Occult Adventures: Your Brain Determines The Shape of Your Skull


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Your brain affects the shape of your head. This is determined by your hit dice. As you gain levels, your brain and head change shape.

Thanks Whaizo!

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Ashiel wrote:

Your brain affects the shape of your head. This is determined by your hit dice. As you gain levels, your brain and head change shape.

Thanks Whaizo!

Now you have proper reasons to shape your head a la Geiger! Presumably this is one of the promised horror touches to the work.

Did you see the skull shaping feats by any chance which pretty much complement this?


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LazarX wrote:
Ashiel wrote:

Your brain affects the shape of your head. This is determined by your hit dice. As you gain levels, your brain and head change shape.

Thanks Whaizo!

Now you have proper reasons to shape your head a la Geiger! Presumably this is one of the promised horror touches to the work.

Did you see the skull shaping feats by any chance which pretty much complement this?

Mostly just been skimming the book (and shaking my head with dismay) with some friends of mine but when we came across this little piece we were like "omg, your brain now changes the shape of your head as you gain levels". It's not even a special mechanic it's just everyone.

Like a 1st level Fighter's head is normal. A 20th level fighter's head has been so contorted by his brain that it's almost impossible for low level people to make heads or tails of it with their skill. Not because of some sort of mind reading, no, actually your head changing shapes.

It was just too hilarious not to post about.

Silver Crusade

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Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

The sad part is that this isn't something Paizo just made up, it is a belief that was once considered scientific fact. It's not normally the kind of thing I want in my fantasy game, but Occult Adventures pulls from a lot of 17th and 18th century quackery, so it's... in scope? Sort of?

Not that it's something I'd use in my games...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrenology

Silver Crusade

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It's weird occult pseudo-psciency stuff from the 19th century.

It's exactly the kind of thing you should expect from a book like this.

I'm not really sure what the complaint is.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Terminalmancer wrote:

The sad part is that this isn't something Paizo just made up, it is a belief that was once considered scientific fact. It's not normally the kind of thing I want in my fantasy game, but Occult Adventures pulls from a lot of 17th and 18th century quackery, so it's... in scope? Sort of?

Do you look at alchemy in the same way? If not, aren't you setting a bit of a double standard? Alchemy was as much pseudo science as phrenology and Lysenko.

Grand Lodge

More importantly, did they include retrophrenology?


I think you're missing the point. The point isn't that the skill exists, it's that it literally says that your brain changes the shape of your skull and that it's keyed to your level in a way that your skull becomes more and more warped and difficult to fathom as your level increases.

Hence the joke picture where at 1st level the skull looks normal and at 20th level it looks like a xenomorph. :P

Scarab Sages

Terminalmancer wrote:

The sad part is that this isn't something Paizo just made up, it is a belief that was once considered scientific fact. It's not normally the kind of thing I want in my fantasy game, but Occult Adventures pulls from a lot of 17th and 18th century quackery, so it's... in scope? Sort of?

Not that it's something I'd use in my games...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrenology

“Of course you’d say that, you have the brainpan of stage coach tilter.” – C.M. Burns

Grand Lodge

Actually, it doesn't say it becomes more complex. It says it gets harder to determine. That could indicate that it gets smoother and *less* distinct.


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LazarX wrote:
Terminalmancer wrote:

The sad part is that this isn't something Paizo just made up, it is a belief that was once considered scientific fact. It's not normally the kind of thing I want in my fantasy game, but Occult Adventures pulls from a lot of 17th and 18th century quackery, so it's... in scope? Sort of?

Do you look at alchemy in the same way? If not, aren't you setting a bit of a double standard? Alchemy was as much pseudo science as phrenology and Lysenko.

Except phrenology was used to justify horrible racist and sexist philosophies.


FLite wrote:
Actually, it doesn't say it becomes more complex. It says it gets harder to determine. That could indicate that it gets smoother and *less* distinct.

In any case your skull is actively changing its physical shape because you're gaining character levels.

