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Paizo Employee Creative Director

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xavier c wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
LazarX wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
donato wrote:
Have you ever considered architecture within Heaven? I feel like archons and angels would create structures that are perfectly symmetrical and would use lots of round shapes.
Heaven is a tricky place... there's a reason everyone studies Inferno and Purgatory in college but not Paradiso... it's easier for us to envision Hell than it is Heaven.
Don't you think it has at least something to do that in that work, Satan is a far more interesting and evocative character than God?
I think the REASON Satan is more interesting and evocative is because of the same reason I list above. Satan is easier to grasp, and thus easier to identify with and understand.
Isn't that the point of Jesus? God lowered himself down to be like humans. So humans could identify with him.(at least one of the reasons anyway)

I'm not interested in turning this thread into a real-world religious debate/discussion, because my views on religion would, I strongly suspect, offend you. Best we keep this thread to other questions.


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James Jacobs wrote:
xavier c wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
LazarX wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
donato wrote:
Have you ever considered architecture within Heaven? I feel like archons and angels would create structures that are perfectly symmetrical and would use lots of round shapes.
Heaven is a tricky place... there's a reason everyone studies Inferno and Purgatory in college but not Paradiso... it's easier for us to envision Hell than it is Heaven.
Don't you think it has at least something to do that in that work, Satan is a far more interesting and evocative character than God?
I think the REASON Satan is more interesting and evocative is because of the same reason I list above. Satan is easier to grasp, and thus easier to identify with and understand.
Isn't that the point of Jesus? God lowered himself down to be like humans. So humans could identify with him.(at least one of the reasons anyway)
I'm not interested in turning this thread into a real-world religious debate/discussion, because my views on religion would, I strongly suspect, offend you. Best we keep this thread to other questions.

Alright. Thank you for warning me.


You are probability tired of me asking this. But it has been about a year sense i asked. Is that "romance of the inner sea book" more likely of happening now?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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xavier c wrote:
You are probability tired of me asking this. But it has been about a year sense i asked. Is that "romance of the inner sea book" more likely of happening now?

It's unlikely to be called "Romance of the Inner Sea" if it happens, but both Jessica and I have a lot of ideas for something along the lines of "Ceremonies of the Inner Sea" that would include information about romance customs as well as funeral customs, celebration customs, and more... so technically yes, it's more likely to happen now, but if I"m involved in writing it, that's gonna probably push it back a bit further.

It's not on any sort of actual schedule though.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Inner Seas Rites?

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

So Tuesday evening in Paizo Chat with no James Jacobs to ask questions...

1) How far is Holomog from Geb?

2) What is the ocean/sea on the SE edge of Garund called?

3) How far past the S edge of map in ISWG is does the Mwangi go? There is no dotted line for it and not all the areas look like forests.

4) ETA on a map of southern Garund with at least country names and borders?

5) Are your secret projects coming along well?

6) Is your cat getting enough belly rubs?

Grand Lodge

James, I saw your name credited on the book so I'm really hoping you can solve this puzzle that no one else seems to be able to fully comprehend. There's only theories. To the point most people are going "screw it, it's a lich instead." I know I'm definitely having issues understanding this.

In Classic Horrors Revisited we learn of the zombie magus. It says it's "+1 CR plus caster level". What exactly does that mean? In a certain module that we'll leave unnamed so as to not release unwanted spoilers, we see a human zombie magus necromancer 1 that's CR 1. To me, that means that's it's like the zombie lord, and it's +1 CR to the total. The only problem is, it's a single level of wizard. That's not really helping to figure out the full scale of what the template actually says.

What about a zombie magus fighter 5/wizard 3/eldritch knight 2? What's that CR? What about changing up the storm giant zombie to being a zombie magus? What if the the original creature has spell-like abilities? Is that important? Do SLA count as CL for this template? If so, how about a zombie magus drider? They're CL 6 for sorcerer/cleric spells, but CL 9 for their SLA. What's their CR? Do you take the higher number? Ignore the SLA altogether? Add the two numbers together?

