paizo.com Recent Posts by John Lancepaizo.com Recent Posts by John Lance2024-01-16T22:29:14Z2024-01-16T22:29:14ZRe: Forums/Paizo: General Discussion: Changes to OGL and Effect on Paizo/other OGL companiesJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs43qfp&page=3?Changes-to-OGL-and-Effect-on-Paizoother-OGL#1082023-01-06T21:42:28Z2023-01-06T21:42:28Z<p>At the end of the day, I'm just making popcorn and sitting back to watch the fireworks. I have an entire bookshelf full of Pathfinder 1E books (and about 10 APs that I haven't even touched yet), so I'm good on D20 content for the home game I GM for the next decade or two. WOTC could shut down every creator in sight and it wouldn't change my game one iota. </p>
<p>But there are some good OGL memes being generated by this whole debacle, so there's that....</p>At the end of the day, I'm just making popcorn and sitting back to watch the fireworks. I have an entire bookshelf full of Pathfinder 1E books (and about 10 APs that I haven't even touched yet), so I'm good on D20 content for the home game I GM for the next decade or two. WOTC could shut down every creator in sight and it wouldn't change my game one iota.
But there are some good OGL memes being generated by this whole debacle, so there's that....John Lance2023-01-06T21:42:28ZRe: Forums/Paizo: General Discussion: Changes to OGL and Effect on Paizo/other OGL companiesJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs43qfp&page=2?Changes-to-OGL-and-Effect-on-Paizoother-OGL#512023-01-08T13:12:43Z2023-01-06T13:26:37Z<p>Yeah, trying to retroactively change how things have been done for the last two decades is going to be an interesting trick for Wizards. A couple of the youtubers I watch have mentioned that, under US law, you can't copyright game mechanics per se (using a D20, hitpoints, STR and DEX as a stat, etc....) </p>
<p>I have no idea if that is strictly accurate but if that's the case, it will make the position of companies like Paizo a lot stronger if this whole thing winds up in court.</p>Yeah, trying to retroactively change how things have been done for the last two decades is going to be an interesting trick for Wizards. A couple of the youtubers I watch have mentioned that, under US law, you can't copyright game mechanics per se (using a D20, hitpoints, STR and DEX as a stat, etc....)
I have no idea if that is strictly accurate but if that's the case, it will make the position of companies like Paizo a lot stronger if this whole thing winds up in court.John Lance2023-01-06T13:26:37ZRe: Forums/Paizo: General Discussion: Changes to OGL and Effect on Paizo/other OGL companiesJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs43qfp?Changes-to-OGL-and-Effect-on-Paizoother-OGL#482023-01-10T15:04:51Z2023-01-06T12:38:02Z<p>I'm amused by the timing of that PBS hit-piece on the OSR community that just so happened to drop right in the middle of this growing OGL situation. WotC doing a little media battlefield prep, if I'm not mistaken. Wizards really must be worried about the optics of this whole thing if they're already thinking along those lines....</p>I'm amused by the timing of that PBS hit-piece on the OSR community that just so happened to drop right in the middle of this growing OGL situation. WotC doing a little media battlefield prep, if I'm not mistaken. Wizards really must be worried about the optics of this whole thing if they're already thinking along those lines....John Lance2023-01-06T12:38:02ZRe: Forums: Advice: Hexes for a Blasting Witch.John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs43ojs?Hexes-for-a-Blasting-Witch#252022-09-22T13:19:27Z2022-09-22T13:19:27Z<p>This may sound counter-intuitive, but when my wife was playing an elements-patron witch in Strange Aeons, she got a lot of mileage out of the sleep hex. Reason being, blasting spells tend to be reflex saves and a few fortitude saves. It's good to have a will save option for those enemies that have high reflex saves and evasion (rogues, for instance) or those targets with large HP pools and/or resistances (giants and elementals). Flight hex was the other one she constantly used in combat, mobility being a big thing for everyone in this game.</p>This may sound counter-intuitive, but when my wife was playing an elements-patron witch in Strange Aeons, she got a lot of mileage out of the sleep hex. Reason being, blasting spells tend to be reflex saves and a few fortitude saves. It's good to have a will save option for those enemies that have high reflex saves and evasion (rogues, for instance) or those targets with large HP pools and/or resistances (giants and elementals). Flight hex was the other one she constantly used in combat,...John Lance2022-09-22T13:19:27ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: What Adventure Paths Are We Still Playing?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs43llx?What-Adventure-Paths-Are-We-Still-Playing#292022-04-24T11:52:50Z2022-04-09T18:44:07Z<p>Just finished Book 3 of Serpent's Skull, now playing some 5E for a short break with one of the players GMing so I get a chance to play (I did play a mesmerist all the way through Strange Aeons as a break from GMing, but another break would definitely be welcome). The 5E will be home stuff set in the old Forgotten Realms, before they blew up the lore and the setting, should be a fun little detour.</p>Just finished Book 3 of Serpent's Skull, now playing some 5E for a short break with one of the players GMing so I get a chance to play (I did play a mesmerist all the way through Strange Aeons as a break from GMing, but another break would definitely be welcome). The 5E will be home stuff set in the old Forgotten Realms, before they blew up the lore and the setting, should be a fun little detour.John Lance2022-04-09T18:44:07ZRe: Forums/Paizo: General Discussion: Of all the changes I thought Paizo would make to Pathfinder.....John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs43ih5&page=6?Of-all-the-changes-I-thought-Paizo-would-make#2602021-11-07T19:32:56Z2021-11-07T12:46:58Z<p>"Yeah, this is a silly thread. If the OP wants to be taken seriously about this, maybe some willingness to defend their "Jewish people need to take one for the team here so I don't have to change my vocabulary" take would help." </p>
<p>I'm trying to think if there could be a less charitable interpretation of my original post and I'm coming up blank. My original post was simply stating that, for me, I've been having trouble figuring out what is going on with Paizo (and Wizards of the Coast as well) when it comes to changes, modifications, etc.. Believe me, my fellow VOs and I used to lobby for all kinds of changes back in the day, especially when new material came out, and it was usually in vain. Understandably so, in some cases, Paizo had a lot on their plate back then (and still do, from all accounts) and you have to have priorities. So anytime I see a change in any system I play, I usually have the reaction of either "Oh yeah, that's been an issue for a while, glad they finally got around to it" or "Why did they spend time and effort changing that? What that really a priority?" For me, the soul cage change was more of the latter. It does provide some clarity in the differences between items but I can think of a dozen changes or clarifications that would make more creative and mechanical sense.</p>
<p>That's it, that was the reasoning behind my original post. The change makes some sense, but is so far down on the list of things I think need modification that I never saw it coming. Plus, since I'm a first edition diehard, it'll never be an issue for me or my home game. It just struck me as an unusual choice, nothing more than that.</p>"Yeah, this is a silly thread. If the OP wants to be taken seriously about this, maybe some willingness to defend their "Jewish people need to take one for the team here so I don't have to change my vocabulary" take would help."
I'm trying to think if there could be a less charitable interpretation of my original post and I'm coming up blank. My original post was simply stating that, for me, I've been having trouble figuring out what is going on with Paizo (and Wizards of the Coast as well)...John Lance2021-11-07T12:46:58ZForums/Paizo: General Discussion: Of all the changes I thought Paizo would make to Pathfinder.....John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs43ih5?Of-all-the-changes-I-thought-Paizo-would-make#12021-11-01T18:08:15Z2021-11-01T17:45:29Z<p>... I gotta admit, I never saw this one coming. </p>
<p>https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/pathfinder-paizo-phylactery-lich-soul-cag es/</p>... I gotta admit, I never saw this one coming.
