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Verdant Wheel

James Jacobs wrote:

And since you specifically call this idea out as an "Iomedean" ninja... that to me sounds even more implausible than before.

When I run a campaign, I put a LOT of work into that campaign in the form of creating the storyline and adventure and world. As a result, one of the things I ask of my players is that they build characters that make sense for the world—to encourage that, I generally provide the players with player's guides to advise them on their choices. If a player wants to play something weird our outlandish (be it an Iomedan Ninja or a Vulcan telepath or an awakened giant chipmunk with two heads), I'll TRY to figure a way out to work that PC into the adventure but in most cases I'll ask the player to, essentially, respect all the work I've put into the campaign by creating a character that isn't built to stick out like a sore thumb. I've said before of world design—you can define a world as much as by what you put IN the world as well as you can by what is NOT in the world. And in games I run... there are no paladin/ninjas.

I'm not talking about games anyone else may set in Golarion. I'm talking about my own opinions and my own games. Which INFORM the baseline of Golarion, but don't...

Fair enough, but understanding the mind behind the lore is very important to me. I guess the problem is the ninja concept, but the same could be said about an Iomeadan Rogue ? The problem is that is impossible to a Tian Ninja get to inner sea and convert do Iomedae ? Golarion´s Ninja don´t have honor ? An highly honored ninja that goes to the worldwound to spy demons behind enemy lines can´t be blessed by Iomedae ?

Here in Brazil, the druid concept is near alien for us. We never do it right because there nothing in our culture close to it (the closest thing is the Shaman). The Paladin is a close call because the chivalry stories we got from the Portuguese. Even Brazil having a very large japonese population, we got the ninja from movies like everyone else (maybe a bit stronger, as speaking japonese is popular around here).

So, can Golarion be played outside America ? Other cultural norms can be supported ? I don´t know, maybe you even shoundn´t even try, as Golarion is fine the way it is. But, every GM, when creating something new needs some support and guidelines of how that relates to Golarion.

Of course i don´t want a book about Paladins/ninjas or an archetype about Iomeadan Ninjas, or anything like that. But your prejudices matter to us (or preconceptions, i don´t know the right word in this case).

I guess i am being too grim, as i only being overly curious about the subject and not trying for criticism. Sorry for my lame english and if i sounded offensive. I really love your work.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Dies Irae wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
I don't actually watch much BBC at all since my cable provider doesn't bother giving us an HD feed of it. Grrr.

I would consider it the great tragedy if you have not watched Sherlock.

Anyhow...

Have you ever played the latest edition of Asmodee's board game EVO?

I'm of the impression that genetically-engineering dinosaurs to survive in cold environments would appeal to you.

That would be a tragedy. I've seen the 1st episode of Sherlock; it's on netflix, so I get to watch it in full HD so it's all good.

I have not played EVO.


James Jacobs wrote:
Dies Irae wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
I don't actually watch much BBC at all since my cable provider doesn't bother giving us an HD feed of it. Grrr.

I would consider it the great tragedy if you have not watched Sherlock.

Anyhow...

Have you ever played the latest edition of Asmodee's board game EVO?

I'm of the impression that genetically-engineering dinosaurs to survive in cold environments would appeal to you.

That would be a tragedy. I've seen the 1st episode of Sherlock; it's on netflix, so I get to watch it in full HD so it's all good.

I have not played EVO.

I call them....PENGUINS!!!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Matrixryu wrote:
Basically, my current GM has had a lot of stuff happen in Golarion, and currently getting *any* class combination isn't far fetched in his game. So, that isn't the issue. I was just curious about your opinion on if such a class combination was really playable with the 'code of conduct' stuff without it degenerating into a Ninja/Warrior. Sure, it is possible to have the classes by the raw rules, but when when the code is enforced do you think it would really work out?

In my opinion, no, it's not really playable. Partially due to the paladin's code of conduct limiting the ninja's class and tactic options, partially due to the way, in my experience, players tend to react to another player playing a paladin.

