paizo.com Favorited Posts by Siluspaizo.com Favorited Posts by Silus2023-04-29T01:13:55Z2023-04-29T01:13:55ZForums: Homebrew and House Rules: Coppelion, robot raceSilushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tram?Coppelion-robot-race#12016-08-23T00:54:53Z2016-06-30T00:58:09Z<p>Okay so me and some guys started working on a robot race (like a proper robot race) and would like some help/feedback. The idea is that the Coppelion are between Mannequins and Androids (Gen 2's to Mannequin's Gen 1 and Android's Gen 3). What we have so far:</p>
<p>+2 Str, +2 Dex, -4 Cha
<br />
Medium size
<br />
Normal speed (30ft)
<br />
Construct (Robot Subtype)
<br />
-1 to Diplomacy, Bluff, and Intimidate
<br />
+2 Reflex (multi-directional swivel joints. Think Orianna from League of Legends)
<br />
Toughness as a bonus feat</p>
<p>Construct
<br />
—Constructs have no Constitution score. Any DCs or other statistics that rely on a Constitution score treat a construct as having a score of 10 (no bonus or penalty).
<br />
—Constructs have the low-light vision racial trait.
<br />
—Constructs have the darkvision 60 feet racial trait.
<br />
—Constructs are immune to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
<br />
—Constructs cannot heal damage on their own, but can often be repaired via exposure to a certain kind of effect (depending on the construct's racial abilities) or through the use of the Craft Construct feat. Constructs can also be healed through spells such as make whole. A construct with the fast healing special quality still benefits from that quality.
<br />
—Constructs are not subject to ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, energy drain, or nonlethal damage.
<br />
—Constructs are immune to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is harmless).
<br />
—Constructs do not risk death due to massive damage, but they are immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points or fewer.
<br />
—Constructs cannot be raised or resurrected.
<br />
—Constructs are hard to destroy, and gain bonus hit points based on their size (in this case 20)
<br />
—Constructs do not breathe, eat, or sleep, unless they want to gain some beneficial effect from one of these activities. This means that a construct can drink potions to benefit from their effects and can sleep in order to regain spells, but neither of these activities is required to survive or stay in good health.</p>
<p>Robot Subtype
<br />
—Vulnerable to Critical Hits: Whenever a robot takes extra damage from a critical hit, it must make a DC 15 Fortitude save to avoid being stunned for 1 round. If it makes a successful saving throw, it is staggered for 1 round. The robot remains immune to other sources of the stunned condition.
<br />
—Vulnerable to Electricity: Robots take 150% as much damage as normal from electricity attacks, unless they are immune to electricity via other special defenses.</p>
<p>An idea we were kicking around was they would have a Force Field to offset how tough it is to keep them healed. Personally I favor the idea of the Construct Bonus HP (the 20HP) being relegated to the Force Field HP and the "Core" HP being a combination of Class HD, Toughness, and any Favored Class bonus HP. Would provide a buffer for players at low levels up until the players get access to Make Whole. Also kicking around the idea of significantly lowered difficulty for implanting cybertech and allowing them to self-implant.</p>
<p>Anyway, thoughts?</p>Okay so me and some guys started working on a robot race (like a proper robot race) and would like some help/feedback. The idea is that the Coppelion are between Mannequins and Androids (Gen 2's to Mannequin's Gen 1 and Android's Gen 3). What we have so far:
+2 Str, +2 Dex, -4 Cha
Medium size
Normal speed (30ft)
Construct (Robot Subtype)
-1 to Diplomacy, Bluff, and Intimidate
+2 Reflex (multi-directional swivel joints. Think Orianna from League of Legends)
Toughness as a bonus feat
...Silus2016-06-30T00:58:09ZRe: Forums: Rules Questions: Paladins: Freedom of Religion?Silushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tpmt&page=2?Paladins-Freedom-of-Religion#592016-06-09T11:24:52Z2016-06-07T14:23:26Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">quibblemuch wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">Rysky wrote:</div><blockquote> Granted I am more okay with the idea of a Paladin of Pharasma than I am with Paladins of Abadar, which are unfortunately a thing. </blockquote>I like to imagine Paladins of Abadar all have pompadours, slick grins, and ridiculous wives/sidekicks. They travel the countryside in tent shows explaining how their god wants them to be rich... at least until Starfinder, when they start their own television network... </blockquote><p>Oh God. 'Lil Gideon as a Paladin of Abadar.quibblemuch wrote:Rysky wrote: Granted I am more okay with the idea of a Paladin of Pharasma than I am with Paladins of Abadar, which are unfortunately a thing.
