Scribbling Rambler's page

Vic Wertz wrote:

Nice! And I like the way you made it a 2-player game!

I like the possibility of showing up at the Market with two of my ships selling artifacts.... :^)

Yup, that's a strategy we used, especially when we saw the other player had dredged up a big hand.

Any other suggestions for 2-player variants?

Just wanted to drop a note reinforcing my positive review of Key Largo. We played 3 times over this long Easter weekend: once with my wife and I playing 2 crews each (she's a non-gamer), once with my regular D&D/game group, and once at my FLGS. Every player had a great time, and my FLGS is going to make sure they get more in stock.

Thanks for another winner!

I believe the spell-casting aspect of this is adequately covered with the free 0-level spells and school/domain powers, but want to play-test before making a final judgement. Of course, that will be hard until Alpha 2 and 3 come out, and we have all of the classes.

What my reading tells me is that we could still use more healing. My brother and I came up with a few possible tweaks.

1/ Put Cure Minor Wounds back in. Yes, it will give unlimited healing, but at 10hp per minute of casting, it leaves a lot of time to be interrupted, and becomes almost meaningless at higher levels.

2/ Come up with a similar Orison. Ex. Cure Wounds, casting time 1 minute, allows caster to roll a Heal check DC 10, heals the amount by which you beat the DC (Heal domain gets +1 on this check). This also buffs up the Heal skill, and still takes a lot of time, and scales with increase in level.

3/ Use a "Bind Wounds" mechanic. A Heal check that Anyone can make to heal a limited amount of damage (eg. 1 minute to do, DC15 Heal check, heals amount you beat check by). Reduces reliance on Clerics, still takes time, scales, and makes Heal skill more useful.

I reeely like the new Favoured Class rule, even if Favoured is spelled American-like :)

My only question: do Humans and Half-Elves have to take their 1st level class as Favoured, or can they choose another?

I prefer the 1st as a DM, but the min-maxer in me likes the sweet other side.

I'm all in.

I called my FLGS, and I'm pretty sure they're in too.

Now to work on my players.

Sorry, to be a smartass, but I just wanted to revive this thread from April 2007, before the announcement of 4E.

And say "Called It!"

;-)

Oh gods!

His head will get even bigger now!

Just to clarify Watcher; I like the idea that your group came up with. I was just explaining why a magical society would be stunted technologically.

As far as a way to run a setting with more panoramic weapon advances: I believe that my brother (Scribe) ran a setting with a bronze weapon base, where steel weapons were treated as Masterwork. This probably necessitates switching to a SP-based monetary system, which is not bad in any case, or hard to do. At the least, lower the price of MW. You could still have MW bronze weapons as well, to allow for enchantment.

2 cents, take or leave.

What class is he? Do any of the runes connect there?

I say go for it!

He's a fighter.

I guess when I ask for input openly, I should be expecting all sorts of riff-raff to answer ;)

Part of my problem is determining a source, as

which places the characters origin outside of Varisia, something I didn't want to do.

One thing that would stall tech in fantasy settings: Magic.
Seriously, it removes much of the need for advancement: medical, weaponry, communication, transportation, etc. etc.
I even believe that there should be more magical devices to handle mundane tasks (Eg. Broom of Sweeping, Anvil of Forging)

The next advance in weaponry past a crossbow in a fantasy setting is Magic Missile.

Neomorte wrote:

Previews look good. I am happy to see them.

Where are the previews? I'd love to see them.

on the Paizo Blog.

One of my players wants to run a Warforged for ROTR.

I have given him some background:
He was traded by the Shoanti to the dwarves of Janderhoff(?) several years ago. He became aware just over 5 years ago, just before the Recent Unpleasantness.

Where I need opinions is:

Hope they get back in stock soon, I've got fraternal obligations here!

Ah, when technical directors try to be clever. ;-)

Isn't that a new show from FOX?

Richard Pett wrote:

British cuisine - finest in the world old chap - just like our cricket and football teams...

Riiiiight...

Cricket World Cup results.
Football World Cup results.

You might want to make better comparisons, is what I'm saying. ;)

Actually, I think he is making the right comparisons.

Yay! Back in stock! *squee*

AND.... back out again.

I saw this mini at D&D Experience last week. Here's something the picture DOESN'T tell you - you can pop off the base and put hapless adventurers inside! Very useful with the 4th edition gelatinous cube, who is a lot tougher than the 3rd edition version. This beastie slides down a dungeon hall, scooping up adventurers left and right! Love it.

I pop it off the base and use it to elevate Large flying minis.

As for the iconics, nobody has to be thrown away. Sure, some revisions might need to be made, but Lem, for example, would almost certainly return with PHB II, etc. Plus, hell, it's Paizo's world, there's no reason they can't make Gnomes a core race in Golarion...

