Creative Director
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Hi James,
Long time thread reader, first time poster here.
What Paizo product is this image that appeared on the blog from?
That's a picture from the article about the First World, from Pathfinder #36, the last Kingmaker adventure.
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Creative Director
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Hi James, this is probably an old question, but I can't find an answer, so apologies: If you summon a monster using the Summon Monster series of spells and it is killed in battle, my understanding is that it is not really "killed", but simply returns to its own plane. So I assume that after a melee involving summoned monsters, there would be no bodies resulting from the death of such summoned monsters - am I correct? Assuming I am, does that mean that the summoned monsters are in some way "avatars" rather than the actual creature? I think I'm also right that the situation for creatures called using planar binding or planar ally spells is different and that if killed whilst on the material plane, such creatures are really "killed". Again, have I got this right? Is there a source somewhere that explains all this? Thanks.
Correct; the bodies of summoned creatures vanish when they're slain. It's best to think of them as "avatars" or shadows or reflections of the summoned creature; the actual creature itself is probably not aware that its avatar or reflection was summoned at all, in fact, and doesn't have any memories of being summoned if it's targeted again.
Calling spells are the ones that actually physically transport creatures.
There isn't really a source that talks about the metaphysics of conjuration spells beyond the Core Rulebook.
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Creative Director
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Hey there James, got a random question for ya....though now that I think about it considering the questions you get here probably not so random.
Me and a buddy got bored in the last few hours and have been trying to figure out some base stats for the iconics that haven't got official stats yet, as a morning mental exercise of sorts. Currently working on Seltyiel and was wondering what kind of armor he's wearing? It looks mostly like normal clothes(mainly in the chest which is a pretty vital area) other than a few bits here and there which I suppose could mean it's leather but honestly I'm not sure so I felt I'd ask here.
We've got official stats for all the iconics in NPC Codex now.
Seltyiel isn't wearing armor, in any event; he's wearing clothes. He gets armor bonuses in his stats on pages 286–287 of the NPC Codex from bracers of armor.
I'm comfortable saying right now that I'm EXTREMELY proud of how the book turned out. I don't know the actual sales numbers, but I believe it's doing quite well.
I know I saw it at my local Barnes and Nobles, which was pretty cool.
Following on from the "summon monster/called monster" question, if an evil character killed a cassisian angel that had been called (for example as a familiar), could he then wear the helmet body of the dead cassisian as a helmet and if so would it have a similar (but lesser) effect as angelskin (as referred to in Ultimate Equipment)? I'm assuming the effect would be reduced by 50% as the Cassisian only has a "lesser protective aura" compared to the "protective aura" of other angels - so a cassisian helmet would reduce and evil wearer's HD by 5 for the purposes of detect evil spells and would give a 10% chance of avoiding smite evil, etc. Would be a pretty cool "trophy" for an evil character don't you think (at least until he ran into a full-blooded angel!).
How many synthesists do you think exist in the Inner Sea, canonically?
Hey there James, got a random question for ya....though now that I think about it considering the questions you get here probably not so random.
Me and a buddy got bored in the last few hours and have been trying to figure out some base stats for the iconics that haven't got official stats yet, as a morning mental exercise of sorts. Currently working on Seltyiel and was wondering what kind of armor he's wearing? It looks mostly like normal clothes(mainly in the chest which is a pretty vital area) other than a few bits here and there which I suppose could mean it's leather but honestly I'm not sure so I felt I'd ask here.
We've got official stats for all the iconics in NPC Codex now.
Seltyiel isn't wearing armor, in any event; he's wearing clothes. He gets armor bonuses in his stats on pages 286–287 of the NPC Codex from bracers of armor.
I thought that the NPC Codex only had characters from the Core Rulebook classes?(Seltyiel being a Magus) *goes and checks his friend's copy* I think you may have thought I was talking about Sajan as that's who's on that particular page.
Seltyiel has stats in all the volumes of Second Darkness (albeit in 3.5 rules) as an eldritch knight, and he's wearing leather armor.
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Hmm Leng Ghoul... I keep forgetting I have those books now lol.
On the subject of undead, specifically intelligent undead (forgive the randomness of the questions my mind works like a pachinko machine :3) what is it that makes their alignment evil (not counting the ones that were evil while alive)?
