Kobold Quarterly 19 PDF

My copy of Kobold just showed up in the mail. And I have to say, I'm slightly disappointed that the PDF has the map of Tian Xia in full color and the printed version has it in black and white. I was looking forward to seeing this map in all it's full color glory in this magazine. Guess I'll have to wait for the Gazetteer for that.

I really like the White Necromancer as well, but (aside from Cheapy's concern earlier, which didn't occur to me at all) Grasp of the Dead seems a bit sinister for a "good" themed necromancer who is loathe to cast evil necromancy spells. Flavorful, yeah, but definitely more so for a darker caster, IMO.

I also find it strange that the class is a spontaneous casting class, as opposed to a prepared casting class, because I would think this field of magic would require much time, learning, and practice. I personally prefer spontaneous casting, but this seemed a bit off to me.

The casting based on charisma I want to question as well, as I think it would take a particularly wise individual to discern the difference between necessity and convenience when animating or conjuring up dead folks, but one could argue that it requires a strong personality to sway those beings to make them rise, so I'm on the fence.

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, just making some observations based on my expectations. Things maybe no one thought of while the class was in playtest.

I may have to start getting this magazine regularly, and in print. I've bought the last two issues for PF character options, and I've been impressed with some of the other articles as well, despite not playing any other games. Excellent magazine.

I really like the White Necromancer as well, but (aside from Cheapy's concern earlier, which didn't occur to me at all) Grasp of the Dead seems a bit sinister for a "good" themed necromancer who is loathe to cast evil necromancy spells. Flavorful, yeah, but definitely more so for a darker caster, IMO.

Really glad you dig the class! It was a lot of fun to play in the various playtests. Yeah, the Grasp of the Dead ability is a bit creepy :) It's still a cool thing for a higher level White Necromancer to pull out during combat though:) Plus, keep in mind that a White Necromancer can be neutral as well ... and heck, even a lawful good White Necromancer is still a necromancer! Plus, the skeletal arms that burst up from the ground are not necessarily those of actual dead bodies. They could just as easily be seen as skeletal arms that just appear as they burst out of the ground. Still creepy, sure, but certainly not evil :)

I also find it strange that the class is a spontaneous casting class, as opposed to a prepared casting class, because I would think this field of magic would require much time, learning, and practice. I personally prefer spontaneous casting, but this seemed a bit off to me.

I never saw the class as even remotely a prepared caster. It was ALWAYS going to be spontaneous - to me, that just fit the class perfectly. Plus, like you, I seem to prefer spontaneous casters these days as well.

The casting based on charisma I want to question as well, as I think it would take a particularly wise individual to discern the difference between necessity and convenience when animating or conjuring up dead folks, but one could argue that it requires a strong personality to sway those beings to make them rise, so I'm on the fence.

Yup, the strong personality aspect is exactly why I went with charisma. Plus, the default assumption with spontaneous casters tends to be that they use charisma for their main stat (for that very reason). I tend to stick with that assumption when designing a new class unless the given class really screams for a different stat (perfect case in point: the class I've submited to KQ for the NEXT issue :)

In the case of the White Necromancer, charisma felt right.

I may have to start getting this magazine regularly, and in print. I've bought the last two issues for PF character options, and I've been impressed with some of the other articles as well, despite not playing any other games. Excellent magazine.

I hope you do subscribe. It really is a great magazine and I know Wolfgang and company put a HUGE amount of work into making each issue amazing :)

Another great issue! I am absolutely loving the Golarion material.

Mine too. Weird. The whole second half of the mag is B&W.

My copy of Kobold just showed up in the mail. And I have to say, I'm slightly disappointed that the PDF has the map of Tian Xia in full color and the printed version has it in black and white. I was looking forward to seeing this map in all it's full color glory in this magazine. Guess I'll have to wait for the Gazetteer for that.

FLGS is always a good place to find KQ.

And Deinol is right, Issue #18 at 100 pages is a crazy good deal.

I'm curious to see what people think of James Jacobs preview of the Dragon Empire, and Richard Pett's archdevil for that part of Golarion. Does anyone want a followup adventure or monsters for PFS set in Tian Xia?

I'm always unsure how Asian content is going to work: some love it, some hate it.

Actually, it is because of the Pathfinder and Asian content that I came to this thread and have decided to purchase this issue of Kobold Quarterly. If you are going to have more then I will return again. If I like that and the other content then I may start a subscription.

I'm curious to see what people think of James Jacobs preview of the Dragon Empire, and Richard Pett's archdevil for that part of Golarion. Does anyone want a followup adventure or monsters for PFS set in Tian Xia?

I'm always unsure how Asian content is going to work: some love it, some hate it.

