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These questions may very well have been asked before. If someone can just point me to relevant answers, that would be great.
Are there any areas of the Inner Sea region that Paizo plans to avoid detailing, or at least will not be touching on in the next few years? There certainly seems to be more geography than can be covered any time soon. I'd like to know where I can have the most free hand without creating inconsistency down the road.
Also, what is Paizo's presumption on high level npcs? Looking through the books, typical npcs "of note" are in the 7 to 12 range, maybe up to 14. Even the leaders of Hellknight orders and the like do not exceed this. Is it Paizo's presumption that higher level Hell knights are off doing the real work while these guys keep the papers straight? Or is it Paizo's presumption that this is the standard for top level npcs? I infer the later to be the case, but it isn't clear.
I'm not in the least trying to suggest that there is a right or wrong answer. Nor am I complaining that either alternative would be limiting. Having the right level npcs show up as needed is easy enough either way.
But, I'm both enamored with Golarion and a heavy home brewer. So in this case I want to work inside the setting, but I also want to work with the grain that is established.
Is it correct that even amongst wizards, another wizard able to cast limited wish would be awe-inspiring and one capable of casting Astral Projection is a person of legend only mentioned in fables?
Thanks
I certainly understand it isn't FR.
But there is plenty of space between "there are no 16th level wizards anywhere" and "20th level wizards at every corner".
This in many ways harkens back to the original D@D setting of Oerth in Greyhawk. back then, 'name level' was 9-12th, and these were the great heroes of the setting. The number of characters 15th+ was very small,because these were the individuals who were capable of messing around with demigods, archdevils, and the like.
It wasn't until later that level 20 seemed to become a goal in and of itself, and FR really tipped the scale with Archmages around every corner (and precious few arch-anything else).
Keep in mind, FR is NOT that unrealistic for a fantasy setting, as far as number of high level characters. Once you have access to Raise Dead adn some good friends, it becomes VERY hard to put someone down if someone else wants to see them returned. Which means they are free to gain more and more levels.
FR's problems is that only mages seem to gain high levels. Given how badly they are outnumbered by warriors and priests and rogues, I found that very suspicious. I think in all the FR books I owned, there were maybe THREE fighters that exceeded level 20.
===Aelryinth
Yeah, the cap on Character level is nice. Do you really need a level 41 lich running around like FR has?
==Aelryinth
There certainly are lvl 16th Wizards out there, but most likely as rulers/major shakers.
But again, there are "rulers/major shakers" identified, and they are not level 16 wizards.
The FR references are pretty much beside the point.
I buy 100% that this ain't FR.
I love the fact that there is no L41 Lich running around. Golarion is awesome for not having that.
I also love the fact that FR has a L41 Lich running around. FR is awesome for having that.
Value judgment answers are missing the question I am asking. "Need" has nothing to do with my question.
NOTE: Very minor Adventure Path spoilers ahead (Rise of the Runelords and Curse of the Crimson Throne)!
Are there any areas of the Inner Sea region that Paizo plans to avoid detailing, or at least will not be touching on in the next few years? There certainly seems to be more geography than can be covered any time soon. I'd like to know where I can have the most free hand without creating inconsistency down the road.
They've said that they will NOT be releasing a sourcebook on Alkenstar, but that may not be the sort of place you're looking for. It's the anti-magic, gun-making country, for the record.
Also, what is Paizo's presumption on high level npcs? Looking through the books, typical npcs "of note" are in the 7 to 12 range, maybe up to 14. Even the leaders of Hellknight orders and the like do not exceed this. Is it Paizo's presumption that higher level Hell knights are off doing the real work while these guys keep the papers straight? Or is it Paizo's presumption that this is the standard for top level npcs? I infer the later to be the case, but it isn't clear.
Paizo's general assumption is that the highest level NPCs are rulers, heads of organizations, and the like, not adventurers. There are some examples of level 10-11 NPCs "adventuring" (like certain characters in the Curse of the Crimson Throne AP), but those are generally few and far between.
Is it correct that even amongst wizards, another wizard able to cast limited wish would be awe-inspiring and one capable of casting Astral Projection is a person of legend only mentioned in fables?
9th level spells might qualify you for legendary status, yes. The only NPCs I know of (note: I don't have access to the final modules of Legacy of Fire or any of Council of Thieves) that can cast 9th level spells are ancient and powerful and very legendary -- Karzoug, Baba Yaga, the Whispering Tyrant, etc. There ARE NPCs that are much more mundane and not as ancient that can cast 8th level spells. The (unnamed!) Sun Shaman in A History of Ashes is a 16th level Druid, for example.
Thanks very much
Actually there has been some indication that the Whispering Tyrant is an Epic Level spellcaster (IIRC something in the 30+ CR range) it's just that a) Paizo doesn't have a workable epic ruleset (let's face it nobody is happy with the ELH- WotC never even bothered updating it to 3.5) and b) the adventure paths are actually the core focus of Paizo and CR20 foes are adequate to challenge level 15-16 parties (which is where most APs end).