1. Being powered by negative energy overrides someone's conscienceness?
2. Loss of the soul? (Although I think it's been said they keep there soul, almost trapped like, which is why Pharasma wishes them destroyed)
In the Carrion Crown AP there was the vampire paladin which the book even suggests casting atonement on him so he can redeem himself by suicide by sunlight and goes on to say that if kept from this will revert to his old alignment due to feeding (forced, although Blood of the Night gives us the wine to blood spell, someone could willingly offer blood, or even a tweaked ring of sustenance allows for ways around this).
3. What about other Sentient undead who get atonement cast on them or somehow might develop amnesia?
Unless your feeling really snarky I would prefer an extended answer rather than just "Undead are monsters and are therefore evil so meh :3".
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Creative Director
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Following on from the "summon monster/called monster" question, if an evil character killed a cassisian angel that had been called (for example as a familiar), could he then wear the helmet body of the dead cassisian as a helmet and if so would it have a similar (but lesser) effect as angelskin (as referred to in Ultimate Equipment)? I'm assuming the effect would be reduced by 50% as the Cassisian only has a "lesser protective aura" compared to the "protective aura" of other angels - so a cassisian helmet would reduce and evil wearer's HD by 5 for the purposes of detect evil spells and would give a 10% chance of avoiding smite evil, etc. Would be a pretty cool "trophy" for an evil character don't you think (at least until he ran into a full-blooded angel!).
I suppose he could, just as an evil person can wear the face of a slain paladin as a mask.
A dead cassisian angel hat wouldn't have any game effects, but it could certainly serve as the inspiration for a nifty magic item.
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Creative Director
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I thought that the NPC Codex only had characters from the Core Rulebook classes?(Seltyiel being a Magus) *goes and checks his friend's copy* I think you may have thought I was talking about Sajan as that's who's on that particular page.Hey there James, got a random question for ya....though now that I think about it considering the questions you get here probably not so random.
Me and a buddy got bored in the last few hours and have been trying to figure out some base stats for the iconics that haven't got official stats yet, as a morning mental exercise of sorts. Currently working on Seltyiel and was wondering what kind of armor he's wearing? It looks mostly like normal clothes(mainly in the chest which is a pretty vital area) other than a few bits here and there which I suppose could mean it's leather but honestly I'm not sure so I felt I'd ask here.
We've got official stats for all the iconics in NPC Codex now.
Seltyiel isn't wearing armor, in any event; he's wearing clothes. He gets armor bonuses in his stats on pages 286–287 of the NPC Codex from bracers of armor.
Oh! Right. I totally did have a freak out there... I thought we were indeed talking about Sajan.
Heh.
Right.
Seltyiel has leather armor.
How many synthesists do you think exist in the Inner Sea, canonically?I'm tempted to say zero... but I also don't like answering these questions with absolutes, so instead I'll say "very very very very very very few."
So...a quantity somewhere between 0 and 1?
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So...a quantity somewhere between 0 and 1?How many synthesists do you think exist in the Inner Sea, canonically?I'm tempted to say zero... but I also don't like answering these questions with absolutes, so instead I'll say "very very very very very very few."
Two. They live next door to each other and constantly fight in a ridiculous anime-ish fashion over the pretty half-elf girl down the street.
One is a gnome and the other is a tiefling.
I thought that the NPC Codex only had characters from the Core Rulebook classes?(Seltyiel being a Magus) *goes and checks his friend's copy* I think you may have thought I was talking about Sajan as that's who's on that particular page.Hey there James, got a random question for ya....though now that I think about it considering the questions you get here probably not so random.
Me and a buddy got bored in the last few hours and have been trying to figure out some base stats for the iconics that haven't got official stats yet, as a morning mental exercise of sorts. Currently working on Seltyiel and was wondering what kind of armor he's wearing? It looks mostly like normal clothes(mainly in the chest which is a pretty vital area) other than a few bits here and there which I suppose could mean it's leather but honestly I'm not sure so I felt I'd ask here.
We've got official stats for all the iconics in NPC Codex now.
Seltyiel isn't wearing armor, in any event; he's wearing clothes. He gets armor bonuses in his stats on pages 286–287 of the NPC Codex from bracers of armor.
Oh! Right. I totally did have a freak out there... I thought we were indeed talking about Sajan.
Heh.
Right.
Seltyiel has leather armor.
Thanks for the answer. :) His outfit looked pretty normal so I wasn't sure though I can see the bits and pieces that could be called leather armor.
