Saluzi's page

The go to scholar on all myth is Joseph Campbell. His contribution to Star Wars really changed it. His most famous concept, The Hero's Journey, which, if you google, will keep you up past midnight complete with plot diagrams. It's the idea of the monomyth. That all myths are expressions and variations of a single master myth.
It's from his most famous book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Not easy reading. My book mark in it is maybe a decade old (but I'll get to it this summer. I promise!!)

Hmm Undead create undead under their command - Specters and Shadows come to mind.

Are you aware of a late medieval heavy crossbow trick with a tower shield - especially during sieges? The crossbowman wore one on his back. He would shoot, turnaround, cock and load, then turn back to shoot.

"Soldier ask not now or ever where to war your banners go
Grasp the naked sword descending. Strike and do not count the blow"

"Men of Harlech stop your dreaming.
Can't you see their spear points gleaming?"
From "Zulu Dawn" where both sides sung.

"From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli
We will fight our country's battles on the land and on the sea"

"We did it before and we can do it again
And we will do it a again.
We'll lick the Germans and then we'll go and give the Japs what for"

"Up in the air junior bird men. Up in the air tough boy scouts"

oops

Google Piper Waterloo - be sure and look at the paintings.
The British Army classifies the bagpipe as a weapon of war.
The original kettle drums were a bit smaller and used while mounted (that's why the round bottoms) The Turkish army would advance in silence with a lot of those beating. They were also used like the bugle for signaling.
Speaking of google, has anyone in this discussion bothered to google or search on the history of bards?
Bards are still not set right. A bard could get you killed or get you crowned thru reputation. Sing that some warrior with a rep was really a pushover and challenges would start until he was dead.(They were the first PR men). They were also walking textbooks before writing. After writing there was a custom of blinding them so that writing would not spoil them.
The first D&D attempt at a bard required that you have levels of both thief and druid first.
On oratory, look up St Crispian's Day Speech, one of the best. William Jennings Brian walked into the Democratic convention with few delegates, gave the Cross of Gold speech, and was nominated for president right then.

Scenarios can be very challenging, just not in combat. I stopped playing D&D with 4th because it was so obviously killit grabit. I'd hate to see Pathfinder go the same way. I'd hate to see the puzzle challenge of the game seeing how you could use the rules in a weird, perverse way to minimax.If players were presented with games they could not win by destruction, no matter how much, we might see more balanced builds. Yes,there would be howls from the combat puppies but every darn game can't be just for them.

With this level of Diplomacy plus what else you have tagging along, you could persuade ANYONE to help you! Chat up a demon or a god!

1. A lot could be solved with the dolphin training solution:
There is no way to punish a dolphin - just doesn't work. The solution for unwanted behavior is to reward it and tie it to a specific cue.
Then, never give the cue. The behavior goes away.
2. PFS should be in the orphan business - raise them all to get relics(the Consortium too). Other organizations (and PFS) could raise them to be spys.

well...so much for that attempt at humor.