paizo.com Favorited Posts by GravesScionpaizo.com Favorited Posts by GravesScion2023-02-05T16:32:52Z2023-02-05T16:32:52ZRe: Forums/Gamer Life: General Discussion: Funny Typos/misreads in gamingGravesScionhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mzhv?Funny-Typosmisreads-in-gaming#262011-10-18T12:59:07Z2011-10-18T02:56:19Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Nazard wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">GravesScion wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">jocundthejolly wrote:</div><blockquote> There was a Dungeon adventure in I think 2005 in which a sentence read "the orcs are not gentile captors." I was imagining yarmulke-wearing orcs with payot. </blockquote>...and I just read that as "the orcs are not gentile raptors." </blockquote>It's better than reading it "the orcs are not genital captors"... </blockquote><p>"We will spare your worthless lives and make slaves of you, but certain...'things' must be left behind."Nazard wrote:GravesScion wrote: jocundthejolly wrote: There was a Dungeon adventure in I think 2005 in which a sentence read "the orcs are not gentile captors." I was imagining yarmulke-wearing orcs with payot.
...and I just read that as "the orcs are not gentile raptors." It's better than reading it "the orcs are not genital captors"... "We will spare your worthless lives and make slaves of you, but certain...'things' must be left behind."GravesScion2011-10-18T02:56:19ZRe: Forums/Gamer Life: General Discussion: Do We Really Have To Do This Again?GravesScionhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mq9h?Do-We-Really-Have-To-Do-This-Again#52011-08-19T21:25:38Z2011-08-18T23:16:32Z<p>My first thought: Sports.</p>
<p>Why do certain types of books, video games, the internet and what have you get blamed for the actions of clearly deranged individuals but sports get a free pass.</p>
<p>Sports lead to things like physical violence, gambling, going hand in hand with substance abuse, and leads to regular city wide riots in some places. People who can barely afford food will spend money on sport merchendise. My own experience in education has been that normal rational people will go nuts at children's game, threatening people, yelling profanities (at children sometimes), and getting physical.</p>
<p>So why do we, as a lawful and organized society, allow this cancer that is sports to go on? </p>
<p>It makes no sense to ask the question about the social effects of vampire books after the actions of a single person (who doesn't seem to have meantioned it him-self), but turn a blind eye to sports. </p>
<p>This isn't to say I'm opposed to sport, not a fan either, but rather about the unequal treatment of media and entertainment types.</p>My first thought: Sports.
Why do certain types of books, video games, the internet and what have you get blamed for the actions of clearly deranged individuals but sports get a free pass.
Sports lead to things like physical violence, gambling, going hand in hand with substance abuse, and leads to regular city wide riots in some places. People who can barely afford food will spend money on sport merchendise. My own experience in education has been that normal rational people will go nuts at...GravesScion2011-08-18T23:16:32ZRe: Forums: Homebrew and House Rules: Give your opinion: Things That Should Not Be FeatsGravesScionhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mmma?Give-your-opinion-Things-That-Should-Not-Be#392011-08-01T10:27:27Z2011-07-31T21:42:44Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Mauril wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">DeathMetal4tw wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">Evil Lincoln wrote:</div><blockquote> Leadership. </blockquote><p>+10
<p>No good DM in his right mind would allow this.</p>
<p></blockquote><p>I allow it. Actually, five of the seven players at my table have taken it. I encouraged them to. Are you saying I'm a bad DM? Are you saying I'm not in my right mind?
<p>Just because you don't like it or because you aren't sure how to build encounters around it, doesn't make it a bad thing. I agree with some of the above posters about it not needing to be a feat, but rather an in-character thing (for the cohort/mercenary). All my players took it to basically get super animal companions (monstrous cohorts, mostly griffons). In this sense, it's like a non-caster version of Improved Familiar. </blockquote><p>I also allow it, always have, and with no additional restrictions. If a player wants it they can take it and they get to build their own cohort. I guess I must be a terrible Dungeon Master.
