paizo.com Favorited Posts by Nikolaus Athaspaizo.com Favorited Posts by Nikolaus Athas2024-03-27T17:51:51Z2024-03-27T17:51:51ZRe: Forums: GM Discussion: #7-17 Thralls of the Shattered GodNikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2th8f&page=3?717-Thralls-of-the-Shattered-God#1482017-01-20T21:28:25Z2017-01-20T03:55:46Z<p>As mentioned before the Fire oracle has the Tongues curse and uses Greater command which means only Abyssal or Celestial speaking foes will get affected. BUT I saw another issue which doesnt seem to have been addressed here,
<br />
He is supposed to take to the air (on his wings of Flame) and then start using fire spells with his meta magic feats.
<br />
1) he has no Fly skill. with his Dex and his armor he cannot fly particularly well as it only adds to be a +1 bonus.
<br />
2) using metamagic feats with a spontaneous caster is a full round action. He can't be flying if he wants do do this. He may be able to hover as a non movement action (I have to check this) but even then he has to roll a 9+ or fail and fall out of the sky.
<br />
Is this intentional? I can see that it could be because a flying flame oracle that is well played is a horror and could be as much a tpk threat as the mimic.</p>As mentioned before the Fire oracle has the Tongues curse and uses Greater command which means only Abyssal or Celestial speaking foes will get affected. BUT I saw another issue which doesnt seem to have been addressed here,
He is supposed to take to the air (on his wings of Flame) and then start using fire spells with his meta magic feats.
1) he has no Fly skill. with his Dex and his armor he cannot fly particularly well as it only adds to be a +1 bonus.
2) using metamagic feats with a...Nikolaus Athas2017-01-20T03:55:46ZRe: Forums: Advice: What has the most horror potential in pathfinder?Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ta96?What-has-the-most-horror-potential-in-pathfinder#232016-10-19T16:00:22Z2016-01-30T06:47:58Z<p>Intellect Devourers. ONE of the party have been taken - but WHICH one?</p>Intellect Devourers. ONE of the party have been taken - but WHICH one?Nikolaus Athas2016-01-30T06:47:58ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Can Skill Mastery be used on Use Magic Device checks?Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ruik?Can-Skill-Mastery-be-used-on-Use-Magic-Device#322015-01-05T12:56:49Z2015-01-05T02:08:57Z<p>Given that UMD allows you to totally ignore class, race, proficiency and alignment restrictions then it is an immensely powerful skill - hence it is never a casual use of time.
<br />
The only class that gets even close to being able to take 10 on it is the 19th level bard who mechanically as well as "historically" are the Knowledge specialists. 10th level rogue just does not cut it I'm sorry to say especially as it does not say that it overrules specific limitations, unlike the 19th level bard ability which does.
<br />
I do concur that the wording is somewhat ambiguous and it would be nice to get a confirmation on this.
<br />
HOWEVER in saying this, one needs to look also if this is under PFS or home play. If it is under home play/table variation, then go with what the GM says, if it is under PFS always assume the less powerful interpretation and you will not be disappointed.(In my experience)</p>Given that UMD allows you to totally ignore class, race, proficiency and alignment restrictions then it is an immensely powerful skill - hence it is never a casual use of time.
The only class that gets even close to being able to take 10 on it is the 19th level bard who mechanically as well as "historically" are the Knowledge specialists. 10th level rogue just does not cut it I'm sorry to say especially as it does not say that it overrules specific limitations, unlike the 19th level bard...Nikolaus Athas2015-01-05T02:08:57ZForums: Pathfinder Society: Bones Oracle, Raise the Dead Mystery and PFS QueryNikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2reaq?Bones-Oracle-Raise-the-Dead-Mystery-and-PFS#12015-08-13T12:34:03Z2014-08-19T13:38:16Z<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I have a question as per the heading regarding the Bones Oracle's Raid the Dead Mystery.</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>Now my question is this. At home games the summoned monster could be anything that a player can have his GM approve of I suppose, but what about for PFS? This is an issue so as to minimize table variation.</p>
<p>Does the skeleton have to be human? Can I go through the Bestiaries looking up various 1 HD creatures to get the best bang for buck?</p>
<p>As an example compare the attribute arrays for a
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]
<br />
vs
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>or
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]
<br />
vs
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>What happens when I get to level 2? Do I start summoning Gnolls or some other superior 2 HD monster or do I summon a 'generic' 2HD creature.</p>
<p>3rd level Bug bear or bear or whatever ...</p>
<p>Unfortunately this isn't all. At 7th level I start summoning Fast Zombies or Bloody Skeletons.
