So, by making the heart of the player's guides part of the player companion line, we can produce something more exciting and better looking without overtaxing the AP crew.
Can't go wrong with that. I'm interested to see where you guys take things. In terms of the free Player's Guides, Legendary Games had been driving off the campaign traits you provided in them. Will those campaign traits still be showing up? Or is that changing, too? If so, we'll need to adapt how we're doing the pregen PC's for the AP plug-in line.
Can't go wrong with that. I'm interested to see where you guys take things. In terms of the free Player's Guides, Legendary Games had been driving off the campaign traits you provided them. Will those campaign traits still be showing up? Or is that changing, too? If so, we'll need to adapt how we're doing the pregen PC's for the AP plug-in line.
If I'm understanding your question right, we're still totally doing campaign traits. That's going to be the biggest crossover between PC: Varisia and the Shattered Star Player's Guide, a slew of campaign traits perfect for players stating Shattered Star, or just starting out in Magnimar.
Cool. You understood the question correctly. As long as the campaign traits are still there, we should be able to reference them. Even so, I want to check this with the rest of the LG crew. Might not be a bad idea to discuss it at PaizoCon if I can bend your ear (or Vic's) for a moment, as well. I want to make sure we're adhering to the open license the way we've done in the past and the way we intend to going forward.
Might not be a bad idea to discuss it at PaizoCon if I can bend your ear (or Vic's) for a moment, as well.
You know where we'll be. See you then!
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So, I'm interested in running an adventure here...and sorry to be a downer, but I'd like to
a) allow as few splatbooks as possible (so, PH, APG, and this)
b) allow extra Varisian 'stuff', but not much else stuffI know this is a weird question to ask, but, will this product have a reasonable list of other sorts of Varisian class options found in other books?
Like 'go here for Harrower, and there for Tattooed Sorcerer, and over there for Order of the Flourescent Tube (or whichever they are, in Korvosa) Hellknight', that kind of thing?
Haven't seen the book, but I'd doubt it. There's not a lot of cross referencing in these books, from what I've seen.
But it sounds like what you want is going to mostly be in Inner Sea World Guide and Inner Sea Magic. Those cover Varisian Tattoo magic, and I think the Harrower stuff, too.
pretty cool. starting a new home game tomorrow, with rotating gms and i have a rogue that i decided was a great candidate to be a Varisian. Gambler, worships Desna (luck and travel), is mysterious...i just might have to get this to try o flesh him out.
So, I'm interested in running an adventure here...and sorry to be a downer, but I'd like to
a) allow as few splatbooks as possible (so, PH, APG, and this)
b) allow extra Varisian 'stuff', but not much else stuffI know this is a weird question to ask, but, will this product have a reasonable list of other sorts of Varisian class options found in other books?
Like 'go here for Harrower, and there for Tattooed Sorcerer, and over there for Order of the Flourescent Tube (or whichever they are, in Korvosa) Hellknight', that kind of thing?
This book has an interesting new feature we'll want lots of feedback on from you as well as many others.
Will there be mention of the Horselords of the Velashu Region?
This is a tantalizing group that has been ignored for 5 years.
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This book has an interesting new feature we'll want lots of feedback on from you as well as many others.
??? Can you be more specific? Are we talking about an interesting new way of formatting the book, or an interesting new game mechanic?
And if it is a new game mechanic, can we get a hint about what it relates to, so those of us who aren't planning the book might get tempted into changing our minds? I have a new tattooed sorcerer character, so if it relates to that, I might consider buying the book. Otherwise, I wasn't planning to buy it.
??? Can you be more specific? Are we talking about an interesting new way of formatting the book, or an interesting new game mechanic?
Yes.
And if it is a new game mechanic, can we get a hint about what it relates to, so those of us who aren't planning the book might get tempted into changing our minds? I have a new tattooed sorcerer character, so if it relates to that, I might consider buying the book. Otherwise, I wasn't planning to buy it.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for quite a few previews.
I like the new layout in the PDF.
I hope it translates well in-hand.
The panoramic images for the major settlements are stunning and I can't wait to see them as intended.
Hey Wes, any comment as to whether or not Xin-Shalast and other endgame Rise of the Runelords material will be in this book? I'd love to have a reference for my players who haven't experienced Golarion yet, but I'd hate to spoil the adventure path for them.
As with all Player Companions, this is intended to be a spoiler-free guide to Golarion specifically meant for players. This book provides information that will help players make viable and fleshed-out characters for use in both the Rise of the Runelords and the Shattered Star APs (as well as any campaign set in or around Varisia), while omitting any and all spoilers for these campaigns.
The new format looks great!
Regarding the Sable Company Marine character role:
- Why aren't cavaliers listed as an option?
- Is the Sable Company Marine feat still usable?
