How much does a single perception roll give you?
Can you find everything in a room with one perception roll, or will each perceivable item require a new perception roll?
James, you continue to display your awesomeness with the time you spend here :D
So, now that I've read that the Dragon Empire races are only getting 2 page treatments in the Advanced Race Guide, I can't help but ask this: What are the chances of these races getting player companion books focused on them? I'm assuming it depends upon how well the current Tian Xia books do?
Because Signifer's Rally has the evil descriptor, does casting it repeatedly make one evil? It was pointed out to me that you said spells with the evil descriptor turn the caster evil, but the spell in question has not evil effect and is completely harmless.
Hi James. Can you ever see Paizo introducing a new product line using the Golarion world as a backdrop for fantasy tabletop wargaming? You know, similar perhaps to warhammer with Paizo's own wargaming ruleset and figurines?
Creative Director
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How would a magic item like a cloak of protection +1 function while being used by the Metal Oracle's Steel Scarf ability?
Would the above (CoP +1) steel scarf attack be considered a magic weapon and gain a bonus to hit and damage?
Would a +1 Flaming Bladed Scarf from the ISWG keep it's magical properties if affected by the Metal Oracle's Steel Scarf ability?
Would feats such as Weapon Focus(Bladed Scarf) still function if the bladed scarf was used for the steel scarf ability?
** spoiler omitted **
If you use the steel scarf ability, you can't use that scarf or cloak or whatever for other stuff while you're doing the steel scarf ability similarly to how when you shield bash you can't use the shield for AC.
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Did you work on the Chirurgeon, or any of the alchemist archetypes? I recall seeing a post about you explaining the intent of the breath of life infusion (which does count as a Cure for them, much like you desire!).
I'm also quite curious how you handle full ranged attacks when adjacent to a threatening enemy in your games. If you rule it as one action is one provocation, then they wouldn't provoke each time they fire their bow, right? What do you see as the advantages of this? I suppose it could make for more "cinematic" battles, where the archers are right up there with the melee types, not having to worry about provoking for attacks.
I haven't worked on any of the alchemist archetypes save for those that appear in Inner Sea Magic and the Pathfinder Society Field Guide.
You would indeed provoke each time you fire your bow. Each attack is its own separate trigger for an AoO.
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Is a catfolk of golarion book possible? Or perhaps an AP nackmatter article?
Also an Arcadia primer.
HA!
Nackmatter.
There's no plans to do much more with catfolk of Golarion at this point. If we do something big about southern Garund some day that will change but for now... not a big chance of us doing much with catfolk in Golarion.
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A Catfolk of Golarion book would interest me as well.
1)Are there any classification system for Gods and there power levels like a number system or a title like greater/lesser etc.?
2)Have you seen Wrath of the Titans, Hunger Games, or John Carter yet?If so did you like it?
3)Wich is the most likely continent to be the next focus if/when you guys work on another?
1) Not yet.
2) No, No, Yes. I loved John Carter; GREAT movie.
3) Dunno.
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Looking at the PrC, the requirements are:
Race: any non-dragon
Skills: Knowledge(arcana) 5 ranks
Languages: Draconic
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells without preparation. If the character has sorcerer levels, he must have the draconic bloodline.Taking Crossblooded with draconic and another bloodline would qualify as far as I can tell.
A fellow GM told me this was not the Case. just looking for some Clarity.
Not seeing a question mark here...
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1)How many examples of created races do we get for the race creation chapter in the Advanced races book?
2)Does every race in Advanced races get a racial archtype class?
3)Will Ultimate Equipment have magic items from the non-hardcover books like the APs, Modules, etc.?
4)Wich one of the follow races would you like to play as the most? Choices are Goblin, Orc, Kobold, Drow, Duegar, Hobgoblin, or Svirfneblin
5)Do you have a favorite of the playable 0HD animal based races? and why?
6)Wich is your favorite of the elemental based playable 0HD races? and why?
7)Wich is your favorite planetouched race? and why?
1) I don't know. Not my book. I was working on the Runelords hardcover all that time and didn't stop to count the example races as I did my approval pass on the Advanced Race Guide.