I like to imagine Paladins of Abadar all have pompadours, slick grins, and ridiculous wives/sidekicks. They travel the countryside in tent shows explaining how their god wants them to be rich... at least until Starfinder, when they start their own television network... Oh God. 'Lil Gideon as a Paladin of Abadar.Silus2016-06-07T14:23:26ZRe: Forums: Starfinder General Discussion: We need giant robotsSilushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tp8q?We-need-giant-robots#42016-08-16T21:22:03Z2016-06-02T13:42:57Z<p>There needs to be giant robots and giant mecha.</p>
<p>Then there needs to be Fighter/Barbarian archetypes that let you fight them on foot. Like Titan Fighter on steroids.</p>There needs to be giant robots and giant mecha.
Then there needs to be Fighter/Barbarian archetypes that let you fight them on foot. Like Titan Fighter on steroids.Silus2016-06-02T13:42:57ZForums/Gamer Life: General Discussion: Should optimization override fun?Silushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tjle?Should-optimization-override-fun#12016-03-23T16:54:29Z2016-03-21T03:48:10Z<p>A loaded question as presented, I know, but bear with me on this.</p>
<p>Basically what I'm wondering is are fun builds (in my case dual-wield rapiers, wielding Huge sized weapons as a Titan Fighter, and similar builds) less...just, well, less, than properly optimized builds? Like should one take precedence over the other when making characters?</p>
<p>Me and a friend seem to constantly butt heads on this sort of thing, one of the big culprits being the Dawnflower Dervish bard which he refers to as a "••••ty self-buffing bard that everyone hates" whereas I think a Dex-to-Scimitars-and-hard-as-Hell-to-hit Bard is fun as hell to play.</p>
<p>Anyway, thoughts?</p>A loaded question as presented, I know, but bear with me on this.
Basically what I'm wondering is are fun builds (in my case dual-wield rapiers, wielding Huge sized weapons as a Titan Fighter, and similar builds) less...just, well, less, than properly optimized builds? Like should one take precedence over the other when making characters?
Me and a friend seem to constantly butt heads on this sort of thing, one of the big culprits being the Dawnflower Dervish bard which he refers to as a...Silus2016-03-21T03:48:10ZRe: Forums: Advice: Disagreements on building monstersSilushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2sg0h?Disagreements-on-building-monsters#62015-07-14T05:15:10Z2015-07-14T04:07:47Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Broken Zenith wrote:</div><blockquote><p> It's definitely do-able, you just might have to stretch the rules a bit. The concept you have is fine - I'd write them up, skew them a bit for the easy side, and run them. Don't worry about all the complex monster creation rules.</p>
<p>If you are just looking for a good way to run lots of little enemies to make them intimidating, <a href="http://zenithgames.blogspot.com/2014/08/squads-and-scores.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this is what I use</a> </blockquote><p>I think I'll use the templates you linked. Easier than applying and updating class levels as the players raise in levels.
<p>Edit: also it solves a problem I didn't think about having later :D</p>Broken Zenith wrote:It's definitely do-able, you just might have to stretch the rules a bit. The concept you have is fine - I'd write them up, skew them a bit for the easy side, and run them. Don't worry about all the complex monster creation rules.
