bugleyman's page

Looking for group:

Waking Rune, Hard Mode, Core Camapign, 10-11 Tier, Party of Four

Like a boss.

Shouldn't you stipulate level 10 characters only, just for that extra challenge? :P

Yes. I understand that and thank you for it. Just venting a bit.

Seconded. I expect your job feels thankless sometimes, but we understand that without your efforts, PFS just wouldn't be what it is today.

When I played emerald spire 1, there was two dwarves, a half Orc, and three humans. It would have changed nothing for race being core only.

Conversely, the table I ran included one, if not two aasimar, and a wayang.

I think he was commenting on the impact on the player base as a whole.

Knowing something about databases, it seems odd that technology is the constraint here.

After all, we know that all scenarios played prior to the launch of the core campaign are (by definition) not core. So it seems easy to add a bool for "core?" to sessions and default it to false (or even a separate table for "game type" and a reference field to the session record). Then you would simply have to update the reporting code to take the flag into account before the campaign's switch-on date. There aren't even any data integrity issues I can see.

Dunno...seems simple enough.

Aaron Motta wrote:

Folks, please, read the announcement before posting questions. You're going to give Mike a heart attack. :P

I was just about to ask if "hear attack" was a typo, but you corrected it before I hit "Reply". Honestly, the typo would sort of work... ;)

Heh.

Hey, congrats on making the top 32 (again) this year. :)

It does. If its important i just assume they drop it while fleeing for their lives.

** spoiler omitted **

It doesn't seem terribly realistic for someone to "drop" a belt while fleeing, for example. Unless your combats look very different from mine, of course. ;-)

No more (or at least greatly reduced) ways to cast summoning spells as a standard action.

Clerics and kings of the healing hill again with the demise of Life Oracles and First Aid Gloves.

Folks, please, read the announcement before posting questions. You're going to give Mike a heart attack. :P

I'm the store coordinator for a store where PFS is dying (its not just my store, its pretty much dying in the whole city).

That's too bad. From whereabouts do you hail, if I may ask?

Exactly.

This won't be a problem at the store I play at that always runs 4-5 tables.

This could be a huge problem at the store I play at that only runs 1 table.

My guess would be that most "1 table" stores will stick with the regular campaign.

I think the hard part with redacted is FINDING redacted. Not finding redacted is failing the "encounter", which does NOT get you the loot, rather than solving it creatively, which does.

Welcome to the Perception Finder Society :)

I always thought that forcing the enemy to retreat counted as winning the encounter. And if it doesn't, aren't we right back to encouraging murder-hobo-ism? :P

Can we get some bestiary's (or just bestiary 1) added so you know we can summon monsters, use our animal companion special abilities (e.g. pounce), wild shape into things etc. etc.

Bestiary 1 is certainly implied, though I too would like to see it made explicit. I'm sure these things will be clear when the updated Guide is released.

This thing's filling up so fast I don't know if this has been asked but:

If you are organizing a multi table Special, can it include both Core and Standard Campaign tables?

It has, and the answer is yes.

In rare circumstances, it is also important to defeat certain NPCs in order to earn the encounter's rewards. In the examples that I can recall, this is because the NPCs are actually walking off with the encounter's (i.e. the site's) treasure.

Hi John; thanks for replying. I don't mean to be pedantic (truly, I don't), but I'm not sure that clears up things for me. Perhaps an example?

So if I Core group decides to play an older 7-11 that utilized 5+ non core books what happens? It sounds like the GM still needs to have access to those books to run but the players are SOL.

I'm sorry, but in what sense are they "SOL?" As a Core group, surely they'll know what they signed up for?

Clearly there are some practical details to be ironed out, but we'll get there. I think this is a tremendous development for players who aren't necessarily interested in exploring tons of mechanic options.

Aaron Motta wrote:

Yes and no.

I absolutely agree that you can earn the same amount of gold by employing creative solutions. However, the presence of some items on the chronicle can be impossible to explain when you reason your way through the encounter. Unless, of course, you managed to rob everyone with whom you speak... ;-)

That exact possibility is covered in the guide.

Additionally, if the PCs roleplayed past
an NPC who carries a specific potion or scroll that
the PCs might be granted access to on the scenario’s
Chronicle sheet, don’t cross that item off the sheet—
instead, allow the PCs to find the item elsewhere
as a reward for creatively resolving the encounter
without resorting to combat.

So it is. Thank you for refreshing my memory. I suppose that applies even to unique items, such as:

Write the word "CORE" on the top.

Easy enough; thanks for the quick reply. BTW, while I get that that sort of thing may seem to go without saying, I wanted to make sure that we're consistent from the start.

