Hi, quick question.
I was under the impression that the Advanced Races Guide was similar to the Advanced Players Guide - i.e. adding more variety to the core game but which could ultimately stand on its own.
I've been reading some threads where the posters are posting races that state that they get abilities from Ultimate Magic or Ultimate Combat.
As someone who's only bought the 'core' set of Pathfinder books (Core Rulebook, GM Guide and Bestiary I), how critical are UC and UM to being able to fully utilise the ARG?
Technically the other Bestiaries and Ultimate Whatever books are part of the core line of products. That said, almost all the races come from the other books and there are references to Gunslinger and Magus. In some cases, that may be the only archetype for certain races (Suli only get a Magus archetype). Also, numerous races get alternate favored class bonuses for those two classes.
However, if you are opposed to spending money for those other 'core' books this should work fine on its own. Though I do have to say that I highly recommend getting those other books as, like every Paizo book I have ever picked up, they are fantastic (Imo at least, others may disagree).
Yep, check out the monk's Weapon and Armor Proficiency. That's where the armor clause is specified.
Random art thoughts;
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The only bit of recycled art (that I recognized as such) I would have preferred not being used was the Halfling from 'Accelerated Drinker.' The art from Big Little Folk 'o Golarion may have been a bit cleaner / simpler style (more comic-book-ish, perhaps, with the sharper outlines), but I liked it better (particular the slinger on p. 22) than Potion Tosser Lad.
The slinger on p.22 is my single most despised piece of art in any Paizo product that I've ever read. However, that's because of mixing an illustration with photoshopped rocks (which for all I know could be hiding an even worse art goof). The lady herself is pretty cool.
The Nagaji later on looks pretty slick too until you notice its photoshop work.
Not real hard, but I know making a full construct race is requires 20 build points and half construct requires 7. So I think you'd need to start with the half construct to make it playable.
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16
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So, checking out the elemental races, I noticed that Oreads, according to the Race Building example appendix, used 1 RP for Standard language while Stanadard language is 0 RP; oreads are thus 5 RP compared to the others (6 RP). Is the Standard language cost for Oreads intentional or an oversight?
Whee! Book is here straight out of Paizo's hands. Fast, fast, fast delivery I might add. Now to get distracted for several hours.
Can someone please explain how the text should read when it says something akin to this:
Paladin: Add +1/2 hit points to the Paladin's lay on hands ability (whether using it to heal or harm)
That example comes from the Favoured Class Options in the Elven chapter. It is a common usage that is not explained anywhere for other class features and such.
Does it mean you add 1 for every 2 HP's you heal? So if you do a lay on hands for 30 points you would add another 15?
What about under Magus it says: The Magus gains 1/6 of a new magus arcana. How do you interpret that?
Yep, it's +1 per X levels, where X is the denominator.
They explain it under the Favored Class Options heading on page 9. It's the last paragraph before the RACIAL ARCHETYPES bit.
No, it's +1 for every two levels that you chose that particular favored class option.
Yep, what Fredrik said.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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Can someone please explain how the text should read when it says something akin to this:
Paladin: Add +1/2 hit points to the Paladin's lay on hands ability (whether using it to heal or harm)
After two levels, you heal one extra hit point of damage every time you use lay on hands. After 4 levels you heal two extra points...
What about under Magus it says: The Magus gains 1/6 of a new magus arcana. How do you interpret that?
After six levels taking this, they can select a new arcana.
Yep, what Dennis Baker said.
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Scott,
These work instead of the +1 hp or +1 skillpoint you'd get for favoured class. So each level in your favoured class, you can either: gain a hit point, gain a skill point or gain part of these abilities.
So after 2 levels of paladin, to use you example, you could have 2 hp more, 2 skill point more, 1 hp and 1 skill point more, heal 1 extra point of damage with lay on hands or some other combination depending on what you choose.
Just picked it up at the local comic shop. Love it! ♥
I've had this book a few days and I'm trying to find a way to compare core races with class levels to other races with racial points and traits.
Any way to figure this out?
