In September of 2012, my brother and I released a blog post discussing the issue of feat taxes in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Although the post was intended to be a one-off thought experiment based on our experiences building characters for organized play, it gained an inexplicable amount of traction online.
In response to the continued interest expressed by the Pathfinder community, we’ve decided to publish an updated and expanded version of our feat tree. This document, titled The Elephant in the Room after the original blog post, includes a reimagined version of the entire feat section found in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook.
We’re publishing the revised rules on the Hearth & Blade website, as our (in progress) campaign setting was largely inspired by these feat tax rules - albeit adjusted for the P6 rule set. The document provides a good idea of what our upcoming core rulebook will look like when it is finished.
More than anything, however, we hope that this document continues to spur interesting and lively discussion of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, just as the original blog post did.
I'm going to send a PM for feedback too, but I'll just post my monster up here too. I had it up on my blog prior to the contest anyways, so the cat is already out of the bag.
I will now tentatively classify the website as "up and running." We did lose some posts/comments from the last few days, but other than that, the website is well preserved. Please let me know what the overall access speed and reliability is, and if you encounter any errors.
HOWEVER, website affiliated emails are still down. I think I'll have to enter them in manually at some point today or tomorrow.
Yes, unfortunately it does affect email as well. I believe that all the venture officer's emails are currently down, and will continue to be down until the server is done switching over.
If you have any general queries, please feel free to get in touch with me via my Gmail. I can likely put you in touch with the right people.
And just a small update: We're still waiting for the domain name redirection to propagate. It said that the process could take between 24-48 hours, and we're approaching the 48 hour mark, so hopefully things will be up and running soon. Hopefully. :|
Another Update: We're just waiting for the domain name redirection to take effect. This takes 24-48 hours and we set it going about 12 hours ago, so it'll hopefully be up and running soon.
Update: Server migration is done, and we're in the process of transitioning the domain to the new name servers. This always takes a bit a of time - usually at least 24 hours - but it is a relatively simple and painless process.
I know that some people have been successfully accessing the website during this downtime, and I just want to give a heads up that any posts/comments made in the last 48 hours and next 48 hours may be lost after the transition. I know this sucks, but we had to make a copy of the database about 24-48 hours ago to use for the new install.
I just wanted to let you know that Jeff and I are working diligently to correct the website problems. Jeff's hosting service seems to be having fits with the website - taking it offline for large chunks of time - so we're going to migrate it over to my servers.
It should take between 24-72 hours to complete the process, barring unforeseen circumstances. Ideally, the downtime should be minimal going forward, but we'll see how things move along.
On behalf of the Ontario Pathfinder Society, I would like to let you all know that Gryphcon 2015 is just around the corner! From February 27 to March 1, the University of Guelph will be hosting one of Ontario’s largest gaming conventions. We'll be hosting 25 tables of Pathfinder this year, and there will be all sorts of other gaming events happening across the weekend too!
Last year we ran over twenty tables of Pathfinder in the Royal City, but this year we’re planning on at least twenty five. Schedule highlights include six tables for the Legacy of the Stonelords convention special, a bevy of Season 6 scenarios, as well as some well loved classics such as Sewer Dragons of Absalom and The Penumbral Accords.
You can check out the full schedule on the Gryphcon website RIGHT HERE.
Gryphcon is a venerable convention and a really great event, and I strongly encourage you folks to participate as both game masters and players. If you have any questions, feel free to list them below. I’m more than happy to answer queries regarding the event.
Congrats Tonya! Glad to have you on the Ontario team.
Zefig: There doesn't seem to be a lot of PFS happening down in the Windsor area as of right now. There were some stirrings about a possible Windsor VL about a year ago, but I don't believe that ever seriously got off the ground.
I was chatting with RS, and it turns out that both Hibou and Jotunn were placeholder names we thought of waaaaay back in the day. We've been using them so much that we forgot they weren't Slavic.
I very much like the word Olbjeem, but I can't find any place to corroborate its meaning. I think I'll probably have to enlist a fluent speaker of the language at some point to check things out for us.
We may end up going with something really simple for the Jotunn (trolls) or give them a completely made-up name since they do have their own language.
As for the Hibou, I think we'd like to give them a unique name plus a derogatory name that humans refer to them as. Hibou were essentially the Kobolds of Yavmir before the cataclysm, so there is a lot of ire directed at them.
Sych is my favourite name idea so far. I have to verify the information, but I fished this up from a folklore website:
Russians and Ukrainians sometimes call an unfriendly person a "sych," which is also the Russian common name of the Little Owl (Domovoy Sych; Athene noctua). Traditionally, little owls have been disliked and feared by people believing that these birds announce deaths.
@Ascalaphus
Thanks for the feedback! I'm a big fan of the climb/glide combo as well. In my mind, I visualize groups of Hibou climbing up trees and gliding down upon their foes. Its nice flavour, and less powerful than outright flight.
Jotunn don't have reach, and I'm very leery about giving it to them. I think it may be a bit overpowering for PC class to have that kind of range. I think be able to wield oversized weapons should be enough.
