paizo.com Recent Posts by Peatpaizo.com Recent Posts by Peat2024-03-22T11:16:27Z2024-03-22T11:16:27ZRe: Forums: Strength of Thousands: Rewriting the Vesicant Egg and Koride (Book 1-6 Spoilers)Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43pdc?Rewriting-the-Vesicant-Egg-and-Koride#52023-05-06T15:13:21Z2023-05-06T15:13:21Z<p>Not there quite yet in my game :)</p>
<p>I don't plan to have the players know that Koride is at the Doorway until they arrive there. All they know is that she left the Magaambya to research. The motivation to go to the Doorway should still be meeting Old Mage Jatembe after the Tree spills the tea as written. </p>
<p>It's a surprise to the PCs when they show up at the Doorway and the Iobane respond with "Ugh, more teachers from the ivory towers of the Magaambya? Can't you leave us in peace, or at least do something about your annoying colleague? The bugs were bad enough, but now we have Undead beating down our doors as well."</p>Not there quite yet in my game :)
I don't plan to have the players know that Koride is at the Doorway until they arrive there. All they know is that she left the Magaambya to research. The motivation to go to the Doorway should still be meeting Old Mage Jatembe after the Tree spills the tea as written.
It's a surprise to the PCs when they show up at the Doorway and the Iobane respond with "Ugh, more teachers from the ivory towers of the Magaambya? Can't you leave us in peace, or at least do...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2023-05-06T15:13:21ZRe: Forums: Advice: Druid/Witch/Summoner healer/buffer build advice for my wife.Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43ram?DruidWitchSummoner-healerbuffer-build-advice#232023-02-08T04:40:29Z2023-02-08T04:40:29Z<p>A slightly different take, but I would offer the Witch with the Fervor Patron. I know the classic themes of a Cleric can rub people the wrong way sometimes, but the Divine spell list is really where the good Heal/Buff/Support/Debuff spells are, so trying to find that with appropriate flavor may be a good goal. As others have said, Primal is Healing + Blasting (which doesn't sound like her thing), whereas Divine is Healing + Support (which does).</p>
<p>A Fervor patron "represents a grand ideal or goal, granting you magic to further their mission and bring others to the cause" which can be flavored in a bunch of different ways that don't have to be religious or dogmatic - friendship, loyalty, justice, compassion, community and many other Natural themes can also fit.</p>
<p>They get that sweet Divine spell list with Heals and Buffs, and several nice Focus Spell support options in Stoke the Heart, Life Boost, and Blood Ward. Witch focus spells are mostly 1 Action, so it can also solve the mechanical complexity of how to use your third action - Two Action spell and move, or Two Action spell and Focus Spell/Cantrip.</p>
<p>The Familiar is also a core part of their theme, and can become a Leshy with the Wortwitch class feat.</p>A slightly different take, but I would offer the Witch with the Fervor Patron. I know the classic themes of a Cleric can rub people the wrong way sometimes, but the Divine spell list is really where the good Heal/Buff/Support/Debuff spells are, so trying to find that with appropriate flavor may be a good goal. As others have said, Primal is Healing + Blasting (which doesn't sound like her thing), whereas Divine is Healing + Support (which does).
A Fervor patron "represents a grand ideal or...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2023-02-08T04:40:29ZRe: Forums: Advice: How best to make a Jack-of-all-trades in PF2E?Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43rb1?How-best-to-make-a-Jackofalltrades-in-PF2E#42023-02-08T04:15:31Z2023-02-08T04:15:31Z<p>I enjoy PF2e more because it doesn't really allow for the jack-of-all-trades (aka "I'm the one at the table that thinks I'm the Main Character in the Single Player RPG") builds that are 90% as good at everything as every other specialist combined. Dabblers get outshined by Specialists most of the time, and a Dilettante in everything will almost always be outshined. </p>
<p>A couple of niches that I think did fall through the cracks are AC (lots of fairly easy ways to dump your Dexterity and get Heavy Armor proficiency) and Focus Spells (lots of fairly easy ways to cherry-pick the strongest Focus Spells and cast them as well as the primary class does).</p>I enjoy PF2e more because it doesn't really allow for the jack-of-all-trades (aka "I'm the one at the table that thinks I'm the Main Character in the Single Player RPG") builds that are 90% as good at everything as every other specialist combined. Dabblers get outshined by Specialists most of the time, and a Dilettante in everything will almost always be outshined.
A couple of niches that I think did fall through the cracks are AC (lots of fairly easy ways to dump your Dexterity and get...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2023-02-08T04:15:31ZRe: Forums: Advice: Dark Elf for 2edRaze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43rat?Dark-Elf-for-2ed#32023-02-08T13:44:25Z2023-02-08T04:01:59Z<p>Agreed. All the components of the typical 'Dark Elf' ancestry in other RPGs are available on the Elf ancestry already - innate magic both Primal or Arcane, Darkvision, innate training with swords, not sure what else you feel is missing from the fantasy of a Dark Elf that a 3PP would solve. You can also use the new Ancestry Boost option to take any 2 free boosts and use one of them on Charisma. </p>
<p>If the goal is wanting all of those features and more at level 1 in exchange for a disadvantage like Sun Sensitivity, that type of design doesn't really take place in Paizo-released material or most homebrew. Pathfinder 2 intentionally avoids opportunities to increase power in one area in exchange for a disadvantage in another (the recent errata around optional flaws just reinforces that.) Cherry-picking and working around those types of disadvantages ("I just wear a widebrimmed hat when we go outside!") to make an overall more powerful character is a big contributor to power creep.</p>Agreed. All the components of the typical 'Dark Elf' ancestry in other RPGs are available on the Elf ancestry already - innate magic both Primal or Arcane, Darkvision, innate training with swords, not sure what else you feel is missing from the fantasy of a Dark Elf that a 3PP would solve. You can also use the new Ancestry Boost option to take any 2 free boosts and use one of them on Charisma.
If the goal is wanting all of those features and more at level 1 in exchange for a disadvantage...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2023-02-08T04:01:59ZRe: Forums: Advice: Resolving Conflicting Abilities Among the PartyRaze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43r82?Resolving-Conflicting-Abilities-Among-the-Party#142023-02-07T02:46:17Z2023-02-07T00:06:43Z<p>If you're trying to avoid people just needing to retrain (which can feel really frustrating if you're basically told "No, if your character isn't the best at that, you're wrong for wanting them to have any capability in it at all") ask what niche each player/character is trying to fill, and then build the story together in a way to share that spotlight.</p>
<p>Say one character is +3 Charisma, Trained Deception, but their vision for why their character took the skill is they are a quick-change artist using Impersonate. The other player with a +4 Charisma and Expert Deception, took it for more traditional fast-talking and half-truths. When the need to dress up as the Captain of the Guard arises, maybe the +4 Expert can share the spotlight and let the +3 Trained character take point, even if their bonus is a bit lower. It gives the +3 Trained a chance to shine and express their character, even if the +4 Expert is going to be making the party's Deception rolls more often and mechanically would be the better choice to make the check.</p>
<p>That's if you're going for collaborative storytelling at your table and all the players are bought in. If you're playing in PFS, or aren't having fun unless the table is collectively fully optimized for every check you're asked to make and challenge you encounter...yea, the people with suboptimal characters are probably in for a bad time for that reason and several others, and will need to be relegated to "backup check person and Aid Other bot" if your main character is unconscious or fails.</p>If you're trying to avoid people just needing to retrain (which can feel really frustrating if you're basically told "No, if your character isn't the best at that, you're wrong for wanting them to have any capability in it at all") ask what niche each player/character is trying to fill, and then build the story together in a way to share that spotlight.
Say one character is +3 Charisma, Trained Deception, but their vision for why their character took the skill is they are a quick-change...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2023-02-07T00:06:43ZRe: Forums: Advice: Which online character builder?Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43r95?Which-online-character-builder#42023-02-06T23:43:43Z2023-02-06T23:43:43Z<p>Pathbuilder definitely my favorite. Only downside is they dont have a good way to use it on an iPhone, but especially if you use an Android tablet, I find the layout and drill-downs to get info like Skill Actions wonderful at the table. The developer also is frequently/quickly adding both new content as books come out and new features.</p>
<p>Of all of them, seems like Demiplane is going to be the most "official" because they have an agreement with Paizo and can use things like Art and Pathfinder IP that the others can't at this stage, but seems like that will come at a premium per-book purchase price more along the model of DND Beyond. Their character builder is super early right now, so it's hard to say if the Art plus any other features like GMs being able to enroll PCs in a campaign and quickly make rolls will be worth the extra price.</p>
<p>Though Pathbuilder just added GM Mode to their Beta release, so...</p>Pathbuilder definitely my favorite. Only downside is they dont have a good way to use it on an iPhone, but especially if you use an Android tablet, I find the layout and drill-downs to get info like Skill Actions wonderful at the table. The developer also is frequently/quickly adding both new content as books come out and new features.
