Yasha0006's page

I'll probably end up doing that Urza. I was hoping to be spared the effort though. Laziness and procrastination at its best.

Appearance is roll 4d6 drop lowest. Then add/subtract Charisma Modifier. Dwarves are -1 Appearance also.

Welcome to the party Lilith! A dwarven monk would certainly be an interesting addition.

6th Level Characters, 25 point buy (PFRPG), 16k starting gold. Weapon group proficiencies and Appearance (which we'll take care of later). Nice to have you aboard. We'll talk more in chat and stuff about it and go over details.

^_^y

YAY! We have cookies now!

Fear the insanity KaeYoss, hear it.

Honestly though, it would make for a very interesting character, you have to admit. Though if he hauls off and starts killing random people with a War Razor you may start to have some issues.

Storyline Spoilers within...

Doing something like that would make the character more believable as well as allowing the GM to enjoy the slow slide into glorious madness.

I've pretty much worked this out as best as possible at this point, so disregard this post.

Just capturing the picture and using Fog of War to conceal the various points works ok. The numbered sections and secret doors are a bit problematic, but oh well.

More CotCT! ARGH! Who am I kidding, I want more Wren and more Dancers Diary too!

I started GMing J1 for some Paizo Chat members through MapTool and you, of course, Kayos, I would love to hear you feedback and input on my campaign journal.

A truly horrifying encounter Brother Faust. I had no idea you two would be quite that ruthless!

Gentlemen, do consider this an invitation to join a few Paizo Chatroom goers and I while muddling through using MapTool to run through the GameMastery adventure J1: Entombed with the Pharaohs, GMed by yours truly.

First session campaign journal is already up.

After what you said on your LiveJournal...I am eager awaiting more Black Days!

As a fiendishly curious snake, will we ever see the Dungeon Grrrl treatment be given during a Pathfinder AP? I think Hook Mountain Massacre, as run by Dungeon Grrrl would be a most illuminating (and likely horrifying...but in an awe-inducing way) experience.

I'm not trying to pressure you DG, but I would honestly love to see you do so.

Ahhh...one more optional rule that I will be using while running this adventure.

As I possess them, both the GameMastery Critical Hit Deck and GameMastery Critical Fumble Deck will be in use. Consider this my solemn vow to shuffle and draw from these decks in good faith for the characters as there is no utility in MapTool that will allow us to have each player draw cards. Unless all of the players possess both of these decks as well? I would be willing to trust you guys to draw from your own if you have them.

Enjoy...

I recently (this last Saturday the 5th) a PFRPG Alpha 3 game using J1: Entombed with the Pharaohs.

So far things are running extremely well. Skills use seems perfectly balanced without any real issues coming up at all. No heavy combat yet, I might have some more feedback after next session.

All in all, I've been very happy with the new rules. Sure there is still some streamlining to do, but its a definite couple of steps in the right direction.

Oh, I'm the GM.

You may also find yourself waking to see something like my avatar from an uncomfortably close distance. Bring marshmallows.

End of Session 1 of J1 Entombed with the Pharaohs

A brief note on the system and rules used...

-3.5/3.P Pathfinder RPG Alpha 3 ruleset
-Appearance/Comeliness score
-Weapon Group Proficiencies
-Modified Linguistics by Yasha (if you want to know go look at the 'Redundant Linguistics' thread in the Skills and Feats section under Alpha 3 PF discussion)
-Free regional feat, via the RotRL Players Guide.

Session Summary

There were no deaths or anything of the sort. The only combat was limited to the Creeping Glyph detonating on Olen. The Module ran very well through the Auction. I would suggest to other GMs considering this module to personalize it like I've done. I altered little things to make it fit my style better and it ran like a dream.

Session 1, Part 4: The Antiquities Auction

1 Arodus (Wealday), 4708 AB

Leaving the quayside with Obasi as their guide, the party made its way to the Malhitu Bazaar, a sprawling mass of canvas and silk tents standing in the lee of the Black Dome. Eddying currents of swirling sand and the hot desert wind sting the face and eyes of the downtrodden people of Osirion as they mingle with rich travelers and merchants, all eager to sample the many varied wares available for purchase.

Stopping at a stall to find out which tent houses the auction, Obasi passes the weathered merchant a few coins and some kind words. Kemesarian, he informed Obasi while spitting into the sand, a crooked and thieving man, is selling these antiquities. He warned Obasi that if Kemesarian is the one selling them, they are most likely stolen. To find the tent, the man said
"Go to the Fountain of the Sphinx and follow the channel to the mark of the Scarab, there you shall find it..."

