sieylianna's page

I recently moved and need to change the billing address for my credit card. However, I have my subscriptions sent to a different shipping address. I didn't see any way to update the address associated with the credit card, it looked like I would have to delete the pay method and set it back up.

Can you advise me on how to proceed?

If characters are not going to be able to use animal companions, then that should be made clear in the introduction and the player should be given a chance to swap characters. I ran into this recently, had a choice between two characters, but no real guidance from the module info or the GM and the sylvan sorcerer ended up not having her tiger for the module. I would have been much happier to have been playing the character who was not nerfed by author fiat.

I would think long and hard about the local play environment before I went down this path. If you are always going to have the same judge, who is familiar with combat maneuvers, then you're okay. But if you are like most of us who have a variety of GM's who vary in their knowledge of combat maneuvers, it's going to be painful for you, the other players and your GM.

And for the people who say that the GM needs to understand ever single possible tactic among thousands of pages of material allowed in PFS: I say that running PFS is not a job, I'm not getting paid for it, and if it becomes more agravating than fun, I won't judge.

Is it possible to purchase animal-sized versions of named armor? (I.e can I put Rhino Hide armor on my huge (enlarge person) pouncing Tiger?

I've seen far more Color Sprays cast in PFS by Oracles of the Heavens than by the arcane classes combined. Awesome Display keeps it effective until you reach the level 12 cap. And Oracles have more hit points and better armor, so the close range isn't an issue.

Thanks for the tip, I'll take Dangerously Curious then. Any advice on arcane wands I should invest in (with PFS in mind)?

Magic Missile is always good. The rest depend on your style of play and the group you play with (Enlarge Person for example).

I ordered a non-mint Ultimate Equipment with a certain amount of worry over whether the book would even be usable, since it would be non-returnable. However, I am unable to figure out the imperfection in my book. Flipping through the pages, it looks like all the pages are there. The cover isn't cut or creased. I am somewhat surprised that it wasn't marked as non-mint for future reference, but I wanted to let you know that I wouldn't have qualms about ordering non-mint items in the future.

Dangerously Curious is very worthwhile for an Oracle. I think all my oracles have it and more than one has a wand of magic missiles for annoying incorporeal monsters.

I looked at the Ancient Lorekeeper, but decided to pass when I realized that you learned Arcane spells at +1 level. I wouldn't play one in PFS, although I might in a home game which had an elven focus.

There is some room for abuse in the rebuild process, but it's fairly trivial. I had one character wear hide armor for her first module because she didn't have the cash to purchase a chain shirt. She sold it back and replaced it with a chain shirt for the second module. I believe she sold that back and replaced it with a mithril shirt when she started play at 2nd level.

A point of armor class isn't a big deal and a significant number of players find level 1 to be frustrating and want to get to the relative safety of level 2. You can see this in the number of people who replay the first steps or we be goblins or level 1 modules to get past first level. The Living Arcanis campaign used to offer a rebuild option similar to what is being done in PFS (I think they allowed a rebuild through level 2), but they also gave starting PCs their first three levels of hit points at creation to make low level characters less squishy.

I'm far less concerned about the party choosing to play up than when the rules give them no option. I think every bad experience that I have had with playing up has been when we were forced to do so.

Had that happen yesterday - six player (tier 1-7) table where one player had to play a 2nd, one could play a 2nd or a 3rd and one could play a 2nd or a 6th. The other players had a variety of characters, but six players and the character selections where people had no choice pretty much dictated that we would be tier 3/4. We even considered playing tier 6-7 and forcing people to play pre-gens. Eventually we ended up with three 2's and three 3's because my bringing my 7 sorcerer or another player bringing his 6 fighter would undoubtedly dominate combat and cut into the other players fun. That decision was called into question when the first encounter was a large air elemental. We'd probably still be fighting it if the DM had kept using flyby attack despite our grouping up. That was the most difficult fight in the module.

There are two common entry points to Rage Prophet. You can go Barbarian 4 / Oracle 2 or Oracle 4 / Barbarian 2. My PFS character followed the latter route and that may be the better approach for the rest of your group. You're much more of a casting character and I don't think that is as hampered by rage prophet, although I will never take the second missed caster level due to the level 12 limit of PFS.

I don't think this is going to work out. Bards are skill based characters and dumping Wisdom, Dexterity hurts your skill numbers. 18 Strength is too much. 10 Dexterity is too little.

