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I'm curious why anyone would prefer Roman numerals in this instance. Please elucidate.
Well, Roman numerals are more fun to incorporate into the art on the cover. Like, for II you could have a monster holding the two Is like giant bones or drumsticks or something, beating a drum or a hero with them. The III could be the columns on an ancient temple as a monster bursts through them! and so on. It's an artistic thingummy.
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I'm curious why anyone would prefer Roman numerals in this instance. Please elucidate.Well, Roman numerals are more fun to incorporate into the art on the cover. Like, for II you could have a monster holding the two Is like giant bones or drumsticks or something, beating a drum or a hero with them. The III could be the columns on an ancient temple as a monster bursts through them! and so on. It's an artistic thingummy.
I'll stick with Arabic ... the just sounds too gimmicky
I'm curious why anyone would prefer Roman numerals in this instance. Please elucidate.
Nostalgia mostly. Although I'm more nostalgic for the days when they created inventive new titles for different monster books, like Fiend Folio. Numbered books are fine though, they make a lot of sense. As long as you don't put out a Core Rulebook 5.
Waaaaaa!! You should have used the Roman numeral II instead of the Arabic numeral 2.Sorry. The Roman Numeral II has been copyrighted by WOTC.
Wait, is this sarcasm?
Can you actually copyright one of the number forms?
Ok, I thought so. It's hard to tell a lot of times online unless I know the person.
And, my post was NOT sacasm, so it was not the last 5 posts. :P
Waaaaaa!! You should have used the Roman numeral II instead of the Arabic numeral 2.Sorry. The Roman Numeral II has been copyrighted by WOTC.Wait, is this sarcasm?
Can you actually copyright one of the number forms?
It was of course sarcasm. I was having a laugh at the the tendencies of WOTC and corporate America in general's to want to copyright common terms. The fact that you weren't certain it was sarcasm speaks volumes to the absurdity of it all.
It was of course sarcasm. I was having a laugh at the the tendencies of WOTC and corporate America in general's to want to copyright common terms. The fact that you weren't certain it was sarcasm speaks volumes to the absurdity of it all.Waaaaaa!! You should have used the Roman numeral II instead of the Arabic numeral 2.Sorry. The Roman Numeral II has been copyrighted by WOTC.Wait, is this sarcasm?
Can you actually copyright one of the number forms?
Sorry man. I don't know you and it's hard to tell sometimes online who is being sarcastic and who isn't. I've assumed people being sarcastic before and was told bluntly they were being serious.
Seems I can never win.
I'm curious why anyone would prefer Roman numerals in this instance. Please elucidate.
Because, hypothetically, using Roman Numerals, we could get a "Bestiary X."
THAT sounds WAAAAAAAAAY cooler than"Bestiary 10."
I know it's not going to happen, but you have to be prepared for all contingencies.
And, no, it's not the same as 11 on the Spinal Tap amp.
It's the 29th! I want my B2! :D
Seriously, though, what time is it likely to be up? I may have to go to bed and get it in the morning... or I may just stay up...
It's the 29th! I want my B2! :D
Seriously, though, what time is it likely to be up? I may have to go to bed and get it in the morning... or I may just stay up...
I impatiently waited up as well. I'm still going to get it, I was just looking forward to falling asleep with my face half-buried in a laptop.
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I impatiently waited up as well. I'm still going to get it, I was just looking forward to falling asleep with my face half-buried in a laptop.It's the 29th! I want my B2! :D
Seriously, though, what time is it likely to be up? I may have to go to bed and get it in the morning... or I may just stay up...
Hmm it is showing you can add a PDF now, as in buy it.
Hmm it is showing you can add a PDF now, as in buy it.I impatiently waited up as well. I'm still going to get it, I was just looking forward to falling asleep with my face half-buried in a laptop.It's the 29th! I want my B2! :D
Seriously, though, what time is it likely to be up? I may have to go to bed and get it in the morning... or I may just stay up...
By the elder gods, you're right!
