Kazaven

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Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber. Organized Play Member. 85 posts. 2 reviews. No lists. 1 wishlist. 1 Organized Play character.


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Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Hey all,

I am excited to find that the pathfinder novels are now available as audiobooks but I have no clue on whether there is an order to the ones released or if there is one that would be better then the others. Any suggestions are welcome.

Many Thanks

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I would love to see something published that has ready to use mythic conversion of all of the AP's. Something simple like what things would be considered a mythic trial and a conversion of relevant villians into mythic. If you really wanted to elevate the product to mythic status you could include a small array of newly added mythic trials, or a set of generic ones that could fit in any AP.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Drow, it has been days since I have been able to log on to your website. Is it down for good?

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Pathfinder chapbooks are mentioned frequently, but has anyone done anything with them during actual play? If you have, how much did you have them sell for? Did you attach any mechanic to owning one or a set? Did you just use them as color fluff?

I use them infrequently in my games and the price has fluctuated from dogeared copies for 2cp, current copies for up to 5gp, and rare/lost editions for 100's+.

There is a small market for them and I use them as a treasure variant.

I have also given a +1 or +2 knowledge bonus for a complete set regarding a very narrow and specific area/subject.

Anyone else fiddle with the chapbooks?

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Hey all,

Here is a little offering for those of you who may be interested.

I recently started a Kingmaker PBEM and wanted a mechanic to deal with the two major problems I have had with PBEM's in the past, the random factor and general story pacing.

Here was my solution.

The D20 Matrix
Every player starts of with a matrix of numbers 1-20 (One of each number from one to twenty). During a post the player will choose one number from the matrix, cross it off, and all random elements for that encounter will be based off of that number (This includes everything from Initiative to Attack rolls, and saving throws. The damage done is roughly the percentage of the number chosen (A 5 is 25%, 10 is 50%, etc). This lets the player control the effectiveness of their character in the encounter and gives every player an equal chance to shine (I am in no means implying that some players would cheat =). The bad guys also have a matrix from which the DM can either roll randomly, or choose like the players (I prefer to roll for the standard encounters and choose for the boss fights). This also levels the playing field for the player vs villian aspect.

Pacing
Over the years this one has been a beast. Should I run a post once a day? Once a week? How do you cater to the dedicated and those who have a life in the same game?

I decided to run a post a day, absent players would default to a 'standard move' (Discussed before the game. Things like diplomacy before fighting, always use sleep spell first, stay at ranged with bow and at the last resort use the short sword etc.)

I then decided that each day "Scenario" would encompass one complete encounter (Sometimes even more depending on the severity of the encounter). I then broke the Adventure path into 20 Scenarios and began the campaign.

It has turned out quite well, and one of my players commented that we get more done in a PBEM than we do in our weekly game (I am still not sure if this was a complement or not =).

Best of luck!

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I was just reading the latest book on the evil religions when I stumbled on a question I couldn't figure out. If a cleric, or anyone for that manner, worships a deity that is one step away, say LN following a LE, where do their souls go when they die? I was always under the impression that they were distributed by alignment, but the worship thing complicates the matter. To make it worse, why would a deity empower someone they couldn't own in the afterlife? So as far as I can figure, they either are separated by alignment and the deity is using them to further their influence on the material plane, or petitioners can be sent to any location in the outer planes.

I prefer the first version. Did I miss any other options or views?

Scarab Sages

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Today we are wrapping up a campaign in which I tinkered with a few house rules, the major one being how to deal with character death. I know this is a kicking a dead horse topic but I'll bore you anyways =).

It started off with a huge debate on how to handle character death. There were many opinions and frustrations. Some didn't mind making new guys, and others thought that newly made characters had a distinct advantage over the ones that slugged it out from the beginning.

In the end I came up with this little gem that worked extremely well for our table and eliminated all conflicts.