The other issue is whether or not future rulebooks (like PHB2) will be "core", because if they aren't, they are probably not covered by the GSL. No bards, druids, barbarians, monks for 3rd party companies. Speculatively.

I think that guy is running a cathouse!

It had to be said.

No problem at all.

We appreciate the effort and the feedback.

Your products are just too darn good to wait for!

Existing bi-weekly (theoretically) game on Saturday nights.
Looking for someone who will fit in with our group of 4 35-45 year olds.
Must be house-broken.
Trial basis in effect.
Contact thru here.

Pending :-(

I sent you an email.

S 5
I 15
W 12
D 10
C 15
Ch 10

Looks like my old MU, Percy Ogresbane. Though he's a point too strong.

Now we need to pull chits out of a cup for attack rolls like in my original Basic set!

Cosmodeus,

I ordered myself a Harrow deck, and then what with this and that and the other thing, I finally subscribed to Pathfinder Chronicles. Can you please cancel my separate Harrow Deck order? (#895659)

Thanks!

Craig Shackleton

Learn how to use a computer, ya old fogie!

Actually, your earlier order may have auto-cancelled.

3.5 Boards? Ummm... there actually are no specifically 3.5 boards, or 3.x boards, or 1st ed boards...

The debate will not stop for quite some time. First we need the books and the Paizo decision. Then we need separate boards created for different types of discussion.

Discussing (civilly) the merits of the 2 systems is still a valid exercise for a while, especially for those of us who plan to cobble together a system using the best aspects of both.

Haven't seen the deities so far (can someone kindly point me at a PF book that covers/names them?), but I would like to know whether we have a set pantheon venerated by all (e.g. "Goddess of Night" venerated by elves, humans, hobgoblins, but under different names) or whether we will see a number of pantheons, e.g. for the elves, humans and orcs?

The pantheon of 20 is pretty much universal, from what we have been told. There are further minor gods, and some races have their own gods as well as modified versions of the pantheon.

There is some info in the AP players' guides: holy symbols, domains, favoured weapons, alignments.

There are extensive single deity articles in PF2 and PF5. There will be 2 per Adventure Path.

There is also some info in the forums and on the Blog, if you dig.

Other than that, we are all waiting for the Gazetteer, the Campaign Guide and Gods & Magic.

More balanced reviews:

rodrigo istalindir from Enworld wrote:

An interesting review

This review actually makes me a little more inclined to try a 4e campaign.

It also affirms my plan to mostly stick with 3.x and swipe ideas.

mwbeeler wrote:

I’m guessing the companions are the equivalents of “Savage Tidings” and “Wormfood.” My only real question is, will the side information now featured in the Pathfinder modules be moved there, with the adventures becoming longer?

actually the adventures are becoming shorter, but a side adventure is most likly going to be added in (i think that was what was said - read the last two chat logs for confirmation)

Nope. You are thinking of what is happening with the Pathfinder Second Darkness AP.

The original question is a good one. Do we need as much info on Osirion in each module when we have an Osirion book, for example?

I've got a pathfinder subscription and no. 7 is expected early next week.

I just subscribed to Chronicles with Guide to Korvosa as my next item.
I chose to hold product until next pathfinder is shipped. If no. 7 comes out before the guide does that mean I have to wait a whole month for Guide to Korvosa with no. 8 or would I get the pdf when it comes out and it gets shipped with no. 8. Hope you understand all that. Thanks

It'll depend when the GtK comes out. If it's not out next week, you should get a shipment sent with just PF7, and the Guide comes with PF8.

You could change your shipping option to Hold for Monthly, that way you'll get the Guide with PF7 if they both come out in March, and maybe even PF8 if it sneaks in during the last week of March.

You don't get any pdf's until the items are shipped, so if an item is waiting, the pdf is also unavailable.

wisdom

Hmmm... this sounds familiar.

Not yet. Most of what I've read of his comes from our Amazing Stories archive, and has not subsequently been printed. My favorite, favorite story by RMW is "The Return of Satan" from the October 1939 issue of Amazing Stories. It is so riddled with clichés as to be considered unpublishable by most modern editors, but it is such a madcap _pulpy_ story that I loved every page of it.

His "The Secret of the Pyramid" from the July 1939 issue was also great fun.

I've been accumulating several of his paperbacks for the last year or so, but I've not yet had time to read them. He is probably best know for a sword and planet character entitled "Zanthar of the Many Worlds," and for a Tarzan clone called Jongor.

Anyone read any of this stuff?

Well, I ordered a couple of his novels on-line to check them out: "Star Wasps" and "Bell from Infinity". I'll let you know when I've read them (after they go in the to-be-read-pile-of-doom).

Robert Moore Williams (a guilty pleasure I am not sure I dare reprint)

So do you have any recommended titles?

