Jinglemane's page

I use the mirror both ways!

It's great for the utility of getting up 15 feet, or getting to the other side of that fence.

Combat usually goes like this.

First round:
◈ Stride
◈ Exploit Vulnerability
◈ Strike

If I am lucky, I get a mortal weakness that I can use against all the creatures in the fight! Most of the time though I have to Personal Antithesis each one.

So it is that second round where I generally get to use the mirror.

◈ Mirror - often times I use it so that I can flank not with myself, but with 2 other party members.
◈ Exploit Vulnerability (if the first guy went down too fast)
◈ Strike

Another advantage of using the mirror is that you can leave one of you within touch distance of the party medic while the other is 15 feet away. There's so many options for strategy with the mirror!

I think that your best bet when trying to roleplay a non-human PC is to think about their backstory, culture, and who they are as an individual.

So... I'll give the example of my character, Jinglemane. Jinglemane is a lion-centaur poppet. There is a bit of a difference between his self-image and the actual appearance he presents to the world (as evidenced by the picture in the link above.)

Being a lion, he really, really wants to bite people. Unfortunately, he is also a poppet toy with really soft felt teeth. So he got a leiomano (a club covered in shark teeth) so that he could 'bite' his enemies.

He was wished alive by a child, and he's very protective of children, and tries to be the BEST babysitter. Of course, he's the sort of babysitter who thinks that it is okay to help the child sneak out of the house to go on adventures - so long as he is there to back them up.

Poppets have to eat, but their diets in no way have to be balanced or nutritious. Jinglemane thinks dinners of candy are great. He looks at the world through a child's lens. He zooms around, jumps into action, and is endlessly curious. When he bleeds, he dribbles bits of stuffing around, which he finds highly embarassing.

More seriously, his 'kid' (a now grown-up geniekin human) was discriminated against in Katapesh, so he cares deeply about the rights of oppressed peoples and likes to rescue them. And then tell them stories, tuck them into bed and feed them candy. This is not always appropriate with some NPCs, but it is what Jinglemane knows how to do.

I for one welcome my fellow poppet siblings. It's one of the most diverse ancestries in terms of character concepts you can enable with it.

Jinglemane bounces into this discussion. "Welcome my fellow former toys and present day companions! If you need fashion tips for elegant poppet attire, don't forget to subscribe to the [i]Mane Event: Your Source for Tips on Lairs, Dares and Hair Care(s)!/i]'

Takes notes for his own gossip column in the Mane Event.

Jinglemane will do that Off Hours Study as well!

"This was fun! Please invite us back to help with the kids anytime!" Jinglemane also grabs a lollipop. "And please listen to Kit. My girl is very wise!"

Diplomacy E: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

"You think you know pranks better than Numblekin? That you can hit harder than Numblekin? Heal faster than Numblekin?"

Jinglemane watches as Numblekin swishes and misses against him. "Apparently, yeah. But man, I can't RUN faster than you! You're exhausting!"

Jinglemane double-moves, trying to leave space for the much slower Doven to flank. When he strikes, he strikes with Cold Iron.

◈◈ Stride twice!
◈ Striking Lion’s Bite (Empowered Leiomano, Mortal Weakness, CA: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 25
Bludgeoning / Slashing damage that triggers Highest Weakness, CA: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4, 6) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 18

Jinglemane runs through the other door to block Numblekin's path.

"Not so fast, Numbwit!" Jinglemane smiles as he lifts his leiomano overhead. "It's time to bite you with cold iron!"

◈◈ Stride twice!
◈ Striking Lion’s Bite (Empowered Leiomano, Mortal Weakness, M.W): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 16
Bludgeoning / Slashing) damage that triggers Highest Weakness: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 12

Hero Point: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 28

Was an esoteric lore of 28 enough to figure out how to stop his regeneration?

"Though come to think of it.. If that smushed you flat, it is pretty darn funny..." Jinglemane ponders. "Maybe there is something to the link between violence and humor?"

"You are all emotionally stunted creatures that think that only violence is funny!" Jinglemane shakes his head. "You hurt animals! You scare children!"

"Well, feel the BITE of my humor and see how funny it is!"

He strides into a flank and hopefully offers Daglin a leiomano bite full of cold iron.

