paizo.com Favorited Posts by Icy Turbopaizo.com Favorited Posts by Icy Turbo2018-12-28T01:07:37Z2018-12-28T01:07:37ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: What's your favorite method of stat generation?Icy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2v0lf&page=6?Whats-your-favorite-method-of-stat-generation#2602018-07-19T18:17:58Z2018-07-19T17:27:47Z<p>I've utilized most of the common methods of stat generation, and for the most part determining what works and what doesn't comes down to player fantasy and choice. My group has fun when they are in combat and contribute, or are allowed to show-off what their character is good at. In that way, my group heavily prefers to have high stats, through either a 20 point buy or instead 4d6 seven times, drop the lowest and reroll scores below 8. Usually my group is pretty happy with that.</p>
<p>In regards to the problems with high-stats, this again depends on your group. My group has had some very high stat rolls. They also don't really matter in the games I run or play since the players are not masterminds with untold eons of game knowledge and book memorization. The stat allocation methods we use should reflect upon the table of players that you play with.</p>I've utilized most of the common methods of stat generation, and for the most part determining what works and what doesn't comes down to player fantasy and choice. My group has fun when they are in combat and contribute, or are allowed to show-off what their character is good at. In that way, my group heavily prefers to have high stats, through either a 20 point buy or instead 4d6 seven times, drop the lowest and reroll scores below 8. Usually my group is pretty happy with that.
In regards...Icy Turbo2018-07-19T17:27:47ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Bard Class PreviewIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lky8&page=6?Bard-Class-Preview#2682018-07-17T06:32:57Z2018-07-17T00:02:00Z<p>But the biggest question of all:</p>
<p>Do Bard's have Weapon Proficiency: Instruments like El KaBong?</p>But the biggest question of all:
Do Bard's have Weapon Proficiency: Instruments like El KaBong?Icy Turbo2018-07-17T00:02:00ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: Dragons: If you were to create a dragon how powerful can it be?Icy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2v8gf?Dragons-If-you-were-to-create-a-dragon-how#102018-07-12T03:28:01Z2018-07-11T00:36:34Z<p>Here's my personal advice on creating a powerful Dragon; Just play a smart dragon. That's it.</p>
<p>Dragons are your apex predator. They don't really need a lot of boosts in power because Dragons will destroy you and everything you possess if you get them mad enough. If you play a Dragon logically, a party that is at the equivalent for their APL will be in for the fight of their lives. If your party is in an open field, they are dead. If the Dragon has had time to prepare it's special abilities properly, they are going to be easily routed and dead. Keep in mind that this is for an Ancient Dragon. You want to use a great wyrm? They are already dead. If you play as a dragon would, all you have to do is fly around, breath weapon the party for up to 20d8 of their corresponding breath weapon damage, then fly around until it recharges in 1d4 rounds and do it all over again. If someone casts fly, congratulations, the dragon nukes them first. If it's the fighter, you better hope they have that fly skill at a high level. If it's the wizard, the dragon will bite their head off and the parties biggest asset just got wasted.</p>
<p>You bring anything like a dragon into a game (pit fiend, balor, kaiju, archon, etc)? If played like the intelligent, ungodly powerful beings that they are, the party is going to hate you, but they will rightfully fear those monsters as they should.</p>Here's my personal advice on creating a powerful Dragon; Just play a smart dragon. That's it.
Dragons are your apex predator. They don't really need a lot of boosts in power because Dragons will destroy you and everything you possess if you get them mad enough. If you play a Dragon logically, a party that is at the equivalent for their APL will be in for the fight of their lives. If your party is in an open field, they are dead. If the Dragon has had time to prepare it's special abilities...Icy Turbo2018-07-11T00:36:34ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Ranger Class PreviewIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkw1&page=3?Ranger-Class-Preview#1072018-07-03T13:11:16Z2018-07-02T21:17:56Z<p>This is both fun and something I can look forward too. Oddly enough, I think snare crafting has been my favorite aspect of this blog post. </p>
<p>In Pathfinder 1st Edition crafting was time consuming and complex, and traps just never seemed like a great investment. It made sense for my Ranger to bring a couple of bear traps along with him to catch prey or litter the battlefield, but I am far happier than I thought I would be that I get to make snares like a hunter/ranger would instead of buying bear traps in bulk, and going full Rambo in the jungle. Very pleased.</p>This is both fun and something I can look forward too. Oddly enough, I think snare crafting has been my favorite aspect of this blog post.
In Pathfinder 1st Edition crafting was time consuming and complex, and traps just never seemed like a great investment. It made sense for my Ranger to bring a couple of bear traps along with him to catch prey or litter the battlefield, but I am far happier than I thought I would be that I get to make snares like a hunter/ranger would instead of buying...Icy Turbo2018-07-02T21:17:56ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Potency and PotionsIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkvw&page=3?Potency-and-Potions#1282018-07-03T12:43:28Z2018-06-29T22:36:22Z<p>I won't say this is what should be done, but suggest that Potions should be the only item that does not require any resource to use aside from gold. Then in the description of potions "Potions, either due to their magic or alchemical potency, are intended for limited consumption. Characters that drink a potion must wait 1 minute before consuming another potion."</p>
<p>Hopefully curtails the potion guzzling and also eliminates the need to track resonance for a character to drink a potion. What negative effect that occurs would then be up to balancing. Maybe an alchemical explosion, who knows. Otherwise I would never use a potion for the entire adventure, I'm not risking having to use a coin flip to determine whether my character will live or die drinking a potion if I don't have a large stockpile of resonance to utilize them.</p>I won't say this is what should be done, but suggest that Potions should be the only item that does not require any resource to use aside from gold. Then in the description of potions "Potions, either due to their magic or alchemical potency, are intended for limited consumption. Characters that drink a potion must wait 1 minute before consuming another potion."
