Creative Director
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Awesome. Follow-up question: Would you happen to remember an example of the most a monster has been changed from the original? (so I can go back and compare the two) Thanks!Hi James
I've noticed that in APs, many of the monsters are "variant" forms of monsters in the bestiary. What kind of things, and how many things, can be changed before it can no longer be considered a variant, but must be considered an entirely new creature? Also, are there guidelines available somewhere for variant creatures, above and beyond the monster advancement appendices in the bestiaries?
Thanks
If the changes are extensive enough that we need to print a full stat block for the creature, then it's a variant.
There are no guidelines available beyond the Bestiary appendices, because you get to do ANYTHING YOU WANT if you're making a variant monster.
Basically, when you see "variant" in print, that's us saying "We changed and tinkered with this monster in a few ways to make it fit the adventure's story better, so if you go try to compare its stats to the version in whatever Bestiary, don't freak out."
I don't remember the "most a monster has changed from the original," really.
There are basically 4 tiers of these things though. Or 5 tiers, counting the base unchanged monster as a tier.
Tier 0—Standard Monster: The monster as it appears in the Bestiary with no additional adjustments at all to its stats. This tier has a short stat block in an adventure.
Tier 1—Simple Template: A monster that has a simple template. This tier also has a short stat block in an adventure, but you as the GM have to do a bit more work to run it.
Tier 2—Template/Class Levels: A monster that has a normal template or class levels. It's still the base monster and has a published template or class on it, so its rules are all on the table and you can reverse engineer it without us having to explain any new stuff; it was built entirely using published rules. This monster has a full stat block in an adventure.
Tier 3—Variant: This is a monster that has been tinkered with using brand new rules, or has had its hit dice expanded, its size changed, or has a different suite of feats, or has entirely different abilities. The sky's wide open on how a variant monster can change, and in the simplest cases, a variant has a short stat block in a case where we simply swap out a weapon or change one feat. In most cases, variants have full stat blocks and new names.
Tier 4—New Monster: This always has a full stat block. It may have started life as a variant or even a template or standard monster, but it's an entirely new monster that represents a new addition to the game.
When a monster moves from Tier 3 to Tier 4 is largely a judgement call on my (or whoever is developing the adventure) part, but often, if the need to put in a new monster becomes apparent at the 11th hour, when there's no time to order new art and there's no room in the product for a new monster entry, that'll make the decision for me about whether or not the monster's a variant or not.
Kind of a long-winded answer to a short question... sorry!
Abadar, Desna, Lamashtu, Shelyn, and Pharasma were followed by the Azlanti and are followed by the Tian. Are there any other Tian deities who were once followed by the Azlanti?
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Creative Director
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Who's your Dragon Age Inquisitor sand who are you having them romance?
I'm playing a female elf dual-wielding rogue. I'm barely started with the game yet*, but my plan is at this point to hook up with Sera. Whom I've not yet met, so that's a complication at the moment.
*Which means let's keep spoilers about the plot of the game out of this thread, please!
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Who's your Dragon Age Inquisitor sand who are you having them romance?I'm playing a female elf dual-wielding rogue. I'm barely started with the game yet*, but my plan is at this point to hook up with Sera. Whom I've not yet met, so that's a complication at the moment.
*Which means let's keep spoilers about the plot of the game out of this thread, please!
Understood, SIR! *salutes*
I thought as much. Sera's your kind of character. Easily CG. :)
Are the stories from the Pathfinder Tales novels considered canon?
Some posts up you mentioned you might get around to reading the black company..its great james..i loved them..if cook trolls these boards please more black company..
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James, I've got a math problem...
Ogre Mages have +5 to their Fly skill, are Large size, are Dex 17, wear a chain shirt (not masterwork), and a constant caster level 9th version of Fly going. As the spell reads, you add 1/2 your CL to Fly skill checks.
Can you break down the math on how they got +5 as the total?
Have you gotten to play Warlords of Draenor yet? How are you feeling about the expansion if you have?I have played it, but Dragon Age is distracting me from Draenor for a bit.
I'm level 91 so far in Draenor.
And so far? It's the best expansion for the game that Blizzard has done yet. It's really REALLY fun, and I'm having the most fun playing it that I've had since Burning Crusade.
I feel the same, though my personal fun-o-meter peaked in Burning Crusade. Its a very well-done expansion pack that not only tries something new, but does it by learning from Blizzard's past successes and mistakes. Plus the Garrisons are REALLY fun.
