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Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
equinoxmaster wrote:
who was shelyn's mother? who is sivanah under the seventh veil? will there be a deity article on sivanah in an AP?

Unrevealed, unrevealed, and eventually.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Lemmy wrote:

1- What came first, dragons or dinosaurs?

2- Also, considering characters don't know the game mechanics and given that humans can interbreed with different races, how do humans know when someone is just a different ethnicity of the human race instead of a different race?

e.g.: How did white/black/etc people figure out that black/white/etc people are just humans that look a bit different, not a different race they can interbreed with, like elves and orcs?

3- Are Golarion scholars aware of DNA? How do they define what a "species" is?

4- When speaking in their native tongue, do other races refer to humanoid race as "said-race-oid" races? (e.g.: Do elves refer to humanoids as "elfoids" races? Do dwarfs use the term "dwarfoid"?)

5- Do other races see humans as "divided" since we have such a huge variety of languages, customs and traits when compared to most other humanoid races?

1) Dinosaurs.

2) By being knowledgable. In game, by making a pretty simple Knowledge (local) check.

3) They are not. They define species by other methods, but likely aren't NEARLY as exact about it as we are in print.

4) I suppose they could, but it'd be a weird quirk and not a regional thing. Most would say dwarven or elven. or the like.

5) Not as a whole, but some might.

Shadow Lodge

In golarion are there any books that mention Ihys' name or did his death cause all records of him to dissapear

Paizo Employee Creative Director

equinoxmaster wrote:
In golarion are there any books that mention Ihys' name or did his death cause all records of him to dissapear

His name is mentioned here and there... but not often. He's obscure. That happens when you die before mortal history starts.

Shadow Lodge

James Jacobs wrote:
equinoxmaster wrote:
In golarion are there any books that mention Ihys' name or did his death cause all records of him to dissapear
His name is mentioned here and there... but not often. He's obscure. That happens when you die before mortal history starts.

then who wrote it? how was it translated to common from primal languages (primal celestial, primordial protean, etc.)

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32

Hi James!

Ustalavan, Ustalese, or different?

As in, the Ustalese coast or the Ustalavan coast?

Shadow Lodge

theheadkase wrote:

Hi James!

Ustalavan, Ustalese, or different?

As in, the Ustalese coast or the Ustalavan coast?

The inner sea guide says it is ustalvic

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32

Oooo thanks!


1 person marked this as a favorite.

In another thread you confirmed that Lord Varklops is the King Ghidorah homage for Golarion; would he be (one of?) the CR 30 kaiju?

Unrelated; would it be possible for a mythic character with the divine source path ability to become an evangelist/exalted/divine scion/sentinel of themselves?


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

Was there some sort of event that happened in Casmaron at the same time as the death of Aroden in Avistan and the fall of Lung Wa in Tian Xia?

If so have you revealed what it was?


James,

I believe the cyber-soldier archetype, from the Technology guide needs some clarification regarding the following ability:

technology guide wrote:


Cybernetic Combat (Ex): At 5th level, a cyber-soldier
gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls with implanted weapons,
cybernetic arms, and melee or thrown weapons wielded
with a cybernetic arm. Weapons wielded with two cybernetic
arms receive double the bonus, except when such weapons
are thrown. This damage bonus increases by 1 for every
4 levels gained. This attack bonus does not stack with the
attack bonus for weapon training. A cyber-soldier gains a
slam attack for each cybernetic arm. These attacks deal 1d6
points of bludgeoning damage for a Medium cyber-soldier
and 1d4 points of bludgeoning damage for a Small cybersoldier.
This ability replaces weapon training 1.

I've bolded certain parts for emphasis.

Does this archetype grants a bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls or both? It feels like the mention to damage bonus is wrong, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Thank you!

Liberty's Edge

Did Golarion have a dinosaur age millions of years ago? Were there any intelligent species building or doing things back then? Any humanoid dinosaurs or dinosaur spellcasters/religions?

Radiant Oath

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
Archpaladin Zousha wrote:

1) Are all Shoanti shamans of the shaman class? If not, what other classes do they take?

2) Are there shamans who AREN'T from so-called barbaric societies like the Shoanti, Kellids or Mwangi?

3) What makes a child of a god who becomes mythic like in WotR different from someone who isn't mythic who takes the Divine Scion prestige class?

