Petty Alchemy's page

Mind-affecting spells tend to completely shutdown characters/turn them against the party, generally for multiple turns and often with only one save.

That's not too fun for the DM, but he's controlling an entire troop so it doesn't matter if some of them lose their turns. Players only control one character, and it sucks when that happens.

Is it bad if they want to defend against personal boredom as best as they can?

Full attack as a standard action.

It's not like it blocked one attack per opponent. It just blocked one. If you're doing a single monster encounter and that monster only has one attack, well, you've designed an encounter poorly.

I like the Con suggestion, but beware! DMs that like rolling for stats also often like giving level penalties to new characters!

Tada~

Someone mentioned how martials are good in cage matches, might be relevant to bump my PrC that creates cages.

Level 6:Horn of the Criosphinx

Nice find, there's also Wings of the Androsphinx with the same wording. Not very good though.

Paired Opportunists + Broken Wing Gambit is pretty good too.

Run: Post-apocalyptic after the gods have killed each other and left their final blessings/curses.

Play in: Ravnica, or one of the other MTG planes.

Whoever called this game Mathfinder was right.

Fighter is broken?

Most games I play the fighters out-damage everybody. The fighters go toe-to-toe with demon-lords and monsters the size of houses and laugh off blows that shake mountains.

I mean from this very short series of posts I don't know what the complaint *is* exactly, but it seems to be "in a vs. match the caster wins." Assuming, of course, the wizard wins initiative and gets out of reach, since locking the two in a steel cage Wrestlemania style means fighter wins and wizard can't do anything.

PC vs. matches like that boil down to who gets lucky first.

Fighters don't get many options? Meh. Compare a fighter's combat maneuvers (of which there are quite a few) with a sorceror's spell selection. Now remember that a figher doesn't run out of sword swings, a sorceror runs out of spells pretty freakin' fast.

Although I think sorceror and oracle are terrible classes, if we're going that far.

Unfortunately, neither demon-lords nor wizards have any reason to go toe-to-toe unless they're forced to.

The Fighter is rather solid at standing still and trading blows though. That's super.

People are probably waiting to see the final Warpriest to see if they need alternate homebrew.

Hm, it does half of what I want.

It replaces Summon Monster, but Unfetter isn't the right spell in my opinion, it's sort of stay very far away while the eidolon does work, but doesn't enable the Eidolon to keep going as you need it to when there's no cavalry to call in.

And I think I'd just grant Resilient Eidolon as a bonus feat rather than what he did, should that be necessary.

Reaper's Kiss: Using a two-handed weapon isn't a feat prerequisite, it should say in the benefit line: If you miss while wielding a weapon with two hands (or something like that).

I'd increase the prereqs on that to BAB +3, or else you're killing goblins hit or miss at level 1. Otherwise seems fine. Maybe require it to at least hit their touch AC though, since automatic damage is fairly rare in Pathfinder.

I'd consider them if I didn't need to take Meditation Master (+1 insight to one roll a day for a feat?), and if Combat Meditation was at most a standard action, or had some special bit that allowed you to total defense while meditating.

I couldn't Qinggong FAQ, so I come here.

I'm somewhat confused by the lvl8 and lvl10 tiers, since the next highest ability the monk gets is Diamond Body at 11. Seems to be little point in listing them like that instead of making a lvl7 tier/lvl11 tier.

Ex. Wholeness of Body is normally a lvl7 ability, however it's in the lvl8 tier via Qinggong. Can you elect to not have Wholeness of Body at 7 (as you're opting out of it via Qinggong) to pick another lvl8 tier ability when you actually reach level 8?

The Meditation feats then, though they aren't very good.

Almost every time I make a summoner, I don't care at all about the Summon Monster ability. Everyone can appreciate the strength of standard action summons, but it's also a ton of book work to familiarize yourself with all of the options and have cards ready for anything you might summon at a point when your eidolon goes down.

I just want the Eidolon. I'm probably not alone in that, so here's a go at an archetype.

Rejuvenating Call I (Sp)

Starting at 1st level, a summoner can cast Rejuvenate Eidolon, Lesser as a spell-like ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + his Charisma modifier. He can use this ability even if the Eidolon is not summoned, and if he does, he also has the option of summoning the Eidolon as if having performed the ritual. If the Eidolon is present, he can use this ability to heal it from a range of up to 30ft away. At 3rd level, and every 2 levels thereafter, the power of this ability increases by 1d10. All Rejuventate Eidolon spells are considered to be part of his spell list for the purposes of spell trigger and spell completion items. In addition, he can expend uses of this ability to fufill the construction requirements of any magic item he creates, so long as he can use this ability to cast the required spell.
This replaces Summon Monster I.

Shield Ally (Ex)

At 4th level, whenever a summoner is within his eidolon’s sight, the summoner receives a +2 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +2 circumstance bonus on his saving throws. This bonus does not apply if the eidolon is grappled, helpless, paralyzed, stunned, or unconscious.

It's a little hard to judge the balance. I think this is still a downgrade from Summon Monster, but enables a different playstyle. Let me know your thoughts. I'm also open to changing the archetype name.