Liberty's Edge RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16

So, now that I'm living in Seattle and I'm settling in, I noticed while walking around that there's a bus route here that goes to Sandpoint. Minimal internet research confirms this is a neighborhood here, but little additional information. Did the nearby real Sandpoint influence the name of the town in Golarion? Are there any real world locations there that bear any similarities (other than being on the water)?


Will you roll a Pandaren when MoP comes out? If yes, what class?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Evil Midnight Lurker wrote:
Will you roll a Pandaren when MoP comes out? If yes, what class?

Absolutely positively not.

1) I don't do alts.

2) I think pandarens are stupid.

3) I don't do alts.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

JoelF847 wrote:
So, now that I'm living in Seattle and I'm settling in, I noticed while walking around that there's a bus route here that goes to Sandpoint. Minimal internet research confirms this is a neighborhood here, but little additional information. Did the nearby real Sandpoint influence the name of the town in Golarion? Are there any real world locations there that bear any similarities (other than being on the water)?

While I did indeed live pretty close to Sandpoint when I first moved to Seattle... the ACTUAL influence on Sandpoint is my home town of Point Arena, CA. Translated from Spanish, "Point Arena" more or less translates into "Sandpoint."

A significant amount of the elements in Sandpoint, from the presence of a lighthouse next to a city dump consisting of "just throw it off the cliff onto the beach" to several names like "Schooner's Gulch" to the "see yourself as we see you" mirror sign come directly from Point Arena's history.

That I ended up living near a neighborhood called Sandpoint when I moved to Seattle DID amuse me, though.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
Evil Midnight Lurker wrote:
Will you roll a Pandaren when MoP comes out? If yes, what class?

Absolutely positively not.

1) I don't do alts.

2) I think pandarens are stupid.

3) I don't do alts.

Have you tried creating a goblin/worgen/death knight not as an alt, but to experience the origin series of them? Two of them are pretty intense, One of them starts you off as out and out evil, and the third is slap dash funny.


Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
Matrixryu wrote:
Basically, my current GM has had a lot of stuff happen in Golarion, and currently getting *any* class combination isn't far fetched in his game. So, that isn't the issue. I was just curious about your opinion on if such a class combination was really playable with the 'code of conduct' stuff without it degenerating into a Ninja/Warrior. Sure, it is possible to have the classes by the raw rules, but when when the code is enforced do you think it would really work out?
In my opinion, no, it's not really playable. Partially due to the paladin's code of conduct limiting the ninja's class and tactic options, partially due to the way, in my experience, players tend to react to another player playing a paladin.

Ah, I didn't even think to take player reactions into account (shame on me!). Yea, I think that puts the final nail in that coffin ;)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
LazarX wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Evil Midnight Lurker wrote:
Will you roll a Pandaren when MoP comes out? If yes, what class?

Absolutely positively not.

1) I don't do alts.

2) I think pandarens are stupid.

3) I don't do alts.

Have you tried creating a goblin/worgen/death knight not as an alt, but to experience the origin series of them? Two of them are pretty intense, One of them starts you off as out and out evil, and the third is slap dash funny.

I created a death knight. My main character's name is Shensen. My death knight's name is ShenSIN; her backstory being that it's my main character Shensen from a dark future after she's killed and then raised up as a death knight by the Lich King and then sent back into the past to kill Shensen who the Lich King fears... but then Shensin ends up atoning (sort of) for her evil ways, breaks free from the Lich King's influence, and becomes an Alliance agent.

Haven't tried the other two at all yet. Mostly because I can't figure out how to tie either to my main character's imaginary background.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Matrixryu wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Matrixryu wrote:
Basically, my current GM has had a lot of stuff happen in Golarion, and currently getting *any* class combination isn't far fetched in his game. So, that isn't the issue. I was just curious about your opinion on if such a class combination was really playable with the 'code of conduct' stuff without it degenerating into a Ninja/Warrior. Sure, it is possible to have the classes by the raw rules, but when when the code is enforced do you think it would really work out?
In my opinion, no, it's not really playable. Partially due to the paladin's code of conduct limiting the ninja's class and tactic options, partially due to the way, in my experience, players tend to react to another player playing a paladin.
Ah, I didn't even think to take player reactions into account (shame on me!). Yea, I think that puts the final nail in that coffin ;)

Heh... yeah. You should never forget to take player reactions into account. Another good reason to say all NPC names aloud and listen to them as if you were a super creative and super immature kid to find out if your super scary bad guy's name is gonna get made fun of by the jackals... I mean... by the players.


