Gundahar Brandt's page

Instead of a demo with a group of 1st level character demonstrating balanced gameplay, give us a demo of a group of mid-high level game where the group has optimized characters trying to break the game.

Stress testing is where we can see just how well things hold up, not driving down a residential street at 5mph.

One of the changes made in certain editions of D&D was redefining spell durations, e.g. encounter or all day.

With Pathfinder 3.0 adding an Exploration Mode where time is measured in Minutes -> Hours, how is this going to impact spell durations?

Are all spells with less than an hour/level duration going to immediately stop working when an encounter ends?

Paizo has already committed to using the Revised Action Economy rules introduced in Unchained.

I don't usually use words like Hate, Loathe, or Despise, but I really cannot think of more appropriate terms to describe my feelings towards the Revised Action Economy rules.

What does everyone else think about this change?

Welcome to Into the Nightmare Rift.

The initial post is up in the discussion thread. Please make introductions.

We will have to decide who is currently carrying which shard. All of the shards offer worthwhile bonuses, and the remaining two shards will be discovered over the course of the game. There will be information available before traveling to the next shard, for those with the appropriate knowledge skills.

I hope everyone enjoys this little adventure and if we run into difficult spots with the new classes it is to be expected. We will all be learning as we go.

After nearly a year of adventuring together the party has amassed five fragments of an ancient Thassilonian artifact, the Sihedron. Each shard of the artifact leading in turn to the next shard. While each shard is cursed, placing the appropriate ioun stone in a shard deactivates the curse and allows the bearer to benefit from both the shard and the ioun stone. Recovering from the groups most recent acquisition, the Shard of Envy, the group has returned to Magnimar to resupply and research the next leg of its quest.

Currently guests of Sheila Heidmarch, you find yourselves with substantial resources in the form of an extensive library and a host who is more than familiar with the surrounding lands.

Currently in the group's possession are:

• Shard of Envy: Dusty Rose Prism
  
• Shard of Gluttony: Pink Rhomboid
  
• Shard of Greed: Pale Blue Rhomboid
  
• Shard of Lust: Pind and Green Sphere
  
• Shard of Pride: Scarlet and Blue Sphere
  

I am setting up a higher level playtest for Occult Mysteries, trying to see how well the classes fare in a higher level published AP.

The recruitment threat is here. Hopefully we can get some decent feedback on how the classes perform at higher level in published content.

This thread will be where I, and any players who choose to do so, can praise or vent as appropriate.

I am running AP 65 - Into the Nightmare Rift as a playtest for Occult Mysteries. This is a level 13 - 15 AP with an extended dungeon crawl as the primary focus.

Guidelines

• Level 13 - Standard WBL
  
• PFS Rules
  
• Looking for 4 occult classes, two non-occult: for comparison.
  
• Will maintain a feedback thread in the playtest area
  
• Post at least 1/day during the week. Weekends, not so much.
  

I'll start the game as soon as I have a good selection of characters. As a playtest, the game will focus on mechanics more than character development, backgrounds are optional. This does not mean no roleplay and just posting combat actions. It does mean I won't spend two weeks resolving a social conflict in character.

As the thread says; what magic items do you want to see?

Kinetic Bracers

Aura moderate conjuration; CL 7th
Slot wrists; Price 2,000 gp (+1), 8,000 gp (+2), 18,000 g[ (+3), 32,000 gp (+4),
50,000 gp (+5)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
These item appear to be wrist or arm guards etched with symbols of the four elements

Kinetic Bracers grant the wearer's ranged attack spells and spell-like abilities an enhancement
bonus, just as though the wearer were attacking with a ranged weapon. Both bracers must be
worn for the magic to be effective.

Alternatively, Kinetic Bracers can grant ranged weapon special abilities. See Table: Ranged Weapon Special Abilities for a list of abilities.
Special abilities count as additional bonuses for determining the market value of the item, but do not modify attack or damage rolls.
Kinetic Bracers cannot have a modifier bonus (enhancement bonus plus special ability bonus equivalents) higher than +5.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -

Craft Wondrous Item, greater magic fang, creator's caster level must be at least three times
the amulet's bonus, plus any requirements of the ranged weapon special abilities;
Cost 1,000 gp (+1), 4,000 go (+2), 9,000 gp (+3), 16,000 gp (+4), 25,000 gp (+5)

As it currently stands, the gnome racial trait adds to the fire based class abilities of every single class prior to Occult Mysteries.

