Owner - D20 Hobbies
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Questions I've always wished were in the FAQ. Care to answer Mr Jacobs? Or convince someone to FAQ-ize them?
- Weapon Focus Unarmed Strike (and any other effect) will not provide it's bonus when using Brass Knuckles/Cestus (APG) or Gauntlets. Details:SKR says they are weapons not unarmed attacks
I see a lot of people insist that a +5 Brass Knuckle with an Amulet of Mighty Fists Shocking Flaming Frost Merciful Acidic (+5 equiv) will grant the Monk +5 to attack and +5 + 5d6 to damage to all his Flurry of Blows attacks with Unarmed Strike. They point to various lines in the Brass Knuckle saying it is an Unarmed Attack and claim that is all the proof they need.
- Attacks that deal bleed process the bleed each time, once on the enemy's next turn, or the maximum of all attacks delta? Details:Cheliax: Empire of Devils p26 says
When you damage an opponent ... you deal an extra 1d4 bleed damage.
Special: This ability does not stack with other special abilities, attacks, or items that allow you to deal bleed damage.So a full attack, 4 hits, 4 rolls of bleed:
1, 3, 3, 4Does the opponent take:
4 damage (because the 1, 3, 3, 4 don't stack) and 1d4 each round
11 damage (because you add each "extra" bleed) and 1d4 each round
no damage (because it all happens on his turn) and 1d4 each round
- Very Small Creatures provoke when taking a 5 ft step Details:Core p194
A Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creature can move into or through an occupied square. The creature provokes attacks of opportunity when doing so.
Core p189
Take 5 Foot Step … Taking this 5-foot step never provokes an attack of opportunity.
- Reach is square or round (like Fireball) in shape Details:In 3.5 there was a line asserting that reach was square or put another way the rule of diagonals didn't count for determining reach.
In PF, this line was removed.So we we count diagonals in Reach as always 1 or every other 2 squares?
- APG Alternate Druids gain Wild Shape at 6th or 8th and never 4th Details:APG p103
Lion Shaman says "Wild Shape (Su): At 6th level, a lion shaman’s wild shape ability functions at her druid level – 2. If she takes on the form of a feline, she instead uses her druid level + 2."This means that you do not gain Wild Shape until 6th level, but at 6th it works as if you were 4th level if not using a Lion or as if you were 8th level if using a Lion.
- Sidestep Secret replaces Dex to AC and also replaces Dex to CMD despite not saying so.Details:APG p 50
Sidestep Secret (Su) Your innate understanding of the universe has granted you preternatural reflexes and the uncanny ability to step out of danger at the very last second. Add your Charisma modifier (instead of your Dexterity modifier) to your Armor Class and all Reflex saving throws.Your Cha mod is now your Dex to AC ability, so when calculating CMD you would use your Cha instead of Dex? Otherwise when you lose Dex to AC (like you effectively do with this) you must apply that same penalty to CMD. If you do not also apply your new Cha to CMD you end up losing Dex and not gaining Cha to CMD.
- Effects some same source don't stackDetails:Five Orange Ioun stones each providing an untyped bonus to caster level do not stack to grant +5 caster level, but Five different items could all stack.
This is mostly dismissed by asserting any of the following:
- The +1 caster level is not a "bonus" and therefore not limited by stacking rules (if it benefits you it is a bonus.)
- The five different ioun stones are different sources (they are the same source as they are the same item, just five different copies of the same source.)
- I could just create five different items like an ioun stone, a floating lantern, a mechanical owl, a hat, and a shoe that work like orange ioun stone (sure and your DM is free to create those items for you to craft, but he is also free to say orange ioun stones stack despite not stacking RAW.)
- The +1 caster level is not a "bonus" and therefore not limited by stacking rules (if it benefits you it is a bonus.)
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I guess I'm just not a fan of a mass organized effort against the Mythos. Too much of a Lovecraft purist.
Kthulhu: Not to derail this thread, but I often find that these criticisms come from people who haven't actually played or read Delta Green, as it's a lot more bleak than, say, The Dunwich Horror.
Delta Green is only a small handful of illegal operatives with no real understanding of the mythos beyond the idea that there's "bad stuff out there". They're drastically overmatched and typically only one step away from prison, madness, or death. As such, DG comes off as fairly "purist" to, even if the protagonists are a bit more proactive than Lovecraft's heroes.
It's not James Bond vs. Cthulhu, or Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six vs. Cthulhu, nor is it the spy version of Titus Crow.