James Jacobs wrote:
Gregg Helmberger wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Gregg Helmberger wrote:
Oh, and on a different note, for my money, Into the Darklands is one of the two best Campaign Setting products released thus far (along with Book of the Damned III: Electric Boogaloo) and is full of win. I would love Love LOVE to see an AP set there from start to finish, with no reference to the sunlit lands above. Any chance of that?
A very good chance of that. If only because "Into the Darklands" and Second Darkness didn't let me scratch my Darklands itch all the way.
I'll be damned. I passed that Bluff check and got you to spill something! :-D

Not really.

The fact that I want to do a Darklands AP is no different than me wanting to do Jade Regent. Originally, I wanted Jade Regent to be the 3rd or 4th AP... it took a lot longer than that to come about.

Whether or not the Darklands AP comes out next year or 10 years or 100 years from now, if ever, I can't say. I still want to do it.

I have always wanted to play in one of these also. Who do we have to bribe to make this happen sooner as opposed to later?

edit:spelling


James Jacobs wrote:
2) I think pandarens are stupid.

:'( How exactly do they stand out as stupid? It's a cartoon world with bipedal cows, Jamaican trolls, Russian space-goats, and Victorian werewolves. Seems like beer-guzzling asian pandas are pretty consistent.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

What culture in the Inner Sea Region is considered the most classy and sophisticated? I am trying to create an NPC butler, similar a little to the British style of gentleman. Are there any similar professions in the Inner Sea, or does the idea of a "sophisticated manservant" not exist?

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
The Drunken Dragon wrote:
What culture in the Inner Sea Region is considered the most classy and sophisticated? I am trying to create an NPC butler, similar a little to the British style of gentleman. Are there any similar professions in the Inner Sea, or does the idea of a "sophisticated manservant" not exist?

Or in short, my dear James, which one of them can be considered a proper and worthy reflection of Queen Victoria's British Empire?

Personally I assume that Cheliax and Taldor would be good candidates for such a background, they seem to have the proper amount of urban decadence needed.


oneplus999 wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
2) I think pandarens are stupid.
:'( How exactly do they stand out as stupid? It's a cartoon world with bipedal cows, Jamaican trolls, Russian space-goats, and Victorian werewolves. Seems like beer-guzzling asian pandas are pretty consistent.

Ow, my tongue! (I bit it)

Anyway James!

Supposedly it's really easy to tell when someone is dominated since they don't act normal. Is there a form of mind control that's subtler?

Also if a similacrum is under the mental control of the creator, does a protection from evil break that control, since it breaks compulsion effects?

Finally, on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being sillier and 10 being badass cool, please rate the following combinations.

Bard/Ninja
Bard/Gunslinger
Gunslinger(mysterous stranger)/Sorcerer

Just curious on that last thing.

-Tundra

Liberty's Edge

Have you ever extended a bbeg's life by two or more rounds because you wanted the fight to be meaningful and your pcs are hp slashing machines?


Coridan wrote:
Have you ever extended a bbeg's life by two or more rounds because you wanted the fight to be meaningful and your pcs are hp slashing machines?

IANJ, but all the time...

gave a monster DR 50/'not steve' too. That worked out well enough...

-Tundra

Paizo Employee Creative Director

wraithstrike wrote:

I have always wanted to play in one of these also. Who do we have to bribe to make this happen sooner as opposed to later?

edit:spelling

No one. But convincing the world to suddenly go hog-wild and buy lots of copies of Darklands-themed books would certainly send the message to Paizo that folks are eager for more Darklands content.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

oneplus999 wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
2) I think pandarens are stupid.
:'( How exactly do they stand out as stupid? It's a cartoon world with bipedal cows, Jamaican trolls, Russian space-goats, and Victorian werewolves. Seems like beer-guzzling asian pandas are pretty consistent.