◈ Stride into flank with Kit
◈ Exploit Vulnerability (Esoteric Lore): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
◈ Striking Lion’s Bite (Empowered Leiomano, Mortal Weakness, M.W): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 28
Bludgeoning / Slashing) damage that triggers Highest Weakness: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 14

If a crit, Jinglemane replaces the above damage with the following:
Bludgeoning / Slashing) damage that triggers Highest Weakness: 2d8 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7, 5) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 20
Fatal: 1d10 ⇒ 3

Thanks for the Hero Point!

Jinglemane plays with his mirror in the mirrored hall. "The mirrors are the best!"

Is everyone signed into the RPG chronicles yet? I only see three of us.

Also, does anyone else think that the opposums have the humans beat in this scenario when it comes to pranking?

I would have posted Jinglemane's response to someone trying to bite Kit, but I'm assuming that we are waiting for the mysterious '17' that is listed in the initiative.

Hmm

Doven is within my will save, so should have the advantage of my Aura vs Fear (+1!) because I am a Marshal.

"Thank you, Aella and Kit!" Jinglemane says as Doven recovers and Jinglemane feels his stitching coming back together.

As Doven comes back up, Jinglemane flanks with him to slash at the scarecrow with FIRE! "Stop SCARING MY FRIENDS! I'm going to BITE YOU with FIRE!"

◈ Striking Lion’s Bite (Empowered Leiomano, Mortal Weakness, M.W): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 = 24
Slashing damage that triggers Highest Weakness: 2d6 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 + 4 = 13

◈ Striking Lion’s Bite (Empowered Leiomano, Mortal Weakness, M.W): 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 - 5 = 13
Slashing damage that triggers Highest Weakness: 2d6 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 3 + 4 = 17

Hero Point on that second attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 1 - 5 = 21

Then Jinglemane calls,
"Scarecrow, scarecrow you might frighten birds
But we're here with FIRE and we're undeterred!"

◈ BON MOT

Diplomacy E: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Shayna, I'm hoping that I lowered its will save for you!

Yes, make my prior attack lethal, please!

Jinglemane shines his mirror, and sends a copy of himself on to the desk to flank with Doven. "Don't be frightened of her, because I'm here to protect you! Hit her with fire!"

◈ Mirror

◈ Striking Lion’s Bite (Empowered Leiomano, Mortal Weakness, CA): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 29
Bludgeoning / Slashing) damage that triggers Highest Weakness: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2, 1) + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 12

If that was a Crit, the initial damage to double becomes: 2d8 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7, 2) + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 18
Fatal: 1d10 ⇒ 2

◈ Striking Lion’s Bite (Empowered Leiomano, Mortal Weakness, CA): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 5 = 12
Bludgeoning / Slashing) damage that triggers Highest Weakness: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5, 2) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 15

Jinglemane's second bite goes astray as he is so excited that the first one hit.

Jinglemane moves towards Student 19., looks for a weakness and then summons fire from his weapon to trigger Student 19's weakness. "Hit her with fire!"

◈ Stride!
◈ Exploit Vulnerability (Esoteric Lore): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
◈ Striking Lion’s Bite (Non-lethal, Empowered Leiomano, Mortal Weakness, I.C.): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 22
Bludgeoning / Slashing) damage: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 5) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 15

Jinglemane charges forward at the enlarged opossums. He charges at Red, who is hopefully now frightened, and hits the opossum on the nose with the flat of Lion's Bite!

"SHOOO, or I'll BITE you!"

◈ Stride!
◈ Exploit Vulnerability (Esoteric Lore): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
◈ Striking Lion’s Bite (Non-lethal, Empowered Leiomano, Personal Antithesis, I.C.): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 24
Bludgeoning / Slashing) damage: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 + 4 + 4 + 1 = 17
Fatal: 1d10 ⇒ 5

"We'll escort you back!" Jinglemane offers quickly. "Also, what's for lunch? Anything good? My favorite lunch is cupcakes! What's yours?"

"Please return the opossums home and thank you for the scrolls! They're awesome!" Jinglemane waves farewell to fey, and then turns to the teacher with the bucket on his head. "Oh great new look! I should totally write an article on makeshift armor! Um, can we help you?"

Diplomacy E: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

If this is a failure, Jinglemane will Hero Point it.