Seeming troubled, Obasi led the party to the fountain and then along the drainage channel carved into the sand and stone to the scarab carved into the wall of the Malhitu Fort. Nearby there stood a tent guarded by thugish sothan men. Lazy, corrupt and already well paid, the guards just looked at the party before ignoring them.

The Auction itself was packed with people. In one corner of the tent stood the Crook-Bearer, Sapa, with a contingent of personal guardsmen. In sharp contrast, a richly dressed Chelish noble sat with a squad of Chelish Legionnaires in another corner. The Arch Docent of the Sothis Exhibitionary, a local Museum, also sat near the front. Their proposed contact, the Mithral Scarab, a local pathfinder agent, was nowhere to be seen.

The auction got under way when Kemesarian entered and began thanking the most important attendee for their patronage. Thus the Arch Docent, the Crook Bearer Sapa and the Paracount Julistar of Cheliax were all introduced. The bidding wars got under way with gusto rather quickly. Using Obasi's familiarity with Osiriani antiquities, the PCs rather quickly decided which items to bid upon and which not to.

One of the items that came (Lot #2) was a sculpture of a reclining woman. The PCs noticed an unsettling resemblance to a young woman seated towards the back of the tent. As it was a rather worthless item, the PCs declined to bid and the Crook Bearer bought it.

Also during the bidding, Olen noticed that there was a rather mean looking bald halfling sitting in the back of the room next to a burly half-orc. The little man seemed twitchy and to be fingering his sleeve while glaring at the PCs.

Overall, the PCs with some expenditure managed to procure these items:
-A set of Papyrus Scrolls, written in Ancient Osiriani, that detailed unusual geometry and astronomical concepts and seemed linked one of the Four Pharaoh's, the Pharaoh of Numbers.
-A Bronze Statuette of a Cobra Headed Man with glyphs in Ancient Osiriani inscribed upon its chest.
-A Charcoal Rubbing that seemed to relate directly to the Four Pharaohs.

The final lot of the day was the Statue of Bronze and the Paracount Julistar seemed determined to have it. Bidding quickly went high and Allerund, acting as spokesman bid up at Obasi's whispered urging that they needed that Statue! The young woman, Neferet Anu, by name bid in at 700gp, but was quickly dropped out of the race by the Paracount bidding well above that. The bids quickly went over 1000gp as the Arch Docent and Crook Bearer chimed in their bids. It became a bidding war between Allerund and Julistar that climbed towards 1500gp. Realizing the Chelish Noble was going to win by the pained look on Allerund's face, the young woman, Neferet offered to simply give them 700 gold so that they could win the bid, providing they let her study the scrolls and statue later. They agreed and killed the Paracount's bidding by jumping to 1700gp!

The Paracount glared at the PCs and the woman and stalked out, taking his Legionnaires and valet with him. Some conversation followed and Neferet flirtaciously agreed to meet with Allerund (Calling him Allund) tomorrow at the Ziggurat of Nethys to look at the relics. Their contact, the Mithral Scarab finally showed herself and took them to see Raegos, a man who claimed to have seen the Veinstone pyramid and having been inside...even though there were no other survivors.

When they left, they realized the halfling and half-orc were no longer there, having apparently slipped out. Arriving at Raegos' string webbed hovel of a tent, the PCs left Olen outside with all of their writings to keep watch. Raegos at first was reluctant to tell his story (failed Diplomacy checks) and got all worked up and panicky about something nonsensical (After rolling a Natural 20 vs Obasi's Charm attempt). Finally at the Mithral Scarab and Obasi's pleading he calmed and told his story. The details I shall not repeat here...for it is not a story to be told to the faint of heart.

During this discussion, Olen was attacked by some odd effect! After stumbling away from the flash and burst, Allerund and Obasi saw what appeared to be a strand of faintly glowing runes slithering away. Obasi, thinking furiously, realized that it could have been a Creeping Glyph, a kind of animate Glyph of Warding that can be commanded. Realizing they may have been compromised, they had Raegos quickly finish his tale and then left with the Mithral Scarab to the Overlander's Emporium, a wonderful inn at which to rest and study their new relics.

In the Mithral Scarab's words, "There is no better place in Sothis for food, steam and whores, than the Overlander."

