Books that aren't in the Pathfinder RPG line, however, the PDT can't FAQ.Sadly, this is one of the reasons I dropped my subscriptions to the Player Companion and Campaign Setting lines: the knowledge that if there are issues with any of the mechanics, they will never be addressed. :\
I did work together with Owen to get us a minor miracle last Friday: a Player Companion line book received a FAQ!!!!!
However, that was with the understanding that it would be a rare event, basically limited to when a non RPG line book has the biggest baddest FAQ out there (there's only one such FAQ coming up that I've seen, for Thundercaller).
Books that aren't in the Pathfinder RPG line, however, the PDT can't FAQ.Sadly, this is one of the reasons I dropped my subscriptions to the Player Companion and Campaign Setting lines: the knowledge that if there are issues with any of the mechanics, they will never be addressed. :\I did work together with Owen to get us a minor miracle last Friday: a Player Companion line book received a FAQ!!!!!
However, that was with the understanding that it would be a rare event, basically limited to when a non RPG line book has the biggest baddest FAQ out there (there's only one such FAQ coming up that I've seen, for Thundercaller).
What FAQ is this?
Freebooter; it's linked a little while back in my post where I mysteriously said "What's this FAQ Friday fans?".
The question is WHY is it a rare event? If it's not your group's zone a would it kill Paizo to make it SOMEBODY'S area?
Freebooter; it's linked a little while back in my post where I mysteriously said "What's this FAQ Friday fans?".
No, I meant what's the Thundercaller FAQ?
The question is WHY is it a rare event? If it's not your group's zone a would it kill Paizo to make it SOMEBODY'S area?
It requires a huge amount of interdepartmental shenanigans, for one thing. When Owen and I decided to try it out, even though the Design Team had already accidentally written the text of the FAQ when we thought it was in UC, we still had to talk to a bunch of people.
Freebooter; it's linked a little while back in my post where I mysteriously said "What's this FAQ Friday fans?".No, I meant what's the Thundercaller FAQ?
Haven't looked at it recently since it's for a player companion.
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I like to chime in on the "Players Companion line needs post-release support" topic as well. Many of the strongest (overpowered?) options in the game are from the Players Companion and Campaign Setting books, and when they cause problems, those problems are left in place, because no one at Paizo is responsible for dealing with those books after they're released. Knowing that the next Sacred Geometry is going to show up in a Companion or Setting book, after which it will be promptly abandoned, makes me leery of both lines. Which is unfortunate; because I very much want more details about the setting. (Although I'd prefer more gazetteer-style books that detail a particular area over the constant release of books that talk about one minor aspect of a bunch of random parts of the world.)
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I know this is settled, but I'm curious about the line of thinking that led to this ruling.I'm not Mark, but I seem to recall there having been a post from Jason Bulmahn back in the day, stating that the whole point of Vital Strike was to be a sort of "consolation prize" for when you already weren't going to be able to full-attack, like when you were staggered or in a surprise round or if you needed your move action for something.
I'd hazard a guess that the cleanest way to enact that was to tie it to the Attack action. How would you write it in order to meet its goal while also allowing it to work with things like Spring Attack? I don't know of a way that isn't super-wordy. :/
"Special: The Vital Strike Feat may be used in conjunction with the Spring Attack Feat." is the simplest, though narrowest solution.
Perhaps "Whenever you make only a single attack in a round, you can make one attack at your highest base attack bonus that deals additional damage.", all other wording the same.
Not really much wordier. I THINK it works well.
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Special: The Vital Strike Feat may be used in conjunction with the Spring Attack Feat.
That's pretty much how I've house-ruled it at my table.
I freely admit that I'm not a rules maven, although I do have a pretty decent working knowledge of the Core Rulebook. (Other books... no so much.) I find that I end up making Old School table rulings a lot of the time to make the game move, and then look up the real rule after the session is over.
PC: I jump off the 20-foot wall, sword down, and try to land on the orc guard below. I want to use my momentum to add more damage.
Me: Huh. Okay. Make an Acrobatics check, followed by an attack roll.
