Thomas Keller's page

Placed two separate orders, asked that one be sent with subscription and the other be sent by itself. Now both are lumped together in the same order. I wanted the ones separate from the subscription to be sent separately so I would get them sooner. What the hell, Paizo?

Grippli are small... that's a +1 size bonus to attack, and a -1 size penalty to CMB/CMD... without Agile Maneuvers, though, Dexterity would not be factored into CMB... and you're not using [or even have] Weapon Finesse, so all that jazz about using Dex for maneuvers performed with finesse weapons does not apply here.

I love Grippli with nets, but that particular build has some holes in it.

I was mistaking CMB with CMD, that's why I put dex in there.

So the CMB should actually be +6? (+2 level, +4 net, +1 str, -1 size)

Want a good weapon to grapple with, as long as you want to go Exotic Weapon Proficiency? Look no further than the humble net.

Standard EWP lets you use a net to throw folded nets up to 10' and deliver Entangled if you hit a foe's Touch AC. Add in Equipment Trick (Net), Improved Unarmed Strike and Improved Grapple however and you unlock the following:

Net Tricks wrote:

Grappling Net (Improved Grapple) When you attempt a grapple combat maneuver check against a foe entangled by a net whose trailing rope you control, you do not take a penalty on the grapple combat maneuver check for not having two hands free, and you gain a +4 bonus on the check. If you successfully pin the target while it is still entangled by the net, you can use the net to tie up the target as a swift action.

So a PC with this feat gains a +4 vs their Entangled opponent, suffers no penalty to Grapple when both hands aren't free and their foe has an additional -2 penalty to CMD from the Entangled condition.

A build that takes advantage of this: Grippli C-Monk (Maneuver Master)
Str 12 (14 -2 Racial), Dex 18 (16 +2 Racial), Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16 (14 +2 Racial), Cha 8
Racial proficiency with nets
L1 Dodge
L1 Bonus Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Grapple
L2 Retrain Dodge to Equipment Trick (Net)
L2 Bonus Dodge

At this point you've got a PC with a 10' Ranged Touch Net +6 to deliver Entangled. If this hits and the monk hasn't used a Move action yet, they can take a 5' step and Flurry of Maneuvers. They can then attempt a Grapple +8 against an Entangled foe with a -2 penalty to their CMD.

I'm sure there are other, better builds than this. Feel free to go nuts. I just figured the net was a way to skip the hands occupied grapple penalty with some decent utility.

This is very interesting, but I'm confused as to where you got the +6 to hit and the +8 for the grapple. Shouldn't the to hit be +5 (+1 BAB, +4 dex)? And likewise the CMB (+2 level, +4 dex, +1 str) = +7.

You don't *need* Exotic Weapon Proficiency to use it to grapple, or to use them to attack for that matter. You can use a weapon that you're not proficient but you'll take a -4 to the attack or combat manuever's attack roll, and you'll still receive a +2 to the grapple attempt.

If you plan on doing this a lot, definitely get EWP, because that -4 is atrocious.

The TWF penalties only apply to attacks, not combat maneuvers. So you should be able to make your Grapple attempt with the Dan Bongs with no negatives from TWF penalties.

Grapple attempts require having both hands free. I don't care about TWF.

Has there been any clarification on how this works? Does a PC need to have EWP if they're only using it to grapple? And when using it, do you take a -2 penalty (both hands not empty -4, grapple bonus +2) or do they just get the +2 bonus?

Does a familiar count as an animal to gain the benefits of this trait?

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Yeah, the reason the flickmace was very good on fighters (and champions) is that it is a flail and the flail critical specialization makes you prone and those are classes with AoO.

The flickmace is still the best weapon for the one handed version of this build. Which goes to show how out of bounds it was before.

But now some of them will look at the damage die and the feat costs and decide that they want a Warhammer instead, or they will go two handed and use a Maul or a Glaive instead.

Only costs one ancestry feat if you are human trained in all martial weapons.

The archetype dedication gives trained in either Acrobatics or Athletics, plus trained in Warfare Lore. It also says that "if you were already trained, you become an expert instead." My question is, if you are already trained in all three of these skills, do you get to bump both Acrobatics and Warfare Lore, or Athletics and Warfare Lore to expert, or is it only one of these?

As an extremely shy person, this is the only kind of con I would ever attend, regardless of cost. I hope they never go back to in person cons.

The adopted ancestry feat specifies common ancestries. But you're playing a rare ancestry so you're already in "ask the GM" territory so I suppose you should just ask them one more thing.

This would be for a Pathfinder Society character.

This feat gives the skeleton the Adopted Ancestry feat and says you may choose "any" ancestry. Does this include uncommon ancestries?

