Squeakmaan's page

The only thing I'm missing now is a Stheno ancestry, the quasi-medusa ancestry. They came around not too long before the Remaster and we never got a playable ancestry for them.

Looks like something I'd fight in DOOM, by which I mean it looks metal as heck.

After reading through it have to say that my favorite parts are all the In-Setting discussions on magic. Which is not to say I didn't like the spells and classes, those bits of lore really just tickle my fantasy geek brain center.

The-Magic-Sword wrote:

I think the fact that the class is "Summoner" sort of invalidates all of these convoluted arguments about the technical jargon used by each ability-- it renders the meaning of "manifesting" as being closely related if not synonymous with "Summoning."

My citation needed Temp, was in reference to the lack of justification as to why the 'Summon' trait is so important to the identification of the class's abilities as being summoning.

Why does that stand up to scrutiny for you as the central point around which the fiction of the class pivots such that it's name and design flavor are all invalidated in the face of the trait, which is itself a mechanical abstraction?

Why are we incapable of parsing the idea that Manifesting is just a class specific mechanical variation on the core idea of Summoning?

"The Summoner is a class that summons an Eidolon that they can manifest" the word Summoning and Manifesting seem relatively interchangeable in this context, and could refer to identical, or heavily related processes, that seems to be the most reasonable reading of it in context.

Or it could be that, much like legacy wording, it was chosen for effect and less for consistency. Studded Leather is supposed to be Brigandine armor in real life. Longswords are actually Arming Swords by real world terms and definitions. But these terms were chosen because it was more appealing to use in a fantasy setting.

Who is to say that's also not the case here, when manifesting, by real world terms, means to take a shape/form and come into existence? It still makes sense thematically, with Eidolons when we consider they are outsiders that exist in planes separate from ones they are called to. But there is a key difference between being summoned and being manifested, and that is by both existence and creation. Summoning is calling for an existing thing to appear before you. Manifesting is creating something, seemingly out of nothing, to appear in reality. In short, the "outsider" the...

In terms of Pathfinder you have that exactly backwards. Summoned creatures do not exist before you cast your spell or after your spell ends, they are created by the spell to do your bidding and blink out of existence when it ends. Your eidolon, as stated in the playtest document, does exist when not currently on your plane of existence.

Honestly, I think it's just a personal thing. I have don't believe in any sort of afterlife in the real world, just oblivion and my body breaking down and my constituent atoms being used by other forms of matter eventually scattered to the cosmos when our star goes supernova the same way the atoms that form my body were. To me the Golarion afterlife is not much different, the quintessence forming a character's soul merges with the place best fitting them (assuming daemons or other soul destroying monsters don't impact them), eventually the Maelstrom breaks down that quintessence and collects it into a vortex of soul matter which is then kindled into a living soul in the Positive Energy Plane which continues the cycle. In either case we are the universe experiencing itself, I like that.

It's also worth noting that for as much as we talk about what happens to souls there is some debate within the setting as well. The afterlife laid out in Occult Adventures differs in some key areas form the afterlife being discussed here and one of my favorite pieces of art happens to be two characters whose names I cannot recall standing in front some charts and drawings arguing over the nature of the afterlife.

It's entirely possible that not being able to mix and match to your heart's content is a deliberate choice, considering how that led to Summoner being banned from many tables and Society play. The Unchained version did not allow one to mix and match to their heart's content, as a base form was specified depending on what type of eidolon a player had. I would like some more customization options, but it should be far short of 1E version, there's a middle ground in there somewhere.

Well eidolon and summoner should have seperate HP pools. So your thing about the summoner being at 0 is only relevant with the weird shared HP. Even then its no different than a barbarian dropping to 0 HP and being unable to rage for 1 minute.

Nah, they should be sharing a HP pool.

It's an extra-planar being I'm bringing to the material plane. That's summoning, that it isn't hampered in the same way that other summoned creatures are because the summoner is better at summoning is the opposite of a problem.