There's an AWFUL lot about Warcraft that is stupid. All the thngs you mention, with the exception of Victorian werewolves (which I kind of like), are things I would qualify as stupid as well. Along with the whole Indiana Jones hommage, NPCs with names like Harris Pilton, motorcycles in the game, MOST of the pop culture in joke stuff...

There's a lot in Warcraft that's cool, too, but there's a lot that's goofy. And I'd rather not spend any more time than I have to with the goofy parts.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

The Drunken Dragon wrote:
What culture in the Inner Sea Region is considered the most classy and sophisticated? I am trying to create an NPC butler, similar a little to the British style of gentleman. Are there any similar professions in the Inner Sea, or does the idea of a "sophisticated manservant" not exist?

That depends on what culture you're asking. The one that you're probably looking for is, I suspect, Taldor... although everyone else BUT Taldor might be quick to point out that Taldans are now a self-perpetuating stereotype of a cliche...

Paizo Employee Creative Director

LazarX wrote:
The Drunken Dragon wrote:
What culture in the Inner Sea Region is considered the most classy and sophisticated? I am trying to create an NPC butler, similar a little to the British style of gentleman. Are there any similar professions in the Inner Sea, or does the idea of a "sophisticated manservant" not exist?

Or in short, my dear James, which one of them can be considered a proper and worthy reflection of Queen Victoria's British Empire?

Personally I assume that Cheliax and Taldor would be good candidates for such a background, they seem to have the proper amount of urban decadence needed.

Taldor.

Cheliax is much more like Rome/Italy. Albeit with a big dose of devil stuff.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Tundra Dragondust wrote:

Supposedly it's really easy to tell when someone is dominated since they don't act normal. Is there a form of mind control that's subtler?

Also if a similacrum is under the mental control of the creator, does a protection from evil break that control, since it breaks compulsion effects?

Finally, on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being sillier and 10 being badass cool, please rate the following combinations.

Bard/Ninja
Bard/Gunslinger
Gunslinger(mysterous stranger)/Sorcerer

Just curious on that last thing.

-Tundra

Suggestion is pretty subtle. There are lots of other spells as well that are pretty stealthy in their manipulations... illusory script, unconscious agenda (being reprinted in the upcoming RotR hardcover), geas/quest, magic jar... there's lots out there.

No. Simulacrum is an illusion spell, and thus does not have the compulsion subschool (only enchantments can be of this subschool). Protection from evil doesn't break control over a simulacrum any more than it does a golem's orders or a soldier's loyalty to a commander.

Bard/Ninja: 7
Bard/Gunslinger: 10
Gunslinger (mysterious stranger)/Sorcerer: 5

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Coridan wrote:
Have you ever extended a bbeg's life by two or more rounds because you wanted the fight to be meaningful and your pcs are hp slashing machines?

Nope. Because usually, by the time my PCs get to a BBEG, I have a really good idea of what they can and can't do, and I'm pretty good at building a final encounter that makes it more or less work out so that the fight is meaningful.


James Jacobs wrote:
oneplus999 wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
2) I think pandarens are stupid.
:'( How exactly do they stand out as stupid? It's a cartoon world with bipedal cows, Jamaican trolls, Russian space-goats, and Victorian werewolves. Seems like beer-guzzling asian pandas are pretty consistent.

There's an AWFUL lot about Warcraft that is stupid. All the thngs you mention, with the exception of Victorian werewolves (which I kind of like), are things I would qualify as stupid as well. Along with the whole Indiana Jones hommage, NPCs with names like Harris Pilton, motorcycles in the game, MOST of the pop culture in joke stuff...

There's a lot in Warcraft that's cool, too, but there's a lot that's goofy. And I'd rather not spend any more time than I have to with the goofy parts.

