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Does Golarion have a Hawaii analogue? Ancient Hawaiian warriors were badass.


Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
Redmond—of the three places I've lived, it's BY FAR the nicest. It's quiet, safe, has a great mix of urban and wilderness areas in close proximity, but is close enough to Bellevue and Seattle that (on a normal day without traffic) it's never more than a half-hour drive to get where you need to go—be that a...

Shadowrun would have me believe that Redmond is a gang ridden crap hole. Damn you Fasa!!!!

Okay, now for a question: How far in advance is the cover and interior art scheme figured out for an AP? Is Shattered Star nailed down yet?

Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Why is there a Weapon Finesse Feat instead of weapons just defaulting to the proper attribute? It would make sense to me that chains, whips, and rapiers would be agility-based and one using brute force would be penalized.

It seems to me agility fighters are penalized a feat for fighting in the way that would come naturally to them. My questions boils down to if there's an important game balance issue here or if this is something that might be revised.

The same question applies to Agile Manuevers. I'd think it wouldn't be a Feat but instead be automatic.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I have 3 Quaker Oats containers, what terrain should I build with them?


Justin Franklin wrote:
I have 3 Quaker Oats containers, what terrain should I build with them?

IANJ, but- WICKED AWESOME SKATE PARK! DO EET!

Although I'm guessing you won't be too on board with that idea, to which I must say- Quaker Oats containers make excellent grain silos and windmills, as well as mage towers. There's just enough room in them to have a spiral staircase big enough for miniature combat.

@JJ

Do you like-

The original X-Com game
The Witcher 2
The totally awesome finnish viking metal band Ensiferum

Are you looking forward to-

The 2012 X-Com remake (not the FPS)
Project Zomboid
The next installment of the Dr. McNinja webcomic?

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

James, how often is your patience tested in this thread? (slight jab at all the rules questions)

Why are you not quoted often in the "Overheard at the Paizo office" thread?

Ever ran a "Honey, I shruck the party" game?

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Everyone Not James: Support this thread!

And don't forget to vote for Round 2 of the RPG Superstar.


James Jacobs wrote:


Not possible; lycanthropy can only infect a humanoid with an animal. Orc is not an animal. A kitsune bitten by a werebear orc would become a werebear and wouldn't inherit ANY orc traits at all.

Nope, I answered the previous question, after all! ;-P

I play LOTS of console games, but I prefer RPGs, first-person shooters, and stealth-type games. Don't play many fighting games at all except when I'm visiting friends an one of those games is on.

But a bear was bitten by a were-orc! Thus Wereorc Bears... Stranger things have happened! So since we've established wereorc bears, what would trigger the change?

Have you played Lost odessey? Do you do RPG's on PS3? If yes, please make a list with opinions? There's not a lot to choose from, but I enjoy the genre as well.

-Tundra


Which are you looking forward to more?

Borderlands 2

Mass Effect 3

And, will either or both impact the release schedule of any Paizo Products?

:)


James Jacobs wrote:
ShadowFighter88 wrote:
I know coffee exists in Golarion (a bit of flavour text in Event 4 of Broken Moon has the steward at the hunting lodge serve some to the PCs) but is it just the original form of coffee or has the espresso process (forcing near-boiling water under-pressure through the coffee) been discovered yet? I imagine some of the more advanced societies in Golarion could've built manual espresso machines by now.
No espresso on Golarion. Alas.

Well - now I have an idea for what that tiefling gunslinger I was making for Council of Thrones can use those ranks in Craft (Alchemy) for other than making ammo.

Aside from Karzoug, are the other Runelords dead or are they all still in stasis?


Hi James,

Do you keep a list of ideas that you think of and might someday develop further, such as concepts for new monsters, locations in Golarion, adventure plots, etc? If so, do you keep a notebook, or a running word processor file, or do you have some other way of recording them?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Zoe Oakeshott wrote:
Does Golarion have a Hawaii analogue? Ancient Hawaiian warriors were badass.

It does. It's over near Arcadia.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Jam412 wrote:
Okay, now for a question: How far in advance is the cover and interior art scheme figured out for an AP? Is Shattered Star nailed down yet?

Cover orders are determined fairly early in the process; we've already ordered all six covers for Shattered Star (a few months ago).