Of all of them, seems like Demiplane is going to be the most "official" because they have an agreement with Paizo and can use things like Art and Pathfinder...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2023-02-06T23:43:43ZForums: Strength of Thousands: Rewriting the Vesicant Egg and Koride (Book 1-6 Spoilers)Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43pdc?Rewriting-the-Vesicant-Egg-and-Koride#12023-05-24T19:58:12Z2022-10-30T22:41:23Z<p>As I'm prepping SoT, wanted to share some of the rewrites I'm making to try to better tie plotlines together and deliver a more satisfying arc for the heroes and antagonists. Obviously, this is with the benefit of the full set of published books, a year's worth of online commentary, and insights of what my specific table will respond well to, so this is not intended to imply that this is the 'right' or even a 'better' way to run it. It's just what I think will work best at my table, but perhaps some ideas will help at yours.</p>
<p><b>Changes to the Vesicant Egg:</b>
<br />
I plan to have the Vesicant Egg continue to escalate the influence it has on pests from School (Book 1) > City (Book 2) > Region (Book 3). Book 1 focuses on pests being drawn to The Magaambya and can be run mostly as written. Book 2, I'll plan to reflavor a lot of the sidequests to show the influence is spreading. Some examples - Froglegs will use her knowledge of alchemical agents that are described to lure Giant Dragonflies to a much greater degree, flavoring how she sabotages Oba's cages with unnaturally large termites, or draws away attention from her muggings by redirecting swarms of flies who have recently appeared in town. In addition, Nantambu will be in really rough shape during Book 2, with pests and gremlins tearing down infrastructure and causing the various floods and collapses, made worse by Asanda's absence and lack of leadership to rebuild. Finally, things will come to a crescendo in Book 3, where Kiutu (and other towns in the region) will not be attacked (the first time anyway) by Knights of Abendengo, but instead by giant roaming beetles and locust swarms. The Knights will still act as the main villains and kidnap Kiutu's inhabitants during Chapter 2, but it and other encounters will be under the backdrop of the insect plagues - the Knights and others are taking advantage of that chaos to advance their goals. However, by Book 4, the Vesicant Egg will be mostly contained so the King of Biting Ants narrative can take a breath and shift focus to Mzali/Osibu temporarily thanks to changes I'm making to Koride. </p>
<p><b>Changes to Koride:</b>
<br />
Koride is framed as a reckless and callous but an ultimately redeemable person by the end of Book 6. I think this is portrayed well in Books 1 and 2, but by the time she is making deals Norgorber slaver cults in Book 3 and stealing from and sabotaging the Iobane in Book 5, I don't believe most players will give her the benefit of the doubt or see those as the actions of an ultimately decent person you should try to work with - I certainly don't. I also worry the PCs will start to see her as the BBEG by the end of Book 3, and then will feel railroaded or push back when I say "Ignore her, go and do this unrelated quest in Mzali. She'll be traveling with you, but don't worry about engaging her." Because of this, she's my biggest rewrite.</p>
<p>As I mention above, my climax of the 'pest attacks' will be rampant destruction in the Sodden Lands in Book 3. However, as the heroes are preparing to escort the students there with the dual purpose of researching The Bloodsalt as written AND gathering more information about these swarms, Koride will offer to take the Egg away from the Magaambya similar to what's described at the end of Book 2, with the intention of ensuring the students' safety while she continues her research. She brings it to the Doorway of the Red Star, where she believes she can close herself away in an abandoned temple to learn more about it from some of the foremost reference materials on King of Biting Ants (though she wont mention the plan to anyone else - the PCs will eventually have to uncover Where and Why themselves). She wont join the Book 4 delegation, and the PCs wont hear from her at all in Book 4, but will presume things have stabilized as they work through the Mzali/Osibu storylines and hear reports from other allies back at The Magaambya that insect attacks are waning, and Nantambu is safe again. Metagame-wise the players may also think Vesicant Egg was a Book 1-3 plotline only, and then get to enjoy a little twist when it comes back with a vengeance in Book 5.</p>
<p>When the players return back to focusing on King of Biting Ants and meet the Iobane in Book 5, Mpondo's displeasure with Koride and the Magaambya will not be that Koride stole the egg FROM them, but that she brought it TO them, and they have had to fight off pests drawn to the Plaza of the Door for the better part of two years while she conducts her research in an increasingly arrogant and uncommunicative way. They are not in the mood to do more favors for Magaambya professors after all this. Offscreen during Book 4, Koride's research HAS uncovered spells and runes that reduce the Egg's pull on local wildlife and has localized the effects just to the Plaza and nearby surroundings, but she has recklessly taken shortcuts in her approach that have allowed the Egg to feed on her protective magic and accelerate the Egg's growth, as well as opened her mind to the influence of the King of Biting Ants' Three Aspects after many sleepless nights of work alone with the artifact. If the heroes choose to confront her prior to their trip through the Gateway, she will refuse to meet face-to-face with them through a thick stone door protected by powerful traps, claiming she cannot emerge yet until she finishes her research, lest her runes falter and it threaten the safety of all of Golarion. If she hears of their plan to speak with Jatembe, she'll adamantly agree and say they should go to seek him so she can ask him questions (whether trying to send them to their deaths due to more overt influence by King of Biting Ants, or legitimately seeking his council, I haven't decided yet and I think will depend where I land with the nature of her 'influence' by the Egg.) However, by the time they return from Akiton with him, Koride will have left the Plaza and taken the egg back to the Magaambya, and Book 6 can play out largely as written.</p>
<p><b>Other Changes:</b>
<br />
A few other minor changes I plan to make which I think will resonate better with my players:
<br />
-Rather than being advance scouts of an invasion, the Terwa Lords delegation will be a group of scholars who are investigating the pest attacks which are destroying settlements on their borders much like the PCs are. It provides a group of rival and morally dubious, but still empathetic foils to the PC teachers, and blunts the need to work closely with a nationalist group of conquerors in Book 3, just before you do the same thing in Book 4.</p>
<p>-Along the same lines of avoiding the takeaway of both Books 3 and 4 being 'Diplomacy is all well and good, but ultimately might makes right' (which seems antithetical to the goal tone of Strength of Thousands) I'm going to have Worknesh go rogue and launch the siege on Osibu himself without Walkena's knowledge, in an attempt to earn favor with the god king. There are several references about Walkena imbuing chosen with a fraction of power, so my idea is to say that Worknesh can summon an 'avatar' of Walkena himself via this gift. This way I can maintain the exciting final setpiece, but not need to handwave planet-scale mind wipes to remove the knowledge from Walkena and Mzali's inhabitants. Between the reforms of Chapter One, and removing an opposing piece from Mzali's chessboard during the Siege of Osibu, I think it leaves a much more optimistic view of the future as you wrap up that storyline.</p>
<p>-I plan to run Chapter One of Book 6 less as a celebration lunch, and more of a tense War Council where the PCs are lifted up as leaders, then need to begin the hard work of leading. They'll get some clues that the King of Biting Ants may not be fully defeated yet at the end of Book 5, as well as be suspicious when they find Koride missing when they return, so I don't think they will be in the mood to hobnob and 'enjoy their celebrity' soliciting gifts. Instead, the Influence minigames will be framed as planning and building consensus and unity among Nantambu for an unknown but inevitable danger hanging above their heads. </p>
<p>If you made it to the end of this novel, thanks for reading. Thoughts, questions, or constructive feedback welcome.</p>As I'm prepping SoT, wanted to share some of the rewrites I'm making to try to better tie plotlines together and deliver a more satisfying arc for the heroes and antagonists. Obviously, this is with the benefit of the full set of published books, a year's worth of online commentary, and insights of what my specific table will respond well to, so this is not intended to imply that this is the 'right' or even a 'better' way to run it. It's just what I think will work best at my table, but...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-10-30T22:41:23ZRe: Forums: Advice: Any point in biting as a wizard?Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43p7f?Any-point-in-biting-as-a-wizard#122022-10-22T18:42:53Z2022-10-22T18:42:53Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">dinwenel wrote:</div><blockquote> when they do decide to roleplay their character's vampiric nature they'll have a good chance of not looking like a useless idiot. It's frustrating that PF2 makes these kinds of less optimal alternatives so MUCH less accurate for casters. You really are locked into the magical support, debuff, and AOE roles. </blockquote><p>From my perspective there's way more roleplaying potential in being a 10 Strength wizard who needs to carefully choose weaker victims, substantially weaken targets, and/or prepare with spells before feeding.
<p>I think that's far more interesting than 5e's pump 1-2 ability scores and then use them for every single thing you do from swinging a sword to casting a spell to social interactions.</p>
<p>That's why there are different games I suppose.</p>dinwenel wrote:when they do decide to roleplay their character's vampiric nature they'll have a good chance of not looking like a useless idiot. It's frustrating that PF2 makes these kinds of less optimal alternatives so MUCH less accurate for casters. You really are locked into the magical support, debuff, and AOE roles.
From my perspective there's way more roleplaying potential in being a 10 Strength wizard who needs to carefully choose weaker victims, substantially weaken targets, and/or...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-10-22T18:42:53ZRe: Forums: Advice: Making Refocus sessions more interestingRaze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43p6o?Making-Refocus-sessions-more-interesting#32022-10-22T18:22:05Z2022-10-22T18:22:05Z<p>I've started playing with AngryGM's tension pool and really like it - https://theangrygm.com/definitive-tension-pool/</p>
<p>It fits well with both PF2e and the 10-minute exploration turns and adds a bit of cost-benefit analysis to the rote "Refocus, Treat Wounds" rotation that parties can get into. </p>
<p>When a Complication is rolled, you can also incorporate it into the actions PCs are doing during their Refocus, such as making a wound particularly deep and increasing the Treat Wounds DC, or having some sort of Profane field that prevents the Cleric's deity from answering them to give a Focus point back.</p>I've started playing with AngryGM's tension pool and really like it - https://theangrygm.com/definitive-tension-pool/
It fits well with both PF2e and the 10-minute exploration turns and adds a bit of cost-benefit analysis to the rote "Refocus, Treat Wounds" rotation that parties can get into.
When a Complication is rolled, you can also incorporate it into the actions PCs are doing during their Refocus, such as making a wound particularly deep and increasing the Treat Wounds DC, or having...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-10-22T18:22:05ZRe: Forums: Outlaws of Alkenstar: Character concepts?Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43l16?Character-concepts#92023-08-22T20:41:32Z2022-04-20T05:23:28Z<p>A few different concepts, and a few different classes that could fit each one of the concepts depending on what roles we need to fill out in the party:</p>
<p>A traveling Judge (the Circuit Judge background from GnG is wonderful) who made a few minor rulings enforcing claims against Ambrost Mugland. Not long after, they were approached by Anjelique Loveless and six armed shieldmarshals who presented a Letter of Resignation supposedly drafted under the authority of the Grand Duchy, and demanded a signature. The Judge refused to sign, and instead disappeared into Alkenstar's underbelly, plotting to continue doling out justice in a different way. Potential classes: Champion or Ranger.</p>
<p>A distraught adolescent who was born with innate magical abilities. After being ostracized by their family or tribe for either or a horrible accident, or simply for being different among a superstitious group, the youth fled to gain admission at Blythir College, hoping to research some method of utilizing the Mana Wastes' power to nullify magic to neutralize their gift (or curse, as they saw it.) This exploration into the natural capabilities of the minerals and compounds of the surrounding area led to the "explosive experiments" mentioned in the 'Inexplicably Expelled' Background from the Player's Guide. But they will finish their research, no matter the cost. Potential classes: Sorcerer or Oracle.</p>
<p>A Gnoll with a penchant for entirely inappropriate giggling at the havoc caused by their creations. This individual would often hold court in corner booths and back alleys around Alkenstar, selling their services as a safecracker via acid flask and drill bit. While they like to think that patrons came calling because of some unique ingenuity, most employers simply wanted 7 feet of matted fur cackling maniacally on their side for the intimidation factor. However, business all but dried up after shieldmarshals began mysteriously showing up and snooping around any engagements the Gnoll happened to make. They have a feeling it has something to do with a meeting that went south recently with Ambrost Mugland (along the lines of the 'Ratted Out Runner' Background from the Player's Guide.) Potential Classes: Inventor or Investigator.</p>A few different concepts, and a few different classes that could fit each one of the concepts depending on what roles we need to fill out in the party:
A traveling Judge (the Circuit Judge background from GnG is wonderful) who made a few minor rulings enforcing claims against Ambrost Mugland. Not long after, they were approached by Anjelique Loveless and six armed shieldmarshals who presented a Letter of Resignation supposedly drafted under the authority of the Grand Duchy, and demanded a...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-04-20T05:23:28ZRe: Forums: Advice: Which Archetype(s) for an Int-Based Champion?Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43lfs?Which-Archetype-for-an-IntBased-Champion#72022-03-24T23:11:46Z2022-03-24T23:11:46Z<p>If you're open to taking the Champion Domain feat for the Earth Domain of Soralyon as well, and then Magus Dedication and Spellstrike can allow you to cast Hurtling Stone through your Spellstrike once per minute for a huge bit of burst damage. </p>
<p>If you're a shield user, for a third feat, you can take the Sparkling Targe Hybrid Study to get an extra Focus Point and the Shielding Strike Focus spell to give you another defensive option (strike with free Raise a Shield.) </p>
<p>If you want to keep going, fourth feat gets you two True Strikes per day (or something else, but hard to compete with that for a martial with big attacks like Smite or Spellstrike.)</p>
<p>Also get some flavorful-but-useful cantrips like Scatter Scree and Shield in the bargain.</p>
<p>Was very close to doing this build for my recent game but didn't want to wait until Level 4 for it to really come online.</p>If you're open to taking the Champion Domain feat for the Earth Domain of Soralyon as well, and then Magus Dedication and Spellstrike can allow you to cast Hurtling Stone through your Spellstrike once per minute for a huge bit of burst damage.
If you're a shield user, for a third feat, you can take the Sparkling Targe Hybrid Study to get an extra Focus Point and the Shielding Strike Focus spell to give you another defensive option (strike with free Raise a Shield.)
If you want to keep...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-03-24T23:11:46ZRe: Forums: Advice: Martial Magicks: A Guide for the Second Edition MagusRaze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43lel?Martial-Magicks-A-Guide-for-the-Second#52022-03-22T04:31:35Z2022-03-22T04:31:35Z<p>Great guide, will definitely be reading through this for ideas. The color-coding of all the Ancestry Feats as a quick glance review tool without needing to go into great detail was a great touch.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>Great guide, will definitely be reading through this for ideas. The color-coding of all the Ancestry Feats as a quick glance review tool without needing to go into great detail was a great touch.
Thanks!Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-03-22T04:31:35ZRe: Forums: Advice: Front-line MagusRaze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43lct?Frontline-Magus#192022-03-20T23:17:05Z2022-03-20T23:17:05Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Castilliano wrote:</div><blockquote><p> I'd run the party as if there weren't a frontline; no defender, no tank, no point or line demarcating one's party's territory from the enemy's. There's really nobody to depend on holding it, so tactics should address that.</p>
<p></blockquote><p>This is a really good point as well, and something I'll discuss with our team :) Having little 'combos' and coordination that might normally be a little unrealistic in the 6 second heat of battle could go very well/be explained with the premise of circus performers being used to choreography with each other.Castilliano wrote:I'd run the party as if there weren't a frontline; no defender, no tank, no point or line demarcating one's party's territory from the enemy's. There's really nobody to depend on holding it, so tactics should address that.