Hopefully curtails the potion guzzling and also eliminates the need to track resonance for a character to drink a potion. What...Icy Turbo2018-06-29T22:36:22ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Potency and PotionsIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkvw?Potency-and-Potions#412018-07-05T14:44:40Z2018-06-29T21:25:52Z<p>Potions costing resonance is the single most disappointing thing since my son.</p>Potions costing resonance is the single most disappointing thing since my son.Icy Turbo2018-06-29T21:25:52ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Trinkets and TreasuresIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkvl&page=3?Trinkets-and-Treasures#1292018-06-26T19:34:59Z2018-06-25T21:56:09Z<p>Since the majority of actions have been simplified, I expected resonance to follow that pattern. However I have to agree that, at first glance, I'm very confused about RP cost, what actions do what, and how the items is supposed to work when reading the statistics blocks. I'm hoping to see more clarification and having information be easily understood in regards to what items and actions do what. However right now the problems I am worried about and experiencing are as follows:</p>
<p>1. Martial characters prioritizing Charisma over any of their other stats to have an abundance of Resonance for their magical arms and armor, which won't compensate for casters being able to still cast magic and emulate these items without resonance. </p>
<p>2. The possibility of starting at Level 1 with 0 resonance if you have a Charisma modifier in the negatives, having to wait for magic items due to low resonance, and the inability to utilize activation items instead of invest items. I'm going to assume that the Resonance entry would state "character level plus your Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1)" to compensate, but that's a hefty price to pay if you have to put a negative to any of your other stats for fear of having low resonance.</p>
<p>3. Tying resonance to consumables. I don't want my Barbarian to die because they are out of resonance using a weapon ability, and can't drink a potion without participating in a 50/50 dice roll. I only mention that possibility because of the paragraphs highlighting consumables such as scrolls, potions and trinkets as costing resonance.</p>
<p>In general I'm having major reservations regarding the resonance system as depicted in this blog post, but will leave additional comments for the Playtest.</p>Since the majority of actions have been simplified, I expected resonance to follow that pattern. However I have to agree that, at first glance, I'm very confused about RP cost, what actions do what, and how the items is supposed to work when reading the statistics blocks. I'm hoping to see more clarification and having information be easily understood in regards to what items and actions do what. However right now the problems I am worried about and experiencing are as follows:
1. Martial...Icy Turbo2018-06-25T21:56:09ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Monk Class PreviewIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkv3&page=2?Monk-Class-Preview#552018-06-19T10:59:03Z2018-06-18T21:36:05Z<p>This is a fantastic look into monk, and what's more important for me is making Monk's less MAD and instead being able to focus more on one play style. I'll be very intrigued to see if Strength monks have additional abilities which play more on their strength stat; perhaps monk feats that are far better with a strength bonus, or perhaps can be only taken with strength feat, such as the 6-inch punch or something of the like. </p>
<p>Overall I continue to be excited.</p>This is a fantastic look into monk, and what's more important for me is making Monk's less MAD and instead being able to focus more on one play style. I'll be very intrigued to see if Strength monks have additional abilities which play more on their strength stat; perhaps monk feats that are far better with a strength bonus, or perhaps can be only taken with strength feat, such as the 6-inch punch or something of the like.
Overall I continue to be excited.Icy Turbo2018-06-18T21:36:05ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: ConditionsIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkuz?Conditions#232018-06-15T22:58:28Z2018-06-15T21:24:54Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">TheFinish wrote:</div><blockquote><p> This looks good. Like Willuwontu, I am intrigued in how these conditions will stack.</p>
<p>The ones that are simple adds/substracts seem easy enough. If I'm Accelerated 10, Hampered 5, I imagine I only get +5' of speed.</p>
<p>But what if I'm quickened 1 and slowed 2? Do I lose the extra, conditional action from quickened first, then a normal action (for a total of two non conditional Actions), or do I lose normal actions first (which would leave me with one normal Action and one I can only use to Stride or Strike)?</p>
<p>Other than that this looks good. </blockquote><p>If I were a betting man, and assuming that quickened and slowed interact with each-other, I would assume that your quickened actions would be removed first before your base actions. Since we don't know if slowed would have a description where it discusses what actions it prioritizes, it would make sense to how <i>haste</i> and <i>slow</i> worked in Pathfinder 1st Edition, that being that they cancelled each-other out.TheFinish wrote:This looks good. Like Willuwontu, I am intrigued in how these conditions will stack.
The ones that are simple adds/substracts seem easy enough. If I'm Accelerated 10, Hampered 5, I imagine I only get +5' of speed.
But what if I'm quickened 1 and slowed 2? Do I lose the extra, conditional action from quickened first, then a normal action (for a total of two non conditional Actions), or do I lose normal actions first (which would leave me with one normal Action and one I can...Icy Turbo2018-06-15T21:24:54ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: ConditionsIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkuz?Conditions#32018-06-18T23:29:21Z2018-06-15T21:09:34Z<p>You guys could really make a killing off of condition tokens that you can flip or move to show how high or low the conditional modifier is, since it would probably make a great reminder for players instead of erasing everything or having to remember if you had a -1 hamper or -2 hamper.</p>
<p>I like the direction that the conditions are going, since it helps to simplify where it can but not lose the complexity and depth that made Pathfinder 1st Edition a great game system, most notably with the frightened condition. Since ability damage was mentioned, would ability drain work the same way? Such as Ability Drain[1] versus Ability Drain[2]?</p>You guys could really make a killing off of condition tokens that you can flip or move to show how high or low the conditional modifier is, since it would probably make a great reminder for players instead of erasing everything or having to remember if you had a -1 hamper or -2 hamper.
