Nightdrifter's page

Necro:

Since the game is shutting down later this year, I'm curious if those kickstarter rewards ever got completed? I sold my account years ago so it's been a long time since I've cared about those rewards, but I'm still curious if those were ever completed.

Please cancel my Adventure Path subscription.

I don't have the time to scour the forums like I used to, so I admit that I don't know the root cause of these delays. However, the fact that as a customer I'm being left in the dark after over a week is a red flag. That lack of clear communication to customers is not a good sign in the slightest. Call me cynical, but this is a common thing you see with companies going downhill. Then along come people defending it...

My order finally shipped. Regardless of the ultimate cause of all these delays, this smacks of complacency on the part of management to let things get to this point.

Order 9233557 has been "pending" since the 14th.

I got the email stating that AP 144 and 145 shipped. I can download 144, but not 145. 145 is listed as being in my downloads, but is listed as being unavailable for download.

I once read in a 3.0 module that the author had a philosophy for adventure design that all background story should be something the PCs can learn during the adventure, at least in principle. Whether they learn everything depends on them finding key things, making certain knowledge checks, etc., so they may not learn 100% of the information in an actual game session. All other background story is a waste as it can't contribute to the story being told at the table. I'm paraphrasing this all as I don't recall the specifics of what the author said, but I believe that is the basics of their philosophy.

As an example, a troll with class levels works for the evil alchemist. The troll has some backstory describing why he works for the alchemist and how he got those class levels and so on, but he attacks the PCs on sight and fights to the death. In that case, the PCs really wouldn't have any chance of learning the backstory. From their point of view the backstory might as well have been "I wanted to make a troll with class levels. Have fun beating the snot out of the PCs. Lol." and those two paragraphs describing why the troll is there would be a waste according to the above philosophy.

Any thoughts on this philosophy or any issues you can see with it?

Page 23 of Conquest of Bloodsworn Vale mentions "towns in Arlan". I can't seem to find Arlan on a map of Golarion. Is this a detail that got retconned?

Hello Nightdrifter,

You have up until we run the auth technically. We will be doing that very soon though.

K, thanks. Did it a few hours ago so hopefully should be good.

Just for clarification: if we subscribe on July 3rd, does that count?

I can't seem to find when the first edition sales go until. I'd guess until the release of 2nd edition, but can't find any announcements about the sale that tell me.

Enchanter: Profession (Barrister)

What advantage could charming a judge possibly have on your case?

In your home games do you track stuff like rations, how much water is left in a waterskin, ammunition, carrying capacity, weather, cost of living, etc. or does it depend on the game? Eg. only caring about food and water when in a survival situation and ignoring them otherwise?

If you had to make a wizard who exclusively used a single school of magic (eg. they cast nothing but enchantment spells or nothing but divination spells, etc.), which school would you think would be the most fun?

72. The party needs to find the macguffin to stop the BBEG.

71. There is only one random encounter going from A to B.

If you can get a hold of AD&D DMG there's a few pages that let you randomly generate a dungeon if you want to run something other than a pre-made module.

I've done a bit of this, mostly to try out APs I might not ever get a chance to play ... though I've never finished one doing this. Made it about a quarter way through Shackled City, halfway through Serpent's Skull, and a third of the way through Curse of the Crimson Throne. Also, a string of 4E modules.

There are some supplements available for this style of play, but I've never tried them. Basically, what I do is just be the GM and the players and write down PC decisions, what happens, etc. You'll have to take on all roles (obviously), so it's a lot more work than just GMing or just playing.

To save time in combat I don't use minis or physical maps. I usually do quick sketches of the grid and write over it as characters move around. If the map is more complex I just print out that page from the pdf and write over top of it.

Basically, roleplaying and not metagaming are the biggest challenges.

'Roleplaying' (or whatever you want to call it in a solo game) can be improved by figuring out the PCs personalities ahead of time well enough that they can be somewhat predictable. Then when you get to a given situation, just go with whatever comes to mind based on those personalities. If you have trouble coming up with those, I've found this helps flesh out PCs. I don't have any banter between PCs or anything like that. Interactions with NPCs are often just diplomacy rolls or reading the "What does X know?" sections of the module if I can't come up with anything based on the PCs' personalities (usually due to having to track so much). So at times it can just become a combat simulation unless you really pay attention to those personalities.