<br />
Once again if I can 'cherry pick' what kind of creature I can summon then ...
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>Ultimately my question here is: there an official PFS Ruling regarding the types of creatures that can be Raised by the Oracle. Or is it considered that given it is a relatively short duration limited use ability, anything that is a legal animated target is ok?</p>Hi all,
I have a question as per the heading regarding the Bones Oracle's Raid the Dead Mystery.
[Spoiler omitted]
Now my question is this. At home games the summoned monster could be anything that a player can have his GM approve of I suppose, but what about for PFS? This is an issue so as to minimize table variation.
Does the skeleton have to be human? Can I go through the Bestiaries looking up various 1 HD creatures to get the best bang for buck?
As an example compare the attribute...Nikolaus Athas2014-08-19T13:38:16ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Is it evil to do things to dead bodies?Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2rbhl&page=2?Is-it-evil-to-do-things-to-dead-bodies#922014-08-19T06:20:40Z2014-08-11T16:15:23Z<p>My necromancer is a devout vegetarian.
<br />
Why waste perfectly good construction material?</p>My necromancer is a devout vegetarian.
Why waste perfectly good construction material?Nikolaus Athas2014-08-11T16:15:23ZRe: Forums/Lost Omens Campaign Setting: General Discussion: (Mature Themes) Conception - at what point does a Golarion soul/spirit come into existence?Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2r3dr?-Conception-at-what-point-does-a-Golarion#502014-05-28T23:35:20Z2014-05-28T16:15:58Z<p>As far as real world Catholicisms go - life begins at the moment he takes her bra off ... (just kidding guys)</p>As far as real world Catholicisms go - life begins at the moment he takes her bra off ... (just kidding guys)Nikolaus Athas2014-05-28T16:15:58ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: When's the last time a Fighter was your big bad evil villain?Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2qp90&page=4?Whens-the-last-time-a-Fighter-was-your-big#1882014-02-19T05:16:04Z2014-02-18T11:51:45Z<p>As far as BBEG Fighters are concerned, I don't think that you can go past the character known as Kane.
<br />
Brilliant strategist and warrior unmatched, plus (in game terms) a very healthy UMD, Spellcraft and Knowledge Arcana.
<br />
He is cursed with immortality• and his one driving force is that he is bored - he will do anything that will amuse him: Destroy empires, Start Kingdoms, rape queens and elevate prostitutes, even locate lost artifacts that could destroy the world etc.</p>
<p>Note immortal does not mean he is invincible, just cursed to remain at the moment of the curse. He can die in violence and has almost done so numerous times, but his wits and planning has seen him survive.</p>
<p>The author is Karl Edward Wagner, do yourselves a favour and read some of teh stories - I promise you they will give you ideas how a Fighter BBEG could work and work well.</p>As far as BBEG Fighters are concerned, I don't think that you can go past the character known as Kane.
Brilliant strategist and warrior unmatched, plus (in game terms) a very healthy UMD, Spellcraft and Knowledge Arcana.
He is cursed with immortality* and his one driving force is that he is bored - he will do anything that will amuse him: Destroy empires, Start Kingdoms, rape queens and elevate prostitutes, even locate lost artifacts that could destroy the world etc.
Note immortal does not...Nikolaus Athas2014-02-18T11:51:45ZRe: Forums/PaizoCon: General Discussion: Reaper - How To Paint Bones Class???Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pb57?Reaper-How-To-Paint-Bones-Class#222013-03-04T01:55:31Z2013-03-03T23:46:13Z<p>Sorry for the delay in answering to people.
