Richard Leonhart's page

... because I believe in Kants categorical imperative and I don't want my ennemies to have ranged weapons.

A Paladin and a Lich walk into a bar ...
sorry, I'm not sure I've heard that one before but here's my guess:

The Paladin fights him outside if possible.

Now I bet someone will ask, what if the lodge itself is the philactely of the lich, and it's impossible to kill it for good without breaking the rules.
Then the player punches the GM right in the face, there is no other outcome that is as satisfying and doesn't cause the paladin to break his code.

I would say he's a bit like an older person, suspected to be a witch, lives outside of town because she's awkward and nobody likes her very much, but when the crops fail and the sheep die people know that she can help, but will shun her after she helped.
Of course you can manipulate while helping but if they don't feel that you personally have helped them, they are unlikely to want you close.

Also this feels like dirty munchkinism and you should be ashamed.
Good Luck nonetheless.

If you read Discworld novels, I would think of Granny Weatherhex when seeing those stats.

some lightning elemental and a few golems powered with electricity by Tesla.

we always looked that for every important skill there was someone who maxed it.
For the rest, one (prepared) magic user, so that we can possibly have any (arcane) spell.
And perhaps one mundane damage dealer, melee or ranged isn't important.
And (because we're oldschool) one healer, even though wands would do the trick just as well.

But really the only thing we decided was who took what skill. Perception being of course maxed out by pretty much everyone.

I've been schooled in the "fudge till it's fun and admit nothing (to your players)"-school of DMing. By the way PF has GMs.
This is the way I play it too, preparation shouldn't take longer than to play it out.
You need to be quite well in improvisation for this to work.
The reason why I DM like this is not that I'm a bad planner, but that I'm quite lazy, and I don't like wasting time (there was a thread very recently where players killed a quest NPC they shouldn't have).

The problem I sometimes have is that I forget the contingency plan I noted earlier in my head and have to improvise a bit worse.
This style only works with players who aren't too rules lawyerish and are mainly in it for the fun.

golems are immune to everything that allows Spellresistence (Except as noted)
thus EX and even SU abilities can target them in general.

sadly yes, I do plan to lvl 20 ahead, perhaps not every skill, feat or spell but at least the most important stuff for the build.

I miss the happy old days when ignorance was bliss and I just played my druid without thinking about things to come.

I still have the image of my heavy metal (=adamantine) dwarf, he has a two handed flaming and electric axe-guitarre, and knows some dirty songs to sing before passing out in a bar.
Arcane duelist for the awesome!

But it's truly hard to find a non-laughable bard idea. It's a bit the same as cackling every round for a witch. Altough there a sinister chuckle seems cooler.

Anyhow, bards are still fun, altough alchemists took part of their splendor (and like 99% of the rogues splendor too).

yes to all, except intelligent item. It is an item, and it is intelligent, but it does not have any abilities from an intelligent item.

Just think of it as a paralysed monkey familiar wrapped around your face, that you can later enchant as an item. I do not know how it would be handled if you would make it an intelligent item of its own. If you're interested in that I would happy to flag your post for FAQ.

if noone is saying it, then me, modified shield adamantine golem.
Unkillable under normal circumstances. No need to carefully roll out loot, he's made of treasure.
Shows the all powerful wizards and any other spellcaster who is boss.

Modifications are normally homemade, but even the vanilla one scares the hell out of everyone. You can just run, but altough he is slower, you have to sleep.

it's evil in my book, but I often get criticised for my Disney view of alignments, even if the alignment implimentation suggests a Disney view of the initial developers in my opinion.

But also it's pragmatic and smart of course, but still plain evil because it's torturing. Either they can feel pain, and it's evil, or they don't feel pain, then it's not torturing because they have no incentive at all to give you information.

@carn
you wanted to know about RAI, and I told what I think the intention was. You give me counterarguments by RAW, and you know RAW, and nobody is arguing it.

I know that the price of the caster lvl is factored in, but for potions the assumption is that the caster lvl is the minimum possible to create it. I believe the availibility of items per city is based on that and will break down otherwise.

Also I don't believe that everything is custom made. I bet there are a lot of clerics out there creating wands of cure light wounds in advance because most adventurer groups don't want to wait or have you ever waited for an NPC vendor to create such an item for you?
The same goes for +1 daggers and similar items.

And rules of thumb like "items below price X are normally available" are there for the GM to apply, the item you ask for is not normal.
If the magus has a crafter in his party that is roughly the same lvl as him, then this is perfectly RAI I believe.

nitpicking such an item doesn't seem to be RAI.
The availibility of an item is in regards of price, but a higher caster level is supposed to create higher priced item.
Do you really expect a lvl 20 caster to be found in a smallish city? Then only 3 charges? Staffs are always created with 10 charges (full), so finding something used is even rarer.
And something this "senseless" would be near impossible. Except for that archetype, who would actually use that staff for its spell?

I would houserule that something like that has to be custom made, and would cost a bit more for that reason. So it will probably have to be a quest reward as lvl 20 PC-classes have a high probability of being quest-givers I assume.

