Gambler

Talgeron's page

RPG Superstar 7 Season Star Voter. Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber. ***** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh 245 posts (256 including aliases). 10 reviews. No lists. 1 wishlist. 36 Organized Play characters. 1 alias.


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Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Yeah, I'd be okay with something like that. I also dislike the low-level grind, but it's necessary if you're a pretty new player, just because everything builds on each other. I'm not married to any particular idea. I just don't want a free-for-all.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I'd be okay with buying the ability to start higher with achievement points, even because you have to run or play Pathfinder to get them. I routinely start off my characters at higher levels because of GM chronicles. For a ton of folks, that wouldn't be an issue. But for a public game day, that's where you'll have problems. It's the brand new player who wants to try the cool blog build or someone who's trying "basically 5e" for the first time that worries me. The only way I can see to screen for "I have a solid understanding of the rules of the game" is making it achievement point gated. Even then, you'll have issues, just not as many, I don't think.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

The day you can freely create PFS characters at any level is the day I stop running PFS. Full-stop. I don't want to be responsible for running games, especially games on a timetable, when people may not have a clue how their characters work. That solution would solve the two level band, but it's not one I am willing to run for. I honestly don't even want to play on tables where someone sits down with a level 7 build they found on YouTube and want to test drive. To me, that's a solution worse than the problem. I don't think it's a big deal in Starfinder right now because there's only one level band, but my experience running the high level play test stuff was agonizing. Nobody had a clue how anything worked. That's fine for a play test, but if that becomes the new norm, I'm out. I've run about 200 pf1e games and about 75 pf2e games, just to establish my experience level. I'm not saying I know more than anyone else, I'm just saying that's where my hard line is.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I just wrapped up a convention and wanted to share some feedback on how the recent changes are playing out in practice.

For context, our SFS2 tables fired at about a 50% rate, while PFS2 tables fired closer to 80%. My primary SFS2 organizer expressed concerns about the scenario length. The only SFS2 game he was able to sit down for ended in two hours, and he left feeling disappointed. His worry—and mine—is how these shortened scenarios will function at conventions. Locally, SFS has been functionally dead at game days for a long time; it only survives at conventions. If scenarios are too short, SFS will either have to be scheduled on an entirely separate timetable from PFS, or else leave long, awkward gaps between sessions.

PFS2 brings its own complications, with scenarios falling partly into the old slot lengths and partly into the new ones. That combination is already shaping up to be a scheduling nightmare. To be clear, I haven’t yet run the newest PFS scenarios myself, but I have already seen negative feedback from the first public runs of SFS2 in my area.

For me personally, the value of Organized Play lies in conventions—meeting new people, seeing wildly varied parties, and facing the unique challenges of mixed-level tables. I run weekly local game days not because I want a fixed, home-game style group, but to build momentum for conventions. The current changes feel designed for weeknight game days at the expense of convention play, and I’m worried Paizo is going to have to decide which format it truly wants to support.

Walk-ups are another major factor. I had many first-time PFS players this weekend. Because of the broader level bands, I was able to shuffle tables and make sure they all got seated. With two-level bands, that flexibility disappears. For this event I scheduled four PFS2 tables and one SFS2 table per slot across a standard seven-slot convention, each slot at four hours. That doesn’t leave much room for maneuvering. I had exactly two Tier 7–10 scenarios scheduled, and both fired: one table with characters at levels 7, 8, 8, and 9; the other with 7, 7, 8, and 9. Under the new system, neither of those tables would have been legal.

Even before PFS2 officially shifts to the new model, organizers are already reacting. One of my coordinators has chosen not to schedule an upcoming Season 7 scenario (Tier 1–4) because by the time Part 2 arrives, it will effectively have been shortened into a much narrower Tier 3–4 experience. That’s discouraging to see before the changes even fully take effect.

Finally, on the volunteer side, the changes to stat block inclusion are also concerning. This weekend I had to ask a GM to step in on just a day’s notice. Because the scenario was a Season 6 Tier 1–4 with stat blocks included, it worked out. Without those included resources, it would have been a much heavier lift to expect them to go print everything and prep it overnight. As I often say as a long-time volunteer for Paizo and other organizations: every barrier to volunteering, no matter how small, reduces the number of people willing to do it.

I’ve been encouraging everyone who shared these frustrations with me to come here and voice their feedback directly. I can share my perspective, but real pushback needs to come from the wider community. My concern is that Paizo may be hearing mostly from the most engaged fans—the ones who are already posting here or filling out surveys. Meanwhile, the convention organizers, store owners, and casual players who are unhappy often don’t bother to say anything—they just quietly stop showing up.

That’s what worries me the most.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Mark Stratton wrote:
Cyrad wrote:

I always appreciated having the full stat blocks of monsters in the back of each PFS scenario. I'm pretty upset that's going away.

Not having to flip between bookmarks for each monster was such a godsend, especially for multi-table specials.

I am not upset by this, but I am pretty darn disappointed. In 1e, a lot of venture-officers pushed hard to get all stat blocks included. This made prepping scenarios a LOT easier and take less time. But, I guess neither of those factors and how they will impact GMs were at all taken into consideration.