The tone is certainly grittier than Lovecraft, but the thematic elements are much the same, with cosmic nihilism remaining at the forefront. Like Lovecraft's heroes, experienced DG agents understand that they're not really stopping anything, only fighting so that mankind can maintain its blissful ignorance for one more day.
Is the cloaker meant to pin now that engulf is now defined in bestiary 2 or can I stick my ka-bar into its nasty repugnant face while it tries to eat me.
Creative Director
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Questions I've always wished were in the FAQ. Care to answer Mr Jacobs?
Whew... I'll take a shot at answering these, but only in a "Here's how I'd rule these in my game" sort of way. If you're a GM looking for advice, well and good. If you're a player looking for "ammunition" to use against your GM to make things go your way via rules lawyering bolstered by the words of a Paizo employee... lame. In THAT case, ask your GM to rule on these questions.
But anyway, here goes.
1) Weapon Focus (unarmed strike) and similar feats apply to unarmed strikes only. If you want those bonuses with brass knuckles (or whatever) you need to take Weapon Focus (brass knuckles) or whatever.
2) ONLY bleed damage "bleeds." In the case of your example, where your attack is inflicting 1d4 ponts of bleed, a victim wounded by you takes 1d4 points of damage each round after you wound him until the bleed effect ends. It doesn't matter how often you wound him or what weapon you used to wound him at all. 1 hit from a dagger or 10 hits from a greatsword all work the same•1d4 bleed each round thereafter. If you have an attack or something that lets you inflict MORE than 1d4 bleed damage, your paltry 1d4 bonus is effectively overwritten and no longer matters.
3) No creature provokes attack of opportunity when they make a 5 foot step, regardless of size.
4) I prefer to count reach as squares. It's just easier.
5) I'm not seeing a problem at all. An APG alternative druid can wild shape into two categories; his favored one (which functions at higher than his actual level) or his not favored one (which acts at a lower level than his actual level). Seems simple and cut and dried to me. (shrug)
6) Sidestep Secret: This ONLY replaces your Dex with your Cha for your AC and your Reflex saves. It has no effect on any other score derived from your Dexterity. Initiative, skill checks, CMD, and all the rest - those still use your Dex modifier.
7) I would not allow the bonus to caster level granted by an orange ioun stone to stack with any other effect that increases caster levels.
Will there ever be an AP with a +10 Magic weapon, +10 Magic Armor and a +10 Magic shield given out as a "set" for some ancient azlanti type hero who died long ago?
Epic end of AP treasure seems a little lacking. Kingmaker had a neat toy but it doesn'teven fully go "pow" til the AP is over.
what was the idea behind making seltyiel evil?
Does Valeros ever get the girl? Or just slapped alot? Will he have any luck with the inquisitor iconic? I mean hey , hasn't he tried every one else?
In Second Darkness there was huge spamming on "Drow are monsters NOT PCs" how do you feel about everyone making PF Drow characters all over the place (3.5 once more!)??
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Creative Director
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Will there ever be an AP with a +10 Magic weapon, +10 Magic Armor and a +10 Magic shield given out as a "set" for some ancient azlanti type hero who died long ago?
Epic end of AP treasure seems a little lacking. Kingmaker had a neat toy but it doesn'teven fully go "pow" til the AP is over.
We generally give out about 150% to 200% of the "recommended" treasure values, according to the tables in chapter 12 of the RPG. This is because not all of the treasure in any one adventure will be recovered, and some of that that IS recovered will either not be recognized as treasure or not utilized as treasure, and because we need to account for unexpected costs to a certain extent.
If you have more than 4 players in your group, you need to increase treasure amounts as well.
But in the end, since our Adventure Paths generally stop at 16th level or so, they don't ever reach a point where things like +5 vorpal longswords or rings of elemental command get given out a lot.
If that bothers you as a GM, change it. That's the point of being a GM.
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Creative Director
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what was the idea behind making seltyiel evil?
Does Valeros ever get the girl? Or just slapped alot? Will he have any luck with the inquisitor iconic? I mean hey , hasn't he tried every one else?
In Second Darkness there was huge spamming on "Drow are monsters NOT PCs" how do you feel about everyone making PF Drow characters all over the place (3.5 once more!)??
We wanted to have an evil iconic, as a nod to the fact that Golarion is a darker campaign setting than, say, the Forgotten Realm and because we wanted to show off the fact that with Pathfinder, you CAN have a paladin and an evil character in the same party. Also... evil is fun.
Valeros may not even be into girls. In any case, the details of our iconcs' sex lives are more or less left to the imagination of our creative and talented fan base. DON'T LET US DOWN!
