Ordikon

Selgard's page

Organized Play Member. 2,940 posts (2,941 including aliases). No reviews. No lists. No wishlists. 1 Organized Play character.


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I think the mindless undead can't do a Coup mainly because it requires them to know where to hit to effect that "you are now dead" action.

They don't *know* where your squishy bits are- they just flail away mindlessly until you stop wiggling. In fact, they'll keep flailing away long after you are done wiggling until told to stop.

A Coup isn't merely an expedient way of dealing with the nickel and dimeing of killing someone, its knowing where to hit to turn those nickels and dimes into a dollar and be done with it *quickly*. And IMO they just do not have that knowledge.

-S


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If the average DM is going to ignore the restrictions on the bag of holding then the portable hole probably isn't very useful.

If they are going to actually use the rules presented then the PH can be superior for holding non-combat items because there is no weight limit, just a volume limit.

You have a 6 foot wide 10 foot deep cylinder that you can literally put anything into within those dimensions. You can wall it up, put shelves in it, or whatever organizational tool you prefer (as long as you are sure to come up for air occasionally).

It is a mass storage device, nothing more. Probably fairly useless if your DM is ignoring the restrictions on the bags of holding but otherwise a very nice item for carrying home very nearly anything you find in the dungeon.

-S


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If you can't have the same feat twice, even if they do nothing, then you are ineligible for the level of the class that grants it since you already have it.

Either you can have it twice (even doing nothing) or you can only have it once- and can not take a level of a class that grants a bonus feat for a feat you already have.

If you can't have it twice though then you can't take the class level that grants it- just like you can't take Eschew Materials multiple times (even for no effect on subsequent feats).

-S


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If bandits/orcs/whatever have taken over a fort for some time then while you may not "own" it, it probably won't be an issue for you to talk to whenever does and take the place over. Especially if You are paying for it.

"Hey you know Fort Whatseiedoodle that the Orcs took over and have been using as a base for 5 years? We cleared it out and want to fix it up and patrol the area and keep it clear. Can we keep the fort?"

What noble in their right mind is going to say no to that? You have *free* guards now keeping an area clear of baddies. This means more taxes, happier citizens, and a group of well trained guards there to take care of problems that arise- not just in their new feifdom but in the surrounding areas.

They clearly couldn't handle the place themselves, why would they say no to new owners who were willing to handle it and the surrounding area?

-S


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I know and understand what they say and how they work.

But given how the spells are written and how the item is written I can totally 100% understand why a new person to the game would think it works.

It can super easily be avoided by going back to the item and changing

"to any character able to channel [whichever] energy" to
" to any character with the Channel [Whichever] Energy class ability" (or feature or whatever).

This separates it from the possible fluff from the cure/inflict lines with a very minimal amount of extra wordage.

A new person to the game should not have to have knowledge of old editions that some old publisher made of some other game in order to read the CRB.

-S


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The items and that feat weren't written in mind to interact with each other in the fashion you are attempting to force them into.

Expect table variation on the tone of "no" more often than "yes" when you are trying to use them together this way.

You know it isn't intended for this and are attempting to (ab)use it anyway.

-S


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Nessus_9th wrote:
Selgard wrote:

Is it against the Paladin's code to permanently Dominate or Charm someone into acting contrary to their will?

That is exactly what this helmet does. It isn't making an evil person good- it is forcing someone to change to a way they *did not want to be*. The "evil to good" thing is a red herring.

A paladin would absolutely fall using this item- just as he would using any magic to manipulate someone as a marionette.

The Paladin needs to convert people and change their mind- not use mind altering magic to force them into his way of thinking.

-S

PRD wrote:

Code of Conduct: A paladin must be of lawful good alignment and loses all class features except proficiencies if she ever willingly commits an evil act.

Additionally, a paladin's code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, not using poison, and so forth), help those in need (provided they do not use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and punish those who harm or threaten innocents.

Nowhere in there does it state that a paladin cannot use magic (charm or otherwise) to punish the offenders so long as it falls within the boundaries of Lawful Good. He is not doing it willy-nilly.

What do you think is better (more good) cutting off people's limbs? imprisoning them? Killing them? or forcefully changing their alignment? It is a form of punishment. One that is, in my opinion, A LOT more humane than taking someone's limbs or life away. Furthermore, even if you did convict the offender and locked him up or cut off his hand all you've accomplished is punishment, no rehabilitation has been done, the criminal is just as likely to do it again when/if he can. Corporal punishment is a deterrent, nothing more, I don't believe you can say the same about the forceful alignment change method.

Then punish them. Put them in prison or execute them depending on what the law requires. But to magically warp the very essence of their being and twist their will around just because it happens to be into the direction the Paladin likes?

Unless the Paladin has another on hand to return the person to their correct state of mine when the "term of incarceration" is over then it is just mind control. And no.

-S


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Is it against the Paladin's code to permanently Dominate or Charm someone into acting contrary to their will?