It’s almost enough, but not quite, for me to cancel my society subscriptions and stop GMing society play altogether.

I remember when that happened, Mark. It was widely celebrated.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Zexcir wrote:
Hardcover APs. As someone who has been subscribing on and off since Dungeon Magazine. I'm looking forward to this change. It is better for shipping costs, environment as well as the shelf space. I like the fact that everything is all in one book versus needing to pull out multiple books when I'm trying to prep either forward looking or reverse looking. Huzzah!

I'm probably cancelling my subscription for the AP line. The main reason I was subscribing is to one, not miss a volume, and two, get something in the mail once a month that wasn't junk or a bill. I'll probably just switch to buying them as they hit the shelf of my flgs. It'll be cheaper anyway. So this a good change for me, but I wonder if it's an intended consequence.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
KaedenR wrote:

My biggest concern with the narrower level bands: you level out of it so quickly, it can be difficult to figure out which scenarios to schedule for in-person venues.

Case in point: We offer 2 tables every Society night. We have several level 5-6 characters who want to play the new 5-6 adventure...what do we do for the other table? If some players have a level 7 and some have a level 4...they both have to suffer and just make first-level characters to even be able to play? Or somebody can't play at all? Or they have to use pregens?

I'm hoping this isn't how it'll work out in practice, and it's possible that the changes are reflecting the massive shift in how Society is being done these days (I get the feeling in-person non-convention games are fading), maybe this will better serve that new format.

But for how our program current operates, it's making me sweat a bit.

That's my fear, as well. Scheduling. No question it's easier to prep. But what good is prepping a game that doesn't have enough players?

Also, are in-person non-convention games on the decline? I hadn't thought about that, and I only have my area to go off of, but is that other folks' experience?

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Please cancel my Starfinder Maps subscription.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Well earned. Congrats, Zach

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Resurrection requires a portion of the remains. Spectres are incorporeal. An incorporeal creature has no physical body. I call that True Resurrection land.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

I've seen level 7 Seoni drop from full health to stone dead from one piddly fireball trap.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

I agree with Andrew and Brian. I don't allow any custom items in PFS. Custom items, to me, are defined as any item that doesn't have a specific price or stat-line.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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Average people do not become adventurers. I am an average person in real life. I want to play a character of someone who is exceptional. That is why my fighters have at least a 17 strength and my wizards have at least an 18 intelligence. They are exceptional, and bored with the mundane nature of life in a village, and have become adventurers as a result. If my fighter had a 13 strength and a 12 charisma, he'd probably still be a farmer. It's safer that way. If my wizard had a 14 intelligence and a 7 constitution, he'd probably be a librarian. I figure my less powerfully built characters died to a single goblin attacking them on the road to the Grand Lodge, and that's why they don't go on Pathfinder Society missions.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

I can't agree enough about the con thing. You can get by with a lower con if you're a more experienced player, but people get really attached to their first character, and it sucks to have that character die early before you have a plethora of other characters to take their place. That's why I always emphasize a 14 point con if at all possible.

It helps me to think of PFS as just another home game with a different set of house rules and a constantly rotating cast of players and GMs. I still love my home games, and I run one and play in one, but PFS fills my travel and spur of the moment play needs. Also, I get to learn from a large variety of different play and GM styles.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Confirmation:
In Subtier 1, the minotaur is using a broken battleaxe, which does 2d6 when large. In Subtier 2, the minotaur is using a broken greataxe, which does 3d6 when large. Just to clarify.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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Congratulations, man! It's a long road!

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Cyzzane wrote:
I also realized as I got home that my copy of Occult Adventures ended up sprouting legs from our hotel room and walking away

I think we ended up with it. I know we ended up with an extra copy, but I thought it was Corwin's. Zach messaged me the other day to let me know you lost yours. I sent you a PM. Let me know how I can get it back to you. :)

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Good luck!

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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My wife got mine, anyway, Mark. GenCon boon, SchmenCon boon.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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I have nothing but good feedback for this Gen Con.
I GMed 7 slots, and had 6 wonderful tables, and one average table. For those of you who GM at cons, you know that these numbers are phenomenal.

General:
I got a chance to try the Goblin Attacks missions just before the final slot ended on Sunday. The GM I had for that, D'Artagnan, (yes, I had to wikipedia Three Musketeers to figure out how to spell it), showed far more enthusiasm than we had any right to expect at 12:00 on Sunday. I appreciated it. The quests themselves were great fun, but highly dependent upon having an enthusiastic GM. Good job getting the right folks for the job, as far as I could tell.

For headquarters:
The preassigned tables were a huge lifesaver. Not having to move between slots was also deeply appreciated. The laminated pregens in a booklet I think saved a ton of table time, too, as I could just had a new player a book of the appropriate level and say, "I've put the world at your fingertips. Pick your poison!" Seriously, you guys were amazing, for my money.

For the other GMs:
I seriously heard a GM beside me get applause as he was handing out chronicle sheets. I dunno what went on at that table, but kudos!