Looks to me like most of these items are relatively edition-neutral anyway, Gods & Magic being the obvious exception. I'll pick them all up in any case, as I'm sure they'll be useful no matter which way Paizo goes.

Now to push for earlier release ;D

For me, it's all about CONVERSION.

According to WOTC, it will not be easy to change a character or adventure from 3.5 to 4e, let alone a campaign.

While I have no problem with starting up new campaigns, every previous edition, whether D&D or AD&D, was at least somewhat able to flow from one to the other. Maybe you had to dump a few of your characters (1st Ed Monk and Bard), maybe they underwent some radical changes (everyone from 2nd to 3rd ed), but you could still keep the majority of characters going in your campaign, as well as the history.

4e appears to have such radical changes in both fluff and mechanics that any transference will be incredibly disjointed.

Going by what has been announced so far.

BTW, I played 'em all, and was enthusiastic about every one once I started to see the previews: from blue basic, to 1st ed, to 1.5 (Unearthed Arcana 1), to Basic Expert Master, to 2e,3e,3.5 (with a side trip into yet another Basic Set).

I'm not this time. I will not rule out changing my mind, but it will be uphill for WOTC.

Back to the original issue, and updated due to the "Gut Check" thread:

Based on the lack of communication from WOTC, and from the number of people who seem to be taking a "wait and see" approach, my feeling is that Paizo would be wise to put off the conversion decision a while longer.

Before everyone jumps on me for that statement, let me explain.

IMO, there are only 3 things which require a quick decision on Paizo's part: the Second Darkness AP, the Golarion Campaign Guide, and the GSL signing.

If Paizo were to announce that Second Darkness was 3.5, it gives them 6 more months to decide which way they want to go for the 4th AP. It keeps the 3.x people happy for now, doesn't rule out the 4th ed fans, and gives the fence-sitters a chance to try out the new system first.

As the Campaign Guide is theoretically mostly system-neutral, it could also be 3.x, with the possiblity of a conversion guide/4th ed supplement to follow.

If Paizo delays, they have more time to go through the ramifications of the new license and rules. If they want to be sure to get fast product out under the new edition, they can put it out as GameMastery Modules. I believe that a rushed product in that line would have less impact than, for example, a rushed AP.

In the long run, I believe that Paizo will inevitably need to switch editions. As loyal as their customer base is, there is little potential for growth without the core rule books being available in FLGS's. Many of the people who now say they are not switching will, and many others will eventually decide they need no more product.

If Paizo were to announce now that they were going to stay with 3.x until they have a better feel for the rules, it would give the 3.x people more material that they want, without alienating the people who wish to change editions. It also avoids making any future switch look like they had made an error in the first place.

If 4th ed is a bust (remote chance IMO), they can stay the course.

DISCLAIMERS: I have been running D&D since '80, out of the blue box Basic Set. I have enjoyed every edition since, but have limited interest in this one.

Paizo wrote:

When you start an ongoing subscription, any existing preorders for products covered by your subscription are automatically cancelled (or have their quantity reduced by one if you've preordered more than one of an item).

I´m very interested in a subscribtion. I ordered all the previous volumes I missed and just got them yesturday. Now I´m wondering if I subscribe now, would I recieve the pathfinder beginning at #7, because of my previous order. Or can´t that be cancelled because it was already shipped and I should just wait till #7 is mentioned as the current volume?

When you subscribe, you will be given the option as to which volume you want to start with: the current one or the next one.

At least, that's how it worked for me.

1) Do you plan to convert to the new edition of D&D?

2) If Paizo converts its RPG products to 4.0, how will that affect your purchasing patterns for our products?

3) If Paizo does not convert its RPG products to 4.0, how will that affect your purchasing patterns for our products?

1/ Not any time soon (ie at least 2 years). I will buy the 3 core books and import what I like, but few of my players are interested in this edition.

2/ I would not continue my subscriptions, but would pick up individual products. I may even eventually pick up what I missed. I would not, however, need a 4th ed AP or GMM's for quite some time.

3/ My purchasing would remain the same, but that is not to say that it will continue indefinitely in any case. At some point, I will have too many adventures that I am not running.

Thanks for listening!

NPC Cards: Make them similar to the Item Cards for each AP, with artwork, a description, player knowledge details and space for notes.

I also support ideas of Players' Guide to Golarion, Player Option books, Deities/Cosmology book and Barsoom book (or is it Rovagug?).

It's hard to say until we see how complete the Gazeteer and Campaign Setting are. For example, I would like a lot more detail on the pantheon, but it may be covered enough in those books.

Perhaps collected and corrected NPC's for each AP?

I don't think that any of the article space has been wasted. The iconics will come in handy, the bestiaries are the right size, and the deity articles are invaluable. The only article that I was less impressed with was the castle one, and that's a pretty good record for 6 issues of a new magazine.

