Felix L. Gaunt's page

I heard through the grapevine that Paizo won't be doing PFS due to delayed response from the PAX Team. That is unfortunate, been years since I've gotten in a good game of PFS 1E and was really looking forward to dusting off some old characters!

Wondering if there's any chance of having PFS1 tables at PAX Unplugged this year, a substantial portion of my lodge and friends have passed on 2E but I know a lot of us would love to play some PFS1. I miss Society games! :-(

I've recently heard A LOT of weird rulings on how Pregens should be used when determining APL. I've heard that you simply don't count them AT ALL, you just pick a Pregen for the tier and play. I've also heard that since you're not counting them APL wise that if you have a party of 4 + a Pregen that you play with the 4 player adjustment. Is ANY of this true? I've looked through the guide, FAQ and searched the forums and couldn't find anything to corroborate this. Usually I'm pretty good at finding stuff so I'm kinda questioning these assumptions. If they are true (which is fine by me) can someone point me to where to find said rulings. Thanks!

So I haven't played a character for a while, was Lantern Lodge which became Qadira and now apparently is The Exchange? So not overly thrilled with this on her and a Dark Archive player has a boon that lets me switch to DA for 1 Prestige per Character Level. My question is if I do this do I lose all my Lantern Lodge and Qadira Prestige granted boons (ones I spent Prestige on), or just any Exchange Prestige granted awards?

I'm very confused reading the trait above, see description:

Though dhampirs often relate poorly to humanoids, some share an affinity with baser creatures. These dhampirs gain the ability to communicate with bats, rats, and wolves as if under the effects of a speak with animals spell (caster level equal to 1/2 the dhampir's Hit Dice). In addition, they gain a +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy checks when dealing with these animals. Whenever these dhampirs initiate an exchange, animals begin with a starting attitude of indifferent. This is a supernatural ability. This racial trait replaces manipulative.

So here is where my confusion comes in, Diplomacy then says this:

You cannot use Diplomacy against a creature that does not understand you or has an Intelligence of 3 or less.

Then when I look at Wolves, Rats and Bats their Int is all 2.

So my question is...what the heck? Why do they get a Diplomacy bonus against something they can't use Diplomacy against? Should the word Diplomacy be replaced with Wild Empathy? Should the trait give them Wild Empathy against those animals? Should Diplomacy work in this instance even though the animals Int is 2?

Do all effects (unless stated otherwise within the item's description) use the Caster Level of the Magic Item? For example does a Ring of Energy Shroud's Elemental Aura spell effect function as if being done by a 13th level Caster?

Has there been any thought at Paizo on revisiting prior season Scenarios and giving them a new coat of paint? I know my local group enjoys a challenge and a lot of them tend to dread (maybe too strong a word, let's say not look forward to as much) early Season Scenarios due to their overall easiness (encounter wise). I bring this up because my local game store is going to be running "Echoes of the Everwar" and I glanced over the reviews (star wise, then a bit more in-depth) and the impression I get is the last one is especially anti-climactic (not sure on the rest). I even read a post/comment by the creator and he said that he designed it for 4 people (obviously, Season what 1?) as well as 15-point buy system, and as we all know games can get up to 7 people and we use a 20-point buy.

Along those lines I periodically find really weird stuff in the Scenarios that kinda gimp the NPC's, feats that make no sense, feats that plain don't even do anything for said NPC. I think reviewing and fixing that stuff could go a long way to making things a little more challenging for the PC's. Thoughts?

If I hit something with DR 5\- and do 3 damage with my rapier, then have another +3 from Divine Favor (DF). Do I do the 3 damage from DF? DF is a spell and according to DR it says that spells ignore DR.

Can Flames of the Faithful be modified by Elemental Spell to deal another damage, like say Acid or Cold? However you decide please let me know your logic, thanks! :-)

If a Druid casts Ice Armor on themselves prior to wildshaping does it go poof or get suspended when they wildshape? If they cast it AFTER they've wildshaped would it work and effectively be like barding, i.e. if they were say a bear?