If you are just looking for a good way to run lots of little enemies to make them intimidating, this is what I use
I think I'll use the templates you linked. Easier than applying and updating class levels as the players raise in levels. Edit:...Silus2015-07-14T04:07:47ZForums: Homebrew and House Rules: Coria, The Barrier World - a post-post apocalyptic steampunk magitech settingSilushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2s5c5?Coria-The-Barrier-World-a-postpost#12015-12-05T20:05:05Z2015-04-11T04:19:59Z<p>So this is more or less version 3.0 in terms of threads, and lucky us, we've finally seperated and consolidated a bunch of the previous info into specific documents and thrown them into a nifty table of contents.</p>
<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aKr-ogM-x_Ysx63N5G5ihQpa4a_fOPBMz2AM8MeQrRY/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Coria table of contents</a></p>
<p>So some of ya'll may be wondering "Silus, what the devil is the 'Barrier World' and why should I care?" Well, the Barrier World (we'll just call it Coria from her on) is a homebrew setting I've been working on somewhat on and off for about the past year or so. The idea stemmed from a dissatisfaction with the fantasy kitchen sinkand the general medieval era stagnation. In short, Coria is different from more typical settings:</p>
<p>1. More prevelent technology. Pew pew rayguns.
<br />
1a. Problem though, 9/10 you'll have to scavenge for the good stuff.
<br />
2. No deities. They either vanished, died or retired.
<br />
3. No planar access. Nothing comes or goes from Coria.</p>
<p>I could go on, but most of the info should be in the "Fluff" document in the above link.</p>
<p>So now what this thread is about.</p>
<p>1. Looking for suggestions on either a) what we already have (bugfixing) or b) ideas on what to add.
<br />
2. Troubleshooting existing ideas (big problems is balancing out the current prestige classes)
<br />
3. A place to bounce ideas.</p>
<p>So as I'm currently posting this on my phone, I'll be updating the Table of Contents with the first of several maps and the WIP document for ideas that are curretly in the pipeline.</p>
<p>So, with that, let's get this trainwreck underway.</p>So this is more or less version 3.0 in terms of threads, and lucky us, we've finally seperated and consolidated a bunch of the previous info into specific documents and thrown them into a nifty table of contents.
Coria table of contents
So some of ya'll may be wondering "Silus, what the devil is the 'Barrier World' and why should I care?" Well, the Barrier World (we'll just call it Coria from her on) is a homebrew setting I've been working on somewhat on and off for about the past year or...Silus2015-04-11T04:19:59ZForums: Homebrew and House Rules: Can you help me build a kaijuuuuuu?Silushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2rea4?Can-you-help-me-build-a-kaijuuuuuu#12014-09-01T21:39:56Z2014-08-19T10:32:13Z<p>•Hums the tune to "Do you wanna build a snowman"•</p>
<p>Ok, so I'm trying to build me a Kaiju for Pathfinder for a setting I'm working on (Google doc of the setting can be found <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rlTlx4xkS58ly6I7k5L9dPqctmk-CwbGGdcwu89hH_E/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>). The idea is a massive...well the idea is like an <a href="http://monsterhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Agnaktor" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Agnaktor</a> blended with raw magic (Think "Breath of Wonder",), radiation and living in a massive crater created by dropping a magitech atomic weapon into a volcano being used to power a magic-powered-weapon facility. Anyway, looking to bring this thing up to "HOLY CRAP WHAT IS THAT RUN" levels. Also, would appreciate suggestions on skills, feats and special abilities/qualities.</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>*Hums the tune to "Do you wanna build a snowman"*
Ok, so I'm trying to build me a Kaiju for Pathfinder for a setting I'm working on (Google doc of the setting can be found here). The idea is a massive...well the idea is like an Agnaktor blended with raw magic (Think "Breath of Wonder",), radiation and living in a massive crater created by dropping a magitech atomic weapon into a volcano being used to power a magic-powered-weapon facility. Anyway, looking to bring this thing up to "HOLY CRAP...Silus2014-08-19T10:32:13ZRe: Forums: Homebrew and House Rules: The Barrier World project - Steampunk Magitech Post-Post Apocalyptic settingSilushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2rceo?The-Barrier-World-project-Steampunk-Magitech#442014-08-20T15:51:26Z2014-08-19T09:58:01Z<p>I was actually thinking something physically along the line of <a href="http://i61.tinypic.com/j0l442.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this</a> for the Kamakiri. Just something about it I really like. Edit: And now I wanna see a Kamakiri sheriff out in the desert with a whole western thing going on XD</p>