This is a really good point as well, and something I'll discuss with our team :) Having little 'combos' and coordination that might normally be a little unrealistic in the 6 second heat of battle could go very well/be explained with the premise of circus...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-03-20T23:17:05ZRe: Forums: Advice: Front-line MagusRaze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43lct?Frontline-Magus#172022-03-21T00:55:29Z2022-03-20T23:04:19Z<p>HumbleGamer, I ended up taking your advice and combining it with a Dwarf ancestry to squeeze out a little more staying power. </p>
<p>Rough character outline is spamming Shield/Shattering Gem and abusing Magic Weapon from our Oracle on a Maul to end fights fast until 4, when I should have Unburdened Iron, Lesson of Life, 2 temp hp per round, and Full Plate from Armor Proficiency to act as a decent defensive base.</p>
<p>Picking up Attack of Opportunity at 6, Toughness at 7, Basic Witch Spellcasting at 8, Mountain's Stoutness at 9 for another HP per Level and match vanilla d10 HD martials, Sentinel Dedication at 10, so that by 11 my Full Plate goes up to Expert when Magus gets Medium Armor Expertise. </p>
<p>Not quite sure after that, can look at what's best between more Sentinel feats, having Level 4,5,6 Witch slots, or something from Magus class feats based on how things are playing out at the table.</p>
<p>General spell plan will be to keep a True Strike/Shocking Grasp on hand for a daily burst option, but spending most of the rest of my spells on Barkskin, Stoneskin, Blur, and the like.</p>
<p>As far as why? That's just what we all decided to play :) I couldn't find anything that matched the flavor of a Fire Knife Dancer dedicated to the God of Volcanos as the combo of Magus with Winter Witch Dedication gave me starting from Level 1. Once I heard what everyone else was making, decided to stick with the concept to see if I could make it work, fully understanding it's suboptimal and that I'm sacrificing's a Magus's best niche as burst damage to play effectively a subpar Champion.</p>
<p>Appreciate everyone's perspective and will come back here to let you know when/how I horribly die ;)</p>HumbleGamer, I ended up taking your advice and combining it with a Dwarf ancestry to squeeze out a little more staying power.
Rough character outline is spamming Shield/Shattering Gem and abusing Magic Weapon from our Oracle on a Maul to end fights fast until 4, when I should have Unburdened Iron, Lesson of Life, 2 temp hp per round, and Full Plate from Armor Proficiency to act as a decent defensive base.
Picking up Attack of Opportunity at 6, Toughness at 7, Basic Witch Spellcasting at 8,...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-03-20T23:04:19ZRe: Forums: Advice: Front-line MagusRaze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43lct?Frontline-Magus#72022-03-18T22:57:55Z2022-03-18T22:57:55Z<p>Thanks for the thoughts (and book recommendations haha.) I like the idea of getting the core combo of Life Boost + Temp HP online ASAP. I'm planning on Human so can take Armor Proficiency at level 1.</p>
<p>The full party lineup is Oracle, throwing weapon Investigator, Gunslinger, and caster/buff-focused Bard (Plus me and Rogue.) So there's a fair amount of support and healing that we'll have access to.</p>
<p>My concept was a large-framed Fire Dancer/Fire Eater, who worshipped Yamatsumi the Tian-Min god of winter, mountains, and volcanoes, so Magus to ignite my weapons and spell support for things like Stoneskin/Enlarge seemed like a great fit. </p>
<p>Certainly other ways I could change it up a bit and be more traditionally tanky (Champion with Fire Domain, Fighter with Double Slice and Fire Poi, Monk with Mountain Stance) it but first trying to see if I can make Magus work :)</p>Thanks for the thoughts (and book recommendations haha.) I like the idea of getting the core combo of Life Boost + Temp HP online ASAP. I'm planning on Human so can take Armor Proficiency at level 1.
The full party lineup is Oracle, throwing weapon Investigator, Gunslinger, and caster/buff-focused Bard (Plus me and Rogue.) So there's a fair amount of support and healing that we'll have access to.
My concept was a large-framed Fire Dancer/Fire Eater, who worshipped Yamatsumi the Tian-Min god...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-03-18T22:57:55ZRe: Forums: Advice: Session 0 FeedbackRaze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43lc0?Session-0-Feedback#32022-06-06T03:37:50Z2022-03-18T15:38:39Z<p>For in-Golarion inspiration, War for the Crown was a Pathfinder 1e AP takes place in Taldor. It has a lot of the 'squabbling factions and political maneuvering' feeling it sounds like you're going for.</p>For in-Golarion inspiration, War for the Crown was a Pathfinder 1e AP takes place in Taldor. It has a lot of the 'squabbling factions and political maneuvering' feeling it sounds like you're going for.Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-03-18T15:38:39ZForums: Advice: Front-line MagusRaze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43lct?Frontline-Magus#12022-03-18T04:42:53Z2022-03-18T04:42:53Z<p>We are just kicking off Extinction Curse and we have relatively few front line characters - of our party of 6 we have only myself and a rogue in melee consistently. I wanted to play a Magus but am worried that as I will likely be taking the bulk of the damage that I will end up on the ground more often than not. </p>
<p>My thought was to go 18/10/14/14/12/10 and take Sentinel dedication at Level 2 along with either Sparkling Targe or Inexorable Iron (in which case I'd take Multitalented Witch at 9 for the additional spells to trigger Sustaining Steel. </p>
<p>What do people think, will this be enough to be soaking most of the damage or am I setting myself up to go down every combat as the Frontline anchor with a d8 HD?</p>We are just kicking off Extinction Curse and we have relatively few front line characters - of our party of 6 we have only myself and a rogue in melee consistently. I wanted to play a Magus but am worried that as I will likely be taking the bulk of the damage that I will end up on the ground more often than not.
My thought was to go 18/10/14/14/12/10 and take Sentinel dedication at Level 2 along with either Sparkling Targe or Inexorable Iron (in which case I'd take Multitalented Witch at 9...Raze Le'Roof (alias of Peat)2022-03-18T04:42:53ZForums: Advice: Creative builds for Outwit RangerPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42p9g?Creative-builds-for-Outwit-Ranger#12019-08-12T22:37:45Z2019-08-12T22:37:45Z<p>On its face, Outwit reads as the most non-combat/skill centric of the paths which isn’t a bad thing to have options. That said, any interesting interactions with other Feats that folks have found beyond the obvious bonus to Monster Hunter chain to get it in the ballpark of the dual wield path (seems more well-balanced against the precision damage path trading damage for utility)</p>On its face, Outwit reads as the most non-combat/skill centric of the paths which isn’t a bad thing to have options. That said, any interesting interactions with other Feats that folks have found beyond the obvious bonus to Monster Hunter chain to get it in the ballpark of the dual wield path (seems more well-balanced against the precision damage path trading damage for utility)Peat2019-08-12T22:37:45ZRe: Forums: Rules Discussion: Combat maneuvers with finesse weaponsPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42p70?Combat-maneuvers-with-finesse-weapons#252019-08-12T22:22:06Z2019-08-12T22:22:06Z<p>My whip-wielding Dex Ranger certainly hopes so ;)</p>My whip-wielding Dex Ranger certainly hopes so ;)Peat2019-08-12T22:22:06ZRe: Forums: Rules Discussion: How does the Ranger feat Monster Hunter work in encounters with multiple creatures of the same type?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42p95?How-does-the-Ranger-feat-Monster-Hunter-work#22020-02-18T19:56:31Z2019-08-12T22:12:20Z<p>Mechanically it reads like it’s per creature/prey so you have to make each time even against different creatures of the same type. </p>
<p>Flavor wise, maybe you’re not identifying just based on ancestry but even more detail than that (represented by it needing to be a Critical success rather than normal)</p>
<p>So less of ‘Goblins are scared of howling creatures’ and more ‘That goblin has feathers in their armor, it means they fight like a berserker and swing wildly’. </p>
<p>Just a thought/justification.</p>Mechanically it reads like it’s per creature/prey so you have to make each time even against different creatures of the same type.
Flavor wise, maybe you’re not identifying just based on ancestry but even more detail than that (represented by it needing to be a Critical success rather than normal)
So less of ‘Goblins are scared of howling creatures’ and more ‘That goblin has feathers in their armor, it means they fight like a berserker and swing wildly’.
Just a thought/justification.Peat2019-08-12T22:12:20ZRe: Forums: Rules Discussion: Combat maneuvers with finesse weaponsPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42p70?Combat-maneuvers-with-finesse-weapons#232019-08-12T22:03:08Z2019-08-12T22:03:08Z<p>But why wouldn’t they just say “every check that has the Attack Trait is an Attack Roll” if that’s what they meant? Seems a strange omission or choice to tangentially cross-reference or make you use transititive logic to figure it out rather than stating it. But we’re all only human :)</p>But why wouldn’t they just say “every check that has the Attack Trait is an Attack Roll” if that’s what they meant? Seems a strange omission or choice to tangentially cross-reference or make you use transititive logic to figure it out rather than stating it. But we’re all only human :)Peat2019-08-12T22:03:08ZRe: Forums: Rules Discussion: Combat maneuvers with finesse weaponsPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42p70?Combat-maneuvers-with-finesse-weapons#202019-08-12T21:26:07Z2019-08-12T21:26:07Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Garretmander wrote:</div><blockquote> An action with the attack trait would be an attack action. That's how the tags work. </blockquote><p>Does that mean an action with the Concentrate Trait a Concentrate roll? Or a Fortune Trait is a Fortune roll? The part that throws me off is this line on 446:
<p>Every check that has the attack trait counts toward your multiple attack penalty, including Strikes, spell attack rolls, certain skill actions like Shove, and many others.</p>
<p>Rather than defining Shove as an Attack Action they call it a Skill Action, implying difference?</p>
<p>It’s one possible interpretation but it’s far from established fact in my reading. The only thing we have to go off of was the one off hand comment made during Playtest which is more general philosophy than hard ruling.</p>Garretmander wrote:An action with the attack trait would be an attack action. That's how the tags work.
Does that mean an action with the Concentrate Trait a Concentrate roll? Or a Fortune Trait is a Fortune roll? The part that throws me off is this line on 446: Every check that has the attack trait counts toward your multiple attack penalty, including Strikes, spell attack rolls, certain skill actions like Shove, and many others.
Rather than defining Shove as an Attack Action they call it...Peat2019-08-12T21:26:07ZRe: Forums: Rules Discussion: Why does the Gnome Flickmace exist?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42p49?Why-does-the-Gnome-Flickmace-exist#282019-08-12T23:01:19Z2019-08-12T18:53:25Z<p>RAW it’s Uncommon rarity. So a player can pick up whatever feat they want to munchkin, but it doesn’t mean they can start with one without GM permission. So likely will be restricted in PFS and if you don’t want one at your table because it feels cheesy, say No.</p>RAW it’s Uncommon rarity. So a player can pick up whatever feat they want to munchkin, but it doesn’t mean they can start with one without GM permission. So likely will be restricted in PFS and if you don’t want one at your table because it feels cheesy, say No.Peat2019-08-12T18:53:25ZRe: Forums: Rules Discussion: How do I properly stat my familiar?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42o5e&page=2?How-do-I-properly-stat-my-familiar#722019-08-12T16:01:11Z2019-08-12T16:01:11Z<p>Have them roll a check using d20 + master level as stated in the rules and compare that to whatever DC you think is reasonable (using Acrobatics or Athletics DCs as a guide.)</p>Have them roll a check using d20 + master level as stated in the rules and compare that to whatever DC you think is reasonable (using Acrobatics or Athletics DCs as a guide.)Peat2019-08-12T16:01:11ZRe: Forums: Rules Discussion: BackpacksPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42oi9?Backpacks#232019-08-09T20:50:06Z2019-08-09T20:50:06Z<p>If it’s not fun, don’t use it. As stated above it’s engaging for some players and some characters (pack rat compulsive gnome with a place for every last crumb)</p>
<p>As far as “RAW means we have to in PFS” how many Society GMs were checking carrying capacity or ammo in 1e? For me it’s been very few and far between although YMMV.</p>If it’s not fun, don’t use it. As stated above it’s engaging for some players and some characters (pack rat compulsive gnome with a place for every last crumb)
As far as “RAW means we have to in PFS” how many Society GMs were checking carrying capacity or ammo in 1e? For me it’s been very few and far between although YMMV.Peat2019-08-09T20:50:06ZRe: Forums: Rules Discussion: Intimidation on low charisma characters. GM advice on following rules.Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42ou4?Intimidation-on-low-charisma-characters-GM#342019-08-09T18:44:55Z2019-08-09T18:44:55Z<p>The other difference is Cha-based checks are one of the only times you are directly performing the action your character is, so failure feels more ‘unfair’. </p>
<p>When I roll a miss with my sword, I didn’t actually swing a sword so I can easily accept the abstract miss. When I make what I feel is a compelling or cinematic threat/argument, I envision it happening exactly like I performed it, not how the abstract of my characters stats and proficiencies would have. So there is some dissonance there. </p>
<p>Certainly will vary by table, but adding significant bonuses or auto success if it’s what would make sense in the story and world is a way around this.</p>The other difference is Cha-based checks are one of the only times you are directly performing the action your character is, so failure feels more ‘unfair’.
