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For the synthesist, say you take the evolution that gives you proficiency with all martial weapons and prestige into eldritch knight. You then use transmogrify and are no longer proficient with all martial weapons. Do you lose the PrC features until you get it back? More generally, many PrC have feat prerequisites. What happens if you retrain a required feat after taking levels in a PrC?
Last session of my Rise group, my character got grappled but still attacked with his dwarven waraxe. My GM let out an exasperated 'how?' since finding a clear weakness to the character is difficult. I explained the description and showed him he had the exotic proficiency feat. Such joy... haha. The ironic thing is, I never set out to for that weapon build and got the waraxe through a fallen PC so he carries it mainly as a reminder of the character. I only ended up giving him the feat when we had some extended downtime and I did some retraining on the character.
Can we talk about that now? I've flagged a few posts for tacit endorsement of it in lieu of buying Wizard's PHB for 5th. Is it cool because it's your competitor? Because it's me and my posts get moderated for anything nearing suspicious let alone explicitly violating the community guidelines so my flags don't get taken seriously? I'm genuinely interested in knowing the reason.
When you go to paizo.com/pathfinderRPG, clicking on the Messageboard link takes you to the forums as expected. However, they're already loaded if you scroll beneath the product listing. If you put in some javascript to just hide the rest of the page content to shift the forum up and change the subnav to load the messageboard links, I'd think that'd save you a lot of duplicated work. I, for one, go to the above paizo/PFRPG as a shortcut to get to the PFRPG messageboards and notice that forums already load when the product section was a bit slow loading one day. That, or stop loading the message boards on the Pathfinder url and just maintain the Messageboard link as is.
No, there has not been a newly released CRB, no new Bestiary or GMG. Instead, what's happened over the last several months are fundamental rewrites to base mechanics that have ripple effects. This is how the system evolves: not through new editions and neatly segregated rules, but through rolling rewrites where everyone is dragged into the 'new way' whether they like it or not. Thoughts?
Bouncing + Persistent spell: net effect is if first target saves twice then you can elect another target who must also save twice. Is that correct? Persistent spell wrote: Benefit: Whenever a creature targeted by a persistent spell or within its area succeeds on its saving throw against the spell, it must make another saving throw against the effect. If a creature fails this second saving throw, it suffers the full effects of the spell, as if it had failed its first saving throw. A persistent spell uses up a spell slot two levels higher than the spell’s actual level. Spells that do not require a saving throw to resist or lessen the spell’s effect do not benefit from this feat. Bouncing spell wrote: Benefit: Whenever a bouncing spell targeting a single creature has no effect on its intended target (whether due to spell resistance or a successful saving throw) you may, as a swift action, redirect it to target another eligible creature within range. The redirected spell behaves in all ways as if its new target were the original target for the spell. Spells that affect a target in any way (including a lesser effect from a successful saving throw) may not be redirected in this manner. A bouncing spell uses up a spell slot one level higher than the spell’s actual level.
As I read it, you create a block of 'stuff' that disappears after a while. It's not on the permanency list. At best, I see it as a quick experimentation spell to keep a bored wizard entertained. "Ooo! A block of wood, let's sculpt the most complex thing I can before it disappears!" I don't see any practical purpose. Do you?
What's different from running an AP to, say, running an open, rolling sandbox that could run for much longer? I've run an AP before so I know I'd have to first 'seed' my setting with notes on people both major and minor to give the group content to play with. But, I'm curious if there's anything inherently different between the two that I should approach completely differently in a more sandbox style of play.
Radiant Charge wrote: Benefit: When you hit with a charge attack, you can expend all of your remaining uses of lay on hands to deal extra damage equal to 1d6 per use of lay on hands expended + your Charisma bonus. This damage comes from holy power and is not subject to damage reduction, energy immunities, or energy resistances. Lay on Hands wrote: Each day she can use this ability a number of times equal to 1/2 her paladin level plus her Charisma modifier. Scenario: level 13 paladin with a +8 charsima bonus. If it double dips that's an extra 22d6 on a charge. On a crit it seems this would multiply as well.