https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/pathfinder-paizo-phylactery-lich-soul-cag es/John Lance2021-11-01T17:45:29ZRe: Forums: Product Discussion: Pathfinder Module: Cradle of NightJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/products/btq01vaw/discuss&page=4?Pathfinder-Module-Cradle-of-Night#1632019-06-22T21:20:35Z2019-06-22T21:20:35Z<p>As long as it gets sanctioned before October (AVL Scarefest is Oct 18-20 this year). I would really like to GM an organized table of Cradle at that particular Con.</p>As long as it gets sanctioned before October (AVL Scarefest is Oct 18-20 this year). I would really like to GM an organized table of Cradle at that particular Con.John Lance2019-06-22T21:20:35ZRe: Forums: Product Discussion: Pathfinder Module: Cradle of NightJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/products/btq01vaw/discuss&page=4?Pathfinder-Module-Cradle-of-Night#1602019-02-15T15:06:31Z2019-02-15T15:06:31Z<p>Anyone know if/when there will be organized play support for this module? I just bought it, looks great, would love to run it for the local PFS crowd in Asheville....</p>Anyone know if/when there will be organized play support for this module? I just bought it, looks great, would love to run it for the local PFS crowd in Asheville....John Lance2019-02-15T15:06:31ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: What's the most overpowered monster?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2v6wv?Whats-the-most-overpowered-monster#202018-06-22T02:39:07Z2018-06-22T02:39:07Z<p>The joke in our Lodge is that the Wall of Names has a whole panel dedicated to pathfinders killed by the minotaur at the end of Confirmation, so I'm tempted to throw in a vote for the mighty minotaur....at least in 1st level evergreen scenarios....</p>The joke in our Lodge is that the Wall of Names has a whole panel dedicated to pathfinders killed by the minotaur at the end of Confirmation, so I'm tempted to throw in a vote for the mighty minotaur....at least in 1st level evergreen scenarios....John Lance2018-06-22T02:39:07ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Playtest Prerelease Discussion: Resonance: what do you think?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uz6u&page=12?Resonance-what-do-you-think#5922018-03-15T18:09:24Z2018-03-15T18:09:24Z<p>Here is a suggestion for the healing wands issue - how about using a "law of diminishing returns" kind of rule? Say, if you use a CLW wand on someone more than once every 30 min, it has a diminished effect (50% for the 2nd use, 25% for the 3rd, etc...) That would seem more realistic, still allow wand use both in and out of combat, but get rid of the "I hit myself 10 times with the happy stick, ready for Encounter 2!" problem. </p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>Here is a suggestion for the healing wands issue - how about using a "law of diminishing returns" kind of rule? Say, if you use a CLW wand on someone more than once every 30 min, it has a diminished effect (50% for the 2nd use, 25% for the 3rd, etc...) That would seem more realistic, still allow wand use both in and out of combat, but get rid of the "I hit myself 10 times with the happy stick, ready for Encounter 2!" problem.
Thoughts?John Lance2018-03-15T18:09:24ZRe: Forums: Product Discussion: Pathfinder Society Scenario #9-08: Birthright Betrayed PDFJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/products/btpy9x0s/discuss?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-908-Birthright-Betrayed#72018-02-10T17:35:13Z2017-12-02T03:10:48Z<p>I'm currently prepping this for our Grand Lodge tomorrow and I'm fascinated by the parallels between one of the sub-plots of this scenario (naval corruption in Taldor) and a current-day scandal (the investigations into high-ranking officers in the US Navy and their connections to a shady contractor named "Fat" Leonard). Was this intentional or was this merely a coincidence?</p>I'm currently prepping this for our Grand Lodge tomorrow and I'm fascinated by the parallels between one of the sub-plots of this scenario (naval corruption in Taldor) and a current-day scandal (the investigations into high-ranking officers in the US Navy and their connections to a shady contractor named "Fat" Leonard). Was this intentional or was this merely a coincidence?John Lance2017-12-02T03:10:48ZRe: Forums: Local Play: Looking for epic PFS gameplay at level 12+....?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uorv?Looking-for-epic-PFS-gameplay-at-level-12#62017-12-12T00:37:23Z2017-10-25T04:36:54Z<p>Right now, the only things that I know for sure that will be offered are tables of Eyes of the Ten and All for Immortality (with some Seeker level modules to be added as needed). The best way to enjoy Seekerpalooza is to muster up a team of like-minded players and let the organizers (Michael and Caedmon, aka Team Tracey) know what you are looking for in terms of high-level play. This doesn't mean that individuals can't sign up and play, just that it is much easier to match a GM to a pre-mustered group when it comes to high-level content, especially with EoTT and AFI. Last year was pretty intense (I GMed a table of Eyes of the Ten), and I expect this time around to be just as good or better....</p>Right now, the only things that I know for sure that will be offered are tables of Eyes of the Ten and All for Immortality (with some Seeker level modules to be added as needed). The best way to enjoy Seekerpalooza is to muster up a team of like-minded players and let the organizers (Michael and Caedmon, aka Team Tracey) know what you are looking for in terms of high-level play. This doesn't mean that individuals can't sign up and play, just that it is much easier to match a GM to a...John Lance2017-10-25T04:36:54ZForums: Local Play: Looking for epic PFS gameplay at level 12+....?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uorv?Looking-for-epic-PFS-gameplay-at-level-12#12017-12-12T00:37:23Z2017-10-24T16:20:53Z<p>....then folks, do I have a link for you. Memorial Day weekend, 2018, in beautiful Black Mountain, NC. Start stockpiling those resurrection and breath of life scrolls while you can....</p>
<p>http://www.seekerpalooza.com</p>....then folks, do I have a link for you. Memorial Day weekend, 2018, in beautiful Black Mountain, NC. Start stockpiling those resurrection and breath of life scrolls while you can....
http://www.seekerpalooza.comJohn Lance2017-10-24T16:20:53ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: PFS scenario with "Ravenloft" feel?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uewg?PFS-scenario-with-Ravenloft-feel#152017-06-22T01:58:28Z2017-06-20T16:09:10Z<p>Cultist's Kiss is (without getting into spoilers) very "Ravenloft" in terms of atmosphere, adversaries, plot, etc... It is higher level (7-11) and very challenging, but one of my favorites in the PFS library.</p>Cultist's Kiss is (without getting into spoilers) very "Ravenloft" in terms of atmosphere, adversaries, plot, etc... It is higher level (7-11) and very challenging, but one of my favorites in the PFS library.John Lance2017-06-20T16:09:10ZForums: Pathfinder Society: Asheville Scarefest 2017 (Oct 20-22nd)John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2udqe?Asheville-Scarefest-2017#12017-06-01T04:03:20Z2017-06-01T00:36:33Z<p>Tickets just went on sale for Asheville Scarefest 2017. Hosted at Montreat College in the Blue Ridge Mountain, Scarefest is everything you've ever wanted in a Con. PFS is the lion's share of the scheduled games, include one, possibly two, Specials (as well as weekend long modules run by some of the 4- and 5-star GMs from the Appalachian Pathfinder Lodge.) </p>
<p>This is the same venue that hosted Scarefest 2015 and 2016, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a better place to play Pathfinder and any other RPG and boardgame you can think of. </p>
<p>So head over to the website and check it out. See you there!</p>
<p>http://avlscarefest.com/</p>Tickets just went on sale for Asheville Scarefest 2017. Hosted at Montreat College in the Blue Ridge Mountain, Scarefest is everything you've ever wanted in a Con. PFS is the lion's share of the scheduled games, include one, possibly two, Specials (as well as weekend long modules run by some of the 4- and 5-star GMs from the Appalachian Pathfinder Lodge.)
This is the same venue that hosted Scarefest 2015 and 2016, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a better place to play Pathfinder and any...John Lance2017-06-01T00:36:33ZRe: Forums: Local Play: VrockCon 2017 (July 15-16, 2017 in Flat Rock, NC)John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ucfd?VrockCon-2017#42017-05-31T23:45:05Z2017-05-31T23:45:05Z<p>I'll definitely be attending this time around. Right now, just planning to GM one of the Siege of Diamond City Seeker-level tables with the crew ("Team Beaky") that I just ran through Eyes of the Ten at Seekerpalooza 2017, but who knows, maybe I'll get a chance to play instead of GM for a change. </p>
<p>By the way, if anyone has never played Siege of Diamond City, it's the best Special I've played in, hands down. And it will be going on that Saturday night at VrockCon! So hurry up and register on Warhorn, seats will be going fast.....</p>I'll definitely be attending this time around. Right now, just planning to GM one of the Siege of Diamond City Seeker-level tables with the crew ("Team Beaky") that I just ran through Eyes of the Ten at Seekerpalooza 2017, but who knows, maybe I'll get a chance to play instead of GM for a change.
