rgrove0172's page

Captain, it is a common assumption by PF and D&D players that the game world is comparable to middle ages earth.

But the actual rules don't support that notion. The rules create and describe a unique culture that accepts magic much as we today accept technology. It has been demonstrated many times on these boards that a typical commoner could make and save enough gold over time to purchase minor magic items if you follow the rules for professions such as blacksmith, farmer, etc.

In a very real way in the PF world there HAS been a revolution, but not a technological one. The revolution was a magical one.

My own campaign world takes this to further logical destinations. The richest city in my campaign world operates in many ways very much like the richest cities in our own world, but with magic taking the place of technology. It is only the poorest parts of the world that would be comparable to our middle ages, much as that is actually true of the real world.

It is true that a typical farmer might not buy an everburning torch. But they most certainly would balance the value of a stone-avoiding plow against a new barn. Especially since that plow could provide them with enough profit to buy a new barn eventually and have both.

If I had to run a campaign where magic was this mundane... well I wouldnt. Magic without wonder is boring as a story element.

For the record I don't feel magic should be easy for other classes either. Clerics need to keep the doctrines of their faith in mind if they want to keep their powers, Patrons don't give Witches power for free they expect tasks performed on their behalf in return, etc...

I'm not trying to punish any particular class, I'm just creating a setting where Magic isn't easy to master.

Im with you Greylurker, 100%. I have tried through strictly 'color and fluff" to present a world where magic is more rare, respected, spooky and costly but it contradicts the ease by which it is presented in the rules. Ive considered some house rules myself, yours has encouraged me.

Peter Stewart -house rules dont merely have to address a percieved problem but may intead present a new desired mechanic or bit of color to the game. I played in a campaign once where the casting of spells cost the caster HP.

There is certainly nothing WRONG with the spell casting or learning system at all, but if someone has a different vision for how it should work in their game... a house rule is the way to go.

Comment of admittedly limited use: keep your characters poor, the game is more fun that way.

I feel I have to clarrify Im not attack the rules here, just how to interpret them.

Ill admit I think the roleplaying aspect loses alot from the fact that characters cant be injured. Its a mainstay of fiction where the beaten up, limping, bloody hero struggles to his feet and keeps fighting. The way you guys describe HP, he is fine, dodging and blocking until.. oops, got me! Agggh!

Not very herioc or dramatic.

balance shmalance, sometimes an encounter is meant to be run from!

Guns and Robots, period. Im sorry, I know there are some great campaign worlds out there where technology and magic combine, heck even sci-fi but it stretches the conventional sword and sorcery genre quite a bit. Im gaming in Golarion and have basically written them out as much as possible.

Ive had similar problems with my Corebooks. They are such beautiful books yet the bindings fail within a few weeks of regular, careful, appropriate use. Its frustrating I grant you, Im not sure how to react. Hoping for compensation or a replacement is probably pointless but the cost of rebinding is daunting. Ive seen some 'how tos' online on binding yourself. Might have to give one these a look.

Thanks Adam, I just signed up as a contributor on the Wiki and your right, thats a great idea.

Ok, you sold me. Ill pick up a few. Its like, what =$50 or so for the entire path on PDF? That way I can print out the background info and read the adventure for fun or ideas!

Im a huge fan of Golarion campaign but I dont use a lot of published adventures. Its come to my attention that there is a great deal of campaign information hidden away in the various adventure path books. (details on Brevoy in Adventure Path 31, Crown of the World 51 etc.)

This is fine I guess as these areas need to be fleshed out for the adventure in question but do the rest of us have to purchase the adventure to add this information to our personal Golarion data base?

Is there, or will there, be a product that provides this background information on its own?

Well said R Chance, that was my earlier point... is a matter of perception. Still, as someone said, its easy enough to rule out. My Numeria for example has no sign of downed starships, or techno constructs rather if and when my campaign ever moves in that direction they are more likely to find the mutation effects of a downed asteroid or something and the wizards studying the strange radiation and power released instead.

Good stuff guys, thanks for the feedback. Theres a lot of "history" up there and to my mind it doesnt really have a place in the typical fantasy setting. I run a Hyborian Age campaign and given that Howard created the setting as a pre-history of our own I spend a lot of time and effort to try and get the cultures 'right'. In a conventional swords and sorcery setting however (aka. Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms, Inner Sea or what have you) I think its all about the 'feel' over historical realism. Sure, gunpowder predated Halberds and Plate but a fully platted and halberd wielding knight fighting a dragon "feels" right while one pulling a blunderbuss doesnt. Now thats just my opinion of course.

Im a new Pathfinder DM but a 30+ year gamer. Im loving the InnerSea and am building my campaign within it. Ill admit however that the inclusion of firearms is a big turn off. Sure, easy enough to just drop them but Im wondering how much of a problem this is for you guys? Are there that many gamers who want to include gunpowder in their fantasy setting out there to warrant its inclusion? I would have thought it a pretty rare notion.