That is exactly what this helmet does. It isn't making an evil person good- it is forcing someone to change to a way they *did not want to be*. The "evil to good" thing is a red herring.

A paladin would absolutely fall using this item- just as he would using any magic to manipulate someone as a marionette.

The Paladin needs to convert people and change their mind- not use mind altering magic to force them into his way of thinking.

-S


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Sounds like the player was a tool, rather than there being an issue with his build.

Being useful is.. well.. useful. You never know when you'll run into a PFS table where a skill has been ignored by everyone. Working as a team is also good- everyone rolling and using the highest roll isn't a bad idea. It is in how the people play their character (and how the DM responds to them) that makes it good or bad.

In your scenario, the player was a tool and the DM listened to him instead of the rest of you. (when a player talks over others, the DM should shut him up.)

I would say.. a jerk can make any build be bad. :\

-S


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The purpose of WBL is for the DM to adjudicate relative party wealth compared to the CR of whatever you are fighting. (i.e. to make sure you have the appropriate gear to face whatever it is you are combating)

It isn't for the players to add up their gold and compare it to the chart an beat the DM with a mallet because they don't have enough cash.

Is your group having too hard of a time overcoming your foes?
If no, your WBL is fine.
If yes, is everyone having fun anyway?
If yes, then everything is fine.
If No, then you and the group need to chat with the DM to see about getting everyone on the same page.

Also:
How WBL functions with crafters is a very hotly debated topic. Whether it should net you more than your WBL or whether it should just let you turn your cash into the item you want is not something people tend to agree on- so you may also need to find out your DM's particular stance on that issue.

-S


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Ask them why. What do they see the point of it being. What are their plans for the critter in 5, 10, 15, 20 levels.

Is it just for flavor? Is there some obscure feat combo they see it blossoming into? Do they think if you say yes to this it'll let them bootstrap some "yes" later on for some weird other thing?

The answer when a player wants some odd ball thing should be "Maybe. Why? What is the plan?". Absent the knowledge of what they want it for- you can't make an informed decision about whether or not to do anything with it at all.

-S


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I don't see Butterfly's Sting requiring an alignment or deity of any kind.

Also remember- proper names won't be referenced in the d20pfsrd even if the rules require it. They had to strip all that stuff out.

http://www.paizo.com/prd doesn't have that restriction.

-S


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Stick bad dice back into the bag and fish out a replacement- usually by rolling a handful of them a couple of times and plucking out the highest ones.

Serves no point really, but helps rattle off the annoyance at repeatedly rolling badly.

-S


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Miner is a good one- got it off the PRD.

A miner would have enough combat to level it with enough focus to just be a miner.

-S


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The best use of a staff isn't to use it everyday like you would a wand.

Rather the staff is useful for the spells it has that you Don't necessarily cast all the time but want to have handy.

While it is true I still probably wouldn't buy one, I wouldn't automatically sell them now like I used to do in previous editions.

Need lesser restoration? No longer do you need the cleric to waste a spell slot on it everyday *just in case*. Cure blind/deaf and disease are also on the staff (as is a cure spell, which I wouldn't use except for emergencies).

If you are using the spells from the staff everyday this is an indication that you need to start memorizing those spells- not that the staves are somehow flawed.

-S


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I would contend that "F'off or die" is in fact an attempt to start a fight.

Maybe thats just a reflection on where I'm from and what I've seen though. I will accept that it may not be a universal truth.

I would however cautiously advise people not to walk up to someone who is mad at you and has an axe in hand and say to them "F'OFF OR DIE" unless they are in fact wanting a fight.

-S


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I would say anyone "Insisting" I learn a brand new word just for them is going to be exceedingly disappointed. Unless they are my boss- and then they'll only be disappointed sometimes.

Its hard enough to remember who all said not to use sir/mr/ma'am and just want their first (or last or Mr Last or Ms First or whatever) without someone trying to introduce brand new words just for them.

I mean, I guess you have a right to try but good luck getting it to stick.
Usually when weird words stick to someone they are of an unpleasant kind and very, very difficult to shake back off again.

We're all just people trying to get along. Anyone looking out for a reason just to get all up and offended is going to find it, and is going to have a very unhappy life in the process.

-S


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If you put a trap in the obvious place they'll search for, find, and disarm it without any big deal making it just a speedbump and seldom worth the time it took to deal with it.

If you put a trap in a not-obvious place (such as on a random spot in a random hallway) then you've just slowed the game to a crawl as they (rightly) check every square inch for traps.

There isn't a decent medium between the two. They are either worthless or more of a time sink than a party full of monster summoners.

-S


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I'm perfectly happy to hermit it up and never really bother- or be bothered by- anyone.

'cept that I like to play D&D. That tends to draw me outta mah cave to join the masses of nerd'dom :)

-S


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Last time a guy told me not to call him sir, I said "yes ma'am!"

He was amused, so was the table.

