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Liberty's Edge

I think that you will likely just cause issues for your players with such a simplistic solution. Many problem spells (e.g., haste) still exist and are still as viable as ever. However, many spells will be terrible now especially those that were borderline at the outset (e.g., damage spells).

However, some of the unexpected consequences include a direct reduction, across the board, to spell DCs staring at level 3-4 when full casters are not casting 2nd level spells. This means that casters either need to focus resources (feats, class abilities, magic items) on boosting their save DCs or they will quickly start seeing everything saving against their spells. This means damage spells (outside of a few exceptions like scorching ray), debuffing spells, and control spells will all become much more difficult or impossible to use effectively, especially when it matters. Casters will dominate mooks and be worthless against legitimate challenges.

I recommend banning full casters over your option. However, as Mad Master mentioned, it is much more effective (and time consuming) to go through the spell lists and edit troublesome spells. You will likely find that there are actually only a few problem spells. I also recommend limiting to a few core books (CRB and APG initially) then expanding the set very slowly and methodically as you are more comfortable with casters in your party.

TLDR: Directly converting full casters to 6 lvl casting progresion is probably going to kill their viability (and player fun) outside of a few options that will (likely) be minimally affected by the change. Taking the more methodical and time consuming approach mentioned by Mad Master above is a better option. Also, limit source books to a small set (CRB and APG) then expand slowly as you (the DM) grow comfortable with adding options.

Liberty's Edge

I recently had the same issue. A player heard a specific name and rolled knowledge check to find anything they might know about the significant NPC. It was in the 30's as well. I told them something very superficial, but that would connect directly to other things in the module. It also gave them a bit of indirect insight into the nature of things to come. Without spoiling much here, I told the player that the NPC was related to the First World and the name was thousands of years old. Due to the long span of time most information has been lost. However, this gives them hints at fey (first world) great powers (thousands of years old). As the module progresses they continue to find first world references and further information from parties more directly aligned with the first world (fey creatures in the area).

The knowledge netted them an initial framework. The remainder of the module painted the picture of this NPC on that initial framework. However, the knowledge check did not give them any significant information, because their character simply could not know that information.

Liberty's Edge

I used Crown of the Kobold King and Revenge of the Kobold King to begin a custom adventure once. The end leaves it pretty easy to fit a larger power in (especially leaning toward ties to necromancy or the undead). Crown of the Kobold King begins at 2, and Revenge ends at ~6 if I remember right. You could either continue on at 6 or give some outside game time to bump up to 7 and begin a much larger scope story.

Liberty's Edge

I was under the impression that the pdf was still available today, but it does not seem to be letting me add to my downloads.

Liberty's Edge

another spell option to consider: explosive runes

Liberty's Edge

necklace of fireballs

Liberty's Edge

NPC's should use the standard array (equivalent to 15 pt buy without as much flexibility) and NPC wealth expenditure rules (link). If they use the heroic array (equivalent to 20 point buy without as much flexibility) it would be alter the challenge, and if they exceed NPC wealth for their level and type (heroic or base) it will also alter the challenge.

D20PFSRD Character Creation Outline

Above is a link to the rules for creating an NPC. If you want something balanced according to the base rules for the game then I suggest following the guidelines. There are special dispensations for fast/slow xp progresson and high/low fantasy games (20 pt buy is high fantasy and 10 pt buy is low fantasy). If you want to just eyeball it and balance according to your own party, then we need to know the makeup and abilities of your party to be able to provide useful feedback.

Liberty's Edge

" the bonded creature gains 5 points to spend on selecting what spells the item can cast"

The text does not state that you must spend these points immediately. For example, you could save those 5 points until the next time you take it and then have 10 points to spend on getting Cone of Cold 3/day (spell chosen for example not inherent uberness of spell). Alternatively, you could purchase Crushing Hand 1/day. Alternatively, you could save 4 times and get Crushing Hand 3/day.

However, the rules text does not allow you to "upgrade" an option that has already been purchased. If your player wants to get the 3/day, then they will need to wait until after they have saved the appropriate number of points.

Liberty's Edge

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wraithstrike wrote:
LoneKnave wrote:
So, make the requirements something like 20 dex and ability to cast any kind of spells I guess, so you can't make the "it's not realistic" argument?

I don't think the ability to cast spells should have any impact on this, nor should your dex. It is just the point that it would be highly improbable(impossible IMO) for anyone to be able to do it.

If the dragon don't fireball, you must...allow your expectations of what is possible to extend beyond the limitations of our physical world. Let me clarify with an example. I saw a movie where martial artists ran across a lake and then jumped to the top of a tree. Too bad it would be highly improbable (impossible IMO) for anyone to be able to do it.

Snark aside, these arguments for restricting abilities (you can't do cool_thing_x, because of real_world_example_y) in a fantasy game are only hurting player options. If a dragon can fly (which numerous discussions involving legitimate analysis have proven impossible) because of "innate magic", why can't Joe have some "innate magic" that lets him exceed physical limits. Not everyone of the arcane bloodline becomes a sorcerer. In a world where magic is so common, I find it difficult to believe anyone could have avoided any ancestry to someone with magical talents.

Also, a deity did it.

Liberty's Edge

Abraham spalding wrote:
@ Armor Of course in the long term it is better than both bracers and mage armor, but it wasn't supposed to pass it early on. It doesn't stack with bracers in the same way bracers don't stack with armor -- that problem is already has its solution built into bracers, and very importantly, it scales off of class level not caster level, so you won't get the full benefit if you go into dragon disciple as it isn't a bloodline ability that would be increased (part of the reason we call them mutations is to make them not part of the standard bloodline ability package). You can already get that +14 natural armor bonus with a +6 armor bonus (bracers, or the enchanted armored skirt/ceremonial robes) or higher (mithral chain shirt for example). What this saves you is gold, but it saves it at the high cost of a class feature. Armor bonuses are a dime a dozen, especially without the problems of encumbrance. The encumbrance factor and the fact that armor bonuses don't stack, the fact that it scales but slowly means it is a trade off but one that does pay in late game (though not too much).