So I know there was a semi-ruling earlier where you needed to be the respective race to purchase items from it as well as pick spells, traits, feats, archetypes, etc. Then I stumbled on an updated ruling that says this. Essentially reversing the earlier ruling to make things make more sense and to address any weird questions or discrepancies. So do Half-Elves and Half-Orcs get some love now? lol

Nabasu

Death-Stealing Gaze - Can be used 1/day per growth point (min 1/day).
Consume Life - Get growth point when turning something into a Ghoul via Death-Stealing Gaze

So do Nabasu get one use Death-Stealing Gaze even if they have no growth points? I imagine yes otherwise it'd be impossible to get growth points.

Deeper Darkness: At will - They can't see in supernatural darkness, so if they did this in dim or no light then they would be effectively blind?

Summon - Can this be done inside a Dimensional Anchor spell?

Enervation - If you use this on somebody and they get 7 negative levels (from multiple uses, which stack) and then get hit with Death-Stealing Gaze and fail (assume they were level 8 initially), do they become a Ghoul?

I'm confused, it says it's been replaced by the Inner Sea World Guide and goes on to mention Feats, Equipment and Prestige Classes that are valid. What if want a Spell from it, are they not available?

When applying GM Credit and you're between Tiers, do you get the lower or higher boon\item rewards?

So let's say you have a Boon that will only work when in a city with 5k+ people in Andoran, oh and it needs to be done as part of a day job roll. Do you need to end the Scenario in the required city to use the Boon?

Can I buy like 6 extra Character Folio's and lend them to PC's to use as a re-roll if they don't have one of their own? I was thinking of doing this as the GM, but I guess it could also apply to someone I'm playing with. What can I say, I'm a nice GM. lol I would of course encourage the PC's to buy one themselves since I wouldn't always be around to help them out. :P

If I have a PC playing a level 5 character in a 1-7 Scenario (Tiers 1-2, 3-4, 6-7) and he plays the Tier 3-4 level, does he get the average of 3-4 + 6-7? Also let's say he was 6th, what would happen then?

I know that when you GM you can't do a Day Job but was wondering if this could be reconsidered. I know a lot of people who have chars that can really use Day Job checks and therefore are resistant to GMing due to the lack of a check. Given that you get the gold, boon(s), etc it doesn't seem unreasonable to also get a Day Job check. It would also go a long way to getting more people to GM. Just a thought!

Are there any magical or non-magical items that would help my handle animal skill? This is other than the obvious Ioun Stones. Thanks!

I read on a post by Paizo that you can't combine Crossblooded and Wildblooded. The reasoning was because one (C)hanges Bloodline Arcana and the other (R)eplaces it. Normally I'd agree that that is enough to prevent them from working, but in this case it doesn't make sense since the so-called "Change" is simply that the Sorcerer uses BOTH Bloodline Arcana's. So you're not really "changing" the Bloodline Arcana, you're just doubling down. Thoughts?

Title says it all, trying to find a definitive ruling on when they should be going. Personally I'd think it's their own initiative roll modified by their initiative score, but since this is for PFS (looked on the PFS board, no answer) I need the actual ruling and not "Well it depends on the GM". I find it hard to believe that there isn't a ruling for this already given how important a question it is.

I seem to be getting conflicting information regarding how one needs to provide any Additional Resource information that their character uses. On one hand I hear it's the actual physical book(s) and a print out from the pdf or pdf itself, and on the other hand I see this in the FAQ:

What do I need to bring to a game to use non-core material?
In order to use additional resources for your character, you must bring a physical copy of the book with you or printouts of the appropriate pages detailing cost (if any) and explanations for each feat, item, spell, prestige class, and so on that you use. One need not prove ownership of said material but they must be from a legally obtained PDF or book printed by Paizo Publishing

I highlighted the parts that I thought were pertinent. Thoughts, am I just reading it wrong? I swear I read a couple of posts on here where the powers-that-be indicated photocopies of physical pages was sufficient. Just looking for a definitive ruling one way or the other.

