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Liberty's Edge

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Greylurker wrote:


Honestly there dose seem to be a prevailing opinion that no they have to sacrifice happy lives to be heroes. In fact I think someone at marvel said that flat out at one point.

which is BS. Do Police or Firefighters have to sacrifice happy lives to do their job?

Superman seems pretty happy and stable right now. Happily married with a 10 year old son

I think Superman is the exception at least until a writer decides to retcon it or ruin it.

I never liked the whole "readers don't like seeing comic characters in stable relationships" BS the writers try to use as a excuse as to why more heros don't have more relationships. Villains have relationships why would being a hero make it less easy. It's because the writers don't want to do it. I never quite forgave Marvel breaking up Peter Parker and Mary Jane. Starfire and Nightwing had a what 20-25 year relationship in real time and it mostly went nowhere for the longest time.

Liberty's Edge

That's some pretty terrible writing imo.
As in some of the worst. It's about as bad as Emma Frost going to the dark side because of the death of her boyfriend. The torture and murder of her students somehow did not but the death of Cyclops did. No wonder Marvel lost sales.

I have never seen a villian go "I'm being attacked by a female superhero. Feminist ruin everything" at least until now. (Facepalm, double facepalm). I can't see why fans would be unhappy with the writing nope not at all.

Liberty's Edge

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Diversity is a good thing. It's when it's pushed into every comic story that's it's not imo. Marvel instead of doing the smart thing and slowly introducing diversity just tried to cram it down ever reader throat. Whether readers wanted it or not. As well those calling for diversity the loudest usually don't end up buying the product. As long as Marvel put diversity into the titles they were happy. Purchasing those newly diversified title that were so badly needed....you must joking. It's also not helped with Marvel one moment saying diversity hurt their sales. Then claiming that too many of their fans were too narrow minded to appreciate diversity.

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Cantriped wrote:
Honestly there is no good reason. D&D 3.X and Pathfinder punish creativity, and Feat-Tax actions characters should be able to take for free. If Attacks of Opportunity weren't so deeply imbedded into the system, I would abolish them entirely.

Agreed and seconded completely. Its the same way many weapons are classified as Exotic Weapons without any real goid reason.

Liberty's Edge

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To second Pan it's not just you DMCal. I am both player and Dm. Their is a lot of stuff to remember in terms of rules. I don't know it all. With bonuses not stacking in Pathfinder it makes a DM job just that more difficult.

Better to be a good DM who does not know all the rules. Instead of a bad one who knows all the rules.

Liberty's Edge

I know that reading a novel ones experience can be good or bad. It's one of the few times where after reading the third novel I felt like it was written by someone else. What a general feeling of "what just happened".

Liberty's Edge

Oh man I decided to take a break from reading the core Dragonlance novels and decided to try the Defenders of Magic Trilogy from Mary Kirchoff.

Ugghh what a mistake. One of the few times I wanted to take back the hours I wasted on the trilogy.

When a author starts a series then writes a novel that ruins the series. In the Defenders of Magic trilogy from Mary Kirchoff. The first book I enjoyed. The second introduces a strange plot element. Granted it's a series about magic on Krynn. The third and final book of the trilogy OMG

Some spoilers for the third novel:

It's bad imo really bad.

The main villain goes firmly into Gary Stu territory. As in everything he does succeeds. Nothing goes wrong and gets to use a magic item. Even though at this point in the trilogy. The character HATES

A family member poisoned by the villain in the second book develops a severe caste of Stockholm Syndrome in the third book. I don't know about anyone else but having romantic feeling when the villain not only poisons the village I'm living in but myself as well. Yeah no more romantic feelings.

The strange plot element while well developed just seems a excuse to give a secondary character magic after the main character is killed off by the villain.

It's soured me so much on the Dragonlance series of novels I'm not sure if I will ever read the remaining ones I have.

I'm going to read the Patrick Rothfuss novels.

