Zelthier's page

So there was rumor that there would be wording in The Guide 5.0 about how things involving spells and effects at Seeker tables would work. I have not yet found such wording, though the updated guide may have something to say about it when it happens.

I have a feeling I already know how this works, but I figure I should ask anyway as there's the slim chance it may actually work out in my favor. It never hurts to ask, right?

So, at a recent table I played with a Seeker character of mine, we found one of the tomes of stat-plus-one-itude and during the course of the adventure, I actually had 6 days worth of time spent reading it, gaining the stat bonus before we actually hit the end of the adventure.

I asked the table about how that worked, and got the answers I pretty well expected. Still, the GM noted on my chronicle sheet that I'd read it, just in case.

My question is this: At a Seeker table, if you gain the effects of a consumable such as a Tome of something-or-other, do the effects end at the end of the scenario?

I'm assuming they do, and that to benefit from such an item you absolutely must purchase it to gain the stat boost, but I still hold out a sliver of hope that things like that might work differently with a Seeker level adventure.

Now, I'm not looking for yet another thread about how necromancy is evil and I'll lose my character for making an undead summoning/raising abomination. I know the risks of creating such a character, and know I will have to be careful what tables I play him at, to make sure everyone's alright with it and able to be reasonable and mature.

What I want to know, is if there's any way, through items, feats, etc, that I can get a semi-customized undead pet.

I know the easiest way to do so is with the Summoner class, making my Eidolon with the undead features, etc. This would give me the perfect, customized, pet that I want, and make it a fairly powerful combat brute as well. However, the spell progression and list available to the class isn't all that appealing to me. It's alright, and I could make due, but it's not quite what I was hoping for.

Then there's the option of the Necromancy focused Wizard. Best spell versatility, fast spell progression, it's really what I'd prefer. Only problem is that the only "pet" that carries over between scenarios would be my familiar, and (as of yet) there aren't any undead familiar options. Closest I can get is blasting 2-3 feats of Evolved Familiar on it to give it Undead Appearance (if I can combine the evolution pool points from multiple instances of the feat) and Unnatural Aura. This is doable, and an option I've definitely considered.

Then there's the Oracle of Bones. The ability to summon a skeleton/zombie of increasing power over the levels is awesome, and they get some nice spells available to them, though there's no real option of a "constant" companion here, since Animate Dead and the like spells don't carry over. And, really, I don't want to have to buy a dog and kill it every adventure just to raise it and have my zombie puppy. That just seems unnecessarily cruel, even for a guy that likes to raise the dead on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, combining these classes makes for a weak character and I don't want to be the guy that has to be carried through scenarios just to complete them. I love the concept of oracles curses, but prefer the spell progression and versatility of the wizard, while the summoner's eidolon would be a great solution to my want for a custom undead companion, but it ends up weak if I multiclass.

So my question is, what are the best PFS available solutions to this mess, and what recommendations can folks make? Obviously I can't just buy a non-combatant pet and "reskin" it as undead, much though I'd like to, and even I think buying and killing puppies every scenario is just a bit too evil.

So I've heard conflicting declarations of how this works, so I figured I'd ask a broader audience since I can't seem to find any information in the books that states it goes one way or another.

On a crit, is your strength+enhancement/weapon specialization/etc (fixed numbers added, obviously non-variable or precision sorts of damage aren't multiplied) only doubled on the crit, or is it multiplied times the weapon's multiplier?

Also, if I've missed this in the book and it is, in fact, stated, could someone kindly point me to that page?

I've got a friend living in Pasadena who desperately would like to get into a gaming group. I've pointed him at PFS and am trying to explain it as best I can, but I think the best way to figure out how it works is to see it in action.

Therefore, anyone know the locations in that area that do PFS?

So I'm just curious if you gain the same feat as a bonus feat through two different classes, does it just become a redundant feat, or could I choose a different combat bonus feat?

For example, the first level of Spire Defender Magus, you get Combat Expertise and Dodge. Lore Warden Fighter, at second level, gives you Combat Expertise as a bonus feat even if you wouldn't normally qualify for it.

