| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
brilliant energy weapons can't harm objects, undead, and constructs, so no they are a poor substitute for a lightsaber.I though we didn't want lightsabers. Just energy swords.
I thought we were calling them "psionic spirit blades"?
;)
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
brilliant energy weapons can't harm objects, undead, and constructs, so no they are a poor substitute for a lightsaber.I though we didn't want lightsabers. Just energy swords.I thought we were calling them "psionic spirit blades"?
;)
Pffft, Paizo doesn't make psionics rules.
| 6 people marked this as a favorite. |
At one point, Paizo didn't make rules for laser guns either.
Heard it here first folks! Half-life 3 confirmed!
Oh.. wait..
Psionics confirmed!
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
At one point, Paizo didn't make rules for laser guns either.Heard it here first folks! Half-life 3 confirmed!
Oh.. wait..
Psionics confirmed!
But, but, but Dreamscarred did it already. They did it really well.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Note that nowhere did I say we'll NEVER do an energy sword. It's not gonna be in the Tech Guide though, and it's unlikely that one will show up in Iron Gods, although now that I know folks are super-passionite about them... I might consider changing that stance... yet at the same time, I don't want folks to think they can play Jedi or that they'll be fighting Jedi in the AP. For a LOT of reasons.
Just want to throw out the possibility of hardlight blades being a thing in Verces!
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
It doesn't have giant mechs in it either, or spaceship chases, or time travel, or lots of other science fiction tropes.
My dreams are now dust.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
It doesn't have giant mechs in it either, or spaceship chases, or time travel, or lots of other science fiction tropes.My dreams are now dust.
...because all these topics will be covered in the Technology Guide!
...Right?
Guys?
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
EDIT:
Actually, for lightsabers, whenever I've introduced them (or something similar enough to give that feel), I've always just (more or less) used a +1 brilliant energy, ghost touch, flaming burst, shocking burst mithril bastard sword (usually house-ruling a "button" to push and hold it on, making it kind of like a rod)*. It passes right through non-living matter, sure, but I always read it as "the weapon cannot harm undead, constructs, and objects" instead of "the weapon <and all bonuses>" which seems to be the more standard interpretation.
Add that to ghost touch's note that it, "deals damage normally
against incorporeal creatures, regardless of its bonus" and it seemed plenty of precedent to me - .
The extra damage from the bastard sword (the 1d10) was interpreted as a kind of "system shock" living creatures went through when the blade was phased through them.
When I later acquired it, that actually works fairly well, compared to the old d20 Star Wars Revised Core Rulebook - the weapons there dealt 2d8 energy damage (2d6 half fire and electricity [potentially +1d10 slashing] isn't too far off the mark, though criticals skew this) with a crit range of 19-20 (comparable to a bastard sword), and, since the lightsabers ignored damage reduction (armor was DR in that system) it actually dovetailed nicely, though, of course, my variant was a more powerful*.
This also works fairly well with lasers as noted within the thread here, since they deal fire and electricity damage... which is more or less exactly what this does.
The fire (from plasma) helped explain the glow while the electricity (from the electro-magnetic force fields channeling the plasma and light) explained the crackling sounds and flashes when two sabers clashed.
If that's not really your cup of tea, just getting a "rod" that creates a "blade" that exclusively deals 1d8 fire and 1d8 electricity (and ignores hardness), has a crit-range of 19-20 (dealing 1d10 each on a crit instead), and has the ghost-touch property should basically cover it.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuut, those're house rules.
Also, I'm still totally excited about this product.
* "Inferior" or "damaged" lightsabers would "only" be flaming and/or shocking, possibly even dropping the ghost touch, depending on how "inferior" the blade was to "standard". Depending on the setting or power we were using, the "standard" may, instead, have been the "legendary mastercraft" kind.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
I don't know what the final form of that technic sword will look like, but I can tell you that I was not thinking "lightsaber, only copyright safe" when I wrote game stats for it. I was thinking "what sort of sword would someone who had mastered both technology and magic want".
Note that nowhere did I say we'll NEVER do an energy sword. It's not gonna be in the Tech Guide though, and it's unlikely that one will show up in Iron Gods, although now that I know folks are super-passionite about them... I might consider changing that stance...
I eagerly await seeing hundarr-Tay's unsword-Say in the AP.
If it's not in there, I'll just blame Cosmo's crew of thieving clown pugwampis.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
EDIT:
And the downside to long posts is... :D
To be honest I would think it would be best to not have lightsaber style energy blades. Perhaps something more akin to the power weapons they have In 40K
I think that type of sci-fi tech is the direction they are going with.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I don't know what the final form of that technic sword will look like, but I can tell you that I was not thinking "lightsaber, only copyright safe" when I wrote game stats for it. I was thinking "what sort of sword would someone who had mastered both technology and magic want".Note that nowhere did I say we'll NEVER do an energy sword. It's not gonna be in the Tech Guide though, and it's unlikely that one will show up in Iron Gods, although now that I know folks are super-passionite about them... I might consider changing that stance...I eagerly await seeing hundarr-Tay's unsword-Say in the AP.