I don't really care about players making lots of drow characters, honestly. Hell, I do so myself. My favorite character, the one I chose to stat up in the NPC guide (Shensen) started out life as a drow (she got reincarnated along the way into an aquatic half elf). And I'm currently playing a drow in Sean Reynold's game (although this one's evil, so that doesn't really count). The ENTIRE point of us "spamming" the drow are monsters bit during Second Darkness was us trying to distance ourself from Driz'zt, really. That, and the fundamental fact that the way drow work in Golarion makes it even harder for them to be good than in most other settings, of course.
Oh we know Valeros is into girls - we don't know if he's into boys too.
Oh we know Valeros is into girls - we don't know if he's into boys too.
Do lizardfolk gunslinger perfer smaller caliber bullets so they waste less meat being mangled up by the bullets when they eat their kill?
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A friend of mine is going to GM her first Pathfinder game with the Price of Immortality trilogy I got her for Christmas.
Do you have any advice to give a new GM?
What about a new GM who is GMing the person who introduced her to the game only last year?
Any specific advice for running Crypt of the Everflame? (please spoiler, since I'll be a player in this module - I'll link her to the post)
what was the idea behind making seltyiel evil?
Does Valeros ever get the girl? Or just slapped alot? Will he have any luck with the inquisitor iconic? I mean hey , hasn't he tried every one else?
In Second Darkness there was huge spamming on "Drow are monsters NOT PCs" how do you feel about everyone making PF Drow characters all over the place (3.5 once more!)??
We wanted to have an evil iconic, as a nod to the fact that Golarion is a darker campaign setting than, say, the Forgotten Realm and because we wanted to show off the fact that with Pathfinder, you CAN have a paladin and an evil character in the same party. Also... evil is fun.
Valeros may not even be into girls. In any case, the details of our iconcs' sex lives are more or less left to the imagination of our creative and talented fan base. DON'T LET US DOWN!
I don't really care about players making lots of drow characters, honestly. Hell, I do so myself. My favorite character, the one I chose to stat up in the NPC guide (Shensen) started out life as a drow (she got reincarnated along the way into an aquatic half elf). And I'm currently playing a drow in Sean Reynold's game (although this one's evil, so that doesn't really count). The ENTIRE point of us "spamming" the drow are monsters bit during Second Darkness was us trying to distance ourself from Driz'zt, really. That, and the fundamental fact that the way drow work in Golarion makes it even harder for them to be good than in most other settings, of course.
The reason I asked about Valeros is his write up and various art in APs.
Where's the one where Valeros, Merisel, The Cleric Girl and The Wizard are at a bath house or something.
The Art Makes it look like Valeros has done something 'cad like' there are more than just that one.
Gives me the sense Val doesn't do well in the Charisma based skills department. I thought that might be part of his "schtick"
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Creative Director
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A friend of mine is going to GM her first Pathfinder game with the Price of Immortality trilogy I got her for Christmas.
Do you have any advice to give a new GM?
What about a new GM who is GMing the person who introduced her to the game only last year?
Any specific advice for running Crypt of the Everflame? (please spoiler, since I'll be a player in this module - I'll link her to the post)
Crypt of the Everflame is actually a pretty good choice for a first adventure for a first-time GM. There's actually a lot of advice in there already.
what would Seltyiels motivation be in CoT AP?
He worships Asmodeous, is LE, and is from Cheliax. So why would he be against/not like the current government and/or law enforcement (knights).
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Creative Director
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what would Seltyiels motivation be in CoT AP?
He worships Asmodeous, is LE, and is from Cheliax. So why would he be against/not like the current government and/or law enforcement (knights).
The church of Asmodeus is not 100% in cahoots with/supports the House of Thrune, for one thing.
For another, Seltyiel isn't a divine spellcaster, and thus his worship of Asmodeus isn't quite as devout as it would be if he were a cleric.
As for an exact motivation to want to go on the Council of Thieves AP... that'd be his player's job to figure out, honestly. There should be, if I remember correctly, a few trait options in the Council of Thieves Player's Guide for Chelaxian patriots to take and still enjoy playing the AP.
Actually, it makes me a little bit disappointed and let down. What's this "or" stuff? The proper response would have been "and". :D
Wearing clothes AND a tiara...oh dear me no, that just wouldn't be British.
any chance we'll see archtypes for Clerics, Sorcerers and Wizards that are Subdomains, new Bloodlines or Focused Specialist schools? while those in the APG are pretty cool, it's kinda limiting. All Infernal Sorcerers are more or less the same, beyond spell choice.