If I take both of them, do I just end up with a wasted feat or when I gain Combat Expertise a second time, do I get to choose another Combat Feat that I qualify for?

EDIT: I realize in a home game, the GM could rule however they feel, but this is more specifically aimed at PFS.

I realize this may sound like a somewhat silly question, but is Combat Style Master a combat style feat or just a combat feat?

Since there's no PA restriction on mundane special materials (excluding Dragonhide), you can purchase an item made out of, say, Adamantine.

So, for example, I've got an Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword. 3020 gold cost. Had it for a few levels, and now I want to get it enchanted with a +1. Total cost 5020. That means, I have to wait until I have a spending limit of over 5k, right? Or does that limit only have to do with the magical enhancement cost?

I want to say I think it's the total cost, but I can't remember exactly where I read that...

The Ifrit race has the racial ability of Fire Affinity, which treats their cha as 2 higher for the purposes of things for the Elemental (Fire) bloodline.

They have a favored class option out of the ARG that allows them to treat their level as higher for a bloodline power from the Elemental (Fire) bloodline, or the Efreeti bloodline.

Does the Ifrit's Fire Affinity ability also count for the Efreeti bloodline, or only the Elemental (Fire) bloodline because it wasn't mentioned?

I'm guessing since the feat itself doesn't list that it would work for a class feature that grants an intelligent item, that a multi-classed Bladebound Magus can't take it to bump up the level of abilities the blade has, correct?

I've already signed up for some really fun sounding slots, but I was just curious.

If I wanted to trade out a couple, how would I go about doing so now that sign-ups are closed.

For example, my friend and I have spots in Portal of the Sacred Rune, but it looks like he's trying to get a 7-11 game run at our FLGS this Friday, which would level us up out of the tier range. If this happens, I don't want those slots at that table to go unfilled, so how would I go about offering those up to someone that could use them?

Would I be able to try to get us in on other slots so we're not just sitting around for 5 hours?

My Friday schedule stands:

8-1 Portal of the Sacred Rune (7-11)
1-6 Storming the Diamond Gate (3-7)

Would anyone be interested in trading up slots at each for something else? Preferably:

8-1 Quest for Perfection 1 (1-5)
1-6 Quest for Perfection 2 (1-5)

Is this request doable? Is it reasonable? Am I going to suddenly get to nap for 5 hours in the morning on Friday if we level this week?

Adamantine Rapier.

Can it be done?

So, my Magus just got his black blade two weeks ago and I still haven't been able to come up with a proper name.

The wielder is a LN tiefling Magus (Bladebound Kensai) with Asmodeus as his patron. In his first adventure, he earned the well-fitting nickname of, "The Dandy Devil". He's a Varisian troup raised illegitimate son of a Chelaxian noble with a flair for the dramatic. He's very much a duelist and a showboater, relying on dexterity and acrobatics to get away with his swashbuckling antics.

The Black Blade, itself, is an ornate rapier who's purpose is to slay demons.

I am at a loss. Nothing I've come up with so far seems to fit. Demonsbane is just so generic, while Grace is sorta fitting, just not real impressive.

So, I turn to you, oh wise forum posters. Halp?

I'm just full of 'em tonight.

So I keep hearing that even if you only qualify for a feat because of a magical item you're wearing, you can still take it; but if you lose the item or its effects are suppressed, that you lose access to the feat.

Is this true?

Also, does this hold true for PFS?

Ok, so I've got a bunch of semi-related questions involving Monk Vows and how they interact with specific magic items and spells.

So, I'm trying to figure out a new build path for a PFS character of mine to take advantage of what he's got and what I want him to be capable of doing, and a few thoughts have crossed my mind. Taking levels of monk would be a great way to get there, would fit his flavor if done right, and could lead to all sorts of entertaining shenanigans.

Mostly I'm looking at these vows as a fun and entertaining ways to add even more wackiness to the Dandy Devil's (Tiefling Fighter/Magus/potentially Monk) character.