PC: [rolls] 26... and 24.
GM: Okay. You land on the bad guy, impaling him with your sword. Roll normal damage, and add your 2d6 falling damage to your regular weapon damage. You made your Acrobatics check, so take [rolls 1d6] 4 hp from the fall. Also, make a Reflex save, or you're prone. The DC is... [pulls out of the air] 15. [Rolls saving throw for guard... a 4.] You also knocked him prone.
Mark: When you GM, how much "Old School" ad-hoc table-ruling do you end up doing? Especially if the PCs try stuff that isn't directly covered by the rules.
I was thinking in terms of allowing other combat options, like cleave
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Lore Master Bard Ability and Taking 10: Can I take 10 on Knowledge checks? The Knowledge skill doesn’t say I can’t, but if that's true, the first half of the lore master bard ability doesn’t do anything.
Yes, you can. The lore master bard ability should add to the end of that first sentence “even when threatened or distracted.”
But what of next week? Light and Darkness has two distinctly different questions both in the top 6. Will the lack of Unchained blogs mean we put up a Light and Darkness FAQ blog? Will scorpion whip slash its way through? What does that mean for simulacrum, which is perched just beneath the two of them but would require one hell of a blog to cover? Find out next week on FAQ Friday!
Well another week passes holding strong for Scorpion Whip clarification next week.
Well another week passes holding strong for Scorpion Whip clarification next week.
We are getting close to a FAQ on scorpion whip. It is fairly likely to be next week if I don't manage to sneak a super-deluxe FAQ blog in there (which is unlikely to happen, but surprisingly possible).
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But what of next week? Light and Darkness has two distinctly different questions both in the top 6. Will the lack of Unchained blogs mean we put up a Light and Darkness FAQ blog? Will scorpion whip slash its way through? What does that mean for simulacrum, which is perched just beneath the two of them but would require one hell of a blog to cover? Find out next week on FAQ Friday!Lore Master Bard Ability and Taking 10: Can I take 10 on Knowledge checks? The Knowledge skill doesn’t say I can’t, but if that's true, the first half of the lore master bard ability doesn't do anything.
Yes, you can. The lore master bard ability should add to the end of that first sentence “even when threatened or distracted.”
Thank GOD I can finally stop arguing with people about this one.
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Mark I have an unchained question for you, I don't have my book yet boo can't wait till the 29th.
Would you see any problems with swapping the old rage mechanic in the Bloodrager with the new rage mechanic in the unchained barbarian?
Given the bloodrager usually didn't have 1/rage powers anyway, it should be an easy thing to do and should work fine.
Chief Technical Officer
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Thank GOD I can finally stop arguing with people about this one.But what of next week? Light and Darkness has two distinctly different questions both in the top 6. Will the lack of Unchained blogs mean we put up a Light and Darkness FAQ blog? Will scorpion whip slash its way through? What does that mean for simulacrum, which is perched just beneath the two of them but would require one hell of a blog to cover? Find out next week on FAQ Friday!Lore Master Bard Ability and Taking 10: Can I take 10 on Knowledge checks? The Knowledge skill doesn’t say I can’t, but if that's true, the first half of the lore master bard ability doesn't do anything.
Yes, you can. The lore master bard ability should add to the end of that first sentence “even when threatened or distracted.”
FAQs stop arguments in your world?
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FAQs stop arguments in your world?Thank GOD I can finally stop arguing with people about this one.But what of next week? Light and Darkness has two distinctly different questions both in the top 6. Will the lack of Unchained blogs mean we put up a Light and Darkness FAQ blog? Will scorpion whip slash its way through? What does that mean for simulacrum, which is perched just beneath the two of them but would require one hell of a blog to cover? Find out next week on FAQ Friday!Lore Master Bard Ability and Taking 10: Can I take 10 on Knowledge checks? The Knowledge skill doesn’t say I can’t, but if that's true, the first half of the lore master bard ability doesn't do anything.
Yes, you can. The lore master bard ability should add to the end of that first sentence “even when threatened or distracted.”