Liberty's Edge

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When a author starts a series then writes a novel that ruins the series. In the Defenders of Magic trilogy from Mary Kirchoff. The first book I enjoyed. The second introduces a strange plot element. Granted it's a series about magic on Krynn. The third and final book of the trilogy OMG

Some spoilers for the third novel:

It's bad imo really bad.

The main villain goes firmly into Gary Stu territory. As in everything he does succeeds. Nothing goes wrong and gets to use a magic item. Even though at this point in the trilogy. The character HATES

A family member poisoned by the villain in the second book develops a severe caste of Stockholm Syndrome in the third book. I don't know about anyone else but having romantic feeling when the villain not only poisons the village I'm living in but myself as well. Yeah no more romantic feelings.

The strange plot element while well developed just seems a excuse to give a secondary character magic after the main character is killed off by the villain.

It's soured me so much on the Dragonlance series of novels I'm not sure if I will ever read the remaining ones I have.

Liberty's Edge

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It's not so much Kenders I disliked it's that they gave

Dragonlance Novel Spoiler:
They Gave Tasseholf a decent death in Summer Flame only to ruin it and bring the character back in the War of souls trilogy only to send the character back in the afterlfe

That and most players played them worst than Paladins imo.

Liberty's Edge

Here the thing though. Some get told they can't roleplay properly in some cases. Simply because they made a Fighter wit decent Str and Con, the right bread and butter feats. He or she is a "bad" roleplayer because chances are they will be better than some who did the opposite. If one going to make a Fighter with low Str and Con of course the first is going to be better at hitting and damage. No amount of roleplay imo is going to change that.

It's not to say that some don't optimize to the point where they can only do one good thing and nothing else with their characters. More often than at the table I play at. The Sorcerer for example with the low Cha expects his spells to be as effective than the Bard who took a higher than normal Cha. That's not how the system works. The DCs of the spells of the character with the higher primary stat will work more often than the one that took a lower stat. One needs to build a character than can roleplay yet be effective in their role.

The Fighter with 10 Str is just not going to be as effective in his role than the 16 Str Fighter imo. The first while better possibly with social interaction is going to find the character able to carry,hit, and do less damage. The difference between myself and others who take a lower stat I accept that I'm going to be the less effective fighter at least in combat. I'm not going to hold it against the second character who took a higher Str. I assume the responsabilites of my choices made as a player even if they maybe sub-optimal for the character. Instead most players deflect the responsability of their chocies. Heaven forbid they assume the consequences of their choices they made at character creation and it's everyone else fault.

The character with 16 str is suddenly a filthy "munchkin" and/or "optimizer".

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https://m.facebook.com/groups/20416871387?view=permalink&id=10155242393 451388

Looks like a mod stepped in and removed some of the more negative and insulting posts. The op posted a link and then the usual "you can't both roleplay and have a good build" along with the usual "munchkins" accusation thrown about. Apparently were not supposed to be able to roleplay and have decent stats and build with a character.

Liberty's Edge

No microwave would not bother me as a player. I would bring soups and stews and ask the DM if i could use the stove to heat up my food.

Liberty's Edge

Then your lucky DrDeth. As in my experience it seems to be not common but it happens enough. Over on one of the Pathfinder Facebook pages its starting to happen at least once a week. Even here I would hazard a guess thst it's uncommon imo.

Usually such threads always degrade into the OP geing right and everyone else wrong. Even if the majority of the posters answering disagree with the OP.

Why am I always in the position of being the player that is willing to give a honest assement of the group when we come close to a TPK. Everhone else seems to be afraid to do so. Last session the group idea of tactics was attack tne npcs as a group until the npcs are dead. No tactics beyond dome flanking. Except the non-melee types after their spells run out. Insist on wanting to go head to head with the npcs. Then wonder why their second level characters get knocked out easily.

So far the DM is going easy on the players. Eventually though on of the pcs is going to be killed. Just frusrating imo.

