So... how addicted are you to caffeine?
Have you ever seen Manos: The Hands of Fate? Without robots in the front row?
Who's your favorite Marx brother?
If you had a kobold cavalier, what would you have as it's mount?
Very. I generally have one to three cups of coffee a day; usually in the form of Vanilla Via or sugar free nonfat grande lattes.
Yes. No.
Karl.
Deinonychus.
I heard Karl's routines were a hit in Russia, but Zeppo could out dance and out sing Karl anyday
My apologies for bothering again, but back to the monk of the empty hand: Is there a way for him to benefit from weapon focus for his improvised weapon attacks? I suspect "Weapon Focus (improvised)" does not count. But if the monk took Martial Weapon Proficiency (quarterstaff), then Weapon Focus (quarterstaff); would his attacks with two-handed weapons (which function as an improvised quarterstaff) benefit from the Weapon Focus (quarterstaff) feat?
...by extension, can the monk take Martial Weapon Proficiency (quarterstaff) at level 1 and become a monk of the empty hand and a weapon adept (quarterstaff)?
Creative Director
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Are you psychic? Or is it one of your fellow employees? There is so much stuff coming out in Ultimate Magic and the Inner Sea World Guide I can't wait for. Vermin related stuff and now clockworks. Plus the section on spell creation.Any chance we gonna get some rules for clockworks?There's relatively basic rules for clockwork constructs in the upcoming Inner Sea World Guide.
Nah; just good at knowing what folks want to see rules for. Partially because we pay attention to threads where people talk about what's fun in their games (even non Pathfinder games), and partially because we want most of the same things ourselves.
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Creative Director
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My apologies for bothering again, but back to the monk of the empty hand: Is there a way for him to benefit from weapon focus for his improvised weapon attacks? I suspect "Weapon Focus (improvised)" does not count. But if the monk took Martial Weapon Proficiency (quarterstaff), then Weapon Focus (quarterstaff); would his attacks with two-handed weapons (which function as an improvised quarterstaff) benefit from the Weapon Focus (quarterstaff) feat?
...by extension, can the monk take Martial Weapon Proficiency (quarterstaff) at level 1 and become a monk of the empty hand and a weapon adept (quarterstaff)?
Nope; Weapon Focus specifically requires a weapon to focus on. "Improvised weapon" is a HUGE category of weapons... an analogy would be taking Weapon Focus (slashing weapons). Best you could do, I suppose, would be to pick the type of improvised weapon you'd be using most often and take the Weapon Focus in that feat—say, Weapon Focus (broken bottle) or Weapon Focus (folding chair).
If the monk took Weapon Focus in an actual weapon, he'd only gain the bonuses when using THAT weapon, not a weapon that emulates the weapon.
Unless, of course, you have a generous GM.
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Creative Director
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The WOW d20 RPG implemented runecasting in two character classes.the divine runecaster and arcanist inscriber. Just checking my copy the classes and associated mechanics were published as open source so they might be worth looking into for adaptation.
I might be misremembering, but I recall the Warcraft d20 games being only partially open. This happens a LOT. A great example is when a company makes the stats for a new monster open content, but specifically says the name and the flavor text for the monster are NOT open content. Kinda misses the point of open content.
In any case, companies who do that self-select their products to NOT be looked at by us here at Paizo because we'd rather err on the side of not using content that might have hidden restrictions than accidentally mentioning a protected name or bit of content.
Most recent horror book I've read is actually an anthology: "Lovecraft Unbound." I'm not done with it yet, but there's some good stories in there.
I enjoyed "Lovecraft Unbound". Good choice! Have you read "Shadows over Bakerstreet"? Short story collection that mixes Sherlock Holmes and Lovecraft. Some very good stories, though they put the best (imo) right at the front: Neil Gaiman's "A Study in Emerald". That story's ending actually caught me off guard.
And since horror is being discussed, have you read any Thomas Ligotti? His "Nightmare Factory" is the only horror book that's actually kept me awake at night. Like Lovecraft meets Philip K. Dick.
