dfinan's page

Why don't you have Stunning Blows? It may not be the best DC but it is basically a free rider on your flurry of blows even with the bow.

I'm not seeing much in the way of damage adds. So things like Unfailing Bow, Heaven's Thunder, Enchanting Shot , Eldritch Shot

Return Fire is broken if you have a ally feed you a ranged attack at -10, but otherwise it is meh.

I didnt feel stunning blow was worth it, Ill take a look at the other feats you mentioned see if I can swap them out in a rebuild.

Im not sure if it is my spectaculrly bad rolls, my build or combination of the two, but so far for the Revenge of the Runelords campaign I am in my Monk is feeling very underwhelming. Its my first time playing a remastered monk, and going Monastick Archer. I have pasted the stat block below, I am assuming I have messed up the build. The campaign is allowing free acrhetype and incremental stats. feel free to kibitz, but I cant seem to hit anything and when I do I just dont seem to hit very hard.

Rahka
Strix monk 13 (Lost Omens Ancestry Guide 132)
Rare, Medium, Humanoid, Mythic, Strix
Heritage predator strix
Background hunter
Perception +21; low-light vision
Languages Common, Strix
Skills Acrobatics +24, Athletics +24, Crafting +15, Nature +19, Stealth +24, Survival +19, Tanning Lore +15, Thievery +20
Str +5, Dex +5, Con +3, Int +0, Wis +4, Cha +0
Items +2 astral striking frost composite longbow, +2 astral striking impactful handwraps of mighty blows, spacious pouch ii, purse (700 gp)
--------------------
AC 34; Fort +22 (Successes are crit successes instead); Ref +22; Will +23 (Successes are crit successes instead)
HP 177
Reactive Strike [R]
--------------------
Speed 50 feet, fly 25 feet; wings
Melee [1] astral striking impactful fist +26 (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse), Damage 2d6+8 B +1d6 Spir +1d6 Frc
Melee [1] astral striking impactful talon +26 (magical, agile, finesse), Damage 2d4+8 S +1d6 Spir +1d6 Frc
Ranged [1] +2 astral striking frost composite longbow +26 (magical, range increment 100 feet, reload 0, propulsive, volley 30, deadly d10), Damage 2d8+5 P +1d6 Spir +1d6 C
Ancestry Feats Fledgling Flight[LOAG], Fully Flighted[LOAG], Juvenile Flight[LOAG], Strix Vengeance[LOAG]
Class Feats Advanced Maneuver, Basic Maneuver, Deflect Projectile, Fighter Dedication, Lightning Swap, Mobile Shot Stance, Monastic Archer Stance, Parting Shot, Projectile Snatching, Ranger Dedication, Reactive Striker, Reflexive Stance, Return Fire, Wolf Drag, Wolf Stance
Mythic Feats Ascended Celestial Dedication[WI], Become Shadow[WI], Correct The Story[WI], Mythic Strike[WI], Summon Mythic Power[WI], We've Met Before[WI]
General Feats Fleet
Skill Feats Aerobatics Mastery, Alchemical Crafting, Cat Fall, Foil Senses, Kip Up, Nimble Crawl, Quick Jump, Survey Wildlife, Swift Sneak
Other Abilities bless ally, expert strikes, hunt prey, hunter's calling, metal strikes, path to perfection, second path to perfection

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I hear what everyone is saying, and to be clear, I agree shields are pretty strong as is. I have just noticed at higher levels 8+ that even ignoring cirts most shields are three hits away from broken on normal hits. My champion level 10, has a sturdy shield and the blessed shield. It currently has a 14 hardness 102 hit points. Assuming a dps monster is hitting for 40 points 1 a round, the hield is almost broken after 2 blocks on those normal hits. That seems to be a little fragile, again just my opinion. I am just not sure how to solve the issue with out skewing things to far the other way. Keep in mind I have a marty shield upgraded to a sturdy shield, invested in the shield path so can potentially do three blocks a round.

I have in multiple fights noticed my shield is out of action by the second or third round, forget the fact that twice I had to block a crit or I would have gone down in one shot (though that was kind of an outlier 8th level playing up in a 7-10).

