RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8. Goblin Squad Member. RPG Superstar 2013 Star Voter. Pathfinder Campaign Setting Charter Superscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber. Pathfinder Society GM. 12,328 posts (12,380 including aliases). 12 reviews. No lists. No wishlists. 7 Pathfinder Society characters. 3 aliases.
Divine Insight (Study)
Through research, or unrealized potential, you unlock a divine spell not normally known to your class.
Prerequisites: Ability to cast divine spells, Wisdom or Charisma 10+ (see below)
Benefit: Pick one divine spell casting class (such as druid or Paladin). You gain one spell of a level equal or less to the highest level spell you can cast. You must have the class’s casting statistic of 10+ spell level to learn the spell. (For example, a Paladin can use his third level feat to learn flame blade from the druid’s spell list, but must have a Wisdom of score of 11 or higher.) This spell is considered on your spell list for spell completion and spell trigger items.
Special: You may take this feat multiple times. Each time you do, you learn an additional spell. You may not use this feat to gain a spell at a lower level if it already appears on your class list.
Arcane Revelation (Study)
Through research or the influence of divine powers, you learn to cast an arcane spell fueled by divine power.
Prerequisites: Ability to cast divine spells, Intelligence 11+ (see below)
Benefit: Pick one arcane spell casting class (such as wizard or magus). You may select a spell of at most one level lower than the highest level spell you can cast. This spell is considered on your spell list, but is one level higher (for example, magic missile is a second level spell if you take this feat) You must have an intelligence score of 10 + the adjusted spell level to learn this spell. This spell is considered on your spell list for spell completion and spell trigger items.
Special: You may take this feat multiple times. Each time you do, you learn an additional spell. You may not use this feat to gain a spell at a lower level if it already appears on your class list.
Edit: Added the abuse language others suggested. "You may not use this feat to gain a spell at a lower level if it already appears on your class list."
Been debating a Tiefling Kensai for my next character, since the Arcane Duelist bard lacks a lot of the good combat spells *sob*.
I'd like people's opinion on this.
Chosen weapon, Aldori dueling sword. I just like a finessable med weapon. It's even slightly curved, perfect for my RL preferences. (And avoids Scimitar Spam)
Dex or Int? I was thinking Dex 16 (14+2) and Int 17 (15+2). The Dex to AC starts right off the bat, and by putting the levle 4 bump into Int, it hits +4 about the same time I need that for the AC bonus.
Hakiri Maki, of course a +1 armor bonus is a +1 armor bonus.
Now I'm pondering feats. At first level, should I take weapon finesse (because of the sword) or armor of the pit (for the additional AC bump). With sword in hand, that would make my level 1 AC 17 (+2 nat armor, +3 dex, +1 armor, +1 int.) or is a 15 good enough?
Then at third, I'm thinking taking the other of the two. Should I look at combat casting? And what are good traits?
At 5th level, quick draw and Aldori dueling style seem to be natural fits.
The Kensai's limited spells worry me, but that's because I prefer spontanious casters.
Something a bit light hearted. Does anyone have odd combinations that have arose over the course of play?
I'll give an example of what I mean.
Ksenia (Winter Witch 3)
Spoiler:
Well since she was travelling with a fighter and gunslinger last time I played her, I shelled out the prestige to buy a happy stick. Amusingly I should have just memorized CLW, as I never cast anything more than a cantrip (yay slumber). Since she's Taldor faction, I picked up ranks in Slight of Hand, and just purchased the Thieves' Guild vanity.
Since I went all 'People of the North' I now have a Jadwiga Winter Witch, with the JAdwiga scion trait, a dinosaur for a familiar, who has travelled far from her family and home and falling in with a band of rogues, brigands, and cut throats.
Oh, and she's a member of a thieves guild too. :-)
Something I said in another thread bugged me, and I wanted to know if I'm a bad man.*
I've had some concern, with earlier season factions, about the Shadow Lodge missions. We have a young child** who games with us. Now she's not the issue, since she's Silver Crusade, but I'm worried about other players. What do you do if the child is Shadow Lodge?
While I find Zarta's missives funny (and the reactions of others the same) I really worry about if I'm running a table at a store having a bright eyed 10 year old show up with his Shadow Lodge character and asking about 'carnel pleasures' and 'succulent delights' after the mission.
Is swapping older faction missions to more 'PG ones' something we should encourage/do? I mean it doesn't matter so much if you are going through blaspheomus rites from Cheliax, or taking rubbings of the door for Qaderia, since it would be the Shadow Lodge that gets the point in the end.