I am hand-waving the +2 Con restriction to Tolann for flavour purposes. Also, Kit Lyu may be a touch OP but swimming doesn't really come up that often from my experience.
The lineage packages are somewhat muted by the fact that we're eliminating normal traits picked at level one, and disallowing alternative racial traits. Humans will still likely come out a bit more powerful than they before, but I wouldn't say any more than an Aasimar or Tiefling.
@JoeJ
Very good points! I was reading something similar in the Kobold World Building Guide. Although clerics will pick a primary god to worship, respecting all gods is going to be heavily encouraged. I imagine something similar to the Greek myths: where people may favour one god, but will pray to any individual god based on their current needs (good crops, fair sailing, etc...).
@Indagare
Perun will play a role in the world, but perhaps more interesting are the factions that were formed in his wake. There is a group of fanatics bent on reclaiming and utilizing the power of flame that was lost when Perun severed his ties with Yavmir. The cult is ruled by a Fire Eidolon named Gorod, who grants his followers powerful magicks in exchange for their absolute loyalty. There are rumours, however, that Gorod's unsavory methods have created a new generation of Blackened Ones: mindless abominations who constantly assail the kingdoms of Tol and Khor.
@Drejk
I will consider that. I'm actually unsure why we named them Jotunn in the first place. I think it may have been a filler name that just sorta stuck.
Rules Update! We've put together the races for Yavmir using the Pathfinder race builder, using 13RP as a hard cap.
The bulk of the population of Yavmir is human, but we've incorporated a variety of lineages that can be added to the standard human template to create some diversity. Lineage packages are 4RP, bringing humans in line with the other two races we've made. As a result of this added power (and to help streamline character creation), we're banning alternate racial traits and the standard traits PCs pick at level 1.
There are two playable exotic races in Yavmir: Hibou and Jotunn. Hibou are small, anthropomorphic snow owls. They were once a second class resident of Yavmir, but the collapse of the Radiant Empire and the onset of the Endless Winter have seen their fringe society flourish into a powerful faction in the new world. Jotunn are essentially large, Slavic trolls. Enslaved during the Radiant Age, they now eke out an existence as hunters and guides.
Sorry for the slow response. I was on vacation for a couple weeks there.
Thanks for the information Drejk! Like I mentioned earlier, I found it hard to find proper information and translations for a lot of this equipment. Any advice from those "in the know" is much appreciated, and that bechter entry is a great resource.
I'm not familiar with Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness, but it certainly looks neat! I guess I'll have to fire up my old DOS emulator.
Map Information
The general shape of the map was sketched out roughly by myself and my brother (Radiostorm) using Photoshop and Illustrator. We wanted something that was roughly crescent shaped, and we were actually quite a bit inspired by the Super Mario World over-world map.
Once we had a basic shape we liked, I started assembling a more polished version. To make a believable looking coastline, I overlaid portions of Russia, Canada, and Europe like a jigsaw puzzle. Once I had a satisfactory shape and feel, I fused all the elements together and live-traced the composite in Illustrator to create an editable vector.
My brother and I then went back and forth, adding mountains, forests, and rivers as needed. With the design pretty much complete, Radiostorm then made a polished version in Photoshop: adding colours and proper terrain texturing. He also named a bajillion different points on the map - areas of interest that our outlined in the Wiki.
I may post some images from the map design process at some point. We have about 5-10 iterations, and it is kinda cool to see how the world developed.
Over the last week or so I did some research on Slavic armour and weaponry. I wrote up a little break-down on the blog, which you can see RIGHT HERE. We'll be integrating some of this stuff in the Wiki shortly.
I found it difficult to find illustrations and reliable information for this part of the project! It was fun though, and led me to a lot of other neat avenues to explore. I'm going to delve into some Cossack lore next, as I kept stumbling upon it and it seems rather neat.
Sorry to double post! I've expanded upon some of Keydan's suggestions, and put up a neat little weaponry break-down. You can see the blog post RIGHT HERE.
We'll be integrating those weapons into the almanac sometime soon; perhaps after I make another post that includes some armour and equipment!
Those are some great ideas! I'm currently working on some basic world design stuff (climate, currency, etc...), but after that I think I'll take a closer look at some of the equipment and artifact options you mentioned.
I'm also super psyched about Buyan Island, as I actually haven't heard about it before. Its relationship to Perun and the weather also seems to fit nicely into the campaign setting.
The idea of having two types of currency was really intriguing to us. We eventually decided to have one set of antiquated currency from "ages long past," and another set of currency for the modern day. Each currency reflects its times:
Radiant Age currency is made of precious metals, an extravagance which would be impossible in current times.
Mortal Age currency is practical. Every metal used in the coins can be - and often is - melted down into tools, weapons, and even household items.
It was fun trying to find ways to work iconography from the campaign setting into the coinage designs. When I have some free time I'll probably do some graphical coin mock-ups in Illustrator to accompany the text.
@keydan
I'd love to see your archetypes when they are posted. We have a lot of ideas for archetypes on the Wiki, but they're more setting specific than anything else.