<p>On Agranor, I was actually thinking of going with an Agnaktor sort of thing from Monster Hunter.</p>
<p>Here's the current (unfinished) build.</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>As for Ingrid, she's of that type of Lawful Neutral that Lin Bei-Fong (Avatar: Legend of Korra) is. She's not <i>nice</i> but she's not a jerk. She cares about her job and her duties and looks to uphold them to the best of her abilities. She's a career woman. Also, kiiiiiinda crippled (Had to have new eyes transplanted due to an attack, so now she's unable to turn people to stone, but is still immune to other Medusa's gaze). Now imagine a bunch of Medusa prison guards with mirrored sunglasses =D</p>
<p>As for if she's hot...•Shrugs• Maybe? <a href="http://i60.tinypic.com/az8b61.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Here's a pic</a>. Sorry for the terribad quality, taken via cellphone 'cause the scanner here is butts.</p>
<p>Also, on the topic of new stuff, I'm <i>considering</i> adding in Pre-pre-Barrier stuff that dates back several million years. Things like old, buried vaults and cities dedicated to the primal Gods, the Old Ones and, possibly, space faring quasi-gods (Yes I've been reading a lot of Gold Digger lately and it's bleeding through).</p>I was actually thinking something physically along the line of this for the Kamakiri. Just something about it I really like. Edit: And now I wanna see a Kamakiri sheriff out in the desert with a whole western thing going on XD
On Agranor, I was actually thinking of going with an Agnaktor sort of thing from Monster Hunter.
Here's the current (unfinished) build.
[Spoiler omitted]
As for Ingrid, she's of that type of Lawful Neutral that Lin Bei-Fong (Avatar: Legend of Korra) is. She's not...Silus2014-08-19T09:58:01ZRe: Forums: Homebrew and House Rules: The Barrier World project - Steampunk Magitech Post-Post Apocalyptic settingSilushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2rceo?The-Barrier-World-project-Steampunk-Magitech#102014-08-11T09:24:21Z2014-08-07T03:46:50Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">The Lion Cleric wrote:</div><blockquote><p> Well, a hard cap on the talons would be appropriate, I think, either +1 per 4 levels, which I find rather nice, or maybe just once per turn to avoid ragepouncelancing. Perhaps add a feat for it? </p>
<p>The alchemist will be coming tomorrow, when I have more time to write. </p>
<p>EDIT: I saw the Wyrm Hunter PrC, it does look kind of too powerful for my taste, but the thing that was most unnerving was the hubris of someone having a capstone called 'Enough Gun'. You NEVER have enough gun.</p>
<p>Some suggestions, +1 to hit usually is equal to +2 to damage, according to most people's logic, threat increase is kind of a big issue, for instance, if someone with a Golem Stopper takes critting to the limit and gets all the crit feats, they're looking at more than 50% crit chance with a x3 weapon, kind of unbalanced in my opinion.</p>
<p>I love the drum option, and I find it as powerful enough, yet not at the level of the other ones, so lifting the penalty or making it into a bonus will not make it overpowered. The damage bump on Giant Bore is ok, though doubling passive just screams 'optimise that' in my head, and that's a voice I don't like listening to too often. Bumping it up two levels instead of one isn't terribly bad, and helps with Vital Striking for more shooting while running/chasing/flying/swimming/cartwheel-on-the-back-of-a-metal-horse action, which is also great.</p>
<p>On Elemental Discharge, I think the discharge could benefit from changing it, probably fast, yet out of combat, so I'd say you can change them by changing magi-sprockets and arcanogyros inside for a minute, and still be balanced.</p>
<p>Magitech Targeting Array is good, I think, though as a Gunslinger, you rarely have problems hitting anyway, especially big targets. Adding a motion tracker or a true vision of sorts would really be quite nice for a capstone, and wouldn't make it terrible overpowered in my opinion.</p>
<p>Double Coated Ammo is pretty nice as it is, though I'll go with the previous option, choosing them, say, each day by loading little block of... </blockquote><p>Ok I implemented some changes, mostly the stuff you mentioned, in addition to making Deadly Accurate Sights a one-time upgrade. Here's the new upgrades:
<p><li><b>Giant Bore:</b> The Wyrm Hunter has totally overhauled the barrel and loading mechanism of their firearm to allow larger caliber of ammunition to be loaded. The damage die increases by 2 (1d6 => 1d10 for example).