If it's not in there, I'll just blame Cosmo's crew of thieving clown pugwampis.
Oh we took some stuff...we're just not sayin' what! :P
And the downside to long posts is... :D
EDIT:
Tell me about it!
James Jacobs says that the Tech items will be similar to magic items, rather than similar to standard equipment, in case anyone else was curious.
*looks at the mountain of awesome coming this fall*
For Sale: One kidney. Great Condition! Low Miles! Fully Loaded, must see to believe!! Serious offers only.
|
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
At one point, Paizo didn't make rules for laser guns either.
Or Russian troop squadrons with guns and flamethrowers.
I'm looking forward to this book. I can really see the value for a Swords and Planets adventure. A T-rex with lasers coming out if its eyes is a fantasy staple, or should be.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
GURPS also had a tech level system.They did! I'm very fond of the "Poof, you're there," "poof, you're healed" levels. :P
TL 16+ Superscience... "Poof, you're fed", "Poof, the enemy's gone"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I have absolutely no interest in this book, but I just wanted to say that that I love the cover of this one assuming it's still not the mockup.
It is indeed a mockup. This is some art from Wardens of the Reborn Forge.
You can find a full version from the Paizo blog here.
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
As one of those people who does not like Sci-fi mixed into my Fantasy settings....I must say, I am actually pretty interested to see what they have come up with.
As I have been thinking about the very drastically different views expressed....I have realized that at least for me...a lot of my resistance is in the execution.
I'm interested to see what the approach to blending the two genera is, and how technology is depicted in this fantasy setting.
I'll tweak or disregard things I don't like as needed....but I don't see the point in "turning a blind eye" just because I'm concerned that I "may" not like what they do.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
More to the point... the book is already written and is just now finishing development. Now is not the time to add more to the book anyway, even if we WANTED to add an "energy sword."
I'm sorry you'll miss the lack of energy swords in Numeria, Tels... but we can't put every single sci-fi element into the AP. It needs to be focused on the ones we want to include in order to tell the story. And this particularly story doesn't have energy swords. It doesn't have giant mechs in it either, or spaceship chases, or time travel, or lots of other science fiction tropes. There's not room for all of those in one AP.
Note that nowhere did I say we'll NEVER do an energy sword. It's not gonna be in the Tech Guide though, and it's unlikely that one will show up in Iron Gods, although now that I know folks are super-passionite about them... I might consider changing that stance... yet at the same time, I don't want folks to think they can play Jedi or that they'll be fighting Jedi in the AP. For a LOT of reasons.
Also: Let's try not to get too worked up or angry or insulting about the topic. On both sides.
And it's probably a good idea to move the topic to its own thread anyway.
True, though if you guys do a tech book 2 then you could add one in. Wouldn't mind being able to pull a Thundaar the Barbarian Pathfinder style someday.
| 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
As one of those people who does not like Sci-fi mixed into my Fantasy settings....I must say, I am actually pretty interested to see what they have come up with.
As I have been thinking about the very drastically different views expressed....I have realized that at least for me...a lot of my resistance is in the execution.
I'm interested to see what the approach to blending the two genera is, and how technology is depicted in this fantasy setting.
I'll tweak or disregard things I don't like as needed....but I don't see the point in "turning a blind eye" just because I'm concerned that I "may" not like what they do.
This. This is the best attitude to have. It's like a game I was involved in a short while ago, a GURPS Supers game. I generally have no interest in GURPS, and little interest in supers (at least not the twee truth, justice and mum's apple pie sort of heroes, my taste runs more to The Authority, The Boys, and games like Godlike), but I said I'd give it a shot and showed up anyway... Turned out to be one of the most fun games I'd played in for a very long time, and I'm a little sad that there's no plans to continue it now that the second "season" has wrapped up.
Similarly, there have been products from Paizo in the past that haven't grabbed me. But I have enough trust in the team to take a punt and see if they can change my mind... At least 9 times out of 10, they can. So even if I wasn't interested in Sci-Fantasy (and I very, very much am), I'd still be sitting here thinking "Well, let's see what they can do with this".
You should always see what something has to offer you before you just reject it out of hand (this obviously falls within the bounds of common sense, I'm not saying you should go out there and start using meth or anything, that would be stupid).
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4
|
| 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
Hey guys! There's an interview with James Jacobs up on my blog that talks about the technology guide as well as Iron Gods! Be wary of some spoilers about the identity of the Iron Gods towards the end of the interview if you're worried about those things.