Hah hah okay that's fair then, as long as you find most of the other stuff stupid too :D

Yeah I can't believe they did an entire zone as a Indiana Jones reference >_< fortunately for myself, as an altoholic (~9 level 85s... I lost count), I can skip Uldum while leveling.

Liberty's Edge

James Jacobs wrote:
LazarX wrote:
The Drunken Dragon wrote:
What culture in the Inner Sea Region is considered the most classy and sophisticated? I am trying to create an NPC butler, similar a little to the British style of gentleman. Are there any similar professions in the Inner Sea, or does the idea of a "sophisticated manservant" not exist?

Or in short, my dear James, which one of them can be considered a proper and worthy reflection of Queen Victoria's British Empire?

Personally I assume that Cheliax and Taldor would be good candidates for such a background, they seem to have the proper amount of urban decadence needed.

Taldor.

Cheliax is much more like Rome/Italy. Albeit with a big dose of devil stuff.

I have always envisioned Taldor as Byzantium. a great. dwindling empire, with potentially the strength to recover what it had, but incapable to trust his generals, too enmeshed by the tethers of bureaucracy and corruption to use its strength, in the end living only by the grace of what it had left from its age of greatness.

Now the question.
"Cheliax is much more like Rome/Italy. Albeit with a big dose of devil stuff."
I fail to see the connection, so about what period of Italian and Rome history you are thinking?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Diego Rossi wrote:

"Cheliax is much more like Rome/Italy. Albeit with a big dose of devil stuff."

I fail to see the connection, so about what period of Italian and Rome history you are thinking?

No one period at all. When doing the Council of Thieves Adventure Path, Italy was never far from my mind. I took inspiration from Rome (the HBO series), Dario Argento's movies (particularly, Susperia, Inferno, and Mother of Tears), various incarnations of the Mafia, Assassan's Creed, and a HUGE dose of inspiration from ancient Rome itself from various history books and classes I took back in college.

So... not one period, but a hodgepodge of dozens. Which is more or less how all the regions in Golarion work for their respective points of inspiration.


Tundra Dragondust wrote:
Bard/Gunslinger

...Singing Cowboy?!


James Jacobs wrote:
Darkghost316 wrote:

Hi James, I wanted to get an official ruling on this ability from the Magus class. My friend and I got in a debate about his character using his spellstrike.

*Spellstrike (Su)

At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack. Instead of the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. If the magus makes this attack in concert with spell combat, this melee attack takes all the penalties accrued by spell combat melee attacks. This attack uses the weapon’s critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier.

Q: Does a magus have to perform an concentration check when he uses spellstrike? Thanks for your time sir! :)

Only if he gets hit from the AoO, or only if he wants to cast defensively.

But you forgot the most important thing!

Since you are delivering a touch spell by channeling it through a weapon, and not via an unarmed attack, does the very act of using a spell strike trigger an AofO? Does a Magus have to chose to fight defensively or allow an AofO and hope the monster doesn't hit, in order to use a spell strike?
Thank you.


I'm starting a character for a new campaign. We are starting off at 5th level. My concept is a 1/2 orc who started out in a band of outlaws as a rogue, but got captured and sold into slavery in Katapesh. He was forced to fight in the slave pits. Because he was more dexy and quick than the standard brutish 1/2 orc, he caught the attention of a Ninja Master, who bought my character. He spent the next couple of years (4 levels) training and working as a Ninja, until he "paid off" his master. Now he is 5th level (1st level rogue/4th level Ninja) and starting his life as a free adventurer.
Question: A 1st level rogue has trap finding and sneak attack 1d6,
my character's 2nd level is a 1st level Ninja. They have poison use and sneak attack 1d6. Does my sneak attack get raised to 2d6 instead, since I already have sneak attack 1d6 from a previous class?
Thank you


JakNazryth wrote:

I'm starting a character for a new campaign. We are starting off at 5th level. My concept is a 1/2 orc who started out in a band of outlaws as a rogue, but got captured and sold into slavery in Katapesh. He was forced to fight in the slave pits. Because he was more dexy and quick than the standard brutish 1/2 orc, he caught the attention of a Ninja Master, who bought my character. He spent the next couple of years (4 levels) training and working as a Ninja, until he "paid off" his master. Now he is 5th level (1st level rogue/4th level Ninja) and starting his life as a free adventurer.