Your timely posting has saved me much time not having this book, as I was about to sleep. I shall now use my best 1920's slang as a means of thanks:
You're hitting on all sixes, dame. Now this old night owl's gonna purchase this swanky piece of work with his handfull of rubes and put on his cheaters to make out this new mumbo-jumbo. I hope it'll be the berries!
Wow, the file is huge. Although this is my first main (hardcover) Pathfinder book I've downloaded, so I have nothing comparable in PDF. Would hate to see how big the file size is for the Core Rulebook (no, don't have that in PDF).
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Wow, the file is huge. Although this is my first main (hardcover) Pathfinder book I've downloaded, so I have nothing comparable in PDF. Would hate to see how big the file size is for the Core Rulebook (no, don't have that in PDF).
On my DVD ROM here...
Pathfinder RPG (4th printing, I beleive) 77,399 KB
APG (first printing) 52,150 KB
GMG (first printing) 72,434 KB
Bestiary I (first printing) 51,670 KB
Bestiary II 56,980 KB
Ok, so all the harcover books have huge files. lol
Makes sense, though. Considering how big the books are. And are exact copies of the books (full color, illustrations, etc).
I must say, an amazing book. Beautiful artwork, unimaginable horrors and tons of information.
On my first look through the book, the Banshee looks absolutely terrifying. She seems to be a bit tough for a CR13, though. Not that I am complaining, seeing how she would probably be chewed up by my group in one to two rounds, but there seems to be a discrepance in her ability to dish it out compared to other CR13s. Played well, she would be a total terror to fight.
I pre-ordered this some time ago, so I'm really hoping it comes in the mail today! ::squeal::
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I must say, an amazing book. Beautiful artwork, unimaginable horrors and tons of information.
On my first look through the book, the Banshee looks absolutely terrifying. She seems to be a bit tough for a CR13, though. Not that I am complaining, seeing how she would probably be chewed up by my group in one to two rounds, but there seems to be a discrepance in her ability to dish it out compared to other CR13s. Played well, she would be a total terror to fight.
Bring out the Bard, Jim. And give the man a banjo.
The Brijdine Azata is HAWT.
Yes I know bad pun..are there any good puns?
My FLGS did not have this today :(.
Sorry, Slaad.....
I just got it.
Bodacious art!
Creative Director
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Now. Having said all that, with the Gamemastery stuff being under the same roof as Pathfinder, WHY THE HELL did you guys not make punch out monster tokens for this?
Just because we haven't done so today doesn't mean we won't do it "tomorrow."
AKA: We can't do everything at once all at the same time. Patience!! :-)
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Now. Having said all that, with the Gamemastery stuff being under the same roof as Pathfinder, WHY THE HELL did you guys not make punch out monster tokens for this?
Just because we haven't done so today doesn't mean we won't do it "tomorrow."
AKA: We can't do everything at once all at the same time. Patience!! :-)
Next you will tell me the Easter Bunny doesn't exist. We want it now, now, now, now, now!
Just because we haven't done so today doesn't mean we won't do it "tomorrow."
AKA: We can't do everything at once all at the same time. Patience!! :-)
For what its worth, I did pick up the Monster Vault primarily to use the tokens, so I'd definitely be behind a similar Pathfinder product.
The 2 new inevitables are awesome! I just want to say one thing --- MORE INEVITABLES! Hopefully a future AP involves more of them or other Pathfinder product. (also, nice job on paying a tiny homage to the modron with the arbiter art...I believe that was the intention?)
A ton of outsiders, which I don't mind at all. I do find some of them...lacking in unique special abilities. For example, the Star Archon is CR 19 yet it has ONE special attack, the rest a bunch of divine spells and typical stats for a higher echelon archon. The Immolation Devil, for a CR 19 devil, also lacks some unique special attacks and qualities. It has but one, half its fire damage it deals is unholy damage.