When I roll a miss with my sword, I didn’t actually swing a sword so I can easily accept the abstract miss. When I make what I feel is a compelling or cinematic threat/argument, I envision it happening exactly like I performed it, not how the abstract of my characters stats and proficiencies would have. So there is some dissonance
...Peat2019-08-09T18:44:55ZRe: Forums: Rules Discussion: How do I properly stat my familiar?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42o5e?How-do-I-properly-stat-my-familiar#492019-08-08T20:27:07Z2019-08-08T20:27:07Z<p>Agree that for formal “roll for init” encounter mode there is no reason for a familiar to have attacks and it helps balance familiar va companion. Anything flavor-wise you want the familiar to do can use the RAW “bonus equal to your level” on the roll. If you want your animal to be relevant enough in combat that it gets standard attack/damage there are a number of options for that.</p>Agree that for formal “roll for init” encounter mode there is no reason for a familiar to have attacks and it helps balance familiar va companion. Anything flavor-wise you want the familiar to do can use the RAW “bonus equal to your level” on the roll. If you want your animal to be relevant enough in combat that it gets standard attack/damage there are a number of options for that.Peat2019-08-08T20:27:07ZForums: Customer Service: Starfinder Society Sub CancelPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42ifs?Starfinder-Society-Sub-Cancel#12019-03-22T13:18:47Z2019-03-22T13:18:47Z<p>Please cancel my subscription. Just released it was still trying to charge an old CC from years ago. I understand I'll lose the discount on the previous PDFs that I did not receive.</p>Please cancel my subscription. Just released it was still trying to charge an old CC from years ago. I understand I'll lose the discount on the previous PDFs that I did not receive.Peat2019-03-22T13:18:47ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: (SPOILERS!!! ALL BOOKS!!!) Peat's "In Search of Sanity" Module Retrospective/ReviewPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42exj?-Peats-In-Search-of-Sanity-Module#22019-02-04T20:13:07Z2018-12-23T19:26:28Z<p><b><i>Session 1</b></i></p>
<p><b>The Nightmare:</b>
<br />
I was focused on misdirecting the players (maybe a bit too focused, see below) on thinking the opening scene was real. I rewrote a bit of the read-aloud text to imply they had just escaped from the asylum they all knew from the Player's Guide they started in. I also used it as an opportunity to potentially foreshadow what happened to their memories in Book Three: "You all are dripping wet as rain falls in sheets from a deep black sky, but your eyes are focused on the path in front of you. You hasten your pace to a jog, moving away from the fortress of deep amber sandstone and glass towers that you can feel looming behind you. Every fiber of your being screams that you dare not look back." Both the dripping wet and the sand (which I described in more detail when one of them of course decided to look back) being allusions to the Oasis. Other than that, I ran it mostly as written, with them ending up running through an abandoned open-air market where the stalls kept getting more and more densely packed as they continued, by the end describing it as if they were crawling through a thick jungle.</p>
<p><i>How the players reacted</i>:
<br />
I was convinced one of them would charge into the mist immediately upon hearing footsteps. Perhaps it was the ominous music or playing by candlelight, but they all ran for quite some time. A few failed skill checks climbing through the market later, and only the Gunslinger was still alive. When I revealed the full 'Wake Up! Save Me!' message, he said "Ohhhhhhhh, okay!" put his gun to his temple, and pulled the trigger. I described the Tatterman beginning to flay him as his consciousness faded. Definitely an extremely memorable and flavorful way to start the campaign. </p>
<p><i>Anything I would change?</i>:
<br />
It dragged on a bit too long in my eyes. In trying to make it seem more 'real' in the early stages, I had the Tatterman making attack rolls as normal until the first PC fell, throwing in extra attacks here and there, but still playing with his actual to-hit and damage numbers. Even without armor, a couple PCs were hard to hit, so it took about 5 rounds before someone died (at which point they figured there was no way they actually died so this must be a dream, and I quickly butchered the rest of them.) The cadence I was hoping for of 'one death per round' got stretched to probably an 8 round encounter. Players seemed engaged, and it ended with a Bang...so overall went well.</p>
<p><b>The Prison Cells and Furnace</b>
<br />
Ran this pretty much by the book, two PCs in each cell. Ultimately the cell with the Oracle and Gunslinger goaded the Doppelganger into Grapple range, while the Paladin got a nat 20 on their Strength check, which I ruled allowed them to bend the frame of the door enough that the next round they could take a Full Round action to wrench it open enough for the Goblin to Escape Artist out. After that, they got their belongings (including the Masterwork Viol) and used the Body Pile to climb up the chute (two of them getting Filth Fever in the process.)</p>
<p><i>How the players reacted</i>:
<br />
They took a moment in their cells to get their bearings and asked a bunch of questions about themselves. I had them open their 'backstory' envelopes at this point (see the post about Session 0 above), describing how they woke on the stone floor and a bit about their state of mind, which gave it a very ominous overtone as everyone tried to feel each other out. After that, they quickly began working together to get out.</p>
<p><i>Anything I did/would change?</i>:
<br />
No. Two major highlights were the doppelganger eventually getting annoyed with the Oracle's constant questions and morphing into her, and when I had the Doppelganger Coup de Grace the restrained orderly. Audible gasp at the table when she drove the shard of glass through his throat (since I think everyone was assuming you'd free him and he'd be your first quest giver.) Very much drove home the point that this will be a brutal and potentially brief adventure as they were left alone at the end of the fight. </p>
<p><b>The Barricade and the first Hallway:</b>
<br />
The Scalding Rain was effective to get them indoors to B2 rather than start digging through the rubble to the north of B1 (and miss the barricade/survivors) which is what they started doing when they first arrived. After arriving at B2, the party talked to the group at the barricade, cleared the Dire Rats/Zoog (the Zoog fled down a burst pipe after getting an attack in, wanted to use him again!) and Centipede room in that order (which was a nice break and confidence boost after the tough Doppelganger fight with no weapons) and then found the Doppelganger corpses in B11.</p>
<p><i>How the players reacted</i>:
<br />
It was a challenge to convince the characters to go fight another Doppelganger without it feeling like a "MMO Quest" (Bring me three Doppelganger heads!) especially after they were so beat up after the first one (Oracle had used 2 of 3 spells on CLW, and most were still below half health). Playing up the 'We all want to live, lets build trust amongst each other' angle, I had the Captain retrieve the parcel from the Chaplain's office, using the potions/wand as a peace offering and some much-needed healing to build confidence for a bit more adventuring.</p>
<p><i>Anything I did/would change?</i>:
<br />
I'm happy with how things turned out, but required a lot of on-the-fly updates to make sure we didn't have a Session 1 TPK. I changed a fair amount with the initial quest from the survivors (only asked for one Doppelganger corpse, had the Doctor guarding the corpses in the Staff Office B11 be in a different room (added another to the map, north of B13 where she was bringing the samples to dry) at the time. I was pretty sure I'd TPK them if they had to fight another Doppelganger, so be very careful at that point in my opinion. Even the Bleed from the Zoog was almost too much and caused them to panic after four failed Heal checks.</p>
<p>Session 1 ended with them bringing two severed Doppelganger heads back to the barricade, and being allowed entry (but still at crossbow-point) as the Captain went to get Winter.</p>Session 1
The Nightmare:
I was focused on misdirecting the players (maybe a bit too focused, see below) on thinking the opening scene was real. I rewrote a bit of the read-aloud text to imply they had just escaped from the asylum they all knew from the Player's Guide they started in. I also used it as an opportunity to potentially foreshadow what happened to their memories in Book Three: "You all are dripping wet as rain falls in sheets from a deep black sky, but your eyes are focused on the...Peat2018-12-23T19:26:28ZForums: Strange Aeons: (SPOILERS!!! ALL BOOKS!!!) Peat's "In Search of Sanity" Module Retrospective/ReviewPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42exj?-Peats-In-Search-of-Sanity-Module#12020-09-14T23:13:17Z2018-12-23T18:37:23Z<p><b>Forward:</b>
<br />
Strange Aeons is the fifth Paizo AP I've run, and one of the best aspects of running that type of pre-published material is the awesome community who shares their lessons learned and tweaks. For Strange Aeons, I'm going to try to pay it forward in the hopes that I can offer someone in the future some insight or idea to give their table a better experience. I'll be writing up my own summaries of each major 'scene' including what I changed, how my players reacted, what went well and what I would change a second time around.</p>
<p><b>My Table and Session 0:</b>
<br />
We play every other week for 4-6 hours with 4 PCs. We did 20-Point Point Buy (instead of standard 15-point), all Paizo-official Class material open, but races limited to Core, Goblins, Orcs, Changelings and Dhampries (a mix of Ustalav-centric races, and more monstrous races that might have been good muscle for their past employer.) Idea behind 20-point point buy was to allow them not to feel as restricted about taking 'bad' class features in the interest of RP (We have a Waves Oracle and a switch-hitting Gunslinger with 14 Strength and a penchant for Crowbars for example) and also since it seems like this AP has a uniquely-strong hook to the original PCs so wanted to give them a little more early-game strength.</p>
<p>In the interests of intensifying the blank slate 'fugue' for my players, I had each one of them come up with four Defining Events in a Character's life. I told them <i>their</i> character would have two or those events in their past, and two of them would be randomly assigned to another character. In that way, both the Player and the Character would be thinking about those events during the game, trying to piece together which of their four they kept, and which were assigned to others (i.e. which of their hazy memories and recollections were real and which were misremembered or unrelated). </p>
<p>Given the theme of the AP and knowing they started in an Asylum, the Players took this in a somewhat dark direction. Examples include "Sustained a serious injury trying to protect someone they didn’t know from a mugging" "Watching your father and uncles kill, skin and dress wild game has stuck with you and you think about it often " and "I'm the first person in my family to leave our town since it was founded". I tried to steer people towards objectively-described events, rather than declaring how someone felt about that event, to still give the person who ultimately received it the final say over their character. For example, being the first person to leave your town could be exciting...it could be terrifying...you could have been leaving for a big city job, or leaving because you were exiled...</p>
<p>Once I scrambled the between the players and spoke with them a little about what type of personality they were planning to portray, I fit the four events for each player together in a rough backstory outline only I knew. I wrote a short (around half a page) summary of what the character felt and remembered immediately upon waking up (with a few choice details from the backstories included) put them in envelopes, and gave them to the Players at the very start of Session 1, to be opened after the nightmare introduction. I also assigned them one of the Traits from the Player's Guide based on the combined backstory (they only picked one trait at character creation).</p>
<p>Our party includes:
<br />
<ul><li>•A Varisian Human Gunslinger, modeled loosely after The Joker. Not murderously psychotic, but certainly unpredictable and with a disconnected "I bet we are all still dreaming, none of this matters" nonchalance. </p>
<p><li>•A Varisian Paladin of Sarenrae. The player told me they wanted to be confused, conflicted and guilt-ridden about their past. In pursuing that, I made it so when the character awoke, they found that there was a terrible and painful burn wound across their back, in the shape of Sarenrae's angel wings. However, they also found a holy symbol of Norgorber amongst their belongings when they found their equipment.</p>