I have found that there aren't a huge amount of Slavic folklore books floating around in North America. Certainly not on the same level as some other cultures (i.e. Celtic, Chinese). Some books I have been using for reference include:
...as well as a dozen other more general mythology and folklore books.
A couple of updates that should be on the Wiki shortly: ZMEY and ZMEY GORYNYCH. My take on the classic Slavic dragon, and how it would fit into the world of Yavmir.
Fun facts: Zmey can mean serpent, viper, or dragon. Gorynych is loosely translated into "mountain" and/or "fire," and is often thought to refer to the steppes tribes that terrorized Russia for centuries. History!
Clear, succinct and open. I like what you've done with the place. Will you be adding any geography or a gazateer of the specific kingdoms? Also is the only race that of man? Maybe I didn't dig far enough into the material. If there are other races, what's their take on history since they don't seem to have a place in the creation myth.
Finally, what would the adventures be like in this world? With the info you have as is it seems very Game of Thrones-ey where men fight with men for hard-scrabble resources in a near-endless winter. Not much place for dungeon-delving fantasy heroes, but perhaps a mercenary band selling their services to the highest bidding monarch or petty noble...
RS answered a couple of your questions above, but I'll respond to the rest the best I can.
Will you be adding any geography or a gazetteer of the specific kingdoms?
We actually were just talking about this yesterday! One of our next major additions will be a flow chart outlining the basic kingdoms, and how they get along with each other. I am going to base it off Jonathan Roberts' example in the Kobold World Building Guide (great read, by the way).
What would the adventures be like in this world?
You're right, a lot of the adventures will likely be based around resources. Both mundane commodities (food, iron, etc..) and artifacts of the Golden Empire are highly coveted by the kingdoms of Yavmir. Adventurers will have no problem selling their services to kings, nobles, and faction leaders.
That being said, there are no shortage of ruins and dungeons for PCs to explore on their own! Many old cities, outposts, temples, and castles were abandoned after The Sundering, and now teem with monsters and forgotten treasures.
A lot of the inspiration for quests and adventures is drawn from apocalyptic settings such as Fallout. Since the inhabitants of Yavmir are only a few centuries removed from The Sundering, they have a pretty strong cultural memory of what the world was like before it. They are aware of the wonders (and dangers) found in the ruins of the past, and may choose to explore or avoid them based on their personal goals.
My brother and I have always been interested in world building, and a few years back we began toying with the idea of a campaign setting steeped in Slavic folklore. The project started as a conversation, grew into random fragments of documentation, and is now being aggregated into a Wiki as we start to refine our ideas.
The working title for project is the (rather unimaginative) World of Ruin, but the name of the world itself is Yavmir. Our ultimate goal is to create a fully fleshed out Pathfinder campaign setting based upon Slavic mythology; a type of folklore that interests both of us greatly, and which doesn't seem to get its fair share of the spotlight. At the moment the project is very much incomplete - somewhat of an "alpha build" with very few Pathfinder-specific rules integrated - but there is still enough information present for people to get a grasp on the world, and even run a relatively small campaign.
The Wiki is a bit scattered at the moment, but here are a few good jumping in points if you are interested in checking it out.
World Map
A map of Yavmir in its current state, including most major cities and locations.
Abridged History
A brief record of past events, including an outline of the three ages, and the origins of the gods, races, and conflicts that shaped the world.
The Complete Wiki
Take a look at all of the content that has been created so far; including a pantheon of gods, a roster of races, and an ever-growing bestiary.
We've been working on this project on-and-off for a long while and decided that now would be a good time to get some outside feedback. Comments, criticism, and questions are all welcome!
I'll post in this thread whenever any major updates are added to the Wiki. We generally add at least one or two new Wiki entries a week, and my current obsession is researching and creating new monsters (which I also post on my blog) to help flesh out the bestiary. All content is protected under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike, so feel free to share and adapt the materials with accordance to the license.
On behalf of the Ontario Pathfinder Society, I would like to welcome you all to Phantasm, Gamer’s Equinox at the Peterborough Public Library. Gamer’s Equinox emerged from the ever popular Phantasm gaming convention, and features everything from Warhammer to Zombicide. And of course, we’ll be running lots and lots of Pathinder Society Organized Play!
We’ll be mustering tables at the convention, so there will be no sign-ups ahead of time. But don’t worry about finding something to play! Even in the unlikely event that you have played through every scenario that every GM has prepared (something I would be very impressed with), there will be dozens of other games to try out at the convention.
Doors will be opening at 9:00 am on March 29th, with the first games starting at 10:00 am, and the fun doesn’t stop until 8:00pm on March 30th. You can see the full schedule of events online RIGHT HERE.
In addition to all of the great role-playing games, Phantasm will be offering a large board game library (with free tutorials), a Toy Shop, and a Phantasm Yard Sale, where you can bring your old gaming goods and sell them while you play. There really is something for everybody at Phantasm, Gamer’s Equinox!