Classes using psychic spells will benefit from pyromaniac; type of spells affected by the ability is not defined.

Pyrokinetecist will not benefit from pyromaniac as currently written. Can we get this class to support racial abilities that were written before anyone thought there would be classes devoted to SLA's.

Gnomes with this racial trait are treated as one level higher when casting spells with the fire descriptor, using granted powers of the Fire domain, using the bloodline powers of the fire elemental bloodline or the revelations of the oracle's flame mystery, and determining the damage of alchemist bombs that deal fire damage (this ability does not give gnomes early access to level-based powers; it only affects the powers they could use without this ability). Gnomes with Charisma scores of 11 or higher also gain the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—dancing lights, flare, prestidigitation, produce flame. The caster level for these effects is equal to the gnome's level; the DCs are Charisma-based. This racial trait replaces gnome magic and illusion resistance.

Question: Does the magus count his class levels as swashbuckler class levels when using deeds?

Magus gain access to swashbuckler deeds via two new arcana in the ACG. Neither arcana touches the subject of level used to calculate the effectiveness of deeds that use swashbuckler level.

A magus gains the derring-do and

opportune parry and riposte deeds from the swashbuckler’s
list of deeds. The magus can spend points from his arcane
pool as panache points to use these deeds and any other deeds
he gains from the deed arcana, but he cannot use points
from his arcane pool to use deeds from other classes or those
gained by feats, nor can he regain points to his arcane pool
as a swashbuckler would regain panache points. Effects that
add to, reduce the cost of, or otherwise affect panache or grit
don’t affect the arcane pool of a magus with this arcana.

When a magus takes this arcana, he can

pick any one deed from the swashbuckler class feature as
long as that deed can be used by a swashbuckler of his magus
level. The magus can use that deed by using points from his
arcane pool as the panache points required for that deed.
A magus can take this arcana multiple times, each time
gaining a new deed. The magus must have the f lamboyant
arcana (see below) to select this arcana.

The question is self explanatory. How are deeds, such as Precise Strike, calculated when taken by the magus as an Arcane Deed?

Question: How does Precise Strike interact with Spell Combat?

With the ACG, the magus class was given an an arcana that allows magi to pick up swashbuckler deeds. The first Deed that jumps out is one that requires the character to use a weapon in one hand while the other hand is empty (or holding a buckler, but we are discussing magi), the same restriction spell combat imposes.

At 3rd level, while she has at least 1 panache point, a swashbuckler gains the ability to strike precisely with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon (though not natural weapon attacks), adding her swashbuckler level to the damage dealt. To use this deed, a swashbuckler cannot attack with a weapon in her other hand or use a shield other than a buckler. She can even use this ability with thrown light or one-handed piercing melee weapons, so long as the target is within 30 feet of her. Any creature that is immune to sneak attacks is immune to the additional damage granted by precise strike, and any item or ability that protects a creature from critical hits also protects a creature from the additional damage of a precise strike. This additional damage is precision damage, and isn't multiplied on a critical hit. As a swift action, a swashbuckler can spend 1 panache point to double her precise strike's damage bonus on the next attack. This benefit must be used before the end of her turn, or it is lost. This deed's cost cannot be reduced by any ability or effect that reduces the amount of panache points a deed costs (such as the Signature Deed feat).

At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks.

Can a magus use both Precise Strike and Spell Combat in the same round?

Question: How does Flurry from multiple classes interact?

We now have three classes that grant Flurry:

• Monk: Flurry of Blows
  
• Warpries(Sacred Fist): Flurry of Blows
  
• Brawler: Brawler's Flurry

Does attack progression add class levels together or does each progress separately?

Would a Sacred Fist/Monk count all levels from both classes towards BAB (assuming the monk did not take an archetype without FoB)?

Does Brawlers Flurry count as Flurry of Blows for the purpose of meeting prerequisites?

Question: Does the Exploiter Wizard qualify for the Extra Arcanist Exploit Feat?

