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Hi everyone. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
One of my players came up with an idea for a custom exploit for his Arcanist. It ties into his background of surviving his journey near the Eye of Abendego. We discussed a little, he started over thinking/over complicating and I'm trying to simplify. I appreciate any and all comments.
Here's the nuts and bolts of it:
Title: Fury of the Maelstrom
Greater Arcanist Exploit, available at 11th level.
Three reservoir points to activate as a standard action
1d8 damage every other level (6d8 at 11th level)
All within 5ft radius spread from caster take full damage (caster is eye of storm)
10ft radius spread take half damage.
Fort save to avoid being stunned.

At 15th level Arcanist can spend an additional three points to either increase total radius to 20 feet (10ft full damage, 15-20ft take half damage) or add 50% (round down) more damage (12d8 at 15th level)

Simple description: The arcanist channels the raw power of the storm causing a tornado like vortex to form around him with the caster being in the eye of the storm. All creatures within a 5ft radius take full damage while those at 10ft radius take half damage. All creature affected by the maelstrom must succeed a Fortitude save or be stunned for 1d4 rounds.

Again, I appreciate any and all feedback. Thank you again.
Good Gaming!

One of my PCs included in his background that his primary weapon is a family heirloom. I am making him cover the base cost for the weapon but wanted to do something where the weapon would gain more powers as he levels. This way he's not forced to shelve his family's weapon after he gains a few levels and finds a better weapon.

Figured I'd seek the MB to get some more ideas. I have a few ideas in mind but it's always good to get more opinions. I should mention that he's a fighter with the thunder striker archetype.
Thanks in advance for any build ideas.

Finally, after waiting for what seems like forever my Rise campaign is finally getting off the ground.
I would ask the community their opinions regarding the finalized character choices the party has made.

This campaign will be run via roll20 and consist of 6 PCs, they are:
Human Rogue (Sniper)
Dwarf War Priest (no archetype chosen)
Human Arcanist (either Elemental Master or Eldritch Font)
Changling Druid (no archetype chosen)
Half Elf Fighter (Thunderstriker)
Aasimar Oracle (Dual Cursed Life mystery)

I turn to the community to give me their opinions of the party and the party's chances of survival. I think the party is pretty strong with all four main roles being accounted for and the addition of two support spell casters.
Thank you for your feedback.

I am currently a player in a roll20 game and other, newer, players in the group get OoC with rules questions and arguing with DM regarding certain things they can and cannot do. Myself and another player are more knowledgeable with the rules and are constantly defending the DM and trying to keep the game on the rails.
When we finish this campaign I will be DMing. I was planning on writing up an email of "house rules" for the PC's before we got started.

My question is: How do I put into words, clearly and concisely, the concept of moving on and letting go?

It seems these two newer players get hung up on certain things and won't move on. Even after the DM has explained it and we (the other player and I) have supported and backed up the DM and pointed out the RAW. They either pout about it or simply deny the DM's authority and want further clarification, and even after that can't seem to let it go.
I really don't want this to be an issue in my game because it drags out and really slows down the game. In the past I've had to deal with a player regarding this issue and long story short I don't game with him anymore ever. It is really frustrating and fury inspiring if we're having to pause every now and then to discuss something. I have even encouraged the other players to read up on their character class abilities, skills, feats, combat rules etc. but it hasn't quite sunken in yet, I don't know if they need to review again or what.
I greatly appreciate any advice or phrasing regarding this matter from the boards.
Thank you in advance.

Joey, you are a maniac! Thank you so much for this! This is great stuff. I am using this for my soon-to-come-to-fruition AE Rise Campaign. I am going chapter by chapter and needed some clarification...

I will have a party of 6 PC's that have very good stats. (I allowed them to roll, WHAT?! who does that anymore?)
Anyway, right now I am only going through Chapter One making use of all your hard work when I came across this...

In the Catacombs of Wrath for the Sin spawn you made the note of:
6 Heroes 2 Advanced +2 Hitdice Sin spawn
and later:
6 Heroes 3 Advanced +2 Hitdice Sin spawn
(sorry don't post enough on here to know the way to show a quote and whatnot)

Now does that mean, and here's where I need the clarification, that the Advanced Sin Spawn have 2 additional hit dice as well as the advanced template? Because that seems like a lot of hit points for the PC's to battle. Two 5HD Sin Spawn? Then three 5HD Sin Spawn. That's an average of around 45 hit point each. It just seems like a tad much for 2nd level characters at that time.
Just wanted to check with you and see if I'm interpreting/reading the entries correctly.
Thank you again for all this great material. As I said I am going to use it.
Appreciate the time.
Good Gaming,
Asti

Call me old fashioned but I'm letting them roll up stats. WHAT?! they still do that?! How does that work?

DMPC of Bloodrager b/c what the hell I wanna have some fun too.

Not planning on mythic tiers, with rolled stats and 5 characters I will be adjusting game mechanics anyway with "rule of two" (+2 to attack and/or +2 AC) and max hp for baddies. Did this for them on a previous campaign where they played gestalt characters (a fighter sorcerer who dual wielded two-handed swords, yea monkey grip and oversized two weapon fighting and a psionic rogue with slippers of spider climb and mad stealth bonuses, they would utterly destroy anything that was not undead) but I'm rambling…

I really wanted some other pairing ideas for my other player. He seems to be having a decision making problem and I want to present him with options.
I figure we'll need another melee combatant and some sort of healer/caster. We have some magic and ranged damage with the alchemist, the rogue will be a ranged support, she's leaning towards sniping.

Thanks for the feedback. I greatly appreciate it.
GWA

My RPing group has dwindled over time. However, I am determined to play this campaign with my two remaining players.
They each will be playing two PCs. Here's the breakdown:
PC1: Tiefling twins one rogue, one alchemist.

PC2: Undecided still! but leaning towards paladin-esqe, cavalier, war priest-ie person (or so the PC believes) with a squire to support (that truly has all the blessings from chosen deity).
Thought at one point to have paladin in need of redemption holding a cursed/magical sword with intelligence as 2nd character.

DMPC: Bloodrager with Arcane bloodline.

Any ideas would be appreciated including build ideas or other interesting PC pairings to get PC2 motivated/creative juices going.

TIA!

Fruian and Chess,
Thanks for the advice. It is much appreciated. You've certainly given me much to mull over.
I'm sticking with a Suli for race wielding a bastard sword and heavy shield and some med. armor. The Suli's elemental damage adds another 1d6 and starting strength is 19 so damage right off the bat will not be a problem. Will take feats of big game hunter (thanks Fruian) as well as Arcane vendetta (+2 dmg to spell casters) from ISWG.
Thanks again for the tips.
GWA

Planning on starting up a ROTR campaign in the very near future and was interested in playing a bloodrager with arcane bloodline and thinking of adding some fighter levels (most likely just the first 2) for added feats.
The race I am wanting to play is Suli, the elemental damage is just awesome to me and adds to my tank idea.
I just wanted some ideas/insight/options for building.
Want to play it as the party tank dishing out damage aplenty.
Not sure on feat progression as of yet going through everything is time consuming so I thought I'd try posting to get some help.
Thanks in advance,
GWA