Metagaming is a bit harder since you'll probably have the module open in front of you while deciding on character actions. For this, the best I can come up with is just to make rolls. Treat the metagaming knowledge as a skill check and use character knowledge skills to determine if they'd know to do that metagamey thing or not. Not ideal, but close enough. I only do this for pre-made modules as making custom content and then running it would probably run into even more metagame issues. I also go 'by the book' and don't tweak the module in any way. Or just accept that metagaming will happen.

Pros:

• *Everything goes way faster than a regular play session with others, so it's easier to experience various content you might otherwise miss. It's hard to give a numerical comparison, but last time I added a Pathfinder Society Scenario to an Adventure Path it seemed like it took about an hour or so (compared to the 4ish hours a scenario is supposed to take). A lot of that was reading the scenario. When playing with others I tend to find a single fight can take an hour sometimes, whereas solo it rarely takes me more than 10 minutes.
  
• *I find it gives a better grasp of the story than simply reading the module as you are now engaged with it (even if in just a limited way). You get to see the module from both sides (player and GM), though in a limited way. Sure, being a player in the module and then GMing it for others would be way better, but getting groups can often be challenging depending on where you live.
  
• *If you're really shy, have social anxiety, don't like certain local gamers etc. those aren't an issue with solo play. No need to deal with that obnoxious player, the one with terrible BO, or explain the rules the 73rd time to the one who won't look up anything.
  
• *Fewer balance issues between PCs as every PC was made by the same person (you) instead of by different people with access to different books, different system mastery, etc.
  
• *No issues with adding house rules that no one else likes. Want to add a new house rule? You just got 100% agreement on adding it. Pretty much any decision you make about what style of game you want will have total consensus no matter what.
  
• *Easy to get a game going whenever you want. Good luck getting a regular game session going at midnight when you can't sleep!
  
• *I haven't played a pbp game on this site, but have on others. I find so many games eventually just fall apart, so you never get to finish them. Even regular gaming groups fall apart. Even though I've never personally finished an AP solo I know I can always pick it up with the same characters and the same GM years later if need be. With pbp or a gaming group that's fallen apart it's over and your chances of getting the band back together are slim at best. The only reason I never finished Shackled City was I moved and lost my notes. With Serpent's Skull my character sheets were digital and the hard drive kicked the bucket. I fully intend to finish Curse.
  

Cons:

• *Way more work for you. You need to be the one looking up all the rules, levelling up every PC, distributing loot, tracking everything, reading the module, etc.
  
• *No social interaction. No real way around this when playing solo.
  
• *I find I tend to make more suboptimal decisions in combat, largely due to having to track so much and not focusing on just one PC. But this applies to both sides of every fight, so it mostly works out.
  
• *Related to the above, you have so much to track. With more complex PC builds I often forget little things, so I've started making lists of stuff I always forget to use. I'd recommend keeping builds simple to avoid this. A feat that gives +X to Y when Z happens is easy to forget, so I tend to go with simple stuff like toughness, iron will, etc that just give a flat bonus all the time.
  
• *Explaining to people you occasionally play Pathfinder solo.
  

In short, it's definitely different than a regular play session. Ya, it's a bit odd, but it works.

70. The innkeeper is a former adventurer

Loved: the options and the improvements over 3.5

Wanted: more prestige classes with thematic links to the setting

Hated: the 'christmas tree effect' and needing the various +X items to be effective

Will Miss: the 4E vs PF arguments (just kidding!)

Nightdrifter wrote:

What's the distance between Korvosa and Bloodsworn Vale by road?

Dunno off the top of my head, but any one of us can crack open the map and measure it. ;-P

My own quick guess based on the map in Inner Sea World Guide on page 196 is about 125 miles. (Since we don't put roads on maps this gives you a lot of wiggle room to decide on your own game's distances. At least, until we DO start putting roads on the maps.)

When you put road distances in Varisia, Birthplace of Legends what was the rationale for picking those distances? Was it simply measure the distance as the crow dragon flies and pick a number slightly bigger for the road length to represent the twists and turns, adding a certain percentage based on terrain, or something more complex?

What's the distance between Korvosa and Bloodsworn Vale by road?