Session 1, Part 3: The Voyage of the Argent Wind

26 Erastus (Fireday), 4708 AB

A short trip across the Inner Sea from Absalom to Sothis in Osirion was mainly an opportunity for the PCs to get their documents in order and prepare themselves for what was to come.

The party became acquainted with Captain Lorran and he presented them with a thin leather valise, brought to him by one of Shevala's couriers. After going below decks to get out of the wind, Obasi, being a native born Osiriani was greatly disappointed by what was found inside.

The contents of the Valise:
-An Adventuring Charter, clearing the Obasi, Olen and Allerund to investigate the ruins. Already signed and sealed by the Osiriani Antiquities Commitee.
-Letters of Writ, each personalized, granting them passage and approving their extended stay in Osirion.
-A bill of Lading with 10 blank spaces stating that all the items listed herein have been examined and found to be of little or no historical value to the Antiquities Committee or to Osirion. This was also Signed and Sealed. Also called a 'Tomb Robbers Friend'

Obasi was very disappointed to see a tomb robbers friend within.

The remainder of the trip allowed the PCs to get to know one anothers characters and to talk about the mission.

On: 1 Arodus (Wealday), 4708AB
Nearly at their destination and already sailing into the delta of the River Sphinx, the Captain notices a mild Khamsin brewing in the desert to the east. He begins to issue orders to the ship and has them lower sails and get belowdecks to begin rowing. While not strong, the Khamsin is fierce enough to nearly block any sight much beyond the ship.
Once the crew had mostly moved below and had finished trimming the sails and battening everything down, the Captain turned to the party and began talking to them about Osirion.
As this time, Olen decided to retreat below to escape the sands.

Allerund, while talking to the Captain noticed a great shadow loom abruptly out the sandstorm, far dwarfing the ship! Looming out of the sands came a colossal black carapaced Scarab Beetle. Its mandibles looked large and powerful enough to completely sunder the ship in a single bite!
Allerund cried out for Olen while Obasi, being a native to Osirion simply thanked the gods for returning him safely home.

"Welcome gents, to Sothis and Osirion." Said Captain Lorran.

They then sailed beneath the Black Dome, an ancient shed carapace of a scarab of truly epic proportions. The City of Sothis stands beneath it, protected from the Khamsin and the searing desert heat.

The City of Sothis

They then docked at the quays and headed off to find the Malhitu Bazaar. The site of the auction.

Session 1, Part 2: A Mysterious Meeting...

Allerund, being a trained hunter, heard the unsteady footsteps of Olen approaching from behind him as he stared at the doors of the office. He turned and looked at the approaching priest. Greetings and a short conversation about the mysterious nature of the meeting followed. After some inane remarks a muffled voice was heard through the door, the voice of Venture-Captain Shevala.
She said "Obasi, open the door and let those fools in."
Greatly interested to find out what the meeting was to be about, Obasi obeyed and let the now perturbed elf and amused priest into the room.

After being seated, Shevala offered the boys some wine. After putting out the dusty bottles of ruby liquor along with glasses on the desk. Waiting for them to whet their palates and watching in amusement at the choking response to the potent wine, she then began her tale.

The Decemvirate of the Pathfinder Society had specifically given this task to her and these three men were her personal choice to carry out the assignment. She went on in detail to explain the current circumstances in Osirion, first speaking of the Ruby Prince's opening of the ruins of Ancient Osirion to explorers. The Pathfinders, of course, have already been making some forays, but a greater undertaking must be done. In 4707 AB the Khamsin (Sandstorms) of the desert stirred up to a rare intensity, an intensity only seen every 50 years or so, and in doing so revealed a great deal of previously unknown ruins.

Rumors abounded in Osirion as to when and who built these newly discovered ruins. One of these rumors is that one of the ruins revealed was none other than the burial Pyramid of the Four Pharaohs of Ascension. The Four Pharaohs were a consortium or rivals that bound themselves together with magic and paranoia to build a great future for Osirion. Their rule ushered in a new great age for the ancient nation.

While rumors may not be true and often shouldn't be believed, this rumor has some substantiation. Specific antiquities and relics have turned up, and some of these are being attributed to the Four Pharaohs. Not only that, but a Pathfinder contact has found someone in Osirion that claims to have been to the Veinstone Pyramid itself! They are assigned to go to Osirion and claim any relics that may be actual relics of the Four Pharaohs at an auction being held in 6 days. Afterwards they are to attempt to find the Veinstone Pyramid and claim its treasure and antiquities for the Pathfinder Society. A trail journal and maps leading the way for surveyors and scholars would be a great boon to the Society as well.

