, which consists of near-epic level PCs. Unless a new campaign arises or we decided to do a one-time adventure, there isn't much in #1 that we can use. #2 has a good story, but even then it's going to be hard to include at higher levels.

I also have every D&D miniature which has been released and like to take advantage of them.

Ed

fair play - i hadn't even considered trying to integrate pathfinder into a higher level game; that would be hard work.

I'd be more tempted to hold off until my players hit a retirement spot with the current campaign and then have RotRL ready to go as the next campaign. I suppose more portable content might be useful for some DMs though.

But then we can't use the cool technology the Atlanteans had. Flying saucers! Underwater saucers! Giant robot-shaped saucers!

If those are the saucers, what can we expect from Atlantean cups?!

And again... there's nothing modern about glassmaking. :)

As for the "medieval" mindset... I think Golarion's got more inspiration being pulled from the "ancient" world than the middle ages, honestly. I'm talking stuff like Rome, Egypt, Babylon, Sumeria, Atlantis, and the like. Medieval's too loaded a word.

*pedantry warning*

Whether or not there's anything modern about glass-making depends on the type of glass (all glasses are equal, but some glasses are more equal than others? :/ )

And I'm not too sure Atlantis should be flung in there with those real civilisations either - How about Greek instead, as it was Plato who either invented or articulated the Atlantis myth?

...puts Ancient History MA back in draw...

The alignment system is broken.

Good and evil are reasonable and useful concepts but the rest is rubbish. Well; chaos can be useful, but not in terms of character alignment.

So the fact that I expect value from something that I'm paying $20 a month for makes me lazy? That's a hell of a way to get customers.

I'm getting the first 4-5 free due to my subscriptions to Dragon and Dungeon. I'll pick up the other 1-2 to complete the first series. And then I'm going to make a decision on whether it's worth the money to subscribe.

That seems eminently sensible and reasonable.

It's a shame that another person posting on this board has riled you, hopefully you won't hold it against Paizo or the other people on here.

However, I am surprised at the suggestion that what you're already getting from RotRL is not good value. Even more good stuff is always popular with me, but I reckon that the current contents of my RotRL is pretty good value for money.

I find that a good picture can really draw in some of my players, but if i'm describing what it looks like I also get to do actions and voices - which is sometimes more scary, sometimes more funny, and always pretty entertaining :D

RHoD also has a nice downloadable extra.

The different enemies are listed and detailed in the appendix at the back, but you can download the npc stats for each encounter - which saves a lot of flipping and lets the DM scrawl on the printed stats.

Almost every problem in the game is solved by beating the stuffing out of something, but it's fun all the same.

Well, I'm not an expert on medieval weapons, nor do I re-enact things at Ren Faires or anything like that. So I can't really talk about realism. But I am an artist and I'm pretty interested in fantasy stuff. All I can really say is that the way the piece looks is the most important bottom line to the artist and Wayne Reynolds in particular is known for taking things more toward the exaggerated. Indeed, sometimes you have to exaggerate somewhat in a picture to get the point across. He wants that sword to be prominent and powerful within the context of the picture; it's how this character makes his living, so it's a bit wider and heavier than it would be in real life. Accuracy to historical or RPG guidelines takes a back seat to how the finished product looks unless the artist in question is making a scene from a particular period in history. The artist, art director and editor in question felt that for this character in this fantasy world, it was appropriate. If this were set during the 100 Years War in France, it wouldn't be approriate.

That's my take at the least; I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Truth.

This is illustrative art; is the OP suggesting that Picasso's Guernica is a failure, and he should have just copied a photograph of the event/aftermath?

"Comics" seems a bit of a broad starting point. I'm not sure how Robert Crumb, Harvey Pekar, Jason, Craig Thompson, Daniel Clowes, Chris Ware et al could influence an rpg.

I've not read any fantasy comics for a while but I know they're still out there, but most that i've come across seem to be heavily influenced by dnd - rather than the other way around.

If you're thinking superheroes (a product of course, of the same mythologies that fantasy derives itself from) then I suppose the move away from magic items and toward character 'powers' might look like that - we'll have to wait and see.

On print size. I can see why it might be a problem, although it isn't for me, but my contrasting plea would be; please, please, please keep the Pathfinder series as full and rich with content as it currently is.

Now there's a thorny issue with which to tangle...

For those who regard Common as lacking versimilitude it's worth noting that the concept is lifted directly from ancient mediteranean history. The model is the greek 'koine' (Common) that was spread by the armies of Alexander the Great and became a Lingua Franca for the med.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koine_Greek

The trend I see when joining new groups is most of the new gamers want options, options, options. That is because most of the new gamers haven't been in good games/campaigns. So we will lose them. But people who use modules or who are old school gamers will still play campaigns and not care so much for the next feat or the next class. This is what we'll be left with and the hobby will right itself. Just a theory. But one I hope stands true.

The feats/options/prestige classes trap is so easy to fall into. It is far, far more satisfying to play in a good campaign with just the the three core books (and far cheaper). I've kept my Runelords group with just the PHB and the few extra feats in the Runelords players guide and they've been having a blast.