The other thing I'm kind of scratching my head on is the qlippoth compared with the obyriths of 3.5e. They seem similiar, except their horrific appearance is reliant on sight (when it should assault all 5 senses), they're immune to cold, and they lack fast healing?
So should I give all my obyriths the qlippoth subtype stats or should I give the qlippoths the obyrith subtype stats? How would I determine fast healing in the latter case?
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Just because we haven't done so today doesn't mean we won't do it "tomorrow."
AKA: We can't do everything at once all at the same time. Patience!! :-)
For what its worth, I did pick up the Monster Vault primarily to use the tokens, so I'd definitely be behind a similar Pathfinder product.
+1. I long gave up on minis, and now I'm using Fiery Dragon's Counter Collection + home-made tokens.
An official set of Paizo monster counters would very very welcome !
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Creative Director
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The other thing I'm kind of scratching my head on is the qlippoth compared with the obyriths of 3.5e. They seem similiar, except their horrific appearance is reliant on sight (when it should assault all 5 senses), they're immune to cold, and they lack fast healing?
So should I give all my obyriths the qlippoth subtype stats or should I give the qlippoths the obyrith subtype stats? How would I determine fast healing in the latter case?
When I made up the obyriths for 3.5, the qlippoth were part of my inspiration. Since obyriths are not open content, but qlippoth are, and since I'm a huge fan of the "proto-demon," it just made sense to simply embrace qlippoth as the creature of choice for this role in Pathfinder.
If you want to use obyriths and qlippoth in the same game, they should go together perfectly. You don't really need to make one fit the other. If you do, though, pick which one you like more and go with that one's traits for all of them. The best way to determine fast healing amounts is to simply look at a monster that has the same CR and fast healing and copy that monster's fast healing value.
Awesomeawesomeawesome!!!
I got a group on the cusp of 13th level; I sez to myself "I need around about 49 encounters to get to 20th level for these guys...."
counted the CR's from 14+.......
there's 49. If there's multiple ages of dragons in there, it's not much, and there's copious lower level thingamaboppers that I definitely want to add class levels and sick templates to.
I'm lovin it.
Next you will tell me the Easter Bunny doesn't exist. We want it now, now, now, now, now!
{hides chocolate-covered monsters behind her bookcase}
Ah, I see about the qlippoths and obyriths. Yeah, the changes are miniscule. I can adjust easily.
Now I am still curious about the design intent behind the Star Archon and Immolation Devil with their lack of unique special abilities for such high CR creatures. It really feels like a pair of creatures with just high stats and subtype abilities, nothing more other than one special attack/quality?
Kudos on the Aeons as the neutral outsiders. I really enjoyed reading their origin and purpose. The duality nature and the cosmic appearance make them truly unique, enigmatic, alien, and terrifying all at once. I think I will see Aeons used in my campaign very soon indeed. I don't know how the reaction is to them, but I hope they are well received.
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Creative Director
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Now I am still curious about the design intent behind the Star Archon and Immolation Devil with their lack of unique special abilities for such high CR creatures. It really feels like a pair of creatures with just high stats and subtype abilities, nothing more other than one special attack/quality?
Lots of abilities doesn't necessarily make a better monster. Most monsters are "on screen" only a few rounds, and giving them too many abilities can be overkill. That said, it's important to ALSO give monsters enough abilities so that they feel unique and have different story roles.
For the Star Archon and the Immolation Devil, the bulk of those abilities manifest as spellcasting. Not the most unique or unusual abilities, perhaps, but VERY customizable and adaptable. And don't forget that even though these two monsters don't have much in the way of unique special abilities, they DO have a lot of options. The star archon, beyond its significant spellcasting ability, has a smite evil attack, a powerful magic weapon, numerous spell-like abilities, regeneration, immunities, several auras, and other things. The immolation devil has no spellcasting ability, but he does have a pretty wide range of spell like abilities, defenses, and a burn attack on all of his attacks.
