Sarta's page

So, when my players were visited by Duchess Veleto Lotheed, they were happy to host her. Even showing her around Stachys and making it widely known she was staying with them.

During her visit, they arrested Partulles Mayne for murdering Ershal Sutor. In the course of investigating things, they discovered Sutor’s mule killed Sutor. After realizing how much the city dislikes Mayne, the cavalier in the party (being fairly certain Mayne will win) declared that Mayne and the mule must fight to the death to determine guilt or innocence.

The party’s baroness, an opera-singing Court Bard, decided that she can improve upon this by writing a three act opera that culminates in the half-orc / mule fistfight. The group decided to make it a festival and are having a sculpture of the upcoming fight made (a bare-chested half-orc punching a rampant donkey as it strikes him with a hoof). Invitations have been sent to the Crabbes and Baronet Vort.

While the party was prepping Stachys townfolk for the upcoming festival, Gul arrived to take the Duchess back. She has refused to leave until after the festival. Gul, upon hearing of the planned trial by combat, has expressed his disgust at the plan and will be looking for any reason he can to arrest the party for treason.

So, next session will be a wild festival, which the Night Swan (who hates the party) will also be crashing. After all, only sick aristocrats would make such a mockery of justice at the expense of the common man (and mules).

I was a bit disappointed that the AP didn’t include the PC’s representing their kingdom at the Outlaw Council. If they are rulers, then they should have an opportunity to meet and interact with their peers.

So, between books 3 and 4 I added their first visit to the Outlaw Council. This was a chance to confuse them a bit by having Castruccio be seemingly nice and helpful, if a bit scatter-brained. While Mayor Raston Selline of Mivon seemed to not respect the party and seemed overtly hostile to them. This set up book 5 a bit better because the party was less suspicious of Castruccio.

While attending, Ullorth Ungin of Tymon put out a call for military support to help protect his border (and the rest of the River Kingdoms) from encroaching Razmirians. This prompted the players to begin training armies after pledging to provide support.

I rounded it out with a devious assassination attempt by the poisoner’s guild (hired by Castruccio) as the party left the moot.

We found that there were very few difficult fights: the raid on the Stag Lord, Vordakai, and then a couple of encounters in Armag’s Tomb.

The static encounters on the map, which can quite easily be the only fight in a 24 hour period were usually the same CR as the APL of the party, but were not difficult at all. Yes,12 level 3 barbarians are CR 10, but at level 12 they’re a speed bump. My players began rolling dice with the loser having to solo the next fight, while the others watched and golf-clapped. If there is only going to be one fight in 24 hours (maybe three with random encounters), then those encounters should be +2 CR at the minimum to be much of a challenge.

I knew Kankerata in book 3 wouldn’t last a round against my party, so I had him become part of the initiation ceremony of the centaurs. The party were instructed to dip the palm of one of their hands in berry juice that would dry in four hours and tasked with each slapping a palm print on Kankerata without hurting him.

Oh I see, Painlord. You'll only play after we leave...:P

If it makes you feel any better, I continued to observe after Pain and I got back.

— Will

It appears a digit was dropped from the EAC of the Subtier 1-2 Ambushers in SFS 1-2. Their EAC is listed as 1. Should it be 11?

Hello Sarta,

If you start a subscription start it with the Alien Anthology. Let me know once you have and I can attach the Core Rulebook that was shipped out to the subscription.

Thanks. Done. Order 4422322.

I preordered Starfinder months ago, before subscribing was an option. For some reason I thought I'd be getting a PDF with this purchase. Clearly I didn't read the details closely enough. My order has since shipped and is on its way, but no PDF was made available.

I'm happy to start the Starfinder subscription now, but am I too late to get a free PDF by adding the subscription? I'm assuming that since my preorder has shipped, starting my subscription with the core book will result in purchasing it twice.