<br />
As I haven't get gotten my hands on the minis Im afraid I cant offer any advice regarding the primer questions.
<br />
So for now I'd just have to direct you to what the others are saying.</p>
<p>I generally like to prime or undercoat my minis in general, but maybe BONES don't need it - once I start working with them Ill post some findings of mine. </p>
<p>@Sean excellent news!</p>Sorry for the delay in answering to people.
As I haven't get gotten my hands on the minis Im afraid I cant offer any advice regarding the primer questions.
So for now I'd just have to direct you to what the others are saying.
I generally like to prime or undercoat my minis in general, but maybe BONES don't need it - once I start working with them Ill post some findings of mine.
@Sean excellent news!Nikolaus Athas2013-03-03T23:46:13ZRe: Forums/PaizoCon: General Discussion: Reaper - How To Paint Bones Class???Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pb57?Reaper-How-To-Paint-Bones-Class#142014-05-30T18:48:08Z2013-02-22T11:36:12Z<p>Painting - The epilogue.</p>
<p>Something occurred to me as I was finishing this off.
<br />
The purpose of using these minis is to allow you to have epic fights on a table with figures that look like the parties in play.</p>
<p>In general these minis will be anything up to 4 feet away (1.3m) from members at the table.
<br />
So for heavens sake if the mini looks ok at 4 feet then you have done your job. You dont need to paint in the eyes.</p>
<p>The opposite of this is of course showcase minis - usually a dragon or BBEGs that you WANT to look as good as you can. These minis go to town on and paint as the very best you can. PC miniatures also should be a cut above the regular rank and file minis ("how do you know that they are PC's - easy they don't have S••t all over them")</p>
<p>When painting a lot of rank and file type mooks, like orcs or goblins, but not their leaders, paint them in groups of 5 or so in a production line. You will find that for just a little more effort in painting one, you will be finishing 5 at a time. So you paint all the chest pieces from 1 to 5. Then you paint all the heads from 1 to 5 etc. A nice side effect of this is if you mix in just a small amount of any other color to the skin color for example for each group of 5 you will have 5 minis that have similar skin tone but different from all the others. But when you pull out 20 or 30 in an encounter at random then they look like they are all different.</p>Painting - The epilogue.
Something occurred to me as I was finishing this off.
The purpose of using these minis is to allow you to have epic fights on a table with figures that look like the parties in play.
In general these minis will be anything up to 4 feet away (1.3m) from members at the table.
So for heavens sake if the mini looks ok at 4 feet then you have done your job. You dont need to paint in the eyes.
The opposite of this is of course showcase minis - usually a dragon or BBEGs...Nikolaus Athas2013-02-22T11:36:12ZRe: Forums/PaizoCon: General Discussion: Reaper - How To Paint Bones Class???Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pb57?Reaper-How-To-Paint-Bones-Class#132014-05-30T18:47:21Z2013-02-22T11:23:13Z<p>Painting Part 4</p>
<p>Sealing the mini</p>
<p>This part probably has the most variance because I know that there are a lot of different products out there and I'm not sure what availability there is in the various countries.</p>
<p>It goes kind of like this:</p>
<p>You have finally produced a mini or minis that you are proud of to use at a table. You want to show off your now useful and to your friends awesome painting skills.
<br />
You take your hard work to your next session and all your friends OOOH and AHHH appreciatively as they pass around the minis using their oily/greasy/food coated fingers.
<br />
All of a sudden you realize that bare plastic is showing through where only a short time ago was exquisitely painted detail! </p>
<p>Yes due to the handling of the mini (which is what is supposed to be done with them)the paint has been worn off. Disaster!
<br />
Obviously you shouldn't have to spend every post session week repainting your minis. That would get boring really quickly.</p>
<p>To combat this effect there are a number of matt varnish like products out there, both available in spray can or as a liquid which you use to protect your mini's paint job. I cant remember if the BONES sets have such a thing, but I do know once again that Games Workshop at least has a product called Purity Seal (in a spray can). I also know that a simple cheap can of no name spray matt varnish works ok with Games workshop paints which allows me to buy approximately 12 no name cans vs the one Purity Seal can (at least in THIS country - Australia).
