Tim Statler's page

I'm planning to run the Ruby Phoenix Module for a PFS group.

Setting aside my complaint that this should have been a 2-slot PFS Scenario, instead of a stand alone mod...

While imputing the various characters into Herolab (mainly for spell access without having to look thru multiple books) I've found several errors in the various NPC stat blocks.

(I'm not thru yet so there will be more.)

Chung Po: The only way I could get his HPs to be the same as the module was to use 6 of his Favored class bonuses as hps. Non are used as Skill points or for extra Ki, Yet were are the other six spent? All on HPs should give him 6 more.
Several other errors could be due to Herolab: I'm three short for his CMB vs Grapple. Also his attacks come out at +16/+11 with the mod giving him +15/+10, and damage is also higher for me.
Also, a recuring problem with all monks is that their flurry bonuses do not match. Since this is for ALL mink's I've entered, I think it is a Herolab problem.

Ruby Phoenix Monks: I cannot get their stats to match up. Using the Heoic statblock, I come out 1 point short in either Str or Wisdom. And again, they underspent their Favored Class bonus by four. (they should either have 4 more HPS, Four more Skill points, or 1 more Ki point)
Also I have not had most fot he variant 's to have their weapon attack's match those given in the module. All but 1 so far have come out 1 lower than the module.
The wrong crit range is given for the Meteor Hammer.
The Shang Gou Monk's are told to replace Exotic Wpn Prof with Improved Trip. [u]Without them being proficient in the Shang Gou or Having Combat expertise.[/u] If I replace Mobility with Improved trip, and give them an extra feat to get Mobility back, their stats match the books.

Oremetsu Yasi: Again, his Favored Class bonus is underspent by 4. Otherwise everything matches.

As I find others, I'll post them

From reading these forums I've come to the conclusion that most GMs are Richards.

Using a bit of Hyperbole, this is the game Many GMs on this board I think would want to run. (Of course what the players want is inconsequential)

*Any race is allowed, as long as it provides the character with absolutely no benefits.
*Classes are right out. I mean, they all allow the characters to do stuff. SO everyone can only be a commoner.
*Stats are another sticky problem. All stats have to start at 8. and you only have a point buy of 5. I mean a 15 point buy is so overpowered. Also no stats above a 12 are allowed. Characters are not supposed to be able to shine after all. they would have a chance of being able to do things on a roll below a 20.
*HPs are fine. They need them to survive the monsters the characters are having to face.
*Spells. Spells are right out. I mean they can cause damage, or do things, other than slog thru whatever encounter the Gm planned 5 seconds before the game starts.
* Equipment: The only equipment the characters are allowed are a broken pointy stick, and rags for clothes. If they actual weapons they might be able to hurt things. Even KILL the precious GMS monsters.
* Alignment: No evil allowed. But ANYTHING a character does except feed orphans and pet puppies is pure evil, and will be tracked. BUt good acts aren't no matter how big they are. And heaven forbid you attack the monsters attacking you. That's pure 9th level Hell evil!

From reading threads on these boards. Combining many of the gripes, b#*!&es, and whining. This is (with a lot of Hyperbole), the game many want. If this hits a little to close to home, don't flame me, examine your play style, and MAYBE Pathfinder is not the game for you if this is truly the game you want to play.

I always liked Sword and Sorcery's Relics and Rituals book. One of the spells they listed I thought was a good idea but not complete. So I reworked it to be a lot like keen Edge, Lead Blades, and Gravity Bow. Here is my version. I'll leave my thoughts afterward. If you leave feedback, make it helpful, not trollish.

(Original Spell: Assassin's senses)
_____________________________________________________
Empowered Critical
Transmutation
Paladin 2, Ranger 2, Inquisitor 3
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Targets: Weapon Touched
Duration: 1 minute
Saving Throw: none Spell Resistance: None

Upon casting this spell, the weapon touched is empowered by the casters deity and seems to glow and grow heavier toward the outer end, yet is no harder to wield than normal.
This spell increases the critical hit multiplier of the weapon touched by +1 ( ie: a x2 becomes a x3, a x3 becomes a x4.) It also adds a +2 to confirm a critical hit by that weapon.

____________________________________________________________

Okay. to be honest, I'm thinking or dropping ranger from the casters. While it fits great with the whole Smite/Judgement aspect of the other two; it doesn't fit the theme of a ranger as well.
Other than that, I feel the spell is not overpowered. I do think it is a little powerful for low level casters so By bumping it to a Pal2/Inquit3 neither will get it before 7th level. This is closer to 'Keen Edge' that is a sorc/wiz3 so isn't available until 5th or 6th.
I gave it a short time span because it does stack with the other spells and the synergy can be devistating. Gravity bow, Lead Blades, and Keen Edge are all at least 1 minute per level.

I was flipping thru my copy which I got to day and have 2 questions that popped out at me.

First: Under Torag Traits; 'Eye of the Father' - It gives a +1 to any one craft skill and Perform(?) as a class skill? That second part seems to come out of left field.

