Creative Director
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Lately, Father Basri has told his small flock that he believes Aroden will return in their lifetimes, but many see this as the ramblings of a very old and broken man.What is the meaning of this? Inquiring minds want to know!
[Trust his microphone toward the giant T-Rex hoping that his adamantine arm protection will be enough to save his arm if needed-]
The meaning of that is that something slipped under my radar of "things that aren't where I want to take into Golarion." It happens now and then.
The way I'm handling this slip of intent is to say that he is indeed a rambling, old and broken man who is simply suffering from dementia. There's nothing deeper to him than what you see, and we're very unlikely to do much more with him in the future. If only because if we DO ever pick up a "last priest of Aroden" type storline... I'd really rather it be a human priest.
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Creative Director
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Hey James, I noticed plant creatures apparently AREN'T immune to critical hits or precision damage. I was wondering, could you shed some light onto the rationale behind that change from 3.5? I'm trying to visualize it, but it's hard to image where the 'weak spot' is in a shambling mound or a treant. Or was this change specifically to accomodate the inclusion of new plants critters that it made sense to be able to critically hit / sneak, like the Mi-go?
Also speaking of intelligent plants, did you ever watch Farscape when it was on Sci-fi in the early 2000s? What'd you think of Zhaan, if so?
Because there were too many things in 3.5 that are immune to critical hits and sneak attacks, which means that it was too easy to marginalize rogue characters.
The weak spot for a shambling mound is its brain, which is in its belly.
The weak spot for a treant is the roots, or maybe a crack in its bark, or maybe a branch.
I watched one episode of Farscape and didn't like it.
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Creative Director
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When using bolas to trip someone, should I add my Strength modifier or my Dexterity modifier to the combat maneuver check? Combat maneuver rules don't seem to account for ranged variants.
Unless a weapon or attack specifically says otherwise, you adjust your CMB check with your Strength, not your Dexterity.
As such, they are my least favorite of our base classes... which is too bad, because had we built them exactly as they are but replaced the eidolon with a "demon/devil/angel/protean/whatever, depending on your alignment," then there would be a lot more of them, I suspect.
I gotta admit, that would be an interesting way to cook up an archetype for them.
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Creative Director
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Yup; if a character uses a spell like that to peer into another room, he can make a check to notice the haunt and can then decide to never go into that room. That does mean the character misses out on any treasure or information in the room... but that's no different than someone peeking through a keyhole, seeing an ogre in the next room, and deciding to go the other way.Thank you James, while awesome for using against Haunts normally I am hoping that knowing a Haunt is in the room does not discourage the players from entering it, thus missing out on a unique medium to tell a story.
Now my players have not bothered trying to figure out what is happening, they seem resigned on just...accepting their haunty fate. Is there a Knowledge Check to figure out what exactly a haunt is, as it is a new mechanic that my players are not familiar with? (I would assume religion, but what DC?)
Honestly, you should tell the PCs what's going on. Haunts are a new mechanic, but they're not a new thing in Golarion—NPCs know what they are and how they work, and so should PCs. In the same way a PC understands what traps are and how they work and how to defeat them.
If you want to have them figure it out with a skill check, I'd say knowing the basics of how haunts work and how to fight them is a DC 10 Knowledge (religion) check—a check that anyone can attempt even if they're not trained in the skill. And if no one can make the check, there has to be someone in the region who could tell them about them. Father Zantus in Sandpoint, in this case, should tell them that.
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Creative Director
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As such, they are my least favorite of our base classes... which is too bad, because had we built them exactly as they are but replaced the eidolon with a "demon/devil/angel/protean/whatever, depending on your alignment," then there would be a lot more of them, I suspect.I gotta admit, that would be an interesting way to cook up an archetype for them.
It's an even MORE interesting way to revise and fix them... but that's not something we can really do at this moment. We DID include rules for "eidolon models" in Ultimate Magic, but as far as patches work, it's not the best. Especially since it deviates too far from the outsider model.