I'm just looking for a little clarity.

Module name for those curious:
is Godsmouth Heresy.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:

So Tuesday evening in Paizo Chat with no James Jacobs to ask questions...

1) How far is Holomog from Geb?

2) What is the ocean/sea on the SE edge of Garund called?

3) How far past the S edge of map in ISWG is does the Mwangi go? There is no dotted line for it and not all the areas look like forests.

4) ETA on a map of southern Garund with at least country names and borders?

5) Are your secret projects coming along well?

6) Is your cat getting enough belly rubs?

1) It's the next region south, I believe, but theres' a stretch of wilderness that includes the Field of Maidens that neither country rules.

2) We did a huge article on the oceans and seas of Golarion in volume 56 of the Pathfinder AP. The Obari Ocean is what's off the entire east coast of Garund pretty much, all the way down to the Horn of Droon.

3) Unrevealed, but there's more to the Mwangi Expanse than jungle. Note that the Mwangi Jungle is located IN the Mwangi expanse, but the Mwangi Expanse is more than just the jungle.

4) Still years out. At the minimum.

5) Well enough.

6) Yup!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

kevin_video wrote:

James, I saw your name credited on the book so I'm really hoping you can solve this puzzle that no one else seems to be able to fully comprehend. There's only theories. To the point most people are going "screw it, it's a lich instead." I know I'm definitely having issues understanding this.

In Classic Horrors Revisited we learn of the zombie magus. It says it's "+1 CR plus caster level". What exactly does that mean? In a certain module that we'll leave unnamed so as to not release unwanted spoilers, we see a human zombie magus necromancer 1 that's CR 1. To me, that means that's it's like the zombie lord, and it's +1 CR to the total. The only problem is, it's a single level of wizard. That's not really helping to figure out the full scale of what the template actually says.

What about a zombie magus fighter 5/wizard 3/eldritch knight 2? What's that CR? What about changing up the storm giant zombie to being a zombie magus? What if the the original creature has spell-like abilities? Is that important? Do SLA count as CL for this template? If so, how about a zombie magus drider? They're CL 6 for sorcerer/cleric spells, but CL 9 for their SLA. What's their CR? Do you take the higher number? Ignore the SLA altogether? Add the two numbers together?

I'm just looking for a little clarity.

** spoiler omitted **

I didn't work on the zombie chapter of that book... but what that means is that a zombie magus has a CR equal to the normal skeleton CR for the creature, +1, + the number of levels it has.

Since we published Classic Horrors, we've provided things like juju zombies, zombie lords, and a few other options that do for this monster role MUCH MORE than the "zombie magus" does. In a way, now that things like zombie lords are available, you should just use that template when making a zombie with spellcaster levels, and just let the "zombie magus" fade away into the past to be forgotten. Which, now that we also have a magus class, is for the best.

Grand Lodge

James Jacobs wrote:
kevin_video wrote:

James, I saw your name credited on the book so I'm really hoping you can solve this puzzle that no one else seems to be able to fully comprehend. There's only theories. To the point most people are going "screw it, it's a lich instead." I know I'm definitely having issues understanding this.

In Classic Horrors Revisited we learn of the zombie magus. It says it's "+1 CR plus caster level". What exactly does that mean? In a certain module that we'll leave unnamed so as to not release unwanted spoilers, we see a human zombie magus necromancer 1 that's CR 1. To me, that means that's it's like the zombie lord, and it's +1 CR to the total. The only problem is, it's a single level of wizard. That's not really helping to figure out the full scale of what the template actually says.

What about a zombie magus fighter 5/wizard 3/eldritch knight 2? What's that CR? What about changing up the storm giant zombie to being a zombie magus? What if the the original creature has spell-like abilities? Is that important? Do SLA count as CL for this template? If so, how about a zombie magus drider? They're CL 6 for sorcerer/cleric spells, but CL 9 for their SLA. What's their CR? Do you take the higher number? Ignore the SLA altogether? Add the two numbers together?