They go a long way towards helping.
It immediately shuts down any "Yeah, well, I don't think that was the intent, so..." sorts of things.
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Mr. Mark Seifter,
How would you say the unchained eidolons work with the Unfettered Eidolon of the Bestiary 3?
Monk NEVER counted as having TWFing for the purposes of qualifying for Feats or anything, so no change there.
The new Flurry is one of the things that is either mathematically the same, or an upgrade. It gets two attacks instead of 3, but all are at full BaB, and no -2 from TWFing penalties either.
Flurry of blows does not count as TWF for the purpose of qualifying for feats. There is no wording in the book to support that.
You could also never stack TWF with FoB to get extra attacks.
Basically the monk gets extra attacks as if he had the TWF feats, but he never actually gets the feats, not counts as having them for prereqs.
What the new monk should be able to do according to the builds posted is still get extra attacks as if he was using TWF, just like FoB.
Huh, I could've sworn i saw somewhere that they did, I thought it was a FAQ. So I am assuming it is still meant to not work with TWF, given the statement that says, he takes no penalty from attacking with multiple weapons, but does not gain additional attacks beyond FoB?
Honestly I'd rather just take the -2 and still have that third attack...
At 10th level you have, what +10/+10/+5 for an attack routine with the Unchained Monk? With the Core Monk you have +8/+8/+5/+5
At 20th level the Unchained Monk has +20/+20/+20/+15/+5 where as the Core Monk has +18/+18/+13/+13/+3/+3. You are getting one or two less attacks, but more attacks at your highest BAB and they're more accurate. Be honest, the lower iterative attacks aren't likely to hit in the first place.
Over all, your average damage input is likely to be higher with the Unchained Monk than the Core Monk. In addition, the Unchained Monk can add a Style Strike into his Flurry. I'm unsure whether or not the Unchained Monk can spend a Ki point for an extra attack, if not then the Core Monk can do that where as the Unchained Monk gets a Style Strike. But if he can, his attack routine just gets even better.
Honestly, the Unchained Monk's Flurry is sidegrade to the Core Flurry that ends up better than the original.
From what was said by others the new monk gets 1.5 str mod to his unarmed strikes so it will end up doing more damage.
So Mark.
This:
Mr. Mark Seifter,
How would you say the unchained eidolons work with the Unfettered Eidolon of the Bestiary 3?
... made me think.
What would happen if a rogue unfettered eidolon became an APG summoner?
a) "they summon themselves" aka "the awesome theory": in which the eidolon could not exist unless they summoned themselves into existence, and can only be banished instead of truly killed (because they can summon themselves back in 24 hours at half hit points)
b) "they summon another one" aka "the invade Golarion theory" (especially if the eidolon was a broodmaster): you have eidolons summoning eidolons summoning... (it's eidolons all the way down)
c) "they can't do that" aka "the boring theory": after all, it doesn't make sense that a creature in need of a material being in order to give them flesh could, themselves, act as a material being to give others flesh... :/
d) some different theory I haven't thought of
e) some combination of the above
I'm really liking the Unchained multiclassing and how it approaches the issue. Does this system give you ideas for "character archetypes"? Like archetypes that replace a character's standard feats and abilities, rather than class ones?
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Mark, I have a question for you. You and the design team came up with a great idea with scaling items but you tied is to the worst mechanic in the game, the WBL concept. The WBL idea and the cost of magic items were not designed by the same people in 3.5 and bear no relation to each other.
The cost of staffs rods and wands and the WBL don't work together IMO
the cost to craft should be about a third of what they are now. The crafting levels should be reduced by 1/2 if you are not going to make material above 10th level for a majority of your product line.
Rings are the best priced items in the game, the same goes per armor followed by weapons.
The blog that you released for scaling is very confusing and highly math intensive.
I think it would much simpler to make scaling items as far as arms and armor go work simular to the black blade. If you want to keep it tied too the WBL simply use the Black blade progression for the 10% increase the progression for 20% and a 30%.