For the players:
Almost every player at my tables took the time to shake my hand and thank me for a good experience, and that means a lot, especially when you're tired and your voice is starting to go. It made this Gen Con a truly amazing experience for me, and sent me back home refreshed and revitalized, and newly in love with our shared hobby. Thank you for a great Gen Con.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

We did last year, Dragonmoon.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Honestly, the only thing I have is a spreadsheet detailing how many times a given scenario has been run in the area, but you're welcome to that. Who's played what seems more like a full database than a spreadsheet.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Nick Greene
Credit 150 5 June 2015
Review Game 5 June 2015
Special (Bonekeep 3) 4 June 2015
Live noticed 22 June 2015
USA - Tennessee - Knoxville

Thanks to all the characters that died in the Keep of Bones to get me here.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Nice, Nick. I'll buy you a beer if you'll be at GenCon this year. Grats!

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

I definitely forgot to buy a spell component pouch on my bard for four levels... Ouch... Turns out, it's not in the bard kit.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

I think this one is pretty much talked out. Nobody wins this argument. My only statement is that I don't believe that anybody broke any rules. This is a series of unfortunate events.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Channeling in combat changes the math. It allows that fighter to survive one more full round and kill the BBEG. With Channel Revival, it saves the party the cost of a raise dead. It reverses the effects of the fireball that just landed on you. I think it's worth it, if you're gonna invest in the phylactery of positive channeling. You get the ioun stones for wisdom and charisma and the phylactery for channeling, and you can really make a difference. I know in high level play, there's some stuff that's just unbeatable without a cleric or life oracle along to change the math in your favor.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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I agree that the Expanded Narrative boon doesn't seem to be causing any problems in my area. My wife has used hers to replay scenarios, either because she had a bad experience with them or because she realized after playing that a different character would've been a perfect fit. (Not for boons or anything, just because the character's background fit the scenario very well.) Personally, I've only replayed one scenario, and that was to help make a table. I plan to use stars to replay the bonekeep series with a table who actually knows what bonekeep is and is prepared for it. (Played Bonekeep 1 with a pregen and an 8 year old. Played BK 2 with a 9 year old.) I'll probably eventually use my expanded narrative boon, but TBH, for myself, play opportunities are so slim I hate to waste them on scenarios I've already played.

Again, just my take on it. I might use my stars at some point to replay Eyes of the Ten in a couple of years, when the memory of it is not so fresh, if only because that was the best series I've ever played.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

I'm against most forms of replay simply because I have a hard time recruiting enough GMs as it is. If my players could simply play every single slot without ever having to GM, it would make it more difficult. If I didn't continually recruit new players by virtue of having open seats and get the "fresh blood," I wouldn't get the up-and-coming GMs out of that crop. I know I've seen a rotation of some of my original players showing up less, but I have more tables than ever. Some of my original players have migrated to home games, and that's okay, but you either grow or die. Having the exact same people in the exact same chairs week after week prohibits growth.

That's my two coppers, as a VO and an organizer with two years experience.

(Sidebar, that puts me on the opposite side of the argument with my wife, who's played a TON. But that's my opinion.)

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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Thank you for your service.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Congrats, Lucas.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Fighter 29
Barbarian 18
Cleric 12
Bard 12
Summoner 8
Wizard 7
Rogue 5
Monk 2
Magus 2
Gunslinger 1
Pathfinder Delver 1

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Human 4
Halfling 1
Aasimar 4
Oread 2
Undine 1
Half-Orc 1
Kitsune 1
Ratfolk 1
Tiefling 1

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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I do the same thing when I'm playing, whether it's me or another player. I'm fond of saying stuff like, "I move to this square, provoking from this guy and this guy."

As one of my players likes to state, "It's everyone's responsibility to maintain game state." And I can't argue that. To be fair, he's something of a rules lawyer, but I can't complain when he argues against himself as often as for the party. At least I never feel like he's trying to slip something by me.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

When I played it, the GMs rewrote the faction missions to come from the PC's faction leaders, flavored as a favor to an ally of the society. It was great. The Taldor faction mission for part III must stay. And it was written from the point of view of Ambrus Valsin, starting out, "I can't believe I'm actually putting this on paper, but could you..."

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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I find the third time running something for me is the sweet spot. I've got all weird mechanics figured out completely, I know where the players are likely to go off rails, I know exactly how to get them focused again, I've got unique voices for each NPC, and my roleplaying has more depth. But I haven't completely memorized all the stat blocks yet, and I can still be surprised when the players do something unexpected.

On topic, I'm bleeding for GMs locally. My area continues to grow, and I just don't have the GMs to back it up. I've got about 8 regular GMs, and we run 6-7 tables per week. That means that some GMs are running two tables a week, and playing every third or fourth week. I'll be honest, I'm just not sure what to do about it. I make it as easy for the GMs as possible by handling reporting, providing chronicle sheets and loaner copies of scenarios, maps when available, etc, but there's not much else I can do.