Awesome. Follow-up question: Would you happen to remember an example of the most a monster has been changed from the original? (so I can go back and compare the two) Thanks!Hi James
I've noticed that in APs, many of the monsters are "variant" forms of monsters in the bestiary. What kind of things, and how many things, can be changed before it can no longer be considered a variant, but must be considered an entirely new creature? Also, are there guidelines available somewhere for variant creatures, above and beyond the monster advancement appendices in the bestiaries?
Thanks
If the changes are extensive enough that we need to print a full stat block for the creature, then it's a variant.
There are no guidelines available beyond the Bestiary appendices, because you get to do ANYTHING YOU WANT if you're making a variant monster.
Basically, when you see "variant" in print, that's us saying "We changed and tinkered with this monster in a few ways to make it fit the adventure's story better, so if you go try to compare its stats to the version in whatever Bestiary, don't freak out."
I don't remember the "most a monster has changed from the original," really.
There are basically 4 tiers of these things though. Or 5 tiers, counting the base unchanged monster as a tier.
Tier 0—Standard Monster: The monster as it appears in the Bestiary with no additional adjustments at all to its stats. This tier has a short stat block in an adventure.
Tier 1—Simple Template: A monster that has a simple template. This tier also has a short stat block in an adventure, but you as the GM have to do a bit more work to run it.
Tier 2—Template/Class Levels: A monster that has a normal template or class levels. It's still the base monster and has a published template or class on it, so its rules are all on the table and you can reverse engineer it without us having to explain any new stuff; it was built entirely using published...
Please, don't apologize! This answer totally made my day.
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It's an error and should be +7 (+3 Dex, +4 CL, +4 maneuverability, -2 size, -2 ACP). I'm sure this has been pointed out elsewhere and just hasn't been fixed in the new printings of Bestiary 1.James, I've got a math problem...
Ogre Mages have +5 to their Fly skill, are Large size, are Dex 17, wear a chain shirt (not masterwork), and a constant caster level 9th version of Fly going. As the spell reads, you add 1/2 your CL to Fly skill checks.
Can you break down the math on how they got +5 as the total?
Okay, good. Thought I was going mental.
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Creative Director
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Some posts up you mentioned you might get around to reading the black company..its great james..i loved them..if cook trolls these boards please more black company..
Black Company is on my shelf next to my bed, in fact. It's been there for many months, but it's made the transposition from "You should read this" to "I will read this... some day."
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Creative Director
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James, I've got a math problem...
Ogre Mages have +5 to their Fly skill, are Large size, are Dex 17, wear a chain shirt (not masterwork), and a constant caster level 9th version of Fly going. As the spell reads, you add 1/2 your CL to Fly skill checks.
Can you break down the math on how they got +5 as the total?
It's probably an error. A fair amount of the monsters forgot to get their bonus to Fly from the spell since that was a late addition to the game and happened late in the Bestiary's cycle and was a new element to the game, so it just got overlooked. It's errata that should someday be fixed.
That's my guess, in any event.
And in any case, this type of question needs to go into the Bestiary page forum so it can be FAQed and the design team can see it and eventually errata as needed.
Hi James!
What would you say are appropriate and flavorful witch patrons for those who revere Nocticula? I would guess Deception, Dimensions, Enchantment, Moon, Shadow, and maybe Trickery.
All of those sound like good choices.
Thanks for the quick reply!
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I was thinking of playing an Alchemist/(Rogue) Underground Chemist. Would my bombs be able to sneak attack at that point? I have heard that bombs cannot do precision damage. Could I then also qualify for precision damage on bombs from other sources? How would the damage roll look like on that kind of attack in a formula?
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Speaking of Dragon Age, there's something I don't understand. I have a plan for each character in place, and I know what to do as I play through one after another, but I don't feel the motivation to start my MASTER PLAYTHROUGH! What the hell is wrong with me?! I've waited years for this game to come out and now it feels like even booting up the game isn't worth the time!
On another note, why do people who deny the moon landing believe that? If they were proven right at the end of the day, what would happen? What would it prove if they were indeed correct that the moon landings were staged as part of a propaganda campaign? Denial of other kinds of events and the promotion of similar theories generally seems to have a political goal in mind, but what political goal would benefit from denying the moon landings? I don't get it.