Hey guys! There's an interview with James Jacobs up on my blog that talks about the technology guide as well as Iron Gods! Be wary of some spoilers about the identity of the Iron Gods towards the end of the interview if you're worried about those things.
Reading now, thanks for linking this!
A quote from the above interview on the Technology Guide.
The book’s backbone is a hefty chapter about technological items. We’ve got weapons (ranged and melee, mostly ranged), armor, pharmaceuticals, cybernetic implants, and all sorts of miscellaneous technological items. Chainsaws and monofilament whips! Laser rifles and railguns! Rocket launchers and nuclear resonators! Id rifles and atom guns! Force fields and magnetic boots! And much, much more!
I see all this, and I have to wonder, how the hell does an energy sword not "fit the theme" of Numeria?
I know it's too late to add more stuff like energy blades (but not too late to add info about how lasers interact with darkness, apparently) but how did something as classic and iconic as an energy blade get dropped from the guide while all of the above was included during the development process?
Even if you didn't want to include an energy blade (and I'm not sure why you wouldn't), you're practically obligated to do so. It doesn't have to be a lightsaber; the earliest known use of an energy blade that I'm aware of come from the Lucky Starr books series that started early in the 50's and it was, basically, an ultra-thin forcefield. It really was, basically, nothing more than a blade made out of a forcefield so it was able to, essentially, cut anything. You couldn't stick it in a blast door and then melt a hole through it, like you could with a lightsaber, it was just a really sharp blade.
A quote from the above interview on the Technology Guide.
The book’s backbone is a hefty chapter about technological items. We’ve got weapons (ranged and melee, mostly ranged), armor, pharmaceuticals, cybernetic implants, and all sorts of miscellaneous technological items. Chainsaws and monofilament whips! Laser rifles and railguns! Rocket launchers and nuclear resonators! Id rifles and atom guns! Force fields and magnetic boots! And much, much more!I see all this, and I have to wonder, how the hell does an energy sword not "fit the theme" of Numeria?
I know it's too late to add more stuff like energy blades (but not too late to add info about how lasers interact with darkness, apparently) but how did something as classic and iconic as an energy blade get dropped from the guide while all of the above was included during the development process?
Even if you didn't want to include an energy blade (and I'm not sure why you wouldn't), you're practically obligated to do so. It doesn't have to be a lightsaber; the earliest known use of an energy blade that I'm aware of come from the Lucky Starr books series that started early in the 50's and it was, basically, an ultra-thin forcefield. It really was, basically, nothing more than a blade made out of a forcefield so it was able to, essentially, cut anything. You couldn't stick it in a blast door and then melt a hole through it, like you could with a lightsaber, it was just a really sharp blade.
Yeah an energy field surronded sword is probably the closest we will get. But considering what is going to be in there I found something of greater interest.......a chainsaw.
CHAINSAW WIELDING BARBARIAN!!! :)
Creative Director
|
| 6 people marked this as a favorite. |
A quote from the above interview on the Technology Guide.
The book’s backbone is a hefty chapter about technological items. We’ve got weapons (ranged and melee, mostly ranged), armor, pharmaceuticals, cybernetic implants, and all sorts of miscellaneous technological items. Chainsaws and monofilament whips! Laser rifles and railguns! Rocket launchers and nuclear resonators! Id rifles and atom guns! Force fields and magnetic boots! And much, much more!I see all this, and I have to wonder, how the hell does an energy sword not "fit the theme" of Numeria?
I know it's too late to add more stuff like energy blades (but not too late to add info about how lasers interact with darkness, apparently) but how did something as classic and iconic as an energy blade get dropped from the guide while all of the above was included during the development process?
Even if you didn't want to include an energy blade (and I'm not sure why you wouldn't), you're practically obligated to do so. It doesn't have to be a lightsaber; the earliest known use of an energy blade that I'm aware of come from the Lucky Starr books series that started early in the 50's and it was, basically, an ultra-thin forcefield. It really was, basically, nothing more than a blade made out of a forcefield so it was able to, essentially, cut anything. You couldn't stick it in a blast door and then melt a hole through it, like you could with a lightsaber, it was just a really sharp blade.
Because I made the choice not to include it in the book. Simple as that. Sorry you disagree, but that's the way it is.
Your objection is and has been noted many times already, and frankly, at this point, hounding and worrying the issue is not helping.
|
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
The book's contents are not really open to votes or suggestions at this point. We're about two weeks away from sending it to the printer, and all of the art was ordered for it months ago. Even if we DID want to add something new to it at this very late stage... I doubt we could. NOTE that adding clarifications, such as how magical darkness interacts with lasers, does not require new resources like new artwork or new ground-up design work.
