ZanzerTem's page

Hmm, that's cheap. I'll pick it up and check it out. GM replied with "I'll need to see the class features first", so that's not an outright no!

Sorry for getting defensive, lack of sleep and stress at work are clouding my judgement. Not an excuse, I know.

Anywho, The Eldritch Scoundrel looks interesting. I'll have to look deeper at that. I'm also going to talk with the GM about the Trickster from Kobold Press. It will be difficult, however, since I don't own the PDF currently so he will likely say no without seeing the class beforehand.

Thanks so far!

The dot is a way of adding the thread to things to be watched, even if you don't specifically have advice to offer.

Oops, my mistake, now I look like a ___. I apologize.

TL:DR - Need suggestions for a Gnome Rogue/Ninja-ish type that can take advantage of the Gnomish Illusion strengths. Anything Paizo has published is legal. One Trait must be from the Curse of the Crimson Throne AP. 20 pt. Buy

So, my buddy is starting a "Couples Pathfinder" using the Curse of the Crimson Throne Adventure Pack. There's six of us, and the three ladies are Pathfinder rookies. The GM has allowed the rookies to play basically whatever OP'd character they can create, so long as it uses Paizo source material (no third party).

My wife, being a diminutive 4'11", wants to play a Gnome. No exceptions. She's a trickster and a pain in the *** in real life, so she identifies with Gnomes. She also wants to cast Illusions, since Gnomes get some good bonuses to Illusion spells. Lastly, she wants to be sneaky, a "street rat" as she puts it, with lots of skills and tricks. Lastly, she feels useless if she isn't doing SOMETHING in combat, and gets down on herself if she isn't pulling her weight during battles. She doesn't have to dominate, but she at least wants to contribute.

Her desires point me toward the Arcane Trickster, but the AT is very weak in the early levels. There has to be a better way. I have explored the Threatening Illusion feat in combination with Ghost Sound/Magical Lineage, but it won't become useful till later in the characters career. Even then, it's dubious how useful it will be. It sounds like a cool trick, but I keep thinking there is a better way.

If someone would direct me toward what I should investigate to help out my wife, that would be appreciated. All Paizo material is allowed.

Thanks in advance!

I might actually sell you on the opposite.

You do realize that this is a necro thread right? Chances are he has decided by now.

But since Universalist is the default for wizards and arcane bloodline is the default for sorcerer I thought the comparison accurate.

Universalist is no more the default than Necromancy or Evocation, or any of the other schools. It's just one choice of many (and the worst one by a mile).

Your comparison is about as accurate as Michael J. Fox standing in a hurricane at 500 yards with a slingshot.

1: Any class ability that is governed by GM whim is not a good draw point for a class.

Completely and utterly irrelevant to the topic. I don't know why you keep bringing this up. Of course a monk is going to be better than a fighter if your GM only allows Unarmed Strikes for some god awful reason.

2: Claiming Spell, Feat, or School X makes Class Y equal to or greater than Class Z? Too situational, also not a good draw point. What if my concept does not include taking those? Does that mean I have to abandon my concept?

Huh? You just said "You can't compare each classes unique abilities with each other to see if one is better than the other." Uh, yes you can. That's pretty much the entire concept of discussion.

In order for the class to be viable it needs to be able to support more than one or two "optimal" builds.

Every class in the game is "viable". Hell, Sword and Board Fighters are "viable" but hardly "optimal". You can play the game and have fun just fine with a sub-optimal build.

At this point I think you are either just arguing to argue, or trolling.

You: Why should I play a Wizard?
Internet: Because, reasons.
You: Nope!

I play universalists.

You lost all credibility right there, bud.

I love how the "Wizards suck when compared to Sorcerers" crowd are using house rules and anecdotal evidence to back up their claims. Look at the RAW and compare them. They both have advantages and weaknesses. I'd put Wizards over Sorcerers for the early access to spells and larger variety of spells. Yknow, what everyone else said.......

If you want to argue using house rules or personal experience, House Rules forums is >>>>>that way

Yea the croc was moving 5-foot away from us and the Trogs would charge stop 30feet from us throw javelins and then 5 foot towards us till they got within range of attacks

The only problem here is how incredibly boring your combats must be.

If you don't want to watch his monsters slowly march into combat, start taking 5 foot steps back, letting the ranger shoot the monsters in the face.

