Gulrokkius's page

It is popularly accepted that you do not get a passive perception check to search for traps. This has a few problems:

1) Players focused on finding traps and secret doors end up spending table time declaring they are searching for both in every room.
2) Trapfinding is a class feature that is generally made redundant by Players taking table time to declare they are searching twice. (exceptions exist.)
3) Players that want to play a faster paced game and not waste real time searching for traps end up triggering traps and missing secret doors.
4) This system does not have a robust system for handling massive differences between character perception bonuses and trap perception DCs.

So what can we do to resolve the above shortcomings? The solution must be robust enough to apply to almost all circumstances, time efficient to allow for a fast paced game, fair to the characters and to the monsters that made these traps, and has bonus points for staying withing the existing rule system (usable in PFS play).

Ok, I cannot take credit for this idea - it was posted in a thread ages ago but I will try to pass the concept along...

Reduce the entire situation to this:
Is the lead PC searching for traps (active) or not (passive)?. Then you just say the party is moving along really slowly and carefully (actively looking) or at a walking pace (passively looking).
Here is the fun part. You only need to roll IF there is a trap to be found. Think about it for a sec. If there is no trap, you can roll, but why? There is nothing to find. Rolling every 5 feet, 10 feet, per room, hallway - is silly. No matter how high or low a player would roll (and no matter the passive perception number) there is just nothing to find. No roll needed.
You only need to worry about it when the party comes along a trap ... If the trap DC is over the passive number 'boom'. If it is under 'trap found'. Easy.
If the PC is actively searching - have them roll as they encounter the trap. Check over the DC= trap found. Under it= 'boom'. That's it. Works great.

You can GenCon vicariously through me, Imbicatus! At least once I will give a battle cry in your name. :)

...there is always the "sick" option. I'm such a good influence.

Went last year. It was awesome. Best part was rolling a 'paizo' (20) on a d20 and JJ letting me skip the store line. Huzzah! Tweeted about it. Lol

I would recommend doing a True Dungeon event. I enjoyed the puzzle based version over the combat one but YMMV. Zombie survival boffer was great too - good workout swinging a sword. :)
Have fun.

To keep things setting specific (Golarion) and still cut ties to the outer planes, you could develop your plot based on the idea that the restrictions/bindings that prevent Rovagugs escape, can be extended to lock the planet (say 100 miles up or to the ozone layer etc...).

This extending device could be an artifact, some alien tech, or some ancient spell. Gods can't get to or influence PC's (and thus can't save the day) without releasing Rovagug. Has to be an inside job to destroy or disrupt the device/spell.

Edit - just noticed Kassegore had the idea first yesterday! Ninja'ed.

@ Pan - not sure of the campaign details yet. I would imagine this GM would have a mix. Never tried cavalier - that could work ....

@Pupsocket - I like that line of thinking. I will have to check on the full caster possibility. I'm fine if I can't buy scrolls etc... as long as I can research.

@darkwarriorkarg - that was my line of thinking with the paladin. I need to find out if the campaign is going to have piles of evil outsiders, undead etc... for that great smite.

A friend of mine is starting up a new campaign and he wants us to make up some PCs. He has said it will be a low magic campaign (so i'm thinking more middle ages than middle earth). He shot down my alchemist and gunslinger ideas already because he doesn't like the feel(damn, I really want to try those classes one day) and warned us that magical mounts (paladin) and sparkling gear won't be just appearing.

So, it is looking like a definite martial slant will be the direction to take. He is comfortable with the core rulebook (he is new to pathfinder but has played D&D over the years) and may let some PC's and things slide in from APG, UC, but likely not UM (so no magus).

I would have taken a rogue but i believe somebody already has one. I think the party so far stands at a rogue, cleric, bard, and ranger (but ranger is unconfirmed). I've played a monk a few times before and do not really want a fighter or barbarian. Getting picky, I know.

I'm leaning towards either a human pally (never played one before - could be fun) or a ranger (urban) BUT I am open to other ideas (but as I said, 'magicky' PCs will be a tough sell, I think). Just not sure which direction to go. Don't know if the setting is Golarion or homebrew, let alone where we would be starting off in the world.

To those whom have played both, either, or just want to weigh in - send me your thoughts. thx

Gulrokkius wrote:

doc the grey wrote:

Gulrokkius wrote:

doc the grey wrote:

Papa-DRB wrote:

Try HERE or HERE. Also a list of them are HERE

-- david

All your links seem to either not work or bring me to treasure generators. What I'm looking for is a program that helps me create a random encounter table.

Try Donjon.bin I believe. Have it written down somewhere..... Pretty good site for lots of randomizing - encounters, shops, traps, treasure et al.

That's not pulling up either. I'm a little surprised at how difficult it has been thus far to find a program that lets me generate a random encounter table lol.

Try donjon.bin.sh/ in search bar. That should do it. It takes me right to it on my ipad. Not sure what to suggest if that doesnt work/help. :s. i do see some people saying its not working - but i was just on it and it seems fine. Was randomizing my brains out. Fun times.