From the balanced point of view its not "broken" (yep, some people want to get the torches when seeing that word) but it is highly questionable. But if you got a witch with slumber and a wizard casting black tentacles at the beginning of every encounter, than I guess you can also have such a staff.

just everytime they have to make a decision on how to build their character, remind them that optimizing is bad and takes away fun.

Optimizing is like a reflex that has to be repressed constantly, it's not their fault, it's an illness, an addiction.

If they still do it, either hit them with a stick or don't play with them.

@Detect Magic
Actually I believe it was more this.
But I'm not sure about what mice the player though. It was awesome though.

as you mention history and literature quite often, you should focus your campaign around something out of history and literature.
Perhaps some ancient greek battle where they have to find a way to get into a fortress (a giant wooden horse would only be one of the many many possibilities). Greek mythologie recongnized magic, even if it was very different, and mainy used/given by the gods.

for statistics, I would plan a few minutes at the end to talk about things like "averages" or stuff like that. If it's more advanced you could calculate probabilities for 3d6, and if it's like really advanced, probability in 4d6 drop lowest (actually brute force algorithm is the only solution I know).

anyhow, great, and best of luck. And with historical fights you have a good excuse for the parents, history books are full of violence too. Perhaps keep the historical era where they are currently in history class.

I don't see it as a trolling thread or as badly formulated.

But my answer is a question:
Why do some people like to solve difficult mathematical problems?

Because they can, and noone else could do it faster. I've never played a cheese build of someone else, altough I have a strong munchkin tendency I really try to supress.

the old carrot and stick trick works well:
hit him with a stick, and if you get tired before he sees reason, eat a carrot and continue hitting.

no, seriously, there is not much we (I) can say, talk again with the player, talk with the GM and the other players, and possibly leave or accept the problem.

If you're a centaur cavalier, what do you get instead of a mount?

As you are the mount, you get a rider of course. Some lvl 1 commoner redneck who whips you when you slack down.

I'm not sure I fully get your idea, but if it is something like in magic the gathering with only clear keywords and an interaction compendium, then I'm against it.
Either there are too many keywords and it gets complicated, or there aren't enough and you get something like a card game.

So, no thanks for me, if rules are so clear that every human understands them and each other, it's too simple. If rules are so logical that every computer could be programmed to understand them, then you might aswell play a computergame.

Don't get me wrong, I often understand rules wrong, but I love the first (zerot?) rule, that the word of the GM is law.

the rules really don't offer much to punish those who dump cha (it's the opposite for wisdom). Just accept that this can happen if you use pointbuy, or clearly state "no stat below 10".

I would just tell the player that if his character is/plays vastly more powerful than the rest of the group and thus ruins their fun, he has to be replaced.

this is perhaps less technical, but drawings of outfits would be great. Always good for inspiration.

as said in the last thread, a mundane alternative to simple +X bonus on armor/weapons, (doesn't need to stack, I just don't want to be the shining beacon of detect magic).

flamethrower loaded with alchemist fire (can be used with alchemist bombs).

Bombs that explode, you know, things flying around, blast damage, perhaps some rules for that.
Similar to poisons: TNT, nitroglycerin and everything other that is fun in the hands of a goblin gunslinger.

Goblin Gunslinger: double that hackbutt
Ninja/Monk Human (gestalt): the perfect butler (I unoptimize him through roleplaying)
kobold alchemist sometimes vivisectionist: zoidberg and all other mad doctors, scientists and pyromaniacs combined.
witch: you say "I evil eye monster X then cackle" and your turn goes a lot faster. You've got all your spells to cast curse on anoying city folk.
halfling scrollmaster: the next time you see a kid playing with cardboard sword and shield, you'll run like hell

elf wizard: sometimes you just want to be the very very best (personal opinion of course). Conjuration (Teleportation) or Divination.

monk pushes all the right buttons, if you want to be even more graceful you could multiclass with ninja.

just change the monastery to gentleman-school.

perhaps monk of the empty hand and hit people with your dandy cane.

Rules as written, no, one head is adjacent to the next one perhaps, but it's not several "foes" adjacent to each other.

Rule of cool: yes! As a GM I would of course allow it, it's one monster and one feat, it's not like it will happen all that often.

players normally ask for leadership, thinking/knowing it is broken, if you are a little bit more strict, like using these suggestions above, players are sad.
Offer him to take another feat first, then stop the abuse.

But yes, you're totally right that the use you describe is way stronger than any feat should be.

nice read
some mentions:
a nat 20 should be a good thing, if you want to break his staff I would have hoped for a natural 1 and saying he hit a bad spot with the wrong part of the staff, and it broke. But you're the GM.

I hope you adjusted encounters for 2 players, not sure if there is something to do this in the beginner box. A wizard and a rogue will have problem I expect, the rogue needs a flanker, the wizard wants to try to stay out of melee, and nobody can absorb much damage.
Perhaps deal more nonlethal damage, and they get captured.

