James Jacobs's page

James Jacobs wrote:

Rysky wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

zerzix wrote:

If you could 'transport' yourself to Golarion what class/race/level would you be? Any chance you'd be walking around as Jan Daystar?

HA! No. Jan Daystar (who wasn't even named by me... I left the character unnamed in my original so that the player could name him but the editors obviously wanted him to have a name) was never meant to be a character with much in the way of a personality.

I'd like to think I turned into an elf bard or cleric or bard/cleric though. Who worshiped Desna, of course.

Okay I'm in the dark. Who is Jan Daystar?

My first published work was a solo adventure for AD&D that was printed in Dungeon #12 nearly 30 years ago. The character you play in that adventure, "Scepter of the Underworld" was named Jan Daystar.

OH. And you were searching for said scepter to return it to a creepy wizard named Alaznist. Ha.

Interesting...

Although that version of Alaznist was a man and a lich, if I remember correctly... and wasn't particularly into demons or wrath.

James Jacobs wrote:

xavier c wrote:

Do the Gods of Ancient Osirion have outsider servants

All deities have outsider servants.

How many outsider servants do deities and demigods usually have

Countless minions. Essentially an infinite number for all practical purposes.

so whats Iomadae's realm like

Not sure yet. I haven't done any work developing it, but we've said something, I believe, in The Great Beyond and maybe in the upcoming Inner Sea Gods.

James Jacobs wrote:

zerzix wrote:

If you could 'transport' yourself to Golarion what class/race/level would you be? Any chance you'd be walking around as Jan Daystar?

HA! No. Jan Daystar (who wasn't even named by me... I left the character unnamed in my original so that the player could name him but the editors obviously wanted him to have a name) was never meant to be a character with much in the way of a personality.

I'd like to think I turned into an elf bard or cleric or bard/cleric though. Who worshiped Desna, of course.

Okay I'm in the dark. Who is Jan Daystar?

My first published work was a solo adventure for AD&D that was printed in Dungeon #12 nearly 30 years ago. The character you play in that adventure, "Scepter of the Underworld" was named Jan Daystar.

OH. And you were searching for said scepter to return it to a creepy wizard named Alaznist. Ha.

James Jacobs wrote:

Belle Mythix wrote:

In WotR #6 (ap 78), there a scenario about the PCs failing...

1) if the Demons forces ended up doing too well, would the gods themselves intervene?

2) would the Aboleth try to destroy Golarion to stop the invasion?

2.a) would the gods let them?

1) No. The gods don't do that. It's up to mortals to fail or succeed. Iomedae's intervention with the PCs is as far as the gods generally go.

2) No. They'd be pretty safe in their realms under the sea, and if they had to, they have ways to leave the planet. They're powerful spellcasters themselves, after all!

2a) See #1 above.

Do you think some of the Empyreal Lords and other Demi-god level beings might start interfering? I can't see someone like Ragathiel just letting Golarion fall without some sort of heavenly response.

Maybe... but not to the extent that it removes from the world the need for heroes.

Golarion is first and foremost a game setting, and the people who are there to save it are first and foremost your player characters. We really REALLY don't want to build too much into the setting that gives the impression that your PCs can sit back and let others do their job.

James Jacobs wrote:

Belle Mythix wrote:

In WotR #6 (ap 78), there a scenario about the PCs failing...

1) if the Demons forces ended up doing too well, would the gods themselves intervene?

2) would the Aboleth try to destroy Golarion to stop the invasion?

2.a) would the gods let them?

1) No. The gods don't do that. It's up to mortals to fail or succeed. Iomedae's intervention with the PCs is as far as the gods generally go.

2) No. They'd be pretty safe in their realms under the sea, and if they had to, they have ways to leave the planet. They're powerful spellcasters themselves, after all!

2a) See #1 above.

Do you ever feel that this "Gods don't get involved, it's up to the mortals" rule takes away from the importance of Golarion as Rovagug's cage? Seems to me that when these universal non-interference laws were written, Asmodeus and Abadar would have been smart enough to include loopholes stating something to the effect of "Unless there's a risk of Rovagug being turned loose, in which case, all bets are off."

