Matrissa the Enchantress's page

Just wanted to jump in and say "OMG, thank you for creating this guide!"

I'm starting up a new campaign for the first time in a *long* time (based on the Shattered Star AP) and several of the players are either new to RPG's or mainly familiar with 3.5E or 5.0E, so was quite happy to stumble across this link while looking for something else entirely. I'm sure it will really help almost all of my players - heck, it helped me understand some things about a few classes I'd never really considered before.

(It also encouraged me to get the Unchained PDF which introduced me to the Background Skills and Skill Unlock options which I'm totally going to use!)

you do not want characters to find gambling more profitable than crafting or adventuring

But, why not?

Seriously, if skill at any gambling was worked in a way similar to any other skills and the monetary benefits for high skill were a bit less profitable than having a similarly high skill in a crafting/foraging/fighting skill I think it would be a perfectly legitimate way for some characters and settlements to "make money" in the game.

Think about it - assuming "PvE" style gambling games, at low levels of skill in the game you can only play if the game has a low "buy in" and your chances of winning are only so-so. As your "skill" improves you get a better chance of winning at low stakes games but also get the opportunity to join ever higher stakes games. Skill improves some more - better chances at mid-range stakes, access to high-stakes and then super-high stakes.

Let the settlement where the games are offered gain from offering them - keeping all or a percentage of any money players lose gambling.

You could even throw in a few PvP games (Texas Holdom anyone? Or how about a pool table?) and the settlement keeps a 'take' - a small percentage on the total pot.

Alignment & reputation could play into it too. For example, the more gambling games your settlement offers the less "reputable" your settlement will be. If a building is designated as an actual casino (vs. just offering a few games at the inn) reputation goes down further but that increases how high individual game stakes can be and perhaps the percentage that the settlement profits by goes up). Players who gamble a lot could loose reputation or perhaps gambling is more of a Chaotic thing to do so the more you risk your money the more Law you lose.

Just a thought.

-M-

I don't know if anyone here pledged to the Kickstarter but if you did, thanks so much! In the end they just squeaked by with 102% of their goal right at the last minute.

-M

------------
Cities in the Sky: Science Fiction's Forgotten Visionaries
An audacious and daring gambit to reveal the secret history of the science fiction literary world on film.
Help make it happen!
------------

This board seemed like a good place to post a note about this particular Kickstarter campaign.

It's a project for a film covering innovative and creative ideas in written science fiction that were far ahead of their time. It will include significant information about visionary genre writers who, while deserving of acknowledgement for their contributions to the genre, have nevertheless fallen off the radar of the average science fiction reader.

There are only 28 hours remaining in the campaign and they only need about $8700 to reach their goal.

• A $25 pledge gets a high definition digital download. (and the satisfaction of assisting a worthwhile creative endeavor!)
  
• A $35 pledge gets the above PLUS a digital copy of a companion graphic novel, further exploring the groundbreaking ideas of these writers.
  
• Higher value pledges are available too, providing a myriad of other perks such as credits in the film, a Blu-Ray disk, t-shirts, and more.

Even if you're not personally able to contribute, it would be great if you could share this information with anyone else you know who might be interested in helping out. I'd really like to see this project succeed.

-M

Just for fun, how about some Demi-Humans?

Yes, and Humans too. Infestations don't always have to be monsters.

If a nearby settlement is Good and/or Lawful the humans and demi-humans could be bandits and highwaymen. If a nearby settlement is Evil and/or Chaotic they could be the equivalent to a swat team sent to eradicate the evil/anarchic menace.

-M

Just no swarms...

Awww, no swarms? Why ever not? Is the wittle PC afwaid of a bunch of itsy bitsy rats, bats or spiders?

;-)

-M

We will denote which particular printing a book is at the very bottom of the credits page directly beneath the trademark declaration. If there is not a note there, then you have a first printing.

LOL - I forgot I asked this until I was checking out my list of posts. Thanks for the information!

Is there any way to definitively determine what printing a particular Paizo book is?

I was looking at your errata downloads an wanted to know if I should download any of them but couldn't figure out how to tell which printing my books are. I looked at the publishing information page but didn't see anything there.

-J

Hello folks!

My name is Jenni Merrifield and I have recently taken over the role of Games Coordinator for VCON 34. I am sending out this message to gamers and gaming groups primarily in Western Canada and the Pacific North West as a call to action – by promoting the VCON games room and filling you in on some of the incentives available for gamers in general and to anyone interested in hosting game events during the convention I hope to encourage you and all your friends to come out to our event!

Summary for the "TLDR" crowd

--> VCON is Western Canada’s longest running science fiction, fantasy and gaming fan convention, held in the Vancouver, BC, Canada metropolitan area every October. VCON 34 is October 2-4, 2009. Full details at www.vcon.ca

--> VCON 34’s games room is open 24 hours and has scheduled game events, drop in games, and free-play tables available.

--> There is a reduced price pass ($30) for those who are primarily interested in gaming scene and do not intend to attend other scheduled programming.

--> More hosts are needed to run scheduled game events during core programming hours – any host who commits to at least 4 hours of scheduled game events will be eligible for a discounted membership rate.

--> The VCON 34 Games Coordinator (me) is looking to connect with individuals with almost any significant connection to the table top or video gaming industries who would be interested in attending the con as a programming guest and participating in game related programming.

