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Paizo Employee Creative Director

Deranged_Maniac_Ben wrote:
Purple Dragon Knight wrote:
Shizzles...... actually a "Kaijus Revisited" or "Kaiju Companion" book would be awesome, providing rules for Kaiju battles, collateral damage, giant squids vs. ships, fine/diminutive characters going inside a creature's mouth/nose/orifice to do battle against critical organs inside, etc. Basically rules on how a character can fight in Ultraman mode/mech/bio suit and a review of the biggest published baddies out there and what they can do when they're not just rolling against someone's AC... (i.e. you're AC is too high? I'm a kaiju! screw you! I sit on your entire fortress!)

Have you looked at the Kaiju Codex?

This question can be interpreted both as a question for Purple Dragon Knight and a question for James Jacobs, making it both on- and off-topic!

I have not. I generally don't have the time or energy to look at many 3rd party products these days.


Ever tried Darkest Dungeon?

Dark Archive

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James old buddy, old pal,

Where can I get this in Golarion?

It's for a friend.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Icyshadow wrote:
Ever tried Darkest Dungeon?

Yup. I've got 95 minutes logged on my copy, but got distracted by other games. It's a cute game and I suppose I'll play it again some day, but it's not the most compelling/addictive game I own by a long shot.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
baron arem heshvaun wrote:

James old buddy, old pal,

Where can I get this in Golarion?

It's for a friend.

Can't. You just gotta endure the lamprey swarm when it happens.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Hi James!
I really like the new elements added to Cheliax with the last few products.
I know that delving deep into Chlaxian politics is something that is too much for published items (they should be about adventurers after all), but the bits about Cheliax hierarchy of noble titles got me thinking:

1. It is mentioned that the noble titles are administrative ones. I assume Cheliax is post-feudal? As in the nobles don't OWN all of the land in their fief?

2. The Cheliax book says archduchies are *divided* to duchies, which are divided to lesser units until we get to baronies. So the whole country is composed of small (administrative) units, which are then grouped together to larger units? This sounds more like the modern US (states,counties,townships) than a feudal or absolute monarchy. If counts and dukes don't have their own undivided lands, what do they get from their title? For instance a mine in a village might belong to the baron, but is that mine also somehow owned by the count, duke and so on?
3. If the middle nobility doesn't own rights to any property, do they each take a share of the taxes until finally the money gets to Her Infernal Majesty? Doesn't that make her dangerously angry?

3. All villages and towns described in Golarion so far (I think) had either a council or an overlord, who was named "Lord Mayor".
Are the rulers of towns and villages in Cheliax actually barons? (So "the lord mayor Archbaron Morphail") or are they separate people ("Lord mayor Vizini, appointed by Archbaron Morphail").

4. What about cities? We know that cities have "Lord Mayors" and that some of them are also capitals of archduchies. What is the relation between the lord mayor and the archduke?

5. Some middle and lesser nobles have property and interests within cities. We know 8 noble familis live in Kintargo and that their scions are barons and counts. Do they have baronies and counties in rural lands and just choose to stay mostly in town?

6. Where are the higher ups in Ravounel's nobility? Where are the duchies and their capitals? There should be at least one duke in the area, and he/she outranks Paracount Thrune (although Brzailai is part of the royal house, so I can see why they might want to lay low...).

7. On a similar note, count Jeggare (from stories by Dave Gross) has his headquarters and castle in Egorian. Does he also have a county somewhere?

I think answering even one or two of these questions could help me figure out the rest...
Thanks a lot!

Sovereign Court

James Jacobs wrote:
wabbitking wrote:
if you could change anything about any paizo adventure path what would it be?
Second Darkness: I'd add a new adventure to ease the transition between Adventure 2 and 3, and would rewrite all of the first half of Adventure 5 so the elves feel like allies and friends you want to help rather than enemies you're forced to help.

Any plans to redo that one like your said or other 3.5 ones into the PRPG rotr-style hardcover deluxe treatment?


