Azlanti Poet's page

The main point of this is to ask what PF2e Society Scenarios and Starfinder Scenarios are the best ones to utilize as adventures independently of Society.

I was unsure where to post this as it covers multiple editions and games.

I have been traveling quite a bit recently, but normally have a steady group which I travel with. We have been using the PF1e scenarios to play adventures. I have been keeping inside the normal rules found in the guides regarding advancement (3 adventures per level to gain a level, GP given out from adventures is not necessarily gp found in adventure but that awarded, etc).

It has been working out quite well. I had picked up quite a few from (I think it was from these) humble bundles given out over the years and decided to try them out as adventures. Since they are on a tablet, they work quite well with our travels in being compact.

These are all PF1e scenarios (at least the ones we've played. I don't think I ever got any 2e scenarios...but I might...I'd have to check my downloads on the site again).

That said, we've had so much fun doing this with the 1e scenarios I am thinking about trying it with Starfinder and PF2e.

The reason I am posting is I want to ask about

1. What guides I'll need to get started.

2. What are the best scenarios to use. I only want to spend around $100 to maybe $200 total on both SF and pF2e scenarios.

Which ones would be the best ones to get. Probably focusing on low level adventures if we want to start at 1st level (I figure with my budget that's probably a maximum of 25-50 scenarios, if the advancement is the same as 1e that means that MAX level we'd be able to get would be 7th or 8th level...so probably focusing mostly on the lower levels with maybe 6 or so each the 1-7 tier or things over 5th level).

They can be from different seasons, though if there are some that are connected and low level as well that could be fun for a continuity.

But my budget is limited on this (at least for now), so some guidance on which to choose would be great. If you could only choose the top 10/20/25 for SF or PF2e, which ones would you choose?

So, I finally convinced people I play with to give PF2e a try with the Beginner Box. It was costly though, as we are not meeting in person and trying to do it over Zoom (I had to get 5 copies, one for each person...which is good for Paizo...expensive for me though).

We plan on doing a mega marathon of gameplay over Thanksgiving Weekend. They are making characters in preparation for that today and tomorrow. A few Questions have come up already, which may have been answered in the past...but this thread will probably be if I have other questions as well that pop up over and throughout this week.

First - We have a Cleric that gets the ability to Shield Block but also has the Shield Spell. Can they use both at the same time? If they use both at the same time do the combine the AC bonus for a total of +3. Also, if they use them to block, can they use both to block one hit and get a total of -10 to the damage?

Second - We have a Fighter and they are trying to find out what they want to select. They are asking about Power Attack. Can they do a normal attack as their first action, and then do a Power Attack? This means they would not suffer a penalty for any additional attacks that round as it is their second attack? Or how is this supposed to work?

Third - With the same player as above, they are asking about Double Slice. One, as with Power attack, can they attack first with a normal attack and then do a second and final action with double slice? Two, if they use double slice first, and then follow up but ONLY use one weapon of the two they have, do they still get a penalty when attacking or does it default to a -5 from the first attack like normal?

Fourth - This is mine, personally. I have read the core rules and it had ability scores like D&D and PF1, but the BB only uses modifiers. Should I just figure that the ability scores are the even scores (so if they have a +1 it is a 12, a +2 it is a 14, a +3 it is a 16, etc..etc..etc)?

Thanks for the answers, and hopefully they enjoy it enough to give PF2e a bigger chance after this Thanksgiving.

Ah...yes...one more question now that I think about it. We have the Beginner Box adventure...I have Fall of Plaguestone somewhere (not sure where I put it), if we go through both of those is there any other adventures or scenarios that I could/should use?

I did get the Humble Bundle a while ago, which included some society scenarios and such...not sure which I would or should use from those though.

We just started playing Starfinder and I am GMing it. We are playing Firestarters.

Multiple PC's are trained in the Medicine Skill. They tried using it multiple times on the same character.

What they did was that they only had each PC use the skill on that particular character one time, but both used the skill on the PC. The idea was that though only one of them could use the skill on the character per PC, two different PC's were under a different idea.

I ruled that a character could ONLY benefit from the Medicine skill once per day unless in a lab. Thus, even if two different PC's used the Medicine skill, it still fell under the rule that the character could only benefit from it's usage once. This rule wasn't in application to singular PC's but the skill in general.

Did I rule this correctly?

This is not the normal request for advice that you find, but something more along the lines of what I should do in regards to my subscriptions.

Yes, I know this is a forum favorable to PF2e and that is why I came here. I want to support Paizo in it's efforts, but I'm not sure if doing so will benefit me currently.

I have, after deliberations on the matter, decided that I am not going to be running Pathfinder 2e. My group was already sort of hostile to PF (they all are 5e people, but humor me with PF from time to time as long as I GM) so getting them onboard with PF2e is simply not going to happen.

So, for the past few weeks I've been trying to run PF2e adventures (the two that I have) while converting it on the run to PF1e. It is a LOT harder than I thought it would be to convert between the two, especially backwards from PF2e to PF1e.

Overall, it's taking more time to do so with prep than I have. I really don't want to continue the experience (it's actually made it very unfun to a degree, especially after around level 2). Instead I'm looking at running more PF1e adventures (already compatible, and I have a lot of them I've never run thus far, just about everything after Mummy's Mask).

So, my dilemma. With me going with this, I cannot see myself ever running any of the PF2e adventures in the future. It's just too much work with the current group. This means anything I'm getting with PF2e are things I'll never use.

This has me debating on my subscriptions on what I should do. I know there are many pro-PF2e and Pro-Paizo people here, and I'm looking to see that viewpoint in trying to make my decision. I don't want to jump to a hasty decision, but as I said, I simply cannot see myself making use of any of the stuff I'm going to be getting from the subscriptions here on out.

I do support how Paizo supports diversity, and how it tries to make a welcoming environment. This is why it is a dilemma. Right now I'm thinking of getting rid of the subscriptions, but the thought also makes me cringe as well. It feels like I'd be letting them down if I did that, and I don't want to do that.

So...as the forum says, even if not about the rules...looking for advice on what I should do and the reasons why.

So, it appears we will not be converting to 2e presently, but I am still getting the adventures and APs. This will be our initial test into how easily or well it is to convert APs and Adventures to 1e.

I plan on creating characters soon and trying to get people together to run a marathon game while I have some time to do so. I'll update this with what we run it with and how it goes.

I tried to update the payment method with a temporary CC for now until I get my card stuff cleared up. Both are on the account but it indicates the old CC (one in difficulties) is the one that is default rather than the new one I just put in (Temporary CC). Unsure if this is because it's one of those temporary ones or not, but trying to make sure next month is paid incase the CC has problems.

After having a little while to play with the playtest, I think my opinion on PF2e is finally starting to solidify, at least in it's current state. After playing through the scenarios and other things I've started to get a feel of exactly where the game seems to be at for me and what I really love, what I really don't like and thus might want to change.

The OVERALL (TLDR) picture is that the game is fun to play. It is fun to create a character. It is fun to play. It is fun to level up. At the same time, it does NOT feel like P1E, or even 3.P or any other game of that heritage. It doesn't feel like 4e either (Despite some comparisons many may make). I'm not sure what it feels like but it's does NOT feel like playing any of the post 2000 D20 era type games.

Things I love

Character Creation

I really like how easy it is to do character creation. It is tough the first time around (and that is due to something that I probably would change, but not because it is actually hard to do), but once you get the hang of it, you can almost do it in your sleep. It is absolutely a dream how easy it is to create your character, while at the same time having enough differences to see that there are different characters.

I like it far more than I thought I would (actually, I love how easy it is) and think it is pretty dang awesome. I like the various bonuses that you add onto 10, (and the flaw) and while it is changed around for your ancestry and class, you also still have some personal choice in regards to where your ability scores end up as. I love it!

Signature Skills and Skills

While I do not like the escalating DC table in how it is presented (more on that later) other than that I absolutely LOVE how they've done skills.

I absolutely think each class needs it's niche, and I think signature skills help give each class part of it's niche. At the same time it doesn't restrict classes from learning any skill they want.

However, due to the differences in the gates (trained, expert, master, legendary), different abilities are locked behind skill feats, feats which you have to have a specific level of training to accomplish.

Thus, my Barbarian could do all the thievery he wants including finding traps, picking pockets (Conan anyone), opening locks, but at the same time won't ever be able to do a quick unlock or be a spell thief.

It's an elegant and simple solution that I absolutely LOVE. I think this is actually one the best parts of PF2e. It adds flexibility, but at the same time creates a niche that each class can hold on their own.

Shields

Though I don't really care that you have to use an action to raise a shield (I'll put it here though it probably should be on what I'd change-it should be an automatic thing instead), I DO love everything else in regards to shields. I LOVE that you can actually BLOCK with your shield. I love that it has that Damage reduction as something you can use.

Weapon traits

I might expand on some of these (for example, I'd give the twin trait to several more weapons on the simple and martial lists, or make Bastard Swords have S damage) I love the traits in general. There are changes that I actually REALLY like, for example a Bastard sword now finally reflects that you can do different damage with one hand or two hands, or that certain weapons are Agile and can add different properties.

I love how agile and other properties act to create a new idea of Two Weapon fighting (so instead of simply adding another attack, there's an entirely new set of things to think about and apply).

I love how you have some Fatal weapons, some deadly, and various other traits that change things up.

I also like Critical Specialization effects.

Spell Lists

I actually like the simplified and shortened spell lists. There are many spells that have decreased in power, and a few that have increased in power. However, the great thing is that many spells can be increased in power to become more potent IF YOU WANT to do so. It is a focus of the Heal Spells and some others really work well with this dynamic.

