Lord Fyre's page

Lord Fyre wrote:

John Kretzer wrote:

Lord Fyre wrote:

"But, masters, remember that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass."

Hey this is off topic...this the 'Ask John Kretzer All of your Questions' thread....not the 'Quote Shakespeare' thread.

True.

But, I felt that the thread needed a kickstart. :)

But since you ask: Here is a question.

Damn you for finding a loop hole by posting a 'question' without asking a question. Such a fiendish thing could only have been inspired by Cosmo. *shakes fist angerily*

But did you remember that I am an ass?

I am wondering what books people might recommend to players to help them get a better feel for the setting of an Adventure Path.

For the Council of Thieves for example, I recommend to my players that they check out the following:

Lord Fyre wrote:

"But, masters, remember that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass."

Hey this is off topic...this the 'Ask John Kretzer All of your Questions' thread....not the 'Quote Shakespeare' thread.

True.

But, I felt that the thread needed a kickstart. :)

But since you ask: Here is a question.

"But, masters, remember that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass."

Also remember that Faction traits require having a book to back them.

I believe that the intended was "Also remember that non-Faction traits require having a book to back them."

This I understand.

I was asking because the Andoran traits are simply inferior.

It should be no secret that not are Faction Traits are worth taking - they are just not very good (Andoran's for instance). Another problem is that the traits for some factions (Taldor's for instance) imply that characters must be members of that nationality.

So, I ask, is taking a faction trait a requirement in the Pathfinder Society?

They have given us no clues about what or who Skye really is... so it's sort of moot to consider it, until they reveal more. So far she is just human with an exceptional ability to crack code.

... and inspire irrational hostility in large slices of the fanbase.

Sara Marie wrote:

We are on about day 27 of a 2-45 day special order item estimate. We're hoping that the shirts will come in the next couple of weeks. If you'd like, I can move that item to your sidecart so the rest of the items can ship right away and the shirt can ship with the first subscription shipment after it arrives at the warehouse. We can also move everything to the sidecart and the items ready to ship will be combined with your March subscriptions.

thanks
sara marie

Please move the shirt to the sidecart. This should allow you to ship the rest of the order.

Thank You.

I received the shipping notice this morning.

This sounds like it builds on the events of the The Blakros Matrimony.

We are on about day 27 of a 2-45 day special order item estimate. We're hoping that the shirts will come in the next couple of weeks. If you'd like, I can move that item to your sidecart so the rest of the items can ship right away and the shirt can ship with the first subscription shipment after it arrives at the warehouse. We can also move everything to the sidecart and the items ready to ship will be combined with your March subscriptions.

thanks
sara marie

Please move the shirt to the sidecart. This should allow you to ship the rest of the order.

It looks like we are still waiting for this special order item to arrive.

Thanks!
Sharaya

Not to be a pest, but has there been a change in the status of this order?

It has been ten days since my last question...so I will just remind people I am here to answer all of your questions.

“To die, to sleep - To sleep, perchance to dream - ay, there's the rub,

What dreams do come to you?

Yeah, I wanted to build a code of conduct like those. For this one I took some tips from the Gozreh part of Faiths of Balance (the taboos, religion goals, etc).

Start with Erastil's code and modify from there.

Lord Fyre wrote:

Can this scenario still be played in light of Rivalry's End?

What this guy said. I've got an ex shadow lodge character I'm playing and I'm wanting to know if this is a good scenario to run him with in light of the fact that, after rivalries end he's kind of looking to kill Torch or bring him to justice.

You point out a serious problem with the way the Shadow Lodge was dissolved. It left a lot of hatred for Torch, this effectively invalidates earlier scenarios like this one.

Of course, I also feel that disbanding the Shadow Lodge was a mistake. It provided a good foil for the Grand Lodge faction.

In the first book, my players were getting spanked by everything, though in book two and especially book 3, nothing is challenging. The reason is clear: three of them have leadership.

What you have run into is one of the reasons that many GMs disallow or heavily restrict Leadership (including PFS by the way). It works much better as an NPC feat.

However, the answer to your problem is quite simple: MOOOORE monster!