Does Anubis's clergy having access to the Death domain use the same domain spell substitutions of Pharasma?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

2 people marked this as a favorite.
morphail wrote:

Hi James!

I really like the new elements added to Cheliax with the last few products.
I know that delving deep into Chlaxian politics is something that is too much for published items (they should be about adventurers after all), but the bits about Cheliax hierarchy of noble titles got me thinking:

1. It is mentioned that the noble titles are administrative ones. I assume Cheliax is post-feudal? As in the nobles don't OWN all of the land in their fief?

2. The Cheliax book says archduchies are *divided* to duchies, which are divided to lesser units until we get to baronies. So the whole country is composed of small (administrative) units, which are then grouped together to larger units? This sounds more like the modern US (states,counties,townships) than a feudal or absolute monarchy. If counts and dukes don't have their own undivided lands, what do they get from their title? For instance a mine in a village might belong to the baron, but is that mine also somehow owned by the count, duke and so on?
3. If the middle nobility doesn't own rights to any property, do they each take a share of the taxes until finally the money gets to Her Infernal Majesty? Doesn't that make her dangerously angry?

3. All villages and towns described in Golarion so far (I think) had either a council or an overlord, who was named "Lord Mayor".
Are the rulers of towns and villages in Cheliax actually barons? (So "the lord mayor Archbaron Morphail") or are they separate people ("Lord mayor Vizini, appointed by Archbaron Morphail").

4. What about cities? We know that cities have "Lord Mayors" and that some of them are also capitals of archduchies. What is the relation between the lord mayor and the archduke?

5. Some middle and lesser nobles have property and interests within cities. We know 8 noble familis live in Kintargo and that their scions are barons and counts. Do they have baronies and counties in rural lands and just choose to stay mostly in town?

6. Where are the higher ups in Ravounel's nobility? Where are the duchies and their capitals? There should be at least one duke in the area, and he/she outranks Paracount Thrune (although Brzailai is part of the royal house, so I can see why they might want to lay low...).

7. On a similar note, count Jeggare (from stories by Dave Gross) has his headquarters and castle in Egorian. Does he also have a county somewhere?

I think answering even one or two of these questions could help me figure out the rest...

1) Correct, more or less. Some nobles do own their land, others do not. It's more complex than that, and that's by design—there's so many legal loopholes and exceptions in the complexity of Cheliax's government that it intentionally awards those who are better at manipulating the law and such.

2) Correct. If the US were led by one person rather than a President, congress, supreme court, and the like, it'd be even closer to that. What counts and the like get is prestige, bragging rights, political power, and money, if not actual land to use for their own needs.

3) Not really; she doesn't want every single gold coin. She wants the obedience and loyalty of her subjects, not their money.

Bonus 3) Lord Mayor is our "generic" term for "leader of a town" so we use it a fair amount. In Cheliax, It's not so much an official title as a way of saying "leader' but more flavorfully.

4) Lord Mayors are subservient to Archdukes, unless they happen to be higher ranked than that. You can be a lord mayor and a paracount, for example. "Lord Mayor" is not really a part of the hierarchy of the government.

5) They all have parts of the surrounding regions of Ravounel that they're barons or counts or whatever of, but we don't detail that during "Hell's Rebels" since it's beyond the scope of the campaign.

6) There really aren't many. Ravounel is kind of a backwater, politically, and there are some regions in the place that are simply wilderness or not claimed or whose claims have lapsed or so forth. There isn't someone who outranks Barzillai, although their should be, there's not, which is part of why events play out the way they do in that AP.

7) His family does, but he does not.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Purple Dragon Knight wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
wabbitking wrote:
if you could change anything about any paizo adventure path what would it be?
Second Darkness: I'd add a new adventure to ease the transition between Adventure 2 and 3, and would rewrite all of the first half of Adventure 5 so the elves feel like allies and friends you want to help rather than enemies you're forced to help.
Any plans to redo that one like your said or other 3.5 ones into the PRPG rotr-style hardcover deluxe treatment?