As a fan of Bards I'm also thrilled that they are more capable spell casters than ever before.

I also love the new flavor that they have given Sorcerer's where they can become a different type of spellcaster and have completely different lists depending on your choices at character creation.

Much of what I also like with the Spells depends on Action economy, or the new Action economy, but I'll talk about that a little more below.

Action Economy

I think this is one of the strengths of the game. The action economy overall is simpler and yet adds dynamics which increase various options (for example, spells take a number of actions which may be modified by feats which adds to a spells power or decreases it and odds various options of order of casting spells and other things).

You also have reactions and Free actions, but this is far simpler than P1E. I actually really love how elegant the system is.

Weapon Damage

I really love how weapon damage is done for magic weapons. Now a bonus can give you more damage as written out, rather than simply a plus to hit and a plus to damage. The damage bonus is substantial.

Things I merely like

Play Modes

Exploration and Downtime are not things I love, but it is nice to specifically differentiate between the various things like Combat and sleeping periods. This is obvious in other RPGs but many times not spelled out like it is in the Playtest.

Bulk

This has been criticized amply by others, but I actually like simplifying the encumberance system of PF2e.

Medicine

I like the Medicine skill. It has Battle Medic which makes a good temporary substitute for healing, though I personally wouldn't suggest using it regularly until you are 5th level or higher (to great a chance of a critical failure before then).

Overall, I like how they have done this skill in many ways as a form that you can use if you are out of healing or a way to assist healing your party.

Martial/Caster disparity

Casters probably still will be very powerful and dominate at higher levels (and maybe even still at lower levels, sleep is still a very powerful spell for example, perhaps more powerful now than ever before) but the disparity between the two has diminished in my opinion.

Those who loved casters simply because they hated martials may hate this change, but I personally think it is a good change for the better.

Archetypes

I really like the idea of taking class feats to gain archetypes and various abilities. It's the tradeoff that you'd make in P1e, but rather than selecting it up front, you can choose when and what you want to trade out. At the same time, it adds more flexibility (in my opinion) in the character as it develops.

I'm not sure how I'd do it with multiclassing actual Classes, but in regards to Archetypes, I actually like it a lot.

Saving Throws

Not the top of my list, nor the bottom, but they work. They are simple and unified and easy to keep track of. Simple dynamic that just works.

Things I'd change up a little

ancestry

Ancestry seems FAR too weak. Furthermore, somethings which should be inherent to a Race as a natural ability is given as an option instead (things like Keen Hearing for Elves, or Hardy for Dwarves).

It is nice to have you gain various things of heritage (and I think perhaps the name should change to heritage rather than ancestry), and you can develop it as you go, but I'd probably add in a few things from the start that are inherent to the race...I mean ancestry, though I'd still keep the idea that there are cultural items that go along with that ancestry that you can develop if you wish. This would also work with Adopted Ancestry Feat.

Clutter

When you first start reading the rules, it seems overwhelming. One of the big things is everything is called a feat. This is overly confusing and should be changed.

Instead of calling everything a feat, the "class feats" should have their names changed. Rather than calling them class feats they should be called class abilities or something else. This way everyone knows that there is a definitive difference between what you gain as your class, and what you are granted by skill feats and general feats.

I don't have a problem with skill feats being called as such or general feats, but the title Class Feats really needs to be changed.

Changing it will help with clarity of what these abilities functions are, how they apply to the game, and how they are different than what are the REAL feats (that fall under skill and general feats).

At the same time, the organization of the book has to be made clearer. Much of how it is written makes a reader kind of daze out and gloss over some very important items at times.

Ancestry Feats should be called something like Ancestry affinities, or Heritage infinities or cultural tendencies. Something other than feats as well. Once again, this helps with clarity and understanding what these are and the intent behind them.

Advancement Tables

They are currently short, succinct, and very boring/unimpressive. They need some dazzling up to make them stand out and seem more interesting. It's a change that doesn't actually affect the rules, but I think this change would add a lot more pizzaz to the presentation.

More General Feats

I like how the class abilities are, where they are at. I like Skill Feats and General Feats under those names, but there NEEDS to be more choices for General Feats. Going from a ton of Feats (even in the core rule book of P1e) to a total of 20 feats just feels like we suddenly LOST a TON of choice, variability, and versatility. The number of General Feats really needs to be increased. It needs a greater number of Feats available, if for no other reason to give the illusion of choice, if not the reality of greater choice in combat, exploration, spellcasting, and downtime.

Resonance

I actually do not mind the overall idea of Resonance. At levels above 10 this is not as much of a problem. However, below level 10 I think Resonance needs to change.

It unnecessarily restricts wand and potion use (in my opinion). Either do away with charges on wands or make it so resonance does not apply to them.

With Potions, there is no need of resonance with the new Encumberance/bulk system. There is no reason to apply it to potions.

After high levels it doesn't matter as much to me, and you can normally have as much resonance as needed for potion drinking (though wand use is still unnecessarily restrictive).

Escalating Skill DCs

We saw this exact same principle in play in D&D 4e. The way it was specified was also the same (your simple DC may be climbing a very rough stone wall with big hand holds at 4th level, but an ice wall with sheer smooth walls at 16th). In play it did not work that way. EVEN IN THE ADVENTURES they wrote...it was an escalating DC. A simple wall which was simple at 1st level (we'd say a DC 10) but then you see an adventure for a 20th level character and you find a wall that has the exact same description...but the DC would be...not 10...but now it would be 46 (see the Low DC for 1st and 20th level characters on page 337). It would be the same wall in either adventure, but because it is in a 20th level adventure, the DC is written as higher. It was done in official adventures and official play, and it was done in other games. We've seen it play out before, I have NO indications why this time will be any different.

If PF2e is going to keep this dynamic it is going to have to be spelled out a LOT clearer and be MORE specific. Examples of a 1st level Low, High, severe, Extreme wall or other things will need to be spelled out. The difference between a 1st level challenge and a 5th and a 10th and so on will NEED to be spelled out. This could literally take dozens of pages.

It needs to have challenges marked as a 1st level Low Difficulty, or a 5th level High difficulty in the adventure itself.

There needs to be consistency.

If the rules lack this I expect it to become just as broken as it did in 4e. If they are going to stick with this idea, either spell it out and be more specific (which probably will take a LOT more pages written on it, perhaps even a dozen or more), OR change the dynamic.

Change the rules so there are no escalating DCs (maybe make it so the core dynamic of +1/level does not apply or something, or some different system) but escalating DC's needs some sort of change.

If it were me, I'd say there is no such thing as skill DCs by level and difficulty...I'd say there is just difficulty. Level has NO application.

Hence, if a wall has a DC of 46, it has a DC of 46 because it's an glass wall coated with the slipperiest ICE around, while a stone wall with large stones jutting out of it has a DC of 17. There is no reason to have it separated out by level and difficulty, just put it as difficulty, spell out the difficulty and leave it at that. No level needed to be added to the list. It creates problems where there does not need to be.

It does not feel like 3.P or Pathfinder

This is the biggest problem I see with the game right now. To me, it does not feel like Pathfinder, and I think I've identified WHY it does not feel like Pathfinder.

In Pathfinder, things are actually pretty defined (which many might not see it as). When you choose a race, you KNOW what abilities that race gets. You don't have to remember differences between that race.

When you choose a class, that class has specific and defined abilities at each level. You do not have to guess what you get when you become a level 4 Paladin or a level 7 Monk. Theses abilities are defined.

This makes it easy to remember once you've played the game a few times.

With PF2e, NONE of this is defined. Hence, an ancestry or a class can change. You cannot simply rely on memory, you have to look at your character sheet or someone else's to see what they've chosen.

Because things are not defined, it adds a LOT of variability (some may say you have the ability to modify your character more in PF2e, but after a while of playing it I'd say that's not correct. Many of the choices came by default to the classes in PF1e, where as they lose those by default and must choose them or another ability in PF2e). With variability, it means that the same class can be vastly different in what abilities it has, the same goes for ancestry.

This means that it is no longer simply a matter of knowing what is granted at each level by your class (or archetype).

This may not be the entirety of why it feels different, but it feels vastly different than PF1e or 3.P and I don't think that is a good thing.

Unfortunately, I do not think this is something that can be changed. I think it is core to the system of PF2e.

I've tested the adventure and it DOES seem to be able to be played very easily with P1E, so with that meaning PF2e APs should be easily playable with P1E rules, I am probably keeping my subscription to the APs and modules indefinitely even if I don't ascribe to PF2e fully (and undecided on that as of yet, it IS fun, even if to me, it does not feel like P1e).

However, I think this final point may be a MAJOR sticking point for more of the hardcore base of P1E.

Anyways, those are my thoughts on the Playtest as they've solidified over the past few days. I put it in general because this is not really something that is a specific critique of anything the team may be looking at, but as something that really acts for me to solidify my thoughts on what I think of the PF2e PT thus far, and what I feel about it.

Thanks.

Paizo talked about the playtest and changes coming on their weekly twitch.

Whoever sees these first (Fridays 4PM) can hopefully keep this thread updated and post updates about it on this thread.

Currently it is at

Playtest Week 1

Major items I got...

1. Take the surveys for the playtest...please...it's a very important for feedback to Paizo.

1a. Jason is being sung about being Santa Claus

Starting around the 28 minute mark

2. Monday a PDF goes live on pathfinder playtest. It will be a download like the Playtest was (I think, they talk about it being a free purchase). This will be updates to the playtest based on feedback thus far.

It will be released alongside a blog explaining some of the feedback and information they've received.

Feel free to use the top 5 rule updates that will be in Monday's playtest update.