I think we should just assume it's becoming diamond-like to help you survive swan-diving into concrete from the edge of the atmosphere at mid-high levels.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Ventnor wrote:
LazarX wrote:
Terminalmancer wrote:

The sad part is that this isn't something Paizo just made up, it is a belief that was once considered scientific fact. It's not normally the kind of thing I want in my fantasy game, but Occult Adventures pulls from a lot of 17th and 18th century quackery, so it's... in scope? Sort of?

Do you look at alchemy in the same way? If not, aren't you setting a bit of a double standard? Alchemy was as much pseudo science as phrenology and Lysenko.
Except phrenology was used to justify horrible racist and sexist philosophies.

True, but irrelevant. Alchemy no doubt, had plenty of abuses and scams of it's own.


By chance, did anyone get a look at the Elongated Cranium feat?

Apparently people with conical heads are very likable.


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I'm pretty sure the changes are so minor that it's impossible to detect any difference unless you're specifcally trained in Phrenology. Hence it being an Occult skill unlock, not just something everyone can do by default.


LazarX wrote:
Ventnor wrote:
LazarX wrote:
Terminalmancer wrote:

The sad part is that this isn't something Paizo just made up, it is a belief that was once considered scientific fact. It's not normally the kind of thing I want in my fantasy game, but Occult Adventures pulls from a lot of 17th and 18th century quackery, so it's... in scope? Sort of?

Do you look at alchemy in the same way? If not, aren't you setting a bit of a double standard? Alchemy was as much pseudo science as phrenology and Lysenko.
Except phrenology was used to justify horrible racist and sexist philosophies.
True, but irrelevant. Alchemy no doubt, had plenty of abuses and scams of it's own.

I'll admit that as a Psych major I have a personal dislike of the whole subject.


and now it can be used to justify horrible caster/martial disparity too!

On the other hand this makes it an official rule that a level 20 human fighter is not a physiologically normal human.


An interesting fact: Hydrocephalic brains are compressed, but most of these persons have no signs of mental problems. Which may lead to the morbid questions;
1. What if the compression was done differently to make the brain smaller without impairing function?
2. How small could a human brain safely get?

Could future genetic engineers make humans who are far smaller than the recent archaeological "Hobbit" find? Combining genetic engineering and manipulated diseases to make... living dolls?

Truly, horrific!


Why would you want the same amount of brain in less space? Why not just have more brain in the same amount of space?


Huh, seems like you could make a "this is your brain" and a "this is your brain on evil" image.


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Higher Level = More bumps on the head from all the fighting.

Seems reasonable to me. :D

But I think maybe people aren't sure whether the OP is joking or serious, due to the preponderance of "Paizo Killed My Game! !$%^#@$^!!!" threads proliferating right now.


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Cthulhudrew wrote:
But I think maybe people aren't sure whether the OP is joking or serious

It's just funny. :D

Liberty's Edge

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Freddy the Fighter: So, how does it look, Doc?
Katelyn the Kineticist: (phrenology) Well, you're a male half-orc, about nineteen years old... You seem like a pretty decent person, willing to do what it takes for you and your girlfriend to live decent lives. I think you're pretty good at being a fighter. It's hard to tell because you have all these funny lumps on your head.
Freddy: Isn't that because my brain helps shape my skull?
Rita the Rogue: No, Fred, it's because you don't wear a helmet. Ever.

Silver Crusade Contributor

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FLite wrote:
More importantly, did they include retrophrenology?

I just reread Men at Arms. I was coming in here to post the same thing...

Grand Lodge

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FLite wrote:
More importantly, did they include retrophrenology?

I still want to know if there is an occult class that will let me play a retro-phrenologist. Preferably a half-orc.

If not, I will just have to play a half orc with a warhammer who insists he is a retro-phrenologist.


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Kalindlara wrote:
FLite wrote:
More importantly, did they include retrophrenology?
I just reread Men at Arms. I was coming in here to post the same thing...

That was one of my favorite parts of that book. So sad that he has left us, but his final Discworld book comes to the U.S. on September 1st.