Jinglemane looks at the fey. "Look, I like pranks and I like to laugh. But not when it hurts people, starts fires, or scares animals. So... let's talk funny. Chairs that make fart noises when you sit in them. Allow the animals talk and have them do dad jokes. Turn lunch into ice cream! Having everyone walk on the ceiling. Or... give everyone awesome lion manes! And if you do that, I can record it for THE MANE EVENT: Your Guide to Lairs, Dares and Hair Care!"

Having Jinglemane suggest pranks may not have been the best idea...

Jinglemane widens his eyes and looks beseechingly at the fey. "Can't you see you're scaring them? They're not used to flying and adventure the way that fierce Lion hybrids are!"

Aid Kit Diplomacy Aid E: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Jinglemane moves, uses his mirror the flank the fey, and then strikes non-lethally.

◈ Stride

◈ Mirror

◈ Strike

Striking Lion’s Bite (Empowered Leiomano, no exploit vulnerability, non-lethal, flanking): 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 1 - 2 = 13
Bludgeoning / Slashing) damage: 2d6 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (6, 2) + 3 + 4 = 15
Fatal: 1d10 ⇒ 4

Hero Point: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 - 2 = 14

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Jinglemane can't see the creature, so he moves up to where one of his colleagues are pointing.

Does he believe Shayna or Aella?: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Crap. He believes the person who didn't actually see the creature.

Jinglemane runs under the table and attempts to strike non-lethally at the fey, and just swipes at air for his turn.

◈ Exploit Vulnerability (Esoteric Lore): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
That is enough to trigger a mortal weakness if this Fey has one!

◈ Mirror to flank with Doven

◈ Striking Lion’s Bite (Empowered Leiomano, Mortal Weakness, M.W): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 23
Bludgeoning / Slashing) damage that triggers Highest Weakness: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 12

Jinglemane considers the fire starter fey. "You are a coward, and your craven ways are putting children at risk! Plus, you are starting really, really, really scary fires!" Jinglemane thinks about things that the nasty fey might be weak to, and he adds them to his strike.

He roars.

"ROOOAAAARRRRR! I am so going to bite your craven ass!"

Should the Fey not have a weakness, please add +4 damage from Personal Antithesis to Jinglemane's strike.

I botted him.

"Fire?" Jinglemane squeaks, for fire is the one thing that a dashing young lion like him is truly afraid of. But then he remembers that this fire is in a school with children in it, and that fire is unsafe.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Jinglemane lives for mirrors! He draws Lion's Bite, looks around and then runs toward the fey. "Setting fires is not nice. If you set another one, I will bite you." He menaces the fey meaningfully.

Jinglemane is excited by this new prank. "I like how you found another way to draw attention to the Opossums! Maybe you should draw action shots, like of them POUNCING on their prey."

Jinglemane pounces on Kit, and then strikes up a pouncing pose that the students can draw.

Performance: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

It looks very convincing, if not necessarily true to actual possum hunting tactics.

"Owwwwie!" Jinglemane is shocked as his fur gets ripped by nails and stuffing spills out. "Still, the pie was delicious." Jinglemane squints at the fey.

◈ Exploit Vulnerability (Esoteric Lore): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
What sort of fey are they? What might appeal to them as an argument to stop sending nail-studded pies?

"I don't suppose you'd be up for a pie-eating contest rather than a pie-throwing contest? Though... I suppose your bellies might be smaller than mine, and not up to the challenge of serious eating. Too bad, because these pies are so tasty!"

◈◈ Diplomacy E (Hazard Disable): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

The library has a small crew of students moving around a startling number of one-way mirrors. While they block a significant view of the room, the number of books stored within the room is still evident of the prevalent musty scent of scores of tomes lining many shelves. Vision throughout the room is blocked by the multitude of one-way mirrors that hamper line of sight though the room as they come together to form a maze. Furnishings have been pushed to the side to make room for the construction.

Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"Oooh, mirrors!" Jinglemane pulls out his own mirror and roars, creating an entire string of fiercely roaring purple poppets peeking from every mirror. "You should include shadows and stuff, so that folks traveling through the maze can see lurking creepy stuff, and not know where it is coming from!"

The pie is almost certainly under a magical effect, but on bound to Arcane or Occult magic. Training with either of those skills could unravel those enchantments on the pie. A successful application of dispelling magic certainly would be able to do the same.