<p><li>•A Changeling Oracle. I assigned her the Trait where she's "seen it all" and isn't phased by these creatures, based on the fact that one of the random Defining Events she received had to do with previous exposure to Elder Mythos creatures on a mining expedition. At this point a few sessions in, she seems more concerned with the Paladin she saw pick up an idol of Norgorber than she is the Zoogs and Dopelgangers. </p>
<p><li>•A Goblin Alchemist. This was another one where they player told me they were looking for something specific - in this case the character is convinced that he is in the wrong body, that he was a prestigious scholar and chemist was somehow mind-swapped into a Goblin in some cosmic injustice. I assigned them the 'Yith' mindswap Trait bonus mechanically, although it remains to be seen if it was a Yith or something else...</ul></p>
<p><i>How the players reacted</i>:
<br />
Several sessions in and I'm very excited by how this turned out. Scraps of information about their past are treasured as much as equipment as they try to (both in character and out of character) figure out which of their 'hazy' memories of the four Defining Events they wrote are true. I think the best thing is it has added a very cool element of mystery that doesn't just rely on the players RPing forgetting their backstories (which can be challenging for some) and even our less strong RPers are talking in character more and narrating little events to show who they think they are. </p>
<p><i>Anything I would change?</i>:
<br />
Nothing at this point, will see how things continue to progress.</p>Forward:
Strange Aeons is the fifth Paizo AP I've run, and one of the best aspects of running that type of pre-published material is the awesome community who shares their lessons learned and tweaks. For Strange Aeons, I'm going to try to pay it forward in the hopes that I can offer someone in the future some insight or idea to give their table a better experience. I'll be writing up my own summaries of each major 'scene' including what I changed, how my players reacted, what went well and...Peat2018-12-23T18:37:23ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: Player Guide and Character Creation (GM Reference)Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ttwv&page=2?Player-Guide-and-Character-Creation#652021-12-14T02:35:07Z2018-12-07T19:57:12Z<p>My Players are in the midst of character creation right now, and I took a different spin on background drawing from a few snippets I've picked up from forums and podcasts about the AP:</p>
<p>I'm having each player write four 'cornerstone' (tip of the White Hat to Westworld) events for a PC's life and submit them to me directly without sharing their contents with the other players. The guidance that I'm providing is ideally these are seminal events in a PC's life, but ones that could be interpreted in a variety of ways. As an example: "I was the first person to leave my village in a hundred years." A pretty large event in a person's life, but leaves a lot of room for interpretation (Why did they leave? How did they feel about leaving? Did more people leave after? Did they come back?)</p>
<p>Each PC's backstory will be made up of two of the events THEIR player wrote, and two events ANOTHER player wrote. I'm working with each one of them on making sure if there's a very strong theme that they are targeting for their character/class, we can line up either their 2 known or 2 unknown cornerstone events in a way that will support that, but being light on the exact details. I'll then be assigning the Campaign Trait that most closely corresponds to that character's combination of Cornerstones to them during the first session along with a brief overview of what they do and dont remember of their history.</p>
<p>My goal is that this adds another layer to the fugue and helps simulate the guidance that 'You only have hazy memories of the time before 5 years ago.' As hints and clues come up throughout the campaign, players can piece together which pieces of their backstory THEY wrote (and therefore have a decent idea on) and which pieces are more completely lost memories they have to reconstruct themselves (since someone else wrote that entry.)</p>
<p>It also gives the players an opportunity to help each other recall lost memories (since they had been friends for a long time before the campaign) and have some unique RP experiences. If I as a PC wrote a memory that "Your sister is your best and only friend" and then someone in my party finds a picture of themselves and a woman in Thrushmore, I can say "I vaguely remember you describing your sister as having short brown hair and green robes like the woman in that painting at a Tavern one time..." Although they also couldn't be sure that the hint was referencing their Cornerstone and wasn't a red herring.</p>
<p>Interested if anyone else has tried something like this, or other alternate ways of background generation for amnesiacs.</p>My Players are in the midst of character creation right now, and I took a different spin on background drawing from a few snippets I've picked up from forums and podcasts about the AP:
I'm having each player write four 'cornerstone' (tip of the White Hat to Westworld) events for a PC's life and submit them to me directly without sharing their contents with the other players. The guidance that I'm providing is ideally these are seminal events in a PC's life, but ones that could be interpreted...Peat2018-12-07T19:57:12ZForums: Strange Aeons: A Sympathetic Lowls ***Spoilers for Strange Aeons and Carrion Crown***Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs42e9g?A-Sympathetic-Lowls-Spoilers-for-Strange#12020-03-11T16:41:11Z2018-12-07T03:37:52Z<p>•••MAJOR Spoilers for BOTH Ustalav adventure paths below, careful if you plan to play either Strange Aeons or Carrion Crown•••</p>
<p>A few years ago, I ran Carrion Crown for my group, which was the first time we made it all the way through a full 6 Volume AP, and had a blast. After a couple other excursions to Cheliax, we're back in Ustalav for Strange Aeons. But as I read through the books, I can't help but feel some strong similarities from the Big Bad perspective - a maniacal and egotistical wealthy mastermind who's not much of a combat threat on his own terms, but is always one step out of reach of a direct confrontation until he activates Armageddon. Granted that's a somewhat common trope of Fantasy, but given the similar setting it hit a little too close to CC for my tastes.</p>
<p>I started brainstorming how I could differentiate it a bit - not to the point where I'm going to abandon the 'chase-style' plot line, but to at least make the villain a bit different.</p>
<p>My thoughts are along the lines of the following, but if anyone else has gone through a similar exercise, I'm very curious!!</p>
<p>Lowls has been dead (if not physically, mentally/spiritually) since he left town at the start of the AP. He certainly was not a good guy (as evidenced by keeping slaves and ruling his lands with an iron fist) but things took a significant turn after he went to the Dreamlands. It was not just a coincidence that the Yellow King fragment which broke off from his journey to the Mad Poet is aloof but overall friendly - Xhamen-Dor purposefully ripped the innocent intellectual curiosity away from Lowls and left it locked in the Dreamlands, leaving a massive void for Xhamen-Dor to fill and leaving the Egotistical and Fearful sides of Lowls remaining.</p>
<p>While the AP references a 'seed' infesting Lowls, and by the end referencing them as a 'merger', I'm going to make it a bit more direct, adding a couple of points (and some heavy foreshadowing/hints) where the PCs can perform the Dream Ritual again and go to other places in the Dreamlands where Xhamen-Dor ripped the other two 'facets' of Lowl's mind asunder. Perhaps the Egotistical/Power Hungry shard can be encountered in the Mystereum, while maybe the Fearful (Why gather power if you're not afraid of something you need to be powerful against?) side was left in the Parchlands at the end of Book 4 to whither in agony forever.</p>
<p>By the end of the arc, I feel this makes Lowls' tale into more of a tragedy than someone who just was power-hungry (and conveniently out of reach) for 5 books of the AP and then was consumed. And while I might need to more heavily introduce the link between Xhamen-Dor and the PCs earlier to keep them motivated to stay on the hunt after they find the last 'fragment' of Lowls, I feel it gives the through-line of the villain enough of a different feeling to to our old friend Adivion Adrissant, who also spent 5 books just out of reach before merging with something to become a super-BBEG in Book 6.</p>
<p>Thoughts? Other watchpoints? (I've only skimmed the books and haven't started playing yet, so may be missing details) Other ways you've tackled this problem (whether or not you played CC?)</p>***MAJOR Spoilers for BOTH Ustalav adventure paths below, careful if you plan to play either Strange Aeons or Carrion Crown***
A few years ago, I ran Carrion Crown for my group, which was the first time we made it all the way through a full 6 Volume AP, and had a blast. After a couple other excursions to Cheliax, we're back in Ustalav for Strange Aeons. But as I read through the books, I can't help but feel some strong similarities from the Big Bad perspective - a maniacal and egotistical...Peat2018-12-07T03:37:52ZRe: Forums: Advice: Exocortex Mechanic - How viable is Overcharge? (or general Combat Mechanic advice)Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uqbd?Exocortex-Mechanic-How-viable-is-Overcharge#22017-11-17T15:44:24Z2017-11-17T15:26:12Z<p>Overcharge is actually BETTER in my opinion if you have a combat-heavy group. The fact that you can boost your damage with a Standard AND boost an adjacent ally with a Move (or boost two allies with double-move) means you're doubling the effectiveness of the ability each round. If you have a lot of available allies to use as targets, you can take advantage a lot more frequently.</p>
<p>Two people having Computers is not a bad thing, especially since Exocortex can make those checks in some ways the Technomancer couldn't (being able to do it at range, do it while still attacking, etc.) You could also look at some of the other more Engineering-focused skills/tricks.</p>
<p>One final note about the Operative damage - don't forget that Small Arms only gets half-level to Weapon Specialization, so it's even more stunted in terms of damage before you add Trick Attack. Overcharge Exocortex can absolutely keep up or exceed Operative on combat.</p>Overcharge is actually BETTER in my opinion if you have a combat-heavy group. The fact that you can boost your damage with a Standard AND boost an adjacent ally with a Move (or boost two allies with double-move) means you're doubling the effectiveness of the ability each round. If you have a lot of available allies to use as targets, you can take advantage a lot more frequently.
Two people having Computers is not a bad thing, especially since Exocortex can make those checks in some ways the...Peat2017-11-17T15:26:12ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Slower Start?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2up7n?Slower-Start#32017-10-31T20:09:43Z2017-10-31T20:09:43Z<p>I think you're right TheGoofyGE3K, and as a GM I love it.</p>
<p>So many times at mid-level Pathfinder, it takes me longer to fully digest all the options a monster has than it does for the PCs to get into position and Full Attack it to death. I'm lucky if it gets to use its cool thing.</p>
<p>I'd much rather have a little back-and-forth, or get to use/see the NPCs execute their strategy rather than 'It fails its save, it takes 150 damage from Full Attack, it dies.'</p>I think you're right TheGoofyGE3K, and as a GM I love it.
So many times at mid-level Pathfinder, it takes me longer to fully digest all the options a monster has than it does for the PCs to get into position and Full Attack it to death. I'm lucky if it gets to use its cool thing.
I'd much rather have a little back-and-forth, or get to use/see the NPCs execute their strategy rather than 'It fails its save, it takes 150 damage from Full Attack, it dies.'Peat2017-10-31T20:09:43ZRe: Forums: Advice: Flame Rifle: worth the very expensive ammo?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uoyu?Flame-Rifle-worth-the-very-expensive-ammo#122017-10-31T20:00:20Z2017-10-31T20:00:20Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Saros Palanthios wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">baggageboy wrote:</div><blockquote> You can't put a merciful fusion on a level 1 weapon as it is a level 2 fusion... </blockquote>You can if it's a Fusion Seal, they work backwards from ordinary Fusions (for some reason). </blockquote><p>I think you might be misunderstanding.
<p>A) A Fusion Seal costs 110% of the MAXIMUM weapon it could affect. So if you buy the lowest level possible Fusion Seal (Level 2), it's going to cost 360•110% credits. It costs more than a normal Level 2 Fusion, not less.</p>
<p>B) In the Fusion Seals section it states "A fusion seal can't be added to a weapon if doing so would cause the weapon's total level of fusions (including the level of the fusion seal) to exceed the item level." Which means you can't add a level 2 Fusion Seal to a level 1 weapon. That would prevent it from being added to a Laser Rifle.</p>Saros Palanthios wrote:baggageboy wrote: You can't put a merciful fusion on a level 1 weapon as it is a level 2 fusion...