I don't see any reason why you can't start playing today. However, the reporting system will not be updated to report Core games until later this week.

In that case, perhaps being explicit about exactly how GMs are to annotate chronicles to indicate Core Campaign play would be worthwhile (if for consistency's sake, if nothing else)?

Best. Announcement. Ever.

Yes and no.

I absolutely agree that you can earn the same amount of gold by employing creative solutions. However, the presence of some items on the chronicle can be impossible to explain when you reason your way through the encounter. Unless, of course, you managed to rob everyone with whom you speak... ;-)

This thread is supposed to be all about how Obama is a socialist devil. Let's bring this back on topic, please.

Re: colored bases. A fellow GM in this area uses Avery color coding dots to get five distinct bases: red, blue, green, yellow and blank. I put two dots to get 16 more.

Hmm...not a bad idea.

I've been stretching those "loom" rubber bands around my bases at the base of the slot. They're readily available in multiple colors, cheap (especially now since the fad seems to have run its course), and best of all they stretch enough to fit on medium, large, and huge bases.

I'd still buy multi-colored bases, though. :)

Molten Belcher - I liked the idea, but wasn't Superstar enough. Price/cost incorrect.

I appreciate the feedback. :)

Ready for C&C, brutal honesty encouraged and accepted.

Serpent’s Tongue
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 4th
Slot none; Price 22,502 gp; Weight 1 lb.

Description

Using the still writhing tongue of an ancient serpent to create a mold, this +1 mithral dagger looks as if the snake was still alive when the blade was forged. Serpent's tongue feels substantially lighter than it looks as its blade and handle are hollowed.

Serpent’s tongue can hold up to 4 doses of a single poison within itself, and filling the blade is a full round action that provokes attacks of opportunity. The poison DC increases by +2 for each dose of poison in the blade during the attack roll. Failing the initial Fortitude save results in the target being poisoned as normal, as well as revealing the blades more insidious nature. Any potion the victim drinks for the next 4 hours turns into the poison stored within the blade with the Type changed to ingested. Any poison ingested this way acts as though it was applied normally, stacking with any ongoing poisons if applicable.

Those drinking a potion can make a Craft (Alchemy) or Heal check equal to the current save DC to notice the potion has transformed in their mouth before swallowing. A successful check allows an immediate action to spit out the poison. Failing this check leads the imbiber to believe the potion has worked as normal. Neutralize poison removes all poison and effects caused by this weapon.

Construction

Requirements Craft Magical Arms and Armor, Poison Focus, transmute potion to poison, delay poison; Cost 11,502 gp

First, I liked your item; I'm pretty sure I upvoted it at least once. That said, here are some thoughts (bearing in mind that I've never made the top 32, so take my comments with a grain of salt):

• I'd strike "within itself" from the first sentence of the 2nd paragraph; it seems redundant.

• I would remove the bit about failing the fortitude save revealing the blade's more insidious nature, because it actually doesn't -- though the imbiber's subsequent Craft (Alchemy) or Heal check may.

• I'd also expand on the "Failing this check leads the imbiber to believe the potion has worked as normal" bit -- does that mean the imbiber believes, for example, that if he has drunk a potion of fly that he can fly? Does subsequently falling to the ground disabuse him of that notion? Is the imbiber's misapprehension an illusion? A mind-affecting effect?

• I think the +2 DC per dose, though in line with additional doses dealt separately, is probably a bit high. I suggest going with +1, or cutting down the blade to holding fewer doses.

*Formatting and wording issues. Price/Cost don't match.

*While there's a connection between them, it's still not too much more than two SiaC.

So...you're saying my item is twice the SiaC that most items are? Sweet! ;-)

Seriously, thanks for the feedback.

Molten Belcher
Aura faint abjuration; CL 6th
Slot shield; Price 5,000 gp; Weight 15 lbs.
Description
This round, crimson-hued +1 heavy steel shield is adorned with the bearded visage of a leering fire giant. Once per day as an immediate action when subjected to fire damage, the wearer may command a molten belcher to swallow and hold the first 25 points of that damage. Damage caused by targeted or area effects may be swallowed, but area effects are not negated and still affect other targets within their areas normally. In addition, the shield must reasonably be able to be interposed between the wearer and the source of the damage in order to be effective (the wearer cannot, for example, use the shield to absorb damage caused by being immersed in lava). In any case, the wearer suffers damage in excess of 25 points normally.