So I'm trying to squeeze in a couple games before my gaming group runs Rivalry's End, but it looks like I'll be 1 scenario shy. Can I play a level 4 Pregen as Shadow Lodge then apply that credit when my character reaches level 4, complete with the boons given for a Shadow Lodge character?

Made a a thread on it here in case anyone is interested. Any questions you can ask on that thread.

Not sure where to put this exactly, but I created a Google Spreadsheet PFS Scenario Tracker for my local PFS group to help keep track of who has played what in order to know what games to run and thought other people might be interested in it. It also has added functionality to create spinoff gaming groups (see template sheet) by using the data entered on the main sheet. It's kind of a work in-progress so if anyone has any issues, questions or suggestions just let me know. Also please please read the Instructions if you're going to use it! :P

PFS Scenario Tracker

Can you sell some of your pregen's equip (@ half price), and change up their spells (say for a Cleric). Spells make sense for a Cleric like say if you knew ahead of time what you'd be in for.

Is there a list of Con's where PFS is played? I'm interested in some of the Con only scenarios (such as Bonekeep). Also do Con only scenarios eventually get opened up later so if we can't make it to a Con we still get to play it and get any of the cool boon's that might come from it?

LLV confuses me, the PRD says this for Low Light Vision (LLV), then it says this. The first link also says "Characters with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlit night as well as they can during the day.", then the other link says "Areas of dim light include outside at night with a moon in the sky, bright starlight, and the area between 20 and 40 feet from a torch."

So from that I think it means that dim-light is effectively normal light for LLV characters, so they would not suffer the 20% miss chance due to concealment (while in dim light). Thoughts anyone?

I apologize in advance if this has been asked before or is somewhere obvious, but can I opt to do the Slow Progression when applying the GM Credit for a Scenario/Module to one of my characters?

A bunch of us are thinking about trying a Google Hangout PFS Scenario and don't have a lot of time, figure about 3-3.5 hours. What Scenarios would people recommend that are relatively short and straight forward? Mists of Mwangi comes to mind as an example.

I have some friends who missed the PFO Kickstarter when it was open and wanted to donate, is that possible? I know some other Kickstarter's have this capability (obviously not through the Kickstarter website), does that exist for PFO?

Once this boon is "activated" either by rolling or selecting with another player, can it then he assigned to any of your characters or only to the one that you're playing when it's activated?

I know that Slow Advancement halves Prestige received during the scenario, i.e. 1/2 PP for scenario completion, 1/2 PP for faction completion. But what about those boons that give prestige? The PFS Guide doesn't mention those at all, just calls out the above. Would this be 1 PP on Slow, or 1/2 PP?

It says June 2014 for it, should this be June 2013?

I've heard a few times that Animal Companions (regardless of intelligence) can't wield weapons in PFS, and looking at the FAQ I believe it's due to this sentence "Animal companions of any type may not use manufactured weapons." So my questions is if my AC is smart enough (i.e. above the default Intelligence) would it be able to learn IUS and from there something like Feral Combat Training? It's most definitely not a manufactured weapon.

Can Improved Familiars like Lyrakien Azata wear equipment and wield wands/weapons? I read the FAQ but it says at the top "It is intended that animal companions or familiars can not activate magic items" then below it says "The brownie, faerie dragon, imp, lyrakien azata, mephit, quasit, sprite familiars, granted by the Improved Familiar feat, use the Biped (hands) section of the chart. The carbuncle and voidworm protean, familiars granted by the Improved Familiar feat, uses the Serpentine section of the chart. If you do not own a copy of the Animal Archive, your animal companion may only use barding and neck-slot items."

I own the Animal Archive and was interested in getting the Lyrakien Azata familiar, so could I put a helm on her and give her a wand? If so the Improved Familiar feat is worth it, if not then not so much.