<br />
<li><b>Elemental Discharge:</b> The application of elemental chargers along the barrel allows the Wyrm Hunter to add on elemental damage to their shots. Outside of combat, the Wyrm Hunter chooses an elemental type (Fire, Electric, Cold or Acid) and adjusts the sprockets and arcanogyros (This takes about five minutes of work). Their firearm gains +2d4 damage of that element type.
<br />
<li><b>Magitech Targeting Array:</b> Through the clever application of magic, the Wyrm Hunter has turned their weapon into a deadly marksman's weapon. They may use True Seeing as a Swift Action 3/day that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. In addition, the base range of the Wyrm Hunter's firearm doubles.
<br />
<li><b>Drum Magazine:</b> Through a reworking of their firearm's magazine, the Wyrm Hunter is able to not only store more shots, but also increase their number of attacks. The firearm's capacity increases by 4 and the Wyrm Hunter receives one additional attack at their lowest BAB.
<br />
<li><b>Reaper Sights:</b> Having constructed the most accurate mechanical sights possible for themselves, the Wyrm Hunter finds it far easier to score Critical Hits. The critical hit range for the upgraded firearm is doubled. This stacks with Improved Critical.
<br />
<li><b>Double Coated Ammunition:</b> The Wyrm Hunter has not only fixed the Internal Ammunition Forge in their gun, but have actually improved upon it. The Wyrm Hunter may, by supplying a negligent amount of the material (scraps and shavings are enough.), choose a second Special Material from the Internal Ammo Forge list (This choice may be changed at the beginning of the day). When they apply the coating to their shot, it counts as both the selected special materials (So you may have a shot count as Silver and Elysian Bronze). Those that did not choose the Internal Ammo Forge upgrade instead receive the Internal Ammo Forge, and the ammunition's base type counts in addition to the coating.</p>The Lion Cleric wrote:Well, a hard cap on the talons would be appropriate, I think, either +1 per 4 levels, which I find rather nice, or maybe just once per turn to avoid ragepouncelancing. Perhaps add a feat for it?
The alchemist will be coming tomorrow, when I have more time to write.
EDIT: I saw the Wyrm Hunter PrC, it does look kind of too powerful for my taste, but the thing that was most unnerving was the hubris of someone having a capstone called 'Enough Gun'. You NEVER have enough...Silus2014-08-07T03:46:50ZForums: Homebrew and House Rules: The Barrier World project - Steampunk Magitech Post-Post Apocalyptic settingSilushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2rceo?The-Barrier-World-project-Steampunk-Magitech#12014-10-05T00:08:55Z2014-08-06T03:36:36Z<p><span class=messageboard-bigger><b>A fresh new thread for this setting, complete with Google Docs!</b></span></p>
<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UjmTSa43_9Hr9-aTVfSwQppz9-HCZoiZ5oMFrFFtYOQ/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><b>THE BARRIER WORLD WIP DOCUMENT</b></a></p>
<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rlTlx4xkS58ly6I7k5L9dPqctmk-CwbGGdcwu89hH_E/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><b>THE BARRIER WORLD PLAYER'S GUIDE</b></a></p>
<p>Please note that the WIP Document is open to everyone to add content they think would be beneficial or interesting for the setting. The document is periodically backed up and, as previously stated, public (more or less), so please do not interfere with other people's contributions. Additional requirements for contributing are on the first page of the document. For editing access, please send me a PM with your email so I may add you to the list of people allowed to edit.</p>
<p>The Player's Guide is free for people to use for their own game. No need to ask, just go to File => Download As => PDF and just pass it out to people. There's no change log yet and after what we deem as a "major update" we'll up the version number.</p>
<p>———————————————————</p>
<p><b>WHAT IS THE BARRIER WORLD?</b></p>
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Quote:</div><blockquote>Emerging technology built on the foundation of a lost age, the new civilization living amongst the ruins, having made them their own, with adventurers delving into the places that were once seen as "taboo" or "dangerous" to discover what the previous age held and possibly clues (for the shorter lived races) of what exactly happened to cause the world to be the way it is.</blockquote><p>and
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Quote:</div><blockquote><p>Prevalent guns (Early guns = Martial weapons)
</p>
No Gods (Effectively killed off during the apocalypse)
<br />
After-The-Apocalypse feel (1000 years after when civilization is getting back on its feet)
<br />
Steampunk/magitech
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High magic, low fantasy (Druid cities, quasi-deities, and magocracies, but low on creatures outside the mundane. So no dragons for example)
<br />
Switched up races (Orcs are shamanistic, Drow are neutral mad scientists and (Lesser) Centaur and Harpies are playable)</blockquote><p>What I'm looking for:
<p><ul>
<br />
<li>Where are the glaring holes in this world as it's currently written, and any suggestions on plugging said holes? (No suggestions are fine, helping me be aware of the problems is more than help enough)
<br />
<li>What aspects need clarification? Basically what do I need to expand on?