Not the most... practical application for K(Arcana), is it?

Situation 1:
Paul the Phrenologist: Allow me to study the subject.
Brian the Bard: You mean that guy over there - the young adult half-elf with the spell component pouch, the pet toad, the scroll case, and the festoon of rods and wands?
Paul: Male half-elf, thirty years old... decent fellow. I can't quite tell his avenue of training, his modus operandi so to speak.
Brian: Stop kneading the wizard's scalp, Paul. It's getting weird.

Situation 2:
Paul the Phrenologist: Ahh, yes. Before his corpse was reanimated by the dark arts, this zombie was a human in his early forties, by-the-book customer, probably an army recruiter or drill sergeant by these five levels of Warrior. Oh dear, my hands are filthy.

Situation 3:
Paul the Phrenologist: By the contours of your cranium, I have determined that you, Brian, are a twenty-year old human male and a Chaotic Good seventh-level Bard.
Brian's Player: Was that meant to be in character? 'Cause it sounded weird... and pointless.

Besides - knowing class levels in-game bugs me... I prefer the 'Symbol of Death' description where class level is an abstract.

Grand Lodge

Well, the first question that comes to mind is, is it fooled by disguises? Because that would be one way to sort out who is the doppleganger.

Silver Crusade Contributor

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FLite wrote:
Well, the first question that comes to mind is, is it fooled by disguises? Because that would be one way to sort out who is the doppleganger.

Actually, this raises another question. Could a shapeshifter trained in the appropriate skill for phrenology shape their skull so that it "lies"?

Or would doing so actually retrophrenologize them?

Strange thoughts. ^_^

Scarab Sages

Ventnor wrote:

By chance, did anyone get a look at the Elongated Cranium feat?

Yes, I'm not sure how I feel about it all, but I can't help but find it hilarious that you can turn yourself into a Conehead now (or a Metalunan, even).

Ventnor wrote:

Apparently people with conical heads are very likable.

It conveys a sense of authority, I guess. Normally, somebody'd be standing at equal height to you, but now when they try to look you in the eye, their attention is instead drawn upward and their brainstem's like "Oooooooooooo taaaaaaaaall....."

Silver Crusade

I'm Hiding In Your Closet wrote:
Ventnor wrote:

By chance, did anyone get a look at the Elongated Cranium feat?

Yes, I'm not sure how I feel about it all, but I can't help but find it hilarious that you can turn yourself into a Conehead now (or a Metalunan, even).

May your forehead grow like the mighty oak.

I need to pick up a copy of Occult Adventures, but the more I hear about it, the more I'm inclined to just keep my third party psionics handbook.


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Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Brew Bird wrote:
I'm pretty sure the changes are so minor that it's impossible to detect any difference unless you're specifcally trained in Phrenology. Hence it being an Occult skill unlock, not just something everyone can do by default.

Yeah, you need to be sensitive to psychic phenomena (whether via feat or psychic spellcasting) before you can start examining skulls...makes me wonder if there isn't a little object reading involved somehow.

Regardless, it's pretty amusing, and could lead to some interesting plot points. A world-renowned phrenologist, examining the skull of a beloved saint, claims that he was in fact evil! Religious turmoil has begun...is he telling the truth, or lying for his own benefits? And if he is telling the truth...what conspiracy led to an evil man being considered one of the most righteous? And will he survive his proclamation, or be lynched by the commoners who venerate the saint?


Spook205 wrote:

I need to pick up a copy of Occult Adventures, but the more I hear about it, the more I'm inclined to just keep my third party psionics handbook.

Psionics and Psychic magic are completely different in flavour and mechanics so I'm not sure why having a psionics book would impact whether you buy occult adventures.


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Idle Champion wrote:


Situation 2:
Paul the Phrenologist: Ahh, yes. Before his corpse was reanimated by the dark arts, this zombie was a human in his early forties, by-the-book customer, probably an army recruiter or drill sergeant by these five levels of Warrior. Oh dear, my hands are filthy.

