Sydänyö's page

Hey,

So, I'm starting a new Pathfinder campaign with my friends, with whom I've played D&D 3/3.5 in the Forgotten Realms setting for years. I'll be the GM this time around, and I kind of suck at it, and I know it. So, I'll be going at it a bit differently this time.

We've never used the 1" maps and miniatures with this group; our combats have always happened in our heads. However, after having played Pathfinder with another group where we did use miniatures and squares, I fell in love with the square/miniature combat style, and quite frankly don't understand why we never used it with this group. I mean, movement becomes such a strategic decision, and stuff like charging is no longer a given, etc.

Anyways, I'm going to run this campaign with square maps and miniatures. I have a table-sized basic flip mat already, and am planning on buying a few more. I'm also going to print out some simple walls and buildings to use. The point with my campaign would be to bring this RPG as close to a board game as possible.

With that, I'm also trying to go with a very basic straightforward setting, with as short and simple "missions" as possible. The idea is to have fun one nighters, much like board game sessions.

So, the setting is this:

The players have been abducted to another plane. Whether this happens in the Forgotten Realms universe or not (we have a ton of the books so that's not a problem), it doesn't really matter, because of it being on another plane. This plane has a huge "harbour town", only the harbour isn't at water; it's a gateway to other realms.

The city is run by a powerful species, who utilize telekinetics, magic and even some sophisticated technology (think the dwemer in the Elder Scrolls), and this is simply to make them as unknown to the players as possible, so there's no metagaming. Also, to make them powerful enough so as to force the players (I hate forcing players to do anything but in this case it's a must) to stay there.

This city has a huge arena, where people go to be entertained. However, it's not just an arena. The contestants in the arena are sort of on a "holodeck", so basically they can be anywhere. This gives me complete freedom as far as these missions go. The spectators on the other hand get to watch things unfold as if it was a theater of some sort.

The missions, or quests, will reward the players with gear and money, and the city has a huge market where all kinds of stuff can be found. They're not so much slaves or captives, as they are mercenaries who are forced to stay in the city by their "benefactor".

I know my players, and they like their bling, so I'm going to try and give them as rewarding but at the same time as challenging a way to better their characters not only through levels but also through gear.

Now, I know, this is very very shallow as far as the RPG side of it goes, but that's the point. We have a great GM, who runs great, deep RPG plots. I just can't do that, but we do need some shorter distractions, so I'm going to try and give our group that.

I will also run a backplot, which has the players most likely escaping the city at some point, or something similar. However, the main focus will be on these nice little quests, and the players advancing in levels and gaining better and cooler gear and feats and so on. I'll also try and add some off-session gaming via forums, where the players can explain what they do on their off time, so they can use their professions, make gear and so on.

So anyways, I'm open to suggestions and criticism, and any kind of input. If you've got any ideas, questions, or whatever, feel free to chime in. :)

Hey,

The prices for creating custom magic items are on the page 550 of the core rule book. Basically it's spell level * caster level * 2000g for continuous * 0.5/1.5/2/4 depending on duration * 0.5 if level 0 spell * 1.5 if additional effect.

So... I've been thinking of getting the Boots of Striding and Springing for my glass cannon fighter/wizard (who is going for a level of barbarian and possibly alchemist too). They cost 5500g and give +10' and +5 acrobatics.

Now, according to the base estimation price calculation for new magical items, creating a continuous effect item from the spell Expeditious Retreat, which gives you +30' speed, would cost 4000g (1 * 1 * 2000g * 2). I'm guessing 4000g would be a bit cheap for something like +30' speed? Anyone here who has allowed such an item to be made, and if so, how high did you set the price?

Also, I was thinking of these kinds of items:

Bull's Strength (2 * 3 * 2000g * 2)
Enlarge Person (1 * 1 * 2000g * 2 * 1.5 because it's an additional effect)

So an item like this would cost 30000g, not too cheap for what it does I think, but might be a fun item to have for a glass cannon fighter/barbarian -"thing" who also aims to do some sick intimidating.

Then goggles like this:

Identify (1 * 1 * 2000g * 4)
Comprehend Languages (1 * 1 * 2000g * 1.5 * 1.5)
Read Magic (1(0) * 1 * 2000g * 1.5 * 0.5 * 1.5)

This would be 14750g. Goggles that read and comprehend languages and magic, detect magic (Identify does that) and give you a skill bonus. Too overpowered, too cheap? Wasn't thinking these for myself necessarily, more like our wizard.

Are there any general rules that I've missed in calculating base prices for items? Can those prices be trusted at all? Anyone have any other game breakers they've thought up from low level spells?

Hey,

The spell Surmount Affliction (Ultimate Magic) has been discussed a bit, mainly because of the fact that it allows you to suppress certain conditions which already stop you from casting it. My own guess would be that it was meant as a preventive spell; cast it before you know a certain condition will be cast on you. In any case, apparently it's not that great of a spell, or so people seem to think.

However, what about making it into a continuous magic item? It's value would be spell level x caster level x 2000 x 4 (because it's duration is rounds.) It's a level 2 spell, so the caster level would be 3, making it's value 2x3x4x2000 = 48000 gold.