Pnakotus is correct. You now have to reassess the effective level of your "villains." The warhounds and cohorts add the equivalent of three extra characters to your PC party. This allows you to add a +2 to the CR of every encounter. Yes, all this is more prep-work for you as a GM, but it will be better then the frustration you are dealing with now.

While Lawful Evil types can cooperate, ultimately everyone is out for themselves. Play their allies more treacherously (but avoid pointless or stupid treachery). Make sure your PCs are looking over their shoulder. Your players wanted to be EVIL. Make sure they experience the downside to that as well as the benefits.

Counter-wise, one of the benefits that "Good" has in the cosmic struggle is that they tend to cooperate very well (it is that whole "selflessness" thing). When things start to go south for the NPC, what stops them from calling nearby allies for help?

((Book 2: the party had used their last 'request' of Vetra Kali to be eternal servitude (the players are wicked indeed)!

The upside to all this is that your players are smart and ruthless; but that means you have to up your game too.

... our beloved heroes, reach their climax during the volcano eruption ...

Hmmm ...

Is the cake a lie?

I'm surprised as genre savvy as many of the characters are that nobody has cast commune or a similar spell yet and just asked the gods what The Snarl is. You would think they would be even more forthcoming than usual with the fact existence is hanging in the balance and all.

That might be why Durkon had to be taken off the table.

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Just following up on this.

I am familiar with Torag and had considered him but decided against him for various reasons. Brigh and Bharnarol I had never heard of; both seem perfectly suited for this character. I prefer to not have a cleric worship anything not actually a full deity, though... unless they instead worship nothing (an unnamed power), or an entire pantheon. But I personally never have a cleric or paladin or druid, etc. devoted to an empyreal lord, arch devil, demon lord, etc. Just my own personal thing. But that eliminates bharanol.

So for now, Brigh is tentatively my choice. I would still welcome any other input, though!

You need to talk to your GM.

However, James Jacobs has been very firm on this - A Cleric MUST worship a deity.

Yeah, I think "Releasing Rovagug to kill Asmodeus because he's a misogynistic prick" might not be the best idea.

Maybe they can settle for killing a pit fiend?

Or, if they want to go beyond the scope of the AP (unlikely, since you want to run Skull & Shackles), they could damage Asmodeus's control of Cheliax.

If you have access to the Faction Guide, check out the Bellflower Network.

My problem is that they are often just love stories interrupted by historical events.

But, that is realistic.

Life happens. The rest of the world does not stop for your personal love story.

But ... according to Golarion's lore, there are no Male Lamia.

What about a Planet Hopping AP? That would be Mythic Enough. :)

Chainmail bikinis are an integral part of the fantasy gaming tradition. Stop trying to take away what happiness I have left.

I heartily agree.

However, As I was saying above, the characters should also belong in their world.

But, James Jacobs has effectively shut down this subject. While he might change his mind (it has happened before) that will not happen today.

Drejk wrote:

Uh... I haven't thought about that possibility...

Ah. Okay. Thanks for that back research Trace Coburn. Looks like Roy is talking about his dad, but Roy feels guilty that he didn't try harder to stop his dad.

It still explains why he didn't pursue Magic.

The thing is, he actually gave the elf exactly the advice Vaarsuvius needs. "But you care. You know you screwed up, and want to make it right. I've been told that trying counts for a lot."

These days, the previous Ms. Marvel looks like this.

So tragic.

Feiya isn't an Ulfen. She's a Tian. Though to be fair, the guy who did the RoW artwork seems to be the only artist (aside from WAR, obviously) who's ever noticed that Feiya isn't white.

True, however, she was born in the Land of the Linnorm Kings and raised by Irrisen Hags.

WAR's artwork comes in anywhere from months to even years before the backstory of the corresponding iconic gets written, so I wouldn't hold any inconsistencies against the artist =P

True, but now that we have backgrounds, should we not "fix" the art to fit those backgrounds?

Lord Fyre wrote:

Cheapy wrote:

And for what it's worth, there are more female iconics that are modestly dressed (merisiel, kyra, lini, seelah) than there are ones that are either immodestly dressed or...possibly immodestly dressed. The title of this thread implies that all female iconics are dressed scantly, when the majority aren't.

