Coltron's page

In game of course. I have been playing for....dang 9 years(is this how it feels to be old?) and have never had a run in with a dragon. Now it was Odd that in the 3.5 and 4e days that I had only really had the dungeon D of the couple but while this is Pathfinder, I still must admit I am surprised.

Have you ever fought Dragons? If so how often? Do you find them cliche' or overdone? As odd as it sounds I almost think a lot of GMs I know avoid them as to avoid old tropes but it just winds up that no one uses them.

I like dragons, they are pretty awesome. So where the hell are my dragons?

So this interesting tale starts with a close friend of mine inviting me to a new campaign her brother is running. I was weary, having heard he is very draconic about paladins and frequently even has clerics lose their powers(which I am fine with). Also I have heard that he despises martial classes and really prefers his martial to still use magic in some way, a problem for myself because I like playing a fighter. None the less she convinced me that I should give it a go and I thought I a character type in mind.

We started at 1st level and the GM only asked us for some vague information about our characters(he wanted a flexible backstory he could fit in his world, not a problem). So I told him that I was a lawful good dwarf that was devoted to Torag and sought purity through faith, as well as general stone loving Dwarven goodness. Maybe a bit cliche' but I see less and less of the old school Dwarfs, particularly in pathfinder, as I have seen more Dwarven bards, and even Dwarven sorcerers than fighters or barbarians.

I arrive at the game with the paladin code of Torag printed out with my character sheet as a personal guide on how to be more devout. The mod is fairly simple, but well ran and pretty interesting until there is a situation were slaves are involved. We find a group of escaping slaves attacking their slave master. I and my friend (playing a healer from old school 3.5) go and try to diffuse the situation. The slaver screams that he has a permit for the slaves and demands that we return them to the king so that they can be sacrificed. Seeing children in the lot I flat out say no, and ask the healer to tend to the slaves while I tend to the slaver(I took a trait that give me healing as a class skill).

The dm told me that as a lawful good character I should respect the authority of the slaver, to which I replied: I am the Good lawful good, not the Lawful lawful good. I don't recognize the legitimate authority of those that keep slaves. He seem aggravated but also a little elated. Soon the ranger(who said he was going to hide in the trees and observe) alerted us to approaching men bearing the same seal of the slaver. Causing the slaver to say something like "this is the end for all of you I will see that you sacrificed right with them". The ranger, being chaotic neutral(aka....evil) straight up kills the guy and drags him off hiding in the brush. I sigh, verbally reprimand him but don't do anything else as the healer starts to lead the slaves away.

I stay with the body, and kneel down in prayer waiting for the men to approach. When they do they see my character, praying with a holy symbol before the body and ask what had happen(politely I might add). I told them that I had been traveling alone when I came upon bandits loading slaves into a wagon and gutting the slaver. Unable to follow them immediately I decided to give the slaver his last rites. He looked shock, like I had just told him I ate five Aasimar babies alive and said roll bluff. I get a 16(I have 14 cha..yes as a dwarf, it is painful to waste a 16 in pb) and he says that they believe me. Thanking me and asking which way the bandits went, I point them to the wrong direction. Once again GM, shocked.

They load the mans body, try to give me some gold for some reason(I refuse it politely) and they storm off. The GM says that I begin to feel weak and empty, that I feel my gifts start to leave me. To which I ask...what gifts. He says, you have lied which is directly against the wishes of Torag. To which I reply by showing him the code in which it says I can mislead others for my people. I lied for the sake of my party and for good. He said be that as it may, I had lied wantonly with no remorse and that I had fallen. To which I say....what do you mean. I am not a Paladin. He did not believe me. And ask to see my sheet. To which I complied, and he saw that I made the crazy saves against his magical ray traps(start of the mod) not because of divine grace but because of Steel Soul, and that I had not let the ranger be blatantly evil because I am lawful good, not because I have a paladin code. I explained that I merely was faithful and had printed out the code for reference. He just sat there for a while and said "okay". Then we moved on.

Long story, not important but I was kinda laughing the whole time during the end and I thought it was interesting.

I am playing a solo campaign and need to be practically immortal to survive my gm. I am starting at level 5 and can use anything from pathfinder, as well as some 3.5 stuff if I asked first. I need to be pretty unstopable as he seems hellbent on sending cr encounters based on a party of level fives against my single guy. He has killed a diplomacer bard, and a necro cleric pretty much with one combat each, and I could really use your fine people help.