Submitting your order isn't clear that you need to click on the numbered steps to complete an order. A simple next button would help a ton. Also, when filling out CC info then you click to select your address, when you confirm your address and come back to the CC modal, your CC info is lost and you need enter it again. Either preserve it by not resetting the modal or make address selection a required first step. Tis my feedback.
What would you guys suggest for an expanded code for this empyreal lord? She is the "just arbiter." Pathfinder Wiki
Who actually takes the time to organize their gear instead of tossing stuff into a bag of holding/handy haversack? I just did a gear list for a character and have a handy haversack with some chests inside that actually group together his stuff into neat organizations. One of these is a food chest and the idea of cheese rolling around on all my expensive magical gear was simultaneously hilarious and facepalm worthy. I also have a chest for writing supplies, my grooming kits, and so on. What do you guys do?
I have a level 13 natural lycanthrope (human, tiger) master summoner. My GM didn't realize the hybrid form a) made me large and b) let me retain usage of my gear. He was thinking the gear would absorb like any other polymorph effect except the lycanthrope version has an exception for hybrid form. To be clear, he's fine with him being large in isolation. So, I'm this high physical stat and mental stat character (a synthesist, essentially) doing W+17ish damage per attack with dimensional dervish and a +4 adamantine waraxe, using scrolls like a boss with a +44 UMD, claws that are law and good for DR, and summons particularly suited for encounters as he has the summon good monster feat. Compared to the rest of the party he's OP. I really do try to play him down by keeping summons to a bare minimum and stick to essentially his weapon attacks and items. I've roleplayed this as he treats summons as if they're the actual creatures themselves since they can technically feel pain, have alignments and knowledge, etc. so he doesn't "abuse" the ability to call them at will. My GM doesn't like the power disparity since he has to either target me else I just destroy things while they're distracted with seemingly more armored PCs (he's got a 41 buffed AC with glammered armor so he looks like he's just wearing normal clothing). Thing is, he's heavily invested in the group. He only takes things from loot that the rest of the party can't use or use well and I try to have him take last from loot splits except for the few items basically made for summoners and always poll the group like "does anybody mind I take x?" He just seems to meld into all the cracks and can use them to great effect. I did get rid of an item that was "too broken" for the build: a set of gloves of the commanding conjurer. If I just take him out of the group there's a power gap as there's no fighter type character and a potentially great loss in gear value in the group. True, he could just slough off all his gear and go about his way but that makes no sense for the character whatsoever. He's LG with a mission to fight evil, a Ragathiel wannabe in many ways. Even then, the group with his pile of gear is largely ineffectual due to a lack of UMD in the party and no other arcane caster or not being front liners themselves and selling it would not make up for the value they otherwise bring. So, that's not really an option. It'd feel good and be a great gesture but at the end of the day the return on investment would be minimal. I guess what I'm looking for is a way to transition him out without being a detriment to the party as he really does help pull the group through the fire so I can't just eschew new gear we come across entirely. The replacement character I'd have would be a similar front liner type to not let that role go unfilled in the group but other builds wouldn't benefit from his gear as much. His feats are nonstandard to build guides and there are better options for a fresh character any way. So, do I force my GM to just kill him through normal play or is there a switcharoo tactic I'm not seeing to bring in something more even keel for the group?
So, my Rise group's fighter died and the player isn't coming back with another full BAB front liner. My natural lycanthrope is left for that role mechanically. He's got a base AC 30 which is easily buffed to 40ish, CMD 39, +19 melee to-hit with greater magic fang which he casts daily at level 12. That's a pretty strong caster, yes, but with only 115 hitpoints I'm kind of nervous really trying to tank hits to the face. I imagine my general M.O. will be to summon things for that purpose. My guy has the dimensional dervish feats so he can basically zip in and out of combat seamlessly while his summons keep getting blasted and the party does their thing. Is this sound? Does anyone have other tips?
Many times in APs and modules you'll see how some wizards have come up with a nifty "like this spell but not really" kind of effect. It's really common in the Thassilonian pieces of published modules. For example, there was a binding-like effect that was customized that only resembled the base function of that spell. It had other functions that were not anything like RAW. So, I'm curious what kind of poetic license you let your players have with such things. I've toyed about encouraging said effects in my own games but, honestly, some of the stuff I see that's really cool in APs or the tales books I don't know if I'd allow if a player came to me and did a cold pitch because of how remarkably off base it is with RAW. What do you think?