I'm interested in all suggestions.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Pathfinder Explorer
Pathfinder Agent
Decemvirate Member
Those are the ones I really wanna see in prepainted plastic.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

I'm in a similar boat. I can't get my local stores to print it out and get it to me so I can run it for them. However, Pathfinder Unchained is still selling out, so it's impossible to say it whether it would've improved sales.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Regarding the goblin quests, what kind of tickets do I need to get participate in that? I just found something else I want to do at GenCon. And am I gonna have the opportunity to do this at local cons? It sounds amazing.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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I agree with Nefreet's original post.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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If I want to participate in a story with no consequences for failure, I'll just read a book. I prefer my skill (or lack of skill) to matter in my success level. Otherwise, I have no reason to improve. I also believe that the dice should matter. Otherwise, why roll them at all? I believe that without the ever-present fear of death, victory ceases to have the savor. There's nothing better than dropping the big bad knowing your fighter can't eat another full round, or waiting with baited breath as the die slowly stops spinning to land on that 2 for the bad guy's saving throw, and knowing that it could've gone either way. And there's nothing like GMing a table that's on the cusp of utter defeat when someone pulls out just the right scroll or has the right spell prepped, or makes the right call and jukes left when his instincts should be telling him to dodge right and pulls out a win. The players are excited, everyone's blood is pumping, and you get to share in the celebration.

And sometimes, there's nothing like a crushing defeat to remind you how far you still have to come. We had what we thought was a perfect table for Waking Rune in hard mode, and by the end, it wasn't about winning, it was how many body retrievals we were gonna have to pay for. Died like a boss when my superstitious barbarian/fighter failed 2 fort saves in a row. That's not supposed to happen. But that's why we roll dice, folks. Sometimes, the good guys lose. And it was one of the best gaming experiences I've had. We had a phenomenal GM and great players, and I wouldn't change a moment of it.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Thanks, Mark. At least I have something to point to next time it comes up.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Can you clarify if Unwelcome Halo, from Inner Sea Gods, in fact works the same way as Daylight? I've experienced table variation based on the spell level, despite the fact that it has the same language as Daylight.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

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I've been fireballed twice, and both times it saved my character. I'll just leave it at that.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

If you'd still like testers, I'm willing to try it out. I use hero lab pretty extensively, so I'm curious about how this program compares.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

I disagree with this suggestion. I am currently running ES for a group attempting to play the entire thing on the same characters. The first levels went fast, but they are going slower and slower the deeper the delve. We complete a level about every other week now, and I expect it to get slower still.
I look at the 2 tables of credit toward a star that I get from We Be Goblins, for example, as making up for the 2 tables of credit I got from running book one of Carrion Crown over a month and a half, or the 6 tables of credit I got from running Dragon's Demand in campaign mode over two and a half months. It balances out. So someone gets their stars a little faster than someone else... Who is actually spending their time worrying about this?
My VL spent the better part of 20 hours preparing Ruby Phoenix Tournament, and another 12 hours running it. He earned 2 tables of credit. However, I've run confirmation so many times that I can run it with about ten minutes prep and run it in about 4, 4.5 hours. So I earn one table of credit. He doesn't complain about the disparity of the amount of time we each spend earning one table of credit.
And as far as player reward, Emerald Spire and Thornkeep can both be incredibly dangerous. Additionally, there's a metric ton of combats involved, with commiserate drain of resources. Add to that the impossibility of gaining full prestige, and you're significantly behind on fame. If you die, it'll be impossible to catch up on prestige. Certain items you get access to later because of the lack of fame. All these serve as balancing factors.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I'm getting pretty excited.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

In my area, we do everything we can to seat new players, and we have one or two every week. It's nothing unusual. The big stuff has already been covered. I find it helpful to think of Pfs as a giant home game with one set of rules worldwide.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

I agree with Elder Basilisk. Giving both fighters an attack of opportunity deliberately might've been the GM's way of trying to soft ball. Obviously, it wasn't effective, but if the bad guy had been down to less than ten hit points and let two beefy characters swing swords, it could've been a "here's your chance to kill me and be a hero" moment on the GM's side. I try not to assume the worst of a GM without being there.

That being said, I've had my share of bad or killer GMs. It happens. And I've killed new player's characters before.

My general tactics with new players is before a player takes an action (such as charging a minotaur after their superior has stated that a minotaur is beyond their capabilities and they should run into a nearby cave, for example) is to explain exactly what the potential reprocussions are of a given action, give an alternate strategy, then ask the player if they truly want to complete said action. If they say yes, I let the dice fall where they may. I dislike the outcome, but I play a game in which we use dice for chance purposes. And who knows? The minotaur could miss his AOO, Valeros could crit and drop him to half health, and an archer could come out and longbow crit and roll max damage. Not likely, but if that's what the players are banking on, who am I to cheapen the experience?

Grand Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Congrats! Enjoy the ride!



.
..
...
....
.....

Hail Glorious Citizens of Our Glorious Nation!

As your humble, all-powerful despot of peace and love, I often wonder which of our Glorious Citizens will one day challenge my gentle iron grip on the hearts and minds of the masses.

Now, as we in the fist shaking business know too well, the masses, while Glorious, are simple and weak, prone to manipulation and trickery.

To this end, BIFTech Engineers have been tasked with tracking down potential threats to the stability of our Glorious Nation.

The reports have just arrived and I would appreciate insight offered by this council.