I can also pick on of the following
Turtle Clan- +5 to swim, +2 untyped bonus bow atks

Monk Clan- pick an element, one bonus spell of that element a spell level

Horse Clan-never fall off mount, gains 4 rounds of rage, or if you have rage rage for 4 more rounds than normal

Raven Clan- Bonus to linguistics, free once a day CLW CL/ class level

Bat Clan- +5 to stealth and bluff, vanish spell once per day

Boar Clan- +1 to melee atks, and weapon proficiency feat

Ram Clan- +1 AC, all knowledge checks are class skills and you get a plus one.

Wolf Clan- Get a magical tatoo every 4 levels

I would like to start off by saying I like tough games, I hate when the Gm coddles; but with with the great power being GM provides, there has to be a bit of responsibility. Consider the following situation: I was in a solo campaign playing a level 4 necromancer, with no items save a chain shirt, and some rations. I was not given any items or gold the two sessions I played.

At the start of the second session I was following a character that was supposed to be my mother down an ally. Suddenly she cast hold person on me, while a team of archers use a readied action to fill me full of arrows. Each shot twice and was able to hit me rather easily; downing me after the first volley. The surprise round over, my "mom" pulls out a dagger and slits my throat. To me this seemed....excessive.

He acted to be pretty surprised I died so quickly and offered me to come back "through sheer force of will" but I had died "fairly" and I said I would just reroll.

I am sorry this has been so long, but in short. Should the GM ever show restraint? Or do you think they should go full out and use everything available to them? Are intelligent tactics, like charming a person(that is why I was told all my attempts at sensing motive and perception failed), leading them into an ambush of 10 readied archers, and making them helpless a good way to go about crafting encounters?

I am reading conflicting threads on whether or not I could ever enchant a Frying Pan. Some people seem to believe that Improvised weapons have to be spontaneous or they are no longer improvised. They are trying to say you can only use the Catch Off Guard feat if you are picking something up not carrying it. The trait Surprise Weapons says "You are skilled at fighting with objects not traditionally considered weapons" This seems to fit the flavor and form of Catch Off Guard as well.

I see improvised weapons as improvised because they are not normally considered weapons, but you are still using them. It acts as a catch all so you dont need exotic weapon proficiency chair, you can just if you choose to be really good at hitting people with chairs.

Some people are saying that improvised weapons are not weapons and thus can not be made masterwork. No masterwork broken bottle, sure, the common sense rule should be used for things like this. But a masterwork Frying Pan does exist IRL. Then there is the question of does the masterwork bonus count toward the skill or to attacking. It seems obvious to me that you would pay the masterwork weapon price if you wanted it to be a better weapon and would have the bonus be for the skill if you wanted it to be used for that. I don't see why you could choose when it is being made.

Anyone heard word of this lately. Some people in threads I have read are downright terrified of people enchanting improvised weapons. Call 'munchkin" and saying it would break the game. I am trying to make a Chef of the Gods. I know the consensus seems to be that if you dare to improve numbers you are Satan, but is it really so bad to want to pick something flavorful AND it be good? I could use a real weapon and save some feats, traits, ect so that I am not useless in combat. But that seems boring when, with significant investment I can at least be mediocre doing something awesome.

I would like to be something I can take to PFS, because even though I hate it on principle, it is the easiest benchmark to get GMs to allow it in game.. Thank you.

Hello there, I am here to ask for some advice and critique of one of my most ambitious builds. I eventually want this PC to become a god. Not a god of war, death, or healing. Not a good God, nor a vile Demon, I want a Neutral God. The God of Cooking. One who prepares delicacies for God and Devil alike. Who will can cook a feast of fruit and boar for the angels, and one of souls and human flesh for demons. Someone who's only goal in cooking is for the food to be delicious to those eating it.

Now I can't start as some omnipotent cooking guru, but I am hoping to be such an exceptional chef that through renown and skill can be elevated by the gods themselves so that I can continue my work. Now that I have given enough flavor for this character, lets see if any seasoned players can help me cook up something good.