Apologies if this topic has already been explored in isolation. I was looking at the archmage path as I may be playing WotR soon and noticed Flexible School. Flexible School (Ex):
Select one wizard arcane school that is not your arcane school. You gain powers from that arcane school, treating your tier as your wizard level for the purposes of these powers. Once you have chosen the arcane school, it cannot be changed. You cannot select an arcane school that is one of your opposition schools. You must have the arcane school class feature to select this ability. You can choose this ability up to three times, each time selecting another arcane school other than your own. Say you start with the Universalist school. With this take Foresight for 3+int/day d20 replacements for a round AND metamagic mastery or go Divination and act in every surprise round. There's no reason why you can't take both by taking Flexible School twice. Other combinations with Foresight was the Banishment or Enchantment schools. For the mythic feats there is Dual Path. Dual Path:
Benefit: Select a mythic path other than the path you selected at your moment of ascension. You gain that path's 1st-tier ability (either archmage arcana, champion's strike, divine surge, guardian's call, marshal's order, or trickster attack). Each time you gain a path ability, you can select that path ability from either path's list or the list of universal path abilities. Again, assuming wizard, take the Guardian's Sudden Block for Guardian's Call. Sudden Block (Su):
As an immediate action, you can expend one use of mythic power to hinder a melee attack made against you or an adjacent ally. Add your tier to your AC or the ally's AC against this attack. The creature making the attack must make two attack rolls and take the lower result. Once the attack is resolved, you or your ally (your choice) can make one melee attack against the creature. The damage from this attack bypasses all damage reduction. Now, say you take Dodge (Mythic) and Arcane Armor Training (Mythic). Dodge (Mythic):
The bonus to AC from Dodge increases by 1. As an immediate action, you can expend one use of mythic power to grant yourself an additional +10 dodge bonus to AC against one attack. Arcane Armor Training (Mythic):
You don't have to spend a swift action to gain the reduction to arcane spell failure chance from Arcane Armor Training. Furthermore, if you're wearing light armor, reduce your arcane spell failure chance by 20%. You can create a wizard who can exist almost perfectly fine in melee for short durations and gain full advantage of special armor abilities with no spell failure chance. You can do an exfiltration, get in a circumstantial hit if you have the right buffs and the opportunity presents itself, etc. Having spent 3 of 5 mythic feats on flexibility you can spend your other two on Extra Path Ability to catch back up on taking Flexible School and finish out any other ability chains you had planned or take other mythic feats. What nifty combinations have you noticed?
Disclaimer: This is not a dig on Hero Lab. Many people get great usage from it, and that's awesome. This thread is a hypothesis about an effect that results from that usage. Something I've notice from those that use HL is that they will often petition for things like racial restrictions be lowered if they even ask at all. I know a particular guy who will assume everything is fair game unless he's told otherwise. I suspect this is so they can make greater utilization of the abilities they see in the HL indexes. Any mention of reinforcing the restrictions or challenging why they want them lowered is met with something that essentially says "because I think it's dumb." Be that as it may, people rarely do anything without a benefit to themselves and HL certainly facilitates that benefit. Of course, they could ask the same anyway without HL, but seeing an ability right next to another and being restricted from one but not the other certainly will raise the question faster than if all you had were the disparate source books and had to mentally collate the options yourself. So, you end up with humans with tengu spells and orc gear as being potentially common builds as if they're regular spells and gear with no particular significance to their source race or other restriction. Another common thing is the spread of the dervish feats among those without any kind of story connection to where they come from. Nothing says they have to, sure. It's just part of this phenomenon. You could argue that any index resource (such as the paizo prd or d20pfsrd sites) would lead to the same result. I would say that some would ask most assuredly, yes. However, I would counter that there is a psychologically fundamental difference when you pay for something and are told you can't use it regardless of the reason. It triggers a "why not" defense mechanism as you feel entitled to it. I would make the same claim over any other paid reference tool. HL simply happens to be a prevalent (the most?) one. This view naturally springs from a desire to see some scarcity among the options available to a character that I have. I think player choice should matter, and that those choices should inherently limit or allow options as appropriate. I don't like that anyone can use resources described as "well guarded secrets." What do you think?