I just really dislike the whole WBL idea and think that is damages the whole pathfinder line.
I have not seen what you have for scaling items as I have not got my book yet I will get at my FLGS on the 29th.
BTW I am really looking forward to unchained I think from what I have read about it so far is that It will be the best book released to date.
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Mark, I have a question for you. You and the design team came up with a great idea with scaling items but you tied is to the worst mechanic in the game, the WBL concept. The WBL idea and the cost of magic items were not designed by the same people in 3.5 and bear no relation to each other.
The cost of staffs rods and wands and the WBL don't work together IMO
the cost to craft should be about a third of what they are now. The crafting levels should be reduced by 1/2 if you are not going to make material above 10th level for a majority of your product line.Rings are the best priced items in the game, the same goes per armor followed by weapons.
The blog that you released for scaling is very confusing and highly math intensive.
I think it would much simpler to make scaling items as far as arms and armor go work simular to the black blade. If you want to keep it tied too the WBL simply use the Black blade progression for the 10% increase the progression for 20% and a 30%.
I just really dislike the whole WBL idea and think that is damages the whole pathfinder line.
I have not seen what you have for scaling items as I have not got my book yet I will get at my FLGS on the 29th.
BTW I am really looking forward to unchained I think from what I have read about it so far is that It will be the best book released to date.
Actually WBL works well, and it does not damage the line. If so I dont see it. It is a good way of letting GM's have an idea of how much wealth is expected to overcome certain challenges. What might be damaging is that some see it WBL as a hard rule when it is really a guideline, but that is another argument altogether.
However I do agree that wands above 2nd level and staves are overpriced. Rods on the other hand I don't have a real problem with.
Rings are just a much ad-hoc as rods and wondrous items. If they have better pricing it is not due to being a ring. It just turned out that way.
If UV light (from 10nm to 400nm) is blocked (absorbed) by both glass and polycarb plastic, are UV coatings on eyeglasses a scam? Aren't all glasses, even the cheap Disney $5 pairs at Walgreen's good enough?
FAQ Friday returns...on Monday? Special limited edition Monday FAQ!
Wow. That one, while I'm glad to have seen a bonus FAQ pop up (seriously, kudos on that man, you're really doing good at holding up to your commitment to crank them out) was...surprising.
Not what you decided, but rather that it was even high enough in priority to be addressed. Seemed like a common sense issue, since rage bonuses of all types are morale bonuses, and morale bonuses are explicitly stated to not stack.
What even made that not a "no FAQ required" answer?
A lot of people were stacking Rages to get bonus Rage Powers from other sources (Skald + Barbarian). This is...kind of a bummer. It reduces the Skald's already pretty small number of "People who could actually benefit from this" by one class.
Plus it would have been cool to see like a Savage Technologist's Rage stacked with a normal Barbarian Rage for a mighty +4 Str/Dex/Con super combo.
Mr. Mark Seifter,
How would you say the unchained eidolons work with the Unfettered Eidolon of the Bestiary 3?
The cool thing is that unfettered eidolons can branch out, and there can be races of unfettered eidolons within each of the given subtypes, each of which add their own bit of culture to that outsider subtype in general!
Huh, I could've sworn i saw somewhere that they did, I thought it was a FAQ. So I am assuming it is still meant to not work with TWF, given the statement that says, he takes no penalty from attacking with multiple weapons, but does not gain additional attacks beyond FoB?
Honestly I'd rather just take the -2 and still have that third attack...
At 10th level you have, what +10/+10/+5 for an attack routine with the Unchained Monk? With the Core Monk you have +8/+8/+5/+5
At 20th level the Unchained Monk has +20/+20/+20/+15/+5 where as the Core Monk has +18/+18/+13/+13/+3/+3. You are getting one or two less attacks, but more attacks at your highest BAB and they're more accurate. Be honest, the lower iterative attacks aren't likely to hit in the first place.