On behalf of the Ontario Pathfinder Society, I would like to let you all know that Gryphcon 2014 is just around the corner! From February 28 to March 2, the University of Guelph will be hosting one of Ontario’s largest gaming conventions. There will be everything from board games to NERF warfare – and of course - plenty of Pathfinder Organized Play!
Last year we ran twenty tables of Pathfinder in the Royal City, but this year we’re upping the ante to thirty. Schedule highlights include five tables for the Siege of the Diamond City convention special, and a running of the notoriously murderous The Waking Rune. There are also a bevy of Season 5 scenarios, as well as some well loved classics such as We Be Goblins Too and Voice in the Void.
You can check out the full schedule on the Gryphcon website RIGHT HERE.
Gryphcon is a venerable convention and a really great event, and I strongly encourage you folks to participate as both game masters and players. If you have any questions, feel free to list them below. I’m more than happy to answer queries regarding the event.
It’s a new year, winter is in full swing, and that can only mean one thing: Gryphcon 2014 is just around the corner! From February 28 to March 2, the University of Guelph will be hosting one of Ontario’s largest gaming conventions. There will be everything from board games to NERF warfare – and of course - plenty of Pathfinder Organized Play!
Last year we ran twenty tables of Pathfinder in the Royal City, but this year we’re upping the ante to thirty. Of course, more tables means more GMs! I need a cadre of brave game masters to travel out to Guelph with me to make this con happen. Whether it be for a single day or a the entire weekend, I welcome any assistance that is offered.
What perks are there for participating in this convention? The good folks at Gryphcon have offered up the following boons for intrepid game masters:
1 Game Slot
Access Pass ($5 value, all weekend open floor access, 1 closed slot to play in)
2 Game Slots
Gamer Pass ($10 value, all weekend open floor access, 3 closed slots to play in)
3 Game Slots
Insomniac Pass ($20 value, all weekend open floor access, no slot restrictions)
OR Gryphcon 25 T-shirt ($15 value)
Additionally, I am looking for 4 super dedicated game masters to run 4 or 5 games each. In addition to receiving an Insomniac Pass, these heroic GMs will be given a hotel room to split for the entire weekend. The hotel room is being provided by the Gryphcon organizers, and will be a double-queen room at the Delta or Best Western located directly across the street from the University.
I may get quite a few requests for this deal, in which case I will pick game masters that I feel can contribute the best to the convention (and who can share a hotel room without strangling each other.)
Instead of making an ordered list for the game schedule, I have embraced the future that is Google Docs. Below is a link to the tentative games schedule, which is somewhat fluid and will almost certainly change a bit over time.
Schedule highlights include demos of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, six tables for the Siege of the Diamond City convention special, and a running of the notoriously murderous The Waking Rune. These are also a bevy of Season 5 scenarios, as well as some well loved classics such as We Be Goblins and Voice in the Void.
Please contact me via electronic mails or via this forum thread if you are interested in journeying to Guelph to aid our presence at Gryphcon, or if you have any questions about the event. In your messages please let me know what slot(s) your are interested in running, and also let me know the email you use for your Paizo account. This is necessary to receive your scenario downloads! Also take note of repeat sessions on the schedule; I put them there on purpose so individual GMs could save on some preparation time.
If you are able to join me on this adventure, please contact me as soon as you can. I am currently aiming for a January 19th deadline to have the schedule complete. With your help, this will be another event to remember!
The Ontario Pathfinder Society is happy to release the final schedule for the second-ever Wizard’s Cache Mini-Con! Hosted at The Wizard’s Cache – local game store and OPS venue – we will be offering 18 tables of Pathfinder Organized Play from January 24th to 26th.
Highlights of the weekend include a large GM 101 event on Friday evening, Blood Under Absalom (convention special) on Saturday evening, and a gaming auction on Sunday afternoon. The gaming auction will be “fan-driven”, meaning that anyone can submit a gaming item for a $2 listing fee, set a minimum bid, and have it sold at the auction. George (the store owner) has promised a wide selection of items beyond those sold by the con-goers, so it should be a great event!
Events will NOT be posted via this website or through Warhorn. Instead, George is keeping things old-school and will be accepting sign-ups via telephone, drop-in, or email. Contact and admission information is listed below.
Contact Information
Address: 333 Bloor Street West
(inside Willow Books, on the bottom floor)
Phone: 647-748-3433
Email: moderator@wizards-cache.com
Admission Information
Friday & Saturday: $5
Full access to GM 101 on Friday evening, and all Sunday games.
Sunday: $5
Full access to Sunday games, plus a bidding paddle for the auction.
Both veterans and newbies are welcome, with pre-generated characters available for those who do not have their own. We’ve tried to maintain a good mix of old and new scenarios for this convention so there should be something for everyone. And of course, Paizo has been generous enough to donate some wicked-awesome prizes for the event as well. So take a look at the schedule below, pick your games, and join us for a great weekend!