Not at all. It adds to the danger and risk of the setting, and makes it a place that needs heroes more than ever, which is really the whole point of the gods not getting involved. They don't get involved so your PCs have to.

And the "universal non-interference laws" were never really even written. It's just the way things are. There are no "loopholes" to take advantage of, any more than there's a loophole in the fact that humans breathe air or the earth is solid. It's metaphysical and spiritual, but that doesn't mean it's just as fundamental and constant as physical things like matter and gravity.

Do the Gods of Ancient Osirion have outsider servants

All deities have outsider servants.

James Jacobs wrote:

xavier c wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

xavier c wrote:

how big is Iomadae's realm

Undefined at this time.

Can i guess and say it is as big as a planet?

Probably bigger.

I know planer realms are big but you make theme sound immeasurable

That's kind of the point, and kind of why it's undefined.

If a paladin has already has a legendary quality weapon and then chooses Radiance do the legendary qualities transfer over to Radiance example intelligent item?

Yes. Radiance essentially has a few "bonus things" a person gets if they pick it as a legendary weapon.

So, will these gods be in the Inner Sea Gods hardcover?

I'm guessing probably not, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Love that Bastet is going to be in Pathfinder now. I've always been a big Sharess fan (Sharess is Bastet in Forgotten Realms) and Calistria never quite did it for me as a replacement. I see Bastet is Chaotic Neutral though, so mixed feelings about that.

They will not. They're physically located there, yes, but they're not temporally located there. Their worship is largely out of fashion and not really a part of day-to-day life in the Inner Sea anymore.

Also... there was no room in the book for one more pantheon.

Also... we did this article after Inner Sea Gods was off to the printer.

If a class does not explicitly state whether prerequisites are required or not required to acquire bonus feats listed under the classes bonus feats option, then must these classes have the prerequisites to acquire these bonus feats?

That sounds like a good question for the rules boards and a FAQing. Because it's 2:26 AM and the question really confused me because I'm sleeeeepy...

(as a general rule though, if a class lets you pick a bonus feat, you get the feat, prerequisites don't matter)

James,

1: There are Neutral Good and Lawful Good angels; Are there any Chaotic Good ones I'm missing, or are there plans for any? I've found references to chaotic good angels in the abstract (stating that they live in Elysium, rather than Nirvana or Heaven, for example) but no actual instances of any.

2: Reading the discussion of the recent Gods of Ancient Osirion blog post, other earth pantheons came up, and it occurred to me that if I was implementing the Norse pantheon, I might stat them all as higher-ranking Demigods rather than true deities. Would you consider that if you were going to use them, or does it seem like undervaluing them somehow?

1) There are, but we have no plans for them yet. They're mostly neutral good, overall.

2) I'd make them a mix, but they'd mostly be full deities.

Hey James! Some folks have discovered a new pygmy T-Rex up in the arctic that they're affectionately referring to as a "polar bear lizard" :)

Yup! Saw that! YAY!

Have you been watching Vikings on History Channel any?

Sort of. I watched the first 2 or 3 episodes of season 1 and enjoyed them but then lost track. I'll see the rest eventually.

In WotR #6 (ap 78), there a scenario about the PCs failing...

1) if the Demons forces ended up doing too well, would the gods themselves intervene?

2) would the Aboleth try to destroy Golarion to stop the invasion?

2.a) would the gods let them?

1) No. The gods don't do that. It's up to mortals to fail or succeed. Iomedae's intervention with the PCs is as far as the gods generally go.

2) No. They'd be pretty safe in their realms under the sea, and if they had to, they have ways to leave the planet. They're powerful spellcasters themselves, after all!

2a) See #1 above.

I suspect Unspeakable Futures also wouldn't take the shape of one additional book, so much as it would be almost it's own system (based off Pathfinder) and campaign setting. It would, basically, require it's own team to develop in-and-of-itself.

It would absolutely be its own book. A combination Player's Handbook, Gamemaster's Book, and Bestiary and campaign setting. It'd be big.

If you could 'transport' yourself to Golarion what class/race/level would you be? Any chance you'd be walking around as Jan Daystar?

HA! No. Jan Daystar (who wasn't even named by me... I left the character unnamed in my original so that the player could name him but the editors obviously wanted him to have a name) was never meant to be a character with much in the way of a personality.