Ok, my concern was that it was a bit too much for an arcana, but I think that I am in the minority here. It won't change anything other than freeing up some gold for gish-types, and that isn't a type typically discussed when bringing up balance concerns.

Abraham spalding wrote:
@ font of ki The of font of ki was to provide some ki abilities (and ki) without it actually being something scaled to an ability. I would rather reduce the power of the font of ki, than introduce an one off mechanic to have it hit another bloodline power. The over all idea was that if you multiclassed into something with a ki pool you would gain something for your trouble (the concentration check and caster level choices as well as a few ki points... about as many as a feat) without giving the sorcerer the full range of choices other classes get. I really don't like the idea of the wisdom to ac choice. That matches the monk's abilities but not ki abilities.

Perhaps restrict the options to concentration, movement, and caster level? With the severe limitations per day, we could probably allow all of these options to be used at 1st level (I have been considering the Arcanist abilities here). How about revise to the following.

Font of Ki:

Available to: Destined, Arcane, Oni, Starsoul, Impossible, Rakshasa
Benefit: Through a natural gift of your bloodline you have learned to draw from a font of power that typically requires dedicated training and study. You gain a Ki pool of 1 point. This pool increases by 1 at 3rd level and again every three levels after 3rd. As a swift action, you may spend 1 point of ki to increase your movement speed by 20 ft for 1 round, gain a +2 bonus on concentration checks when you cast a spell defensively, or increase your caster level by 1 for 1 round.

Liberty's Edge

Abraham spalding wrote:
At +2 going up to + 8 armor bonus even if you have natural armor you aren't actually going to get anywhere abusive. After all with the original you are still better off with mage armor until level 6. Also it's not a big deal since even by +8 you aren't that much over bracers of armor and the armored shell isn't enchantable. Indeed you are actually at a worse spot since you are slowed down by the armor. I agree with the 1/4 hp though -- that part is a solid idea.

This armor is superior to just bracers of armor as it stacks with the special abilities granted by bracers of armor, and it surpasses mage armor in both iterations. It also grants the ability to negate a critical hit at cost of your armor bonus which is a pretty even trade off. If the ability is allowed to stack with natural armor bonuses you could get up to a +14 natural armor bonus (+1 feat, +4 bloodline, +4 dragon disciple, and +5 amulet) in addition to the +8 from the shell. That allows a 32 AC just from these two sources, and with other sources you could easily break 40 AC (+5 ring, +1 ioun stone, +1 dodge, 2+ dex mod). This armor bonus scales better than bracers of armor and does not cost any gold. It would also stack with dips into classes that grant WIS bonus to AC with the current wording.

All that said, I am fine with letting it stack with natural if it is expressly not allowed to stack with any other armor/armor special abilities from other sources and it should top out at +6 AC (to avoid replacing a magic item with something free).

Abraham spalding wrote:
Font of Ki has the unusual (for these abilities) fact that it isn't constant to hurt it -- I don't think it needs to pull off the 3rd level ability as well. However I like the rest of the changes on it.

How about we add WIS to AC, change the pool to 3+WIS, and trade out the third level bloodline power. This makes the sorcerer a bit more MAD granting a nice (always active) defensive boost, and trades what is generally a passive defensive boost for an active defensive/utility boost.

Abraham spalding wrote:
Wrathful energy is weird on the defense bonus -- I think you meant for it to be a penalty.

You are right. Disrupt defenses should read as follows.

Disrupt defenses: You afflict the creature with a temporary shell of warped energy. This effect grants the creature a -2 penalty to armor bonus for 1 round per 2 hitpoints expended.

Liberty's Edge

I am adding two new mutations inspired from Positive Energy Conduit and the not yet defined Negative Energy Conduit. I am a bit unsure how to write up the "Available to" since each of these covers both positive and negative energy which would require separate lists. It would be easier if positive and negative energy were split, but would also double a lot of word count needlessly.

Wrathful Energy Conduit:

Available to: ...
Benefit: Your body is a raw conduit to the positive or negative energy plane. If you are a conduit to the negative energy plane, you are affected by positive and negative energy as though you were undead. Every round you are infused with raw power from your plane, gaining 1 temporary hitpoint. These temporary hitpoints stack to a maximum equal to your level. As a melee touch attack, you may discharge your entire current buildup of energy (minimum 1 temporary hitpoint) to harm or debilitate creatures damaged by your energy type. You may choose one of the following effects.
    *Harm: You deal 1d4 energy damage plus 1 point per temporary hit point discharged.
    *Disrupt Power: You use the raw power of your energy to disrupt the offensive capability of the creature. This effect grants the creature a -1 penalty to attack and damage rolls for 1 round per 2 temporary hitpoints expended.
    *Disrupt defenses: You afflict the creature with a temporary shell of warped energy. This effect grants the creature a +2 sacred or profane armor bonus for 1 round per 2 hitpoints expended.

This ability also replaces the 1st level bloodline power.

Protective Energy Conduit:

Available to: ...
Benefit: Your body is a raw conduit to either the positive or negative energy plane. If you are a conduit to the negative energy plane, you are affected by positive and negative energy as though you were undead. Every round you are infused with raw power from your plane, gaining 1 temporary hitpoint. These temporary hitpoints stack to a maximum equal to your level. As a melee touch attack, you may discharge your entire current buildup of energy (minimum 1 temporary hitpoint) to bolster other creatures healed by your energy type. You may choose one of the following effects.
    *Heal: You heal one point of damage per 2 temporary hitpoint expended.
    *Infuse Power: You infuse the raw power of your energy into the creature granting improved combat ability. This effect grants the creature a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls for 1 round per 2 temporary hitpoints expended.
    *Bolster defenses: You bolster the creatures defenses granting a temporary shield of raw energy. This effect grants the creature a +2 sacred or profane armor bonus for 1 round per 2 hitpoints expended.