Going forward, I could see that the beastiaries could be cut by 1 or 2 monsters an issue, and that the iconics might be less useful after the complete run of all 12. But that is in the far future.

I still agree with the sentiment of the OP, but maybe that niche is better served by the GameMastery Modules. I'm interested in seeing more about the Last Baron series, for example. Judging by the popularity of the thread/poll on sequels, I'm not alone in wanting to see more series in GMM.

Vic Wertz wrote:

If you're asking if they're recording cover versions of the Deep Purple song "Perfect Strangers," they may or may not be. If you're asking if they're setting their VCRs to tape the Bronson Pinchot sitcom Perfect Strangers, well, of course they are! Even drow love that wacky Balki!

Now I have to try to sneak in an NPC named Balki. Or Bahlkey. Or some-such.

If so, make sure he has combat stats.

*Lots of Cool Ideas*

Ah...

To clarify, I originally intended this thread to be about ways to tweak your existing 3.x campaigns, so that you could continue playing them as 3.x, while eliminating some of the flaws of the system.

Some really good ideas, Sean. I've often thought about running strictly human campaigns myself.

Not really Pulp, but what's the chances of some of Glen Cook's earlier OOP series: Dread Empire, Starfishers, Darkwar, etc? Vastly underappreciated writer, IMO.

7.5 will be out in 3 years.

I don't think I'll be able to retire by then.

I actually just found out that I may be given an opportunity for Early Retirement in 3 years (I'll be 48).

I'll save you all spots in the rec room.

After spending the last few weeks reading the various threads on 3.x problems and 4th ed rumours, I have decided to play around with the rules a bit for my next campaign (ROTR actually).

Here's what I'm doing:

Feats at odd levels instead of every 3rd (yes, fighters get one at every level, but don't double up at 6th and 12th). This is to give other characters a chance to break free of the standard feat paths.

150% Base Skills. ie Clerics get 3+Int/level, Rogues get 12+Int. The extra skill points can only be chosen from a list given by me at each level, based on character actions and role-playing needs.

I'm also looking at trying out some of the Death and Dying variants suggested in the 4th Ed area.

What are others planning? Any input?

ps In the interest of disclosure, I'm not particularly keen on a new edition, but recognize that no system is perfect, especially for a broad audience. Of my 3 groups totalling 16 players, only 2 have expressed interest in 4th ed (in the same group).

One year, for CanGames, my brothers and I ran a 1st Edition tournament. 3 parties, Good, Neutral and Evil, in a race to an island full of treasure. AIR, there were a total of 15 characters, no 2 the same race, no 2 the same class (obviously after Unearthed Arcana). The only one that I really remember was the Centaur Cavalier :)

Assuming all that comes as you say (cross fingers!), and since I have all 4 subscriptions, I'm an international (Canada) and my shipping option is set to wait for PF, then my next package will include:

PF#7
PG CotCT
RotR Map Folio
Guide to Korvosa
Harrow Deck
Crucible of Chaos
Northwest of Earth

I've done a little simulation with my shopping cart, and it seems there would be one too many things in that package for me to get the cheap rate of $6.86 . With all those, I get a $22 to $23 shipping charge.

I'd just like to know if there are possibilities to avoid that big shipping charge:
- Push one (or more if needed) of the items to my next shipment (the next month) so the weight limit to Bound Printed Matter International is met?
- Divide the package in two, so I pay $6.86 twice ($13.72) instead of $23?

Thanks :)

PS: And since I know you are working on new shipping options for subscriptions, how about a "Ship me what you got so far" button. In my case, since everything is set to ship with PF, I get to wait on 3 items for an extra week or more, and the PF will likely get many other items to ship with it anyway. With that option, I could tell you to ship those 3 the day after they become available, and I would still get my usual shipment when PF arrives along with all the rest.

I'm not sure if this would work, but you could change your "Combined Shipping Options" setting to ship with GM Modules. That way you get the Map Folio, Crucible of Chaos and Planet Stories now. Then reset your options after they ship.

Hi There Lovely Customer Service People!

I have a couple of orders waiting for pre-ordered items, and due to the Crit Miss Deck being delayed again, everthing will wait til March. Is it possible to get my pending items shipped with my monthly shipment (873018), and combine the pre-order items from 842904 and 842905?

Also, when I signed up for my subscriptions (Nov), I already had purchased PF3 thru my game store. So I started my PF subscription with 4 (Dec). At the same time I started my Module subscription, and thought I should start with the December Module as well, and just order the November one (J1), not realizing that I gypped myself out of the PDF. I understand that I cannot get free PDF's of the earlier modules which I have ordered, but is it possible that I could get the one which was current and that I ordered at the same time as my subscription? It's all on (received) order 842872.

Thanks for whatever help or feedback you can give me,
The Other Shackleton