I am frequently told/asked not to call someone sir or ma'am but it still slips out- especially among folks I'm not familiar with or just 'cuz.
(and especially kids. Kids get a kick outta being called sir or ma'am for some reason)

In stores or in other places where I contact/encounter people without knowing or being expected to know their names I use them all the time.

thank you sir, no ma'am, excuse me sir can I get by? and such.

-S


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Is telling someone to F*ck off an indication of taking 1 minute to try to make them friendly, or is telling someone to F*ck off an indication of taking a standard action in attempt to demoralize them?

Was the PC trying to get assistance and cooperation from the NPC?
Only if he was actually directing (and expecting) the guy to go F*ck himself.

No, of course not. He was being rude. he was being Intimidating. He was trying to demoralize him.
*and he failed*. All he did was further piss the guy off.

COULD the DM have hand-held the character and ask the question? I suppose.
But I wouldn't have. Given the situation and motivation of the NPC I'd have had 'em attack the guy too. And if not- he'd have gone to get some guards. "guard, guards, I found the ones who attacked my dog! they even threatened me when I confronted them about it!"

"F*ck off or I'll Kill you" is demoralization, not a minute long *conversation* intended to get someone to do as you ask or give you information.

DM did the right thing.

-S


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IMO: I don't see the problem.

If you are using the module as a one shot then it does exactly what it says it does. You go from 1-x and fight a dragon. With the page count being what it is- its either give big awards for little things or just have it occasionally say "arbitrarily level them to 3 here or you can't complete the next part."

If you AREN'T using it as a stand-alone thing then just lower/alter/adjust the rewards. Cut and paste the adventure along with other things of your own devising or other published modules until the PC's are of an appropriate level to take on the Big Bad and then complete the module.

You are buying a module that says you are going from 1-7 in its pages. That, by necessity means, you are going to get enough XP in it to go from 1-7.

-S


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My personal concern is the 8. Not because of uberpoweredness or anything- its just because I never make characters with under 10 in their stats.

It bugs me.
If I were in your group I'd ask for an alternative to ditch the 8.
(I don't enforce my bug on anyone else. Its my own personal pet peeve for my own personal characters.)

-S


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137ben wrote:
Selgard wrote:
137ben wrote:
Quote:
Unless a spell says it can do something then it can't do it. Unless you are houseruling it the spells you mentioned do not create lavaflows, vacuums or waterfalls either to or from them. They all mention creatures passing through it. Creatures. Not lava, not water, not air or fire or whatever.
. It says it creates a portal. Lava falling through the portal isn't an effect of the spell, it is an effect of gravity, which is not included in the spell description because it always applies unless otherwise stated. It is the same reason that the spell description of meteor swarm doesn't specify "a target with less than X hit-points can be killed by this spell--it just says how much hit-point damage it does and lets you figure out what that implies (in this case by referring you to other rules which explain hit-points). Next think ya know people will be saying that Implosion doesn't prevent the target from taking standard actions if it fails its save...

Implosion only stops them from taking actions if the HP damage on a failed save is enough to reduce them to -1 (or fewer) HP. The spell in and of itself doesn't end your actions, except through unconsciousness or death.

If Gate (or any other spell) was meant to pull lava through then it would say so and would provide rules for such. (such as changing the spell to Fire for using lava or to Cold for doing so from a glacier or from the winds of an ongoing blizzard or Earth from opening it to the Elem. Plane of Earth and making rocks fall or Air from high winds due to opening it on the Plane of Air.)

The spell lacks those because it wasn't intended or created for such use. It was created to summon creatures or to act as a passage way for creatures to pass through.

But that's exactly my point: Implosion can stop you from taking actions even though it doesn't say so, because it causes something else which can prevent you from taking actions. Gate does not "pull" lava through...

You don't have to extrapolate brand new rules for Implosion.

If you exceed their HP they go unconscious (as per the HP rules) and if you exceed their -con then they are dead (also as per the HP rules.)

You don't have to say "well.. CRAP! it did more than his HP. Lets make something up!". No, you just follow *the rules*.

For you to create lava with the spell you have to create rules enough to essentially double the length of the spell. In fact, more than that if you do it for all the possible elements involved with the spell. You also have to figure out what kind of lava is coming out and at what speed (does the PC pick? does the DM? die roll?).

In order to "apply gravity" to the spell you basically have to completely rewrite the spell and add a TON of stuff to it that, for most of it, isn't in the rules at all.

Why?

Because that isn't what the spell is for and isn't what the spell was intended to be used for. CAN the DM allow it? Sure! SHOULD he? Thats up to him and the group!
Is it RAW to do so? Heck no!

If you have to invent pages of rules to make a spell do something then its a pretty good indication that the spell wasn't intended to do that- at least not by RAW.

-S


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ciretose wrote:
Selgard wrote:


If grease is flammable then the players have every logical right to super examine every...