Is there a good way to anagram your name? I've tried, but can't manage a reasonable one.Huh. Never tried. None that I know of.
Aces Jam Jobs (edit: Geraint ninja'd) -- That's the best one, methinks.
See this fun link
1) what is your Favorite Pathfinder Product
2) What is your Least favorite pathfinder product
3) Why??
4) Favorite Pathfinder character class?
5) Is this the same favorite character class you had in 3.5? or did making pathfinder change the classes you like to play?
6) What class are you least likely to play, why?
7) If you were to multiclass with a gunslinger, you would play a gunslinger/___________?
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Creative Director
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Most recent horror book I've read is actually an anthology: "Lovecraft Unbound." I'm not done with it yet, but there's some good stories in there.I enjoyed "Lovecraft Unbound". Good choice! Have you read "Shadows over Bakerstreet"? Short story collection that mixes Sherlock Holmes and Lovecraft. Some very good stories, though they put the best (imo) right at the front: Neil Gaiman's "A Study in Emerald". That story's ending actually caught me off guard.
And since horror is being discussed, have you read any Thomas Ligotti? His "Nightmare Factory" is the only horror book that's actually kept me awake at night. Like Lovecraft meets Philip K. Dick.
I have "Shadows over Baker Street" on my giant shelf of books to read. I've read the first few stories in there, but got distracted by "Lovecraft Unbound," which has MUCH better stories in it.
I have indeed read lots of Thomas Ligotti. He's a great writer. I particularly liked "The Last Feast of Harlequin" and "Prodigy of Dreams," which should come as no surprise...
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Creative Director
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1) what is your Favorite Pathfinder Product
2) What is your Least favorite pathfinder product
3) Why??
4) Favorite Pathfinder character class?
5) Is this the same favorite character class you had in 3.5? or did making pathfinder change the classes you like to play?
6) What class are you least likely to play, why?
7) If you were to multiclass with a gunslinger, you would play a gunslinger/___________?
1) The one that just went to press.
2) The one I'm working on right now that's keeping me from having a weekend because we're scrambling to get it to press.
3) See above.
4) Bard.
5) Same.
6) Paladin, because lawful good is my least favorite alignment, and becasue paladins are too limiting in roleplay opportunities for my tastes—I much prefer playing scrapy/creepy/kinda crazy characters.
7) gunslinger/rogue
James,
I have been playing a paladin that is hoping to be a cleric of Iomedae in a great PBP here on the messageboards. I just made a motivating speech in the city of Karcau and have been thinking about adding performance as a skill. When I think about how much clerics and paladins rally, motivate, inspire, and speak in public, I was surprised that Perform was not a class skill for either of those classes, but it is for a monk. I have a few questions.
1. What is the reasoning behind giving perform as a class skill to a monk, but not a cleric or paladin?
2. What skill check would you make to motivate people? Diplomacy or Perform?
3. Is there an option for a character to select a skill as class skill if it fits into their background? I am aware of the Skill Focus feat, but is there a trait or a feat that allows for a skill to be a class skill?
Thanks for all of the great adventures you've written! I am glad to know you are at Paizo!
I have indeed read lots of Thomas Ligotti. He's a great writer. I particularly liked "The Last Feast of Harlequin" and "Prodigy of Dreams," which should come as no surprise...
You, sir, have good taste. Too few people know Ligotti's work, in my opinion. ;)
4) Favorite Pathfinder character class?4) Bard.
Woohoo!
What song would you suggest a bard play in a tavern between adventures?
My apologies for bothering again, but back to the monk of the empty hand: Is there a way for him to benefit from weapon focus for his improvised weapon attacks? I suspect "Weapon Focus (improvised)" does not count. But if the monk took Martial Weapon Proficiency (quarterstaff), then Weapon Focus (quarterstaff); would his attacks with two-handed weapons (which function as an improvised quarterstaff) benefit from the Weapon Focus (quarterstaff) feat?
...by extension, can the monk take Martial Weapon Proficiency (quarterstaff) at level 1 and become a monk of the empty hand and a weapon adept (quarterstaff)?