I'm just looking for a little clarity.

** spoiler omitted **

I didn't work on the zombie chapter of that book... but what that means is that a zombie magus has a CR equal to the normal skeleton CR for the creature, +1, + the number of levels it has.

Since we published Classic Horrors, we've provided things like juju zombies, zombie lords, and a few other options that do for this monster role MUCH MORE than the "zombie magus" does. In a way, now that things like zombie lords are available, you should just use that template when making a zombie with spellcaster levels, and just let the "zombie magus" fade away into the past to be forgotten. Which, now that we also have a magus class, is for the best.

Oh? I read the zombie lord as being the template you'd put on martial classes, and zombie magus as the version you'd put on spellcasters. Mainly because of base examples used with the templates; zombie magus on the necromancer, and zombie lord on the monk.

But if the zombie magus and zombie lord are the same, and give the same bonuses regardless of class it's put on, then yeah, I'm good with doing just that.

EDIT: That is, assuming I'm not reading into what you're saying more than what I should be.

Silver Crusade

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I would deeply love a You and Price fueled Ceremonies of the Inner Sea.

Sorry for the support instead of a question!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

kevin_video wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
kevin_video wrote:

James, I saw your name credited on the book so I'm really hoping you can solve this puzzle that no one else seems to be able to fully comprehend. There's only theories. To the point most people are going "screw it, it's a lich instead." I know I'm definitely having issues understanding this.

In Classic Horrors Revisited we learn of the zombie magus. It says it's "+1 CR plus caster level". What exactly does that mean? In a certain module that we'll leave unnamed so as to not release unwanted spoilers, we see a human zombie magus necromancer 1 that's CR 1. To me, that means that's it's like the zombie lord, and it's +1 CR to the total. The only problem is, it's a single level of wizard. That's not really helping to figure out the full scale of what the template actually says.

What about a zombie magus fighter 5/wizard 3/eldritch knight 2? What's that CR? What about changing up the storm giant zombie to being a zombie magus? What if the the original creature has spell-like abilities? Is that important? Do SLA count as CL for this template? If so, how about a zombie magus drider? They're CL 6 for sorcerer/cleric spells, but CL 9 for their SLA. What's their CR? Do you take the higher number? Ignore the SLA altogether? Add the two numbers together?

I'm just looking for a little clarity.

** spoiler omitted **

I didn't work on the zombie chapter of that book... but what that means is that a zombie magus has a CR equal to the normal skeleton CR for the creature, +1, + the number of levels it has.

Since we published Classic Horrors, we've provided things like juju zombies, zombie lords, and a few other options that do for this monster role MUCH MORE than the "zombie magus" does. In a way, now that things like zombie lords are available, you should just use that template when making a zombie with spellcaster levels, and just let the "zombie magus" fade away into the past to be forgotten. Which, now that we also have a magus class, is for the

...

What I'm saying is the zombie magus is a "constrained by wordcount quickie solution" to "I want to have a spellcasting zombie." The juju zombie and the zombie lord are better solutions today for this.

Silver Crusade

James, this came up in a Play-by-Post game that I'm GMing, and I'm looking for your take.

The PCs face a couple of shapechangers—with the Change Shape supernatural ability—who are disguised as humans. The players get suspicious because the two shapechangers are acting kind of funny.

One of the PCs casts detect magic. Would this spell allow the caster to detect the presence of a magical disguise (assuming the Knowledge [arcana] check succeeds)?

I was inclined to say that since it is a (Su) ability, detect magic would not discern the disguise, but I'm not sure. Luckily for me as GM, Merisiel's high Perception check was sufficient to see through the ruse before it came up.

Dark Archive

James Jacobs wrote:
In that this region was specifically and deliberately built to resemble Lovecraft Country.

This may have been already discussed, has it been revealed what region the Strange Aeons AP will mostly take place in, at least where the AP will start?