Shevala gives them the name of the ship and sends them off with a coffer filled with 1000 golden coins for the purchase of antiquities during the auction.

Before I move on to Part 2 of Session 1, I would love to see the players post their PCs if they want and would certainly like to see something of a 'glimpse into the mind of' snippets here and there throughout the journal. It would be an interesting touch I think.

Perhaps if my players do well with such a thing, I might be persuaded to start doing something similar for the...other characters involved in the story. Behind Spoiler tags of course. Something to consider.

Session 1, Part 1: A Summons...

Disclaimer

25 Erastus (Oathday), 4708 in the Reckoning of Absalom

A new day was dawning in Absalom. Cool winds blowing swift in from the north brings the cries of gulls and kingfishers to those going about their business in the bustling metropolis. Welcome to Absalom, the City at the Center of the World!

So was it that on that very morning Obasi the Nameless, called derisively by some and fearfully by others as Obasi the Hex-Tongue, found himself called towards his destiny. A summons had come to his hand precisely at cocks-crow. A letter of summons bearing the Rune of the Open Road.

Quickly reading the letter, he went with haste to the Grand Lodge, Absalom's home of the Pathfinder Society and shadowy demesne of the Decemvirate. There he and others were to meet with Venture-Captain Shevala to discuss an assignment of extreme importance.

Near to noon, Olen Marroguin came to answer the summons. After dragging himself out of 'prayer' to his favored divinity, Cayden Cailean, this was quite a feat. Arriving at the doors to the office of Venture-Captain Shevala he saw a somewhat unwelcome sight...the elven archer and woodsman, Allerund Lastri.

NOTE: Here I will move ahead in the story and will let the players post their characters observations of situations and reactions to the other character in whatever manner they wish. I am not going to try and embellish what I may have thought the character was thinking, especially when I have no real idea. Bear with me. Next, the meeting.

The Group: Yasha (DM)
The Players: Daigle - Olen Marroguin (Male Human Rogue 3/Cleric 3 of Cayden Cailean)
Pygon - Allerund Lastri (Male Elven Ranger 6)
Eyebite - Obasi the Hex-tongue (Male Human Sorcerer 6)

The Adventure: J1 Entombed with the Pharaohs

The first session begins today at 11am PST via MapTool. If you want to come and bug us, come to the Paizo chat and we will heartily growl at you for interrupting. Entry number 1 shall follow later.

Heya folks, I just wanted to ask if there are any (official or unofficial) maps from J1 for use. I need them for a game via MapTools.

Folks at Paizo, I know I for one among many would love to get ahold of stuff like this. Alas, I bought the module at my FLGS, not this site and thus do not have the PDF.

Thanks.

There is always this danger though...

The Warriors

That scares me....so perhaps that is the desired effect.

What? "chat log"? There is a chat? That logs? What are you people hiding from me!?!

It is a rather 'open secret' people just seem not to know where to look.

Paizo Chatroom

Well...that certainly makes up for the dearth of death recently. Well done!
As for whether such an action was wise....I'm not sure. I might have moreso gone the route of poisoning the PCs rather than the Prayer Beads to boost the Blasphemy.

Well done indeed. Sure, from your players perspectives that must have sucked, but you don't make enemies and not expect them to prepare to deal with you, especially when the PCs leave them alive to cause trouble/or didn't hunt them down to begin with.

Them's the breaks.

Like Lilith cookies...Pathfinder publications are laced with Luhix...you can't have just one, you must have them all!

Welcome to the Paizonians!

I experienced a similar epiphany when I first discovered Paizo as a company. The first one is no longer free sadly, but Paizo can have my money gladly as their products are (almost, for those who do not believe in perfection, I've yet to be disappointed though) always satisfying.

Mwahahahah!

To a ploy most wonderfully done Cosmo! I salute you!
Waves a wingtip...

To Sebastian, so....

I am drooling so profusely for more Kor Kammor that my slobber has burst into flames!

Or maybe thats just the poison....?

I'd have to agree, sounds like a very epic battle...and finishing off Demogorgon with a Greater Castrate Demon spell...priceless!

And you have your own inventiveness with Olangru to thank for it....

Well done STAP crew, I look forward to hearing the epilogue of the said campanions.

Record of Lodoss War was also one of my first high quality introductions to art involving elves that I actually liked. While I had seen other elf artwork before then, Lodoss made it all come alive, especially considering the very D&D style storyline and handling of the series.