Except it isn't. Nothing in the spell says that it is, and the devs have come out and said it isn't.

Because you can imagine it, doesn't make it so. People like to pretend RAW is "Rule as I can imagine it"

Spells (and skills) do what they say they do. Not what you can imagine.

Well...without GM approval. Or GM Fiat...that cruel word, except when it is in the players favor...

I agree.

Which is the point of my entire post.
Spells do what they say they do. Grease isn't flammable.
Why? Because the spell doesn't say that it is.

-S


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Eh, the Paladin is fine- it should have just been moved to the APG.
If you aren't an advanced player with an advanced DM then the Paladin doesn't really belong at the table anymore than a newbie should be toying with the Summoner and such.

The Paladin code isn't meant to be a crutch or a stick the DM is to beat him over the head with. It is meant to be a most awesome Rp opportunity for the DM, the Paladin Player and the group.
Sure the group is good- but are they Paladin good? Can they fight evil while shouldering the burden of being That Good in the process?
Can they handle the moral quandries and do the right thing even when its hard or difficult or makes their life a pain?

That is the life of a Paladin. It isn't easy. It isn't meant to be. And not all groups or DM's can handle it.

-S


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And thats a perfectly good houserule.

But its not RAW. Grease isn't flammable.
You just made up 4 new rules just to make it flammable
(use a torch as standard action, 1d6 damage, smoke and LOS, consuming it after 1 round).

Can you honestly say the Grease spell has that in there? Even implied?

I can't. I really can't.

-S


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It is the responsibility of the DM to draw the line, but it is also the responsibility of the players to not always be trying to redraw and bend the line every chance they get.

Spells do what they say they do. Spellcasters are plenty powerful enough without rewriting every spell into a list of 400 things they can do that they don't say they do.
Every spell has an intended use given what it says its for and given its level and its cost and casting time.

Is grease flammable?
Well. lets just say it is.
How flammable? Does it explode? Does it just burn? How much damage? For how long? If you grease someone's weapon and then Fireball the owner does the weapon catch on fire? How much damage?

Does burning grease still operate as a Grease spell?
Does the fact that its burning decrease the duration at all? If so, by how much?
If not- why? burning grease depletes the grease. If its going to burn (since logically grease burns) then shouldn't it also decrease from burning? (since that also follows the logic).

If I grease someone's armor and Fireball them do they roast in their own armor? Why not?

Do we have to do this for every single spell in the game?
Lets look at it from every angle to see what other things the spell SHOULD be doing but the designers just decided not to add to the page count.

I'm willing to bet that very nearly every single damaging elemental spell can be "added to" in some fashion because "logic" says that X Y Z should go well beyond what the spell says.

It isn't about Grease. Its about spells doing what spells say they do.
If you don't like that- then please by all means houserule it. But here on the boards in Rules discussions- spells do what they say they do. They don't do what they don't say they do unless it directly relates to some other applicable rule. (like a fireball dropping you to -54 HP when your con is 12. You are dead even though Fireball doesn't discuss death.)

If grease is flammable then the players have every logical right to super examine every single spell in the game for additional effects.

Creative is good. Imagination is good. Increasing the base power of spells by adding powers to them not listed in the description is bad.

-S

edit:
Depleat? really? edited for spelling.


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boldstar wrote:
Dragonamedrake wrote:
Selgard wrote:
Unless a spell says it can do something then it can't do it.

So your in the camp where the Grease spell cant be lit on fire... even though it coats the area in OIL. The camp that doesn't use logic with PF.

I'm sorry but I disagree. Opening a portal to the middle of a volcano and the lava just... what... sits there. Makes a nice shiny 20ft diameter glowing spotlight... but then causing light isn't spelled out either so I guess it wouldn't glow either.

I think I am in agreement with you as to the gate thingies, but logic? Really? "I wave my hands and a ball of fire shoots out at you". Not sure where the logic is there. I like the gate idea due to the rule of "cool". RAW wise, no idea.

Internal logic of the game world, yes.

Spells do what they say they do and only what they say they do. Extrapolating extra effects into the spells just makes spellcasters even more powerful than they are.

Does fireball suck all the oxygen out of a room and potentially suffocate the inhabitants? No. Why? Because fire doesn't work that way? No- because the spell doesn't specify that effect.

Spells do what they do and don't do what they don't do.

-S


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Dragonamedrake wrote:
Selgard wrote:
Unless a spell says it can do something then it can't do it.

So your in the camp where the Grease spell cant be lit on fire... even though it coats the area in OIL. The camp that doesn't use logic with PF.

I'm sorry but I disagree. Opening a portal to the middle of a volcano and the lava just... what... sits there. Makes a nice shiny 20ft diameter glowing spotlight... but then causing light isn't spelled out either so I guess it wouldn't glow either.

I'm in the camp that says, magic is powerful enough without adding extra things to make them do things they don't say they do.

Grease doesn't say anything about Oil. Nor about it being flammable. Therefore, it isn't.