I'd like to think I turned into an elf bard or cleric or bard/cleric though. Who worshiped Desna, of course.

I'm getting ready to play my first Pathfinder Adventure Path (Wrath of the Righteous), but I haven't fully cemented on my character yet. So far we've got a Redeemer Paladin, a Holy Vindicator (Paladin/Oracle), and a Slayer. I haven't decided yet.

Should I build the Carnivalist Rogue that my heart is yearning for, or should I make an arcane spellcaster because we might all die without one. Or will we? Will not having an arcane spellcaster in Wrath of the Righteous lead to our untimely deaths?

My advice to my players in times like that is ALWAYS "Play the character you want." If that means the party lacks an arcane spellcaster or a cleric or a front-line fighter... that's fine. I as the GM make adjustments as necessary to the plot, or introduce NPCs to help as needed. There are certainly a few NPCs in the AP that can fill the role of support for arcane magic.

Play what you want! You'll likely have more fun!

How did you handle the Redcliffe Battle in Dragon Age: Origins? I'm frustrated with it right now. No matter what I try I wind up with an NPC getting killed.

I honestly don't remember... it's been years and years since I played it.

James Jacobs wrote:

Jeven wrote:

I imagine that if Iron Gods is really successful then the amount of sci-fi in Pathfinder products will increase substantially.

They are running a business and they will follow where the dollar leads.
So, in the end, if you don't like the sound of something you shouldn't buy it, otherwise you will be sending Paizo the message that you do, since sales are interpreted as preferences.

Actually, I wouldn't imagine this. If Iron Gods is successful, we will likely take that as endorsement for future APs that have really unusual and "traditionally risky" plots. The overwhelming acceptance folks had for "Rasputin Must Die!" is really what encouraged us that an entire science-fiction AP would be doable.

So when Iron Gods becomes overwhelmingly successful, will you likely take that as an endorsement for Unspeakable Futures?

Perhaps.

I actually already think that I could do pretty well with Unspeakable Futures and I suspect it'd do pretty good if I were to Kickstart it. I just don't currently have the personal time that something like that would take. AKA: I don't have time in my life for a 3rd job (my first two being Creative Director and Adventure Path developer).

James Jacobs wrote:

The overwhelming acceptance folks had for "Rasputin Must Die!" is really what encouraged us that an entire science-fiction AP would be doable.

Hi James. I hadnt realised that Iron Gods was intended to be a "science fiction AP". I'd expected it to be a fantasy AP with science fiction elements (ie the odd laser, mysterious artefact and killer robot). Am I reading too much into your throwaway description here and making a semantic mountain out of a molehill?

I have no real interest in numeria in general, but enjoy the way paizo surprise me from time to time. I wouldn't want to go in with wildly inaccurate preconceptions, though.

Iron Gods will be very much a "fantasy meets sci-fi" adventure path. If you're familiar with Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, you know about how much sci-fi will be in there.

If you're not a fan of Numeria, this might be a good AP for you to skip... but I do hope you check it out anyway since, as you say, we can surprise you from time to time.

Rob can certainly talk more about this... but it's a tricky thing figuring out alignments for real-world mythological figures, while simultaneously trying to cover all the possible alignments while ALSO trying to make deities feel different enough that they are separate enough choices game-mechanics and flavor wise, even though in some cases, the deities are real-world variants separated by time that are essentially the same faith in a lot of ways.

Which MMO you are most foward to play; Elder Scrolls Online or Pathfinder Online?

Elder Scrolls Online, no contest.

Don't get me wrong... it'll be cool to see Golarion come to life in video game form, but the type of game I like playing is MUCH more exactly like Elder Scrolls Online and much less what Goblinworks is building with Pathfinder Online.

So you'd recommend Last Revelation of Gla'aki then? Glad to hear its one of his best. I haven't had a chance to read it yet - I'm so far behind on my reading that I haven't read anything written past 2012 yet. Trying to catch up but it's slow.