The "Not Quite Dead Yet" Rule
Any character reduced to a point where they are dead is immediately raised to the minimum point of living and must subtract 1 Con (this is not drain but permanent). Characters who are "not quite dead yet" are then immune from any damage while they remain in this state (A character can thus ride out combat without being in danger of being again reduced to near death). If the "not quite dead" character is willingly revived by a fellow player they are again subject to the Con loss if they are reduced to death.

We ran a Rise of the Runelord campaign to test this and a few other minor rules out and the effect was amazing. On one hand, one player, the party paladin, never died. On the other, another player, the party sorcerer, was found "not quite dead yet" three times in one game =).

Today we are wrapping up the AP and the sorcerer has an anemic 6 Con but the cohesion of the group and the unbroken flow of the storyline has been truly impressive. While I am aware many circumvent this by fudging rolls or creative storylines, I found this had the right balance of carrot and stick to keep everyone at my table content.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

We are about to launch our first gunslinger and were discussing possible prestige classes. Has anyone come up with a list of possible prestige classes that compliment the class? So far we only managed to scrape up the Arcane Archer and Order of the Bow (Complete Warrior).

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Sorry, no feedback this week. I had to call the game due to schedule conflicts =(real life getting in the way of gaming... sigh =)...

I will offer one for next week.

One in a Million
The characters, during the course of their next adventure, meet or see a carbon copy of a villain they have already defeated. Is it really the villain? Is it a disguise? Or just a Shot in a million double?

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Just a slight tangent on the training thing...

I once had the characters play older PC's from the get go. They found themselves in a strange area with no memories of who or what they were. As the campaign progressed, they recalled more about themselves and their capabilities (leveling up without trainer, in middle of a game, without paying and time).

It was an excellent idea that played very well with the group. They really liked the idea of unveiling the mystery of who they were while simultaneously making them as the game progressed.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I've tried a bunch of different versions and stuck with the one that has not led to the whining factor. Personally, I like the EXP per session, needing a trainer or equipment, and time, but I also like the concept of tracking material components etc =).

So what we end up doing is giving EXP per encounter, leveling when they level, regardless of where they are at, and not paying for any of the process (See anything resembling what I like... Oh yeah, no tracking components =).

Overall, those DM's trying to go for the "realistic" feel are really in a pinch. Some modules and campaigns don't support the concept and worse, most players do not (for those players who do, I take my hat off to you =).

The way I story my "lazy" or "warcraft" approach to leveling is that a character is always learning, observing, and practicing. When they were originally trained they were exposed to many things that, over time they practice and become more proficient. Overall, I think the lazy version is hideous, but my players prefer this style =(

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I tried a experience point reward system for a public game awhile back. I gave a set amount of experience for showing up, participation, and even had a small bit for anyone who could provide a journal entry or picture that summed up the last game (I used both to help newbies settle into where we were at in the campaign).

The interesting thing I have found about roleplaying is that there is a steady degradation of roleplaying as the player becomes more experienced. The only players that seem to retain the RP part of the game over time are DM's (My favorite types of players). The decline that occurs is natural as the player gets a better grasp of the rules, but it definitely has an ironic phase when they bust your chops on rules while their character knows everything about monsters, what to expect from spells, etc. =).

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

So, amongst the myriad of other hellish things a spellcaster could do, what about simple magical forgery? What stops a clever spellcaster from making a career coning people? What stops the determined and skilled forger?

The mighty appraise skill!

What would you lovely folk consider the various DC’s to the types of forgery, both magical and mundane? I could see an opposing roll for the skilled forger, but what about magic? Use the DC?

Thoughts?

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

The Toothadder is a masterful idea. I will definitely add it to my campaign.

I love the evil twin for the tie in and the ability to reflect the characters... lesser qualities.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I agree about impossible situations. The worst infractions have been at my long term home games. Players having a bad day, or even worse, really too jovial, were the main causes, and in those cases I have simply called the game. We then either played a different type of game (Munchkin is a favorite default), hung out, or played some kind of outdoor game.

As for individually obscene players. I have had to, on multiple occasions, make a hard fast ruling with the addendum to the player that we would discuss and research the matter after the game (At my home games it is understood that this includes a dollar bet which the winner claims).