4) A lot of classes have alternative names for what they do. A fighter may call herself a warrior, a knight, a mercenary. A wizard might call himself a mage, a warlock, or a necromancer. What would some alternate names for the bloodrager, which you guys basically created concept and all? What does a bloodrager call himself besides "bloodrager?"

5) Is there a way to justify playing an "Asian" class like the Samurai or Ninja in Avistan in an AP that ISN'T Jade Regent?

6) As a horror fan, what do you think of the work of Jonathan Wojcik, also known as Bogleech, especially his new webcomic, Awful Hospital?

1) Nope. Some are druids or oracles. A few are clerics.

2) Yes. Take our iconic shaman as an example.

3) Fate.

4) Anything a barbarian or sorcerer might call themselves.

5) Yes, absolutely.

6) Haven't read enough of him to have an opinion.

1) Who do Shoanti clerics worship?

2) Ah. Forgot about her, which is a shame cuz she's awesome. Shame on me.

3) I thought fate didn't work on Golarion after Aroden died?

4) I...see?

5) Okay, where would I ask about that?

6) Check out his new webcomic, Awful Hospital: Seriously The Worst Ever. It's nine kinds of freaky!


Hello James just some questions for a campaign I'm running

1. If a summoner was to become a sentient undead would this affect their eidolon in anyway?

2. Can any undead other then male vampires have children with a humanoid?

3. If a cleric of Urgathoa where to lose their powers what happens to the undead under their control. Would they try and kill the cleric?

4. What is a lamia matriarch life span, is it significantly longer then a humans?

5. What would a bearded devil do with its free time, aside from torture?

Silver Crusade

Hate to put you on the spot like this but I'm really interested in Pathfinder Online and was just interested in your opinion about it and what all you like about it. I believe you've said you've played it before, correct?

Silver Crusade

Also after passing by the Lovecraft booth one too many times at Dragoncon I think I'd like to check out some of Chaosium's stuff. Any particular products of theirs that you would recommend?

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

A few questions on alignment:

1. Does being a member of a non neutral alignment mean you must take deliberate action against the opposing alignment?

2. I have heard players explain being "lawful" as having a strict personal code, irreverent to the laws of the land. Is this still legitimate when the character goes on to rob all of the local aristocracy?

3. True Neutral among mortals can either be apathy or a deliberate attempt to balance existence, or at least Golarion. What do denizens of outer neutral planes think of that dichotomy?

4. Are there any plans to make an adventure path focusing on Law V. Chaos instead of Good V. Evil? If not, can you say why?

Shadow Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Are there any rogue inevitables? Do inevitables malfunction? How does the inevitable's DR/chaos work as it is mechanical not flesh and blood? Does the chaos make the mechanical underworkings go haywire??


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Please... tell me... is it... an evil act... to summon me?


There are people on these fourms that are saying summoned monsters are real. Is this true or not?


Can you put the Young Creature Template on angels,Agathions,Archon,Azatas and other outsiders?


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Based on the pagodas, Karzoug's robe, and other visuals of Xin-Shalast...

1) Did ancient Tian Xia culture influence Thassilonian construction and styles?

2) Did Thassilonian cultre influence Tian Xia construction and styles?

3) Or was this case of parallel development?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
equinoxmaster wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
equinoxmaster wrote:
In golarion are there any books that mention Ihys' name or did his death cause all records of him to dissapear
His name is mentioned here and there... but not often. He's obscure. That happens when you die before mortal history starts.
then who wrote it? how was it translated to common from primal languages (primal celestial, primordial protean, etc.)

An excellent example of a mystery we will eventually address, but not yet. The time is not yet right!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
theheadkase wrote:

Hi James!

Ustalavan, Ustalese, or different?

As in, the Ustalese coast or the Ustalavan coast?

Ustalavic.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

FormerFiend wrote:

In another thread you confirmed that Lord Varklops is the King Ghidorah homage for Golarion; would he be (one of?) the CR 30 kaiju?

Unrelated; would it be possible for a mythic character with the divine source path ability to become an evangelist/exalted/divine scion/sentinel of themselves?

I'm not gonna say for sure at this point, but yes, Lord Varklops is one of the more powerful of the kaiju.

I suppose, but that weirds me out. It's up to your GM. I wouldn't allow it in my game.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Justin Franklin wrote:

Was there some sort of event that happened in Casmaron at the same time as the death of Aroden in Avistan and the fall of Lung Wa in Tian Xia?

If so have you revealed what it was?