Opening the portal to a volcano creates a portal to a volcano. Anyone stupid enough to walk through it unprotected gets burnt to a crisp.
If they don't walk through it they are in no danger because the spell is for calling creatures or for traveling to other places- not for shunting the elemental plane of fire onto your enemies.

-S


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Dragonamedrake wrote:
Selgard wrote:
Magic Jar gives you their physical but not magical abilities. SU and SLA are out but EX are kept.

I understand that. There are a lot abilities that are not spelled out though.

Selgard wrote:

Spells don't do things they don't say they do.

Gate doesn't say things just fall through the hole you make, so things don't just fall through. This means no lava falling through and no vaccum sucking things out.

That might be your opinion but I disagree. Its an open portal to another place. Things can freely enter and leave. If there is a pressure causing you to enter or leave said portal it should work. Are you saying someone cant pick up something and throw it through a portal? If they can then why wouldn't gravity/pressure/ect cause things to go through.

Selgard wrote:
Calling with Gate doesn't work during TS because it is Instantaneous and during TS you can't cast spells that effect (or affect? I forget) other creatures.

Re-read Time Stop. "Most spellcasters use the additional time to improve their defenses, summon allies, or flee from combat." It specifically says you can summon/call creatures to help during TS. The only question is... are they frozen until TS ends or do they act as you do before TS ends. I think its the first but its not clear.

Selgard wrote:
Create Demiplane doesn't create a demiplane with a hole in it. The water stays in it unless you do something else to empty it. Not sure what "with a portal attached" means but you'd have to figure the rules for whatever spell or effect you were using to attach said portal.

Again. If you read the spell. Using Create Dimiplane, Greater - when cast within your demiplane, you may add to your demiplane (or remove from it) one of the following features (or any of the features described in create demiplane) with each casting of the spell:

Portal: Your demiplane gains a permanent gate to one location on another plane, which can only be used for planar travel. This location...

Unless a spell says it can do something then it can't do it. Unless you are houseruling it the spells you mentioned do not create lavaflows, vacuums or waterfalls either to or from them. They all mention creatures passing through it. Creatures. Not lava, not water, not air or fire or whatever.

If they did then the description calling for the spell type changing for calling creatures of the various types would also say the same about using them as free-flowing energy dispensers. They don't. Because the spells don't do that.

As for syphoning off water.. I dunno. Question for the DM, as the rules don't appear to cover it.

-S


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The purpose of going in is to save the villagers.
If the villagers *can not be saved* and going in is clearly and absolutely suicide then it isn't Lawful, Good, Or Paladinlike to go in there and turn yourself into the monster's next supper.

Your DUTY is to go and rest up and find reinforcements so that you can TAKE OUT THE EVIL.

Now, if the player is just a chicken and says "we have a chance but.. nah lets run away"- that is one thing. but if they scout and realize they have a snowball's chance in hell of killing the baddies and that all they will accomplish is to add to the cookpot then its not bad evil or against their code to get the heck out of there.

It is NOT heroic to throw yourself on the sword of the enemy unless doing so serves some purpose. "Well gee now I'm dead too, hope these monsters eat me and go away instead of pwning the next village" isn't heroic. Its moronic.

Should the Paladin lose his/her powers for leaving to get reinforcements to thwart a clearly superior foe? Abso-freaking-lutely not.

Sarenrae wants the evil DESTROYED. She is NOT pleased to see her Paladin acting like they have a negative int score showing up on her doorstep in pieces saying "But i tried, even though I knew I had no hope.. I tried!".
Just. No.

Retreat. Get reinforcements. Go after the evil and DESTROY IT.

Be smart.

-S


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Magic Jar gives you their physical but not magical abilities. SU and SLA are out but EX are kept.

Spells don't do things they don't say they do.
Gate doesn't say things just fall through the hole you make, so things don't just fall through. This means no lava falling through and no vaccum sucking things out.

Calling with Gate doesn't work during TS because it is Instantaneous and during TS you can't cast spells that effect (or affect? I forget) other creatures.

Create Demiplane doesn't create a demiplane with a hole in it. The water stays in it unless you do something else to empty it. Not sure what "with a portal attached" m eans but you'd have to figure the rules for whatever spell or effect you were using to attach said portal.

-S


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Unless he has the ability to summon the deity then he can't.

He can gripe piss moan complain cry plead and beg but thats all irrelevant, unless you decide he makes a diplomacy roll (or a bluff roll) and one of the captors is succeptible to said roll.

"I don't recognize your authority" is completely irrelevant to whether or not that authority has the ability to exercise itself upon you.

1) Would a LG Deity do anything to stop someone from exercising the right and might of the law against someone, even one of their followers, who has broken the law? Nope.

2) Is he guilty of the crimes the followers of Iom have accused him of?
If he's guilty she'd find him guilty. If he's innocent she'd find him innocent.