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Creative Director
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I was thinking of playing an Alchemist/(Rogue) Underground Chemist. Would my bombs be able to sneak attack at that point? I have heard that bombs cannot do precision damage. Could I then also qualify for precision damage on bombs from other sources? How would the damage roll look like on that kind of attack in a formula?
I'd say no. Splash weapons can't do sneak attack.
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Creative Director
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Speaking of Dragon Age, there's something I don't understand. I have a plan for each character in place, and I know what to do as I play through one after another, but I don't feel the motivation to start my MASTER PLAYTHROUGH! What the hell is wrong with me?! I've waited years for this game to come out and now it feels like even booting up the game isn't worth the time!
On another note, why do people who deny the moon landing believe that? If they were proven right at the end of the day, what would happen? What would it prove if they were indeed correct that the moon landings were staged as part of a propaganda campaign? Denial of other kinds of events and the promotion of similar theories generally seems to have a political goal in mind, but what political goal would benefit from denying the moon landings? I don't get it.
I always play the same character in Dragon Age, regardless of the game. Female rogue. Elf if possible. I don't replay the game. I'm kinda the opposite of you, I guess, so I'm not sure what I could say to help you out there, other than to just play the game!
As for the other question? Because everyone is different. Some people love Star Wars. I have never loved it. Doesn't mean I'm wrong or that they're right. People are different. You don't have to "get it," you only have to do your best to understand there are differences and to not try to get worked up about it. Cause that's why there's wars.
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I was thinking of playing an Alchemist/(Rogue) Underground Chemist. Would my bombs be able to sneak attack at that point? I have heard that bombs cannot do precision damage. Could I then also qualify for precision damage on bombs from other sources? How would the damage roll look like on that kind of attack in a formula?I'd say no. Splash weapons can't do sneak attack.
but the text for underground alchemist reads
Precise Splash Weapons (Ex): At 4th level, an underground chemist can deal sneak attack damage with splash weapons. The attack must be her first attack that round, qualify for dealing sneak attack damage (such as against a flat-footed target), and be directed at a creature rather than a square. This ability replaces the rogue talent gained at 4th level.I am so confused now.
James,
1: Fairy Dragons cast spells as a 3rd Level Sorcerer. Am I right that that means that they can only have up to 17 levels in the actual sorcerer class, and no way to get the capstone, though it would be casting as a 20th-level sorcerer? If one really wanted an NPC Fairy Dragon with a bloodline capstone, would you recommend more giving it a few extra CLs progressing spells known and per day, or just CLs, or would it be better to just give it the capstone as a bonus ability (since they're not a good choice for PCs at any rate)? This is admittedly hypothetical, but part of me really likes the idea of an immensely powerful sorcerer being a tiny butterfly-winged dragon.
2: Do you guys consciously try to keep the alignments of the Iconics as a group balanced? I did a check recently, and was surprised to find that there are indeed 15 good, 15 neutral, 1 evil, 10 lawful, 10 chaotic, and 11 neutral as of the ACG. It was a little less balanced earlier on, though.
2: Do you guys consciously try to keep the alignments of the Iconics as a group balanced? I did a check recently, and was surprised to find that there are indeed 15 good, 15 neutral, 1 evil, 10 lawful, 10 chaotic, and 11 neutral as of the ACG. It was a little less balanced earlier on, though.
What about the anti-paladin? Isn't there an iconic for that class? That would make it 2 evil and 11 chaotic.
2: Do you guys consciously try to keep the alignments of the Iconics as a group balanced? I did a check recently, and was surprised to find that there are indeed 15 good, 15 neutral, 1 evil, 10 lawful, 10 chaotic, and 11 neutral as of the ACG. It was a little less balanced earlier on, though.What about the anti-paladin? Isn't there an iconic for that class? That would make it 2 evil and 11 chaotic.
They've said repeatedly that the Antipaladin guy isn't an iconic, just a recurring art piece. He doesn't have a name even.
They've said repeatedly that the Antipaladin guy isn't an iconic, just a recurring art piece. He doesn't have a name even.
Sure he has a name! Its Stephen. Don't be insensitive.