I have found that the way to deal with really annoying metagamers is to simply give them their hearts desire. Last year I had a player who was really pushing the envelope in a Star Frontier/Fantasy themed game. He wanted to have a magical shocking AK47. With his feats and maximizing everything he could possibly maximize he was doing hundreds of points damage per round. It was ugly, really ugly. The other players still had fun doing their part and making fun of the metagamer. By the third game the PC and his weapon was retired because "it wasn't fun".

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Nothing like a little give and take =).

I'm still in the genesis phase of the conclusion of the sore, but I am aiming for a personification of an STD (I guess you can see where I am going with the sore =). A fine sized beastie. My original visual concept was of a WOW oozling. Other thoughts have been a meatwad type of thing and a fungus thing. Still ify on speech but solid on the loving loyal dog like personality.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Just did... Don't tell anyone though =)

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Shhhhh...

Okay. So for those of you DM's who still want to have a bit of fun, let's give the sore a try.

Toss ideas for next week out. If you posted an idea on the last thread could you do me a favor and bump it here for discussion.

Another topic of discussion for next week is how to conclude, if you so desire, the mysterious sore.

I will run the sore this Wednesday in my PA Pathfinder adventure. I know the perfect player to infect and guarantee it will be a hoot.

I will post the results after the game.

For next week I offer...

The Mysterious Benefactor
During the course of the adventure the PC's receive an anonymous letter, package, missive of minor assistance. The method of delivery and type depends on the adventure but has the aura of someone going out of their way to give a little bit of help.

The concept is to have the characters feel slightly indebted and weirded out by someone or something that seems to know more about them then is normally possible.

(For those of you folk who want to interject a bit of literary humor, you can have the benefactor always reference the PC as "pip" =)

I also offer, as a conclusion to the sore, that the sore develops or grows something that ends up being a minor npc. Something that looks up to the PC's as its parent and is, at the same time, odd or repulsive enough to have the PC be embarrassed by the attention (in spite of the fact that the little thing is actually helpful =).

Edit: My error for not including the original sore text =)... Here it is...

A Festering Sore
At some point in the game one of the players discovers a festering sore. While it does not have any game mechanic effects, it is quite ugly and, depending on its location, could also be a tad itchy, a bit malodorous, or so obvious that other NPC’s comment about the sore and its possible origins.

To make matters worse, over the course of the game it changes. It can fester into a boil, ooze, spread, or grow something unpleasant. Overall, it is impervious to magic and seems impossible to get rid of it by any means.

The objective is to give it a tiny mysterious life of its own, then cliffhang the mystery of sore until the next game just to keep the player guessing.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

A previous thread got me thinking about rule zero.

Being married with children and working with the public I, by my nature and training, am a diplomat. The concept of "my way or the highway" works well for my wife but not for me (for you younger folk, the key to a happy marriage is two simple words... "yes ma’am" =).

So with that foundation, my variation of rule zero is "have fun". I feel everyone, including myself, should have fun at a table. Now mind you, everyone’s version of fun is different. Some folk like rules lawyering, some like being in character, and some just like the company. I feel it is the job of the DM to mediate these various versions of fun so everyone is entertained.

In the previous thread, the player version of rule zero was mentioned as the right of a player to leave the table. I was a bit bothered by this revelation. The idea to leave a table, and the few times I have been a player I have sat at some pretty weak tables, I never once even broached the thought of leaving. Something about being rude to counter a rude never settled right with me (That, and being a bit on the tenaciously stubborn side, make it very difficult for me to quit anything =).

My version of player rule zero would be... Surprise, have fun. Those times I mentioned above, I made the best out of the situation and had fun. In all instances it was still rather unpleasant but at least it was a slightly more entertaining and funny unpleasantness.

And yes... The grass is greener on the other side.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Come on Yeller... Time to go outside for a walk...

Just a couple of things before I put a cap in this thread.

The concept of this thread was to create an imaginative and fun outlet for DM's. If you do not feel even a slight bit of annoyance when thinking about your players you have not DM'ed long enough =).