- What are the mechanics for a paladin obtaining a hippogriff mount?
Hey Wes, any comment as to whether or not Xin-Shalast and other endgame Rise of the Runelords material will be in this book? I'd love to have a reference for my players who haven't experienced Golarion yet, but I'd hate to spoil the adventure path for them.
No spoilers. In fact, that's the point! If you want to hand this book to players preping for Rise of the Runelords, Curse of the Crimson Throne, Second Darkness, Jade Regent, or Shattered Star, not only can you rest assured that none of those plots will be spoiled for ya, but that they'll find relevant campaign traits for each.
In other words, no, Xin-Shalast is NOT on the map.
So, I just started looking over this pdf myself, and this book is AWESOME!!! So much sweet sweet flavor and cultural goodness. Loaded with great character ideas, and even a bit of rules elements to sweeten the deal!
Absolutely love the new format. I only recently (some might say finally) subscribed to the Companion line, and I did so just in time. Hope to have more detailed thoughts later, as I've only skimmed it for now, but as far as I'm concerned you've hit it out of the park with this one! (and just in time too, as I'm about to start up RotR!)
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This, plus anything else about the other Shoanti Quahs or for Shoanti PCs.Will there be mention of the Horselords of the Velashu Region?
This is a tantalizing group that has been ignored for 5 years.
Very little. But there's a ton more on Shoanti. Like where their territories are in a pretty nifty little map and all about how to embrace their unique totems. Cool stuff!
I just want to know why my book hasn't shipped yet. *taps foot*
Your not the only one.
- Why aren't cavaliers listed as an option?
Let me nip this in the bud right away, as I suspect this will come up a lot as folks process roles.
Roles are meant to present just a few ways we here at Paizo would build a type of character. They are NEVER meant to show all of the possible ways a character could be built or limit players in the ways they might choose to build such a character. No role should ever be treated as a restriction.
As noted on page 2 "Every aspect of a role is just a suggestion, and roles present multiple ways to create a character, so feel free to make other choices to personalize roles in whatever ways most appeal to you."
A cavalier would make a GREAT member of the sable company. As would a fighter. As would a cleric. As would an alchemist (oh gawd!). Etc. If if you want to go that route, by all means.
In this case, ranger seemed like an obvious choice. Cavalier does too, but we wanted to accent the do-gooder vibe of the Sable Company in a city that has a notable lack of do-goodery. So those too. But the sky remains the limit for the Sable Company and much of which applies to the two classes describes still applies to cavaliers and classes of all sorts!
- Is the Sable Company Marine feat still usable?
If your GM is cool with it, go for it.
- What are the mechanics for a paladin obtaining a hippogriff mount?
Same as most other classes, hop on and go for it! The write-up on hippogriffs in Bestiary 2 has a bit on how they function as mounts. Divine bond doesn't factor into this too terribly much (except that you still get an awesome steed in your off hours, which is still pretty clutch for any reputable hero of Korvosa), but shining knight is going to assure that you're one of the best horsemen (bird-horsemen?) in the sky!
Hope that helps!
So, I just started looking over this pdf myself, and this book is AWESOME!!! So much sweet sweet flavor and cultural goodness. Loaded with great character ideas, and even a bit of rules elements to sweeten the deal!
Absolutely love the new format. I only recently (some might say finally) subscribed to the Companion line, and I did so just in time. Hope to have more detailed thoughts later, as I've only skimmed it for now, but as far as I'm concerned you've hit it out of the park with this one! (and just in time too, as I'm about to start up RotR!)
Yay! Thanks J. W.! Glad you're liking it. In fact, this sounds like exactly the sort of thing that would go great in a product review. If you love something, tell folks where it counts! :)
Thanks man!
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Well got mine, what this has taught me is. Being whinny and demanding gets you what you want. Except with my parents. But it seems to work with Paizo and boys... so does that mean i am now dating Paizo?....
Nah if I was dating Paizo they would send me stuff for free, call to be sure I got it, then call and ask if I am busy and would like to go out or something.
Really well done on the revamped format and layout for this product line, Wes. I got to see a copy during the impromptu tour of the Paizo offices at PaizoCon and it's easily the best-looking (and usable) Player Companion product. I look forward to seeing you guys do more of these.
New format is a huge improvement, nice job.
- Why aren't cavaliers listed as an option?Let me nip this in the bud right away, as I suspect this will come up a lot as folks process roles.
Roles are meant to present just a few ways we here at Paizo would build a type of character. They are NEVER meant to show all of the possible ways a character could be built or limit players in the ways they might choose to build such a character. No role should ever be treated as a restriction.
As noted on page 2 "Every aspect of a role is just a suggestion, and roles present multiple ways to create a character, so feel free to make other choices to personalize roles in whatever ways most appeal to you."