Your repertoire of arcanist exploits expands.

Prerequisite: Arcanist exploit† class feature.
Benefit: You gain one additional arcanist exploit. You
must meet the prerequisites for this arcanist exploit.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Each
time you do, you gain another arcanist exploit.

At 1st level and every 4 levels thereafter, the exploiter wizard gains a single arcanist exploit. The exploiter wizard uses his wizard level as his arcanist level for determining the effects and DCs of his arcanist exploits.

This ability replaces arcane school.

Traditionally, class features copied into another class have qualified for feats requiring the original class feature, even if the feature name is changed slightly.

Example: Life Oracles Channel revelation is generally accepted to qualify for the Extra Channel feat, which has the cleric Channel Energy class feature as a prerequisite. The feature names are similar, not identical.

This post was accepted as resolving the issue at the time, but has since been called out as not being an official FAQ.

Question: Does the Warpriest (Sacred Fist) AC Bonus(SU) stack with the Monk AC Bonus(EX)?

A deity protects her sacred fist as long as he is unarmored and unencumbered. A sacred fist adds his Wisdom modifier (minimum 0) to his AC and his CMD. In addition, a sacred fist gains a +1 deflection bonus to AC and CMD at 4th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every 4 levels thereafter (to a maximum of +5 at 20th level).

These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the sacred fist is flat-footed. He loses these bonuses when he is immobilized or helpless, when he wears any armor, when he carries a shield, or when he carries a medium or heavy load.

When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds his Wisdom bonus (if any) to his AC and his CMD. In addition, a monk gains a +1 bonus to AC and CMD at 4th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every four monk levels thereafter, up to a maximum of +5 at 20th level.

These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. He loses these bonuses when he is immobilized or helpless, when he wears any armor, when he carries a shield, or when he carries a medium or heavy load.

Traditionally, double dipping a stat is frowned upon, but the bonuses are untyped. One ability is EX, the other is SU. At higher level, the monk gains an untyped addition above and beyond his wisdom. As the Sacred Fist levels, he gains a Deflection Bonus to AC above and beyond his wisdom. (This part should stack regardless of any wisdom stacking ruling.)

A question was raised: can a magus combine spell combat and Precise Strike?

Precise Strike (Ex): At 3rd level, while she has at least 1 panache point, a swashbuckler gains the ability to strike precisely with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon (though not natural weapon attacks), adding her swashbuckler level to the damage dealt. To use this deed, a swashbuckler cannot attack with a weapon in her other hand or use a shield other than a buckler. She can even use this ability with thrown light or one-handed piercing melee weapons, so long as the target is within 30 feet of her. Any creature that is immune to sneak attacks is immune to the additional damage granted by precise strike, and any item or ability that protects a creature from critical hits also protects a creature from the additional damage of a precise strike. This additional damage is precision damage, and isn’t multiplied on a critical hit.

Spell Combat (Ex): At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks.

Armasse officially began at noon, with the blessing of the festival by Lord Hulrun himself, ruler of Kenabres. The crowd gathered in Clydwell Plazza quieted as the aged inquisitor took the stage, clad in shining, resplendent armor. He cleared his throat, but just as he was about to speak, a bright light shone from the west, as if the sun were rising from the wrong direction. Hulrun’s shadow fell huge and distorted across the cathedral’s façade. A moment later, the sound of a thunderous explosion ripped through the air and earth, along with a violent tremor.

To the west, the fortress known as the Kite – the location of Kenabres’s wardstone – had vanished. In its place, a brilliant plume of red fire, lightning, and smoke erupted into the heavens.

A moment later, a powerful roar accompanied a welcome sight rising from the crowd – Kenabres’ greatest guardian, the ancient silver dragon Terendelev, who until that moment had been attending the ceremony disguised as a human. Above, another form appeared, as nightmarish as the dragon was breathtaking. A humanoid shape three times the size of any man, with skin coated in fire and lightning, gripped a flaming sword and whip. The creature’s identity was immediately obvious: Khorramzadeh, the Storm King of the Worldwound, had come to Kenabres.