Just want everyone to be in the same weight class.

You think you've seen all the Paladin threads, but then there's this.

Paladins can eat whatever they want, but they must use the proper utensils.

Level 1:
Ki Diversity

Level 6:
Hamatulatsu Strike

Level 10:
Ki Throw

Level 14:
Improved Ki Throw

It would be much easier to search the SRD, but there's no consistency in the wording. It's kind of silly:
"Monks can select this feat as a monk bonus feat."
"A monk may gain [~] as a bonus feat at 10th level"
"A monk may take this as a bonus feat at 14th level."
"[~] may be selected as a substitute bonus feat at 6th level by a monk even if the monk does not otherwise meet the prerequisites. "

That said, am I missing any unlisted monk bonus feat options?

Clearly meant for Monks (given the advancement of numerous monk features). Prereq: 5 ranks in Knowledge Arcana.

Knowledge Arcana isn't a class skill for Brother of the Seal (nor is it for Monk). What's up with that? Don't PrCs usually make their prereq skills class?

Awesome Blow question:

the attacking creature can only push the opponent in a straight line, and the opponent can't move closer to the attacking creature than the square it started in.

Can you Awesome Blow someone straight up (or straight down for obstacle collision damage)? They're not moving closer (well, they are when they fall, but that's not Awesome Blow movement) after all.

Crit with a shuriken, two 20s and high enough to confirm again (there was a house rule that a 20 confirmation roll increases multiplier by 1 if you can confirm it).

It was a small shuriken on a dex/wis monk, so the crit did 1*3. Fantastic.

I do play casters. I take Improved Initiative if I feel I need it (a bland but effective feat), and the rest is pretty much Extra Hex/Extra Revelation. If I'm playing a different caster that doesn't have Extra [Awesome Feature] as an option, I can take Spell Focus. But at no point do I feel I have to have it, nor is it especially taxing.

Your level 5 caster has invested all but one feat into a chain? That's a fancy way of saying two feats. I assume you mean Spell Focus Conj. -> Augment Summoning.

Marroar Gellantara wrote:

Dwarf with good will save, 14 base wisdom, iron will, will trait = 18

2+12+2+2+1

Not a fair standard, but not impossible.

Human wizard. 14 wisdom, will trait, iron will.

12+1+2+2 = 17

Feats are much more precious to non-fighters, the relative opportunity cost is higher.

Feats are only precious to other martials, unless they also get them from their class (as monk and ranger do, for example). Spellcasters don't have to deal with ridiculous feat chains/feat taxes (unless they're trying to do martial combat), and can pretty much take whatever they want.

Fighter with full casting

Rogue with full BAB
Monk with wildshape
Wizard with mount
Paladin with grit
Ranger with a bloodline
Druid with cavalier order
Druid with guns
Cleric with paladin code
Rogue with rage powers
Barbarian with ritual summoning

Mainly because seeing the devs make all that work would amuse me.

Archetypes don't change BAB or grant casting, though the other stuff you mentioned is fair game.

Paladin with Grit: Holy Gun
Monk with Wildshape: Tranquil Guardian can take cat forms (which are the best forms so it's fine).

Monk, followed perhaps by Magus.

Crane Style -> Crane Wing -> Crane Riposte. Not just because pre-errata Crane Wing was great, but because this is a feat chain that makes sense. It builds synergy.

Counter example: Dodge->Mobility->Spring Attack->Whirlwind Attack.

What does Whirlwind Attack got to do with any of the stuff before it? I've no idea.

I think if the Aasimar had a -2 penalty to an ability score, it would be in line with the other races. As it is, it stands a bit above.

I'd like it if precision damage bypassed DR or something.

It may be too much to multiply it on crits, but then again, the classic barbarian axe crit usually one-shots stuff anyway.

I've played a Helpful Halfling before, and it was pretty much just for skill checks. The action economy doesn't work out for Aid Another. If your character can't hit, then why are they in melee anyhow?

Here's some food for thought: Do you have a group of murderhobos bullying a village because they feel invulnerable for their level? Show them that being surrounded by angry villagers is really dangerous.

Maybe the PCs AC is high enough someone would need a 20 to hit them. What about 7 villagers all using Aid Another to help that 8th individual make his grapple check to take down that pesky PC...?

Get enough angry villagers and it's almost like "Take 20", as those villagers will just keep coming at you until they score a hit. Then it's tar and feathers time.

I hope that angry villager has grappling experience (Improved Unarmed Strike -> Improved Grapple), or he's going to get cut down when he tries, and that sure would be sad for all the villagers that were aiding him.

Sometimes martials can hit someone so hard they get cursed. I'd be for more stuff like this with fewer hoops.

Anything you use so often that it's more efficient to have ranks than replicate with magic.

Knowledge Arcana is basically Detect Plot in some games.

On the other hand, stun is an extremely powerful condition. Everyone gets a bonus to hit them (and an extra bonus on combat maneuvers IIRC?), they drop whatever they're holding (useless against some monsters, useful against others), and they don't get to take any actions. That's among the best control on the market.