I'm trying to figure out what determines an aura, say for the purpose of the Litany of Righteousness spell. It says this: If the target is evil, it takes double damage from attacks made by creatures with a good aura (from a class feature or as a creature with the good subtype).

The Detect Evil Spell says that an Aligned Creature level 5-10 has a Faint Aura, while an Aligned Outsider of 1 or lower has a Faint Aura. Then looking at Aasimar it says they have the Outsider Type and Native subtype. Does that mean a Good Aasimar character has a Faint Aura and a Good PC level 5-10 does also?

If you have GM Scenarios for a character that you have yet to play, when you finally start playing the character can you pick feats/traits/etc that were not available when you did your first DM scenario for them? Specifically I'm inquiring about Magical Knack, but it could I guess apply to anything new book wise.

Key Blend Spell Description:
You draw upon your elven link to the wilderness to change the coloration of yourself and your equipment to match that of your surroundings. This grants you a +4 circumstance bonus on Stealth checks and allows you to make Stealth checks without cover or concealment, but only while you move no more than half your base speed or less.

So normally you need to find cover or concealment to attempt to hide, can't just be standing in the middle of a normally lit room and be like "Hah you can't see me!". Yet with this spell you kinda camouflage into the area. Does this mean you can hide at anytime, even while being observed? To me that's what not needing cover or concealment means, otherwise the spell wouldn't do anything. Thoughts?

I've read enough posts to know that Half-Elves can't buy/learn other racial spells, specifically in this case Elven. My question is if someone else (an Elf obviously) has the spell on a scroll and gives it to me can I then cast it? If so would it just work or would I need to emulate a race using UMD?

Paladin Bond (Mount):
The second type of bond allows a paladin to gain the service of an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed to serve her in her crusade against evil. This mount is usually a heavy horse (for a Medium paladin) or a pony (for a Small paladin), although more exotic mounts, such as a boar, camel, or dog are also suitable. This mount functions as a druid's animal companion, using the paladin's level as her effective druid level. Bonded mounts have an Intelligence of at least 6.

PFS FAQ:
As a paladin or cavalier, what mount can I have?
As a paladin, your divine bond mount must be at least one size category larger than you starting at 1st level. If you’re a Medium PC, your mount must be Large. If you’re a Small PC, your mount must be at least Medium. You may only select a mount from the listed mounts on page 63 of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook unless another source grants access to additional creature choices.

Now a heavy horse is MUCH better than the lame horse in the Animal Companion list. On one hand the FAQ says you can only select a mount from those listed on page 63, then it says unless another source grants access to additional creature sources. Is the actual description of the Paladin mount above an additional source?

Is there any update on this? I think it said ETA March 2013, no rush just curious! Thanks.

I am trying to understand if Sidestep\Whispers will stack with Canny Defense, and if Whispers is affected by Armor Max Dex like Sidestep. See below for info on all 3, I bolded what I thought to be the pertinent parts.

I think Yes to Whispers losing AC due to Armor Max Dex, see the last sentence of it.

As for Canny Defense stacking, I would say yes. It's Int added to AC not Dex, therefore I think it should work. I believe the reason they had it add to Dex AC was because they wanted it to be affected by Armor Max Dex, otherwise they would of just made it Dodge AC instead.

Sidestep Secrets:
Your innate understanding of the universe has granted you preternatural reflexes and the uncanny ability to step out of danger at the very last second. Add your Charisma modifier (instead of your Dexterity modifier) to your Armor Class and all Reflex saving throws. Your armor’s maximum Dexterity bonus applies to your Charisma instead of your Dexterity.

FAQ entry for Sidestep Secrets:
An oracle of lore with the sidestep secret revelation uses her Dexterity to calculate her CMD since no provision is made in the text to use her Charisma for that statistic. She does, however, lose her Charisma bonus to AC whenever she is flat-footed, since her Charisma modifier is being used in place of her Dexterity modifier.

