Thammuz's page

I'm looking for some help with referencing. I have an artificer in my group who is just getting to level 21, and I know I've seen the 3.5 rules for epic artificers somewhere, but can't seem to locate the source. Anyone know? Was it an issue of Dragon? I thought it was the "Magic of Eberron" book, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Help please?

I couldn't find a thread started already on this, so sorry if I'm repeating.

Some ideas I had for what a PF bard could have:

- steal the "hex" special ability of the Hexblade, in concept; it's a nice idea, but on a suboptimal class; it would do a bard well in giving them more offensive capability

- similar to bloodlines (sorc) or specialists (wiz), bards should have some options as to what 'vocation' of bardic ability they are trained in. I personally liked both the "jester" and "harbinger" variants put forth through Dragon (back when it was a magazine...), and think that those variations would be good inspiration for bardic options.

- along the same idea as the second point, perhaps bards could have an inborn talent for their abilities, similar to sorcerer bloodlines; I've allowed bards to select the bloodline feats available to sorcerers in my campaigns, as "fey-blooded" (amongst others) makes sense, given their abilities

Any other suggestions/feedback?

At first look-over, and as a druid-fan, I have to say that the subtle adjustments made to the druid class are well done. I especially like the reworking of wild shape, starting it at 4-level and making it "at will" by 20-level. Providing the option of domain spells allows for having different enclaves of druids, potentially with different agendas and viewing each other as heretics (remember 2ed's focus on "Shadow Circle" druids?).
Overall, more options and maintaining their superiority without losing the usefullness of wildshape. Nicely done!

I've been searching the Play-by-Post threads, and have not found any groups that appear to have open slots for additional players. I have never played a PbP game, but am looking for a new gaming experience that would allow me to roleplay from the other side of the DM "screen". Are there any PbP games looking for another player, or one with potential for a new character to join in?

The description makes it sound like it's also fully compatible with the regular Heroscape set ... anyone know if that's accurate?

With the discontinuation of Dragon and Dungeon magazines, I was wondering if there would be any potential for further releases in the Compendium series. Updating older articles, or even introducing "new" Dragonesque articles with each edition. Is this possible, or is the rights to such articles also no longer available to Paizo?

I had a very "Riddick/Schwartzeneger" moment last week from my gaming group, and wanted to not only share it, but to hear from other DMs and players of similar gaming moments where through skill, luck, and circumstance the game has been over the top with action, like the kind you'd expect from a big action movie.

(Background: I've been using the "Red Hand of Doom" adventure as an uber-side trek for my campaign plan; the PCs had a very anti-climactic fight with Red Hand forces led by barghests, which ended up with the entire party unconcious and the barbarian charmed.The PCs range in level from 5-7)

So, the party is manacled and being transported via wagon to the local hobgoblin base for interrogation. The only character awake is a charmed barbarian. Playing true to his character's personality, the player managed to think of a way for his PC to attempt an escape, as the barghest who charmed him was neither travelling along, nor gave very specific instructions.
Buddy (I know, *groan*) attempted to quietly slip out of his manacles, but was not able to do so sneakily. Not trusting the hobgoblin "escorts" to follow through with the plans as explained by his "new friend" (barghest), he snapped his wrist manacles enraged. Leaping for the keys hanging on the wall, he began to unlock his ankle manacles as the wagon was being slowed down. A hobgoblin guard entered at the front, brandishing a bastard sword, while a goblin worg rider pulled in behind the wagon and began pelting Buddy with arrows. One full round (and a crit arrow hit) later, Buddy stood up, key in one hand and manacles in the other. Hobgoblin slashes Buddy with the bastard sword, to which Buddy followed up by throwing the manacles at the hobgoblin's face, then began stabbing the sentry with the key. Another round of attacks later (both goblin and hobgoblin scored crits that round), Buddy managed to stab the sentry to death with the key! Scooping up the dropped bastard sword next round, one swing was all the other hobgoblin on the wagon needed to go down, and now Buddy (uncomfortable weilding this sword as he's more of an "axe kind of guy") hops down to go to work on the other 4 hobgoblin sentries. All the while, our goblin archer is having a fairly successful time pelting unarmoured Buddy with arrows. Within a few more rounds, Buddy was now engaging the goblin and worg in melee. A few swings (and cleaving) later, Buddy turned back to the wagon, bleeding and victorious. The round it took him to get to the wagon was all he had left of his rage ... and passed out before being able to reclaim a healing potion out of his stolen pack!
Anyone else have any fun exploits to share?

The "Creature Catalog" is a very excellent feature. I love finding new creatures that aren't just rehashes of older beasties. I must say that the "Grey Shiver", while catching my eye as an awesome concept, just gave my gaming group the heebie-jeebies last night when they realized that the 'evil mastermind' they've been trying to find out about wasn't a vampire, but (as one player put it) "a spider on a newfound power trip?" I just wanted to pass on the compliment to Nicholas Hudson, and find out if anyone else has had fun in using it yet.
I'll post later as the campaign continues; despite the CR9, I have used the Grey Shiver as the hidden enemy right from the outset at level 1, because of the role-playing potential to combat it's schemes without having to face off against him right away. At level 3, one of the PCs has managed to become dominated, work within the confines of her domination to put a wrench in his scheme, and the party even found a cure for the domination effect (albeit a rather expensive one). Now the tables may become turned in their favour ... though they still know he's out of their league for a head-on confrontation right now.