Most of the vows wouldn't fit with his swashbuckling, flamboyant, ways (Silence, no freakin' way!), but there were two that I thought could work; namely the Vow of Cleanliness and the Vow of Fasting.

My questions then become, how do those vows work with certain magical things?

The monk eats nothing but rice (or a similar bland, staple food) and drinks nothing but water. On certain days (usually once per month or on a religious holiday), he may eat a small portion of other simple, bland food to maintain proper nutrition. The monk cannot use tobacco, drugs, potions, alchemical items requiring eating or drinking, or any other thing that could be considered a food or beverage. A monk with this vow increases his ki pool by 1 ki point for every 6 monk levels (minimum +1).

He already has the clear spindle Ioun Stone, which sustains a creature without having to eat or drink. That would fit well with the Vow of Fasting, I think, allowing the character to take the vow to a new level and simply refrain from consuming anything unless absolutely necessary to survival (Food/water wise, not potions).

Speaking of potions, if the character with this vow were to fall unconscious and start bleeding out and an ally dumped a potion of healing down his throat, would that break his vow since he didn't drink it knowingly or willingly? (I as a player won't encourage others to do so either way, preferring them to come up with creative solutions for fun and profit???)

Also, the vow states that the food/drink must be bland. Does this mean that if he used Prestidigitation to flavor the food or drink that he would be willfully breaking his vow?

A monk undertaking this vow must wash daily. He must change into fresh clothes daily or shortly after his robes become dirty. His appearance must be kept immaculate, including either neatly braiding or shaving off his hair (and, for male monks, maintaining a clean-shaven face). His vow forbids him from willingly touching the filthy, diseased, dead, or undead (though he may attempt to cleanse or heal those suffering from disease), though using manufactured weapons to attack these creatures is allowed. A monk with this vow increases his ki pool by 1 ki point for every 5 monk levels (minimum +1).

This one really fits the character, considering how much he absolutely hates to get all messy/gross. Thankfully this one has the caveat about not willingly touching gross things. However, does descending into a sewer and walking along the walkways there count as breaking his vow since he's wearing boots and it wouldn't touch his skin? What about walking across a fungus/moss covered cave floor?

If it would, what about using the Floating Disk spell? Could he just ride one of those to avoid having to touch the ground? If he floated over a pressure-plate triggered trap I'd assume it wouldn't trigger it, but what about over a camoflaged pit trap? How would standing on the disk while fighting work? Would he have to make Acrobatics checks to avoid falling off?

What about a Necklace of Adaptation? It states it surrounds the wearer in a shell of breathable air, so would that keep the filth out if he had to walk through a sewer?

Unusual questions, I know, but inquiring minds (namely mine) need to know!

IGNORE ME.

Ok. So I'm tired of being told I'm trying to "game" the system by wanting to rebuild a character in a way that would so much better fit my "vision" of him and his personality. I'm tired of being told I'm wrong for wanting something I think would be fun and entertaining.

You don't want to allow me to rebuild my character so I can have more fun roleplaying him the way I see him in my mind at his level because that's cheating/hax/whatever.

So I propose an alternative.

Total character reboot at level one. Scratch off all the chronicle sheets on the character save for the one that allows me to make him the special race. No gold, no PA, no items, nothing. Start, literally, back at the beginning. I'll even say I'm not ever allowed to replay those scenarios or apply that GM credit, just as if the character had died and not been raised.

Total loss of 10 scenarios and about 4 months of play with that character. Why? Just so I can make the same character over with one or two minor tweaks so I can have more fun playing him.

Logistically impossible, I realize. Will it ever happen or be allowed? In my dreams. Am I being immature and irrational? Most likely, I'm tired, so sue me. Is this ridiculous and extreme with no real hope of getting anything accomplished? Yes.

Mostly, this is to see whether or not anyone thinks this is an appropriate penalty for making a character I'd like to play more enjoyable for me.