What was the archetypes for Hobgoblin, wasn't there a Barbarian or Cavalier one, that used Fear to Inspire?
And what is that Half-Orc Witch Archetype like? I heard it uses CON isntead of INT for spells/hexes.
The one thing that scares me about that the most is the huge number of Polymorph spells from low level, that give Size bonuses to CON, e.g. another stackable source of DC stat min/maxing.
What was the archetypes for Hobgoblin, wasn't there a Barbarian or Cavalier one, that used Fear to Inspire?
And what is that Half-Orc Witch Archetype like? I heard it uses CON isntead of INT for spells/hexes.
The one thing that scares me about that the most is the huge number of Polymorph spells from low level, that give Size bonuses to CON, e.g. another stackable source of DC stat min/maxing.
Until you get to Giant Shape at 6th+ level, there aren't any Polymorph forms that you'll be able to assume and still cast most spells.
I don't have the book in front of me, but I think the Witch archetype you're thinking of is for orcs, not half-orcs.
What was the archetypes for Hobgoblin, wasn't there a Barbarian or Cavalier one, that used Fear to Inspire?
And what is that Half-Orc Witch Archetype like? I heard it uses CON isntead of INT for spells/hexes.
The one thing that scares me about that the most is the huge number of Polymorph spells from low level, that give Size bonuses to CON, e.g. another stackable source of DC stat min/maxing.
At 5th level, his enemies get a penalty on fear saves within 60 feet; and at 14th level, he can make his mount rear up and spread terror amongst his foes (save vs. fear or shaken/frightened, depending on HD). Those abilities replace banner and greater banner.
As far as the half-orc archetype goes . . . I only saw summoner, barbarian, paladin, and rogue archetypes.
The archetype in question, that utilizes Con instead of Int, would be the Scarred Witch Doctor for Orcs.
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Just got this book...oh god...its so awesome. I see they've recycled a bit of artwork, but I don't fault this because theres SO much new stuff in there it really doesn't matter. Plus the artwork they did recycle was among my favorites (like that satanic-looking tiefling from Blood of Fiends wearing what looks like Sarenraen robes...). Good stuff so far, especially the Kitsune and the Changeling stuff. Sow Thoughts is a scary, scary spell to give to a BBEG...muahahahahaha, and its level 1
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Kevin_video, no. Stop being ridiculous. Dwarves should not have a level adjustment.
I swear that this build-your-own-race thing is going to do a fair amount of harm. Already there are a ton of erroneous beliefs based off of it. I guess that's what happens when you retroactively try to fit a line to the data.
I wasn't being seriously. I was being scornfully sarcastic. Mostly because I know DMs who'll look at this book, see the RP stuff, and consider it their bible. More so, it'll be the DMs who are insufferable and do what they can to make a player's life absolute Hell. These are the people who caused me to give up and gaming, and essentially humanity as well.
@Bardess
Two theories.
Asthetics
Spoiler:Since celestials are from 'higher' planes and fiends from 'lower' it was decided to just have the aasimar get wings. Clearly you can 'reskin' the feat for flying tieflings in a home game.Editing
Spoiler:One of the (many!) complaints about the (in)Complete Psionic was the padding of racial feats. Extra maenad power, extra half giant power extra dromite power, etc etc when a simple "Extra Racial Power: You can use your racial power an additional 3 times a day." would have done the same job, but then they might have had to have actual content in its place. IT could be that TPTB decided "Let's not pad the book with Tiefling wings, Aasimar wings, Slyph wings, etc. We'll make Aasimar wings, and figure people will reskin as needed."
Yeah, you really don't want to do that. You'd be amazed at how many DMs absolutely loathe reskinning because they're lazy, and are such hardcore rules lawyers that the very existence of doing something like that is "overpowering the PC." You know because "Well if they were intended to have that feat, I wouldn't have to make it. OBVIOUSLY, the people who made this book thought making such a feat would make you too overpowered. Denied!"