*
Spoiler:
I know I'm an evil man, ask either of my ex-wives
**
Spoiler:
and she doesn't think she's a child. She's 10, so she is.
I was at the FLGS, waiting for the rest of the gang to start the bi-weekly PFS game. A couple comes in, marvelling at having a game store 'close to home'* They're talking about D&D and 3.5, 4.0, and Next. They miss the former, dislike 4, and aren't excited about the later.**
So of course I brought up Pathfinder.
Now I've mocked in the past people clammoring for characters 'just like them' Heck I play tieflings, elves and skinny dextrous guys because they aren't just like me. But I will admit, Kyra and Seelah did make a positive impression on her, as did Sajan. Not enough to make a sale that day, but we'll see if they show up in two weeks. (Side note: I need to print 'business cards' with my name, e-mail and the Ohiopfs.org site to pass out for days like this.)
So while it doesn't matter to me, it clearly does to some people, and it works.
Now about that left handed iconic...
*
Spoiler:
Of course with 5 game stores in Columbus, and having grown up in SE Ohio, the 'Walked uphill to school, both ways, in foot deep snow' thoughts came through my mind.
Ok, here's the question. (And apologies if it has been asked, I was unable to find it on the search function)
The Aldori dueling feat gives you a +2 shield bonus when using it in one hand. I'm just wondering, if the weapon has the ghost touch property, does that extend to incorporeal touch attacks?
Pros:
It can't be augmented by other shield bonuses or properties.
It represents a substantial investment of feats/gold (5 feats, +1 weapon property.)
It is a niche area that can be emulated with other resources (ring of force shield, wand of shield).
Shield bonuses are 'weaker' than dodge bonuses
Cons:
Ghost touch weapons are cheaper than ghost touch armor, freeing up gold for other resources.
It does provide more value for the feat.
Now as I see it, stylized, it is a matter of visualizing how the shield bonus works. If it is blocking/parrying as the 'shield bonus' then a ghost touch weapon should apply.
Had this issue come up last night.
Incorporeal states half damage vs.spells ans supernatural abilities. Does this extend to channeling? And if yes does it extend vs negative energy healing of undead too?
In perusing the Improved Familiar section, I noticed our friendly neighborhood Mephit is not on the 'improved familiar who can use wands' list. Can we get this reviewed? As far as I can see the omission is in error.
Mephits are clearly humanoid shaped, thus have hands (and for fun... are proficient in martial and simple weapons being of the outsider type)
Mephits are noted in the Bestiary as knowing common and their elemental language, and are not noted as being unable to speak, so command words are allowed.
With these two factors, I think they should be added to the wand list.
Ok, Talyn is carrying more and more alchemical gadgets, half charged wands, etc. I can't find anything besides the handy haversack's 'what you need is on top' ability to keep things organized. What I was wondering is, does anyone know of a belt/sash/bandolier which would make getting to the various items easier? (not so much as in reducing actions as in "I have 8 things in this pouch, but can always grap the one I need."
Havoc of the Society (Sorcerer, Pathfinder Society):
Through countless hours studying vast libraries of arcane power, you have learned how to cause greater damage to your foes. Whenever you cast a spell that deals damage, you gain a +1 trait bonus to the total damage dealt. This damage is considered force damage regardless of the type of damage dealt by the spell.
Emphasis mine
Just so I'm clear.
1) Since it is force damage it doesn't suffer the problems with incorporeal critters. (e.g. my acid splash might not hurt the shadow, but the +1 point will since it's force. It also means acid splash does 1 point of (force damage) to a critter with acid resistance 5, correct?
2) It does not add the force descriptor to the spell. So for example, a fireball can't be made toppling because of this trait. (I orginally misread toppling spell and got hopeful for a moment, but I think the above is correct.)
I'm making a new first level sorcerer, learning from the mistakes with Rey, and wanting to make sure I'm right.
First, even though the FLGS didn't have them (and I didn't think to check another FLGS until that morning) thank you for putting almost all the encounters in existing map packs. It would have made my life a lot easier if I had them, but it's good to know if I run it again.
Second, thank you for multiple foes. When I ran it we had an optimized tetori monk (SIGH) So when he touched something, it died. Having multiple foes throughout the scenario helped. (especially the <redacted> in the office at higher tiers).
Finally, thank you for the 'consolation prize' treasure. When the BBEG is designed to get away. (vs 'flees' 'attempts to fight to the death' 'surrenders' etc.) I know a lot of players feel like they're 'designed to fail'. Getting the gold makes softens those feelings.
Finally, let's hear it for splash damage, that's the only way I damaged the monk.