How can they apply to the bomb but not the splash when the splash damage is based on bomb damage? Splash is the minimum damage, but that minimum still factors in Bardic Performance, Prayer, PBS, and any other modifiers to damage.

Inspire Courage, Deadly Aim, Divine Favor, and similar buffs increase the damage dealt by a specific attack. They do not change the base damage of the weapons being used. They simply increase the amount of damage dealt in a single attack.

As such, they don't change the minimum damage dealt by bombs, so the splash remains unchanged.

From my reading, bonuses to weapon damage apply only to the bomb -- not its splash. As a result, Point Blank Shot, Inspire Courage, Divine Favor, Deadly Aim, and any other bonus to weapon damage do not apply when calculating the minimum damage of the bomb.

However, Fox's Cunning and other buffs to Int will apply to both the bomb and its splash.

I have a player with a Vigilante who is a foppish Jhaltero for his social side.

Combat maneuvers are mostly done in place of a melee attack and suffer from those same bonuses and penalties. Grappling however should not.

If Combat Maneuvers are done "in place of a (the) melee attack", doesn't this by definition men's they are NOT melee attacks and therefore should not suffer the same penalties?

"Prone: The character is lying on the ground. A prone attacker has a –4 penalty on melee attack rolls and cannot use a ranged weapon (except for a crossbow)."

Does the term "melee attack rolls" also apply to natural attacks or combat maneuvers?

In the Combat chapter, Melee Attacks are their own category of attacks -- different from Natural Attacks and Combat Maneuvers. So, does the penalty from being prone apply only to the Melee Attack action or all forms of attack rolls while in melee?

I'm hoping to find a RAW source, since this will have PFS applicability.

Thank you Tonya and everyone who helped make my four-year tenure as Venture Lieutenant of Fresno a joy. It has been a pleasure.

The hair I'd split as a GM would be that "dropping" is a free action, but "throwing" is a Standard or part of a Full action. The Blinkback Belt specifically works for weapons drawn and thrown, not drawn and dropped.

Thanks Mark for such a well-written and thorough explanation. I've tried to clarify this topic myself repeatedly and know exactly how tricky a topic it is.

I too held the position that one needs a sunrod (or other non-magical light source) to see when Darkness and Daylight overlap with dark ambient conditions, but never had enough clout to prove it.

Per RAW, spellbooks and formula books are class abilities (or part of a class ability). Without these class abilitities, there is nothing to indicate that members of other classes can scribe spells and formula -- regardless of the Spellcraft or Craft Alchemy checks made.

Another option I've used in place of a CdG is having a monster drag the unconscious PC away. Works best in pack fights, especially in cases like ghouls and such. It wastes the monster's attack in a plausible manner without immediately killing the down PC, and has the added bonus of a worrisome air of desperation to save the comrade.

Of the few times I've run Halls of the Flesh Eaters, my favorite memory is a literal tug of war over the unconscious body of a fallen pathfinder.

This ^^^

Mindless and hungry undead, such as zombies, are unlikely to switch targets. They want to feed! However, I often have them try to drag their victims to a secluded spot to eat.

Congrats, Linda!

I enjoyed our brief conversation at PaizoCon 2014, comparing notes on our respective Kingmaker games. You clearly demonstrated your ability for cunning design then.

I look forward to playing and running products you work on.

Scott is an amazing GM and player. He definitely deserves to be awarded his fifth star and to be celebrated for all the work he has put in as a GM, organizer, volunteer, and player.

My favorite moment at the table with him has to have been watching his paladin collaborate with Trusty Buddy as a peer.

Thanks June for relaying the news. My condolences to Richard's family, friends, and all who had the privelage to game with him.

I have the pre-printed map. Sadly, someone chose to color-code the circles on the map itself. Which I felt was a bit revealing. As a result, I also created circles from cardstock and used a small piece of Blu-tack to stick them to the map.