I know, I know. If you wanna play that get into a home game. Well, I could do that and leave PFS, since that's what my schedule allows. But I don't want to. I like the folks I get to game with at PFS, I like the environment, the setting, the way it plays. The character's personality and concept has just done a complete 180 in a direction I can't really attain what I'd like to with him now because of it.

I realize I can't have my cake and enjoy it, too, because life's not fair, tough cookies I have to suffer through my mistakes and miscalculations. I'm just wondering if there's any amenable way for me to get closer to that ideal.

Ugh.

TLDR: I'm being a whiny little puke, ignore me as I shake my fist uselessly at the sky while accomplishing nothing truly productive.

Now, I've read and re-read through the guide to see if this was mentioned there, and I haven't seen anything about it.

I've heard that you can take a higher tier chronicle sheet, cross off the gold, items, boons, etc, and apply them to an un-played, 1st level character with 500gp, 1exp, and 2pa on the sheets, allowing you to apply 3 to a 1st level to bump them up to 2nd level.

Is this true, or have I listened to the talk of crazy-people again?

While I realize it's not likely a realistic thing to allow, I still think it would be nice to be able to do a one-time rebuild on a character before 5th level, or 20 fame, or whatever, without changing gear/etc.

For example, I got my Mom into PFS a few months back and helped her to create a fighter/rogue to play. At first she was really enthusiastic about the build, but as she leveled up she started to look at prestige classes and fell in love with one. Unfortunately, because of the build we went with, it'd take a real 180 sorta turn to make the character fit the bill.

Of course, now that she's hit 5th level and is over 20 fame, my suggested limit has already been passed, but it's a good example of the situation I wanted to bring up.

So basically what I'd like to see is some way for players of low level to be allowed a one-time per character re-build of class archetypes/feats/etc without changing gear, gold, prestige, etc. If they have to sell things back to fit their new build, so be it. This rebuild can't just be an easy way for someone to go from fighter at level 1 to wizard at level 4-5 with no penalties.

So, in the near future, I'd like to make a Dhampir character and I'm trying to nail down what I wanna do with him.

Though I'm definitely leaning toward making him a ninja (seeing as how my other active characters are a witch and a gunslinger), I have considered doing a wildblooded sorcerer (undead: sanguine).

Either way, I need to think about how to allocate stats, feats, spells (if sorc) or if I'm gonna completely change up what I'm doing with him and pick an entirely different class.

The only thing that's for sure is that he'll be a (neutral) follower of Urgathoa and that he's gonna be of the Sczarni faction.

Somehow, by ways of which even I am unsure, my witch has managed to survive (depending on your definition of the word) to the ripe old level of 9. I didn't make an optimized build with him, and have made my fair share of poor choices throughout the last 40-some-odd scenarios, but he's managed to make it this far thanks to teamwork, luck, and several raise dead spells.

What it's boiling down to at this point, though, is that I've noticed several glaring holes in what he can and can't do in certain situations. His problem areas tend to be in combat situations, as he's a highly intelligent and fairly crafty problem solver (that and his nigh-constant companion can usually talk them out of a certain amount of trouble).

Undead, Constructs, Elementals, and the like tend to be a bit of a problem for him. The only real "offensive" hexes he has are Evil Eye (mind-effecting) and Slumber (only works on things that can be put to sleep).

He doesn't really have the greatest variety of direct damage dealing spells, but since he's just taken Improved Familiar, his spell list gets reset (if I'm not mistaken) to a very basic, minimal list.

What I'd like to know is what spells would be best for him to take (he's very fond of Summon Monster) and what sorts of consumables/other items would be good for him to work toward getting. He's currently down to 6k gold (thanks to dieing several times as well as being the main contributor to party healing via wands and scrolls throughout the levels [seeing as how we've only had a cleric a handful of times], the last two of which others have actually started to help with that) and I'm currently debating between getting his new familiar a Circlet of Persuasion for use with its ability of UMD, or getting a few more scrolls/wands/potions.