Liberty's Edge

Im going to have to disagree with you Wormy. As i said her students were both tortured and in some cases murdered yet no villain turn. Which would have made more sense imo. Marvel wanted her as the new Magneto and by hook and crook and despite two decades of character development. She was going to be a villain. Or anti-hero even if the character would be sad but not go to the dark side over Cyclops death.

I really hope Magneto on the cover is just a variant. Or not if he joins Hydra it's mind control or as a double agent for the good guys. Then agsin Marvel seems to be on the shock or should I say shlock value train. Instead of telling good stories trying to hard to use the "wow" factor.

Liberty's Edge

I would like to know as well. then knowing Marvel it's going to make as much sense as Emma Frost turning villain over the death of Cyclops. Her students were horribly murdered and/or tortured but it's the death of her boyfriend who sends her over the edge. I'm hoping Magneto is under mind control.

Liberty's Edge

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Its not diversity that does not sell comics. Its when its forced diversity. Msrvel wrnt from having none to almost every title imo. If they slowly introduced it at a gradual pace it may have gone over much better. Instead it just felt like they were trying to cater to one segment of the fanbase.

Not to mention imo those who are very vocal about diversity usually don't buy comics. They want Marvel or another comic company to introduce diversity. They when they get what they want. Then don't support the product. Even if every c comic is the most diversified as possible.

Sort of like the person complaining about people using too many plastic bags. Yet refuses ro buy recyclable bags because they cost too much.

For me i hope the new story arcs fix the X-titles. They have suffered with Marvel prioritizing the Inhumans.

Liberty's Edge

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The Difference Engine and Spring Heeled Jack.

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Anyone mind posting the name of the prequel and sequal series from Gail Carringer. I wanted to read more of her books.

Liberty's Edge

How about living in Quebec where they complain about English spoken too often. Then take English words and incorporate them into French. The last municipal election one of the slogans was " with the current government in power its a free for all." They kept free for all as is. Combined it into one word put a random accent somewhere. When they say it still sounds like a English word. Except somehow saying it with a french accent makes it a french. Even flabbergasted has been altered.

Liberty's Edge

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The Parasol Protectorate. One of the better Steampunk series imo. Though the author has the main character act for lack of a better word out of character in 9ne of the later novels. So much so that's its rnough to make you either keep reading or stop reading the series altogether imom

Liberty's Edge

@Smilodan im kind of prepared for the writing to be at most ok. I have not heard too many good reviews of the latest trilogy. Im a completist that way. I think what bothers me the most is less what could be terrible writing. More "here what officially happened. Now here what REALLY happened behind the scenes. Less a new story and more rehashing thecdame old material. I will keep a open mind.

Liberty's Edge

Thank you for the feedback. Always good to hear it from those who read the books. Interesting that Aaron feedback mirtos almot exacty the same i heard from a friend today over lunch. The editing left much to be desired. He enjoyed thr Dwarven Depths book but not the rest of the trilogy. .

Liberty's Edge

I bought the latest Dragonlance trilogy from both authors awhile back the one thay begins witn Dragons of the Dwarven Depths and ends with Dragons of a Hourglass Magr. I hsve held off reading it. As i want yo read the War of Souls trilogy first. As well o heard from many a reviewer thst the ladtest trilogy no longer has the magic of the previous Dragonlance series as well as being badly written. As in the quality of the writing is written by someone who is just starting out. Not veteran writers.

Another recommendation from my above post about the Lovecraft anthologies The Long Last Night by Brian Lumley. Its the stiry of two surviors in London England. After Cthulhu has risen and everythong associated with his return.

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In tbe oceans and seas my vote would be Sahuagin.

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Hello all I want to start reading the Camulod Chronicles From Jack Whyte and interested in hearing any feedback from those who have. Both positive and negative.

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Currently reading Weirder Shadows over Innsmouth. If your a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and the Deep Ones I highly recommend the first and second anthologies. Shadows and Weird shadows over Innsmouth. I enjoyed all the stories I read so far. Though my favorite so far is Innsmouth Bane by John Glasby. Its a prequel to Lovecraft Shadows Over Innsmouth. Where we get to see how Innsmouth begins its road to hell and damnation.

