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Spoilers for the Adventure Path, naturally, though hopefully the title was vague enough! AV spoilers:
So... Paizo has announced drow will no longer be in Pathfinder post-remaster. While one could technically play with them in AV anyway, some folks (myself included) might take it as a fun chance to do something new. They do have a big part in the story, with both Volluk and his assistant being drow and, far more importantly, the Level 9 drow community.
So, what do you guys intend on doing? - You could have the urdefhan replace them, and have them fight against some other big threat. But in another recent AP, you also aid urdefhan (and against drow... what are the odds?) which might be rethreading ground if you've played it.
So what do you guys think? Keep 'em, replace 'em, what's the plan?
Will there still be an in-universe group name for Aasimar or Tieflings (obviously not those exactly, but an equivalent)? Or has the distinction between the two been brushed away? I always liked that Tieflings for example had a sort of commonality together, and it'd make me sad to think that a hellspawn would in universe be no closer linked to a demonic tiefling than to a musetouched.
Hey howdy, everyone! I'm Derry, your gender non-comformiest GM, and I'm here to present (for your listening pleasure!) the third campaign of the award winning Dice Will Roll podcast! Do you have what it takes? To stand among legends? To overcome impossible foes and challenges? To be the greatest fighter in the world? Then prove it... AT THE RUBY PHOENIX FIGHTING TOURNAMENT! Once every 10 years, adventurers from around the world are invited to the eastern continent of Tian Xia, where dragons rule nations and kami live in sprawling forests of spirits. It is here that they compete in a martial arts tournament organized by the mythical sorceress, Hao-Jin, the Ruby Phoenix. The prize? One of the infinitely powerful relics she collected over the millennia, from weapons that have felled nations to handwoven demiplanes, artifacts anyone in the world would do anything to own. 32 teams will compete in the trials of Danger Island, 8 will compete in the finals in the city-state of Goka, and only ONE team will stand victorious. Are you ready? Then FIGHT! Join Masami Takahara, the Kitsune Magus, Xie Chuji, the Dhampir Monk and Sangku, Witch-Prince Of The Sea, the Undine Witch, as they take on the dangers of Danger Island, the trials of the tournament and adventures beyond! Lots of references to anime, JRPGs and more by folks who grew up on the stuff. We've previously run Kingmaker and Extinction Curse, and our newest show is angled to be the best one yet! So come along, and keep it rollin'! Our Website!
Thanks for checking us out!
Literally nobody wants to cancel Paizo, good grief. We want their workers to be treated fairly. Is every complaint from henceforth a witch hunt or mob justice? Or are we supposed to sit there and be fine with companies doing less than savoury moves? Grow up, you're not 12, we can expect better from companies. Nobody has pitchforks, and nobody wants to destroy Paizo or anything.
Posting this here from the main thread for visibility. Obviously, this situation is a lot, with many moving pieces. However, one thing has become clear; employees are being mistreated. Writers, artists, developers who make the stories we love, and use the platform of Paizo to reach more people than they ever could alone. But that's coming at the expense of abuse from their employers, and it has to stop. This situation has evolved into is a call for accountability and for better working conditions for Paizo Employees. Those interested in helping more can find the hashtag #PaizoAccountability on Twitter, where several former Paizo staffers, freelancers and community members have put together a list of demands, which are: * Paizo needs to hire a whistleblower/arbitration company.
These are requests put together by people who know Paizo and have or still do work with them. These aren't fantasies, they're fundamental requirements of the employees to fix this company. I, the guy in charge of the Dice Will Roll Podcast, and many other content creators like Jessica Redekop of Valiant, Perram of Know Direction and Rise of the Rulelords have joined in in calling it; if you want things to be better, or maybe you just want to stop hearing about all this, then help us end it and email these fundamentals to customer.service@paizo.com and help make a change.
Anyway, for people throwing a fit over this being cancel culture, it really isn't. What it has evolved into is a call for accountability and for better working conditions for Paizo Employees. Those interested in helping more can find the hashtag #PaizoAccountability on Twitter, where several former Paizo staffers, freelancers and community members have put together a list of demands, which are: * Paizo needs to hire a whistleblower/arbitration company.
These are requests put together by people who know Paizo and have or still do work with them. These aren't fantasies, they're fundamental requirements of the employees to fix this company. Myself and many other content creators like Jessica Redekop, Perram of Know Direction and Rise of the Rulelords have joined in in calling it; if you want things to be better, or maybe you just want to stop hearing about all this, then help us end it and email these fundamentals to customer.service@paizo.com and help make a change.