About VCON
VCON is Western Canada’s longest running science fiction, fantasy and gaming fan convention and is held in the Vancouver, BC, Canada metropolitan area every October. VCON 34 is October 2-4, 2009 at the Downtown Marriott Pinnacle Vancouver.

Our Guests of Honour this year are:

• Tanya Huff (Author GoH)
  
• Miles Teves (Artist GoH)
  
• Christine Willes (Media GoH)
  
• plus Special Guests The “GeeksOn" Podcasters
  

Full convention details are available on our web site: www.vcon.ca

The VCON Games Room
The VCON Games room is open 24 hours from shortly after the convention opens on Friday until close of con on Sunday. There will be several types of tables available:

Scheduled:
These are tables where pre-scheduled gaming events will be held during VCON’s core programming hours (Friday, 2pm to midnight; Saturday 10a to midnight; Sunday 10a to 4p). While the majority of the events will be scheduled game play these tables may also host game demos, focused round table discussions on gaming topics and other such events.

Tourney Registration:
There will be a registration table in place for any game tourneys to be held during the convention where members can register for the tourney and take care of anything else required by the tourney host.

Drop-In:
These tables are run by a game host over the whole weekend. Members can join in whatever games a host decides to run from the library of games they’ve brought with them.

Free-Play:
Bring in your own game supplies and start up a pick-up game of any kind at any time. Whether it’s a board game, a card game, a roleplaying game or something else, pick a table, find some other interested members and go to it!

We also offer the VCON Game Library to members during core programming hours. This is a collection of familiar classics and interesting newer games that the convention has been collecting over the past several years. These games may be borrowed from the library by any member and used on the Free-Play tables.

VCON Membership Rates
If you’re interested in more than just gaming, and purchase your membership before September 15, you can get an adult membership for just $45 CDN – a $15 savings over the $60 “at the door” price. There are also reduced rates for Students (with valid student card) and Children from 7 to 12 (Children under 7 can attend free).

We also offer a “Games and Exhibits Only” pass for $30 CDN. This restricted access pass allows entry to the exhibits (Dealers Room, Art Gallery, etc) and participation in the Games Room. It is designed for those who are primarily interested in these areas of the convention and do not intend to attend any standard programmed sessions.

See the registration page on our web site for complete details: www.vcon.ca/registration.htm.

If you live in the USA:
For those who live south of the 49th parallel, the early registration adult rate is approximately $41 USD versus the approximately $54 USD “at the door” rate. The “Games and Exhibits Only” pass is approximately $27 USD.

Also, new US border crossing regulations mean you will need a valid passport, a Nexus card or one of those “Enhanced Drivers Licenses” if you want the US border guards to let you re-enter your home country. In other words – if you don’t already have one of these forms of identity, get your game on and complete the necessary paperwork and legwork already! We want you to come up and visit us!

Incentives for Game Hosts
In order to make the VCON Games Room a success, we have a desperate need for game hosts – mainly those willing to run game events on the Scheduled tables although we’re also interested in anyone willing to bring along their own game library and host a Drop-In table.

Core programming hours are 2p to midnight Friday, 10a to midnight Saturday, and 10a to 4p Sunday. There will be at least two tables available for scheduled games at any one time – and possibly more if we get enough interested hosts.

The games room Schedule will be broken up into half-hour chunks, and each hosted game event will be given a minimum of one and a half hours duration but can have as many half-hour chunks as the host desires so long as the necessary space is available in the schedule. The first fifteen minutes to half an hour of each event is intended to be used to allow players and host to get organized and settled so the minimum expected duration of a game event is actually only an hour. Note that schedule time slots will be handed out on a first-come-first-served basis, so be sure to register early if you want to assure you get your preferred time slot!

Hosts who commit to hosting a cumulative total of at least four hours over the weekend (e.g., three 1.5-hour sessions, two 2-hour sessions, or one four hour session) are eligible for a Game Host rate - $40 CDN ($36 USD) for Adult or $20 CDN ($18 USD) for “Games and Exhibits Only.” Drop In table hosts are also eligible for these discounts.

Anyone interested in hosting a scheduled game event or who is interested in bringing along a library of games and manning a Drop In table can contact me directly by email at vcongames [at] gmail [dot] com.

In Search of Games Programming Guests
Our roster of games programming guests could also use some bolstering so I am looking to connect with any individual or company with almost any reasonable connection to the table-top and video game industries who would be interested in attending the con as a programming guest.

Programming guests invited to the con are asked to participate in at least two or three game related programming sessions in return for fame, fortune and prestige (well, okay, not fame and fortune, but there’s certainly some prestige earned from other convention members!) and probably some other perks that I’m unable to disclose (but only because I don’t know what they are - you have to get invited by the Programming Coordinator to find out). So, whether you’re a game designer, game artist, game developer, game reviewer or whatever, I’d really like to hear from you!

Any interested parties can also contact me directly by email at vcongames (at) gmail (dot) com.

Wrap Up
Well, that’s the spiel folks. I hope that each one of you will check out our web site (www.vcon.ca) and give some serious consideration to attending VCON 34 this year. Even more so if you’re interested in hosting games or participating in games programming!

October 2 is only a few weeks away, and early registration ends Sept 15, so don’t spend too much time thinking about it!