Once the shield has absorbed energy in this fashion, the wearer may, as a standard action, release the swallowed energy, causing the shield to vomit forth a gout of flame in a 15' cone. For every five points (or fraction thereof) of fire damage swallowed by the shield, the cone inflicts 1d6 points of fire damage. Targets which succeed at a DC 12 reflex save suffer half damage. The swallowed energy dissipates if not released by the end of the day. A molten belcher remains warm to the touch as long as it holds energy, and though not intelligent per se, some molten belchers have been known to quietly mutter complaints when forced to retain energy for more than a few minutes.

Construction
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor, burning hands, magic mouth, protection from energy; Cost 2,500 gp

I realized right away that I had blown the cost (damn it!), but any feedback would be appreciated.

It doesn't seem to be covered in the swarm rules explicitly.

My inclination would be yes, they can, but the damage doesn't stack. Is anyone aware of an official ruling?

I would encourage anyone taking the cull personally not to do so, though I appreciate that is easier said than done. Remember, it isn't personal, nor are we as voters infallible. It's possible you had a wonderful idea that just wasn't expressed in a way that was easily grasped by voters, or that voters may have different criteria than you do (I, for example, don't place as much weight on formatting being exactly correct as some others seem to).

I've even found that my tastes are often drastically different from the judges. Each year there are always a few items in the top 32 that leave me scratching my head. Remember, it isn't personal.

:D

You broke anonymity. you are DQ'd

Dammit!

"Create a mundane item!"

Dibs on the Red Swingline Stapler.

Hmmm, looks like they've taken down whatever pic you were linking too. But I trust you when you say it was up. That's good news! It's about time that slot got filled.

But now I'm feeling bad for Erik; that's two big reveals this thread has now cost him :-(

Nope; it's still there (or at least it was when I wrote this). The board software sometimes inserts an extraneous space in long URLs, as it appears to have above.

As in, I share a room with 3 other GMs? Or I'm reimbursed for 1/4 the cost of what my final hotel bill comes to?

(honest question, I'm not sure how to interpret that)

The former.

Perhaps extending such a tightly integrated system beyond its original parameters is just a bad idea?

bugleyman wrote:

I'm an outsider, but from a purely practical standpoint, I have to ask: For a group of people with so many well-funded, vocal, and obvious enemies, why is this a question even worth asking?

Because people who seem like friends, but tear you down from the inside are even more dangerous than obvious enemies?

Sure, I guess. It just seems like a well-intentioned mistake in a world where people walk around with their "I hate you" signs on wouldn't be the top of my list of worries.

I'm an outsider, but from a purely practical standpoint, I have to ask: For a group of people with so many well-funded, vocal, and obvious enemies, why is this a question even worth asking?

I think dungeon dressing is a great idea...WotC flirted with it a bit, and I always hoped they'd explore it further.

A well painted door would be very nice...

If you GM for Pathfinder Society Organized Play, you might also check out the Pathfinder Society Face Cards.

Shiny. I don't generally dig the face cards, but I'll definitely check this one out.

Curse of the Crimson Throne, please.

/thread

My then-eleven or twelve year old son once told me that he "isn't afraid of the po po."

I believe he'd wet himself if approached by mall security. :P

*gasp* you mean we will need to invest in our own future?

Perish the thought!

FUGM. The future is someone else's problem. ;-)

It's not the size of your grid, it's how you use it.

Only people with little grids ever say that! ;-)

For those worried about the effect on salaries: Even if we assume additional education does not result in additional productivity (a very questionable assumption), more education is the closest thing we have to a panacea for a number of otherwise intractable social problems. Quite simply, the more education people have attained, the better choices they make, both in the workplace and outside of it.

To be blunt: As someone who put myself through college, I don't mind a little extra competition in the job market if it helps more people climb off the $h!t heap.

This is a fantastic idea. But I guarantee it will be instantly shot down as Socialism. Total non-starter if it requires Congressional action.

Super useful. Thanks for doing this!

HolyCrapAwesomeSauce.

Best. Pawnbox. Ever. :D

Silbeg wrote:

Thank you, Tony. Do you know if they are planning on fixing the ones that are messed up? Do we know what has changed?

I can't speak for them, but given their already packed schedule, I would not expect them to go back to redo the ones that have the issue.

I don't have a link handy, but they have said it isn't entirely clear what changed on their end, and it wasn't a deliberate change.

Yes; use the image extraction feature of Nitro Reader (which is free).

Note they will be extracted with the alpha channel intact (which is what causes the black in some image programs) -- you can simply save them to a format that doesn't support transparency (.jpg, .bmp, etc.) to convert the alpha to white (which is likely what you want).

I'm not entirely sure what "End Times" even means. The end of the universe? The end of the Earth? The end of humanity?

Show me someone going on about the end times and I'll show you someone with a profound lack of historical perspective. :)

*checks again*

Nope...still not the end times. ;-)