Should there be?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

T.A.U. wrote:
Does Anubis's clergy having access to the Death domain use the same domain spell substitutions of Pharasma?

Anubis's subdomains are not altered in the way Pharasma's are, but the vast majority of his clerics opt not to create undead becasue they're following his lawful neutral ethos. The relatively rare few who are lawful evil can use spells Pharasma wouldn't allow her followers. After all, they're different deities.


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James Jacobs wrote:
Cole Deschain wrote:
Is further development of Arcadia kinda/sorta content-contingent like Vudra's relationship with Occult Adventures, or are the mechanical nuts and bolts more or less in place and it's more a question of needing flavor to intersect with priority?

Not at all. It's a topic we could start today, or could have started to explore years ago. The reason we haven't done much with it yet is that building new campaign settings (which is what developing one of those other continents is) is a VERY hard and time-consuming effort. Furthermore, we want to do Arcadia RIGHT and that means solving the complex issue of how to incorporate Native American elements in a respectful manner that's also compelling for adventures and to read. And furthermore, Adam is particularly eager to do stuff with Arcadia, but he's had his hands MORE than full over the past several years working on the backmatter of every single AP (or now, the adventure side of an AP).

We've got all the rules tools we need to do Arcadia, and have had them more or less from the start. We just don't have the time or resources on staff to start it yet. In a perfect world, we'd have an Adventure Path to support it as well, which only further complicates the timing. Jade Regent was originally going to be the 3rd Adventure Path, but instead of launching with volume #13 of the AP line it launched with volume #49.

As someone really interested in fleshing out Arcadia and hosting the Arcadia thread on the forums here, I do look forward to seeing it one day. What are some elements of Native American culture you are looking to do in a respectful manner? I know one thing that has me a bit stumped is the Aztecs and religious sacrifice. That's tough to do.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Odraude wrote:
As someone really interested in fleshing out Arcadia and hosting the Arcadia thread on the forums here, I do look forward to seeing it one day. What are some elements of Native American culture you are looking to do in a respectful manner? I know one thing that has me a bit stumped is the Aztecs and religious sacrifice. That's tough to do.

I want it all to be done in a respectful manner, not just some elements.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Well, you could easily just not use the religious sacrifice of the Aztecs. Arcadia doesn't have to be based solely on them, right? Human sacrifice was a major part of Mesoamerica, but the Aztecs sort of went beyond the norm.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Kobold Cleaver wrote:
Well, you could easily just not use the religious sacrifice of the Aztecs. Arcadia doesn't have to be based solely on them, right? Human sacrifice was a major part of Mesoamerica, but the Aztecs sort of went beyond the norm.

I'm talking not about Aztecs so much as about Northern America, whose indigenous people have some incredibly fascinating and interesting culture and society and history and mythology that has often been co-opted into media or games in disrespectful ways.


Actually, I just thought of a non-joke question for a change. Here goes.

Golarion uses a lot of "ported" cultures, or cultural parallels. Generally, Paizo has been great about being respectful of the cultures being imitated, but of those that exist, which one are you least happy with? To put it another way, is there a parallel you don't think was handled optimally that you'd like to come back to at some point?


Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Lost Omens, PF Special Edition, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
T.A.U. wrote:
Does Anubis's clergy having access to the Death domain use the same domain spell substitutions of Pharasma?
Anubis's subdomains are not altered in the way Pharasma's are, but the vast majority of his clerics opt not to create undead becasue they're following his lawful neutral ethos. The relatively rare few who are lawful evil can use spells Pharasma wouldn't allow her followers. After all, they're different deities.

AP#80 (Mummy's Mask 2 - Empty Graves), states otherwise, e.g. that the domain spells are altered. Is it meant that the worshipper chooses whether or not to alter them, or was something stated that was incorrect?

Also, I noticed Abadar's entry in Inner Sea Gods implying that the majority of Lawful Neutral deities do not have paladin orders. Is there any particular reason why LN deities generally don't bother with paladins?