This item (a ring, for example) would then continuously suppress one of the conditions mentioned in the spell (I guess, since it most likely wouldn't suppress all of them) continuously. Or would it? Can this be done, am I missing something?

Would 48000 gold be too low a price for basically "immunity" (not immunity since it doesn't shield you against conditions, just suppresses them) against something like fear or paralyze?

Hey again,

So... I've got a fighter/wizard, whose bonded item is his greatsword. Now, due to the fact that I'm obligated to cast every spell with my bonded item either worn or wielded lest I lose my spells by failing concentration checks, my GM has ruled that I'll be casting all my spells with my 2H weapon in my hands, or at the very least wielded in one hand. Whether this is kosher or by the numbers, I don't know, but this is how we're playing it.

The question I have though has to do with True Strike. When I'm casting True Strike, which has a focus component (but no somatic or material, it's V F), do I put away my sword or can I hold it one-handed still (20STR so it shouldn't be a problem) and is it considered wielded if I do so? Would it also be possible for the focus to be crafted into, for example the pommel of my greatsword (I'm a weaponcrafter, a pretty useless ability thus far), and if so, would I still have to let go of my 2H grip to fondle the pommel of my sword?

Also, if I were to get a metamagic rod to allow me to cast spells as quickened, is there any possible way I could use a move action to move, then use the metamagic rod as a swift action (as quickened rods are meant to be used), and with it cast True Strike (I'm going to assume that using a quickened rod and casting the spell quickened by it are both using the same single swift action, since you only have a single swift action per round to use, and otherwise it wouldn't make any sense whatsoever), and then use my standard action to attack as per usual? I'm guessing the requirement to drop my 2H grip in order to manipulate the focus kind of makes this impossible, no?

Anyways, I hope someone understood what I'm saying. I don't think I managed to produce very coherent output. Ask away if something was unclear, and if any pros have any suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

So, I've been looking at some fun spells for my Fighter-Wizard, and I ran into this spell Mirror Strike. I Googled for similar ideas and questions, but didn't find any, so I thought this might be a new suggestion. This is a bit of a wording-nitpick idea, something that does sort of have a logical backing of the description of the spell as well as the feat, but which still might be a tad game breaking. So here goes:

The wording of Great Cleave is as follows:

As a standard action, you can make a single attack

at your full base attack bonus against a foe within reach. If you
hit, you deal damage normally and can make an additional
attack (using your full base attack bonus) against a foe that
is adjacent to the previous foe and also within reach.

So basically it says you make an attack (roll an attack roll), and if you hit - it doesn't state who you need to hit, which is the nitpicky part - you can make an additional attack and so on.

The wording of Mirror Strike is as follows:

You briefly alter the flow of time to split a melee attack into

two attacks. Before the end of your next turn, when you make
your next melee attack roll, compare the result to the AC of
two opponents within your reach.

This means that at the moment of rolling for the Great Cleave attack (a melee attack roll), you would - in theory - get to compare that roll against two opponents, instead of one.

Now, I know this is dancing on the line of being ridiculous and thus people could tell me to shut up straight away, but my thinking from a logical and RP-ish standpoint is this:

Great Cleave (and Cleave) basically allow you to continue your humongous swing, a single swinging attack, slicing through enemies enough in order for the swing to continue on it's trajectory.

Mirror Strike creates two swings out of one.

While game breaking or unfair (or stupid), it would make sense to me at least from a logical PoV, that the swing that was great and massive enough to be a cleaving attack, which gets mirrored, would be great and massive enough to be two cleaving attacks.

Thus: you'd have two Great Cleaves moving on different directions! I'd still say they couldn't hit the same targets, as Great Cleave does specifically deny that (although they're basically two separate swings), but it might be a fun effect when facing opponents on both sides.

So, what say you? Have I missed something in these wordings that I didn't already touch upon, something that wasn't mentioned here but was elsewhere? What's your own take on this idea?

Hey,

I'm playing in a somewhat casual group (we play once every couple months or so) what could only be called a bit of a "cheesy" and min-maxed fighter, similar kind of a character I've played in one of my D&D group as well.

He's on level 6 2HF right now, human (20 14 14 12 6 8), with Dodge, Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, WF, WS, Vital Strike, Improved Initiative, and has two traits; Adopted/Elven Reflexes and the other I can't remember but it also gave +1 to initiative IIRC. He uses a MW greatsword.

I'm thinking of multiclassing him to a Foreshadowing wizard, giving me two level 1 spell slots, of which one has to use a Divination spell. I'll also take my GSW as the bound item. Through being Divination/Foreshadowing wiz, I should get the ability to "pre-roll" a die three times a day, as well as get +1 to initiative and the ability to act during the surprise round.

I can then cast one of my spells via my sword once per day and I'll have two slots for my level 1 spells, one of which has to be Divination.

Good spells to go with this are True Strike (really the reason why I'm planning on doing this), as well as things like Enlarge, spells that give me double base move for 1 minute, triple carrying capacity for 2 hours, +5 initiative, and other nifty spells that should help my character as a fighter.

I'd just like to know if I've made a mistake somewhere or if I should consider doing something differently, and whether there are any Pathfinder prestige classes that would be perfect for this character, as well as if there's any gear that I should look into getting.

In general just any advice anyone has. Thanks! :)