Since Wes starts off the AP in the back of my mind I kind of assumed Ustalav, but that could have just been the voices in my head casually chatting with the hamster on the rotating wheel they share space with.

A little closer on the calendar, will there be any previews of who the Hell's Vengeance Iconics will be by December?

Also, what do you think of the Go Hard or Go Extinct work out program?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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The Fox wrote:

James, this came up in a Play-by-Post game that I'm GMing, and I'm looking for your take.

The PCs face a couple of shapechangers—with the Change Shape supernatural ability—who are disguised as humans. The players get suspicious because the two shapechangers are acting kind of funny.

One of the PCs casts detect magic. Would this spell allow the caster to detect the presence of a magical disguise (assuming the Knowledge [arcana] check succeeds)?

I was inclined to say that since it is a (Su) ability, detect magic would not discern the disguise, but I'm not sure. Luckily for me as GM, Merisiel's high Perception check was sufficient to see through the ruse before it came up.

Detect magic would detect a supernatural ability's aura—it IS magic, after all. The DC to identify the school of magic involved for something like a supernatural ability that's active and ongoing is 15 + 1/2 caster level.

Unfortunatley, that really doesn't help much at all for supernatural abilities, which almost never have specific caster levels listed. In place of a caster level, in this case, I would say the DC is 15 + 1/2 the HD of the creature from which the supernatural ability came from. I'd then say it was a transmutation effect, but nothing else—it's not a spell, so it doesn't have sub-schools like "polymorph".

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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baron arem heshvaun wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
In that this region was specifically and deliberately built to resemble Lovecraft Country.

This may have been already discussed, has it been revealed what region the Strange Aeons AP will mostly take place in, at least where the AP will start?

Since Wes starts off the AP in the back of my mind I kind of assumed Ustalav, but that could have just been the voices in my head casually chatting with the hamster on the rotating wheel they share space with.

A little closer on the calendar, will there be any previews of who the Hell's Vengeance Iconics will be by December?

Also, what do you think of the Go Hard or Go Extinct work out program?

Strange Aeons beings in Versex, but leaves that region at the start of the 3rd adventure for a long journey into the known and unknown.

There might be some previews of the iconic villains for Hells' Vengeance, but at this point no one's really thought of that yet.

And that looks exhausting.


Versex sounds like the perfect place for Lovecraft-esque horror.

"Small, insular towns who don't take kindly to outsiders... land not suitable for farming..."

Is this why you chose Versex for Strange Aeons, the Lovecraftian horror AP?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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The Doomkitten wrote:

Versex sounds like the perfect place for Lovecraft-esque horror.

"Small, insular towns who don't take kindly to outsiders... land not suitable for farming..."

Is this why you chose Versex for Strange Aeons, the Lovecraftian horror AP?

Sort of.

I knew that we would want to do Lovecraftian adventures and, eventually, a Lovecraftian AP from the very start of it all, and so that when we built Golarion 10 years ago, we deliberately put in several areas where Lovecraftian elements can shine and be on-theme, including an area like Versex that was custom built for really no other purpose.

I've been wanting Paizo to do a Lovecraftian AP for nearly a decade, and as a result, we made sure to invent a place for such an AP to begin or take place in.

So it's kinda more accurate to say the only reason Versex exists is that we knew that eventually we'd need it for a Lovecraftian AP like Strange Aeons.

Radiant Oath

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Why do some people emphatically denounce something they enjoy as "ruined" by things like a poorly-written installment or a fanfic that interprets their favorite character in a way they personally dislike? How do these things prevent one from continuing to enjoy the parts they DO like? How can someone's identity be so tied to a piece of media that any criticism of it is interpreted by them as shaming them for enjoying something? Where does this cultish mentality come from?!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Archpaladin Zousha wrote:
Why do some people emphatically denounce something they enjoy as "ruined" by things like a poorly-written installment or a fanfic that interprets their favorite character in a way they personally dislike? How do these things prevent one from continuing to enjoy the parts they DO like? How can someone's identity be so tied to a piece of media that any criticism of it is interpreted by them as shaming them for enjoying something? Where does this cultish mentality come from?!