I prefer reasonably long ears. No WOW Elves with ears longer than their arms or anything. Shalelu's art I liked. Go too far beyond that and there will be trouble.

I do advocate a variance in the size of elven ears though. Lets leave it to Half-elves to have the vulcan ears.

Linguistics (Int, Trained Only)
Deciphering a language is not easy. One of the first things to look for when trying to figure out a language is repeated words or similarities of usage. By doing this you start to form patterns and can start begin breaking down a language. I am not going to go into everything, but this is the framework I use.

Learning Languages:
1 Skill Point: Learn either a new Language: Speak or Read/Write
2 Skill Points: Learn a new Dead/Lost Language: Speak or Read/Write
Note that learning to both Read/Write and Speak Varisian would cost 2 skill points. Learning to both Speak and Read/Write Thassilonian would cost 4 skill points.

Check DCs

-Simple Content 20
-Standard Content 25
-Complex/Esoteric Content 30

Modifiers
-You know the language! Automatic Success. Yes, I have had someone try to decipher one of their known languages before...it was bad handwriting..

-Living/Known Language 0
-Dead/Lost Language +10
-Related Language (1 step) -5
-Related Language (2 step) -2
-Unrelated Text +3
-Extremely Esoteric content may warrant an additional +5 to DC.

*Related Language: What this means is that the language you are trying to decipher is actually related to a language the character knowns already. Obviously, the farther removed the language is from the one you know, the harder it is to use that knowledge to help you understand this one. If the language is 1 step removed from the one you know, -5 from the DC. If it is two steps removed, then -2 from the DC. Three steps or beyond should simply be treated as an unrelated language.
*Unrelated Text: An unrelating text is a text that is conspicuously missing repeated words. Without those to help you start deciphering the text, it becomes that much harder. +3 DC. Note that writing and Unrelating Text is not easy and has to be done deliberately and with care. Even doing so, it, do, so, etc. are still going to reoccur, just not more subjective words.

The Price of Failure
If you fail to decipher the content, the verbiage of unknown languages can be confusing. Make a DC 10 Wisdom check or you draw the wrong conclusion entirely by misinterpreting the text. <----I think this is more likely than DC 5. Languages often have multiple interpretations of a word, sometimes dependent on context, sometimes on other factors. Take a look at the various forms of Latin, you'll see what I mean.

If I may input my 2cp.

Language, root languages, their derivatives and cryptology are connected. By understanding the structure of a Root Language it becomes easier to discover the differences and nuances of the derivative languages. Word and letter substitution/scrambles/etc. (and mathematics) are the roots of cryptology and ciphers. Someone with a greater talent for language tends to excel at these pursuits.

This would be my suggestion.
Use root and derivative languages. While I realize this is a more complex way to handle the system, its also much more rewarding. Anyone who can speak 17 languages would be a bit too akin to a god IMO.
If you separate the languages into categories (like my example) and determine how related certain languages are. In PF, Azlanti would be a major root language for the Avistan region obviously. Whatever the main language the character knows, each step removed from that increases the DC to decipher it by 5. Esoteric concepts under discussion tend to create more complex text that makes it more difficult to understand and would continue to follow the normal rules for Linguistics.

For the Languages, I would suggest requiring learning the spoken language and the written/read language seperately. So 1 skill point = Speak Varisian, another = Read/Write Varisian. Also, for Obscure/Dead Languages, like Thassilonian or Old Azlanti, cost two skill points each to learn how to speak and how to Read/Write (or four skill points total for the complete language).

I would suggest this mainly because it is not inconceivable for someone to speak as many as 8-10 languages. Extremely rare actually, but I knew someone who could, professionally and with great facility. Rank 20, which not so many characters will have, should account for that.

I also did this professionally as a Cryptologic Linguist for the US Military for a few years before I decided that it wasn't the sort of work I wanted to do. Thanks. See my example as follows....

I am going to have to agree with everyone else here so far. I have never encountered a problem with Improved Initiative. Sure it grants an advantage, but so does Cleave and Great Cleave. There is always the suggestions made on this thread to help you to manage the issue as you see it.

Another suggestion would be, if you use the method of rolling initiative each round, change to rolling it once in the encounter or vice versa. You might find a difference in the way the combat flows. Just bear in mind, if you roll initiative each round, this character will statistically increase their chances of going first if their initiative modifier is a great deal higher than the opposition.