By the way, if anyone has never played Siege of Diamond City, it's the best Special I've played in, hands down. And it will be going on that Saturday night at VrockCon! So hurry up and register on...John Lance2017-05-31T23:45:05ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: GenCon 2017John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ub4v?GenCon-2017#242017-05-01T20:34:39Z2017-05-01T20:34:39Z<p>So.....any new word on Volunteers? Looking forward to GMing, if I'm needed...</p>So.....any new word on Volunteers? Looking forward to GMing, if I'm needed...John Lance2017-05-01T20:34:39ZRe: Forums: Product Discussion: Pathfinder Combat PadJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/products/btpy9fkg/discuss&page=2?Pathfinder-Combat-Pad#772017-04-25T23:57:16Z2017-04-25T14:11:14Z<p>Wow. People are asking 130 bucks for used combat pads on Ebay and other sites. I mean, I love my combat pad, use it all the time, but c'mon, 130 dollars? I'm definitely purchasing a back-up when they get more on the shelves....</p>Wow. People are asking 130 bucks for used combat pads on Ebay and other sites. I mean, I love my combat pad, use it all the time, but c'mon, 130 dollars? I'm definitely purchasing a back-up when they get more on the shelves....John Lance2017-04-25T14:11:14ZRe: Forums: Advice: Advice for a first time full spell casterJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uax3?Advice-for-a-first-time-full-spell-caster#22017-04-21T00:32:09Z2017-04-21T00:32:09Z<p>I've always liked wizards, especially in home games. You get to scribe anything you find into your spellbook, you get higher level spells the quickest, you get metamagic feats, etc... Just pick a school or archetype that fits with whatever concept you have in mind and run with it. Lots of decent guides out there on how to build a strong wizard....</p>I've always liked wizards, especially in home games. You get to scribe anything you find into your spellbook, you get higher level spells the quickest, you get metamagic feats, etc... Just pick a school or archetype that fits with whatever concept you have in mind and run with it. Lots of decent guides out there on how to build a strong wizard....John Lance2017-04-21T00:32:09ZRe: Forums: Hell's Vengeance: The Hellfire Compact (GM Reference)John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tacc&page=4?The-Hellfire-Compact#1992017-04-02T01:34:42Z2017-04-02T01:30:43Z<p>I started GMing this AP about a month ago, running four people through it (including my wife), everyone rolled stats and got some pretty good combos, so I think that will help keep the combats from getting too tough.</p>
<p>Party is a NE human spiritualist (with an Anger phantom), a CE dwarf unchained barbarian, a LE raksasha-blood tiefling slayer and a NE gnome alchemist. Pretty good combination of combat and skills, the fights are challenging, but not impossible, no one has died, though the slayer and barbarian have been knocked out a couple of times (barbarian dropped unconscious by combo of lethal and non-lethal by the wereboar, slayer dropped to -3 by the assassin vine). </p>
<p>RP-wise, the group has surprised me by tracking pretty closely to what the AP assumes they will do. They hit the tannery, but didn't kill anyone out-right (left the tanner stable at -1 hp), they put Craggan in the stocks, they interrogated the bard, then cut off four of his fingers and let him go so he could return as the "Angel Knight later. I did insert another fight at the tannery when Razelago let them know that an illegal assembly of rebellious citizens was being held there. They threw the tanner in the stocks, then, when ordered to make an example, performed a public excrutiation and execution a la William Wallace in "Braveheart" on him. We stopped our last session with them dragging the "Angel Knight" off her horse, only to discover that it's really the six-fingered bard that they released last week. They quickly included him in the public execution phase of the day's activities and warned the citizens that the fate of the tanner and the bard was only a small taste of what would happen if they allowed this rebellion nonsense to continue....</p>
<p>I would highly suggest letting them use Mr. Zoags as a resource for purchasing stuff, selling salvaged items for gold or credit, and passing on information to help drive the plot. I have him visit the jail (where they are staying) every 3 days or so. He is an excellent opportunity to role-play the iconic shifty, shady wheeler-dealer that has his fingers in all kinds of crooked dealings (I model him on the smuggler 'Badger' from the Firefly series, right down to the bowler hat and Irish accent).</p>
<p>So far, this is a great AP, my players (and I) are having a blast. I have been surprised about how much restraint the evil characters are using in their dealings with the town. They clearly want to murder some people for insulting them or being unfriendly, but realize that the Archbaron wants living subjects to pay taxes, not a bunch of corpses laying around and burned-out buildings. All in all, a really great start to an AP, can't wait to see how it develops....</p>I started GMing this AP about a month ago, running four people through it (including my wife), everyone rolled stats and got some pretty good combos, so I think that will help keep the combats from getting too tough.
Party is a NE human spiritualist (with an Anger phantom), a CE dwarf unchained barbarian, a LE raksasha-blood tiefling slayer and a NE gnome alchemist. Pretty good combination of combat and skills, the fights are challenging, but not impossible, no one has died, though the...John Lance2017-04-02T01:30:43ZRe: Forums: GM Discussion: Running Modules for PFS groups - How much filler?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2u860?Running-Modules-for-PFS-groups-How-much-filler#22017-03-16T04:14:40Z2017-03-09T23:29:12Z<p>I've run Midnight Mirror a couple of times for our PFS lodge here in Asheville and I learned a couple of things:</p>
<p>1) Warn the group that they need to keep things moving i.e. don't get too wrapped up in RP or overly curious about the bigger "sandbox". You probably have a time limit, so don't let things get stagnant.</p>
<p>2) Make up an introduction that uses a VC or other type of PFS leader to give the group a mission brief, just like any numbered scenario. I shamelessly copied a mission brief from the GM Discussion thread that used Varian Jeggare and Radovan from the Dave Gross novels. </p>
<p>3) Don't be afraid to give them some nudging to keep things progressing in the right direction if they seem to be unsure what to do or where to go next. Have NPCs jump in and help get the adventure back on track if necessary.</p>
<p>Having said all that, I really enjoy running modules for PFS credit. Besides Midnight Mirror, I was also lucky enough to run a group through the entire Plunder & Peril module as last year's Scarefest here in western NC. It took half of Friday and all day Saturday and part of Saturday night, but it was a lot of fun, I highly recommend it for any GM's that might be getting a little bored with just doing the 3 to 4 hour scenario thing. </p>
<p>Good luck and let us know how it goes!</p>I've run Midnight Mirror a couple of times for our PFS lodge here in Asheville and I learned a couple of things:
1) Warn the group that they need to keep things moving i.e. don't get too wrapped up in RP or overly curious about the bigger "sandbox". You probably have a time limit, so don't let things get stagnant.
2) Make up an introduction that uses a VC or other type of PFS leader to give the group a mission brief, just like any numbered scenario. I shamelessly copied a mission brief from...John Lance2017-03-09T23:29:12ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: PFS Postmortem: TPKs -- What went wrong?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2u6jz&page=3?PFS-Postmortem-TPKs-What-went-wrong#1202017-02-27T13:35:19Z2017-02-27T13:35:19Z<p>Out of 125+ PFS games and 2 APs worth of home gaming, I've only killed a handful of people. One was a Battle Oracle that was just unlucky and got boxed into a corner by a clockwork soldier. Another was a summoner that committed the one big no-no for that class - he won initiative, went first, and walked further into an unexplored room while his eidolon waited for his turn in the back. Summoner got critically hit and tripped, then hit again for max damage the next round. My most recent was Deep Market Deception. No spoilers, but the fight right before the BBEG fight? I killed a Barbarian that was linked to a Life Oracle. My GM dice were on fire for that fight and that made a huge difference.</p>
<p>The funniest was my wife in Crypt of the Everflame running up to heroically throw a flask of alchemical fire....and drawing an AoO from the Large monster that crit her already wounded level 1 Slayer for almost 30 damage. Ouch. She actually doesn't hold this against me, I think she realized that it was a very heroic, but very stupid, thing to do. Plus, it's only a level 1 PFS character, just build another...</p>Out of 125+ PFS games and 2 APs worth of home gaming, I've only killed a handful of people. One was a Battle Oracle that was just unlucky and got boxed into a corner by a clockwork soldier. Another was a summoner that committed the one big no-no for that class - he won initiative, went first, and walked further into an unexplored room while his eidolon waited for his turn in the back. Summoner got critically hit and tripped, then hit again for max damage the next round. My most recent was...John Lance2017-02-27T13:35:19ZRe: Forums: Advice: Concerned About Archer Player Taking Point Blank MasterJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2u4mq?Concerned-About-Archer-Player-Taking-Point#92017-01-18T22:10:56Z2017-01-18T22:10:56Z<p>There are all kinds of things that can screw up a ranged attack character. Just the ones I can think of off the top of my head:</p>
<p>- Blur
<br />
- Displacement
<br />
- Invisibility
<br />
- Obscuring Mist/Smoke/Wall of Fire/ etc...