Scarab Sages

James,

Why is the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune thrice-damned? If I recall correctly, there was the original deal made with Hell, then the current Queen updated it - does that count as 2? If so, what's the third?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Sigard Spleenbiter wrote:

Why is there a Weapon Finesse Feat instead of weapons just defaulting to the proper attribute? It would make sense to me that chains, whips, and rapiers would be agility-based and one using brute force would be penalized.

It seems to me agility fighters are penalized a feat for fighting in the way that would come naturally to them. My questions boils down to if there's an important game balance issue here or if this is something that might be revised.

The same question applies to Agile Manuevers. I'd think it wouldn't be a Feat but instead be automatic.

It's true that agility fighters are hard to make in the game... but that's an issue that goes a lot deeper than the Weapon Finesse feat.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Justin Franklin wrote:
I have 3 Quaker Oats containers, what terrain should I build with them?

A nuclear reactor, of course!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Keldoclock wrote:

@JJ

Do you like-

The original X-Com game
The Witcher 2
The totally awesome finnish viking metal band Ensiferum

Are you looking forward to-

The 2012 X-Com remake (not the FPS)
Project Zomboid
The next installment of the Dr. McNinja webcomic?

X-com: Yes.

Witcher 2: Haven't played it yet (I use Macs, not PCs), waiting for the upcoming Xbox release, but I will like it.
Ensiferum: Haven't heard them.

X-com Remake: Maybe.
Project Zomboid: Huh?
Dr McNinja: Never heard of that either.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:

James, how often is your patience tested in this thread? (slight jab at all the rules questions)

Why are you not quoted often in the "Overheard at the Paizo office" thread?

Ever ran a "Honey, I shruck the party" game?

Now and then.

Because that thread's like 98% upstairs quotes.

Nope!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Tundra Dragondust wrote:

Have you played Lost odessey? Do you do RPG's on PS3? If yes, please make a list with opinions? There's not a lot to choose from, but I enjoy the genre as well.

-Tundra

Haven't played Lost Odyssey. And most of my console gaming is over on the Xbox; on PS3 my latest RPG is Final Fantasy XIII... I'll be picking up the sequel someday... but Skyrim's kinda been dominating the scene of late.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
mdt wrote:

Which are you looking forward to more?

Borderlands 2

Mass Effect 3

And, will either or both impact the release schedule of any Paizo Products?

:)

I got bored with Borderlands, and thus won't be picking up the sequel.

Mass Effect 3, on the other hand, is made of pure awesome. I can't wait for it!

And nope; neither will impact the release schedule of Paizo Products. ME3 WILL impact my sleep schedule though...

Paizo Employee Creative Director

ShadowFighter88 wrote:
Aside from Karzoug, are the other Runelords dead or are they all still in stasis?

Not ready to answer that question... although I do know the answer.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Corrosive Rabbit wrote:

Hi James,

Do you keep a list of ideas that you think of and might someday develop further, such as concepts for new monsters, locations in Golarion, adventure plots, etc? If so, do you keep a notebook, or a running word processor file, or do you have some other way of recording them?

I keep notes of ideas in computer files, in emails, on my iPhone, and in a moleskine notebook.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Aberzombie wrote:

James,

Why is the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune thrice-damned? If I recall correctly, there was the original deal made with Hell, then the current Queen updated it - does that count as 2? If so, what's the third?

We haven't revealed the truth behind that name yet.


James Jacobs wrote:
ShadowFighter88 wrote:
Aside from Karzoug, are the other Runelords dead or are they all still in stasis?
Not ready to answer that question... although I do know the answer.

Fair enough - although I'm sure I read something about Alaznist somewhere. Might just be dreaming though.


James,
if you were given 24 hrs to do or say anything without fear of consequences ever afterwards, as well as whatever monetary funds you needed, what would you do??


James Jacobs wrote:
Zoe Oakeshott wrote:
Does Golarion have a Hawaii analogue? Ancient Hawaiian warriors were badass.
It does. It's over near Arcadia.

What's it called?

Liberty's Edge

James, I would like an opinion.
I have a Oracle with the Haunted curse. On the basis of this thread she is arguing that drawing a weapon or a arrow should not fall under the effects of her curse.
To me it seem that that would remove most of the drawback of the curse, especially as with the item creation feats a lot of stuff can be created in the form of a weapon (and then we fall in problematic areas like "the alchemist fire is a weapon when retrieved to be launched at a enemy, but a tool when retrieved to be used to start a fire").