This ability also replaces the 1st level bloodline power.

Liberty's Edge

I really like Unstable Mutation. I think it deserves some flavor text at the beginning. Something like "Your natural form is a fluid thing constantly evolving." Before introducing the ability to select your evolution, you could add "Over time as your evolutions become more severe you begin to gain a measure of control." I also added a few bloodlines to the list.

Unstable Mutation:

Available to: Aberrant, Abyssal, Accursed, Daemon, Dreamspun, Protean
Benefit: Your natural form is a fluid thing constantly evolving. You gain 1 evolution point to spend on a 1 point evolution from the eidolon abilities list. All evolution abilities randomly change every morning when you ready your spells. Over time your evolutions become more severe, but you begin to gain a measure of control At level 9, you also gain a random evolution from the 2 point evolution list. You now choose which 1 point evolution you benefit from each morning. At level 18 you gain a random evolution from the 3 point evolution list and you may now choose which 2 point evolution you benefit from each morning.

For Font of Ki, I added some flavor text and a few additional bloodlines to the list. I felt this ability gave some very interesting abilities and warranted giving up a bloodline power. The caster level increase was bumped up a few levels, but I also increased the movement speed at this level.

Font of Ki:

Available to: Destined, Arcane, Oni, Starsoul, Impossible, Rakshasa
Benefit: Through a natural gift of your bloodline you have learned to draw from a font of power that typically requires dedicated training and study. You gain a Ki pool of 1 point. This pool increases by 1 at level 3 and every three levels there after. At level 1, you may as a swift action spend ki to increase your movement speed by 10 ft for 1 round or to gain a +2 bonus on concentration checks when you cast a spell defensively. At level 6, you may spend ki as a swift action to grant yourself a +4 dodge bonus to armor for 1 round. At 10th level, you may spend ki to increase your caster level by 1 for 1 round, and your speed increases by 20 feet when you spend ki to increase your movement speed. This ability also replaces your 3rd level bloodline power.

Again, I added some flavor text to Dimensional Phasing. I also reworked things a bit. This ability felt too much like gaining a 4th level spell for free that could potentially be used multiples timer per combat and at least once every combat. Outside of combat scenarios, the ability is essentially unlimited use.

Dimensional Phasing:

Available to: Arcane, Dreamspun, Fey, Shadow
Benefit: You have always seen the weakness in the boundaries of dimensions. As a standard action, you may briefly slip through these boundaries teleporting 5 ft per sorcerer level this is treated for all purposes except distance traveled as casting dimension door using your sorcerer level as your caster level. Once you use this ability, you may not use it again for 2d4 rounds. At level 7, using this ability becomes a move action.

Liberty's Edge

This ability could be a bit abusable to get a significant armor bonus. Especially considering the natural armor bonuses from draconic bloodline and dragon disciple. I would alter it to start at 6 ac and not stack with natural armor bonus. I also dropped the hp to 1/4 your total to bring it more in line with magic armor and the armor is treated as magic at 4th level. I would also note that this would synergize well with a bracers of armor with armor special qualities. Finally, I removed the shatter damage and added a sentence indicating how you can regain your shell.

Abraham spalding wrote:

Armored Shell

Available to: Draconic, Impossible, Aberrant
Benefit: You gain a +6 armor bonus to AC. At level 3 and every three levels after this bonus increases by 1. This armor bonus does not stack with natural armor bonuses. However you also take an armor check penalty equal to 1/4 your armor bonus, and at +5 armor bonus you move as if in medium armor. The armored shell has a hardness of 5+1/2 your class level and HP equal to 1/4 your hit points. If an enemy confirms a critical hit against you then you may shatter your armored shell to negate the critical though you still take the normal attack. You may regrow your armor after 8 hours of rest.

Liberty's Edge

Abraham spalding wrote:

Unnerving Eyes

Available to: Accursed, Abyssal, Shadow
Benefit: You have a gaze attack that shakens people. This will not stack with itself or other fear effects. The DC for your gaze attack is 10+1/2 your sorcerer level + cha mod. In addition you have low light vision, at level 3 you gain darkvision to 30 ft. This increases to 60 feet at 6th level and you may see in magical darkness (as the devil ability see in darkness) at level 9.

Last one for tonight. I simplified this ability quite a bit. Gaze attacks (especially one that stacks with itself) are very powerful and dangerous. I encourage those not familiar with gaze attacks to read over the rules (gaze attack rules). Especially consider the section about affecting your allies (and barmaids and shopkeepers and your employer...)

Unnerving Eyes
Available to: Accursed, Abyssal, Shadow
Benefit: Your queer gaze can shake even the most stalwart creatures. You gain a gaze attack. Those affected by your gaze attack must make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 sorcerer level + CHA mod) or become shaken.

Liberty's Edge

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This mutation was inspired by the Warped Lungs mutation above.

Swollen Lungs
Available to: Aberrant, Pestilence, Undead
Benefit: Your lungs are enlarged, but are continually filling with tainted blood. You are prone to wracking coughing fits that prevent you from taking more than a move action in the following round. There is a 10% chance per round during any strenuous activity including moving more than your speed in a round or any action that would require an endurance check. Multiple concurrent actions stack; each strenuous activity beyond the first increases the chance by 10%. As a full round ction, you may expel the full contents of your lungs causing yourself to begin coughing and creating a noxious cloud with a radius of 5 feet centered on you. Any creature inhaling the noxious fumes within the cloud must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 sorcerer level + Con mod) or become nauseated. Creatures that succeed at the Fortitude save are instead sickened. The cloud lasts for 1 round per sorcerer level before dispersing harmlessly. The cloud may be dispersed sooner by an effect such as a gust spell. At 5th level and every 5 levels after 5th, the radius of the cloud increases by 5 feet.