Nope; Weapon Focus specifically requires a weapon to focus on. "Improvised weapon" is a HUGE category of weapons... an analogy would be taking Weapon Focus (slashing weapons). Best you could do, I suppose, would be to pick the type of improvised weapon you'd be using most often and take the Weapon Focus in that feat—say, Weapon Focus (broken bottle) or Weapon Focus (folding chair).
If the monk took Weapon Focus in an actual weapon, he'd only gain the bonuses when using THAT weapon, not a weapon that emulates the weapon.
Unless, of course, you have a generous GM.
Thanks! From the last part I infer that a monk of the empty hand could get proficiency and focus in quarterstaff, and wield the quarterstaff as an improvised weapon (for flurrying) and still get the benefit of weapon focus. (While of course not getting the benefit for improvised weapons that function like a quarterstaff.)
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Creative Director
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James,
I have been playing a paladin that is hoping to be a cleric of Iomedae in a great PBP here on the messageboards. I just made a motivating speech in the city of Karcau and have been thinking about adding performance as a skill. When I think about how much clerics and paladins rally, motivate, inspire, and speak in public, I was surprised that Perform was not a class skill for either of those classes, but it is for a monk. I have a few questions.
1. What is the reasoning behind giving perform as a class skill to a monk, but not a cleric or paladin?
2. What skill check would you make to motivate people? Diplomacy or Perform?
3. Is there an option for a character to select a skill as class skill if it fits into their background? I am aware of the Skill Focus feat, but is there a trait or a feat that allows for a skill to be a class skill?
Thanks for all of the great adventures you've written! I am glad to know you are at Paizo!
1) You're misunderstanding performance's role. The skill you're looking for is Diplomacy, which is indeed a class skill for paladins and clerics. Diplomacy has actual rules for changing attitudes and making friends. Perform does not; perform is all about just entertaining and making money. If you want to use performance to bolster your friends or motivate folks, play a bard—they specifically get abilities like bardic performances and the Versatile Performance ability that let them use the Perform skill to do things like this. Clerics and paladins who want to do this should just take ranks in Diplomacy.
2) If you're anything but a bard, Diplomacy. If you're a bard, you have the option of using Diplomacy or, if you have the right Versatile Performances, you can use Keyboard, Oratory, String, or Wind to motivate folks. If you're trying to motivate folks without caring what the long-lasting effects are, you can also use Intimidate (or if you're a bard with the right Versatile Performances, comedy, keyboard, or percussion).
3) There are a LOT of traits that adjust what skills function as class skills... but remember that in the Pathfinder system, a skill not being a class skill doesn't have the same impact it did back in 3.5. Not having a class skill ONLY means you miss out on the +3 bonus. At low level, that means a lot. But with every level you gain, that +3 bonus becomes increasingly marginalized by your skill ranks. The difference between having a skill bonus of +5 and +8 at 1st level is pretty big, but the difference between +25 and +28 at high level is pretty minor.
Bards don't have to sing. They can dance or act or orate or play instruments as well.
I understand that, so let's change the questions. What song is the Iconic Bard singing that has such a horrible effect on the people listening?
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Bards don't have to sing. They can dance or act or orate or play instruments as well.4) Favorite Pathfinder character class?4) Bard.Woohoo!
What song would you suggest a bard play in a tavern between adventures?
Two bards, one with a lute, the other with a violin, should always smoke galloise and play Honeysuckle Rose.
Have you read the Pathfinder Tales novels?
If so, which was your favourite character?
2) I don't hate airships at all. What I'm not a fan of is when they're just "tacked on" to a campaign setting. I'm also not a fan of them in "classic" fantasy settings. In steampunk settings, they're really cool (and no, I don't count Eberron as a steampunk setting... Eberron's more of an attempt at an "everything" setting, and that's not a type of setting philosophy I'm a big fan of—you can define a setting as much as by what's in the world as by what's NOT in the world).
That's surprising to hear you say. I always considered Golarion an "everything" setting. Not that I consider that a bad thing I really like both Golarion and Ebberon.