So what do you think is the RAI of that curse? It should affect weapons or the words "Retrieving any stored item" are referred to equipment and not weapons?


I know 20th level is pretty much a person whose deeds likely change the course of history, but how common is it, in Golarion, for people to reach certain character levels (like 5, 10, or 15)? For example, would somebody who reached 10th level (and completed deeds appropriate for such) most likely be a legendary figure or is that not quite up there?

Liberty's Edge

James Jacobs wrote:
ShadowFighter88 wrote:
Aside from Karzoug, are the other Runelords dead or are they all still in stasis?
Not ready to answer that question... although I do know the answer.

IANJ but:

Sorshen has been listed as "sleeping in one AP

Spoiler:
she probably is a vampire under Korvosa, source Curse of the Crimson Throne 6th AP

If I recall correctly another one is

Spoiler:
under Kaer Marga
but I can be wrong as I am going from memory.

I have read some piece of text (in other products or the forum) that seem to hint that most of them are in stasis somewhere.


Question: Have you ever watched "The Hills have Eyes" 1 & 2 yet? Just watched the uncensored versions ..... brrrrrrr.

Mild Spoilers: For the role of incestuous cannibalistic mutant hillbillies, what do you think fits best in 'canon (re: as written by Paizo) Golarion? Mongrel-Folk or Ogrekin-templated Humans?

I ask, because I'm going to be springing this scenario on a group once they reach mid-level (which should be in two months or so at the current rate of XP gain and play-time) who are involved in a campaign chasing down Lamashtu cultists in Taldor, and one of the elements they are finding is a mineral called Lamasuul, small purple-red crystals that detect as Powerful Transmutation Magic and Powerful Evil. Basically Cultists seeding this stuff near major underground aquefiers to promote 'blessed' children in the country, PCs have already had to deal with 'blended' species and the occasional abberrant creation, and I'm eager to spring the whole "And that's the plan" on them sooner rather than later.


1)Did you ever watch the "Batman animated series", "Superman", "Batman Beyond", or "Justice League unlimeted"?

2)Have you ever seen the "the Tick" animated series?

3)Do you have a favorite Tom Hanks movie?

4)Do you have a favorite John Candy movie?

5)Have ever seen any of following 80's cartoons; Kidd Video, Pole Position, Galtar and the golden lance, Dragon's Lair, Dungeons and Dragons, Thundarr the Barbarian, Blackstar, Galaxy high or the 70's cartoon Jana of the Jungle?

6)Have you seen any of these animated movies; "Heavy Metal", "Wizards", "Fire and Ice", or "Rock and Rule"?

7)Did you ever watch the 1960's Jonny Quest?


Hey James. Got a question for ya. In your opinion, which is the grander city- Absalom or Goka?

Does Paizo have any plans of publishing a Guide to Goka like it did with Guide to Absalom?

Contributor

Who is your favorite NPC from each AP? If it's easier, a few favorites would also be good. Also, what is your favorite adventure(s) from each AP?

Thanks so much for not only answering all the questions thus far, but also for all the work that you and the rest of the crew do. I hope you enjoy all the money I send your way!

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

James Jacobs wrote:
Thomas LeBlanc wrote:
Why are you not quoted often in the "Overheard at the Paizo office" thread?
Because that thread's like 98% upstairs quotes.

You have a basement lair at work? Or a nice desk sans cubicle on the main floor?


I apologize if I phrase this poorly, but I was wondering, when you created (and continue to create) Golarion, do you make conscious decisions to leave areas "unmapped" or undefined so that you have spaces to put new adventures or entities in at a later date?

Thanks!


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Thomas LeBlanc wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Thomas LeBlanc wrote:
Why are you not quoted often in the "Overheard at the Paizo office" thread?
Because that thread's like 98% upstairs quotes.
You have a basement lair at work? Or a nice desk sans cubicle on the main floor?

It is my, probably erroneous, understanding that the customer service / site development crew are on one floor, and the rules / setting development crew are on a different floor.

There's also rumors about Jason B having a bear cave.


Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

I'm just curious: what happens when a reincarnate spell is cast on a Samsaran? I'm guessing that instead of the standard 'random race table' it would have a very high chance of having the target come back as a new young adult Samsaran?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Monkeygod wrote:

James,

if you were given 24 hrs to do or say anything without fear of consequences ever afterwards, as well as whatever monetary funds you needed, what would you do??

Something memorable that I probably shouldn't talk about in public! :P

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Zoe Oakeshott wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Zoe Oakeshott wrote:
Does Golarion have a Hawaii analogue? Ancient Hawaiian warriors were badass.
It does. It's over near Arcadia.
What's it called?

Nothing yet. It hasn't been invented to that stage yet. I do know I want a Hawaii analogue on Golarion somewhere... but that's ALL I know.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Diego Rossi wrote:

James, I would like an opinion.

I have a Oracle with the Haunted curse. On the basis of this thread she is arguing that drawing a weapon or a arrow should not fall under the effects of her curse.
To me it seem that that would remove most of the drawback of the curse, especially as with the item creation feats a lot of stuff can be created in the form of a weapon (and then we fall in problematic areas like "the alchemist fire is a weapon when retrieved to be launched at a enemy, but a tool when retrieved to be used to start a fire").

So what do you think is the RAI of that curse? It should affect weapons or the words "Retrieving any stored item" are referred to equipment and not weapons?

Ammunition isn't the same as a stored item. There are special rules for ammunition. Making the assumption that when we say "stored item" we also mean "ammunition" (which we generally don't mean ever) DOES basically negate the build of any ranged weapon oracle, and it DOES unnecessarily punish a specific type of build, so my preference and suggestion would be to limit the effects of the haunted curse to stored items. The oracle's bow would count... she'd need a standard action to draw her bow. But once that's out, her arrows should be no more difficult to draw and fire than an axe is to raise up and chop.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Sinosaur wrote:
I know 20th level is pretty much a person whose deeds likely change the course of history, but how common is it, in Golarion, for people to reach certain character levels (like 5, 10, or 15)? For example, would somebody who reached 10th level (and completed deeds appropriate for such) most likely be a legendary figure or is that not quite up there?

That varies from campaign to campaign, since as a general rule, NPCs do NOT earn XP. They gain levels only when the GM says.

And the rate at which PCs gain levels depends on each particular game.

We outline the spread of levels in Golarion on page 253 of the Inner Sea World Guide.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

HalfOrcHeavyMetal wrote:

Question: Have you ever watched "The Hills have Eyes" 1 & 2 yet? Just watched the uncensored versions ..... brrrrrrr.

Mild Spoilers: For the role of incestuous cannibalistic mutant hillbillies, what do you think fits best in 'canon (re: as written by Paizo) Golarion? Mongrel-Folk or Ogrekin-templated Humans?

I ask, because I'm going to be springing this scenario on a group once they reach mid-level (which should be in two months or so at the current rate of XP gain and play-time) who are involved in a campaign chasing down Lamashtu cultists in Taldor, and one of the elements they are finding is a mineral called Lamasuul, small purple-red crystals that detect as Powerful Transmutation Magic and Powerful Evil. Basically Cultists seeding this stuff near major underground aquefiers to promote 'blessed' children in the country, PCs have already had to deal with 'blended' species and the occasional abberrant creation, and I'm eager to spring the whole "And that's the plan" on them sooner rather than later.

I've seen the original Hills movies AND the remakes. The first remake was surprisingly not bad. I didn't like the sequel to either. And the original is hands down the best of them all.

Ogrekin are very, very much intended to fit the role of "mutant hillbillies" in Golarion. See "Hook Mountain Massacre," which is in fact partially inspired by "The Hills Have Eyes." Which is why the title of that adventure's foreword is "The Hills have Hooks," after all!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Darwyn wrote:

Hey James. Got a question for ya. In your opinion, which is the grander city- Absalom or Goka?

Does Paizo have any plans of publishing a Guide to Goka like it did with Guide to Absalom?

I prefer Goka, but that's mostly just because Goka is MY invention from my homebrew world. Absalom is Erik Mona's baby.

As for a guide... no. It's MUCH more likely we'll do a revision or expansion of the Guide to Absalom than a Guide to Goka.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Dragon78 wrote:

1)Did you ever watch the "Batman animated series", "Superman", "Batman Beyond", or "Justice League unlimeted"?

