J. A.'s page

Are there any APs or modules that include a statted NPC with the Fell Rider archetype? I'm not finding an example in the Advanced Race Guide or the Monster Codex.

Is there one buried somewhere in the Ironfang Invasion AP? Or failing that, anywhere at all?

What mechanical options are available to help a monk be an effective healer?

I’m aware of the Healing Hand and Disciple of Wholeness archetypes, as well as the two skill-based feats which improve heal checks. Is there anything else that would help a monk heal damage to others?

For my next game session I’d like to run a fey encounter — and since I’m pressed for time, I could use ideas on specific scenarios.

I’m looking for something with an eerie, otherworldly vibe. Fey bargains, trickery, gifts or trades that aren’t what they seem. Any suggestions along those lines? The more detailed the better.

What fey creatures would be best suited for a more whimsical encounter?

I’ve been hitting my PCs with some darker fey here lately, including the lamp blighter, which managed to really disturb my players, not to mention take a total of three eyes from the party.

So, I’d like a lighter fey encounter to balance that out. I’m open to all official Paizo content, but with a strong preference for fey that are less cruel and more amusing, exasperating, or just plain odd.

Can anyone point me towards a comprehensive monster listing that allows filtering by monster type?

Apparently there used to be something call the Advanced Monster Search on D20PFSRD, but that seems to be long gone. AonPRD has a resource for 2E, but I can’t find a filter-able version for 1E.

Does anything like this still exist?

Are there any rules for the results of a mating between different types of dragons? For instance, a red-gold hybrid, or black-green, or white-bronze, etc.?

Given how readily they cross with other creatures, it seems odd that they don’t seem to cross with each other. Even if this is a rare event, are there any rules governing the offspring?

Apart from campaign-specific traits, are there any class features, archetypes, feats, etc. that give a bonus while in a specific hometown?

I know I’ve come across something like this recently, but can’t call it to mind. I’m looking for anything in official Pathfinder 1E, but I’m open to official Wizards content if there’s anything similar.

I haven't played the Ruins of Azlant AP, but after reading "Beyond the Veiled Past," it’s hard not to wonder how the endgame plays out in practice.

Has anyone detonated this device, or had it detonated during their campaign? Did that end the campaign right there, or did it open up new storylines?

Is there a playable version of the serpentfolk, something scaled down (so to speak) to the level of the standard races?

I expect the quick-and-dirty answer is “play a nagaji,” but I’m wondering if there’s a more elegant option, maybe tied directly to serpentfolk lore in Golarion.

I came across this while reading through the last chapter of a certain recent AP, and it’s hard not to wonder how the endgame plays out in practice.

Has anyone detonated this device, or had it detonated during their campaign? Did that end the campaign right there, or did it open up new storylines?

I gather the serpentfolk are the Pathfinder version of the yuan-ti, with the various servitor races represented by the vishkanya and nagaji.

Is there a source which gives a detailed overview of the serpentfolk and their servitors in Golarion lore, equivalent to how Serpent Kingdoms went into detail on the yuan-ti?

Out of the various stand-alone modules, which ones are your favorites?

Which ones were the best-designed, had the most interesting concepts, and were the most fun to play?

I’m wondering if I should jump on a used laptop that’s being advertised near me. It’s listed as an HP Pavilion, “only 2-3 years old,” running Windows 10 on an Intel Pentium with 500 GB hard drive. The asking price is $160.

I’ve been using a Mac for years and haven’t kept up with the Windows market, but this sounds pretty low-end. However, I’ve been needing something to deal with a large number of photos, most of which are on PC-compatible external drives, and this might work for me.

But I’ve never bought a used laptop before, so I’d appreciate some advice as to whether the HP Pavilion is a reliable beast, and if so whether the price is reasonable.

I’ve just come across the greensight monster ability, which is perfect for an idea I’m working on.

If this were available as a class feature, at what level should it come online?

In a recent Pathfinder game, one of the key aspects of fey was their fascination for nickel — they carried coins of nickel, they hoarded it when they could, and we even baited them with it.

I’d never heard this about fey before, and I haven’t been able to find anything in Pathfinder sources or real-world folktales to support it. Our GM for that game was quite inventive, and built out the campaign far beyond the framework of the original AP, so it wouldn’t surprise me if this was his own invention.

Does anyone know if this is mentioned anywhere in Pathfinder lore? Or did our GM come up with this on his own?

Over in the 1E section, there's a bit of discussion about what we would've liked to see in Pathfinder First Edition. Various ideas came up for expanding Distant Worlds into a series of softcovers, one or more hardcovers, or an AP that leads PCs on a "Grand Tour" throughout the Golarion system.