Orthos and others, there have been a few homebrew attempts at that sort of concept inspired by James' mentioning of that system. Searching the homebrew forum for "James eidolon" might point you in the right direction if you want to see how people dealt with it. I don't know if anything came of those though.
Normally I'd send that info in a PM, but multiple people will probably be interested. But something I was going to post anyways...
Last month an adventure's details were posted where we are going to Earth.
This month, a module that goes to the firearm capital of Golarion was announced.
Is anything in similar vein (higher than normal technological level) going to be announced in the near future?
On the cover of the Mythic Adventures, what is the name of the sword that Valeros is wielding? It looks awesome!
Two questions if I may...
1. Would another base class, or an archetype for a wizard that fits the idea of a magic user who summons outsiders for aid be something paizo would consider? I'd love to have the kind of character option that your original vision of the summoner represents. Perhaps it could exist alongside the summoner.
2. Are they also using your ideas from unspeakable futures to create the early 1900s firearms we'll likely see in "Rasputin Must Die?"
Thanks!
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Creative Director
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Two questions if I may...
1. Would another base class, or an archetype for a wizard that fits the idea of a magic user who summons outsiders for aid be something paizo would consider? I'd love to have the kind of character option that your original vision of the summoner represents. Perhaps it could exist alongside the summoner.
2. Are they also using your ideas from unspeakable futures to create the early 1900s firearms we'll likely see in "Rasputin Must Die?"
Thanks!
1) No. We've got conjurers already, and that's good enough for now.
2) Not really; they're using the rules for advanced firearms from Ultimate Combat, with some new additions and stuff.
Maybe. Depends on your definition of "near" in the phrase "near future."This month, a module that goes to the firearm capital of Golarion was announced.
Is anything in similar vein (higher than normal technological level) going to be announced in the near future?
How about near encompasses out to after PaizoCon ends?
On the cover of the Mythic Adventures, what is the name of the sword that Valeros is wielding? It looks awesome!It is called "That sword from the cover of Ultimate Equipment," I believe.
That name has a nice ring to it. Must be a rare sword :)
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Creative Director
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How about near encompasses out to after PaizoCon ends?Maybe. Depends on your definition of "near" in the phrase "near future."This month, a module that goes to the firearm capital of Golarion was announced.
Is anything in similar vein (higher than normal technological level) going to be announced in the near future?
We'll be announcing a big chunk of the early 2014 stuff at PaizoCon, including the first of the 2 2014 Adventure Paths. That's too much to spoil here and now.
Well, I'll be there to see what's going on :)
Do you know when Mythic Adventures started to be worked on in earnest?
What are the aspects of Vancian magic that you like?
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I am playing a Varisian magus and was thinking about buying a Gypsy wagon as a traveling laboratory and resting place.
The wagons in Ultimate combat seem unsuitable to describe one of those wagons and the rules in the Jade Regent player guide are a bit too simplified.
So two questions:
1) there are better rules somewhere for that kind of wagon?
(I have the Jade Regents books but I have read only some of the articles in them, on the off chance of playing them)
2) who build those wagons? there is some famous builder in Varisia or Ustalav?
A interesting page on Romani wagons in Wikipedia.
During my kingmaker game one of my players (a master summoner) summoned four Gibbering Mouthers and four more next turn. Eventually I threw up my hands and said "combats over."
Since my character doesn't have levels in Rovagug cleric(AP 23) he shouldn't have been able to summon Gibbering Mouthers. I didn't know this at the time.
If he had taken a level of Rovagug Cleric would he be able to summon Gibbering Mouthers with his Summoner, or does it only count for summons form his levels as Cleric?
I've hinted that I would rather he play something else, but now that I've corrected one wrong practice(he was also summoning tigers) perhaps it won't be as game breaking.
In future games I plan on banning summoners all together. Would you consider this a rash decision?
recrudescence
That brings up fond memories of curling up with the 1E books in the early 80s and needing a dictionary to understand what I was reading. I had to do a search for recrudescence immediately.
