Ayronis's page

Competition. Raw, brutal, yet governed competition. This is Conflict PvP. Conflict focuses on the ultimate combat experience — player versus player combat.

Ayronis' Arena is a casual and competitive Pathfinder RPG one-shot in which player characters fight one another in a battle to the death using the Conflict PvP team-combat rules. It is a fun and fast way to play a character build you've been dying to try while winning glory and renown among your friends. We play entirely online with the SyncRPG VTT(Maptool) & G+Hangouts, and one session takes about 2-3 hours.

You wanna fight?

See Game Page for details: Ayronis' Arena.

Competition. Raw, brutal, yet governed competition. This is Conflict PvP. Conflict focuses on the ultimate combat experience — player versus player combat.

Ayronis' Arena is a casual and competitive Pathfinder RPG one-shot in which player characters fight one another in a battle to the death using the Conflict PvP team-combat rules. It is a fun and fast way to play a character build you've been dying to try while winning glory and renown among your friends. Played entirely online with the SyncRPG VTT & G+Hangouts, it is a fun and easy way see the token sight and dynamic lighting, combat and spell macros, and high-quality art—all for free.

You wanna fight?

See Game Page for details: Ayronis' Arena

Someone (Shaun Farrell?) posted an interesting article on adventuresinscifipublishing.com entitled: Five Things You Should Never Do in Epic Fantasy.

It is technically about writing fiction, but I think the advice could just as easily apply to writing PF adventures.

The list is summarized as follows, but see the article for the full explanation:

1) Do not put baled hay into a world that has not had its Industrial Revolution.
2) Don’t throw in obvious gibberish and pretend it’s a language.
3) Don’t use extremely modern slang and glaringly modern words.
4) Don’t use primary-world proper nouns that have become adjectives or metaphoric nouns.
5) Don’t fail to consider the economic complexities of your world.

How do you interpret the meaning of “harmless” spells? Specifically, does Spell Resistance (SR) force a caster level check with harmless spells or not? This is significant because there are many beneficial spells, specifically Cure spells, that become hard for monks after 12th level (Diamond Soul) to receive, but it applies to a few prestige classes and many monsters as well.

The terms “object” and “harmless” mean the same thing for spell resistance as they do for saving throws. A creature with spell resistance must voluntarily lower the resistance (a standard action) in order to be affected by such spells without forcing the caster to make a caster level check.

If we read the term "harmless" to mean the *same thing* for SR as saving throws, then it would look something like:

(harmless): The spell is usually beneficial, not harmful, but a targeted creature can *force the caster to make a caster level check* if he or she desires.

This suggests to me that the intention of (harmless) was to allow people to benefit from helpful spells if they want them. The next line,

"A creature with spell resistance *must* voluntarily lower the resistance (a standard action) in order to be affected by *such* spells without forcing the caster to make a caster level check." (emphasis mine)

functionally renders the meaning of (harmless) useless. This sentence means that all spells require SR checks. Note the "must" and "such" in the rule above.

Read in this way, what is the purpose of having a (harmless) category for SR at all?

The issue is further confused by the legacy. Look at this passage in previous editions:

A creature with spell resistance must voluntarily drop the resistance in order to receive the effects of a spell noted as Harmless without the caster level check described above.

A creature with spell resistance must voluntarily lower the resistance (a standard action) in order to be affected by a spell noted as harmless. In such a case, you do not need to make the caster level check described above.

The wording in 3.5 clarified that it requires a standard action to lower Spell Resistance, which is something that 3rd Edition never specified or described.

I think that the (harmless) category was always intended to make it possible for characters to receive beneficial spells if they desired them. In light of the fact that the final sentence in PF functionally renders the concept of "Spell Resistance:(harmless)" meaningless, and the development of the wording in previous editions, I think that the intention to make beneficial (i.e. harmless) spells accessible is clear.

So how do we interpret the rule? The first and the second sentence contradict each other. The first sentence allows it while the second one forbids it. In light of the development of the wording and consequences of this judgment on beneficial spells, I urge GMs to interpret this for themselves. Personally, I think the (harmless) category was always intended to make such spells available to characters with SR and this is how I plan to play it, but I am curious to hear other interpretations.

So how do you interpret the meaning of “Spell Resistance: (harmless)” in your games?

What is the correct item status for ordered Green Ronin items during the inventory check and wait?

I placed an order for several Green Ronin items on October 11, but the items have remained listed as "pending" in my account for five days. Is this the expected status?

The sale advertisement in the blog suggests that these items will only be sold while supplies last, and I am concerned that this status, if it is an error, may prevent me from receiving something.

Thanks for clarifying.

SETUP

Each player created a character using a standard (25) point buy, the Players Handbook (3.5) and the Pathfinder: Rise of the Runelords Players Guide. They created the following party:

- Het Arrah: Varisian (human) Paladin of Abadar.
- Akram: Shoanti (human) diplomat and linguist (Rogue)
- Kalie Silversfall: Elven midwife and resident of Sandpoint (Cleric of Pharasma)
- Sheen Vexeld: Elven refugee fleeing slavers who shipwrecked in Magnimar (Sorcerer)

I am preparing to start a new pathfinder campaign (see ad) and one of my players has expressed an interest in playing a paladin. The paragraph on page 8 of the RotRL Players Guide that describes the Hellknight Order of the Nail is rather ambiguous, so I'd like a second opinion on a few things.

Beyond the servants of individual gods, members of a
divergent, grim order of paladins (and ex-paladins) might
also be found. Korvosa—in its traditional ties to Cheliax—
enthusiastically supplies Citadel Vraid, bastion of the
Hellknight Order of the Nail. The Chelaxian Hellknights
pay homage to no deity, but rather bend the rigid law and
infernal traditions of Hell to their will. Made up primarily of
grave humans and dwarves, along with the occasional half-orc
or centaur, these fiercely devoted servants of Cheliax seek to
further their empire's interests in the region, preparing southern
Varisia for its inevitable return to Chelish rule and subjugating
the land's rebellious barbarians and demihumans.

1) Does that mean Citadel Vraid is IN Korvosa or is it elsewhere, in Cheliax?

2) The Chelaxian Hellknights pay homage to no deity, but rather bend the rigid law and infernal traditions of Hell to their will. I love this idea because of the moral dilemmas that would inevitably arise from such activities, but how does this work with the paladin class? How does a lawful good paladin use anything infernal, especially traditions, to accomplish their goals? Is this like a holy warrior using an unholy weapon to do good?

3) However, I do not think it is difficult to conceive of how a Hellknight could remain lawful good and subjugate the land's rebellious barbarians, since discretion could protect his or her "goodness" and law, in this case, is relative to Chelaxian beliefs and not Varisian. I love this idea too, because it means morally walking a knife's edge throughout the character's career. This aspect of the Order's concept is clear to me, and it explains how paladins and ex-paladins end up working together in the same order, but isn't the concept much too advanced for a 1st level character (it sounds like a prestige class)? If so, why put it in the Player's Guide?

I would prefer to avoid getting bogged down with discussions of the subjectivity of alignment, but I am curious what your (everyone's) thoughts are on the Order of the Nail.

The group will be meeting to select the new members tomorrow so you are strongly advised to submit an application as soon as possible. We are a diverse group of chill people using a high quality campaign setting that is both new and exciting. The rules are easy and the story is a fresh take on a lot of old familiar things. Give us a shot if you've ever wanted to learn to play D&D or want to see what a great campaign with fun people is like.