Creative Director
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Is this answer motivated more by fear of one or a deep burning well of hatred of the other?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.
Nope. I actually really REALLY like pugwampis. The name is from my homebrew (where they were short furry bat-like swashbucklers who lived in the far north, like arctic phanatons), and the revision to them that Erik Mona created is really awesome.
The answer is motivated by the simple fact that an intellect devourer is a MUCH more deadly threat than a pugwampi... and in the case of an intellect devourer, the threat they pose actually INCREASES once they kill you. Needless to say that in an antimagic area, there's no way to get through its DR. In pretty much every way, an intellect devourer is a more dangerous and frightening creature than a pansy little pugwampi.
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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?
1) It's certainly unclear the way it was written, now that I look at it. They have to dance for the full 3 rounds.
2) All of a creature's DRs work, but they don't stack. A creature with DR 10/good and DR 5/epic retains its epic DR against a good weapon, and retains its good DR against an epic weapon.
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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?
Getting your hopes up is a good way to self-engineer disappointment, so no, I wouldn't recccomend getting your hopes up for something in 2017.
A lot can happen in a few years in this industry.
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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)?
Not a fan of just arbitrary size increases if there aren't associated boosts to stats.
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When you GM do you use a taser on your players as a form of divine wrath?Nope, because I generally want my players to continue playing. Without players, the game doesn't work.
Also, I do not own a taser.
Not even Cosmo?
Would your answers change if you did have a taser or some other shocking implement?
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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.
That's a situation that never occurred to anyone, I suspect.
I would likely not allow the black blade to be a wizard bound object, since it's already doing something pretty unique.
The system for improving magic items is basically that you subtract the magic item's starting cost from the final cost of the improved item, and that difference is the cost it takes to make the item.
And a black blade is not an imprisoned slave soul or a captured prisoner anyway. It's an ally to the magus, and as such improving it is not torture. If you want to equate the blade to a "sentient creature," think of the improvements as things like tattoos or piercings or body modifications. Stuff someone gets on purpose.
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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?
1) It's certainly unclear the way it was written, now that I look at it. They have to dance for the full 3 rounds.
2) All of a creature's DRs work, but they don't stack. A creature with DR 10/good and DR 5/epic retains its epic DR against a good weapon, and retains its good DR against an epic weapon.
Ty hope they edit that a bit to make it more clear. Now new question
What is your favorite demon and why?
What is your least favorite and why?
What do you think is one of the best creature examples of mechanics synergizing with the fluff and flavor of the monster as written? If an old example do you have any favorite new examples of this synergy done right?
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Creative Director
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When you GM do you use a taser on your players as a form of divine wrath?Nope, because I generally want my players to continue playing. Without players, the game doesn't work.
Also, I do not own a taser.
Not even Cosmo?
Would your answers change if you did have a taser or some other shocking implement?
Nope.
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James of all the races that live in the underdark which has the most advance civilisation? Which has the most detailed? And which just doesn't get enough light in the publish material?
Depends what you mean by "advanced." The most advanced magically is not the same as the most advanced culturally is not the same as the most advanced technologically is not the same as the most advanced in overall power and territory.
I'd like to see pretty much EVERYTHING in the Darklands get more stuff out there. I'd like to do an Inner Sea World Guide sized book about the Darklands.
I've got a question:
Suppose there is a spellcaster with Craft Magic Arms & Armor that is improving his +1 weapon to a +2 weapon while adventuring.
Could he use that weapon during the time he's actively adventuring, and still turn around and continue to enchant it at night?
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Creative Director
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What is your favorite demon and why?
What is your least favorite and why?
What do you think is one of the best creature examples of mechanics synergizing with the fluff and flavor of the monster as written? If an old example do you have any favorite new examples of this synergy done right?
Favorite demon is the succubus, because they're sexy looking and because they're so manipulative and sneaky and tricky. And because they're actually based on mythological demons.
I'm not gonna name my least favorite demon, but it's from 2nd edition D&D. It's not one that you'll see us reprint, both because it's a terrible idea and because we can't legally reprint them anyway since they're not open content.