2) Dunno, see #1 above.
3) Some of them but not all of them.
4) Drow. That is all.
5) Tengu, because they have history and they're fun.
6) Don't have a favorite at this point.
7) Tiefling, because it's like playing a demon!
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James, you continue to display your awesomeness with the time you spend here :D
So, now that I've read that the Dragon Empire races are only getting 2 page treatments in the Advanced Race Guide, I can't help but ask this: What are the chances of these races getting player companion books focused on them? I'm assuming it depends upon how well the current Tian Xia books do?
Yay!
The chances of us doing more with the Tian Xia races does depend GREATLY on how well the current Tian Xia books sell, but also on feedback on these boards, and upon our personal interest in doing more with those races.
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Because Signifer's Rally has the evil descriptor, does casting it repeatedly make one evil? It was pointed out to me that you said spells with the evil descriptor turn the caster evil, but the spell in question has not evil effect and is completely harmless.
In time, yes. Repeated casting of Evil spells should make you evil. At least, that's how it works in games I run and Golarion products I develop.
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Hi James. Can you ever see Paizo introducing a new product line using the Golarion world as a backdrop for fantasy tabletop wargaming? You know, similar perhaps to warhammer with Paizo's own wargaming ruleset and figurines?
Honestly? I hope not. We're doing enough as it is without adding an entirely new game line to the workload. MAYBE in a few years or a decade or so I'll feel different, but since I just took the day off from work because of what I think was probably just a case of flat-out exhaustion ... I'd rather not contemplate adding an entire new game to the schedule right about now... :P
1. If a creature dual-wields two Speed weapons, does the creature gain one additional attack total on a full attack, or one attack per weapon of speed on a full attack?
2. If a creature dual-wields two Conductive weapons, is the creature allowed to channel a supernatural ability once per round total, or once per Conductive weapon?
3. If a creature has ammunition with the above Conductive weapon property, can the creature channel the supernatural ability once per round total, or once per round per piece of ammunition used?
What do you think of the idea of doing an "Elder Evils" type book for Pathfinder (If you remember the 3.5 hardcover). Basically each chapter details out a BBEG with it's major followers and details of how this thing you could develop a campaign around this villain. I think it would make an excellent book for the campaign setting line, what do you think?
What's your general opinion of the online gaming tools out there such as D20Pro, Fantasy Grounds 2 etc? Have you ever used one of them for playing or GMing Pathfinder and what was your experience?
It gives you as much as the GM wants it to give you.How much does a single perception roll give you?
Can you find everything in a room with one perception roll, or will each perceivable item require a new perception roll?
How much do you think a GM can give or not give without alienating his players.
I wish there was some better guild lines because this is a problem I've run into a number of times.
Perhaps it's a deficiency on my part but this isn't something that I've ever been good at.
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1. If a creature dual-wields two Speed weapons, does the creature gain one additional attack total on a full attack, or one attack per weapon of speed on a full attack?
2. If a creature dual-wields two Conductive weapons, is the creature allowed to channel a supernatural ability once per round total, or once per Conductive weapon?
3. If a creature has ammunition with the above Conductive weapon property, can the creature channel the supernatural ability once per round total, or once per round per piece of ammunition used?
1) No... speed effects, whether they come from multiple speed weapons or multiple haste spells or any combination of the two, do not stack. You can only ever gain 1 additional attack from a haste effect in a round.
2) Same thing, no.
3) Melee and ranged weapons get the same mount of conductive effects.
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What do you think of the idea of doing an "Elder Evils" type book for Pathfinder (If you remember the 3.5 hardcover). Basically each chapter details out a BBEG with it's major followers and details of how this thing you could develop a campaign around this villain. I think it would make an excellent book for the campaign setting line, what do you think?
Since I wrote a chapter of "Elder Evils," I certainly remember it. It's an interesting idea... we kind of already do this at the end of every adventure path though, with the "Continuing the Campaign" articles. Frankly... I would rather put the type of effort we did on "Elder Evils" (building an entire campaign against an ancient foe) into an adventure path.