It would be really cool if we could see archtypes that still allow one variation, beyond what's presented in the Core(more or less).
Or would it be possible to see more options created for each Domain, Bloodline or Specialist school, so that a given level, you can choose between a couple of abilities/powers??
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any chance we'll see archtypes for Clerics, Sorcerers and Wizards that are Subdomains, new Bloodlines or Focused Specialist schools? while those in the APG are pretty cool, it's kinda limiting. All Infernal Sorcerers are more or less the same, beyond spell choice.
It would be really cool if we could see archtypes that still allow one variation, beyond what's presented in the Core(more or less).
Or would it be possible to see more options created for each Domain, Bloodline or Specialist school, so that a given level, you can choose between a couple of abilities/powers??
THIS. +1000 times this. It's my biggest problem with the major caster classes right now.
THIS. +1000 times this. It's my biggest problem with the major caster classes right now.
The most sensible (and flexible) way to do this actually is to keep with the subdomains, bloodlines and schools. But with more specialization:
Infernal (hamatulatsu) sorcerer
Infernal (barbezu) sorcerer
Infernal (imp) sorcerer
etc
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Creative Director
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In Golarion a Cleric that worships a dead deity (like Andoren) cannot cast spells but can they still use Scrolls and wands or would they need to take ranks in use magic device?
They'd still be able to use scrolls and wands. That's sorta like being a faith parasite though...
Actually... maybe they wouldn't be able to use scrolls even. Hmm.
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Creative Director
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any chance we'll see archtypes for Clerics, Sorcerers and Wizards that are Subdomains, new Bloodlines or Focused Specialist schools? while those in the APG are pretty cool, it's kinda limiting. All Infernal Sorcerers are more or less the same, beyond spell choice.
It would be really cool if we could see archtypes that still allow one variation, beyond what's presented in the Core(more or less).
Or would it be possible to see more options created for each Domain, Bloodline or Specialist school, so that a given level, you can choose between a couple of abilities/powers??
Absolutely. Archetypes for the ones who got skipped in APG are going to be in several upcoming books.
Apollo 18 trailer is out now. Seen it? Thoughts?
what's the coolest item you own?? Weirdest? and do you own anything that others might be(or actually are) jealous of??
In a game of rock , paper, scissors, using only dinosaurs:
Which dino is the rock, which is the paper and which is the scissors??
Seeing as Serpents Skull had an ocean going 'teaser' feel to it with smugglers shiv, any plans in the future for an ALL Seaborne AP with lost islands (like atlantis) Ghost Ships and maybe some underwater world exploration?
I'm trying to develop my sense of balance for designing (with an eye on RPG Superstar 2012!) - so I would like to know if a trait that granted "Gifted Combatant - You may qualify for feats as if you had +1 base attack bonus" is too good or just right.
I'm trying to develop my sense of balance for designing (with an eye on RPG Superstar 2012!) - so I would like to know if a trait that granted "Gifted Combatant - You may qualify for feats as if you had +1 base attack bonus" is too good or just right.
Do you mean a + 1 to your normal BaB or just that you count as having a BaB of +1? I am figuring it is the first one...but just reading it I though it was unclear.
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Creative Director
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what's the coolest item you own?? Weirdest? and do you own anything that others might be(or actually are) jealous of??
Well... I've got authographed books from Clive Barker and Stephen King that I got them to sign in person. Clive Barker even drew a scary clown in my book for me. Or maybe my life-size replica tyrannosaurus tooth? And my ginormous H. P. Lovecraft art book is pretty awesome. As is the original Wayne Reynolds art of the goblins from the cover of Pathfinder #1, or his original art for Merisiel from Pathfinder #3. And there's always Professor Angell's Box as well. OH! Or maybe my dogslicer, from the Burnt Offerings stage play! So yeah, probably one of those?
As for weirdest... hmm. Either the framed poster of "The She-Creature," or perhaps my stuffed, plushy Necronomicon.
And as for jealousy... any of those above might work, depending who you are. But on these boards? Probably the hand-drawn globe of Golarion I made using a black pen and a 24" circumference rubber ball that's sitting in my office.
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Creative Director
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In a game of rock , paper, scissors, using only dinosaurs:
Which dino is the rock, which is the paper and which is the scissors??
Ooh. This is a KICK ASS question.
Scissors = Tyrannosaurus, who pretty much chewed through the velociraptor with no problem at all in Jurassic Park.
Paper = Velociraptor, because those talons cut DEEP, and because once they jump onto the Tricaratops's back he can't even see them through his head frill and he's as good as dead.