Good Gaming!

Jenni Merrifield
VCON 34 Games Coordinator
vcongames (at) gmail (dot) com

Sure thing - here's mine:

DIVINE AMULET {not the best name in the world...}
Aura faint necromancy; CL 3rd
Slot neck; Price 4,200 gp (+1), 9,600 gp (+2), 16,200 gp (+3), 24,000 gp (+4), 33,000 gp (+5); Weight --

Description
This device appears to be a simple circular disk, made of dark hardwood, silver, gold, platinum or adamantium, with one face polished mirror smooth and attached to a braided leather cord (if wood) or a fine chain of the same metal.

When a divine amulet is worn by a character devoted to a deity or philosophy (Cleric, Druid, etc.) the smooth face acquires an etched representation of, and can be used exactly like, her holy symbol. Up to three times a day, a divine amulet can be used to boost channelled energy, increasing the energy damage by 1d6 and improving the Will save DC by an amount determined by the base material of the device: wood +1, silver +2, gold +3, platinum +4, adamantium +5.

Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, ability to channel positive or negative energy, creator’s caster level must be at least three times the symbol’s bonus; Cost 2,100 gp (+1), 4,800 gp (+2), 8,100 gp (+3), 12,000 gp (+4), 16,500 gp (+5)

----
Aside from the uninspired name, I decided I'd botched the costing after the fact. I based the above numbers on the following:

1. Use Activated Spell, with effects similar to inflict/cure light wounds or cause/remove fear, both of which are level 1. Creator’s caster level must be at least three times the symbol’s bonus.

= Level x CL x 2000
= 1 x { 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 } x 2000
= 6000 | 12000 | 18000 | 24000 | 30000

2. Increases Will DC by 1,2,3,4 or 5. This is essentially a reversal of a "resistance":

= Bonus squared x 1000
= {1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 25 } x 1000
= 1000 | 4000 | 9000 | 16000 | 25000

3. 3 charges per day

= calculation x 3/5
+1: ( 6000 + 1000) x 3/5 = 4200
+2: (12000 + 4000) x 3/5 = 9600
+3: (18000 + 9000) x 3/5 = 16200
+4: (24000 + 16000) x 3/5 = 24000
+5: (30000 + 25000) x 3/5 = 33000

My mistake, I believe, was in step 1 where I should have only applied the minimum caster level (CL 3) and shouldn't have adjusted that as the bonus increased because the effect this step represents is a constant (that is, it is not affected by the value of the will DC bonus).

So the revised costing calculation would be as follows:

Step 1:
= Level x CL x 2000
= 1 x 3 x 2000
= 6000

Step 2:
= Bonus squared x 1000
= {1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 25 } x 1000
= 1000 | 4000 | 9000 | 16000 | 25000

Step 3:
= calculation x 3/5
+1: (12000 + 1000) x 3/5 = 4200
+2: (12000 + 4000) x 3/5 = 6000
+3: (12000 + 9000) x 3/5 = 9000
+4: (12000 + 16000) x 3/5 = 13200
+5: (12000 + 25000) x 3/5 = 18600

:-j(enni)

.... I cant help myself. I absolutely love D&D....

Plus I like hearing myself talk. That's probably the bigger and more honest reason :)

If I may humbly make a suggestion why don't you get a hold of Atomic Array and do an annual podcast on this subject??

There are a lot of people who would find this interesting, I count myself one of them.

Seconded.

Thirded!!

Clark, I think it would be easier if you started another new thread for those who want your critique on "almost also rans", because otherwise you'd have to comb through this thread looking for the items posted by the people who asked for a critique...

Just my 2 copper pieces.

:-j(enni)

Clark Peterson wrote:

Mojo and good ideas count for alot, but we cant just give a pass to big mechanics blunders, because that is as much a part of great design. It reminds me alot of last year. Christine won because she had great huge awesome ideas coupled with a very workmanlike ability to craft the mechanics. Jason, for instance, didnt have perhaps the inspired huge ideas of Christine but he was a shade better at the mechanics (and Christine was no slough). Boomer was off the charts on big ideas, but his mechanic follow through was not as good as Jason or Christine.

And where do I fit in there, Clark? Already forgotten after only a year? :)

And I was wondering EXACTLY the same thing!

{briefly shakes a purple pom-pom}

;-)

:-j(enni)
(Semi-Official Superstar Cheerleader for Rob McCreary)

And where do I fit in there, Clark? Already forgotten after only a year? :)

You know, I was wondering EXACTLY the same thing!

{briefly shakes a purple pom-pom}

;-)

:-j(enni)

My husband is a consistent 9 hour sleeper, which means he's usually in bed by 9pm. Sometimes he's in bed BEFORE our 10 year old is finished getting ready and all tucked in. :P

I, on the other hand, fluctuate between being an 11 hour to a 3 hour sleeper, depending entirely on where I am in my not-entirely consistent depressive/hypomanic cycle (I've been diagnosed as 'bipolar type 2') and how low/high the peak is.

Since I started taking medication I probably spend most of my time needing about 6 hours (usually midnight to 6am on weeknights), and only float down to 4 or up to 8 at the top and bottom of a typical cycle. However excessive levels of stress can push me to the outliers in either direction and can keep me there for longer periods.

