Bag of Holding

Bloviated Gas Bag's page

5 posts. Alias of TwilightKnight.


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Norade wrote:
Or you could make weapons with conditional bonuses that make simple stat fixing interesting

I do not disagree fundamentally, but those types of changes start to sound a lot like the power system (daily/encounter/etc) that DnD4E had that was widely disliked.


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Deriven Firelion wrote:
The math is the way you make something feel powerful and important.

Disagree. The story/narrative is the way you make something feel powerful and important. Math is just a tool like miniatures, grid maps, pictures, handouts, etc. that give us a framework to deliver that story.

Deriven Firelion wrote:
...the power curve is not only expected, but desirable by MYplayers.

Fixed that for you. Just because your players want an ever-escalating power curve, does not mean everyone does. And I don't see how getting another +1 on your weapon would be considered exciting. You already improve your attack modifier by 1 every level anyway and the higher level you go, the less a single plus matters to the math. Alternative powers, and special effects are much more interesting, IMO. If potency runes are all that excite your players, then why not just use the alternate system from the GameMastery Guide? That way they can ensure they will get all their 'pluses' on time. You can reduce the burden of having to constantly come up with magic items as treasure and/or making them available to the bad guy who you have to slay in order to gain them.

Since the GM has complete and total control over the stats and power of the challenges, you cannot use math as a justification for magic item awards. They are only necessary if you make them necessary.

But, of course, everyone should play the game how they chose to. There is no such thing as a universally accepted rule. Everything is subject to our personal preferences. So, if your group wants all the magic items, then give it to them. Just don't make the mistake that it is required or it must be done.


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Ascalaphus wrote:
Unfortunately Pathfinder and 3.x do a poor job of this - money spent on story stuff is money not spent buying power upgrades.

meh. I find this to be the responsibility of the GM and has little to nothing to do with the game system or setting. Players shouldn't have to focus solely on boosting their optimization at every turn. All that does is force the GM to boost the challenges in response. First, give them magic items that don't cater to their optimization. Also, don't make every encounter a slug-fest that makes them feel inadequate so they feel compelled to hyper-focus on optimizing.

Deriven Firelion wrote:
...they want stuff

True, but that stuff does not have to be +X armor of invulnerability or +X weapon of ultimate destruction. There is a veritable smorgasbord of official and custom magic that be awarded that does not cause an escalation of the power curve.

IMO, GMs need to apply 'rule zero' a lot more often. YMMV


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Cori Marie wrote:
Weird how so many people are demanding that we take this in good faith when the executive team won't even pop in here to clarify exactly how they were led to this particular law firm.
Skeld wrote:
...lawyer...probably advised them to stop speaking publicly. That's usually the first thing lawyers do.


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Anorak wrote:
Maybe Paizo should restructure...

I think there are a lot of ways Paizo could improve and could have improved prior to recent events, but here's the thing that most of our suggestions seem to miss—we assume that Paizo's executive team WANTS to improve. They may dismiss most of the complaints as exaggeration, miscommunication, or outright fabrications. That could be interpreted by their apparent lack of progress to date.

Generally speaking, I expect that the executive team would say they stand by most of their decisions. I have said numerous times over the years, Paizo generally demonstrates either the inability or the unwillingness to enact corrective behavior/action to problems that arise. One look at their antiquated website exemplifies that. Personally, I don't see recent events to be anything other than a continuation of their ongoing problematic environment. It doesn't matter if the staff forms a union or the freelancers strike, etc. as long as the company is owned by Lisa/Vic it is going to perpetuate the attitudes that so many find reprehensible.

The one thing Paizo does right is find and employ some of the finest creative minds in the industry. Its the dichotomy that has allowed them to survive and thrive in a very competitive industry despite their horrible operational environment.