A cavalier would make a GREAT member of the sable company. As would a fighter. As would a cleric. As would an alchemist (oh gawd!). Etc. If if you want to go that route, by all means.
In this case, ranger seemed like an obvious choice. Cavalier does too, but we wanted to accent the do-gooder vibe of the Sable Company in a city that has a notable lack of do-goodery. So those too. But the sky remains the limit for the Sable Company and much of which applies to the two classes describes still applies to cavaliers and classes of all sorts!
I'm afraid I suspect you should copy that answer into a handy file for use in threads about future publications.
Yay, thanks all! Glad to hear so many folks are digging it!
I'm going to post up some previews for folks who haven't seen anything yet, and - for those who have seen everything already - maybe some of Knights of the Inner Sea. Check back in the morning and we'll see. ;)
I'm afraid I suspect you should copy that answer into a handy file for use in threads about future publications.
Oh, I've got my six-shooter loaded. This is a new thing and there's bound to be plenty of questions. No worries! Patrick, Sutter, and I are keeping our eyes peeled to answer any questions folks might have about the new format and the philosophies that led to our choices. If anyone is wondering about anything they see, just ask!
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I'm having such a nerdgasam reading there my PDF. I'm at work and it's very hard not squeal in joy.
I love, I say love that we have the distances in miles on the map between places. I don't have to try to figure it our with a ruler. So awesome.
Love the settlement's flags!
Don't know about Roles yet, though it's neat idea. Will probably be useful to newish payers or those unfamiliar with the setting.
Everything looks awesome, can't wait to see more of this from the companion line,
Quick question about Thunder and Fang. The old Thunder and Fang basically allowed you to hit with the Earthbreaker two handed for strength and a half on damage, from the way the new feat is phrased it seems that is no longer the case. The way I imagined the Thunder and Fang style working was as you swung your hammer down two handed the blade on your klar sliced the enemy forcing them a step back so the hammer head collided with them.
The new phrasing seems to look like you wield the hammer one handed and basically punch them with the klar. I'm just curious if it's still intended that those who use this style can use the Earthbreaker two handed for all the benefits that entails and get that extra hit with the klar as well.
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So, I'm interested in running an adventure here...and sorry to be a downer, but I'd like to
a) allow as few splatbooks as possible (so, PH, APG, and this)
b) allow extra Varisian 'stuff', but not much else stuffI know this is a weird question to ask, but, will this product have a reasonable list of other sorts of Varisian class options found in other books?
Like 'go here for Harrower, and there for Tattooed Sorcerer, and over there for Order of the Flourescent Tube (or whichever they are, in Korvosa) Hellknight', that kind of thing?
Haven't seen the book, but I'd doubt it. There's not a lot of cross referencing in these books, from what I've seen.
But it sounds like what you want is going to mostly be in Inner Sea World Guide and Inner Sea Magic. Those cover Varisian Tattoo magic, and I think the Harrower stuff, too.
Actually there is a bit more sourcing other books in this book, more than most PF books.
Quick question about Thunder and Fang. The old Thunder and Fang basically allowed you to hit with the Earthbreaker two handed for strength and a half on damage, from the way the new feat is phrased it seems that is no longer the case. The way I imagined the Thunder and Fang style working was as you swung your hammer down two handed the blade on your klar sliced the enemy forcing them a step back so the hammer head collided with them.
The new phrasing seems to look like you wield the hammer one handed and basically punch them with the klar. I'm just curious if it's still intended that those who use this style can use the Earthbreaker two handed for all the benefits that entails and get that extra hit with the klar as well.
The new Thunder and Fang feat basically allows you to wield an earth breaker in one hand (without accruing the penalties usually associated with doing so) and a klar in the other. In addition, you retain your shield bonus to AC from the klar, even when using it to attack.
As opposed to the old Thunder and Fang feat (from Pathfinder Adventure Path #10), the new feat does not allow you to use the earth breaker as a two-handed weapon while wielding a klar—you can either wield the earth breaker two-handed and forfeit the use of your klar, or wield the earth breaker in one hand and the klar in the other (adjusting damage and other variables accordingly for two-weapon fighting).
Creative Director
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Quick question about Thunder and Fang. The old Thunder and Fang basically allowed you to hit with the Earthbreaker two handed for strength and a half on damage, from the way the new feat is phrased it seems that is no longer the case. The way I imagined the Thunder and Fang style working was as you swung your hammer down two handed the blade on your klar sliced the enemy forcing them a step back so the hammer head collided with them.
The new phrasing seems to look like you wield the hammer one handed and basically punch them with the klar. I'm just curious if it's still intended that those who use this style can use the Earthbreaker two handed for all the benefits that entails and get that extra hit with the klar as well.