Specifically, with the release of the Animal Archive, is there a plan to add the Rhamphorhynchus to the allowed familiar list? I'm asking for the awesomeness of one resting on Talyn's shoulder with that long tail resting down his back.
When you get a familiar via arcane heritage (vs. Starting class features) do you need to pay the cost for getting a new familiar? IF yes, I need to adjust Talyn's sheet.
How do we replace familiars? For example, Talyn has a Compsognathus. If the Rhamphrohynchus becomes available, is there anything more than the 200 GP? Do I have to pay for the critter too? I assume with Sanos Abduction in my credit, I don't need to pay for <redacted>.
Ok, just finished reading Snows of Summer. Normally the <redacted> constructs I don't think much about, but this got my blood boiling.
Spoiler:
Actually knowing her background, even if I could never adequately convey it to my players, makes me want to destroy Nazhena, wipe out every single person who ever made a soulbound doll, and burn Whitehaven to the ground. It's going to take some work to even get myself playing my own winter witch after reading that. It's easy when it's 'guardian doll, see stats' It's enraging to 'know' who is trapped in that doll.
Good job getting me at least, emotionally invested in the AP.
Is Mithral Breastplate considered medium for spellcasters, or light? The example was a bard who wanted a mithral breast plate. I said it should be fine, but a couple others players didn't think so.
Second, self serving, question. With GM credit, I have to apply it immediately, right? I've a character who is almost 7th, and we're playing City of Golden Death sunday. If I apply the credit from last night, he'll be 7th, and too high. If I play Sunday (and he survives) and *then* apply the credit, he'd be 8th.
First, get your heads out of the gutter, children read this board.
I'm curious which people prefer; a deep build where they do one thing exceptionally well (blasing/save or suck/damage/skill monkey) or someone who does *all* those things adequately. Which is a better playing experience for new players?
Personally I prefer the broad character, especially in a large group. Dexios and Talyn are pretty broad, Rey lags behind, but his magic is fairly broad (and built around me not needing to roll to hit). Ksenia is my first attempt to build deep. (Winter Witch)
Ok, just digesting the book now, but it adds the concept of archtypes to familiars and animal companions. I don't worry about the ACs so much, but the Familiar archtypes caught my eye.
To sum up*...
Infiltrator Archtype:
Replaces Alertness, Improved Evasion, Speak with Animals; modifies other things.
Adds Class skills telepathic bond
My thoughts. This screams for a rogue or dedicated flanking companion. Imagine a rogue with this familiar type. Or even a fighter.
Pilferer Archtype.
Replaces Alertness, improved evasion, deliver touch spells, speak with animals.
Adds Class skills.
My thoughts: This screams fighters in PFS. Hate your low skill points when it comes to "You must steal something for a faction point?" Let fluffy the monkey do it!
Valet Archtype.
Replaces Alertness, speak with animals, scry on familiar.
Modifies deliver touch spells
Adds prestidigitation 1/hour, Class skills, teamwork feats, aid to all.
My thoughts: Damnation, Dexios only has an 11 Charisma. This screamed "Inquisitor" to me. Sure you already get the teamwork feats due to the dual talent, but so does your 'little buddy'.
Now it leads to two questions...
1) Can Improved Familiars be modified with these templates?
and
2) PLEASE tell me these will be legal for PFS. Talyn (my fighter/rogue) is about to get improved familiar at 7th level. If I can't add it to my new best friend, I might stick with an animal.
*
Spoiler:
You want to know what they replace things with or modify? Buy the book!
Mentioned this in that other thread, thought I'd split it out for discussion.
Can a weapon also be a masterwork tool? (assuming you pay the 50 GP cost for a masterwork tool is a given. Not trying to game the system.)
The two examples I can think of, off the top of my head, are the mattock and the scholar's brush. Both from UE. Both are weapons, but also can be used as tools.
For example take a character who takes the ancestral weapon trait for the scholar's brush. The player wants the brush to be his grandfather's brush and it to be a masterwork tool. It's not an improvised weapon (so that argument doesn't matter) but it a) is a weapon and b) is a brush. Can it be a mastwork brush?
Ok, the text says "Unless stated otherwise, the following benefits only apply when a swordlord is wielding an Aldori dueling sword (The Inner Sea World Guide 290) and carrying nothing in his other hand."
Emphasis mine.
Two questions.
1) Does this include the Aldori Dueling Mastery bonus feat? Seems it would suck if it did.
2) My current character is wearing a cestus. I picture it on the right hand, with his sword in his left. Does that 'shut down' the class?