No. The class Summons an Eidolon. Summoner is both correct and good.

I like it too. I really think it helps build the themes of the class

Color me crazy excited for Anadi ancestry

Then specifically what do you mean as balanced?

Cold polls would be pretty much useless, as found in any design process, most people don't want the things they claim to want or have any real idea how to accomplish the things they actually want.

Part of the problem and source of the vitriol is inherent to the nature of a playtest, the majority of playtesters are not good at making well crafted classes or experienced at making criticisms useful. This leads to conflict with the actual designers and with other playtesters. The anonymous nature of forums makes it easier for disagreements to turn bitter, it happens every single time.

As balancing mechanics go, shared HP works and fits into the themes of the class. 2e Summoner needs to be weaker than the original Summoner because the original Summoner was banned everywhere for being too powerful

After reading through the class and then reading through this thread I have some thoughts.

Firstly, I very much enjoy the direction the current Summoner is going, mechanics and flavor and really look forward to seeing what the final product will be. I like that your Eidolon choice plays a role in your magical tradition and I like sharing HP and actions, that to me really ties in the themes of the partnership between the eidolon and summoner. I really like not having to spend points on legs, or tails, or etc, I can describe my eidolon nearly however I wish.

Secondly, I do agree with some of the calls for more unique evolutions, ones that can mimic some of the cool things that monsters can do. Some examples that I came up with: web spitting for something spider or caterpillar themed, temporary HP leeching for something like a parasitic fungus or plant, bonus damage on stealth attacks for stealthy cat or shark-like eidolons, things of that nature. I think bonus Evolution Feats might be the best way to accomplish that, at least I haven't seen a suggestion that I like better.

Third, I'm okay with the limited spellcasting, as my main interest has always been the eidolon. I've never cared about the Summoners ability to use the Summon Monster spell at all, wouldn't even care if they lost it entirely. Spells that can boost your eidolon or provide some offensive power to the summoner would fit right in to me.

In truth, I don't want to go back to the 1e chained version at all, sure it was mechanically powerful, but it also tended to invalidate a lot of the party, and when it didn't I was still taking up nearly double the "screen time" by effectively having two characters. Even the Unchained Summoner ran into problems of limiting eidolon design by having to purchase extra legs. and arms, and whatnot.

A Seven Samurai AP that starts off with a village and ends with the heroes squaring off in a battle to the death against a BBEG tyrant out to conquer the world.

Pretty sure that was the plot of Rise of the Runelords.

Keep in mind, that while not permanent, you're talking on the order of incredibly long spans of time.

The only one I am familiar with a potential non-violent resolution is Ironfang Invasion. But there's a significant amount of violence between the beginning and that potential resolution.

Aww, this is really sweet.

Summoner. The God Callers fascinate me.

I really want to make a Monk/swashbuckler archetype styled as a pro wrestler. Lots of showing off and taunting.

Also, our red Sarenite cutie needs a name. She has shown up in a lot of artwork already.

I didn't know I wanted that until you posted it, but now I need it.

I'm hoping my favored Witch style of "creepy magic person" is able to make a return in 2e.

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Wei Ji the Learner wrote:

Now the more important part is -- When Irori uses the <Data Not Available> Punch, does He forget He did it?

This is covered in the text of the curse- "all living creatures forget your name." I'm assuming "living" here is a loose synonym for "mortal". So if you steal from Asmodeus, then annoy Irori sufficiently so he erases your name, Big A is still going to know who you are.

It's also covered by the deity statblocks. They don't have them, which means they don't need to worry about whether or not rules affect them. They can just be immune to whatever is problematic.

Plus if there's anybody who's nature would prevent being magically whammied into forgetting somebody who stole from them it would be the god of punishment.

The bear only starts small, because it is considered a Young animal companion, a bear cub being around the same size as a gnome seems believable. When it becomes Mature, it becomes medium, and then can grow to large if you pick the right path.