Honestly though, the main advantage of going first in an encounter is over once everyone is no longer flat-footed. A player who does well and uses that advantage when they do have it is playing well. IMO.

I've never had Chinese Cake....I do absolutely love Taiyaki (japanese, but probably has a chinese equivalent) and Green Tea Ice Cream though.

Steeples finge.....ers...errr...

Attempts to steeple wing-tips...

"...excellent..."

This is a personal ad to be featured in some random publication...somewhere...

Lonely, bereft and dissolute winged reptile seeks friendly and welcoming Paizonians. This crimson scaled, winged serpent just can't seem to stop himself from buying an extremely addictive product. That is why he is spewing flame right now. This dangerous product is called, Pathfinder.He blames Nick Logue, whom he has seen standing on street corners, offering a taste. Nick Logue, standing there in a suspiciously rumpled trenchcoat....and nothing else but Pathfinders! That affable dragon, Mike McArtor, he tried to stand up for the innocent....so the dastardly Dr. James Jacobs sent him of to the gulags. He isn't freelancing...thats just what they call it when they chain you up in the basement and force you to write for basic sustenance.

I've only begun to touch the surface...the evil genius of a book stealing Mouse, Vic Wertz! Sometimes I have to wonder what hes stolen from me...certainly my innocence (Nick too). Then there is the evil mastermind...the Mona, Erik. Luring into thinking this an innocent and joyful game of youthful (or elderly or midder-agerly??)indiscretion we trusted them...trusted their foul and gleeful lies! Now we cannot stop...its even worse than when I was addicted to that weird abyssal drug from the Book of Vile Darkness...far worse! RUUUUUUNNNNNN!!!!

Hmm...apparently Lilith has returned...with those damnable luhix-laced cookies....

The last kind word as was ever said to me...
"Hey, snakey, bake these for me will you..."

Now you all know my poor and ultimate fate....oh the serpentanity!! (?)

While I would certainly prefer to purchase products solely made within the boundaries of the United States, there are certain issues with that.

1) As a country we have not historically produced much in the way of swords. Obviously then I must purchase them from elsewhere.

2) Would I prefer to see PF made in the US? Yes. Would I prefer to pay 39.95 for an issue of PF? No. I'll take my Pathfinder with Kung Pao chicken thank you.

3) Production quality in the US in many different fields is, sadly, sub-par or of average quality. When you look at it with the perspective of cost-benefit? Then you realize that you can get average work for far less than it would cost in the US in many other places and even get superb/high quality work for less than the mediocre costs in the US.

-Bear in mind I am not pontificating an unamerican view, its just the issues we have here in the US with all the various taxes and laws that interfere with the capitalist market. I completely understand why the checks, balances and laws were first implemented, unfortunately this current age of corruption and graft is choking the American market.

I am going to go back and finish reading this thread in just a minute, but first let me say, "YES!"

I have never been satisfied with Alchemy as has been presented in the game thus far but I've never had the time to compile such things. To the OP, thank you for bringing up this thread. To Dread, I am starting to really really like you (from this thread and some things I've seen you post on others as well).

I am certainly going to adopt that list Dread and likely the mechanic the rest of you have introduced. Good work folks. And thanks to any other contributing posters on this thread too.

Since there are the obvious parallels and the comparison has already been made, the Eberron connection. While I don't really care for the feel of the setting, there are some things they did that I really like.

Do we really believe that every person who is part of a church is really a cleric or paladin? Not very likely IMO. Not to mention most higher ranked members of a priesthood would be more politician than priest (especially in more structured religions, I'd think). So there would be large amounts of experts and aristocrats and multiclass clerics in those organizations.
By using Herbalism and Alchemy in these ways can make churches much more active in the game by healing the sick with 'mundane techniques' while reserving actual blessings (magic) for the faithful and such. Part of the reason I suggest following this option is that the faiths in Pathfinder seem to be angling more in this way. More political. Which I think is good.

Handling things this way also opens the field more for apothecaries. Apothecaries seem to be used for nothing other than contraceptive and poisons in the current 3.5 rules. Introducing more advanced alchemy and
herbalism disciplines will let this be expanded upon greatly.

Okay this is more of a call out than anything. At 10th level the Abjuration specialized Wizard can cast Stoneskin 3/day <-----

This seems excessive. 1/day would be better I think. Unless corrected I am assuming this is a typo.

Molech...try not to anger the Mona.