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<li>Suggestions on making this setting work while maintaining the above quoted bits. Basically how can I make this work in the general way I want this to work?
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<li>Suggestions for the locations marked "WIP"?
<br />
</ul></p>
<p>What I'm <b>not</b> looking for:</p>
<p><ul>
<br />
<li>"You're better off with a different system." No, I'm sticking with D20 'cause I'm stubborn and I know the system.
<br />
<li>Suggestions that drastically alter the premise of the world. The quoted bits there? They're stickin'.
<br />
<li>Urgings or suggestions to not bother with a homebrew setting/scrap the idea. 1) I'm stubborn, 2) I've already put a bunch of work in, I ain't stoppin' now.</ul></p>A fresh new thread for this setting, complete with Google Docs!
THE BARRIER WORLD WIP DOCUMENT
THE BARRIER WORLD PLAYER'S GUIDE
Please note that the WIP Document is open to everyone to add content they think would be beneficial or interesting for the setting. The document is periodically backed up and, as previously stated, public (more or less), so please do not interfere with other people's contributions. Additional requirements for contributing are on the first page of the document. For...Silus2014-08-06T03:36:36ZRe: Forums: Advice: (DMing) What do you do when you stop caring?Silushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2r9ap&page=2?-What-do-you-do-when-you-stop-caring#512014-07-14T06:23:33Z2014-07-13T23:15:02Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Anguish wrote:</div><blockquote><p>I think you've got your answer, as unpleasant as it is. If they are stonewalling regarding what they don't like, it's probably beyond salvaging. Kind of like asking me "what about this rap song you don't like? Is it the lyrics or the instruments or the tempo or the topic or the name or the rapper's voice?" and getting the answer "uh, why don't you write a song that's rock and roll?"</p>
<p>If they refuse to give feedback, it's because they really don't like it. That doesn't mean it's bad. Just don't try feeding lobster to people who don't like seafood.</blockquote><p>I'm actually going to be seeking suggestions here on the Paizo boards and, hopefully, Giants in the Playground, if only in a "Let's smooth things out and make sure everything works" way. I'll maybe occasionally ask the group about advice maybe on things, like "Hey what can I do to improve this mechanical aspect of the setting (Race, weapons, etc)?" and perhaps keep the setting on the table as a playable thing, but off to the side as like "Here's the ideas I had for campaigns I could run •Offers like 5-7 ideas•. Failing any of these I could also run something in the homebrew world or a module."
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Anguish wrote:</div><blockquote>But again - and honest, I'm trying to be helpful here - I strongly expect you should try to focus your creative energy on plot, not setting. I'm working with very little info here, but I get the impression your players take issue with your world, not your story-writing skills. That's why I suggested running modules in Golarion, where they can use reams of Paizo's setting canon and you play with the story. Hence compromise.</blockquote><p>One thing I am going to do is ask the party straight up what they'd want to play, be it something of the "Kick down the door and murder everything" variety or something more plot heavy. No point in stressing just yet over a plot if they just wanna get their murderhobo on.