I like the direction that the conditions are going, since it helps to simplify where it can but not lose the complexity and depth that made Pathfinder 1st Edition a great game system, most notably with the...Icy Turbo2018-06-15T21:09:34ZRe: Forums/Gamer Life: General Discussion: Best one-liner that made the whole table laugh?Icy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mahp&page=34?Best-oneliner-that-made-the-whole-table-laugh#16842018-06-13T23:30:08Z2018-06-12T22:50:32Z<p>Have to admit that this was mostly lucky happenstance, acting and a fair bit of buildup, but it's one of my fondest memories.</p>
<p>While the game is still going on, this event happened roughly six months ago as my party was proceeding down river in the Out of the Abyss campaign for Dungeons and Dragons 5E. For this particular game, I decided to play a somewhat mischievous and lecherous Bard character whose given name to the party was Fus Ro the Dragonborn. Aside from the fact that the characters real name to this day is a mystery, I was also a obvious ladies man, with every flaw and desire involving seduction and wooing. However I was unavailable for the game session due to prior commitments.</p>
<p>About two hours into the game, I returned home earlier then expected. I started to tuck into bed when I got a text over group chat from the players; they were laughing as at that very moment they were meeting with some witches. Each one was more gorgeous then the last, and currently my character was missing out on this event, in canon asleep with the rest of the characters bringing his sleeping body along with. So what did I do?</p>
<p>I didn't text back, or reply in any manner. Instead, with the DM's place roughly a block away, I got my stuff and started sprinting down the street. I didn't stop to slow down as I sprinted up the driveway. I ran up the steps to the entrance, opened the door wide and yelling out to the entire table of players as the door was flung open;</p>
<p>"I show them my Rod of Enlarge Spell!" </p>
<p>The table collapsed. Everyone began heaving in laughter. And I will never forget the joy of demonstrating how far Fus Ro would go to meet hot women.</p>Have to admit that this was mostly lucky happenstance, acting and a fair bit of buildup, but it's one of my fondest memories.
While the game is still going on, this event happened roughly six months ago as my party was proceeding down river in the Out of the Abyss campaign for Dungeons and Dragons 5E. For this particular game, I decided to play a somewhat mischievous and lecherous Bard character whose given name to the party was Fus Ro the Dragonborn. Aside from the fact that the characters...Icy Turbo2018-06-12T22:50:32ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Barbarian Class PreviewIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkui&page=2?Barbarian-Class-Preview#642018-06-12T19:47:42Z2018-06-11T21:55:29Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Aratrok wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">Dasrak wrote:</div><blockquote> Not a fan of barbarians getting anathema built in by default, I'll say that much. That really feels to me like the kind of thing that should be a strictly RP decision of the player, and not be tied to mechanics. Barbarians aren't paladins, and codes of conduct (even very simple ones) just don't fit with them in my view.</blockquote>I'd be okay with the idea if the anathema presented as "relatively low impact and designed to create roleplaying hooks" wasn't so crippling- it gives people the ability to force you to agree to a duel (possibly in a remote area or with some other unsafe condition) or lose a chunk of your class features as a free action. If they were optional little prompts like "you like drink a little too much" or they actually hooked into mechanics like Superstition that would be okay, but they can't both be "low impact and designed to create roleplaying hooks" and hand out trivial ways to screw your character or remove a chunk of their abilities. Something has to give in that regard. </blockquote><p>If your worried about this issue, your playing with very spiteful DM's. Anathema's, like codes of conduct, shouldn't be a problem for anyone who plays with any semblance of respect for you and your character. Instead it should be broken when you, the player, are fairly challenged and you decide to forfeit the challenge of your choosing. It would be the same to worry that a GM would forcefully change your alignment as a Monk or Druid so you don't qualify for the class; the only reason it would happen is because they didn't want to play fairly at the table to begin with. Just my take on it at least.Aratrok wrote:Dasrak wrote: Not a fan of barbarians getting anathema built in by default, I'll say that much. That really feels to me like the kind of thing that should be a strictly RP decision of the player, and not be tied to mechanics. Barbarians aren't paladins, and codes of conduct (even very simple ones) just don't fit with them in my view.
I'd be okay with the idea if the anathema presented as "relatively low impact and designed to create roleplaying hooks" wasn't so crippling- it...Icy Turbo2018-06-11T21:55:29ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Feats of SkillIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkue&page=13?Feats-of-Skill#6122018-06-14T22:28:28Z2018-06-11T20:57:44Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">edduardco wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">Arachnofiend wrote:</div><blockquote> You're kidding yourself if you thought caster power was going to stay at its same astronomical levels. Of <i>course</i> casters are getting nerfed, that needed to happen for the game to function at all at high levels. </blockquote>I knew that there will be nerfs, but not so severe or many, this is starting to look worse than 5e </blockquote><p>I'm not sure what 5E game your playing, but I've found that spell casting has broken combat in the adventure were currently running so badly that it has trivialized almost every encounter. Casters were certainly not nerfed in Dungeons and Dragons based on my experience. However I also know that my experience doesn't suddenly invalidate the possibility that martials are far stronger in 5E that I have seen.
<p>On the topic of skill feats I love them and cannot wait to test them out when the Playtest releases.</p>edduardco wrote:Arachnofiend wrote: You're kidding yourself if you thought caster power was going to stay at its same astronomical levels. Of course casters are getting nerfed, that needed to happen for the game to function at all at high levels.
