Alexandre Gayk-Lemay's page

The brimorak is a bit blurry around the edges, but that seems intentional to me. I can't count pixels around the edges as I might with the Vavakia.

I quite like the product over all, but does anyone else have a wierdly low-rez image by Tyler Walpole for the Vavakia Demon on p.89?

I've looked closely at every other image in my copy and I've found every other image to be very high resolution and generally beautiful - the contrast is jarring to the point where I can't help but think it might not be intentional...

I'm confused and/or I think I may have found a typo in the product description. This is 8-09. The description currently reads:

The Cindersworn Pact is the second scenario in the two-part "Forged in Flame" campaign arc. It is preceded by Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-11: Cleansed With Fire. Both chapters are intended to be played in order.

Surely 8-11 doesn't come before 8-09, which is subtitled "Forged in Flame, Part 1"

Hello, this question pertains to the Snake Style feat, particularly the section that follows:
"While using the Snake Style feat, when an opponent targets you with a melee or ranged attack, you can spend an immediate action to make a Sense Motive check. You can use the result as your AC or touch AC against that attack. You must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed."

I would like to know how late in the process of being targeted by the attack one might declare the use of this power. For comparison, the Swashbuckler's opportune parry and riposte reads:
"The swashbuckler must declare the use of this ability after the creature's attack is announced, but before its attack roll is made."

whereas some other abilities in the game state something along the lines of:
"use of this ability can be declared after the roll is made but before the results of the roll are revealed"

Now I'm pretty confident that Snake style's wording clearly tends more toward those two example than it does toward, say, the wording of mounted combat which indicated that the feat's use is declared after the hit has been confirmed... but when, specifically, should its active use be declared?

Thanks in advance!

Hello all, I seek PFS advice from experienced PFS GMs and/or officials,

I recently got into an argument with another PFS GM about determining APL. My stance is that the Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide (currently v7) stands as the sole source on this subject and that it trumps other sources. The first paragraph of "Determining Subtiers" is what I would use to determine APL in a PFS game:
"In order to determine which subtier a mixed-level group of PCs must play in, calculate the group’s average party level (APL). Divide the total number of character levels by the number of characters in the party. You should always round to the nearest whole number. If you are exactly at 0.5, let the group decide which subtier they wish to play."

My colleague's stance is that APL should be calculated according to rules on encounter design (found on this page):
http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/gamemastering.html
notably, the following passage:
"Determine APL: Determine the average level of your player characters—this is their Average Party Level (APL for short). You should round this value to the nearest whole number (this is one of the few exceptions to the round down rule). Note that these encounter creation guidelines assume a group of four or five PCs. If your group contains six or more players, add one to their average level. If your group contains three or fewer players, subtract one from their average level."
According to my colleague, this position is espoused by many online GMs who use 2010 posts made by Mr.Joshua J Frost:
"Groups, tables, sessions, etc normally have to calculate APL and play the appropriate sub-Tier. So, even at level 1, if you were a table of 6 level 1 characters, your APL is still 2 and that means you still need to play sub-Tier 1-2." (conversation found here: http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderS ociety/general/shoppingWithPrestigePoints&page=1#48)
As you can see, Mr.Frost's posts imply that APL should be calculated according to the information found in the section on Encounter Design.

It seems to me that the information on the Encounter Design page is mostly incompatible with the Pathfinder Guild Guide's prescription for calculating APL and determining subtiers. As such, it should not merely override Encounter Design rules for determining APL when necessary but replace those rules completely in the context of PFS.
In our small circle of players, a lot of GP for out-of-tier rewards are at stake: for a season 0-3 scenario, the guild guide would have a table made up of 4x level 2 adventurers, 1x level 1 adventurer and 1x level 3 adventurer (average 2 therefore APL 2) play low tier whereas my colleague would attribute them an APL of 3 (average 2+1(as prescribed by the rules on Encounter Design)) and allow them to choose their subtier.

Thank you in advance for your help, our Lodge's balance depends on these results!

P.S. In addition, we have a word/rule-lawyer or two who would argue that the wording in the guild guide, "In order to determine which subtier a mixed-level group of PCs must play in" implies that a group on non-mixed-level PCs are exempt from these rules, and a group of 6x level 2 adventurers would have an APL of 3 (as per Mr. Frost's recommendation) whereas a group including 4x level 2 adventurers, 1x level 1 adventurer and 1x level 3 adventurer would have an APL of 2 (as per the Guild Guide's recommendation). So basically I need a consensus as to whether PFS GMs should [always and only rely on Encounter Design rules to calculate APL] or [always and only rely on the Guild Guide for calculating APL in PFS].

Maybe I'm not getting my meaning across properly. Allow me to reformulate: how do the many GMs who do not have access to 6-97 Serpent's Rise's content know this? When one picks up Trouble in Tamran, Blakros Connection or one of the many upcoming scenarios that will include similar gated content, what prevents that GM from grabbing the gated boon if (s)he's used to getting everything that's positive on a boon sheet because (s)he doesn't consider him or herself as a PC?
Because, as you mentionned, GMs generally receive any boons they want from a Chronicle.

Allow me to post an edited segment from one of the relevant scenarios which should highlight the troublesome language:

If the PCs defeat [NPC Aspis], players with the Spoils of the

Siege (NPC Aspis A) boon earn the [NPC Aspis A]’s Foe boon on their Chronicle Sheets, which allows them to purchase the boots.