Question: A 1st level rogue has trap finding and sneak attack 1d6,
my character's 2nd level is a 1st level Ninja. They have poison use and sneak attack 1d6. Does my sneak attack get raised to 2d6 instead, since I already have sneak attack 1d6 from a previous class?
Thank you

Ohh, ohh, I got this one! Pick me!

Ninja is an alternate class for the rogue and you can't multiclass the two. Just go ninja 5. Fluff that he didn't gain his first "PC level" until he started his ninja training. Maybe he was a pretty dextrous warrior beforehand and "upgraded" after getting some real skillz.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

JakNazryth wrote:

But you forgot the most important thing!

Since you are delivering a touch spell by channeling it through a weapon, and not via an unarmed attack, does the very act of using a spell strike trigger an AofO? Does a Magus have to chose to fight defensively or allow an AofO and hope the monster doesn't hit, in order to use a spell strike?
Thank you.

Delivering a touch attack spell never provokes an attack of opportunity. Only casting the spell does.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

JakNazryth wrote:

I'm starting a character for a new campaign. We are starting off at 5th level. My concept is a 1/2 orc who started out in a band of outlaws as a rogue, but got captured and sold into slavery in Katapesh. He was forced to fight in the slave pits. Because he was more dexy and quick than the standard brutish 1/2 orc, he caught the attention of a Ninja Master, who bought my character. He spent the next couple of years (4 levels) training and working as a Ninja, until he "paid off" his master. Now he is 5th level (1st level rogue/4th level Ninja) and starting his life as a free adventurer.

Question: A 1st level rogue has trap finding and sneak attack 1d6,
my character's 2nd level is a 1st level Ninja. They have poison use and sneak attack 1d6. Does my sneak attack get raised to 2d6 instead, since I already have sneak attack 1d6 from a previous class?
Thank you

Ninja is an archetype of rogue. You can't multiclass into ninja from rogue, since that'd be technically multiclassing as a rogue 1/rogue 1. If you want to switch to a ninja, talk with your GM about simply changing from rogue to ninja—at 2nd level, you'd be a ninja 2 if your gm is okay with that.


James Jacobs wrote:
JakNazryth wrote:

But you forgot the most important thing!

Since you are delivering a touch spell by channeling it through a weapon, and not via an unarmed attack, does the very act of using a spell strike trigger an AofO? Does a Magus have to chose to fight defensively or allow an AofO and hope the monster doesn't hit, in order to use a spell strike?
Thank you.
Delivering a touch attack spell never provokes an attack of opportunity. Only casting the spell does.

Hi James,

So I can fully understand your clarification. If I had Marcus the Magus fighting an Orc in melee combat and I use spellstrike on the Orc. Do I trigger an AoO from that? And if I do, what is triggering it? Thank you for your time sir :).


Darkghost316 wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
JakNazryth wrote:

But you forgot the most important thing!

Since you are delivering a touch spell by channeling it through a weapon, and not via an unarmed attack, does the very act of using a spell strike trigger an AofO? Does a Magus have to chose to fight defensively or allow an AofO and hope the monster doesn't hit, in order to use a spell strike?
Thank you.
Delivering a touch attack spell never provokes an attack of opportunity. Only casting the spell does.

Hi James,

So I can fully understand your clarification. If I had Marcus the Magus fighting an Orc in melee combat and I use spellstrike on the Orc. Do I trigger an AoO from that? And if I do, what is triggering it? Thank you for your time sir :).

Forgive me let me breakdown what I am really asking, lol.

If my understanding is right, spellstrike lets you cast a spell and then deliver it through a weapon. Is that correct?

So if thats true, then when I am in melee combat and I use spellstrike. I provoke an AoO because of the casting of the spell. Is that correct?