Back to the succubus, I'm pretty proud with the profane gift power I designed for them; it's a really handy way to tempt actual player characters into falling into a succubus's clutches that doesn't require going mature-content.
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Depends what you mean by "advanced." The most advanced magically is not the same as the most advanced culturally is not the same as the most advanced technologically is not the same as the most advanced in overall power and territory.
Then I shall expand the question to 3!
Which is the most magically advance race in the underdark?Which is the most technologically advance race in the underdark?
Which is the most culturaly advance race in the underdark?
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Creative Director
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I've got a question:
Suppose there is a spellcaster with Craft Magic Arms & Armor that is improving his +1 weapon to a +2 weapon while adventuring.
Could he use that weapon during the time he's actively adventuring, and still turn around and continue to enchant it at night?
I'd say no. The time he's adventuring, the weapon is "steeping" in magic and building up its power.
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Creative Director
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Depends what you mean by "advanced." The most advanced magically is not the same as the most advanced culturally is not the same as the most advanced technologically is not the same as the most advanced in overall power and territory.
Then I shall expand the question to 3!
Which is the most magically advance race in the underdark?
Which is the most technologically advance race in the underdark?
Which is the most culturaly advance race in the underdark?
Magical: Vault Builders
Technology: Duergar
Culture: Drow
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?Yes.
Er, sorry, that didn't quite answer my question. I'm wondering, what was the reason for oozes having a low dex but a high con? And what would think is an adequate HP for to make up for something with a 5 AC?
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Favorite demon is the succubus, because they're sexy looking and because they're so manipulative and sneaky and tricky. And because they're actually based on mythological demons.
Has that ever tempted you to play a Warlock on WOW? There are two succubi varieties available now.
The Hordeside quest to obtain one used to be really nasty. You had to obtain the hearts of two good men as pure hearts were the only true bait for a succubus. Getting the second heart required you to cross territory significantly above your level and attack a PVP flagged NPC. Then again, the Forsaken Warlock I was playing at the time was fairly evil herself.
In fact, I have a level 68 or thereabouts human warlock named Iggwilv. So... yes.
But I have a pretty hard time playing alt characters in Warcraft... I tend to prefer spending most of my time on my main character Shensen.
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Er, sorry, that didn't quite answer my question. I'm wondering, what was the reason for oozes having a low dex but a high con? And what would think is an adequate HP for to make up for something with a 5 AC?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?Yes.
By making these monsters really easy to hit but with a lot of hit points (and often with significant other defenses against weapons), we encourage different tactics than the standard.
Once something's AC is more than 10 points below its expected AC for its CR, having an even lower AC is kind of pointless. For something like a CR 7 ooze (which expects an AC of 20), an AC of 1 or 5 is more or less just as bad but not much worse than an AC of 10.
Oozes also often do a fair amount of additional damage from acid or constriction or the like in addition to having high hp.
As for what's an "adequate" amount of extra hp... that varies. At least 20 points more, though, I would say. Preferably with some sort of additional defense, like split or damage reduction.
I'd say no. The time he's adventuring, the weapon is "steeping" in magic and building up its power.I've got a question:
Suppose there is a spellcaster with Craft Magic Arms & Armor that is improving his +1 weapon to a +2 weapon while adventuring.
Could he use that weapon during the time he's actively adventuring, and still turn around and continue to enchant it at night?
Thanks! :D
That's pretty much my feeling, but I would've never thought of the tea analogy! :D
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Creative Director
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Oh, here's a question
What prestige class or archetype would be good for a 'hellknight rogue'?
I mean, it goes like this
fighter->hellknight
wizard->hellknight signifier
cleric->hellknight signifier
rogue->???maybe assassin? maybe some sort of crazy homebrew 'hell ninja'?
I love that the signifier is a 'prestige class for different spellcasters' so nicely, by the way.
Not really any. Rogues and hellknights don't really mix, flavor wise. Ranger's a better choice if you want a skill-monger hellknight, or bard if you want a skillmonger signifer.