Is there a good way to anagram your name? I've tried, but can't manage a reasonable one.Huh. Never tried. None that I know of.Aces Jam Jobs (edit: Geraint ninja'd) -- That's the best one, methinks.
See this fun link
Cobassy J. Maje
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Creative Director
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Bards don't have to sing. They can dance or act or orate or play instruments as well.I understand that, so let's change the questions. What song is the Iconic Bard singing that has such a horrible effect on the people listening?
If you're talking about the picture on page 209 of the Advanced Player's Guide... he's actually casting mass cacophonous call, one of the spells detailed on page 208 of the same book.
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Creative Director
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That's surprising to hear you say. I always considered Golarion an "everything" setting. Not that I consider that a bad thing I really like both Golarion and Ebberon.
2) I don't hate airships at all. What I'm not a fan of is when they're just "tacked on" to a campaign setting. I'm also not a fan of them in "classic" fantasy settings. In steampunk settings, they're really cool (and no, I don't count Eberron as a steampunk setting... Eberron's more of an attempt at an "everything" setting, and that's not a type of setting philosophy I'm a big fan of—you can define a setting as much as by what's in the world as by what's NOT in the world).
Golarion is a world that COULD accommodate any fantasy trope, but there are plenty that aren't officially part of the world. Things like airships, guns, robots, and clockworks are all found here and there, but not in great quantities and are usually either confined to small regions (where they don't have much impact on the rest of the world) or have faded into the history texts (and are perhaps waiting in remote corners of the world to be rediscovered).
Very. I generally have one to three cups of coffee a day; usually in the form of Vanilla Via or sugar free nonfat grande lattes.So... how addicted are you to caffeine?
Isn't "addicted to caffeine" in the employee handbook somewhere? I thought I saw it somewhere...
Why do some class elements use different voices in the rules? For example:
Revelation: At 1st level, 3rd level, and every four levels thereafter (7th, 11th, and so on), an oracle uncovers a new secret about her mystery that grants her powers and abilities.
Battlecry (Ex): As a standard action, you can unleash an inspiring battlecry.
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James,
Taking map-design as a simile for adventure design: when you have spent your three hours available this week and you have a couple of continents roughly sketched, a line that might be a trade-route and a couple of dots for cities, plus a wonderfully detailed map border of leaping hippocampi and a compass rose with a mermaid cuddling an anchor, how do you create an actual adventure out of the back-story you have written in time for game night?
As a followup question, why is all my rum gone?
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Creative Director
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Why do some class elements use different voices in the rules? For example:
Revelation: At 1st level, 3rd level, and every four levels thereafter (7th, 11th, and so on), an oracle uncovers a new secret about her mystery that grants her powers and abilities.Battlecry (Ex): As a standard action, you can unleash an inspiring battlecry.
Because the various parts of the book are written by different authors, and even though our editors and developers try to scrub those variances out to make it feel like the book was written by one person, those types of changes in voice or style sneak through. And since those variances don't have any impact on the rules, they don't get errattaed.
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Creative Director
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When did you find the time to write a novel?I can't say yet; that'd kinda be a spoiler.Have you read the Pathfinder Tales novels?
If so, which was your favourite character?
OMG I WISH!
Nah... it just means that I get to see novels months and months and months before they're published, or even announced for that matter.
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Creative Director
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James,
Taking map-design as a simile for adventure design: when you have spent your three hours available this week and you have a couple of continents roughly sketched, a line that might be a trade-route and a couple of dots for cities, plus a wonderfully detailed map border of leaping hippocampi and a compass rose with a mermaid cuddling an anchor, how do you create an actual adventure out of the back-story you have written in time for game night?
As a followup question, why is all my rum gone?
The answer to both your questions is: Pirates are involved.
The answer to both your questions is: Pirates are involved.
I LOL'd.
Question(s) about Smuggler's Shiv.