Being sorry for them and making up for them are part of the sentencing, not part of whether or not the actions took place.

(remember- self defense means you KILLED the person, and are admitting to it, but are saying it was self defense in order to avoid the *punishment* from the death.)
If he did what he's accused of then the deity would find him guilty and then proceed to sentencing.

Now, if I were the player I would instead insist on a right to defend myself. I would argue that any trial that took place without my presence and the ability to defend myself can not be a just trial and would demand a new one. LG priests/priestesses should see the reasoning of that. (afterall, if no one was there to defend him then he didn't have a trial at all. he just had an accuser say "HE DID IT!" and the judge said "GUILTY!". Thats not a trial.)

-S


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If the players and DM want to have an agreement that says the character recsts his spells unless he says otherwise then if I was DM I'd go for it.

Why?

Because the player will forget.

Are you sneaking? Sure. Except for that 6 seconds you are casting that spell. Talking to the Queen? Well sure until you cast a spell in her face. Then you are talking through a gag wishing the manacles weren't quite so tight and really, really hoping your cell guard isn't named Bubba.

It sounds fine in theory to say "I keep resistance up." But in reality its going to get you *killed*. But if the PC's really wanted to do it, then I would let them. I'd just remind them that the world assumes they are actually casting it once a minute- they didn't just suddenly extend the duration of a cantrip to 24 hours.

Punitive? No. Just enforcing the rules. If you cast it once a minute unless you say otherwise then you cast it once a minute unless you say otherwise.

-S


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I.
You imply in the original post that you found what he did to be dishonest.

I am inclined to agree, personally, and if i was also inclined to remove the item that would be the reason why.

While you ideally should know what all of your PC's can do it is unreasoanble for you to be expected to remember every in and out of your PC's abilities.

When they make a new item, such as this one, they need to come and tell you what its for.

"Hey DM, I'd like an item of +5 sense motive for my character. Other skill increasing items are cheap and it fits with him being kinda paranoid, always looking out for liars."

"Sounds good, 2500 is the going price."

"thanks"

*mwahahaaa he fell for it!"

That just doesn't go over well with me.
If you believe he was intentionally misleading you or just being evasive through omission about the true intent of what he wanted made, then you are well within your rights to take the item away from him.

Full Disclosure is an important part of custom magical item design.

II.
Lets assume that he's 100% honest and that there isn't any of that going on.
He got a +5 item at the going rate.
Is it game breaking? Is it causing a problem at your table?
If so- then you need to talk to him about removing the item completely or toning it down.

"Hey Bob, I know I said that +5 was ok but.. its really turning out to be a much greater problem than we initially thought. Lets cut it back to +2 for now. Maybe in a few levels you can upgrade it to +4 or so- we'll see how it turns out by then."

While you Can reorganize the campaign to fight against one character- if the problem is just one item then its far easier to just talk to the player and remove/adjust it.

You Have the right. You Have the authority.

-S


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Killing Big T as a construct of forum debate isn't terribly difficult.
You usually have terrain advantage and have the greatest advantage of all.
The ability to create characters who's sole build, purpose, and WBL is to kill him.

The real challenge in killing Big T is in taking a group of characters who are actual characters (not forum constructs) who've been "organically grown" through a campaign from first level to last and then give them say.. 18 hours notice, ingame, that they'll be fighting Big T.

Therein lies the real issue. Big T is easy to kill here on the forums but is he so easy to kill with a group of characters who were just characters in a campaign with feats, spells, and magical items that they acquired (or made) for the general purpose of adventuring rather than the specific task of killing him?

I don't think so.

-S


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Get off the message boards. :\

Ignore people who tell you not to take a feat because its a "trap".
Ignore people who tell you not to play a class because its "weak".
Ignore people who tell you if you don't have X stat you are ineffective.

There are way too many armchair quarterbacks around here who delight in telling everyone the "right" way to play. I suggest finding your own way to play- that way that gives and brings you enjoyment.

Also, welcome to the game :)

-S


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Curse you all! :p

I first came across this thread at 3am and thought "hmm whats the SCP?".
yeah.
Someone used a flashlight to go to bed. *grumbles*
Neat site though. I love how some of them are cross referenced for interactions.

As to the OP.
It depends alot on your group- but the main "scary" thing to me about the BEC is the C part. Its a child. If it was a BEA (black eyed adult) then it'd probably just be so much cannon fodder. I'd say be sure to play up the "child" aspect as much as possible while keeping it creepy.

The line betweeen creepy and dangerous is a thin one. Once you cross it the PC's will try to murder it and then its just another combat encounter.

-S


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In our ROTL campaign my character died. When I made his replacement the DM just told me to use the appropriate WBL from the table. I did.

I came to the table with a great deal more wealth than the rest of the party, as a result. (8 people in the campaign with little adjustment made to wealth). We, the group, had been handling things fine- the death was a mistake on my part.