These are critical updates. Meaning they will affect many tables. There are other updates, these are just the top 5 updates.

2a. Alchemist Quick alchemy ability can use ANY alchemical item alchemists can use. It is no longer just common items.

2b. Rangers, key ability has been changed to STR OR DEX. You can choose either or.

3a. All characters can now use Very Sneaky (used to be just a Goblin feat) Feat.

3b. Second paragraph of Very Sneaky feat, as long as you continue to use sneak actions and succeed on your stealth check you remain unseen as long as you still have cover at the end (paraphrased greatly by me)of your turn.

4. Alchemist now have 3 skill choices, Druid goes down to 3 skill choices as well.

5. All characters are trained in unarmored defense.

Update is 1 page long.

6. Explains game decisions. Probably will be in the blog I imagine. First up why they went with Feats. At first they had different names for everyone...but changed it to all feats. Also why they gave certain characters feats and others not.

Some feats made more sense with some classes and others, not all are made equal. You don't have to sacrifice effectiveness with the new system (my interpretation, stops bad character choices...trap options).

7. Ancestries and testing, seeing in other prior products not all races made equal.

Negative reaction to ancestries is much stronger than expected and they are considering stuff in relation to this. Might look at heritage..etc.

8. Feats in PF1e that were general feats now being class feats and complaints about how that has affected flexibility in creating characters people want. Some feats in PF1e were specifically to remove penalties, now instead just remove penalty or other modification rather than focus on feat reducing penalty.

In many situations with classes, simply ran out of space.

Double slice addressed as something specifically they are looking at with feats and class feats.

Some builds are not living up to expectations in some classes.

Endless tinkering remains...expects to be stuck to computer to the last day at the last minute.

9. At 52 minutes starts taking questions.

I don't even understand what the first question is actually asking. Jason addresses persistent damage in answer to it.

Bloodline question...where it is a typo. Some of these questions I'm not understanding what is being said or they are confusing...most of them I'll just let them go and you can listen.

Fighter multiclass with wizard using any armor or weapon question. Answer is yes...wizards can use the feat to use armor and weapons and have armor better than mage armor.

They want to see what happens when people take the fighter dedication feat. They think many things can happen but are curious about the permutations and other things that happen with it.

No plans to add arcane spell failure.

Not sure if they have the right number of actions to pick lock. Various pick lock things. Still seeing how it goes.

Backgrounds testbed in Doomsday dawn. Backgrounds tying to adventure are something they are seeing how it works out and if people like that.

bow questions with shortbow agile, longbow volley, looking at bows intently.

Resonance is too early to make a decision thus far. Lots of comments on forums but not enough information yet to determine anything. Please make sure to answer any questions regarding resonance in the surveys. Really need to know the numbers. Steps 2 or 3 at earliest, and maybe later. They HAVE heard to outcry and complaints on it very clearly on the forums.

Resonance is the most out there and experimental or one of the most in the Playtest.

10. More questions and stuff on questions and answers. Sometimes when sees a question step back and watch responses because it shows where people are at understanding it and how well their ideas came across in the playtest writing (from what I understand in how Buhlman answered the question).

End. Anyways, it seems twitch will address these playtest things every Friday. If people want to keep this thread updated, it could make for a rather easy place to find all the twitch updates.

Just a thought...or this could just be a useless thread I guess. If can figure out how to edit it, and people like this idea...I guess I can also add the twitch update addresses.

We had a player create a Human Ranger with the Half Elf Feat.

The player decided to create a character that selected a skill other than what they found on their signature skill list.

They chose Acrobatics, Athletics, Nature, Stealth, Survival, and Thievery.

Obviously Thievery is not a signature skill for them.

From what I understand, it is perfectly legitimate for them to have this skill though, they just cannot advance higher than Expert in it.

This also allows them to be able to take the Feats of Pickpocket, Subtle Theft, and Wary Disarmament, but they are excluded from Quick Unlock, Spell Thievery and Legendary Thief.

If I've interpreted this right, a Thief is no longer really needed for many of the things Thieves would traditionally be used for (disarming traps overall).

It does mean that they cannot do the legendary things a Thief could accomplish though.

Thinking more on this, and expanding it, it seems for many of the skills if you want to become more of a Jack of all skills, there isn't a ton that you lose out on by simply being an Expert instead of Master for most of them and the things you gain may be far more beneficial than simply focusing on signature skills.

This is just a thought though, anyone see this idea in actual practice?

We have no PFS within 100 miles of us, so obviously we don't play in the PFS.

However, we have played various scenarios in the past.

For purposes of this playtest though, can we play the scenarios and give feedback and Non PFS players?

Can we take the survey for the Scenarios?

Thank you for your answers.

I gave this feedback on the survey's but I thought I'd highlight our group experience in this regards for the first part of Doomsday Dawn. In addition, the survey didn't really give me enough room to elaborate on what exactly I meant (from the topic above) and so I thought I'd elaborate in a thread here to be more specific.

Creation

Our group was composed of a

Dwarven Cleric
Human Half-Elf Ranger
Goblin Sorcerer
Human Barbarian

In character creation, at least one player got frustrated. I thought the book was well laid out, but they couldn't understand the dynamics and connection between the various levels of mastery and what they were supposed to be listing on their character sheet.

(also, the character sheets in the downloads for the playtest seem overly confusing and jumbled...not sure of what the solution should be, but they are not the easiest to use).

My thought is that some of the stuff that is listed in the chapter...playing the game...should be stuck as a summary right at the front of the book. This tells people the very basic dynamic of what Trained, expert, master, and legendary do and how to apply them right from the start, rather than people fumbling through.

It is a basic and fundamental function of the core of these rules, as such, giving a summary of how they work would help people learning the game. This helps them understand exactly what the terms mean and hwo it applies to them as they create their character.

Another thing players missed was the Half-Orc. One character wanted a STR option for their ancestry, but they only had the Human. I think they wanted something more akin to other races.

Humans seem to get the shaft in some ways. They can select their free additions, but at the penalty of not gaining a third.

Perhaps give them the choice to have a third ability bonus if they also select a penalty to another ability.

A person chose a Goblin. Goblins seem to be even better tailored to be sorcerers than alchemists. Not sure that was supposed to be the plan.

The scenario

Running through the actual adventure felt like other Pathfinder adventures. It was written in a very similar way. There were a few difficulties, and perhaps it's because I and no one in my group has mastery of the Playtest rules to give us better bonuses.

It seemed the highest bonus typically would be around a +5. This meant that DCs that were set at 15 had a 50% chance of failure on any set roll.

As such, the players rolled lower than average and FAILED most of the traps and other things they rolled on. They just were not able to roll over the DCs that were in the adventure. Some of the DCs seem almost outright impossible.

Enemies

For the most part monsters were easy to beat, overall very easy. However, some of the portions were challenging enough (Giant Centipedes which were a little more trouble than expected) and the traps added another layer of problems.

Then we hit Drakus and a glaring problem jumped out that I have a fear that will be exacerbated as we get higher levels.

Drakus had a higher AC and Higher HP. However, his damage actually is very low. Our characters had trouble hitting him at first and he just didn't do much damage that actually threatened the characters. Overall, it was kind of a standstill type of fight and started to get boring.

This was supposed to be the boss fight, and I even tossed in the extra Dire/Giant Rat and tried to spice it up. However, the fight went on far too long for what it was with very little happening.

This is a bad sign to me that future enemies may have High AC, High HP, but unable to do a ton of damage to characters, and due to the High AC, the characters might not do tons of damage back.

This makes for very boring fights. Hopefully this is not something we'll see in later scenarios, but browsing through the bestiary I noted that many of the monsters seem to have this same dynamic of a High AC, High HP, but not damage commiserate with the AC and HP values.

Ending

Anyways, those are my first observations of the PF2e playtest in general without hitting everything in each room and such. Overall, not a ton of challenge for the characters (they have a LOT of HP comparatively to PF1e 1st level characters, while most of the monsters besides Drakus had low HP similar to their PF1e counterparts...but after seeing what happened with Drakus, that probably was a good thing so we didn't hit the slog).

I liked the adventure itself. It was fun overall and the lore and history was fun reading as background information for a GM.

We finished the first part of Doomsday dawn. The first session was basically character creation (took 4 hours to do that) and the second part was actually running the adventure.

One of the players created a Barbarian and wanted to have Titan Totem which has the ability to allow them to use weapon sizes one size larger.

I couldn't find the damage listed for these things...where would I find it?

We couldn't find it so they selected a different totem.

However, trying to figure it out for the future.

thanks

I thought this was interesting. The more people that answer the poll the more information it gives out.

It's interesting to see the overall reactions to those answering the poll.

The link is

After initial PF2e Playtest rules read, how do you feel about it straw poll

We just went through this with the old PF1e ruleset. I read through it, and had about an hour of prep.

Instead of using playtest characters, we went through with PF1e characters instead. Will try it with PF PT characters tomorrow.

Going through with PF1e characters took about three hours (I expect it may take around the same time with PF2e characters).

Conversion was super easy. You literally can just swap monsters out (use PF1e instead of the PF PT bestiary monsters) and it worked. Enough XP for them to get to level 2, at least how I worked it.

What this tells me is that, at least for 1st level adventures, conversion is excessively easy to do from PF2e to PF1e.

Unsure how it would work with higher level characters.

Will try with the actual PT characters tomorrow, with a longer session since most of those who are going to play are unfamiliar with the PT rules (heck, I'm unfamiliar with the PT rules overall, I've read them but this will obviously be the first I've played them through).

It seems controversial threads (hence the D&D 4.75e in the topic title)seem to get the most response from general forum users...ironically...however...this isn't actually being written to be all that controversial. I am hoping to see more responses on these particular topics though.