Liberty's Edge

Abraham spalding wrote:

Dangerous Flesh

Available to: Abyssal, Aberrant, Infernal
Benefit: Your very flesh is dangerous to those around you, pick one of the following:

Poisonous -- You are poisonous to the touch: Contact DC (10+1/2 sorcerer level+Con Mod) Onset 1 round, Frequency 1 round every 1/3 sorcerer levels (minimum 1) Effect 1d2 Dex damage Saves 1 (increases to 2 consecutive at level 10)

Slime -- You are covered in a protective slime, anyone that attacks you with a non-reach weapon must make a reflex save (DC 10+1/2 sorcerer level + Dex Mod) or take 1d4 acid damage. Weapons that strike you automatically take this damage. This damage increases to 1d6 at level 3 and 1d8 at level 6. After this acid gains +1 damage at level 9 and every 3 levels after that.

Fiery Flesh -- You gain the burn universal...

I reworked these as separate abilities and reworked the abilities slightly.

Toxic Flesh
Available to: Abyssal, Aberrant, Infernal
Benefit: Any creature that touches you risks being poisoned from your toxic flesh. Creatures making contact with you must make a Fortitude Save (DC 10+1/2 sorcerer level+Con Mod) or become poisoned taking 1d2 Dex damage and becoming sickened for 1 round per sorcerer level. Creatures that succeed at the Fortitude save are sickened for 1 round and take no Dex damage.

Oozing Flesh
Available to: Abyssal, Aberrant, Infernal
Benefit: Your skin oozes an unnatural slime. Anyone that attacks you with a non-reach weapon must make a reflex save (DC 10+1/2 sorcerer level + Con Mod) 1d4 + Con mod acid damage from you corrosive flesh. Weapons automatically take minimum damage. Creatures using natural weapons take minimum damage on a successful save and normal damage on a failed save.

Fiery Flesh
Available to: Abyssal, Aberrant, Infernal
Benefit: Your flesh glows with an unnatural heat that sears you as well as those you touch. You gain resist cold 20 and vulnerability to fire. Anytime you are engaged in a grapple, all creatures involved in the grapple must make a DC (10 + 1/2 Sorcerer level + Con mod) Reflex save or take 1d4 plus 1 per sorcerer level fire damage every round. You automatically fail this save. At 20th level, you burst into flames gaining immunity to fire and the burn special quality with damage and save DC the same as above.

Liberty's Edge

Abraham spalding wrote:

So a while back we put together the Sorcerer's Aid Project: Sigils and Talents.

I would like to work on a follow up project: The Sorcerer's Aid Project: Mutations.

A mutation replaces the sorcerer's arcana ability with an ability that is always active generally passive and has no effect on the sorcerer's casting. Instead it's more tied into their physical being. Each mutation should generally be limited to bloodlines that would have a tie in to what that mutation does.

Example:
<text removed>

The mutations do not have to be limited to a specific number of bloodlines but shouldn't be so generic any sorcerer can take them. More suggestions are of course welcome.

I like the idea though I think your suggestions are a little over the mark in terms of balance. It would be easier to replace the bloodline in total and produce something that is internally balanced. By trying to replace the arcana for several bloodlines it becomes more difficult to balance. You need to consider what the arcana the player is giving up has and then what synergy your proposed arcana has with the remainder of the bloodline. For several, I noted abilities that seem more appropriate as separate bloodline power (e.g., the scaling save for Positive Energy Conduit). Below are some suggested revisions to bring down the power level of these arcana.

Positive Energy Conduit
Available to: Celestial, Fey, Verdant
Benefit: Your body is a raw conduit to the positive energy plane. As such you gain 1 temporary hit point every round to a maximum equal to your level. As a melee touch attack you may discharge your entire current buildup of positive energy to harm undead for 1d4 plus 1 additional point of damage per temporary hit point discharged.

Savage Form
Available to: Demonic, Draconic, Orc
Benefit: You body develops unnaturally for your race gaining a natural attack from the following list (as well as any requisite appendage): Gore, Hoof, Bite, Tail slap, Tentacle, or two Claw attacks. The claw attacks do damage as a creature one size category lower. At 3rd level, this natural attack is infused with the arcane power of your bloodline and treated as a magic attack. If you would gain a bloodline power granting a natural attack, you instead gain a +2 to attack and damage for the natural attack gained through this arcana.

Elemental Energy Conduit (formerly Savage Form)
Available to: Djinni, Efreet, Shaitan, Elemental, Marid, and Draconci
Benefit: You gain energy resistance to your element equal to your class level. At level 3, anytime you resist energy of your element you heal half the amount resisted to a maximum of half your level. This ability also replaces your 3rd level bloodline power.

Liberty's Edge

I might have to spend some time homebrewing a few variants of the core bloodlines. The premise will be an archetype (similar to wildblooded) that swaps bloodline powers, arcana, etc. for more thematic abilities. Thematic will be interpreted separately for each class, but will absolutely not include a "claws" bloodline power. I am thinking either "Sage Blood" or "Pure Blood" for the archetype name.

Liberty's Edge

SAMAS wrote:
As a GM, I would give them Dragon Disciple on a RAI basis, but probably not the Robe.

The Bloodrager requires you to have the same bloodline if you gain another bloodline.

"If the bloodrager takes levels in another class that grants a bloodline, the bloodlines must be the same type, even if that means that the bloodline of one of the classes must change." source

The real rub is that RAW the dragon disciple grants sorcerer bloodline, but many would expect (and prefer) it to continue the bloodrager bloodline.

