I figure a great house rule that may speed up combat AND make casters feel more involved in their spells is to simply have them roll their Spellcasting attack against the monster/NPC's saving DC. That way, the DM isn't rolling 10 saves for a bunch of goblins in a fireball AND the caster feels more in control of the spell they are casting.
What about Critical Success and Failures for the saving throws you ask? Simply flip the descriptions so instead of a critical saving success, it's a critical failing attack! And vice versa!
(I apologize if this has been asked/answered before, nothing came up on my search)
So, Doubt gives you a -4 penalty on the ability checks if you fail them. The check to stabilize is a Constitution check. Does that mean if you fail a stabilize check, then next has another -4 penalty?
I know, technically, the answer is yes, but that seems a pretty heavy penalty, especially when a character is low-level and low-Con, pretty much guaranteeing they won't survive even a mild dip into the negatives.
Give the reigns to him and see where he goes with it. The question is, though, could the nerds handle Whedon's Avengers and Smith's League at the same time? What if they got permission to do a crossover?
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Need to cut back on the subscriptions again. Can you cancel my Pathfinder Tales and Player Companion subscriptions? It's for purely financial reasons. Everything's been quality so far.
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
I'm pretty sure that the books are out in the mail, floating around somewhere on their way to me. But, just in case, I wanted to let you know I still haven't received my last shipment (placed on 4/7, notified on shipping on 4/12).
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Hey team!
I need to cancel a few things and also want to know if I can change something.
The cancellations are for the Runner's Toolkit and Attitude books I have on pre-order.
Also, I just re-upped my subscription to the Campaign Setting, starting with the Inner Sea World Guide. Is there a chance I can get this shipped out ASAP instead of with my next subscription shipment?
2 T cooking oil
Large Vidalia onion (diced)
2 Green bell peppers (julienned)
5 Jalapeño peppers (cut into rings, with seeds)
2 Poblano peppers (chopped, with seeds)
2 Serrano peppers (chopped, with seeds)
2 Thai chile peppers (chopped, with seeds)
1 T minced garlic
1 lb Ground Sirloin
15 oz can light red kidney beans
15 oz can dark red kidney beans
2 - 28 oz cans of Crushed Tomatoes (unseasoned)
1 - 12 oz bottle of your favorite beer (I prefer Yuengling)
2-3 bay leaves
½ cup Chili Powder (increase to taste)
Salt & Pepper (to taste)
In large cast iron dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, garlic and peppers and cook until onions are translucent. Add ground beef and cook until browned.
While onions & peppers are cooking, drain beans and then beat in a large bowl with a hand mixer, or process in a food processor until they just start to break down into a paste (you should still be able to easily see the skins of the beans).
Once the meat is browned, add the beans to the meat and peppers mixture. Then add both cans of crushed tomatoes, beer, bay leaves and chili powder. Stir to combine. Raise heat to high, stirring until it begins to bubble, then lower heat to simmer and cook, covered, for at least 45 minutes. Add salt, pepper and other seasoning to taste.
Dirty, stinky gamersers! Them and their disposable elvish coin! We HATES THEM! Them and their gathering in Indy! They stoles it from us! WE should be at the gathering, but the filthy theifses stoles our passes!
May their Bulmahn be flatulent when they askses for his precious signature!
Don't want to be a pest or seem like I'm complainin' or nothin', but I've noticed that the "Download the 2009 Catalog" ad is STILL on the site. I know y'all busy and stuff, just thought I'd point it out...
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
They are 'broadcasting' the radio chatter between Houston control (@ap11_capcom), Apollo 11 Craft (@ap11_spacecraft) and Eagle landing craft (@ap11_eagle) to celebrate the 40th anniversary today.
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
I'm noticing that two charges have gone through since I signed up for the RPG Subscription plan. I believe it's for the RPG core rulebook, but I want to make sure since it's still two months until the book is released.
The first charge is for $42.49 (presumably for the book) and the second is $8.25 (the shipping cost?). Can you check and let me know the details of these charges?