Silver Crusade Contributor

James Jacobs wrote:
Purple Dragon Knight wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
wabbitking wrote:
if you could change anything about any paizo adventure path what would it be?
Second Darkness: I'd add a new adventure to ease the transition between Adventure 2 and 3, and would rewrite all of the first half of Adventure 5 so the elves feel like allies and friends you want to help rather than enemies you're forced to help.
Any plans to redo that one like your said or other 3.5 ones into the PRPG rotr-style hardcover deluxe treatment?
Should there be?

Well, I think so, especially for Second Darkness. But I think everyone knows that by now. ^_^

1) Is there anything in Paizo's products that you think really does elven society well? Like, something you can point to and say "This is what our elves should be like."

2) I know this gets asked a lot, but can you re-state your position on dwarves, please? Do you not like the way they are, or is it because it's hard to find originality without losing "dwarvishness"?

Thank you!

Grand Lodge

James Jacobs wrote:
Therrux wrote:


7. When Rock and Roll is finally created (if it hasn't already) which of the outsider of the outersphere will attempt to lay the most claim over it?

7) Proteans.

Please, somewhere down the line even 5-10 years from now, have an adventure that deals with a Protean Rock and Roll cult. Something like Proteans are introducing their "dangerous" music to the kids of Absalom. You can even have it that the kids are dressing up like the Proteans, hence the spikes and mohawks.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

In the Arcadia vein... personal bee in my bonnet... I would LOVE to see some Yu'pik, Athabascan, Tlingit, Aluutiq, Aleut, and Haida stuff in the northwest of Arcadia. We already have a sort of Inuit analogue in the setting between Avistan and Tian Xia to cover the broad strokes of the Inupiaq, but... yeah. A blend like what we see in the Distant Shores writeup still leaves room for nifty little nods to various cultures.

I know that whatever happens, well-wrapped "Mummy Men" will fight their totem pole-raising, clan-based eastern neighbors in my Arcadia, but with an entire continent to detail, just a few nods here and there would be awesome.


James Jacobs wrote:
Odraude wrote:
As someone really interested in fleshing out Arcadia and hosting the Arcadia thread on the forums here, I do look forward to seeing it one day. What are some elements of Native American culture you are looking to do in a respectful manner? I know one thing that has me a bit stumped is the Aztecs and religious sacrifice. That's tough to do.
I want it all to be done in a respectful manner, not just some elements.

What I mean is, what are some examples of such elements? I'm curious to know.

Sovereign Court

James Jacobs wrote:
Purple Dragon Knight wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
wabbitking wrote:
if you could change anything about any paizo adventure path what would it be?
Second Darkness: I'd add a new adventure to ease the transition between Adventure 2 and 3, and would rewrite all of the first half of Adventure 5 so the elves feel like allies and friends you want to help rather than enemies you're forced to help.
Any plans to redo that one like your said or other 3.5 ones into the PRPG rotr-style hardcover deluxe treatment?
Should there be?

By your answer I guess there are no plans but beyond that, it got me thinking that maybe a brand new AP in the Darklands instead of a Second Darkness redo would be more appreciated and coveted by most... the (nice) problem with Golarion is that you have tons of other avenues to explore before you'd have to revisit something already done (i.e. Darklands again or going in space or Hermea, for example)

Sovereign Court

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Cole Deschain wrote:

In the Arcadia vein... personal bee in my bonnet... I would LOVE to see some Yu'pik, Athabascan, Tlingit, Aluutiq, Aleut, and Haida stuff in the northwest of Arcadia. We already have a sort of Inuit analogue in the setting between Avistan and Tian Xia to cover the broad strokes of the Inuit, but... yeah. A blend like what we see in the Distant Shores writeup still leaves room for nifty little nods to various cultures.

I know that whatever happens, well-wrapped "Mummy Men" will fight their totem pole-raising, clan-based eastern neighbors in my Arcadia, but with an entire continent to detail, just a few nods here and there would be awesome.