You can if it's a Fusion Seal, they work backwards from ordinary Fusions (for some reason). I think you might be misunderstanding. A) A Fusion Seal costs 110% of the MAXIMUM weapon it could affect. So if you buy the lowest level possible Fusion Seal (Level 2), it's going to cost 360*110% credits. It costs more than a normal Level 2 Fusion, not less.
B) In the Fusion...Peat2017-10-31T20:00:20ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: So lets talk about the Solarian problem...Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uoi8&page=9?So-lets-talk-about-the-Solarian-problem#4032017-10-31T19:13:49Z2017-10-31T18:56:28Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">HWalsh wrote:</div><blockquote><p> Uhm...</p>
<p>If you are taking Heavy Armor you absolutely want to have a 20 dex by level 20. The maximium dex applied to KAC/EAC at level 20 is +5, hence you want a 20 by 20 to keep your EAC/KAC up.</p>
<p>You... You haven't actually played much Starfinder have you?</p>
<p>I have to ask because these are questions you'll understand more once you get into the game. </blockquote><p>I haven't, you're right. I'd love to be able to play more.
<p>My character is a melee Drone Mechanic. I took Dwarf to save myself two feats with their Racial ability, chose Heavy Armor as my level 1 feat. I chose to use a starting array of 14/10/12/16/13/8.</p>
<p>It was a tough choice. I had to decide to have a lower-than-ideal AC (No +2 Dex Mod to make optimal use of Heavy Armor at low levels, and Reflex saves will be rough), lower-than-ideal Strength (14 is already pushing it for a 3/4 BAB Class) or lower-than-ideal Skills/DCs (Which would block off some parts of my Class Mechanic Tricks and cause me to fall behind the Operative in Engineering? No way!) </p>
<p>I went with the Dex lowered, and I have suboptimal AC. And my character still feels playable (I hope! Only level 2! Maybe that makes me an idiot because I'm a melee class with 2 lower AC than optimal so now I'm dead.) </p>
<p>But I'm excited because even though my AC and To Hit is lower than many other builds I could rattle off, I do great damage compared to Ranged classes, frequently get extra attacks from my Drone to balance out a 3/4 BAB, and still maintain good Resolve. I have some weaknesses and some strengths that I chose.</p>
<p>To me, this all sounds very familiar to many of the conversations above...decisions I had to make because I couldn't be the best at everything. That's what's INTERESTING to me. That there isn't one array that says "You solved the math problem, here's the best array, never pick anything else again or you're a noob." </p>
<p>You're choosing To-Hit or Damage or DCs on your abilities...Saves or Skill Points...Having Revelations or generally worse class abilities like Gear Boosts/Fighting Styles.</p>
<p>As I've continued to say, other classes make the same tough choices, and have to be suboptimal in some places to be optimal in others. Solarian is not unique in that.</p>
<p>HWalsh, you're growing increasingly aggressive towards me and others in your posts, so before you tell me to 'get a clue' or tell me again I just don't understand and should come back when I've played more I'm going to move on. I've said my bit, and already spent too much time arguing on the Internet ;) </p>
<p>I'd just encourage anyone who is feeling down about their class of choice and always seeing a place where another class is better than yours to flip the script: Look at the same build that's getting you down, and look at all the places where your build gets more feats, has better abilities, or does more damage. There are always differences going both ways. </p>
<p>Otherwise it's going to be a long few months waiting for that next Rulebook.</p>HWalsh wrote:Uhm...
If you are taking Heavy Armor you absolutely want to have a 20 dex by level 20. The maximium dex applied to KAC/EAC at level 20 is +5, hence you want a 20 by 20 to keep your EAC/KAC up.
You... You haven't actually played much Starfinder have you?
I have to ask because these are questions you'll understand more once you get into the game.
I haven't, you're right. I'd love to be able to play more. My character is a melee Drone Mechanic. I took Dwarf to save myself two...Peat2017-10-31T18:56:28ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Mechanic Tricks: Overcharge?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2up74?Mechanic-Tricks-Overcharge#52017-10-31T16:42:23Z2017-10-31T16:42:23Z<p>Dont forget you can also use it as a Standard Action for yourself and a Move Action for an adjacent Ally. Adding an extra 1d6 to yourself and 1d6 to your Soldier or Drone friend at level 2 is nice. In addition up until level 10, weapons are also only increasing by 1 dice, so even if you only use 1 trick on it, it's basically improving your weapon by one tier.</p>Dont forget you can also use it as a Standard Action for yourself and a Move Action for an adjacent Ally. Adding an extra 1d6 to yourself and 1d6 to your Soldier or Drone friend at level 2 is nice. In addition up until level 10, weapons are also only increasing by 1 dice, so even if you only use 1 trick on it, it's basically improving your weapon by one tier.Peat2017-10-31T16:42:23ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: So lets talk about the Solarian problem...Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uoi8&page=8?So-lets-talk-about-the-Solarian-problem#3982017-11-01T00:23:09Z2017-10-31T16:12:53Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">HWalsh wrote:</div><blockquote><p> You think Solarians don't have feat taxes?</p>
<p>Solarians have to take heavy armor to melee because they can't hyper pump Dex and Strength. If they go ranged they have to take Longarm proficiency and variable/weapon specialization as well.</blockquote><p>If you're taking Heavy Armor, then you dont have to have 20 Dex.
<p>Worried about your Reflex save? As stated above, the Reflex Save is the least necessary save because it almost exclusively deals in damage.</p>
<p>If you're going Ranged, suddenly you don't need to worry about pumping Strength, which seems to be a big point of contention. You're back down to pumping Dex and Key Stat like every other non-Soldier class.</p>
<p>At this point it seems like sacrifices any other class has to make aren't a big deal...Mystic has 13 Reflex or -1 To Hit compared to a Solarian? Soldier does 10 less damage per hit than Solarian? That's close enough. </p>
<p>A Solarian has 13 Reflex or -2 To Hit compared to a Soldier? That's an unacceptable choice that takes a character too far from an optimal value, and Solarian has serious problems which need to be addressed by Paizo.</p>
<p>Diving deep into Solarian (as the forums have basically forced me to do since launch given all the threads/guides/claims that true Solarians should start Blitz soldier :P) has been interesting from a perspective of game design and class comparison. I'd encourage you to take a break from Solarian for a bit and do some deep diving and building of your own on another class. I think you may be surprised at how many tough choices other classes make. It may not be readily apparent just comparing Stat Lines, but when you look at full builds they are definitely there. </p>
<p>Just as a start, compare the power of individual Gear Boosts + Primary Fighting Style bonuses (Soldier gets 10 of those through level 20) to individual Revelations (Solarian gets 10 of those through level 20.) I'm hard-pressed to find many cases where I wouldn't rather have a Revelation at any level.</p>HWalsh wrote:You think Solarians don't have feat taxes?
Solarians have to take heavy armor to melee because they can't hyper pump Dex and Strength. If they go ranged they have to take Longarm proficiency and variable/weapon specialization as well.
If you're taking Heavy Armor, then you dont have to have 20 Dex. Worried about your Reflex save? As stated above, the Reflex Save is the least necessary save because it almost exclusively deals in damage.
If you're going Ranged, suddenly you...Peat2017-10-31T16:12:53ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: So lets talk about the Solarian problem...Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uoi8&page=8?So-lets-talk-about-the-Solarian-problem#3902017-10-31T06:22:45Z2017-10-31T06:22:45Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">HWalsh wrote:</div><blockquote><br />
<br />
<p>Go make a Mechanic with a 16 int.</p>
<p></blockquote><p>Cathulhu had a pretty cool Switch Hitter Exocortex Mechanic build going around that had Int at 13 and only went up from level increases. Certainly a combat focus at the expense of skills, resolve, and abilities that relied on class DCs (that sounds familiar!), but it did what it did well and in a flavorful way.
<p>In fact, I would say if you dove into other classes with the same passion you have for Solarian, you'd find that's true in a lot of cases. </p>
<p>Having to sacrifice one part of the class if you want to be 'optimal' in another part of the class is NOT unique. I don't disagree the way Solarian is asked to do it IS somewhat unique (Being more MAD than any other base class and having to have at least one of your attributes lower than you'd ideally want isn't something other classes have to do.) </p>
<p>But other classes have things like feat taxes, being forced to invest all their class abilities in certain trees while ignoring other parts of the class, or just have to deal with being suboptimal at portions of the game (Soldiers and Skill Checks for example - There's no way to optimize a Soldier to be the best at any Skill. Period. Another class can always do it better if equally optimized, and in many cases even if not optimized.)</p>
<p>In your Mystic example above with the "craptastic band-aid" Solarian array, you skipped over the fact that a Mystic basically needs to take AT LEAST Longarms Proficiency and Versatile Specialization (and arguably Weapon Focus and/or Heavy Weapons) to be even relevant damage-wise, even with 24 Dex. The Solarian can drop 4 points out of Wisdom and put them in 18 Intelligence for 2 extra skill points (one of the "fixes" suggested above). Take Iron Will and Improved Iron Will with the 2 feats that the Mystic had to spend on Longarms, and you've got your +2 Will Save back to the magic "minimum 16" with the extra rider of Resolve Point to Save ability.</p>
<p>There is a lot of excellent theorycrafting and thought-provoking examples in this thread, but I think you risk coming to wrong conclusions about 'definitively proving the Solarian is broken' when you only look at "What is the Solarian giving up to be equal in power to another class?" and ignore "What is another class giving up to be equal in power to the Solarian?"</p>HWalsh wrote:Go make a Mechanic with a 16 int.
Cathulhu had a pretty cool Switch Hitter Exocortex Mechanic build going around that had Int at 13 and only went up from level increases. Certainly a combat focus at the expense of skills, resolve, and abilities that relied on class DCs (that sounds familiar!), but it did what it did well and in a flavorful way. In fact, I would say if you dove into other classes with the same passion you have for Solarian, you'd find that's true in a lot of
...Peat2017-10-31T06:22:45ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: So lets talk about the Solarian problem...Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uoi8&page=8?So-lets-talk-about-the-Solarian-problem#3872017-10-31T05:32:21Z2017-10-31T03:49:46Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">HWalsh wrote:</div><blockquote><p>What did the Solarian's look like?</p>
<p>Oh right:</p>
<p>Fort: +15 (+12 +3)
<br />
Ref: +16 (+6 +5 +5)
<br />
Will: +15 (+12 +3)</p>
<p>So, whereas the Solarian meets the minimum 16 in only 1... The Mystic makes it in only 2, and for bonus points, the Reflex Save is the least necessary save because it almost exclusively deals in damage
<br />
</blockquote><p>The 26/20/18/14/18/20 array you referenced above would be 16 Fort, 16 Ref, 16 Wis, which means they meat the "16 minimum" guideline you set for yourself in all three saves...HWalsh wrote:What did the Solarian's look like?
Oh right:
Fort: +15 (+12 +3)
Ref: +16 (+6 +5 +5)
Will: +15 (+12 +3)
So, whereas the Solarian meets the minimum 16 in only 1... The Mystic makes it in only 2, and for bonus points, the Reflex Save is the least necessary save because it almost exclusively deals in damage
The 26/20/18/14/18/20 array you referenced above would be 16 Fort, 16 Ref, 16 Wis, which means they meat the "16 minimum" guideline you set for yourself in all three saves...Peat2017-10-31T03:49:46ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: So lets talk about the Solarian problem...Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uoi8&page=8?So-lets-talk-about-the-Solarian-problem#3732017-10-30T22:45:16Z2017-10-30T22:22:46Z<p>I know it's partially tongue in cheek, but I believe the problem is that there is a feeling by some that an Optimized Solarian (as a full BAB class) should be able to be numerically identical to an optimized Soldier (as the only other full BAB class available right now). </p>
<p>Essentially Solarian should equal Soldier but with Revelations instead of Gear Boosts. And with just CRB that's impossible to achieve right now. Due to the MAD nature of the class, you have to choose to have a lower bonus in some capacity (Saves, Skills, DCs, To Hit/Damage, etc). </p>
<p>Lots of great math done all around to prove it, but for any of that to matter the core thesis has to be as a design goal the two classes should be balanced against each other, which...Who knows if the designers felt the same way and messed up the math, or if they felt Solarian's Revelation toolkit needed them to choose to take a hit somewhere to balance them out against a Soldier. Time and rulebooks will tell.</p>I know it's partially tongue in cheek, but I believe the problem is that there is a feeling by some that an Optimized Solarian (as a full BAB class) should be able to be numerically identical to an optimized Soldier (as the only other full BAB class available right now).