Liberty's Edge

After looking over the BloodRager bloodlines and considering the Sorcerer bloodlines, I am left with a bit of an odd recurring thought. This is an issue that has nagged me for a long time now.

Both bloodline sets have a number of melee options, but these are powerful options for only one class. For example, the draconic bloodline grants claws for both classes, but the sorcerer can't really leverage this power.

I would rather have seen the sorcerer bloodlines grant bonuses based on other aspects of their progenitor. For example, dragons are shrewd clever and masters of the arcane in their own rights. Perhaps the draconic bloodline could grant bonuses to knowledges (or even additional skill points only used for knowledges).

I know this is more than a bit late (CRB released in 2009), but seeing the BloodRager bloodlines has really driven this issue to a head for me.

Liberty's Edge

There is a good bit of discussion here about the eidelon. The rules are complex with enough corner cases and overruling enough general rules that many manage to build invalid eidelons without noticing (or in hopes the DM won't notice). Also, a properly built eidelon can be better than a cohort and leadership is easily the least balanced feat in the game.

However, my primary concern with this class is the difficulty of it in actual play. There is a lot of bookkeeping with the eidelon AND the purpose of the class is to summon additional PC controller creatures which can slow play to a crawl. I could easily have 8-10 creatures to control every turn in any given combat. The skewed action economy breaks things as well as causing the summoners turn to typically take much longer than other players. An inexperienced player should simply not play the class as choosing summoned creatures, choosing actions for all controlled creatures, and managing all statistics (e.g., hitpoints) for all controlled creatures is simply overwhelming.

I would prefer to see the class get some streamlined rules for play. Simplify the eidelon to something closer to the animal companion. Limit controlled creatures. Perhaps remove summon from the spell list. Revise the synthesist summoner to something closer to wildshape or just give the synthesist summoner evolution points.

Once these are addressed, then we can discuss balance concerns. I feel simplifying the eidelon (and synthesist) and limiting action economy through reduced summons will help a lot.

Liberty's Edge

Blood Arcanist (draconic bloodline) 10, Dragon Disciple 10, Wizard 20.

I am a man turned dragon. I have immortality and a knowledge of the arcane that is simply beyond mortal understanding. Also, I hang out in an extra-dimensional dragon lair styled wizard tower (tower on the inside dragon lair on the outside) with a library the size of a small country and comfy chairs.

Alternatively, I have a homebrew caster-focused variant of Dragon Disciple (Dragon Sage) that I would rather use. It gets full casting progression and some interesting spell abilities tied to bloodline spells along with an expended set of bloodline spells. Also gains mental ability increases instead of physical.

Liberty's Edge

Check the CRB towards the end (start at the back). You are looking for crafting magic items. Alternatively, check here.

Now you should be able to get a feel for what sort of price jump to make when increasing the caster level. You will notice that under the "Spell Effect" section in "Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values". Every single option is multiplied by the caster level (as well as spell level and some base cost). This implies that you should divide out the current caster level and then multiply in the new caster level.

15*(35,000 gp/8) = 65,265 gp

Also, whenever you are pricing custom magic items consider these words of wisdom from the same webpage linked above.

"Not all items adhere to these formulas. First and foremost, these few formulas aren't enough to truly gauge the exact differences between items. The price of a magic item may be modified based on its actual worth. The formulas only provide a starting point."

Liberty's Edge

1) Dragonlance
2) Ravenloft
3) Girdlegard from The Dwarves (wiki) and its sequels (I am aware this does not technically fall under "DnD settings")
4) Middle Earth

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JoeJ wrote:

I haven't found anything in the rules that says the text description of an ability isn't part of the rules for that ability. To me, the word punch means fists and those few weapons that are used to enhance fists, like cestus and spiked gauntlet.

"Punch" is not a weapon. It is actually not a game term, to my knowledge it has never been formally defined in rules text. Unarmed Strike is a weapon which could include a kick thus not requiring your hands to even be free when delivering an unarmed "punch" with Pummeling Strike. Cestus, spiked gauntlet, and the others suggested by several posters are all defined weapons. The text for this feat does not mention any specific weapon or set of weapons (e.g., close weapon group) as defined in game terms. The clause "in a single punch" could be replaced with "in a single burst" and have the same meaning to many of those reading the text. If the author intended this to be limited to a specific set of weapons, many of us expect them to list the restrictive set of weapons.

No-one here can claim the author did or did not intend for the feat to be restricted to certain weapons, and this is because the text of the feat does not clearly spell out this intent. Thus, we are asking for clarification.

Liberty's Edge

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Insain Dragoon wrote:
Serisan wrote:

I'm enjoying the critical typo in the Mastermind's Inspiration.

ACG pg 101 wrote:
Mastermind's Inspiration (Ex): A mastermind can use inspiration on any Diplomacy,
PFS THAT, BATMAN!

probably meant

Intimidate, or Knowledge skill checks without spending a use of inspiration. This ability alters inspiration.

However, he is technically correct, the best kind of correct.

Liberty's Edge

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Insain Dragoon wrote:

I generally find your posts to be from a steady and pretty balanced POV, so I'd be happy to copy and paste stuff if you have any other requests.

<text removed for length>

Come on people...How am I supposed to fit two more feats into my TWF, dual-Falcata wielding, Oath of Vengeance Paladin's build without bonus feats! No BBEG lives past the first round ever again!

Seriously though, this feat line looks a bit on the broken end. Consider the kukri wielding TWF's. Large crit range, many opportunities to crit, any single crit makes the whole sequence of attacks a crit.

Don't base balance decisions on 20th level:
How about if we swap the weapon to Falcata and consider a 20th level fighter. Our fighter has 9 attacks(speed weapon full twf chain), 30% chance to crit per attack, a x4 crit multiplier, and only needs one attack in the entire sequence to crit. Make the fighter mythic and that is a x5 crit multiplier.