Over all, your average damage input is likely to be higher with the Unchained Monk than the Core Monk. In addition, the Unchained Monk can add a Style Strike into his Flurry. I'm unsure whether or not the Unchained Monk can spend a Ki point for an extra attack, if not then the Core Monk can do that where as the Unchained Monk gets a Style Strike. But if he can, his attack routine just gets even better.
Honestly, the Unchained Monk's Flurry is sidegrade to the Core Flurry that ends up better than the original.
Yes, you can spend ki for more attacks, and one of the style strikes grants another (nonlethal) attack at -5, so an unchained monk who feels like it and spends ki is +20/+20/+20/+20/+15/+15/+5, strictly better, with each attack better than a corresponding attack, than core's +18/+18/+18/+13/+13/+8/+8.
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So Mark.
This:
Mr. Mark Seifter,
How would you say the unchained eidolons work with the Unfettered Eidolon of the Bestiary 3?
... made me think.
What would happen if a
rogueunfettered eidolon became an APG summoner?a) "they summon themselves" aka "the awesome theory": in which the eidolon could not exist unless they summoned themselves into existence, and can only be banished instead of truly killed (because they can summon themselves back in 24 hours at half hit points)
b) "they summon another one" aka "the invade Golarion theory" (especially if the eidolon was a broodmaster): you have eidolons summoning eidolons summoning... (it's eidolons all the way down)
c) "they can't do that" aka "the boring theory": after all, it doesn't make sense that a creature in need of a material being in order to give them flesh could, themselves, act as a material being to give others flesh... :/
d) some different theory I haven't thought of
e) some combination of the above
It seems pretty clearly to be (b) to me, since the unfettered eidolon would not be a legal eidolon for a summoner of its summoner level as (a) due to having summoner levels, among other things, and (c) is boring.
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I'm really liking the Unchained multiclassing and how it approaches the issue. Does this system give you ideas for "character archetypes"? Like archetypes that replace a character's standard feats and abilities, rather than class ones?
Yeah, I would say Unchained's VMC sort of is a "character archetype" in a way. It opens up more ways to give interesting options to characters of a variety of classes. Honestly, a VMC version of prestige classes where prestige classes, in their entirity, were a bunch of swaps for feats past a certain point, would be a pretty interesting way to handle a prestige class.
Will there ever be errata for Monkey Lunge?
It's not in the Pathfinder RPG line, so I really make one happen except for in a rare planar-convergence sort of deal like with freebooter.
Will rogue talents released in the future be usable by both the unchained rogue and the core rogue, or only one? And will rogue talents that were previously released but were not mentioned in the list of talents usable for the unchained rogue ever be adapted for the unchained rogue?
I'm not sure what the future will bring, though I know Owen, maestro of the PComp line, has said that he wants to focus on options that thread the needle and stay compatible with both classic and Unchained classes where he can. If a talent was in a Pathfinder RPG line book and it wasn't included in Unchained (including the sidebar), it was probably removed for a reason, so I think it's extremely unlikely that you would see those.
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If UV light (from 10nm to 400nm) is blocked (absorbed) by both glass and polycarb plastic, are UV coatings on eyeglasses a scam? Aren't all glasses, even the cheap Disney $5 pairs at Walgreen's good enough?
If you can get a polycarb lense, then I think you don't need a UV coating; those are mainly for plastic lenses. Admittedly, since I don't wear glasses, I'm not really sure, but hey, it's Ask All Your Questions, so I'll give it a shot!
The distinction between whats in an RPG line so it can get an FAQ and things that aren't in the RPG line so they can't seems a little... weird? Arbitrary? Why does that line exist? Is there a work around? Can we get periodically pondered queries for other items?
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if an Urban Barbarian takes Raging Vitality does it give her a +2 to CON while raging even if she chose to allocate her rage bonus to STR or DEX for that rage instead of to CON?
That's an interesting one. It looks from my read like it probably wouldn't, since it increases an existing bonus by 2, which wouldn't apply if you didn't have one. That said, some effects that increase an existing bonus assume a starting bonus of 0 if you have no bonus (like magic vestment on a regular shirt). It's basically the whole 0 vs — question.