But now my new character was out of whack. The DM decided to "impart" wealth to the rest of the group so everyone would be at the same wealth level.

If I was your DM I would adjust your wealth to be equivalent to that of the group's average wealth. If this means you get more cash, you get more. If it means you get some gear chopped, you get some gear chopped. Whether or not this number was anywhere close to the WBL in the book though would largely be happenstance.

-S


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Someone with a 20 int (+5) will only pass a DC20 Int check 25% of the time..

so.. yeah. thats pretty easy to fail.

-S


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If you watch someone actually using a shield (SCA or otherwise) you'll find that the shield survives NOT by being struck like a door stuck in the frame but rather by being something the weapon hits to deflect it.

That is to say- the shield isn't a wall. Its a moving object to deflect the weapon coming at it. You strike the shield and it moves your weapon away. The shield isn't taking "a hit" like you would use your weapon to strike the door to sunder it.

This is why the shield doesn't take damage unless you are aiming to damage it. The same reason the opponents weapon doesn't take damage unless you aim to damge it.

An axe readily sunders a block of wood. Chop some wood and try it out- its tiring but hardily difficult. Using that same axe against a piece of wood strapped to someone's arm though is an entirely different affair.

-S


16 people marked this as FAQ candidate. 1 person marked this as a favorite.

I think this needs an FAQ.

The two sections on LLV contradict each other.

One says

"Characters with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlit night as well as they can during the day"

and the other says

"In an area of dim light, a character can see somewhat. Creatures within this area have concealment (20% miss chance in combat) from those without darkvision or the ability to see in darkness. A creature within an area of dim light can make a Stealth check to conceal itself. Areas of dim light include outside at night with a moon in the sky, bright starlight, and the area between 20 and 40 feet from a torch."

Which states that anyone without Darkvision hits a 20% miss chance. Not exactly "as well as they can during the day".

When rules contradict, we must FAQ! :)

-S


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Anything the PC sends into combat is fair game to be murderized.

This goes for mounts, henchmen, animal companions, eidolon(s?), familiars, or whatever.

If a Player wants it safe from harm they need to figure out how to keep it out of harms way.

So definately- if he rides Bob the Horse into combat then you should factor Bob into who gets hit during the fight.

-S


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To me, Hard Mode is every encounter at APL+4 or greater without much- if ever- a chance to rest or recooperate. Such would grow annoying to me very quickly.

On the other hand, not fudging the dice to me is just.. playing the d20 system.

By all means, if you and your players enjoy *however* you are playing then keep it up! Don't let anyone on the boards come and tell you all you are doing it wrong.

For me though? I want the dice to tell the tale. Did the bad guy get 1 shotted? GO PC's!. Did the PC get one shotted! Go NPC!

Did the DM decide it wasn't a memorable way to die so he fudged the die?
err. why are we playing d20 again?

I mean no disrespect. Honestly. I am genuinely confused. If you are going to roll the dice Then decide if you are going to accept them or not- are we even playing Pathfinder anymore? Why bother with all the character sheets and expensive books? We can sit down, make character concepts then sit around on the couch and talk it all out. I could see that being very fun. Again, no sarcasm. It could, depending on the skill of the Storyteller, be very heroic and interesting and cinematic. It could be extremely engaging.

But it wouldn't be Pathfinder.

Pathfinder is a game based on rolling a die to determine the success or failure if any given venture. Want to bluff the guard? Roll the die. Want to seduce the barmaid? Roll the die. Want to murder the High Cultist Poombah guy? Roll the die.
Sure- there is RP involved. Rp should be involved to determine where you are going and why you are doing what you are doing. Success and failure though is the purvue of the relative bonuses and penalties applied to the d20. We put alot of work into making characters and figuring out ways to be effective.

And all that work is for naught if the DM is just going to scratch his chin and say "nah. I don't want you to die yet."

Again I ask.. Why bother with this rules heavy system if the DM is just going to neuter it on a whim? And make no mistake- saving a PC or NPC for any reason at any time is just a whim. You are just deciding when they live or die. (afterall, if you save him now just to "let the die" kill him later on you are in effect deciding when they live or die.)

I truly don't understand that mentality.

I play D&D and by extention, Pathfinder, because I want a die roll to determine success or failure. I WANT to die if the rolls dictate I die. I want to die if its because I got flanked by two shadows in an encounter that no one would have remembered otherwise. (we remember it now, RIP that rogue.) I want to die if its a super cinematic where in an effort to bring the bell tower down on the BBEG we actually bring it down on ourselves, killing half the group in the process only to have the BBEG pick off every single surviving member- save one. (who escaped by the skin of his teeth). (RIP everyone in that group cept the Fighter. And the cleric, who chose to be resurrected and in so doing changed his character greatly due to what he saw would happen to him in the afterlife if he kept on as he had been.)

I've died twice in the current group and I've loved every minute of it. One was not memorable except for the fact that I died. The other was extremely cinematic- the makings of the beginning of a movie the rest of which would involve the surviving member going after the BBEG to make them pay for what they did. (which the fighter did in fact do).

