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Mark Seifter wrote:
As to your question, it is an interesting question to be sure. In my games, I would say that the weapon bonuses still don't apply, but then again, I've been on the receiving side of a giant monster's grapples enough times to know that the status quo is already on the grappler's side enough that I wouldn't want to push it even more in that direction (for instance, my poor brawler in the playtest for my two Occult Adventures classes has been grappled successfully numerous times despite my having spend significant character resources on bonuses to prevent grapples). If I didn't see the status quo in that way, your question is close enough to a toss-up for me that I could have seen myself answering the other way.

I think that's more of a problem with size bonuses to CMB. They scale too fast and too far. Without Grab, grapple is a pretty weak maneuver... It requires 3~4 feats just so the grappler has and advantage over the "grapplee" (mostly because your target can keep full attacking you while you have to spend actions just to maintain the grapple. In fact, most of my characters have a cestus or spiked gauntlet just so they can punch the hell out of anyone who grapples them).

Size bonuses to CMD/CMB could be a bit lower, IMHO... They could scale by +2 for every additional size category, instead of having an exponential increase... And to make things worse, those Huge creatures most often come with huge Str modifiers as well.

Designer

Lemmy wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
As to your question, it is an interesting question to be sure. In my games, I would say that the weapon bonuses still don't apply, but then again, I've been on the receiving side of a giant monster's grapples enough times to know that the status quo is already on the grappler's side enough that I wouldn't want to push it even more in that direction (for instance, my poor brawler in the playtest for my two Occult Adventures classes has been grappled successfully numerous times despite my having spend significant character resources on bonuses to prevent grapples). If I didn't see the status quo in that way, your question is close enough to a toss-up for me that I could have seen myself answering the other way.

I think that's more of a problem with size bonuses to CMB. They scale too fast and too far. Without Grab, grapple is a pretty weak maneuver... It requires 3~4 feats just so the grappler has and advantage over the "grapplee" (mostly because your target can keep full attacking you while you have to spend actions just to maintain the grapple. In fact, most of my characters have a cestus or spiked gauntlet just so they can punch the hell out of anyone who grapples them).

Size bonuses to CMD/CMB could be a bit lower, IMHO... They could scale by +2 for every additional size category, instead of having an exponential increase... And to make things worse, those Huge creatures most often come with huge Str modifiers as well.

That's not a bad idea, but even if it was just +2 per category, that wouldn't come out weaker until gargantuan. Poor Ti, and others like her, have enough trouble with Huge monsters. And that's with grapple monsters grappling the best person in the whole party (from our perspective) who is most equipped to resist grapples (high strength, solid dex, brawler AC bonus, maneuver focus grapple, etc). If it was the shaman, fuggedaboutit. You're right that a lot of it comes from compounding with high Strength. The +4 from grab is pretty big too, I think.


Yeah, size bonuses are difficult to adjust. Although Large creatures are not usually that bad...

I suppose it could be something like +1, +2, +4, +6, +8, +10, etc... PCs would at least have a chance to get out of grapples by those colossal creatures. :/

But, anyway... Here is my question:

1- Now that we have the "your attribute modifier count as a source" errata, any chance to FAQ Fury's Fall to allow the character to add both Str and Dex? Just so it has some use for characters with Weapon Finesse? (It also encourages characters to not dump Str... Although, honestly... I don't think dumping Str bellow 10 is ever a good idea, unless you're a full arcane caster).


Oh, yeah... I think it's CMD that is kinda broken... CMB & CMD is a good system, IMHO. It's simple, intuitive and effective. it's just the numbers that should be calibrated a bit better, specially size bonuses.

Designer

Lemmy wrote:

Yeah, size bonuses are difficult to adjust. Although Large creatures are not usually that bad...

I suppose it could be something like +1, +2, +4, +6, +8, +10, etc... PCs would at least have a chance to get out of grapples by those colossal creatures. :/

But, anyway... Here is my question:

1- Now that we have the "your attribute modifier count as a source" errata, any chance to FAQ Fury's Fall to allow the character to add both Str and Dex? Just so it has some use for characters with Weapon Finesse? (It also encourages characters to not dump Str... Although, honestly... I don't think dumping Str bellow 10 is ever a good idea, unless you're a full arcane caster).