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
You know, I'm really looking forward to the release. I mean it. For the first time in a long time, I'm interested in playing a cleric (usually it was either "okay I'll fill the slot" or "here's a cool XXXX/Cleric multiclass"). The turning/channel energy and domains needed an overhaul and it sound like you did superbly!
And, the concentration check sounds perfect! Too often in the higher level games, a concentration check was a joke (15+7? Heck, I got 17 ranks it in...). It's nice to see the high level casters worry again...
Now, you're asking a lot of why's and how's probably. Here's some of the proposed changes:
First off, you'll need to give spellcasters more skill points. Probably give the heavy hitters like Clerics, Druids, Sorcerers and Spellcasters another 4. I wouldn't increase the skill points of the Bard, Paladin or Ranger, since they aren't primary magic-users, but rather dabblers in the art.
Okay, now for the real overhaul part. Change the Magic system. No more spells/day, but rather have them roll a spellcraft check every time the magic-user wants to cast a spell. Now you might be seeing where the different ability modifiers for the schools comes in. Bards & Sorcerers would excel at Abjuration, Enchantment and Illusion spells, Clerics & Druids would be great at Conjuration, Divination and Necromantic spells. And Wizards would be the Evocation, Transmutation and Universal go-to guys.
Beautiful part is, we don't have to change the spells themselves, just how we're using them.
To cast a spell, you have to succeed at a Spellcraft check of 10 + 2*Spell Level (so a 0 level spell is a DC 10, a 4th is DC 18, a 9th is DC 28). If you succeed, the result of the check is the Saving Throw DC that the target has to overcome (makes the lower-level spells more powerful, keeps the higher level in check). If you want to Metamagic the spell, increase it's level as noted in the metamagic ability and calculate the new skill DC.
Bards and Sorcerers still only known a certain number of spells to cast from. Divine casters make the Spellcraft check, basically asking their deity for the spell. Wizards get a mod. They know a certain number of spells like a Sorcerer, but they can have extra spells in their spellbook that they can cast as long as they use their book. asting a spell that usually takes less than a full round while using the book increases the casting time to a full round. But using the spellbook gives a +5 insight bonus on the spellcraft check since you're following the 'recipe'.
The last part is what keeps everyone honest about the spells they cast. I borrowed it from Shadowrun's Drain rules, and modified it for use with this. Basically, when you cast a spell, if you succeed the check by more than 5, nothing happens. If you succeed by 5 or less, then you take that number as nonlethal damage. So, if the Spellcraft DC is 18 and you get 21, you'll take 3 nonlethal damage. if you fail the check by less than 5, then you'll take double nonlethal damage and become fatigued (i.e. DC of 18 and you rolled up 15, then you'll take 6 nonlethal damage). If you fail by more than five, then the difference becomes lethal damage.
So, any ideas? Suggestions? Flames?
About Alexander the Diminutive
Alexander:
Alexander the Diminutive
Male Gnome Unchained Summoner
N Small humanoid (Gnome)
Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +6
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+3 armor, +1 Dex, +1 Size )
hp 9 (1d8+1)
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +2;
Summoner Spells Known
. . 1st—Grease, Enlarge Person
. . 0 (at will)—acid splash, detect magic ,Mage Hand ,light
. . 7/ day Summon Monster I
. . 1/day—arcane mark, comprehend languages, message, read magic
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 8, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 18
Base Atk +0; CMB -2; CMD 9
Feats Spell Focus Conjuration
Traits Reactionary, Scholar of the Great Beyond
Skills Linguistics +6, Knowledge Planes +8, Perception +6, Perform Winds +8, UMD +8;
Languages Common, Gnome, Giant, Goblin, Celestial, Abyssal
Other Gear Studded Leather Armor, Sling
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Eidolon See Genie Stats
Life Link Can sacrifice HP to prevent Damage to Eidolon
Low-Light Vision: See twice as far as a human in dim light, distinguishing color and detail.