Not directly related to Seltyiel but I have a few Magus related questions. How common are Magi in Golarion? Are they a recent thing or have they been around for a while? And do you have a general idea of who the first Magi were in Golarion?(I'm gonna guess elves due to the large gish feel they have always had in fantasy gaming)
Also, a rules related question so feel free to defer me to the proper forum if you feel the need, could a Magus have a buckler and still use Spell Combat(obviously losing the shield bonus to AC that turn since his arm is doing something else). The wording is kinda murky in that regards to what makes a hand "free" and I'm only asking because I'm trying to step away from the flighty lightly armored dex based Magi I usually play and go for something a little more tanky.
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Creative Director
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Hmm Leng Ghoul... I keep forgetting I have those books now lol.
On the subject of undead, specifically intelligent undead (forgive the randomness of the questions my mind works like a pachinko machine :3) what is it that makes their alignment evil (not counting the ones that were evil while alive)?
1. Being powered by negative energy overrides someone's conscienceness?
2. Loss of the soul? (Although I think it's been said they keep there soul, almost trapped like, which is why Pharasma wishes them destroyed)
In the Carrion Crown AP there was the vampire paladin which the book even suggests casting atonement on him so he can redeem himself by suicide by sunlight and goes on to say that if kept from this will revert to his old alignment due to feeding (forced, although Blood of the Night gives us the wine to blood spell, someone could willingly offer blood, or even a tweaked ring of sustenance allows for ways around this).
3. What about other Sentient undead who get atonement cast on them or somehow might develop amnesia?
Unless your feeling really snarky I would prefer an extended answer rather than just "Undead are monsters and are therefore evil so meh :3".
It's the loss/corruption of the soul that makes undead evil. Negative energy isn't in and of itself evil.
My stance of "all undead are evil" should REALLY be viewed as "MOST undead are evil, because that makes the rare few non-evil ones really feel unusual and special." I'm really REALLY hesitant and wary about doing to undead what Driz'zt did to drow.
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Yeah, we're still awaiting official codex-style 1-7-12 builds for Damiel, Feiya, Balazar, Imrijka, Alhazra, Alain, Lirianne, Reiko, Hayato, and Seltyiel. Hoping for an Advanced NPC Codex in the future at some point! Actually, there's room for a Monstrous NPC Codex and a Featured/Uncommon Races NPC Codex and maybe an Archetypal NPC Codex... There are plenty of useful combinations that would be helpful to have on hand when the need suddenly arises!
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Creative Director
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Not directly related to Seltyiel but I have a few Magus related questions. How common are Magi in Golarion? Are they a recent thing or have they been around for a while? And do you have a general idea of who the first Magi were in Golarion?(I'm gonna guess elves due to the large gish feel they have always had in fantasy gaming)
Also, a rules related question so feel free to defer me to the proper forum if you feel the need, could a Magus have a buckler and still use Spell Combat(obviously losing the shield bonus to AC that turn since his arm is doing something else). The wording is kinda murky in that regards to what makes a hand "free" and I'm only asking because I'm trying to step away from the flighty lightly armored dex based Magi I usually play and go for something a little more tanky.
Magi are pretty uncommon, but not unheard of. They're not a recent thing at all, but I feel like that whole tradition probably came to Golarion with the elves. They've been around for a while, as a result, but as a pretty specialized class, they're not super common.
I wouldn't say they have a "gish" feel, since to me, gish is a specific title afforded to fighter/wizard githyanki, and that's not what magi are. Especially since githyanki aren't one of the D&D monsters we can use anyway, due to them being closed content. And furthermore, the word "gish" to me sounds like a sound effect for something vomiting or worse... ;-P
You could use a buckler and still do Spell Combat; that's sort of the whole point of the buckler (although mostly from the two-weapon combat angle).
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IANJJ, but I recognize that! It's from the article on the First World in the final issue of Kingmaker. I forget the Path number sadly.
That's a picture from the article about the First World, from Pathfinder #36, the last Kingmaker adventure.
Thanks to both of you!
Who decides which AP bestiary monster gets the bestiary openings/intro picture?
Openings picture = the picture that holds one of the creatures in the AP's bestiary, like the Forest Drake, Mothman, Ahuizotl, Polevik got in the Ap's a big action poster.
And is it random which creature gets this poster or is it your favorite creature in that bestiary?
Here's a somewhat weird one. If a brilliant energy weapon ignores the AC provided by shield and mage armor spells, why can't you use it through a wall of force?
I understand that a wall of force does not grant a shield or armor bonus. It is just a little weird to me. Not that I would try it (more than once), but it seems to me that you could use a brilliant energy weapon through any type of material that wasn't living. ex. X-ray vision ring coupled with a brilliant energy whip should be able to attack a guy on the other side of a wooden door.