2)Have you ever seen the "the Tick" animated series?

3)Do you have a favorite Tom Hanks movie?

4)Do you have a favorite John Candy movie?

5)Have ever seen any of following 80's cartoons; Kidd Video, Pole Position, Galtar and the golden lance, Dragon's Lair, Dungeons and Dragons, Thundarr the Barbarian, Blackstar, Galaxy high or the 70's cartoon Jana of the Jungle?

6)Have you seen any of these animated movies; "Heavy Metal", "Wizards", "Fire and Ice", or "Rock and Rule"?

7)Did you ever watch the 1960's Jonny Quest?

1) Yes, no, no, no.

2) Yes.

3) Yes (The Green Mile).

4) Yes (Planes, Trains, and Automobiles).

5) I've seen Blackstar and the D&D cartoon; I actually own the D&D cartoon on DVD. Haven't seen the others.

6) Yes, no, no, no.

7) Not on purpose or intentionally.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

donato wrote:

Who is your favorite NPC from each AP? If it's easier, a few favorites would also be good. Also, what is your favorite adventure(s) from each AP?

Thanks so much for not only answering all the questions thus far, but also for all the work that you and the rest of the crew do. I hope you enjoy all the money I send your way!

I can't really pick favorite NPCs or adventures. I'm too close to the scene. It'd be like asking a parent to pick their favorite child.

And no problem! And I do!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Thomas LeBlanc wrote:
Why are you not quoted often in the "Overheard at the Paizo office" thread?
Because that thread's like 98% upstairs quotes.
You have a basement lair at work? Or a nice desk sans cubicle on the main floor?

Paizo's a two-story building. The upper floor holds upper management, the web store team, customer service, the tech team, finance, operations, and sales. The ground floor holds the editorial, art, and org play teams. No basement is involved at all.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Cheapy wrote:

It is my, probably erroneous, understanding that the customer service / site development crew are on one floor, and the rules / setting development crew are on a different floor.

There's also rumors about Jason B having a bear cave.

Virtual tour of the Paizo office. (Only a little out-of-date.)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Matrixryu wrote:
I'm just curious: what happens when a reincarnate spell is cast on a Samsaran? I'm guessing that instead of the standard 'random race table' it would have a very high chance of having the target come back as a new young adult Samsaran?

The reincarnate spell works normally on a samsaran, unless that samsaran has ALREADY reincarnated (this would be the samsaran version of any other race choosing not to be reincarnated—aka having been judged by Pharasma).

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

James Jacobs wrote:
Thomas LeBlanc wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Thomas LeBlanc wrote:
Why are you not quoted often in the "Overheard at the Paizo office" thread?
Because that thread's like 98% upstairs quotes.
You have a basement lair at work? Or a nice desk sans cubicle on the main floor?
Paizo's a two-story building. The upper floor holds upper management, the web store team, customer service, the tech team, finance, operations, and sales. The ground floor holds the editorial, art, and org play teams. No basement is involved at all.

(emphasis mine)

You say it is not 'involved.' But that is not a denial of its existance. And involved could mean involved with the official business Paizo runs. I sense a ruse! I guess Cheapy is right about the bear cave...

What kinds of dinosaur do you have on your desk? What material are they made of? Plastic, plush, bone, metal, or other? If you say you have no dinos on the desk, I will choose not to believe you.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

We do have the morlock farm downstairs, but it's not part of the day to day process of publishing stuff or running a web store. It's more of a hobby. I didn't think it was worth mentioning in the context of this particular question.

And it's a miscommunication—Jason doesn't have a bear cave, he has a BEER cave.

My desk dinosaurs:
Plush Godzilla
Little plastic ankylosaurus
Little plastic stegosaurus
Carnotaurus metal mini (I think it's from Reaper)
Rapper Rex (a Jurassic Park oversized action figure dressed like a rapper—a gift from Jodi)
Godzilla blu-ray DVD
An unknown number of dinosaur artwork spread out over books and papers
Plastic 8" tall Godzilla action figure*
A "DEAD END" diamond-shaped road sign with a Tyrannosaurus on it*

*Not technically ON my desk, but in sight of it!

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