I knew that there will be nerfs, but not so severe or many, this is starting to look worse than 5e I'm not sure what 5E game your playing, but I've found that spell casting has broken combat in the adventure were currently running so badly that it...Icy Turbo2018-06-11T20:57:44ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: If you could make an AP or a Module.Icy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2v5v1&page=2?If-you-could-make-an-AP-or-a-Module#552018-06-09T05:28:40Z2018-06-08T17:41:51Z<p>Would love to have an Adventure Path where the enemies are not ancient dragons, runelords, demons, aliens or outer gods. No, what I would enjoy is seeing a group having to save a region from a group of adventurers that were once part of the Pathfinder Society. However this group has killed every creature in their path, treated the region like their personal playground, and only care about gold and killing things. As such, the plot is the Pathfinder Society sending a party of adventurers to slay another party of adventurers for making them all look bad.</p>Would love to have an Adventure Path where the enemies are not ancient dragons, runelords, demons, aliens or outer gods. No, what I would enjoy is seeing a group having to save a region from a group of adventurers that were once part of the Pathfinder Society. However this group has killed every creature in their path, treated the region like their personal playground, and only care about gold and killing things. As such, the plot is the Pathfinder Society sending a party of adventurers to...Icy Turbo2018-06-08T17:41:51ZRe: Forums/Gamer Life: General Discussion: Worst player/GM at your table?Icy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2v61i&page=2?Worst-playerGM-at-your-table#542018-06-12T01:25:41Z2018-06-06T18:11:37Z<p>I feel that I've been lucky in the sense that I have a group of friends that love gaming and can play together without much difficulty and we have been able to play a grand assortment of games over the past ten years and have a fantastic time. Anytime I've attempted to expand outside of these groups is when I've had horrendous issues. By far the worst was an attempt to go through the <i>Skulls and Shackles</i> Adventure Path at a local game store with relative strangers, almost everyone being older gamers.</p>
<p>I was playing a Conjuration focused Wizard 5. While I tended to play NG with a mean streak, the rest of the party focused on CN or worse. The biggest problem was the players breaking the cardinal rule (which most of the players mentioned in this thread seemed to break) that you work as hard as possible to work with the party or if nothing else don't actively attack party members, IRL or otherwise. The player who broke that rule constantly was a catfolk ninja who would demand everyone follow her orders or die, sleep on corpses or get in petty arguments at every opportunity, and attempt to intimidate my character in taking needless tactical blunders to satisfy her bloodlust such as boarding an enemy ship or be flogged. As a ranged battlefield control spell-caster.</p>
<p>Needless to say, even at this point, I was frustrated in more ways then one, but hoped that by helping acquire more crew members to appease the captain (barely better then the catfolk ninja) and the vice-captain by helping to obtain crew members that, I don't know, the players wouldn't be such unbearable people and chill? So I investigated, and came back with my findings to ask if it was acceptable to obtain low-level clerics and wizards to make repairs or heal in times of crisis (Keeping in mind, the current party makeup was swashbuckler, shaman, ninja, ninja). Instead the vice captain threatened to kill me if I ever decided to make any decision that was not first cleared by the captain, and rejected it. At this point both the player and the character couldn't be convinced, and after talking about it IRL it didn't get better either. Naturally I did the sensible thing in that situation.</p>
<p>I plotted to kill the entire party.</p>
<p>Since I'm not evil IRL, I went to the DM first to discuss the problems. If it wasn't for the players, I would put this guy pretty high up regarding prep and effort as a DM, he just had a "let the players make the decisions" attitude which didn't always work well as obvious in this case. Regardless, I aired my grievances and outlined that, as I had not been listened to regarding the other players behaviors that the only option that seemed fair was for him to intervene, or I kill the party before I leave the game. He didn't take that very seriously at the time, and at a point basically stated "I mean, can you?" </p>
<p>I outlined my plan; gathering the players to discuss some important matters on the deck of the ship, already having cast Invisibility and Levitation to float above them, casting Mad Monkeys and Summoning Earth Elementals II and III alongside Stinking Cloud and more from scrolls, wands and my own spell list until I killed the party while never breaking invisibility or being seen due to never actually attacking them. With no casters aside from myself and a touch-spell focused shaman, they would die slowly and painfully, before I then took over the ship as Captain and started the game anew.</p>
<p>He talked to the players. They were surprisingly amicable after that.</p>I feel that I've been lucky in the sense that I have a group of friends that love gaming and can play together without much difficulty and we have been able to play a grand assortment of games over the past ten years and have a fantastic time. Anytime I've attempted to expand outside of these groups is when I've had horrendous issues. By far the worst was an attempt to go through the Skulls and Shackles Adventure Path at a local game store with relative strangers, almost everyone being older...Icy Turbo2018-06-06T18:11:37ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Wizard Class PreviewIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkst?Wizard-Class-Preview#72018-05-22T12:45:20Z2018-05-21T19:14:47Z<p>Glad to see more benefits given for the Universalist class, with the Wizard feats looking quite potent and being able to cast more spells with your spell focus. It looks like a solid choice now for those who want to be less specialized.</p>Glad to see more benefits given for the Universalist class, with the Wizard feats looking quite potent and being able to cast more spells with your spell focus. It looks like a solid choice now for those who want to be less specialized.Icy Turbo2018-05-21T19:14:47ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Paladin Class PreviewIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkrq&page=23?Paladin-Class-Preview#11162018-05-11T07:55:45Z2018-05-09T18:46:03Z<p>To piggyback on HWalsh's post, and to restate my previous posts, this thread is more of a microcosm of the discussion between two ideological differences in game design and player choice rather than the Paladin itself. </p>
