Xaaon of Korvosa's page

I do wonder if there's value to having places like Borders (from the gaming industry's perspective) is in a marketing sense rather than a direct sales sense -- e.g. a random person who would otherwise not have heard of Pathfinder spies one of the books in a Borders and starts checking it out. This "gateway drug" eventually drives him to purchases at your standard non-Borders outlets.

Heh, I always put the Pathfinder books in front of the Wizards end cap...

Taking on a Iron Man type of low-magic conversion rule-set would be cool too.

I will be as well.

Nice!

WTG Dreamscarred Press

It will give me something to do while I wait for the results of Round 1.

Shieldknight wrote:

I subscribe to the things I want a PDF for, the rest I buy from my FLGS. I also buy all my accessories from my FLGS, like dice, mini's, other fantasy/sci-fi novels, etc. I also buy all my comics and board games from my FLGS. They carry a very large variety of board games, ones that even my non-gaming wife loves to play. Recently I picked up Settlers of Catan and the family loves it. I have already placed an order for the expansion for 5-6 players. I mostly play PFS so all those purchases are pdf only, but I have picked up the module "The Godsmouth Heresy" as a pdf from Paizo, but will buy the hard copy from my FLGS. And probably do the same for future module purchases.

I think you have to pick and choose what works best for you. For me, since my FLGS is over an hours drive away and I don't get to it more often then once every two or three months, I purchase my core stuff through subscription. The rest I'll pick up as needed from my FLGS. Of course it doesn't hurt that my FLGS gives a 20% discount on all RPG purchases. Including accessories. (Which, sorry Paizo, is better than the AP discount, and I don't have to pay shipping.) They are also the local used book store, hobby store and sell exotic fish, so they get business from more than just gamers. But none of those customers get the 20% discount. :-p

I do wish there was some way that you could at least get a discount, say 75% or 50% off the pdf when you purchase a hard copy from your FLGS. I'm not in sales or computer software, so I don't know how to make this work. But it would definitely get me to purchase more of the non-core products.

Physical copies could have a download coupon code in them that gave you a discount when purchasing the PDF from Paizo.com. This would also guarantee that all downloads continue to be watermarked. Or maybe the download coupon is separate and the store owner/operator gives it out with the book. This would ensure that unscrupulous people didn't just write the codes down...

If the retailer had download coupons they could hand-out with sales, that would work well. Something that wasn't printed in the back of the book. People who didn't want the PDF could not take the coupon and then the store could use them as raffle items or frequent buyer rewards for instance.

I'd like to see Paizo's take of the Legendary weapons rules from 3e. To me, they tried to take something similar to the thread weapons of Earthdawn, and put it in 3e, they missed, the penalties far outstripped the benefits and made the entire effort a waste.

A Paizo system that worked would be awesome. Magic items that grow with the user without having to have it constantly enchanted would be great and give us the ability to drop the magic item driven economy.

This would be cool info for Ustalav also...neat

reducing the damage to d6 seems fine to me. a sword bends along that axis so it makes perfect sense to do less dmg, against dr5/bludgeon

2d6-5 -3 to +7 range avg2
1d6 +1 to +6 range avg3

I probably would have continued attacking it with it normally, but my characters almost always carry one of each piercing, bludgeoning and slashing weapon. (melee characters, not casters, except bards)

OMG all that deco architecture....just wrong

/cry

Get your subscription, then get addicted to either wargaming or a CCG...that's where a lot of the game stores make bank.

I don't remember seeing that rule.

ok, i was wondering. then how do we know it's fair? where is the checks and ballances? this is supposed to be like a reality show type of event (at least that was how it was proposed to me back at neoncon) we should be able to view the entries.

I guess then theres the intelectual property deal with other rpg companies viewing and 'stealing' the good ideas we come up with for paizo...lol

I think ALL the entries should be displayed, even if its after the 32 are chosen, becuase we as a community need to know if the judging is fair and accurate. Also what makes it from the contest into the actual books, becuase that is the goal of everyone involved...to make it into a publication.

Because these judges are professional designers, they pick out the cream of the crop, without knowing who submitted the items, probably 80-90% of the submitted items are auto rejects, due to improper formatting, spelling errors, failure to follow rules (including submitting non-wondrous items), etc. If someone submitted an item which was in violation of another companies IP, how could they post it without also violating IP.