Weapon Finesse has a "may" clause, so I think Fury's Fall is a solid choice for someone with good Str, good Dex, and Weapon Finesse.


Mark Seifter wrote:
Lemmy wrote:

Yeah, size bonuses are difficult to adjust. Although Large creatures are not usually that bad...

I suppose it could be something like +1, +2, +4, +6, +8, +10, etc... PCs would at least have a chance to get out of grapples by those colossal creatures. :/

But, anyway... Here is my question:

1- Now that we have the "your attribute modifier count as a source" errata, any chance to FAQ Fury's Fall to allow the character to add both Str and Dex? Just so it has some use for characters with Weapon Finesse? (It also encourages characters to not dump Str... Although, honestly... I don't think dumping Str bellow 10 is ever a good idea, unless you're a full arcane caster).

Weapon Finesse has a "may" clause, so I think Fury's Fall is a solid choice for someone with good Str, good Dex, and Weapon Finesse.

Ah, that's true. Good catch. Thanks.


Mark Seifter wrote:
As to your question, it is an interesting question to be sure. In my games, I would say that the weapon bonuses still don't apply, but then again, I've been on the receiving side of a giant monster's grapples enough times to know that the status quo is already on the grappler's side enough that I wouldn't want to push it even more in that direction (for instance, my poor brawler in the playtest for my two Occult Adventures classes has been grappled successfully numerous times despite my having spend significant character resources on bonuses to prevent grapples). If I didn't see the status quo in that way, your question is close enough to a toss-up for me that I could have seen myself answering...

I'd agree, except that it is mostly PC grapplers that have access to the tactics I mentioned above (enhancement bonuses/weapon focus and other gear based forms of grappling enhancement via weapon bonuses). It would, for example, have helped shore up your Ti's grapple check quite nicely, while it probably wouldn't have applied for a T-Rex attacking the party, say.

prototype00

Designer

prototype00 wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
As to your question, it is an interesting question to be sure. In my games, I would say that the weapon bonuses still don't apply, but then again, I've been on the receiving side of a giant monster's grapples enough times to know that the status quo is already on the grappler's side enough that I wouldn't want to push it even more in that direction (for instance, my poor brawler in the playtest for my two Occult Adventures classes has been grappled successfully numerous times despite my having spend significant character resources on bonuses to prevent grapples). If I didn't see the status quo in that way, your question is close enough to a toss-up for me that I could have seen myself answering...

I'd agree, except that it is mostly PC grapplers that have access to the tactics I mentioned above (enhancement bonuses/weapon focus and other gear based forms of grappling enhancement via weapon bonuses). It would, for example, have helped shore up your Ti's grapple check quite nicely, while it probably wouldn't have applied for a T-Rex attacking the party, say.

prototype00

PC and NPC grapplers built for grappling also honestly don't need it, and sometimes they are the T-Rex.

For a simple example of a PC grappler, look at, for instance, the brawler iconic. She's just a basic pregen with no splatbook shenanigans or crazy combos, and her grapple check is pretty much going to succeed against humanoid opponents by level 7. Certainly, at least, with her grapple CMD, they aren't getting out of that hold.


Didn't your brawler get successfully grappled? Or am I not understanding something about your initial reply?

prototype00

Designer

prototype00 wrote:

Didn't your brawler get successfully grappled? Or am I not understanding something about your initial reply?

prototype00

Yes, it's that my brawler is not the brawler iconic Kess, who spent everything on being a grappler. Ti just spent a reasonable amount of resources on avoiding being grappled. Sorry, too many female brawlers!

Designer

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Well look at that. A new FAQ and it's not even Friday!


Mark, you should start linking the FAQs when you say that... I'm unreasonably bad at finding recent FAQs. -.-'

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Thankfully, you can just go to the Help/FAQ link at the top of the page and look for the FAQ that is marked 'Today'. :)


1 person marked this as a favorite.