Thanks for the nostalgia.
Any idea where you picked up that awesome word into your vocabulary?
Mr. James Jacobs,
Can a nascent demon lord or creatures of equivalent power and ability, including the ability to grant cleric spells, take levels of cleric and grant spells to themselves?
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Creative Director
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What are the aspects of Vancian magic that you like?
The fact that it adds an element of resource management to the game, and the fact that it narrows down choices in combat and game play for spellcasters. It's much better for game play for a spellcaster to only have a limited number of spells to pick from each action than to allow them to pick from every spell ever published. And the fact that it lets us build NPCs whose personalities are reflected in the types of spells they prepare or know.
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Creative Director
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I am playing a Varisian magus and was thinking about buying a Gypsy wagon as a traveling laboratory and resting place.
The wagons in Ultimate combat seem unsuitable to describe one of those wagons and the rules in the Jade Regent player guide are a bit too simplified.
So two questions:1) there are better rules somewhere for that kind of wagon?
(I have the Jade Regents books but I have read only some of the articles in them, on the off chance of playing them)2) who build those wagons? there is some famous builder in Varisia or Ustalav?
A interesting page on Romani wagons in Wikipedia.
1) The rules you cite for caravans are all we've said on the subject. I much prefer the Jade Regent rules.
2) The wagons are built by the Varisian families who use them. A single wagon could be in service for generations, but most Varisian families include wagon builders among their specialties.
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Creative Director
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During my kingmaker game one of my players (a master summoner) summoned four Gibbering Mouthers and four more next turn. Eventually I threw up my hands and said "combats over."
Since my character doesn't have levels in Rovagug cleric(AP 23) he shouldn't have been able to summon Gibbering Mouthers. I didn't know this at the time.
If he had taken a level of Rovagug Cleric would he be able to summon Gibbering Mouthers with his Summoner, or does it only count for summons form his levels as Cleric?
I've hinted that I would rather he play something else, but now that I've corrected one wrong practice(he was also summoning tigers) perhaps it won't be as game breaking.
In future games I plan on banning summoners all together. Would you consider this a rash decision?
The alternates to the summon lists in those articles work for ALL PRIESTS of that deity. A priest is not a class—it's someone who worships that deity. So all you'd need to do is have your summoner worship Rovagug and you'd be able to use those monsters.
I've already banned summoners from games I run, so I don't see that as a rash decision at all.
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Creative Director
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recrudescence
That brings up fond memories of curling up with the 1E books in the early 80s and needing a dictionary to understand what I was reading. I had to do a search for recrudescence immediately.
Thanks for the nostalgia.
Any idea where you picked up that awesome word into your vocabulary?
It was from a Lovecraftian short story by Leonard Carpenter called "Recrudescence." I read the story in Chaosium's "The Cthulhu Cycle."
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Creative Director
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Mr. James Jacobs,
Can a nascent demon lord or creatures of equivalent power and ability, including the ability to grant cleric spells, take levels of cleric and grant spells to themselves?
No.
If they were to gain levels in a class (which is not something we'd ever do, by the way), they would have to worship something else if they were a cleric.
Hey james like yourself im a fan of both lovecraft and howard but ive never read anything by algernon blackwood, or arthur machen..if i wanted to start reading both what would you recommend?
On another note about your blog.it is true anyone thats grown up in or around the woods does seem to have that one tree they stumble across that does seem...just evil.
how likely is it that we might see a druid focus, creepy woods kind of adventure
Mr. Jacobs,
Any plans to run unspeakable futures games at paizocon this year?
Edit: I just now saw you answered this question on the unspeakable futures thread.
I'm curious: Staffs and wands specify charges, but a metamagic rod only says "Possession of a metamagic rod does not confer the associated feat on the owner, only the ability to use the given feat a specified number of times per day." There's nothing about 3 charges per day.