This is the Fourth "Season" of RPG Superstar. They are fair, and they have found some awesome talent. Sit back and trust in their professional judging.

Why don't they actually create a movie based upon a GOOD adventure series or module. How about a Forgotten Realms movie. OMG How about a Drizz't movie, enough people love that I'm surprised they never made it into a movie. I suspect another PoS.

Numbers aren't released. I don't expect they ever will be. Just know that a) it's a lot, b) there's a lot of talented folks submitting, and c) there are more talented folks submitting this year than ever before.

Should make for some entertaining stuff, whether you're in the Top 32 or not...

I hope my *Item name omitted* makes the cut this year! This is my 4th year entering, 3s a charm, made a pricing error last time, too cheap for the effect.

Temptress sounds like a bard archetype...

I'm not a huge fan of the GMG, but since my kids will be running games one day, they should find it useful.

Monster Hunter would be a good archetype for the already monster hunting inquisitor.

Sage would be an interesting (for some) 1/2 HD non-caster. But the bard has that pretty much covered.

Juggernaut or Dreadnaut 3/4HDBAB class, a class that is slow, but has higher DR that even the Barbarian, major resistances to the elements, spell resistance, natural regeneration etc. Double Con bonus ability would make them have huge HP, but require higher STR and Weapon focus abilities to keep up with the melee classes on ability to hit. "Not to be ignored" ability would make them able to crowd control. (good tank)

VictorCrackus wrote:

IN.. well. Many games. The players are up against something that would only be mentioned once or twice in legends, and using the 15+CR rating for the creature...

The Pedantic Grammarist (I'm sure that's not a word) in me requires me to inform you that there are way too many periods in that sencence! :P

But back to the topic at hand:

I'd say the average loremaster (wizard, bard, oracle of lore) will have knowledge bonuses of Level + 8 (probably not quite that much at lower levels, higher at higher levels). With an average roll of 10, you get 18 + level on average on your knowledge check, meaning a loremaster will usually identify monsters with a CR equal to his level, and have a decent chance for stuff of a higher CR.

But some things to consider:

Non-loremasters (characters that have some knowledge skills that pertain to their training, like clerics with knowledge (religion)) will often have bonuses that are not as good. They often have to make do with level +3, meaning an average roll of 13 + level, which means you need to roll above average even for "CR-appropriate" monsters (and I'd guess that legendary stuff would, if anything, tend to be more difficult)

Making that check means you'll just know what it is (i.e. know it by name, some very general info, and probably what category it belongs to, like undead, outsider, etc.) and "a bit of useful information about the monster". That's one piece of concrete info that will help you fighting that thing (unless the GM rules that its category already counts as useful info). For everything else, you must get higher DCs (for every 5 by which you exceed the DC, you get another morsel of information).

It's nice that you know that this is the Legendary Black Beast of Argh, but that is not too useful. You'll need to know stuff like that it's vulnerable to sudden heart attacks - but not its own heart, but that of its animator.

Or, for a more serious example: For a mere DC 34, you'll realise that the unspeakable...

+1

I was thinking of implementing something like this as well.

This is really simple to solve...

If you think they needs still spell, great, give them still spell

If you don't think they need still spell, don't give them still spell.

To me, it's the difference between sorceror and wizard, Sorcs are natural born, it's in their blood, thus in my game, they don't need the feat.

it's called media controlled by the corporations...

AND they want to cut off the independent media sources...once those are gone, we're done for.

I likee the gnomez in Pathfinder...much better than the 3.x gnomes.

I hate crossbows in the game because they are over simplified.

They should be rated for STR. something like Medium:1d6+STR Small:1d4+STR
But the STR would be the crossbows STR.

If you have less than the crossbows STR you need a crank or lever action, since you can use your entire body to pull it back with your feet, you should be able to do Character

STR with a simple lever (fastest)
STR+2 with just a foot pull+lever.
STR+4 with a crank.
STR>+4 with crank + extra actions (1 action/STR under)

So a character with a 10 STR would be able to use 10/12/14STR crossbows.

A Character with an 18STR would be able to use 18/20/22 STR crossbows.

The cost/weight of the crossbow would obviously go up with each bonus level.