They've said repeatedly that the Antipaladin guy isn't an iconic
Not to me they haven't. :-)
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Creative Director
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I was thinking of playing an Alchemist/(Rogue) Underground Chemist. Would my bombs be able to sneak attack at that point? I have heard that bombs cannot do precision damage. Could I then also qualify for precision damage on bombs from other sources? How would the damage roll look like on that kind of attack in a formula?I'd say no. Splash weapons can't do sneak attack.but the text for underground alchemist reads
Precise Splash Weapons (Ex): At 4th level, an underground chemist can deal sneak attack damage with splash weapons. The attack must be her first attack that round, qualify for dealing sneak attack damage (such as against a flat-footed target), and be directed at a creature rather than a square. This ability replaces the rogue talent gained at 4th level.
I am so confused now.
An excellent example of why you should take rules questions to the product threads so the question can be FAQed and seen by designers.
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Creative Director
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2: Do you guys consciously try to keep the alignments of the Iconics as a group balanced? I did a check recently, and was surprised to find that there are indeed 15 good, 15 neutral, 1 evil, 10 lawful, 10 chaotic, and 11 neutral as of the ACG. It was a little less balanced earlier on, though.What about the anti-paladin? Isn't there an iconic for that class? That would make it 2 evil and 11 chaotic.
Nope; there is no official iconic for the antipaladin archetype. In order for us to consider a character to be iconic, it has to have a control illustration by Wayne, a distinct tie to Golarion, and a Meet the Iconics story. The antipaladin has none of those. If we were going to make one now, it'd be of an entirely different character who actually had ties to Golarion in the art, as do most all of our other iconics. In particular, the prospective antipaladin would need to have obvious ties to one of our chaotic evil religions.
We DO try to keep the alignments balanced though, but the simple fact is that early on, when we had fewer characters to apply alignments to, and when some of those classes had alignment requirements, and when some of the illustrations suggested religions with alignment requirements, we weren't able to initially make it as well rounded as we'd hoped. We knew this all along, and knew we'd be making more classes int he future, and tracked alignment (and gender and race as well) and made sure to try to get as equal a spread across all of those that we could.
The game doesn't assume evil PCs, and that's why we've not done many evil characters. We've had gender equality more or less all along, and just recently with Advanced Class Guide finally had gender representation of all the core races.
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James,
1: Fairy Dragons cast spells as a 3rd Level Sorcerer. Am I right that that means that they can only have up to 17 levels in the actual sorcerer class, and no way to get the capstone, though it would be casting as a 20th-level sorcerer? If one really wanted an NPC Fairy Dragon with a bloodline capstone, would you recommend more giving it a few extra CLs progressing spells known and per day, or just CLs, or would it be better to just give it the capstone as a bonus ability (since they're not a good choice for PCs at any rate)? This is admittedly hypothetical, but part of me really likes the idea of an immensely powerful sorcerer being a tiny butterfly-winged dragon.
2: Do you guys consciously try to keep the alignments of the Iconics as a group balanced? I did a check recently, and was surprised to find that there are indeed 15 good, 15 neutral, 1 evil, 10 lawful, 10 chaotic, and 11 neutral as of the ACG. It was a little less balanced earlier on, though.
1) Nope. A fairy dragon who gains levels of sorcerer can become a 20th level sorcerer. It maxes out its caster level 3 levels before then though.
2) Yes we do.
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Noob Question! (Ert ert... A new challenger is approaching)
Does that longspear and cestus thing actually work?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Actually, I do have a guess... is this a border-case complex interplay of rules options and optimization akin to using a reach weapon and armor spikes to totally dominate a battlefield without making the hard choices as to what type of fighting style you'll actually be focusing on?
Cause if that's the case, it's a rules question and needs to be asked on the rules forums so it can be FAQed and seen by the design team.
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Well glad to have the iconic antipaladin answer put to rest. Funnily I am curious what the iconic antipaladin would actually look like. Knowing you are unlikely to expend you valuable time and effort to a rather fringe concern, but I always like Paizo's artistic take on characters. Do you think one focused on a chaotic neutral diety, or chaotic evil diety would work better for an iconic?
It's not like this was just now put to rest. We've said from the start that it's not an iconic, but folks keep assuming that. It'd e cool if this DID put it to rest finally, but I doubt it. The thread's too big at this point, and in a few weeks that answer will be lost and a few more new folks will ask again.
If we DID decide to make an iconic antipaladin, I would order it as a male human antipaladin of Rovagug, I suspect.
Since it's an iconic, it would HAVE to worship a chaotic evil deity. An antipaladin who doesn't worship a chaotic evil deity is a rarity and an exception and has nothing to do with being iconic.