That said, there IS something else that limited how many abilities we could give these two monsters—their art. The immolation devil has a relatively wide image, and that cut into his word count; in this case, you might consider our goal of providing art for all monsters and fitting as many as we can on one page a reason why the immolation devil doesn't have many unique abilities. That said... I'm pretty pleased with the options it DOES have.
In the star archon's case, it's mostly due to its spellcasting—listing spells for a 19th level cleric takes up a lot of room, but that's also a huge amount of customization for the creature as well.
And finally... DO remember that the universal monster rules exist; it's easy to overlook abilities like burn or smite evil because they end up kind of being hidden from casual glances.
In any case, we do generally try to make monsters neat and unique. If those two monsters are the only ones where you feel we failed... that's pretty good, considering there's over 300 monsters in the book.
That said, there IS something else that limited how many abilities we could give these two monsters—their art. The immolation devil has a relatively wide image, and that cut into his word count; in this case, you might consider our goal of providing art for all monsters and fitting as many as we can on one page a reason why the immolation devil doesn't have many unique abilities. That said... I'm pretty pleased with the options it DOES have.In the star archon's case, it's mostly due to its spellcasting—listing spells for a 19th level cleric takes up a lot of room, but that's also a huge amount of customization for the creature as well.
And finally... DO remember that the universal monster rules exist; it's easy to...
Understood. I agree with not overloading on abilities unless necessary. I only felt those particular 2 could've used a few more. Not that every high CR needs a huge array of special abilities, but definitely something PCs or GMs can remember them by other than "Oh it's got typical archon abilities and when it dies comes back as a weaker archon, that's it." or "Oh it's a high-stat devil that has fiery SLA and can...burn you."
As for artwork taking up their word count, that makes me suggest to decrease the art size, or, maybe a 2-page spread would've been nice. A suggestion for future Bestiaries since I'm aware it's late now.
Again, awesome artwork, love the Aeons, enjoy seeing some fun outsiders and aberrations to use, and also love some ToH represented in there, as well, a nice homage to older editions of D&D. The daemons get my love, as well, because I've always felt the "loths" were pushed to the background by WotC too much, love to see you guys giving daemons a spotlight between the devils and demons.
Which means...I hope there's a Book of the Damned 3 coming along? ;)
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Creative Director
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As for artwork taking up their word count, that makes me suggest to decrease the art size, or, maybe a 2-page spread would've been nice. A suggestion for future Bestiaries since I'm aware it's late now.
Again, awesome artwork, love the Aeons, enjoy seeing some fun outsiders and aberrations to use, and also love some ToH represented in there, as well, a nice homage to older editions of D&D. The daemons get my love, as well, because I've always felt the "loths" were pushed to the background by WotC too much, love to see you guys giving daemons a spotlight between the devils and demons.
Which means...I hope there's a Book of the Damned 3 coming along? ;)
As for resizing artwork... that's not as simple a solution. First of all, running one or two pieces of artwork small would look weird, especially in the case of something like an immolation devil, which is supposed to look physically intimidating. Running its art smaller would make it seem less scary, and there's other technical and artistic reasons not to resize art too much from its original size.
Glad you like the aeons, though! We've got a SECOND neutral outsider race in the works too... something that requires a bit more Golarion flavor than we could do in the world-neutral Bestiary. Stay tuned to upcoming AP Bestiaries for more info there.
As for Book of the Damned III... ask me about that again in, say, six months.
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Creative Director
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We stick with one page per non-dragon monster, or I riot.maybe a 2-page spread would've been nice.
Start rioting then. Because of the balor, the solar, the jabberwock, the olethrodaemon, ghosts, raveners, liches, vampires and several others are already in print as 2 page entries.
Generally... we've so far kept the two page entries reserved to the CR 20+ "boss" outsiders, some templates, and other key monsters. My preference is to keep this ratio and remain skewed heavily toward one page monsters, though.
I just picked this up today from my FLGS and I am throughly impressed. My favorite parts are how it describes how to alter several of the monsters to make them different from the standard blocks. Great job guys.
the chupacabras made me laugh out loud for like a minute or two.