By the way, excellent answer to my last question (about hard to find books), very interesting. Now, I think it's safe to say you're a book collector and obviously you buy a lot of stuff involved in creative mediums (video games, movies, music, TTRPGs, etc.), but do you collect anything that would fall outside the "standard" sphere of gamer/artist culture (e.g. model trains)? If not, is there a hobby or collector habit you'd some day want to get into?

For me, it's model rockets (particularly the Estes ones). I've gotten away from it for the past decade or so but I'm trying to get back into it.

Yup; just read "Last Revelation" a few months ago, and it was really fun! Partially because it was a full novel-length mythos story, but also because the way the story was constructed was REALLY creepy and moody and atmospheric and it led up to a really cool climax. There's always so much more to sea!

I am indeed a book collector—I've got a LOT of them, something I realize every time I move...

I collect dinosaur stuff... that count? Everything from books to fossils to replica fossils to art to minis to toys to more.

Some witch-related questions, if I may. :)

1. I'm statting up a high-ranking Old Cults witch. This makes me end up with a character with 30+ Intelligence that worships Shub-Niggurath, which somehow seems paradoxical. To your mind, what would the mind of someone like that be like? Someone like Hannibal Lecter of the recent series who is very cerebral about their savagery and their impulses? Or completely different?

2. There's a witch grand hex called Summon Spirit. Is this based on the biblical Witch of Endor calling up the ghost of a dead prophet to advise King Saul?

3. How would you advise a GM to handle that hex, based on how it was intended to work? It says you can summon the ghost of a humanoid with up to 18 HD, similar to a planar binding. But which ghosts are eligible? Just ghosts you currently know about haunting somewhere, or can you look through graveyards or old records to find particular historical people who has skills or knowledge you need, Joseph Curwen-style?

4. If the latter, what if the souls have been judged? Are you somehow summoning some augmented version of their petitioner forms?

5. If not possible with the judged, how often, on average, would trying to summon a particular person fail, and how far back into history can one go before it becomes unrealistic to get the ghosts? Max True Resurrection time limit for the hex user?

6. Should this hex require access to grave or body parts, in your opinion?

Thank you so much for your time, your perspectives, and your creativity as evidenced through your work! :)

1) There is nothing to say that a high Intelligence character can't also worship a deity or a Great Old One at all. I wouldn't call that paradoxical in the least. In fact, in Lovecraft, the most famous of his witches, Keziah Mason, essentially uses super-math to weave magic and create portals between worlds—and she also happens to worship Nyarlathotep. It's very on-target and on-theme to have a super-high INT witch worshiping a Great Old One or Outer God in other words.

2) Probably a little bit of both, plus the many other stories where a magical person calls upon the spirits of the dead for aid.

3) I'd say that it'd be most fun if the witch had to track down/research specific ghosts, which lets the GM build personalities for each of them. The Joseph Curwen angle is perfect, in other words.

4) If the souls have been judged, you should still be able to call back remnants of their ghosts—they're just spirits in this case, not people with the ghost template.

5) There's no limit on how long someone can have been dead, so therefore it has to function as above with differences than resurrection's limitations.

6) Nope. Just research.

James Jacobs wrote:

Interesting. But my MMO time is about to be eaten alive by Elder Scrolls.

Another beta weekend coming up!! Have you preordered? I'm on the fence.

I've preordered the collector's edition, yup.

James Jacobs wrote:

xavier c wrote:

how big is Iomadae's realm

Undefined at this time.

Can i guess and say it is as big as a planet?

Probably bigger.

I imagine that if Iron Gods is really successful then the amount of sci-fi in Pathfinder products will increase substantially.

They are running a business and they will follow where the dollar leads.

So, in the end, if you don't like the sound of something you shouldn't buy it, otherwise you will be sending Paizo the message that you do, since sales are interpreted as preferences.

Actually, I wouldn't imagine this. If Iron Gods is successful, we will likely take that as endorsement for future APs that have really unusual and "traditionally risky" plots. The overwhelming acceptance folks had for "Rasputin Must Die!" is really what encouraged us that an entire science-fiction AP would be doable.

That said, Golarion is and shall remain a fantasy setting, and the bulk of what we do in the future will remain in that genre. We might drift out now and then, but that's not an excuse to change everything.

Darigaaz the Igniter wrote:

... is it bad that even the creative director bans summoners?