::

The following citizens have been flagged as potential threats:

  • Tony the Tap Dancing Standard Bard

  • Petra the Crueltongued Court Bard

  • Slygos the Slippery The Serpentine Sorcerer

  • Fernandez the Foul Infernal Sorcerer

  • Perky the Pert Fey Sorcerer

  • Wiles o' Wily the Enchanter Wizard

  • Master Collin the Controller Wizard

  • Mistress Pretzel the Manipulator Wizard

  • Brother Glum the Cleric of Leadership and Liberation

    ::

    The question I pose before this fair council of minds is simple:

    Which of the above citizens would you class as the greatest threat to our loving dictatorship?

    Note: Due to the benevolent laws of our Glorious Nation, citizens will rarely confront each other directly, instead preferring to fight for power through the manipulation of the masses.

    ::

    Thanks be to the Council of Minds!

    *shakes fist*


  • .
    ..
    ...
    ....
    .....

    I love this mini - apparently from Hasslefree:

    Painted

    Unpainted

    A matey brought it to a session.

    It's the first mini I've actually wanted - nay, NEEDED

    ::

    So..

    What class would this little chunk-o-awesome be?

  • Something all fighty fight fight?

  • Something bossy and fighty?

    Thoughts?

    *shakes fist*


  • .
    ..
    ...
    ....
    .....

    To get the ball rolling and show where my head be at:

    Using the array: 18, 14, 14, 12, 12, 8*

    Spoiler:
    * Stats assigned to me by our current DM

    ::

    Barbarian (Drunken Brute):1/Alchemist: 1

    Str 20 (18 +2 Racial)
    Dex 12
    Con 14
    Int 14
    Wis 12
    Cha 8

    Race: Human

    Feats: Power Attack, Improved Initiative

    Extracts: Enlarge Person, Keen Senses, Ant Haul, CL Wounds

    Notes:

  • Str 30 with Mutagen, Rage and Enlarge Person active.

  • Can use Ant Haul to easily carry around several barrels of beer/booze (to be used to extend Rage ala' Drunken Brute ability)

  • Access to martial Weapons.

  • Slight HP boost.

    ::::

    ::::

    Alchemist: 2

    Str: 20
    Dex: 12
    Con: 14
    Int: 14
    Wis: 12
    Cha: 8

    Race: Human

    Feats: Power Attack, Improved Initiative

    Extracts: Keen Senses, Obscure Scent, Enlarge Person, Shield, Expeditious Retreat.

    Discovery: Feral Mutagen

    Notes:

  • Ungodly amount of damage when Feral Mutagen, Enlarge Person and Power Attack active. (1d8+10, 1d8+10, 2d6+10 = 34 min.dmg/44 avg.dmg/58 max.dmg)

  • Minty Fresh Breath.

    ::

    Thoughts?

    *shakes alchemical fist*


  • So, I replied to a task assigned to me by a potential employee:

    Quote:

    Prioritize the following 5 words in the order of importance to you: career, freedom, relationships, responsibility, conduct.

    Briefly define each and give your rationale for the order.

    ::

    ..and this is what I wrote:

  • Freedom: The choice to do the wrong thing or the right thing. Realising that we choose our actions and behaviour. Without the freedom to choose our actions and behavior we cannot be held accountable for our actions and behavior, nor can we truly acting responsibly or conducting ourselves appropriately. As a result, I personally list freedom as the most important word/value of the five.

  • Responsibility: Keeping the promise of doing what is required when it is required. Taking responsibility for our actions and the choices we make. Vital for establishing trust amongst our clients, collegues, family and friends. Behaving in a responsible manner determines how we conduct ourselves, how successfully we maintain relationships with others and the success of our career.

  • Conduct: Behaving appropriatley at all times and practicing an awareness of how our behavior effects others. Our behaviour determines how successfully we maintain relationships with others and the success of our career.

  • Relationships: How we treat our collegues, clients, friends and family directly effects how they treat us and determines whether we will enjoy a positive enviroment or a negative enviroment.

  • Career A good career is built on the freedom to choose be responsible and appropriate conduct, behaving responsibly, conducting ourselves appropriatley and mainting healthy relationships with others. Last in order of priority because it is dependent on all of the above value/words.

    ::

    Do you agree? What do they mean to you? How would you prioritize the 5 words/values and why?

    *shakes fist*


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    Hail!

    What are your thoughts on the best(fastest/most reliable) way to find replacement players for a PFS session?

    ::

    For example, there's a Pathfinder Society Game that needs 3 players within the next 3 hours! Levels 1-2, total session time: 7 hours. Scenario 51.

    I could ask them/possible players to head over to CHAT and speak to SirGuido!

    Or I could ask them to head on over to the Pathfinder Society Collective and contact SirGuido there.

    ..but will it work?

    ::

  • Ideas/thoughts/suggestions to improve the chances of finding players quickly and reliably, like say, within the next 3 hours?

    *shakes fist*


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    Bloatmage Prestige Class

    Lingering Spell

    Selective Spell [/url

    [url=http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/magic-traits/magical-lineage] Magical Lineage

    [url=http://paizo.com/people/AlzirTheMerciful]Character Sheet for Reference

    ...ok, after a quick re-read it would seem you'd need to swap Selective (needs 10 ranks in Spellcraft) around with Lingering - so, more tactical/area denial less friendly to.. friends...

    Hmmm..