That would be awesome... I also love what that show did in the 70's (gold cities, solar powered ships and condor-shaped aircraft, all juxtaposed to the Spanish invasion and the Aztec's lingering battles against an invasive breed of space aliens...)

Sovereign Court

Apologies for the sidebar, but this one, 'Les Mondes Engloutis' {The Buried Worlds} was set in a deep, core of the Earth ancient world named "Arcadia"... LOL


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James Jacobs wrote:
Purple Dragon Knight wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
wabbitking wrote:
if you could change anything about any paizo adventure path what would it be?
Second Darkness: I'd add a new adventure to ease the transition between Adventure 2 and 3, and would rewrite all of the first half of Adventure 5 so the elves feel like allies and friends you want to help rather than enemies you're forced to help.
Any plans to redo that one like your said or other 3.5 ones into the PRPG rotr-style hardcover deluxe treatment?
Should there be?

Definitely. The update to RoTRL was done really well (as were the spate of Varisia-related products around the same time).

Second Darkness would get my vote, but any of the 3.5 APs would be terrific.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Kobold Cleaver wrote:

Actually, I just thought of a non-joke question for a change. Here goes.

Golarion uses a lot of "ported" cultures, or cultural parallels. Generally, Paizo has been great about being respectful of the cultures being imitated, but of those that exist, which one are you least happy with? To put it another way, is there a parallel you don't think was handled optimally that you'd like to come back to at some point?

I'm pretty happy with them all, and pretty proud of how we've handled theses "ports" to date.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
skizzerz wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
T.A.U. wrote:
Does Anubis's clergy having access to the Death domain use the same domain spell substitutions of Pharasma?
Anubis's subdomains are not altered in the way Pharasma's are, but the vast majority of his clerics opt not to create undead becasue they're following his lawful neutral ethos. The relatively rare few who are lawful evil can use spells Pharasma wouldn't allow her followers. After all, they're different deities.

AP#80 (Mummy's Mask 2 - Empty Graves), states otherwise, e.g. that the domain spells are altered. Is it meant that the worshipper chooses whether or not to alter them, or was something stated that was incorrect?

Also, I noticed Abadar's entry in Inner Sea Gods implying that the majority of Lawful Neutral deities do not have paladin orders. Is there any particular reason why LN deities generally don't bother with paladins?

Ah; there ya go. I was wrong. Turns out I don't know everything about Golarion. Sorry about that and thanks for pointing out the error.

And lawful neutral deities don't normally have paladin orders because they're lawful neutral, not lawful good. Paladins have to be lawful good, and lawful neutral deities aren't a great match for the good part of a paladin's requirement. There's a few exceptions; Abadar is the main one, but overall, that's the way it is.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Kalindlara wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Purple Dragon Knight wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
wabbitking wrote:
if you could change anything about any paizo adventure path what would it be?
Second Darkness: I'd add a new adventure to ease the transition between Adventure 2 and 3, and would rewrite all of the first half of Adventure 5 so the elves feel like allies and friends you want to help rather than enemies you're forced to help.
Any plans to redo that one like your said or other 3.5 ones into the PRPG rotr-style hardcover deluxe treatment?
Should there be?

Well, I think so, especially for Second Darkness. But I think everyone knows that by now. ^_^

1) Is there anything in Paizo's products that you think really does elven society well? Like, something you can point to and say "This is what our elves should be like."

2) I know this gets asked a lot, but can you re-state your position on dwarves, please? Do you not like the way they are, or is it because it's hard to find originality without losing "dwarvishness"?

Thank you!

1) Inner Sea Races. And before that, Elves of Golarion. And the Inner Sea World Guide. But Pathfinder #17 came out first and that's part of the problem, I guess.

2) I don't care for them. I could explain why, but that's like me explaining why I prefer cats and don't really like dogs. All it does is make people who like dogs (or dwarves) angry and defensive and makes them try to convince me to change my opinion, and I'm kinda tired of having to justify that. I don't care for dwarves, but I understand that they have fans, and as a result they're in Golarion. The setting isn't just for me. If it were, it would be a very different setting indeed.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Therrux wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Therrux wrote:


7. When Rock and Roll is finally created (if it hasn't already) which of the outsider of the outersphere will attempt to lay the most claim over it?