All of these ideas could be implemented in Second Edition, but I expect Paizo has already mapped out the next several years' worth of 2E releases. Even so, it would be great to know if there's any interest in this sort of product for 2E, and whether anyone at Paizo is considering a return to other worlds in the Golarion system.

The prana ghost is one of my favorite entries from the Occult Bestiary, essentially Obi-Wan Kenobi in template form.

With so much flavor and potential, I’d think these would be featured somewhere in Golarion lore. Are there any references to prana ghosts in any other Paizo publications? Did they ever show up in Golarion? And if not, is there anywhere in Avistan they’d be especially likely to be found?

I need a dwarf for tonight's session and don't have time to work one up myself. Is there a low-level dwarf somewhere in the AP line or another sourcebook that's already statted up? Looking for a second- or third-level dwarf, ideally a shield-fighter.

Does anyone know of any published statblocks along these lines, that are ready to be dropped into a game?

For those of you who have run a seafaring campaign, what were some of your most memorable encounters on the high seas?

And for those of you who are planning a seafaring campaign, what encounters would you like to run?

Is there any way to play an Azlanti construct in Pathfinder? I can’t find anything online that suggests this is an option, but I want to be sure I’m not missing anything.

I’m aware of wyrwoods, and also of warforged, but neither of these will work for my current purposes. Are there any Pathfinder character options pertaining specifically to Azlanti constructs?

How many playable winged humanoids are available in Pathfinder 1E?

Off the top of my head, I can think of gathlain, strix and syrinx, but I'm sure there are many more. Can anyone suggest some others?

My group is on the edge of a major fight, and I'd like some epic music to go with it.

We've long since worn out the soundtrack for LotR, and the group has heard all of my standby selections--to the point they actually recognized one of my favorite tracks when it was played in a movie trailer.

So we need some new music to set a heroic tone for a battle they might not win. And if not heroism, I'll take music for a desperate struggle against long odds and brutal enemies. Anything appropriate come to mind?

I’m looking for APs that have interesting, nuanced and well-developed NPCs, both allies and villains.

All recommendations welcome, but I’m especially interested in NPCs with a plausible and engaging backstory, individuals who define themselves, rather than simply slotting into a generic story role. Can anyone recommend some standout NPCs along these lines?

I’m planning to throw some byakhee at my party when they stumble into a lair, and I need some sort of monstrous creature to go with them. Ideally I’d like something that can fly along with the byakhee, and a plain-vanilla wyvern or whatnot just won’t feel right.

We’ve already done nightgaunts, mi-go and a star vampire, so those options are out. I’d like to choose something else from the Lovecraft mythos, but flying polyps are way above the party’s pay grade, and apart from the byakhee themselves I’m not sure what else would work.

At this point I'm open to all Pathfinder content. Is there anything with wings that would fit smoothly into a Lovecraftian theme? And that could plausibly share space with a group of byakhee?

I could use some advice on how to structure the plot of a scenario I’ve been working on. This will be based at a country estate, and it’s intended as a one- or two-session adventure for starting characters, with an emphasis on amateur sleuthing.

The essence is that Something Important has been stolen, and the estate is in an uproar trying to find it. The thief, who is a member of the estate’s household, has hidden the SI in such a way as to implicate another member of the household.

So, I have the scenario, but I’m not sure how to translate this into a working outline to run a session. The PCs will be employees of the estate, but they won’t have any resources other than their own ingenuity.

Where do I take it from here?

Way back in 3.0, one of the supplements introduced the bogun, which was a sort of planty homunculus for druids. It was a fun concept, but the execution was terrible. It was reprinted a couple of times during 3.5 but never really improved.

Does Pathfinder have a version of the bogun? Or anything along similar lines?

I’m trying to roll up some treasure after an encounter, but I’m confused by the different treasure categories — A, B, E, F, etc.

I don’t see these categories listed in the creature statblock, so how do I know which one to use?

I’m in need of several NPC wizards and don’t have the time to build them myself. I’m looking for one wizard around 14th-15th level, and several others in the 4th-8th level range.

Does anyone happen to have characters already built that fit these criteria? And that you'd be willing to share? Ideally I’m looking for full builds with level-appropriate items and spellbooks.

All contributions will be very much appreciated by a harried and overwhelmed GM.

Does anyone have a list of all the Lovecraft-inspired monsters that have been statted up for Pathfinder?

I can think of a few, but it would be great to have a comprehensive list.

