Don Price 470's page

Following Step also allows you to take an additional 5' step on your next turn. Step Up, stops you from taking a 5' step on your next turn. But, it is a bit of a feat tax before Step up and Strike.

Doug Miles wrote:

People have trouble sticking with a concept. Alignment would be useful if it came with a clearly defined metric, but it doesn't. People like to argue and that's all alignment is good for: starting arguments. It would be nice if characters could voluntarily follow an ethos without the GM constantly asking "What's your class & alignment again?". The bottom line is that the alignment system as it exists is not fun, so it is largely ignored. As a GM I don't sweat it, it's not worth the stress. If the players want to act like they are in an amoral video game and they're having fun, I let them go nuts. In my area, no one cries over dead goblin babies. As long as one person's sense of fun doesn't hijack the game, I don't spend time splitting hairs. Some GMs like to argue with players, but it's not my bag.

In the past I have come down on two classes for ethos violations, but in hundreds of tables it was a rare exception to the rule.

Emphasis mine. Pathfinder is not a game of touchy-feely exploration of an individual's morals and descent from decency to depravity as World of Darkness can be. People who enjoy that will gravitate toward more psych-horror games than a descendant of D&D. Certain classes can be an exception (paladin!), but on the whole, that's not a focus feature of the system.

Why do you feel it's not a focus of the system? Just because it's a statistic listed for every single character and NPC in the game?

I don't expect Pathfinder to be a game of deep moral dilemmas and soul searching, but having players kill, steal and abuse any being mentioned in a scenario is stupid.

With no penalties for their actions, either moral or physical, players likely will devolve into the internet. Players will have an infinite "audience" of NPC's to abuse, with no consequences.

I've had some of the most odd actions come from players recently, I warn the players that what they are proposing isn't a "good" action and get looks of confusion from across the table.

Now we all know the player doesn't have an alignment, or a clearly defined moral code for that matter, but trying to kill a subdued, unarmed, bound person is not "good"; no matter how you spin it.
Characters have an alignment listed on the sheet, and I'm even willing to give some leeway in situations. (The CG dwarf who wants to kill the tied up goblins. OK, chaotic nature and dwarven racism toward goblins.. sure kill em, but you'll feel bad later.)

Asking a beaten, shackled, mistreated person "What will you give me for freeing you?", is not a "neutral" thing to do. (How someone defines neutral is a discussion in and of itself)

Playing an evil character in Society isn't allowed, but having an occasional character who walks the line is fun. An entire table of self-centered, thieving, blackmailing, murdering thugs week after week gets ridiculous.

I have a character who follows the law and this has gotten me called a paladin multiple times, and that makes me laugh (but I would rather cry). Every character around my tables seem to be lightly medicated psychopaths desperately in need of some therapy and a nice fluffy teddy bear.

Since I can't seem to edit my previous post with updates. I'll just add them here.

Amara Li, everyone's favorite party host.
Colson Maldris, Eagle knight and all around stand up guy.
I'm still confused as to how to show Trade Prince Aaqir. I just use a plain puppet for him.

Lanith wrote:

Part of me is happy I can retire, at least, two costumes for my sock puppets in the near future; but part of me is sad that these costumes won't see much more play time. Such is life.

I want so badly to believe that you have actual sock puppets you use for the faction heads.

I've finally gotten around to putting some pictures on Picasa, feel free to click the links if you wish. At this time I would like to apologize for the poor quality of these pictures.

Venture Captain Ambrus Valsin
Sczarni Venture Captain Guaril Karela with his dashing mustache.
Shining start of the Silver Crusade Olyystra Zadrian, yes I know she's not supposed to have a Swedish bonnet on, but I'm still experimenting with helmets.
Auntie Baltwin "Hello children"
Kreuvus looking as un-scary as possible.

I just ran a session of In Service to Lore (First Steps Pt 1) and from a series of laughs with a friend, we decided that running the game with sock puppets would be hilariously fun.
I have a large amount of free time, being currently unemployed, so I figured I would make a couple simple sock puppets and just use my normal character voices with them. (Let's be honest, what GM doesn't use voices?) Well after the puppets were ready with a week to spare, I did a quick prep of In Service to Lore and realized I can't describe most of the Venture Captains. That made me decide, plain sock puppets won't be enough.

Ambrus has his signature mustache/mutton-chop thing, mohawk and orange striped shirt.
Guaril has a suitably puppet mustache.
Ollystra has long hanging braids and a helmet.
Auntie Baltwin has a bun on her head with stands of hair poking out.
Amenephous (sp?) has a blue and purple turban.
Sadly, I wasn't able to finish Paracountess Zarta, but I was able to make an imp, with pointy red ears and wings.

I got some funny looks from my players and a few people nearby at the FLGS; but I also saw smiles and laughter, which was all I wanted.

So there you have it, you can never go too far for fun in Pathfinder.

I'm not with Paizo in any way, but your post will be much more likely to get a response if you list some examples.

ie: Rope Trick is broken, and this is how, and these are the links to the discussion. I haven't seen any posts from those in the know, etc etc.

I can understand your frustration about a lack of response to important questions, but stepping up screaming "Do stuff!" and not giving any specifics isn't likely to get you a response.

Just my two cents.

Lanith