What if the DM had decided to let the rogue live? What if he had decided to fudge the tower so we all laughed and lived and curbstomped the bad guy afterward?

The campaign would be very very different today, thats what. We play a game based on the d20. Whether you die in an unmemorable side quest crypt by a mob -2 your CR to an unfortunate roll of the dice or in a narrow corridor martyring yourself for the survival of the group.

We play a game based on the die. If you are playing d20, let the d20 make the decisions. I truly don't understand why you'd bother with all the books and paper and such if you are just going to ignore them.

-S


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The line that they are watching you closely means nothing without the necessary implication that they'll do something about if if you cross "The line".

Imagine as you leave detention the teacher says "I'll be watching you."

What're they saying?
that you have a nice butt and they'll be watching it?
that they like your clothes and hope to see them again?

Of course not. They are saying, "IF YOU SCREW UP WE'LL BE MEETING AGAIN".

They Will Be Watching.
It has an implication and its not "with popcorn because we're bored up here and think you'll make saturday night entertainment."

They'll be watching and if you are abusing their powers then action will be taken.

-S


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Lawful. He follows his own code and is very structured and orderly.

Evil. Hes a murderer, no better than those he chops up.

-S


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As a PC:

I'd rather die and TPK than live because the DM decided to let us live and have the NPC die.

As a PC: I'd rather one-round shot the BBEG before he did anything "cool" than have him live through DM fiat for two, three, or four rounds when he should already be dead.

We're playing dice, folks. Its the point of the game. We live by 'em and we die by 'em. If you aren't going to go by the dice- good or bad- then just put the dice away and have Storyteller Hour or something. I am personally not interested in a game where I say what i want my PC to do, roll some die, and then have the DM decide what happens. Why roll the die? just ask the DM. "I attack the orc. Did I hit it? Ok. i attack it again. Did I hit it? ok. Is it dead yet? No? I attack it again. Ok, that was all of my attacks.".

The game would go so much faster without dice. If you are going to ignore them, then just ignore them.

I TOTALLY get that it sucks to have a TPK. Its alot of work for the players, and its alot of work for the DM.

I also get that its irritating to have the BBEG get one-rounded by the PC's. (note to DM- no more throwing 1 bad guy at the players, eh? 4 full round actions > 1 full round action).

But what would suck worse is for the DM to just arbitrarily decide what works and what doesn't and when things are hurt or die just because of some idea of cinema or something. "But it wasn't a dramatic death!".
Yeah, well.. thats part of adventuring. Some deaths are only memorable because they aren't particularly memorable.

Live by the dice. Die by the dice. Put fudge in the oven to enjoy after the game. (or during it, if folks can keep chocolatey hands off minis and books!)

-S


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I think maybe super strict RAW may be yes, but I think RAI is no.

And here's why.

"uses a prohibited shield".

Now, are you using a shield by holding it? Even holding it in one hand? I don't think so- especially not if it was put there magically by someone else.

I personally think that 'wearing armor' has that same implication in this instance.

If you dominate a druid and have them climb into steel full plate- have they done anything wrong?
IMO? Not if they do everything in their power to resist and when ever possible (literally possible- not "when its convenient) gets the heck back out of it again.

Remember what the prohibition is about. Its about their beliefs and their actions. If someone is forcing them to do it, then they haven't acted against their beliefs.

One definition of "wear" is "to use". This implies a willingness to put the item to the purpose for which it was intended. (thats not the only definition- there is also just "to have something on your body").

The purpose though of this prohibition isn't to make druids easy to keep in captivity. "Well, he was a terrible druid. Then we stuck that iron Skull Cap onto him with Sovreign Glue and he can't do a thing".

I'm just not sure they intended the prohibition on metal armor to be some grand achilles heel for the class.

Tl'Dr:

I think its about willingly breaking vows, not about pin the metal on the druid.

-S


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This is alot more about "How do you handle one player disregarding the decision of the group" and alot less about healing or whatever kind of cleric the guy is.

If you just go in with the guy and heal him up after and say "gee what a battle" what you've really done is just had one guy tell the group "See your vote? Screw it. Take that stick and shove it. I'll do what I want, and if you want to be part of my group you'll come with me."

*that* is the issue. And it needs to be solved at the table, not "in game" because "in game" the way you handle it is to let Dipstick the Fighter die, and move on with the group's plan.

In character its "Hey. You. Yeah, YOU, the one bleeding on my shoes. No, I'm not healing you. You know why? Because we took a vote and WE SAID TO NOT GO IN THERE. Yeah. You speak common, right? Good. Next time you go running off by yourself after we said to go a different way? We'll notify your family the general location of your remains. You are either with the group, or not. You Decide."

But players don't tend to like their characters getting ditched, even for good reason.

Deal with it at the table before the game.

-S

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