(Truth be told, I love being in a high-end hypomanic stage as I have energy to burn and just get so much stuff done. I'd drop my med's in flash if I could stay there without risking the crash into deep depression that inevitably follows. :P)

:-j(enni)

10. Channeling items. There were a lot of items that worked with channeling mechanics. Like the augury items last year, there's nothing *wrong* with that mechanic, but seeing it fairly often means we probably set the bar higher.

{sigh}.

Of course, my idea was based on something I thought of for classes that can turn or rebuke and I had to adjust my idea to accommodate the PF channeling concept - that is, I didn't go for channeling because it was "new and shiny". So there's always a chance that mine is one that meets the "higher bar". :D

:-j(enni)

Kyr wrote:

FEY WAR HARNESS

Coincidentally, Matrissa also had a well-written pixie garment last year.

Meds beat me to the punch.

Once I read the description my first thought was "Tsk. Kyr obviously hasn't read the "Bad Item Stereotypes" thread all the way through." ;-)

On the other hand, kudos on independently coming up with something that would have been in the B+ range last year and the B range this year (I'm assuming the "grading curve" has shifted upwards because the overall quality level will have gone up this year).

:-j(enni)

I thought it ran from 12/5-1/5, so I missed the boat by 12 hours. GRRRR!!!!!!

And last year I was originally in the top 32, then someone did a word count and I was like 8 words over, so I got d-qed. GRRRR!!!!!!

I guess I ain't meant to be a designer with paizo.

And my item was all set....all I needed was the file for the price math, but it wouldn't unzip for me. So I had to get a friend to send me the unzipped version and I got it too late. GRRRRRRR!!!!!!

Oh man. I totally agree that that totally sucks. :-(

Maybe you could keep your item to yourself for a year and then use it for RPT Superstar 2010... (On the other hand, I'm sure we'd all love to see the item that "Coulda been a contenda")

:-j(enni)

After the last RPG Superstar I brainstormed for a while and came up with about 6 items that I liked but one definitely was more exciting to me. So I wrote it up and then worked on it again when the contest was announced. Then about a week ago I decided it probably wasn't the best idea. So I wrote up one of the others and submitted it. So I guess #3.

I'd be tempted to call that #2, since you only worked up that many :-)

:-j(enni)

He's 8. I'm so friggin' proud that I already won.

Tarren Dei, man, that is SO AWESOME! My 10 year old isn't quite into the game enough to be creating his own items but if he was, and he'd entered, I'd definitely be as stoked as you sound. :-)

Ask your son if you can share it with us if he doesn't make the cut to top 32. And if he does make the cut... it blows my mind just thinking about it.

Good Luck!

:-j(enni)

I'm curious about something - how many of us fall into each of these three categories:

1. I had one AWESOME idea and went with it.
2. I had two KILLER ideas, worked on both, and chose the one that was my favourite (or I tossed a coin, or threw darts at print outs tacked to the wall, or whatever).
3. I had multitudes (a.k.a., three or more) of SUPERLATIVE ideas, worked up several, considered my options, maybe worked up a couple more, and eventually picked one that seemed like the best choice for a win.

I fall squarely into camp #1 - one great idea, wrote it up and went with it.

The process for me is that I think about an item concept idea but if it doesn't fire me up right away I just drop it and move on, seeking out another concept until I finally find the one that puts my muse into a grapple hold, starts shaking her violently and refuses to let go until she's finished coughing up all the details. Then I know, that's the one I have to write up. It was the same last year too.

:-j(enni)

Yeah ... I think my costing may be off and that is going to do me in.

My entry is an item with multiple costs because there is a scaled bonus - that is, there's a +1 to X version and a +2 to X version, etc. - for which CL must increase. However, I realized just the other day that I failed to consider that only half of the benefits scale while the other half is a constant so I scaled the cost assuming increased Caster Level for all benefits. Thus I think my costing for the higher bonus versions results in too much buck for the bang, as it were.

I'm also not quite sure it reached Superstar quality. I think it's better than my "B+ effort" from last year, but is it an "A+ effort"? I don't know.

:-j(enni)

I'm thinking it will be in the 950-1050 range - in other words, up just a couple of hundred from last year.

My reasoning is thus:

• More people know about the contest this year than last which will increase the number of potential new comers (that is, people who didn't enter last year) fairly dramatically

• Last year proved that it's harder to do this than many people expected and that will decrease the number of potential repeat entrants (that is, individuals who entered last year but bow out this year).

• The requirement to use Pathfinder rules rather than d20 rules will certainly lower the number of new comers AND reduce the number of repeat entrants further as that fact turns away those who might otherwise try this year but who haven't learned or don't want to learn the beta rules.

:-j(enni)

Harold's Purple Crayon!

OMG! My son loved that story when he was younger.

Someone should put this on the Gag Item thread...

Hmmm....

Maybe I will.

:-j(enni)

I'm from the (currently) very chilly land of Vancouver.

'Nother Canucklehead from the Vancouver, BC area here. {waves}

(Technically, I actually live in Coquitlam, BC, which is a 'burb to the east)

And yep, it is pretty chilly compared to "the norm"... it's -7C right now with that super powdery snow on the ground that squeaks when you walk across it while we usually get rain or -1C slush.

I'm psyched though, 'cause the weather people are calling for more snow this Sunday! W00t!