<br />
- Darkness (if no darkvision)
<br />
- Deeper Darkness (if he has darkvision)
<br />
- Deflect Arrows
<br />
- Mirror Image or any other illusionary spell</p>
<p>But as someone pointed out above, if it's just a fighter with a bow and a bunch of bow-specific feats, the best counter is:</p>
<p>- Any spell that requires a Will save</p>
<p>Of which there are literally dozens of spells that will completely neutralize said OP archer. Take him over with Dominate Person and you might even wipe out the entire party.</p>There are all kinds of things that can screw up a ranged attack character. Just the ones I can think of off the top of my head:
- Blur
- Displacement
- Invisibility
- Obscuring Mist/Smoke/Wall of Fire/ etc...
- Darkness (if no darkvision)
- Deeper Darkness (if he has darkvision)
- Deflect Arrows
- Mirror Image or any other illusionary spell
But as someone pointed out above, if it's just a fighter with a bow and a bunch of bow-specific feats, the best counter is:
- Any spell that requires a...John Lance2017-01-18T22:10:56ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Occult Adventure characters in PFSJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2u0dj&page=2?Occult-Adventure-characters-in-PFS#732016-11-14T23:55:37Z2016-11-14T23:55:37Z<p>The hardest part of me when I was creating my Spiritualist Bradoc (with Mace the Zeal Phantom) was understanding just what a phantom was and how it should (and should not) be used. Caster-wise, Spiritualists seem pretty straightforward, just a Wisdom-based spontaneous caster with access to cure spells (I made mine an Erastil worshipper and gave him a composite longbow). But the phantom was the tricky part, I had to really read and re-read the book to understand how it was different from eidolons, animal companions and familiars (though there was some cut-and-pasting used for the phantom section that made things a little confusing at first). </p>
<p>Now that I'm up to fourth, almost fifth level, I'm really enjoying my Spiritualist, but yeah, I can see how it could be a pain in the ass at first glance.....</p>The hardest part of me when I was creating my Spiritualist Bradoc (with Mace the Zeal Phantom) was understanding just what a phantom was and how it should (and should not) be used. Caster-wise, Spiritualists seem pretty straightforward, just a Wisdom-based spontaneous caster with access to cure spells (I made mine an Erastil worshipper and gave him a composite longbow). But the phantom was the tricky part, I had to really read and re-read the book to understand how it was different from...John Lance2016-11-14T23:55:37ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Occult Adventure characters in PFSJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2u0dj?Occult-Adventure-characters-in-PFS#352016-11-11T19:44:53Z2016-11-11T19:44:53Z<p>I will throw in this observation about kineticists after seeing one in an extended, multi-day event. When I ran the Plunder and Peril module at last month's Scarefest (an awesome small con, by the way), one of the players from Charlotte played a void chaokineticist and I was pleasantly surprised. It was powerful, no question of that, but it wasn't broken or OP, it was simply a good ranged damage dealer with some cool secondary abilities. It fit in very well with the brawler/monk/barbarian, the Waves shaman and the other, non-occult, characters and did not overshadow any of those builds. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the other occult classes and how they stack up against the builds from the pre-Occult books.</p>I will throw in this observation about kineticists after seeing one in an extended, multi-day event. When I ran the Plunder and Peril module at last month's Scarefest (an awesome small con, by the way), one of the players from Charlotte played a void chaokineticist and I was pleasantly surprised. It was powerful, no question of that, but it wasn't broken or OP, it was simply a good ranged damage dealer with some cool secondary abilities. It fit in very well with the brawler/monk/barbarian,...John Lance2016-11-11T19:44:53ZForums: Pathfinder Society: Veteran's Day/Rememberance Day thumbs-up to all you vets who play PathfinderJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2u0fl?Veterans-DayRememberance-Day-thumbsup-to-all#12016-11-11T15:53:26Z2016-11-11T15:20:09Z<p>Whether it's playing with all the former service guys and gals here in Asheville or sitting at a table with five soldiers from Fort McPherson at GenCon 2015, I've always enjoyed seeing the healthy number of veterans who participate in this awesome hobby. Makes me feel like less of an oddball :-)</p>
<p>So have a well-deserved drink or two (even if it is just a Diet Coke) and roll some dice this weekend in whatever game you have going on, you all earned it. </p>
<p>Take care and see you at the next scenario!</p>Whether it's playing with all the former service guys and gals here in Asheville or sitting at a table with five soldiers from Fort McPherson at GenCon 2015, I've always enjoyed seeing the healthy number of veterans who participate in this awesome hobby. Makes me feel like less of an oddball :-)
So have a well-deserved drink or two (even if it is just a Diet Coke) and roll some dice this weekend in whatever game you have going on, you all earned it.
Take care and see you at the next scenario!John Lance2016-11-11T15:20:09ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Occult Adventure characters in PFSJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2u0dj?Occult-Adventure-characters-in-PFS#102016-11-10T18:55:53Z2016-11-10T18:55:53Z<p>So far, the longbow-wielding spiritualist I've been playing is one of only two I've seen since the playtest. Seen a fair amount of kineticists, one medium and no occultists at all (I think the complexity on those builds can be a little daunting). </p>
<p>But I really like what I've seen so far, I think I'm going to be playing occult characters quite a bit, at least for the next few months....</p>So far, the longbow-wielding spiritualist I've been playing is one of only two I've seen since the playtest. Seen a fair amount of kineticists, one medium and no occultists at all (I think the complexity on those builds can be a little daunting).
But I really like what I've seen so far, I think I'm going to be playing occult characters quite a bit, at least for the next few months....John Lance2016-11-10T18:55:53ZForums: Pathfinder Society: Occult Adventure characters in PFSJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2u0dj?Occult-Adventure-characters-in-PFS#12016-11-10T16:14:07Z2016-11-10T16:14:07Z<p>Just to satisfy my own curiosity, how many psychics, mesmerists, spiritualists, etc... are you seeing in your PFS sessions? Not that many? A lot? I was just wondering, I'm leveling a spiritualist right now, but haven't seen too many others lately, just one or two in the past few months...</p>Just to satisfy my own curiosity, how many psychics, mesmerists, spiritualists, etc... are you seeing in your PFS sessions? Not that many? A lot? I was just wondering, I'm leveling a spiritualist right now, but haven't seen too many others lately, just one or two in the past few months...John Lance2016-11-10T16:14:07ZForums: Rules Questions: Antimagic Field and Alchemist's MutagenJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2u03b?Antimagic-Field-and-Alchemists-Mutagen#12016-11-06T14:32:05Z2016-11-06T14:16:07Z<p>All right, this came up last night while we were having our post-Grand Lodge beers at the local pizza place. In the scenario I just ran, you have the potential to fight something that has wings and can throw up an antimagic field as a spell-like ability. One of the other GMs said, oh, that fight wasn't that bad, I killed that thing with my alchemist and his claw/claw/bite/wings mutagen. I pointed out that you couldn't get within ten feet of the critter in question, the antimagic field would get suppress his wings every time he got close. He countered and said that wings from a mutagen aren't affected by antimagic field. </p>
<p>This morning, being a gigantic nerd, I dug up this definition from the rules:</p>
<p>Supernatural Abilities (Su): Supernatural abilities are magical but not spell-like. Supernatural abilities are not subject to spell resistance and do not function in areas where magic is suppressed or negated (such as an antimagic field). A supernatural ability's effect cannot be dispelled and is not subject to counterspells. See Table: Special Ability Types for a summary of the types of special abilities.</p>
<p>Mutagens, according to the book, are Supernatural abilities:</p>
<p>Mutagen (Su): At 1st level, an alchemist discovers how to create a mutagen that he can imbibe in order to heighten his physical prowess at the cost of his personality. </p>
<p>I can kinda see his point of view, but I think the rules are clear: no mutagen abilities (including wings) inside an antimagic field. </p>