I thank you all for your time and any tidbits of advice you may have. I have read through Painlord's threads, which I have found to be rather useful, and if anyone has other links to other useful threads, they'd be much appreciated.

EDIT: Also, he's not too shabby with a bow and arrow when not firing directly into melee (-4 penalty and all). As far as weapons go, though, he's just not cut out to be a brawler. He's a librarian for Nethys' sake...

Would using a spell with a casting time of Immediate Action, such as the spell Hero's Defiance provoke an attack of opportunity?

If so, it kinda negates the usefulness of the spell in that if something hit you hard enough to drop you while in melee range and you use the spell, they'll get the chance to hit you again, thus likely negating the healing you just did to yourself to stay in the fight and save your companions.

Alright, so I've been rattling around this concept for a redeemer of Sarenrae for a home-game I'm in and I can't help but wonder, is it possible to deal non-lethal damage with magic weapons?

Now, I'm not talking about using a flaming sword to deal non-lethal, because unless you had some way of making the fire non-lethal (merciful enchant, perhaps?) the fire itself would deal lethal damage; but what about the +1 part? Can you use a weapon that's simply +1 (without merciful thrown on at that point) with the -4 penalty for using a lethal weapon to do non-lethal damage, or does the magic give that concept the ban-hammer?

The character concept I have in mind is someone from another era/realm/dimension/plane/wombat that somehow got transported to the current pathfinder setting. This would have no real in-game effect stat or gear-wise, just for the flavor of it.

For example, rather than wearing the usual medieval style garb, he'd be dressed a bit more on the Victorian end of things. Yanno, a nice shirt, vest, breeches, nice boots and a greatcoat rather than, say, a cloak. He'd also know of marvelous and wondrous technologies (but certainly not how to make them himself, and ESPECIALLY not in this horribly backwards and 'primitive' society) and would speak of such things from time to time.

About the only real gear-ish sort of influence it'd have is if there are rules set out (and approved) for a Swordcane in society play (and I really hope there is). If not, I'm sure he'd adapt and pick up weapons and whatnot from the setting the longer he's been there.

Is this idea too out there for society play? I'm hoping not 'cause I think it'd be a real blast to play it (as my local society group is all for fun and interesting roleplaying), but I figured I'd ask and see what people thought before getting my hopes up too high.

So obviously the core races are available, but are there any other races open for play in PFS games?

Races such as:

Aasimar/Tiefling
Drow
Hobgoblin
Bugbear
Gnoll
Kobold
etc.

I realize from a roleplaying aspect some of these races could be challenging, but I'm just curious as to whether or not there are any rules set up so that they can be played?

Does a character have to be within one alignment step of a deity to be able to worship them? And I don't mean just Clerics and Paladins, I mean other classes that aren't dependent on their Deity for their powers/abilities (such as a Wizard or Ranger).

Ok, so I'm in a group that's gonna be playing Kingmaker, which currently consists of a Human Sorcerer, Elf Druid, Dwarf Fighter, Gnome Rogue, Gnome Summoner, and me. The Half-Orc Ranger.

Now, I'd originally intended to go with more of a switch-hitter style for combat versatility, but considering what we've got in the party, I'm wondering if maybe a more Archery angled character would be good. I'm also not that much of an optimizer, though I do want an effective character.

We're a fairly roleplaying oriented group so character drive and all is important. The Ranger is fairly charismatic, and I was also thinking of aiming for the Spymaster or Royal Assassin as far as the court for the king goes.

Either way, I'm also looking for a way to have a sort of spy network of creatures that I can either see through their eyes to spy, or communicate with them effectively to have them relay the messages of what they saw.

Unfortunately, my DM seems to really rather hate the Advanced Player's Guide class variants, so just getting the Beast Master variant is proving challenging. I've been trying to figure out ways to make it more appealing, like maybe limiting the number of animal companions to a maximum of my Wis or Cha mod (not to exceed my effective Druid level) or some such...

Any tips/hints/recommendations would be much appreciated.