I would love to see more Asian content in the future. Not an overwhelming amount, because I do like the traditional / European-inspired fantasy content that has already appeared in KQ and others don't like Asian content at all, but some more article would be nice if you receive good submissions.

I like that KQ has articles for multiple systems, even though I do not have AGE and although I have both PF and 4e I prefer PF.

However, there is background luff and ideas in the other system articles that I can lift and modify for use in another system, so I can get use out of any o the articles if I like what I see.

And like others have mentioned, I liked seeing the articles in Dragon about Top Secret, Gamma World, Star Frontiers, and Alternity. I am not saying KQ as to have the same range of systems covered, but I don't think it needs to be "One System Only".

I looked through it in the game store. The only reason I didn't buy it is because $10 is all I have in my gaming budget this week and I need to get Faiths of Corruption today. There are enough copies that I will be able to get it next friday. Good stuff.

I liked the AGE article as well.

Is Pathfinder material in KQ official for PF? Like how Dragon Magazine content is official D&D content?

Is Pathfinder material in KQ official for PF? Like how Dragon Magazine content is official D&D content?

Well, it's as "Official" as any other 3PP products. So, you can't use it in PFS, but home games are limited only by the GM.

Yes, the Golarion material in Kobold Quarterly is official. Paizo honcho James Jacobs wrote the Dragon Empires/Tian Xia article, and Golarion mapper Rob Lazaretti did the map, so it's 100% official.

Likewise with Richard Pett's archdevil: It was reviewed and approved by Paizo as official.

EDIT TO ADD: And the mini-adventure in KQ#17 is an official PFS quest. We'll have more of those at some point, I suspect.

Yes, the Golarion material in Kobold Quarterly is official. Paizo honcho James Jacobs wrote the Dragon Empires/Tian Xia article, and Golarion mapper Rob Lazaretti did the map, so it's 100% official.

Likewise with Richard Pett's archdevil: It was reviewed and approved by Paizo as official.

EDIT TO ADD: And the mini-adventure in KQ#17 is an official PFS quest. We'll have more of those at some point, I suspect.

I see. So something like those new alchemist discoveries aren't part of Pathfinder, just 3P material right? Shame. My DM only allows official material, no third party, to keep things simple.

Correct. I'd point out that:

* some KQ material finds its way into various Paizo house campaigns, and
* quite a few KQ authors are either Paizo staffers or freelancers for Paizo,
* some KQ material is picked up for inclusion in Paizo core rulebooks, and
* one Open Design adventure was published by Paizo (From Shore to Sea).

So, I'd say Kobold Quarterly is well ahead of most 3PP in the degree of quality and "officialness", but the alchemist article is not official.

As far as I know, KQ has published the only scenario legal for Pathfinder Society play outside of official Paizo products.

I just received the print issue in the mail - wow, the cover is awesome in real, live, up close color! :)

I'm currently reading and really enjoying the Magic Shops article (great stuff!) and the piece James Jacobs wrote looks so cool - I can't wait to dig into it!

Heck, I don't play Dragon Age or 4E, but even the few articles for those systems look like they have plenty I can steal for my Pathfinder game(s)

IronWolf, belated thanks for the review!

Kthulhu, you're correct, KQ has published the only PFS scenario outside official Paizo products.

Kthulhu, you're correct, KQ has published the only PFS scenario outside official Paizo products.

And that is why your magazine is phenomenal. Amongst a myriad of other reasons, such as having excellent production quality and well-written, interesting articles.

And it's got a review of the newest Pathfinder fiction-- _Death's Heretic_ by James Sutter (which I enjoyed!)... and I know if you subscribed, it's arrived on the East Coast now! :D Mmmmm, delicious paperware!

-Ben.

Cheapy wrote:

Nice work! I quite enjoyed it.

Thanks very much! The White Necromancer class was a lot of fun to write and it was a BLAST to play during the playtests!

I'm glad people are digging the class :)

It and Wolfgang's editorial are the only articles I've managed to read so far, but this is a great new base class. I was surprised by many of the choices, but they just made it stand out further as its own class and now an alternate sorcerer or wizard. I need to show this to one of my players. She mostly plays casters, tends towards more support than blastage, and likes creeepy things. The white necromancer feels like a perfect class for her.

More to read!

Marc Radle wrote:

Cheapy wrote:

Nice work! I quite enjoyed it.

Thanks very much! The White Necromancer class was a lot of fun to write and it was a BLAST to play during the playtests!

I'm glad people are digging the class :)

It and Wolfgang's editorial are the only articles I've managed to read so far, but this is a great new base class. I was surprised by many of the choices, but they just made it stand out further as its own class and now an alternate sorcerer or wizard. I need to show this to one of my players. She mostly plays casters, tends towards more support than blastage, and likes creeepy things. The white necromancer feels like a perfect class for her.