As the ground continued to shake and disgorge demons into the streets, the dragon and the balor lord clashed above. The fight was over in a few harrowing moments, as the balor cut deep into Terendelev’s body, swooping down to strike the dragon and arrest her charge. A few more blows and the titanic duo spiraled downward toward the crowd.

The sight of the dragon smashing into the façade of the Cathedral of St. Clydwell is one no witness would ever forget. At that moment, a titanic demon erupted at the far end of the plaza, reducing several buildings to ruins as it smashed into this world. The rift it created shot across the plaza, and this time there was no escape – it opened the floor beneath your feet, angling away into darkness.

Even as you fell, the dragon noticed your plight. Though she saw death standing over her, she seized this final chance to save a few more souls. After she uttered a few arcane words and stretched out a bleeding talon, you felt her magic take hold of you, slowing your plummet into the darkness as if you were feathers falling into a pit. Yet the fall remained inexorable, and as you drifted downward into the depths, the last thing you saw was the Storm King standing before the ancient silver dragon, his sword lashing out and cleaving full through her neck. As her severed head fell, the rift above you slammed shut, and the light of the world above you was gone.

The 16th of Arodus is a day of Festivity in Kenebres and this year promises to be no exception. Nearly two hours before the official start of Armasse and Clydewell plaza is already thronging. Jugglers and acrobats are competing for the crowds attention and the wagering is already fierce over impromptu contests.

The gaiety of the crowd only increases as you watch a pair of identical gnomish wizards dueling with butterflies of fire and ice. A crowd of youngsters cheering them on towards every more outlandish displays, one gnome nearly setting his own hat afire as a swarm of butterflies swirls about him.

Across Clydewell Plaza, the best seats for the oncoming ceremony are already beginning to fill. You don’t want to take too long if you want decent seats, or seats at all for that matter. Lord Hulrun himself, Lord of Kenebres, will be officiating the start of Armasse today.

Later, after the ceremony, the jousting tournament begins. A sight not to be missed as some of the finest knights of the crusade compete for the honor of the first dance with Lord Hulrun’s daughter at this evenings Grand Ball.

Welcome to Wrath of the Righteous

It's been a long time sine I've run a campaign and I've decided to jump back into DM'ing with a mythic campaign that will allow me to enjoy my more sadistic urges. The opportunity to carefully marshal a group of adventurers from level one up through an assault on the abyss itself is simply too great a temptation.

Playing around with the new mythic rules, I've built Jacob. A displaced young man with a silver tongue. He wanders Golarion seeking his past, and his future.

Jacob

The Archmage path ability Divine Knowledge has one of the flaws that most irk me about pathfinder. Lack of foresight.

Divine Knowledge (Ex): You can use arcane power to

cast a small number of divine spells. Choose three 1stlevel
spells from the cleric spell list or three 1st-level
spells from the druid spell list. You can add those spells
to your spellbook (if you’re a magus or wizard) or familiar
(if you’re a witch) for free and can cast those spells as if
they were arcane spells on your class list. You can select
this ability up to three times. Each time you select it,
you choose three more spells from the same class’s spell
list (cleric or druid), and the highest spell level you can
select from increases by 1 (up to 2nd level the second time
and up to 3rd level the third time). You must be a magus,
witch, or wizard to select this ability.

Emphasis mine.

This line should read "You must be a prepared arcane caster to select this ability."

Why does this matter? While today this is an exhaustive list of prepared arcane casters, that will change. Specifically, I am willing to bet it changes almost exactly one year from now.

Somebody building a character with one of the shiny new classes we have been promised will realize their prepared caster cannot take this ability, due to his class not existing at the time the ability was written.

The Hierophant ability, Arcane Knowledge, has the same problem, and will lead to the same issues.

I was browsing artwork looking for character ideas and found a picture that I though would be fun to build a mythic fighter around.

One of the big challenges: she's most definitely not wearing armor. I also wanted to her to access magic as a fighter, dual pathing as guardian/archmage.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Fenwyr

She's Fighter 8/Monk 2/Mythic 5

Does Armored Might work with any of the following:

• Enduring Armor
  
• Mage Armor
  
• Bracers of Armor
  

My monk is curious if he can use mythic abilities to boost his AC, or this this an "anybody except monks" ability.