What's the chance of getting these? I love the map artwork in the books. Drawing out a map never compares. Also, some of them are amazingly huge and it becomes a real time sink during the session to draw the next area of the map. To be honest, I thought this is what the map packs were until I bought one. :/ They're cool, sure, but, they're nothing like this.
Playing Carrion Crown. GM is letting us play evil characters with access to monster races. I'm playing a TN janni druid currently level 6. He more or less sees himself as an aspect of nature itself, almost a demigod in his own right, and uses the wild shape to only be an elemental, has the weather domain instead of an animal companion, basically only uses elemental based spells, etc. All the guides I've read advocate beasting out for the martial druid. I'm curious how much I'm holding myself back. Now, I am having fun with the build. That's no issue. I'm just curious how much, if any, I'm holding back the class itself. His ability scores are 18, 16, 16, 14, 16, 10. I got lucky with 4d6 drop lowest, our ability gen method.
I was wondering if anyone has made a sheet for characters that often change forms. Currently, I just use the player folio and write multiple numbers in each box and it gets rather cramped. I'm playing a natural lycanthrope so my abilities, feats, movement speed, DR, etc all change. More than this, wild shaping druids, synthesists, polymorph casters, and so on would benefit from such a thing. Is it out there or is there a strategy for handling these I haven't gotten keen about?
In short, if a player, do you have one or, if a GM, what have your players wanted to do with them? In the Rise campaign I play, my character has a mage guild just outside of Sandpoint in the old sanitarium that he remodeled. He uses it to recruit all good-aligned arcane practitioners (witches, magi, wizards, etc) to be an active force of good (feed homeless, heal sick, fight demons, etc).
Has anyone fully detailed any towns or cities? That is, they've accounted for every citizen (including giving them a name and class, background optional), shop, home, hut, hole in the ground, complete inventories of stores, homes, etc? My mood at the moment has my eye set on Magnimar but that would be SUCH a huge undertaking even with a random name generator.
I'm trying to come up with some home rules to preserve the common mystery of magic in a world pervaded by it and provide a framework of understanding as to why the world hasn't been overrun by a certain race or any caster with spell x. I'm trying to do this while preserving the richness of the Golarion setting as well. This is proving to be a bit challenging. Instead of just asking for advice I was curious if something like this couldn't be crowd sourced and become something of a public work that can fit in the Golarion setting from table to table with minimal effort. Some general ideas I've had along these lines includes rules for researching how to construct magic items rather than the base assumption that a feat somehow gives you knowledge of the entire category. I've also been curious about what national laws and customs encourage and dissuade certain magics being used based on Paizo's source material. I've been mostly focused on these areas but there many more facets to the game. Ultimately these would be things I keep from game to game that I run. Those of us that have already developed house with this goal in mind can feel free to post them. Ideally after some debate a list could be compiled and voted on. What do you think?
Other than the obvious inability to stack almost completely on dexterity while ignoring strength, what other downsides are there to ignoring weapon finesse? Are there any upsides besides the have the extra feat handy? I was looking at the TWF fighter and realized it wasn't necessary to dex with TWF. The two had been classically linked in my head so I got to thinking about a rogue build. Obviously, "it's not a fighter" so it won't have the class features and plethora of feats available. It's just theorycraft on my party. Any ideas?
I know the default answer is "no," but reading the entry for Energy Resistance alludes there's nuance to it. Energy Resistance, Glossary, CRB/PRD wrote:
This alludes that only spell-granted resistance doesn't stack. However, wouldn't racial and class resistances stack per RAW?
Does anyone disagree? I think it's basically the best spell in the game. It's the only spell that can affect artifacts. Sure, it's only purpose is to undo magic. But, it can even undo wish. It's like the magical trump card. At just a verbal component, you can be limbless and still cast it. I can easily see a wizard having just it prepared in their 9th level slots laughing as an opposed wizard wastes hundreds of thousands of gold trying to work major magic all for free just by uttering a few words. Gaze upon its glory. Mage's Disjunction wrote:
Are there any rules or quirks your GM has that you completely ignore? The first time I heard my GM say my paladin couldn't worship a CG god I thought "screw you, I'll worship who I want." I wouldn't force an issue for a class that mechanically relies on the god worshiped, but for roleplay I'll write down whatever deity I want regardless of the character's alignment. That's about it for me.