Are these the limited edition wizard set?

with
* Four "hellfire" Fudge Dice (translucent red with yellow markings)
* Four "winter" Fudge Dice (translucent blue with white markings)
* Four "ectoplasm" Fudge Dice (opaque glow-in-the-dark yellow with black markings)

I would not allow two separate increases from weaponry. Gravity bow and lead blades are the same spell meant for ranged/melee. No way would I allow them both to affect a monk's unarmed damage.

Rules as intended, not loopholed.

Rizel is hilarious, but should have been a Rakshasa blooded tiefling, and what's with the SEVEN CHA, guess she puts people off with her speech

(played by a male?)

I really need to get SMURFed!

Xaaon of Korvosa wrote:

I don't understand the network, most Sci-Fi fans aren't wrestling fans, and wrestling fans aren't really Sci-Fi fans...

It's not a surprise that they're killing any good show.

Sci-Fi is SyFyLess...

I guess I was an exception then... I was a big sci-fi and wrestling fan for a long time... at least until my two favorite wrestlers died in the same year :(

Yeah, I'm sure there are some, but I think generally, wrestling and sci-fi are different types of fiction.

I don't understand the network, most Sci-Fi fans aren't wrestling fans, and wrestling fans aren't really Sci-Fi fans...

It's not a surprise that they're killing any good show.

Sci-Fi is SyFyLess...

My biggest mistake was allowing players to choose evil for the Kobold King series...it quickly went off track and the only motivation was cash at that point, they became very mercenary.

The mistake was continuing to play through the rest of the series...

Heh, I would let people play a True Hermean, (25 pt buy in a normal 20pt buy campaign), unfortunately they're so sure of their abilities that they learn slower, (Slow XP track in a normal track game)

Goblins of Golarion was mentioned as a future product at GenCon

Xaaon of Korvosa wrote:

w0nkothesane wrote:

I'll chime in and say I'd love to see a FATE based Star Wars game. I used an adaptation of Starblazer Adventures to run some Star Wars sessions and it worked extremely well, and I think after d6 and Saga, FATE would be one of the only ways that they could do something really new with it.

I'd also really like to see adventures put out by whoever picks it up. The thing that drives me crazy about all of the WotC versions is the lack of good adventures.

I think Wizards sees more money in Sourcebooks than adventures. Which is strange since Paizo does very well in the adventures department, Imagine if there were Star Wars APs.

There is this idea - and not just Wizards suffers from it - that "Adventures don't sell." Now, I don't have any data one way or another, so this may or may not be true.

But, consider: the "adult gamer" has other constraints on his/her time (at the same time as having more resources), so well written adventures should naturally have a market.

But, I don't know.

----
Now in a more direct answer to your question, if there were Star Wars "APs" (or even quality linked adventures) then WoTC might have found profit in keeping the license.

Yes, we adult gamers have a massive lack of time. Can't wait for my kids to get old enough to run adventures for me! HAHAHAHAHAH

I'll chime in and say I'd love to see a FATE based Star Wars game. I used an adaptation of Starblazer Adventures to run some Star Wars sessions and it worked extremely well, and I think after d6 and Saga, FATE would be one of the only ways that they could do something really new with it.

I'd also really like to see adventures put out by whoever picks it up. The thing that drives me crazy about all of the WotC versions is the lack of good adventures.

I think Wizards sees more money in Sourcebooks than adventures. Which is strange since Paizo does very well in the adventures department, Imagine if there were Star Wars APs.

Brian E. Harris wrote:

This is not typically how these Christmas layoffs happen.

They don't typically get rid of useless people, but instead, get rid of the folks with the most experience and biggest contribution to their particular areas.

Is this due to salaries being "too high"?

Yeah the CEO's salary. Gotta justify their bonuses.

#1 The World is Flooding due to careless adventurers losing decanters of endless water set to Geyser.

#2 Undead are the good guys, the living are evil due to their necessity to destroy in order to survive. Undead all hunt the living to save the planet.

I can confirm that Jon Brazer Enterprises did not get the Star Wars license (just on the off chance there was any doubt).

Huh...really? Bummer...thought you already had a fortune waiting to be lost ;)

Can I just take 2 traits, since I didn't arrive on that ship?

I'll get a skeleton character sheet done by tonight so you can get me involved soon.

We lost our fighter he hasn't responded in almost two weeks.