Armored Might (Ex): You treat the armor bonus from

your armor as 50% higher than normal, to maximum
increase of half your tier (minimum 1). For example, if
you are 4th tier and wearing +2 breastplate, you treat the
armor’s +6 armor bonus as +8 (50% of +6 is +3, limited to
+2 by half your tier).

How should average WBL be calculated for mythic pc's?

Count just their actual levels or effective level including mythic tiers?

Without a baseline understanding of WBL, generating characters for comparison purposes becomes more difficult.

Can the Legendary Item path trait be applied to a Black Blade?

Legendary Item (Ex): You gain a legendary item (see

page 169). This item grants a number of abilities equal
to your tier (maximum 3). At 3rd tier, you can select this
ability again, increasing the maximum to six abilities and
causing the item to become a lesser artifact. At 6th tier,
you can select this ability again, increasing the maximum
to 10 abilities; the item then becomes a greater artifact.

Paralleling the trajectory of a mythic character,

a legendary item begins as a normal magic item that
ascends to something greater. Typically this ascension
occurs when a character first takes the legendary item
universal path ability (see page 50), but this isn’t always
the case.

Thematically I see it as a perfect fit, but does RAW support it?

Throw Spell (Su): When casting a melee touch spell,

you can expend one use of mythic power to throw that
spell as a ranged touch attack. The range of this thrown
spell is 10 feet per tier. If the spell allows you to make
multiple melee touch attacks, you may make any number
of the attacks as melee touch attacks and throw the rest
as you see fit.

Does the ability allow you to throw all the charges in a single round or are you limited by normal iterative attacks?

I want to make sure I am reading this rage power correctly

While raging, the barbarian gains resistance to the energy type that is associated with her dragon totem—acid (black, copper, green), cold (silver, white), electricity (blue, bronze), or fire (brass, gold, red). This resistance equals double her current DR/— from her barbarian damage reduction class feature; this DR increases by 2 for each dragon totem rage power she possesses, including this one. A barbarian must have the dragon totem rage power and be at least 8th level before selecting this rage power.

My interpretation is, the rage power is increasing the barbarian's DR/- by 2 for each dragon totem rage power.

According to this FAQ it should combine with the Invulnerable Rager's invulnerability

At 2nd level, the invulnerable rager gains DR/— equal to half her barbarian level. This damage reduction is doubled against nonlethal damage.

This ability replaces uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge, and damage reduction.

If I am reading this right, an Invulnerable Rager with Dragon Totem Resilience should have DR 8/- and Resistance: Fire 16 at 8th level.

*No matter how you interpret the combination, Hero Labs is calculating incorrectly, I just want to make absolutely sure I have the numbers right before I file a bug report. Hero Labs is not counting the Invulnerable Rager's DR/- gained from Invulnerability. According to the FAQ, this is a bug.

Can a magus use actions available when attacking as either a standard or full-attack action while using spell combat?

The full round action Spell Combat did not exist when the CRB was written. As such it leaves a hole in the rules.

Fighting Defensively as a Standard Action: You can choose to fight defensively when attacking. If you do so, you take a –4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC until the start of your next turn

Fighting Defensively as a Full-Round Action: You can choose to fight defensively when taking a full-attack action. If you do so, you take a –4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC for until the start your next turn.

Fighting defensively is called out as part of a full-round action, but then is specified as requiring a full-attack action within the body of the text

Similar wording can be found with Combat Expertise

Benefit: You can choose to take a –1 penalty on melee attack rolls and combat maneuver checks to gain a +1 dodge bonus to your Armor Class. When your base attack bonus reaches +4, and every +4 thereafter, the penalty increases by –1 and the dodge bonus increases by +1. You can only choose to use this feat when you declare that you are making an attack or a full-attack action with a melee weapon. The effects of this feat last until your next turn.

Strict RAW, I am inclined to argue no. The magus is denied a wide range of standard combat options while using spell combat. I do not believe this is RAI, as the text for those rules predates Spell Combat.

I was messing around looking at artwork for character ideas and found a picture of a zulu warrior I really liked. I've worked up an 8th level build for a PFS character, trying to remain true to the artwork, and was interested in feedback/comments.

isiKhulu

The intention is to take cornugon smash at 9th level, improved critical as the 10th level monk feat and spear dancer at 11th level.