The other thing I will caution you about in PFS is that Bards are expected to Inspire Courage. If you can't do that, then you may face issues with acceptance. This is more of an issue in a smaller gaming circle.

There was a boardgame group which met at Krystal Keep before it closed. They have probably moved to another store. Meetup and SOGG are your best bets for gaming information in the area.

Specifically:

You may use Disarm, Sunder, or Trip as an attack of opportunity.

However, you may not use Trip as an Attack of Opportunity when an opponent stands up from prone.

You need Diplomacy as a class skill. You can either get that from a trait or I would recommend the Serpentine bloodline. It has a the right feel for what you are planning (IMO).

I'd look at the cleric Evangelist Archetype and see whether you could work out something similar for an oracle. I think giving only Inspire Courage - Not the entire range of Bardic Performance abilities - wouldn't be too powerful for a revelation. I would also put a minimum level of 3 or 5 to help balance it. That wouldn't affect you though.

I looked at winter witch for PFS, but the benefit didn't seem worthwhile unless you were in an area where you could take advantage of them. For the upcoming Reign of Winter AP, probably worth it. For every other AP, a bad idea.

Looking for suggestions on how to build a range oracle (20 point buy, PFS legal, 2 traits).

Have no experence with Oracles and all the guides seem to be for melee.

The problem with oracles and ranged attacks is that 1) ranged combat is feat intensive and oracles don't get bonus feats and 2) there are a tiny number of ranged touch divine spells, so you don't get the synergy a sorcerer can manage with a variety of ray spells.

You can make a ranged oracle, but none of the current oracle mysteries or reservations is an above average choice for a ranged combatant.

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I'm going to need help with this. My shipments are going to a P.O. Box due to a problem with thefts from my porch. However, the mailbox is a communal locking one, so that is where my bill goes. I'm looking for a house in a better neighborhood, but you're going to have to work with me in the meantime.

Good luck Russell. I've been thinking about attending a convention so I can see more of my old friends, but it's too soon for this one.

This seems kind of drastic. Now if the MMO starts dictating rules for the tabletop game, Paizo will lose a lot of players. (Think 4e). But it's too early to tell whether that will happen. The PFS boons as part of the Kickstarter have created a large negative reaction to the MMO from PFS players, so hopefully the powers that be don't make this mistake.

I can't recommend this. Even with the higher Intelligence, you are still limited in class skills and skill points. Plus you are hurting your ability with many of the skills sorcerers get as class skills.

If you really want to do this as a sorcerer, pick up the Cosmopolitan feat. However, you would likely be better off with an Oracle - possibly knowledge with the wasting curse so you aren't the Face character. You may be able to do something similar with a bard archetype, but I don't know those as well.

Of my five characters, only my rogue has reactionary. However, three have Dangerously Curious. It's very useful for Charisma based Oracles. I tend to pick up traits to add class skills - my Sylvan Sorcerer has Savannah Child (?) to pick up Handle Animal and another to get Diplomacy.

You're responsible for your own healing, even if you're not a healer. After your first (or second) session, once you have 2 prestige, you can spend that 2 prestige on any 1st level wand to give to someone else in the party. Get a wand of Cure Light Wounds or Infernal Healing. Understand how both spells work completely before you decide which to get; both have their pros and cons. Infernal Healing's "evil" thing is pretty much never an issue.

Infernal Healing's evil thing can be an issue, particularly when you are relying on someone with UMD. I have several oracles with maxed UMD who won't activate those wands. My rage prophet really doesn't care. Unless you are an arcane caster, I would recommend CLW while you assess the mores of your local group.

I used a salesman's catalog case for 20 odd years. Actually two, the first one lasted about 15 years, although I had to replace the shoulder strap twice. The second one was stolen and nobody makes that style these days (I don't like the wheeled versions - just something else to get in the way). So I ended up buying a leather expandable computer bag/ briefcase at Office Depot. It doesn't have as much room as I'd like, because I like to have the printed books with me.

sieylianna wrote:

There was a VL for the Dayton area, but he stepped down. I moved from Dayton to Texas over a year ago, so my best recommendation is to attend the SOuthwest Ohio Gathering of Gamers at Epic Loot in Centerville and try to make contact with like minded gamers. They meet the first Sunday of each month from 1-5. There is a meetup page for the group.

I live in dallas... my group lost our dm... what part of texas are you from?

I'm living in a rental house in Arlington while I look for a house to purchase. I play PFS games many Saturdays at UTA and Area51.