<p>And I'd really like to know for myself if they take issue with the setting of my story-writing skills. First campaign I ran for them was fairly plot-heavy but they rebelled at pretty much every opportunity. Granted it was only my second campaign ever, the party was under the impression I was more experienced and put me through the wringer (the the point where I was burned out of running anything for months after), and that the campaign was designed for good/neutral characters and half turned out to be some variety of "IDGAF" evil.</p>
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Anguish wrote:</div><blockquote>Again, not trying to defecate on your parade, just trying to help with perspective that may or may not be shared by your players.</blockquote><p>And I appreciate the advice =D The only people around here that I can ask about this sort of thing is either my group (Haha no) or people on the internet (Who honestly have given me far better advice).
<div class="messageboard-quotee">The Epic Dungeon Master wrote:</div><blockquote>You have to look for every opportunity with homebrews to get the players involved if that's what you want. There are constantly opportunities popping up and you have to learn how to see them. When a player says, "I worked for a noble as a squire where I learned the basics of horse mounted combat." Your immediate response should be, "Who was the noble? Describe him." And write it down. The players will see that you're serious once you start noting what they say. Don't just ask and listen, and ask and dictate. Write it up in a Google Doc and send it to them to show you are listening.</blockquote><p>•Chuckles• I had asked a question similar to this back when I ran my first game for this group and the general consensus of responses was "Get the group to more or less do some of the work for you".
<p>PC: "How big is the Queen's army?"
<br />
DM: "Roll [stat]."
<br />
PC: •Gets sufficiently high enough•
<br />
PC: "So how big is it?"
<br />
DM: "You tell me, you succeeded on the roll."</p>
<p>Only downside is that I'd need to keep an eye out on input that could easily cause problems for me as a DM.</p>
<div class="messageboard-quotee">The Epic Dungeon Master wrote:</div><blockquote>The Gear Wastes Players' Guide would flip my s#$@ if I saw that sent to me from my GM. It would show your dedication and you could really have some enticing things in it.</blockquote><p>I'll try to get something like that typed up when I can get something like Microsoft Word on my laptop for formatting purposes (Using the Mac equivalent of Notepad for all my text stuff currently). At the very least it'll make it so I have all the information down for myself and future groups, and have it in a way that I can print it out and hand it out to the players.Anguish wrote:I think you've got your answer, as unpleasant as it is. If they are stonewalling regarding what they don't like, it's probably beyond salvaging. Kind of like asking me "what about this rap song you don't like? Is it the lyrics or the instruments or the tempo or the topic or the name or the rapper's voice?" and getting the answer "uh, why don't you write a song that's rock and roll?"
If they refuse to give feedback, it's because they really don't like it. That doesn't mean it's...Silus2014-07-13T23:15:02ZForums: Homebrew and House Rules: "The Barrier World" - Homebrew setting looking for a fresh set of eyesSilushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2r9eu?The-Barrier-World-Homebrew-setting-looking#12014-08-05T23:39:33Z2014-07-13T15:53:36Z<p>Ok due to formatting issues (Spoilers within spoilers), the compiled information can be found <b><a href="http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?325508-PF-The-Barrier-World-a-world-in-progress&p=16794418#post16794418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HERE</a></b>. There's a lot of stuff there thus far, most of it sectioned up between areas on the map or by category. Take your time, there's no rush.</p>
<p>Right, the TL;DR of the world is a combination of these:</p>
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Quote:</div><blockquote>Emerging technology built on the foundation of a lost age, the new civilization living amongst the ruins, having made them their own, with adventurers delving into the places that were once seen as "taboo" or "dangerous" to discover what the previous age held and possibly clues (for the shorter lived races) of what exactly happened to cause the world to be the way it is.</blockquote><p>and
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Quote:</div><blockquote><p>Prevalent guns (Early guns = Martial weapons)
</p>
No Gods (Effectively killed off during the apocalypse)
<br />
After-The-Apocalypse feel (1000 years after when civilization is getting back on its feet)
<br />
Steampunk/magitech
<br />
High magic, low fantasy (Druid cities, quasi-deities, and magocracies, but low on creatures outside the mundane. So no dragons for example)
<br />
Switched up races (Orcs are shamanistic, Drow are neutral mad scientists and (Lesser) Centaur and Harpies are playable)</blockquote><p>What I'm looking for:
<p><ul>
<br />
<li>Where are the glaring holes in this world as it's currently written, and any suggestions on plugging said holes? (No suggestions are fine, helping me be aware of the problems is more than help enough)
<br />
<li>What aspects need clarification? Basically what do I need to expand on?
