So saddened by this loss. He really was the only one who could do the original Crisis or the final Marvel/DC crossover. George Perez put so much work into understanding every character's unique mannerisms.
It would fit the idea that two of the three endings are the result of indoctrination. It would be a cool twist, but the chance of upsetting players would almost certainly push Bioware away.
My thought is Shepard and Liara's Daughter as a squad mate or even as the main character.
Paizo is struggling right now and I'm not sure that something like that is practical for them at all.
Source?
The Gleeful Grognard wrote:
I would rather the money/time be spent on errata systems for the game and slight class tweaks instead.
Absolutely agreed. The best playtest is to actually publish it. Paizo should keep moving forward. The best solution to weak class is to publish a stronger class that hits the same tropes. If investigator is weak, make a detective, if witch is weak, make a warlock. A small bit of power creep can be fine, if it keeps people excited about the game.
I'm inclined to say yes for Miracle, but no for Wish. Wish should only be able to produce healing effects of 7th level. Going above a 9-level heal with miracle is fine, but with wish is mixing the differences between the spell lists in a way I don't like.
It'll be melted down as soon as the local government or bank reforms and starts printing currency again. If it's continuously handed over, it'll wear down to uselessness in 100 years. For currency, your best bet is giving it to a dragon to sit on it.
Precious gems might be a better choice. Expensive and old jewelry is a fine choice. You want something traded, but taken care of.
I also like the idea of soul caging Cobalt-60. What adventurer is regularly casting detect radiation?
Once again, I'm coming here from Twitter and Tumblr and this place seems so nice. There's a few bad actors out there, but most people on here seem good-willed. I guess I'm satisfied with the state of moderation.
I am so bored with the standard D&D underdark. OotS had a great strip in Dragon magazine about how it's just like the surface. Drow can wait forever in my opinion.
Now, actually exploring underground can be terrifying. I recommend Lamentations of the Flame Priestess's Veins of the Earth book for some inspiration. It helps a lot that few in LotFP have darkvision. The book also goes to lengths to point out that underground spaces are rarely open or flat. Imagine fighting, in the dark, on a 35-degree slope with a ceiling only 4 feet high. That's interesting.
R just for the language my fellow players use. I play with a lot of dirty-mouthed sailors. Sexual elements are usually PG or PG-13. Violence is usually PG-13, but sometimes jumps up to R.
At level 2, on page 43, the players encounter a Creature 4 Wasp swarm. This is likely to be a TPK, just as it was in extinction curse.
https://paizo.com/threads/rzs42woo&page=6?1-The-Show-Must-Go-On#253
VampbyDay suggests swapping it with 4 giant worked bees. It's the same amount of XP, but not as likely to cause a TPK.
Wayselm Davrell (Description on page 71, image on page75) is a N female tiefling half-orc bounty hunter 2. She is one sexy lady and she's got a lovely singing voice. I want to play her. How do you get to be both a tiefling and a half-orc?
I finally saw this yesterday. It was overall really good, but I was really bothered by how often Batman gets shot and just doesn't care. At least three times, he gets shot and keeps standing there. Batman getting shot should at least get a reaction. Ideally, Batman uses stealth and brains to take out gunmen before they shoot.
Abomination Vaults seems like the most likely to actually get turned into one, but I think it would be somewhat of a boring choice. While it's a great dungeon, people want a lot more out of their CRPGs than a single dungeon.
It worked for the original Diablo.
I could see Abomination vaults targeting a $20 price point, with the fun interactions like the battle of the bands. For a modern full-price game, I'm looking for more than a single dungeon.
The undershooting on powerlevel is fine in PFS and maybe in home games, but The APs (at least Age of Ashes and Extinction curse) are too hard. A party needs to optimize to get through an AP, and that feels bad.