So..who would i have to send a life sized velociraptor statue to to get all the FAQs on one page?


TriOmegaZero wrote:
Thankfully, you can just go to the Help/FAQ link at the top of the page and look for the FAQ that is marked 'Today'. :)

Doesn't that just send me to the list of FAQ categories, like "General Store FAQs"?

Contributor

Lemmy wrote:
TriOmegaZero wrote:
Thankfully, you can just go to the Help/FAQ link at the top of the page and look for the FAQ that is marked 'Today'. :)
Doesn't that just send me to the list of FAQ categories, like "General Store FAQs"?

Ultimate Combat is listed as having been updated "today" the FAQs.

Designer

It's just a wording clear-up on Dragon and Tiger link.

Contributor

Mark Seifter wrote:
It's just a wording clear-up on Dragon and Tiger link.

More, Mark. We must have more!

Designer

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Alexander Augunas wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
It's just a wording clear-up on Dragon and Tiger link.
More, Mark. We must have more!

There shall (probably) be more on FAQ Friday! With thanks to Joe for the idea, slow but steady wins the race.

Contributor

Mark Seifter wrote:
Alexander Augunas wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
It's just a wording clear-up on Dragon and Tiger link.
More, Mark. We must have more!
There shall (probably) be more on FAQ Friday! With thanks to Joe for the idea, slow but steady wins the race.

Clearly you've never played the new Super Smash Bros for the 3DS! They have a mode called Smash Run and if you get the "Race to the Finish" ending fight, playing Sonic the Hedgehog is basically an auto-win for you.


First of all, thanks for FAQ Fridays! It's a great idea. :)

As for the question, here's a fun one a player just asked me:

Can sensei monks use their Mystic Wisdom ability with class features obtained through the quinggong archetype?

Mystic Wisdom:
Mystic Wisdom (Su): At 6th level, a sensei may use his advice ability when spending points from his ki pool to activate a class ability (using the normal actions required for each) in order to have that ability affect one ally within 30 feet rather than the sensei himself. At 12th level, a sensei may affect all allies within 30 feet rather than himself (spending points from his ki pool only once, not once for each target).
At 12th level, a sensei may instead spend 1 point from his ki pool (as a swift action) while using advice to provide a single ally within 30 feet with evasion, fast movement, high jump, purity of body, or slow fall.
At 18th level, a sensei may spend 2 points to grant one of the abilities listed above to all allies within 30 feet, or diamond body, diamond soul, or improved evasion to a single ally within 30 feet. These abilities function at the sensei’s level and last 1 round. This ability replaces the bonus feats at 6th, 12th, and 18th level.

For example, could a 6th level quinggong sensei monk use Mystic Wisdom to cast True Strike on Joe the Slayer?

Designer

Or on everybody at 12th. I don't see anything stopping it. Qigong sensei with restoration is part of the "Death Be Not Proud" duo with a paladin with Ultimate Mercy. If the paladin lives, nobody pays a single copper even if everyone else dies.


Mark Seifter wrote:
Or on everybody at 12th. I don't see anything stopping it. Qigong sensei with restoration is part of the "Death Be Not Proud" duo with a paladin with Ultimate Mercy. If the paladin lives, nobody pays a single copper even if everyone else dies.

Excellent!

Suddenly I'm tempted to introduce a 12th level sensei equipped only with a megaphone who spends his WBL on recruiting a platoon company legion of level 1 archers. The uncannily accurate arrows shall blot out the sun!

...Until he runs into a wind wall, that is.

Designer

Starting at level 12, sensei is a deceptively powerful archetype, especially when you find odd ways to use ki on a class ability. A champion of Irori sensei, for instance, might be able to do a mock aura of justice. Although it may be intended to be "a monk class ability" when it says "a class ability", as it's stated in the rules that sometimes the name of the class is implied. I could see that, and I'm not sure.


Sensei/Ninjas can cast invisibility on everyone...

prototype00

Designer

prototype00 wrote:

Sensei/Ninjas can cast invisibility on everyone...

prototype00

Yup, but others can do that. The awesome part about Sensei/Ninja is the swift action!