This really isn't getting the scope of the problem, I feel. Bigotry is only one of the problems; the treatment of employees is another that was barely touched on. Many of us also want to know HOW you're going to listen to employees to make the company better. Simply saying you'll listen feels dismissive, as was just stating Paizo's inclusivity mission. Saying things is one thing. Doing it is another. We want action, not platitudes.
Hey! So, one of my EC players has a tie to Proteans (she's a Witch), and I was delighted to read in the Zevgavizeb gazetteer that he was originally a Qliphoth Lord turned into a Demon by the Proteans to cause instability in the Abyss. I'm thinking it could be a great story beat for my campaign to have the Proteans reveal themselves to the Witch and explain why they've put her on the path to stop Sarvel Everhunger that she's on, and explain their involvement with the very problem they now face. I'm wondering... Could I swap out Bokrug with a Qliphoth of some description? Maybe Dagon, another former Qliphoth Lord? Is there someone else more thematic to put into Willowside?
Hey James! I'm running Edgewatch, and its relatively difficult at times to know what is and isn't a crime sometimes. Can my Tengu Ancestral Oracle use Animate Dead, or is that a crime in Absalom? What does and doesn't warrant a trip to the slammer?
Basically, I know the laws of Absalom change a lot... But what are some of the core tenets of law here?
Hey gang! After browsing the forums and reading through the rules for the Circus, I got the urge to expand on it. So, compiling ideas from Zapp and IcedMilk in the Circus Analysis Thread, and then expanding on those further, I bring you...
Featuring... *Rewards for Successfully Completing Acts
And much more! Feedback welcome, we'll be using these in Dice Will Roll's playthrough of Extinction Curse which starts Thursday the 30th alongside the release of the APG in order to show off some of the new character options available in the book! Hope you enjoy!
This is an interesting topic for me, as I'm planning a horror campaign heavily inspired by Algonquin and Inuit cultures (combined with some other concepts like eldritch horror) where the Wendigo is a major presence throughout the campaign. Even though it's just a campaign for me and some friends, I've been trying to do research to present things as accurately and respectfully as possible while still giving myself some creative freedom. I've been trying to think of how to accurately represent the Wendigo while still remaining within the D&D/Pathfinder "go to place and kill the monster" mold, which I'm not entirely sure is appropriate for the Wendigo. The quote from Desmond I posted may be interesting to you. In his eyes, it's okay-- so long as you are keenly aware of the lesson the myth is meant to tell, a warning against all consuming greed. I'll probably stick to the name Rysky coined, and remain careful either way, but yeah, you're on the right track I think!
Saxra renaming does bit confuse me since term is so obscure that pathfinder is first google result. So kinda hard to tell are they similar to wendigo and skinwalker in that they are also secret knowledge you aren't supposed to say aloud? A good question. I actually researched the Saxra while trying to write a one-shot, and found it remarkably hard to find anything on it. I could only find a single paragraph in an old, old book on it- though to be fair, I was looking in English, and Spanish results may have wielded slightly more. That being said, my assumption is they changed it to make it a Pathfinder original and save people the rabbit hole? Maybe??
Ithaqua is Lovecraft's Windwalker/Wxndigo (seriously, his title is The Wxndigo), so I just played with that.Could rename them Ithaq or something of the like. Huh! I considered myself pretty well read on old Huge Racist Lovecraft. Ironic that we'll be able to use his IP to be more respectful to indigenous people, despite it all! Using his works in inclusive media continues to be my favorite pass time!
... Man, the point is they don't want people finding out more and giving it more ability to do harm. That's exactly the point. They don't want it to be trivialized, and would prefer we didn't use it. Having creatures inspired by a legend but not an actual representation of the legend itself for culturally respectful reasons ≠ whitewashing. I dunno if you're deliberately misreading the point or not, but it's not really our place to decide something /isn't/ culturally insensitive if native folk say it is, which they've been saying. I linked you places they've said it. I've talked to someone who agreed. I dunno how else to convince you this isn't some fringe issue
So here's that! In Extinction Curse, this can still be written in easily. That being said, there's still a lot of room as written to misrepresent these guys, and that's still something Paizo should consider looking into. This doesn't touch the Sk*nwalker thing, which I feel could best be fixed by just using the term Werekin, since the ancestry doesn't really have anything to do with Sk*nwalker lore, and everything to do with lycantrophy. To be clear: I'm not saying "Ugh, Paizo's SUCH a bad company" for this. They do representation so much better than... Well, anyone I've seen so far in any media, honestly! It's just that these two beings specifically have a cultural context we can't really compare to any other monster in the bestiary without delving into false equivalency and overlooking the things that happened to Indigenous people and their culture at the hand of colonization. If we're willing to look at why a law enforcement AP could be handled insensitively, and give guidelines in order to better approach it in a more aware way, then I feel we can share that respect with Native Folk and their culture too.