I have been looking for a link to this image and have not been able to find one.

I have the Inner Sea Magic in hardcopy, not PDF, so I can't just extract the image myself.

If anybody could help me, I would appreciate it.

I've been looking for something in RAW that defines weapon damage progression past colossal.

If anybody could comment or post a link I would appreciate it.

.

.

Specific case I have been looking for:

Level 20 Titan Mauler using a gargantuan fauchard.

Cloud Giant Hide Armor: grants huge size. Weapon is now colossal +1

Impact: weapon now counts as colossal +2

Alternately, he could two-hand a colossal falcata and use the same progression to increase weapon damage to colossal +3.

The best answer I've been able to find to date is with the Strong Jaw spell. The answer is specific to that spell and only addresses a single size increase beyond colossal.

I would like to change to slow track advancement on a character when he reaches 7th level. The question I have concerns a chronical sheet I received months ago using this character's number when I played a level 7 pregen.

Will this sheets existance prevent him from changing to slow track until 8th level or can the sheet be changed to reflect my desire to slow track at this point in time. Alternately, could the chronical sheet be moved to a low level PFS character and applied should that character ever reach level 7 (aka never, I've used the character as a dump for a few GM credits but never really intend to play him.)

I am setting up a playtest and feedback on the scenario would be appreciated before I begin.

The Players:
Shazzara - Magus
Byron McBain - Fighter
Markus Freeman - Wizard
Ulflafa Numbgelge - Oracle

The Plot:
Several months ago a long dormant volcano started to awaken. Shortly afterwards, Tintiarnas, a kobold shaman of substantial power, began gathering followers, preaching the return of his peoples god, The Lord of Fire. Several thousand kobolds of the Burning Rock clan and a growing number of other creatures now camp around the caldera of the volcano.

Local leaders are growing worried about the growing army and have requested the party’s intervention. A direct assault would be futile; however, there is another way. A gnome elder has provided information concerning a mineshaft he helped dig in his youth. This tunnel breached an abandoned complex within the volcano before the mining expedition was attacked by a giant ooze. He was one of the few survivors that escaped after collapsing the mineshaft.

Tintiarnas is believed to reside within this underground complex, appearing to his followers only to deliver his sermons from a spire of rock jutting from the magma pool inside the caldera. At all other times, he conducts business from within his private quarters.
The Truth:

Tintiarnas has no interest in the nearby human city. He is the Fire Lord, a magma wyrm recently returned to his old lair. Long has Tintiarnas been obsessed with immortality and acquiring the divine spark. His gathering of worshippers, his true descendents, is in preparation of his ascension. The final piece of the necessary is being delivered even as the heroes make their way into the volcano. Tintiarnas has arranged to trade an artifact of some power to a minor deity of earth in exchange for a fragment of a fallen god’s soul.

While Tintiarnas is not looking for a fight, he won’t turn one down. He is arrogant, obsessive, and highly protective of that which is his. He also does not believe in letting his guard down. Aside from the demonands he has arranged to patrol his complex, he maintains two greater prying eye spells at all times. The eyes are instructed to return if any alarm is raised, combat is perceived, or unauthorized beings observed. Some eyes are assigned stationary positions, others patrol the complex.

The Scenario:

Four encounters + possible extra.
• Unsealing the tunnel (CR 15)
oInvulnerable carnivorous blob

•The Patrol (CR 16)
o 3 Tarry demonands (CR 16)

• Guardians at the Gate (CR 17)
o 2 arcane iron golems

• The Emissary (50% chance)(CR 17)
o cleric 12/MR 3
o 4 elder earth elementals

• The Lord of Fire (CR 18)
o Magma Dragon, Wyrm

Does a character taking Archemage or Hierophant with dual path receive mythic spells as part of their path advancement?

I am setting up a playtest using a group of 4 level 10 tier 5 characters and would appreciate any feed on errors / ommissions in my builds before I start.

The characters are as follows:

Byron McBain A straight fighter with the Guardian path. Nothing special in his tatics: he uses the Guardian abilities for force oppents to deal with him (caged) while surviving anything that is thrown at him.