<br />
Again I really don't know whether or not no name like products will work with the Bones Acrylics. (Bring out the Bozo Brigade of ex-Green Army men and test it out)</p>
<p>And that people is pretty much it! I hope there is enough in this to help people start to make more informed choices about what to do with painting.</p>Painting Part 4
Sealing the mini
This part probably has the most variance because I know that there are a lot of different products out there and I'm not sure what availability there is in the various countries.
It goes kind of like this:
You have finally produced a mini or minis that you are proud of to use at a table. You want to show off your now useful and to your friends awesome painting skills.
You take your hard work to your next session and all your friends OOOH and AHHH...Nikolaus Athas2013-02-22T11:23:13ZRe: Forums/PaizoCon: General Discussion: Reaper - How To Paint Bones Class???Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pb57?Reaper-How-To-Paint-Bones-Class#122014-05-30T18:46:32Z2013-02-22T11:05:21Z<p>Painting Part 3</p>
<p>You have prepared and undercoated your miniatures.
<br />
You have appropriate paints and brushes.
<br />
You have a clean well ventilated well lit working area.</p>
<p>Now look through all your miniatures and select the most boring/ugly/damaged or uninteresting one (see also below about Green Army Men). Put ALL the others aside somewhere safe (for now)</p>
<p>This miniature will be the very first miniature you will paint because if you are reading this article then you are new to this AND YOU DO NOT WANT TO RUIN one of the better miniatures!</p>
<p>This miniature will give up its identity in order to help you produce better painted results.</p>
<p>You will practice adding layers of paint on this one so that you learn how much paint you can put on a brush, how to transfer paint to a small surface, how much paint is too much etc.</p>
<p>This is all via practice. I cannot tell you to add 2 mmm to the tip or whatever. Only YOU can gauge what works or doesn't. There is a HUGE amount of literature out there on the web about painting, paint strokes, holding a brush etc etc. Try everything until you are happy with the results.</p>
<p>If you are really interested in practice and not stuffing up your hard earned BONES, then I would suggest going to a toy store or hobby store and seeing if they sell any of those bags of mismatched 'green army men' and use those to practice on. The advantage here is that they are cheap and you don't care if you mess them up. The Disadvantage is that they are often made of a poor quality soft plastic that Acrylic paint doesn't hold very well on. Still better to ruin one of these than a BONES.</p>
<p>Ok a few hints:</p>
<p>#1 its is ALWAYS better to add many •thin• layers onto a mini than it is to add one thick one. Thin layers will not clog up the detail. Thin layers dry translucent and tend to build up a more realistic / purer color texture. Experiment and practice on mixing a bit of water with some paint (on a bathroom tile or other easily cleaned surface)until you find a happy medium of consistency.</p>
<p>#2 When you want to draw a thin line or dot some detail on a mini, place some paint on the brush and then rotate the brush while dragging it over a surface (NOT THE MINI) so you get a point on the brush tip.</p>
<p>#3 when you have 2 different colors next to one another always paint the lighter of the 2 first. If you end up painting in the area that you want dark then it isnt a big deal to paint over it. Then when painting the darker color be a lot more careful in making sure you don't go over the lighter color area. This is basically the techniques that gets used to draw strips and checks etc.</p>
<p>#4 When painting things like layers , shades and highlights ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE EARLIER PAINT LAYER HAS DRIED!!!!! If you don't you will end up smearing the layers which in the hands of a good painter is a useful technique, but for a beginner looks like someone made a mistake (unless you are lucky)</p>
<p>#5 Your first few painting attempts will look like Lark's Vomit. Big deal. EVERYONE'S does. Practice, practice, practice.</p>
<p>#6 See rule 5.</p>Painting Part 3
You have prepared and undercoated your miniatures.
You have appropriate paints and brushes.
You have a clean well ventilated well lit working area.