Thomas Keller wrote:

Would Paizo ever consider doing a Humble Bundle of physical books? My eyes aren't the greatest and I get a headache if I look at a PDF for more than a couple of minutes.

Most of our Bundles include a singular physical product. Examples include the Core Rulebook or Beginner Box for both Pathfinder and Starfinder. We chose not to have a physical product this time because of Kingmaker shipping.

But all physical books? Or even multiple books? No. As I understand, Humble Bundle allows us to do this as a special exception. Most partners are not allowed to as their model is to provide digital content. And bluntly, we would have to charge a lot more for a physical bundle.

It is going really well however!

Okay, I'm glad the charity is making money. I'd just like to participate.

It wouldn't have to be a rulebook. I get all of those. A whole AP would be nice, for example, like in this bundle, only physical books, and maybe maps and pawns.

Would Paizo ever consider doing a Humble Bundle of physical books? My eyes aren't the greatest and I get a headache if I look at a PDF for more than a couple of minutes.

Pathfinder Society (second edition)
"In the Pathfinder Society (second edition) program, the following benefits are offered for each accessory category. A player may not benefit from more than one of these per session, with the exception of the Campaign Coin benefit.

Vestments: When you use a Hero Point to reroll a check, add a +1 circumstance bonus to the reroll.

Worn Accessory: Once per session, when rolling a check as a part of a victory points system, if you roll a critical failure, you get a failure instead.

Rules Reference: Once per session, when you use Treat Wounds or another character uses Treat Wounds on you, the result of the check is one degree of success better than the result that was rolled.

Other Item: Once per session, a character can gain the benefits of a two-action heal spell, heightened to the maximum spell level available to a cleric of the character’s level. This benefit can only be used in exploration mode.

Campaign Service Coin: Volunteers who make exceptional contributions to Organized Play can earn campaign coins or membership in the Order of the Wayfinder as a recognition of their hard work. When you use this benefit, you gain a bonus Hero Point at the beginning of the adventure. In addition to the normal powers of a Hero Point, you can spend this special Hero Point to allow another player to reroll a check."

What are each of these items? I assume "Worn Accessory" means the new faction pins? Thank you.

Man, I can't wait for this book! I started making a monk PC, then decided to wait for the book, as he's from Jalmaray. Come on, October!

Is this any different from the three books already out?

Making books for a system that they haven't made new material for in three years?

I don't know about unprofitable, but 1e still seems to be fairly popular.

Hey all! The Accessory Perks page has an update in the queue, I've send the text over to the content team. I expect it'll be updated soon, and I'll be sure to post on our Twitter and in the monthly Organized Play update when it is!

Thanks, Alex!

It's unpopular and unprofitable.

What is?

Above Post wrote:

Wearing a pin or any Organized Play accessory during an in-person or online Paizo Organized Play session gives you an in-game bonus. You can view the full details at the Organized Play Perks page. We hope your new pin brings you luck, but if you’re playing a tabletop roleplaying game among friends, then you’re already a winner as far as we’re concerned.

It's up there, 4th paragraph

Where? If you follow the link to the Organized Play Perks page, it only lists the older factions.

Do the current factions have favored skills?

Thomas Keller wrote:

I don't think a lot of 5e players care about rule design!

I don’t think that’s appropriate for the forums here.

It's completely appropriate if that's being argued as a reason to convert APs.

Looking forward to bringing the good new of PF2e to 5e players. Superior adventure writing in a familiar system to pique their curiosity and get them to consider another system--then the superior rule design keeps them hooked!

:)

I don't think a lot of 5e players care about rule design!

And so it begins...

It is when you've been corrected multiple times and keep perpetuating it.

Well, I guess two is a multiple. Regardless, as I said I'd forgotten about that conversation from a year ago. I was wrong in what I said then, but please don't ascribe malice to a faulty memory.

Thomas Keller wrote:

Didn't think he was into second edition at all.

No, you've known; multiple users have informed you of the fact, such as in this post from May 2021, in addition to your own admittals that your understanding is obsolete. Here's just one of his blog posts that dive into things he loves about 2e:

Ryan Costello wrote:

The action economy, obviously, but it really needs to be considered how good that is. There’s a reason 2e works better than 1e with three actions house ruled in. This is the foundation on which a great game was built. It makes thinking about your turn much easier, because you aren’t juggling as much between the concept of what you want to do and the mechanics of making it happen. [...]