Markus is a wizard who tends towards battlefield control. Mythic abiities allow him to choose from nearly unlimted options when dealing with specific encounters. Mythic abilities also make him considerably more resiliant than most foes will expect.

I could probably do better on feat selection. I can ignore +2 level adjustments to spells from meta-magic.

Shazzara is a magus using Mythic Weapon Finesse. Yes, her attack value with spell combat + power attack is the same as her unmodified attacks The to-hit bonuses from Mythic Arcane Strike and augmenting her weapon via her Arcane Pool match the penalties from power attack and spell combat.

In combat, Shazzara will be using Haste + Spell Combat for 4 attacks a round. Mythic Mage armor will always be up. I really wanted to use armor master for a +2 mithral breastplate and a +8 AC bonus, but for the same price I was better off increaseing my Ring of Proctection and Amulet of Natural Armor to +2. I gained 25% forification, +1 Touch AC and +1 CMD for the same price.

While I went with Mythic Weapon Finesse and the original wording, The build can be done with a scimitar instead of a katana. Just reallocate Eschew Components for Dervish Dance and change Mythic Weapon Finesse for Mythic Power Attack. (This actually increases damage, but what the heck, I wanted a Katana).

Item to note: at tier 6 I would gain unlimited shocking grasp spells.

Ulflafa Numbgelge is an oracle of battle that will either carve a swathe through multiple of opponents or deal massive damage to a single foe.

Typically she will use Divine Power + Rightous Might in combat, healing the group afterwards as necessary. Mythic abilities give her the ability to choose spells as circumstances dictate and to refresh her entire spell pool as a full round action. AC will be somewhat better than listed due to buffs, but still in the low 20's. I could not justify taking a ring of protection when Shield of Faith offered better bonuses.

I am unsure what to apply Enduring Blessing to. Most of the worthwhile Oracle buffs have a duration of 1 minute/level. Any suggestions would be appreciated. At tier 8, the problem reverses. A large number of very powerful buffs become available.

I am also posting the characters below, but the formatting is much better in the linked google docs.

I know mythic is supposed to be powerful.

The above combination grants a divine caster a cumulative +1 to-hit, +1 damage, +1 to str checks and DR 2/- for each kill for an entire day.

During senarios with an extended adventuring day (dungeons), this can translate to nearly unlimited strength for a divine caster.

Your attacks are truly devastating.

Prerequisite: Power Attack, 1st mythic tier.
Benefit: When you use Power Attack, you gain a +3
bonus on melee damage rolls (instead of +2). When
your base attack bonus reaches +4 and every 4 points
thereafter, the amount of bonus damage increases by +3
(instead of +2). In addition, the bonus damage from this
feat is doubled on a critical hit.

Two Questions:

1. By RAW I don't see any penalty for off-hand weapons.

2. By RAW I don't see any bonus for two-handed weapons.

Are my interpretations correct?

Is it legal in PFS to purchase special materials for a black blade at the time of aquisition?

For example: I have saved all of my income and have 3,000 gp available when I hit 3rd level. Can I pay to have an admantine black blade?

This is a build I am considering for PFS. A gnome sylvan sorcerer with a Quetzalcoatlus mount as an animal companion. Very focused on a Fey theme. Boon Companion as my 3rd level feat.

I want to be able to handle a fair number of the faction missions and eventually concentrate on summoning around 7+.

As other options, I was considering a Giant Frog or a Slug mount.

Any advice for keeping him viable until he starts getting 2nd and 3rd level spells?

Seeker of Secrets gives rules for implanting ioun stones. How do these rules work in PFS where the character has unlimited time between adventures for fasting/recovery and multiple attempts?

What would the cost be for having the stone implanted?

If I have the skills to at least theoretically perform the procedure on myself is there an associated cost given unlimited time?

Flawed stones generate no resonance while in wayfinders but I see no limitations placed on implanting flawed stones.

I've been working on a concept for a PFS character. I will have the appearance of a Tiefling without actually having access to the race. While not optimized, I would still like to hold my own.

Up to 10th level I am going with a balanced approach to progression. For 11 and 12 I am undecided. It will either be two levels of Magus or two levels of Synthesist.