<p>I think that high level characters should be able to recuit people to their cause with ease and, while I do try to making it a Roleplaying based advancement, I find the feat is a simple way to represent that.</p>
<p>In all my time as a Dungeon Master I've only had one time where Leadership was a problem and it was because the player was a problem, not the feat. It annoys me when people blame a feat or rule for the abuses of players and Dungeon Masters.</p>Mauril wrote:DeathMetal4tw wrote: Evil Lincoln wrote: Leadership.
+10 No good DM in his right mind would allow this.
I allow it. Actually, five of the seven players at my table have taken it. I encouraged them to. Are you saying I'm a bad DM? Are you saying I'm not in my right mind? Just because you don't like it or because you aren't sure how to build encounters around it, doesn't make it a bad thing. I agree with some of the above posters about it not needing to be a feat, but rather an...GravesScion2011-07-31T21:42:44ZRe: Forums: Off-Topic Discussions: Boy Suspended For Wearing A Dress and High Heels To SchoolGravesScionhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mf4c&page=2?Boy-Suspended-For-Wearing-A-Dress-and-High#772014-04-17T20:59:03Z2011-06-20T06:18:47Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Kirth Gersen wrote:</div><blockquote> In the district where I taught, the claim that "tracking is bad" was integral to how things worked. The philosophy was that smart kids will learn even if no one bothers to teach to their level, but slower kids need a lot of help to reach par, and therefore ALL efforts and resources should be devoted to the slower kids, without exception. For brighter kids, it meant boredom, insane levels of frustration, and a feeling of being ignored and/or discriminated against. </blockquote><p>This has been my general experience as well. Absurd amounts of time and resources are spent to get the E students to a D- just so they can move on to the next grade and hopefully out of the public school system. Meanwhile the gifted students are essentially left to their own devices.
<p>Personally, I firmly believe that college is not for everyone (however, Lord help me if I ever suggested that a child not go to college), and I'm becoming more and more convinced that even the higher grade levels of public education are not needed for a large segment of students. It seems such a waste to keep pushing students forward that are barely scraping by, hate being in school, and you know are not going to cut it in college.</p>
<p>I would like to see what would happen if students graduated at grade eight rather then twelve. Start up an intensive work study program and evaluation system to get student ready for work force and into job they might be good at. I could be wrong, but I don't imagine that most people will need twelve grade english or algebra to be functional adults. If at the end of eighth grade your scores are good enough and you're interested in attending college then you keep going with college level prep course and whatever else.</p>
<p>Of course this would require a fundamental change in the way America views education and success. Businesses would have to stop demending a four year degree in jobs that don't really require them and the social stigma of not attending college would need to be cast aside. I think it would be a positive change overall, but I could be mistaken.</p>
<div class="messageboard-quotee">ProfessorCirno wrote:</div><blockquote>Are we going to talk about the hypermasculinization of the US? Because that's a legit interesting topic.</blockquote><p>Hmmm, it was my belief that the United States was going the other way. That things that relate heavily male were being weaked and seen as inferior. In what ways do you think the United States in becoming hypermasculined?Kirth Gersen wrote:In the district where I taught, the claim that "tracking is bad" was integral to how things worked. The philosophy was that smart kids will learn even if no one bothers to teach to their level, but slower kids need a lot of help to reach par, and therefore ALL efforts and resources should be devoted to the slower kids, without exception. For brighter kids, it meant boredom, insane levels of frustration, and a feeling of being ignored and/or discriminated against.
This has...GravesScion2011-06-20T06:18:47ZRe: Forums/Gamer Life: General Discussion: Cheating GMs... and how I hate them...GravesScionhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mb78&page=4?Cheating-GMs-and-how-I-hate-them#1952013-09-03T18:08:50Z2011-05-31T14:43:37Z<p>It's amazing to me to see the wide range of difference on the role of Dungeon Master.</p>
<p>I've always seen my-self as more of an Intermediary between the players and the game world rather than a Dictator of the all the game that many of you seem to prefer. I run a very democratic table where everyone gets an equal share in how the game plays out and Rule 0 has not been welcome for some years.</p>
<p>The concept of telling an otherwise fine player to leave the table because they asked if you would roll in the open is mind-boggling to me. The same with getting agitated because they wish to keep their current hit point total secret for fear I might meta-game. Of course I live in an area where finding a replacement player is major work, but still. I like to have an gaming enviroment were it's all open and everyone is free to have the experience they want to have, which is why I normally turn a blind eye to the occasional bit of dice fudging from the players. </p>
<p>To me the Dungeon Master's role is to craft an enjoyable game for the player and I try to have a very hands off approch in doing that. I guess I would prefer to be the silent puppetmaster gently pulling strings as opposed to the director that gives direction to the actors on stage.</p>
<p>Also I agree with the idea that even if a Dungeon Master couldn't cheat because they control the rules, that breaking the social contract that binds the group together can leave the players feeling cheated. If the players feel cheated than they lose trust in the Dungeon Master which just makes it harder to have fun. Building trust is, like many thing, very hard to do but oh-so easy to destroy.</p>It's amazing to me to see the wide range of difference on the role of Dungeon Master.
