Cranky McDuff's page

So, my players got together and picked up the PDF for The Emerald Spire for me to run for them. Without even asking first, the bums :p . They finally managed to smack around Sartoss and clear level 7 and are about half way into level 6(there's 5 of them). My problem is their WBL seems a bit lower than it should be. They get plenty of RP from the other game I'm running and just wanted a dungeon challenge, so I turned the town into pretty much a repository to sell loot. I took out the quests and used the extra xp/gold they may have gotten and worked it into each level as extra loot or opponents so they don't miss out. So far, they've stripped every level bare and they still seem under-geared. Am I missing something? I don't want to get into a "Monty Haul" situation, but I don't want a TPK because they were undergeared.

Am I going bonkers or is Spell Ward the closest this system has to Dispel Magic?

I'm going to visit family here in a couple of weeks and I'm gonna run a one-shot for my brothers(Homebrew, level 14). One of my brothers expressed interest in the Occultist. Due to the high level, I wanted to study the classes they all chose so that I could get a decent idea of what shenanigans they can pull and so I could fairly adjudicate those situations when said shenanigans were pulled.

Which brings me to the Occultist ability "Magic Circles" and this link "http://www.thedicedecide.com/mack-blog/pathfinder-occultist-guide-part-one /".

The guide itself, is a good read, very informative, and more or less, upbeat. But, when I got to his description of Magic Circles my brain locked up. To MY understanding, all this ability does it create a permanent Magic Circle Against Alignment(let's say Evil). To my understanding(again), Magic Circle Against Evil spews out a 10ft emanation from the creature touched that 1)Is mobile, 2)Keeps out Evil summoned critters, 3)grants everyone Protection From Evil while in it(badguys included..which would be hilarious if one of the PC's was evil), and 4)All the binding stuff. It keeps NOTHING else out of the circle. Not Undead, Not Outsiders here by their own means, not Jehovah's Witnesses, Nor your crazy Ex. That's it. Right?

So, is Magic Circles any different(besides permanent and 4 spells packaged into one ability)? Am I seriously overthinking this? For some reason it just seriously FUBARed my brain. Anywho...

Sorry for being long-winded.

Thanks!

So, after a bit of poking around, the only other thread concerning this I've found was from a few days ago and unanswered. Same question(apologies for incoming bad grammar and spelling).

I tried reverse-mathing the Armageddon Plate to give me a better idea on how to make my own items. At it's level 20 zenith it is MW(1,650g), Adamantine(15,000g), with Determination(30,000g), a +2 enhancement bonus, Heavy Fortification, and Invulnerability for a total of +10 equivalent(100,000G). 146,650G for that.

Item Price is usually double the Cost(133,650G), so 267,300G. I'm left with 120,650G to account for the scaling Fear effects, scaling improved DR, and Spine Volley.

Is there a magic math formula floating around that can account for this? Obviously the Devs used SOMETHING or I wouldn't have all this extra gold left over.

I love the idea of Item Scaling, but I'm concerned that I might make them either underwhelming(is anyone ever just "whelmed"?) or accidentally create the "Rat Flail of Ultimate Pwnage". Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

Apologies if I'm posting in the wrong spot. If I AM, please point me in the right direction and I'll repost there.

Picked up the Technology guide, Fires of Creation, and the downloadable players guide to run for my group. Bit confused about making characters FROM Numeria(Torch specifically) and feat selection. Maybe I keep missing something in the books/PDF's. Do they get the Technologist Feat and/or Exotic WP Firearms for free at any point or do they have to use feats to get them as the game progresses.

My inner optimizer is screaming foul at having to take feats that would screw up a players planned build just to use the new toys while my inner RP nut is clapping gleefully at having to force my players to "grow" thier characters through RP.

While I usually improvise my games to suit my players, some direction on this mechanic would be appreciated.

Thanks!