I'm building a wizard with 13 normal, unbuffed AC. No armor. Just a 16 dex. Looking over the spells, being an abjurer, I'm tempted to not buy AC boosting items at all. He's currently level 11 but I haven't played him yet. However, with miss chance spells, blink, protection from arrows and bullet shield, and other situational protections, I actually think I'll feel pretty safe. At level 11, those are decent durations, too, even for round/level spells. I understand the threat of ambushes and surprise attacks but these are exceedingly rare in the campaign he's going into. Is this folly or smart?
I've got a LG Elven abjuration (counterspell) wizard spellbinder going right now. I'm looking for advice as this veers from the Treatmonk guide et al. The Elven and abjuration wizard bits are fixed, though counterspell subschool is not as much as I like 2/day immediate action counterspells. Spellbinder is there more for always have a core set of spells available regardless of circumstance without costing a feat but is changable. I've selected illusion and evocation as my opposition schools but am rethinking evocation. What to put in its place is confusing as none are really "good" options as they all provide various effects a wizard who's about shutting down enemy casters and controlling magic itself would use. We have a blaster wizard as is that doubles as the group buffer, but I know evo (force) effects are very nice as well and could fit the theme, especially with well-timed emergency force sphere usage. As is I've just got a +4 int headband, +4 con belt and a blessed book for gear. Feats are: Spell Focus (Abjuration)
These aren't listed in any order. I'm thinking of changing persistent spell for enlarge spell to get off greater AoEs for group buffs. Ability scores are: STR 10
Being focused more on dispels and being a general pain to enemy casters, I don't see the point is getting super high DCs hence the "okay" int score and not being huge on spell focus feats or +1 DC traits. The idea of 2 saves to resist my spells with persistent spell was the original thought. That said, I'm grossly lacking gear and spells and am having trouble formulating what those aspects should look like outside the obvious spells. Other than race and the school, anything is up for a change. Thanks.
The more I play, the more I hate the feeling as if I have to optimize my characters. If I don't, I question whether or not I'm really contributing to the group. If I force myself not to, I get questions like "that's all?" when I mention a save DC or get frustrated because I can't land attacks or my spells get saved against often. It's infuriating and deflating, honestly. When I do it, and I can do it well, my characters are capable but often shallow in build. Does anyone else feel the same? Is there a balance between the worlds?
Fearless Aura
Quote: Benefit: Your aura of courage expands to a 20-foot-radius emanation. Allies within the aura are immune to fear effects. Dragonbane Aura Quote: Benefit: When fighting dragons, your aura of courage expands to a 20-foot-radius emanation, and allies in the aura gain a morale bonus on saving throws against dragon breath equal to your aura of courage’s bonus against fear effects. The question is simple. Immune to dragon breath weapons? To those who may think immune is not a bonus, Paizo doesn't always follow this rule. Spell Immunity
Quote: The warded creature is immune to the effects of one specified spell for every four levels you have. The spells must be of 4th level or lower. The warded creature effectively has unbeatable spell resistance regarding the specified spell or spells. So, the precedent exists where immune = infinite bonus.
On a few occasions, I talked about making a paladin of Cayden Cailean and my GM and a friend said you couldn't do that. They mentioned that you had to be within one step and as paladins have to be LG, the twain could never meet. Looking into this, I only see this one step alignment restriction on clerics. They're heavy PFS players. Is this a PFS provision or is this mentioned somewhere else?
I'm building a level 11 witch. With a 1 level dip into mindchemist alchemist and ability focus, I can get a DC 28 on my hexes. This seems to me above what most would say is a good DC and crosses over into solid/high/very good. The threat of a natural 20 always exists. However, I'm curious if I should drop accursed hex from my feat list. My group has a blaster wizard, a fighter, cleric, and oracle/rogue. Fights don't last long so the prospect of spending two rounds to get the hex off seems wasteful. What do you think?