7) Proteans.

Please, somewhere down the line even 5-10 years from now, have an adventure that deals with a Protean Rock and Roll cult. Something like Proteans are introducing their "dangerous" music to the kids of Absalom. You can even have it that the kids are dressing up like the Proteans, hence the spikes and mohawks.

Nope. That disrespects the verisimilitude of the game and makes a mockery of all the hard work I and others have put into the setting AND to those who are fans of the setting.

My answer above was a joke, and even as I wrote it I was hesitant because whenever I joke like this, folks take it seriously or consider it a "good idea." It's kinda frustrating, not being able to joke around about things like this, due to my position at Paizo. I apologize for making a joke about proteans.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Cole Deschain wrote:

In the Arcadia vein... personal bee in my bonnet... I would LOVE to see some Yu'pik, Athabascan, Tlingit, Aluutiq, Aleut, and Haida stuff in the northwest of Arcadia. We already have a sort of Inuit analogue in the setting between Avistan and Tian Xia to cover the broad strokes of the Inupiaq, but... yeah. A blend like what we see in the Distant Shores writeup still leaves room for nifty little nods to various cultures.

I know that whatever happens, well-wrapped "Mummy Men" will fight their totem pole-raising, clan-based eastern neighbors in my Arcadia, but with an entire continent to detail, just a few nods here and there would be awesome.

Not seeing a question there...

We are a long way off from doing something major with Arcadia in any event, so don't hold your breath for an Arcadia sourcebook this year or next or after that or probably for a few years after those. We'll see, but it's just not that high up on the list at this point.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

4 people marked this as a favorite.
Odraude wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Odraude wrote:
As someone really interested in fleshing out Arcadia and hosting the Arcadia thread on the forums here, I do look forward to seeing it one day. What are some elements of Native American culture you are looking to do in a respectful manner? I know one thing that has me a bit stumped is the Aztecs and religious sacrifice. That's tough to do.
I want it all to be done in a respectful manner, not just some elements.
What I mean is, what are some examples of such elements? I'm curious to know.

I'm not prepared to go into it. I don't know enough about the real world traditions to speak to the topic without risking making an accidentally ignorant comment born from misunderstanding of the culture. When and if we do something like this, I'll need to not only really study up on things and do lots of research but even more importantly seek out experts in the field and most important of all Native Americans who can help advise and hopefully even help by writing the books and supplements.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Purple Dragon Knight wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Purple Dragon Knight wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
wabbitking wrote:
if you could change anything about any paizo adventure path what would it be?
Second Darkness: I'd add a new adventure to ease the transition between Adventure 2 and 3, and would rewrite all of the first half of Adventure 5 so the elves feel like allies and friends you want to help rather than enemies you're forced to help.
Any plans to redo that one like your said or other 3.5 ones into the PRPG rotr-style hardcover deluxe treatment?
Should there be?
By your answer I guess there are no plans but beyond that, it got me thinking that maybe a brand new AP in the Darklands instead of a Second Darkness redo would be more appreciated and coveted by most... the (nice) problem with Golarion is that you have tons of other avenues to explore before you'd have to revisit something already done (i.e. Darklands again or going in space or Hermea, for example)

Or by my answer I'm basically saying "We have our schedule planned out for years in advance but never ever announce books more than half a year or so out, with the obvious exception of a few books in the AP or hardcover line that we generally only announce twice a year—at Paizocon or Gen Con. We do not announce unannounced books in threads like this, nor do we generally confirm that we AREN'T doing a book in a thread like this."

I had a good time working on the hardcover Runelords book and am very proud of it. I would love to do that treatment to other APs some day. Whether or not I WILL do so, or if anyone at Paizo WILL do so, I'm not gonna say yes or no here at all. If we ever do decide to do so, we'll announce it to everyone loud and clear and you won't need to pry answers out of me in this six million post long thread, never fear.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

And again... keep it to questions. This isn't the right place to put in product requests. There are plenty of other more appropriate threads and locations on these boards for that. Thanks!