Any Jack Whyte fans? Im interested in reading his books and would like to hear some feedback first.

Liberty's Edge

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Agreed and seconded. i usually do something as well when I can't sleep. Otherwise I end up feeling more tired than just tossing and turning.

Liberty's Edge

Werthead wrote:


The books have sold about 650,000 copies to date in the States, which equates to about 108,000 per book. Being very generous, call it a quarter of a million readers. THE EXPANSE gets 2-3 million viewers (accounting for all methods of watching) in the States and considerably more worldwide, where the show is on Netflix. The book readers are a small percentage of the viewers, which is unsurprising since the books are so new (for context, the first novel was released in mid-2011).

Good to know about the number of books sold. I enjoyed the first three books. I have heard mixed reviews about books 4-6. I'm still going to read them anyway as I enjoy both the show and the books and Science Fiction in general

Werthead wrote:


This is pretty much the same for all adaptations of pre-existing media. You can use the book readers as a springboard to help launch the show and build up word-of-mouth, but you have to appeal far beyond the fanbase and look out to new viewers as well.

Totally agree and seconded. The thing about trying something new is that it may work and bring in new viewers. As it may not and lose viewers. Beyond good writing I don't think there is a perfect formula to get more viewers. Than and focusing on what the majority of the fanbase wants. I'm not saying don't try anything new. Just don't put it into a show or any kind of medium like a book or comic. Without making sure a large amount of the fans wants it.

Marvel comics not only tried putting more politics and social issues in their comics. They did it so poorly imo that it felt like they were forcing it on the readers. The end result was causal reader like myself either stopped buying or in my case started picking and choosing what titles I wanted to read. While also finding out the hard way those that do want those stories are either not a large enough demographic or don't buy comics. Going forward your still going to see more politics and social awareness and issues in their stories. They won't force it on the reader. If you don't believe me look it up.

Though I do wish Martin would finish his series.

Liberty's Edge

Bill Dunn wrote:


$34 for a $60 book? That is cheaper. You expect game companies to not be able to pay for the development and art costs or have some profit to invest in their company because you want cheaper RPGs?

I see your point but I save a decent amount only if I live in the United States. For someone like me that 34$ in US funds costs me about 45$ Canadian. I'm not saying sell them cheap but a benchmark imo should be half of retail. Sometimes it ends up being more. To be fair it's still better than what on Amazon.ca for the book 261 or was 262$. Yesterday their was a glitch I think and it had it listed at 1261$.

Liberty's Edge

Rpg companies that sell PDfs at full or close to full retail. I thought the PDf format was going to make rpgs cheaper. Not slightly less or just as expensive. Their is no one that needs to be paid to print, make or transport the finished product. Yet some companies insist on sellign them more than 20-25$. I wanted to purchase the L5R 4E PDf since the print is very hard to find and existing copies on places like Amazon are too highly priced. It cost 34$ on Drivethrurpg. In US not Canadian funds. I might as well either wait for the second hand copies to go down in price or a sale on Drivethrurpg. Imo 34$ for the PDF is a bit much .

Liberty's Edge

I guess I should had said some fans as some here assume I meant all.

Some fans are not bothered by the lack of female characters. Some fans want the source material to be true to the books and not have to include certain genders simply because of social pressure. I hope that clarifies my point. I even bolded it just in case.

It's the same way that Game of Thrones kills off characters left and right. Even favored characters by the majority of the fans. It's true to the books and to Martin vision. I was glad their was no last minute save at a special occasion. It was a powerful, in your face "did this just happen" in the book and in the TV show. Anything else may have made those who know the series only by the TV show happy. It would have angered some who read the books by cheapening the scene imo.

Liberty's Edge

Fans of a TV show based on books prefer the show to be as close as possible to the source material. I would still watch it if their was or was not a equal amount of male or female characters. I also don't want either or be put into a show due to social pressure. Especially if it deviates from the source material.