<p>One side wishes to diversify and remove aspects of established ruleset's to make way for these changes. No Alignments, All Alignments for All classes, removal of Paladin in place of Templar/Paragon, Clerics should be caster and martial, Monks should be all martial artists and all alignments, Barbarians all alignments and wear heavy armor, etc. The strengths to this approach is that individuals can feel liberated with the plethora of choices and utilize these templates to create something of their own making, and if the templates that are created are of a depth and nuance that the system can accommodate for someone's imagination, that system would be fantastic. </p>
<p>By comparison, you also have individuals who have a tendency to follow structured gameplay and established archetypes. Paladin's are Paladin's, Alignments are an established mechanic of the games, Barbarians are all chaotic, etc. The primary weakness to this is that you establish what something is, and that is all it is going to be. For players, this can sometimes give the feeling that their isn't enough freedom or player agenda for an individual to work with, and if done improperly can lead to stagnation and a limit on player choice. That can and has been a legitimate concern for games and game design.</p>
<p>But the key weakness for choice-heavy game design is that in an effort to diversify something specific, or to give as many options as possible, you broaden it out so thinly that it has no meaning. I feel that this weakness is far worse then for the latter perspective.</p>
<p>Language is important. Identity is important. People identify with something based upon a word or signifiers because that is how we associate words with the objects they represent. And diversifying something so it can be what you want it to be defeats the purpose of defining it. Establishing rules for a class, what it means in the world and what they do is instrumental to crafting stories and helping players understand what they are playing. If I tell the players that they need to find a Monk, I'm fairly certain that having a defined role and identifiers can help the party track a Monk, as opposed to finding a Martial Artist with the LN Template Monk. I am also fairly certain that Paladin is far easier to track then Templar with the LG template of Paladin. </p>
<p>Finally (since this could go on for eons) I find it odd that people treat alignment restrictions so unfairly in Roleplaying games, but don't really question or have a problem with it when playing a game as the heroes in a video game. Just an observation.</p>To piggyback on HWalsh's post, and to restate my previous posts, this thread is more of a microcosm of the discussion between two ideological differences in game design and player choice rather than the Paladin itself.
One side wishes to diversify and remove aspects of established ruleset's to make way for these changes. No Alignments, All Alignments for All classes, removal of Paladin in place of Templar/Paragon, Clerics should be caster and martial, Monks should be all martial artists and...Icy Turbo2018-05-09T18:46:03ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Paladin Class PreviewIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkrq&page=17?Paladin-Class-Preview#8192018-05-09T21:11:22Z2018-05-08T23:28:24Z<p>In part I feel that the critique of Paladin's has been lost in this thread and is instead morphed into a critique of class and alignment roles. If I could be frank, I feel those in the camp of "less binary, more choice" regarding alignment or class restrictions don't particularly want this play style of game, and would rather see every class be custom built by the players. It's a fantastic goal, and plenty of games (Valor, Mutants and Masterminds to name a few) have this system with those player sets in mind. </p>
<p>Frankly if we are going to be so brutal on the Paladin, and ask that all alignments are considered or have it be removed, we might as well strike the Barbarian, Druid and Monk out of core and do the same with them, with all 9 alignments explored and each one given a different name for their alignments and play styles. Of course that would be silly, but that's the point. These classes are beyond binary, but they also don't need to be changed or lose their base identities for faux "diversity". Really it comes down to this; Do you want a game with solid, pre-defined class roles or a custom class builder? I think that's the question more people are discussing right now.</p>In part I feel that the critique of Paladin's has been lost in this thread and is instead morphed into a critique of class and alignment roles. If I could be frank, I feel those in the camp of "less binary, more choice" regarding alignment or class restrictions don't particularly want this play style of game, and would rather see every class be custom built by the players. It's a fantastic goal, and plenty of games (Valor, Mutants and Masterminds to name a few) have this system with those...Icy Turbo2018-05-08T23:28:24ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Paladin Class PreviewIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkrq&page=15?Paladin-Class-Preview#7032018-05-08T23:31:08Z2018-05-08T19:46:19Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">RickDias wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">HWalsh wrote:</div><blockquote> Would you be willing to tell those players to shove off? To go away? They've been here supporting Paizo as long as any other players.</blockquote><p>Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
<p>And yes some more. </p>
<p>Literally the 'other side' of this is saying I must play a very specific alignment in order to have access to a fairly broad, interesting play-style. The reasoning for it, reasoning you presented, was decisions made by someone decades ago ('respect Gygax tradition' or something to that effect).</p>
<p>I'd like to think it's okay for a game to evolve decades later. To at least <b>try</b> and see if we can expand and have a new kind of fun.</p>
<p>A kind of fun that 5E tried and it didn't spontaneously combust in a blaze of anti-high-fantasy.</p>
<p>If someone is saying we shouldn't try something like this, that I should only be allowed access to that playstyle if I tailor it around a fairly specific personality set, then I will in fact take that confrontational option you've offered me re: tell them off.</p>
<p>I don't like people trying to limit my fun because Gygax. </blockquote><p>Wanted to reply to this while rummaging through the thread looking at the responses because this one stuck out, alongside your other responses, and I think is a good springboard for discussing Paladin's and alignment and if nothing else bring a perspective from someone who is firmly in LG only Paladins, but not due to upholding antiquity but rather mythology and language.