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What's your general opinion of the online gaming tools out there such as D20Pro, Fantasy Grounds 2 etc? Have you ever used one of them for playing or GMing Pathfinder and what was your experience?
I've tinkered with them before... but most of them have ended up frustrating me when what I want to do with customized options end up being too difficult or just impossible to do... still faster for me to prepare things by hand.
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It gives you as much as the GM wants it to give you.How much does a single perception roll give you?
Can you find everything in a room with one perception roll, or will each perceivable item require a new perception roll?
How much do you think a GM can give or not give without alienating his players.
I wish there was some better guild lines because this is a problem I've run into a number of times.
Perhaps it's a deficiency on my part but this isn't something that I've ever been good at.
That depends on the game. Every table is different. If you're the GM and your players are always complaining... you're being too strict, and you should really consider widening up what the players can see.
Personally, what I do when I get to a room with multiple things that can be seen, I basically ask the players where they're looking and let them roll Perception checks as they wish. One perception check in the middle of the room isn't a free shot at everything in the room in my games.
Thank you! I had someone try to tell me otherwise about my three questions. Let's see if they ignore you :D
Many, many moons ago, Eurythmics released its greatest hits album and it had some great songs on it. Unfortunately, my neighbour loudly played this album to death until I got well and truly sick of songs that I used to enjoy.
James, I'm guessing that your workload means that you have to live, breathe and eat Pathfinder nearly every waking minute of the day. As a result, are you sick of Pathfinder as far as playing or GMing the game is concerned in the same way I got sick of some great Eurythmics hit songs?
Not seeing a question mark here...Looking at the PrC, the requirements are:
Race: any non-dragon
Skills: Knowledge(arcana) 5 ranks
Languages: Draconic
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells without preparation. If the character has sorcerer levels, he must have the draconic bloodline.Taking Crossblooded with draconic and another bloodline would qualify as far as I can tell.
A fellow GM told me this was not the Case. just looking for some Clarity.
I'm supposing the question to be, can he take the cross-blooded bloodline; choosing draconic and a 2nd bloodline and still be eligible for the Dragon Disciple prc. Or does having the 2nd bloodline somehow negate the dragon blood from the draconic bloodline and make him ineligible for the DD prc
Mr. Jacobs,
Does an Amulet of Mighty Fists that provides an enhancement bonus (not special weapon properties) bypass damage reduction or not? Magic weapons of specific enhancement bonus ignore certain types of DR based upon their enchantment (i.e., +3 weapons ignore DR based on cold iron or silver, +4 weapons bypass adamantine (but do not get to ignore hardness of less than 20), and +5 weapons cut right through alignment-based DR).
So, does an AoMF function like a magic weapon, or is it more limited, ala the Greater Magic Fang and Greater Magic Weapon spells?
Thank you,
Master Arminas
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Creative Director
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Many, many moons ago, Eurythmics released its greatest hits album and it had some great songs on it. Unfortunately, my neighbour loudly played this album to death until I got well and truly sick of songs that I used to enjoy.
James, I'm guessing that your workload means that you have to live, breathe and eat Pathfinder nearly every waking minute of the day. As a result, are you sick of Pathfinder as far as playing or GMing the game is concerned in the same way I got sick of some great Eurythmics hit songs?
Separating the work element from the play element of Pathfinder can be tough. Fortunately... working on Pathfinder stuff and playing Pathfinder games feels different enough that once you START playing a game, it's fine... the trick is that sometimes it's hard to get the energy up to start a game in the first place if you've been particularly hard working on something or other.
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Creative Director
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Mr. Jacobs,
Does an Amulet of Mighty Fists that provides an enhancement bonus (not special weapon properties) bypass damage reduction or not? Magic weapons of specific enhancement bonus ignore certain types of DR based upon their enchantment (i.e., +3 weapons ignore DR based on cold iron or silver, +4 weapons bypass adamantine (but do not get to ignore hardness of less than 20), and +5 weapons cut right through alignment-based DR).