Feedback has shown mixed opinions on the difficulty of AoA, and Paizo has nonetheless tuned later APs a bit lower (or it might be argued, less fluky since much of the complaints was due to specific encounters being excessive). That said, I like APs to be tough, w/ modules & scenarios for more casual play. As well as my groups wanting toughness (and they optimized only as far as their RPing concept lets them), it's also easier to scale down an encounter safely than to scale up.
I'm not sure I agree that it's easier to scale down than up, but you are assuming that the tough fights are caught before I bring the encounter to the table. If a fight turns out to be too weak, it's over quickly and forgotten. If a fight turns out to be too hard, it can end a campaign.
Some information in Wrath of the Righteous (adventure path, not video game) suggests that Demons can force a soul to be CE. Does Demonic possession change change the target's alignment? What about rituals to send a soul to the Abyss? Can an unwilling soul go straight to the abyss without Pharasma's judgement? Is this part of the natural cycle, or is the Abyss getting more than its "fair" share? Do clerics of Pharasma oppose demons more than other beings?
The undershooting on powerlevel is fine in PFS and maybe in home games, but The APs (at least Age of Ashes and Extinction curse) are too hard. A party needs to optimize to get through an AP, and that feels bad.
So Aroden was LN, but was often followed by LG creatures (Iomedae, Araxni) Did he also have LE followers? How did Iomedae feel about these followers? How did they feel about her?
What are some good alignment examples? Some I think are
LG:
Superman, Princess Leia, Robocop (though he usually starts out as LN), Professor Xavier
NG:
Spiderman, Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Mario Bros
CG:
Sonic The Hedgehog, The Doctor (Doctor Who), Han Solo (Though he starts as CN)
LN:
Spock, Data, Emma Frost, The Punisher (bordering on LE)
N: Lara Croft Locke (from Lost) Galactus (yes, he eats planets, but doesn't have a choice) ,The Living Tribunal
CN: Shadow The Hedgehog, Most of the "good guys" in the Borderlands games, Harley Quinn (some versions are CE, but still more about the C than the E.)
LE: Doctor Doom, The Party (from 1984), Magneto (usually), Claude Frollo
NE: Palpatine, Thanos, Dr Eggman, Bowser
CE: The Joker, Sabertooth (from X-men) Xenia from Goldeneye.
Spock and Data are Lawful Good. In fact both will disobey orders to do good. (mostly in the movies, but still) Picard is much closer to LN, but I think he still falls on the side of good.
Magneto started off as LE, but by the end of the Eighties was TN, then the nineties pushed him eviler, then Grant Morrison had (later reconned) CE Magneto around 2003. Ever since, he's been Neutral or Good.
Palpatine was Lawful Evil in the original and prequel trilogy, but his final appearance pushes him to CE.
LG: Sherlock Holmes(The classic version, and ignoring some racism)
NG: Wonder Woman (she's as likely to uphold the law or break it)
CG: Green Arrow, Modern Deadpool
LN: Khan (in the original series, not the movies)
TN: Dr. Halsey (from Halo)
CN: Catwoman, Q (at least in TNG),
LE: The Borg,
NE: Deathstroke (he has a code, but he's willing to break it for vengeance)
CE: Nero (The villain of STAR TREK 2009, you might need to see the deleted scenes to understand)
Fists of the Ruby Phoenix: What was that? An exhibition? We need emotional content!
Bruce Lee, "He was describing the feeling of being totally present in your body and connected to your own life force" Possibly the inspiration for Ki. Note that Lee explicitly separates this from anger.
Quote:
Fly Free or Die: This is the Free Trader Beowulf, calling anyone. Mayday, mayday.
Appears to be connected to the Traveller RPG.
Quote:
Strength of Thousands: Black lives matter
American Politic/civil rights slogan.
Quote:
Quest for the Frozen Flame: In this game, fire represents your life. When your fire's gone, so are you.