There probably was. We haven't said much about it yet.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Ral' Yareth wrote:

James,

I believe the cyber-soldier archetype, from the Technology guide needs some clarification regarding the following ability:

technology guide wrote:


Cybernetic Combat (Ex): At 5th level, a cyber-soldier
gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls with implanted weapons,
cybernetic arms, and melee or thrown weapons wielded
with a cybernetic arm. Weapons wielded with two cybernetic
arms receive double the bonus, except when such weapons
are thrown. This damage bonus increases by 1 for every
4 levels gained. This attack bonus does not stack with the
attack bonus for weapon training. A cyber-soldier gains a
slam attack for each cybernetic arm. These attacks deal 1d6
points of bludgeoning damage for a Medium cyber-soldier
and 1d4 points of bludgeoning damage for a Small cybersoldier.
This ability replaces weapon training 1.

I've bolded certain parts for emphasis.

Does this archetype grants a bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls or both? It feels like the mention to damage bonus is wrong, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Thank you!

Attack and damage both. Similar to how weapon training works, but only when it involves cybertech.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Coridan wrote:
Did Golarion have a dinosaur age millions of years ago? Were there any intelligent species building or doing things back then? Any humanoid dinosaurs or dinosaur spellcasters/religions?

It had something of the sort, yes.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Archpaladin Zousha wrote:

1) Who do Shoanti clerics worship?

2) Ah. Forgot about her, which is a shame cuz she's awesome. Shame on me.

3) I thought fate didn't work on Golarion after Aroden died?

4) I...see?

5) Okay, where would I ask about that?

6) Check out his new webcomic, Awful Hospital: Seriously The Worst Ever. It's nine kinds of freaky!

1) Whoever they want. They're relatively uncommon and generally loners or eccentrics or the like. Desna and Gorum are relatively common choices though.

2) Wasn't a question, so no answer here but snark.

3) Fate is not the same as prophecy. They are VERY different things. Fate=destiny. Prophecy=words written down as a prediction.

4) We may have more info in the future I guess, but the thing is, as an entirely brand new word, bloodrager has no traction yet. Time may or may not provide alternates. (This is one of several reasons why I prefer not to make up words for classes...)

5) You don't need to. Read "Shogun" or check out "The Last Samurai" for two examples of how a non-Asian can become a samurai. There's plenty of ninja movies that do the same. It's a pretty well-established genre trope—the outlander coming in and becoming a samurai or ninja or whatever. In Golarion... we don't assume any limitations to your choices for race and class and all that... they're wide open. If you pick something unusual... that's a great way to start building character history/background.

6) Ok!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

The Gula Path wrote:

Hello James just some questions for a campaign I'm running

1. If a summoner was to become a sentient undead would this affect their eidolon in anyway?

2. Can any undead other then male vampires have children with a humanoid?

3. If a cleric of Urgathoa where to lose their powers what happens to the undead under their control. Would they try and kill the cleric?

4. What is a lamia matriarch life span, is it significantly longer then a humans?

5. What would a bearded devil do with its free time, aside from torture?

1) No.

2) That's up to the GM. It seems like a great way to build some unique story stuff. And the fact that there's been some really interesting stories done with this in other mediums (See the 1st season of American Horror Story for an example of this plot with ghosts), I say yes. But you have to back it up with great writing.

3) Probably.

4) Unrevealed, but likely not MUCH longer than a human lifespan. As a general rule, if we don't say how long something lives and it's not an outsider or construct or undead or fey, you can assume that it lives not much longer or shorter than a human. Easiest way to handle it.

5) I'm not sure many bearded devils HAVE free time. They're too low-ranking in Hell to know what free time is.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Rysky wrote:
Hate to put you on the spot like this but I'm really interested in Pathfinder Online and was just interested in your opinion about it and what all you like about it. I believe you've said you've played it before, correct?

I've watched it played a little bit, and played a VERY early version several months ago. I haven't played the current game at all (since it doesn't work on Macs yet). That said... PVP is probably my least favorite way to interact with others in online games. It's not really my cup of tea. I much MUCH prefer games with strong story elements or cooperative play.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Rysky wrote:
Also after passing by the Lovecraft booth one too many times at Dragoncon I think I'd like to check out some of Chaosium's stuff. Any particular products of theirs that you would recommend?

All of them!

HA!

Grab the new 7th edition rules when they're out. My favorite adventure they've published yet is "Beyond the Mountains of Madness," though.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Alayern wrote:

A few questions on alignment:

1. Does being a member of a non neutral alignment mean you must take deliberate action against the opposing alignment?

2. I have heard players explain being "lawful" as having a strict personal code, irreverent to the laws of the land. Is this still legitimate when the character goes on to rob all of the local aristocracy?