Blood Ritualist Using blood magic and dark rituals, the blood ritualist can deliver spells with increased deadliness and can even sap power from otherworldly spirits to use to her whims. The blood ritualist does not make pacts with these spirits. Rather, she has knowledge to compel them to surrender pieces of their power against their will. Patron Spells A blood ritualist can force otherworldly beings to grant power as she sees fit, at a price. When she would pick her patron at 1st level, the blood ritualist can pick one spell for each level patrons grant spells from any patron to create a customized array of spells. To use these spells, the blood ritualist must shed blood in some form. This can be by cutting herself, biting her cheek, or even the following round after gaining a bleed effect in combat. Using this shedding of blood to use these spells inflicts an additional 1 Con damage on top of any other side effects that happened when her blood was shed. The blood ritualist may do this for however many times per day equal to her constitution modifier as it was at the start of that day. Using spells in this manner comes at a further cost. Each time the blood ritualist casts a spell with this ability, she is vulnerable to the source of that spell's power. The patron spirit has a 75% chance to inflict upon the ritualist a condition that is line with that patron's ethos for a period of 1d4 rounds for the first time a particular patron's power is used. Each time a particular patron's power is used, the duration of this condition increases by one step along a track of minutes, hours, and days. The ritualist can reduce durations longer than hours by two steps with a DC 25 will save. This save increases to DC 35 at level 14 for spells gained at level 14 and above. This ability replaces and acts like the normal patron rules in all other cases. Blood Magic (Su) As a full-round action, a blood ritualist can use a series of special chants, movements, and ritualistic blood letting to fuel her spells. At 4th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, she picks a school of magic. When casting spells from these schools, the blood ritualist must shed blood in some form. This can be by cutting herself, biting her cheek, or even the following round after gaining a bleed effect in combat. Using this shedding of blood to cast a spell of a school the ritualist has chosen inflicts an additional 1 Con damage on top of any other side effects that happened when her blood was shed. At the end of this full-round action, her spell casting is completed as a swift action at +2 CL and has a +2 bonus to its DC, if any. If the ritualist needs to make a spell resistance check to affect a target with that spell, she gets a +2 to that check. If the ritualist has already used a swift action this round, the spell is cast with an immediate action consuming the following round's swift action as normal. At 16th level, these bonuses increase by 1. At 20th level, they increase by 1 for a total of +4. The blood ritualist may do this for however many times per day equal to her constitution modifier as it was at the start of that day. This is in addition to the number of times she may call upon her patron spells. This ability replaces the hex gained at 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter until all schools have been selected, at which point she may gain hexes every 2 levels as normal. Ritualistic Curse
Whispers of Blood (Su)
I recall an ability that acts very similarly to detect/seek thoughts, was spell-like or supernatural but can't remember the name. It had a high usage per day or was at-will, and it might not have even needed a save as I don't remember one ever being needed for it. Honestly, I can't even recall the race/class/etc that granted it. Does this ring bells for anyone?
So, I've got this monster race, a Janni, and am adding a class level to it. Given its type as an outsider, does its type override BAB progression? Do the number of skill points stack? I did not add another d10 for the class level as it has its own hit die. But, if that doesn't add together then how do the others work together? I've essentially got myself in a loop so something's wrong with my thinking or I'm over analyzing things. Would someone clear the fog, please?
The recent "What is the point of Spellbooks" thread got me perusing the wizard spell list to see what one could use to play up the game of protecting the key to your power. While there are certainly some spells of the "that could come in handy" variety nothing really jumped out at me that fills this role. So now I'm curious how do you guys protect your tomes. What kind of setups do you have to ensure your secrets aren't gone for good?
As a good caster I'm curious how to come to mutual agreements with good outsiders like angels. The magic circle against good spell is evil so it just feels weird as does the binding spell as it seems rather forceful and counter intuitive in a diplomatic sense. My GM has mentioned it very well may take freeing one to gain a voluntary service like that. I've also thought about plane shifting and entreating for their service with no binding at all. Has anyone else played through something like this as a good caster "binding" good outsiders?
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