I am now having images of someone doing that to every single undead they kill, just to see what the GM makes up. Should be fun when the party is exploring millennia old ruins. The image of a GM having to make up backstories for frigging zombies from a lost civilization is hilarious.

On a related note, does that mean the Paizo adventure paths need to be updated with undead skull shape information for forward compatibility purposes?


Idle Champion wrote:

Situation 3:

Paul the Phrenologist: By the contours of your cranium, I have determined that you, Brian, are a twenty-year old human male and a Chaotic Good seventh-level Bard.
Brian's Player: Was that meant to be in character? 'Cause it sounded weird... and pointless.

Besides - knowing class levels in-game bugs me... I prefer the 'Symbol of Death' description where class level is an abstract.

You know, things like Spell-levels more or less indicate class levels.

It is a bit Meta, but it somehow works for me.

Liberty's Edge

Erik the Cleric: For the last time, Kate, yes, destroying the undead is a right and proper thing for Bahamut's Chosen to do, but you can't just keep doing that weird phrenology stuff on every one we destroy.

Katelyn the Kineticist: Well, I can't do it on this skeleton because you busted his skull into dust, but this ghost right here--

Erik: (sigh) She didn't have anything corporeal about her, Kate.


Milo v3 wrote:
Spook205 wrote:
I need to pick up a copy of Occult Adventures, but the more I hear about it, the more I'm inclined to just keep my third party psionics handbook.
Psionics and Psychic magic are completely different in flavour and mechanics so I'm not sure why having a psionics book would impact whether you buy occult adventures.

You do have to watch out for some name collisions, though.


Distant Scholar wrote:


You do have to watch out for some name collisions, though.

You have that already with PF's RPG line so it's not really an issue.


Distant Scholar wrote:
Milo v3 wrote:
Spook205 wrote:
I need to pick up a copy of Occult Adventures, but the more I hear about it, the more I'm inclined to just keep my third party psionics handbook.
Psionics and Psychic magic are completely different in flavour and mechanics so I'm not sure why having a psionics book would impact whether you buy occult adventures.
You do have to watch out for some name collisions, though.

Pretty much every class but Psychic is its own unique mechanical entity. They're also pretty easy to rename or reflavor, and even the "psychic spells" mesh pretty well with established spellcasting.

Medium = Binder
Occultist = Artificer
Mesmerist = Anti-Bard
Kineticist = Elementalist
Spiritualist = Spiritualist, actually
Psychic = Sir Not Appearing in this Picture


Puna'chong wrote:


Pretty much every class but Psychic is its own unique mechanical entity. They're also pretty easy to rename or reflavor, and even the "psychic spells" mesh pretty well with established spellcasting.

Medium = Binder
Occultist = Artificer
Mesmerist = Anti-Bard
Kineticist = Elementalist
Spiritualist = Spiritualist, actually
Psychic = Sir Not Appearing in this Picture

I'm really starting to get annoyed with you repeatedly saying occultist is like artificer. They have NO similarity what so ever aside from both classes using UMD.


They're exactly the same.


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Puna'chong wrote:
They're exactly the same.

.... Artificer is a class based around Enchanting Items.... Occultist does not craft items.... So no. They don't even touch on the same themes at all.


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Ventnor wrote:

By chance, did anyone get a look at the Elongated Cranium feat?

Apparently people with conical heads are very likable.

Mmmmmmmov course they are!

FRANCE! They come from France.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Describe your apparel, Jake from planet State farm.


Snorb wrote:

Erik the Cleric: For the last time, Kate, yes, destroying the undead is a right and proper thing for Bahamut's Chosen to do, but you can't just keep doing that weird phrenology stuff on every one we destroy.

Katelyn the Kineticist: Well, I can't do it on this skeleton because you busted his skull into dust, but this ghost right here--

Erik: (sigh) She didn't have anything corporeal about her, Kate.

Won't work. Sadly once/day, not 1/say per creature. Why the limit to 1/day though?

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