<p>What do you guys think?</p>All right, this came up last night while we were having our post-Grand Lodge beers at the local pizza place. In the scenario I just ran, you have the potential to fight something that has wings and can throw up an antimagic field as a spell-like ability. One of the other GMs said, oh, that fight wasn't that bad, I killed that thing with my alchemist and his claw/claw/bite/wings mutagen. I pointed out that you couldn't get within ten feet of the critter in question, the antimagic field would...John Lance2016-11-06T14:16:07ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Blood of Shadows and Drow-Related Half-Elf OptionsJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tiex&page=2?Blood-of-Shadows-and-DrowRelated-HalfElf-Options#752016-11-07T15:11:04Z2016-11-06T12:21:08Z<p>I don't think there is any deliberate cheating, just min/maxing and a little hastiness in checking out the Additional Resources and forums. As for no one noticing, he built the shadowdancer using a bunch of credit from running PFS-sanctioned modules, so I was probably one of the first GMs to see it in action. Not really his fault, he just made what he thought was a cool character and wanted to see how it stacked up against "normal" PFS classes and archetypes. I completely understand that aspect of it, but it seems like I'm constantly running into these kinds of situations these days, where I almost want to stop the game and do an audit to make sure my scenario will even present a challenge, but don't because I realize that would kill the fun everyone is having. And I really, really don't want to do that.</p>
<p>The guy with the shadowdancer is a good player and I really enjoy having him at my tables, but like some other good pathfinders in our lodge, he can't just play a well-built character, everything about it has to be right on the line of PFS legality. It can't just be a shadowdancer, it has to be a completely munchkin'd-out half-drow shadowdancer with deeper darkness and the see in darkness universal monster ability. </p>
<p>And it isn't just him. Another similar guy in one of my games was playing a human barbarian. Problem was, he had found something in the splatbook "Humans of Golarion" that gave him the idea that he could build a Feral Gnasher barbarian archetype from the goblin section of the Advanced Race Guide. So he gave his "half-goblin" human a 1d6 bite attack (from the hard head, big teeth alt racial trait) and was excited about getting the Lockjaw grab ability at 3rd level. He was basically playing a goblin barbarian archetype...as a human. </p>
<p>I finally had to point out the Additional Resource ARG blurb that made this all a no-go for PFS ("Note: Alternate racial traits, racial archetypes, racial evolutions, racial feats, and racial spells are only available for characters of the associated race"). He was kind of bummed out about being told "No, sorry, that isn't PFS legal" but what was I supposed to do? He's a really great guy and a good player and GM, just like the guy with the shadowdancer, but all that stuff is reserved for people that are lucky enough to get a racial boon, that's why they have that sentence in the Additional Resources. If he really wants a goblin feral gnasher, there are lots of ways to play one around here. With all the home games of PF going on in this area, there are plenty of opportunities to play non-PFS classes and races, hell, we even do that with the PFS-sanctioned modules we run all the time. </p>
<p>If the two guys I'm referring to read this, I hope they don't take it the wrong way and think I'm slamming them in public. I salute their creativity and I really do enjoy playing with both of them. But the scenarios have to present some kind of a challenge and if everyone starts building these ridiculous characters that I can't handle because I'm running the scenario "as written" and my hands are tied, then what's the whole point of organized play? The new players who don't have the time or knowledge to create these kind of characters are just going to quit playing because they'll feel like they contribute nothing to the scenarios and are just "along for the ride". Some GMs will stop GMing because they'll feel like every scenario is a cake-walk with zero chance of the characters getting hurt, much less killed, as they one-shot everything in the game on their way to a one or two round domination of the BBEG. </p>
<p>Sorry for the long, rambling post, but more than anything, I just wanted to explain why I may be coming across as "that guy", the one who always has to rain on someone's parade when they come up with some new, exciting character to play in PFS. I'm not trying to be a kill-joy, just trying to keep some kind of balance between the players and the scenarios in terms of lethality and challenge. Believe me, I enjoy playing weird classes and races as much as anyone, I just do it in the "non-PFS" Pathfinder games that happen outside (and sometimes inside) organized play.</p>I don't think there is any deliberate cheating, just min/maxing and a little hastiness in checking out the Additional Resources and forums. As for no one noticing, he built the shadowdancer using a bunch of credit from running PFS-sanctioned modules, so I was probably one of the first GMs to see it in action. Not really his fault, he just made what he thought was a cool character and wanted to see how it stacked up against "normal" PFS classes and archetypes. I completely understand that...John Lance2016-11-06T12:21:08ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Blood of Shadows and Drow-Related Half-Elf OptionsJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tiex&page=2?Blood-of-Shadows-and-DrowRelated-HalfElf-Options#722016-11-06T04:24:20Z2016-11-06T04:24:20Z<p>Here is why this half-drow stuff is such a bad idea. I ran a 7-11 game tonight (playing down, four-player adjustment). I had a player with a half-drow Shadowdancer (Level 8 character) that had darkvision, a Stealth skill of +29 (with something that let him take 10 on stealth in combat for a 39), Spring Attack, Hide in Plain Sight and able to cast Deeper Darkness and actually still see in it while doing all this Spring Attacking. I didn't catch any of this until we were almost an hour into the game, just assumed it was a half-elf shadowdancer. I stated that I was pretty sure that half-drow were not PFS legal.</p>
<p>The player swore that he had done the research and everything was PFS legal. Not wanting to hold up everything and eat up a bunch of time, I took him on his word and let him play the scenario with this obviously broken-ass character that I now realize wouldn't survive 30 seconds of GM auditing.</p>
<p>So if you want to know why allowing drow and half-drow is a bad idea, take it from me, this kind of thing is going to be everywhere is no time flat.....</p>Here is why this half-drow stuff is such a bad idea. I ran a 7-11 game tonight (playing down, four-player adjustment). I had a player with a half-drow Shadowdancer (Level 8 character) that had darkvision, a Stealth skill of +29 (with something that let him take 10 on stealth in combat for a 39), Spring Attack, Hide in Plain Sight and able to cast Deeper Darkness and actually still see in it while doing all this Spring Attacking. I didn't catch any of this until we were almost an hour into the...John Lance2016-11-06T04:24:20ZRe: Forums: Local Play: AVL Scarefest 2016 (Oct. 21-23)John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2twdd?AVL-Scarefest-2016#22016-10-19T01:52:13Z2016-10-19T01:52:13Z<p>Only four days until Scarefest 2016, so if you're anywhere close to Asheville, get a ticket while the gettin' is good!</p>
<p>Stop by and say hi at the Plunder & Peril table if you make it (I'll be the GM in the tricorn hat...)</p>Only four days until Scarefest 2016, so if you're anywhere close to Asheville, get a ticket while the gettin' is good!
Stop by and say hi at the Plunder & Peril table if you make it (I'll be the GM in the tricorn hat...)John Lance2016-10-19T01:52:13ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Why does the 1st level magus pregen have spellstrike?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ty5a?Why-does-the-1st-level-magus-pregen-have#212016-10-12T20:01:26Z2016-10-12T20:01:26Z<p>We had a young player use the pre-generated magus last Saturday. Unfortunately, since he color-sprayed everything into submission, we never got a chance to check out either spell combat or spellstrike. But hey, whatever gets you your 2 PP, right? :-)</p>We had a young player use the pre-generated magus last Saturday. Unfortunately, since he color-sprayed everything into submission, we never got a chance to check out either spell combat or spellstrike. But hey, whatever gets you your 2 PP, right? :-)John Lance2016-10-12T20:01:26ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Scenarios cause Gameplay and class railroading?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2txbh?Scenarios-cause-Gameplay-and-class-railroading#182016-09-27T12:38:52Z2016-09-27T12:38:52Z<p>There is a Season 7 scenario (I'll let the peanut gallery identify which one I'm talking about) where there is exactly one combat, set right at the beginning of the game. The next 2 to 3 hours involves social gaming at a series of dinner parties where the Pathfinders have to use their skills to influence a variety of personalities in order to complete the mission. </p>
<p>Needless to say, it really helps to have a bard or two in this scenario. If you show up with a party of min/max'ed "axe potatoes" that dumped all their charisma, you're probably not going to have a very good time. </p>
<p>So it really depends on which scenarios someone is talking about. Some are almost exclusively combat, some are focused on social interaction and most (in my opinion) try to be a mix of both.</p>There is a Season 7 scenario (I'll let the peanut gallery identify which one I'm talking about) where there is exactly one combat, set right at the beginning of the game. The next 2 to 3 hours involves social gaming at a series of dinner parties where the Pathfinders have to use their skills to influence a variety of personalities in order to complete the mission.