Thanks


I can remember playing out of the Dungeons and Dragons Rules Cyclopedia when I was 10 years old. I felt all alone in the world, like nobody else gamed, and hoped for friends some day.

I can remember imagining what it would be like for a major company to create better supplies/books/ect, and a forum for people to meet via computer.

When you were young, did you ever think gaming would get this far? I mean, Paizo is a dream come true!


Darkghost, check your PMs :) If you're not sure where those are, it's the little envelope at the top of the page, next to your user name.


Dear James,

Do you ever abuse your position at Paizo for personal gain, such as requesting a sample sculpt from WizKids for an upcoming line that just happens to coincidentally match the race/class/gear of a BBEG in your home game?

Follow-up, if you answered no, why the heck not??


James Jacobs wrote:
JakNazryth wrote:

But you forgot the most important thing!

Since you are delivering a touch spell by channeling it through a weapon, and not via an unarmed attack, does the very act of using a spell strike trigger an AofO? Does a Magus have to chose to fight defensively or allow an AofO and hope the monster doesn't hit, in order to use a spell strike?
Thank you.
Delivering a touch attack spell never provokes an attack of opportunity. Only casting the spell does.

Since a Magus casts a spell as part of a swift action as part of a spell strike, doesn’t that happen “as the sword is swinging”?

Or is spell strike a 2 part process? Does a magus have to spend 2 rounds to perform a spell strike?
1st round, cast a touch spell.
2nd round, use the spell strike?
The paragraph describing spell strike is a little vague. I can see why there is some confusion. Nowhere in the spell strike description does it state “will trigger an AofO”.
I think if Paizo decides to make a second addition, or an errata, adding a simple sentence in the spell strike paragraph would be very helpful.
It could read… “A magus must first cast a touch spell, which can trigger an AofO, before using it in a spell strike…”
Or it could read… “Since a magus can cast a touch spell as a swift action in the same round he performs a spell strike, it will not trigger an AofO.”
That would clear things up dramatically. 

This question depends on the answer above. IF a magus has to cast a touch spell as a complete separate action, is he limited to using one handed weapons for some spells?
Can he use this ability while fighting with a two-handed sword, great ax, two weapon fighting, or sword and shield? Must there ALWAYS be free hand to cast a touch spell? Or in this case is it a special magus ability that allows the touch spell casting while he’s holding his weapon / weapons?
Thank you.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

The pertinent part of this is actually spell combat.

Spell Combat (Ex): At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks.

So yes the casting of the spell still provokes and AoO, however why you aren't casting defensively, I have no idea.


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Evil Midnight Lurker wrote:
Tundra Dragondust wrote:
Bard/Gunslinger
...Singing Cowboy?!

As I recall this happened quite a bit in the 50's.

I'm actually playing a bard/gunslinger in our current campaign, it works fairly well.

The character is more of belly/erotic dancer bard than a traditional bard, but after getting bardic performance started she pulls her piece and opens fire. She uses dance for granting bonuses for when stealth is needed, orates religious verses when rightousness suits her, or sings when she's being lazy.

Does that dispel the idea of a yodeling cowboy in a ten gallon hat for you? I hope it does...

-Tundra


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Thread fully explaining spellstrike / spell combat.

Short answer: Casting a spell still provokes. Using spellstrike won't provoke, but the spell you cast to deliver with spellstrike does provoke. Also, spellstrike isn't a swift action. When casting a spell as part of spell combat, you should probably cast it defensively, unless you want to take the AoO. If you succeed at the concentration check from being hit, or you successfully cast defensively, you can then use spellstrike to deliver the touch-spell you cast as a part of spell combat. This extra attack from spellstrike is a replacement for the free touch attack you normally get from casting a touch spell.


1) What kinds of entities could be a witch's patron?
2) Are there vestiges (like from 3.5) in the Pathfinder Campaign Setting?
3) If so, could a vestige be a witch's patron?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Darkghost316 wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
JakNazryth wrote:

But you forgot the most important thing!