Saturday January 25th, 2014 (10:00-2:00)
#5-11: Library of the Lion (1-5)
#4-03: The Golemworks Incident (5-9)
Saturday January 25th, 2014 (2:30-6:30)
#5-10: Where Mammoths Dare Not Tread (7-11)
#45: Delirium’s Tangle (1-5)
#39: The Citadel of Flame (1-5)
#4-EX: Day of the Demon (3-7)
Saturday January 25th, 2014 (7:00-11:00)
Convention Special: Blood Under Absalom (1-3)
Convention Special: Blood Under Absalom (3-5)
Convention Special: Blood Under Absalom (3-5)
Convention Special: Blood Under Absalom (5-9)
Convention Special: Blood Under Absalom (9-11)
Sunday January 26th, 2014 (10:00-2:00)
#5-09: The Traitor’s Lodge (3-7)
#3-19: Icebound Outpost (1-5)
#5-03: Hellknight’s Feast (5-9)
Sunday January 26th, 2014 (2:00 Onwards)
Special Event: Gaming Auction
So come on down to Wizard’s Cache Mini-Con 2014 for a ton of gaming goodness hosted at a great venue. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them below, or on the Ontario Pathfinders website.
Fall is in full swing and that can only mean one thing: Gryphcon Shadow in Guelph!
Gryphcon Shadow is a lead-up event, meant to build hype for the much larger Gryphcon in March. This year it will be taking place on October 19th from 10am to 11pm at the University of Guelph, in the basement of the university centre. It is a fairly small event compared to Gryphcon proper and the expected attendance is between 25-50 people.
Play will be focused around drop-in players and low-level adventures. The schedule is very malleable (for slot 2 we’re going to run adventures based on player demand), but here is a rough idea of how things are going to shake down.
Slot #1 (10:00am – 2:00pm)
The Glass River Rescue (1-5); GM’d by Michael
Slot #2: (2:00pm – 7:00pm)
Adventure By Committee; GM’d by Eric
Adventure By Committee; GM’d by Michael
Slot #3 (7:00pm – 11:00pm)
The Stolen Heir (1-5); GM’d by Michael
There are no formal event sign-ups, but if you are heading in from out of town and want to make sure you get a chance to play just pop me off an email. If you’re bringing a group of players, feel free to let me know if you have an adventure preference. I know that we have some established groups in Guelph and I certainly wouldn’t mind running something to accommodate them.
If you have any other questions or comments, you can respond to this forum thread. Hope to see you all out at the event!
Not so much predictions as random thoughts, but here we go:
Rune Master (Monk/Wizard): Passively buffs self with arcane power, in the form of runes inscribed upon their body.
Engineer (Fighter/Summoner): Functions similarly to a summoner, except weapons and armour are customized instead of an eidolon.
Wild Mage (Sorcerer/Druid): Arcane caster that evokes enemy skills (breath weapons, gazes, etc...) to attack foes.
As many of you already know, FanExpo is just around the corner. FanExpo is a yearly event held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre focused around five major themes: Comics, Sci Fi, Horror, Anime, and Gaming.
The Ontario Pathfinder Society is very happy to present 32 tables of organized play across the four day event. This is the most tables we’ve offered at a single convention thus far, and we’re hoping for a good turn-out from veterans and newbies alike. All of our games will be taking place in ROOM 711 at the convention centre, so drop on by and enjoy some PFS goodness.
Highlights include the Siege on the Diamond City convention special on Saturday evening, and half-slot offerings of Kid’s Track, We Be Goblins!, and Ambush in Absalom on both Saturday and Sunday morning.
Official sign-ups can be found on the Ontario Pathfinder Society website. We're capping table sizes at 4 for pre-registration, to allow for drop-ins at any given slot. The full schedule can be found below:
Thursday Evening (7:00pm – 11:00pm)
Severing Ties; GM Linden (Tier 1-5)
My Enemy’s Enemy; GM Paul (Tier 3-7)
The Hellknight’s Feast; GM Blaise (Tier 5-9)
Friday Afternoon (2:00pm – 6:00pm)
First Steps 1; GM Wolf (Tier 1)
The Night March of Kalkamedes; GM Geoffrey (Tier 1-5)
Halls of Dwarven Lore; GM Jordan (Tier 5-9)
Friday Evening (7:00pm – 11:00pm)
The Glass River Rescue; GM Nathan (Tier 1-5)
The Frostfur Captives; GM Geoffrey (Tier 1-5)
The Wardstone Patrol; GM Dave (Tier 3-7)
The Price of Friendship; GM Brian (Tier 5-9)
Words of the Ancients; GM Jordan (Tier 7-11)
Saturday Morning (11:00am – 1:00pm)
Ambush in Absalom; GM Brian (Tier 1-5)
We Be Goblins!; GM Nathan (Tier 1)
Kid’s Track: GM Emma (Tier 1)
Saturday Afternoon (2:00pm – 6:00pm)
The Glass River Rescue; GM Wolf (Tier 1-5)
The Wardstone Patrol; GM Dave (Tier 3-7)
The Secrets Stones Keep; GM Paul (Tier 5-9)
The Waking Rune; GM Andy (Tier 7-11)
Kid’s Track; GM Emma (Tier 1)
Saturday Evening (7:00pm – 11:00pm)
Siege of the Diamond City; GM Linden (Tier 1-2)
Siege of the Diamond City; GM Andy (Tier 3-4)
Siege of the Diamond City; GM Jordan (Tier 5-6)
Siege of the Diamond City; GM Dave (Tier 8-9)
Siege of the Diamond City; GM Adam (Tier 10-11)
Sunday Morning (11:00am – 1:00pm)
Ambush in Absalom; GM Brian (Tier 1-5)
We Be Goblins Too!; GM Nathan (Tier 3)
Kid’s Track; GM Emma (Tier 1)
Sunday Afternoon (2:00pm – 6:00pm)
The Glass River Rescue; GM Wolf (Tier 1-5)
The Wardstone Patrol; GM Paul (Tier 3-7)
The Hellknight’s Feast; GM Jason (Tier 5-9)
Day of the Demon; GM Adam (Tier 3-7)
Kid’s Track: GM Emma (Tier 1)
Special thanks for all the GMs who volunteered their time for this expansive games schedule. If you have any questions about the event feel free to post them here.