To note, first off, I played 4e and I actually LIKED playing 4e...unlike many here.

That said, there are some things that I think are good with the Playtest...and some things which are so bad that I'm not sure they can repair the damage...so to speak.

Some of this may be because I am getting older. I don't consider myself all that ancient or old, but they say as one gets older the desire to learn new game systems and rules decreases...so perhaps my complaints stem from that. I have recently read and played other RPGs...so I am hesitant to say that is all it is, but it may be that due to age I am starting to enter that reluctance to try new things?

I'll come right out with two items which I don't like thus far, one which, to me, is extremely significant.

1. The way experience works seems like a pretty bad way to do it. On my first read it seem to be entirely arbitrary and undefined, and one's experience (pardon the pun/wording) with it will be entirely based upon the whims of their DM.

When 3e originally came out it operated on a CR system where you had differing amounts of XP based upon the character level vs. the creatures CR. The XP at one level may not be the same as at another level that one got from the same monster.

When P1E came out it was a breath of fresh air. Monsters were defined on how much XP they typically gave out. The guesswork was not so much out there and it was defined on how much and how many overall. It was far more defined than 3e or 3.5 editions of D&D. This also made experience simpler and easier to do.

PF2e has taken a step backwards from what I can tell. It seems simple at first, each character only needing 1000XP to advance each level. However, then you read about how the party earns XP. Obviously monsters cannot be worth the same for a 1st level character as a 10th level character, especially if the XP requirements are the same. However, rather than even go with the structure of the CR system of 3e, they go with something even more arbitrary. The DM decides on whether something is Trivial, low threat, standard, High Threat, Severe Threat, etc. and then from that decides the XP award. It seems VERY arbitrary.

To me, this is a fatal flaw with the system. What may be a Severe threat for one group and hence they gain XP for that...will be a Low level threat for another and they will get less XP. The same encounter could net vastly different amounts of XP to different groups dependant on the DM. In some ways this may even seem unfair or unjust among some groups and between various characters.

This could just me being old, but right now, I'm NOT a fan of the XP system and would like to see it changed to be something at least a tad more standard than what I've read thus far, and simpler to do.

2. The skill system seems to be more complicated and hard to remember in many ways. I think this is why Numbers that go up is actually been popular in the past, because a number is always easy to remember.

With PF2e you get the skill, but very limited upgrades. After that you seem to get better with skill feats. This makes a division that is hard to keep track of in my mind (as I said, it could be old is getting old).

I would prefer something a little simpler and easier to keep track of.

3. This is the only point that really deals with 4e. At various levels, even if they are called "Class Feats", characters get what would have been termed as Class Powers (which also were called various things such as prayers, or spells, and other such things in 4e).

Some of this is interesting, but (and this is where my old is old probably really shines through) it seems all pretty overwhelming. Each class gets so many of them (and for those who are saying there is less choices, these seem to grant a LOT of choices being available) that to my mind, it just makes it all that harder to keep track of what does what and who has what.

In otherwords, unlike some are claiming, to me, it seems it actually has become more complicated and harder to keep track of.

Isn't there a way to have the same effect, but make it easier and simpler to keep track of for the "old is old" folks like me?

Now some really GOOD things I liked on my first read through

1. I think this is the most organized and best written playtest rules I have ever seen. It is better than many publishers actual rule releases. It's indexed, has decent formatting, and is written as if it was the actual rules release rather than a playtest. I am excessively impressed with how well this rulebook is put together.

I cannot express just how impressed I am. It floors me with how much attention to detail, how well it was edited, and how well it was organized for a playtest. Those who put this together should get a HUGE applause and appreciation for their hardwork.

2. I think the base core rules are actually MORE complex than P1e, HOWEVER, the way the playtest book is written makes it seem simpler in contrast in some areas. The step by step process instructing one how to create a character is phenomenal. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the new process, the instructions on how to do it are some of the best step by step instructions I've seen in ANY RPG rulebook recently. They are also outstanding. It made the process easy to understand and easy to follow.

I think this is another one of those things that deserves 5 stars. To many rulebooks don't put enough attention to detail on this thing. I recently learned another RPG (won't name it here, no need to bad mouth that aspect of them behind their back) and it was 10 times harder to learn what the heck I was doing in character creation. That was their official rule release.

This is just a playtest and I found it a LOT easier to figure out how to make a character as per the playtest rules than with that other system.

3. I suppose just like I addressed a 4e ism type thing with my #3 post above under the bad, I'll do something similar with the good. I did play 4e, and I did enjoy it. However, when I read the blog on how multiclassing would work in the new playtest, I was actually VERY skeptical. I haven't played the game in a session yet (I will be the GM and it should be soon, still planning out the first session), but I actually found I like how archetypes will work in the Playtest.

I can't say I'm a fan of having multiclassing mixed in with Archetypes yet (hopefully someone will try it out in the actual playtest session I run) but I LOVE the idea of the archetypes being acquired the way they are. The Cavalier example won me over. I think it actually could be a lot of fun and add a lot of customization in ways not thought of in P1e.

And so, that's it on my first read through. I'm not quite as fast as many of the others on these forums that posted hours ago. It took me nigh 12 hours to get through much of it, and I still haven't gotten into the nitty gritty details of everything yet (but another thing I liked that I noted was with the Bastard Sword differing with one and two handed damage...), but I've noted some very good things and some things that I hope will be changed.

One thing that I noticed already with the Doomsday Dawn books is that most of the monsters/creatures are referred back to the Playtest Bestiary.

It works, especially as one has downloaded it, but it is a tad inconvenient to a degree.

One can have both open and switch back and forth between them in Adobe, but it would be nice if there were at least abbreviated stats available.

I know this has been something in the APs and Modules for a while, but I didn't notice it as much with them. It may be that I just was more familiar with the P1E bestiaries instead.

Not gamebreaker or really that bad, just feels a little inconvenient switching back and forth between them in reading.

I'm not confused if we can get this from Paizo or not, from what I understand, Paizo will release the items to be pre-ordered on their website in a few days (on March 20).

I understood the pricing on Paizo will be 59.99 for the CRB, and I have no idea for the module and the flip mat multi-pack.

Amazon just had their pages go up for the Pre-orders. They say that the cost of the playtest CRB will be $44.99 and have discounted it to $33.70 currently. The module they have 20.07 and the map pack at 24.99 on their site.

That $33.70 is EXCESSIVELY TEMPTING. I'm wondering if their pricing is off. I've heard of Amazon accidentally pricing wrong in the past, and then cancelling those pre-orders...even as they raised the price elsewhere and sold it to others for their re-arranged price hosing those who utilized Amazon at first and did not notice the re-written page.

How likely do you think that will happen in this case? I like the lower price, but I don't want to pre-order only to find out AFTER June (when you can't pre-order elsewhere such as at Paizo) that they were wrong and my pre-order is cancelled.

Do think Amazon is a safe pre-order or one should play it safer on this one?

PS: What's really weird is they also have a paperback version on their site for sale at 29.99 in USD.

There is a rumor on how PF2e is currently looking at doing combat and skills. It is a UNIFIED mechanic.

This mechanic is that your level+Stat = ability.

How it works...

If you have the skill of Stealth, and Stealth is a Dex based skill...

You have a 16 DEX. You are trained in the skill of DEX. You are level 5.

You therefore have a +8 in the Stealth skill.

If the DC is 15...

You roll your Stealth check (so let's say you roll a 10. 10+8=18. Thus you pass the check) using this bonus.

If you are untrained, you do not get to add your level to it. Thus for the same check, you would have a +3 in your check (so in the above example you would roll a +3 and get 13 and fail the DC 15 check).

This also applies to combat. If you are using a weapon you are trained in you get a level+attribute (normally either STR or DEX).

Thus if you had a sword which you were proficient in, you would add your STR.

If you were level 5, and had a 16 STR you would get a +8 to hit.

If someone had an AC of 23 and you were trying to hit them and you rolled a 16...you would hit (16+8 = 23 and 24 > 22).

If you were not proficient in the weapon you would only have your +3 so against an AC of 22 it would be almost impossible to hit (unless you roll a natural 20).

This applies to all classes, wizards, fighters, rogues...etc.

I HOPE this is just a rumor and is NOT how they are actually doing it, but some are saying this is how this is going to work?

Pros: Well, it seems like they won't have a low bounded accuracy. In fact it appears that it is not kept low or within a specific number. That's good.

Cons: This is still almost a direct mechanic taken from 5e. There are MANY who dislike this from 5e. It makes it so that there is very little difference in why one is a Fighter as opposed to a Wizard. It makes things more bland. It increases the martial/caster disparity.

A common complaint in PF is that while a fighter just gets more way to hit people...a wizard can fly, cast fireballs, teleport...etc.

Now, you are telling me wizards can learn to hit just as well as fighters...and at the same time get fly, cast fireballs, teleport?

Counter: There are different things that characters can do to change this. For example, thieves may be able to select three skills where they can double their skill proficiency (thus it would be either DEXx2 or Level x2 added to the proficiency) either through an ability or a feat. (this is STILL something drawn directly from 5e).

Fighters and others have similar options via feats where they may be able to add a +1 or +2 via a feat to damage or to hit. (also...similar to 5e).

Counter-Counter It was stated that Paizo would not be trying to compete with 5e on their same turf, but if this mechanic is how it works you are directly trying to go against 5e, but you are doing it on their terms and their turf. You'll still get good sales on the intial rulebooks I believe, but this is going to cause problems in the long term I think.

My thoughts...