So, with the last of the First Edition adventure paths coming out, I’d be interested to know which APs people enjoyed the most — and which ones they didn’t.

I really liked Ironfang Invasion, which certainly had all the hobgoblins you’d ever want, but fortunately these were balanced out with other creatures. I especially liked the minotaur lieutenant, who had an interesting and nuanced backstory, and I loved the anhana, which are some of the most flavorful fey in all of First Edition.

As for Kingmaker…I so much wanted to like this one. I love the idea of wilderness exploration, but the kingdom-building felt a little too much like a video game, or at least that’s how it was implemented in the game I was in. There were other issues with that game which deeply colored my experience, so I may not have the best perspective on Kingmaker, but sometimes there can be too much sandbox in a game.

In terms of least favorite APs, I’m afraid Strange Aeons was something of a disappointment overall, although they did a great job working up creatures from the Lovecraft mythos, especially the byakhee and the star vampire. And Tyrant’s Grasp, sadly, has deeply failed to impress.

But I’d be interested in hearing what APs others have enjoyed, or didn’t, and the reasons why.

Is there a guide for working with the Building rules? And if not, could someone please give me an overview?

I’m trying to find baseline prices for purchasing structures, but after reading through the sections on Buildings and Rooms, I’m not sure how it works. I am literally getting a headache trying to figure this out.

It looks like building anything requires working with the downtime rules, which involves generating capital, labor points, etc. But the more I read, the more confused I get. There doesn’t seem to be a single base price for anything, at least not separate from the labor-point aspect, which seems to demand full commitment to the entire downtime system.

I’d just like to put some money down and buy a little castle. Just a tower, a wonderful tower, tall and grand. Ideally I’d like it to fly, although I know that raises some other complications. For now I’d just like a baseline price. Help?

Is there a way to search the monster listings in the Archives of Nethys PRD? Specifically, is there a way to filter for monsters with the reptilian subtype?

I can reach a massive list of (presumably) all monsters, but I can’t see how to search that list by subtype. Meanwhile, in the Search function, I can search for “reptilian,” but that just gets me every entry with “reptilian” in the text, whether or not the specific monster has the reptilian subtype. Searching for “reptilian subtype” just gets me the definition of the subtype, not the creatures it’s attached to.

Is there another way to search that I’m missing? I’ve also tried the Advanced Monster Search on the PFSRD, but I’m getting nothing but a big white rectangle in both Firefox and Safari.

Are these the only search options, or is there something more elegant that I'm missing?

So, I've heard a mention of a racing drake, and I'm wondering if this is native to Pathfinder, and if so where I could find it.

This is only a rumor, mind, but a lovely rumor. Are there racing drakes in Pathfinder?

In my next session or two, an elaborate puzzle box will fall into the party’s hands, containing a key item for advancing the plot. I’d like to make the opening of the box a challenge in itself, but I’m not sure how.

I’ve already given them one puzzle box, back in the very first session of the campaign; it was extremely basic and relied too much on a couple of skill checks. This time I’d like something to challenge the players as well as the characters, but I’m having a hard time coming up with anything. Can anyone suggest a good challenge?

Has anyone curated a list of all the aquatic races in Pathfinder? I’ve found a fairly extensive list for 3.5, but my google-fu has stumbled when it comes to Pathfinder.

Ideally I’d like a list which covers all first-party Paizo material. Does anyone know if such a list has been compiled?

Has anyone played or run this chapter? There aren't any reviews on Amazon or the Paizo product page, and I'd like to know how it compares to The Lost Outpost.

I'd also be very interested in the new monsters, if anyone could be so kind as to name them.

For living creatures, how long they can run is tied to their Constitution score. But undead, by definition, have no Constitution score.

So, how would you rule this? Can a skeleton run indefinitely? Or can it not run at all?

Since Planar Adventures is apparently the last hardcover for 1E, it seems that Bestiary 7 is not to be.

But, we can still dream. If Bestiary 7 had been published, what would you have wanted to see included?

I’ve finally reached the point in my campaign where I can introduce a thought eater, one of my favorite creatures from Bestiary 5. But after re-reading the entry, I’m confused about the effects of its bite attack.

In particular, I’m puzzled that the victim of the bite attack is able to choose which spell they lose—or if not a spellcaster, they can choose which mental stat is drained.

But why? Is there some mechanical reason why this should be the case? What’s the in-world logic for someone being bitten by a strange floating skeleton and *deciding* whether to become a little less intelligent or a little less intuitive?

And is there any reason not to simply randomize this instead?

Inner Sea Races is one of those books that seems more of a kinda-nice-to-have rather than an absolute-must-have. Apparently it republishes most if not all of its content, which is what I’m concerned about.