(Am I the only "grown up" here who actually *likes* snow...?)

:-j(enni)

If we get two copies of the same entry, and the judges haven't begun to comment on either, we keep the older one. If the judges have commented on the newer one, we keep that one.

Well I guess that's a bummer for me, but thanks for the clarification.

Has there actually been a lot of duplicates coming in? Given the number of times I've seen people mention that they've had to re-post it seems like the number might be quite high... unless, of course, most apparent failures are actual failures?

:-j(enni)

In my investigation of this bug I haven't found any entries that actually got lost. The only thing that doesn't get set is the flag that says "this person has submitted an entry." Having said that, better to be safe than sorry -- if you don't see the "thanks for your entry, good luck" message, SUBMIT IT AGAIN. You won't be penalized for submitting the same entry twice.

(However, anybody taking advantage of this bug to submit multiple different items will be disqualified, and I will be checking every finalist and the alternates to make sure that hasn't happened. So don't do that.)

This is one of those bugs that I can't duplicate and can't figure out how it's even possible to happen, by the way. My favorite kind.

Question: If duplicate posts do happen to occur on an account, which post will you be keeping as the "official submission"?

I ask because when I realized that seeing the "submit your entry link" meant it probably hadn't gone through I allowed myself to succumb to the editorial twitch that arose moments after I pushed the submit button the first time and made a few changes to the descriptive text before resubmitting. I changed nothing about the mechanics but something about the flow of the description wasn't sitting right so I revised it to fix that by tightening things up. Thus, given a choice, if I did happen to have a duplicate entry, and though the first version is certainly quite acceptable I'd certainly prefer that the second version be considered "the official version".

:-j(enni)

Done.

I'm officially in the running for 2009 Superstar now (though it did take two attempts to get my submission to register). And I'm feeling particularly good that I ultimately decided to try again this year in light of Clark's comments on my entry from last year.

Good luck to all almost-certainly-significantly-more-than 800 of us!

:-j(enni)

Matrissa the Enchantress wrote:

Gossamer Shirt

I liked this item too, on a couple of levels. But it was a bit of a creature in a box, which was another design problem in our view. It also does a lot. I liked its theme and its focus. It was tightly designed to that theme, which to me is a big plus. This was one of those items that might have made the cut into a magic item book. It is not run of the mill. It was better than that. But I think we all felt it did a bit too much and was a bit overpowered. I recall Wolfgang saying something along the lines of "Damage reduction pixie polymorph? With flight and greater invisibility?" I think we all had that same reaction. Plus, we all kind of read it and said--ok, this person just wants to play a faerie. Maybe that is an unfair critique. Please remember, we had over 800 of these to read and first impression matters.

That said, I sure hope you submit again this year. It is clear to me that you have the creativity to get this done. Good luck this year!

W00t! Thanks for your comments Clark - you don't know how awesome it was for me to find this post. It makes me especially happy that I decided to fritter away a "snow day" today when I really should have been studying to write up and post the item that's been brewing in the back of my mind during the past couple of weeks. Until today, because I've been busy taking some courses, I was seriously debating whether or not I would submit anything this time around. I hadn't even had a chance to read the message boards until now.

In any case, you pretty much confirmed my suspicions - the gossamer shirt was an Unnecessary Swiss Army Creature in a Box. ;)

I do feel a compelling need to point out that it wasn't actually "damage reduction pixie polymorph with flight and greater invisibility" but rather "damage reduction pixie size reduction with flight and greater invisibility". ;D

You're half right about the "wanting to play a faerie" thing. I actually got the idea because of someone who had participated in a "D&D Dueling" event I run at a convention every year who had wiped the floor with his pixie rogue build, mainly due to the combination of size, invisibility and non-magical flight. While the shirt could only grant magical flight the whole "pixie combo" is still a real killer. Too killer actually, which is one of the reasons the item was restricted to just 3 uses per day and a maximum of 10 minutes per use.

That said, in retrospect, if I was creating this item for the 2009 contest, I would probably drop the damage reduction all together and specify invisibility rather than greater invisibility at will (so attacking would cancel it but it could be reactivated in the next round). Thus it would still be focused around a pixie theme with less overall abilities, less powerful abilities and much less than "being" a pixie.

For what I just submitted, I'm confident the theme is just as strong. Now I just have to hope I picked the right abilities to "WOW" all the judges. :)

:-j(enni)

VCON 33 - Vancouver BC's Annual Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Gaming Convention

I would like to invite one and all (especially those living nearby, in the Pacific Northwest) to attend VCON this year. It will be held October 3-5, 2008 at the Compass Point Inn

Gamer Only memberships, available only through early registration, cost of $40 CDN (vs. $60 CDN for a regular adult full weekend membership) and are designed for those who are primarily interested in gaming and do not intend to attend any programmed sessions. Those with gamer memberships will be limited to visiting the Games Room, the Dealers Room and the Art Gallery.