    *shakes fist*


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    THE PEOPLE DEMAND A SWIM SPEED FOR TOADS!

    ..or at least the ability to breath underwater..

    LETS STOP THIS CAMPAIGN OF HATE AGAINST THE WEBBED WONDERS!

    FREE THE TOAD WITHIN!

    We, the people, are tired of the continual house-ruling regarding toads - such a pivotal campaign element demands the attention of a writer/designer with at least a semblance of biological knowledge.

    Damn it.

    ..and none of that 'Oh it's a LAND Toad' nonsense!

    Change it! Errata! Full re-write! Call in everyone for an emergency meeting! Do not rest until justice has been done!

    TOADS - WHY THE HATE YO?

    Toad rules

    :: One valiant citizen named GeraintElberion suggested applying the [url=http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/amphibious-creature]Amphibious Creature[/url template.

    Which is ok for our own games but not for PFS..

    ..hence the rage.

    SUCH RAGE! O_O

    *shakes fist*


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    As it says on the tin: Looking for games/gamers who are running either late/early PST games (I'm +12hours) or running games near +8GMT

    Anybody out there?

    I have candy!

    *shakes fist*


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    Hail sexy citizens, have you done something new with your hair?

    Beholden my new robes, crafted from the finest craftsmen! Just feel the lining, so soft, so smooth!

    To business! Your humble, all-powerful leader requests an epic moment of your time...

    ...and a hug.

    Background

    I have a character with a Toad familiar.

    TOAD STATS*

    *Not including Alertness, Improved Evasion, Empathic Link, Share Spells or +1 Natural Armour Class

    Problem

    :: How to make the most of a Toad familiar? It's slow, oh so slow and the damned thing can't even swim! Or breath underwater! How strange..

    State of Play

    -- It's got an insane stealth check

    -- It's very very slow

    -- It has scent (Does this benefit the owner?)

    ::

    So, your thoughts/ideas/creative inspirations on the matter, if you please.

    Thank you for your time.

    *shakes fist full 'o toad*


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    Hail beautiful citizens of our glorious nation!

    I, your humble all-powerful leader would be grateful for your advice and shared experience.

    ::

    Background

    I will soon be joining Pathfinder Society. For it's own good of course. I'm making a character. I like ham. I wish to play a Bloatmage.

    I am basing the character on THIS happy chappy.

    The Problem

    :: In order to get the most bloat for my character's starbucks they will need to be either a Wizard or a Witch: Earliest access to 5th level spells.

    :: I have played a wizard many a time but never a witch so have only theory regarding the witch side of the choice.

    :: As each class will only reach 5th level far reaching advantages are mainly redundant.

    :: Both work equally well for the theme of the character.

    State of Play

    -- A wizard character could be the hulking bulking caster, wheezing along, clutching a weathered old tomb and searching for lost secrets.

    I would take:

    Quote:
    Versatile Evocation (Su): When you cast an evocation spell that does acid, cold, electricity, or fire damage, you may change the damage dealt to one of the other four energy types. This changes the descriptor of the spell to match the new energy type. Any non-damaging effects remain unchanged unless the new energy type invalidates them (an ice storm that deals fire damage might still provide a penalty on Perception checks due to smoke, but it would not create difficult terrain). Such effects are subject to GM discretion. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier.

    ..and play him as a offense, tough caster (toad familiar, Con 16, toughness etc) who specialises in tactical blasts of power, bringing area effects to the party/specialising in cleaning out the critters.

    When not on the road he'd spend his time researching battle tactics, drinking in the pub and fireballing rodents in the park.

    -- A witch character would have Fly, Cackle and Evil Eye. The bloated caster would have Feather Fall at 1st, Levitate 1/day at 3rd and Fly, 5/day 1min duration each, at 5th. So yes, a floating/flying cackling caster. He'd specialise in single target debuffs and enchantment spells.

    When not relaxing by an open fire he'd be wandering the streets reveling in the digust he brings to the ladies while he enslaves their minds for a night of 'Fondle the Folds'.

    :: The general stat array I am looking at is: high/max int, low (8) Dex, Good (14-16) Con and the rest are flexible.

    So....

    - How would the witch feel, mechanically, to the wizard? Please keep in mind that only 5 level will be dedicated to either class (so no higher level class abilities).

    - Which do you believe would better work with the Bloatmage PrC?

    - Any general thoughts/suggestions on building a Bloatmage?

    Bloatmage PrC: BLOATMAGE

    Bloatmage Initiate Feat: BLOATMAGE INITIATE

    ::

    Get in ma belly!

    Thank you for your time.

    *shakes fat fist*

    The Exchange

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    Other reference/thematic images that may help:

    Hotei

    Budai

    Thank you for your time.

    *shakes disguised fist*


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    (This is a copy of the topic I posted in the Rules area. Upon reflection it would seem better placed in Advice. I trust the POWERS-THAT-BE will delete the *other* thread if needs. Thank you for your patience.)