Depends. He might ban them because he's not into the flavor of them or something. I banned them for a while because I didn't like the mechanics of them. I later re-allowed them as a choice after modifying their chassis (spell list, spell progression, etc).

Honestly though, so many players in my current group have fallen in love with psionics that I haven't had to deal with things like summoners. They have been enamored with the types of characters that they can make (one player is playing a succubus-blooded tiefling and using psionics to represent her magical powers from it, for example).

In fact, my primary reason to not allow them in my games is EXACTLY because of flavor concerns. I don't like how the eidolon lets players make up monsters. The second reason is that summoners slow the game down because they add so many more pieces to the combat; the summoner's turn ends up being way too long. The fact that I feel like they have easy potential to be overpowered is 3rd on that list.

But yes. The strength of the game is that you can adjust it to be the game YOU want. Even in Pazio, we have different preferences for game play.

Hi James,

With Many shot + paladins smite, would one apply a paladins smite to both the arrows on the first shot?

Also, btw, while I have you here... It is really amazing that you respond to so many posts and thank you very much.

-M

Paladin smite is plenty good already. Especially when it's at range and thus minimizes the retaliation opportunities.

The first and most powerful smite should ONLY EVER apply to one projectile, but beyond that, smite applies to each attack as appropriate.

Title says it all. I'm running a campaign and planning on banning Synthesist Summoners, Psionics and ACG play test classes. One player is claiming "psionics is part of lore"

I asked him to point out psionics in the inner sea world guide or any PFS module or how ACG classes are part of the game beyond playtest. Player got pretty hostile then dropped. Am I out of line here or is the player?

Psychic magic is part of the lore, yes... but so are dragons and liches and creatures capable of calling down stars from the sky and gods and all the rest. "Part of the lore" is not the same as "A player character option."

You as the GM get to decide what options are available, and that includes deciding what class options are available. For example, in games I run, I don't allow ANY summoners, but I do allow tieflings and aasimars. Other choices vary for the game I want to run.

A player who can't abide by or respect the GM's choices doesn't deserve to play in that GM's game.

Hi James,

Does the first level spell 'Hydraulic Push' allow you to bull rush a target in any direction (since it effects the square and is not directional)?

Thanks,
M

The flavor and visuals the spell brings up in my head would say that you can only bull rush a target in one direction; you target one creature or object (not a square) within range, and then the spell bull rushes that creature or object in the direction you determine.

Hi, James. I'm prepping a new semi-homebrew campaign set in Korvosa, so I've been poring over Guide to Korvosa to look for existing plot elements to incorporate.

One idea I was thinking about was a cult of deluded Arodenites that were unwittingly worshiping something that only pretended to be Aroden. (Yes, I stole that idea from Mike Kimmel's RPGSS 2014 final round submission...)

I found something in the Korvosa book along those lines that I wanted to ask about.

According to the book, the crumbling Temple of Aroden in Old Korvosa is still tended to by a "pitiful trio of clerics" who are still holding out for Aroden's return. (Guide to Korvosa, p. 30)

Aroden died a century ago... are these clerics human? Wouldn't they be 120 years old or something by now? Or, are these worshipers who came of age after Aroden's death, but are still holding out for a miracle?

Or is this a plot element that has been retconned (or at least de-emphasized) in the six years since the book was published?

Thanks!

That element is something we've since downplayed, especially since Aroden was the god of humans and as such it's weird for someone other than a human to worship him, almost as weird as there being a 100+ year old human still alive.

So, do with it what you will... we're not going back there.

James,

Thank you for the Ramsey Campbell recommendations! I ordered both (one on Kindle, and one in book form) and am really enjoying them! (Thanks too for the Repairman Jack recommendation. I ended up really enjoying the first book.)

On to a question.

Do you have a favorite R. Campbell story?

Thanks, and T-minus 5 months to Iron Gods book one….

My favorite novel by him would be a tie between Nazareth Hill, The Hungry Moon, The Face that must Die, and The Last Revelation of Gla'aki.

My favorite short story by him would be a tie between Makintosh Willy, The Tugging, or The Inhabitant of the Lake... but a LOT of his short fiction is really good. Those three are the first 3 that came to my head.