Either your GM will get the point and just charge, taking the one whole AoO from your reach weapons, or you can take 4 hours to arrow a few trogs to death.

Or you could, y'know, just move in and attack them.

Apparently the colo facility looked something like this.

As a server guy, I would say that is pretty par for the course.

Do what you want.

Roll the percentiles. Not available? Wait a week.

I say roleplay it.

Joes House-O-Stuff is out at the moment but can send a runner to the capital city of Hugeistan and get what you need! Should be a two week turnaround at a premium price. OH NO the runner got eaten by a dragon. Go dig your dust out of the dragons stomach.

PC's walk into Joes and see another adventuring party buying all the dust. Tickle fight for it? Beg and plead? Back room favors?

Clerics have plenty on hand, but are also dealing with an evil temple in the mountains. Perhaps the PC's could help in exchange?

Just rolling percentiles for stuff is so.....boring.

I'm confused, why did the PC's not wake up? They were being dragged around (enough to wake them) There was a battle nearby (enough to wake them) and the other PC's were poking them (enough to wake them). Is it a more powerful trap than just the sleep spell? I don't own the module.

Also, you didn't run suffocation right. They should have been under the effects of Slow Suffocation:

The non-lethal damage they would have taken would have woken everyone up and given plenty of time to get out of the room. The Unconsious > Dying > Dead Suffocation rules only apply in a vacuum/underwater ect where there is literally no air AT ALL. There is plenty of air in the room, it just lacks oxygen.

Lastly, if these are continual flame candles they shouldn't even use any oxygen since continual flame isn't an actual fire.

I vote mulligan.

I like "mcv"'s explanations for the high taxes. It makes sense. A lightly armed merchant caravan coming to trade in their main city will pay significantly less to travel here. But a heavily armed group of adventurers with nothing of real value to the giants should pay heavily. I wouldn't go higher than 500gp though. Maybe 400gp? 100 per PC and an additional 100 for their caravan. the amount should be roleplayed out though. "What you have no trade for us? You pay more!" Or something.

Before the PC's are approached and asked to pay, I suggest having the PC's pass by a heavily armed giant patrol. They give the group the stink eye while asking for proof of safe passage. Since the PC's do not have any, they warn the PC's to pay their dues at the next station or face repercussions. This will hint at the power of the giants and serve as a warning that if they don't pay with gold they may pay with their lives.

With a Paladin in the party, and 15 or so NPC's under his charge, I cannot see him NOT paying. It would not only be unlawful but would put innocents at risk for personal gain (retaining wealth). If the group, including the Paladin start edging toward the side of "Go F yourself" I suggest pulling the Paladin aside and telling him these things.

If your PC's still refuse to pay and want to tempt fate, then have fun unleashing hell on them.

I also recommend PcGen. The new version works great, and their community is very active so if you have problems it is easy to find answers. Also, it costs $Free.99 so you can't argue with that.

I bought HeroLabs Pathfinder Core and the APG and went back to PcGen. I disliked the stupidly restrictive licensing of HeroLabs (I want to install it on my work computer, home laptop and my desktop. I can only install on 2). I also found it very pricey. Third, I cannot customize it. I can customize PcGen pretty easily. It runs through Java using .LST files which are glorified text files and easy to work with. Lastly, HeroLabs runs slower than PcGen.

As to your original question, yes PcGen can handle archtypes.

Overall, I think PcGen is a superior product, but to each their own. Try both and go with what you like!

I play my characters the same way this guy plays. I prefer non-assertive, quiet, mysterious characters that rarely speak up, stand in the back and when forced to speak I keep it simple. However, when needed, my characters step up to the plate and give more than their fair share. The rest of my game group couldn't imagine me playing characters any other way.

This persons behavior is not a problem unless it is disrupting the rest of the players. If the other players do not have an issue with it, leave him be.

It is, in my opinion, insulting to force your personality on someone else. You don't have to agree with his playing style; you only have to like him as a person. If he is an OK guy then leave him alone and accept him for who he is.

If he is bothering the rest of the group, take a group vote. If the majority dislike the guy, pull him aside, talk to him, tell him that the game group needs him to be more active. Let him GM a module or something. Take a game session and play Apples to Apples. Stimulate him and give him a chance to get to know everyone better. Take him out to dinner afterwards. Nothing gets a conversation started like wings and beer.

If he continues to be too reserved and it is bothering the group, kick him out. Harsh, but life is too short for bad gaming.