I am expecting clarification on what weapons can be used with this feat. Either only unarmed or only the close weapon group is what I expect.

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don't mind me, just a little dot here

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Necrovox wrote:
Sharkles wrote:


Yes! I really hope these are addressed and corrected soon! This is the most excited I've been for an archetype in ages, so I'm quite disappointed that this is also the only time I've seen a class feature completely missing.
Here's to hoping it was +wis mod to ac?

I'm not sure why people want a cleric that doesn't wear armor to have AC boosting abilities. The point is to be less of a melee combatant and more of a caster right? An armor-less cleric should defend herself the same way any other caster would (don't stand where they can hit you).

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Ravingdork wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Just...why???

+1 Silver Shield and Mirror Polish gives us a 1,000+ gp silver mirror.

Scrying requires a 1,000+ gp silver shield. Now, I can turn my meatbag...ahem, friend's...shield into a silver mirror for scrying.

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Nicos wrote:
I was considering buying the ACG, but a book that have side to side divene protection with canny tumble is at least dubious. Somebody please start giving good news about the book.

The book provides 10 new base classes.

Intended only for humour.:
Including such surprisingly interesting options as:
  • Arcanist, AKA spontaneous-wizard
  • BloodRager, AKA spellcaster-barbarian
  • Investigator, AKA skillmonkey-rogue-replacement
  • Slayer, AKA dmg-dealing-rogue-replacement
  • Swashbuckler, AKA daring-do-rogue-replacement
  • Brawler, AKA no-mysticism-monk
  • Shaman, AKA not-nature-only-druid
  • Skald, AKA heavy-metal-bard(anger-management issues optional?)
  • Warpriest, AKA non-LG-paladin (it's a good thing)
  • Hunter, AKA ranger-druid-guy(the druids said she was something completely new, but I am skeptical).

Most of the new classes I am excited about playing (Arcanist, BloodRager, Warpriest, Shaman, Investigator, Slayer), and the rest I would consider for the right character idea (unlike, for example, the summoner). Also, the book provides new abilities and archetypes for existing classes, new feats, new spells, and new items (might be wrong on the items).

Finally and perhaps most importantly, A Tale of Two Covers.

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thejeff wrote:
Nicos wrote:

It seems there is a feat that let you add your charisma bonus to ALL saves...but only if you are a divine caster.

I haev not read it myself, but does anyone can think in a world where that feat is remotely balanced? (specially after no generic dex to damage feat?)

A world in which casters rule?

*pulls pin from word-grenade*

*drops word-grenade in conversation*
[music]Cools guys don't look at explosions...[/music]

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Nicos wrote:

It seems there is a feat that let you add your charisma bonus to ALL saves...but only if you are a divine caster.

I haev not read it myself, but does anyone can think in a world where that feat is remotely balanced? (specially after no generic dex to damage feat?)

[jk]Keeps people from having to dip two levels in Paladin. /shrug[/jk]

Actually, I don't really like any of the "replace X stat mod with Y stat mod" abilities and feats (though I admit some are needed in the current system). I would prefer for some flexibility as part of the core system (e.g., finesse weapons can use either STR or DEX) as opposed to the constant barrage of replacements in an attempt to help out MAD classes and corner cases. If you make enough exceptions to the base rules, someone will find a way to leverage the exception in a way it was not intended to be used. Better to build a more flexible base system with a set of fundamental design rules.

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The alignment in parentheses after each race is the predominant (but not restrictive) alignment for those races.

Core 5: Elf(CG), Dwarf(LG), Human(none), Orc(CN), Goblin(NE)

These cover basic fantasy character races and provide good, bad, and indifferent tendencies (all without including a certain subterranean race that feel a lot like variant-elf). I would be in favor of having only these 5 to start then expand to include more specifically flavored race options.

If forced to choose 7, I would also include: Aasimar(NG), Tiefling(N)

These options push toward a more planar setting and could probably be replaced with more generic races.

No half races:
I am not a big fan of the half races and would rather do without them. They seem to encourage the forcible insemination of an unwilling partner in the characters background (which is a theme I'd rather discourage). They are also defined by mixing their two progenitor races which leaves them without a unique identity (especially Half-Elves).

As expansions, I think the monster races (especially natural lycanthropes), the elemental-touched races, and more plane-touched are very interesting options for more specific campaigns. Some would also probably like android races and arcane-touched races as well.

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FancyZergling wrote:
If you could choose only 8 Pathfinder classes to keep, what 8 Would they be and why?

First off, all of this is my personal opinion and has no effect on your ability to play and enjoy your preferred classes. Now let's get to the why of it all!

I chose these classes, because they all lend toward a variety of interesting options for characters. I was surprised that I ended up with 4 divine casters (I prefer arcane characters).

Arcanist:
The Sorcerer, Wizard, and Arcanist overlap too much to have all three. The Arcanist feels like the middle point and probably the most interesting to play.

Bloodrager:
We need to have that "fueled by battle rage" type and the Bloodrager is more interesting to me than the Barbarian (but I favor arcane typically, ymmv).

Inquisitor:
An amazingly versatile class that can easily fit any role for any party in any setting. This guy can be a true master switch hitter and even switch role character. Change out your judgements and get +dmg, +hit, +AC, +whatever_I_need_right_now! Good spell selection and interesting class options with enough skill ranks to potentially have RP skills.

Investigator:
Skill monkey, alchemical dabbler, skilled strategist, competent combatant. This class fills in some needed roles RP-wise and has enough going to be a strong option for the roles it fills mechanics-wise.

Oracle:
I went back and forth a bit on this and the Cleric. I am not a fan of the curses (too many are either pointless or overpowered). However, I think the Mystery and Bloodline class features are more interesting than the Domain and School class features. Also, spontaneous casting is typically better for newer players (and well-liked by many veteran players). Overall, I feel the Oracle package was better than the Cleric package. Though I will add that I have played even numbers of Oracles and Clerics.