[rant]
I like the idea of Talyn (my fighter) using *himself* more than his magic. While I can't do much about the Christmas tree effect, I can take the effort to allow his game impact to come from him (weapon finesse, dex to damage, etc) and not from the weapon's enhancements.
At the same time, working as a party I've found he does that 'bag o'wands' and uses UMD to heal or occasionally toss off a spell. So he does often have a wand, or a smoke pellet or something in that off hand.
So 'shutting off the feats because you have a mug in your hand' type stuff irritates me.
Back when I was trying to make a more spell friendly rogue, I had the idea of putting a PDF together with the Damascarran. I had an image of a cover making a homage to the Tarzan/John Carter books I grew up.
The image would be your typical fantasy image, ape/demon thing charging down on the heroic (male) warrior, who is standing between the ape and the damsel in distress, sword in one hand, other hand conjuring fire. The woman is sitting kneeling down on the ground, 'relying on the big man to protect her from the scary ape thing.'
Sounds like your normal cheesecake novel approach, right? Well the catch is she has one hand in his beltpouch/coinpurse, the other has a thin line of magic connecting her to the beast. I thought about her looking at the viewer and winking, but discarded that as too blatent.
Just as the Damascarran was designed as a stabracadabra, the spellstalker was designed as a mix of rogue and sorcerer, using spells to assist in larceny.
So, after all that... here's the question. Is it still 'degrading' to women since she is basically playing the guy for a mark. She's not the 'damsel in distress' of standard fantasy art, she's controlling the situation.
Was thinking in another thread. Should the base classes have cool names?
The archtypes normally do. Think about the following
"What do you do?"
"I'm a lore warden."
"Sounds cool, I'm a falconer."
"Whoa, so working with birds eh? Hey bill, we've a falconer over here!"
"Well hold on let me get the lads calmed down."
"What does he mean, 'lads'?"
"Oh, Bill's a packlord."
"Ah, does what it says on the tin, eh? Hey buddy, what do you do?"
"um... I'm a fighter."
"Really? That's what you do? Fight?"
"Well yeah, just like Larry here."
"Nah, Ted said he's a lore warden. I'm pretty sure he doesn't fight books."
"No, really, I'm a fighter, like Charlie there."
"Excuse me *sniff* I'm a cad, not some base brawler like yourself."
"I'm not a brawler! I'm a fighter!"
Just wondering why there’s no love for the Aldori dueling sword.
”Inner Sea World Guide” wrote:
These slightly curved swords measure just over 3 feet in length. An Aldori dueling sword may be used as a Martial Weapon (in which case it functions as a longsword), but if you have the feat Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Aldori dueling sword), you can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier on attack rolls with an Aldori dueling sword sized for you, even though it isn’t a light weapon.
So we have what is essentially a finessable long sword. There’s also a fighting style feat that, for a dedicated swordman, really only has one ‘throw away’ pre-req in Quickdraw. While the ever (over?) popular Dervish Dance makes the scimitar finessable, (and adds dex to damage), Aldori Dueling Mastery adds a shield bonus to AC. Also the Aldori prestige class adds dex to damage (and grants the above feat) with a one level ‘dip’
I’ve a fighter/rogue who uses this, and am really thinking of running a pure lore warden/aldori sword lord. So am I off my rocker, or is this an underappreciated gem?
Looking through the chronicle sheets for Thornkeep I saw some phrasing that made me wonder.
Spoiler:
Thornkeep wrote:
The armor’s spell failure chance increases by 20% and applies to all magic used while wearing the armor, regardless of the magic’s source or class abilities possessed by the wearer.
(Emphasis mine)
Now at first glance, it's going to affect arcane and divine spells, but at second glance it affects...
Potions
Spell Like Abilities
Supernatural Abilities
Magic items (wands, helm of teleportation etc.)
So I was looking at how keen the +2 on saves the armor would give is nice, but if it means that Clarice Cleric's Channelling might go futz on me, not sure it's worth it. (Or if I have a shot of my aegis of recovery fizzling when I need that healing)
Ok, this came up in <redacted> but I was wondering.
Bearded Devil gives a beard hug on both claws hitting. What about under the effects of haste?
I'm reading it as (for simplicity) right claw, left claw, hasted right claw. So to give a beard hug, you need to hit with attacks 1 & 2 or 2 & 3, not 1 & 3.
Ok, looking at playing with the magus archtype (clearly not for RPGSS) for a prepared caster version of my Damascarran (shameless plug, see profile). The big difference is the damascarran has 4 skill points per level, and light armor only.
If our friend the magus got to start casting in medium/heavy armor I'd consider it a fair swap (like the lore warden). I don't know if it still is with the delayed armor 'graduation'. I've two thoughts.