Confining characters to three actions at all levels also helps with higher level play. As a fan of martial characters, 1e made any turn that I couldn’t stand still and full attack feel like a punishment. The higher the level, the more you lost not squatting. Being able to move and still attack twice, or more twice as far and still get an attack, adds dynamism and complexity to a martial’s turn.
Moreover, I like 2e spellcasters. The oracle specifically is a class I’ve played in both editions, and while I struggled with the experience in 1e, I love it in 2e. Similarly, the 1e paladin was never a class I paid much attention to, but as you’ll see in the new KD Adventure Series – Trouble In Otari Part 1, the champion’s focus spells give the class a lot of flavourful flexibility. There’s no combat in episode 1, but in later episodes you’ll see me mix up casting and fighting in such a satisfying way.

Now please stop harassing this man with false claims.

I don't really think it's harrassing to forget a post from a year ago.

Didn't think he was into second edition at all.

Wait, is this the Ryan Costello from Know Direction?

Thomas Keller wrote:

Gisher wrote:

Thomas Keller wrote:

Gisher wrote:

Thomas Keller wrote:

People are telling me you can't do that. That it's gamebreaking to allow that high of an AC.

+2 item bonus, +3 Dex bonus, plus runes is the same as wearing studded leather. How can that be too high?

It's not. I meant Scales plus runes plus mage armor plus bracers of armor.

No, you can't do that. Item bonuses don't stack unless they specifically say that they do. You can't stack Runes on your explorer's clothes, runes from your bracers, and mage armor.

The new feat says they're cumulative. I don't think Bracers have runes.

Item bonuses only stack if they have text that specifically states that they do. The feat specifies that the item bonus from Scales is cumulative with those other three options. It doesn't say that those three options are cumulative with each other.

I always thought cumulative meant added together. If they only meant you could add one of those, they should have wrote "or" instead of "and".

Thomas Keller wrote:

Gisher wrote:

Thomas Keller wrote:

People are telling me you can't do that. That it's gamebreaking to allow that high of an AC.

+2 item bonus, +3 Dex bonus, plus runes is the same as wearing studded leather. How can that be too high?

It's not. I meant Scales plus runes plus mage armor plus bracers of armor.

No, you can't do that. Item bonuses don't stack unless they specifically say that they do. You can't stack Runes on your explorer's clothes, runes from your bracers, and mage armor.

The new feat says they're cumulative. I don't think Bracers have runes.

Thomas Keller wrote:

People are telling me you can't do that. That it's gamebreaking to allow that high of an AC.

That it actually means you can only add the Scales item bonus to one of the listed items.

You can add the +2 item bonus from scales with the highest of the following:

- Potency runes on explorer's clothes
- Mage armor
- Bracers of armor

It says the item bonus from Scales is cumulative with all of those.

Thomas Keller wrote:

People are telling me you can't do that. That it's gamebreaking to allow that high of an AC.

+2 item bonus, +3 Dex bonus, plus runes is the same as wearing studded leather. How can that be too high?

It's not. I meant Scales plus runes plus mage armor plus bracers of armor.

People are telling me you can't do that. That it's gamebreaking to allow that high of an AC.

That it actually means you can only add the Scales item bonus to one of the listed items.

The way it reads, you should be able to add the item bonuses from armor potency runes, mage armor, and bracers of armor with the Scales bonus.

I'm kind of wary about upgrading my weapon when my character reaches 10th level because of this. And if he has to craft it himself, there's just no way. Paying full price from low to standard grade isn't too hateful, but from standard to high grade would definitely hurt.

How is this done in Society play? Do we just pay the difference in cost from, say, low-grade to standard-grade? Or must we craft the weapon ourselves?

For example, a cold iron weapon of one bulk costs 44gp for the low grade version and 968 gp for the standard grade version. Do we just pay 924 gp and get the standard grade version? I've also heard someone say we must craft it ourselves.

Thomas Keller wrote:

Are these real books or the PDF variety?

A PDF doesn't make the book any less real.

No, but it would make it inaccessible for the person I would get it for.

Thomas Keller wrote:

Are these real books or the PDF variety?

The ad copy specifies they are official digital copies, exactly as real as a physical one.

Some people's eyes don't enjoy the PDFs, and everyone doesn't have tablet readers.

Are these real books or the PDF variety?

I'm sorry but the whole respiratory issue is a complete and utterly nonsensical excuse. You'd have to be in such a horrendously bad state that you'd couldn't even attend the convention in normally let alone live a normal life. Same goes for sensory issues.

Grumble.... Grumble....

Sensory issues?

Thomas Keller wrote:

Just to be completely clear, this includes Uncommon spells you get access to through a chronicle boon, correct?

i.e. scrolls

That's what Online Guide Team Lead - JTT was explaining up thread.

Once you gain Access to something Uncommon, you treat it as Common for all purposes.

Including a scroll of an otherwise-Uncommon spell found on a Chronicle.