I've always seen my-self as more of an Intermediary between the players and the game world rather than a Dictator of the all the game that many of you seem to prefer. I run a very democratic table where everyone gets an equal share in how the game plays out and Rule 0 has not been welcome for some years.
The concept of telling an otherwise fine player to leave the table because they asked if you would roll...GravesScion2011-05-31T14:43:37ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: Balance?GravesScionhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mbj8?Balance#52014-04-28T02:06:12Z2011-05-28T02:11:09Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">brassbaboon wrote:</div><blockquote><p> "Balance" between people who swing sticks at one another, and people who manipulate the warp and weave of the universe itself is a fool's goal.
</p>
</blockquote><p>I agree.
<p>For the most part I think that the non primary casting classes could use some more perks epecially in the out of combat/dungeon arenas. I also think there is, and should be, a fundemental disconnect in power between those that are really good at hitting people with sharp bits of metal and those that can rip reality asunder and/or channel the power of the gods.</p>
<p>I accept this and I also really enjoy playing fighters and rangers.</p>brassbaboon wrote:"Balance" between people who swing sticks at one another, and people who manipulate the warp and weave of the universe itself is a fool's goal.
I agree. For the most part I think that the non primary casting classes could use some more perks epecially in the out of combat/dungeon arenas. I also think there is, and should be, a fundemental disconnect in power between those that are really good at hitting people with sharp bits of metal and those that can rip reality asunder...GravesScion2011-05-28T02:11:09ZRe: Forums/Gamer Life: General Discussion: Cheating GMs... and how I hate them...GravesScionhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mb78&page=2?Cheating-GMs-and-how-I-hate-them#802013-09-03T17:49:57Z2011-05-28T00:47:57Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">KaeYoss wrote:</div><blockquote><br />
<br />
You can disagree with gravity, too. And it will have the same outcome: It's still gravity. </p>
<p>GMs are per definition, unable to cheat. Because everything they decide is the rules. The GM can do everything when it comes to the rules of the game, except cheat. </p>
<p>They can be jerks and do bad stuff. But it's not cheating. </blockquote><p>Give it time, we may find a way to cheat gravity. I still want a hover car.
<p>As for Dungeon Masters cheating; it's simply a matter of game style/perception. I'm a very by the book and as open as possible Dungeon Master. I follow the rules in the book whenever humanly possible, I never hand down rule judgements from on high, rule changes are made by group decision rather than fiat, all of my rolls are in the open are all to see, and I do my best to follow all the same rules as the players. </p>
<p>So when another Dungeon Master changes the clearly written and functional rules, refuses to take their players' ideas into consideration when they do, acts like their Zeus on his mountain, hides all the rolls behind a screen, and gives the non-player characters special powers or excuses them for some of the rules, I get annoyed.</p>
<p>As for fudging rolls, well if a player spent a great deal of their character resources to be good at something; let them be good at it. If the wizard spent the feats and got the magic items to have a high Save Difficulty Check and the villian fumbles their save, then congrations on feats well-spent and spells well chosen. It's also a two way street as far as enemies go.</p>
<p>To say that it doesn't work because it would be anti-climactic or that you want to drag the fight out longer is to me the same as saying that someone can't get a checkmate in chess with a pawn because its wouldn't be as cool. </p>
<p>I suppose for me it boils down to this: I paid for a book of rules and I would like to play by those rules. I expect things to function a certain ways and when they don't, I feel cheated.</p>
<p>However, that's just my opinion. To each their own.</p>KaeYoss wrote:You can disagree with gravity, too. And it will have the same outcome: It's still gravity. GMs are per definition, unable to cheat. Because everything they decide is the rules. The GM can do everything when it comes to the rules of the game, except cheat.