Is there any new information on races at all, or is it 100% recycled material? Are there any new character options? And is it entirely rooted in Golarion, or can it be adapted to other campaign settings?

Is there any lore on the samsarans beyond what little is mentioned in the Advanced Race Guide? This is a fascinating race, but they seem to be much less-supported than they could be. Apart from a little extra in the Dragon Empires Gazetteer, I can’t find much else about them.

Is there anything else, or is the entry in the ARG pretty much it?

The slithering tracker is almost perfect for my creature needs in my next game session--with the exception that its CR is 4, which is a little high for the situation.

How would you go about cutting it down to a CR 2 creature? I’m aware that reducing stats and removing abilities is the general approach, but I’m not sure how far to reduce its stats or which abilities to remove. Can anyone give me some suggestions on how to do this?

Can a mesmerist cast spells while maintaining a hypnotic stare?

I’m trying to fit my head around this ability, and I can’t tell from the text if the mesmerist can do all manner of other things while maintaining the stare, or if it’s supposed to be understood that he’s concentrating on that alone. I’m assuming he can trigger an implanted trick as a free action during a stare, but it would be good to know for certain.

Also, mesmerist tricks are a little confusing as well. If I understand correctly, a second-level mesmerist knows two tricks, which he can implant a total of 1+Cha mod times per day. But he has to touch the recipient, and can only keep one trick active at a time?

I could’ve sworn Pathfinder had an archetype for this, but I can’t seem to find one, so I could use advice on how to build it myself.

My concept is a rather demented druid who is obsessed with aberrations, and who believes the world would be a better place if its existing wilderness was replaced with entire ecosystems of aberrations. To this end, the druid will be summoning, breeding, and “gardening” aberrations of all kinds.

I’d like the druid to be able to wildshape into aberrations, and he should have an aberration-only version of wild empathy. Aberration companion, aberration summoning, aberration augmenting, all of these should be part of his build.

So, is this possible in Pathfinder? How much of this can be done from official Paizo material?

In our last session, two party members were slashed unconscious and spent some quality time with a mi-go. The rest of the party was occupied elsewhere, so the interlude with the mi-go was offscreen, and no one knows exactly what transpired.

I would love to find something thematic and Lovecraftian which the mi-go could have implanted in the party members. I’m looking for something to represent either a larval mi-go or a symbiont, or even a parasite which might have transferred from the mi-go to the unconscious PCs.

I’m open to all official Paizo content, and I’m especially interested in suggestions that are from the Lovecraft mythos or in the same vein. Does Pathfinder have anything that would fit?

I’m about to throw some incorporeals at my party, which includes an alchemist, and I’m trying to work out whether his bombs would affect the ghosts. Unfortunately I’m hearing two conflicting views on whether or not this would work.

One perspective claims that since the Bomb ability is (Su), the bombs themselves are inherently magical and their fire damage should affect incorporeal targets, which by definition are harmed by supernatural abilities.

But the other perspective claims that the magic is only involved in <making> the bombs, after which they become ordinary splash weapons dealing ordinary fire damage.

Can anyone tell me if one of these perspectives has stronger support from the rules? And has anyone run into this situation in a game before?

Does anyone have “Whisper Out of Time,” from the Strange Aeons AP, and can anyone tell me if the article on the Yithians is worth reading?

I’m not sure whether to buy this installment or not; the plot doesn’t really interest me, and the information on Qadira isn’t relevant for my needs. I’m mainly looking for the Pathfinder versions of Lovecraftian creatures, ideally both stats and background information. Earlier installments of Strange Aeons have had a nice selection of cosmic horrors, and I’m wondering if “Whisper” holds to the same standard.

I do have the Occult Bestiary, which gives two pages on the Yithians. Does the article in “Whisper” go into any additional detail, and does the bestiary in “Whisper” give a decent range of other creatures?

I need help estimating the CR for two variants of the baseline wayang:

1. Lesser Shadow Wayang: replace Light and Dark with the Shadow Blending ability (50% miss chance in dim light), and replace Shadow Magic with See in Darkness, which allows for perfect sight even in magical darkness. (Also thinking of throwing in Hatred, probably against humans.)

2. Greater Shadow Wayang: as above, plus a limited version of Shadow Jump, with a range of 30 feet between areas of shadow or darkness, probably no more than 1+Wisdom modifier per day.

I would expect the first variant is more or less the same CR as a baseline wayang, but does it reach the threshold for +1 CR? And is the Shadow Jump ability enough to push the second variant up to +2 CR?