Leading to my next point, do you truly want to introduce your children to the notion of death this way? I'm not sure how mature they are, but try to keep them alife, they are children, it's one of their first games and they have a very suboptimal party :)

Great to hear that there is a new generation of (pen & paper) roleplayers coming.
I hope they could sleep after so much excitement and an open end.

how about "charged" handwraps?
50 of them cost as much as a normal item, and they become nonmagical when used once.
1. you get something new
2. multiattacks shouldn't be a problem anymore
3. core items are still very valid, sometimes you just need that extra kick.

So perhaps you got a +5 around your foot, and a +2 shocking handwrap around a hand, you can still attack without the wrap, but if you need the extra power you give a hefty kick, or a shocking punch.

plasmagun, good idea, put perhaps flavored a little bit more fantasy style.
Like you load it with thunderstones, and it deals 1d6 damage.
Also Flamethrowers loaded with alchemist fire dealing 1d6 damage per use in a straight line, and 1 damage for people at the side of that line, or people who stay in that line the next round.

And the Alchemist can use his bombs with it, and deal appropriatly more damage. This would give him even more style, without the need of an archetype, and it's basicly the same thing as throwing the bomb.

why change something that works, like spell DCs, or line breaks, or ... readability?

and killing 70% is good.

hobgoblins come from Lord of the rings, Urukhai were initially called Hobgoblins, only Tolken saw his mistake and renamed them, because from legend hobgoblin are smaller goblins not bigger ones.
It's not an excuse, it's an explanation, but every race should have a right to exist.

nobody hates the alchemist

that said, you might add
"I broke the game, admire me"

I hated Lilarcor, it was so annoying.

don't let her do it herself, that's no fun at all. The most sensible thing I've heard is to let another player roleplay that bit, perhaps introduce him as "secondary GM" so it's official. Or you may let her choose the player (don't know if that is a good idea).

female-elf-bard, perhaps I play with the wrong crowd but I've seen far too much of these darn hippies who think that life is a love poem.

it's a goblins holiday, goblin children will come knocking at the door and ask for a gift of books with the saying "book or beat", she doesn't have any books, or won't give any they'll all pull out saps and attack her till she looses conscience but will let her live.
every adventure should include goblins.

p.s. the trick is, she has to diplomacy the NPCs to donate books if she hasn't got any, and if they attack and she kills at least one the parents will come and put the house on fire and hunt everyone, she has to realize that she has to deal nonlethal damage too.

some spell to prevent cave ins
and most importantly: paranoia

do you have to hold the ring to your ear, and wear black suit and tie?

anyhow, it's a ring that transmits a tone, so:
Ringtone.

I don't think he is being rewarded for being a coward, or what do you mean? Because he survives battles? Well, if you can run away, then so should you all before you die.

Optimizing is not wrong, you all seem like a funny bunch

Not contributing to combat is 100% okay. The Gm has to balance combats for one fewer character, but as long as he is contributing to fun.

Yes, you are a huge drama queen, okay not really, but somehow I feel like calling you that. No, you're just a little bit too mix-maxing focused (which is okay), but you have to respect those that play for fun.

halfling wizard scrollmaster, little kid with cardboard sword and shield.

so if I have this undead trough leadership of whatever, can I hand him my gun and it gets reloaded for free?

Those poor undead, chained in the cellar of gunsmiths to create ammo ...

I really hope there will be an archetype for gunslinger with this SU ability

if leveling up is so important for you, then you should ask them what feats/Skills/classes they want to add before they get their level up because you have to provide the NPCs for them to do so.

If you don't provide them and don't let them pick those things for that reason ... well then either a) you are the RP-GM and you can do whatever you want, or b) see title (no offense).

I would never disallow a combination because I don't think such a character should exist or I can't think of background story.
I mean if the lvl 19 Fighter suddenly wants 1 level or wizard, why not? If I as a GM want him to find a proper trainer, it's my job to lead a quest to a school wizards.

rule 0 is probably the only rule I 100% know, understand and apply.

a new spell: summon swarm of toy soldiers

magic matchsticks, keep you warm for one whole night.

do you want to be the guy seeing the nightmares or do you want to be the nightmares?
last option would be summoner or alchemist, first option rogue or bard.

cookies that keep fresh forever and are very nurishing (yeah, lord of the rings copyright lawyers will come knocking at my door),

candy canes that act as potions of cure light wounds

gumdrops that let you talk to reindeers for an hour

a cake that silences someone if you smash it in their face

you have an oracle of the SUN god and she wants the SUN blade and ANGEL gave to your group, damn she must be insane! I mean what roleplayer would ask the adamantine katana wielding ninja for that weapon?

Sorry Blue Star, you've got good stuff, the oracle got fluff reasons (not the same as irrational) to want that weapon, let her have it and ask for something reasonable in return (not her holy symbol for example).

if by lvl 20 you don't live in your own custommade plane with nymphs and succubi you are doing something wrong.
Also, it depends a lot on your wisdom score wether you go nuts or not.

I'd take "extreme cold" over a sword hitting me any time.
However the rules seem quite reasonable, maybe you just took a feat "endure extreme cold" and forgot to look on your character sheet, or maybe it's a racial bonus for all people coming from the northern regions.