Prof.Dogg's page

Prof.Dogg wrote:

When's the next pdf sale? Christmas?

We don't pre-announce sales, but Black Friday through Cyber Monday Sale and the annual Holiday Discount Code are standard.

Aaron, do you know what date the Holiday sale will begin?

I look at it as more of a "moving on" rather than a "burning down," myself.

That's a fair assessment for now, but I also foresee it as the obliteration of a fun game as it's assimilated into a larger game that is differently focused. All of these universal game systems (GURPS, HERO, etc) have their place but I've found a real comfort in Stardfinder being a unique world / system (even one based on Golarion's history). You can always bring in more PF elements as you wish but the universe of SF is so much greater. I especially like third party content that could be set in nearly any Science Fantasy universe. Grimmerspace had so much potential. I really wish it had gotten off the ground.

I accomplished what I wished at the onset, TheCowardlyLion. I stated my wishes and concerns for SF 2E... If that bothers you, I suggest again you ask yourself why it did so in a manner that caused you to denigrate me.

First, I have nothing but respect for Paizo as a corporate entity and believe they are sincere in their actions. I take them in good faith. That being said, I find this whole "burn it all down" mentality perplexing. I get it though, fear is a great motivator...

Second, for every legal opinion, you'll find five variants... I never bother arguing law, I argue facts (albeit case theory is fine but it has to be clear it's only theory till the evidence is weighed). It's the only sincere means of discussion to determine outcomes. The judiciary often have unpredictable mindsets. I blame the robes...

Third, I hate being denigrated as a nobody (although I find it a convenient tool sometime to be underestimated). But I sincerely hate that anyone would denigrate anyone else as a nobody. Each person brings something to the table, whether that law student or that person who just loves CourtTV or the person who just "likes" things a certain way. TheCowardlyLion's dismissal of me having value caught me the wrong way at the wrong time but I stand behind my response. I claim no more knowledge or insight than the person who reads this, nor did I in my posts until my value was questioned then I simply stated my biographical facts, my history as a person (emphasis on person). I have my bona fides, as I'm certain you do as well.

Fourth, I stated my opinion that SF is a superior ruleset than what it will be evolving into and I decry the upcoming changes as they are unnecessary and frivolous and will weaken what is already a great game. If that bothers you, I suggest you look inward as to why that bothers you...

It doesn't fit cleanly into either category. SF a science fantasy game and setting, so the similarity to Star Wars isn't surprising. It's a pretty small genre after all.

I often describe SF as more Star Wars than Star Wars...

I always act in good faith. It's one of my more annoying qualities I'm told...

I can't offer any insider knowledge or guarantees, but it's been 2 years since the 3rd printing went out, and Paizo generally waits until books are out of print (or nearly) so before reprinting. At this point, I have to assume that odds are overwhelming that you'd receive the 3rd printing.

Thank you. I appreciate that glimmer...

To "water something down" in this context would involve substantial simplifications of core aspects of the game for the sake of making things simpler. PF2R's changes haven't done that, they barely even touched the core systems and almost all of it was cosmetic.

You are correct, I should have clarified... when I spoke of watering down, I specifically meant the removal of important qualities that make SF unique, not a simplification of mechanics... PF2/PFR is a simpler system and I do not begrudge any game design which seeks to undo unnecessary complexity, but I'm referring to artistic qualities of game design that will be lost that currently makes SF great.

It's the opposite of watering down in my opinion.

And pretty sure Paizo and their lawyers have a better grasp of the legal situation than a random forum poster.

Random heh? Well fair enough, you don't know anything about me, my knowledge and training, my degrees, my court time, or my career and eventual retirement from an Attorney's General office. But what do I know?

Look, I don't care if someone is working fast food after their recent high school graduation or long in the tooth like me... Value someone else's thoughts and, yes, even their feelings, when you speak with them... It makes the conversation more pleasant and everyone can benefit from it...

Oh i never said I didn't think SF wasn't a 3e clone... it truly is but that's not a bad thing. SF is a great 3e clone! 3e was a great game system and the fruits of it reside in all current d20 style games, especially PF and SF. But that's just it... There was no need to water down PF2 and now subsequently SF by the changes in PFR (and I don't think PFR is a bad system, it just wasn't necessary). Legally in WotC's shadow, they are no better off as they were pre-PFR. It is still the same skeleton as it has been since the inception of 3e and its eventual morphing into PF. The PFR changes are fine in themselves, but SF is distinctly a different game. By watering down SF with PFR, Paizo weakens the SF system. Make changes! Improve! Playtest! But don't drag SF down! And popularity should never be a measurement for quality. There are great games out there with very little shelf movement. SF never had a chance to shine. I don't know why but it is what it is. Now I'm afraid it'll just be a series of books for avid PF collectors more so than its own game.