Really sorry. I genuinely thought it was a request for input!

Silver Crusade Contributor

Sorry as well, including for the rest of my previous post. :(


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I realize this may be an odd question, but would it be better to get the hardcover Anniversary edition or seek out the original Rise of the Runelords AP?


I'm making a character who was left as an infant at a Monastery/School maintained by an order of Esoteric Magi. (Magi? Maguses? What is the plural of Magus in Pathfinder anyway?) There he studied the path to perfection put forth by the Manasaputras while the order taught him their techniques for blending martial arts with magic.

Where in Golarion would you think such a Monastery would be most likely to exist?


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
Cole Deschain wrote:
Stuff

Not seeing a question there...

We are a long way off from doing something major with Arcadia in any event, so don't hold your breath for an Arcadia sourcebook this year or next or after that or probably for a few years after those. We'll see, but it's just not that high up on the list at this point.

All right, to make the question a little more evident... do the long-term plans for Arcadia include provisos for specific cultural notes within regions, or will the approach be more of a general regional look?

Bearing in mind that certainly, nothing is expected to be forthcoming within any specific timeframe.

Grand Lodge

James Jacobs wrote:
Therrux wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Therrux wrote:


7. When Rock and Roll is finally created (if it hasn't already) which of the outsider of the outersphere will attempt to lay the most claim over it?

7) Proteans.

Please, somewhere down the line even 5-10 years from now, have an adventure that deals with a Protean Rock and Roll cult. Something like Proteans are introducing their "dangerous" music to the kids of Absalom. You can even have it that the kids are dressing up like the Proteans, hence the spikes and mohawks.

Nope. That disrespects the verisimilitude of the game and makes a mockery of all the hard work I and others have put into the setting AND to those who are fans of the setting.

My answer above was a joke, and even as I wrote it I was hesitant because whenever I joke like this, folks take it seriously or consider it a "good idea." It's kinda frustrating, not being able to joke around about things like this, due to my position at Paizo. I apologize for making a joke about proteans.

The irony(if it is irony, I am never sure) is that my response was an admittedly poorly thought out joke. I remember reading somewhere about the development of language and grammar. Grammatical symbols developed later on to help clarify sentence structure. It would be useful to have an actual grammatical symbol to show when a sentence is a joke and not to be taken seriously, like how when a sentence is a question you use a question mark. I guess if you need something to show a sentence is a joke, for now use an emoji. :)

As for a question. Compared to our own world, what is the closest century that Golarion would be in terms of technological development and general cultural zeitgeist? There are a ton of differences between the two worlds but a ball park answer would work.


After being woken by a 6.4 (some reporting 7.1) earthquake... you ever experience a 'good' earthquake in your life?

Have you ever considered writing a story set in the aftermath of a major earthquake? I know one happened in Wrath of the Righteous, but the aftermath is largely glossed over with the demon invasion and stuff.

Like, it could be set in a city like Absolam that is left in virtual ruins after a major earthquake strikes the city. PCs would have to deal with scavenging for supplies, haywire magical traps, collapsing buildings, rescuing survivors, dealing with hostile survivors etc. Could also feature having to rally the survivors together to put up a strong defense as outside forces try to strike at the vulnerable city, only to unravel a deeper plot in which the earthquake might have not been so natural...

Could make for a nice AP, or maybe a nice interlinked set of PFS scenarios.