The way this style looks in-world is that the dude holds the earthbreaker normally in two hands. On one hand (the lower one on the earthbreaker's shaft) he wears a klar, so that the blade on the klar protrudes parallel to the length of his forearm and perpendicular to the Earthbreaker's shaft. In profile, this makes the earthbreaker look like a letter "T" with a spike sticking out of the middle.
When he attacks, the dude swings down the hammer normally, and on the backswing, pushes forward with the klar in a rocking motion to deliver the secondary stab/slash.
Right the way James explains it is how I envisioned it using the Earthbreaker in two hands. I appreciate both James and Patrick chiming in and I get that it was changed to be a more traditional two weapon style of two "one" handed weapons. Out of curiosity why was it changed to the new version? I will personally still allow the use of the Earthbreaker two handed as James has described, but I am curious what drove the change in mechanics.
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Creative Director
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Right the way James explains it is how I envisioned it using the Earthbreaker in two hands. I appreciate both James and Patrick chiming in and I get that it was changed to be a more traditional two weapon style of two "one" handed weapons. Out of curiosity why was it changed to the new version? I will personally still allow the use of the Earthbreaker two handed as James has described, but I am curious what drove the change in mechanics.
I wasn't involved in the revision, so I can't say.
Right the way James explains it is how I envisioned it using the Earthbreaker in two hands. I appreciate both James and Patrick chiming in and I get that it was changed to be a more traditional two weapon style of two "one" handed weapons. Out of curiosity why was it changed to the new version? I will personally still allow the use of the Earthbreaker two handed as James has described, but I am curious what drove the change in mechanics.I wasn't involved in the revision, so I can't say.
I believe Wes designed the new rendition of the feat; he might be able to comment on this matter.
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I wanna say how much I love Paizo, especially for their staff. One of my favorite things to see on a forum is when developers respond to questions and when they catch something they personally can't answer they tell you who can, and then potentially point it out to said person. Riot Games does it too, makes me smile and appreciate how much you guys like us.
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This has to be the most player-friendly gaming product I've ever seen. The layout is absolutely fantastic and the book contains a ton of details (such as Ask Your GM) that sets up the player for some great roleplaying, ensuring that the player gets all the help he or she can possibly get. I'll definitely suggest to my players that they get a subscription for this product line.
Yeah I'll chime in with my new layout = win, loving it so far. Much more a PLAYER companion than previous ones.
When I first saw this I thought, "Crap! They're starting to do re-releases of the Player Companions!", which would be a bad thing because I'm still trying to catch up on all the ones released to date.
But then I checked my shelf and realized Varisia hadn't been covered yet so this is a big THUMBS UP from me!!
Right the way James explains it is how I envisioned it using the Earthbreaker in two hands. I appreciate both James and Patrick chiming in and I get that it was changed to be a more traditional two weapon style of two "one" handed weapons. Out of curiosity why was it changed to the new version? I will personally still allow the use of the Earthbreaker two handed as James has described, but I am curious what drove the change in mechanics.
Rules wise, the crunchiest parts of every Player Companion get run through our design department and they're constantly endeavoring to bring all of our offerings up to date with the most current standards of the Pathfinder rules. If I recall, this got tinkered with just to make it a bit more standard, not to change the flavor.
That said, I don't think the aesthetics of how you've been envisioning this fighting style needs to change one bit. The klar's still a big weapon that could use some stabilization in its swing, so a user with a klar guiding the hammer's big stroke but not holding its heft firmly has the flexibility to lash out a bit more with his shield-blade. It's always assumed with all of our combat rules that there's a fair deal of finesse the characters in-world are performing that comprise their personal or cultural fighting styles, so ultimately, the specifics of the rules shouldn't be viewed as too much of an impediment on how you think a character should look in the throes of battle. Doubly so if you've already got something awesome in your head.
And all of that said, if you as a GM are still keen on the previous version, by all means run with it!
This has to be the most player-friendly gaming product I've ever seen. The layout is absolutely fantastic and the book contains a ton of details (such as Ask Your GM) that sets up the player for some great roleplaying, ensuring that the player gets all the help he or she can possibly get. I'll definitely suggest to my players that they get a subscription for this product line.
Yay! Thanks all! Someone hitting that subscription button is really the highest praise we can get!
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Someone hitting that subscription button is really the highest praise we can get!
Well, my wife saw that the next volume was about Varisia (handy for the tattooed sorcerer she was contemplating for Rise of the Runelords), the one after that was about Knights (she's already got a cavalier as one PFS character), and that there were ones coming up about People of the North (she's got an Ulfen, too), an Animal Archive (familiars? maybe the cavalier again?) and the Dungeoneer's handbook (just generally useful), and she only had one question - Why didn't my list of subscriptions include the Player Companion line? As you can see from my tag, that shortcoming has since been eliminated.