Thanks for all the feedback though Ill take a look at the mending latice I hadnt heard of that before.

First off I want to say overall I love the new shield mechanics of 2nd edition and remastered. After having played several Pathfinder Society games, and a couple of Adventures/ adventure paths it seems to me shields are to fragile.

Don't get me wrong, I think shields should take damage, be worn down and eventually broken by normal use. The speed this happens at currently is what I have issues with. Case in point, at 9th level a champion with a sturdy shield and the free reinforcing rune, will have his shield got from undamaged to broken in 1 crit, or 2 maybe three regular hits. This seems a bit to quick.

I have a couple of thoughts on how to help address the issue without blowing the balance completely out the window.

Option 1: Add more hit points, I dont like this option though it is the simplest least game changing.

Option 2: Add fortification effect to the reinforcing rune. So using a reinforcing rune up to a certain level (probably 12 or 14) would also let the shield make a DC17 flat check for the shield to treat the crit as a hit for the purpose of how much damage it takes. The reinforcing runes at level 12 (or 14) and higher would act like greater fortification (.ie a DC 14 flat check). This is the option I like, but the downside is you have to keep track of how much you take in hp damage vs how much the shield takes as the amount wont be the same.

Option 3: Another simple option, is to make shields ignore crits for damage purposes. So all shields without any extra magic or runes would treat crits as hits for the purpose of damage they took. So as an example a shield with a hardness of 14 and 102 hit points, is used to block a 95 point crit. The player will take 80 points of hit point damage. The shield would treat the crit as a normal hit (rounding up) so 95 becomes 48 less the 15 hardness the shield takes 33 points damage. Its a bit clunky to track, but it does make the shield survive crits a little bit better.

Let me know what you think and how you deal with shield durablity in your campaign.

Martyr's Shield is written very strangely in that it is the shield itself that is using the reaction, not the character wielding the shield. So if the character also has a reaction that could trigger for the same trigger as the shield, it would not technically run into the problems of Limitations on Triggers where each creature can only react to a particular trigger once.

But that does run into a lot of headaches and edge cases and I can fully understand a GM wanting to avoid all of that by considering both the shield and the creature wielding the shield as the same entity as far as reacting to the same trigger goes.

yeah I am leaning torwards your interpretation "most GMS are just goign to say one or the other". As it keeps things simpler.

I get what your saying, so basiclly until the class feat that specifically lets you do both (divine reflex at 10 I think), it would be one of the other. At best, if I shield blocked from the martrys shield, the retributive strike would still only happen if any damage got through the shield block.

I wouldnt argue with a GM over not allowing it as its kind of a weird and rare scenario.

Ok here is the question. An 8th level champion (Justice), shield warden and quick shield block using sword and a Martyrs shield. By my count, the Champion has 1 reaction his own personal one, an extra reaction that is a shield block only from Quick Shield Block, and then another Shield block reaction from the shield that is triggered under specific conditions.

Assuming the shield block from the shield gets triggered, can the champion also use his retributive strike on the same attack? If he can wouild the damage be reduced by both the shield block and the retributive strike.

Reading the rules, I assumed they would both take effect and reduce damage, because the two reactions are coming from two different entities. The martyrs shield an intelligent shield, and then myself. Recently had a GM say only one or the other. I didnt bring it up at the table, but wanted to check here to make sure I am intepreting things correctly.

Thanks for any advice suggestions.

Ok thats what I thought, just wish there was a way to make the shields beefier for those who go that route. At least I am not misunderstanding somethign about how the runes work.

Still kind of new to the ways magic items work in 2nd edition in general. So question about shields and enhanving their block and hardness. I run a champion went the shield route, have the minor reinforcing and about to upgrade to lesser (almost 7th level).

The question comes down to the wording on the reinforing runes it says at one point maxium hardness 8, hp 64. The question, does that apply even if the shield is made out of sturdier material. Say adamntine which for a standard item has a hardness of 14. Would it be useless to put a reinforcing rune on it?

Overall just looking at ways to make my shield absorb more damage and considering alternate materials to do so.

Thanks for any sggestions.

Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. This is where the download links appear (and you can download the actual PDF of each boon you've obtained/purchased).