Shaman:
I have always felt the Druid was a weak base class in terms of RP versatility. The Druid features heavily favor a few options and leave many out. The various Shaman archetypes have tried to fix this, but fall a bit short of the goal. The Shaman class feels like a much stronger class in terms of RP versatility and competitive in terms of power balance.

Slayer:
Fighting guy with flavor. I would add a weaponmaster archetype, but this is my preference of the various fighting guy options. He makes a great combatant, can have...you know...skills, has plenty of feat options through rogue talents and ranger feats.

Warpriest:
More divine caster than the Paladin, more a champion for your (non-LG) deity than a Paladin, more versatile in viable weapon options than anyone. Great spell selection with the ability to really use these spells in melee while still being the frontliner. The various blessings are just icing on my favorite divine class. In summary, I like this class a lot!

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I would hope that both the Bloodrager must be draconic and that Dragon Disciple progresses the bloodrager's bloodline.

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23 people marked this as FAQ candidate. Answered in the FAQ.

I was wondering if the draconic bloodrager bloodline is increased by the Dragon Disciple Blood of Dragons ability. RAW it seems that it does not since the ability references sorcerer levels. However, I believe it was mentioned during the playtest that items, feats, and abilities that affect a parent class's ability (bloodrager has barbarian and sorcerer as parent classes) would also affect the ACG class's abilities of the same name (bloodline in this case). This would mean it might be intended to also affect the Bloodrager despite the restrictive wording of the original ability (which would make a very interesting prestige class option).

Though I am primarily asking for a general ruling, I am also interested in the PFS ruling as well.

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Just thought I would throw out there for those claiming larger numbers of dice will be more difficult. All you have to do to eliminate unwanted dice is pair two dice with the same result as (d1-d2) which gives 0, then multiply this 0 to all of the dice you don't need. So, (d1-d2)*(d3+d4+...dn).

For those who are worried about finding a matching pair of dice: If you roll 7 d6, at least two must result in the same value. This means at 7 ranks you are guaranteed to be able to produce a 0. Once you reach 10+ ranks, you will have a 0 and plenty of dice left over to get the number you want. At 20 ranks, it is probably an infinitely small chance, if not outright impossible, to not be able to make any of the given numbers.

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Dragon Disciple gets +2 that is "gained as if through level advancement."

EDIT: Also, mythic rules grant stat increases for leveling (+2 at every even tier for a total of +10 possible) and for one of the universal path abilties available at 3rd tier (+2 to one stat).

EDIT 2: So, I see the following available:

40 TOTAL (20th level w/o mythic tiers):

18 base ability
+2 racial (human, elf, half-elf, half-orc, and others I'm sure)
+5 level
+6 enhancement (headband typically)
+5 inherent (wish or tome)
+2 profane (questionable deal with succubus...at least you'll die with a smile?)
+2 dragon disciple

52 TOTAL (20th level with 10 mythic tiers):

<same as above>
+10 mythic tiers
+2 universal path ability

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You could also incorporate the Scrollmaster Wizard archetype which allows you to use scrolls as a short sword with an enhancement bonus of 1/2 the level of the spell on the scroll (0 and 1st level scrolls count as masterwork).

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The lich has several options.

  • Use her melee touch attack once per round to heal herself for 1d8 +1/2 HD negative energy.
  • Use UMD to activate a wand or scroll of inflict wounds.
  • Purchase (or murder-steal) a potion of inflict wounds.
  • Hire, Dominate, or use Leadership to get a divine caster cohort who can heal her.
  • Use limited wish or wish.
  • Summon an outsider who can cast inflict wounds (or other negative energy damage spells).
  • Plane shift to a plane with the negative-dominant energy trait.

There are surely other methods, but these are probably the most common routes. The melee touch attack should cover most needs. Consumables or limited wish or even wish should cover more dire circumstance. If the lich is planning to do any serious campaigning for evil then she will likely find an evil or neutral divine caster who can use negative energy to heal her. Alternatively, she could just set up a contingency that plane shift's her to the plane of negative energy and chill in the constant healing until she is ready to go back to campaigning for her own evil ends.

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The damage is probably competitive. Rogue with twf is getting two hits at 1d6+str+1d6(sneak) with a -2 att. A barbarian with a greatsword is getting 2d6+1.5xstr+3(power attack) with a -1 to att. It is also worth noting your rogue probably has a +1-2 str bonus and the barbarian is going to have a +5-6 str bonus (when raging). Thus your rogue gets on average 16-18 dmg per full attack and the barbarian gets on average 17-19 dmg per full attack. The barbarian also does not need to flank, can move and still get his 1 attack per round, has an attack bonus higher than your rogue (higher modifier from his ranging str and power attack is -1 vs -2 for twf), and he will deal more damage on an AOO. A fighter is getting the same damage as the barbarian minus the 2 points of raging str. A ranger is the same as a fighter with regards to dmg, at this level, except against his favored enemy when he is closer to the barbarian.

The rogue has competitive damage at this level, but will soon get eclipsed by most classes and their damage is reliant on a situational ability (sneak attack) that requires strategic movement to get in place as well as requiring cooperative allies.

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Rylar wrote:
I like the idea of a force mage. Not sure what class I would go with, but at low levels toppling magic missile is my signature spell.

I suggest Human Evocation Wizard. I also made a quick list of spells which have force effects.

List of Force Spells:
cantrip - scoop
1st - magic missile, shield, floating disk, mage armor, shock shield
2nd - cushioning bands, admonishing ray
3rd - ablative barrier, force anchor, battering blast, chain of perdition, force punch, tiny hut, twilight knife
4th - resilient sphere
5th - interposing hand, wall of force
6th - symbol of sealing, forceful hand, leashed shackles
7th - forcecage, grasping hand, mage's sword
8th - clenched fist, telekinetic sphere
9th - mage's excellent enclosure, crushing hand

*Bolded spells are choices I suggest.