I hope I don't seem like I'm being obtuse and I hope that you can see what I mean...

So if a scenario says something along the lines of "If the PCs defeat [Aspis NPC A], players with the [Aspis NPC A relevant] boon earn [Aspis NPC A]'s Foe boon on their Chronicle sheets, which allows them to purchase [gated reward]."
It applies to GMs as if they were players, if I understand correctly?

Sounds about right to me, thanks a bunch guys!
I'll look forward to someone providing the relevant quote/instructions or point out where these are within the relevant scenarios.. It would be unfortunate if some GMs wrongly assume they get what's on the chronicle sheet because they haven't clearly been told otherwise...

I have a question for PFS GMs and, ultimately, the PFS campaign head-honchos. It stems from the fact that GMs normally receive everything on the boon-sheet, regardless of whether the PCs found/earned a given item (as long as the tier is correct, of course).

Now, season 7 includes some content gated by specific players who have participated in the 6-98 Serpent's Rise special. If such a player is not at a table, does a GM still obtain a chronicle sheet with all boons available (in accordance with subtier) including content that will have been gated for players at the table?

My instinct says no, if the GM wants the special boon he needs to find a player who gave life to the appropriate NPC during a friendly bout of of the Serpent's Rise special, but I want to know if there are specific instructions to that effect somewhere... because if not, I have to assume that the gated boons are available to GMs as normal.

Also, the roleplaying guild guide tells me, on page 39, that: "The GM may select any special boons bestowed by a Chronicle sheet, such as free magical treasure, regional boons, or future bonus die rolls." So I'm inclined to disagree with my first instinct. As you can see, I'm in dire need of enlightenment!

Thanks in advance!

I don't know Lemeres, even if it all comes down to Asmodeus, Infernal dukes have unique domains and hold sway over different elements so I'm inclined to disagree. I wouldn't call the CEO to complain about something project manager A of marketing could handle, and I'll bet he's the one who'll handle the relevant paperwork. Bottom line, the CEO's the one who's getting your money, but the guy who trained to handle your kind of problem is the one with whom you'll get more face time :)

Kalindlara, thanks for the info, I appreciate it!

Iner Sea Gods gave us Deific Obedience, and Chronicles of the Righteous and Book the the Damned II Lords of Chaos gave us the heavenly and demonic versions of that feat. But what of the group most likely to submit, no matter how they must prove themselves to their patron? What of Diabolists and Infernal Obedience?

With the upcoming Adventure Paths set in Cheliax, Empire of Devils, I would like to invite people to make suggestions about homebrewed versions of Infernal Obediences for their favourite Dukes, Whore Queens and Malebranche from Book of the Damned I Princes of Darkness and other Golarion-friendly sources. Of course, because of the relevance of this concept in relation to the upcoming adventure paths, I would also love it if some companion or another might make Infernal Obediences (and relevant rituals, fluff and bonuses) official.

I look forward to seeing what you all can come up with;
On your marks!

Hello, I am currently playing a Cavalier in a Rise of the Runelords campaign and I would like to contribute to this thread. Mike (see above) and I think alike in regards to the early level of Dragoon Fighter. Much of my usefulness in mounted combat also relies on Wheeling Charge. I also agree with the prioritization of Indomitable Mount.

My damage output relies on a Lance, wielded with 2 hands (Skill Focus Ride makes guiding a charging mount with one's knees rather easy) supplemented with Power Attack and Furious Focus. Combined with Spirited Charge, the extra point of damage from a 2 handed Power Attack quickly turns into a ton of damage (and of course Spirited Charge turns your Challenge-related bonus damage into a considerable threat). But that's not what I signed-in to talk about.

I recommend increasing mount Int to 3 as soon as possible, so that it might gain access to Acrobatic Steps and Nimble Moves. These two feats will allow your mount to charge through up to 4 squares of difficult terrain. If you have access to Wheeling Charge, great and terrible things can be done this way.
My mount never attacks, as it always carries me to devastating charges. It has the Charger archetype so that it might avoid being slowed by armor. I prioritized mobility because of access to Wheeling Charge - if that were not accessible, I would have had to invest in Power Attack, Improved Overrun and Charge Through for the mount (if I understand the rules correctly... and let's just say that my choice to opt for Wheeling Charge to facilitate Ride-By Attacks is due to my fuzziness on the Overrun stuff while mounted).

Speaking of the mount, you may think that Horseshoes of Speed are a bit expensive at 3000gp, and that may be true in a Society context where you don't need a movement allowance of 16 squares per move action. However, please take the massive bonus to Acrobatics checks made to jump into account before discouting its usefulness. My wizard likes to summon pits, and I'm glad for the horseshoes.

Regarding Tactical feats, I've found that my allies appreciate Escape Route both to enter and exit combat, particularly when my Large mount allows them to move wherever the heck they want. The Advanced Class Guide has added Distracting Charge to the mix as well. I believe I saw something in there about riding undersized mounts, as well. Exciting new stuff for cavalierkind!

@whoever's in charge of Chronicle Sheets, there's a minor editing mistake on point 3 of "How to Use" - the wrong novel is referenced.