Needless to say, it really helps to have a bard or two in this scenario. If you show up with a party of min/max'ed "axe potatoes"...John Lance2016-09-27T12:38:52ZRe: Forums: Website Feedback: Thoughts on paizo moderation and communicationJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2twvm&page=5?Thoughts-on-paizo-moderation-and-communication#2012016-09-26T09:05:23Z2016-09-25T22:21:21Z<p>As someone who recently typed something rude in a post and then subsequently apologized when this was pointed out to me by one of the developers, I think that the Paizo staff actually does a pretty good job of policing the message boards, especially with regards to rules, errata, and all the other tricky things that people have strong opinions about. I've been very impressed by the mods in the threads I've read over the last few years and I've sometimes wondered if they ever feel unappreciated. Constantly telling people they need to cool it or act more maturely can't be a pleasant way to spend a day and I'm sure they would be the first ones to celebrate if everyone agreed to communicate with some dignity and restraint on their website.</p>
<p>But since A) A lot of folks have to be absolutely right and win every argument on the internet and B) An equally large number of people never want to apologize for anything, ever, there will always be a need for bans, time-outs, admonishments and all the other tools used to keep things on a message board under control. Even nice people with a happy disposition can slip up and say things they really don't mean, and that applies a thousand-fold for the internet. </p>
<p>So I hope that whatever changes are made (if any) will encourage everyone to be just a bit more kind when dealing with their fellow RPGers, since I believe that there are way more things for us to agree on than to fight over....</p>As someone who recently typed something rude in a post and then subsequently apologized when this was pointed out to me by one of the developers, I think that the Paizo staff actually does a pretty good job of policing the message boards, especially with regards to rules, errata, and all the other tricky things that people have strong opinions about. I've been very impressed by the mods in the threads I've read over the last few years and I've sometimes wondered if they ever feel...John Lance2016-09-25T22:21:21ZRe: Forums: GM Discussion: Problems with the four player adjustment for #7-23 Abducted in Aether (spoilers)John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2twah?Problems-with-the-four-player-adjustment-for#32016-09-11T21:20:41Z2016-09-11T21:20:41Z<p>In retrospect, it might have been wiser to have kept a firewall between the fights. Unfortunately, the group wasn't trying to be even a little sneaky. They phased in and fought the iron golem with a raging barbarian and a couple of lightning bolts. Then they checked the door to B2 but didn't open it, wandered into room B-5, looked around (no stealth checks from anyone), then back down the hall to peek into B2. About 5 minutes had passed since the iron golem battle. I was assuming that the BBEG wasn't going to just sit there while a wild battle was going on 75 feet away down an open corridor, so I did what I thought an intelligent boss would do - pull assets back to a final stand and get prepared for the group that was obviously assaulting the premises. </p>
<p>So for any GMs out there, you might want to go with the idea that Muzthari is so engrossed in the soulstone (and maybe the Forbiddance dampens sound as well, who knows....), that unless she actually sees the Pathfinders, she won't call the maenads out of their hang-out, depending on them showing up on round 3 as written. Will she open the door and join in if the maenads are attacked in a noisy fashion? Probably best to just have her hunker down and pre-buff in her room. </p>
<p>And definitely heed the warning about skipping the iron golem if you have less than 150 minutes left (yes, the scenario recommends 2.5 hours for the three 'fights' in the Garden of Betrayal. Combining two of them did not save any time at all that I could see....)</p>In retrospect, it might have been wiser to have kept a firewall between the fights. Unfortunately, the group wasn't trying to be even a little sneaky. They phased in and fought the iron golem with a raging barbarian and a couple of lightning bolts. Then they checked the door to B2 but didn't open it, wandered into room B-5, looked around (no stealth checks from anyone), then back down the hall to peek into B2. About 5 minutes had passed since the iron golem battle. I was assuming that the...John Lance2016-09-11T21:20:41ZForums: GM Discussion: Problems with the four player adjustment for #7-23 Abducted in Aether (spoilers)John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2twah?Problems-with-the-four-player-adjustment-for#12016-09-11T13:23:42Z2016-09-11T13:23:42Z<p>Don't read this if you haven't played this scenario, lots of spoilers here and this is a really good scenario, one that I most definitely recommend for PFS players. </p>
<p>Okay, our lodge ran two tables of this yesterday as part of our every two weeks Grand Lodge. Another really experienced GM ran the lower tier table and I was the GM at the upper-tier table, but with only four players (three clerics and a highly optimized barbarian). </p>
<p>The party had a small bit of trouble handling the first fight, the one with the aether elementals. The four player adjustment was to remove the advanced template from the two greater elementals. Fairly straight-forward adjustment, seen it in plenty of scenarios, but with aether elementals and their abilities (especially the constant invisibility and the telekinetic throw), the difference between advanced and normal seemed fairly small to me. The players, all very experienced Pathfinders, had to expend a lot of resources to finally kill the two elementals. But no worries, they killed the two elementals without anyone dropping below half-health, got the vials of essence they needed and flew (drifted?) back to the bazaar.</p>
<p>So far, so good. However, when they finally arrived in Galt at the final location, they made a tactical error and popped into the Material Plane in the foyer without doing any scouting. They killed the Iron Golem right off the bat, no problem (four player adjustment was just like the first fight, remove the advanced template). I decided as the GM that the maenads would hear the fight and so would the final boss. While they killed the golem and explored the middle rooms, I had the boss pull her maenads back into the last room with her and cast fly and invisibility on herself while the maenads cast bull's strength on themselves. I though, should be a tough fight, but they have a ton of spells and channels, so no worries.</p>
<p>When the final battle started, it quickly became evident that the final adjustment hadn't done much to soften the fight. According to the scenario, the four player adjustment is to remove one advanced maenad, leaving three, and to remove one giant flytrap, still leaving one for the final fight. No adjustment was made to the boss, a new monster called a pakalchi sahkil, enhanced with 6 levels of mesmerist. Initially, the group did well, making all their Will saving throws and enjoying the protection from the Freedom's Call aura that one of the clerics put down to suppress confusion, grappled condition, fear effects and paralysis (really nice domain power from the Liberation domain). </p>
<p>However, when she stopped casting spells and just hovered at 20 feet throwing four thorns at a single target, everything fell apart. Her thorns are +23 to hit, she throws four of them as a standard action, they are apparently unlimited in amount and they do 1d4+5 plus 1d4 bleed + a DC 22 poison that does 1d3 WIS damage over 6 rounds and needs two consecutive saves to cure. This doesn't even include the extra 2d6 that she adds on if using painful stare as a swift action. That one ability quickly made an even back-and-forth battle almost unwinnable.</p>
<p>The party finally killed the three advanced maenads but the giant flytrap still had around 50 hit points and the boss had only taken 37 points of damage out of 195. I hadn't triggered the forbiddance spell in the room (I decided that it started 10 feet inside the western door and the players never moved further in than that), she hadn't used her blink spell or dominate person SLA, so I pulled plenty of punches to keep things from getting out of hand.</p>
<p>The fight had gone on for almost 90 minutes and we were out of time, so I ended the fight and ruled that they would have killed the giant flytrap in another round and that with all her minions dead and no deaths (yet) among the players, she retreats to the Ethereal plane, allowing the players to grab the stone and escape. No one was that hurt, but one of the clerics only had 4 CON left and another cleric had taken 8 points of WIS damage, so the party was definitely in no shape to continue the fight against a flying boss with a magical machine-gun full of poisonous thorns.</p>
<p>I've gone over what I could have done differently. I suppose I could have kept the fights separate and let the party fight the golem, the maenads and the mesmerist in three separate fights, but I wanted to penalize them a bit for doing zero scouting and just phasing in right off the bat as soon as they walked through the front door. However, it seems that the final fight as I crafted it was way too hard for four players. The adjustment of removing one advanced maenad and one flytrap while leaving the boss unaltered probably, in my opinion, did not nerf the final battle enough. I would have removed either more advanced maenads (two out of four) or maybe removed both flytraps from the last fight. I guess they could have removed the mesmerist levels from the boss as well, but that might have been too much of a nerf. </p>
<p>So what do you guys think? I know someone will question the party make-up (one barbarian and three clerics) but one of the clerics was a storm/lightning kind of cleric with lots of spiritual ally/spiritual weapon summons and direct damage spells, so he was more sorcerer or wizard than straight-up cleric. They obviously had almost unlimited healing, so I thought that would keep them out of trouble. The Freedom's Call ability also kept them from getting grappled by the flytrap, panicked or shaken by the boss's gaze attack or confused by the maenads' dancing, so they had the right tools for the job in that sense. I think that either the party just didn't have enough damage to kill stuff fast enough (I thought the barbarian and blaster cleric were doing quite a bit of damage from my standpoint) or, more likely in my initial opinion, the four player adjustment didn't do enough to reduce the lethality of the final encounter. </p>
<p>I apologize for the long rambling description of what happened, but I figured I might as well give you guys all the details so you can help me figure out what went wrong. Did I make the final fight too hard? Did having three clerics in a four-person team prove to be too much of a handicap? Or was the four-player adjustment not enough to offset the lethality of the final encounter?</p>Don't read this if you haven't played this scenario, lots of spoilers here and this is a really good scenario, one that I most definitely recommend for PFS players.