The next opportunity to include something of the nature of an energy sword in the game would be in the 3rd adventure of Iron Gods, frankly... but that'd require more than just dropping in a new item, since they'd need to be integrated into the adventure's plot.
That's by no means a promise that I'll be able to squeeze one in, in other words, but if I can, it'll be in Iron Gods #3, #4, #5, or #6.
And we've already got something inspired, sort of, by Larry Niven's "variable sword" in there.
The book's contents are not really open to votes or suggestions at this point. We're about two weeks away from sending it to the printer, and all of the art was ordered for it months ago. Even if we DID want to add something new to it at this very late stage... I doubt we could. NOTE that adding clarifications, such as how magical darkness interacts with lasers, does not require new resources like new artwork or new ground-up design work.
The next opportunity to include something of the nature of an energy sword in the game would be in the 3rd adventure of Iron Gods, frankly... but that'd require more than just dropping in a new item, since they'd need to be integrated into the adventure's plot.
That's by no means a promise that I'll be able to squeeze one in, in other words, but if I can, it'll be in Iron Gods #3, #4, #5, or #6.
And we've already got something inspired, sort of, by Larry Niven's "variable sword" in there.
James, may I ask how much GP a lazer rifle costs?
|
Creative Director
|
James, may I ask how much GP a lazer rifle costs?The book's contents are not really open to votes or suggestions at this point. We're about two weeks away from sending it to the printer, and all of the art was ordered for it months ago. Even if we DID want to add something new to it at this very late stage... I doubt we could. NOTE that adding clarifications, such as how magical darkness interacts with lasers, does not require new resources like new artwork or new ground-up design work.
The next opportunity to include something of the nature of an energy sword in the game would be in the 3rd adventure of Iron Gods, frankly... but that'd require more than just dropping in a new item, since they'd need to be integrated into the adventure's plot.
That's by no means a promise that I'll be able to squeeze one in, in other words, but if I can, it'll be in Iron Gods #3, #4, #5, or #6.
And we've already got something inspired, sort of, by Larry Niven's "variable sword" in there.
Not yet. That info needs to wait until the book's released.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Hey guys! There's an interview with James Jacobs up on my blog that talks about the technology guide as well as Iron Gods! Be wary of some spoilers about the identity of the Iron Gods towards the end of the interview if you're worried about those things.
Nice work Robert and James. I think I'm amazed all over again that James had an adventure published in Dungeon at 14 or 15 years of age.
And yay again for neh-thalggu in Iron Gods.
You'll all be amazed (Mikaze perhaps in particular) that I have absolutely no idea who or what the Dominion of the Black is/are. Still superstoked for Technology guide and Iron Gods AP. [heads off to Pathfinder Wiki to find out, possibility sword in hand (thanks China Mieville...)]
[EDIT - well that Pathfinder WIki entry on the Dominion of the Black is suitably uninformative. How refreshingly elliptic. /EDIT]
Can anyone tell me when the Numerian themed Season 6 of PFS releases?
Can anyone tell me when the Numerian themed Season 6 of PFS releases?
New seasons of Pathfinder Society have always started at GenCon (August). :)
Thanks Liz. So far August is looking plentiful for wishlist-land...
|
Developer
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
[EDIT - well that Pathfinder WIki entry on the Dominion of the Black is suitably uninformative. How refreshingly elliptic. /EDIT]
Luckily, being a wiki, if you feel there's information on the topic that hasn't been posted, you are free to add it so other readers gain the benefit of your expertise down the road. You can also ask on the wiki (follow the link on the lefthand sidebar) and one of the wiki's editors will answer your question or update the article to accommodate your request.
Thanks Mark. My post was intended to be completely free-of-intended-snark - sorry if it came across as less than friendly. Though you may not have taken it that way anyway. ;)
I was a little miffed at the lack of info, but given how I knew nothing about the DotB not completely surprised. In a way, I think it fits the mysteriousness of the DotB that it is... mysterious. That is ehy I said "suitably". ;)
As for updating the wiki, I am the last person to do so. My knowledge of Golariana is so incredibly poor, even though I own a physical copy of the ISWG... I have never played PFS, and have only free PFS scenarios. All of this will change with Season 6... ;)
If there is other DotB info, what products would it be in for the editors of the wiki to draw it from/interested parties to find it in?
Oh, maybe the referenced books at the bottom of that wiki entry would be a good place to start.;)
If it helps any, Oceanshieldwolf, there really isn't a lot of info on the Dominion at this point. I think the largest infodump we get thus far is going to be in Iron Gods (with possibly some more snippets in Occult Mysteries).
There are some here and there in The Dragon's Demand and Distant Worlds and I think Doom Comes to Dustpawn.