3. True Neutral among mortals can either be apathy or a deliberate attempt to balance existence, or at least Golarion. What do denizens of outer neutral planes think of that dichotomy?

4. Are there any plans to make an adventure path focusing on Law V. Chaos instead of Good V. Evil? If not, can you say why?

1) Nope. Alignment does not impact free will at all. Alignment is a RESULT of your actions chosen, not the CAUSE of your actions.

2) That's actually a lot more chaotic than lawful. Lawful can have personal codes, absolutely, but it also respects the law of the land just as much. Chaotic is more about the idea of "self before society" which is what that kind of personal code means to me. ESPECIALLY if you're someone "robbing all the local aristocracy." That's chaotic, EVEN if there's no law against it.

3) Some agree, others think it's narrow-minded and ignorant.

4) Yes. In fact, the upcoming Hell's Rebels is more accurately described as Chaos Vs. Law than Good Vs. Evil.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Celestial Dolphin on Dry Land wrote:
Please... tell me... is it... an evil act... to summon me?

Nope.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
equinoxmaster wrote:
Are there any rogue inevitables? Do inevitables malfunction? How does the inevitable's DR/chaos work as it is mechanical not flesh and blood? Does the chaos make the mechanical underworkings go haywire??

There absoultely are. The way they malfunction or go rogue is varied, and depends on the type of story you want to tell. DR/chaos won't change in this case; it works on account of the supernaturally potent forces of law that suffuse an inevitable, even one that's gone "rogue."

Paizo Employee Creative Director

xavier c wrote:
There are people on these fourms that are saying summoned monsters are real. Is this true or not?

They're real but only for the duration of the effect that summons them. When that effect ends, and before the effect begins, they do not exist.

Calling spells, not summoning spells, are the ones who conjure actual unique specific creatures from elsewhere.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

xavier c wrote:
Can you put the Young Creature Template on angels,Agathions,Archon,Azatas and other outsiders?

You can, but I wouldn't.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Zhangar wrote:

Based on the pagodas, Karzoug's robe, and other visuals of Xin-Shalast...

1) Did ancient Tian Xia culture influence Thassilonian construction and styles?

2) Did Thassilonian cultre influence Tian Xia construction and styles?

3) Or was this case of parallel development?

1) Nope.

2) Very likely.

3) Nope. It's intentional.


James Jacobs wrote:
xavier c wrote:
Can you put the Young Creature Template on angels,Agathions,Archon,Azatas and other outsiders?
You can, but I wouldn't.

Why wouldn't you

Does there appearance change

I'm trying to create messenger angels/celestials like the ones depicted in some of the old oil paintings


James, why does the Dragon Empires Gazetteer list Lingshen as Lawful Neutral, when the nation slaughters all members, including even the children, of any civilization that resists them? Isn't mass slaughter of non-combatants and people who don't have any decision making power in whether to resist very strongly Evil?


James Jacobs wrote:
xavier c wrote:
There are people on these fourms that are saying summoned monsters are real. Is this true or not?

They're real but only for the duration of the effect that summons them. When that effect ends, and before the effect begins, they do not exist.

Calling spells, not summoning spells, are the ones who conjure actual unique specific creatures from elsewhere.

Do summoned monsters have a personality? Such as if i summon two Movanic devas. Do the Movanic devas each have there own personality?

Liberty's Edge

James Jacobs wrote:
Rysky wrote:
Hate to put you on the spot like this but I'm really interested in Pathfinder Online and was just interested in your opinion about it and what all you like about it. I believe you've said you've played it before, correct?
I've watched it played a little bit, and played a VERY early version several months ago. I haven't played the current game at all (since it doesn't work on Macs yet). That said... PVP is probably my least favorite way to interact with others in online games. It's not really my cup of tea. I much MUCH prefer games with strong story elements or cooperative play.

James, have you played The Old Republic (the MMO)? What are your toughts about it?


1 person marked this as a favorite.

1- What are your 3 favorite...

1a- Fey.
1b- Undead.
1c- Dinosaurs.

I believe this was already answered, but I don't remember where I read about it, so I'll just ask you:

2- What god created Dinosaurs?

3- If dinosaurs were ever the predominant life-form in Golarion, what changed that?

4- What's the oldest humanoid race native to Golarion?