Jinglemane licks pie off his paws and takes a step into the room.

Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Hero Point: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 = 23

"I think that eating the pie could cancel the effect, and I'm definitely up for the challenge!"

Jinglemane decides to check out the shed. "Hello, I'm Jinglemane! Are the Oppossums still there? Do we need to bang pots and pans?"

Hello and welcome to the game. I'm looking forward to running this game!

This is set in Dacilane Academy which has been featured in a few other wonderful adventures.

Let me know if any of you have played any of the following. Let me know if you played them on another character or the character you will be playing:

#2‑09: The Seven Secrets of Dacilane Academy

#3‑18: Dacilane Academy's Delightful Disaster

Played both!

"Yep, though Kit can heal anyone who's injured! She's a wonderful healer! So... Are we supposed to judge the pranks, not advising them?" Then he looks at the medals longingly. "And can we judges win Dandy-Lion medals as well?"

"Awww... they remembered me! You have to admit that I'm the dandiest lion anyone ever saw!" Jinglemane prances into the Academy. "Hello everyone, I'm Jinglemane, reporter and head publisher of the Mane Event: Your Exclusive Source for Pathfinder Lairs, Dares and Hair Cares! Can I have your style tips to share with my readers?"

"Ooooh! I wonder what bedtime stories they would like? And what treats to give them before bedtime? And what cool tricks we can teach them?" Jinglemane bounces on the bed, and then runs around the room several times. "I can't wait to see them all again!"

Jinglemane, a purple lion-centaur poppet, rushes the letter back to Kit, and bounces back and forth excitedly. "Kit, Kit! We got a letter!"

Quote:

((Do thaumaturges get to do anything else eventually?))

It's based on implement choice. And if you want to use your martial weapon proficiency.

In my group I am one of the two main front-line defensive combatants with Amulet Implement and a light mace. My defensive buddy is a Warpriest Cleric with a shield. We also have a Ranger with a Badger companion mixing it up with us in the front, and a couple spellcasters and a bow monk shooting things for us.

At level 5 you get a second implement. But that sure seems like a long way away while we are level 1.

For this group, you may be one of the best suited for finding out and announcing what these (or any) creatures are and how best to fight them.

Thaumaturges can and do kick butt, but only if you build for it. I think that if you took a gun or something where you could add your thaumaturge damage you might be a lot more effective in battle, but I have not checked where your dex and strength are. The wand is one of the less effective implements.

I have built three thaums so far. My two strength-based thaums are very effective in combat. I especially love my mirror thaum, Jinglemane, who flanks with himself on a regular basis.

A poppet newsreporter comes forward and takes notes on all the new relationship gossip. "Hello, it's Jinglemane here of the Mane Event, your source for Pathfinder Lairs, Dares and Hair Care! How come I haven't heard of this Venture Gossip person until now? And how does one get a Venture Gossip position, because I want one?!"

Jinglemane and his girl Kit will be so excited to meet Safa!

Loompecker, you are shorting yourself damage here, because you are only including your strength in your damage roll. You failed your Exploit Vulnerability, which means that you still should get your Personal Antithesis damage, and you should also get the Implement damage for having your amulet in one hand and your weapon in the other.

So your damage at Level 1 should be 1d8+2+2+3 on a failed Exploit Vulnerability roll.

I include all the possibilities in my botting spoiler so that I don't forget the extra damage owed to me.

Please, give yourself four more damage here. One thing that is lovely about Thaums is how consistent their damage can be, and it gets only better when striking weapons come online.

Yeah, botting thaumaturges gets complicated, as you can see from Jinglemane's botting spoiler, where I have different considerations written out.

I wrote it out for me, really, rather than for anyone else!

"My name is Jinglemane, and I love to 'bite' enemies with my leiomano! I go up to them and bite them all day long!"

Jinglemane is a poppet lion-centaur, and believes that he should have a proper bite attack. Alas, his own teeth are made of felt, so when he found a club covered in shark teeth, he found his dream weapon.

Well, good luck with your poppet. I've had a blast with my poppet thaumaturge, Jinglemane! Maybe someday we'll play together.

Jinglemane will 'bite' bad guys for you with his leiomono -- it's a club with teeth, which is alas the only way he has a 'bite' attack. Felt teeth just don't have the same impact.