My theory:

Many of us nerds grew up in environments where we were bullied at school or as kids for not liking things that were mainstream. As a result, we tend to be a bit protective of the things we like—defensive of them even. And when we see something we perceive as a danger to the object of our fandom, we tend to over-react—the so-called "nerd rage" kicks in and we lash out against the perceived threat to the object of our affection and (too often) obsession.

This threat to our hobby/obsession/interest could be fan fiction that treats the subject without respect, or that simply takes the story in a direction we don't approve of. It could be a new and official addition to canon that doesn't sit well with established fans (see "The Phantom Menace" as a great example here). It could even be the "intrusion" of other fans into the close-knit community from people who are perceived as newcomers to the community, even if those "newcomers" have been fans all along or even LONGER than us. The fact that we didn't know they were fans too doesn't mean that they're less of a fan than us, nor does it mean that they weren't bullied about it as kids either.

I suspect that a lot of the current toxicity you see regarding women in gaming stems from men who grew up in their own toxic environments where they were picked on for liking something, and feel misplaced jealousy that others they don't think were picked on are now enjoying the same thing they love. Of course, the fact that they themselves have become even WORSE bullies about it is the fundamental irony of the whole thing.

It'd be interesting to see if the current generation of kids and young adults who DID grow up in a time where fantasy and gaming WERE mainstream, thanks to Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Warcraft, and so on. I'm not sure if "nerds" today are bullied less as a result for enjoying such things, but if you don't grow up being persecuted and teased for, essentially, being a fan, then perhaps when you ARE grown up, you won't feel overly protective and defensive about things you've become a fan of.

TL;DR: Being bullied as a kid makes you overly defensive, and can result in you being a bully against others.

Dark Archive

The Iconics for strange aeons been decided on yet? (Hoping to see Yoon butcan understand why having a kid character in such an AP may cause problems.)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Kevin Mack wrote:
The Iconics for strange aeons been decided on yet? (Hoping to see Yoon butcan understand why having a kid character in such an AP may cause problems.)

They were decided half a year ago or so when we first had to outline the adventure. In fact, just earlier this week I decided on the iconics for the next two APs that come AFTER Strange Aeons.

We're about another 8 months away, I suspect, from revealing who the Strange Aeons iconics are though.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
Kevin Mack wrote:
The Iconics for strange aeons been decided on yet? (Hoping to see Yoon butcan understand why having a kid character in such an AP may cause problems.)

They were decided half a year ago or so when we first had to outline the adventure. In fact, just earlier this week I decided on the iconics for the next two APs that come AFTER Strange Aeons.

We're about another 8 months away, I suspect, from revealing who the Strange Aeons iconics are though.

When you decide on iconics for an AP.. is the AP playtested using those iconics?

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

You've spoken a bit about pantheist clerics. If a player insisted on playing one, would this sketch by Zombie Orpheus be your way to handle it as a GM?


So my home group really hates 1st and 2nd level play. I really want to run an adventure path eventually. Is there an adventure path that would work out half-way decently if I started on Book 2? I know it won't be ideal for any of them, but is it at least worth exploring?


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Any chance we could get cool nicknames for the other regions of Golarion, like the Inner Sea and Dragon Empires? It would be easier to suggest cool new books if it wasn't Southern Garund Bestiary. ;)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

LazarX wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Kevin Mack wrote:
The Iconics for strange aeons been decided on yet? (Hoping to see Yoon butcan understand why having a kid character in such an AP may cause problems.)

They were decided half a year ago or so when we first had to outline the adventure. In fact, just earlier this week I decided on the iconics for the next two APs that come AFTER Strange Aeons.

We're about another 8 months away, I suspect, from revealing who the Strange Aeons iconics are though.

When you decide on iconics for an AP.. is the AP playtested using those iconics?

Nope.

Playtesting of individual adventures is the responsibility of the adventure author.