That was too simple dont know how I missed that Thank you sir.

Question, I downloaded a couple of boons for PFS scenarios I played 6-03 for example, or at least I thought I did. I selected the characted selected purchase but cant find a cert or what it gives me other then one of my characters has access to feats (the description in the list of boons). Where do I find the details?

Thanks will defiontely lean into the shield feats at this point as its the direction i wanted to go just wasnt aware of all the buffs/ benifits of it.

Needing some guidance from the pros. I have Champion went the blessed shield route and retriubutive strike, I also took a Marshall Dedication. Looking at 6th level trying to decide what class feat to take as there are several good ones.

the main ones I am looking at are

1. Reactive Strike (already have two other reactions not sure this would be the better choice).
2. Littany Against Wraith, decent single target damage 1 action and it takes my focus pool to 3 points so potentially 3 lay on hands.
3. Smite this is the one I am leaning towards
4. Rallying Charge, I already have Defensive advance, but this would give the party temp hit points.

Any suggestions or guidance from what you have run into in game that does and doesnt work. Plus if you can point me to a way to get a second reaction (if that even exists) that would be great.

Thanks ahead of time for the suggestions.

Expand Aura affects only your Champion's Aura. It doesn't interact with marshal at all.

Thanks, suspected that was the case but wanted to confirm.

I am running a Champion who took Marshall Dedication. I am planning ahead and wondering the Expan Aura feat at 6th Level, does that apply to the Marshalls Aura and the Champions Aura at the same time or do I have to select one or the other to affect?

Is there an Errata page or link for Player Core 2 (or Player Core for that matter). I want to see if there have been any updates. Particularly on what deity can or cant have a dedication, I found it odd that Ragthiel doesnt have one. Thanks!

Thanks for clearing that up for me!

Ok still pretty new with 2nd edition and remastered vs 1st edition. Are there any magic items that can be bought (like the old +1 items) that dont require access from a cert or boon? is it basically just common items?

I know we are limited to 10 or 12 items we can invest in (.ie have active on us) wich items require this investment/ Activation? Potions for example or elixers are magic items do I have to invest in them for them to work?

Thanks for the info as i get back in to doing some society stuff

dfinan wrote:

I pre-ordered the hard copy of the Player Core 2 book on 7/26 and it has shipped. I went to try on 8/1 and 8/2 to download the pdf that you usually got for free when you paid for the hardcopy of the book. Its not showing up in my digital content.

Do we have to buy the PDF seperately now?

Paizo has never offered a free PDF for single purchases. That's only a perk for people who subscribe the product line the item is a part of.

Thanks for some reason, I thought we got the pdf for free if we ordred the hardcopy. Thanks for confirming though didnt want to pay for the pdf and find out it was free later.

I pre-ordered the hard copy of the Player Core 2 book on 7/26 and it has shipped. I went to try on 8/1 and 8/2 to download the pdf that you usually got for free when you paid for the hardcopy of the book. Its not showing up in my digital content.

Do we have to buy the PDF seperately now?

Not thrilled with Alignment, and Champions, Sorcerors and several other classes dissappearing. Ill admit I am old school, and loved the champion/ holy warrior idea. Ill reserve judgement till I see what they end up with.

Simple question is anything from the lost omen world book allowed in society play?

Hasn't it always been Memorial Day weekend?

I dont know, if that is when they generally do it that would be great. I can start making my plans.

I was wondering when they will announce the dates for the next PazioCon. I have decided I am going to go to the 2020 convention as I have never been to this con. I wanted to start looking into airplane rates and such as soon as possible. I know GenCon just finished and I had a blast playing and running Pathfinder First and Second edition.

So with GenCon next week, when will do you expect to have the new Pathfinder Society Guide ready for the new season?

Well I moved into a new house recently and virtually all my adventure certs are gone (along with all my pathfinder books do to a misunderstanding with goodwill donations). I can see what scenarios I played I have a character saved electronically I know from the log my last game played was Special: Ruins of Bonekeep—Level 3: The Wakening Tomb at Gencon 2014. How do you handle this in organized play?