I was also disappointed to see the spinning blades in room 12 printed directly on the map -- even though the description indicates that they are recessed in the floor until someone is adjacent.

A datum: I do not allow a character to draw a wand as if it were a weapon at my table, following the reasoning outlined above by those who share my reading of the rules. That's one of the reasons weaponwand is a useful spell.

I'm assuming you are referring to only disallowing it as a Free Action while moving, because the rules are very clear that a wand can be retrieved as if a weapon:

"This action also applies to weapon-like objects carried in easy reach, such as wands. If your weapon or weapon-like object is stored in a pack or otherwise out of easy reach, treat this action as retrieving a stored item."

If you disregard this definition of Drawing a Weapon in the very next paragraph, it seems to me that you are getting into murky territory:

"If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you may draw a weapon as a free action combined with a regular move."

You've thrown out the only definition of Draw a Weapon in the ruleset, which also includes "carried in easy reach" as a restriction. This opens up the possibility of Drawing a Weapon as a free action from backpacks, from pack animals, from adjacent allies sheathes, etcetera.

Spring-loaded wrist sheathes don't provoke since they are swift actions, and swift actions never provoke.

Please cite your source that swift actions never provoke.

I provided two examples of Swift Actions that do: the movement provided by a Quick Runner's Shirt and a Ranged Attack from a Quickened spell.

I'm not sure a spring loaded sheath provokes, I've not heard of any swift action that provokes especially since I've been told it didn't in 3.5.

The rules specify that casting spells quickened to Swift actions does not provoke, but makes no other exceptions for Swift actions. As a result, casting a Quickened Snowball may not provoke, but taking the ranged touch Attack involved with the spell does. Another Swift Action that provokes would be the movement allowed by a Quick Runner's Shirt.

The movement associated with the Oracle Revelation "Surprising Charge" similarly provokes as an Immediate Action.

Under Free Actions there is a disclaimer: "Free actions rarely incur attacks of opportunity." Plenty of exceptions can be found: the Stand Up Rogue talent or reloading a hand crossbow or firearm as a Free action.

So, when the write up for spring-loaded wrist sheaths specifies that, aside from swift vs. move, they work just like regular wrist sheathes (which provoke), there is no reason to assume differently.

That aside you're missing the caveat that the weapon or whatever needs to be "in easy reach" for it to be a free action as part of a move action. Otherwise you're out of luck. There isn't much need for an FAQ on this.

The reason for the FAQ is that there are still GM's who claim that the second paragraph under Drawing or Sheathing a Weapon does not reference the act of Drawing a Weapon as defined in paragraph 1.

Wrist sheathes and spring-loaded wrist sheathes provoke AoO's and are something completely different from the Draw a Weapon action as described on page 186 of the CRB under Draw or Sheathe a Weapon.

The FAQ requested is specifically requesting a ruling on the two paragraphs in this particular section.

One interpretation is that the first paragraph defines what it means to draw a weapon, while the second paragraph explains when drawing a weapon can be a free action, rather than a move as described in the first paragraph.

The second interpretation is that the first paragraph defines the move action of drawing a weapon and the second paragraph describes a completely unrelated and undefined action that is also called drawing a weapon, but is a free action.

Rather than continue to beat this thread while it's out of its grave why don't we take the discussion over to the FAQ request linked above?

Thanks Nefreet, that is a better thread to continue these discussions on. I necroed this simply because it was the most recent of threads on this still disputed topic.

If the second paragraph does not relate to the first:

What constitutes drawing a weapon when doing so as a free action when combined with a regular move?

Can the weapon be in a backpack or a Bag of Holding?

After all, if you throw out the first paragraph with regard to weapon-like objects, you are also throwing out the limitation that the weapon cannot be "stored in a pack or otherwise out of easy reach".

Specific trumps the general: Generally speaking, drawing a weapon includes weapon-like objects. In order for the second paragraph to not apply to wands, it would need to specify that drawing weapon-like objects is not a free action when performing a move action.