This is what I am thinking. Please offer whatever suggestions you can.
(this is not for PFS, but I would like to be able to use him there if possible in the future)

Race: Human

I was going to take half elf but realized that with the Focused Study alternative race trait that they get 3 feats for free rather than one.Plus more skill ranks.
Skill focus 1- Proffession Chef
Skill focus 2- Performance Cooking
Skill focus 3- Craft Alchemy

Traits:
Rough and Ready (+1 to attacks using weapons of your profession)
Mentored (+1 profession of your choice)

Class:

Investigator
Inspiration is what sealed the deal for me, with the proper talents, it will give me a d8 to my profession check without expending it. This lets me focus on what I want and still be an adequate skill monkey for the group. Alchemy goes hand and hand with cooking and lets me buff my party members, while studied strike makes it so I can do some damage when needed. I feel this lets me keep my idea solid while not being a drain on the party. I am effectively the rogue of the group just with tons of utility and a passion for good food.

I might possibly take a dip in cleric in order to pick up some useful cantrips(create water and purify food seem really helpful, plus guidance for a bit more cooking cheese.

Feats:
I am not sure:

Catch off Guard: Mandatory first level since I will be using Chef tools as weapons
Inexplicable Luck: cost a feat but can give me a +8 to a single roll.
Prodigy: gives me +2 to my craft alchemy and profession Chef.
Improvised Weapon Mastery: as soon as possible due to the epicness of frying pans.

Weapon:
Frying Pan from what I have read they do 1d6 (taken from http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/mastery/nPCGallery/tavern.html)

Eventually I would try to make it Mithral, and enchant it.

Stats: Not sure really, but I have thought about this in order to keep my skill monkey-ing up while being alright in combat.

Str-14
Dex-14
Con-12
Int-16 (with human bonus)
Wis-12
Cha-11

I am not exceptional at anything, and my min max sense is trying to tell me to get a grip but this lets me put a 1 in cha at 4 and be the ultimate generalist by adding a bit to everything. Would welcome any feedback.

So this is my current idea for the character, does anyone have any advice? Is this character going to be helpful enough to a party? I don't want to be dead weight, and am trying to use alchemy and skill monkey powers to cover my weakness from specializing as a cook. If you read this thanks, I look forward to any wisdom you guys may have.

Okay so I have always loved summoners, but I can never bring myself to play them because of how they slow down the game, and can make you a tad too versatile. Well I am running a solo campaign with a friend. We are alternating, I am running some weird lovecraftian pathfinder, and he is running an underwater campaign. Now I know solo campaign seem lame to a lot of people but we are on a boat for months at a time and so don't have the option of playing the hobby we love with other too often.

Knowing he is heavy handed on the fighting, and that it will just be me I have decided to focus on summoning for once. However I do have a few questions.

1. I understand that summoner is really, really strong but this is a completely underwater campaign. Is it better to be a summoner, or a Druid. Druids can wildshape, and call nature ally, but it seems like a lot of their spells are going to be difficult to use underwater, and I really want my summons to fight for me. Any advice on which of these is going to be better (or if you have another class in mind you think would be good please tell me.

2. How feasible is it to have all of combat done by my summons? I really like the image of sitting back occassionaly casting spells while my potential army does the dirty work.

3. Is this a bad idea? Why I love the premise I dont know how helpful and fun it will be to only summon creatures of the sea.

Thanks for reading.

Help!I need somebody! Help! Not just anybody! See when I was younger, so much younger than today I found a class that fit the flavor of something I have just come to learn about and think is awesome. Pretty much I am trying to make a Dwarf who is modeled off of the Legion of the Dead from the Dragon Age Universe.

These dwarfs have lost there honor, and in order to regain it offer the rest of there lives to fight off the unending horrors of the deep. They go as far to have funerals, full of mead and merry making, are recorded as dying honorably in battle in the records; and then join the rest of the legion in their never ending quest. To this end I want a tough as nails dwarf suited to tackling on horrors and demons with ease, all while being as dwarfy of a dwarf as possible.

I have seen a class (prc or archetype) that fit this flavor and function perfectly, but alas, after days of searching and pouring over books from 3rd edition to 4th, finally stopping at pathfinder I am at a loss. Does anyone know of a 3.5 prc or pathfinder archetype that matches this flavor (ignoring dark runner which is the closest I have seen so far.

This is for a pathfinder game(although the gm said he would allow some 3.5 stuff). If you know of the class I am thinking of, or if you know of some way to get that flavor with appropriate mechanics please let me know. Thanks.