Keen Senses: +2 Perception
Gift of Tongues: +1 Bluff and Diplomacy, Linguistics gains 2 languages
Magical Linguist: +1 to the DC of spells they cast with the language-dependent descriptor or those that create glyphs, symbols, or other magical writings. They gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against such spells.1/day—arcane mark, comprehend languages, message, read magic
Academician: +2 Knowledge Planes (Replaces Obsessive)
Fey Thoughts (1 RP): Perception and Perform (winds) are class skills. (Replaces Weapon Familiarity)
Spell Focus +1 DC of Conjuration Spells
And The
Genie:
Genie
Male Outsider N Medium
Init +1; Senses Dark Vision; Perception +0
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+2 Natural Armor, +1 Dex, Shield +2 )
hp 11 (1d10+1)
Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +2;
BAB +1
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 20 ft.
Melee Scimitar +5 (1d6/18-20×2)
Statistics
--------------------
Str 16, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 11
Base Atk +0; CMB -2; CMD 9
Feats Weapon Focus Scimitar
Skills Acrobatic +2, Escape Artist +2, Climb +4, Swim +4
Languages Common, Abyssal, Infernal
Other Gear Heavy Steel Shield, Scimitar
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Evolution
Improved natural Armor +2
Martial Weapon Proficiency
Background:
Alexander is a Gnome from Whistle down. He was always interested in learning and about hearing the tales from the elders about their ancestors the fey. It wasn’t so much the fey themselves that fascinated Alexander, but rather where they came from. The idea of discovering other worlds was a childhood dream of his. But as he got older that’s all it was a dream. Like many gnomes Alexander was drawn to performing. He was never particularly great, but could get by playing the pipes. He traveled between Whistledown and Wartle playing his pipes. It was a respectable living for a gnome but he did wish that he didn’t have to spend so many nights alone on the road.
One night he was spending a particular chilly night in a cave when he heard a loud whooshing sound coming from the back at first he was nervous and almost hightailed it out of there, but his gnomish curiosity took over and drew him closer and closer to the sound. As he rounded a corner he got to the dead end that he had checked out before laying down. Alexander had learned to check the caves for other inhabitants before using it, on more than one occasion he had been chased out by an angry badger. What he saw made his jaw drop there was a swirling portal he walked towards it and it began to close. It was now or never. He ran, but the portal was closing faster than his short legs could carry him. When he was five feet away, and the portal almost closed something shot out at him and struck him in the head. The portal snapped shut just as his eyes did and he crumpled to the ground.
He awoke in a daze and had no idea where he was at first. He remembered having a strange dream about a light and a flying fire, and the rest was fuzzy and his head throbbed. He sat up groaning and looked around. The cave seemed the same as it had been when he had come back here the night before. He looked down and spotted something out of the ordinary. A small oil lamp lay on the ground, the top had clattered off. As he reached for it he jumped with a start.
”Oh so your up, how was your sleep” Came a voice behind him. Alexander whirled around, which brought a wave of pain and nausea and sitting on a rock behind him was a tall man. He wasn’t like any man he had ever seen before. He was tall with rippling muscles and he carried a scimitar in one hand and had a bow strapped to his back. He wore white baggy pants that looked very foreign to Alexander and was bare chested with a thing bandanna tied around his bald head. What was most shocking about the man was not his strange attire but rather that his skin was blue.
”Who...Who are you” Alexander managed to stammer.
”The names Genie, and I am a genie… I know, its a family name” The blue man said with a laugh. ”I am here to be your guide.”
“My guide to what?” Alexander asked beginning to gather his wits about him.
“You’ve wanted to learn of the other plans of existence have you not? I could be wrong, oh I must have chosen wrong I am sorry I will leave you to your life. Just forget you ever saw me,” The genie said heading towards the lamp.
“No, wait!” Alexander yelled taking a step forward “I am the one you seek, I want to learn. I was just taken aback. Forgive me where have my manners gone. I am Alexander,” Alexander makes a sweeping bow, his shaggy hair brushing the ground. “I am a gnome of Whistle down. I travel from town to town playing my flute. Would you care to hear?”
“I would,” replied the genie, “but not right now. Now we must make the binding”
”The binding, what’s the binding?” the gnome asked.