The next point I would like to make is, that as far as I could tell, this game, like many others, is based on fun. The tone of my original post obviously did not get through to some folk. I'm am a person who enjoys a good laugh multiple times a day and finds that gaming is a great outlet for my quirky humor.

If you feel that the simple idea of the sore is abusive and would upset you so much that you would walk out of a game I suggest you see a therapist because you take your gaming far too seriously. If you feel that any rulebook is akin to the bible and thusly sacred and immutable, I suggest you play a boardgame, because RPG's, like monopoly and rummy, are magnets for houserules and the playthings for the Gods of variation.

So in the name of the father, son and holy spirit, I, with heartfelt regret, declare this experiment in community dead…

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Are you a GM who is frequently bothered by their spouse, children, siblings, parents, coworkers or the homeless? Would you like to find a way to vent that frustration? How about joining the Paizo Message Board Club for Happy GM’s?

This simple thread is designed for GM’s who need a little outlet for their inner perturbedness. All you need to do is simply click the thread at least once a week and wella! It is gone.

How is this magic performed?

Once a week, on a Monday, I will post to this thread an objective for all GM’s to achieve during the week (Those who play every two weeks can just double up =). Once you have sprung this nasty little objective on the player or players return to the thread and post your glorious results. You then can toss your two cents in for the next objective and whichever gains the most steam will be the objective of the next week.

Sound simple? It is!

So come on now and sound out. Give us your worst so we may spread the disease and punish those players for what is wrong in this world!

My offer for this coming Monday is…

A Festering Sore
At some point in the game one of the players discovers a festering sore. While it does not have any game mechanic effects, it is quite ugly and, depending on its location, could also be a tad itchy, a bit malodorous, or so obvious that other NPC’s comment about the sore and its possible origins.

To make matters worse, over the course of the game it changes. It can fester into a boil, ooze, spread, or grow something unpleasant. Overall, it is impervious to magic and seems impossible to get rid of it by any means.

The objective is to give it a tiny mysterious life of its own, then cliffhang the mystery of sore until the next game just to keep the player guessing.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

In my PA pathfinder game I ran into a conundrum. The PC's downed a mutated ostrich with a very high natural armor. They then wanted to process the hide (yes one had armor smithing and another had Profession - Tanner =) in the hopes of creating a tougher set of leather or hide. Are there any official Pathfinder rules for this? How would you DM's rule?

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I think there was a mechanic in d20 Modern to handle the child stats.

Overall, the key to running games for younger folk is description and dice rolls. I started a group with my son and his friends when they were 11ish and over the years, they are 19 and 20 now, the game has gotten more technical and rules oriented.

In the beginning however, it was a roleplayers dream. There is something about new players, including the young folk, where they inherently grasp and enjoy the RP part of the game. After that phase it is nothing but the traditional arguing =).

As for adventures, I believe the first adventure I ran them through was The Cult of the Reptile God. It was a glorious mess. The old wizard and his weasel (?) were very helpful in giving in game advice and assistance.

Personally, I started their group at that age to foster a mini community. My son was brilliant, which means no social skill or common sense, and I wanted to create a place where he and his likewise socially deficient friends could develop social skills. It worked brilliantly. One of my best laughs has always been during the various school awards ceremonies where over half of the children awarded had played, or still play, at our table =).

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I would really love to see a Pathfinder supplement for each of these settings. I would like to see a supplement that was an addition to the standard Pathfinder rules so that they were completely interchangeable (i.e. add a few feats, add new equipment, modify a few character classes, add a few prestige classes, add a few rules for vehicles, and a few variants for subsettings like post apocalypse).

I would also like to see a complete rework of the Epic concept. I was so completely disappointed and shocked that such an obviously broken mechanic like the 3.0 Epic would get published. I would love to see a simple continuation of the standard mechanic with either a continuation of the standard or introduction of epic classes (with the above additions).

As for the creatures of the various settings, a small additional supplement of the base creatures with a few notes how to modify other creatures to fit the settings would be perfect =).

