Avi Kool's page

MONSTER MATCH! MONSTER MATCH!! (We're excited about this one.)

The price for the elixir of gender transformation is something we discussed a lot! I initially set it much lower, but we worked together to make it something that fits in the rules of the game. My overall intent was that we create a version of HRT that is both more accessible to a layperson in the world of Golarion as well as reflecting a bit more accurately what it's like to take HRT in the real world. Love hearing your thoughts!

EVERYONE GET HYPE!!!

We are lucky to have you all in our community. Much love!

"In case the name didn't tip you off, I'm Jewish"

I legitimately cackled.

But it's truly great to see Jewish voices at Paizo being heard. It really how the Jewish trait of questioning everything is invaluable in both creating and playing TTRPGs. (I sure know it's helped me!)

On a related note, how much Jewish-inspired lore and/or monsters are in Pathfinder and Golarion? - besides Golems ;) - I'm not particularly well versed in lore, so it'd be cool to find some.

Thanks for the kind words! As far as I'm aware, there isn't much Jewish influence in Golarion. However, I wrote a character in an upcoming book who is inspired by my ancestors' stories. Can't say anything more now, but I'll mention it when the author blog for that book comes out. So stay tuned!

Love this so much!! Especially this passage:

Takulu looked over with that glint in his eye that he always got when he was nearing the heart of a lesson. “Do I? I don’t think I’ve ever heard an mbira played by itself. My grandfather built this mbira, so his hands are always next to mine when I hold it. My mother taught me how to play, so her song always harmonizes with mine. I don’t know much about bone keeping, but I imagine it must be similar. You are always carrying a little of history with you, in your music and your magic. When you stand on the shoulders of your ancestors, you can reach much greater heights than you do alone.”

Poignant and sweet, and of course Anchor is adorable and relatable.

I love how strong the voice is in this. You took the edgy and ran with it, and it really feels like reading an excerpt first-person dark fantasy novel. Awesome work!

Love love love this. Such an intimate, insider's view of a revolution.

James, the energy in this story!! Just reading it got me so hyped.

Congrats everyone!!

#TeamNigel (also #TeamBear)

I read this and teared up, then tried to go on and do something else and kept thinking about it and tearing up again. BRB just gonna keep tearing up for the rest of the afternoon. You rule.

Gorgeous story, James! I love the connection to his family, and I can't get over the detail of him leaving Kwanlai "when he was but an egg." Such a small but vivid reinforcement of his tengu-ness.

Eleanor, this is exactly what I needed and legit made me tear up. Thank you.

I do not play WOW. But it is sad to see the media connect these things again in this day and age. I almost laughed, then realized it isn't really funny to me anymore.

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/16/11220262-anders-breivik-to- norway-court-i-killed-77-people-but-am-not-guilty?lite

Maybe someone with more online skills than I can properly link this front page msn article.

I plan to pick it up again after sitting out the Kingmaker path.

Sorry if this has been covered already, I haven't looked at PFRPG or the rules discussions much.

Almost every splat book from WOTC supporting 3.5 and all the additional classes make use of swift and immediate actions. I always wanted to see the core classes re-designed with these new action types in mind.

I think these actions are one of the best innovations to the 3.5 rule set. Including these in PFRPG might go far not only in backward compatability (with all except the actual three core books), but also make compatability with my other 40 WOTC books better.

Are swift and immediate actions open content?

D

If you could design the next edition of Dungeons and Dragons how would you do it?

More balance, less balance, modelled off of OD&D, 3.5, 4E, computer games, less crunch, more crunch, more fluff, more miniatures, less etc...

I thought it might be an interesting thread to read (if folks can leave the current edition wars out of it..note I placed this in "other RPGs").

Here is my answer:

Thinking about my own history with the game and various criticisms of EVERY edition, If I had the chance today, I would take AD&D and make a new edition from there. Clean up those rules without overdoing it. I like some of the consequence stuff like: a haste spell ages you. Because some of my rules might not be perfectly balanced my edition would tend toward rules-lite and probably include a fair amount of DM fiat or plenty of option for that.

Combining the nastalgia and good memories of AD&D as well as my current preferred DMing style and considering some of the brilliant ideas and changes made over the last 30 years of D&D editions I would create a fun, unbalanced encyclopedia-style game of fantasy inspiration!

Oh and thieves would roll percentile dice for their various rogue abilities, i just miss that!

Ok, I'm not looking for criticism of my edition, just hearing about yours... :)

Thanks.

Well, Monte cook has moved on from game design (mostly), but is listed as a 'design consultant' for PFRPG Beta. This means Jason chats with Monte about the project from time time I guess...

As I find myself (and see and feel many others) becoming more and more excited about PFRPG and the opportunity to see an advancement to the 3.5 system I think to myself "Self, wouldn't it be just great if Monte Cook came on board as a co-author with Jason Buhlman!!?"

Monte- Help make the version of D&D that heralded a golden age of gaming (with the OGL) for the original fantasy rpg be the absolute best it can be!!

Let us raise our voices to storm, post to my petition, and summon Monte from retirement to join the REVOLUTION!!!! (full time.. :)

One last time......

My first experience with a role-playing game was in 1979, I was eleven years old and a friend invited me over to play this 'cool game'. That game was 'Top Secret' and I was hooked. I died something like 15 times trying to stop the sniper on the rooftop in the module that came with the game. I was shot, blown up, blew myself up, and fell off the roof, it was the best time of my life!!

D&D came next, someone on my block had the blue-chrome boxed set, but it was the first sighting of the hard back AD&D books in the local bookstore that opened a door to worlds I would never want to leave!

The years that followed brought many supplements, modules, books, boxes, magazines and of course editions/versions/updates to the game. Many of which I never bought or played, however anytime I saw something new in the store or on someones shelf or table it set my heart racing. More than that it inspired me to create new worlds and adventures for my friends to gather and play in.

I love this hobby.

When WOTC (Monte,Jonathan,and skip) created 3rd edition I was incredibly excited. My favorite game was given new life. Whether you like the final product or not, it was obviously a labor of love produced by folks who wanted to bring D&D to a new level. Not to mention so many more great artists bringing our fantasy to life on the pages.

WOTC/Hasbro gave us even more beautiful art and inspiration even if something was lost in the transition of D&D to the mainstream (being published by Hasbro).

In the end I don't really care who is making D&D as long as someone is. I like products I've seen from James Wyatt and Mike Mearls(which gives me hope), but I'd be equally excited to see a company like Paizo pick up the torch if/when it is passed.

Whether 4E is my cup of tea or not, I am truly excited to see it!!

Game on..

D

This is a serious question for the Paizo guys and gals.

Why did WOTC pull Dungeon and Dragon (print versions) BEFORE the release of 4E? (do you have any idea?)

Personally I am open-minded and hopeful about a 4th Edition, but thats not the topic here. Giving as much benefit of the doubt as I can, I still can't uncover a GOOD reason to not utilize the most popular gaming print magazines to preview/promote the new edition of D&D.

In fact it seems to be a HUGE blunder, and also kind of a no brainer one would think, what's up?

I'm not here to bash WOTC, just what are they thinking? I'm 25+ year gamer and I don't get it.