Can my buddy use a metamagic rod, then toss it to me so I can use it three times as well?
When using bolas to trip someone, should I add my Strength modifier or my Dexterity modifier to the combat maneuver check? Combat maneuver rules don't seem to account for ranged variants.Unless a weapon or attack specifically says otherwise, you adjust your CMB check with your Strength, not your Dexterity.
Thank you so very much! Bolas are so queer, as the rules for them are quite vague. If it's not too much trouble, could you help clear up a few other things about them?
Do you have to hit with it before you can make the CMB check?
Does it deal damage and trip, or do you have to choose one or the other?
Does a small character really take a -1 size penalty to his CMB when using bolas?
Do you take range increment penalties on your CMB check when using them to trip?
Are you still limited to tripping a creature one size larger than you when throwing bolas? What if I were to use larger bolas?
Does using bolas to trip provoke attacks of opportunity?
Trip specifically says make a melee attack. How do I do that with bolas (a strictly ranged weapon)? Is tripping with bolas considered a melee or ranged attack?
Such an odd weapon! Quite simply, how are they meant to be used? Can you provide an example for us?
What's your favorite personal alias for the forums?
Your favorite alias-name you've seen on the forums?
At least one of the NPCs that you wouldn't expect.Soooooo.... who is secretly a veiled master?
I'm betting I know! It's Lem, isn't it?
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Creative Director
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Hey james like yourself im a fan of both lovecraft and howard but ive never read anything by algernon blackwood, or arthur machen..if i wanted to start reading both what would you recommend?
Algernon Blackwood: "The Willows." Hands down. One of the best, creepiest pieces of weird fiction ever written. After that, I'd read "The Wendigo."
Arthur Machen: "The Great God Pan" is my favorite of his stories. "The White People" is one that lots of folks seem to like, and it's where the Aklo language comes from, but I'm not as big a fan of it as "The Great God Pan."
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Creative Director
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On another note about your blog.it is true anyone thats grown up in or around the woods does seem to have that one tree they stumble across that does seem...just evil.
how likely is it that we might see a druid focus, creepy woods kind of adventure
"Feast of Ravenmoor" had some of that creepy woods freaky village stuff going on in it. Beyond that... chances are pretty good of seeing more creepy woods showing up in the future.
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Creative Director
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Mr. Jacobs,
Any plans to run unspeakable futures games at paizocon this year?
Edit: I just now saw you answered this question on the unspeakable futures thread.
Yeah... at this point, I'm not sure. Prepping one of those games takes a LOT of time, and I suspect I won't have that time to spare, but if I do I would love to run one. We'll see.
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Creative Director
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I'm curious: Staffs and wands specify charges, but a metamagic rod only says "Possession of a metamagic rod does not confer the associated feat on the owner, only the ability to use the given feat a specified number of times per day." There's nothing about 3 charges per day.
Can my buddy use a metamagic rod, then toss it to me so I can use it three times as well?
That's because they don't have charges. They have "uses" per day.
Doesn't matter who uses them; they can only be used 3 times a day total.
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Creative Director
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When using bolas to trip someone, should I add my Strength modifier or my Dexterity modifier to the combat maneuver check? Combat maneuver rules don't seem to account for ranged variants.Unless a weapon or attack specifically says otherwise, you adjust your CMB check with your Strength, not your Dexterity.Thank you so very much! Bolas are so queer, as the rules for them are quite vague. If it's not too much trouble, could you help clear up a few other things about them?
Do you have to hit with it before you can make the CMB check?
Does it deal damage and trip, or do you have to choose one or the other?
Does a small character really take a -1 size penalty to his CMB when using bolas?
Do you take range increment penalties on your CMB check when using them to trip?
Are you still limited to tripping a creature one size larger than you when throwing bolas? What if I were to use larger bolas?
Does using bolas to trip provoke attacks of opportunity?
Trip specifically says make a melee attack. How do I do that with bolas (a strictly ranged weapon)? Is tripping with bolas considered a melee or ranged attack?