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Creative Director
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Who decides which AP bestiary monster gets the bestiary openings/intro picture?
Openings picture = the picture that holds one of the creatures in the AP's bestiary, like the Forest Drake, Mothman, Ahuizotl, Polevik got in the Ap's a big action poster.
And is it random which creature gets this poster or is it your favorite creature in that bestiary?
Typically, whoever writes the art order for the Bestiary. These days, that's Adam Daigle.
When I write those types of art orders, I generally pick the monster that has the best combination of being the most interesting to me, the most "photogenic," and that aren't already supported elsewhere in half-page art in the volume.
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Creative Director
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Here's a somewhat weird one. If a brilliant energy weapon ignores the AC provided by shield and mage armor spells, why can't you use it through a wall of force?
I understand that a wall of force does not grant a shield or armor bonus. It is just a little weird to me. Not that I would try it (more than once), but it seems to me that you could use a brilliant energy weapon through any type of material that wasn't living. ex. X-ray vision ring coupled with a brilliant energy whip should be able to attack a guy on the other side of a wooden door.
There's a lot more weird stuff going on with those weapons than that. I generally don't use them in games I run or write or develop, since they raise more questions than they answer, and that's not good enough for me to allow light sabres into my games.
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Who decides which AP bestiary monster gets the bestiary openings/intro picture?
Openings picture = the picture that holds one of the creatures in the AP's bestiary, like the Forest Drake, Mothman, Ahuizotl, Polevik got in the Ap's a big action poster.
And is it random which creature gets this poster or is it your favorite creature in that bestiary?
Typically, whoever writes the art order for the Bestiary. These days, that's Adam Daigle.
When I write those types of art orders, I generally pick the monster that has the best combination of being the most interesting to me, the most "photogenic," and that aren't already supported elsewhere in half-page art in the volume.
Hmm Daigle? With that being said how much are you dreading the eventuality of a giant splash-page of Flumph showing up? :3
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Do you happen to recall why Jason went with bear animal companions being small size then going to medium? I recall that the wolf is meant to be the dire wolf, but the bear seems odd.
Ok, so how do you use rods in your games? (and other feel free to chime in), that is Metamagic rods with a spell that requires a somatic comp?
Let us assume I wanna cast ye olde Fireball, with a Rod of Empower: Must I:
Hold the rod in one hand and gesture with the other?
Use the rod ala Harry Potter "Expectro Patronum!" and thus the rod using hand is also doing the req'd somantic gestures? (This is what I think)
Quickly touch the rod with my right hand, then gesture with my right hand (leaving the left to hold a shield or something)? (also a fave)?
or something else entirely?
Some were saying #1, which means you need two hands to cast a spell with a rod and gestures, so clerics etc, can't really use rods very often.
Why would she prefer the hero (of [Taken[/i]) to the villains?Because Liam Neeson is so much more charismatic than anyone else in the movie, and so much more badass and so much more effective at doing his thing. How can anyone NOT prefer him over anything else in that movie?
And I was hoping it was because the villains had scummy brothels.
1. Did Xin-Eyruthnia have scummy brothels like in Taken or did Sorshen enforce any sort of aesthetic standards (e.g., patrons and clients must have minimal attractiveness)?
2. How would you feel about a Kingmaker like game where you play as the villain?
3. Did Thassilon have clockwork computers?
4. How advanced was Verces during Thassilon's time?
5. Can I use planar binding to summon an outsider with class levels? Can I research such a being's true name?
6. What part of a vampire's abilities are a result of being undead? What part comes from the life force taken from blood?
7. Can prestidigitation be used to "wax" hair?
8. Can damage reduction negate really high sneak attack damage if the initial weapon attack doesn't bypass DR? What about the properties of a bane weapon?
9. How would I incorporate ceremonial casting into Pathfinder?
10. Say I want to create a (non-Pathfinder) setting that's megitechnologically advanced but that doesn't have any rapid industrial revolutions nor cause any in other countries. How do I do that?
Hmm Daigle? With that being said how much are you dreading the eventuality of a giant splash-page of Flumph showing up? :3Who decides which AP bestiary monster gets the bestiary openings/intro picture?
Openings picture = the picture that holds one of the creatures in the AP's bestiary, like the Forest Drake, Mothman, Ahuizotl, Polevik got in the Ap's a big action poster.