Now look through all your miniatures and select the most boring/ugly/damaged or uninteresting one (see also below about Green Army Men). Put ALL the others aside somewhere safe (for now)
This miniature will be the very first miniature you will paint because if you are reading this article then you are new to this AND YOU DO NOT...Nikolaus Athas2013-02-22T11:05:21ZRe: Forums/PaizoCon: General Discussion: Reaper - How To Paint Bones Class???Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pb57?Reaper-How-To-Paint-Bones-Class#112014-05-30T18:45:52Z2013-02-22T10:32:19Z<p>Ok Part 2</p>
<p>Painting</p>
<p>One of the first choices you need to make is whether you will be using Acrylic,Enamel or Oil based paints.
<br />
Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and once you become an expert painter you will find that you can, and do use all 3 on the same mini.
<br />
HOWEVER each has different properties in the way that they flow onto a surface as well as different means of cleaning up so I STRONGLY recommend that you only stick with one.</p>
<p>My assumption in this article is that you will use Acrylic based paints because they are generally very available, there is a large market of miniature designed paints, and most importantly THEY ARE WATER SOLUBLE (which means that if you have a whoops moment and spill some on the painting table or across your hands etc. you only need to use water to clean up. Note please spilling some on the carpet will usually require some kind of carpet cleaner if it sets - no not from the paint, but from the blood stains due to the punishment your partner will inflict on you on making this mess. Actually yes from the paint too). Cleaning brushes also is a lot easier (and cheaper) if you don't need special thinners and solvents to remove the paint.
<br />
Also as there is an interest here in using BONES minis and there are actual BONES paint sets which are Acrylic based I think that this will best serve all who are interested.</p>
<p>Before you actually start painting you need to have a good idea (based on the mini as well) as to what colors you will use. In this case I am referring to the palette of colors. Generally for each color you wish to use you should have a base color, a highlight color and a shade color.
<br />
Now this can be dependent on the paint range as well.</p>
<p>Quick Definition:
<br />
Base color: The actual color in a neutral light.
<br />
Highlight: The color that the base color appears when a strong light is upon it, such as the folds of a robe.
<br />
Shade color: the color that the base color appears as when it is in shadow or obscured. Example the creases of a robe.</p>
<p>For example with some lines of paint you may need Orange as the highlight, Red as the base and Brown as the shade.
<br />
The obvious mono chrome (B&W) would be White highlight, Grey base and Black shade.
<br />
A Color wheel might be a good thing to have handy with this too. (just Google color wheel)</p>
<p>I do know that Games Workshop has produced some specialty how to books which basically are flogging their products only , but techniques there are still applicable.</p>
<p>So you now have an idea about the paints and colors you will be using? You understand the idea of using 3 colors to add realistic depth and height to the surfaces of the mini?
<br />
Good. </p>
<p>Ok Paintbrushes!</p>
<p>Now Im not sure if all paintbrushes follow the same grade standard globally. I do know that Australian and UK Art (and mini) brushes have a system where they start from a number like 10 (which is useful for painting your bedroom wall but not much else)down to 1 which is good for base coating a vehicle or monstrous sized minis (say Dragon, Light Tank, War machine and the like), but where brushes become really interesting is when they hit the grade '0'. At grade '0' you have probably your first useful brush for your BONES sized mini. '0' is good for a fast even overall color. Then you get smaller brushes like 00, 000 and 0000 and eventually 00000 which is basically an eyelash at the end of a stick. The finer the detail you want to add the smaller the brush and the steadier your hand and supporting surface has to be.</p>Ok Part 2
Painting
One of the first choices you need to make is whether you will be using Acrylic,Enamel or Oil based paints.
Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and once you become an expert painter you will find that you can, and do use all 3 on the same mini.
HOWEVER each has different properties in the way that they flow onto a surface as well as different means of cleaning up so I STRONGLY recommend that you only stick with one.