Second:
In the Combat section, the feat 'Butterfly Sting' has me a little confused. It says the follower of Desna, when they score a critical hit, can forgo the extra damage to grant a critical hit to the next ally that hits the creature. The question is, do they have to roll a crit threat or only hit?

Looks like one that would be a good general fig for a mage

The Iconic Bard, the halfling Lem, Could never make it on Golarion Idol.

First, in the APG, It shows people throwing up when he tries to sing.

Now, on the cover of "Halflings of Golarion", he tries to play the flute and does so badly, that the Harpies have to hold their ears.

I was playing around with Herolab and found an interesting little point of contention pop up.

Under which Weapon Training group would you put it?

When building my Aldori Swordmaster I selected Heavy Blades for the reason that it is a Longsword used 2 handed and is Finessible. It has to spell out that you can use Weapon Finesse with it.

Now, whoever coded the Adventurer's Armory free download in, put it as a Light Blade. I'm only guessing, but I suspect it was because you can Finesse the blade.

Looking at the entries under the Fighter section. The rapier is considered a Light blade, but is a one handed weapon, and the Elven curved blade (also finessable) is listed under Heavy Blades and is an exotic 2 handed weapon.

I see the Aldori Dueling Sword more akin to the Elven Curved blade than the Rapier.

What is everyone else's opinion?

Under the Wizard abilities on Cantrips it says that a wizard gets all 0 lvl spells except those of their opposition schools.

Does this apply to the 0 level spells in the APG also?

I would think it would, but wanted to make sure.

Upon reading closely the Alchemist, I noticed that Potent Bomb is gone. And no word about it being removed either.

Was it removed to being to powerful? A small change could make it viable if so. Like an Eidilon's Natural armor mutation, just make it where it can only be taken once every 5 levels.

I was wondering...
If you bought masterwork clothes, could you then enchant them like armor to provide magical armor protection?
I'm thinking you can, you just treat clothes as a +0 AC, no Max dex or Armor Check suit of armor.

This came up for discussion during character creation for our Kingmaker game.
The players guides says that a Mastodon is a regional choice for a druid.
Okay, so we look up animal companion stats for a Mastadon - Starts off Medium then gets Large at 7th level. Then we look up at the Beastiary entry: Size: Huge

So when an animal companion's size is smaller than the Beastiary entry, when does it get it's final growth spurt?

I realize that only a few animals even need this question. (Crocodile being the only other I can recall off the top of my head. Starts Small, goes Medium. Beastiary: Large)

Scizores, oh oh
scizores, oh oh oh oh

now as a break from our musical interlude :)

The scizore in the Adventurers Armory states

The

scizore gives a +1 shield bonus to AC, but if you attack
with the blade, you lose the AC bonus that round and
take a –1 penalty on attack rolls with the scizore.

would Improved Shield Bash negate the loss of the AC bonus?

When you use a Shield Bash normally, you lose the AC of the shield, but Imp Shield Bash lets you keep you shield's AC bonus while attacking. I was wondering if it would work the same with the Scizore?

I was so interested in play ing a dervish of Sarenrae; but, except for brief mentions in Legacy of Fire, Katapesh, and Citadel of Flame, I cna find no reference to them.

I'd love for a Prestige class for them to be presented, but since they don't exist right now...

How would you build them? A dex heavy cleric/ rogue? A paladin? Any ideas?

I noticed when trying to help a friend make a witch character, that it does not say how many spells a witch can select at 1st level.
A wizard gets all 0 lvl spells, and 3+INT 1st lvl spells. The only place it says anything about what spells the witch gets is in 'replacing the familiar'.

Any help?

I noticed that among the eidolon's evolutions that all the movement forms can increase speed except land movement.

Climb,Swim, and Fly all allow you to purchase it multiple times to gain extra spped with the movement. I may just be overlooking it, but I do not see an evolution that allows you to increase land movement above the forms base speed.

So any plans to make Dice for the Kingmaker AP?

And what colors would be used?

Just for reference is there any Ustlava scenarios already written? Or is there much interest(besides me) for some?

A friend said that in 3.5 there were penalties using a reach weapon against an adjacent foe. And he thinks that it still exists in PF. Can someone point me to the page in the Pathfinder Core book where this rule is. I don't ever remember seeing it.

I was creating an Alchemist for fun. (A gnome BTW)
and while read the Alchemy ability I found this:

An alchemist’s selection of extract formulae is extremely

limited. An alchemist begins play knowing four 0-level
formulae and two 1st-level formulae of his choice, chosen
from the alchemist formulae list.

This is the first 2 sentences on page 3, right hand column, first full paragraph.

Now the Alchemist does not have a 0 level list or show any 0 level per day on Table 5-1.

Thought you should know.

My group has been playing 4e and is wanting to convert the campaign over to Pathfinder.

Has anyone converted the 4e classes to Pathfinder? I'm referring to the Marshal, the Avenger, the Warden etc.