The process of development of an adventure, as well as an adventure path, is designed to catch all of the things that playtesting would, in theory, catch, and has the advantage of requiring only one person rather than an entire group of people.

The iconics are chosen first and foremost for which ones would look coolest in the themes of the AP. For example, for Mummy's Mask, Rob picked four iconics who all hail from Garund. For Iron Gods, I picked the alchemist (because he's the closest iconic we have to a mad scientist and that fits well with technology), the barbarian (because Numeria has a strong tradition of barbarians), the gunslinger (because she works well with all the firearms in the region), and the druid (because she represents Iron God's theme of faith against science and nature against technology). We do try to ensure that the four categories of adventurer (martial, divine, arcane, and skill) are somewhat represented as well, but this isn't always high on our to do list. Really, it boils down to a combination of who would look best in the adventure and which iconics the adventure path's developer favors, influenced by factors like "Have we used an iconic recently."

Playtesting doesn't enter the equation at all as far as iconic selection goes.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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LazarX wrote:
You've spoken a bit about pantheist clerics. If a player insisted on playing one, would this sketch by Zombie Orpheus be your way to handle it as a GM?

Pantheist clerics don't exist in Golarion, or in any game I run. That role is played by the oracle.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Osoro wrote:
So my home group really hates 1st and 2nd level play. I really want to run an adventure path eventually. Is there an adventure path that would work out half-way decently if I started on Book 2? I know it won't be ideal for any of them, but is it at least worth exploring?

I feel like the first and second levels of play are the MOST IMPORTANT levels for determining party dynamics and personality. As such, I don't think any AP benefits from cutting the first adventure.

I'd ask your players WHY they hate 1st and 2nd level play. If it's simply because your table has a tendency to restart campaigns over and over and thus keeps having to replay over the same levels, that's not something an AP can help. If it's because the players are tired of characters dying too often, that means you as the GM are running things too deadly and you should ramp back OR you should let the players start with more hit points or something like that.

You can also simply start the PCs at 3rd level and play the AP through normally. Put them on slow advancement until they get to the 2nd book and then go back to Medium advancement.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Justin Franklin wrote:
Any chance we could get cool nicknames for the other regions of Golarion, like the Inner Sea and Dragon Empires? It would be easier to suggest cool new books if it wasn't Southern Garund Bestiary. ;)

When we get around to detailing the other books we'll do so. Books detailing the other continents are hardly books that need to be suggested by the community. They're obvious choices. The reason we haven't done these books het is NOT because we haven't thought of them and need them to be suggested. It's because these books are essentially new campaign settings, and building new campaign settings is not only very very difficult and time consuming, but it fractures the audience and splits the focus and makes it increasingly difficult to service the existing setting without marginalizing the new book—which is exactly what's kinda happened to Tian Xia, as you've seen.

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

James Jacobs wrote:
I knew that we would want to do Lovecraftian adventures and, eventually, a Lovecraftian AP from the very start of it all, and so that when we built Golarion 10 years ago, we deliberately put in several areas where Lovecraftian elements can shine and be on-theme, including an area like Versex that was custom built for really no other purpose.

What are some of the other areas? Any in the Shackles? Or close to Geb/Mana Wastes?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
I knew that we would want to do Lovecraftian adventures and, eventually, a Lovecraftian AP from the very start of it all, and so that when we built Golarion 10 years ago, we deliberately put in several areas where Lovecraftian elements can shine and be on-theme, including an area like Versex that was custom built for really no other purpose.
What are some of the other areas? Any in the Shackles? Or close to Geb/Mana Wastes?

They're all over, but the ones that come immediately to mind are Varisia, the Sodden Lands, Osirion, and the Darklands. There's certainly room in the Shackles for some of this stuff, particularly on the mainland.