It definitely follows the Oerth model rather than the Faerun model. Indeed many of the states in Golarion seem to have analogs to Oerth states. Absalom/Greyhawk, Kyonin/Celene, Hold of Belkzen/Pomarj or Iuz, Cheliax/Great Kingdom, River Kingdoms/Bandit Kings, Lastwall/Shield Lands etc.
The Paizo folks have been nice enough to avoid placing too many high level conspiracies in place. Currently there doesn't appear to be a Circle of Eight analog, a global conspiracy like the Scarlet Brotherhood or an overpowering BBEG like Iuz. I think these are all core elements of what makes Oerth great but they don't have to replicated in detail unless you are deliberately trying to capture a 1e feel.
As to good locations to homebrew, I've been wondering about that a bit myself. Unlike 1e and 2e FR where they intentionally set aside Sembia as an area that would not be developed by TSR there doesn't appear to be any obvious area set aside as "we will not develop this beyond the Golarion sourcebook". Brevoy and/or Isger seem like they would be good locations for homebrewing (both seem relatively generic). I would say Molthune/Nirmathas but as the only current 'war' going on I wouldn't be shocked to see it detailed at some time.
Before 3rd Edition, the heroes stood out clearly from the population. In 1st Edition World of Greyhawk Gazetteer, there was an explanation of the demographics, so that DMs could use the base population number to work out how many characters of various types and levels were in an area. Something like this (from memory):
20% of the population was suitable for being in a militia or watch.
50% of them (10% of the overall population) made up the standing forces, typically.
10% of them (2% of the overall population) had the ability to become PC-type characters. Only half of those capable of being PC-types would become PC-types. 50% of those were Fighters, 25% Thieves. The remaining 25% were Assassins, Clerics, Druids, Magic-Users (Wizards), Paladins, Monks, and Rangers.
50% or less would make it to 2nd level, and again for each level after that.
So in a nation with 1,000,000 people..
200,000 might be ready to be in the armies or adventurers
90,000 would be divided among the army, the watch, and any other military forces (such as templa guards) + 10,000 advanturers
Of the adventurer-capable,
2,500 would be Fighter 1
1,250 would be Fighter 2
625 would be Fighter 3
312 would be Fighter 4
156 would be Fighter 5
78 would be Fighter 6
39 would be Fighter 7
19 would be Fighter 8
10 would be Fighter 9 (Name level)
5 would be Fighter 10
2 would be Fighter 11
1 would be Fighter 12
"Name" level was a break-point in character progression. Until that point, PCs gained Hit Dice at each level. At "Name" level (which varied by class), they stopped getting HD and started getting just 1, 2, or 3 hp per level.
Another difference is that the "masses" were all 0-level.. there was no Commoner NPC class, or Expert, Aristocrat, or Warrior. Monster races had Shamans and Witch Doctors (much like the Adept class).
Normal children had 1-2 hp and a "BAB" of 0 or -1 (it was called THAC0 in 2nd Edition, and had no acronym in 1st.. it was just "you need a 20 to hit the enemy in good armor") and needed to roll a 10 to hit an average citizen... or a 15+ to hit most combat-ready 1st level PCs.
Laborers (dock workers, lumberjacks, etc.) had 1d6 hp with likely a +1 Con bonus for average 3 or 4 hp. and needed a 15+ to hit most combat-ready 1st level PCs.
Clerks and other non-laborers would have 1d4 hp with no Con bonus, for 2 hp on average, and would need 15+ to hit most combat-ready 1st level PCs.
By 2nd level, a Magic-User (Wizard) (the weakest class in combat) could have a fistfight with a laborer (the strongest citizen type) and hold his own; at 1st level, the laborer would still more likely win. Every other PC class could take on the laborer at 1st level and usually win.
Paizo has said there will eventually be a Pathfinder Epic levels book of some sort.. but not anytime soon. Likewise, James Jacobs has said he sees PCs with deity powers as the next step in the game after Epic... however, again, nothing even on the horizon for that other than "someday".
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Regarding the locations -- all I can add is that the Pathfinder Society writers guidelines suggest detailing minor areas that won't affect big-world stuff -- things like detailing a small village and stream somewhere in rural Cheliax (that's too small to be on any map) or detailing a half city block in one of the sections in urban Absalom (that won't be mentioned in a Guide because it's so small) or even designing a tiny woodlands or valley to place a small monastery or dungeon.
Published stuff is purposely big picture stuff, broad design strokes so individual DMs can fill in tiny details and later writers/ designers can do the same. And since the "too-come-later" published material will either be really big picture stuff or really tiny stuff, it can't really step on the toes of individual, Homebrew DMs in Golarion.
I think this may be the same approach you could take -- homebrewing as much as you like on the small scale, even with stuff that's already in print -- while still enjoying the published setting's design conceits that drew you to Golarion.
Currently there doesn't appear to be a Circle of Eight analog
I kinda see the Pathfinders as the Circle of Eight analog and Absalom as the Greyhawk. Though I readily admit that this proves the main point. Rather than the centerpiece being a select few characters that are gods among men and just happen to be the writers personal PCs, the centerpiece is a vast network of marginal to moderately powerful characters who in many case may (or may not) be a variety of personal PCs.
I'm not even thinking about Epic.