All in all, my main focus is that the rule set be _interchangeable_... That and no more of the of the accursed +20 something "insight" or "natural" or "Just because we wanted to make it harder and really had no other way to do it" modifiers.

Oh!... and now that I am really feeling the aggravation boil, have the decency and testicular fortitude to at least name a class something other than "Strong, Fast... Etc."

Sorry, I would just like to be able to scribble up or run a published adventure for a setting without constantly converting and double checking the balance of things. I hope I am not the only person out here that plays a variety of settings and likes to mash up various aspects of each.

Sigh... Off to rework a mutant to fit Pathfinder (My last attempt failed miserably =)...

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Slanky... A really good question. Later on in the adventure the same player accidentally electrocuted himself and that dropped him to -3. This I fluffed out to it stopping his heart. He collapsed to the ground and gasped for breath. This time I declared him unconscious (I have seen a couple major heart attacks and you have seconds of lucidity at best, and even then your level of consciousness is not so good =). This time another player ran up to him and revived him. Like before he was limited to half movements, but the symptoms were different.

I also only allowed him his movement only actions after combat was over. During combat he, in the first case, was aware of his surroundings, which disturbed the player much more then the simple sleepy time version, even though the only thing that really changed was the description.

It is still in the experimental phase and quite subjective based on the injury. As for subdual, I plan on implementing the same policy. You get pounded and either are so weakened from the beating you cannot continue or you are KO'ed. Either way I would let them stumble off after the fight.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Yes on the die hard, not exactly what I am looking for though. The concept is that is it mandatory to call all PC's who hit the negatives unconscious?

On one of the few occasions I actually got to play in my career, I ran into a rather interesting call. My dwarf had entered a room, cursorily scanned it for enemies, and entered. The DM declared there was a paper on the floor and, since I scanned the room, I saw the paper, therefore I had to make a save, which I failed, and was subsequently out of the game over an hour because of a Sepia Snake Sigil. Good call? I think not. I did however learn an important lesson about keeping players involved in play.

So is it possible to keep a player in play who is in the negatives without defaulting to the now your awake, now your not, rule.

Note my current campaign is a PA setting where there are not quick cures =). Also note that the player was limited to 1/2 movement actions only, no standard actions, thus keeping Diehard viable.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

My last pondering of the day, I promise =).

Last night I ran into something that can definitely be categorized as fluff. It deals with falling into the negatives.

Since the creation of the negatives concept I took a very slight offense at the concept of the "oops now your night-night" or the instacoma version of negatives. Why can't you be conscious and be dying? Why can't we fit that into the rules?

Well last night I did and it actually worked (9 out of 10 of my ideas fail =). One of the PC's got hit by acid several times, the last in the leg where it ate through his clothing, flesh and artery. It pumped his lifeblood out, he felt woozy and collapsed to the ground. Still conscious and weak he used his stabilization roll to try to tie a tourniquet around his leg. He eventually succeeded and slumped against the wall, slightly aware of his surroundings but too concerned with breathing and fighting to stay conscious.

Did it affect play? Yeah kind of, it made it a bit more dramatic and interesting. It changed the stabilization roll into something more than a roll. It also gave the player a chance to still remain ‘in play’ in a limited way (I just went straight to the ½ action phase without the waking roll).

Has anyone else handled negatives differently? Anything work or fail particularly well?

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Thanks for the links Urizen! Very nice =).

Is it me or the first game of a campaign always the loooooongest. Blah blah blah blah blah... Man won't I ever shut up =) . In the past I have made my own players guides (waste of time =), and even played the PFAP where their players guides were nicer and shinier, but in the end it’s the same old blah set the setting, blah background, blah NPC’s and blah hook.

So how was the Pathfinder PA game? Great actually =). Other then the above whiny blahs, the alterations were pretty smooth. I even had to generate a quick NPC for a pit fight (the player thought it would be a great way to make some jack) and scribbled up a random mutant in under a minute (Yes the player got duly smacked down… Silly players, pits are for gladiators =).