It is an even trade, so it's good. Pros. Simple, easy to impliment.
They should suffer ASF in light armor at 1st level, then when the magus normally gets his 'cast in medium' they can cast in armor w/o penalty.
I'm not the person who banned it. I'm a (barely) one-star PFS GM...and I throw strange corner case ideas out in character construction threads, and Magical Knack (along with Reactive) is such a genuinely useful trait that everyone would take it if it were available.
(I've seen tables where 4 of 6 characters had Reactive...)
I don't know how common it is (since I play a lot of half elves, I take elvish reflexes frequently, same effect) but I'm curious, how prevelant is it? It's clearly 'half a feat' (Improved Initative) and I take it because I roll crapy and/or I want to throw my area effect spells while no one has had a chance to move into my line of fire. But how common is it?
I will admit I thought of a half elven rogue built around going first (Reactionary/Elvish reflexes, improved intiative, eldrich heritage for that little lizard familar to get a +12 before dex.) But that's just to get the looks from the table when I roll a 1 and say "I go on 13"
Ok, first, this isn't a thread for grousing about expectations in Blood of the Night. That ship has sailed.
What this is about is how are Dhampires viewed in different parts of this fictional world? Do dhampires of Ulstav do the vampire hunting like their real world counterparts?* Do dhampires have a higher status than normal humans in Geb? OR are they seen as 'mistakes' like tieflings? "Oh that Liam. Always playing at being alive, keeps siring those pathetic half breeds that think they are more than happy meals on legs." Does Irrisen treat them as non-humanoids, or simply as humans with a sun allegy?
*
Spoiler:
Eastern Europe had 'Dhampires' who would show up, 'find the undead' make sure it didn't come back, and get paid.
OOC: Yes I know that there's no penalty from accepting infernal healing even for Paladins. I'm not challenging the rules, just a longer answer from Saturday when we were short on time. Dex wouldn't shut up.
Recently, a fellow Society member asked me why I would refuse infernal healing. She thought it strange that as a hellspawn, I’d not want to ‘benefit’ from this spell. Our time was short, so I simply deferred it as a personal choice. If I had time to elaborate, I’d have told her the following:
Spoiler:
Little Summer-Kin, it matters not what form one’s soul walks their life in, the highest celestial can fall, the lowest from the pit can rise. What matters is what we do. That is what Pharasma judges us on, not how light or dark your skin is, not if you are human or gnome, tiefling or aasimar. Some see my serving the Lady as a mockery of her faith; others see me as inspiring, defying my ‘nature’ to serve the forces of the light. Neither is true. The Lady accepts my service, and grants me her gifts, regardless of whatever ‘dalliances’ my ancestors may have indulged in. I am no more bound to the infernal in my blood than you are to the song of the first world thrumming in your veins.
Would it be easier to be as others expect me to be? To be the devil inside as well as out? Maybe, the easy path is not often the correct one.
Now to that end, why would I accept infernal healing? Why would I taint my soul, even temporarily with the blood of devils, or water blessed by a priest of the pit? The Lady might forgive me, but could I forgive myself? Or worse, what if I accept the profane gift, and still die before I can repent the action. Can one truly repent the actions that one actively took, knowing the consequences?
“But the evil is only a temporary thing. It doesn’t last.” I hear many of my fellow Pathfinders, even those who serve the Lady in all her forms, say the same. Folly I say. How can anyone believe that accepting a taint, willingly, eagerly, does not have any lasting effect? Because the spell comes from wizards? Feh, I say. Why does it matter where the spell comes from, when it is founded by the Lord of Lies? Many a Pathfinder has refused to do things they find objectionable, considering who the orders came from.
So in the end, my companion, I will not take the ‘blessings’ from the Lord of Lies, whether it be from priest or wizard. Will it shorten my time on the mortal plane? Maybe, for can any see the future since Aroden’s death? Will it allow me to meet the Lady in the next life and truthfully say I lived up to her ideals? Yes.
Just wondering how many people turn down infernal healing for character reasons? It's like not doing Chel missions in season 0-1 scenarios because you're Shadow Lodge and you draw the line.
I've a Shroedinger's character at 3rd level (GM credit) I might use tonight, and I'm torn between taking a half elf, or a race with natural darkvision. It's a fighter/rogue build, and I've ran numbers on stats, they're about equal. So for a non-spell tossing character, which do you prefer?
I've not been happy with my magus and was wondering about if he's valid to be rebuilt.
The reason I wonder is that he hit second level on his last adventure, but it was Crypt of the Everflame, so he went from 2 XP to 4 XP. Is he rebuildable?