So...long time since I've been here. Wondering what the current status of PFO is in late 2018. I remember leaving around the time 'NewCorp' was supposed to bring in new funding, but in the years since have heard nothing about it.

How much has been developed since then? Have all the kickstarter rewards (the bonus items, packs, etc.) been implemented yet? Is it still only a couple of devs left? Basically just curious how things are going.

If I recall correctly, Return of the Runelords is supposed to go up to level 20. On the product descriptions we can't yet see what the levels will be for each adventure. What will be the levels for each module in that AP? Also, will the last PF1 AP be going to 20 as well or is that still undecided/too early to announce?

Apologies if I'm lumping too many questions together, but I'm trying to get a feel for how well understood lycanthropy is for a coming session.

How common is knowledge of lycanthropy in Golarion? Ie. is it something everyone would know of or would it require a simple knowledge check? Basically if someone were to see a lycanthrope change form in front of them would it be more like "obviously this person is a were-whatever" or more like "we better go look up what this person has?"

Also, how well known is the wolfbane 'cure'? I don't know what knowledge check/DC to assign to knowing about this solution. Similarly, how commonly available is wolfsbane?

Similar to Crimson Throne, Shattered Star has a dragon. It's not the final boss, but it is a big fight.

Is there a reason there are tons of PFS scenarios in Absolum, but only one module (and a shorter one at that) and no APs set there? Just wondering if it's a case of "we haven't got to it yet" or there's some underlying reason.

One idea I've toyed with is: you get to assign 2 or 3 scores from a fixed array and then roll the rest. That way you get some randomness, but don't get screwed on your important stats by a bad roll.

It won't be part of the Sandpoint book, but there is a LOT of real world elements in there, mostly revolving around my home town of Point Arena. Some examples:

1) Point Arena's original name, "Punta Arenas," is Spanish for "Sandy Point."

2) There was a sign with a mirror on it that said something to the effect of "See yourself, traveler, as we see you," on the road into Point Arena in its early days in the late 18th century.

3) The town's original dump was off the side of the cliff into the ocean right next to the lighthouse, just like in Sandpoint.

4) A Japanese ship made the voyage across the Pacific to land at Point Arena, bringing travelers from Japan to the town in its early days, which inspired the presence of the Kaijitsus from Minkai in Sandpoint.

5) Schooner Gulch Road is the name of a road near where I grew up.

6) Despite being a town with a population of about 450, Point Arena has a big theater that kinda seems out of place in a small town.

As a note, the Sandpoint Devil was NOT my creation. That one came from Wes Schneider, who grew up on the east coast where the Jersey Devil was doing its thing.

Is naming places "Hook" another example or just a commonly used name? Eg. Hook Street in Sandpoint, Hook Street in Korvosa, Hook Mountain in Varisia, Bronze Hook in Katapesh, Broken Hook in the Shackles, etc.

Nightdrifter wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

Best sasquatch documentary? "Legend of Boggy Creek."

Can't believe it took me this long to realize it, but is this documentary the reason why there is a Boggy Creek in the southern part of Sandpoint?

It absolutely is. There are a LOT of elements of "things that inspired me as a kid" in the names of regions in and around Sandpoint.

I assume the Sandpoint devil is based on the Jersey devil. Can you give more examples of those elements making their way into Sandpoint's design? Or will that be included in the upcoming Sandpoint book?

In Return of the Runelords the PCs go to Korvosa at one point. Can you say which part of that AP that occurs (ie. module 1, module 5)?

Nightdrifter wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

Nightdrifter wrote:

Are you familiar with the term Samsquanch?

Unrelated: I assume the disappearance of Golarion in Starfinder is its big mystery equivalent of Aroden's death. Are those big mysteries related? Ie. if we understood how Aroden died would that then make it clear why the gods whisked away the planet in Starfinder?

Nope.

I'm not really involved with Starfinder, but I would really REALLY prefer that the Starfinder team NOT tie Golarion's disappearance to Aroden at all.

The term is from Trailer Park Boys. Anyways, any good documentaries on the subject of samsquanches sasquatches you'd recommend?

I've never heard of Trailer Park Boys so that explains that.

Best sasquatch documentary? "Legend of Boggy Creek."

Can't believe it took me this long to realize it, but is this documentary the reason why there is a Boggy Creek in the southern part of Sandpoint?