James,

Have you had a chance to check out/play the 13th Age RPG yet?

1) What did you think?

2) What do you think about its Icon system?

3) If you were going to adopt Golarion for use with the Icon system, which Icons would you choose?

4) If Golarion/the Inner Sea is too big and would have too many icons, how would you adapt Varisia?

1) Haven't had a chance to look into it in depth yet.

2) See #1 above. Dunno.

3) Dunno.

4) Dunno.

My group recently began playing Call of Cthulhu. I now have The Masks of Nyarlathotep, Shadows of Yog Sothoth, and am expecting Horror on the Orient Express from the kickstarter a while back. Anything else I should look into?

I'm hesitant to say go buy more until you're sure you love the game... but "Beyond the Mountains of Madness" is hands down my favorite CoC adventure ever.

how big is Iomadae's realm

Undefined at this time.

I understand that, Iomedae's probably the only god who gave a damn about them after the Worldwound burst open. I was more asking how an individual PC might blend worshiping an ecclesiastical god/goddess while still respecting the shamanistic religion of their ancestors. Apart from Erastil and Gozreh, who are nature gods and thus fit right in with things like the Green Faith or Shoanti totemism, many gods seem to fit better in more populous, settled areas, and where their faiths go, cathedrals and heirarchies follow that are antithetical to the old ways. How does someone straddling those two worlds reconcile the different beliefs, or is such a thing impossible? You mentioned before in this thread that a Shoanti wouldn't venerate Sarenrae AND the totems at the same time. I'm a big fan of playing "straddling the line between ancient traditions and modern beliefs" kinds of characters, like many modern depictions of King Arthur have been, but I'm uncertain how to approach such characters from the standpoint of worship, especially if they take a divine caster class like a paladin or inquisitor.

Nope; plenty of other deities were concerned at the Worldwound... from Desna and Torag down to demigods like Milani and Pulura (who's center of worship was almost at Worldwound Ground Zero).

You should check out Lost Kingdoms for more info about Sarkoris's complex faith traditions in any event. They're too complicated to really go into detail on a late night on the messageboards! :P

1) Would I be correct in thinking that Arazni was neutral good before her death? I'm presuming that Arazni's Protection and Nobility domains predate her conversion into a lich.

2) Would I be correct in thinking that Milani was initially neutral good, and shifted to chaotic good after Aroden died and she ascended?

3) Did Aroden have a bias towards having good aligned women as his saints and heralds?

4) It is fairly unusual that Aroden's most significant servants (Iomadae, Arazni, and Milani) didn't actually match his alignment? You'd indicated before that followers a step off from their god were semi-heretics - not totally on message, but close enough to still be compatible.

5) Switching gears - Have the elves of Kyonin actually killed Treerazer before? You'd pointed out before that since Treerazer's a native outsider, it's actually pretty easy for him to come back from death. I'm bemused at the notion of Treerazer having a clone of himself and having his cultists keep stashes of resurrection or true resurrection scrolls.

6) What the heck happens if, while Treerazer is dead, a cleric of Treerazer invokes a miracle to resurrect Treerazer?

1) I'm not sure we've revealed her alignment before her fall. She was likely lawful good though. She worshiped Aroden, after all...

2) Perhaps. Again, we haven't really said... she was either neutral good or chaotic good though, I suspect.

3) Nope.

4) Not really. Aroden actually had a LOT of servants. Those ones you mention get remembered more primarily due to several of them being closely associated with the Shining Crusade. His other minions weren't as famous, nor as good.

5) They have not killed him yet.

6) Treerazer comes back to life. You can still cast spells you've prepared when your deity is dead; you just can't prepare new ones.

1. Other than Orlovsky potentially allying with Garess and Medvyed against Surtova if they get sick of the usurpers, what do the allegiances between Houses in Brevoy look like?

2. There's a lot of talk about being on the edge of civil war and friction between Issia and Rostland, but which Houses are Issian and which are Rostlander?

3. Are the rebellious folk in Restov tied to any Houses or are they on their own?

1) Beyond what we've said in the Inner Sea World Guide and the Brevoy article in Kingmaker #1... I can't say off the top of my head.