So then this is incorrect, Hammerjack?

A small price to pay for protecting yourself and others.

Thomas Keller wrote:

Nefreet wrote:

From the FAQ: "Having access to an uncommon or rarer spell means that your character(s) can learn the spell in the same way they learn other spells, provided they meet all prerequisites."

So if your Class requires you to use Learn a Spell for Common spells, like a Wizard or Magus, then you would still need to pay gold and succeed at your check.

If your Class doesn't require you to use Learn a Spell for Common spells, like most Spontaneous casters, then you just go about adding it to your repertoire as usual (which might require Retraining, or simply levelling up and swapping something out).

I applied my Esoteric Spellcaster Boon to a Cleric, which doesn't need to use Learn a Spell for Common spells, so I just started preparing it immediately.

Just to be completely clear, this includes Uncommon spells you get access to through a chronicle boon, correct?

i.e. scrolls

That's what Online Guide Team Lead - JTT was explaining up thread.

Once you gain Access to something Uncommon, you treat it as Common for all purposes.

Including a scroll of an otherwise-Uncommon spell found on a Chronicle.

Okay. We were having a discussion on the OP discord, and folks seemed to think that spontaneous casters had to use Learn a Spell for Uncommon scrolls granted by a chronicle boon. Thanks for the help!

Blake's Tiger wrote:

A spell in your repertoire is clearly not a Skill Training or Feat.

I believe FLite was attributing it to a "selectable class feature," which it certainly is, when he proposed 28 days.

PFS might want to decide how long they want retraining a spell in a spell repertoire to take (7, 28, something in between). 28 days of Downtime is 1.3 levels worth of advancement, which means you can swap out a spell sooner than you can retrain it in PFS, assuming that you only want to swap one at your next level-up.

From the Errata, which does not seem to have made it into the second printing

Page 481: Retraining. It wasn't clear how long it took to retrain spells in a spell repertoire, but it should take just 1 week. Add ". Some, like changing a spell in your spell repertoire, take a week." to retraining class features.

Thank you so much!

From the FAQ: "Having access to an uncommon or rarer spell means that your character(s) can learn the spell in the same way they learn other spells, provided they meet all prerequisites."

So if your Class requires you to use Learn a Spell for Common spells, like a Wizard or Magus, then you would still need to pay gold and succeed at your check.

If your Class doesn't require you to use Learn a Spell for Common spells, like most Spontaneous casters, then you just go about adding it to your repertoire as usual (which might require Retraining, or simply levelling up and swapping something out).

I applied my Esoteric Spellcaster Boon to a Cleric, which doesn't need to use Learn a Spell for Common spells, so I just started preparing it immediately.

Just to be completely clear, this includes Uncommon spells you get access to through a chronicle boon, correct?

i.e. scrolls

Thomas Keller wrote:

Nefreet wrote:

We have an answer.

According to the FAQ, you must have Access before you can use Learn a Spell.

Under the Core Rules, Learn a Spell gives you Access. PFS has reversed that order, for whatever reason.

If you have Access to a spell via a Chronicle, all you have to do is Learn a Spell.

So you do have to Learn a Spell with a chronicle. What about an ACP boon?

Also, is there clarity somewhere on the amount of downtime needed to swap a spell if you have a spell repertoire?

Learning a spell takes almost no functional time; it's an exploration activity and not a downtime activity.

Retraining is generally the same as in the core rulebook. So it's 7 days to retrain a spell in your repertoire.

Guide to Organized Play wrote:

Retraining: Using Downtime to retrain character options(Core Rulebook 481) works as written with a few clarifications.

Some items are changeable for free, such as name, gender, appearance, or other cosmetic designators.
Pathfinder training may be changed and costs 14 days.
Changing a selectable class feature, takes 28 days.

Yes, but Learn a Spell costs gold and requires a roll. So it would be good to know if you need to do that for ACP boons like Esoteric Spellcasting.

Also, we really need a clarification on the downtime cost to swap a spell.

We have an answer.

According to the FAQ, you must have Access before you can use Learn a Spell.

Under the Core Rules, Learn a Spell gives you Access. PFS has reversed that order, for whatever reason.

If you have Access to a spell via a Chronicle, all you have to do is Learn a Spell.

So you do have to Learn a Spell with a chronicle. What about an ACP boon?

Also, is there clarity somewhere on the amount of downtime needed to swap a spell if you have a spell repertoire?

So, Uncommon spells can be swapped out just like common spells once you gain access? If you are granted access to an Uncommon scroll via chronicle, do you have to use Learn a Spell to be able to add it to repertoire? Also, where did you come up with the 7 day figure for downtime to swap a spell?

Thanks in advance.