There was a VL for the Dayton area, but he stepped down. I moved from Dayton to Texas over a year ago, so my best recommendation is to attend the SOuthwest Ohio Gathering of Gamers at Epic Loot in Centerville and try to make contact with like minded gamers. They meet the first Sunday of each month from 1-5. There is a meetup page for the group.

Well to be fair they decided on this staggered release schedule they've got (which is really smart from a business standpoint), and it happens that the first set to be released focuses on non-Force Users.

I disagree. They followed this same staggered release schedule for WFRP and IMO, it played a large role in the eventual failure of the game. There are a lot of games in the marketplace vying for consumer attention and you have a limited opportunity to attract them as a new product before their attention turns to the next shiny new game.

I'm sure they wanted to have something out for Christmas, so they released this cut down version. I can't think of the last FFG that wasn't ridiculously overpriced and the trend continues here. Star Wars without the Force is generic Sci-Fi and not worth the license fees they are paying. A year from now, FFG SW will be a distant memory.

:(

Thank you. Money spent replacing stolen items and putting in a security system isn't available to buy a house, but the situation could have been far worse.

Sounds like a good idea though.Sorry about your computer, I hope you were compensated in some way

I was insured, with replacement cost coverage, and it was still pretty much a joke. There were over $3K in items stolen and a $1K deductible. I got a check for $500 for everything (after depreciation) and another $200 when I replaced the computer and monitor. I can get additional money if I replace other stolen items in the next 18 months.

I was disappointed, the stolen computer was about a year old and I expected it to be completely replaced with no out of pocket cost, but that didn't happen. Since I am in the process of buying a house, there just isn't money available to replace some of the other lost items.

You can make this argument for a number of classes/builds. Why would my Oracle of Life join the PFS when so many of her fellow members are raging psychopaths?

In a recent module, the venture captain even asked us to keep the death toll down and she tried to comply, but the rest of the group killed everyone we met and then poisoned everyone else in the building as an encore.

I think wizards came out better in the conversion than sorcerers. All sorcerers have ever had was the ability to cast lots of spells and the PF changes to wizards have largely negated that.

Make people cry with a Goblin who has 32 AC by level 6, of which most of it is dodge or dex bonus...

Goblins aren't PFS legal without a special boon, so the OP is unlikely to have this option.

IMO, the problem with Gunslingers is less that they target touch AC and more the damage type they are given and critical multipliers. With the touch AC to confirm critical hits, no firearm should have more than a x2 critical multiplier. However, you have idiocy like a d12 musket which does 4d12 on a critical and you aren't subject to the risk of getting into melee where you could be attacked.

The Grit, etc. are annoying, but the fundamental problem is that the firearms are too good for a setting where bows and armor are still expected to be viable.

Great discussion, everyone. Now, riddle me this: Enlarge Person and Animal Growth essentially do the same thing, so why the wide discrepancy in their spell levels?

Because those spells are remnants of 3.0/3.5 and earlier D&D. The Share Spells changes for PF are what create this situation. Earlier editions, it just meant one casting of a spell would cover you and your companion, as long as you remained within 5 feet of each other. It didn't allow you to ignore the target type.

I have a Sylvan Sorcerer who just made level 7 in PFS and can have a huge pouncing tiger for the Season 4 meatgrinders.

If you are set on attacking the enemy's rear, you will rarely have a flank, so you are looking at a single attack with sneak attack before they know you are there. Ninja works better there due to Vanish, but I have serious doubts about making this a viable character. (I don't know anything about how your GM runs his game, so it may not be as bad as I picture).

I can guarantee you that negative publicity and a poor public perception of the company's leadership and direction will impact their ability to gain that funding and will affect the launch of the game.

And the Ryan Dancey name has a bad association for a number of long time D&D players due to his takeover and attempt to cash in on Livng City by turning it into a MMO model. It's easy to see this as another attempt to cash in on enthusiastic gamers.

Unless your GM is extremely lenient, you can not have Rogue and Ninja levels, because Ninja is a variant of the Rogue class.

You need to post your variant shadowdancer because your build is focused on getting there and readers can't tell if it is worthwile. From the information provided, I don't see why you wouldn't just take a straight ranger who skulks on the rooftops and uses archery to attack the enemy squishies.

Add me to the list of people who think this is a bad idea.

It's a one-time thing. Yes, well the first compiled adventure path was also supposed to be a one-time thing before Revised Rise of Runelords, Limited Edition Revised Rise of the Runelords and Hologram Cover Limited Edition Rise of the Runelords.