BTW, since dwarves cost more RP than a human does, and almost as much as a tiefling, does this mean that they're up there for level adjustment characters? That we should go by the chart of them being more than 10 RP so they should be considered a +1?1) Tielfings don't have level adjustments, they're just like Humans in terms of being a 'PC race'.
2) *NO* race has a level adustment. The concept doesn't exist in PRPG.
The racebuilding section goes into how to deal with mixing low and high RP races within the same game (when you are aiming for parity between them), and basically it comes down to giving more 'bonus abilities' to the lower RP races to bring them up to par, basically making 'super humans, halflings, etc'.
Sorry, spoke out of turn. What I'm talking about is from Council of Thieves. Quote: "Since tieflings are slightly more powerful than the base races, check with your GM before you create a tiefling character. The difference in power is slight enough that some GMs won’t mind letting you play a tiefling, but the following requirements can help to mitigate the disparity between the races—your GM may require one of the following from you (or a similar restriction) if you play a tiefling. Work with your GM to find a solution that pleases your entire group.
XP Debt: Before you gain actual XP to progress in level, you must “work off” an XP debt equal to half what you normally need to reach 2nd level. This puts you slightly behind other characters in the party, who will reach higher levels more quickly than your character, but as you gain levels, this gap narrows.
NPC Class: Your GM might require you to begin a tiefling character as a commoner, expert, adept, or warrior at 1st level."
I consider an "XP Debt" the same as a "Level Adjustment". Much as I do the chart on page 219. It's just easier to figure out for balance.
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Just got my Advanced Race Guide today.
Haven't had a chance to look through it in detail yet, but I really don't like the illustrations for catfolk in it. Much prefer the catfolk illustration in the Bestiary 3. I hope we see more catfolk in the Bestiary 3 style in later publications.
Just got my Advanced Race Guide today.
Haven't had a chance to look through it in detail yet, but I really don't like the illustrations for catfolk in it. Much prefer the catfolk illustration in the Bestiary 3. I hope we see more catfolk in the Bestiary 3 style in later publications.
I'm the opposite. I don't think the catgirl or catboi look works with the game. Maybe if I was playing 'Slayers'.
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Just got my Advanced Race Guide today.
Haven't had a chance to look through it in detail yet, but I really don't like the illustrations for catfolk in it. Much prefer the catfolk illustration in the Bestiary 3. I hope we see more catfolk in the Bestiary 3 style in later publications.
I disagree, and thought the new catfolk art was quite good, as well as the material related to them. I think they did a great job, and I think I actually prefer this style over Bestiary 3's example.
I prefer the art from the Bestiary 3 and wish they could have used both styles in this book at least. But they did get some interesting stuff for them in this book. Still wish that there monk archtype used there cha instead of there wisdom for there monk related abilities.
While the blood draining feats were interesting for the Dhampir, wish they got some feats for turning into a bat, wolf, gasious form and other vampire like abilities. Also for a race that is healed by negative energy and harmed by positive, I wouldn't find it that unbalancing if there was a way to get them fast healing 1.
The Feats for the Drow to turn them into a Drow noble are among some of the most powerful feats I have ever seen.
Love the feats for Tengu to give human form, giant Raven form, and to make there beak more dangerous.
The Ratfolk feat to give them claws is awesome.
The various Aasimar and Tiefling feats were great. Can't wait to see the Blood of Angels book.
Love the feat for Kitsune to get many spell like abilities and extra tails. Still would like some more shapeshifting feats though.
Would love a variant for Merfolk that got them legs unless they got wet like the movie Splash or the TV show H20 just add water.
The elemtal races got some great stuff particularly the Sylph and Undine.
Wish the more unusual races got more space but maybe someday they will.
Still would have liked the magical beast type for the race creation section. There are probably some abilities that I wish were in here as well but haven't gotten a chance to really look at it yet.
I dislike both versions of the Catfolk artwork. The one in the Bestiary is too cartoony, and if I want to play an antropomorphic snow leopard, I'll use the appropriate template.
This is what I imagine when I think of Catfolk, minus the hair. (Oh sweet godtopus, the hair!)