There is already a nice mention of the Marshal archetype in the guide. I plan to take the Marshal archetype at Level 4 with Jinglemane (I had to pick up Scroll Thaumaturgy at Level 2, because there are so many interesting scrolls that turn up in PFS.)

"Oh! This makes Jinglemane so happy! My leiomano is how I bite people, since my felt teeth aren't much good for that!" The poppet bounces around and swings his new leiomano happily. "Now I can bite the bad guys even better!"

My character, Jinglemane, loves his Leiomano, which he got from an ACP transfer from a relevant chronicle. But now treasure vault has a revised Leiomano, that is available (also for ACP.)

If I like Treasure Vault's Leiomano better, do I need to spend ACP (again) to acquire it? Or should I consider the second version a revision of the first?

Original Leiomano

Treasure Vault Leiomano

Quadruped poppets are AWESOME!

Thaumaturges are great, but I'm not sure that I'd sum them up with a rating system. Still, it's your thread, so here goes:

Offense - 5 They have the most Consistent Damage bonuses in the game, and their ability to trigger Mortal Weakness is a Chef's Kiss.
* Weapon - gets Attack of Opportunity at Level 1 and increased accuracy later.
* Mirror - lets you flank with yourself.
* Regalia - can increase party damage.

Defense - That depends...

Amulet Implement does provide some defense, not just for you but for other players. It's a bit like a Champion reaction. I'd give that a 3.5.
Chalice provides some healing.

With Medium Armor and it being very hard to rock a Shield, I give most of the class a 2 rating for Defense.

Support - There are lots of options to help others, but really, Thaumaturges can shine in combat no matter what implement they choose. Still, Tome + Regalia (or getting the lamp, bell, the chalice or the amulet) can help you help the party. I'd give the class a solid 4, depending on what you want to do.

Utility - 4. There's so many ways to act in and out of combat. Diverse Lore, skills, and playing with your implements... Man, it's fun. And here is the best part: You do not need the vast majority of your thaumaturge feats to be a success. That means that you can easily take archetypes, and use them to build out the utility of your character. You can build a thaumaturge to cover lots of different bases.

Difficulty to Play - 5
It is really hard to grok the class, remember your buffs, and create your character. But once you get going, man... I love it. It's pretty easy to use in combat once you can keep track of your buffs. Do not give a thaumaturge to a player who is easily confused.

Fun - 5

You didn't ask it, but this is really the most important rating for me. They are a blast to play.

Thaumaturges are the martial bard I have been looking for. Charismatic, good skills, and great in a tussle.

★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★

To see it in action, you can click on Jinglemane's posts, as I play him in Play-by-Post games. To see how challenging it is to set up, check out Jinglemane's botting spoiler on his profile. You can get there by clicking his avatar. I needed to enumerate everything for myself so that I could track it all.

Among the challenges of playing with a thaumaturge... Not having enough hands for all your Implements. Ancestries with non-hand natural attacks have an intense advantage because they can hold a non-weapon implement in either hand.

I think our conversation in here is done if you want to close out this game, Zoomba!

Also there is a cute poppet avatar option at the bottom of page 55 of the avatars. I would say Absalom or Tian Xia.

I do love the crusading Princess Doll picture. I think what you have described here is totally different from Jinglemane. Where in the world is Princess Clover from? Does she have the merchant background?

At least you'll have a good default portrait of your character, as it looks like the Princess Poppet from the book.

For Jinglemane, I literally had to draw him because where else was I going to find a suitable picture?

So tell me what Clover is like!

Most of the poppets I have seen so far have been variants on creepy dolls, though I will be playing alongside a toy poppet this Wednesday that sounds much more cheery. I spent a lot of time with Bret discussing what I wanted to do with Jinglemane.

Fun fact: When we first discussing Jinglemane, he was a horse. But then we moved on to lion-centaurs because they have manes too, and the whole lion-hybrid thing led us to Kit being a geniekin and worshipping Ranginori.

Who is an awesome god because he's a lion!

I am really happy that Jinglemane's fluff (yes, I know the preferred term is flavor, but in Jinglemane's case, his flavor is literal fluff) matches his mechanics in a way that just works. I have had the points for a poppet for a while now, but I did not want to make another bard, and was looking for something else to create. The thaumaturge is kind of the melee bard that I have been wanting.

And there are so many awesome thaumaturge options!