And it doesn't cost you any actions, nor does it reduce your damage output for the attempt. I'd like it more if you could spend it after you hit rather than when making the attack roll, but I'm not going to turn my nose up from it.

Well, Zen Archers can only stun after lvl 17 so I wouldn't say it's a reliable tactic.

I don't really get the Stunning Fist hate for standard monks, the DC is fine (based on what most monks pick for their 2nd best stat). The problem with Stunning Fist is all the things that are immune to it, and the Zen Archer is no better off there. Stun is just so good though, even if it's only a 25% of success (and you could probably do better) it's far from a waste of space.

But even without it the Zen Archer is the best archer.

One.

Archery is in general pretty cookie cutter, but then again when most people want to play a monk, they don't mean an archer.

@Aldizog

It's because of thematics. Barbarians get to do supernatural things while raging, and emulate animals.

Animals are better at fighting than humans. They have natural attacks to get extra hits, natural armor which doesn't have any penalties compared to traditional armor (and stacks with it), and get to do combat maneuvers for free when they hit with an attack, rather replacing their attack. Also (and this is the big one), pounce.

Fighters are utterly mundane, and that's what holds them back.

I haven't been taken on as a vizier yet, I'm starting to worry they lost my application.

It's not that people don't know how to limit magic. It's just that you need to rebalance encounters based on lack of expected magic gear/efficient healing/increased difficulty against monsters with DR/etc.

The system expects you to have these tools, so when you don't, you need to change what the PCs encounter.

Re: Dragon bites:

Tis but a scratch, but played straight. If the bite does 38 damage and you only have 25hp, yeah, it got you full and did some chewing. If it did 38 damage and you have 200hp, a tooth got through the armor (or you failed to entirely dodge).

The way Legend does Flat-Footed is denial of reaction actions (stuff like AoO) and a flat -3 AC.

Legend likewise has AC based on BAB.

Perhaps you should check it out.

You could also start without a deity and be religiously curious, open to conversation if someone does a good sell of their belief.

Or you might choose someone like Irori, who may not embody your lifestyle but has the qualities you respect in a leader/companion.

Usually my characters pick a deity that's a personal role model, "When I grow up, I want to be like Cayden Calien!", but sometimes it's fun to pick a deity that supplements areas where you may be weak and need guidance.

My point was that bugbears are awesome.

Ah, I ctrl-f'd the full name. Well done then.

Kaleb the Opportunist wrote:

GM: "As you stick your toe out to reach the edge of the pit trap, the bugbear charges out of hiding and attacks the fighter with a greataxe as he clings to the wall. Meanwhile, the goblins behind you have had time to light their Molotov cocktails. Roll initiative.

How was that bugbear not seen, or do you mean if the bugbear rolls high enough on his stealth check he is not seen?

Bugbears are basically bogeymen. 7ft and 400lb with +10 Stealth.

K177Y C47 wrote:

MrBateman wrote:

I do still want to know why people think Fighters are as bad as Rogues. Considering that most Pathfinder games don't go very far beyond level 10, why are fighters a bad choice?

Make a will save?....

Oh... and I am a flying Kitty xD

Don't Cavaliers have those same exact problems?

One of the things I really like about Samurai (the alternate Cavalier) is Resolve.

L33Fish wrote:

Petty Alchemy wrote:

If there was an equivalent item that gave you 25/50/75% immunity to enemy spells, it still wouldn't be as crippling because now they just use spells that affect allies, create allies, or change reality around you without directly affecting you.

For the same price as the 75% immunity to rogues, you can get SR 19 on your armor, giving you 75% immunity to 4th level casters.

By spending even less you can buy +1 full plate and have near 95% immunity to low level characters with low strength scores.

Quite sure that's the point he was making. With 36k minimum (72% of your expected total lvl9 wealth), you have a high chance of shutting down casters half your level. Of course, they could improve their odds by being elves, having spell penetration, or assorted caster level bonuses. They could also use conjurations and buffs, while you're shielding yourself against friendly magic as well.

Fortification affects rogues of all levels equally, and there's no way to improve your odds. And there's nothing else your class features allow you to do in combat, besides plink away for something like 1d4+1 (could say 1d4+7 if it's an Agile dagger, though that isn't a rogue exclusive).

No one has said Roberta Yang? Roberta often says the things I want to say, only more funny.

No love for the Umber hulk?

I remember the Umber Hulk from my early 3.0 days.

It was the DM's "no you can't recover spells" mechanic. Trying to rest in a cleared dungeon room? Umber Hulk burrows in, does some smashing and confusion, then burrows out. It also ate our horse.

...I miss it, but only because of the rose-tinted glasses I'm wearing.

Less things immune to dazing than stunning IIRC.

That's because those classes typically use the one true melee style (2handed weapon smash) and Power Attack, and get amplified by class features without relying on them to be relevant.

That's why the Rogue should also be built with high strength and a greatsword to be strong. Most people have a different concept they want to fulfill though, usually daggers/rapier, and base combat rules don't support that. That's why the rogue relies on Sneak Attack more than a Barbarian relies on Rage.

As Ssalarn has said, the rogue is already jumping hoops to apply SA damage. There shouldn't be a wall after you get past the hoops.