Grand Lodge

Hi Mark, my question / comment is on staffs. I would like to know from a designers standpoint why the designers took staffs almost out of pathfinder. With the WBL rules almost 1/2 of the staffs that are published will never see use in Pathfinder because they are too expensive.

Staffs are the most iconic item related to arcane spell casters and they have been Completely taken out of PFS and most of Pathfinder due to cost. No crafting equals no staffs. Why would arcane spell casters who are paranoid by nature trust another caster to build his or her tools?

From my experience in gaming 35 years I have found no problem with low level casters having wands and staffs. In the system that I played in for most of my gaming { Arduin] Wizards were able to build staffs with a good roll at el 1 but most had them by el 3 staffs held 10 charges and could be overchargerd as the Arduin system used mana instead of metamagic feats to cause spells to do more damage increase range etc.

I see no reason why arcane caster could not get a bonus feat at el 1 to craft wands limt 3 charges at 1st level scaling from there and staffs at level 5 and allow staffs to have metamagic feats applied to them.

The only problem I see with what I have outlined for staffs is the 15 minute day that seems to be implemented by the ap designers.

Could I get your feedback on what I have written. By no means is some of what I have written directed at you Mark they are just my general observations on how staffs and wands are implemented in pathfinder.

I hope you and the the rest of the Pazio staff are having a good day.
BTW I just picked up ACG Origins. So I am defiantly buying all of the Pazio goodies as they are released.

A devoted fan


Mark Seifter wrote:
prototype00 wrote:

Sensei/Ninjas can cast invisibility on everyone...

prototype00

Yup, but others can do that. The awesome part about Sensei/Ninja is the swift action!

Awesome, but as you say, there has been controversy about which ki abilities the Sensei can pass to the party and which can't.

Perhaps it is a faq worth topic? (I personally err on the side that Sensei can share all ki abilities, but that is because I feel the Sensei deserves that little coolness factor at that level)

A quick question, with the new faq about Dragon Style/Ferocity, how does dragon ferocity interact with Horn of the Criosphinx? Would it add 1/2 str to the existing now 2x Str?

prototype00

Silver Crusade

Hi Mark, would it be possible to get a magic item like a circlet that allows a Druid, Hunter or Ranger to Telepathically communicate with their
animal companion. This would not give any benefit other than allowing the master and commuicate w/o verbal commands so the baddies don't know who is issuing commands. bonus trick would be nice but not necessary.


Mark Seifter wrote:
Starting at level 12, sensei is a deceptively powerful archetype, especially when you find odd ways to use ki on a class ability. A champion of Irori sensei, for instance, might be able to do a mock aura of justice. Although it may be intended to be "a monk class ability" when it says "a class ability", as it's stated in the rules that sometimes the name of the class is implied. I could see that, and I'm not sure.

I personally am a fan of the Scorching Ray combo to focus fire down bad guys at range. Like, give the Sensei Leadership and some followers, spends a Ki Point and they all fire three rays each dealing 4d6 points of fire damage.

Designer

Scorching ray doesn't affect the sensei himself, so it wouldn't work with mystic wisdom. The picture in my head from that idea is hilarious, though!


Mark Seifter wrote:
Scorching ray doesn't affect the sensei himself, so it wouldn't work with mystic wisdom. The picture in my head from that idea is hilarious, though!

I'm not sure it works that way, the Sensei can spend a ki point to give himself the ability to cast Scorching Ray, so it seems like it would work with Mystic Wisdom. I guess it's not exactly clear though. I imagine most GMs would allow it up until the point a Sensei with Leadership does the Scorching Ray focus fire bit, at which point it gets nerfed :P

Liberty's Edge

Rogue Eidolon wrote:
The black raven wrote:
Rogue Eidolon wrote:
The interest in this thread has brought a further update. It's missing basically one art piece, so black raven, perfect timing. It could come out at any time, really, once that last piece is in. Anyone's guess is as good as mine. Pretty cool, huh?

Awesome !!!

How will we know that the stars are right ?

I heard all the art is in and that it's in layout. How cool is that?

ME WANT !!!