Ran into this "table variation" last night for the very first time, which was interesting.

So, let's look at how Pathfinder works at it's core:

1. Things are defined.
2. Rules are created for these things.
3. Specific exceptions to the rules in step 2 may be introduced that modify the thing described in step 1 as specified. ("Specific trumps general").

One of the things defined is types of actions. Drawing a Weapon is one such action. The definition can be found in the first paragraph of the Draw or Sheath a Weapon section of the Combat Chapter under Move Actions (page 186):

"Drawing a weapon so that you can use it in combat, or putting it away so that you have a free hand, requires a move action. This action also applies to weapon-like objects carried in easy reach, such as wands. If your weapon or weapon-like object is stored in a pack or otherwise out of easy reach, treat this action as retrieving a stored item."

This paragraph also includes the ruling that this action requires a move action.

Up until now, I think everyone is likely on the same page with regard to this definition and ruling. So, let's take a look at the specific exception to this ruling that appears in the very next paragraph:

"If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you may draw a weapon as a free action combined with a regular move."

So, an exception to the ruling in paragraph 1 is introduced (free action when taking a regular move vs. separate move action) and the prerequisites of this exception are specifically listed (+1 BAB).

There are folks who are claiming that since the second paragraph doesn't specify that this also applies to weapon-like objects, then it doesn't. However, this is false reasoning. It doesn't need to. It references the action "drawing a weapon", which was defined in the paragraph above and includes drawing weapon-like objects. Under "specific trumps general", the second paragraph would have to create a specific exception to weapon-like objects if that was the intention.

Anyone who doesn't accept this line of reasoning is discarding the entire definition of drawing a weapon introduced in paragraph one when performing a regular move. Since the first paragraph also specifies that weapons must be stowed on the person in easy access, the faulty interpretation creates the opportunity for players to draw weapons from backpacks and bags of holding as a free action.

My problem with the demo guide is the inclusion of Lirianne, who is a class not available to folks playing in the PACG. I'd far rather see demos set up around the 7 playable classes.

I've recently spoke to the organizer of an upcoming gaming convention in the bay area and he said he's played PACG but no one has stepped up to run it -- I volunteered and was hoping maybe we could run the first OP at the convention.

Which convention?

We intend to support the PACG along with PFS at the three conventions we currently support with PFS: DundraCon, KublaCon, and PacifiCon.

However, I know of at least three other gaming conventions in the Bay Area that we are not supporting in any official way.

Regardless, we'd love to have more folks help coordinate the PACG in the Bay Area and at our conventions.

Newish for the tail end of 5 and the beginning of Season 6:

Vexer PeeveHalfling Inspired Blade / Sleuth.
Afflatus CourierGnome Barbarian / Warpriest of Brigh

Please move the Skull and Shackles Character Add On Deck to my sidecart if this will allow this shipment to go in the next few days.

It is disappointing to think that this one item held up shipments for so long without us subscribers being notified.

It is even more disappointing considering that I called customer service last week and specifically asked if one or more items from this order was delaying shipment.

I was told then that everything was in stock and the order would go out just fine, just a bit late in the rotation.

I have one Tiefling. I have a chronicle sheet for him that I earned running the Beginner's Box Bash.

Extra Fun Fact: Made it through Master of the Fallen Fortress in 26 minutes.

I'm not so sure that this counts as "Extra Fun".

I've been enjoying my Irorian Enhancement specialist wizard. She's modeled after those self-help gurus you see on late night infomercials. At the start of each session, she instructs her "students" to focus on physical katas and mental prowess, with the help of some liberal bull's strength and fox's cunning, of course.

"Hello everyone, I'm Lyriel and today I'd like just one minute of your time to talk about how you can be a better you! With just a few moments of your time, and by following my simple instructions I can bring out the potential in everyone and extend your lives by 10 minutes a day. So who's ready to start living for today, today? Yeah!"