Since you are delivering a touch spell by channeling it through a weapon, and not via an unarmed attack, does the very act of using a spell strike trigger an AofO? Does a Magus have to chose to fight defensively or allow an AofO and hope the monster doesn't hit, in order to use a spell strike?
Thank you.
Delivering a touch attack spell never provokes an attack of opportunity. Only casting the spell does.

Hi James,

So I can fully understand your clarification. If I had Marcus the Magus fighting an Orc in melee combat and I use spellstrike on the Orc. Do I trigger an AoO from that? And if I do, what is triggering it? Thank you for your time sir :).

The act of casting the spell triggers the AoO. Just as if you were standing next to the orc and casting the spell normally.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Zeetle Wyrp wrote:

I can remember playing out of the Dungeons and Dragons Rules Cyclopedia when I was 10 years old. I felt all alone in the world, like nobody else gamed, and hoped for friends some day.

I can remember imagining what it would be like for a major company to create better supplies/books/ect, and a forum for people to meet via computer.

When you were young, did you ever think gaming would get this far? I mean, Paizo is a dream come true!

I certainly HOPED gaming would stick around long enough for me to get a job in the industry! :-)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Keltoi wrote:

Dear James,

Do you ever abuse your position at Paizo for personal gain, such as requesting a sample sculpt from WizKids for an upcoming line that just happens to coincidentally match the race/class/gear of a BBEG in your home game?

Follow-up, if you answered no, why the heck not??

Nope. I don't need to. It just happens.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

JakNazryth wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
JakNazryth wrote:

But you forgot the most important thing!

Since you are delivering a touch spell by channeling it through a weapon, and not via an unarmed attack, does the very act of using a spell strike trigger an AofO? Does a Magus have to chose to fight defensively or allow an AofO and hope the monster doesn't hit, in order to use a spell strike?
Thank you.
Delivering a touch attack spell never provokes an attack of opportunity. Only casting the spell does.

Since a Magus casts a spell as part of a swift action as part of a spell strike, doesn’t that happen “as the sword is swinging”?

Or is spell strike a 2 part process? Does a magus have to spend 2 rounds to perform a spell strike?
1st round, cast a touch spell.
2nd round, use the spell strike?
The paragraph describing spell strike is a little vague. I can see why there is some confusion. Nowhere in the spell strike description does it state “will trigger an AofO”.
I think if Paizo decides to make a second addition, or an errata, adding a simple sentence in the spell strike paragraph would be very helpful.
It could read… “A magus must first cast a touch spell, which can trigger an AofO, before using it in a spell strike…”
Or it could read… “Since a magus can cast a touch spell as a swift action in the same round he performs a spell strike, it will not trigger an AofO.”
That would clear things up dramatically. 

This question depends on the answer above. IF a magus has to cast a touch spell as a complete separate action, is he limited to using one handed weapons for some spells?
Can he use this ability while fighting with a two-handed sword, great ax, two weapon fighting, or sword and shield? Must there ALWAYS be free hand to cast a touch spell? Or in this case is it a special magus ability that allows the touch spell casting while he’s holding his weapon / weapons?
Thank you.

Folks are overcomplicating the whole spellstrike thing.

Basically... all spellstrike does is let you deliver a touch spell via your weapon. It lets you make a weapon attack to deliver that touch spell rather than just using your hand. You still go through the motions of casting a spell (which provokes an AoO because that's what casting a spell does) and you still need to make a touch attack to deliver the spell.

And yes... Magi don't mix well with two-handed weapons as a result. They're not intended to be two-handed or dual-weapon wielding characters at all, because they've got spells to cast with their free hand. There's one archetype that exists that lets you break that rule.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Khonger wrote:

1) What kinds of entities could be a witch's patron?

2) Are there vestiges (like from 3.5) in the Pathfinder Campaign Setting?
3) If so, could a vestige be a witch's patron?

1) Anything, subject to GM approval.

2) Not officially, since vestiges from that book are not open content, but they'll fit into Golarion if your GM wants them to.

3) Yes. See answer #1 above.

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