Mark Lewis 89's page

I apologize in advance if someone has mentioned this but I didnt have time to read thru many pages of posts.

I saw that the basic familiars add spells to their witch (or to the familiar actually) based on the type you pick as the witch levels up.

I didnt see a list for the same spells for improved familiars. (improved familiar feat which is in the PF Adventurer's Guide. I assume this was just an oversight, as spending a feat for a better familiar should also still add the same bonus as the base familiars.

Thanks,

Mark Lewis

Which is why this year I didnt volunteer at all. I was a tier 1, judged every slot that was offered of Pathfinder last year at GenCon judge. (2008)

Josh mentioned something was being discussed a year ago at GenCon but that they didnt favor (at that time) any system to reward the judges. LG did a similar thing and over time there was a shortage of judges.

I had hoped that by now something had already been worked out as Pathfinder will lose quality judges due to their being no way to play Pathfinder and get 'behind' your friends that you play with back home.

I like Pathfinder (a lot) and I want to see it succeed. I am however unwilling from this point forward to 'eat' episodes. So I do hope they bring this one to the front burner and come up with a suitable resolution that fits. The easiest being a simple you gain XP, and maybe 1/2 gold for the episode but not items or faction prestige? Something along those lines should prevent it from being abused and yet allow faithful judges to at least play with their friends in episodes where they arent judging.

I would encourage Pathfinder developers to look at what LFR is doing. (and I dont think their system is perfect) They have though at least realized penalizing people for running their game isnt a policy they want to move forward with.

Mark Lewis

So Josh, is there a reward system in place for judges that judge an event but havent played it yet? (ie, awarded the XP, no faction prestige or items?)

A year ago when I discussed this with you in person, you said they had not finalized this yet. I havent seen on the official boards any change to this.

Having to 'eat' episodes doesn't encourage me to judge for Paizo or any event before I play them as I can not keep up with any of my friends also playing Pathfinder. I was hoping they'd addressed this by now. (and maybe they have and I just missed it)

Thanks,

Mark Lewis

Basically by using the item's caster level as a pre-req for the crafter's caster level, you break all sorts of things within the campaign that later then have to be fixed.

The DMG is really quite clear but often people misunderstand about crafting and what is required. The requirements are listed under every magic item and the 'caster level' of the item has nothing to do with it.

What you need to do is meet the requirements listed, have the time and cash on hand (and XP) to make the item and be able to cast (or have an NPC cast) the spells listed. There are a few other exceptions that deal with enhancement bonuses (and levels required) to do armors and weapons but again the DMG explains what these are.

An example: Pearl of power. (listed as caster level 17 for the ITEM) The requirement is have craft wondrous item and be able to actually cast spells of the given level of the pearl. That's it.

Exception being for example the ioun stone, which the DMG specifically states requires the feats necessary and being a 12th level caster.

LG originally used this system to 'control' magic item creation and it ended up just being a nightmare. (with all sorts of things that had to then be modified or they made no sense)

Like Sovereign glue? Caster level 20?

I'm all for 'fixing' magic item creation to be something more reasonable, but the way Pathfinder is suggesting to do it, causes more problems than it fixes. (lots of headaches)

Doing a spellcraft check of the ITEM caster level +5 is rather foolish. Another gaming system used to use the same restrictions for item creation and it just broke down in certain areas. Pearls of power, caster level 17? Hello?

In that other gaming systems current revision they had the good sense to go back to the DMG and the requirements are being able to cast the spells (or have someone around that can) to make the item unless the item specifically states a caster level requirement. (like ioun stones which require 12th level)

This restriction really doesnt work as you pointed out with the glue. Caster level 20?

Come on...