They can be jerks and do bad stuff. But it's not cheating.
Give it time, we may find a way to cheat gravity. I still want a hover car. As for Dungeon Masters cheating; it's simply a matter of game style/perception. I'm a very...GravesScion2011-05-28T00:47:57ZRe: Forums/Gamer Life: General Discussion: Cheating GMs... and how I hate them...GravesScionhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mb78&page=2?Cheating-GMs-and-how-I-hate-them#552013-09-03T17:43:47Z2011-05-27T18:38:45Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">KaeYoss wrote:</div><blockquote> GMs can't cheat. </blockquote><p>It took a lot longer then I thought it would for someone to say this.
<p>I disagree to the fullest possible amount that I can disagree with something, but to each their own.</p>KaeYoss wrote:GMs can't cheat.
It took a lot longer then I thought it would for someone to say this. I disagree to the fullest possible amount that I can disagree with something, but to each their own.GravesScion2011-05-27T18:38:45ZRe: Forums/Gamer Life: General Discussion: Happy Deaths!GravesScionhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lbnj?Happy-Deaths#32012-08-15T16:43:56Z2010-09-26T03:18:22Z<p>Prehaps the best character death I ever had was in one of my the first campaigns that I played. It was a bit after the Expanded Psionics Handbook came out and after some back and forth the DM agreed to let me play a psionic character. So I ended up playing a CG Human Wizard/Psion that went on to become a Cerebremancer (A Mystic Theurge style class for arcanist and psionics). I played him as a wantabe Mr. Cool/Lady-Killer that would never be do to crippling self-confidence issues that stemmed from the disfiguring burns that he had recieved as a child and covered most of the upper left half of his body. He tried to hide his scars with magic but his subconcious self-hate keep him from willing allowing an illusion or transmution spell from hiding his appearance, so instead he was a constant drunk and a chain smoker with no social graces to keep people away. It also didn't help that he was a boarder-line pyromanic</p>
<p>Anyway, after a long and rough journey that included such highlights as running a bar, working through a wonder-life style dream world to return a piece of the Regaila of Good, helping a PC (whom he was secretly in love with) to deliver her and another PC's baby in the middle of a seige, serve as best man in their wedding, and helping pull together the fractured nations to prepare for a planar invasion, he went from level one to sixteen.</p>
<p>It was during the invasion that he died. Reality was being torn apart as an corrupted parallel world attempted to force their way into the material plane and spread the taint of their universe. The battle was going poorly for the good people of the world and the moment of truth was at hand. A huge tear had been ripped into fabric of reality and the full force of the parallel world was about to be brought to bear. The party had split in two; one to hold the line and another to protect the council of magi as they work to reinforce the veil between dimensions. Of course my character was there to hold the line, and of course the magi needed just a little more time.</p>
<p>As everyone got ready to take their last stand, he turned to the PC that he was secretly in love with and looked her in the eyes for just a moment and turned to her husband. </p>
<p>"You keep an eye on her, she's a handful." He said.
<br />
"Yeah,... I'll do that. Thanks for the laughs." The husband said.</p>
<p>Then he turned to the portal and started walking towards, throwing up all the protective spells/powers he could, turning to look back at the last moment and said "Comic Relief, Exit Stage Left." and stepped into the portal never to be seen again.</p>
<p>But hey, he bought the world the few more seconds it needed.</p>
<p>I couldn't think of a better way to send a well loved PC off.</p>Prehaps the best character death I ever had was in one of my the first campaigns that I played. It was a bit after the Expanded Psionics Handbook came out and after some back and forth the DM agreed to let me play a psionic character. So I ended up playing a CG Human Wizard/Psion that went on to become a Cerebremancer (A Mystic Theurge style class for arcanist and psionics). I played him as a wantabe Mr. Cool/Lady-Killer that would never be do to crippling self-confidence issues that stemmed...GravesScion2010-09-26T03:18:22Z