2) IIRC, all the houses are Issian and Rostland is all things like the Swordlords. It's been FOREVER since I've had my head in Brevoy though.

3) On their own for the most part.

Ross Byers wrote:

Axial wrote:

I understand that you're not aiming for parallelism, but if that's the case, doesn't that mean that Heaven is a whole lot weaker then the Nine Hells?

Why would it be?

Well...I dunno. Let me put it this way: who would lead the forces of Heaven if Hell went to war with them?

Depends on the story you wanted to tell... but I suspect there would be multiple cooperating allied armies on Heaven's side.

I understand that you're not aiming for parallelism, but if that's the case, doesn't that mean that Heaven is a whole lot weaker then the Nine Hells?

Not necessarily. Nothing says there's not a more powerful deity in heaven than Asmodeus.

Hey James, I came across this neat fanart of the Skinsaw Man, and I thought you might get a kick out of it :)

AAAAHAHH!!!!

Excellent; thanks!

So what would a Agathion minion of Arshea be like anyway?

It would be an agathion that upheld and followed and pursued Arshea's teachings.

James Jacobs wrote:

xavier c wrote:

1)James Sutter said arcane magic (in regards to wizards) is science. So are there any religious wizards?

2)Does Erastil have any worshipers on Garund?

1) There are absolutely religious wizards, just as there are religious scientists.

2) Yes.

There are religious scientists?

Absolutely.

What are the chances we will see either a Casmaron gazetteer, or a Southern Garund Gazetteer anytime soon?

Somewhere above zero but below 100%.

AKA: I'd love to both, but we don't really reveal our plans beyond what we've announced.

James Jacobs wrote:

LazarX wrote:

I know you're a fan of Mac Gaming so this might be of interest.

The Star Trek Online Mac Beta has ended. The Mac client is now live.

These are the requirements:

Mac Minimum System Requirements:

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.7.5 or later
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM: 4GB+
Hard Disk: 10GB Free Disk Space
Graphic Display: Intel HD3000 / Nvidia 9600M / AMD HD2600 with 256MB+ VRAM
Network: Broadband Internet Connection Required

Interesting. But my MMO time is about to be eaten alive by Elder Scrolls.

MMO? I thought Elder Scrolls was a single player game... and console/PC only.

There's a MMO Elder Scrolls coming out very soon; for PC/Mac, for Playstation, and for Xbox.

D&D Next's Lead Designer talked about the Bard class in their next edition this week. One of the most interesting notes was that the Bard was upgraded to a full spellcasting class: they basically turned it into the beguiler of D&D Next. What are your thoughts on this?

shrug

I like our bard better.

xavier c wrote:

What does the word Archon (the celestials) mean?

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

Moreover, where did the name "Azata" come from? I looked it up and all I could find as a moth genus and the Arizona Athletic Trainer's Association.

Oh, and here's a big question: Hell makes a lot of sense as a Lawful Evil plane. It has one dictator sitting at the top of a vast hierarchy, from the Archdevils down to the Infernal Dukes, and to the Pit Fiends to standard devils. It is an ordered, regimented, and structured plane.

But why doesn't Heaven have a single ruler? Iomedae's only been there for a little while, Erastil isn't quite leader material, and Torag is mainly in charge of the dwarves. I suppose it wouldn't be symmetrical with Hell, where there's one "Archoneus" ruling all of Heaven with 7 Archarchons in charge of each slope of the mountain. But Heaven seems to have a defined lack of organization.

Hmm...now I'm wondering what an Archon equivalent of Asmodeus would be like. The closest thing I can imagine is Mitra from Way of the Wicked.

Azata comes from the word "Yazata." We dropped the "Y" to both make it fit in well with all the other good outsider races starting with an "A" and to distance it a bit from the real-world word.

Because parallelism is boring. If Heaven were just an exact opposite of Hell, that'd be kinda dull. The differences between the two, including the fact that Hell's got a top tier devil while Heaven doesn't have a top tier archon is intentional.

1)James Sutter said arcane magic (in regards to wizards) is science. So are there any religious wizards?

2)Does Erastil have any worshipers on Garund?

1) There are absolutely religious wizards, just as there are religious scientists.

2) Yes.