Nature's Whispers:
You have become so attuned to the whispers of the natural world, from the croaking of frogs to the groaning of great boulders, that your surroundings constantly keep you preternaturally aware of danger. You may add your Charisma modifier, instead of your Dexterity modifier, to your Armor Class and CMD. Any condition that would cause you to lose your Dexterity modifier to your Armor Class instead causes you to lose your Charisma modifier to your Armor Class.

Canny Defense:
When wearing light or no armor and not using a shield, a duelist adds 1 point of Intelligence bonus (if any) per duelist class level to her Dexterity bonus to modify Armor Class while wielding a melee weapon. If a duelist is caught flat-footed or otherwise denied her Dexterity bonus, she also loses this bonus.

Can the above be done? The Glove of Storing says "A glove of storing uses up the wearer’s entire hands slot." and the Locked Gauntlet doesn't mention a slot, I suppose because it's not magical?

I saw this in the FAQ:

Sorcerer: Does a sorcerer with the sage bloodline (page 72) use her Int or Cha to determine uses per day of arcane bolt?
The sage sorcerer uses her Int to determine the number of daily uses of her bloodline powers, including arcane bolt. Therefore, whether arcane bolt lists Int or Cha, the sage sorcerer still uses her Int.
The bloodline power lists Cha because that's the standard terminology for sorcerer bloodlines (because all other sorcerers use Cha), and because there may be a way for a non-sorcerer to gain access to that bloodline power, in which case it should be based on Cha (like other sorcerer bloodline powers) instead of Int.

—Sean K Reynolds, 07/14/11

Does this mean that Eldritch Heritage is intended to work with Wildblooded then? I'm not aware of any other ability that allows Non-Sorcerers access to a bloodline power. I know people get nitpicky about Archetype but I always viewed Wildblooded as just a mutated Bloodline, therefore qualifying for Eldritch Heritage.

So Improved Familiar says "You may choose a familiar with an alignment up to one step away on each alignment axis (lawful through chaotic, good through evil)."

Then there are a bunch of familiars where in their description it says "blah blah only Lawful Neutral Characters", or some such nonsense. Does that trump the one step away thing, or does the one step away thing trump it? I looked through the forums but never found any sort of definitive answer. Assuming that the specific alignment does trump the actual Feat, it appears that LG characters get the shaft since anything they can get seems to....kinda suck. :-/

Ok so based upon the following information I think multiple sources of Animal Companions works as follows, please feel free to chime in with your thoughts.

Character: Level 4 Sorcerer, Level 5 Paladin

Notes:
--- Boon Companion does not allow stacking and is limited to Character Level
--- Animal Companion Info: "If a character receives an animal companion from more than one source, her effective druid levels stack for the purposes of determining the statistics and abilities of the companion."

Level Progression:
Level 1: Sor 1 - Sylvan Bloodline [Sorc Level - 1 (min 1)] and Boon Companion Feat
--- Sor AC 1 (Sor Level[1] + Boon Companion[4] - 3)
Level 2: Sor 2
--- Sor AC 2 (Sor Level[2] + Boon Companion[4] - 3)
Level 3: Sor 3
--- Sor AC 3 (Sor Level[3] + Boon Companion[4] - 3)
Level 4: Sor 4
--- Sor AC 4 (Sor Level[4] + Boon Companion[4] - 3)
Level 5: Pal 1
--- Sor AC 5 (Sor Level[4] + Boon Companion[4] - 3)
Level 6: Pal 2
--- Sor AC 5 (Sor Level[4] + Boon Companion[4] - 3)
Level 7: Pal 3
--- Sor AC 5 (Sor Level[4] + Boon Companion[4] - 3)
Level 8: Pal 4
--- Sor AC 5 (Sor Level[4] + Boon Companion[4] - 3)
Level 9: Pal 5 - Bonded Mount [Pal Level] and Boon Companion Feat
--- Sor AC 9 ((Sor Level[4] + Boon Companion[4] - 3) + Pal Level[5])
--- Pal AC 9 (Pal Level[5] + Bloodline[1] + Boon Companion[4])