<p>First, Gygax may have coined the Roleplaying iteration of the Paladin, but he didn't deviate too far from what we understand Paladins to represent from historical mythology. They are knights beyond merely good, but legendary in honor, altruism and goodness. They follow a code of conduct that demands great personal sacrifice and self-control to uphold. Through Charlemagne or King Arthurs Court, these figures are the basis and pinnacle of the class. After-all, they are based heavily on the Twelve Apostles of Christ, it's why the Round and Court have Twelve central figures and one betrayer (The first Anti-Paladins). They are not normal knights, and quite frankly they shouldn't be.</p>
<p>This is why many players find the Paladin so vexing. I have many players that do not care for the alignment restriction either because they want to play the Paladin in a manner they see fit, CN, NG or LE. They also want to play the chassis of the class without the alignment or codes that come with the traditional Paladin. Thing is, that's the point. And as an illustrator of that point, we go to the Anti-Paladin.</p>
<p>Anti-Paladins have the chassis of a Paladin, and are not Lawful Good. Yet I also find that no one talks about any sort of restriction on the Anti-Paladin, when they are just as restrictive. If you complete any good act, you lose all your powers. You have to be the CE alignment, and no other alignment can be chosen as an Anti-Paladin. They are anathema to the Paladin, yet are just as restricted as they are both in play-style and lack of alignment choice. This (and this is where I will put emphasis) is because both of these classes require <b>commitment.</b></p>
<p>Just like the historical Paladins, legendary figures of goodness, playing a Paladin isn't a players opportunity to enjoy the play-style with none of the consequences. Paladins are a commitment because they have always been a commitment. Paladins are alignment restricted because they are the paragons of someone who strives to uphold law and goodness and the paragons of nothing else, and have been since their inception. By comparison, "Wizard" is a role. "Fighter" is a role. "Rogue" is a role. "Paladin" is a title earned at a great cost, and I think that is where the hang-up and subsequent pushback to the class is. </p>
<p>Of course my perspective comes from literature, mythology and language, but if nothing else I hope it can shed some light on that perspective. I also hope that this can also be useful in articulating why Druids are bound to being neutral, why Barbarians are Non-Lawful and why Monks are Lawful. Because much like a Paladin, when you choose those classes you have to make a commitment. Just got to ask yourself if your willing to take it.</p>RickDias wrote:HWalsh wrote: Would you be willing to tell those players to shove off? To go away? They've been here supporting Paizo as long as any other players.
Yes, yes, yes, and yes. And yes some more.
Literally the 'other side' of this is saying I must play a very specific alignment in order to have access to a fairly broad, interesting play-style. The reasoning for it, reasoning you presented, was decisions made by someone decades ago ('respect Gygax tradition' or something to that...Icy Turbo2018-05-08T19:46:19ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Paizo Blog: Paladin Class PreviewIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lkrq&page=5?Paladin-Class-Preview#2262018-05-11T13:25:58Z2018-05-08T00:12:08Z<p>To give positive feedback first, I am glad to see an emphasis not only on the codes of conduct, but also a tier of conduct which players may not recognize at first glance when playing a Paladin. That it happens to fall in line with my own perspective helps as well (That being good triumphs Law, if but for a moment, if Law would prevent saving the innocent or to accomplish good, but only in the right circumstances). Mechanically I'll be quite happy to test out the Paladin during the playtest, but will add my voice to what I don't think is necessary for the Paladin; Non-Lawful Good Paladins.</p>
<p>To be honest, I don't consider a Paladin a Paladin unless they are Lawful Good. You can still play with the idea of Lawful Good without diving into the LN or Non-Lawful Spectrum, as I feel this diminishes what makes a Paladin stand above other classes. A Paladin tasks the player not just in game but out of it to uphold a LG class and character without the ability to shirk that to play what amounts to a Warpriest or Anti-Paladin. I would also hesitate to expand too far with the available deities for Paladins, and believe that Paladins should, at their core, only follow LG deities. Granted by reading the post I can clearly see that a lot of thought and cautious exploration was placed on what constitutes a Paladin and what does not, and I applaud that. This is simply where I feel that this exploration should be praised and where it should be re-examined.</p>To give positive feedback first, I am glad to see an emphasis not only on the codes of conduct, but also a tier of conduct which players may not recognize at first glance when playing a Paladin. That it happens to fall in line with my own perspective helps as well (That being good triumphs Law, if but for a moment, if Law would prevent saving the innocent or to accomplish good, but only in the right circumstances). Mechanically I'll be quite happy to test out the Paladin during the playtest,...Icy Turbo2018-05-08T00:12:08ZRe: Forums: Advice: Archetype Tier List: A Guide to Picking ArchetypesIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2t5uc&page=11?Archetype-Tier-List-A-Guide-to-Picking#5192016-06-26T20:22:56Z2016-06-25T22:12:59Z<p>Updated the page with additional archetypes. Will start writing and researching on my end as well. Slow and steady wins the race. Haven't heard anyone using this guide, but hopefully this is helping people.</p>Updated the page with additional archetypes. Will start writing and researching on my end as well. Slow and steady wins the race. Haven't heard anyone using this guide, but hopefully this is helping people.Icy Turbo2016-06-25T22:12:59ZForums: Advice: Translating Lu Bu into PathfinderIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2t894?Translating-Lu-Bu-into-Pathfinder#12016-01-06T13:16:18Z2016-01-05T23:15:45Z<p>I am joining a game where players take on historical figures as characters in a Pathfinder rule set, and for me I am picking Lu Bu.</p>
<p>I have some ideas, but would love to hear suggestions about how I could realize a character like this as the dominating warrior that he is portrayed as in <i> Romance of the Three Kingdoms </i> and in Dynasty Warriors. This also means trying to match as close to his armor, weapons and capabilities. This means he only uses Halbreds.</p>
<p>My current thought was to make him a Barbarian, due to his tendency to rage and be a force of nature. Thoughts?</p>
<p>PS. I believe the characters are starting at Level 15 with 3 Mythic Levels.</p>I am joining a game where players take on historical figures as characters in a Pathfinder rule set, and for me I am picking Lu Bu.