If anything the the main complaints i hear about the books is the swearing and profanity. Im not bothered in the least by it. But apparently some are to the point where they wont read the books or watch show.

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I always thought him more of a Sword Saint Samurai myself.

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I think it all depends on how smart a npc or monster is. In the same way a pc will finish off a weaker creature or npc. So should a intelligent creature or npc. As well the type of creature also is a factor. I can see zombies and ghouls attack a unconscious pc. As i could see a hobgoblin coup de grace the same pc. As the poster above me pointed out a badly placed Fireball or Alchemical bomb can also take out a pc. If a general agreement was made that no matter what unconscious oc dont die. Expect pc death while not a common occurrence can happen. Adventuring is not a safe pastime imo.

Liberty's Edge

I have to disagree about Emma villian turn being a good thing. It was forced, cliche and more importantly a writer wanted the character a villian. Even if meant throwing away years of character development. The only thing that can make what amounts to character assassination easier to swallow is if they portray her like Magneto in his solo series. The death of her boyfriend is enough to drive her to the dark side. Yet the death of her students who were tortured and murdered in horrible ways does not. Yeah...no its out of character imo. Not to mention it looks like on her way from escaping the X-men she knocked a porn actress and stole her costume.

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Jose Hernandez 622 wrote:


I guess if everyone in that group trained inside a cave with no world interaction, I would agree that they should not know.

It does depend on the campaign world and how common that knowledge is. If the DM decides no one in his homebrew world knows about a Trolls weakness to fire without at least making a decent skill roll and some research then imo your out of luck.

Jose Hernandez 622 wrote:


When you are being trained to be a fighter, a wizard, a monk, or a normal living being in a world where dragons, trolls and so on exist, I bet that they would know that information 95% of the time. That is the kind of information that save lives and towns. Well, that is if you think that the world in which your character lives is a realistic one.

Good point. I still think some research needs to be done The information could be from a guy who talked to a guy who shot another guy. As I said above it also depends on the game world. Some DMs may make it that common weakness are not known. Not without actually having fought and defeated the creature. I don't agree with that kind of design philosophy but I'm sure it happens. I don't make players roll for everything as a DM as well. For a Rogue after a certain level they don't need to roll to open a lock that has DC of between 5 and 10. Now if they insist on wanting to roll I let them. Otherwise having players roll for everything slows the game down imo.

Liberty's Edge

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To be fair they never said it was. If parents are too lazy to look up the rating of a movie the blame is on them. Not the movie imo.

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It was a good movie imo. Not as bleak as Old Man Logan but a enjoyable movie all the same. While I get the complaint about showing children attacking and murdering adults is a bad thing. It's also a theme of the movie of innocence lost imo.

Liberty's Edge

We have given you answers. You keep ignoring them becaude the answers given are not to your liking.

All im seeing from you is not logic. You want to be able to meta game 24/7 at every table you play at. No tactics should be able to counter that. Not because they are not because their not good tactics. You think they are useless even if on some situations they are not imo

- Diguise its a lousy tactic it never works us it might get in the way of metagsming

-Decoys whose going to waste money on that its a lousy tactic us it gets on the wzay of meta gaming

-magic or magic items same as the above

Im mot saying my tactics are perfect and won't work more than once or twice. Especially on a experienced group. Neither are they doomed to failure.

Sorry for the double post

Liberty's Edge

We have given you answers. You keep ignoring them becaude the answers given are not to your liking.

All im seeing from you is not logic. You want to be able to meta game 24/7 at every table you play at. No tactics should be able to counter that. Not because they are not because their not good tactics. You think they are useless even if on some situations they are not imo

- Diguise its a crap tactic it never works us it might get in the wsy of metagsming

-Decoys c

Liberty's Edge

That's your opinion and it might be wrong. Just like my use of decoys may not work. You might get your point across in a better manner if you were not so stuck on proving that your way and yours alone is the right way and everyone else is garbage.