I forgot to add Rogue – Scavenger to the above list of classes (I was working by memory and… Well… I’m old =).

We were a few players short and the group consisted of a Sec Man (Stiehl), Mutant (Fat) and a Tracker (Sam Squinty). The Barter Point system was easily conveyed and accepted and in no time they were swapping goods for things they needed and barter items that they thought were a good deal and might net them a profit later.

They were a bit bummed about not being able to start with modern firearms, and the Sec Man was bummed because he spent half the game mangled (that is what you get for pit fighting and playing with electricity =) but overall they were entertained.

One thing I did at the last moment that turned out quite well was the introduction of a mutated plant. I tossed it in because I have always been irritated at the concept of mutated plants as PC’s. I just can’t wrap my mind around why a mutated plant of any type would find value in anything that other humanoids would desire. A nice patch of soil, sun and soil and technically the plant should be content.

Which is why my contrary nature kicked in and forced me to throw one in as an NPC =). The set up was rather weak but effective, three mangy kids hooting and hollering by the village wall whacking at something with sticks. The PC’s approach, see what appear to be the remains of a pair of rust colored tumbleweeds spread across the dirt, and a partially damaged one against the wall faintly quivering. The PC’s distracted the kids and the tumbleweed meekly rolled away. Later on in the game the tumbleweed, which are locally called “Bloodburrs” followed them and befriended the Sec Man in a shy puppy dog like fashion (all nonverbal). It has followed them ever since and remains a mystery to them at the moment.

Any good DM worth his salt steals. Better DM’s steal from better sources =). For the Bloodburr I am stealing directly from “the Luggage” of the Discworld series. The tumbleweed will be loyal, have dog like tendencies, and feed on the blood of the dying (it will roll onto enemies reduced to -1 and below and drain them 1hp a round). It will be slightly helpful in combat and over all provide that fuzzy warmess that only an NPC can provide.

Until next week…
=)

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Good morning everyone.

I have always been fond of, and occasionally dabble in, the idea of progressive spells. The genesis of the idea was the monster summoning type spells. It nagged at me that a caster who took three levels in everything but summoning spells would suddenly take Summon Monster IV. I know it is an odd issue to take, but I constantly ponder things, and this one was taking the abuse at the time.

My attempt at developing a "bonus" system for casters that took spell that were related, i.e. Image and Summons was ripped from the Wu-jen (Nowadays I would give the Extend Spell feat for free for related spells). This worked nicely, and gave the casters a little ownership to the type of spell they have followed.

During that era I also introduced a few new chains to that list, notably Animate Dead, and I totally hijacked the Wu-jen elemental concept. For the Animate Dead, which was tooled for a PC’s necromancer, I started at 0lvl with Animate Dead Pet, which the progressed to, 1st-Least Undead, and 2nd-Lesser Undead. I also tossed in a few fluff 0lvl’s for flavor, Animate Dead Mouse Minion, Watchful Mouse Minion, Literate Mouse Minion, and the 1st level Mouse Minion Missile, and Mouse Minion Messenger (My hope was to catch the players imagination and have him pursue, but it failed... I'm not saying that players are inherently lazy, but they are =).

Overall, I would say the houserules were a success and addressed my irritation nicely. So nicely in fact, that after that campaign I just let them fade into the homerules ether =).

Todays pondering led me down the thought of DMing style. Everyone has their own style, most are adapted to fit the various players needs and their own views on the game. My style tends to be inclusionary, descriptive, and entertaining. I have never used a screen, everyone sees my rolls, I freely mix in and out of game dialog, I give my PC’s free reign in their method of crafting characters, have a set list of homerules, and mainly focus on entertaining the players through creative storylines, NPC’s and situations. Note that entertaining does not imply they are always happy =).

The point I was pondering was this, I always run a campaign style of adventures. The stories are individually complete but always tie into a greater story, I use reoccurring NPC’s and areas, and generally give it the novel treatment. I have run one shot games and tournament style games for public venues, but even then I find a way to link the stories to “reward” returning players. I know this style is not uncommon, mainly because there are few other choices, but on average, what is the main style of playing? Campaign Style? One shot adventures with a fine thread of linkage? Stand alone one shot adventures?