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I think this whole question had best be spoilered.
** spoiler omitted **
Whoa. I literally just read that very scene in that very story just now during lunch. For the first time. Gave me the creeps. And this gives me even more creeps.
And I think you missed Gregg's question, James. I'll repeat it, to save you the trouble of finding it:
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Creative Director
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I think this whole question had best be spoilered.
** spoiler omitted **
Whoa. I literally just read that very scene in that very story just now during lunch. For the first time. Gave me the creeps. And this gives me even more creeps.
And I think you missed Gregg's question, James. I'll repeat it, to save you the trouble of finding it:
** spoiler omitted **
That room is 100% inspired by "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward."
There are a LOT more Lovecraft inspirations and allusions and the like in pretty much each and every thing I write, in fact. Far too many to list here.
There are a LOT more Lovecraft inspirations and allusions and the like in pretty much each and every thing I write, in fact. Far too many to list here.
That's awesome. It's one of my favorite HPL stories, and that scene is one of the most unsettling ones he ever wrote, IMO.
Hey Aream, this FAQ might be helpful :)
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Hello James,
question about the Titan Mauler Barbarian Archetype(Ultimate Combat).
The level 3 power Massive Weapons says
"At 3rd level, a titan mauler becomes skilled in the use of massive weapons looted from her titanic foes. The attack roll penalty for using weapons too large for her size is reduced by 1, and this reduction increases by 1 for every three levels beyond 3rd (to a minimum of 0).
This ability replaces trap sense."As it is now a medium character with 3 levels Titan Mauler could only use onehanded or smaller large weapons and only light huge weapons cause of the size difference rules.
Is that interpretation correct?
Thanks for answering.
This question is one that I would recommend posting to the rules forum to be FAQed... but it looks like that's already done.
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Hi James,
So I cam across this via The Oatmeal and had to share. The Best Western Denver Southwest is currently renovating. Come April of this year it will be a dinosaur-themed Best Western and you can learn all about it here. Just thought I would pass this along in case you were looking for a neat place to stay :-)
I don't know who to trust anymore!
Nope. I actually really REALLY like pugwampis.
Seelah.
And Kyra.
And you can usually trust Valeros to dive into a sleazy dive if we have the time.
What's the best story you've heard about one or more halflings?
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Two questions:
First, how do you manage to type such great stuff with tiny little t-rex arms?
Second, as an HPL fan, what would you suggest I read? In this vein, let me add that I've tried. I really have. His ideas are great, but his execution makes me think of an over-caffeinated 12 year old describing a dream he had three years ago. I am forced to assume that I must have chosen the wrong story from which to launch my sojourn into all things HPL.
(Final note: the story in question was "The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath")
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Two questions:
First, how do you manage to type such great stuff with tiny little t-rex arms?
Second, as an HPL fan, what would you suggest I read? In this vein, let me add that I've tried. I really have. His ideas are great, but his execution makes me think of an over-caffeinated 12 year old describing a dream he had three years ago. I am forced to assume that I must have chosen the wrong story from which to launch my sojourn into all things HPL.
(Final note: the story in question was "The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath")
I'm not James, but I would recommend "The Music of Erich Zann", my personal favorite. Also "The Colour out of Space" and "The Rats in the Walls." Dream Quest is a very unusual story, and not representative of the style that he is most famous for.
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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.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.
In that situation I am always asking myself in what hand you are keeping the spell components, when they are needed.
You can keep them in the same hand that is doing the gestures?Or in the hand with the rod/weapon?
A magus using spell combat need a free hand. I can keep the spell component in that hand? And do the gestures with that hand at the same time?
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question/comment 1)
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.
That's a situation that never occurred to anyone, I suspect.
I would likely not allow the black blade to be a wizard bound object, since it's already doing something pretty unique.
A Soul Forger (Ultimate combat) weapon is his bound object and that archetype can be combined with a Bladebound magus.