And is it random which creature gets this poster or is it your favorite creature in that bestiary?
Typically, whoever writes the art order for the Bestiary. These days, that's Adam Daigle.
When I write those types of art orders, I generally pick the monster that has the best combination of being the most interesting to me, the most "photogenic," and that aren't already supported elsewhere in half-page art in the volume.
Never bought Distant Worlds, eh?
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Hey James!
a. Do Hellknight Signifers wear Hellknight Armour? Or is that reserved for the pure Hellknight prestige class characters?
b. Could a cleric of Asmodeus who is low level refer to himself as Paravicar, or is this term a high rank that would be the equivalent of a private demanding to be called commander?
c. Uniformity is everywhere in Hellknight orders. Could Signifers wear unique and distinct eyeless masks that differ somewhat from the featureless metal seen in the art of the Prestige classes book?
Thanks for your help!
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Creative Director
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Hmm Daigle? With that being said how much are you dreading the eventuality of a giant splash-page of Flumph showing up? :3Who decides which AP bestiary monster gets the bestiary openings/intro picture?
Openings picture = the picture that holds one of the creatures in the AP's bestiary, like the Forest Drake, Mothman, Ahuizotl, Polevik got in the Ap's a big action poster.
And is it random which creature gets this poster or is it your favorite creature in that bestiary?
Typically, whoever writes the art order for the Bestiary. These days, that's Adam Daigle.
When I write those types of art orders, I generally pick the monster that has the best combination of being the most interesting to me, the most "photogenic," and that aren't already supported elsewhere in half-page art in the volume.
Slim, but not zero.
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Creative Director
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Do you happen to recall why Jason went with bear animal companions being small size then going to medium? I recall that the wolf is meant to be the dire wolf, but the bear seems odd.
Because all animal companions need to be pretty close to equal at the baseline, but also need to be choices that a druid can pick at 1st level. In previous editions of the game, you simply couldn't get a bear, for example, at 1st level, which made for weird situations where druids didn't have 1 companion but a series of them. And as anyone who loves their pets can tell you... that's weird and awkward. It's MUCH more fun to have one pet that grows in power with you.
Which means that all animals need to start at a relatively similar baseline in power.
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Creative Director
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Ok, so how do you use rods in your games? (and other feel free to chime in), that is Metamagic rods with a spell that requires a somatic comp?
Let us assume I wanna cast ye olde Fireball, with a Rod of Empower: Must I:
Hold the rod in one hand and gesture with the other?
Use the rod ala Harry Potter "Expectro Patronum!" and thus the rod using hand is also doing the req'd somantic gestures? (This is what I think)Quickly touch the rod with my right hand, then gesture with my right hand (leaving the left to hold a shield or something)? (also a fave)?
or something else entirely?
Some were saying #1, which means you need two hands to cast a spell with a rod and gestures, so clerics etc, can't really use rods very often.
If you use a metamagic rod, you need to wield it in a hand. Essentially, using it like an additional focus component for casting the spell. I would say you still need a hand free to gesture for the somatic components of the spell, if any.
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Creative Director
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1. Did Xin-Eyruthnia have scummy brothels like in Taken or did Sorshen enforce any sort of aesthetic standards (e.g., patrons and clients must have minimal attractiveness)?
2. How would you feel about a Kingmaker like game where you play as the villain?
3. Did Thassilon have clockwork computers?
4. How advanced was Verces during Thassilon's time?
5. Can I use planar binding to summon an outsider with class levels? Can I research such a being's true name?
6. What part of a vampire's abilities are a result of being undead? What part comes from the life force taken from blood?
7. Can prestidigitation be used to "wax" hair?
8. Can damage reduction negate really high sneak attack damage if the initial weapon attack doesn't bypass DR? What about the properties of a bane weapon?
9. How would I incorporate ceremonial casting into Pathfinder?
10. Say I want to create a (non-Pathfinder) setting that's megitechnologically advanced but that doesn't have any rapid industrial revolutions nor cause any in other countries. How do I do that?
1) Pretty much all societies have scummy brothels somewhere in their borders. Sorshen didn't really care too much about micromanaging the sex lives of her entire nation of subjects; that's their business until it's not.
2) Intrigued.
3) No.
4) Unknown.
5) Yes, but you would indeed need to research that creature's name and all that (which doubles for getting the GM's permission to be able to conjure such a specific NPC).
6) All of the vampires abilities are a result of being undead. The act of drinking blood doesn't "empower" any abilities other than granting temporary hit points.