James Jacobs wrote:

When we get around to detailing the other books we'll do so. Books detailing the other continents are hardly books that need to be suggested by the community. They're obvious choices. The reason we haven't done these books het is NOT because we haven't thought of them and need them to be suggested. It's because these books are essentially new campaign settings, and building new campaign settings is not only very very difficult and time consuming, but it fractures the audience and splits the focus and makes it increasingly difficult to service the existing setting without marginalizing the new book—which is exactly what's kinda happened to Tian Xia, as you've seen.

I get what you're saying, and you are probably right, but from a customer POV who is interested in GMing all of the different flavours Golarion has to offer, a 'Dragon Empire Races' or 'Southern Garund Gods' book every two (or three)years or so is something I would really look forward too.

So, since you are apparently planning the 2017 APs already, how far in advance do you usually plan them and how exactly does the progress of planning work?

Dark Archive

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Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
LazarX wrote:
You've spoken a bit about pantheist clerics. If a player insisted on playing one, would this sketch by Zombie Orpheus be your way to handle it as a GM?

Wait, are people besides paizo using pantheist term wrongly?

Is paizo spreading use of it wrongly?

Don't they teach you in America that its called polytheism? D:<

Sovereign Court

In your opinion, what are the motivations of the Colour from Outer Space?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Hythlodeus wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:

When we get around to detailing the other books we'll do so. Books detailing the other continents are hardly books that need to be suggested by the community. They're obvious choices. The reason we haven't done these books het is NOT because we haven't thought of them and need them to be suggested. It's because these books are essentially new campaign settings, and building new campaign settings is not only very very difficult and time consuming, but it fractures the audience and splits the focus and makes it increasingly difficult to service the existing setting without marginalizing the new book—which is exactly what's kinda happened to Tian Xia, as you've seen.

I get what you're saying, and you are probably right, but from a customer POV who is interested in GMing all of the different flavours Golarion has to offer, a 'Dragon Empire Races' or 'Southern Garund Gods' book every two (or three)years or so is something I would really look forward too.

So, since you are apparently planning the 2017 APs already, how far in advance do you usually plan them and how exactly does the progress of planning work?

It depends on the product. We plan Adventure Paths about 18 months in advance these days, if not more. Campaign Settings are closer to 8 to 12 months in advance. Player companions less. It varies, and depends on what else our schedule si doing.

The progress of planning is pretty complex, but the basic version is someone here creates an outline, gets it approved, then assigns it to an author and it's off to the word mines!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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CorvusMask wrote:
LazarX wrote:
You've spoken a bit about pantheist clerics. If a player insisted on playing one, would this sketch by Zombie Orpheus be your way to handle it as a GM?

Wait, are people besides paizo using pantheist term wrongly?

Is paizo spreading use of it wrongly?

Don't they teach you in America that its called polytheism? D:<

Classy.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Malikjoker wrote:
In your opinion, what are the motivations of the Colour from Outer Space?

To reproduce.


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Hi James! I hope you've been well.

1) What CR would you assign to Socothbenoth?

2) Do you have any suggestions as to what kind of abilities he might have if I were to homebrew his stats?

3) Is there anything you would change about the Demoniac PrC, or are you satisfied with it?

Thanks for any answers you can provide! I also wanted to let you know I'm really enjoying Hell's Rebels so far, and the artwork of the strix on the cover of part 5 is pretty amazing. I was lukewarm on Cheliax for a long while, but I really feel like you guys have done a fantastic job in its presentation lately.

Silver Crusade

Thank you very much for your continued efforts, James!

I wanted to know a bit more about the Wayangs, since they've always fascinated me; as they mostly follow the philosophy of the Dissolution, they believe that they themselves can merge into shadow upon their death. Does this imply their faith in a more "pure" form of shadow, one that is not necessarily evil? Granted, most Wayang have the ability to be healed by negative energy for a bit, but they must have realized by now that most shadow beings are evil and/or antithetical to life as we know it.

I suppose what I'm asking is also if the Wayangs see the variety of evil shadow beings and undead that inhabit the plane of shadow as a perversion of the Dissolution, or are those creatures simply accepted as an extension of the plane itself?