G'evening James,

The most random thought occurred to me while reading Gilgamesh for a literature class: would it be ridiculous to assume that the Dominion of the Black is aware of Earth? What's stopping them from just taking over the planet? Since Golarion has deities with an active interest in it for various reasons, while Earth's deities can't directly interact with their followers because magic and the supernatural are all but gone on the world itself (my headcanon explanation without stepping on eggshells regarding real life religions).

Paizo Employee Creative Director

xavier c wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
xavier c wrote:
Can you put the Young Creature Template on angels,Agathions,Archon,Azatas and other outsiders?
You can, but I wouldn't.

Why wouldn't you

Does there appearance change

I'm trying to create messenger angels/celestials like the ones depicted in some of the old oil paintings

I wouldn't because outsiders don't generally go through those types of biologic changes like childhood. Furthermore, I think the young creature template kinda causes more problems than it solves, and when I want to build a younger or smaller version of a creature, it's better to just ignore the template and rebuild the stats entirely from scratch.

If you want to create a new type of angel, you absolutely SHOULD try to build them from scratch, in any event.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Kelsey Arwen MacAilbert wrote:
James, why does the Dragon Empires Gazetteer list Lingshen as Lawful Neutral, when the nation slaughters all members, including even the children, of any civilization that resists them? Isn't mass slaughter of non-combatants and people who don't have any decision making power in whether to resist very strongly Evil?

Probably. I'd have to look the entry over again to make sure that the flavor text and the alignment match, but it's possible there's a typo and it should be LE, not LN.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

xavier c wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
xavier c wrote:
There are people on these fourms that are saying summoned monsters are real. Is this true or not?

They're real but only for the duration of the effect that summons them. When that effect ends, and before the effect begins, they do not exist.

Calling spells, not summoning spells, are the ones who conjure actual unique specific creatures from elsewhere.

Do summoned monsters have a personality? Such as if i summon two Movanic devas. Do the Movanic devas each have there own personality?

As a general rule, I'd say that no, summoned creatures wouldn't. The obvious exception would be the summoner's eidolon, which is a special case in that it stays active a LOT longer.

In the end, it's up to the GM if a summoned creature has a personality, but my preference would be to save that roleplay work for called creatures instead.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Paladinosaur wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Rysky wrote:
Hate to put you on the spot like this but I'm really interested in Pathfinder Online and was just interested in your opinion about it and what all you like about it. I believe you've said you've played it before, correct?
I've watched it played a little bit, and played a VERY early version several months ago. I haven't played the current game at all (since it doesn't work on Macs yet). That said... PVP is probably my least favorite way to interact with others in online games. It's not really my cup of tea. I much MUCH prefer games with strong story elements or cooperative play.
James, have you played The Old Republic (the MMO)? What are your toughts about it?

Nope; it wasn't available on Mac when it came out. Is it available now? Not that I really have time to add an MMO to my gaming time...

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Lemmy wrote:

1- What are your 3 favorite...

1a- Fey.
1b- Undead.
1c- Dinosaurs.

I believe this was already answered, but I don't remember where I read about it, so I'll just ask you:

2- What god created Dinosaurs?

3- If dinosaurs were ever the predominant life-form in Golarion, what changed that?

4- What's the oldest humanoid race native to Golarion?

1a) Nymph, quickling, redcap.

1b) Ghoul, ghost, vampire

1c) Tyrannosaurus, Deinonychus, Allosaurus

2) Unrevealed as to who, or if even they were created by a deity at all.

3) As in the real world... there are LOTS of theories but no one knows for sure.

4) Also unknown... but troglodytes are among the oldest.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Neongelion wrote:

G'evening James,

The most random thought occurred to me while reading Gilgamesh for a literature class: would it be ridiculous to assume that the Dominion of the Black is aware of Earth? What's stopping them from just taking over the planet? Since Golarion has deities with an active interest in it for various reasons, while Earth's deities can't directly interact with their followers because magic and the supernatural are all but gone on the world itself (my headcanon explanation without stepping on eggshells regarding real life religions).

It's not ridiculous at all to assume the Dominion of the Black isn't aware of Earth. What would stop them is time... the Dominion doesn't have access to faster than light travel, and that combined with their patience and strange way of looking at time (the dominion isn't rushed by it) means that they may be on their way... but they're not here yet!

Anyway... the version of Earth in Golarion canon is NOT the same as real-world Earth. There are plenty of things that real-world Earth can dredge up to defend itself from aliens.

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