Scarab Sages

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Well tomorrow I will be starting up my experiment with using the Pathfinder rules in a Post Apocalyptic campaign. My objective is to work only from the Pathfinder rulebook. I do have other references for weapons etc., but they are pretty simple to toss in without bring those books to the table.

Here are the quick conversions I will be using.
Race: Human only
Classes: Barbarian (Raider), Bard (Gypsy), Fighter (Sec Man), Ranger (Tracker), Sorcerer (Mutant), Expert (Trader/Techie/Sage).

Note: Gypsys and Trackers are both mutants from prefall (Military experiments) but their mutations are relatively stable. Mutant genes are so unstable and mutable that, while the others have to work at getting better and more experienced, the mutants just work at trying to control their ever evolving bodies.

Skills: Everything stays the same to keep it simple. References to magic become technology (Some of the more primitive believe tech is magic so it fits in a small way). Know – Arcane & Use Magical Device are the main two that will be used as converted tech skills. Know – Planes will be one that will definitely not be used.

Feats: Add Firearms Feat (Keeping it simple, either you know how to use them or you don’t. Might add energy and other weapons later).

Change coins to Barter Points (A catch all point system I have used before. Loot breaks down into ? Bp of misc goods, gun parts, fuel, food, water, just about anything. This is then adjusted to what the buyer wants, an appraise check, and wella a trade). It is a purposely vague system that reflects the nature of the setting, i.e. a backpack will not always be 2bp, it could fluctuate depending on the situation and roll.

Magic is now mutational powers. Yes this is definitely fantasy mutations. An NPC I just drew up is an Aberrant, his acid ray bloodline power will be something he vomits up (which is why he has no teeth… Yes, I always have to add the color =), his other powers, (0lvL) Detect Technology (Magic), Mage Hand, Light, and Detect Poison, (1st) Charm Person and Disguise Self, are all either mental mutations or physical (I had a hard time with light and will have him just concentrate with a hand outstretched to give the idea it is some sort of mental mutation... Yes I will be rolling the bluff on that one =). Disguise self will be more of a mental push then an actual visual change (I’m going to try this with all illusions and is definitely ify. I will explain that the push is very simple to maintain during the duration, the equivalent of a free action).

Otherwise it looks like a pretty simple conversion. They want zombies (I’ll leave their origin vague), and I will toss in a few variant muties (just standard creatures with a new skin) to keep up the variety.

Well off to work on the adventure =)

Scarab Sages

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One of the problems I have had with the whole raise dead thing was the diamond issue. While their spell component might require an equally expensive material component, they are usually vague or conceivably crafted. The diamond is neither. While it is a great method of controlling the amount of raisings possible, I still find it hard to story in, especially when they never come across them in adventures.

The same complaint could be mirrored in other nonmanufactured specific components, but they tend to be cheaper and less rare.

On the same note, I have never implemented the level reduction on a raise dead. I just could not wrap my mind around the concept storywise. I have always simply knocked them two CON, storied in the whole vague memories of the worlds beyond and moved on with the adventure.

Anyone else deal with either of those two difficulties and how?

Scarab Sages

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I dare you Sebastian... I double dog dare you... Do it! Do it!... I dare you to make another post =)

Scarab Sages

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Barfing up spice is Metal, and yummy. Anyone for a bit of spice in their tea? Can tea be Metal?