So, does an AoMF function like a magic weapon, or is it more limited, ala the Greater Magic Fang and Greater Magic Weapon spells?
Thank you,
Master Arminas
I hate the rule that enhancement bonuses eventually bypass DR. Hate it.
So I'm gonna say that the amulet of mighty fists does NOT help you. Monks have other ways of getting through DR in any case.
Hello James Jacobs,
What's the chance I could somehow cannibalize a character for PFS? I've been in Afghanistan and won't be home until the fall. I haven't played PFS for a year or two before my deployment and want to play again when I get home. I have a character I really have no attachment to anymore. What do you suggest I do? Just throw the character sheet away and start a new character? Thanks!
Kyle
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Hello James Jacobs,
What's the chance I could somehow cannibalize a character for PFS? I've been in Afghanistan and won't be home until the fall. I haven't played PFS for a year or two before my deployment and want to play again when I get home. I have a character I really have no attachment to anymore. What do you suggest I do? Just throw the character sheet away and start a new character? Thanks!
Kyle
I suggest you ask Mark Moreland for advice. I suspect you'll just need to start a new character. That's probably what I would do.
Aren't you a fan of post-apocalyptic settings? Did you hear that Fallout is free for a few days over here?
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Creative Director
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Aren't you a fan of post-apocalyptic settings? Did you hear that Fallout is free for a few days over here?
I had not heard that.
I don't own a PC though, so I can't take advantage of it anyway.
Fortunately, it being a Fallout title, I've already played it so I don't need to worry about missing out.
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Mr. Jacobs,
Does an Amulet of Mighty Fists that provides an enhancement bonus (not special weapon properties) bypass damage reduction or not? Magic weapons of specific enhancement bonus ignore certain types of DR based upon their enchantment (i.e., +3 weapons ignore DR based on cold iron or silver, +4 weapons bypass adamantine (but do not get to ignore hardness of less than 20), and +5 weapons cut right through alignment-based DR).
So, does an AoMF function like a magic weapon, or is it more limited, ala the Greater Magic Fang and Greater Magic Weapon spells?
Thank you,
Master Arminas
I hate the rule that enhancement bonuses eventually bypass DR. Hate it.
So I'm gonna say that the amulet of mighty fists does NOT help you. Monks have other ways of getting through DR in any case.
What about eidolons, animal companions or wild shaping druids? AoMF is not just for monks, y'know... :P
As an expansion to this, in the Legacy of Fire adventure path the weapon Tempest is linked to the story and states that the GM should change the weapon to fit the character that triggers the event, and for monks to make a "scarf or handwrap" that applies to unarmed damage.
Are there any plans (given the complaints about AoMF, and the recent rules changes vis a vis Temple Sword Flurry) to add an item type like this?
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Creative Director
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What about eidolons, animal companions or wild shaping druids? AoMF is not just for monks, y'know... :P
As an expansion to this, in the Legacy of Fire adventure path the weapon Tempest is linked to the story and states that the GM should change the weapon to fit the character that triggers the event, and for monks to make a "scarf or handwrap" that applies to unarmed damage.
Are there any plans (given the complaints about AoMF, and the recent rules changes vis a vis Temple Sword Flurry) to add an item type like this?
Eidolons, animal companions, or wild shaping druids are out of luck. All three of those things you mention are ALREADY very strong options, and the fact that there's something that they're not really good at (bypassing DR) is a good thing.
No plans to add an item type like what Tempest got—that's actually NOT an item ability. That's just good advice to any GM...
"If a key magic weapon in an adventure is a type of weapon none of your PCs use... change the weapon so that it IS something that one of the players can use."
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No plans to add an item type like what Tempest got—that's actually NOT an item ability. That's just good advice to any GM...
"If a key magic weapon in an adventure is a type of weapon none of your PCs use... change the weapon so that it IS something that one of the players can use."
How do I go about changing the weapon to something that one of the players can use, if such a weapon does not exist? Obviously I can fiat "magic handwraps" for monks, but I was wondering at what point (if any) Pathfinder will concede another option for monks that isn't half as effective and two and a half times the expense of magic weapons for other classes.