I have considered to use that mix of archetypes when creating my magus, but losing spell recall was a bit too harsh and a couple of abilities become redundant or not interesting with a black blade. Pity as the idea of a character so intimately linked to his weapon was great.One of the reason against was that it is unclear how he could go around improving his black blade as a bound object.
Our hypothesis was to treat it as a +5 magical weapon from the start, to avoid having low cost enhancements added early on and later becoming high power enhancements at a discounted price. (i.e. adding holy at level 7 when the black blade is a +2 weapon for 24.000 gp and still having it when it is a +5 weapon and adding that would cost 48.000 gp)
I think it is a reasonable solution, but it make price prohibitive to enhance your weapon focus/black blade.
Another solution I have seen in the forum is to have to pay the difference when your blabk blade power rise to keep the extra enhancement working (i.e. you pay 24.000 gp for holy at level 7 when the sword is a +2 weapon, but when at level 9 it become a +3 weapon you have to pay 50.000 gp [cost of a +5 weapon] minus 18.000 [the "free" +3], minus 24.000 [what you have already paid] = 8.000 gp.
What do you think of those solutions? Any other approach that you can suggest?
question/comment 2)
7) Up to the GM. I'd say no; it can be used to clean hair, but not remove hair.
7. Can prestidigitation be used to "wax" hair?
You wouldn't allow me to trim my hair and shave my beard with prestidigitation? This is anti-wizard/magus discrimination! Classism!
Unacceptable![storm off from the thread fuming]
;-)
As you can guess I like the idea of being capable to do those cores with a wave of my hand. I like the spells that make my life more comfortable even if they have little impact on the game.
question/comment 3)
"Tattoos" and prestidigitation and/or arcane mark.
a) It is possible to make a non permanent tattoo with prestidigitation or that cantrip can color only a entire object/predefined shape?
b) alternatively it is possible to choose a specific (non magical) symbol or image when preparing arcane mark and use it to place a pseudo-tattoo on your body?
My impression is that prestidigitation will allow me to change a specific color of a image or make a piece of one made a single shade of color (like the red background of a famous brand of cola) with one casting and then the next piece (like the name brad) with another casting, but probably I am asking too much from a cantrip.
Doing that with arcane mark seem off too as you can etch 6 words at most and words aren't the same thing a shapes.
Maybe the solution is researching a equivalent cantrip that make an image composed of 6 sections at most?
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.
So how would one go about getting a large bear for an animal companion?
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What is your favorite demon and why?
What is your least favorite and why?
What do you think is one of the best creature examples of mechanics synergizing with the fluff and flavor of the monster as written? If an old example do you have any favorite new examples of this synergy done right?
Favorite demon is the succubus, because they're sexy looking and because they're so manipulative and sneaky and tricky. And because they're actually based on mythological demons.
I'm not gonna name my least favorite demon, but it's from 2nd edition D&D. It's not one that you'll see us reprint, both because it's a terrible idea and because we can't legally reprint them anyway since they're not open content.
Back to the succubus, I'm pretty proud with the profane gift power I designed for them; it's a really handy way to tempt actual player characters into falling into a succubus's clutches that doesn't require going mature-content.
Have you seen this thread about the profane gift? I think you will like it. It is an avowal of the greatness of your idea.
My preferred quote form it:
Third Note: The succubus can communicate telepathically with you, at all times, across any distance. Since other communication effects specifically state when the can't cross planar boundaries, this effect can. Enjoy having the world's best phone sex girl permanently in your ear, except she wants murder, mayhem, and madness rather than 5.99 a minute, and she will call you whenever she feels like it.
While we are at Succubi already; something about a certain unique Succubus caught my attention.
You stated that Shamira grants the Subdomains of Demon, Leadership, Lust... and Love, the latter being something... extremely uncommon for a Demon Lord (I even think I remember reading Love being among the Subdomains no Demon Lord grants).
Is there any deeper significance to this? Is the inclusion of this subdomain a hint at possible redemption, given the rumors about Shamira's origins? Or was it just that all other available subdomains didn't fit at all, and I am just over-analyzing things?