1) Would this lady, a Shoanti(?) warpriest of Lamashtu complete with a falchion and C-section scars, also work reasonably well as an anti-paladin of Lamashtu?
2) Which demon lord or chaotic evil god would be the most entertained by the punting of live pigs?
3) Which demon lord or chaotic evil god would most favor a "black knight" look for his or her antipaladins? (I'd expect a follower of Kotschtchie to have a more vikingish look, antipaladins of Rovagug to look like something out of Mad Max, and I'd expect a follower of Nocticula or Socoth-Benoth to glamer his or her armor to be considerably less modest, but I could be wrong on those counts)
4) Is the game of Bloodpig unique to Korvosa?
5) How often do PCs in your games get glamered armor? How often do those who do, do something silly with it? (Example from one of my past games - a female cavalier (with a female player, for the record) using glamered to make her +5 heavy fortification mithril full plate look like an actual chain mail bikini.)
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1) Would this lady, a Shoanti(?) warpriest of Lamashtu complete with a falchion and C-section scars, also work reasonably well as an anti-paladin of Lamashtu?
2) Which demon lord or chaotic evil god would be the most entertained by the punting of live pigs?
3) Which demon lord or chaotic evil god would most favor a "black knight" look for his or her antipaladins? (I'd expect a follower of Kotschtchie to have a more vikingish look, antipaladins of Rovagug to look like something out of Mad Max, and I'd expect a follower of Nocticula or Socoth-Benoth to glamer his or her armor to be considerably less modest, but I could be wrong on those counts)
4) Is the game of Bloodpig unique to Korvosa?
5) How often do PCs in your games get glamered armor? How often do those who do, do something silly with it? (Example from one of my past games - a female cavalier (with a female player, for the record) using glamered to make her +5 heavy fortification mithril full plate look like an actual chain mail bikini.)
1) If she put on more armor, maybe.
2) None come to mind.
3) Hmmm. Probably Baphomet or maybe Xoveron. Maybe Orcus. Nurgal perhaps, but his association with the desert makes fully-armored knights weird.
4) It is, in fact, unique to Old Korvosa; it's not really played anywhere but in that adventure's setup.
5) Never.
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Well glad to have the iconic antipaladin answer put to rest. Funnily I am curious what the iconic antipaladin would actually look like. Knowing you are unlikely to expend you valuable time and effort to a rather fringe concern, but I always like Paizo's artistic take on characters. Do you think one focused on a chaotic neutral diety, or chaotic evil diety would work better for an iconic?It's not like this was just now put to rest. We've said from the start that it's not an iconic, but folks keep assuming that. It'd e cool if this DID put it to rest finally, but I doubt it. The thread's too big at this point, and in a few weeks that answer will be lost and a few more new folks will ask again.
If we DID decide to make an iconic antipaladin, I would order it as a male human antipaladin of Rovagug, I suspect.
Since it's an iconic, it would HAVE to worship a chaotic evil deity. An antipaladin who doesn't worship a chaotic evil deity is a rarity and an exception and has nothing to do with being iconic.
What about an Antipaladin of Nocticula?
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Creative Director
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What about an Antipaladin of Nocticula?Well glad to have the iconic antipaladin answer put to rest. Funnily I am curious what the iconic antipaladin would actually look like. Knowing you are unlikely to expend you valuable time and effort to a rather fringe concern, but I always like Paizo's artistic take on characters. Do you think one focused on a chaotic neutral diety, or chaotic evil diety would work better for an iconic?It's not like this was just now put to rest. We've said from the start that it's not an iconic, but folks keep assuming that. It'd e cool if this DID put it to rest finally, but I doubt it. The thread's too big at this point, and in a few weeks that answer will be lost and a few more new folks will ask again.
If we DID decide to make an iconic antipaladin, I would order it as a male human antipaladin of Rovagug, I suspect.
Since it's an iconic, it would HAVE to worship a chaotic evil deity. An antipaladin who doesn't worship a chaotic evil deity is a rarity and an exception and has nothing to do with being iconic.
Hardly an iconic choice. She's more about assassins and seducers than she is about antipaladins, after all, and beyond that, she's not a core 20 deity.
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Can I interest you in some Cthurkey?
Ha.
But no.
I'll eat squid, but octopus is off the list. They're too smart to eat.