Okay, our lodge ran two tables of this yesterday as part of our every two weeks Grand Lodge. Another really experienced GM ran the lower tier table and I was the GM at the upper-tier table, but with only four players (three clerics and a highly optimized barbarian).
The party had a small bit of trouble handling the first fight,...John Lance2016-09-11T13:23:42ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: What happened to the old PFS Scenario page on the website?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tvlo?What-happened-to-the-old-PFS-Scenario-page-on#22016-09-01T01:35:41Z2016-09-01T01:35:41Z<p>Okay, I found it but you have to click on the left-hand link that says "Adventures", then you click on the "Scenarios" icon. </p>
<p>Don't click on the actual "Scenarios" link, it just leads you to a page with no actual scenario link. I'm sure it'll get fixed by the web gnomes shortly....</p>Okay, I found it but you have to click on the left-hand link that says "Adventures", then you click on the "Scenarios" icon.
Don't click on the actual "Scenarios" link, it just leads you to a page with no actual scenario link. I'm sure it'll get fixed by the web gnomes shortly....John Lance2016-09-01T01:35:41ZForums: Pathfinder Society: What happened to the old PFS Scenario page on the website?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tvlo?What-happened-to-the-old-PFS-Scenario-page-on#12016-09-01T01:31:14Z2016-09-01T01:31:14Z<p>I was just going to look up some scenarios and now the website has been changed and I'm having no luck finding that old page that divided everything by Season. </p>
<p>Am I just a dumbass and not looking in the obvious place or are other people having issues with this new change?</p>I was just going to look up some scenarios and now the website has been changed and I'm having no luck finding that old page that divided everything by Season.
Am I just a dumbass and not looking in the obvious place or are other people having issues with this new change?John Lance2016-09-01T01:31:14ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Are we dismissing the problems of small lodges?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tuzx&page=3?Are-we-dismissing-the-problems-of-small-lodges#1292016-08-25T22:10:21Z2016-08-25T22:10:21Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Jeff Hazuka wrote:</div><blockquote><p> If you have multiple locations running tables, and are using WarHorn, make each location use the same 'event.' Every public PFS table in Omaha, regardless of location, can be found by searching <a href="https://warhorn.net/events/omaha-pfs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">'Omaha Pathfinder Society'</a>- -it's not a separate page for each location.</p>
<p>An extra suggestion: If there's another group within driving distance, cross-advertise on your Warhorns. Lincoln, NE is 65 miles away from Omaha, so we each offer a link to the other's WarHorn on our front page. </p>
<p></blockquote><p>We do the same thing in Western NC, we list everything under "APL" so that everyone can see all the games for the next two or three weeks covering multiple locations. Makes it really easy for people to check out what is being offered at the different venues....Jeff Hazuka wrote:If you have multiple locations running tables, and are using WarHorn, make each location use the same 'event.' Every public PFS table in Omaha, regardless of location, can be found by searching 'Omaha Pathfinder Society'- -it's not a separate page for each location.
An extra suggestion: If there's another group within driving distance, cross-advertise on your Warhorns. Lincoln, NE is 65 miles away from Omaha, so we each offer a link to the other's WarHorn on our front
...John Lance2016-08-25T22:10:21ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Are we dismissing the problems of small lodges?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tuzx&page=3?Are-we-dismissing-the-problems-of-small-lodges#1192016-08-25T11:26:46Z2016-08-25T11:26:46Z<p>"The store I work with the most is about a block from UC Berkeley (two others are within a mile as well). But sadly, we have no players who attend, so we don't have any shoe in to do campaigning on campus. And the store itself is mostly for magic cards and computer rentals"</p>
<p>That sounds a lot like the situation with UNC-Asheville. We have a college campus less than a mile away from the main FLGS, but we have zero players (as far as I know) that actually attend, it completely baffles me. We have plenty of college-AGE players and GMs, but very few genu-wine college people (and none from the university next door). The few I know are all community college students.</p>
<p>Is this a common phenomenon? Or are UC-Berkley and UNC-Asheville the outliers when it comes to PFS?</p>"The store I work with the most is about a block from UC Berkeley (two others are within a mile as well). But sadly, we have no players who attend, so we don't have any shoe in to do campaigning on campus. And the store itself is mostly for magic cards and computer rentals"
That sounds a lot like the situation with UNC-Asheville. We have a college campus less than a mile away from the main FLGS, but we have zero players (as far as I know) that actually attend, it completely baffles me. We...John Lance2016-08-25T11:26:46ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Are we dismissing the problems of small lodges?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tuzx&page=3?Are-we-dismissing-the-problems-of-small-lodges#1152016-08-25T02:28:43Z2016-08-25T02:28:43Z<p>I just finished up running a scenario in a comic book store and I was thinking about this thread while driving home. The Appalachian Pathfinder Lodge (APL) used to be just one store as recently as two years ago. Then we had some of the GMs branch out to another FLGS about 45 min away. Then we started running weekly games at two comic book stores within 5 miles of the "main" store. It seemed to happen just by fits and starts, almost as if we just had to be patient and wait for the right time to line up with the right people in order to get something sustainable going. </p>
<p>So now we have three to five weekly tables, with a "Grand Lodge" of about 6 to 8 tables every other Saturday (in a city with about 85K people). But there were a lot of false starts and abandoned efforts on the way to where it stands today (I used to drive an hour away to help run games at a MTG store that finally just closed up and did all their card-trading on-line, thus ending the experiment in Pathfinder in that particular town).</p>
<p>I have a lot of sympathy for the table-top gamers out there that want to play so bad they can hardly stand it, but can't find four other people willing to actually show up and play the game. They seem to be surrounded by people who still pour all their free time into computer games, card games or just watching TV or videos on their cellphone. I was in that situation for a couple of decades, but finally moved to a place that had a few other like-minded individuals that loved gaming enough to make it a regular part of their weekly and monthly schedule. It can be hard, damned hard, to find those people, you just have to be patient and not just throw up your hands in frustration.....</p>I just finished up running a scenario in a comic book store and I was thinking about this thread while driving home. The Appalachian Pathfinder Lodge (APL) used to be just one store as recently as two years ago. Then we had some of the GMs branch out to another FLGS about 45 min away. Then we started running weekly games at two comic book stores within 5 miles of the "main" store. It seemed to happen just by fits and starts, almost as if we just had to be patient and wait for the right time...John Lance2016-08-25T02:28:43ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Are we dismissing the problems of small lodges?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tuzx?Are-we-dismissing-the-problems-of-small-lodges#242016-08-23T02:25:34Z2016-08-23T02:24:08Z<p>There is an issue of "critical mass" that can have a big impact on how many tables you can reliably schedule and play each week. Once you get that magic number of motivated, dependable players and GMs that a regular schedule can be built around, most of your problems go away. </p>
<p>For small lodges, getting to that magic number (which I have no idea on what it might be. 6? 10? Anyone got a better guess than that?) is a lot harder. Just having one or two people move away or have "real world" issues can really ham-string a small table-top community (I've already seen that happen to some of the other table-top groups here in western NC). Some of it you just have to chalk up to good luck or serendipity. That's pretty much how I got involved in PFS, I moved to the right town and there was an operating PFS Lodge just waiting for someone like me to stumble upon them.....</p>There is an issue of "critical mass" that can have a big impact on how many tables you can reliably schedule and play each week. Once you get that magic number of motivated, dependable players and GMs that a regular schedule can be built around, most of your problems go away.