EitR is very popular in play-by-post, but less so in Paper. In Play-By-Post, the focus is less on combat and more on narrative and planning. The fun of rolling a big number is diminished in a browser. So the natural inclination is to play more casters and fewer martials. EitR lets martials have more fun, and diversify. There is a big problem with it for half martials, however. Bards and Magus under EitR have many of the same powers as a full martial, and can buff themselves up to the same numbers as a martial. Even worse, they can take some of the stronger caster feats.
The real solution to this issue is to play PF2 instead. Martial/Caster disparity is much reduced, if not gone in that edition.
"Pronouns in bio" is basically the quickest way for me to gauge if somebody is okay with trans people.
This is worrying to me, because I am very not out with the people I play in real life with. I don't want to lie by claiming the pronouns I live with, and I don't want to make people uncomfortable by not announcing pronouns.
Just to let folks know where my thoughts are right now:
I'm trying to ensure both tables are covered with useful skills and abities, but also that they both have their own feel to make each game unique. Table 1 and Table A so that no one claims they're the top group or the primary universe lol.
I've also resigned myself to picking 6 for each. It requires little extra work on my part beyond upping quantities of goons or slapping advanced or special templates/maxing HPs of boss types. Typically someone drops from a game early, so that should at least help with attrition.
The child that would be named Ashley Dragonkin was found on the streets of Thrushmoor. The only clue to her identity was a cloak of Qadiran make, depicting a Dragon. The Church of Pharasma in Thrushmoor took the child in, naming her Ashley, for her hair was the color of ash.
As a child, Ashley was known for her strength and ability to fast-talk her way out of trouble. She was a curious kid, exploring and getting into trouble, but usually lying her way out of it. When she came of age, Ashley gave herself the last name 'DragonKin,' and joined the pathfinder society.
On a quest for the society, Ashley learned that Razmiran was planning to attack her hometown of Thrushmoor. However, she was duty-bound to explore a ruin with a group of other pathfinders. Ashley abandoned the pathfinders, running away to help warn her city. With an impassioned speech, she rallied the defenders of Thrushmoor.
Seeing the defenses raised against them, Rasminan pretended to only be holding a 'military exercise within is own borders. They lied convinced both the pathfinders and many in Thrushmoor, that there had never been a threat of invasion. Ashley was a laughingstock of town. Even worse, the party of pathfinders died exploring that ruin. Ashley was banished from the pathfinder society.
With no respect in her hometown and no job, Ashley chose to set sail for the homeland she never knew. She's traveling to Qadira to find out about her family.
Did you want anything for backstory or personality traits?
ASHLEY DRAGONKIN:
Neutral Good Medium Aasimar(angel-Blooded) Bloodrager 7;
Init 3; Senses Darkvision; Perception: +9
DEFENSE
AC 23, touch 14, flat-footed 20 (+1 natural armor while raging, no AC penalty)
hp 60 (acid resistance 5, cold resistance 5, electricity resistance 5)
Fort 9, Ref 7, Will 5 (+1 trait bonus on saving throws against any spells or spell-like abilities cast by evil creatures.)
Bloodrager spells known (CL 4; concentration +7)
2nd (2/day)- False Life (DC 15); Mirror Image (DC 15); Tongues (DC 15);
1st (2/day)- Burning Hands (DC 14); Enlarge Person (DC 14); Expeditious Retreat (DC 14); Feather Fall (DC 14); Shield (DC 14);
STATISTICS
Str 20(Base 18, +2 from belt), Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 16
Base Atk +7; CMB +12; CMD 26
Feats Battle Cry; Cornugon Smash; Cunning; Eschew Materials; Iron Will; Power Attack;
SQ Adopted Magic; Blood Casting; Bloodrage; Claws; Controlled Bloodrage; Draconic Resistance; Eschew Materials; Fast Movement; Improved Uncanny Dodge; Restrained Magic; Uncanny Dodge; Bloodlines: Draconic; 1/day-alter self
Traits: Driven By Guilt (In addition, once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round), Fast-talker
While Raging: +4 morale bonus to her Constitution, Dexterity, or Strength. (split in groups of 2, if desired) When using a controlled bloodrage, an urban bloodrager gains no bonus on Will saves, takes no penalties to AC, and can still use Charisma-, Dexterity-, and Intelligence-based skills. You grow claws. These claws are treated as natural weapons, allowing you to make two claw attacks as a full attack, using your full base attack bonus. These attacks deal 1d6 points of damage each, plus your Strength modifier. At 4th level, these claws are considered magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
At 4th level, you gain resistance 5 against fire and a +1 natural armor bonus to AC.