Could rename them Ithaq or something of the like. Ohhh, Ithaq? Where's this from? Something of note- the whole "big zombie ice deer" Thing is actually something of a Pathfinder original. The deer thing is kind of contemporary, considering the original creature is like an ice giant. Pathfinder changed the Saxra to the Skulltaker (albeit, probably for different reasons, since the Saxra, an Argentinian myth I believe, is relatively obscure) so honestly, renaming it might be a big step. Thank you Rysky, you remain this forum's patron saint!
Hey man, let's de-escalate a little, okay? Remember that Native folk are still around, and by and large the victims of genocide. Saying "what about the Greeks?" is a false equivalency, because the Greeks weren't killed en masse and forced to forgo their culture by their killers. Google is your friend here, but as a show of good faith, here's a few sources on why plundering a very important native belief as Big Scary Monster when it's still a part of a modern culture, not one that's been gone for millenia, is a problem. This isn't an All Monsters! situation. I'm Irish, I don't mind leprechauns at all, because they're not a core part of my culture. To answer your question, the TL;DR is naming the creature is considered taboo, since it gives it power and invites its attention, and many native folk request we respect that tradition and don't do it. Here's a few sources, if you want to know more! https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2018/10/why-the-wendigo-is-not-my-monster/ https://ko-fi.com/post/The-Wendigo-Is-Not-Yours-for-the-Taking-C0C116U8P https://www.backstoryradio.org/blog/the-mythology-and-misrepresentation-of- the-windigo/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/ladygeekgirl.wordpress.com/2015/06/01/magical- mondays-appropriating-myth-and-magic/amp/
This is the thing I'm most curious about. I've managed to get a hold of the team lead of Heartbeat Dice, who is native themselves. I've asked them if changing the name enough? Should changes be more severe? Are there even a need for changes, should they be handled respectfully? Etc etc. I'll update with their insight soon!
I know how it can come across as that, but no. I've seen native voices on the topic in the past, and I guess the best I can get from the issue is that the naming of the W*ndigo is to Algonquian what depicting Mohammad is to Islam. You just don't do it. This isn't like fighting Devils, or creating Golems- both of those stem from active religions too, yes, but the Bible doesn't specifically say "never, ever say this things name"
Mild Age of Ashes & Extinction Curse spoilers ahoy! Hopefully, me censoring W*ndigo was enough to pique your curiosity into reading this thread. Regardless, with how TTRPGs are looking at cultural and racial sensitivity lately, I wanted to bring up an elephant in the room that's been on my shoulders since Day 1 of getting the first Bestiary: the W*ndigo. I'll be clear: I'm white as snow! I'm hailing from Ireland, the closest I've come to interacting with the First Nations is dating a Canadian. That being said, using your platform, etc etc, this is something I feel we as a community (and if possible, one Paizo can weigh in on eventually, especially now that they're hiring sensitivity readers) should discuss. The long and short is the W*ndigo is a HUGE part of Algonquian culture, even today. This isn't some random critter from folklore, it's an extremely serious topic that, for the most part, is trivialised and turned into another good ol' fashioned Monster of the Week by the rest of the world. Granted, the PF version has more inspiration from Blackwood's novel than from folklore, but even saying the name of the creature is considered taboo. I was hoping Paizo might change the name and some features to make it into a creature inspired by the folklore but seperate enough to be respectful of Algonquian culture. It was honestly a surprise to get to its page in the Bestiary when I first opened it, full name right there, considering Paizo tends to be on the ball with sensitivity lately. I was willing to drop it (whatever! I just won't use it!), but now both Adventure Paths in 2e have at least one W*ndigo encounter, one of which is pretty important. It's getting harder to avoid the topic, so I'm bringing it up now. How do we approach this situation? What alternatives are there, in name or in spirit? And how do we do this in a way most respectful of the cultures this figure was, unfortunately, trivialised from?
I didn't have money when the Kickstarter came around... but I do now. Hey, when's this gonna be up for preorder?! I'm not gonna run Kingmaker in 2e a second time after doing it with Dice Will Roll, but I really want this- if only to read back, see how things could have gone differently. Also, HUGE commendations on making Nyrissa look amazing! Her old design never struck me as "beautiful yet terrifying", but this... she's really both now.