Sorry for not getting back to Xuttah. I was GMing every slot for the convention, and had nary the opportunity to access my laptop.
The full convention review can be found on the Ontario Pathfinders website. It was a blast overall, and we will almost certainly send an even larger GM delegation next year to run games.
Hey everyone! I wanted to give this topic a bump since Gryphcon is just around the corner (March 1-3). We'll have 19 tables of PFS at the convention, in addition to the vast and varied collection of games run by other groups.
Instead of posting another schedule, I will direct you all to the official Gryphcon gaming schedule. There aren't a whole lots of slots left to sign up for, but if you can make it down I heartily encourage you to stop by!
Welcome Glen! It's great to have a "left-tenant" in the nation's capital. We've had a big boom in Ontario organized play lately, and your assistance is much appreciated.
Just a reminder for everyone: the game day is still happening, and we welcome both new and old Pathfinder players to join us at The Dragon in Guelph this Sunday. If you'd like to play a high tier running of The Blakros Matrimony, you can sign up right here. We'll also be running a newbie friendly table of Mists of Mwangi. It should be good fun!
Just caught this as well, and I'm currently fishing through what I have access to in the WordPress. Everything seems intact; I'm guessing it is just some bothersome type of redirect.
I've texted Jeff, although he probably won't get the message until morning. He can contact his web hosting and they can likely fix the problem.
Greetings Ontario Pathfinders, and a very special salutation to the Guelph gaming community!
In order to build support for Gryphcon and help develop the PFS community in Guelph, we will be holding a very special game day on February 3rd this year. The event will take place at The Dragon gaming store between the hours of noon and 5pm, and will feature two tables of Pathfinder gaming goodness.
The first table will be a newbie session of Mists of Mwangi, and will be designed to appeal to walk-in players. Emphasis will be put on teaching game mechanics and explaining the organized play format. There will be no formal sign up for this table.
The second table will be a mid to high tier running of The Blackros Matrimony, as per the request of several avid Guelph Gamers. I will be adding a sign-up for the event this weekend.
Adam and I will be driving down to Guelph for the day, and we could potentially take another person (or two) with us if they'd really like to game in an exotic locale. Remember though: table preference will be given to Guelph locals.
Gryphcon's schedule has been confirmed! Come on down for a great weekend of gaming goodness.
Special thanks go out to all the Toronto GMs making the trip out to Guelph, and all the local GMs for stepping up to make this convention happen. We're spread a little thin this year since Spellstorm and Gryphcon are on the same weekend, and I'm very glad that we are able to support both conventions!
Friday, March 1st
Slot 1 – Goblin Kickoff (7:00pm to 11:00pm)
Rise of the Goblin Guild (1-5)
The Ghenett Manor Gauntlet (5-9)
We Be Goblins (1 Only)
Slot 2 (12:00am to 4:00am)
No Games
Saturday, March 2nd
Slot 3 (9:00am to 1:00pm)
The Refuge of Time (7-11)
First Steps 1 (1 Only)
Slot 4 (2:00pm to 6:00pm)
Severing Ties (1-5
Day of the Demon (3-7)
The Disappeared (1-5)
First Steps 2 (1 Only)
Slot 5 – Convention Special (7:00pm to 11:00pm)
Race for the Runecarved Key (1-2)
Race for the Runecarved Key (3-4)
Race for the Runecarved Key (5-6)
Race for the Runecarved Key (8-9)
Slot 6 (12:00am to 4:00am)
No Games
Sunday, March 3rd
Slot 7 (9:00am to 1:00pm)
Rise of the Goblin Guild (3-7)
First Steps 3 (1 Only)
Admin Table
Slot 8 (2:00pm to 6:00pm)
Fortress of the Nail (5-9)
Day of the Demon (3-7)
We Be Goblins (1-2)
Krodjin is correct. I have a fully dedicated archer Ranger and I have stacked the three (Rapid Shot, Manyshot, Deadly Aim) on occasion. You probably only want to use them all at once if:
a) Your foe has an atrocious AC and all of the arrows are likely to hit regardless.
b) Your foe has an incredible AC, and you need a natural 20 to make contact regardless of what to-hit modifiers you can muster.