OK I think I'll run a polearm variant fighter then possibly or a swashbuckler type, perhaps a mobility fighter. Race tbd.

I'm leaning toward the swashbuckler type, in keeping with the adventure theme. Former crew member probably bard now though.

I'm looking for a replacement player for this game.

Any Class or Race
20 point buy
Average starting cash.

Oh mememe

So there's a wizard/oracle/druid&ranger? All still in the game?

Inquisitor still in?

The new races in the Bestiary 2 available? Or even Bestiary 1?

Xaaon of Korvosa wrote:

Good point, and I would then put my money on Chris Pramas, after the much acclaimed Dragon Age RPG. But I still hope for FATE system.

Much as I like Green Ronin, I don't think they have the capital to sustain the licensing costs of a property like Star Wars, particularly with the delays they already face in dealing with their existing licensed properties waiting on approvals, etc.

Who knows though, might be surprised I suppose.

According to Rpg.net Green Ronin is not getting it, I looked it up earlier...heh.

So...I wonder who got it!!! I might do a FATE conversion for myself instead.

"May the FATES be with you." [dark side = - refresh...just like black magic]

Weapon size doesn't matter when applying unarmed damage. Whether it's a shuriken or giant scythe, if you substitute unarmed damage, it's based upon your Current size.

Here's a trick, carry huge arrows, shrink them, then use a normal bow to fire them, they become huge arrows after leaving your bow.

And to toss some speculation on top of my wishful thinking, I expect if there's a new Star Wars RPG, it will probably tie-in to the the Old Republic MMO.

Good point, and I would then put my money on Chris Pramas, after the much acclaimed Dragon Age RPG. But I still hope for FATE system.

Shizvestus wrote:

Star Wars is still licenced to WotC, but it would be nice to see the 3.5 version Pathfinderized... :)

WotC's license with Star Wars expired in May, and they opted to not renew. Hence why all of the Saga Edition books, etc... are now out of print and starting to become hard to find. Rumor has it that a different RPG company has recently acquired the license, but nobody's talking yet except to say that it's "not us." Companies that I have seen thus far to say "not us" are Paizo (here), Mongoose, and Margaret Weis (both on rpg.net).

I really really hope one of the FATE producers picks it up then, between aspects, refresh and fate dice, I think it would be the perfect system for a Fresh, new Star Wars. Where Jedi and Bounty hunters and Nobles are balanced by their FATE chips.

So I hope Evil Hat Productions got it. Dresden Files is sweet.

I think Bestiary 2 comes in a close second for me, the APG is the best book ever produced for an RPG.

Shizvestus wrote:

Star Wars is still licenced to WotC, but it would be nice to see the 3.5 version Pathfinderized... :)

That would require either OGL, or a dedicated group of homebrewers.

Speaking of Star Wars Saga, I stumbled onto an 'Avatar the Last Aibender' homebrew game that uses the system. I was shocked how well the system fit the setting with the appropriate tweaks.

Oh, and to actually address the topic... Paizo has enough sci-fi on their hands with Numeria (I think I spelled that right...) lets wait and see how they put that together and how well the fanbase responds to it before we try to beg them for more sci-fi content.

...and Akiton...

If it's not Paizo, I sort of hope it's Savage Worlds. Seems like a good system to model it.

Savage Worlds likes to get new and interesting settings.

The smitter wrote:

edit: also if Paizo does another game it should be a post-apocalyptic game, or modern.

For what it's worth: I agree 100%.

Go(larion)mma World!

I would like to see a FATE system Star Wars...

And Wizards is losing the license Shiz.

Xaaon of Korvosa wrote:

Necromancer wrote:

Any tiefling with big teeth should qualify for Razortusk.

All the more reason Paizo should have a Tieflings of Golarion book.

Planetouched of Golarion, for Tieflings, Aasimar, and pretty much any race with planar bloodlines, from the elemental planes, to the outer planes...

I think Tieflings could have Razortusk. They could also have Pass for Human. But not at the same time!

Right, then they'd have to have pass for orc... LoL

Any tiefling with big teeth should qualify for Razortusk.

All the more reason Paizo should have a Tieflings of Golarion book.

Planetouched of Golarion, for Tieflings, Aasimar, and pretty much any race with planar bloodlines, from the elemental planes, to the outer planes...