For small lodges, getting to that magic number (which I have no idea on what it might be. 6? 10? Anyone got a better guess than that?) is a lot harder. Just having one or two people move away or have "real world" issues...John Lance2016-08-23T02:24:08ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Does the Phantom Fighter feat allow an incorporeal phantom to attack corporeal enemies?John Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2turx?Does-the-Phantom-Fighter-feat-allow-an#32017-08-18T16:53:40Z2016-08-20T00:07:28Z<p>I think the intent of the Phantom Fighter feat is that it allows ectoplasmic phantoms (that is, non-incorporeal phantoms) to attack incorporeal enemies as if they had the ghost touch property cast on their slam attacks (and the touch spells they deliver also treated as having the Ectoplasmic Spell metamagic feat). </p>
<p>The reason I think this feat was intended to work this way is that according to the Spiritualist chapter, the only clear-cut way for an incorporeal phantom to attack corporeal creatures is to be a 17th level Spiritualist and have a phantom that possesses the Hatred emotional focus (this gives the phantom a supernatural ability called Shared Hatred). Even then, this high-level incorporeal phantom could only attack corporeal foes that were designated as a "Hated Target". </p>
<p>Therefore, it seems fairly unlikely that one single feat available to any Spiritualist would be intended to short-circuit an ability that you would have wait until level 17 (and pick a specific emotional focus) to get otherwise. Right now, having an incorporeal phantom that could attack corporeal creatures at 4th level would be insanely OP, Phantom Fighter would be the most broken feat in the game if that was the way the feat was intended to work. I could be out in left field, but that seems the most logical interpretation to me (barring any new information from the design team, of course)....</p>I think the intent of the Phantom Fighter feat is that it allows ectoplasmic phantoms (that is, non-incorporeal phantoms) to attack incorporeal enemies as if they had the ghost touch property cast on their slam attacks (and the touch spells they deliver also treated as having the Ectoplasmic Spell metamagic feat).
The reason I think this feat was intended to work this way is that according to the Spiritualist chapter, the only clear-cut way for an incorporeal phantom to attack corporeal...John Lance2016-08-20T00:07:28ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Phantoms need an FAQ, especially if used in PFSJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tupn&page=2?Phantoms-need-an-FAQ-especially-if-used-in-PFS#582016-08-19T02:35:59Z2016-08-19T02:35:59Z<p>That being said, I was tempted to use a full-round action to switch poor Mace (my zealous phantom's name) over to incorporeal form right before the BBEG in The Confirmation turned him into a big pile of green entrails. "Get Out of Jail Free" card indeed.....</p>That being said, I was tempted to use a full-round action to switch poor Mace (my zealous phantom's name) over to incorporeal form right before the BBEG in The Confirmation turned him into a big pile of green entrails. "Get Out of Jail Free" card indeed.....John Lance2016-08-19T02:35:59ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Phantoms need an FAQ, especially if used in PFSJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tupn&page=2?Phantoms-need-an-FAQ-especially-if-used-in-PFS#572016-08-19T02:30:28Z2016-08-19T02:30:28Z<p>Ooops, looks like I got ninja'ed by the Man himself. </p>
<p>So...what he said :-) (which makes total sense to me, and I completely agree that it shouldn't be a huge "Get Out of Jail Free" card for Spiritualists)</p>Ooops, looks like I got ninja'ed by the Man himself.
So...what he said :-) (which makes total sense to me, and I completely agree that it shouldn't be a huge "Get Out of Jail Free" card for Spiritualists)John Lance2016-08-19T02:30:28ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Phantoms need an FAQ, especially if used in PFSJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tupn&page=2?Phantoms-need-an-FAQ-especially-if-used-in-PFS#562017-04-28T15:41:33Z2016-08-19T02:28:20Z<p>Well, here is the basis for my "anything that would effect a physical body goes away" theory. This isn't perfect reasoning, by any means, just my take on the simplest fix for the problems I've seen in just one game.</p>
<p>From the Pathfinder Reference Guide:</p>
<p>"Incorporeal (Ex) An incorporeal creature has no physical body. It can be harmed only by other incorporeal creatures, magic weapons or creatures that strike as magic weapons, and spells, spell-like abilities, or supernatural abilities. It is immune to all nonmagical attack forms."</p>
<p>Also:</p>
<p>"Incorporeal creatures cannot fall or take falling damage."</p>
<p>Those quotes are straight out of the Universal Monster Rules. If the phantom steps out over a pit while incorporeal, does it fall? No? Then it keeps walking across to the other side. Is the poison afflicting the ectoplasmic phantom magical? No? Then it stops harming the phantom as soon as it switches to "ghost" mode. Same for disease or anything else that isn't covered in the above blurb. The phantom might have to stay incorporeal until the poison runs its course or a remove disease spell can be cast, but that's the simplest and most straight-forward fix to the issue (again, IMHO). </p>
<p>Since I can point back to something that is Rules As Written (RAW) and I play a lot of PFS, that's my interpretation until someone from the design or development team says otherwise (in which case, I go with whatever they say). I could totally be off-base with my interpretation, but that's the best I've come up with so far....</p>Well, here is the basis for my "anything that would effect a physical body goes away" theory. This isn't perfect reasoning, by any means, just my take on the simplest fix for the problems I've seen in just one game.
From the Pathfinder Reference Guide:
"Incorporeal (Ex) An incorporeal creature has no physical body. It can be harmed only by other incorporeal creatures, magic weapons or creatures that strike as magic weapons, and spells, spell-like abilities, or supernatural abilities. It is...John Lance2016-08-19T02:28:20ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Phantoms need an FAQ, especially if used in PFSJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tupn?Phantoms-need-an-FAQ-especially-if-used-in-PFS#502016-08-19T01:23:04Z2016-08-19T01:23:04Z<p>At this point, as the original thread creator, I'm realizing that the simplest thing to do, especially in PFS, is to treat the phantom just like an eidolon (ie. an Outsider) for all intents and purposes. Anything that would effect a physical body (poison, disease, paralysis, etc...) goes away when the phantom "loses" it's physical body and becomes a ghost (ie. incorporeal). Incorporeal phantoms can "airwalk" but can't fly until 8th level. That's a good fix for the mechanics of how to employ a phantom for the 80 to 90% of the situations you see in most Pathfinder games. </p>
<p>The equipment issue is fairly straightforward, they already have an FAQ answer to the armor and weapons confusion. Same for items and slots. Once the errata comes out for the FAQ that already exists, the only issues should be the high-level "hey, this didn't quite work out as intended" issues that never show up in low-level play. </p>
<p>I'll be playing my Spiritualist again this weekend, I'll see if this method of "hey, it's just like an eidolon" helps smooth things out.....</p>At this point, as the original thread creator, I'm realizing that the simplest thing to do, especially in PFS, is to treat the phantom just like an eidolon (ie. an Outsider) for all intents and purposes. Anything that would effect a physical body (poison, disease, paralysis, etc...) goes away when the phantom "loses" it's physical body and becomes a ghost (ie. incorporeal). Incorporeal phantoms can "airwalk" but can't fly until 8th level. That's a good fix for the mechanics of how to employ a...John Lance2016-08-19T01:23:04ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Phantoms need an FAQ, especially if used in PFSJohn Lancehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tupn?Phantoms-need-an-FAQ-especially-if-used-in-PFS#382016-08-18T22:11:28Z2016-08-18T22:11:28Z<p>True, that cleric was probably the exception that proved the rule. </p>
<p>That does bring up a thought. Maybe the incorporeal form is the thing that is puzzling me so much about the phantom. If it stayed incorporeal all the time, fine, no problem. If it stayed ectoplasmic all the time, sure, just an eidolon with a slimy green color and a phase-shift ability. But being able to swap back and forth is really cool....but also kinda weird, with regards to rules, creature types, etc....</p>
<p>Honestly, I should have paid more attention when I was GMing some folks last fall that were playing spiritualists during the test period. I remember thinking, "damn, phantoms seem like a really complex companion to have" but I didn't go any further than that. Now that I'm finally playing one, I'm paying for that lapse....</p>True, that cleric was probably the exception that proved the rule.
That does bring up a thought. Maybe the incorporeal form is the thing that is puzzling me so much about the phantom. If it stayed incorporeal all the time, fine, no problem. If it stayed ectoplasmic all the time, sure, just an eidolon with a slimy green color and a phase-shift ability. But being able to swap back and forth is really cool....but also kinda weird, with regards to rules, creature types, etc....
Honestly, I...John Lance2016-08-18T22:11:28Z