Rock = Triceratops, who, according to the 1st edition D&D Monster Manual, sometimes kills Tyrannosaurus because Tyrannosaurus is stupid enough to swallow a Triceratops head whole and thus tear up his insides on those three horns.
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Creative Director
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Seeing as Serpents Skull had an ocean going 'teaser' feel to it with smugglers shiv, any plans in the future for an ALL Seaborne AP with lost islands (like atlantis) Ghost Ships and maybe some underwater world exploration?
We did a fair amount of ocean stuff in Savage Tide. Folks do keep asking for more ocean stuff, so I suspect that some day we'll get back to that. But none of the APs I've got planned through to 2013 have a strong ocean element to them... so it might be a while.
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Creative Director
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I'm trying to develop my sense of balance for designing (with an eye on RPG Superstar 2012!) - so I would like to know if a trait that granted "Gifted Combatant - You may qualify for feats as if you had +1 base attack bonus" is too good or just right.
Too good. Opens up way too many feats that were intended to be for +1 BAB classes only at 1st level for anyone. Also, that trait does nothing really on its own, by itself, which is kinda unfun.
Probably going to be eaten by a Dinosaur for this ...
Dear J.J., how many offerings of kittens will it take for us to get a Half-Orc Iconic?
Why are there no 'low level' golems for players to craft other than the Homunculus? And possibly worthy of a stomp-wriggle heel-scrape foot moment, but why does the Iron Cobra require such a high-level spell when it's a low CR encounter?
Will we ever get a 'prehistory' view of the ancient ways of Dwarves while they were deep underground, of the Elven way of life waaaaay back when Humanity was still learning to walk upright, and possibly even the warring civilisations of the Lizardfolk and the Serpent-Folk? *big puppy-dog eyes*
*excessive-force face-desk* crap, I forgot about her. Forgive me, got mixed up with good old Krusk and the fact our new Barbarian Iconic is a Kellid. Bah. BAH, I say, I'm sorry I screwed that up.
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Creative Director
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Probably going to be eaten by a Dinosaur for this ...
Dear J.J., how many offerings of kittens will it take for us to get a Half-Orc Iconic?
Why are there no 'low level' golems for players to craft other than the Homunculus? And possibly worthy of a stomp-wriggle heel-scrape foot moment, but why does the Iron Cobra require such a high-level spell when it's a low CR encounter?
Will we ever get a 'prehistory' view of the ancient ways of Dwarves while they were deep underground, of the Elven way of life waaaaay back when Humanity was still learning to walk upright, and possibly even the warring civilisations of the Lizardfolk and the Serpent-Folk? *big puppy-dog eyes*
Re Half Orc Iconic: Zero kittens. As has been pointed out, we've done one!
Re Low Level Golems: Golems, with their high damage reduction and invulnerability against magic, don't really make good options for low level monsters. Constructs as a whole aren't really meant to really be things that PCs can craft, either. They're more monsters than friends.
Re Prehistory of ancient times: Since we tend to skew our products toward things that more players and GMs can play in, probably not... a "prehistoric" book would be a bit difficult to role into other setting material.
Ooooooh, just thought of something.
Will there ever be a 'War of the Monsters' module in a campaign, where the PCs must discover/recover/create their own 'Kajiu' creatures to counter the Spawn of Rovagug, whom are coming together towards the Pit of Rovarug in a ritual led by the followers of the Unruly Beast to break his chains once and for all.
PCs get swept up as the smallest, least worthy of the Spawn rampages through the town they are in before being brought down and 'sealed' by an elite, shadowy group. PCs end up being grabbed as well for a variety of reasons, and find a Venerable Elf is the leader, who witnessed the Tarrasque destroy his family as a child and has devoted the considerable span of his years (advanced even further by powerful magic) to finding a way to destroy the Spawn.
Can see some epic encounters where the PCs are battling 'normal' enemies and are also having to keep an eye out for the Spawn, and other Kaiju, that are fighting in the background. Battles could include the PCs having to dodge the raining debris, or the flailing limbs of the Kaiju even as they deal with the insane Cultists whom are using magical artefacts to draw the Spawn together, against their instincts.
PCs find the rare materials needed to empower Gargantuan Golemns, befriending ancient protectors, magically dominating savage monsters to be used as living War Engines and always striving against the Spawn and the insane Cult of the Beast to prevent the Spawn closing in on Rovagug's Prison to engage in a terrifying battle of Survival of the Deadliest, wherein the surviving Spawn will assimilate the fallen, descend to the Pit and devour the chains that bind Rovagug, freeing the Unruly Beast to ravage the world once again.