Flavor-wise, SF is not PF. Yes, I know there is all the intertwined history et al but SF became its own universe (much like how W40K may have been born of WHFRPG but is uniquely separate as well). That being said, SF2 should not be compatible with PF Remastered. For one, SF is a superior system. For two, the scale is very different. There is still genuine lethality in SF combat whereas PF2/PFR combat nearly guarantees PC success. No two SF characters are equal. All PF2/PFR characters are so equal, little light can crawl between two PCs standing together. I don't say that as negative criticism, they are just two very different games. I wish they'd just reprint the SF books under ORC and leave it at that. None of the changes in PFR legally distinguish that game from PF2. They are all still D&D3E clones so until radical mechanical and flavor changes occur they will remain so. But then, they wouldn't be the same game would they?

If I were to purchase the hardcover Corebook from the store, would it be 3rd printing? If I purchased it non-mint (a few dings don't bother me as I'll be adding to them I'm sure), would it be 3rd printing?

I keep finding used copies in used bookstores (especially since Paizo announced 2e) but to date I haven't found the most recent printing yet.

When's the next pdf sale? Christmas?

The example on p. 327 of the Corebook shows for the Engineer (Rose-7) to Divert Action to enhance Gunnery: "Since the PCs’ starship is tier 1, the DC of the Engineering check to perform this action is 17."

The rule on p. 323 though shows "Divert (Engineering Phase): You can divert auxiliary power into one of your starship’s systems, giving it a boost. This requires a successful Engineering check (DC = 10 + 1-1/2 × your starship’s tier)"

Which value is the correct base? 10 or 15?

Any sales going on for the Paizo store?

I'm a paid GM. I show up prepared for each session and make every effort to be entertaining and adjudicate fairly. My players consistently show back up (they are after all paying to be there). It's a job where I get to pay for groceries while having fun... I suppose the alternative is picking up a shift at Walmart or McDonalds but this is where I get to meet people who share my interests and enjoy them while also paying off a medical bill or pay the rent.

Paizo doesn’t generally doesn’t put it’s newest products on sale in favor of supporting local game stores. Our sales are usually focused on older products we want to move. When we do have sales, we don’t generally announce them ahead of time. However, you can expect a Black Friday sale and a holiday discount code, as usual.

Thank you for confirmation, Aaron. I'm planning on putting that discount towards some PF1 items. Much, much obliged... Now, come on Black Friday! My budget is ready to be squandered...

I'm planning out the rest of the year in advance of the holidays... Any word on any upcoming sales? I missed out on the Gen Con sale. There's no more scheduled Great Golem sales any more are there? Is that its replacement essentially?

Only for subscriptions. They sell print and pdf as separate products.

Thanks, that's what I thought. Someone insisted otherwise so I thought maybe they had changed their policy.

If I purchase a print product, do I also receive the pdf copy? Or is that only for subscriptions?

Right now you can get Pathfinder compatible PDFs for 15-25% off. Like all of JBE's Pathfinder PDFs. They're all on sale.

Of course if you want a deep discount like discussed upthread, we've got a bundle right here for 67% off the regular price.

Dale, I just wanted to say that JBE is some of the best gaming resources. Good stuff...

... At my pace If I had started way back then I'd still have 21 more years...

Even with modern medicine, I'll very likely be dead by then... But, man, what a great ending to your life!!! Meet me in the nursing home! Bring dice! (because I'd keep forgetting where I put mine)

Correct. And that's the crux of it. As a marketing decision, when do they start slashing their prices? Too soon, you lose long-term profit... Too late, you lose both immediate & a portion of future profit because fewer people willing to buy it as "outdated"... I'm personally right now in my life on that line as a consumer where I'm still viable... Next year or in the next few years, maybe not so much bc I and my group have moved on to PF4 or D&D7 or such...

Well, figure it this way. I will occassionally buy a module, maybe two every year or so... I'm an established customer. I mostly already know what I need and what I will use, months in advance. The only way to entice me to buy more would be to sweeten the deal... There's potentially more customers out there in similar positions and then there are others that will drop a dime every time something is released. The latter already has their books. The former (i.e. my group) will hold onto their money till the right time. It's basically how Kickstarters market. An initial gung-ho group pays in at the beginning, usually full price. Then later when the KS closes, the publisher begins offering remaining stock at a reduced rate to lure in others.

Paizo will probably get $50-$60 from me this year off 1e... Maybe more but about that... But if they make a really lucrative offer, I may just have to budget a lot more to them immediately.

Sure. But 75% off beats $0...

If they did $5-$7 per book, I'd do it. I have a handful so I wouldn't have to buy them all. But I'd buy all I didn't have for that price.

I would purchase the entire catalog of 1st edition adventure path modules pdfs if Paizo would ever put them on sale. Just saying...

So, I'm essentially learning to "build" a PC by recreating the pregens for the Slithering.

Question for the veteran PF2 players:

Oraka (Orc Investigator) has the following stats at level 5:

Str 14, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 12

How did she get that combination at least so far as the normal ability progression goes and assuming there was no alternative method used to generate her?

I have tried every combination I can find and she always has two points more than any standard progression I can figure.

(and yes, I do realize this is very nerdy and nitpicky question but the math combinations are aggravating me)