The latter scenario occurred to me once, when I was fighting a pre-buffed wizard who had an AC well into the 30s. I was launching 5 arrows a round, and I managed to get quite a few 20s over the course of combat. Too bad she had Stoneskin up anyways. -___-
Also, if you are going to be mixing and matching the feats, you may want to make a spreadsheet to keep track of things. Mine has proven invaluable for crunching numbers quickly in combat.
As we did last year, the Southern Ontario Pathfinders will be supporting Gryphcon, a venerable gaming convention taking place in Guelph, Ontario. Gryphcon is expecting about 250 visitors this year, so we will be trying our very best to make it an event to remember!
The main obstacle I am facing so far is getting enough GMs for the convention. I can probably corral a handful of Toronto GMs to accompany me for the weekend, but I would really love to have some local game masters helping out as well.
So, if you are a local Guelph GM or were planning on attending Gryphcon anyways drop me a line at michael@ontariopathfinders.com. There are perks for GMing (free admission and the such), and I would be very grateful for people who can run even one or two tables.
Not a GM? Well then come down and play! The current plan is to have 19 tables of gaming goodness spread across the three day convention. You can check out the tentative schedule on the Ontario Pathfinders Forum to see if anything tickles your fancy.
I will posting further details (including the finalized schedule) as they develop.
According to the spell description, a fire based creature would take 1 point of damage per caster level if made the target of Pyrotechnics. This may be a small price to pay for the proper execution of the spell though!
The two major requirements for casting while using Familiar Melding are having anthropomorphic limbs and being able to speak a language. Fire elementals can speak Ignan, but may not have limbs at all. I'd leave it up to the GM discretion whether or not a fire elemental has arms that are formed enough to complete somatic spell actions. If they do, I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be able to cast spells (including Pyrotechnics on their own body).
For Druids, things get a little simpler. Druids who have Natural Spell and the ability to Wildshape into a fire elemental could probably cast Pyrotechnics on themselves as much as they want. As long as they are up for taking the damage, that is.
the spell is not a spread effect, even if the light itself is a spread effect.
the spell effect needs the victims to have line of sight to the fire (light) SOURCE, not just to any lit area itself.
i think it should work as TWiS suggests except there's one thing:
the caster needs to target the fire source, thus the caster themself needs to have line of sight/effect to the fire source when casting the spell, meaning they will need to be within the lantern's light cone angle, albeit they could target from farther away than 120' as the spell is long range.
Good call! I suppose the caster would have to gauge whether or not he wants to blind himself to benefit the party.
My brother and I were brainstorming ideas for making Pyrotechnics more viable in PFS play, and this was one of the better ideas we had. Other thoughts included:
Shooting a flaming arrow and targeting it in mid air.
Summoning a fire elemental, and targeting it as it enters a room.
I got a bit of a twinkie question for all you rules-minded people out there.
Is it possible to cast the Fireworks application of the Pyrotechnics spell on a Bullseye Lantern, to create a 120 foot cone of blinding light? The spell requires that players have line of sight to be affected, and the Bullseye Lantern effectively locks out 3/4 of the light.
Fireworks Description:
Fireworks: The fireworks are a flashing, fiery, momentary burst of glowing, colored aerial lights. This effect causes creatures within 120 feet of the fire source to become blinded for 1d4+1 rounds (Will negates). These creatures must have line of sight to the fire to be affected. Spell resistance can prevent blindness.
Bullseye Lantern:
A bullseye lantern provides normal light in a 60-foot cone and increases the light level by one step in the area beyond that, out to a 120-foot cone (darkness becomes dim light and dim light becomes normal light). A bullseye lantern does not increase the light level in normal light or bright light. A lantern burns for 6 hours on one pint of oil. You can carry a lantern in one hand.
Just to clarify: If I already possess a Mystery that grants new abilities at certain Oracle levels, would my Hellknight Signifier levels unlock them as well?
For example, the Maneuver Mastery revelation grants a string of feats for Oracles. Let's say I get up my to Oracle to level six with this Mystery, then take a level in Hellknight Signifier. Would I gain the improved combat maneuver feat?
Maneuver Mastery (Ex): Select one type of combat maneuver. When performing the selected maneuver, you treat your oracle level as your base attack bonus when determining your CMB. At 7th level, you gain the Improved feat (such as Improved Trip) that grants you a bonus when performing that maneuver. At 11th level, you gain the Greater feat (such as Greater Trip) that grants you a bonus when performing that maneuver. You do not need to meet the prerequisites to receive these feats.
I guess my confusion is with the assertion that your Mysteries level up with your Hellknight Signifier class, but you don't gain new abilities. It seems a little contradictory... or perhaps the wording just muddles me up a bit.