I have some ideas, but would love to hear suggestions about how I could realize a character like this as the dominating warrior that he is portrayed as in Romance of the Three Kingdoms and in Dynasty Warriors. This also means trying to match as close to his armor, weapons and capabilities. This means he only uses Halbreds.
My current thought was to make him a...Icy Turbo2016-01-05T23:15:45ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: Fun/Absurd Stories: Challenge Rating BoopIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2t750?Fun-Absurd-Stories-Challenge-Rating-Boop#42015-12-22T01:01:56Z2015-12-21T19:22:39Z<p>I had one moment, playing a Conjuration mage in Skull and Shackles campaign. After being kidnapped, they sent a bunch of pirates to rough us up, I believe 1 to 1 ratio, with a party of 5. This was supposed to be a rough fight, as our characters had very little in the way of items at the start of the campaign, but I luckily had some material components to utilize.</p>
<p>Rather then even attempting to get into bare-knuckle boxing with the pirate thugs, I decided (even if it was also going to hit some party members) to just cast <i> color spray </i> in this small area where they were all gathering up. I knocked every single character unconscious except for 1 pirate, who just saw me take every single person out of the fight. I asked the DM if I could roll to intimidate and stated</p>
<p>"Now be honest with me, do you really want to keep fighting? Because I haven't cast my lethal spells yet"</p>
<p>Rolled Nat 20.</p>
<p>I walked past him and almost the entire party and group of pirates, ready to continue working menial chores while the last guy standing pissed himself in fear.</p>
<p>Need it not be said that sometimes, the wizard has to be at least a tad bit rough with people.</p>I had one moment, playing a Conjuration mage in Skull and Shackles campaign. After being kidnapped, they sent a bunch of pirates to rough us up, I believe 1 to 1 ratio, with a party of 5. This was supposed to be a rough fight, as our characters had very little in the way of items at the start of the campaign, but I luckily had some material components to utilize.
Rather then even attempting to get into bare-knuckle boxing with the pirate thugs, I decided (even if it was also going to hit...Icy Turbo2015-12-21T19:22:39ZRe: Forums: Homebrew and House Rules: Seriously now, how do you fix martial/caster disparity and still have the same game?Icy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2t6u8&page=6?Seriously-now-how-do-you-fix-martialcaster#2712015-12-31T07:37:06Z2015-12-18T20:22:14Z<p>How badly would casters be gutted if Metamagic feats were not a thing?</p>How badly would casters be gutted if Metamagic feats were not a thing?Icy Turbo2015-12-18T20:22:14ZRe: Forums: Homebrew and House Rules: Seriously now, how do you fix martial/caster disparity and still have the same game?Icy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2t6u8?Seriously-now-how-do-you-fix-martialcaster#182015-12-19T02:20:32Z2015-12-17T01:14:51Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">The Sword wrote:</div><blockquote><p> Stop seeing it as a problem and see it as just a difference. It is acceptable for people to have different roles in a party. Specialisation is not a bad thing. In no particular ofder...</p>
<p>Encourage the casters not to duplicate roles of other players in the group - so as not to upstage them.</p>
<p>Encourage casters to buff other party members and solve problems as a team.</p>
<p>Enforce the need to communicate with summoned creatures.
<br />
</blockquote><p>None of these are really a problem to do in a run game as a DM. If your players are okay with having this be the norm of play for casters, more power to ya. But the thread is more about what to do to get martials Up, and not necessarily what to do to get casters Down.
<p>For me personally, I would despise having a martial character feel important because the caster is going out of their way to limit their spells and choices so they don't stomp the encounters and story.</p>
<p>So a lot of these are great suggestions for general balance of an adventure (Such as summon communication, material components, spell book consciousness), but maybe not really what's needed for martials.</p>The Sword wrote:Stop seeing it as a problem and see it as just a difference. It is acceptable for people to have different roles in a party. Specialisation is not a bad thing. In no particular ofder...
Encourage the casters not to duplicate roles of other players in the group - so as not to upstage them.
Encourage casters to buff other party members and solve problems as a team.
Enforce the need to communicate with summoned creatures.
None of these are really a problem to do in a run game...Icy Turbo2015-12-17T01:14:51ZRe: Forums: Homebrew and House Rules: Seriously now, how do you fix martial/caster disparity and still have the same game?Icy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2t6u8?Seriously-now-how-do-you-fix-martialcaster#42015-12-26T22:36:02Z2015-12-17T00:30:51Z<p>Perhaps one easy way to accomplish this is to create a new book called
<br />
"Martials Unchained"</p>
<p>Go through the mechanics that entail martial classes, and put in or adapt new parts that give martials some kind of ability to adapt or be diverse. Allow characters to be able to get 1 attack off as a swift action, as long as they have more then 1 attack. A quickened strike if you will.</p>
<p>There could be many other examples, but that would be how I would propose to insert changes to martials.</p>Perhaps one easy way to accomplish this is to create a new book called
"Martials Unchained"
Go through the mechanics that entail martial classes, and put in or adapt new parts that give martials some kind of ability to adapt or be diverse. Allow characters to be able to get 1 attack off as a swift action, as long as they have more then 1 attack. A quickened strike if you will.