My assumption in this article is that you will use...Nikolaus Athas2013-02-22T10:32:19ZRe: Forums/PaizoCon: General Discussion: Reaper - How To Paint Bones Class???Nikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pb57?Reaper-How-To-Paint-Bones-Class#102014-05-30T18:45:51Z2013-02-22T03:26:47Z<p>I can probably try and put together a painting primer (see what I did there?) as I have been painting minis and plastic kits for around 40 years. Note that I do not consider myself a professional etc. but a dabbler.
<br />
While I hate to toot another companies horn, there are a number of introduction to painting articles from such companies as Games Workshop, as well as a number of other paint manufacturers.</p>
<p>Basically with Plastic (or indeed any material miniature) you need to do the following steps:</p>
<p>Preparation</p>
<p>1) make sure there is no flash on the mini.
<br />
Flash is a side effect of a poorly pressed/molded mini and needs to be trimmed off. Its often a thin film of plastic (or metal) where there shouldn't be anything, like a membrane between limbs and the head or weapons and the body etc. </p>
<p>2) make sure the mini is clean
<br />
wash in detergent if it looks like they have a greasy coating rinse and allow to dry.</p>
<p>Undercoat</p>
<p>You paint or spray-paint a very fine layer of an undercoat color - black, white or sometimes neutral grey. This should be a specialised undercoat paint; dont just use your regular paint. The undercoat is important as it bonds to the mini, and your paints bond onto your undercoat.
<br />
Also the choice of undercoat color will help determine the brightness of your mini. If you are planning on an overall dark choice of colours, use a black one. Similarly if you are having an overall bright mini then use white.</p>
<p>Once you have undercoated your mini(s) LEAVE THEM TO DRY (preferably in a dust free environment)!!!</p>
<p>(Part 2 will follow once I get back from work ETA about 5 hours)</p>I can probably try and put together a painting primer (see what I did there?) as I have been painting minis and plastic kits for around 40 years. Note that I do not consider myself a professional etc. but a dabbler.
While I hate to toot another companies horn, there are a number of introduction to painting articles from such companies as Games Workshop, as well as a number of other paint manufacturers.
Basically with Plastic (or indeed any material miniature) you need to do the following...Nikolaus Athas2013-02-22T03:26:47ZRe: Forums/Pathfinder First Edition: General Discussion: Spell ClarificationsNikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pi25?Spell-Clarifications#442013-02-21T20:02:19Z2013-02-21T15:47:43Z<p>To the OP (and other interested parties)</p>
<p>If you want to see an classic example of what happens to a product that insists that all rules have a clear and precise interaction with each other , I can only direct you to Star Fleet Battles.</p>
<p>1970-something 48 page pocket rule book. Add 3 expansions total number of rule pages about 200.</p>
<p>1990-something over a thousand pages of rules alone most of which are simply references to other paragraphs.</p>
<p>Moral of the story - be careful of what you wish for ...</p>To the OP (and other interested parties)
If you want to see an classic example of what happens to a product that insists that all rules have a clear and precise interaction with each other , I can only direct you to Star Fleet Battles.
1970-something 48 page pocket rule book. Add 3 expansions total number of rule pages about 200.
1990-something over a thousand pages of rules alone most of which are simply references to other paragraphs.
Moral of the story - be careful of what you wish for...Nikolaus Athas2013-02-21T15:47:43ZRe: Forums: Advice: Beastmass: A challenge to Master Min-MaxersNikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pbrv?Beastmass-A-challenge-to-Master-MinMaxers#322015-12-12T01:58:11Z2013-01-03T09:19:48Z<p>If its not already obvious - I don't like the whole 'This is my uber build which will smash all opposition - ASSUMING the enemy is not played to its absolute and fullest advantages and in terrains and conditions that are generally advantageous to said build'.</p>
<p>It shows or proves nothing.</p>
<p>I could just as easily put a build at 20th level against every below 1 CR mob and also claim how great it is because of the insane amount of CR it can eventually kill. Hell I could do it easy - I have one necklace of Lava adaptation and all fights are to be done under 400 feet of Lava.</p>
<p>Ill face in turn
<br />
1,000,000,000 Kobolds
<br />
1,000,000,000 Goblins
<br />
1,000,000,000 Orcs
<br />
1,000,000,000 Spiders
<br />
1,000,000,000 centipedes</p>
<p>(Thats CR 62500000 per encounter)
<br />
Round 1 - targets die.