So wait, is the definition of a "trap option" now just something not being quite as mathematically good as something else? You want a wizard in heavy armor, do it, if you're saying being 2 AC lower than the fighter makes that option non-viable, you're wrong.

Doesn't seem any more flimsy than any other gamebook to me. Has put up with reading and traveling in my backpack with no issues. I know nothing about the deluxe edition.

I foresee adamantine shields becoming way more popular than in 1st edition

I'm pretty sure it went something like "Behold the great ball of fire in the sky? Do you want to worship it?" followed by a lot of enthusiastic nodding. "Stop being quite so murderous" followed by some grumbling and few shifty looks then "but you can totally still set the undead on fire" followed by enthusiastic cheering.

I think the problem lies in thinking that one's opinions on a system, or subsystem, are objective truth rather than just opinions that not everyone will share.

Also, i don't think the Revolutionary Council are elected positions.

Rogar Valertis wrote:

What I'm not seeing is new threats, new NPCs who might be a challange for legendary heroes and the fact most evil nations or organizations seem to have been weakened or defeated. Sure, Tar Baphon is a big bad lich (but even him is where he is AFTER getting ultimately beaten), but him aside I don't see challanges comparable to those present in 1st ed, and I see a lot of redeemed former opponents, defeated threats and not so scary anymore evil empires, which in my opinion is not good for adventuring.

That said, I guess all I'm saying is: give GMs new toys!

We will.

I've got a half dozen different adventure path ideas (aka new toys for GMs) in my head Right Now. I'm not gonna reveal all of them, but just to name a few potentials between established bad guys whoa re still active and new ones who have new stories to tell...

** spoiler omitted **

...are ones I'd love to get more details out there in the form of adventures or, at the very least, story hooks. None of those things are really appropriate to start talking about in a more generalized overview of the world like these posts are doing... although some of them ARE mentioned.

On one of the things you mentioned in the spoiler, I hope:

I like them, thanks Paizo for getting these up so soon.

My package has been hanging out in Fife, Wa since Tuesday. Hopefully soon it will be in my hands.

Chetna Wavari wrote:

It's the final countdown!

No. This is The Final Countdown!

I clicked that somewhat expecting to be Rick Rolled to be honest

I'm not gonna lie, I had very little interest in this topic until it turned into what spellcasting type actual musicians count as, now i am very interested.

A thought I had

Frankly, all I can think about now is some ancient wizard lamenting the degradation of golem quality. Just don't build em like they used to.

Not gonna lie, one of my favorite characters from 1e Pathfinder was a kobold, so I'm quite pleased by the new art and also second (fiftieth?) the call for a plushie one day.

The sound of Styrofoam rubbing against anything, but most especially itself.

As Pizza Lord said, you can justify anything to yourself. The problem is that torture is an outright evil act in Pathfinder as well as worthless for gaining reliable information, so you're using an evil act that's also less effective than other methods. The question of will you stay Good when you're torturing people, probably not is the answer I'd give.

Land of the Linnorm Kings has some areas that would be rife for kingdom building, and could have the hunt for a Linnorm to make it official could be fun.

Jhaeman wrote:

I've got to take the "Meth-Ghoul Amiri" side of things. I also don't know why you would have thick leather and fur all up your arms and legs and then a "hey, please stab me in the abdomen!" costume with no protection there.

Some people just want to show off their sick abs. Unfortunately those got lost in the update so its just silly now.

She's got abs though, you can see them in the image? Like that line in the middle doesn't just happen, you can even see the line where her lower abs meet her obliques. You have to hack a lot of orcs to get those abs.

I will preorder for the completely rational reason of wanting immediate gratification.

I like it, probably wise he got out when he did, pickles are a valuable resource.

Hmm, have they said whether the adventure would eventually be available for playing?

Mortals are just the multiverse experiencing itself. The soul is a bit of the universe that broke off and eventually returns. Some people don't find that a horrifying thought