More to read!

That's awesome! I'd love to hear if she ends up playing one :)

Just got to read a bit. Two things:

1. Keep giving Mark Smylie money to make pictures! I always enjoyed his RPG art, and after discovering his comic work in Artesia I fell in love with the range and detail the guy puts into his clothing and armor design.

2. The White Necromancer

This probably isn't going to be much help to those looking for solutions that support a "cold, neutral" approach to necromancy that would help bring settings like Jakandor into PFRPG, but for those looking for support for ghost-whisperer type characters or just Good Necromancers, this is a godsend.

Absolutely love the way White Necromancy works, from the explicit and implied flavor and especially how it hinges on Diplomacy and working with the dead you're going to be raising as undead. The focus on self-sacrificing abilities really helps the "dark but goodly" feel as well.

On the flavor, on the one hand I kind of wish there were more detail, particularly when it comes to exactly what these good/neutral undead are going to be and how they work. But on the other hand I also appreciate a lot of that being left open for GMs and players to flesh out appropriately for their campaign and setting.

Also, touching on something said upthread, I have absolutely no problem with Grasp of the Dead. Is awesome. :)

That opening image is a perfect match for the theme I've long been looking for in a "Dark Is Not Evil" Good Necromancer-type class. (so good on Jason Rainville too, along with Mark Smylie!)

One thing about this being a CHA-based class(particularly with its reliance on diplomacy) is that this could make for an interesting multiclass option for paladins. As someone who has been looking for a good way to get a black-cloaked, scythe-weilding, Grim Reaper-styled paladin off the ground, this really opens up some interesting possibilities. :)

Thanks, bigtime, for this class!

The White Necromancer

This probably isn't going to be much help to those looking for solutions that support a "cold, neutral" approach to necromancy that would help bring settings like Jakandor into PFRPG, but for those looking for support for ghost-whisperer type characters or just Good Necromancers, this is a godsend.

Absolutely love the way White Necromancy works, from the explicit and implied flavor and especially how it hinges on Diplomacy and working with the dead you're going to be raising as undead. The focus on self-sacrificing abilities really helps the "dark but goodly" feel as well.
One thing about this being a CHA-based class(particularly with its reliance on diplomacy) is that this could make for an interesting multiclass option for paladins. As someone who has been looking for a good way to get a black-cloaked, scythe-weilding, Grim Reaper-styled paladin off the ground, this really opens up some interesting possibilities. :)

Thanks, bigtime, for this class!

Really glad you like the class!

I'm glad happy to hear you like the specialized Diplomacy aspect regarding dealing with the undead - this came along later in the design process (due in part to a prompt from Wolfgang) and I think it really helps to show how the white necromancer is different from dark necromancers.

Oh, and I love the idea of the paladin / white necromancer by the way! :)

This issue sounds amazingly neat! As soon as I have some money to spend (if ever!!) I pick it up!!

In related news, there's a necromancer's artifact up on the KQ blog today, and likely a white necromancer NPC next week.

Though if someone stats up the white necromancer/paladin, I'm tempted to do something cool with that. Maybe an encounter or some adventure hooks, or an art contest.

I'm glad happy to hear you like the specialized Diplomacy aspect regarding dealing with the undead - this came along later in the design process (due in part to a prompt from Wolfgang) and I think it really helps to show how the white necromancer is different from dark necromancers.

Oh, and I love the idea of the paladin / white necromancer by the way! :)

Have to admit, RP-ing the diplomacy aspect of this class is a big part of what has me really wanting to play one. So many ways it could go and so many concepts to spin out of that one idea alone. The rest of the class is just as solid. REALLY eager to take this out for a spin. :)

In related news, there's a necromancer's artifact up on the KQ blog today, and likely a white necromancer NPC next week.

Though if someone stats up the white necromancer/paladin, I'm tempted to do something cool with that. Maybe an encounter or some adventure hooks, or an art contest.

Awesome. :D

And rushing to read that blog as soon as work's out!

Wolfgang Baur wrote:

In related news, there's a necromancer's artifact up on the KQ blog today, and likely a white necromancer NPC next week.

If someone stats up the white necromancer/paladin, I'm tempted to do something cool with that. Maybe an encounter or some adventure hooks, or an art contest.

Awesome. :D

Yeah, I agree - that would be awesome! I think an encounter or some adventure hooks would be way cool in fact!

Althaghast the White Necromancer is now live on the KQ blog as a sample character using this base class.

Althaghast the White Necromancer is now live on the KQ blog as a sample character using this base class.