Any idea on the date for when we'll know the theme of Wayfinder 19? Was too busy to submit to the last 2 and kinda anxious to get started!

Am I understanding right that in Nidal the bargain is that Zon Kuthon controls the geographical region? If so, why don't people just up and leave?

Similar to CustomCharacter's question, do you have a canon name yet for the new kingdom from Kingmaker? Any chance of letting us know or are those details only going to be announced with later publications?

How big is the list of future APs you'd like to make?

How many are set in Varisia?

Is Korvosa getting hit by a plague again?

Also: will this AP be going to Korvosa at some point?

I'm not sure if I'm understanding the community use policy right, but is it okay to reference something in a paizo novel? The idea is to give something mentioned in a novel as an example of some new rules. Thanks!

Thanks Timitius, was just trying to get a feel for where you wanted to go with the issue :)

Are gnome themed articles appropriate for this issue?

Nightdrifter wrote:

If a paladin of Sarenrae assassinates a clearly evil creature in its sleep, does the paladin lose his powers?

In case the specifics matter, it's sneaking into a hag's hut at night using an elixir of hiding and using smite evil.

Just asking cause we're playing on maptools right now and it just happened. I'm not the GM or the one playing the paladin.

[Edit: we just determined that the paladin is a better assassin than my vigilante .... ]

If a paladin of Sarenrae assassinates...

Stop there. You've fallen. Assassinations are not the way Sarenrae rolls, and pow, Ex-Paladin. Specifics do not matter.

That said, it's not my call. It's your GM's call, and I'll be very disappointed and annoyed if I learn later that you used my reply as leverage against your GM. Not cool if you do that.

Don't worry. The GM made his call as I was posting, but we were all curious what you'd say.

If a paladin of Sarenrae assassinates a clearly evil creature in its sleep, does the paladin lose his powers?

In case the specifics matter, it's sneaking into a hag's hut at night using an elixir of hiding and using smite evil.

Just asking cause we're playing on maptools right now and it just happened. I'm not the GM or the one playing the paladin.

[Edit: we just determined that the paladin is a better assassin than my vigilante .... ]

Yay! Made the cut. :)

As for issue themes, with Starfinder coming out next summer how about an "Into the Void" theme, that is articles about the Golarian solar system from the Pathfinder point of view. It could make a nice bridge between the two systems.

Then again, coming off the heals of the Issue #16, another sci-fantasy issue maybe not totally desirable *shrugging shoulders*

I had considered submitting an article for #16 about a more technological version of wayfinders with skill slots plugged into them instead of ioun stones, but simply ran out of time to finish it. Figured it might be somewhat in line with Starfinder as well.

Wayfinder #3 was Absalom themed. I'm not entirely sure we want to return to it, but if there has been a substantial amount of new information about Absalom since 2010, then perhaps....

Regarding a "small" issue, just what I've seen here suggests that we'd need to really rein in the interpretations, otherwise they'll be all over the place...creatures, villages, shops, small encounters, etc.

I am intrigued by a Goblins theme, but concerned to have an ENTIRE issue focused on them. I don't think goblins can carry an entire issue, really.

We are still discussing, but feel free to chime in with your ideas!

"Cities of Golarion"? Would allow revisiting while still having a clear theme.

Updated tracking of submissions by issue. Number of submissions is consistent with the previous two even numbered issues.

For reference to last issue: 63 submissions at 38 hours left.

Not sure if I'll have time to finish my 3rd submission by tomorrow. Still torn on several ideas too.

Nightdrifter wrote:

Have you seen Knights of Badassdom (LARPers vs a real demon)?

I haven't. It's been sitting in my Netflix queue for many months, but I can never get up the courage to watch it because I get nervous about it either poking fun at gamers or, on the other side of things, being TOO gamer friendly and being filled with goofy gamer jokes that only gamers will get.

I enjoyed it, but people have different tastes so hard to say if it'll be something you like. It has Peter Dinklage, so how bad can it be? The Gamers trilogy has far more inside jokes that only gamers would get. Since we're supposed to be asking questions: what's your favorite in the Gamers trilogy?

Are there inquisitors of Groetus? If so, what would their goals be?

Have you seen Knights of Badassdom (LARPers vs a real demon)?