DM20's page

Finoan wrote:

DM20 wrote:

If the spell is intended to be unusable at lower levels, I'm fine with that, but it seems entirely plausible at this time that the lack of triggering spells was just overlooked.

My goal is to just find out if Paizo has addressed this in any format anywhere in the past.

I haven't seen anything noting it one way or the other.

DM20 wrote:

I emailed Paizo on April 19th and didn't get a reply, or even an automated response acknowledging my email. Next step is going to have to be hand writing them a letter.

Well, you can if you want. I wouldn't expect much from that either.

The game rules already cover scenarios like this. The First Rule basically says that if there is something in the rules that your group finds underwhelming, change it at your table.

Some suggestions:
* Get a different bloodline focus spell. Maybe a cleric focus spell or witch focus spell that looks like it meets the theme.
* Tweak Dim the Light so that it is able to be used. Remove the spell trait from the requirement and make it only require that it be a spell cast from your Sorcerer spell slots.

Update: Paizo replied to my email. :)

They were not able to provide a rules update and said the forum was the best place to hear back from a designer or developer. Super appreciative of the reply.

Thanks, I will likely play rules as written, I don't mind playing an unoptimized character. Im just trying to find out the intent of the focus power and notify the devs/designers if this was not the intent.

DM20 wrote:

If the spell is intended to be unusable at lower levels, I'm fine with that, but it seems entirely plausible at this time that the lack of triggering spells was just overlooked.

My goal is to just find out if Paizo has addressed this in any format anywhere in the past.

I haven't seen anything noting it one way or the other.

DM20 wrote:

I emailed Paizo on April 19th and didn't get a reply, or even an automated response acknowledging my email. Next step is going to have to be hand writing them a letter.

Well, you can if you want. I wouldn't expect much from that either.

The game rules already cover scenarios like this. The First Rule basically says that if there is something in the rules that your group finds underwhelming, change it at your table.

Some suggestions:
* Get a different bloodline focus spell. Maybe a cleric focus spell or witch focus spell that looks like it meets the theme.
* Tweak Dim the Light so that it is able to be used. Remove the spell trait from the requirement and make it only require that it be a spell cast from your Sorcerer spell slots.

Update: Paizo replied to my email. :)

They were not able to provide a rules update and said the forum was the best place to hear back from a designer or developer. Super appreciative of the reply.

Baarogue wrote:

You are not restricted to spells from the APG. Even if you don't own the books they're from, you can use them from Archives of Nethys.

That is accurate most of the time. Unless the character is in PFS.

And that still doesn't address the problem that all of those spells listed cost two actions to cast. Casting Dim the Light is at least a reaction. That will leave you with only one action to get somewhere with actual cover or concealment in order to stay hidden - assuming that your stealth checks all succeed.

Yeah, I hold Shadow Bloodline in pretty low regard because of these problems with Dim the Light. Other than that, the bloodline is fine. But you are effectively playing a Sorcerer without a useful focus spell. At least for the early levels.

I appreciate the reply, we do have access to other books, but from a game design perspective, the lack of any triggering spell in the books required to play begs the question, "is this intentional or an oversight that needs to be corrected?"

If the spell is intended to be unusable at lower levels, I'm fine with that, but it seems entirely plausible at this time that the lack of triggering spells was just overlooked.

My goal is to just find out if Paizo has addressed this in any format anywhere in the past.

The issue for me is not about how useful the spell is, but rather the fact that it is not usable.

I emailed Paizo on April 19th and didn't get a reply, or even an automated response acknowledging my email. Next step is going to have to be hand writing them a letter.

I'm new to Pathfinder 2e and very much want to make a Shadow Sorcerer.

Has anyone had any luck addressing the issue with "Dim the Lights".

TLDR: Since there are no level one or level two spells with darkness or shadow in the Players Guide, its is impossible to cast "Dim the Lights" at early levels because there is no way to trigger the reaction.

The Shadow Sorcerer subclass gets their focus spell at level one but has no way to use their focus spell until level five.

While I enjoy playing challanging classes, this is a class feature that is completely unusable for a long time after you get it.

Was this an oversight or is this intentional?

Has anyone gotten a response from Paizo, or have they made any statements about it?