James Jacobs wrote:
Odraude wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Odraude wrote:
As someone really interested in fleshing out Arcadia and hosting the Arcadia thread on the forums here, I do look forward to seeing it one day. What are some elements of Native American culture you are looking to do in a respectful manner? I know one thing that has me a bit stumped is the Aztecs and religious sacrifice. That's tough to do.
I want it all to be done in a respectful manner, not just some elements.
What I mean is, what are some examples of such elements? I'm curious to know.
I'm not prepared to go into it. I don't know enough about the real world traditions to speak to the topic without risking making an accidentally ignorant comment born from misunderstanding of the culture. When and if we do something like this, I'll need to not only really study up on things and do lots of research but even more importantly seek out experts in the field and most important of all Native Americans who can help advise and hopefully even help by writing the books and supplements.

That's fair and I appreciate that. If you want some inspiration or even an expert to talk to, check out Ehdrigohr. It's a RPG made by a Native American that explores themes and uses inspiration from several different aboriginal cultures. Maybe you can even contact him for advice. Great game too!


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

I read in one of the adventure paths (one of the earlier ones I believe) that one of your writers only wrote adventure paths for 6th level characters and above because he favored putting a vrock demon. I have also noted a LOT of Adventure paths have otyughs in them (many times not as adversaries). Is this someones favorite pet monster? Are there others that make frequent appearances? (I think every adventure path you have done incorporates a dragon, as well, but I think of that as more of a homage to the origin of the game) Does a writer have the latitude to "slip in" an encounter with a favored monster or am I imagining things?


Greetings and salutations once again James.

1. Do you happen to know who the primary designer of the Horticulturist was?
2. Is it possible to apply to Augment Summoning to "Seed Extract" since the ability functions as Summon Monster I-VI?
3. Do you have an all time favorite class archtype? I'm not talking about base classes themselves, but the ways they've been changed and re-imagined.

Silver Crusade Contributor

1) If there were anything you could change about elves mechanically, what would it be?

2) Do you ever really weigh in on/create new game content? (Archetypes, feats, etc.)

Thank you! ^_^

(PS: Sorry again.)


How many woodchucks could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck wanted to chuck woodchucks.

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

James, I have decided to run an odd idea for CoC. Spanish conquistadors and their native allies trying to stop the awakening/calling of a horror in Tenochtitlan. Which CoC baddy would fit best with the Aztec sacrifice ceremonies?

Silver Crusade

Did playing Bloodborne influence Strange Aeons any?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Wei Ji the Learner wrote:


I realize this may be an odd question, but would it be better to get the hardcover Anniversary edition or seek out the original Rise of the Runelords AP?

For me and Paizo? It would be better for you to buy both versions, obviously.

That said, the anniversary edition is a whole package and all in-print so if you just want to run the campaign, it's the wiser choice to buy. What you're missing out on are a few articles in the original run (many of which have, essentially, been reprinted in other books as well) and additional flavor information for several of the new monsters.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Gisher wrote:

I'm making a character who was left as an infant at a Monastery/School maintained by an order of Esoteric Magi. (Magi? Maguses? What is the plural of Magus in Pathfinder anyway?) There he studied the path to perfection put forth by the Manasaputras while the order taught him their techniques for blending martial arts with magic.

Where in Golarion would you think such a Monastery would be most likely to exist?

The plural of magus is magi, same as in the real world.

We haven't really nailed down where the Manasaputra influence is strongest in Golarion, but I suspect it'll end up being Vudra.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Cole Deschain wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Cole Deschain wrote:
Stuff

Not seeing a question there...

We are a long way off from doing something major with Arcadia in any event, so don't hold your breath for an Arcadia sourcebook this year or next or after that or probably for a few years after those. We'll see, but it's just not that high up on the list at this point.

All right, to make the question a little more evident... do the long-term plans for Arcadia include provisos for specific cultural notes within regions, or will the approach be more of a general regional look?

Bearing in mind that certainly, nothing is expected to be forthcoming within any specific timeframe.

When I say "we're a long way off from doing something" that also means "we're a long way off from nailing down actual information. We've touched upon int a little in the Arcadia city in Distant Shores, and in-house we've got a fair amount of likely directions and ideas plotted out, but now is neither the time and place to reveal ideas that are still cooking; sorry.

You'll just have to be patient on this one and wait for the time TO be right for more info to be revealed.

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