I wish I'd had a chance to game with Lyriel at PaizoCon. I play an Evangelist Cleric (archetype -- not prestige class) of Hembad (Empyreal Lord of Relationships and Synergy), named Trenton G. Merryweather. Trenton's a former pesh addict, who is trying to turn his life around through serving as a life coach.

Trenton particularly enjoys ice breaker and team-building games and is a hearty believer in the power of positive thinking.

As a GM, I usually allow the player to ask for a specific bit of information for each +5 success exceeding the DC...

GM: "Okay, you rolled a 32. That allows for 5 specific questions to be asked."
Player:"Does it have a specific DR?"
GM: "Yes. It is DR/silver and good
Player: Does it have any Defensive abilities?"
GM: Yes. Do you want to know the first one only and then move on, or do you want all of them?"
Player: Hell, yeah! Give me all of them!"
GM: "There are four... that will use up all of your Knowledge bonus."
Player: "Um... can I just get the first two and then the first teo Offensive abilities?"
GM: "Yes. It has..."

That is how I adjudicate it. Other GMs might do it differently. Your mileage may vary. Expect Table Variation.

Here's my problem with this method: what if the creature's a Basilisk and they only succeed enough to get two questions?

Does it have DR? No
Does it have any special defenses? No

The first piece of information I offer is the information that the creature is known for:

Harpies enchant folks with song. Basilisks turn people to stone. So do medusas and cockatrices. Rust monsters destroy and eat metal objects. Wights drain life energies. Hell hounds breath fire. Trolls regenerate.

These are the first thing anyone should know about these creatures -- not necessarily if they have spell resistance or DR.

Thanks again Majuba! It's always great to see and talk with you each year!

A 30+ should be more than enough to get some information about a CR7 creature.

There have been instances where a scenario presents a named individual monster with different powers from the norm for its race. For example, I recently ran a scenario where a named demon had no DR, while demons of its sort typically have DR 10/Good. In this case I gave the player information on the base demon, but made certain they realized that this was a hero, so may have different capabilities.

When I do knowledge checks, the first piece of information I hand out is what the creature is well known for. I don't want to have a situation in which a party encounters a Cockatrice, Rust Monster, or Harpy, asks to know DR, SR, and Resistances, and never learns what these monsters should be famous for.

TL/DR: Difficult scenarios like this can become teaching opportunities in survival tactics.

Screed Nor, Wayang, Pasha, Trade Prince, Ambassador to Qadira, and Super-Genius has officially retired. Screed was a Shadow school Illusionist 8 and Loremaster: 4

Painlord wrote:

BigNorseWolf wrote:

So any news on the sczarni /Qadirian factions and if they're changing at all>?

Will J (unofficial source guess for fooferall): "Sczarni will stay the same since it's not tied to a nation; Qadiran will become a international trade group."

I think Will has something he needs to say... :)

Simply this: As a VO you always get paranoid answering questions about "the future" of PFS. You are always worried that folks will assume you are privy to juicy information and that the answer you are really just pulling from your keister is truly secret information.

When Rand asked me what the future of Qadira and the Sczarni would be, I truly had no clue. John and Mike play things close to their chest -- which I really appreciate. It means I can get surprised by unexpected changes.

So, I gave him my guess, made him include a couple of disclaimers, and was promptly proven wrong. Rand also witnessed me suggesting that there is a job position at Paizo entitled "Aboleth" during the Trivia Contest. He knows I'm a deeply flawed individual.

Thank you everyone for the best PaizoCon experience ever. This truly was an amazing weekend. Can't wait to do it all again next year!

Kyle wins the thread.

Sorry, I didn't get a chance to meet you. ;-)

PS: I'm still trying to get over the trauma induced by playing "The Sealed Gate". It was a fun nail-biter that I'll happily review once I've had a chance to read and run it.