Scarab Sages

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They said that they were denied the right to call the song Dune beacuse Herbert did not like metal =(... So sad, because Dune is very Metal =)

Scarab Sages

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Maiden anecdote: When my boy was little he was an avid reader. Then when he got to midgrades they developed this Accelerated Reader program at the schools and I watched in horror as it destroyed his will to read. Mid-highschool rolls around and my son was just wrapping up his SOAD phase and wanted a new band. I told him he should try Maiden. He did, he liked it, and to my utter pleasure, I watched him get back into reading again because of all of the literary tie ins to the music. The End =)

Scarab Sages

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Satan
Made
Us
Really
Friendly

Scarab Sages

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Give me the sense to wonder
To wonder if I'm free
Give me a sense of wonder
To know I can be me
Give me the strength to hold my head up
Spit back in their face
Don't need no key to unlock this door
Gonna break down the walls
Break out of this bad place

Can I play with madness - the prophet started at his crystal ball
Can I play with madness - there's no vision there at all
Can I play with madness - the prophet looked and he laughed at me
Can I play with madness - he said you're blind too blind to see

I screamed aloud to the old man
I said don't lie don't say you don't know
I say you'll pay for your mischief
In this world or the next
Oh and then he fixed me with a freezing glance
And the hell fires raged in his eyes
He said do you want to know the truth son
- I'll tell you the truth
Your soul's gonna burn in the lake of fire

Scarab Sages

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Have a tribe of Blue goblins who, inspite of their obvious intellect, keep saying smurfy things =).

Scarab Sages

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There is more then just a little S&M tendedancies in player and DM relationships. A good DM can inflict just enough pain to make him happy and keep them coming back for more =)

Scarab Sages

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The moral of the story?

You players are very naughty and, if we choose to smite you, we have justification. So no whining =).

Scarab Sages

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My son came home last week and told me one of the kids in his class did an informative speech on DnD and one of the topics he hit was "... and then there are those times you spend three hours on an encounter and the PC's bypass it or ruin it in three seconds."

Definitely the mark of someone who has been there and done that =).

I started working on a new campaign, was hip deep in backstory and details, when I just shook my head because I knew it was fruitless. So I scribbled three micro sentences down and moved on =).

Scarab Sages

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One of the nurses I work with grew up on a farm and told me her mother had a way with the animals. She would call them all "baby" and they would follow her anywhere. Even to the chopping block and the butchers... And they say dnd players are naughty =)

Scarab Sages

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Ahhh... The cuties face defense.

See to the jaded perspective of a vegetarian, and most ghouls, meat is meat =)

(Says the person who has seven cats, two dogs, a tarantula, and a snake... Should the bomb fall, I will definately convert to the meat side and get my revenge for all the turd and barf over the years =).

Scarab Sages

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So, in risk of tangenting this thread off to somewhere else, can you explain this one to me...

[Inserting question into Pathfinder to make it semi justified for this board =]

Some famous chef in, Magnimar, got in trouble for saying that a small village to the north, Sandpoint to be precise, had a great "Cat Stew" (Translated).

All manner of people got upset, mainly pet owners, about how this was cruel and how he should be dethroned as a master chef.

I have been a vegetarian since I was eleven, which happens to be close to three decades ago, and I thought this was, ridiculous (not my exact thought but close =).

How can people complain that eating a cat is any less wrong/right then eating a cow or chicken?

At dire threat of double highjacking anyone else enjoy cow and chicken in the day?

Scarab Sages

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A bit of a mutant =)... No Slayer today. I opted for the Tool =)

Thanks for the correction Celestial... Pathfinder... Whew... Much better =)

Scarab Sages

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It is not that the discussion is entirely valid and all, and the points are fascinating and important, but they are one of the reasons why I like gaming... To get away from the drama and enjoy a little time with people who share something in common.

Diplomacy roll =)...

Scarab Sages

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Yes... Yes... Hmmmm... Uh huh... I totally agree with everyone above.

Anyone for some Dnd? =)

Scarab Sages

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Ha! Imagine the opera singers of Cheliax singing to the lyrics of Slayer! Oh that would be so sweet and strangely fitting.

Scarab Sages

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Ahhhh... Sorry for the tangents folks. Pathfinder tie in...Hmmmm... So I wonder if Rammstein is going to tour in Cheliax. I heard that they had an interesting pizza ritual called pizza Roulette that was popular with the Hellknights. Sounds quite interesting and something I will have to try myself. Cough... Cough... Wink

Scarab Sages

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Combine the two with a little fibbing, "Well honey I always dreamed of getting married in England..." is a good start =)