True. However, you might also note that the ones I listed are more visible.

I think this push to be less sexy is actually a regression. From the time when I was a kid, standards for dress for public, on TV, in magazines, on bill boards, in concerts, and in store windows has become significantly more relaxed.

But, that is not what I was asking for.

What I was asking for...

No one should ever wear a chain mail bikini, regardless of gender. Melt them down, already.

Umm ... (western) Belly Dancers sometimes do wear the metal brassier part of the chainmail bikini as part of their costume. So there is a proper use for them.

But ... back to the original topic. Characters "belong" in their world setting (unless that strangeness is the point).

Pathfinder/Golarion setting art has changed - so should the characters most representing that art also change?

Remember, Seoni is not written as a crazed nympho - she seems to be written as an almost asexual character. However, I would say that her mythic outfit is way cooler looking than her base costume.

Her Mythic costume is also likely to be more comfortable to wear.

But, you point out another issue. Seoni's costume is not really appropriate to her disciplined and pragmatic (LN) character. Indeed, going all the way back to Pathfinder AP #7 (Edge of Anarchy), it is not even a reasonable Varisian dance dress.

I would strongly recommend against making Force based powers based off a number of points, like vitality or some sort of large pool, like psychic warriors and psions. Instead, very small pools, like grit and ki, should be used. Another system that is possible is something like the martial adepts in Path of War.

Actually using treating Jedi(LG)/Sith(LE) as a Monk Archetype is a very good idea.

There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no death, there is the Force.

Using the "Ki pool" mechanic to represent "The Force" should work quite well and limit it enough to keep force users from dominating the game.

Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.

And for what it's worth, there are more female iconics that are modestly dressed (merisiel, kyra, lini, seelah) than there are ones that are either immodestly dressed or...possibly immodestly dressed. The title of this thread implies that all female iconics are dressed scantly, when the majority aren't.

True. However, you might also note that the ones I listed are more visible.

I'm working from the assumption that the move away from cheesecake art is deliberate.

This is almost certainly true.

If the style for Golarion has changed, then the style for the iconics should change for the same reason.

This is the question I was asking. We are likely reaching the same conclusion from different directions. While I like cheesecake, these characters no longer fit into the setting's art.

It'll be interesting to see how the iconics for the ACG look. Will they continue the trend of the previous iconics or will they be less cheesecakey?

This is true, and will solidify the company's direction one way or the other.

Yes, absolutely. It's 2014. Why is Paizo clinging to an art style that makes female characters into sexual objects and sends the message that rpgs are only for straight men?

I think you missed the part where I said "Regardless, of your opinions on 'fanservice'." To amplify my point, I actually like (male oriented) fanservice in my gaming.

But they no longer fit into the art style that Paizo is using for Golarion (and all their products in general). I am talking about artistic consistency, not the rightness or wrongness of fanservice.

I don't know if others have noticed, but since the Skull & Shackles adventure path, Paizo has had a shift in art direction to more egalitarian and realistic clothing. One of the results of this is that the fanservice-y costumes of Amri,Seoni, Alahazra, and Feiya are becoming increasingly "out of step" with the fashions of the world setting.

Regardless, of your opinions on "fanservice,"... My question is, do these characters need an art update to dress them more "realistically" for the Golarion setting?

Actually, I hadn't noticed your correct observations about the Male NPCs in book 2. (In fairness Thesing is meant to be a douche, and he does become a villain in the later books.)

I think that the writer did assume that most or all of the PCs would be male. (I also thought that the motivation for performing in the Murder Play was kind of thin.)

On the upside, the rest of the AP is better, but even so, the Council of Thieves is not about a "resistance" movement. The rest are more normal dungeons and wilderness treks.

If it wasn't for the Paladin (and the LG cleric) I might have suggested that you check out Skull & Shackles For that change, the characters get themselves run out of the city, they can then become Anti-Chelaxian pirates.

Hey there,

Your order was submitted on January 27th with an estimated 2-45 business days for fulfillment. It is currently the 5th business day.