7) Up to the GM. I'd say no; it can be used to clean hair, but not remove hair.
8) If your additional damage from sneak attack or bane doesn't add up with your base damage to a number high enough to overcome damage reduction, then yes, the damage reduction can block it. Stuff like bane and sneak attack just adds to the damage done; it doesn't grant any special penetration power.
9) Ceremonial casting is something I'm eager to some day soon do rules for. There are a few spells in the game already that utilize ceremonial/group casting. Binding, for example.
10) By starting small and building up on that small starting with more material over the course of weeks, months, and years until you've got a whole setting. As long as you stay ahead of the parts of the setting the PCs are going to experience, you're good to go.
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Creative Director
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Hey James!
a. Do Hellknight Signifers wear Hellknight Armour? Or is that reserved for the pure Hellknight prestige class characters?
b. Could a cleric of Asmodeus who is low level refer to himself as Paravicar, or is this term a high rank that would be the equivalent of a private demanding to be called commander?
c. Uniformity is everywhere in Hellknight orders. Could Signifers wear unique and distinct eyeless masks that differ somewhat from the featureless metal seen in the art of the Prestige classes book?
Thanks for your help!
a) They don't wear Hellknight armor.
b) He could refer to himself as a paravicar if he's earned that title. He would not refer to himself if he hadn't earned that title, since that'd be a chaotic act and would cause alignment drift.
c) I would think not.
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Which would you rather not be forced to fight in a locked room in a dead-magic zone. An intellect devourer or an unarmed pugwampi?Without question the unarmed pugwampi. Without question.
Is this answer motivated more by fear of one or a deep burning well of hatred of the other?
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1.) Does a vrock have to maintain his dance for 3 rounds or does he just have to for one and the ruin happens 3 rounds later? The wording on this is a bit funky
2.) If I throw a template on a creature with preexisting DR the gives them DR/epic does that combine them together or do I just use the better of the 2 when appropriate? ex. base creature has DR 10/good and the template gives it 5/epic, how is that written up?
where can i find the Zombie Lord stat for PFRPG?
there will be a Bestiary 4th (i also count the npc codex as a humanoid bestiary)?
I'm not in any hurry to do it again anytime soon, since the to-do schedule for 2013 and 2014 is already pretty much bursting at the seams...
Hmm... would you recommend we should keep our hopes up for 2017, and a possible 15th Anniversary Edition of another AP?
where can i find the Zombie Lord stat for PFRPG?
there will be a Bestiary 4th (i also count the npc codex as a humanoid bestiary)?
Zombie Lord is in Pathfinder Campaign: Classic Horrors Revisited as well as Pathfinder Adventure Path: Carrion Crown #3 - Broken Moon.
A question for James. I seem to notice almost all oozes have very low AC but much higher HP than their CR suggests. What was the design decision for oozes having a Dex of one, but really high Con?
Zombie Lord is in Pathfinder Campaign: Classic Horrors Revisited as well as Pathfinder Adventure Path: Carrion Crown #3 - Broken Moon.
Thank you!!
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Do you happen to recall why Jason went with bear animal companions being small size then going to medium? I recall that the wolf is meant to be the dire wolf, but the bear seems odd.Because all animal companions need to be pretty close to equal at the baseline, but also need to be choices that a druid can pick at 1st level. In previous editions of the game, you simply couldn't get a bear, for example, at 1st level, which made for weird situations where druids didn't have 1 companion but a series of them. And as anyone who loves their pets can tell you... that's weird and awkward. It's MUCH more fun to have one pet that grows in power with you.
Which means that all animals need to start at a relatively similar baseline in power.
It would seem that Tigers and Allosauruses for example did not get this treatment. And they do seem more powerful to me.
Anyway here's an actual question (also related):
Do you think it would imbalance the bear for a level 7 druid PC if i allowed it to be just one size category larger (with all the regular adustments +2 STR, -2 DEX, +1 natural weapon dice and size bonuses/penalties)?
Bit of a quandary as a GM. I've got a black blade magus who's multi-classed into wizard and chose his magus weapon as his bound object. The book is scant on details of exactly how magic items are improved so some creative insight would be appreciated. In order to improve the blade with the wizard class what sort of process did you guys envision that taking or did you intentionally leave it open?
The quandary is that if he heats or etches the blade I can only see that as torturing a sentient creature which would evil-shift the character and basically end him there in the campaign.
I think this whole question had best be spoilered.