Cool one but does this allow me to give it lists of creatures and then have it randomize it?

In essence I'm looking for something that I can give a list of creatures to and it will create a nice table for them.

No, You cant input data afaik :(. It just spits out a random thing (trap, npc, shop items, or individual monster). Only seen the B1 encounter tables but would love to see them updated to include B2, B3, and now B4.

Gulrokkius wrote:

doc the grey wrote:

Papa-DRB wrote:

Try HERE or HERE. Also a list of them are HERE

-- david

All your links seem to either not work or bring me to treasure generators. What I'm looking for is a program that helps me create a random encounter table.

Try Donjon.bin I believe. Have it written down somewhere..... Pretty good site for lots of randomizing - encounters, shops, traps, treasure et al.

That's not pulling up either. I'm a little surprised at how difficult it has been thus far to find a program that lets me generate a random encounter table lol.

Try donjon.bin.sh/ in search bar. That should do it. It takes me right to it on my ipad. Not sure what to suggest if that doesnt work/help. :s. i do see some people saying its not working - but i was just on it and it seems fine. Was randomizing my brains out. Fun times.

Papa-DRB wrote:

Try HERE or HERE. Also a list of them are HERE

-- david

All your links seem to either not work or bring me to treasure generators. What I'm looking for is a program that helps me create a random encounter table.

Try Donjon.bin I believe. Have it written down somewhere..... Pretty good site for lots of randomizing - encounters, shops, traps, treasure et al.

If there's been a consolidated thread of this nature in the past I apologize for the redundancy of this one. I would like to have a sticky post of the best GM'ing "Tips & Tricks" from the community as a whole as I've seen a lot of new threads pop up over the last few weeks concerning new GM's and the seeking of advice therein.

So without further ado, I'll give some of my tips and tricks from being a GM.

1) Never say "No" to your players, there should always be a way for them to accomplish the tasks you set forth for them or that they've come up with when trying to role-play.

2) Keep a notebook or electronic means near at hand to jot down quick notes of NPC names you've come up with so that you can reference them easily and insert them into your campaign.

3) Always talk to your players beforehand on what kind of campaign they'd like you to run whether it be a high fantasy game or low magic game, whether the group as a whole would rather play in one of the AP's or a home-brewed setting. It should be fun for everyone, including the GM.

4) Ask for feedback from your group on how your game went, soliciting comments from your players will only make it better for the group as a whole and allow you to focus more on what the group likes and less on what they dislike. Example: They want to RP/Combat 70/30 rather than 50/50, this allows you to prepare more role playing scenarios rather than more combat.

Good advice.

Thanks for the ideas all. As I said, I'm currently using Evil Lincoln's ( and others) strain/injury variant and our group of two fighters, rogue, and alchemist enjoy it. I'll look into wounds and vigor a bit closer as a next step.

Hey all,
Was just reviewing combat rules and an optional/houserule idea came into my head. What are your thoughts on having a kind of disabled/hurt condition applied (say only a standard or move action allowed) if hit points are below 50%? (Monsters too)
I would just like to simulate a real struggle a bit better rather than being at full strength one round and dying the next. This might also make in combat healing a more strategic option. I already use EL's strain/injury option and thought about adding this too. Any comments welcome.

Hey all, long long time gamer, fairly recent messageboard lurker.

First, just wanted to offer a corny 'thanks' to all who post both their questions and responses. It's been great looking at gaming concerns from others' perspectives and getting interesting insight from those who favour roleplay, combat, or a combo of both.

So, here is/are my questions to consider: Since the monster stat blocks (including NPC's) often include skills like bluffing and intimidate, how can you or how do you, incorporate them into the your game without controlling a players PC? I see how intimidate can demoralize your opponent (giving the shaken condition) -but is this limited to just one PC being targeted by the creature's attack? I can see this if it's an ogre trying to intimidate a PC, but what about a dragon roaring a threat at the group? I'm thinking RAW says only one target but RAI may suggest otherwise.
Now I'm also wondering about bluffing/lying to a PC/PC's. For example, picture an orc, evil noble, werewolf ... dropping their weapon to 'surrender'. Their intent is to live to fight another day. Players metagaming know it, GM knows it - but the PC's don't necessarily of course. Here comes the true roleplaying. Can the combatant, bluff his way out of it? ("I totally promise I'll be good from now on"). How would you handle it? 'cuz you know some players are going to yell 'I kill him' no matter what. lol PC's can (and likely will) do a sense motive, of course. But let's say they all fail and are 'bluffed'. A player controls his PC. If somebody wants to rip the guy up, hard to redirect that sword, arrow, disintegrate spell without 'controlling' the PC (eg. "No, you failed your sense motive so you believe the drow is going to lead a peaceful life now;)" ). Heck, what might happen if some of the party are bluffed and some aren't in the situation?

Anyway, something to consider. Any ideas, comments, feedback is cool.