Each item on Paizo.com has an estimated fulfillment time listed under the Availability section of their product page; this is the estimated time we think it will take to process your order, and if need be, get the item from our suppliers. We state the longest fulfillment time from all the items in your order confirmation email.

Your order has not shipped yet as we are currently awaiting the following from our supplier:
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OWD45017-L I [Godzilla] Tokyo T-Shirt (Large)
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This item has been ordered from our supplier and is presently on schedule for the estimated fulfillment time.

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~Justin Riddler
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Thank You for the clarification! :)

I have the copy of D20 and am trying to figure out the limits of spells for the conversion and am paticularly having trouble converting Wookies to Pathfinder.

Wookies rage (the Barbarian class feature) is kind of tough to convert. It helps that in the films, Chewbaka rarely uses it.

Try this.

Wookie (12 points, Advanced Race - barely)

Dotted for ideas. I'm running DL1 Dragons of Despair in April and I'm still vacillating between whether I'll use AD&D or Pathfinder rules...

Depends on what other material you have for Dragonlance.

If you have the DL support for D&D 3.x then you should be fine converting to Pathfinder (especially if you or your players are playing a lot other PF games.)

However, second darkness is much more linear during most of it's length. Plus it happens in a much more "regular setting" that requires less understanding of Golarion and it's history to manage.

One "fix" for Second Darkness is to strongly encourage all (or at least most) of the PCs to be Elves. This will help minimize the "bait & switch" in part 3 - or at least get more buy in from the characters.

This was placed on January 27th. Why is it still pending?

The mystery of why Skye gets away with crap *as a civilian* that pales in comparison to stuff like SHIELD agent Simmons tasering one of her superiors while breaking and entering in her own agency's headquarters, seems to begin and end with 'Coulson's got a fair bit of leeway in protecting his team from the consequences of their actions.'

Actually, the main reason Simmons and Skye got away with that was because Agent Hand does not dare report the incident.

She violated several regulations herself in sending Ward and Fitz on a mission without an extraction plan.

Agents have to volunteer for such missions, which did not happen. So, if she reports Skye and Agent Simmons, Jemma Simmons testifies to what Skye found.

This would still send Skye and Simmons to prison, but Victoria Hand would be court-marshaled right beside them.

The kids are 9 and 10 but I don't feel I need to tame anything to G or even a PG rating. A light PG13 would probably be fine. Some gore and violence is no big deal to me. We're running Age of Worms at the moment and they're hacking down cultists left and right and I don't really have a problem with that. I prefer fantasy monsters but morally ambiguous humans are okay too.

I would then suggest:

Purple Dragon Knight wrote:

Skeld wrote:

Kalshane wrote:

Sif to appear on Agents of Shield: http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2014/01/agents-of-shield-jaimie-ale xanders-lady-sif-coming-in-episode-15.html

I'm on-board with more Sif.

There's a rumor floating around on the Marvel boards that Skye could be Sif's daughter... fits the new alien designation SHIELD has given her last show. Now, who's the father? (perhaps he is the one trying to kill the SHIELD Agents who discovered her all these years ago...)

I wonder if Coulson is her father.

Nope. We know that she is Half-Chinese.

I'm currently running an offshoot of this one. Remember the ruins mentioned in the first book around page 8? Yeah, they went there, so I had to create an entire part of the world not in the module. In 7, 4-6 hour sessions, they have not completed the material in the first book.

How did the players even hear about that before What Lies in the Dust?

Well, my group doesn't even have a cleric and they didn't use them all. ** spoiler omitted **

But, lesser restoration does not help with level drain.

Traveling at "dramatic" speed.

I guess the Order of the Stick will get to the last gate "just in time."

"I don't always take damage...but when I do, I drink a potion."

baron arem heshvaun wrote:

Still more satisfying an ending than 'The Desolation of Smaug''.

It isn't actually the end of the book, though.

Which is a pity. That would have been an AWESOME last page. :)

I loved the last show! for some reason I can't shake the feeling that Centipede will be associated to A.I.M. and that the Clairvoyant is MODOK.

Centipede is a logical progression of the Extremis project from Iron Man 3

Do you have a New Year's Resolution?