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I dislike both versions of the Catfolk artwork. The one in the Bestiary is too cartoony, and if I want to play an antropomorphic snow leopard, I'll use the appropriate template.
This is what I imagine when I think of Catfolk, minus the hair. (Oh sweet godtopus, the hair!)
There is a sickness that makes animals lose their fur, and whatever its name is your idea of catfolk would look like having it.O_o
There is a sickness that makes animals lose their fur, and whatever its name is your idea of catfolk would look like having it.O_oI dislike both versions of the Catfolk artwork. The one in the Bestiary is too cartoony, and if I want to play an antropomorphic snow leopard, I'll use the appropriate template.
This is what I imagine when I think of Catfolk, minus the hair. (Oh sweet godtopus, the hair!)
I rather meant the "mane", or whatever you want to call it, that Perlman wears in that picture.
Better mane than mange, amirite?
I rather meant the "mane", or whatever you want to call it, that Perlman wears in that picture.
That's what I'm talking about. He has barely any fur. Without the mane he would be almost completely hairless.:D
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Love this book... I'm going to be GMing the Skulls & Shackles for my group soon, and I'm going to open up options for races from the Advanced Race Guide... Should be fun.
One thing I wanted but didn't get was a favored class of Monk for the Catfolk... Seems a natural, and there is even a very cool piece of artwork to support my "want"... Ranger is a given, and rogue is the same, but I think a catfolk monk would rock!
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So far I';m finding the book a mixed bag so to speak. I like some of the material and dilsike other part.s Kind of dissapointed in that constructs and half-constructs have no soul and can't be raised or resurrected. What's the point of offering them as an option if once the charatcer dies he remains dead short of a wish. Some of the art was not too my liking too.
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This is what I imagine when I think of Catfolk, minus the hair. (Oh sweet godtopus, the hair!)
Well, it was the 80s.
What was the archetypes for Hobgoblin, wasn't there a Barbarian or Cavalier one, that used Fear to Inspire?Hobgoblin Archetype:
The fell rider is indeed a cavalier archetype. At 4th level he can get 1/2 his level on Intimidate checks, and can demoralize an opponent his mount has trampled or charged, as a free action once per round (if he's mounted; replaces expert trainer).
At 5th level, his enemies get a penalty on fear saves within 60 feet; and at 14th level, he can make his mount rear up and spread terror amongst his foes (save vs. fear or shaken/frightened, depending on HD). Those abilities replace banner and greater banner.
Sounds cool... and Samurai compatable :-)
Until you get to Giant Shape at 6th+ level, there aren't any Polymorph forms that you'll be able to assume and still cast most spells.And what is that Half-Orc Witch Archetype like? I heard it uses CON isntead of INT for spells/hexes.
The one thing that scares me about that the most is the huge number of Polymorph spells from low level, that give Size bonuses to CON, e.g. another stackable source of DC stat min/maxing.
Yeah, I was misremembering how early Size bonuses to CON are available, they concentrate on STR/DEX early on.
But the first one seems to be Elemental Shape I as a 4th level Wizard spell.Casting shouldn't be a problem in either Elemental or Draconic Forms (or Giant, as you mention), and of course Hexes can be used regardless of form.
I read the reviews, and I am sold. This however was a terrible idea from a reveiwer-->"Where the designers do decide to take a risk we get things like the Gillmen, who die if not submerged in water at least once a day."
I am glad such restrictive things are not in the book. Good job, Paizo. :)
That reviewer has a lot of their facts wrong, unfortunately.
Would love a variant for Merfolk that got them legs unless they got wet like the movie Splash or the TV show H20 just add water.
Hmm... wasn't this exectly what the 'Fins to Feet' spell does?
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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Would love a variant for Merfolk that got them legs unless they got wet like the movie Splash or the TV show H20 just add water.Hmm... wasn't this exectly what the 'Fins to Feet' spell does?
Yes, borrowed rather directly from the Splash and the Little Mermaid :) And the magic item for longer term use of course. I probably should have provided a permanency cost, though.