For those who might consider purchasing a full membership (if you register early, you can purchase a full membership for $45 CDN if purchased by July 1st, or $50 CDN by September 15th) we're also working on putting together a solid track of gaming related panels and talks and on attracting some interesting game industry guests. As of today, the following gaming guests have confirmed attendance:

• James Ernest - Founder, Cheapass Games (VCON 33 Gaming Guest of Honor)
  
• Clinton J. Boomer - Paizo RPG Superstar/CreativeJuices7 (Producer/Writer/Actor)
  
• Jason Nelson[url] - Paizo RPG Superstar
  
• [url=http://www.vcon.ca/guests_goh-emeritus_lisa-smedman.htm]Lisa Smedman - Game Designer & Author/GoH Emeritus: VCON 29 & 32 (2004 & 2007)
  

(I'm also kind of hoping we can rope in some Paizo folks to come out and participate as programming guests. If any Paizo-ites reading this are interested, please feel free to send me your contact information at the address given below and I'll forward it to the programming coordinators for official follow up)

Thanks
:-j(enni)
VCON 33 Webmaster
vconwebmaster(at)gmail(dot)com

Top Superstar Contestants - We Want You!

I'm on the ConCom for VCon - the oldest Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Gaming convention in Western Canada which is held in Vancouver, Canada and we're looking for potential guests for this year's convention (Oct 3rd to 5th, 2008) and I think it would be trés cool if some of the top RPG Superstar contestants were included.

Ergo, I'm looking for contact information for anyone who might be interested that I can pass on to the people who are actually in charge of the whole guest coordination thing. If you're even vaguely interested, please send your contact details to me at jenni dot merrifield at jamm dot com.

Thanks, in advance,
Jenni Merrifield
(VCon Webmaster)

Top Superstar Contestants - We Want You!

I'm on the ConCom for VCon - the oldest Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Gaming convention in Western Canada which is held in Vancouver, Canada and we're looking for potential guests for this year's convention (Oct 3rd to 5th, 2008) and I think it would be trés cool if some of the top RPG Superstar contestants were included.

Ergo, I'm looking for contact information for anyone who might be interested that I can pass on to the people who are actually in charge of the whole guest coordination thing. If you're even vaguely interested, please send your contact details to me at jenni dot merrifield at jamm dot com.

Thanks, in advance,
Jenni Merrifield
(VCon Webmaster)

Top Superstar Contestants - We Want You!

I'm on the ConCom for VCon - the oldest Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Gaming convention in Western Canada which is held in Vancouver, Canada and we're looking for potential guests for this year's convention (Oct 3rd to 5th, 2008) and I think it would be trés cool if some of the top RPG Superstar contestants were included.

Ergo, I'm looking for contact information for anyone who might be interested that I can pass on to the people who are actually in charge of the whole guest coordination thing. If you're even vaguely interested, please send your contact details to me at jenni dot merrifield at jamm dot com.

Thanks, in advance,
Jenni Merrifield
(VCon Webmaster)

Did you know the e-mail for everyone at the company is located here? You might find some likely names on the list.

Woot!

No I did not - thanks Trey. :-)

I wasn't sure which forum would be the best place to post this, so please bear with this cross posting (I also posted under "Website Feedback").

I'm on the ConCom for VCon - the oldest Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Gaming convention in Western Canada which is held in Vancouver, Canada and we're looking for potential guests for this year's convention (Oct 3rd to 5th, 2008). I'd like to know who we should contact to make an official request to Paizo'ans like Eric Mona, Jason Bulmahn, or Lisa Stevens, to come out to share their knowledge about the RPG industry and to promote the Pathfinder RPG.

Thanks, in advance,
Jenni Merrifield
(VCon Webmaster)

I wasn't sure which forum would be the best place to post this, so please bear with me if this isn't quite the right place.

I'm on the ConCom for VCon - the oldest Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Gaming convention in Western Canada which is held in Vancouver, Canada and we're looking for potential guests for this year's convention (Oct 3rd to 5th, 2008). I'd like to know who we should contact to make an official request to Paizo'ans like Eric Mona, Jason Bulmahn, or Lisa Stevens, to come out to share their knowledge about the RPG industry and to promote the Pathfinder RPG.

Thanks, in advance,
Jenni Merrifield
(VCon Webmaster)

I LOVE your illustration! ~copies and saves it to my computer~

:-D I'm really glad you liked it!

The version I originally linked to is 1800x1350. For wallpaper purposes I also have 1024x768, 800x600 and 640x480 versions available.

<shameless plug>
You can also buy posters, mugs, cards and other items with this (and other) illustrations at my Zazzle.com store
</shameless plug>

:-j(enni)

Matrissa is the name of the villainess from "Jet Black" the first adventure that I wrote and made available to others. It was written for "Basic D&D" but I also submitted a query for it to Dungeon twice (once for 2E and once again for 3.5E).

I always envisioned Matrissa as a devistatingly enchanting charmer so, when re-writing the advenure for 3.5E, I redesigned her as an enchantress/mind bender, ergo "Matrissa the Enchantress". Follow this link to see an illustration I created of her.

:-j(enni)

Method III seems to be the best "fit" to the thread though...

Okay, let's go with Method III then.... I'll start by taking the first two sets of six I rolled and apply them to STR and INT:

STR 12 (11, 12, 11, 6, 3, 11)
INT 14 (10, 8, 10, 14, 13, 8)

And then I'll roll for the other four abilities

WIS 11 (11, 6, 8, 5, 3, 6)
DEX 10 (4, 6, 10, 4, 9, 7)
CON 13 (9, 12, 10, 6, 9, 13)
CHA 18 (9, 8, 16, 12, 11, 18)

D'oh! This close to pulling off Paladin - short on the minimum of WIS 13. Maybe my DM will let me fudge that one... no? sigh What a waste of an 18 CHA...