Essentially Solarian should equal Soldier but with Revelations instead of Gear Boosts. And with just CRB that's impossible to achieve right now. Due to the MAD nature of the class, you have to choose to have a lower bonus in...Peat2017-10-30T22:22:46ZRe: Forums: Advice: Is a melee ac tank possible? How do I build one?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uozs?Is-a-melee-ac-tank-possible-How-do-I-build-one#192017-10-30T17:00:27Z2017-10-30T17:00:27Z<p>I'm happy to see ACs be more tightly grouped and "hittable". I know it's certainly not fun as a GM when my options are "Waste my attacks and do nothing on the guy who is effectively immune to damage since they can only be hit 20% of the time" or "make up a reason to attack someone who actually can be hit and piss off the tank who invested all those resources in a 35 AC against my +18 to hit NPCs"</p>I'm happy to see ACs be more tightly grouped and "hittable". I know it's certainly not fun as a GM when my options are "Waste my attacks and do nothing on the guy who is effectively immune to damage since they can only be hit 20% of the time" or "make up a reason to attack someone who actually can be hit and piss off the tank who invested all those resources in a 35 AC against my +18 to hit NPCs"Peat2017-10-30T17:00:27ZRe: Forums: Advice: Is a melee ac tank possible? How do I build one?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uozs?Is-a-melee-ac-tank-possible-How-do-I-build-one#92017-10-27T23:35:56Z2017-10-27T23:35:14Z<p>To approach from another angle, I wouldn't discount a Drone Mechanic as a damage sponge. </p>
<p>The Shield line of Mechanic Tricks gives quite a bit of Temp HP that stacks with Forcefields and recharges every Resolve point. You can also use your Combat Drone as a pile of HP that can absorb a few hits as well. If it gets too low, use Drone Meld to get some flat x/- DR and protect it from being completely destroyed.</p>
<p>You lose a few AC as compared to Soldier, but can take a lot more abuse when you do actually get hit.</p>To approach from another angle, I wouldn't discount a Drone Mechanic as a damage sponge.
The Shield line of Mechanic Tricks gives quite a bit of Temp HP that stacks with Forcefields and recharges every Resolve point. You can also use your Combat Drone as a pile of HP that can absorb a few hits as well. If it gets too low, use Drone Meld to get some flat x/- DR and protect it from being completely destroyed.
You lose a few AC as compared to Soldier, but can take a lot more abuse when you do...Peat2017-10-27T23:35:14ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: So lets talk about the Solarian problem...Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uoi8&page=2?So-lets-talk-about-the-Solarian-problem#982017-10-25T00:59:31Z2017-10-24T20:20:58Z<p>If you approach the Solarian from the perspective that Revelations are worthless (and should have no downside to overall class power) because they are situational, it's impossible to have a productive discussion.</p>If you approach the Solarian from the perspective that Revelations are worthless (and should have no downside to overall class power) because they are situational, it's impossible to have a productive discussion.Peat2017-10-24T20:20:58ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Sleep in armor?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uoo0?Sleep-in-armor#152017-10-24T19:49:27Z2017-10-24T12:59:36Z<p>There is no rule. I think this is similar to the other thread about Age Progression where because it existed in PF some people feel you must address it in SF. Some things were just cut because they add more complexity without adding more fun. If it's fun to be ambushed without your gear you could always house rule it.</p>There is no rule. I think this is similar to the other thread about Age Progression where because it existed in PF some people feel you must address it in SF. Some things were just cut because they add more complexity without adding more fun. If it's fun to be ambushed without your gear you could always house rule it.Peat2017-10-24T12:59:36ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Rules for Crouching?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uodb?Rules-for-Crouching#62017-10-19T21:06:36Z2017-10-19T21:06:36Z<p>Second the "either you're prone or you're standing" interpretation. When something is tall enough to be considered cover when you're Standing (and what type of cover) is just GM fiat unless it's a floor to ceiling wall, or defined by rules like a creature providing Soft Cover or the created cover from Barricade.</p>Second the "either you're prone or you're standing" interpretation. When something is tall enough to be considered cover when you're Standing (and what type of cover) is just GM fiat unless it's a floor to ceiling wall, or defined by rules like a creature providing Soft Cover or the created cover from Barricade.Peat2017-10-19T21:06:36ZRe: Forums: Advice: Combat Combinations and TacticsPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uo97?Combat-Combinations-and-Tactics#112017-10-19T20:24:03Z2017-10-19T20:24:03Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">baggageboy wrote:</div><blockquote> That is awesome! and if you combined it with a character that has reach and a reach weapon you could even do this against opponents with reach weapons. Definitely going to make a note of this. </blockquote><p>Remember readying any type of action is a Standard action, regardless of what you're readying. So yes you could ready an action to take a Guarded Step towards an opponent and get a "free" AoO, but you're giving up your attack that turn to do it.
<p>If you thought you'd Standard to attack and then Ready a Guarded Step it doesn't work like that.</p>baggageboy wrote:That is awesome! and if you combined it with a character that has reach and a reach weapon you could even do this against opponents with reach weapons. Definitely going to make a note of this.
Remember readying any type of action is a Standard action, regardless of what you're readying. So yes you could ready an action to take a Guarded Step towards an opponent and get a "free" AoO, but you're giving up your attack that turn to do it. If you thought you'd Standard to attack...Peat2017-10-19T20:24:03ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: New Items (Alien Archive)Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uobp?New-Items#202017-10-18T20:39:34Z2017-10-18T18:08:48Z<p>All I can think of is Jayce from League of Legends. </p>
<p>https://goo.gl/images/WJuSzJ</p>All I can think of is Jayce from League of Legends.
https://goo.gl/images/WJuSzJPeat2017-10-18T18:08:48ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Class's Weapon Specialization only apply to class's proficiency weapons?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uob4?Classs-Weapon-Specialization-only-apply-to#62017-10-18T17:26:18Z2017-10-18T17:26:18Z<p>There is at least some room for discussion :). Page 59 in the Classes section says each class gets it "as per the feat". Specific trumps general so I would agree with you RAW it says each individual class gets the Feat itself, but the rules are conflicting in different places and the intention of the rule seems to be in the other direction. </p>
<p>There was also a post some time ago that Versatile was designed when classes weren't granted the feat, which meant it was a two-feat investment to get Specialization in all weapons. Again, nothing official from errata but worth considering.</p>There is at least some room for discussion :). Page 59 in the Classes section says each class gets it "as per the feat". Specific trumps general so I would agree with you RAW it says each individual class gets the Feat itself, but the rules are conflicting in different places and the intention of the rule seems to be in the other direction.
There was also a post some time ago that Versatile was designed when classes weren't granted the feat, which meant it was a two-feat investment to get...Peat2017-10-18T17:26:18ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Non-Lethal damage is horrible, and it's worth noting the changePeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uo5z?NonLethal-damage-is-horrible-and-its-worth#402017-10-18T16:27:36Z2017-10-18T16:27:36Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">RevenantBob wrote:</div><blockquote><br />
<br />
That was probably true in Pathfinder, but in Starfinder that's not quite as true. Considering they added stamina to differentiate some abstraction, then the whole Massive Damage rule, and how you can restore HP with medical treatment directly...</p>
<p>It may not be solidified what the value of 1 HP is (Yes that is still Abstract) but it's clear being shot is actually being shot now. </blockquote><p>Not necessarily. You could still have Stamina represent easily-recovered avoidance (keeping your head on a swivel and just barely stepping out of the way of a shot) vs. HP representing more long-lasting damaging avoidance (you have to slam yourself into a wall and break a rib, get a graze or a burn avoiding). In neither case do you have to say the person took a bullet to the chest.
<p>Saying that HP damage now has to represent direct hits just because it exists separately isn't a sure thing.</p>RevenantBob wrote:That was probably true in Pathfinder, but in Starfinder that's not quite as true. Considering they added stamina to differentiate some abstraction, then the whole Massive Damage rule, and how you can restore HP with medical treatment directly...It may not be solidified what the value of 1 HP is (Yes that is still Abstract) but it's clear being shot is actually being shot now.
Not necessarily. You could still have Stamina represent easily-recovered avoidance (keeping your...Peat2017-10-18T16:27:36ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Underwhelming Starfinder FeatsPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uo4x&page=3?Underwhelming-Starfinder-Feats#1292017-10-17T22:59:16Z2017-10-17T21:37:17Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Rysky the Dark Solarion wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">Peat wrote:</div><blockquote><p> I have a feeling that if every time I opened a door or started a conversation with my 10 dex Dwarf I said "I ready an action to swing at the first person who attacks me" so I could always go first in combat my GM would kill me. </p>
<p>EDIT or better yet! Use Direct Control as my standard. My drone gets to move and attack first every time. </blockquote>That's not that bad, since you have to be aware of the person and they have to be up on you, someone uses reach or range or just doesn't bother attacking you and that doesn't quite work. </blockquote><p>Completely circumventing my character's weakness of a +0 initiative bonus and guaranteeing I go first almost every combat that isn't an ambush is not bad? Seems cheesy as heck and I'm sure any GM I play with would not allow it.
<p>The vast majority of combats begin with the opponents aware of each other (even if they don't see them, they hear fighting in the next room, alarms have gone off, etc). All this talk of invisible NPCs and surprise round is the exception not the rule.</p>Rysky the Dark Solarion wrote:Peat wrote:I have a feeling that if every time I opened a door or started a conversation with my 10 dex Dwarf I said "I ready an action to swing at the first person who attacks me" so I could always go first in combat my GM would kill me.
EDIT or better yet! Use Direct Control as my standard. My drone gets to move and attack first every time.
That's not that bad, since you have to be aware of the person and they have to be up on you, someone uses reach or range...Peat2017-10-17T21:37:17ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Non-Lethal damage is horrible, and it's worth noting the changePeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uo5z?NonLethal-damage-is-horrible-and-its-worth#232017-10-17T19:09:27Z2017-10-17T19:09:27Z<p>I dunno, between Weapon Fusions, stun weapon quality and how Pin now works, it seems like there are at least options. Short of adding a completely separate system around how to disable someone, I think you have a fair amount of flexibility.</p>I dunno, between Weapon Fusions, stun weapon quality and how Pin now works, it seems like there are at least options. Short of adding a completely separate system around how to disable someone, I think you have a fair amount of flexibility.Peat2017-10-17T19:09:27ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Non-Lethal damage is horrible, and it's worth noting the changePeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uo5z?NonLethal-damage-is-horrible-and-its-worth#202017-10-17T18:53:36Z2017-10-17T18:53:36Z<p>You can make the realism/game mechanics argument either way. Personally I think it's a lot more game-y when my players spend the first round doing a bit of non-Lethal, then can go all out stabbing and exploding the enemy, safe in the knowledge it won't die at the end absent some unlucky crit that does multiple attacks worth of damage. </p>
<p>Taking someone alive should require deep penalties and careful planning. A captured opponent is worth a lot more than a dead one.</p>You can make the realism/game mechanics argument either way. Personally I think it's a lot more game-y when my players spend the first round doing a bit of non-Lethal, then can go all out stabbing and exploding the enemy, safe in the knowledge it won't die at the end absent some unlucky crit that does multiple attacks worth of damage.