I read the books, I know at least some of whats under there. That particular nasty is just sealed who knows how deep.

Don't read this unless you want to know....

I am already drooling copiously for this...

Oh wait...

Thats horrendous flame!

I am looking forward to lots more Urban adventures too. This should be an awesome book.
I like this avatar.

Another example to compare to folks, the Savant (Dragon Compendium p45, or Dragon #140, Dec 1988) is similar in a few ways as the Factotum (DungeonScape p14-15). I'm sure someone will eventually make this comparison, so I'll do it first.

Aside from being better named, the Savant is a much less cumbersome class.
The Factotum (Who thought of that name?) instead gains a good portion of their benefits from an add-on mechanic. Inspiration points.
I am not a fan of add-on mechanics.

There are some classes where this sort of things works well. The Ninja from the Complete Adventurer comes to mind for one, the Ki Pool for Monks in the PFRPG Alpha as well. These I don't mind as it affects only a few certain special abilities. It also works specifically well with asian themed classes.
Nearly all of a Factotum's specials depend on Inspiration Points.

The Factotum does have some advantages over the Savant though, they get higher level spells. This might appeal to some people. It really doesn't to me. The Savant never gets any spells above 4th level, the Factotum can cast up to 7th level spells. I think the lower levels spells represents a 'dabbler' a bit better than being able to cast Limited Wish for a cost of 1 Inspiration Point.

Factotums are also selfish. They can use IPs to give themselves bonuses to skills and such, but thats it. The Savant fills the Mentor/Leader roles well. The Skill Assistance ability is far more useful to me and a much more inventive mechanic.
I also like the fact that the Savant gets a very small amount of sneak attack damage (3d6 over 20 levels) so that they really are a smattering of different classes.

Basically what it comes down to is this.
Both classes have a similar flavor. The Savant is much more elegant mechanically and has a broader, less-focused range of abilities that simply function.
The Factotum has a narrower, but longer-reaching abilities and yet they lack others entirely. So if you've ever played a Factotum, try a Savant. Its much more fun to play.

DragonChess Player makes a good point too. There have been some mechanics like this used for PCs in previous editions. Most notably the Tactical Feats.

The one really nice thing about Tactical Feats is this, while they require setting up to use, after that they are used freely. Its also rather difficult to abuse Tactical Feats due to their conditions for use.

Also, the conditions did make sense too.

For example,

1) Defend only as target attacks, looking for openings
2) Make feint to draw opponent off balance. If successful...
3) Make attack with X bonuses.

This makes a great deal more sense than "I just attack with a special."

This is a point of contention for me too.

First let me say this, I understand completely the need for the Powers system to be set up the way it has been, in the interest of game balance.
(With the exception of the spellcasters, but this is my own issue, not the topic)

First, to those who believe that you cannot have suspension of disbelief in a game where people are taking on the role of an Elf, Dwarf, etc...
-This is a simple situation, its acting and roleplaying, there isn't too much more in the abstraction than simply understanding the character and playing it out. The mechanics involved are also not under player control (its a world thing), so its much less thought over. A dwarf is a dwarf, there is no 'Dwarf Roll'.

The 'Its just a game' and 'its the game rules' arguement...
-Without the lens of previous editions this does hold up at first. By comparison to older editions, 4th is like playing American Football, then at halftime they decide to move 'new' rules. The Teams now have a different number of players and different formations and plays. Confusing, at least for a while, but not insurmountable with effort and desire to learn the new rules.

I see the issue with daily powers as this. A higher level character has more daily powers. Why can they not just use the same one multiple times? If it is due to energy being taxed by the effort, why can they still use three other daily powers? Obviously this is a 'hard' game mechanic. Bear with me though, I think if we look back there is evidence of this there too. Some monsters have daily use powers in all previous editions, but there is no complaint about them, right?

Here is why. They are not PCs. Sorry folks, but what the GM and the players discount as being unimportant to consider as 'in-game physics' for monsters and such, does ]b]not[/b] apply to PCs.

Characters are the heart of everything a player does with D&D. Change the mechanics of how a player does what he does and it tends to mess with a players head. Especially if it doesn't make a great deal of sense 'in-game'. These players will say, why can't he do this?
It even applies to RollPlayers too, except they ask, why can't I (not in character) do this?

Using a House rule and changing it to allow fluidity between the various daily powers isn't a feasible option though, not if game balance is to be considered. I don't see a fix for this. Its going to keep needling some people and they won't be able to get past it. I am, fortunately or unfortunately depending upon your opinion, one of those.