Oh, man... I'm just off by one stat for Druid (WIS is too low) and Assassin (DEX is too low) too!

Ooo, I know. An Elven Fighter/Magic User (Adjusted stats: DEX 11, CON 12).

Say hello to Tashi Goldenharp, a small, attractive and smooth talking package who can kick your butt equally well with sword or with sorcery.

:-j(enni)

What's with all these references to 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons? Doesn't anyone remember that "ADVANCED" Dungeons and Dragons came AFTER plain old "Dungeons and Dragons" (aka Basic Dungeons and Dragons)?

A friend pointed out that using 1st Ed AD&D to honour Gygax is "the right way to do it" as he was the primary editor for that version of the game (although "Basic" D&D was also based on the rules produced by Gygax and Arneson in 1974 that set was actually edited by someone else).

So, let me reassess my two characters as rolled:

First Set

STR 11 (6,4,1)

INT 12 (5,5,2)
WIS 11 (6,4,1)
DEX 6 (3,2,1) still ouch
CON 3 (1,1,1) still super-duper ouch!!!
CHA 11 (5,3,3)

Furthermore, it is usually essential to the character's survival to be exceptional (with a rating of 15 or above) in no fewer than two ability characteristics.

That said, and given that the lowest minimum CON score for a non-human is 6 (for elves and half elves) this would do best as a human magic user.

second set

STR 10 (5,4,1)

INT 8 (6,1,1)
WIS 10 (5,4,1)
DEX 14 (5,4,3)
CON 13 (6,5,2)
CHA 8 (5,3,1)

Technically another non-starter, but closer. This could make a passable, but not very personable, Dwarven (adjusted abilities: CON 14, CHA 7) or Elven (adjusted: DEX 15, CON 12) Thief.

:-j(enni)

PS: In light of the subject heading for this thread, I hope it isn't completly out of line to point out that, at least in the 2nd printing of the 1st Edition DMG, the DM is given four different ways his players may roll up stats NONE of which are actually roll 3d6 six times, in order (just once):

• Method I: Roll 4d6 six times, take the top 3 from each roll, record in the order player desires
• Method II: Roll 3d6 twelve times, retain highest six rolls, record in the order player desires
• Method III: For each ability, in order, roll 3d6 six times, keep the highest value rolled for each ability.
• Method IV: Roll 3d6 six times in order sufficient times to create 12 characters, keep the set that the player finds most desireable.

Roll 3d6, in order, (just once) is, however, the one method given for "Basic" D&D

-j

I really like dire sprouts.

And Dire-This versus Were-That makes for a good round of combat too. ;-)

I suppose you could actually "dire" up any one of the cruciferous vegtables, giving the following additional alternatives to Dire Sprouts:

• Dire Broccoli
  
• Dire Cabbages {nuh-uh}
  
• Dire Cauliflora
  
• Dire Kale
  
• Dire Turnips
  
• Dire Radishes
  
• Dire Rutabegas
  

Dire Radishes and Dire Rutabegas have a nice ring to them, but Dire Sprouts is probably the most ridiculous. ;-)

:-j(enni)

I was thinking of going "In Search of the Unknown."

Oh yes. I do have fond memories of the Caverns of Quasqueton, the legacy of Roghan the Fearless (fighter) and Zelligar the Unknown (magic user), as both a player and a DM. In fact, I adapted this module and used it to start off the last campaign I ran before 3rd Editon came out.

The best things about this "instructional" module were all the tips for the fledgling DM and the many blank spaces on the map to be filled in with treasure and monsters rolled from a collection of tables. To this day I still dust off and use the table for generating random component material found in the jars in a magic user's lab.

Whoo-boy. Those were the days. :-)

:-j(enni)

What's with all these references to 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons? Doesn't anyone remember that "ADVANCED" Dungeons and Dragons came AFTER plain old "Dungeons and Dragons" (aka Basic Dungeons and Dragons)? Back in those days men were men; alignments were only ethical (LAW vs. CHAOS); elves, dwarves and halflings were classes; monks were called mystics; paladins were lawful fighters who were at least 9th level; there was no such thing as a half-orc or half-elf and adventures happened in a realm called "The Known World."

My rolls:
STR 11 (6,4,1)
INT 12 (5,5,2)
WIS 11 (6,4,1)
DEX 6 (3,2,1) ouch
CON 3 (1,1,1) super-duper ouch!!!
CHA 11 (5,3,3)

Looks like a very sickly, slow Magic User or Elf (Elf requires a minimum INT of 9)

Now then, according to the "Adjust Ability Scores" section of the rules, you can trade points from any one ability to raise the value of your prime requisite (if you have one) by one point as follows:

• The prime requisite goes up 1 point for each 2 points that another ability score goes down. If a character has two prime requisites, both can be raised.
  