You will lose all those who stuck with PF because they dislike 5e. You will briefly gain those who play 5e and then lose them because...they already have this in 5e. Finally, when faced with the same mechanic (even if the numbers are higher in PF), new players are going to go with the one that is already more popular typically.

I may be singular in this. If this mechanic is correct...who out there thinks this is a good idea?

Who out there thinks this could be a VERY Bad idea?

Who thinks this is neither good or bad?

Depending on the amount of actions, this actually makes turn optimization a lot more deep. Love this though!

Off of the Blog Post I just read, it sounds like we get three actions and one reaction. The reaction sounds like it can be used for certain things (Such as a shield block by the Fighter, which if I understand means that the shield can actually stop damage up to it's hardness and then takes damage itself rather than the Fighter taking damage?).

I'm thinking that Opportunity Attacks will fall under this idea of a reaction.

If so, that would indicate one can only get ONE of these...or is it possible to increase the number of reactions one gets.

In addition, though it states that certain things will cost two actions (as in most spells will cost two actions), wouldn't it be easier just to call it some other type of action in and of itself that costs two of these action points or actions?

It sounds as if one can actually attack up to three times by choosing to use all three actions as an attack. Isn't this basically very similar to the Full Attack option we already have to a degree, or a Full Action?

Does this also mean that we can start off attacking with three attacks at 1st level?

Even if they aren't called the same thing, it still sounds as if we still have the Full-Round Action, the Free action, etc....but they are being called something else which is not as clear cut at times and a little more vague?

On this idea, what other questions do people have related to three actions and a reaction.

Sooooo....

Watching the announcement video with Jason and Eric...

Was anyone else trying to see what the books that were behind them were?

It could swear there was a whole slew of 3e or 3.5e books behind Jason...

It appears there's some sort of Dummies book on Jason's Lower right side.

Behind Eric the pawns are obvious, and it really looks like a bunch of Pathfinder Novels below them.

To his left are some, what appear to be older books but I can't see what they might be.

Am I the only one that was trying to see what books were behind them in the video (and if no one responds, it appears that I probably was).

Curious about this. Is Return of the Runelords going to be written for PF 1e? Is it going to be the last AP for 1e? Is it going to be the stepchild where it's a hybrid of playtest rules for 2e?

Which version is it going to be written for?

If a Hybrid with the new Playtest rules...will it be easily backwards compatible with 1e?

Will it be written so that it will probably be easily adaptable to 2e?

So, I've had the PF Unchained PDF for a little bit. I think I've had it in my downloads since March. Unfortunately, I've found that though I like reading adventures in PDF occasionally, rules are something I really need a book to hold and sit down to read.

So, I finally got the hardcover in a recent order from Paizo.

O....M....G....

This book is awesome!

I love what they did to Rogues and Monks.

However, now that I've read through it, how do you go about using it?

Do you just replace the old stuff wholesale, or do you pick and choose?

Which is PFS legal, and what is not.

Can two people use two different Monks at the same time, or two different Rogues, one from Unchained, the other from core?

I'm tempted to just life this wholesale and whatever conflicts with the other rules, use the unchained rules...is that how everyone else is doing it?

So I was just told by a relative that Joe Dever, the author of the Lone Wolf books passed away.

A sad day for those who used to read his books.

I'll start by saying, despite any fallibilities or any problems, I love the US. I think it is the greatest nation on earth (as an American, if you are from another nation I would hope you wouldn't think that and would think your own nation is the greatest nation).

One thing I've heard recently are some who feel that there needs to be more direct democracy in elections instead of an electoral college.

The electoral college is the product of one of the great compromises made in the US.

Originally when debating what should or should not be in the Constitution the question came about representation of the people in Congress. States with larger populations wanted to have it where each representative stood for a certain amount of the population.

Smaller states hated this idea. It meant that those states with large populations would be able to dictate whatever they wanted to the smaller states.

They wanted each state to have equal representation, which meant that every state would be equally represented.

Larger states hated this because it gave FAR more power to smaller states than what Larger states would possess.

So, they came up with the idea that both could have this for themselves. Thus we have the House of Representatives where each states representatives are directly related to the population. We then have the Senate where each state is equally represented.

I think it is a great way to represent the interest of the large and small states.

This way I can move to Wyoming and still feel like my interests are represented. I can move to California and still have far more representatives in the House than other states might be able to dream of.

I love the Republic, and I love the US.

I've been in nations where it was far more repressive than the US. There were laws there that would horrify almost anyone in the West. There were abuses and terrible prejudices that give most discrimination we see in the US as small change in comparison.

I love the Constitution and the way things work in the US.

For some, I know recent events have caused fears to rise...and the best thing I have seen about it is this video with Stephen Colbert. I think it's awesome, and shows all Americans can be patriots and love the Republic, how we all, even with our differences can be unified and love that we all are Americans together.

Stephen Colbert signs off on 2016 election

I just want to say, I think our founding fathers were inspired when they wrote our constitution, it's a document that has enabled our government to be flexible and adaptable to a changing world for the past 227 years. I hope it will stand for another 227 years and allow people like me, and others the freedom that we love about the US and the rights inherent to it as promised in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Sometimes things come out and hit you where you don't expect.

For the most part, I am a guy who does guy things these days. However, I am still VERY touchy about my age. Even my own kids don't know my actual birthdate or age.

So there comes this guy who starts telling everyone about my age and how old I am. His kids know my age and broadcast it...and I shouldn't be, but I'm really mad about it.

He got it from access to online records, which I also don't approve of having my information like that online and accessible by others, and for some reason he gets a kick about it.

So, I did a google search on how to deal with someone like this. Most of it is why not to tell others your age, and things like that. I couldn't find anything on how to deal with someone who simply wants to tell your age to everyone whether you want him to or not.

Any ideas?

I went to the city today, and while there decided to pay a Hastings store a visit. It was then I saw the sign saying they were going out of business. I asked one of the employees and it's not just a local store closing, the ENTIRE CHAIN is going out of business.

I am SHOCKED!!!

It's another deathknell of the retail book industry. They'll have short term deals, but after that, they are gone.

That leaves ONE and only one retail bookstore left in that city (Barnes and Nobles), and a second hand bookstore.

What is this world coming too where there is a noticeable lack of bookstores in our cities.

So, we've been using these and I was changing the light bulb in the main hall. I gave it to someone to hold while I took down the glass covering in order to remove the old lightbulb and put in the new one.

that person dropped the lightbulb on the table I was standing on. It shattered glass on the carpet. So, I went to see how to clean it up and found stern warnings from the EPA about this stuff and conflicting information on the internet on how dangerous or not dangerous this stuff is.

I followed the EPA rules for cleaning, but no one takes these for recycling if broken (only if unbroken it seems) which puts me in a lurch.

As it broke on the table instead of the carpet (but pieces got on the carpet) does anyone know if I need to replace the carpet or not?

I've pretty much concluded that my clothes I was wearing at the time and the table I was standing on are toast, but unsure whether I need to replace the carpet or not (especially as it is directly in front of the Heater/AC induct vent for the house as well).

Unsure of the carpet though. We have plastic covering it right now while I try to figure out the answer to that one?

Also, as it's the main hall, no way to keep from stepping in the area constantly.

Picked up all the glass, vented...but unsure of the remains. A oft quoted Maine study says I'm hosed...but others say that the study was flawed.

Any ideas?

PS: I have a pregnant niece right now as well, should we make arrangements to have her be elsewhere?

This was brought up previously, but perhaps not in the right context. (edit: apparently in more than one thread...I just was reading in another thread which appears MIGHT have had it in there...but I can't tell as most references were erased?...not sure of the context or what happened there...whatever happened, LET's TRY TO KEEP THIS ONE RESPECTFUL).

I am bringing this up, because some of it RINGS TRUE, and ironically, right here on Paizo.

This is supposed to be one of the most LGBT, minority, and woman friendly RPG boards and audiences.

My main game group (I have others, but the main one) is composed of ladies, or at least most of the time. We have an occasional male at times.

The WORST adventure, the most abhorrent game AP we played was from Paizo. It was called Council of Thieves. It is the reason that this game group dropped PF (despite my avowed love for the system) in favor of 5e. They about rebelled on me in that adventure. I see it was with good reason. I convinced them to continue with PF, and we did for a while, but when 5e came out, old wounds were remembered.

They dropped PF like a stone and despite my best efforts, I have NOT been able to get them to really play it again as of current.

I brought up how horrific some of this AP was on these boards. The response was overwhelmingly against the woman, and supportive of Paizo's actions in regards to the AP. Myriad excuses were given. All of it was justifying White Male Privilege.

I have the New Cheliax AP's...to this day I haven't actually mustered up the courage to read them yet. I remember all to clearly the LAST time Paizo did one there, and that's some pretty bad stuff. The fact that they revisited it...means that all my efforts to convince my gaming group to play PF...is for naught. It confirms their views of Paizo...which is odd since Paizo is headed up by a woman...something that I've pointed out. In light of the CoT AP...and their views on how anyone could support that type of stuff and say some of the things in support of it...

Means that unless I game with other groups, there is NO chance for me to ever play PF with them.

I love the PF system. I really don't like the 5e system. However, I enjoy gaming with these people...and so I'll play 5e even though I prefer PF.

The question is, if this is how they view PF...which is supposed to be one of the most welcoming arenas for minorities and LGBT...what about the rest of the Gaming world.

This POST on tumblr (caution, extremism and sometimes language, disturbing images and wording) caught my eye, because while in some ways it seems rather extremists, in some ways it actually has a few things that ring true for those in my gaming group (and that's what makes it both scary, and something that SHOULD be read and not simply erased because it makes people feel uncomfortable).