How far is the island from the coast of Sargava? Does the curve of Golarion's sphere allow for characters stranded on Smuggler's Shiv to see the coast of Sargava (far) off in the distance? Even just as a thin line of not-ocean on the horizon? Or is it too mean to give the castaway's hope like that?
Are NPC's for the APs ever past Paizo employee PCs? Like Klorak the Red?
Or do you guys dream them up specifically to be NPCs?
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Creative Director
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Question(s) about Smuggler's Shiv.
How far is the island from the coast of Sargava? Does the curve of Golarion's sphere allow for characters stranded on Smuggler's Shiv to see the coast of Sargava (far) off in the distance? Even just as a thin line of not-ocean on the horizon? Or is it too mean to give the castaway's hope like that?
I don't remember off the top of my head... but the island's on the new Inner Sea map, and will also be on the map in the Inner Sea World Guide, so folks out there can probably provide the actual answer before me.
I believe, though, that I put it far enough out to see that you can't see any other land on the horizon.
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Creative Director
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Are NPC's for the APs ever past Paizo employee PCs? Like Klorak the Red?
Or do you guys dream them up specifically to be NPCs?
NPCs in Adventure Paths are created specifically for the Adventure Paths. Some of our authors may have snuck some based on real people in, but I hope not. That's not a very classy move.
Klorak, in any case, is 100% brand new invented-for-Smuggler's-Shiv NPCness.
I don't remember off the top of my head... but the island's on the new Inner Sea map, and will also be on the map in the Inner Sea World Guide, so folks out there can probably provide the actual answer before me.
I believe, though, that I put it far enough out to see that you can't see any other land on the horizon.
Looks like it's 20-30 miles off the coast near Eleder.
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Currently me and my group are playing through a Mongoose Publishing campaign known as, The Drow War. It has an incredibly epic story and we've had some of our best D&D moments in it. Unfortunately, I've hit a few snags. One top of the fact that they made the horrible error of forgetting maps to key places they also have some extremely bad enemies(the final boss in the first book had only 35hp and was designed to fight a party of lv10 characters)and many more problems. I have done my best converting as much of the book I can to Pathfinder but the work becomes strenuous and time consuming.
SO, my question to you is: Do you have any advice to make converting it easier?
And assuming you still game quite often, when you play D&D, do you call it D&D or Pathfinder?? Regardless of what system we play I always call it D&D.
Looks like it's 20-30 miles off the coast near Eleder.I don't remember off the top of my head... but the island's on the new Inner Sea map, and will also be on the map in the Inner Sea World Guide, so folks out there can probably provide the actual answer before me.
I believe, though, that I put it far enough out to see that you can't see any other land on the horizon.
Cool. Then assuming Golarion's curvature is similar to the earth's you totally CAN see it on a clear day.
(Based on being able to see Catalina Island at 26 miles off the coast from the beach outside Los Angeles)
Have you heard Gamera is friend to children?
How would you stat Gamera, anyway? Would you just advance and template a dragon turtle or would you make a unique monster?
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Cool. Then assuming Golarion's curvature is similar to the earth's you totally CAN see it on a clear day.
(Based on being able to see Catalina Island at 26 miles off the coast from the beach outside Los Angeles)
On a related note: James, have you ever attended the F***ing Catalina Wine Mixer? If Yes, see question (A). If No, see question (B).
(A) What was your favorite wine? And did you ride a helicopter and/or boat to get there?
(B) Why the hell not? Are you afraid of helicopters and/or boats?
EDIT: Bonus question - Do you like flowcharts? Being able to flowchart would make my posts better. I love flowcharts. Will you direct someone to make some pretty Pathfinder flowcharts for me?
Are NPC's for the APs ever past Paizo employee PCs? Like Klorak the Red?
Or do you guys dream them up specifically to be NPCs?
NPCs in Adventure Paths are created specifically for the Adventure Paths. Some of our authors may have snuck some based on real people in, but I hope not. That's not a very classy move.
Klorak, in any case, is 100% brand new invented-for-Smuggler's-Shiv NPCness.
Temauhti-tecuani...... Are you sure that particular "NPC" is not based on you? :-)