Michael Sayre wrote:
Yo! I'm Michael Sayre, Paizo developer and designer of various 3pp Pathfinder products like Akashic Mysteries by Dreamscarred Press, Classes of the Lost Spheres: The Zodiac by Lost Spheres Publishing, The Genius Guide to Bravery Feats by Rogue Genius Games, Ultimate Battle Lord by Amora Games, Spheres of Might by Drop Dead Studios, and a bunch of other stuff.
Do you have any questions about any of the projects I've worked on? Curious about what I do has a developer at Paizo or how I ended up here? Want recommendations on games I'm currently playing? Feel free to ask and I'm happy to answer!
Hello, I actually had a few questions, regarding Akashic Mysteries, a creation of yours that i absolutely adore. Here goes:
1. The Daevic class description state in the Passion feature that "Whenever a daevic invests essence into her passion the essence counts as being invested in all of the daevic’s passion veils (for example, a 9th level daevic could invest 2 points of essence into her passion and each of her 3 passion veils would count as having 2 essence invested)." As 9th level is when they would recieve their first dose of the Improved Passion Capacity class feature, this heavily implies that the Passion does not naturally benefit from the standard essence capacity increases for akashic receptacles, i.e. 1st–5th 1
6th–11th 2
12th–17th 3
18th–20th 4
If that chart were taken into account, and the Passion scaled its base with this, that would mean a 9th level Daevic could invest up to 3 points into their Passion, 2 for a veilweaving level between 6-11, and 1 from improved veil capacity. Which is the proper ruling, the charted progression, meaning up to 6 essence invested in the Passion at level 20, or the implied progression, meaning only 3 essence could be invested into the Passion at level 20? (Possibly 4 essence with Expanded Capacity, see below.)
Side Note: The above feature also states that at 9th level, a Daevic has 3 passion veils available to them, but according to the Progression Chart, they don't get their 3rd passion veil until level 10.
2. I have read on forums several suggestions that the wording "Because of the unusual nature of these veils, they cannot benefit from veil-specific feats or effects like Enhanced Capacity or akashic catalysts (though they can still be bound as normal).", which also derives from the Passion class feature, only implies that the veils themselves cannot be modified. Akashic Catalysts do not state that they can function with a Passion, so the obvious answer is no there, but are you able to take the Expanded Capacity feat targeting the Passion itself, thereby increasing the total available essence in a passion to 4 or 7, depending on the proper ruling from above?
3. Does Improved Essence Capacity, as the class feature for both Viziers and Radiants, apply to other veils and class features (such as Passion) from other classes in a multiclass/gestalt scenario, or does it only apply to the class that grants the Improved Essence Capacity class feature. The wording is different for each of those classes, so I am confused. the Vizier feature is worded:
"The vizier is particularly talented at investing essence. At 3rd, 11th, and 19th level the essence capacity of all the vizier’s essence receptacles increases by one. In addition, the DC for any of his veil abilities increases by +1 each time he gains this ability."
The wording "all of the VIZIER'S essence receptacles" seems to imply that this ability would only affect Essence receptacles belonging to the Vizier class, or an item, but wouldn't apply to veils from another class, or a Passion. However, the Radiant uses this wording instead:
"The radiant’s mastery of akasha and life energy has made her particularly talented at investing essence. At 3rd, 9th, and 15th level the maximum essence capacity of all her essence receptacles increases by 1."
This one states "her", which lends itself to the idea that it affects all essence receptacles of her character, including veils and features from other classes, such as Passions. Which is the correct interpretation? Are they class-dependent, global, or is it different for each class, hence the different wording? Is the "In addition, the DC for any of his veil abilities increases by +1 each time he gains this ability." effect also global, affecting veils from other classes?
4. If they are global, do the Improved Essence Capacity class features stack? for instance, a character that was a level 15 Radiant that took 3 levels in Vizier, would they receive all three max essence boosts from the Radiant class, in addition to the max essence boost from Vizier at level 3, for a total of +4 Maximum Essence Capacity for all of their essence receptacles? (Along with the +1 to veil save DCs?)
4b. Does Improved Essence Capacity effect items, such as a Suqur's Gift?
5. Multiclass/Gestalt Rules - I saw in a previous forum you said that, by gestalt rulings, Essence Pools don't stack, and instead accrue at the rate of the faster class. Is this the same with the Improved Essence Capacity class feature? Logically, I would expect that to accrue at the rate of the faster class as well, since they are the same class feature, but the Vizier and Radiant have different wordings AND effects (Viziers grant the bonus to save DCs of veils, the Radiant class feature of the same name does not grant this ability.)
5b. How do Veils shaped stack? Would a 20Daevic/20Vizier be able to shape 15+4 veils, or would it be 11+4. If the latter answer is correct, would a 20Vizier/20Radiant be stuck with just 11 Veils? I am assuming they do stack, as they are effectively different spell lists AND prepared spells, in the same way that a gestalted Wizard Cleric can still benefit from spell lists and Spell slots of both classes, but I would like to be certain.
That is all I can think of for now, and sorry for the ridiculous amount of text, but I have an upcoming campaign that is both gestalt and heavily influenced by Akashic Mysteries. Thank you so much for your time!