And to be perfectly frank, I don't know what eidolons, wild shaping druids or animal companions you are familiar with but outside of vital-striking strong jaw-ed megafauna, natural attacks are vastly inferior to the two handed fighter/multiple attacking rogue in damage, and while unarmed strikes can bypass *some* damage reduction (I promise "/lawful" shows up on few enough monsters as to be laughable), monks are otherwise reduced to giving up one of the laughably small advantages they get damage-wise (their unarmed progression) to bypass any other types than Magic and Adamantine.
I mean, maybe a Magus style ability to enhance natural attacks using ki points? Something between Arcane Pool and Sacred Bond? If it's good enough for two classes that get spells (one of which has a full base attack bonus), then perhaps it's time to discard the 3.x artifact of flat DR bypassing, and allowing Monks a similar ability?
</soapbox>
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No plans to add an item type like what Tempest got—that's actually NOT an item ability. That's just good advice to any GM...
"If a key magic weapon in an adventure is a type of weapon none of your PCs use... change the weapon so that it IS something that one of the players can use."
How do I go about changing the weapon to something that one of the players can use, if such a weapon does not exist? Obviously I can fiat "magic handwraps" for monks, but I was wondering at what point (if any) Pathfinder will concede another option for monks that isn't half as effective and two and a half times the expense of magic weapons for other classes.
And to be perfectly frank, I don't know what eidolons, wild shaping druids or animal companions you are familiar with but outside of vital-striking strong jaw-ed megafauna, natural attacks are vastly inferior to the two handed fighter/multiple attacking rogue in damage, and while unarmed strikes can bypass *some* damage reduction (I promise "/lawful" shows up on few enough monsters as to be laughable), monks are otherwise reduced to giving up one of the laughably small advantages they get damage-wise (their unarmed progression) to bypass any other types than Magic and Adamantine.
I mean, maybe a Magus style ability to enhance natural attacks using ki points? Something between Arcane Pool and Sacred Bond? If it's good enough for two classes that get spells (one of which has a full base attack bonus), then perhaps it's time to discard the 3.x artifact of flat DR bypassing, and allowing Monks a similar ability?
</soapbox>
If you're the GM... you know what your players are playing. That includes knowing that the party fighter favors a battleaxe, for example. If you're running an adventure and there's a key magic weapon in said adventure and that magic weapon happens to be a longsword... just change it into a battleaxe. The players will never know the difference, because when they first hear about the weapon or find it or whatever... it's already been changed into a battleaxe. Or longbow. Or bladed scarf. Or magic handwraps. Or whatever type of weapon you want it to be for the PC you feel would make the best fit for the weapon.
You obviously play in different games than I do—in games I play in, the animal companions, eidolons, and wild shaping druids do a significant amount of damage considering they're attached to characters who aren't supposed to be doing a significant amount of melee damage in the first place...
If you make damage reduction too easy to overcome (which is what the enhancement bonus rule does in my opinion), then it's a pointless rule to have in the game since it never matters.
My preference: The barbarians and paladins and fighters and other full BAB characters are the ones doing the strongest melee damage in the party. The mid BAB characters and low BAB characters (such as druids and summoners) should not be... since they have other options available when it comes to doing things in combat than simply making physical attacks.
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You obviously play in different games than I do—in games I play in, the animal companions, eidolons, and wild shaping druids do a significant amount of damage considering they're attached to characters who aren't supposed to be doing a significant amount of melee damage in the first place...
Well the last time I checked... ;)
If you make damage reduction too easy to overcome (which is what the enhancement bonus rule does in my opinion), then it's a pointless rule to have in the game since it never matters.