I have donned my Goblin Squad t-shirt and bolstered my strength with coffee. ThiS morning I'm waging war against a god at John Compton's table. Later I'll set my sights on PC's.

-- Found Pain, Andrea, and John Brandt manning the informal meet and greet table while playing cards.
-- Was told to not distract Andi when it is her turn.
-- Grabbed a cab with Bruce Higa, from Los Angeles, over to the AFK Tavern.
-- Picked up my Goblin Brains! (yay!).
-- Ran into Ben from Australia (and Syrinscape) and reminisced about last PaizoCon.
-- Met up with Lady Ophelia for Guinness.
-- Met a bunch of other people whose names I forgot -- Northeast representing -- Chicago, Wisconsin, and Minnesota!
-- Learned from the AFK's owner that we set two records tonight: most alcohol sold and highest ratio of alcohol to food sold ever.
-- Back to hotel to discuss natural disasters with Fiona Baker and Erik Mona.
-- Big Star Trek / Star Wars / Battlestar Galactica argument with Dennis Baker.
-- Talked with Russ, Clinton Boomer, and a few others until 3 AM about a wide assortment of topics (Ritual Magic, Marvel Superhero Games, Kingmaker, and how to "fix" gunslingers.

I'm currently sitting in the air conditioned Alaska Air Boardroom of LAX, drinking my third free beer, eating Chicken Sanoma (a pathetic chicken breast served over rice with pesto sauce on the side), and watching a baggage handler sleep in a covered baggage cart on the Tarmac below me. I should have been in Seattle 5 hours ago. How did I get here?

Well, I committed a travel sin -- I assumed everything was fine and did not check my flight yesterday. I booked my trip through a third party company back in January. My flight was to be a non-stop from Fresno to Sea-Tac at 8 AM. Without hearing differently, I assumed nothing had changed....

I showed up at the airport at 6:20, ready to roll -- only to discover my flight had been rescheduled to 6 AM and flew without me. Alaska Air gave me two options: wait until tomorrow and fly for free in the afternoon or spend some more money to book another one way flight today. In for a penny, in for a pound....

My options were to lay-over in San Fran and show up at 9 PM or pay $25 more to fly first class out of LAX to show up by 6 PM. Either way, I miss out on Andrew Christian's 1 PM pre-con game. Needless to say, I opted for the 1st class ticket and am damn sure I get my $25 out of First Class treatment.

See you guys in a few hours. I'll be the slightly drunk pampered guy in glasses.

Will Johnson wrote:

1st game GM'd: June 12, 2011.

150th game GM'd: June 15, 2011 (Free RPG Day).

I suspect Will means Jun 15th, 2013 (which was a Saturday)

Yup, guess that's what happens when I post within 30 minutes of waking up. I'll wait for coffee next time. It was definitely two years.

1st game GM'd: June 12, 2011.
150th game GM'd: June 15, 2011 (Free RPG Day).

Another weird rules question for enchanted double weapons, shields, and spiked armor is whether or not the offensive and defensive enchantments stack with regard to the hardness and HP of the item. I assume they would.

I believe John Compton said elsewhere that you got to keep any Traits or Vanities you already possessed.

Yeah, Hero Lab will continue to show it in error, but it should be fine.

I would prefer that you not make presumptions about the questions I make and the discussions I have on the Paizo forums.

It isn't much of a presumption when you posted the following response to a suggestion that you bring this topic here:

Haahahahaha! Seriously, dude?

Is that like some kind of challenge? Whatcha [sic] the boards more, man. It was there hours and hours ago.

If, as you say, this is a different topic completely, let me answer it as a fresh conversation:

As per RAW, you cannot remove, transfer, or sell Armor Spikes that have been added to a suit of armor. The reason for this is that they are not stand alone items. Instead, your Hell Knight's armor has been permanently modified by their addition.

The justification for this is that armor spikes are not sold separately, but as an armor extra that increases the price of the armor.