White Male privilege in tabletop gaming

Has been making waves. It was presented previously on these forums, and quickly shut down(I'm not entirely sure why, much of the conversation surrounding it was erased...so no idea what was in that conversation, once again, let's try to remain respectful). I hope it was simply because it was in the wrong context, because as someone who is NOT a White Male, some of this absolutely rings true, EVEN AMONG PATHFINDER PLAYERS.

Now, the post is written in a very inflammatory manner. I don't believe the stories are about ONE person's experiences at all. It gathers different horrific experiences that have been reported by MULTIPLE people and gathers them into one single post/article. It presents various different incidences (despite the article making it sound like it's all one person I know about the stories some of these incidences actually came from, and they are NOT from one single person, but separate incidences at different locations) that have happened at different times. However, some of it really does strike home in regards to some locations. The following items stuck out to me.

It is 2005 and I am arguing with my future husband about women in gaming.

"Women game as much as men," I say, "they just don’t do it in public and don’t game with self-identified gamers because it’s too dangerous."

"That’s not what my experience in the hobby has been."

"Wait and see."

and

Harassment in nerd hobbies has been quantified and studied and the results are appalling. 25% of the respondents reported harassment, 13% reported unwelcome sexual comments, and 8% reported groping, sexual assault, or rape. If 13% of SDCC attendees receive unwelcome sexual comments, that’s over 17,000 people being sexually harassed every convention. You would have to be an idiot to think none of these people are going to talk to each other, and cavernously evil to dismiss everyone as lying. As for sexual assault? That’s over 10,000 people being groped at SDCC, and it doesn’t count people who are groped more than once. Many of my friends have given up their once-beloved con circuit because they can no longer deal with, as one prominent cosplayer put it, “men handling me like a piece of meat”.

The study quoted does NOT link to a study, but to a Cosplay is not Consent facebook page.

and finally....

++++

Men can shout all they like that #notallmen harass women, but as long as gamers defend their bigoted behaviour as a “sense of humour” (implying that women who don’t like being groped are somehow at fault), #allmen are complicit in the harassment. Predators rely on other people thinking they’re joking, and when gamers make jokes like “sleeping girls can’t say no”, those predators feel safe and welcomed in the community, while their victims are forced to flee for their safety. Even if the woman does press charges, the police report goes nowhere without the rest of the community willing to testify on her behalf instead of protecting their rapey friend. Predators know this, which is one of the many reasons “Go to the police!” is the constant refrain to shut down ANY discussion of safety in gaming.

Even though it always results in a deluge of threats, I am committed to speaking about my experiences with sexual assault, harassment, and rape in the gaming hobby. The most heartbreaking thing is that every time I do, I receive dozens of messages from men and women who have endured the same and do not feel they can speak up because the community is so hostile to their reality. I’ve heard from several people who, when trying to discuss their sexual assault, have it treated like a joke and laughed at by members of the community. I can’t think of better evidence that the gaming community is far too tolerant of g%~$+$n monsters.

When the majority of gamers refuse to speak up in support of those marginalised, they send the message that the hobby is full of bullies and they like it that way. “There are a&@!@*&s in every group” is the rallying cry, yet that statement is nonsense to anyone who has spent the barest amount of time cultivating a healthy community. “A+$!&$& behaviour” only persists because the majority of men are too cowardly to call the a@$!*+!s what they are. The women who speak up against bullying and assault are treated as solely responsible for their safety, while cowards pretend that “staying neutral” is a virtue instead of tacitly condoning the rampant harassment and bigotry. The gaming community has some of the worst excesses of rape culture outside of a Duggar convention.

I say I don't go to gaming CONS...that's a lie to a degree...I don't go to gaming CONS anymore. I have gone before. I really won't go to gaming CONS. That means I have not gone to Paizo Con, I don't know what it is like. I have no desire to go.

What the article makes it seem like, is NOT my experience in the past. In fact, most of the time it seems very normal and I don't see every person as being antagonistic. However, there have been some uncomfortable moments.

Although I've seen some bad things on these boards (as I mentioned at the top) overall, I'd say most people are FAR more sympathetic than I. That I am perhaps one of the worst of the boards in regards to tolerance (I AM working on that) and understanding others. I think the article presents it's point of view a little to far in the extreme in that light.

I DO go to FLGS's, a lot. I'm not as pretty as my spouse...she doesn't really go into game stores anymore. She has been hit upon multiple times there, even when she's made it obvious she is not single and she is not available.

So, I go alone to the game stores most of the time.

But there are some things that make me wonder that perhaps even I have privilege which others I game with do not. Perhaps this is why they are so vehement against some game systems and gaming these days.

I admit, almost ALL of us in my game group...we buy our gaming materials online (either at amazon, or I buy some stuff from Paizo these days). Very little if any of the entirety of our gaming group's money goes to any retail game store.

I am the only one in my main group that even puts a foot into the gamestores, that includes my spouse, our friends that game, and relatives.

So, though I question how valid the posting makes the extremism sound...the fact that how it states woman will buy most of their gaming materials online, that perhaps just as many woman game as men, but not as VISIBLY as men do in stores and cons, and that many may stick to each other (which really does ring true for our group, we don't have that many men involved with it currently, or in the past, I think I may be the only one that identifies as male in the group most of the time)...

Really does ring true.

And as the article points out, if we are silent, in many ways we are acknowledging consent to this type of actions towards woman, and the LAST thing I want to do is consent to this type of treatment towards ANYONE.

As the Article states...

What can men do? They can support and believe women, POC, and anyone else marginalised by the hobby at large. They can refuse to stand for a%~!&@!s in their community. There are good men who know their friends’ stories, but are fearful of sharing them lest their friends receive harassment. You don’t need to share the details. You only need to share that you know it’s a problem. (The aggressive digging into trauma is a bullying tactic meant to further silence and traumatise the victims. Do not fall for it.) I truly believe that if the good men in the community have the courage to stand up for what’s right, they can change the image of a gamer from a slavering neckbearded rapist anonymously e-mailing women death threats to something more positive.

I think the article is over sensationalistic but I want to be clear, I do NOT support woman or minorities being treated like the article describes, and think it is abhorrent if anyone DID act in that manner.

And no, I did NOT post this because the other gamers in my main group visit these boards anymore (as far as I know, they do not), I am posting it to show my support at trying to tailor my own actions to be less discriminatory...and to hopefully point out that there those that feel discriminated against and to help us say we will not tolerate such activities in regards to others either.

I'm not an Eve expert, so forgive me if there are mistakes.

Around 2 years ago, Eve Online made major headlines as a Major war broke out and a massive battle resulted in HUGE Real World losses regarding money and financials which actually had a slight impact overall regarding other economies.

That was where the Goons which are part of the CFC all took on the HBC (Honey Badger Coalition). HBC lost and the Goons moved into that space (with a few others).

That War is known now by some as the Fountain War.

Currently, CFC is now known as the Imperium. I think they have around 40K members. They've been making inroads to other space and expanding, which has been upsetting many others.

There is a new Coalition being formed called the Money Badger Coalition (in respect or regards to the Honey Badger Coalition). They are allied not because they like each other, but in a common dislike of the Imperium.

I think it was around 4 days ago, the MBC made a move on a Infrastructure Hub. It wasn't as massive a battle as the Fountain War had (yet) but as they moved in, around 4000 ships were involved, with about 3500 at the peak of the battle. The Imperium were outgunned and outnumbered, and defeated.

More startling was that the Circle of 2, who were part of the Imperium, defected, taking all their regions with them.

This seems to be forming up to a new war (as war has been declared) that is currently under the Moniker of the Northern War.

Who knows what will happen next. Another large Faction, the Drones, still haven't made who, if anyone, they'll support.

Have to say, there are times when things really seem pretty interesting in Eve. If it breaks into really huge things like two years ago, could get real interesting real quick.

Anyone on the frontlines of this? (I'm not, but it could be interesting to see someone from the Shadow Cartel or others who have a frontline experience to the current events).

A little rundown (warning - a little language as some of the factions have unique names)

Eve Rundown from last week

The Northern War thus far by Talladar

As many know, I really, really, really, don't like the way Bounded Accuracy was handled in 5e (range too small, not enough differentiation in proficiency, etc...etc...etc...).

HOWEVER...while browsing on various forums and topics, I came across something that BA probably does VERY well and IS very laudable.

In older editions of AD&D (and B/X, BECMI) various races had level limits.

One of the big meta game/out of game reasons this was done was supposedly for world (not game) balance.

When elves live 1000 years, if they advance as quickly as the humans do (or even 1/5 as fast considering humans live 100 years and elves live 1000), there is NO plausible reason Elves don't dominate the world. If Humans got to be 20th-30th level in their lifetime...there is no reason a high level elf shouldn't be 200th-300th level, and the average elf anywhere from 10th to 30th level.

Even if humans numbered in the range thousands of times more numerous than other races, they'd be slaughtered (AD&D had far vaster ranges of proficiency, a 1st level human really was no threat to someone who was 9th or 10th level, much less several hundred levels).

Hence, level limits were instituted as a way to not only show races had different psychologies, emotional and mental ways of thinking, as well as physical differences, but also as a way to make it so that the other races didn't dominate the world due to their long life spans.

When I think about 3e and Pathfinder, there really isn't this restriction. IF you have elves that live 1000 years in your game...seeing they advance as fast as humans, by all rights the entire world should be ruled by a couple dozen high level Elves or Dwarves.

In 5e, we know that high level characters can be EXTREMELY threatened by the Hordes. An Ancient Dragon can be brought down by an army of bow wielding archers. Tiamat herself could probably be brought down by a ton of low level archers, spellcasters, or others.