There could be many other examples, but that would be how I would propose to insert changes to martials.Icy Turbo2015-12-17T00:30:51ZForums: Advice: Archetype Tier List: A Guide to Picking ArchetypesIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2t5uc?Archetype-Tier-List-A-Guide-to-Picking#12021-02-22T13:22:40Z2015-12-03T19:40:42Z<p>I realized that while the class guides have this in a way, I wanted to create a thread for new and old players as a comprehensive list of Archetypes for each class (Barring 3PP or Player Companion archetypes) and how they stand in regards to other archetypes for that class.</p>
<p>So in the replies below, lets discuss what could be considered to be generally good and generally bad archetypes. The criteria for determining this will be based on the general benefits given by an archetype and how much or how little those benefits outweigh the negatives associated with the archetype, and general strength overall. </p>
<p>Finally in no more then a paragraph, describe the reason behind the placement of that archetype. Evidence to support it's placement, and also it's place against other archetypes.</p>
<p>Note that no matter what this guide will be partially subjective based on these entries, but hopefully we can all band together to create a overall good list for archetypes.</p>
<p>I will try to edit this post as we get more information.</p>I realized that while the class guides have this in a way, I wanted to create a thread for new and old players as a comprehensive list of Archetypes for each class (Barring 3PP or Player Companion archetypes) and how they stand in regards to other archetypes for that class.
So in the replies below, lets discuss what could be considered to be generally good and generally bad archetypes. The criteria for determining this will be based on the general benefits given by an archetype and how much...Icy Turbo2015-12-03T19:40:42ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: How do you run Dragons?Icy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2swut&page=2?How-do-you-run-Dragons#602015-11-06T18:40:59Z2015-11-06T01:15:01Z<p>I tend to run dragons in much the same way others do. That being that they are very ancient, are prolific hoarders and usually do not meddle in common affairs. If they do, it is because they are either good and guiding other mortals in small ways, or evil and are throwing things in the way with progressively higher power to stomp it out. But there is one thing I guarantee whenever I have a dragon in a campaign.</p>
<p>Dragons are not wimps.</p>
<p>In some games it is totally acceptable to kill a dragon easily (Skyrim), but I tend to view dragons near the power of those in Shadowrun: Yeah, you know they exist, and if you know what is good for you, don't fight them. It only makes you look worse. Fighting a dragon (and I mean just fighting, not even slaying a dragon) is end of adventure level events.</p>
<p>That and I try to not make dragons easy to get to. If they are in a cave, they have quite a few traps and spells in place to stop people entering, they have their half-kin or bought off mercenaries that will protect their hoard, and even if they do get to the dragon, they will make short work of intruders unless a party is creative, or have multiple escape routes. With beings this old, they know what is up.</p>
<p>Heck in my own world, anything past adult dragon is basically stronger then a Kaiju, and some of the most ancient dragons are the size of mountain ranges.</p>I tend to run dragons in much the same way others do. That being that they are very ancient, are prolific hoarders and usually do not meddle in common affairs. If they do, it is because they are either good and guiding other mortals in small ways, or evil and are throwing things in the way with progressively higher power to stomp it out. But there is one thing I guarantee whenever I have a dragon in a campaign.
Dragons are not wimps.
In some games it is totally acceptable to kill a dragon...Icy Turbo2015-11-06T01:15:01ZForums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: How often does one Houserule?Icy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2t1sw?How-often-does-one-Houserule#12015-11-15T19:56:39Z2015-10-29T21:50:33Z<p>More of a curious question then anything else, but how many of you utilize or are in games with Houserules?</p>
<p>If so, what are these houserules? Do you see a common houserule mutliple times?</p>
<p>Comment below, let your houserules be known. As an example for myself, characters that have multiple attacks can use their swift action to make that second attack.</p>More of a curious question then anything else, but how many of you utilize or are in games with Houserules?
If so, what are these houserules? Do you see a common houserule mutliple times?
Comment below, let your houserules be known. As an example for myself, characters that have multiple attacks can use their swift action to make that second attack.Icy Turbo2015-10-29T21:50:33ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: Paladins and Evil outsidersIcy Turbohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2sdck&page=2?Paladins-and-Evil-outsiders#592015-06-25T03:44:44Z2015-06-24T18:07:08Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Gwen Smith wrote:</div><blockquote><p> Scenario:</p>
<p>A party of adventurers selflessly go to cleanse the town crypt of undead. The only caster with them is a wizard. After a tough fight, they finally defeat the undead abominations and save the town. The wizard heals up his injured buddies with the only arcane healing spell he knows. As they are leaving the crypt, they run into a paladin...
<br />
...who smites them and kills them all because they detect as evil. </blockquote><p>Or would <i>smite</i> them except they can't because "If the paladin targets a creature that is not evil, the smite is wasted with no effect."
<p>Honestly this is slowly going from "What is the interaction of Paladins with Evil Outsiders (and as the thread continued, evil anything)" to "What situation can I think of to make a Paladin fall and see if the thread thinks it will work." We can cut the chaff and state (and you can quote me on this):</p>
<p><i> A Paladin following the tenets of his faith and being a Lawful Good character will act in each scenario to the max capacity of those tenets and alignment. If the situation arises in which a Paladin must wrestle between Law and Good, the Paladin then chooses one or the other based on their personality, but never sacrifices either in the upholding of one for a given situation. A Paladin above all else will assess any situation or conflict with the intent of peaceful resolution, whether by words, arrest, or the rare use of lethal force when the former options are unavailable."</i></p>Gwen Smith wrote:Scenario:
A party of adventurers selflessly go to cleanse the town crypt of undead. The only caster with them is a wizard. After a tough fight, they finally defeat the undead abominations and save the town. The wizard heals up his injured buddies with the only arcane healing spell he knows. As they are leaving the crypt, they run into a paladin...
...who smites them and kills them all because they detect as evil.
Or would smite them except they can't because "If the paladin...Icy Turbo2015-06-24T18:07:08Z