<br />
TADA! I R GRATE! I R W1N!</p>
<p>Because the environment or encounter area is fixed in my favor and my gear is exactly what I need in each encounter. </p>
<p>If you want to show how good a build is, let it be in an open arena, then underwater, then in pitch dark, then flying etc
<br />
For •all• of the encounters.</p>
<p>Simple numbers and assumptions turn everything into an exercise in statistical methods. Mindless parading of DPR.</p>
<p>Where is the role playing that's supposed to be involved? The clash of will and intelligence? The Character played? The wile of your foe?</p>
<p>The Dragon, Solar and Devil at least should have given the Monk a right kicking in different environments.</p>
<p>Show me that said Monk can do all of those encounters in different circumstances and then you have bragging rights.</p>
<p>Thats the last Ill say about it.</p>If its not already obvious - I don't like the whole 'This is my uber build which will smash all opposition - ASSUMING the enemy is not played to its absolute and fullest advantages and in terrains and conditions that are generally advantageous to said build'.
It shows or proves nothing.
I could just as easily put a build at 20th level against every below 1 CR mob and also claim how great it is because of the insane amount of CR it can eventually kill. Hell I could do it easy - I have one...Nikolaus Athas2013-01-03T09:19:48ZRe: Forums: Advice: Beastmass: A challenge to Master Min-MaxersNikolaus Athashttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pbrv?Beastmass-A-challenge-to-Master-MinMaxers#122015-12-12T01:55:14Z2013-01-03T04:01:21Z<p>The link in the OP is broken. I'd like to see it or the 5 fail wishes that were made before I'd come up with a possible wish.</p>
<p>Ultimately though I would have thought that a wish of 'I am immune to any arrow used by THAT monk' would suffice.
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Yes this is a 'more powerful version' of what a wish normally entails but Im sure that the ultimate representative of a race of immortal extremely organised and intelligent beings could come up with some kind of loop hole like that ... its what they DO.</p>
<p>Why cant he use the wish to create a spherical wind wall? Im sure that the wish could alter it so. Wind Wall is a 3rd level spell - Altering the shape of it to turn it into a sphere call it a +3 meta magic feat - ta da 6th level spell effect.</p>
<p>Or use the ability of a wish to duplicate any spell - do Control Winds = windstorm (75mph+) and then apply ectoplasmic meta magic to it so that missile fire is impossible in any form or plane. Thats not too big a use of wish and 100% legal.</p>
<p>Or bring into effect a contingency that makes him and the Monk swap places once the arrows fly, so that the Monk ends up shooting himself?</p>
<p>Or a really sneaky one - Wishing to swap the battle conditions for the Shoggoth's one.</p>
<p>But if there was a GM involved this fight could and would not happen because any player that claims to be able to do this should be told ok build your character from Level 1 - we will run this test when you hit level 20 assuming to dont die before hand due to sub par choices you have to make along the way as you attempt to build this as optimal as possible.</p>
<p>Its an easy exercise to say I can make a build that kill this one mob under the most optimal conditions and with all the loot I want, but try playing to get to that point. Wont happen.</p>
<p>Im not even sure why the conditions for these fights are laid out as stated. Why not 1000' lit sphere of free space for all of them? Or all underwater? or all in pitch dark in a 10x10 room with the mob chained to the Monk? Or in a dense forest with no line of sight more than 10'?</p>
<p>What exactly are we trying to prove here?</p>The link in the OP is broken. I'd like to see it or the 5 fail wishes that were made before I'd come up with a possible wish.
Ultimately though I would have thought that a wish of 'I am immune to any arrow used by THAT monk' would suffice.
Yes this is a 'more powerful version' of what a wish normally entails but Im sure that the ultimate representative of a race of immortal extremely organised and intelligent beings could come up with some kind of loop hole like that ... its what they DO.
...Nikolaus Athas2013-01-03T04:01:21Z