In a game like that, you still have power, but it's not so overwhelming that armies are something you laugh at.

In that light, BA is a very good thing in regards to limitations.

Not something I say often, as I really don't like BA (honestly, despite what this post may sound like).

However, In that light which I mention above, with how BA operates in regards to low levels and high levels, the way it operates is actually a very POSTIVE thing in my view.

So I found a game online which I had been looking for, but it was priced EXCESSIVELY LOW comparatively to the current pricing models. I grabbed it up, but it wasn't until after that where I started wondering how it was priced so low. Even more so, after I saw that multiple copies were available for that price. (and if it's legit, I laud the person for selling it at that price and trying to bring down the cost of the game, in all honesty).

At which point I wondered if people pirated DS games that look like normal, and how you would tell if a DS cartridge you bought was a pirated copy or not?

Does anyone know how you tell?

Guy's a Legend in Cthulhu Mythos and Roleplaying.

Sandy Petersen's Cthulhu Mythos for PF

I don't know much about it, got pointed out to me by a relative.

I know Paizo has the Lovecraft stuff in the bestiaries, and coming out with it in their Strange Aeons AP....I'm just wondering how much these two will (or if they will) conflict, and if they do, which PF stuff will you use in your games and APs?

I get the impression this is authorized by Paizo due to this statement...

Creatures in the Pathfinder Bestiaries I-V now authoritatively revised & updated in this book. Additionally, the original entries as found in the Bestiaries I-V are also included for easy reference and comparison.

In regards to the upcoming AP then, are they going to be using Petersen's stuff instead of what's in the Bestiaries?

It seems if you use miniatures or pawns, the KS could be useful for bulking up on miniatures...how many of these will be used in the upcoming AP?

Is there some connection between Petersen's stuff and the upcoming AP, and would his book hence be considered source material for it?

AS my topic, is there a way to buy entire seasons of scenarios in one go instead of having to click each one individually?

I recently tried to buy some and of course missed a few (I think), though that season may not be done yet (7).

If there isn't a way, would that be something Paizo might put in at a later date.

It would make it far easier for someone who is interested in a season to simply buy rather than trying to click each scenario independently.

Just a though/suggestion if it would be too hard to implement.

I've recently gotten interested in participating in PFS. I thought it would be an easy thing to take a jaunt to one of the several FLGs around here and perhaps join in.

It's not that easy.

The closest PFS group it seems is around 3 hours to the NW of me.

After that, it gets worse. The next groups are around 12 hours away, and the next 15.

Ironically, to the south of me around 200 miles is a whole horde of PF players.

For a stretch of around 200 miles going southwards...PF is incredibly popular. They sell it everywhere. I was in a town of 700...and they had PF.

Another one of 7000 had ONE RPG being sold in a specialty store...Pathfinder.

However...there's does not appear to be a single PFS in that entire area!

Which got me thinking, how big a percentage of PF players actually participate in PFS?

I know for my areas it would be around 0% most likely, but in someplace like San Francisco which I visit several times a year, I believe they have multiple PFS groups in that area, and the percentage may be extremely high.

Which makes me wonder how big is PFS, and how much of an impact does it really have on PF and Paizo's bottom line?

So, I didn't even realize it but apparently I am able to redeem the BB box for a physical copy if I wanted it.

However, I don't really want to get the physical copy currently (shipping costs, waiting times, I already have 5 copies...etc...).

Can I just let it sit out on this one and not worry about it...ever?

Just asking.

In addition, though I redeemed the codes, I don't have to download the stuff immediately do I. There is no real deadline, it just sits in my downloads forever?

The biggest thing I was interested in was Season 6 to be honest. I suppose I could use the other stuff sometime (PRD is useful)...but don't know when at this time.

Are the savings here combinable with other savings offered via Paizo?

They are coming out with a remake. They released the teaser. I think it looks cool.

Apparantly, from remarks on Youtube, some are not too thrilled about it. I imagine many had childhoods with the originals, and for many of them it seems they are unhappy about what they've seen thus far.

Personally, I like the trailer and am far more excited by it than any of the other Disney Movies coming out (well...except for SW:R1, and MAYBE CA:CW).

Pete's Dragon Teaser Trailer

I don't think it's an age thing, but maybe it is.

Yes, I've seen the original. Still Psyched from what I've seen of this movie.

There are those who are very unhappy about the trailer though.

The only thing I'm wondering is if they have the time and effort to make Jungle Book, This (which I think is great, but after reading youtube comments wonder if Disney did research on those people and how well this film will actually perform), and Beauty and the Beast remake (and supposedly a musical?)...

Why or why did they cancel Tron 3...surely they could have made room among all these remakes for that one as well! I think Tron 3 would have been a surer bet then the remakes...that's just me speaking.

Still Psyched about this movie from what I saw of it. (I've watched the trailer 4 times already).

Imagine if you will, being part of one of the smallest minorities in the US. Racism exist against you, many times just as severe as any other racism. The difference, while it is acknowledged that racist acts and racist things happen to other races, it is all but ignored when it happens to you. Even worse, they call you a model minority, and hence ALL Racism is justified when done to you.

What does that do? In my opinion, and as I have noted several times on these boards, that means you are part of the most discriminated race or races in the US. It is the ONLY race where it is seen as completely justified and even legally promoted to discriminate.

African-Americans complain about racism and discrimination. They have the "Black Lives Matter", which while commendable, is racist to a small degree against other or smaller minorities...NOT because it ignores that other lives matter, but it puts African American lives over other minorities and pretends that they are the ONLY minority that have these problems. However, even THEY are given free license to discriminate against my minority. I was actually tossed out of a store because I was the "wrong" race by an African American and told that my kind was not welcome there. I did NOTHING except walk into the store and look to buy a drink. This is NOT a slam against African Americans...only stating, that while they suffer extreme discrimination, at least their's is acknowledged by the media and others...whilst those of certain minorities are legally discriminated against and have NO recourse. I feel for the "Black Lives Matter" movement's battle for equality, and feel they should get equality. What I'm pointing out is that it is so commonplace and so normal to discriminate against some minorities...that it is seen as common and legal.

These are Asians, and the discrimination against them is VERY real. Instead of noting the discrimination against them, they are called a model minority...as if that means any discrimination against them is justified.

It appears that this so called model minority is starting to have enough of this discrimination. CAAAV, which promotes actions against discrimination against Asians has called for activities of protest against a recent conviction of a Police officer.

These are mostly those from an East Asian background (so nothing still for those of a SouthWestern Background, but progress is still progress) who have joined the ranks in this protest. Recently, they had 15K gather...which for the Asian minority, is almost historical in the numbers in a protest.

Thousands Protest Chinese-American Officer's Conviction in New York

Liang, a Police officer of Asian-American Descent shot his pistol. The Bullet ricocheted against the stairwell and killed an African American man by the name of Gurley.

Liang was convicted of Manslaughter. The Asian Community is protesting that if he was White, he would not have been convicted. They are stating that there were White officers that recently did much worse (asphyxiation due to actions done purposefully to cause such) that got off scotch free.

I am completely for Asian-American rights. I stated everything above to be CLEAR that I stand for Asian-American Rights VERY strongly.

HOWEVER...I feel that in this instance, the conviction is absolutely correct. It is the RIGHT thing to do. Liang was convicted of Manslaughter and could be sent to jail for up to 5 years.

I think he should pay for the crime. Killing a man is a terrible thing, and perhaps this conviction will make others pause before doing things so carelessly.

THAT said, I think this case points to the symptoms of the difficulties that African-Americans complain of.

Unfortunately, instead of this case uniting Asian and African Americans, it has created a rift.

I think Liang is justly convicted...however, the reason the Asian Americans are protesting is because they WANT the white privilege which was granted to the other white officers which have done far worse in New York recently. The White officers got off free, while the Asian officer who did a lesser crime...did not.

It is this white privilege that I think points out the actual problems which ALL minorities face. ALL officers should face the consequences of their actions, not just the minorities. It's not a matter of Liang being treated unfairly, but that of those of another race being granted freedom from justice.

I think this rift also points to a bigger problem between minorities. In Atlanta and New Orleans and Detroit, African-Americans are profiled and most likely targeted by the Police. In San Francisco, El Paso, San Antonio, and San Diego, Hispanics have this EXACT SAME dynamic between them and the police. It's not an African American thing, or a Hispanic thing, it's a MINORITY thing.

Which is why I've been looking at the things from MLK jr. recently and thinking, why don't we listen to his messages a LOT more these days. Why have we tossed his thoughts in the wastebin (or even Malcom X's words, which while less welcome, still taught for all races to be equally footed, if separated) instead of continuing the promotion of the items and ideals he taught.

Why is it that instead of minorities combining and unifying for a common cause of equality, we are so separated?

I think the Liang case ALSO represents what has happened. Black Lives Matter IS important, but it is also representative...of why it focuses on Black Lives instead of any minority who has the same type of persecution as they did in Ferguson.

Minorities want the WHITE privilege. It is focusing on their group's difficulties and why they lack that privilege and how to obtain it. It isn't necessarily looking at equality for ALL, or for all minorities to have this equality, but specficially how they can obtain the same rights as the white majority (which is not as much of majority as it used to be...but is treated as a majority in the cultural sense).

Instead of thinking that Black lives should matter to whites (which I am not contesting), it should be, Black Lives matter, and those who are also minorities who are likewise persecuted should also be recognized as being their allies and also should have protection against discrimination.

In San Francisco, especially Oakland, their are the Asian gangs right alongside the other gangs. They are profiled right along with everyone else.