    Lullaby spell:

    Quote:

    Lullaby

    School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level bard 0

    Casting Time 1 standard action

    Components V, S

    Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)

    Area living creatures within a 10-ft.-radius burst

    Duration concentration + 1 round/level (D)

    Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes

    Any creature within the area that fails a Will save becomes drowsy and inattentive, taking a -5 penalty on Perception checks and a -2 penalty on Will saves against sleep effects while the lullaby is in effect. Lullaby lasts for as long as the caster concentrates, plus up to 1 round per caster level thereafter.

    ::

    Backround

    I plan to play a gestalt Sandman Bard/Dreamspun Sorcerer who has became addicted to roaming Lovecraft's Dreamland while he was a member of a Dream Cult in our homebrew Lovecraft-Arabian Nights campaign.

    As a Sandman Bard the character will be able to send targets of his bardic performance to sleep, as per [Sleep] spell. As a Dreamspun Sorcerer the character will be able to cast Lullaby as SA 3+Cha mod/day.

    Dreamspun Spell-Like Ability 'Lullaby':

    Quote:
    Lullaby (Sp): At 1st level, you can use lullaby as a spell- like ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier. This effect lasts for 1 minute and does not require concentration. The penalty on saves versus sleep effects increases to –4.

    ::

    Problem

    -- How best to use Lullaby to support Sleep effects?

    -- What exactly are sleep 'effects'? Sleep, Deep Slumber, Symbol of Sleep?

    -- Would it possible to use Lullaby and the the Sandman's Slumbersong ability?

    -- Would casting the Lullaby be classed as 'initiating combat' and as such prevent the Fascinate/Suggestion(Slumbersong) effect?

    -- How would you play such a class combination/character?

    Quote:


    Slumber Song (Sp): At 6th level, a sandman can use his performance to cause a creature he has already fascinated to fall asleep (as deep slumber, but with no HD limit). Otherwise, this ability functions like suggestion.

    ::

    Thank you for your time.

    *shakes sleepy fist zzz*


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    Lullaby spell:

    Quote:

    Lullaby

    School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level bard 0

    Casting Time 1 standard action

    Components V, S

    Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)

    Area living creatures within a 10-ft.-radius burst

    Duration concentration + 1 round/level (D)

    Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes

    Any creature within the area that fails a Will save becomes drowsy and inattentive, taking a -5 penalty on Perception checks and a -2 penalty on Will saves against sleep effects while the lullaby is in effect. Lullaby lasts for as long as the caster concentrates, plus up to 1 round per caster level thereafter.

    ::

    Backround

    I plan to play a gestalt Sandman Bard/Dreamspun Sorcerer who has became addicted to roaming Lovecraft's Dreamland while he was a member of a Dream Cult in our homebrew Lovecraft-Arabian Nights campaign.

    As a Sandman Bard the character will be able to send targets of his bardic performance to sleep, as per [Sleep] spell. As a Dreamspun Sorcerer the character will be able to cast Lullaby as SA 3+Cha mod/day.

    Dreamspun Spell-Like Ability 'Lullaby':

    Quote:
    Lullaby (Sp): At 1st level, you can use lullaby as a spell- like ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier. This effect lasts for 1 minute and does not require concentration. The penalty on saves versus sleep effects increases to –4.

    ::

    Problem

    -- How best to use Lullaby to support Sleep effects?

    -- What exactly are sleep 'effects'? Sleep, Deep Slumber, Symbol of Sleep?

    -- Would it possible to use Lullaby and the the Sandman's Slumbersong ability?

    -- Would casting the Lullaby be classed as 'initiating combat' and as such prevent the Fascinate/Suggestion(Slumbersong) effect?

    Quote:
    Slumber Song (Sp): At 6th level, a sandman can use his performance to cause a creature he has already fascinated to fall asleep (as deep slumber, but with no HD limit). Otherwise, this ability functions like suggestion.

    ::

    Thank you for your time.

    *shakes sleepy fist zzz*


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    Hail citizens of our glorious nation!

    ::

    Backround

    Some fine fellow citizens and my humble all-powerful self wish to run a gestalt campaign. However, rather than having the best of any two classes we're thinking about setting the second/bonus class to Sorcerer and then letting everyone pick a bloodline from core/APG.

    The campaign takes place in a Lovecraft/Arabian nights setting so the Sorcerer class represents how each character is connected to some alien concept/being/group, by blood.

    The Problem

    - Charisma as the prime casting stat for sorcerers. We'd like a relative equality regarding spell casting effectiveness and would like the characters to cast spells without relying/having to have decent charisma scores.

    In other words, we want to build characters as normal and then add a Sorcerer class that is effective without having to build for it.

    Ideas

    So far we've had the following ideas:

    - Tie spell casting to the players 'prime stat' which they can select at the start of play.

    - Set a 'charisma score' value and have it increase a certain amount every X number of levels. This value wouldn't be an actual charisma stat but would represent power level.

    - Give everyone 16 charisma for free and take the cost out of our attribute pool. Note: We use 80 points 1:1 ratio stat building (quasi-super fantasy heroes R US).

    So, ideas, thoughts?

    Thank you for your time citizen, please continue with your designated labour assignments.