Okay, first time i have posted on here in a long time so I will try to be as succinct as possible while still offering the most unbiased explanation of the situation as I can. This is my worst GM ever, and I never played a single game she ran.

The GM...lets call her Alice, tells us that she wants to run a campaign she is writing in order to flesh out some ideas for a book. A book she has been "writing" for the last six years( or so she says). That was a warning sign for me, especially since she said we were in for a treat since she would be gmpc-ing the main character. For the sake of brevity lets just say my eyes rolled so far back in my head when I heard this, that I broke the curvature of time and space, seeing the universe as it was millennia ago. She also adds that she wants us to clear our characters through her so they will fit the theme.(which I thought actually sounded reasonable at the time).

My first attempted came to me when I watched this documentary on Nostradamus(and whether or not he was in contact with angelic unicorn aliens...yay history channel). So I rolled up a human divination wizard, and setting myself up to be a prophet who would make crazy claims all the time and every so often be correct thanks to my magic. Well that apparently is a power gaming option, and doesn't fit what she wants the story to be about. Divination is banned from this point on. OK, fair, I see how it could hurt the story.

Next idea hit me when I was playing Dragon Age. I thought Templars seemed pretty interesting so I decided to roll up a character strong against magic. I wanted to go dwarf+glory of old+steel souls, but felt if divination was power gaming then this would make Alice's head explode. So I went with a human Spellbreaker Inquisitor, and the option that gives the disruptive feat.....well this was apparently worse. And I learned that "it makes it hard to want to GM when people purposely try to make broken characters"

So I remember that she made a beguiler one of the last times we played and she had gone on a tangent on how focusing on enchantment wasn't as powerful as people think. ....And I'm powergaming (I took the infernal bloodline, offered to switch to undead, she said it was worse) Tried to make a undead hunter using the vampire hunter archetype from the inquisitor...and I'm powergaming.

I give up, pick a human fighter, give him toughness(nope that is power gaming pick another feat), give him skill focus, three times; swimming, climb, survival...I am so done with this. Now I am trying to offset the penalties of heavy armor and steal the spotlight from the survivalist gmpc. So I pick Fast Crawl, Catch Off Guard, and Animal Affinity instead. She says Off the wall build are okay but I he wont let me play a character that will bring down the party....

She decides that I shouldn't get to make my own character and will have to play one of her npcs...her main characters love interest since I cant make a character correctly. In a very measured and kind way I tell her to go somewhere hot and pleasure herself. Other people in the group take my side and refuse to play. I am now a monster to her for breaking up our game, and she will never play any game with me in it. So we are going to play king maker without her.

So that was really long. Anyone have some war stories to tell?

Okay I know you can't stack archetypes that affect the same power but how general is this distinction. For instance can I take the False Priest and the Sanguine Wildblood together? They both technically affect bloodline powers but they affect different ones and so there is no overlap.

For instance I can see why the Sage bloodline and the Tattooed Sorcerer wouldn't stack because that both change the first bloodline power; however, Sanguine changes the first one and False Priest changes the lv 9 power. Would this be a legal combination then?

Thank you, I have a really cool idea where I want this to go and the only place I can really play now is sadly PFS(not that it is bad, just that the GMs can't let small things slide as per the rule of cool). Before I buy the Inner Sea book, I figured this would be good to know.

Since my idea of being a holy healer has proved troublesome I am looking instead at the opposite. I am confused however when it comes to the Undead Lord companion feature and the animate dead spell. I have been reading around and it seems that if you make make a skeleton or zombie of a humanoid or some other creatures they become 1hd instead of what the current hd for their class/level was.

Is this right? If so is it possible in the rules to make a necromancy that just has one really strong undead? I know my gm will not take kindly to an army of weenies.

thanks

I have had some friends getting me into pathfinder for the better part of a year now and finally decided to get serious about playing it. The problem is that I like being a healer, I am an old school mmo'er and actually loved 4th edition (if only I hadn't moved from my old group that loved it too.) I googled a question and found myself in this deep rabbit hole of vitriol regarding healers and people who enjoy that particular style of gaming.

So my question is: Should I just accept that Pathfinder isn't my kind of game and just move on, or is it possible to play a healing character without 40 people telling me how I am ruining combat speed and am a waste of space?. It isn't even like I am just trying to healbot, I want to focus on buffing but have a hard time playing the character I want to roleplay when I am all but forced to get a clw wand and shut up.

thank you