• Constitution and Charisma points cannot be exchanged with others
  
• Dexterity cannot be lowered (but it may be raised for a theif or halfling character)
  
• No score can be lowered below 9. If it is already at 10 or less, it cannot be lowered
  

Based on that, I'd probably go with the Magic User and bump my INT up to 13 by dropping my WIS down to 9, resulting in the prototypical "Sickly, High Int, Low Wis" magic user. I think I'll call her Sharri - she's from Threshold in Karameikos. ;-)

Out of curiousity I decided to roll a second set:

STR 10 (5,4,1)
INT 8 (6,1,1)
WIS 10 (5,4,1)
DEX 14 (5,4,3)
CON 13 (6,5,2)
CHA 8 (5,3,1)

I like this one much better - either a Thief or a Dwarf (Dwarf requires a minimum CON of 9)

For a Thief, the prime requisite (DEX) is already above 13. For a Dwarf, the prime requisite (STR) is too low to bring up to the 5% XP bonus level but the value of the "classes" high saving throws, a better hit die (d8 vs d4), better armour and weapon options and infravision would probably weigh in its favour.

So, the short and stocky lady it is. I'll name this one Kaia of the Bloodstone Clan and she's from Dengar in Rockhome.

:-j(enni)

Green Tea Ice Cream Golems

This one (or the variant Green Tiefling Ice Cream Golems) is cool (pun fully intended) but its a bit long don't you think?

About eight months ago I actually created a second group within the werecabbages called the vampiric rutabegas. So far I'm the only member and I've accomplished little, but I'm hopeful someone will convert to my wicked literary ways.

This one has a nice ring to it and keeps it within the vegetable family (A good thing since, apparently, werecabbages eat vampire bunnies and, presumably, other small supernatural and/or undead mammals). It also has the benefit of being previously established!

Go Vampire Bunnies!!!!! (Where's my holy hand grenade of Antioch?)

EXACTLY!!! All vampire bunnies have "big, pointy, teeth!"

Thinking hard about Lich-Lettuces (maybe Clark would join) or Ghoul Greens (Wolfgang?). I dunno. I don't really like those.

I suppose those do keep it in the "leafy green" family - resulting in rival siblings rather than kissing cousins. What about these options that keep things within the Cruciferous vegetable family:

• Broccsidhes (pron: Brockshees, aka Broccoli Bansidhes
  
• Brussels Spectres
  
• Bok Chuuls
  
• Centauradishes (vile experiment crossing horseradish and humans)
  
• Chaos Cauliflora
  
• Cruciferous Elementals
  
• Dire Sprouts
  
• Ehtereal Turnips
  
• Fiendish Broccoli
  
• Ghost Radishes
  
• Shadow Sprouts
  
• Tiefnips
  
• Wraith Radishes
  

While I'm still partial to Vampire Bunnies, from the above list I'd favour Bok Chuuls, Chaos Cauliflora, Dire Sprouts, Shadow Sprouts or Vampiric Rutabegas.

:-j(enni)

I was thinking, with the cameraderie some of us have gained during the last few months, we should start our own werecabbages thing. But what kind of mascot to have? What's more ridiculous than a were-cabbage?

Vampire Bunnies!

:-j(enni)

Sir_Wulf wrote:

Whatever you try, your purple prose will not invoke thoughts of barnacle-encrusted tureens the way mine would! I already have a cunning plan: A tropical land full of ziggurats, run by sultry, curvaceous dwarves!

Wulf orders a big vat of purple ink for his rough drafts...

I am interested in subscribing to your newsletter and learning more about sultry, curvaceous dwarves in a tropical land full of ziggurats. :P

Written in purple ink, no less!

;-)

:-j(enni)

I've had some conversations on this, and no, it is not permissable to gather, edit and disseminate the material from this contest. So its not going to happen. Paizo may, at some point, decide it would be worthwhile to produce a version of "The Best of RPG Superstar", but until then, we have these message boards.

The point of this thread is to ENCOURAGE Paizo to go ahead, already, and make the decision to do this or something like this!

To aid with the encouragment, the suggestion has been made that, if time and resources is the key reason holding them back from going ahead, there are most likely many members of the community more than willing to volunteer their own sweat and tears to bring the info together and even edit it before they pass it back to Paizo who can then make the nice tidy package available to everyone in a fully legal manner.

I, for one, would love to see such a compilation, and would even spend money on it if the entries had gone through a limited amount of editting first.

:-j(enni)

Consider yourself an honorary Brave of the Ghost Hound Kinships, Jenni!

Arrrroooo!!!!

But, I must insist that I get to have purple fur! ;)

:-j(enni)

I can't argue too much with this list, especially since the Blink Dog Nation is on it!

I was particularly fond of the Ooze Imperium also, however.

• Onuyaka, the All Seing Eye.
  
• Charts of the Shadow Voyage
  
• Coin Belt of Beguiling
  
• Tinnil's Stirring Rod
  

Congratulations Christine - I doubt very few of us could say that we didn't see this coming. ;-)

So, three cheers to you from the cheerleader for the "Purple Prince of Prague" (Thanks, Jason, for that awesome title!):

Hip Hip, Hooray!
Hip Hip, Hooray!
Hip Hip, HOORAY!

Also, it absolutely rocks that your adventure already has cover art (with what I presume is intended to be a Dwarven Valkyrie).

Even though I was confused by some aspects of your submission - I noticed that at least one other person was confused by the same issues surrounding the exiled prince and his dream-distilled clones - I'm actually pretty confident that what you will produce will knock our collective socks off so I'm pretty sure that I'll pick up a copy when it hits the shelves.

:-j(enni)