Just to update: this event has been cancelled due to a Ryerson booking issue, and some GMing issues from the non-PFS crowd. Hopefully we'll get a replacement event going over the next few weeks.
ARRG Game Day. January 19th, 2013. Thomson Lounge, Oakham House, Ryerson University. Location Information
For those of you who were with us last year, you may remember that we participated in a game day featuring the Association of Ryerson Roleplayers and Gamers (ARRG) and the Toronto Area Gamers (TAG). It was a good event, which was diminished by a rather disappointing attendance. Apparently the event conflicted with the release of Skyrim and a lot of students were entranced by their computers.
We are participating in the event once again this year, and are predicting a higher attendance. Last year we ran around 6 tables, and this year we will be aiming for 9. I don't know the exact hours of the game day yet, but I'm moving ahead with the assumption of three slots of three tables each.
I have been recruiting GMs on the Ontario Pathfinders website, and currently the game listing looks like this:
Morning Slot
Penumbral Accords or Master of the Fallen Fortress (1-2) GM Pending
First Steps 1 (1-2) Paul
Tier 3-4 or 5-6 Scenario
Afternoon Slot
Rise of the Goblin Guild (1-2) Paul
First Steps 2 (1-2) Linden
City of Strangers 1 (3-4, 6-7) Michael
Evening Slot
We Be Goblins (1-2) Cap'm Adam
First Steps 3 (1-2) GM Pending
City of Strangers 2 (3-4, 6-7) Michael
I still have a few GM slots open, so if you'd like to volunteer just let me know!
Once I have finalized the GM situation, I will be posting events that people can RSVP to. ARRG and TAG should be running tables of other RPGs and board games too, so don't feel like you have to sign up for every slot of Pathfinder. There will be lots to do!
I ran this on Saturday. The players enjoyed it, but felt it was a little railroady. At one point, after being told that evening was falling, they said, "Let's retire to the tavern and wait for the next murder to happen". I was concerned that they were going to head out into the wilderness to track down the skulk tribe, but the pace of events kept them busy. I was also surprised that, after determining the skulks were drug users, they didn't say "Let's gather information on who's selling drugs in this town". That could have led them right to the Gilded Hands.
I enjoyed this module quite a bit, but I agree, a bit railroady. There were a couple points where I had to nudge the players in the right direction using conveniently place NPCs.
My PCs also wanted to tromp out into the woods looking for skulks! My basic response to them was: "You had enough trouble spotting a single skulk in a small room, do you really think you can find them hiding in the wilderness?"
I'll be running this again in the new year. I think it will be much better the second time, as I can better anticipate some of the player hijinks.
H'okay, here's a quick question about a certain encounter in the manor.
Spoiler:
Exactly what kind of illusions are the flesh golems in the banquet hall? The description in the module only states that they are "intricate illusions."
I put the golems in initiative order when my players enter the room, so they had potential to get up and attack them (reacting to aggression). But if I don't know what type of illusion they are (figments, shadows, etc.), I don't know how to treat their damage.
I know they poof out of existence after a round, but there is still potential for interaction beyond "hey look, weird things are coming."
Also, are they all individual illusions or is the room one large illusion?
Just an update: We have swapped out the Frostfur Captives for Tide of Morning due to a lack of sign-ups. I believe we have run Frostfur too many times lately with our current player base.
Tide of Morning Spoiler:
But Quicklings are just as much fun as Goblins, right guys? RIGHT?!
The updated roster of games appears to be:
We Be Goblins! (1-2)
Tide of Morning (1-2)
The Ghennet Manor Gauntlet (5-6)
Rise of the Goblin Guild (3-4)
All players are welcome this Sunday, from the most rugged adventure to the noobiest of noobs! Location details are listed in Cap'm Adam's post above. Hope to see you there!
Hello everybody, and thank you for the introduction Adam! I am very happy to be on board as a Venture-Lieutenant, and I look forward to serving the gaming community in Toronto and across Ontario.
As Adam mentioned, my focus for the next few months will be running the ARRG game day with Ryerson University and supervising PFS festivities at Gryphcon in Guelph. I also hope to establish a PFS presence at the Silver Snail in downtown Toronto; just as soon as they finish their new basement game space.
I will also be continuing my usual duties in Toronto: GMing on game nights, keeping in touch with store owners and convention organizers, and clearing out the book stores of old Dragon magazines.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact me. I check my email fairly regularly, and I'm more than happy to respond to any concerns players may have.
This won't be the last time we do something like this, so YES, you SHOULD! :)
By the way, if you are a person who has played everything here, send me PM or email (my email is on the Ontario website). If we get enough responses like that, we'll probably change the lineup.
Also, let us know if you want to play but all the slots are filled up. We have a couple extra GMs available that day, and could potentially go to five tables.
Ability
Light Metal
Take -1 damage on receiving Grass Knot and Low Kick attacks.
Do -1 damage when performing Heat Crash and Heavy Slam and take +1 damage when receiving those attacks.
You're also only 100lbs, instead of 200.
Moves
Take Down | User takes 1/4 damage, rounded down | 20 PP