I know this probably has come up and been answered before so if you want to just point me to it thats fine as well.

I have lost most if not all my certs, I can see that I played this one by my log. Is there anyway to get a replacement cert?

Good information and looking forward to the details. Additional info on what the plans are for Gencon, ending season 10 and the old pathfinder ver 1, starting the new version 2 info would help. I am actually going to gencon this year and want to make sure I am ready for the changeover. So any advance info on that would be a big help.

This is actually my first reasonably leveled character so I am not too experienced with PFS and my opinion is based on "I can only smite 1 guy at a time and a +2 for the whole group I am fighting is better than just the 1 presumably tougher guy I am smiting"

Is that not prevalent enough in PFS to be important? (I mean crusading does only last 1 minute also, but I have rarely if ever seen a combat last more than 10 rounds)

I went with crusading for several reasons, first its a +2 bump as a sacred bonus to AC that I am only having to pay for on my armor as a +1 bump.

next it is a sacred bonus, not to many things provide that so it fills another stack slot.

Finally as the person above mentioned its a +2 against all the things in the fight not just my smite target, and if it meets the right criteria its a +3 bonus.

In a recent mod I played as an 8th level pally at tier 10-11, (Rats of round mountain part 1). I had to face off against the big bad at the end (no spoilers). After three rounds of talking I had buffed and declared smite and as sword and board was a 43 AC. I managed to get through the fight without taking a hit from the big bad. (Dm did roll exceptionally bad which helped). So with pallies its a question of time and stacking to get the AC, if I had dropped the shield and gone 2H weapon I would have been a 39 AC wich still gave a good chance of getting missed.

Hey everyone,

Recently i've ran into some problems with my paladin's armor class in the higher level modules (10-11 range of the 7-11's). My character is a 9th (soon 10th) level human paladin (uses nodachi/power attack crit build) with a base ac of 24 (+1 fullplate, 1 dex, 2 am. Natural armor, 1 ring of deflection). Additionally, he makes heavy use of umd wands to among others cast shield in fights. If both smite evil/angel bond and shield are up then his ac is effectively 31. Most of his gold was spent on improving saving throws and his weapon. Using rage would drop it to 29 (one level bloodrager dip).

Up until now this ac combined with optimized lay in hands (mercy/feywild foundling) has always been more than enough to get by. However, ive noticed that enemies at the 10-11 range get dramatic boosts in both their accuracy, damage and attacks per round. There was a dragon in one of the recent modules that attacked 6 times per round with +27ish to all attacks which basically meant it almost couldnt miss me even with full buffs and no rage. Even if i'd spent all my gold on 3 extra ac, that still would have hit on a 7+. Its damage output was around 80-100 per round which one rounded everyone in the party except me (and it did, the 35 ac kensai also had a bad time). In that fight, im fairly sure i would have died if there hadnt been a cleric healing me for an additional 50-60 hp per round.

An somewhat related concern is that ive also recently seen a 95 damage crit from a monster outright killing another player even though he was at near full hp.

I currently have around 18 k gold ( was saving for a bracers of the merciful/avenfing knight since id had advance warning that ac would be less valuable at high levels) with around 22 k after next session which will be a level up.

So... What should i do with this money and the next level up to be more survivable?

I can see a few options:
- bite the bullet, spend the money on improving loh and soon after charisma and constitution but not ac. This would...

I play a pally as well, but went sword and board. I just added Crusading to my +1 plate as I have stacked Charisma. As a swift action I can activate the crusading for a +2 sacred bonus to ac (+3 vs evil outsiders, evil dragons and undead). Its only a +1 bump cost wise to the armor. And its a sacred bonus so stacks with all your other ac buffs.

So far I like the new Ultimate Combat book, been playing a Gunslinger at Gencon and its workign out real well.

One question when you guys get a chance, I think I have found a typo on the firearms chart.

It shows a pistol as having a range increment of 20, and a double pistol as also having a range increment of 20.

The musket shows a range increment of 40, but the double musket only shows 10' range increment. Is this just a typo or is this by design?

Thanks and keep up the good work.

David

I was toying with making a Gunslinger character, and was wondering how the far shot feat worked with the class if at all?