And from the other side of the screen, damage reduction is frustrating, as it punishes characters for making more attacks, and simply raises the "water line" of what is effective on what creatures. Heck, Clustered Shots is all but avowed as a "feat tax" on ranged attackers, and I wish I could take it for two weapon fighters/natural attackers! I would agree with being able to define a specific type of damage reduction that the weapon overcomes at the +3, +4 and +5 levels (i.e. this +4 sword overcomes Cold Iron and Good, or it was forged from Cold Iron, and it also overcomes Silver for being +3, and Chaotic for being +4), rather than blanket "+3 overcomes Cold Iron/Silver, +4 overcomes Alignment yadda yadda" but it's also a mechanic to make higher enhancement bonuses attractive to players over special abilities, such as Agile, Guided, Seeking, Ghost Touch, etc. +X to hit and damage isn't "sexy" on it's own - the ability to (beyond a point) also have another mechanical benefit allows that option to shine in contrast with special abilities on a weapon.
My preference: The barbarians and paladins and fighters and other full BAB characters are the ones doing the strongest melee damage in the party. The mid BAB characters and low BAB characters (such as druids and summoners) should not be... since they have other options available when it comes to doing things in combat than simply making physical attacks.
To be frank, the versions of said classes that *do* significant melee damage have (usually) given up a legitimately significant number of class options and feats in order to do that damage. Should they not be rewarded for doing so by being permitted to do what their character has the capability of doing, mechanically, in the system? I mean, out of the box, obviously they are inferior to your standard Fighter/Barbarian/Paladin/Ranger, and side by side having both tweaked for damage per round (to use the barbaric term), the Fighter loses less for doing the same damage than, say, a Cleric built the same way.
As an aside, before I go further, I am taking this as a mechanical argument of prudence, not a "characters should be organic, not a pile of stats" argument - in that case you can argue the point of the cleric of destruction following gorum, the martial artist that wants to "fight" crime in the sense of The Tick, the druid that worships the wrathful nature of the forest, etc etc. I'm sure you're familiar with the Stormwind Fallacy, and the argument I'm constructing leaves me wide open to comments that commit it; I simply want to construct the paradigm as such before I continue.
A GM who takes the approach of "this class should do this, that class should do that" or it's converse, saying a class "shouldn't" do X amount of damage, is missing the point that the character that is doing that damage has ostensibly given something up in return for that ability. That "thing" may be feat slots that would be better suited to a different role (such as healing, support or control), archetypes that give up actual class features and versatility for synergy with a particular cornercase situation that they can exploit, or actions in combat/spell slots to "buff" yourself into the combat monster that other classes simply are out of the box. Simply having other options with that character doesn't mean the player of that character is necessarily interested in making those options their primary focus, and it's disappointing that someone who makes themselves a mouthpiece for paizo on the question of rules (even while you avow that all of your answers are from a "this is how my game would run" perspective) would express that this is not a belief that is shared.
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In any case... this is the "ask James Jacobs questions thread," not the "argue/debate with James Jacobs" thread. That's what the rest of the messageboards here are for. ;-P
I feel, in any case, that the initial question has been answered, so that's all I have to say on the topic here.
Next question, please!
It would make sense that the amount of alien technology in Numeria not in the hands of the Technic League would be very small, right?
Entire campaigns could be set in Numeria with nary a robot or alien artifact to be seen?
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So... does an ascended god consciously decide what to be a god of, or does it just sort of happen to them?Depends on the deity, the circumstances of the ascension, and the nature of the world and multiverse and laws of probability and chance at that time.
What's the specific case for a deity who succeeded at the Test of the Starstone, like Iomedae, Norgorber and Cayden Cailean?
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It would make sense that the amount of alien technology in Numeria not in the hands of the Technic League would be very small, right?
Entire campaigns could be set in Numeria with nary a robot or alien artifact to be seen?
Yup. Numeria is a HUGE region. And while most of the folks know stories about the weird tech... it's certainly not everywhere.
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What's the specific case for a deity who succeeded at the Test of the Starstone, like Iomedae, Norgorber and Cayden Cailean?So... does an ascended god consciously decide what to be a god of, or does it just sort of happen to them?Depends on the deity, the circumstances of the ascension, and the nature of the world and multiverse and laws of probability and chance at that time.
Still depends on all of those things, and since some of those things are things we can't and don't want to say much about yet... those things must for now remain mysteries.
I like the idea that it depends on how the new deity reacts to the hazing he/she/it is treated to by the other gods just after passing the Test. ;)