“Well, if I am to be your guide then we must form a bond, a way for you to call me from my world to yours so that I can assist you. I can’t be here all the time I’ve matters to attend to on my plane,” The Genie explains.
Overwhelmed Alexander contemplates the ramifications of binding himself to the genie. “What if it is a cruel trick, what if he is evil, so many things could go wrong...” he thinks to himself. Genie taps his foot impatiently. “This chance will probably not come again. I mustn’t pass up this opportunity.”
“Okay let us bind ourselves to one another,” He finally says.
“Fantastic,” Genie says dryly as if he knew than answer all along. “Give me your head so that I can give you the summoners mark” he reached out with his massive hands, each nearly as large as Alexanders head.
“Will it hurt?” He asked leaning forward.
As he took Alexanders head in his hands placing his thumbs on he forehead the genie tipped his head up so he could look into the gnomes eyes. With a smile he said “It will be excruciating.”
A searing pain took over Alexander. A hot while light filled his eyes and he dropped to his knees. The genie did not let go and the pain increased. His ears were ringing and his entire body burned. He struggled to talk, to scream, but no sound came out. Even his vocal cords where paralyzed by the pain. It felt like it lasted an eternity, but as quickly it had began so was it gone. Slowly his vision began to come back. The genie’s hands still held Alexanders head. He had a strained smile on his face.
“If it is any consolation, I felt everything that you felt,” Genie said. “But now we are bound as one. You can call me here to aid you when you need me. I can also teach you a few spells and some other things about summoning. We must however be on our way. It’s a bit of a journey to Sandpoint. You can play for me as we travel.”
Gasping for his breath he clutched his forehead where the genies thumbs at pressed. It felt cool to the touch. ”What… What was that,” he asked shaking his head. ”Sandpoint? I am not headed to Sandpoint.” He continued still trying to comprehend what was going on.
“Sandpoint is always as good a place as any to begin a journey, and if you are as good a piper as you say you are then we should at least be able make some coin there. Besides I haven’t been back there in years.” The genie said and started toward the front of the cave. “Oh you might want to take a look at yourself” he added with a rye smile tossing a small hand mirror back to him. “and don’t forget my lamp”
Alexander caught the mirror with both hands and peered into it. It was an old mirror and the reflection wasn’t prestine but what he saw made him stare in wonder. Where the genie had touched him there was now a distinct light blue mark a circle with an upside down V crossing it and a dot in the middle.
“What does it mean?” Alexander asked, scooping up the lamp and rushing forward.
“I don’t know,” came the Genies reply that he punctuated with an over exaggerated shrug. “I’ve only done this once before, same mark, must be my mark. Guy didn’t last long enough for me to find out,”
Alexander stopped and his mouth dropped open.
“Oh don’t worry,” Genie said. “It was nothing I did. Fool was careless got drunk climbed atop the inns roof, slipped, fell, broke his neck. I had only been for a month at most, fool was a drunk before I met him. Don’t know how he found the lamp in the first place. I made sure you were more stable than him before I came to you.” He emphasized the word stable with a snort, and seemed very proud of himself for that one. “We really should get going, we are loosing daylight.”
“But it’s not even midnight yet,” as they rounded the last turn Alexander was again shocked. It looked as if it were midday. “b-but how long was I out?
“Just a couple days, common.”
The next few days flew by as Alexander and Genie ventured through Sanos Forest, and followed the Yandabakari river. All the while Alexander and Genie talked. Genie taught him some about the planes and even taught him a few new languages. Alexander found that now that he had the help of the genie language acquisition came even easier to him. He, like many gnomes, had always had a gift with languages but now what once took weeks or months to master only took days. He even learned to cast a few spells and once when he tripped the genie by making the ground around him slick with oil he though the genie was going to cut his head off. Instead Genie merely picked him up and threw him into his own grease pool. They both had a good laugh and having a companion certainly made the journey more enjoyable.
Finally they reached Sandpoint and low and behold Genie was right. A festival was about to begin and there were people everywhere. Alexander had never ventured this far from home or preformed for this many people, but he was excited by the idea and with the genie helping him it wasn’t quite as scary.