Such an odd weapon! Quite simply, how are they meant to be used? Can you provide an example for us?
This is the point where I suggest that this is a better question to take to the rules forums so it can be FAQed and noticed easier by the design team.
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Creative Director
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a question about druids
would druid using a wildshape to polymorph into a primate be able to pick up and use manufactured weapons?
if yes would he have a penalty to attack for unusual arms/hands (if the weapon was of the right size and the druid was proficioent with it)
That's 100% a GM call. I would allow it with no penalty, mostly because I've read enough Conan stories to think a gorilla with a scimitar is cool looking.
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Creative Director
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I'm betting I know! It's Lem, isn't it?At least one of the NPCs that you wouldn't expect.Soooooo.... who is secretly a veiled master?
Lem's an iconic. He's basically a PC. None of the iconics are veiled masters.
Which is, of course, what the veiled masters would like you to believe.
That said, Wes Schneider found a really intriguing and interesting and compelling place to fit them in to Golarion, which also explains why they're rare. Simply put, the nation of the Inner Sea region where the summoner was the most common was in Sarkoris, and when the Worldwound exploded and destroyed that nation, the majority of the summoners there were killed—along with the majority of everyone else who was there.
Just curious, since the Worldwound AP is coming up, does that mean we will be learning more about Sarkoris? And if so, does that mean that we would learn a bit about the summoners' who lived there?
Yea, I know they aren't your favorite class, but this would be an opportunity to clean them up a little and integrate them a bit more into Golarion.
As such, they are my least favorite of our base classes... which is too bad, because had we built them exactly as they are but replaced the eidolon with a "demon/devil/angel/protean/whatever, depending on your alignment," then there would be a lot more of them, I suspect.I gotta admit, that would be an interesting way to cook up an archetype for them.
Or maybe even an alternate class, since it would be pretty different.
That said, if the place where most of the summoners were from is now the worldwound, any chance of seeing a summoner NPC in Wrath of the Righteous?
The alternates to the summon lists in those articles work for ALL PRIESTS of that deity. A priest is not a class—it's someone who worships that deity. So all you'd need to do is have your summoner worship Rovagug and you'd be able to use those monsters.
The one I mentioned specifically says "Rovagug’s clerics" but I guess they mean clerics in a general sense. In my Kingdoms of Kalamar book I remember that clerics could be of any class.
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I'm betting I know! It's Lem, isn't it?At least one of the NPCs that you wouldn't expect.Soooooo.... who is secretly a veiled master?
Lem's an iconic. He's basically a PC. None of the iconics are veiled masters.
Which is, of course, what the veiled masters would like you to believe.
I'm betting I know! It's Lem, isn't it?At least one of the NPCs that you wouldn't expect.Soooooo.... who is secretly a veiled master?
Lem's an iconic. He's basically a PC. None of the iconics are veiled masters.
Which is, of course, what the veiled masters would like you to believe.
Save your Dirge of Doom for the enemies.
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I am playing a Varisian magus and was thinking about buying a Gypsy wagon as a traveling laboratory and resting place.
The wagons in Ultimate combat seem unsuitable to describe one of those wagons and the rules in the Jade Regent player guide are a bit too simplified.
So two questions:1) there are better rules somewhere for that kind of wagon?
(I have the Jade Regents books but I have read only some of the articles in them, on the off chance of playing them)2) who build those wagons? there is some famous builder in Varisia or Ustalav?
A interesting page on Romani wagons in Wikipedia.
1) The rules you cite for caravans are all we've said on the subject. I much prefer the Jade Regent rules.
2) The wagons are built by the Varisian families who use them. A single wagon could be in service for generations, but most Varisian families include wagon builders among their specialties.
1) We would have to integrate them with those of Ultimate combat if we ever get to tactical combat in and around the wagon, but they are a good base.
2) So I need to find a cousin or an uncle that make them. It seem appropriate to my character story.
Thanks.