Taking someone alive should require deep penalties and careful planning. A captured opponent is worth a lot more than a dead one.Peat2017-10-17T18:53:36ZRe: Forums: Advice: Why should you use a Kinetic weaponPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2undy&page=2?Why-should-you-use-a-Kinetic-weapon#532017-10-17T18:25:07Z2017-10-17T18:25:07Z<p>To break from vacuum physics discussion for a moment ;)</p>
<p>What are folks thoughts at low level between Tactical Doshko and Flame Doshko. Even if you assume EAC is around 2 lower than KAC (seems to float around 1-2 difference at low levels) Tactical still has better average damage. You can't Full Attack, but Full Attack seems like it's needed less at low levels (melee can often down something in a swing, and most characters won't have high enough bonus to hit that makes Full Attack make more sense consistently)</p>
<p>Curious about thoughts and experiences.</p>To break from vacuum physics discussion for a moment ;)
What are folks thoughts at low level between Tactical Doshko and Flame Doshko. Even if you assume EAC is around 2 lower than KAC (seems to float around 1-2 difference at low levels) Tactical still has better average damage. You can't Full Attack, but Full Attack seems like it's needed less at low levels (melee can often down something in a swing, and most characters won't have high enough bonus to hit that makes Full Attack make more...Peat2017-10-17T18:25:07ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Underwhelming Starfinder FeatsPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uo4x&page=3?Underwhelming-Starfinder-Feats#1092017-10-17T15:48:57Z2017-10-17T15:48:57Z<p>I have a feeling that if every time I opened a door or started a conversation with my 10 dex Dwarf I said "I ready an action to swing at the first person who attacks me" so I could always go first in combat my GM would kill me. </p>
<p>EDIT or better yet! Use Direct Control as my standard. My drone gets to move and attack first every time.</p>I have a feeling that if every time I opened a door or started a conversation with my 10 dex Dwarf I said "I ready an action to swing at the first person who attacks me" so I could always go first in combat my GM would kill me.
EDIT or better yet! Use Direct Control as my standard. My drone gets to move and attack first every time.Peat2017-10-17T15:48:57ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Underwhelming Starfinder FeatsPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uo4x&page=2?Underwhelming-Starfinder-Feats#982017-10-17T15:25:00Z2017-10-17T15:25:00Z<p>Not being able to act in a surprise round helps partially, but what about circumstances where it's just a normal "roll for initiative" we all pull out our guns and start firing. My understanding of initiative is that it's supposed to simulate who's quicker on the draw when everyone is trying to act simultaneously. If you can ready an action to circumvent that, it seems to muddy those waters quite a bit. </p>
<p>As a player it would be frustrating if I have a +10 bonus to initiative, roll a 20 on initiative check and attack the enemy, only to hear "he readied an action to move away behind cover if you draw your weapon." What's the point of a high initiative if everyone can ready actions to go before you?</p>Not being able to act in a surprise round helps partially, but what about circumstances where it's just a normal "roll for initiative" we all pull out our guns and start firing. My understanding of initiative is that it's supposed to simulate who's quicker on the draw when everyone is trying to act simultaneously. If you can ready an action to circumvent that, it seems to muddy those waters quite a bit.
As a player it would be frustrating if I have a +10 bonus to initiative, roll a 20 on...Peat2017-10-17T15:25:00ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Hacking InconsistenciesPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uo6s?Hacking-Inconsistencies#32017-10-16T21:53:01Z2017-10-16T21:51:59Z<p>Magic and/or nanites. Not very satisfying but it works. </p>
<p>Thankfully I'm neither a medieval Weapons and armor expert nor a hacker so never was bothered by abstractions in PF or SF. Ignorance is bliss.</p>Magic and/or nanites. Not very satisfying but it works.
Thankfully I'm neither a medieval Weapons and armor expert nor a hacker so never was bothered by abstractions in PF or SF. Ignorance is bliss.Peat2017-10-16T21:51:59ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Don't leave home without a mysticPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2unv1?Dont-leave-home-without-a-mystic#332017-10-12T22:29:22Z2017-10-12T22:29:22Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">John Lynch 106 wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">Space McMan wrote:</div><blockquote>It's the DM's job to balance combat, not the players. </blockquote><p>No. It's the DM's job to create a situation where the players can have fun. My group does not enjoy DMs who softball encounters and use subpar tactics unless there is a clear reason as to why they're using subpar tactics.
<p>If Starfinder has been designed so poorly that using stock standard tactics makes the game unfun, that's a game problem, not a player problem.</p>
<p>[EDIT]: Also, SFS minimises how much I can change the encounters.
<br />
[2nd EDIT]: Also in the two combats •• spoiler omitted •• </blockquote><p>Combat discipline and morale are well-established in both fiction and nonfiction. Someone telling you "shoot this target" at the start of the fight doesn't mean you're not going to freak out and start shooting/running away from the giant Vesk in your face with the Doshko, especially if you're not a trained fighter to begin with (ie a gang member...or a miner...).John Lynch 106 wrote:Space McMan wrote:It's the DM's job to balance combat, not the players.
No. It's the DM's job to create a situation where the players can have fun. My group does not enjoy DMs who softball encounters and use subpar tactics unless there is a clear reason as to why they're using subpar tactics. If Starfinder has been designed so poorly that using stock standard tactics makes the game unfun, that's a game problem, not a player problem.
[EDIT]: Also, SFS minimises how much...Peat2017-10-12T22:29:22ZRe: Forums: Advice: Mechanic Build (Final Draft Switch Hitter)Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uncw?Mechanic-Build#152017-10-10T21:49:09Z2017-10-10T21:49:09Z<p>Shield remains active for one minute per mechanic level. You can safely activate this in anticipation of a fight (before you kick down the door or jump down the pit) pretty early on so it doesn't cost any action in combat in most cases.</p>Shield remains active for one minute per mechanic level. You can safely activate this in anticipation of a fight (before you kick down the door or jump down the pit) pretty early on so it doesn't cost any action in combat in most cases.Peat2017-10-10T21:49:09ZRe: Forums: Advice: Mechanic Build (Final Draft Switch Hitter)Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uncw?Mechanic-Build#112017-10-10T17:18:19Z2017-10-10T17:11:12Z<p>It's a solid build - my only tweak (which entirely comes up to personal preference) would be how much you invest in improving initiative. A feat and 3 Mechanic Tricks (although most of them offer other desirable side-benefits like Saves, AC, Perception check) is a lot when it's not a build that really •needs• to go first other than the Supercharge Weapon cast a few times per day.</p>
<p>The Energy Shield line in particular could provide a lot of value if we're strictly looking at combat potential, and Scout Bot and Neural Shunt are both very solid utility options.</p>
<p>EDIT: Noting the poster above, the build could probably do without the Quick Draw feat as well. In addition to the fact that it's not a legal build :) I'm not sure I understand the part where you say in combat tactics 'Swift action draw, and move to put yourself in range of their charge.' Understand the wanting to draw out the -2 atk/-2 AC (although they may not always charge anyway), but you're then giving up a turn of doing damage to them while they can't do damage to you, and you're also likely stepping out of cover. Save a feat, draw the Hammer with a move action, and let them come to you. Worst case scenario, if they back off when you draw the hammer, you switch grips and draw your laser pistol.</p>It's a solid build - my only tweak (which entirely comes up to personal preference) would be how much you invest in improving initiative. A feat and 3 Mechanic Tricks (although most of them offer other desirable side-benefits like Saves, AC, Perception check) is a lot when it's not a build that really *needs* to go first other than the Supercharge Weapon cast a few times per day.
The Energy Shield line in particular could provide a lot of value if we're strictly looking at combat potential,...Peat2017-10-10T17:11:12ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Skill DC progression makes it hard to understand how this game is playable at mid-to-high levelPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2un0m?Skill-DC-progression-makes-it-hard-to#452017-10-09T21:31:37Z2017-10-09T21:31:37Z<p>Not everything is an opposed check. Almost every Skill has some flat DCs along with scaling DCs. You get objectively better at recalling basic information with Culture or jumping higher with Athletics or many other flat checks.</p>Not everything is an opposed check. Almost every Skill has some flat DCs along with scaling DCs. You get objectively better at recalling basic information with Culture or jumping higher with Athletics or many other flat checks.Peat2017-10-09T21:31:37ZRe: Forums: Advice: Sniper viability boost for ops/soldiersPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2unon?Sniper-viability-boost-for-opssoldiers#42017-10-12T19:03:32Z2017-10-09T18:56:53Z<p>Before you add a bunch of house rules to Snipers, I think it's important to realize why they are like they are. It's not just because Devs didn't understand balance and damage curves - when you make long range Combat better than close range (equal or higher damage, no chance of attacking back) the optimal strategy becomes "let the sniper kill as many as they can every fight before we engage at normal range". </p>
<p>Fun for the sniper, less fun for the other players at the table or the GM who now has to balance around that.</p>Before you add a bunch of house rules to Snipers, I think it's important to realize why they are like they are. It's not just because Devs didn't understand balance and damage curves - when you make long range Combat better than close range (equal or higher damage, no chance of attacking back) the optimal strategy becomes "let the sniper kill as many as they can every fight before we engage at normal range".
Fun for the sniper, less fun for the other players at the table or the GM who now...Peat2017-10-09T18:56:53ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: Creature vs. Starship CombatPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2unog?Creature-vs-Starship-Combat#112017-10-09T18:05:55Z2017-10-09T18:05:55Z<p>You make it up and balance based on other similar mechanics, just like you do for everything else that doesn't have a rule. I much prefer two sets of mechanics that do what they do well than one 'unified' set that does one or both poorly for the sake of being interchangeable.</p>You make it up and balance based on other similar mechanics, just like you do for everything else that doesn't have a rule. I much prefer two sets of mechanics that do what they do well than one 'unified' set that does one or both poorly for the sake of being interchangeable.Peat2017-10-09T18:05:55ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Can you Full Attack with an unwieldy weapon?Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2unjt?Can-you-Full-Attack-with-an-unwieldy-weapon#42017-10-07T11:14:33Z2017-10-07T11:14:33Z<p>What kind of trickery are you trying to get up to? I'm curious :)</p>What kind of trickery are you trying to get up to? I'm curious :)Peat2017-10-07T11:14:33ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: The current status of two particular demigods in the setting... (potential spoilers)Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2unjd?The-current-status-of-two-particular-demigods#32017-10-07T09:34:05Z2017-10-07T09:34:05Z<p>They spoiled Iron Gods pretty well, so I don't think they are above spoiling things if it advances the setting</p>They spoiled Iron Gods pretty well, so I don't think they are above spoiling things if it advances the settingPeat2017-10-07T09:34:05ZRe: Forums: Advice: Mechanic Build (Final Draft Switch Hitter)Peathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uncw?Mechanic-Build#72017-10-06T01:09:34Z2017-10-06T01:09:34Z<p>What would you think for the Dwarf stat line? 14/12/12/13/12/8?</p>What would you think for the Dwarf stat line? 14/12/12/13/12/8?Peat2017-10-06T01:09:34ZRe: Forums: Advice: Mechanic/Technomancer multiclass viabilityPeathttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2une9?MechanicTechnomancer-multiclass-viability#22017-10-05T05:04:25Z2017-10-05T05:04:25Z<p>Mechanic and Technomancer are both heavily reliant on levels (exocortex is very subpar if you let it lag behind, casters always struggle with multiclass)</p>
<p>Straight Technomancer can do everything you mentioned above. I think that's your best bet. You can take Heavy Armor and Longarms with feats if you want to have that kind of combat contribution to fall back on.</p>Mechanic and Technomancer are both heavily reliant on levels (exocortex is very subpar if you let it lag behind, casters always struggle with multiclass)
Straight Technomancer can do everything you mentioned above. I think that's your best bet. You can take Heavy Armor and Longarms with feats if you want to have that kind of combat contribution to fall back on.Peat2017-10-05T05:04:25ZRe: Forums: Pathfinder Society: Are First Steps II & III Already Retired?Peatposhlemot (alias of Peat)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2q1is?Are-First-Steps-II-III-Already-Retired#42013-08-11T02:45:29Z2013-08-11T02:45:29Z<p>I came with a similar question. A group of mine ran FS#1-3 today in a marathon session :) However, I can't locate your email address - would a Private Message suffice or am I missing where the email is located?</p>I came with a similar question. A group of mine ran FS#1-3 today in a marathon session :) However, I can't locate your email address - would a Private Message suffice or am I missing where the email is located?Peatposhlemot (alias of Peat)2013-08-11T02:45:29Z