General Notes
. This is not a DPR build: I intend to tank
. I plan on having a headband of vast intelligence +4
. +1 Int at 12 (for 20 unmodified)
. Mage Armor will have 10 - 14 hour duration: add 4 to AC
. Compel Hostility + Stand Still: yes, I can force you to attack me.
. Will carry multiple Pearls of Power / Runes of Power

Synthesist
. Tremorsense or +2 Strength
. pick two: Black Tentacles, Greater Invis, Rage , Stoneskin
. Improved Critical at 11

Magus
. +1 AC (after gear is added)
. Iaijutsu (+7 initive with headband)
. Weapon Specialization at 11
. spells: Keen Edge & Vampiric Touch
. Magus Arcana: Enduring Blade

Comments are appreciated.

Void

Add the following spells to your wizard spell list at the listed spell level:

1st—keen senses, 3rd—twilight knife*, 4th—wandering star motes, 6th—true seeing, 8th—moment of prescience.

I believe this is mis-worded due to using a copy/paste from a sorcerer bloodline.

With the exception of Keen Senses, a wizard already has access to all of the listed spells at the listed level.

According to SRD Gamemastering SLA's can be counterspelled.

According to SRD Magic SLA's cannot be counterspelled.

Which is correct?

I am planning out a build concept for PFS. Trying to keep everything legal, I would appreciate anyone who can find build errors or offer advice.

Name: Namtillaku
Gender: Male
Class: Summoner (synthesist)
Level: 12 Diety: Groetus Faction: Osirion
Alignment Chaotic Neutral
Race: Half Elf
Init +7 Perception +35

I'm reading through the threads on the PO forums and it seems, true to form, that everyone is making already comparing everything to WoW.

You're looking at the wrong MMO folks. A much better platform for comparison would be DDO, a direct port from AD&D 3.5. If you've never played DDO, the game is free-to-play and, at least for the first six levels, there is no reason to purchase anything at all.

A serious attempt at building a race I might actually play instead of one intended to exploit the rules. A sample character build using the race is included.

I've finished putting together a first draft for my Pyromancer class. Balance is tricky: dpr is the primary advantage of the element of fire. It is also something that is heavily min/maxed for.

Two of the balancing factors are reduced hit points and limited usage of the main dpr increasing abilities. Intensify fire is more limited in scope, it allows the pyromancer to make full use of the +2 caster levels granted by the class but is significantly less powerful than the intensify spell feat. The class can Nova, but afterwards will have only a nominal dpr increase with the element of fire. Against anything resistant or immune to fire (fairly common) this class will obviously be at something of a handicap. More so than the other elements, whose defensive abilities are relevant against all opponents.

This is also the only element I am giving increases to casting stats. I view fire as being both seductive and possessive of a burning intellect (pun intended).

I would appreciate any constructive feedback that may help me improve the prestige class.

I've finished up my Aquamancer and would appreciate any constructive feedback that people cared to offer.

well, finished except for catching typos.

I've been putting together an Aeromancer prestige class.

If anyone cares to offer constructive feedback regarding the class I would be very appreciative.

Flurry of Blows (Ex)

Starting at 1st level, a monk can make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action. When doing so he may make one additional attack using any combination of unarmed strikes or attacks with a special monk weapon (kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shuriken, and siangham) as if using the Two-Weapon Fighting feat (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat). For the purpose of these attacks, the monk's base attack bonus is equal to his monk level. For all other purposes, such as qualifying for a feat or a prestige class, the monk uses his normal base attack bonus.

At 8th level, the monk can make two additional attacks when he uses flurry of blows, as if using Improved Two-Weapon Fighting (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).

At 15th level, the monk can make three additional attacks using flurry of blows, as if using Greater Two-Weapon Fighting (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).

My question is this. Can someone with a 1 level monk splash in possession of the two-weapon fighting, improved two-weapon fighting, and greater two-weapon fighting feats use those feats with flurry of blows?

I've been putting together a Geomancer prestige class.

If anyone cares to offer constructive feedback regarding the class I would be very appreciative.

I would like to fine tune the geomancer before I start working on the other three elements and having additional eyes look at the material is always helpful.