Or are we know supposed to ask forum members permission on what we can or cannor allow at our own tables.

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Why is it being a poor tactician. I think some here confuse what they know as a player to what their character actually knows. If the group encoumters a Troll for the very first time should they all know thry have a weakness to fire. No they should not imo. Not unless the group either makes the right Knowledge check. Or the group has someone who is lucky enough to have someone whosr character background is either to be a dedicated Troll slayer or something along those lines.

Otherwise its meta gaming pure and simple imo. You can make up all the excuses and reasons to hide that your metagaming but imo it is. No to mention people in this hobby plsy the game differently. Calling them or whatever tactics they want to use is rude and limely to grt you booted out at many tables.

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Chengar Qordath wrote:


I think the viability of decoy tactics also depends a lot on stuff like party composition. If the group has a dedicated archer, a couple decoy CR 1/3 guys in the back row just means that his first couple arrows kill them instead of knocking some HP off one of the frontliners. Even worse if the group has someone like an evoker who'll just AoE damage everyone regardless of shenanigans.

The archer is still wasting his actions taking out the decoys. Granted easily but it's less attacks on the primary target. I agree about someone with AOE style spells. Decoy or not they are still getting affected.

Chengar Qordath wrote:


By the same token, there are definitely times when the tradeoff for decoy tactics is pretty small. If someone's running a monk, having the guy wear robes and a wizard hat instead of monk robes isn't exactly a huge problem.

Agreed and seconded.

_Ozy_ wrote:

Well sure. The flipside is the DM always making sure that the players are fooled, no matter how smart or tactical they try to be. That's no good either.

It's not a good thing I agree and as you said a good balance needs to be found.

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_Ozy_ wrote:


Seems to me the tactic only sucks if the players are always 'in the know', somehow, and act accordingly.

It seems some want their characters to always be "in the know". Which to me is the definition of metagaming imo. I think players forget that what they know their character should not in some cases. I had players who knew I ran the Rise of the Runelords AP then was a player. Some at the table get trying to get information about the AP. As the DM I knew what to expect. I refused to metagame. Even if it meant costing the lives of my character and others.

At the same time I'm not saying players should be cluesless either. Espcially if they took the time to roll Knowledge Checks and roleplay by studying the enemy. Or if they fight the same enemy over and over they get to know what a band of Orcs can do and who are the Bards etc..

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I see it as a differences in styles. One person msy think decoys are a waste of time. Some like myself dont think its a waste of time. Either position i think is valid.

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I guess we will have to agree to disagree. Magic being versatile a caster can either use illusion or a disguise to himself. Someone using magic can be a Cleric, Bard, Druid, or any other casting class. I tend to buy a wand of Silent Image so that i can confuse enemies. While using a decoy might not be the best or cost effective option is a option. I guess my characters and npcs tend do do more than advertise their presence to the players.

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I never said it wad a wrong answer. Just that imo the DC to identify a caster should vary depending on one being obvious at casting a spell. One that goes out of his way to remain hidden or subtle the DC should be much higher. Of course a player can metagame and insist both are casters. Even if one attacking from range and/or hidden

Given most fantasy rpg campaign they have tendancy to make caster obvious such as Forgotten Realms and Golarion. That is not the case in home brew campaigns. The payer might rwaluze its a caster. The chatacter being played at least for the first few levels should not know its a caster

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Good to know about the Spymasters handbook. I dont have the book. Though something like that should have been in Ultimate Intrigue imo.

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I never felt the combo I mentioned was overpowered. It just that if the Op thinks Inspire Courage and Discondant voice is overpowered. He or she may have a hard time running the game at later levels. Magic is powerful in Pathfinder imo. Many spells can end encounters. I like playing Bards and run them to the best of my ability. Same thing when i play casters of all kinds.

Liberty's Edge

It all depends on the situation at tbe time. Is the caster out in the open? Or hidden. Using a spell to remain hidden. What kind of conditions in the area such as fog or mist etc at the time. Are the casters robes plain or embroidered.

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