The black raven wrote:
Rogue Eidolon wrote:
The black raven wrote:
Rogue Eidolon wrote:
The interest in this thread has brought a further update. It's missing basically one art piece, so black raven, perfect timing. It could come out at any time, really, once that last piece is in. Anyone's guess is as good as mine. Pretty cool, huh?

Awesome !!!

How will we know that the stars are right ?

I heard all the art is in and that it's in layout. How cool is that?
ME WANT !!!

Could be any day now. In fact, although I can't find it, someone just posted that they saw the names announced on the Legendary Games site.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Mark,

Who's your favorite character to play in the PACG?


Hey, Mark... Just so I can end an argument that spawned at my table.

1- When you make multiple Trip/Disarm/Sunder checks during a full attack, does the CMB bonus lower by -5 with each iterative attack or are they all made at full BAB?

2- If you confirm a critical hit, but the enemy uses an ability to deny the critical, do secondary effects that take place only during a critical hit still work or are they denied as well? (Same goes for Sneak attack).

Thanks in advance.

Designer

Here's another FAQ Friday

EDIT: Firstworldbard and Lemmy, I will get to your questions!

Contributor

Fun combo of the day!

Swashbuckler + Quickdraw Steel Shield + Quick Draw

If you have the Quick Draw feat, a Quickdraw Steel Shield allows you to don or stow it as a free action, so at the start of your turn you stow your shield as a free action, do as you please for the turn, and then if you're worried about getting smacked in the face after your turn ends, you don your Quickdraw Steel Shield as a free action at the end of the turn.

What do you think? I think it sounds fun and feels very cinematic.

Designer

First World Bard wrote:

Mark,

Who's your favorite character to play in the PACG?

Too many choices! I'll narrow down to the just the RotRL characters since I have played or played with nearly all of them.

I like Lini, Lem, and Seoni the most from RotRL. Also Sajan with two staves of minor healing is fantastic all-around, but in a game with more players where I couldn't get both, he would rate much lower. Harsk is also quite good.

Designer

Lemmy wrote:

Hey, Mark... Just so I can end an argument that spawned at my table.

1- When you make multiple Trip/Disarm/Sunder checks during a full attack, does the CMB bonus lower by -5 with each iterative attack or are they all made at full BAB?

2- If you confirm a critical hit, but the enemy uses an ability to deny the critical, do secondary effects that take place only during a critical hit still work or are they denied as well? (Same goes for Sneak attack).

Thanks in advance.

1) Made with the lower BAB.

2) The jingasa, for instance, would negate those effects, though not all crit negation effects may always be the same. But some effects happen when you confirm a crit, and those would still happen.

Designer

Alexander Augunas wrote:

Fun combo of the day!

Swashbuckler + Quickdraw Steel Shield + Quick Draw

If you have the Quick Draw feat, a Quickdraw Steel Shield allows you to don or stow it as a free action, so at the start of your turn you stow your shield as a free action, do as you please for the turn, and then if you're worried about getting smacked in the face after your turn ends, you don your Quickdraw Steel Shield as a free action at the end of the turn.

What do you think? I think it sounds fun and feels very cinematic.

This sort of thing has been around for a while (the previous incarnation was someone who was trying to TWF while using two-hands on both quickdraw shields by stowing the other quickdraw shield in between attacks). Based on the two-grip-adjusts-a-round-is-more-than-fair thing from Sean, this version seems like it would work. However, you will muff up your precise strike deed on any riposte.


Hi Mark,

Sorry to be a bother, but just wanted to know if you had any thoughts on my horn of the Criosphnix question:

Quote:
A quick question, with the new faq about Dragon Style/Ferocity, how does dragon ferocity interact with Horn of the Criosphinx? Would it add 1/2 str to the existing now 2x Str?

Cheers!

prototype00

Designer

It looks to me like nothing changed. Just as before, it still definitely doesn't forth with Dragon Style's increase to 1.5, and it may or may not work with Ferocity depending on order of operations. So it'll depend on the GM's ruling of order of operations.


Ah, right, so as before there is nothing at all in the rules to prevent them from stacking. Interesting.

prototype00


What's your feelings on [REDACTED]?