If you want to be particularly blasty then being an orc bloodline varisian tatoo sorcerer(choose evocation) would also strongly benefit you. You could also add crossblooded with draconic or elemental to up one particular element. You would also want the standard feats and traits that any blaster would want. Switching from standard evocation to admixture also gives you a lot of versatility. There is really not going to be much variety among blasters.

I am also fond of the fighter 1/wizard 5/eldritch knight. I prefer to select scorching ray as my weapon of choice and put all fighter feats toward rays (weapon focus(ray), etc.). However, the rogue 3/wizard 3/arcane trickster will out damage the eldritch knight, and you could use one level of assassin to gain entry to arcane trickster a level early.

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The Double Crossbow gets to at best 2 bolts per round fired as the same action. This might be nice for a Vital Strike build, but is otherwise very lackluster for the feat investment.

Perhaps a unique magic crossbow which can be used as a swift action to split a bolt into two bolts on the next attack. The two bolts are treated as though fired separately during the same action. The crossbow would need to have a pretty significant cost associated to warrant the ability (along the lines of adding the speed weapon quality). The weapon would make mid to high level crossbowman on par with longbow wielders and slightly behind composite-longbow wielders.

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I think a Human Urban Ranger with the archery combat style (better feat options than crossbow style imo) follower of Abadar (favored weapon is light crossbow) would be a fun character and competent combatant.

Stats:
STR 12 (12 base)
DEX 16 (14 base +2 racial)
CON 14 (14 base)
INT 14 (13 base + 1 level)
WIS 13 (13 base)
CHA 12 (12 base)

Feats:
1: Point Blank Shot
1: Precise Shot
2: Rapid Reload
3: Rapid Shot
5: Deadly Aim
6: Improved Precise Shot
7: Clustered Shots
9: Weapon Focus(light crossbow)
10: Point Blank Master

By 5th level, the difference between the crossbow and the composite longbow is STR bonus to damage and rapid reload instead of manyshot. While this makes the crossbow strictly inferior in damage potential, the crossbowman is slightly less MAD by needing only DEX instead of DEX and STR. You also have the option to fire one-handed which the longbow wielder lacks. All in all, if you want the best damage potential it is the composite longbow (gaining a boost to all dmg rolls and an effective extra attack worth of dmg from manyshot), but the crossbow is a viable ranged weapon (munchkins need not apply).

houserules:
I think the crossbow could be fixed by houseruling manyshot to work for crossbows as well. For those who are stuck to a strictly realistic world (with magic and dragons of course) then add a new type of crossbow which can be fitted with two bolts. The new crossbow would require special training to use in this manner (i.e., manyshot). This would significantly reduce the difference in damage potential between the weapon types. The major difference between the weapons would be the 1-2 feats depending on which crossbow and how you get reduced load time.

I am also in favor of ruling that all bows and crossbows add the user's DEX bonus to damage. Composite bows would replace DEX with STR making them a good choice for switch hitters and as a backup ranged weapon for STR-based classes. I would also be fine with banning Clustered Shots, but now I'm getting off topic.

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Summon the creature using a line of effect which extends above the wall.

I am fine with using the raw that the hole must be at least 1 square foot, and the wall of force must be continuous and unbroken. However, you could still leave a hole in the roof of your dome. The hole would just need to be larger than I had expected.

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Wall of Force is a wall with no roof. As such, the line of effect merely extends over the wall and to the target (like an archer would shoot over the wall). If the caster is making a dome, then the caster simply needs to leave a small opening (1-2 inches is more than enough) in the dome for creating line of effect. Since spells are magically guided it really doesn't matter where the hole is located.

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For a blaster, I would recommend tattooed sorcerer, crossblooded draconic/orc or draconic/elemental bloodline, and the following feats.

Feats
Human 1 - Spell Focus
1 - Spell Specialization
Tatooed Sorcerer 1 - Varisian Tatoo
3 - Greater Spell Focus
5 - Elemental Spell
7 - Empower Spell
bloodline 7 - Improved Initiative
9 - Spell Penetration
11 - Quicken Spell
13 - Greater Spell Penetration
bloodline 13 - Still Spell
15 - Spell Perfection

Spells to use with spell specialization
1st - Burning Hands
2nd - Scorching Ray
3rd - Fireball/Lightning Bolt
4th - Fireball/Lightning Bolt
5th - Cone of Cold
6th - Chain Lightning
7th+ - go crazy!

I also really enjoy the various hand spells (interposing hand etc). Which are fairly high level spells, but very fun and classic evocation.

EDIT: Also, don't forget to really plunder the evocation spell list. There are some gems in there like telekinetic charge which are really great spells and not just direct-damage. The illusion line is great, but you would want your feats will vary if you really want to rely on those illusions (they kinda suck if your opponent notices the illusion part).

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I have run some high level games and a campaign with 6 players (not both at same time).

For higher level games, I try to make sure that I am very familiar with the monster's abilities. Playing the monster to its strength can often be the difference between challenging and trivial. You can also stagger the flood of enemies allowing the players to pick off a few before the next set. This reduces the number of active combatants at any given time and keeps the party engaged (challenged).

For a group of 6, I found that the biggest difference was the amount of damage that the group produced. I increased the HP of every creature by 50-100% and things leveled out a bit. With an extra 2 characters hitting the enemies they were just dying too quickly.

In general, I expect combats to last 3-4 rounds. I have had a combat that lasted 30+ rounds (it was intended to last the entire session and ended a major portion of a campaign) and combats which lasted one PC's action. Typically, the goal is to catch the party off guard and/or not let them prepare. A pre-buffed party initiating combat will typically win swiftly (i.e., one round give or take a surprise round).

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