<br />
<li>Suggestions on making this setting work while maintaining the above quoted bits. Basically how can I make this work in the general way I want this to work?
<br />
<li>Suggestions for the locations marked "WIP"?
<br />
</ul></p>
<p>What I'm <b>not</b> looking for:</p>
<p><ul>
<br />
<li>"You're better off with a different system." No, I'm sticking with D20 'cause I'm stubborn and I know the system.
<br />
<li>Suggestions that drastically alter the premise of the world. The quoted bits there? They're stickin'.
<br />
<li>Urgings or suggestions to not bother with a homebrew setting/scrap the idea. 1) I'm stubborn, 2) I've already put a bunch of work in, I ain't stoppin' now.</ul></p>
<p>Honestly I really need some fresh eyes to look at this to help me figure out how to make this stuff work. I've not had the chance to playtest a lot of it and the players in my gaming group don't really provide a good amount of constructive feedback.</p>Ok due to formatting issues (Spoilers within spoilers), the compiled information can be found HERE. There's a lot of stuff there thus far, most of it sectioned up between areas on the map or by category. Take your time, there's no rush.
Right, the TL;DR of the world is a combination of these:
Quote:Emerging technology built on the foundation of a lost age, the new civilization living amongst the ruins, having made them their own, with adventurers delving into the places that were once seen...Silus2014-07-13T15:53:36ZForums: Advice: Changing the economy of an area (Homebrew world question)Silushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2r7gi?Changing-the-economy-of-an-area#12014-06-26T22:00:36Z2014-06-26T19:26:23Z<p>I've got a fledgling little homebrew world that I'm putting together and the economy of one of the newer areas I'm working on is worrying me a bit.</p>
<p>Short of it, place called the Gear Wastes full of living clockwork creatures (The why is left hanging for possible plot stuff/I can't really think of a good reason). Anything non-sentient or semi-sentient born in the Wastes is made of living clockwork and thus metal. Cows of iron, foxes of copper, rabbits of gold and mithril (Which move VERY fast) and a rare mythical stag made of solid platinum, along with various other creatures made of similar metals or combinations of metals. All of which are VERY tough (Easily +18AC. With Natural armors halved, COWS are 19AC and CR7s) but more or less provide their weight in metal.</p>
<p>This in mind, hunting is very popular in the Wastes (Though difficult), as is ranching the iron cows for, well, iron. As such, metal has no real value in the wastes, coins less so. Food, and to a lesser extent water, are far more valuable due to anything edible being comprised of metal. As such, the one city in the Wastes exports ingots of metal and metal goods in exchange for a LOT of food.</p>
<p>One of the checks-and-balances I was considering is that due to the nature of the world (1000 years after an apocalyptic event yadda yadda yadda fall from high end civilization only getting back to where they were just recently) the continent where the Wastes are located has been long ago tapped out of its major ore veins. As such, instead of importing metal from other countries or starting up exploratory mines, ranching and hunting in the wastes has become a thing to provide a steady'ish amount of metal for industrial advancement.</p>
<p>So with this in mind, what sort of issues would I be looking at as a DM if coins and bars of gold, silver and iron are all but worthless (in the Wastes), but people will be willing to trade a Masterwork Greatsword or suit of armor for a week's worth of good rations? Mostly, how can I look at curbing PC abuse and are there any kinks or inconsistencies or whathaveyou that I've overlooked?</p>I've got a fledgling little homebrew world that I'm putting together and the economy of one of the newer areas I'm working on is worrying me a bit.
Short of it, place called the Gear Wastes full of living clockwork creatures (The why is left hanging for possible plot stuff/I can't really think of a good reason). Anything non-sentient or semi-sentient born in the Wastes is made of living clockwork and thus metal. Cows of iron, foxes of copper, rabbits of gold and mithril (Which move VERY...Silus2014-06-26T19:26:23Z