Same goes for New York. I'd say the Black lives movement NEEDS to reach out to the other minorities, and feel it would ONLY strengthen their movement rather than weaken it.

Likewise, the Asian minority, instead of complaining how unfair it is that Liang gets convicted when the white officers did not, should instead look to unify with the Black Lives movement. They need to recognize the great harm Liang did, and what he did was wrong. Instead of trying to get the same privileges of white officers, which will never happen (Asians are the ignored minority, remember how I said at the top, because they are seen as a model minority, it is basically legal to discriminate against them...they will NEVER get that white privilege), they need to reach out and understand WHY Black Lives matter and WHY African Americans would be so angry and frustrated at this death that unfortunately occurred.

Instead of the two groups quarrelling with each other, they need to see that they fight the same fight, that they have very similar difficulties, and that together they are MUCH stronger (Especially Asian Americans, they are like the smallest of the small minority in the US, small enough that just by themselves they may never get anything really truly accomplished in equality without others help) than separate.

They then need to unify with the Hispanic minorities (and any other minority groups that are unjustly persecuted) and fight for equality for EVERYONE.

I think much of the problems in minorities fighting with minorities, or focusing on the WRONG type of things (as in Liang's case...as I said, I think his conviction is justified...he does NOT need the white privilege and I think that brings about the wrong idea of what equality is), is that we have forgotten MLK and his legacy. Instead of trying to further his legacy, we have branched off onto that of trying to each be equal to the white majority, instead of fighting for equality and justice for ANY one who is persecuted (and I suppose that could also include the LGBT).

Just my opinions and thoughts (lengthy as they are) about the Asian American Protest in New York, as an Asian American myself (though some Asian Americans and even Normal Americans might try to convince themselves that I am not "Asian" enough, or from the "wrong" part of Asia...etc...etc...etc).

Made by the same people who make the abomination Teen Titans Go!

Announcement that I read is here

ICv2: New Justice League Animated Series

It DOES have Kevin Conroy, so that could be a plus that it is going to be a good series.

If they make it like Teen Titans Go! though...I can say I won't watch it beyond the first several episodes.

I don't understand how Teen Titan's Go! can be on TV but series like JLU, Batman BB, Young Justice, and other ones get cancelled or discontinued in favor of other series.

I tried to figure if I should post this in the LGBT thread, or elsewhere. I didn't want to dilute that thread or bring possible problems there, thus bringing this to the Video Games thread (and it deals directly with a Video game as well as Censorship).

One of the things I absolutely hate is when a game is changed because of Western audiences sense of morality. Let me play the original, with all it's crude or nonsense included idiocy.

Normally, I'm absolutely against censorship or changing the game simply because Americans or those in the West have a different sense of morality. In fact, many times it really peeves me off.

However, this time it's different and I'm not quite sure what my opinion is on this yet. I am thinking it may actually be the right move and the original plot line was a terrible thing to be included in the game. Maybe that's my own stupid morality getting in front of expression this time though...something that I've hated about what causes other games to be changed.

In Fire Emblem Fates they are changing one scene (perhaps more in regards to how it's dealt with). In Fates, you can build relationships that end up in marriage and more. One of the characters is a Lesbian. If you are male, you can still build a relationship with her...however...obviously she won't find you marriage material.

You can then, without her knowledge, spike her drink with a drug which changes her perceptions and causes her to see you differently as a female. After the drink wears off, she still will be romantically inclined to you.

They are changing this for the American release, so that the "Gay Conversion" as they call it will not be an item.

Now, though part of me hates it when they change the game, and that's there, I actually also feel that the inclusion of that option in the game, (Drugging people without their permission, trying to change who they are, etc) is wrong and the correct thing would be to have it changed in the game.

Still on the edge of thinking that the scenes and situation should not be in the game, it's the right call to take it out and change it, but at the same time, my total detestation of changing games simply because we have moral differences is clouding up my judgement (not specifically this game, but any game...happens all to often).

On a broad scale I think they shouldn't censor the games for Western audiences...on the narrow scale I think that the "gay Conversion" scene should never have even seen the light of day in the first place, even in the original Japanese release.

Is this a case of my morality being the problem, or are there situations where censorship is the correct course of action?

Edit: Link to the article where I read the change was occurring....

Controversial Fire Emblem Fates Change

Recently while traveling quite a bit, a had a few TV's that looked atrocious to me...or at least their picture was.

I couldn't figure out what made them different or not, but when they had movies and shows on everything looked like it had terrible lighting.

The Grinch appeared to have the lighting of a bad soap opera.

CSI appeared to have the lighting of a decent soap opera or comedy sitcom.

Sitcoms actually looked horrendous.

It was as if the TV had been fashioned to destroy all sense of normal lighting in favor of making it appear as if the filters on the cameras were never in place.

Movies that looked great in the theater suddenly appeared to have terrible lighting.

I hated it.

What type of TV's are these?

I noticed now in a recent visit to an electronics store that they also had TV's with this type of picture...it seems about 1 in 4 have it now days.

What is the setting on these that make it so the picture comes out so terribly?

Is it because they are on 3d TVs or something that have the ability for 3d, or is it some sort of lighting setting, or is it something else.

This is one thing I'd like to know so I can avoid these TV's like the plague.

Anyone know what type of TVs these are or what causes this?

I thought this was interesting enough for a posting...for the other two people that are actually interested in this stuff (or not).

Have you noticed on cold wintery days (if you are in one of those locations which has those) where you notice it feels warmer when you have cloud cover than not? At least in general?

This should raise some questions in that regards towards rising temperatures in other areas.

I'm not going into all the scientific details (for which, if those who don't like my thoughts on Climate Change nor the participation I may have in it at times will crucify me for in all likihood if they choose to comment at all), but this idea hit off on some searching for reasons why the meltoff of the Greenland Ice sheet was faster than expected in many ways.

So, they started looking at cloud cover and how it may be affecting the melt off. There is more research to be done, but right now the results look like they may have a major factor in regards to how this may be occurring.

In short, or kind of trying to say it in brief, indications are that cloud cover has caused some of the temperatures to be higher which obviously affects the snowpack and ice sheet. (specifically with major thoughts in the regards of refreezing, reducing it from a matter of 58% to 45%).

Could be interesting to see the follow-ups to this.

Oh...and lest I forget since people ALWAYS want some sort of link...

Here's is a link to at least one report of the study...IF you like to read this type of stuff...

Clouds enhance Greenland ice sheet meltwater runoff

So I'm doing some RPG stuff on my own now days on the side. I'm trying to figure out how much would be the normal cost to pay out to people in regards to contracting things out.

For example, with an artist...how much should I expect to pay them for

Sketches (small pencil drawings)
quarter page sketches.
Full page sketches
Full page color drawing
Cover illustration

Or with marketing, how much pays for what and who should I look to for marketing?

And finally, how about proofing or editing, who should I look for on that and how much would that cost?

Thanks to anyone who knows these things and replies.

What politically slant is your hometown?

Please, no political commentary...this is just a fun little internet thing that you can type in your hometown (or really any city that you want to see how politically slanted it is). They determine it by how many donations go to specific parties.

The rating goes from 10L (most liberal) to 10C (most conservative).

If you want to do cool comments, simply list your city and it's rating.

For example

Redmond, WA 0.9C

Not as liberal as much of the rest of Washington, for example Vashon Island is a 9.9C in rating.

It's actually closer to Salt Lake City (which you'd think was far more conservative in comparison) which is 0.2L in its rating.

So, I got a surprise.

I got a replacement for my copy of the latest AP adventure. It was a pleasant surprise and I am thanking Paizo.

A little background

Previously the postal worker had left my envelope outside on a very rainy day. The envelope (and hence the AP adventure) was drenched. It had some water damage. I didn't blame Paizo, but I was upset at the USPS.

I did not expect to get a replacement for free.

Imagine my surprise yesterday when I went to check the mail, opened my Paizo package (with the new Module) and inside was another copy of the latest AP Adventure.

Thank You Paizo!

You are Awesome!!!

Well, they needed kids to get the flumist...and I agree...it's good to have them do that.

However, EVERY year at the time the school does it's flumist, I seem to get it from kids I interact with.

It's not the flu, it's not the cold, they are the exact symptoms of the flumist vaccine (sore throat, headache...but no fever or cold). What's more, is when I've done tests to see if I've been immunized...I HAVE BEEN, without ever catching the flu OR taking the flumist.

Anyways, they had kids get the flumist at elementary schools yesterday. Unfortunately, I had to be part of a host for a party for these kids last night.

What do you know...I have the symptoms of having taken the flumist this morning.

Now granted, I AM one of those that some would say has a compromised immune system.

STILL...I look up on Quadrivalent's site...and they flat out say that one cannot get it...that the virus can't replicate and is not contagious

Those Lying Sons of....

Every year if I interact with those kids right after the flu mist...I seem to get this.

I know I can't be the only one that sees this pattern.

But, yes, this is VERY unscientific...I just notice the pattern....and that one time I tested to validate the suspicions...did the tests to see if I was...actually...indeed...vaccinated.

For me, that's evidence enough no matter what they say or how little the CDC thinks one can get it. Sometimes because I do volunteer work with kids...I have little or no choice (well, unless I abandon volunteer work with them that week) to be around the kids when they get vaccinated.

Perhaps being around dozens of them that just got vaccinated increases my chances as well.

Still....annoying.

So...it appears that one more year comes around where unwillingly I'm going to be vaccinated without actually getting the vaccine...yippee.

Anyone else get to have this fun along with me?

Just stumbled across this as I was browsing. Seems like it could be fun. Reluctant to buy it without further information though.

Is it like Freelancer, or is it more like Space Rangers?

Anyone tried it or played it?