Contributor

Mark Seifter wrote:
However, you will muff up your precise strike deed on any riposte.

Yup! That's a downside that I'm willing to take for my character.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Mark,

Let's say I am playing a Shaman of the Heavens spirit, and my sprit animal / familiar is a Flying Squirrel. What are its fly movement options? I think I'd rule it as having a fly speed of 40 while gliding, and 5 feet otherwise, but I'm curious as to what you'd think.

(As an aside, Trini and Zorestroga got to play in Black Waters this Saturday. It was pointed out by someone else at the table that if Trini has a moose companion, then Zorestroga should totally go with a (flying) squirrel familiar to complete the duo).


Mark Seifter wrote:
Lemmy wrote:

Hey, Mark... Just so I can end an argument that spawned at my table.

1- When you make multiple Trip/Disarm/Sunder checks during a full attack, does the CMB bonus lower by -5 with each iterative attack or are they all made at full BAB?

2- If you confirm a critical hit, but the enemy uses an ability to deny the critical, do secondary effects that take place only during a critical hit still work or are they denied as well? (Same goes for Sneak attack).

Thanks in advance.

1) Made with the lower BAB.

2) The jingasa, for instance, would negate those effects, though not all crit negation effects may always be the same. But some effects happen when you confirm a crit, and those would still happen.

1- Thanks. Now I can prove to my fellow players that I was right all along! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

2- Hmm... So, if an ability said something like "Whenever you confirm a critical or land a Sneak Attack, you can use Intimidate to demoralize your opponent as a free action" or something like that, and it occured, but the opponent had something like "Light Fortification" or "undead Anatomy", the damage wouldn't be multiplied, but the attacker would still be able to demoralize the target?

Designer

First World Bard wrote:

Mark,

Let's say I am playing a Shaman of the Heavens spirit, and my sprit animal / familiar is a Flying Squirrel. What are its fly movement options? I think I'd rule it as having a fly speed of 40 while gliding, and 5 feet otherwise, but I'm curious as to what you'd think.

(As an aside, Trini and Zorestroga got to play in Black Waters this Saturday. It was pointed out by someone else at the table that if Trini has a moose companion, then Zorestroga should totally go with a (flying) squirrel familiar to complete the duo).

I think rules as written since it has a fly speed printed, it would have 50' fly with the Glide ability.

Also, that is hilarious! It would be even funnier if they were from Irrisen instead, of course, and were named Boris and Natasha. Maybe that's their rivals, given their Realm of the Mammoth Lords roots!

Designer

Lemmy wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
Lemmy wrote:

Hey, Mark... Just so I can end an argument that spawned at my table.

1- When you make multiple Trip/Disarm/Sunder checks during a full attack, does the CMB bonus lower by -5 with each iterative attack or are they all made at full BAB?

2- If you confirm a critical hit, but the enemy uses an ability to deny the critical, do secondary effects that take place only during a critical hit still work or are they denied as well? (Same goes for Sneak attack).

Thanks in advance.

1) Made with the lower BAB.

2) The jingasa, for instance, would negate those effects, though not all crit negation effects may always be the same. But some effects happen when you confirm a crit, and those would still happen.

1- Thanks. Now I can prove to my fellow players that I was right all along! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

2- Hmm... So, if an ability said something like "Whenever you confirm a critical or land a Sneak Attack, you can use Intimidate to demoralize your opponent as a free action" or something like that, and it occured, but the opponent had something like "Light Fortification" or "undead Anatomy", the damage wouldn't be multiplied, but the attacker would still be able to demoralize the target?

I'm not sure about the exact wording "land a sneak attack", but "confirm a critical" should be legit. There's even precedence for flaming burst and the like triggering even if the foe is immune to criticals, in case it's relevant whether you can still roll to confirm.

Magic Weapons and Critical Hits wrote:
Some weapon qualities and some specific weapons have an extra effect on a critical hit. This special effect also functions against creatures not normally subject to critical hits. On a successful critical roll, apply the special effect, but do not multiply the weapon's regular damage.

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