    ::
    PEACE AND LOVE - OR ELSE

    *shakes fist*


    13 people marked this as FAQ candidate. 3 people marked this as a favorite.
    Quote:
    Moonlight Bridge (Su): You summon a bridge of shimmering moonlight. The 10-foot-wide span touches the ground at a point adjacent to your position. From this point it can extend in any direction for 10 feet per oracle level. The path persists until you have crossed over the bridge or for 24 hours, whichever is shorter. You may summon a moonlight bridge a number of times per day equal to your Charisma bonus. Should the bridge be attacked, treat it as a wall of force.

    'any direction' = including up?

    ...if so, does this mean a first level Oracle, assuming the GM was playing by RAW, could block a 10ft wide, 10ft tall corridor for 24 hours and/or really annoy anyone on a mount charging towards them?

    o-o ...if so.. that'd be hilarious.

    *shakes invisible force fist*


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    NOTE: Thank you Gorbacz for restoring my faith in teh webz!

    Greetings fellow filthy earth monkeys, I seek advice, opinions and low low prices!

    ..and I seek you and wise wily thoughts and opinions!

    Quote:

    Mission: To build a wannabe ruler-of-the-land

    Parameters: Pathfinder core/APG 25 point buy

    Which combination of class, skills and feats would you combine to make a wannabe ruler-of-the-land.

    Or if you prefer, Hitlerbot v2.0

    //

    Things to consider:

    - The character must be able to maintain power/rule rather than simply acquire it.

    - The character cannot be assumed to have X item by Y level

    *shakes fist*


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    ''I'' wrote:
    ''I used to be an Assassin but, ya know? It just wasn't me. So I quit.''

    I see some (not all) prestige classes operating in a manner similiar Medieval Guilds - once you're 'in' you become part of a select group - a life long member of a club/group where membership grants knowledge(trade secrets) and power..

    Leaving some prestige classes, alive, is not an option... (cue scary music)

    However, I notice many folks create character builds that feature a few levels in one or more prestige classes before their character seemingly 'quits' and moves onto/into something else - having not completed the prestige class.

    This makes me wonder:

    1 - Does committing to a prestige class imply a committment to 'finishing' its progression?

    Spoiler:
    // Personally I'd say this makes senses - a prestige class is almost akin to a calling. To qualify for a prestige class requires skill/feat/ability focus - and this implies a committment to a path of development/training.

    2 - What could be the possible consequences of leaving a prestige class early?

    Spoiler:
    // I'm thinking along the lines of ex-assassins/shadowdancers/dragon disciples etc meeting 'active' members of their 'old' prestige class. Would they be regarded as failures by 'active' members/'finished' members? (Jim used to be one of us but he couldn't hack it, what a loser! etc)

    3 - What are your thoughts/how does your campaign regard ex-prestige class (failed?) members?

    Spoiler:
    //Ok, so in Real Life people can train to be doctors/lawyers/vets/brickies etc and decided it's 'not for them' or flunk/fail/drop out without any real world consequences other than the potential for elitest-generated social stigma.

    However, some of the prestige classes feature very select members, the assassin prestige class especially. Assumingly, becoming an assassin involves the discovery of trade secrets - and knowing such secrets could seriously endanger a character who 'leaves the brotherhood'.

    *shakes fist*


    ..and found this:

    BEHOLDEN THE GIMPY VERDANT LORD CONCEPT ART!

    =.=

    *shakes fist*

    ..but hey, full spell casting progression and the ability to cast while in Treant form?

    Ouch.


    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    I see a fair few threads where the author requests help with building their character without specifying/detailing the nature of their character's ..um... character.

    This advice request carries on this fine tradition with the addition of a few criteria/demands ( *shakes fist* ) that the build(s) must incorperate into the design.

    Character Outline:

    THE CRITERIA

    Character gneration:

    1)The bard has 10 on every stat with 20 points to spend increasing it's stats, on a 1 for 1 basis.

    2)The bard can only be human.

    3)A maximum of 1 additional class from multiclassing and 1 Prestige Class

    4)Pathfinder SRD feats/rules base + 2 traits from this list/aite:

    Demands ( *shakes fist* )

    - The bard can only use the following weapons: dagger, club, longsword, crossbow (all), rapier, shortsword.

    One handed weapons please, even with muliclassing/PRC. The bard would like to be able to fight on ledges reliably, swing from ropes, catch stuff thrown to him, grasp onto ledges as he falls, scratch his nose, fight with one arm behind his back etc..

    - No dumping Wisdom

    This bard would like to know when it's a good time to talk, bluff, negotiate and when it's not and and when someone else is doing the same.

    - The bard must be able to either:

    - The bard must be able to defend himself for as long as possible.

    The bard would like to be able to survive a few rounds of combat in the hope that it's screams of 'OH MY GOD IT HURTS MAKE IT STOP' will summon the protection of his friends *and/or* long enough for it to find a way to escape.

    .....and that's about it. I realise those are some pretty strange/specific requests/demands ( *shakes fist* )/criteria but there you have it! :)

    Capsule: A social bard that enjoys combat and casting but is not too worried about excelling in either. However the bard would still look to perform in either/each of these areas as best as possible within the contraints outlined above.

    So, if you have the time, any ideas?

    ( *shakes fist* )

    ( *shakes fist* )

    ( *shakes fist* )

    p.s Oh and yes, it's for Bard character... !