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Sorry for being rude, pantheism thing is still one of things that sets me off ^^; (though, I'm seriously confused why its a common mistake apparently <_<; That confusion is one of reasons why it sets me off I guess)

Ah well, I never had any class anyway...

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Varisian Wanderer wrote:

Hi James! I hope you've been well.

1) What CR would you assign to Socothbenoth?

2) Do you have any suggestions as to what kind of abilities he might have if I were to homebrew his stats?

3) Is there anything you would change about the Demoniac PrC, or are you satisfied with it?

Thanks for any answers you can provide! I also wanted to let you know I'm really enjoying Hell's Rebels so far, and the artwork of the strix on the cover of part 5 is pretty amazing. I was lukewarm on Cheliax for a long while, but I really feel like you guys have done a fantastic job in its presentation lately.

1) At one point somewhere around here I had a big list of all the CRs for the various demon lords set down, but I'm not sure what happened to it. I suspect I'd end up putting him in at CR 28 or thereabouts.

2) Just as Nocticula is intended to be the most powerful succubus, Socothbenoth is the most powerful incubus; look at the incubus stats and start from there. He should also have a pride-themed attack, and maybe an aura that causes those around him to become confused but use a variant table to roll what they do, and all the results should be self-destructive and taboo and perverted.

3) I'm satisfied with it.

And glad you're enjoying Hell's Rebels!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Daniel Yeatman wrote:

Thank you very much for your continued efforts, James!

I wanted to know a bit more about the Wayangs, since they've always fascinated me; as they mostly follow the philosophy of the Dissolution, they believe that they themselves can merge into shadow upon their death. Does this imply their faith in a more "pure" form of shadow, one that is not necessarily evil? Granted, most Wayang have the ability to be healed by negative energy for a bit, but they must have realized by now that most shadow beings are evil and/or antithetical to life as we know it.

I suppose what I'm asking is also if the Wayangs see the variety of evil shadow beings and undead that inhabit the plane of shadow as a perversion of the Dissolution, or are those creatures simply accepted as an extension of the plane itself?

I've not put much more thought into wayangs beyond what's in print at this point. There's more coming up but not from me—from other authors and developers.

I suspcet most wayangs see evil shadows and the like NOT as perversions but as the natural result of how the Shadow Plane works.

Contributor

1. Are there any plans to do more with the plane of time?

2. Will we learn more about Tabris anytime soon?

RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

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Chronomancy - bad idea or worst idea?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

donato wrote:

1. Are there any plans to do more with the plane of time?

2. Will we learn more about Tabris anytime soon?

1) No.

2) Probably not.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Ross Byers wrote:
Chronomancy - bad idea or worst idea?

A very interesting and compelling and interesting idea... but only if you're building an entire campaign setting where the focus is traveling through time.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
Ross Byers wrote:
Chronomancy - bad idea or worst idea?
A very interesting and compelling and interesting idea... but only if you're building an entire campaign setting where the focus is traveling through time.

In that theme did you ever see Aetherco's Continuum?, where the basic premise is that players are part of a society whose members can travel time at will. It even incorporates a system of temporal combat.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

LazarX wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Ross Byers wrote:
Chronomancy - bad idea or worst idea?
A very interesting and compelling and interesting idea... but only if you're building an entire campaign setting where the focus is traveling through time.
In that theme did you ever see Aetherco's Continuum?, where the basic premise is that players are part of a society whose members can travel time at will. It even incorporates a system of temporal combat.

I never saw that, nope.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
LazarX wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Ross Byers wrote:
Chronomancy - bad idea or worst idea?
A very interesting and compelling and interesting idea... but only if you're building an entire campaign setting where the focus is traveling through time.
In that theme did you ever see Aetherco's Continuum?, where the basic premise is that players are part of a society whose members can travel time at will. It even incorporates a system of temporal combat.
I never saw that, nope.

You should know the people involved though... they were the authors of Yamara, Dragon Magazine's own Heroic Hafling.

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