Equipment: +1 Keen Falchion, MW Comp +4 Longbow, MW Silver Dagger, Cold Iron dagger, Amulet of natural armor +1; Belt of giant strength +2; Cloak of resistance +2; Ring of Protection +1; 40 arrows, 2 Potions of cure light wounds, Potion of touch of the sea, backpack, a blanket, a belt pouch, a flint and steel, an iron pot, soap, torches (10), trail rations (5 days), and five waterskins.
GP: 583
I think that the thing that redeems Hellknights the most in my eyes is the "embrace obsolescence" maxim they have. Theoretically, they're all working to create a world in which they are no longer needed, and will then give up their positions (and thus their
power). This definitely seems like a LG thing to do, and even more seems like something a LE character would NOT do.
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds : Why? Do you even know why they sent you?
The Operative : It's not my place to ask. I believe in something greater than myself. A better world. A world without sin.
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds : So me and mine gotta lay down and die... so you can live in your better world?
The Operative : I'm not going to live there. There's no place for me there... any more than there is for you. Malcolm... I'm a monster. What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done.
I am utterly fascinated by the question "What evolutionary purpose does a belief in free will serve?" Nearly all Human cultures evolved to believe in free will, so it would seem superior. I think the ability to blame people for their "choices" must come into it. Someone who commits an anti-social act (murder or whatever) is more likely to do it again, so the ability to blame them soothes us for punishing them (more murder) and soothes us that we wouldn't do the same.
I do not think that is actually necessary, though. Creating strong disincentives for murder or other heinous acts, in order that a rational human will deterministically react to by not committing murder or whatever, does not require free will in any part of the equation.
Also, I would query "nearly all human cultures evolved to believe in free will", or at least to the extent free will works in Golarion and in the versions of D&D preceding Pathfinder, which is ultimately coming from one specific thread of early Christianity. Just out of the bits of history and culture I am reasonably familiar with, I can cite Norse wyrd, Classical Greek moira, geasa in the original Irish mythology, and the more predestination-oriented strands of Christian thought as counterexamples, and all of the more restrictive.
I don't actually disagree with your first point, and I don't have enough information to disagree with your second. But, I think many cultures believe you are judged for your actions in life. Reincarnation to a better/worse station, Norse with levels of Valhalla or Hell, Egyptian measuring your heart on a scale. How do these cultures reconcile fate and being judged for your actions?
I am utterly fascinated by the question "What evolutionary purpose does a belief in free will serve?" Nearly all Human cultures evolved to believe in free will, so it would seem superior. I think the ability to blame people for their "choices" must come into it. Someone who commits an anti-social act (murder or whatever) is more likely to do it again, so the ability to blame them soothes us for punishing them (more murder) and soothes us that we wouldn't do the same.
Temperans wrote:
* P.S. Even if with are flesh robots with complex programing (which we technically are) the system is so chaotic that we do effectively have "free choice". The reason? Chaotic motion is unpredictable without knowing all the conditions, and we are built on the interactions of chaotic molecules and particles with a chaotic environment.
So our choices are made of a mix of predetermined circumstances and unpredictable quantum mechanics. But we don't control quantum mechanics. So our choices come from two things we don't control. Humans might be unpredictable, but even then, we don't have free will.