I think it sets a bad precedent for players by making purchase of PFS benefits "legitimate". I don't think PFS should be in the business of promoting PFO. I am discouraged by the wave of Kickstarter promotions which are originating at Paizo. This is what, four in the past two months?

As long as you work with him on spell and feat selection at low levels he should be fine.

A PC who has been charmed must follow the directions given him as best as he can. The alternative is to have the GM take the character sheet and act for the player. As a GM, I'm entirely alright for the PC to cast black tentacles, he is doing exactly what the spell would have him do, as effectively as he can. He no more voluntarily embraced PvP than a person who gets hit by a save or die spell voluntarily embraced death.

He was not dominated. He was charmed. Grease or web would have been equally effective at keeping my PC occupied for a round. The raging barbarian 2 / battle oracle 4 / rage prophet 4 didn't take any damage from the black tentacles, but not only was he attempting to do direct damage to my character, he was also burning up party resources which could be needed in later encounters.

Okay. I found the receipt so I will see about a refund this week when the PFS group is there.

Also, if you are charmed bu an evil muppet into attacking other PCs, that is considered under monster influence, and your party has every right to grapple you or knock you out. That isn't PvP, that is smart playing.

The PVP rules need to be a lot clearer. Had an instance where a charmed (keep him away from me) PC cast Black Tentacles on my Barbarian/Battle Oracle when he could have cast grease or web and the villain was 200 feet away in the midst of a dense forest.

My opinion is that if you deliberately cast a damaging spell when you have alternatives then you have initiated PVP and if the DM lets you, then I am well within my rights to kill your character because you have voluntarily embraced PVP. Everyone at the table agreed with me. Fortunately (for him), he dim doored as I broke out of the tentacles and reached him, but couldn't attack. He eventually made a save before I was able to get to him (running around lots of tentacles and webs in difficult terrain is slow).

I think it is too powerful. The reason is that by the time you run into the alignment focused spells (Holy Word, Chaos Hammer, Blasphemy, etc) that are your weakness, you will be past well fifth level and the weakness is gone.

I noticed today that the copy of "Paths of Prestige" which I picked up at my FLGS about a month ago is defective. It's 48 pages long and is missing the last quarter of the book. (No duplicate pages, just short the final section).

It's been a month since my purchase and I no longer have the receipt. I have never had a return at this store, so I don't know whether they will accept the return without a receipt.

What do I need to do if they won't take it back?

sieylianna wrote:

I always liked Alternity. I was on the Living Verge staff (Alternity Star*Drive Organized Play) when WotC acquired the Star Wars license and announced plans for Living Force. The campaign staff decided that they wanted to go out with a bang instead of whimper because it was clear that the setting's days were numbered.

Interesting.So what was it? That 'bang'?

Sorry, my computer was stolen so I never saw your reply. A big interactive with multiple groups. Group A had to take down the shield generators (equivalent) or Group B would die (this was only a small part of the interactive). As far as I know (and I've been doing living campaigns for a long time), that is the only time where PCs could have died with absolutely no control over their own fates because the other players failed. It was an epic battle and everyone was happy to see the campaign go out on a high note.

Undead Lord was banned, as was the Gravewalker Witch. I would hesitate to make summoning undead a significant part of my character due to the the possibility that it may very well be restricted in the future.

I'm torn. I have the original Rise of the Runelords AP books, but not the Anniversary edition (in any form). Had this come out two weeks ago, before I spent a significant amount on the Black Friday sale, I wouldn't have hesitated. However, I'm in the process of buying a house and having to commit today in order to get the PDF's is just too soon.

If the answer to those things is no, you don't play up.

IME, you don't have a choice about playing up most of the time. The game days I attend generally have one table per tier, so you don't have much flexibility to put together a suitable group. I am much more tolerant of difficulties when playing up by choice, so being forced to play up with a weak party (Usually due to a 3 or 7 player table) is quite annoying.

Yes, I am referring to scenarios. I have only played one module under PFS rules, Crypt of the Everflame. It was very challenging for 4 first and 1 second level character. We were fortunate in group makeup with a second level cleric and a 1st level cleric with the sun and glory domains. That made up for no arcane (others were my rogue, pre-gen fighter and a gunslinger).

I think PFS modules are too difficult overall for the average player. I think select early modules and many year three and four modules are too difficult for anything except a well optimized home group. Darkest Vengeance is one of the nastier ones, I convinced the RPG organizer to run a different module instead of that one at a con several years back.