Count me in with Molech. Begging and pleading.

Part of what I liked about the Savant is that the extremely minor spellcasting you get it incidental. Its not what the class is really based around. I like that the class is based on skill versatility and support. To some people though, that sounds like a Bard. Trust me folks, if you've ever seen the class (and I suggest you check it out), its NOT a Bard. It does share some mechanical similarities (A Lore ability most obviously), but the class is entirely different in its feel and execution.

Thanks Eric! As Molech said too, we can't be the only ones who have a slightly different hankering for some new and inventive PC classes (or Reinvented).

Thanks for the assist Fakey...

Interesting, I had no idea this was so obscure.

For mentioning something without stating the source (and having no idea how obscure it was) I apologize.

Second, folks, I DO realize that I can do whatever I can with my game. Obviously PFRPG is backwards compatible. However, I would love to see a new version that is actually OGL and not IP of WoTC.

The base character class, Savant first appears in Dragon #140 by Vince Garcia (December 1988). An updated and converted class appears in the Dragon Compendium on page 45. This version is a 3rd edition version. Thanks guys.

Good peoples of the Boards, Paizonians, lend me your ear....
Brandishes the Vorpal Scissors!

Okay, now that I have your attention, I would like to raise a point of discussion. One of things I find most frustrating about the OGL is that there are many products that we are all used to using that are not OGL. Dungeon and Dragon magazines, for example.

I wanted to ask the folks at Paizo if we may see a new resurgence of some old ideas. I for one liked the Savant character class a great deal. In fact I still plan on using it with the PFRPG. However, I would be curious to know if we might see a reinventing of some of the great ideas that are not available to the OGL.

Before someone asks why....I like the idea of an adventuring scholar class.
Before anyone mentions Bards....Bards are not scholars. They pick up knowledge here and there, but their other skills and abilities are too focused on music and magic.
Before someone mentions playing an Expert. An expert is not really all that viable an adventuring class.

As I said I like the Savant. It had a broad range of abilities at which they were okay. The class truly was a jack of all trades and master of none. I liked that about the class. Sure, its definitely not for everyone, but hey, I'd really like to see a class like it one day for Pathfinder RPG.

Anyone else with other ideas, feel free to post them.

Hey Court Fool,

I have to say that my initial experience (and for about 5 years after that) with D&D spanning some 1st edition and then 2nd edition was rife with pure Hack N'Slash. At first, that was perfectly fun. Over time I began to want more out of the games I played in and started making characters with history and personality. Once my original DM looked at me like I was crazy when I told him that my did something that was patently stupid. I had a terrible time explaining to him 'thats what the character would do.'

This led, eventually, to a schism in my original gaming group branching into those that wanted character development and those that didn't. While I do miss the old chums from time to time, I don't miss moving on from a simple game to a world where every PC and NPC has their own motivations, ambitions, passions and flaws.

Some of my friends and I would DM you if you actually live somewhere in North Central CA. Speaking of which....whose Court Fool are you? Or is it a Secret?

Well, you'll just have to explain it to her that its not 'bobo'. Or you should have married a gamer, like I did. *pauses to gloat...*

Kidding aside, in the playtesting of 4th edition I tried, I was able to try both the Rogue/Thief and the Warlord. I found the Rogue to be odd. The abilities are nice, but I'm not too sure how much I like my rogue having a semi-mystical ability to blind multiple opponents (i.e. Blinding Barrage) and do some hefty damage without there being much of a 'in game physics' reason of why a rogue can do that. Things like that tend to not jive well with me. That particular ability smelled very much of 'Special Attack', a la anime or a video game. Don't get me wrong though, I like both of those things, just not so much in my D&D.

The Warlord on the other hand I found to be an altogether interesting class. A bit more useful and versatile than the Marshal. Though healing someone by simply shouting "Hold the line you lily-lived scum buckets!" (I.e. Inspiring Word to trigger a healing surge) was stretching belief and the integrity of the game as well. Just my experience.

Thanks Ungoded. For some reason I couldn't 'edit'.

Cosmo, PostMonster, or whomever (or whatever) it may concern...

For some reason, I cannot change my avatar image. The 'Edit' link that normally is there next to the image to click on in order to change it is missing.

Strangely, this only seems to apply to my main account. I can still alter the avatar of the two alias' I have.

Let me know if you think of anything.

I agree with the fiendish simian.