So... I made Valthazar the sibling of one of my group's PC's dhampir. Valthazar is likely part of a plot to somehow resurrect their dead vampire mother (cleric of Zon-Kuthon who tortured her kids for divine gratification!), who my group killed in Carrion Crown. I've found myself at an impasse... What now? I'm having difficulty figuring out WHERE I should put Valthazar. We're into Book 4 now, and the best idea I've had is putting him alongside the Book 5 boss, but that doesn't sit right. I'm wondering if I could have a sidemission involving the vampire family and their double-undead mother (anyone who can suggest a good way of bringing back a vampire without just making her a wholly sane and functional creature gets a cookie!) in Book 6, or even having the clan appear during the final fight... but I'm really lost! Any ideas are appreciated!
This absolutely rules! LOVE the idea of a Gas Chamber, and the Alche-mime is VERY clever!
A cool concept, but I think I'd prefer my Kobold in this AP to be... Copper. ;)
An issue in the first few episodes, before I properly learned how to do sound editing- but one that's thankfully been long fixed! Glad you enjoyed what you heard!
Hey folks! I'm Derry, the GM of Dice Will Roll! We're a group of four friends who want to bring some diversity and fun to your table! Dice Will Roll started out way back when the Playtest for Pathfinder 2nd Edition was released. We were beyond excited to listen to other people play, we realised something- so many of the Pathfinder Pods out there have casts of predominantly, for lack of a better descriptor, middle-aged straight white men. Not that that's an issue by any measure- we just found it hard to find anyone we could really relate to or really represent us! So we decided we wanted to be the change we wanted to see in the world, and make our own show that did just that for people out there like us, and made Dice Will Roll, the Gayest Pathfinder Podcast on the Planet, where we ask the Hard Questions like... is it cannibalism to eat an awakened and polymorphed chicken? Is it morally acceptable to kiss a goblin? Or is it blasphemy to write slashfic about your deity? The show's been going since February now, and we've just hit about 50 episodes, having gone through Books 1 through 4 of the iconic Kingmaker AP (converted to 2e by yours truly!) to completion at the time of writing. We've laughed, we've cried, and we've told a hell of a great story so far- and we want you there with us! Join the cast on their adventures to build up the Kingdom of Kilcela and face terrible foes, legendary challenges and more in this campaign that's been given a few extra homebrewed touches to tell a damn good story about its heroes. The Cast Includes... Ichor Eteocles, a gay Human Bard with more than a little pride and great aspirations of becoming something legendary and building a legacy to remember! (Played by Ritz S., a nonbinary Californian theatre kid and Furby enthusiast!) Kaska Tanavin, a lesbian Half-Elf Druid with a love for animals (especially her wolf companion, Issorar!) matched only by her dry sarcasm and wit! (Played by Luna "KK" S.N, a bisexual Filipina and Graphic Design major!) Alden Felstad, a transguy Half-Orc Fighter who collects swords by the dozen and wants nothing more than to be recognized world-wide as an amazing hero! (Played by Dave P., a trans Latino artist!) All other characters, from the nonbinary centaur deputy to the aroace cleric mayor, are played by yours truly- Derry L, a genderfluid Irish Game Master! Check out the spoiler tag for a list of links to follow to access our show. Let us know what you think, and above all else, Keep It Rollin', everyone!! :
Start from Episode 1, or jump right into the action at Episode 27, the start of Book 3, for a spooky Roanoke-style mystery!
A few of my players are VERY excited for the playtest. One of them was wondering how the abilities of some classes might interact with the abilities of others- speficially, Barbarian-Witches (Cackle and Rage? Sign me up!).
Why oh why is it that every time people say "I think I'd like to have a nuanced look at the lore", some chucklenut comes in with "But /I/ want to have races that are specifically child murdering slave owning sex deviants!" This is like the 4th time this kind of thing has happened on my times in the forums... nuance is good, it's messed up to have "ENTIRE RACE SHARES X IDEOLOGY" enforced, grow up
The APG announcement has caught both hype, surprise and intrigue from the players around the forums. Lemme open with Paizo, we really don't deserve you. Please, here's the keys to my house; take everything you like. Anyway, rather than setting up a tonne of threads about what each class will be like or clogging the APG announcement thread, let's discuss what each class might be like, going off context clues and how the old class works! INVESTIGATOR
ORACLE
SWASHBUCKLER
WITCH
Discuss! What are your ideas? What proof have you? |