Oh man, +2 init, 14 AC, and 42 hp? I'm surprised he's survived that long :)

Wolfgang Baur wrote:

Althaghast the White Necromancer is now live on the KQ blog as a sample character using this base class.

Oh man, +2 init, 14 AC, and 42 hp? I'm surprised he's survived that long :)

Well, he has a CL 10 mage armor. You can probably assume he has that on when it matters, giving him an 18.

Cheapy wrote:

Wolfgang Baur wrote:

Althaghast the White Necromancer is now live on the KQ blog as a sample character using this base class.

Oh man, +2 init, 14 AC, and 42 hp? I'm surprised he's survived that long :)

Well, he has a CL 10 mage armor. You can probably assume he has that on when it matters, giving him an 18.

+2 Init, 18 AC, and 42 HP at level 10? I'm surprised he's survived that long!

Neostrider wrote:

Cheapy wrote:

Wolfgang Baur wrote:

Althaghast the White Necromancer is now live on the KQ blog as a sample character using this base class.

Oh man, +2 init, 14 AC, and 42 hp? I'm surprised he's survived that long :)

Well, he has a CL 10 mage armor. You can probably assume he has that on when it matters, giving him an 18.

+2 Init, 18 AC, and 42 HP at level 10? I'm surprised he's survived that long!

Heh heh ... yeah, I didn't really go for optimized, I was going more for a cool and interesting NPC that showcased the class. If this was a real character that had been played organically from first level, I'm sure he would have batter stats :)

Of course, his hit points aren't really out of line ... his max at 10th level is only 60 and his average is 30, so 42 hit points at 10th level is pretty reasonable :)

Like I said, I was shooting for cool and flavorful, not uber and super –optimized :)

New options for flight in the Flights of Fancy magic shop, posted on the KQ blog today. It's sort of a tie-in with the Magic Shops article in this issue.

A pros-and-cons review of the issue by Berin Kinsman at his Dire Blog.

The White Necromancer. Awesome. Can wait to write one up.

Is that a Jon Bauer illustration accompanying Wolfgang's editorial?

The White Necromancer. Awesome. Can wait to write one up.

I'd love to see it when you do! :)

...

I never found anything wrong with it being multi-system, but if you're a purist I guess it would be annoying. I actually found some of the setting info in the 4E articles useful.

Agreed! In fact, even the 4E stuff is usually quite useful in my half-breed 3E/PF game. For example, the wonderful werewolf article in this issue: The stat blocks are 4E but most of the article, at least three-quarters of it, is aggressively system-neutral. Even the explicitly 4E stat blocks provide quick and easy inspiration for stuff to do in my campaign.

FLGS is always a good place to find KQ.

...

Alas, my FLGS isn't um... all that welcoming. The owner seems like a nice guy, knowledgeable and friendly, but its in a bad part of town with crummy parking and it smells funny! I routinely drive forty miles past the local store to a mall in the next county over. Or, better yet, thirty additional miles to Sci-Fi City in Orlando. Sci-Fi City (formerly Enterprise 1701) is the revered granddaddy of all central Florida game stores, still going strong in its forth decade.

Woo Hoo!

Second 5-Star review of Kobold Quarterly #18 :)

Charles, thank you for the review! And I'm sorry to hear the local FLGS is not that friendly.

Woo Hoo!

Second 5-Star review of Kobold Quarterly #18 :)

Woops, sorry - fingers faster than my brain it would seem ...

Second 5-Star review of Kobold Quarterly #19 :)

KQ#19 is now the #1 bestselling non-Paizo release on the site 3 weeks in a row! W00000t!

Thanks everyone for checking the issue!

That's just what you get for putting out such a product. I hope you've learned your lesson. ;)

For our sins, we get to do it again? :)

For our sins, we get to do it again? :)

I certainly HOPE so!

Mournblade94 wrote:

I used to buy this until it became about 1/3 4e. I just have no use for those articles so I stopped buying it. Has the ratio changed? $8 is steep if only portion of it is useful.

Even at 1/3 4E, which seems to be the high water mark for 4E, that leaves ~50 pages of Pathfinder or system neutral content an issue. A subscription costs < $30. Where else can you get ~200 pages of Pathfinder usable material for $30?

As others have said though, 4E content has diminished the last few issues.

Impending news of a new edition has put the Osborne Effect on it. Just as the announcent of 4.0 caused virtually ever 3.5 third party publisher to dry up and blow away.

Impending news of a new edition has put the Osborne Effect on it. Just as the announcent of 4.0 caused virtually every 3.5 third party publisher to dry up and blow away.

Except, of course, for one quite notable exception :)