Creative Director
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A play-by-post I was in is crashing and I feel like it's my fault for not paying enough attention to it. What do I do?! How do I earn the forgiveness of the other players and the GM I've let down? :(
Apologize to that thread, I guess? Let folks know that for whatever reason you're not able to devote the time to the thread, and suggest replacing your character with someone else or just continuing the thread without you. Just be honest, in other words, and don't go silent.
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Creative Director
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So they just released a trailer for Independance Day: Resurgence.
Did you see the first one?
I did indeed. I liked it less the more often I saw it, in fact. When I first saw it I loved it, but today I think it's kinda ridiculous.
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I did indeed. I liked it less the more often I saw it, in fact. When I first saw it I loved it, but today I think it's kinda ridiculous.So they just released a trailer for Independance Day: Resurgence.
Did you see the first one?
Annoying ridiculous or campy ridiculous?
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Creative Director
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Annoying ridiculous or campy ridiculous?I did indeed. I liked it less the more often I saw it, in fact. When I first saw it I loved it, but today I think it's kinda ridiculous.So they just released a trailer for Independance Day: Resurgence.
Did you see the first one?
Annoying ridiculous. Certain plot elements are just too simple/convenient for my tastes today, plus there's the ripple effect from Godzilla by the same director—a movie I hate so much that it's lessened my appreciation of ALL of the movies he does.
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Annoying ridiculous. Certain plot elements are just too simple/convenient for my tastes today, plus there's the ripple effect from Godzilla by the same director—a movie I hate so much that it's lessened my appreciation of ALL of the movies he does.Annoying ridiculous or campy ridiculous?I did indeed. I liked it less the more often I saw it, in fact. When I first saw it I loved it, but today I think it's kinda ridiculous.So they just released a trailer for Independance Day: Resurgence.
Did you see the first one?
Ah! Sorry.
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Creative Director
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The Question: In Cassomir, where would you estimate purchasing a nice house to be GP wise?
The Source: Back in Guide to Absalom Owen K.C. Stephens included cost of living for Absalom's various districts. I thought this was a nice touch, and wish it had survived to future urban gazetteers.
Same price as pretty much any other place—Cassomir isn't really any different than any other location.
The "cost of living" per district was actually first used in Guide to Korvosa, but it's something we soon abandoned after Guide to Absalom for space reasons. Feel free to use the values in either of those books as a benchmark for setting your own prices for houses in Cassomir or anything else.
Alternately, use the information in Ultimate Campaign to determine building costs. A LOT of buildings are priced out on pages 107–113 of that book. According to that book, a house costs 1,290 gp, while a mansion costs 5,160 gp, and an entire noble villa is 8,920 gp.
I've seen a lot of NPCs in APs with craft feats but without spellcraft (or craft/profession skills).
Are there other uses for those feats? Or other ways to use the feat without skills?
Guess I'm wondering why so many have 'wasted' a feat they can't use.
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Creative Director
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I've seen a lot of NPCs in APs with craft feats but without spellcraft (or craft/profession skills).
Are there other uses for those feats? Or other ways to use the feat without skills?
Guess I'm wondering why so many have 'wasted' a feat they can't use.
I'd love to know where you're seeing these "Lots of NPCs" so that I can backtrack their design and remind the developers that if you give a creature an item creation feat you should also give them Spellcraft or a Craft skill.
THAT SAID: Remember that craft is not a trained skill, and you can still use it to create magic items even if you don't have ranks in it. You won't be as GOOD at it, of course, and some DCs might be out of your reach, but if you've got a high Int mod that can help.
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Hetamon Haace, the tailor in Turn of the Torrent, is described as a Tiefling who gained respect in the city despite his race because of his skill as a tailor. He is also a source for magic items for the rebellion, which he is meant to make himself.
He has ranks in neither Spellcraft or Craft (tailor).
Here are the ones I remember, reading through the Song of Silver prompted this question (I am loving the AP by the way)
3 in Song of Silver
The First Warden (who is a crazy lich, can see an exception here)
Hei Fen
Skinsaw Cultists
None of which have an Int greater than 12 for unskilled crafting.
I recall that Staunton Vahne and the sorcerer on the bridge from Wrath of the Righteous also had crafting feats with no appropriate skills.
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Creative Director
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Hetamon Haace, the tailor in Turn of the Torrent, is described as a Tiefling who gained respect in the city despite his race because of his skill as a tailor. He is also a source for magic items for the rebellion, which he is meant to make himself.
He has ranks in neither Spellcraft or Craft (tailor).
That's an error. He should have ranks in Craft (tailor) and probably Skill Focus with that craft check.
In any event, yeah, looks like something we all need to keep an eye on for NPCs.
That said, it's not going to break game play, nor are any players likely to notice the fact that the NPCs they fight aren't great at building things. Hettamon Haace is an exception; he SHOULD have skills so he can possibly help build things for the PCs as the AP goes on.
Thanks for the feedback though; it's good to know, since it looks like a (minor but still notable) blindspot in NPC design here.
ANYway... on with more questions!
What's your favorite kind of Sandwich?
Soup?
Salad?
(I'm in a bistro mood.)
Favorite place to buy each of those?
Would you like to hire a QA tester for NPCs? :)
More seriously...
Do you have a set way you make PCs?
Like with a picture first, or story, or concept? Or all of the above plus more?
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Creative Director
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What's your favorite kind of Sandwich?
Soup?
Salad?
(I'm in a bistro mood.)
Favorite place to buy each of those?
Sandwich: Peanut butter and raspberry jelly OR turkey (tie)
Soup: Abalone chowder (or dan dan hand shaven chicken noodle since abalone chowder is hard to get)
Salad: Something with basalmic dressing with artichoke hearts
Whole Foods is my standard go-to for all of those at this point, although for abalone chowder, that's gotta be home-made by my parents pretty much. My favorite go to place for sandwiches these days is a local place called Homegrown (where I much prefer the ham and egg and Whole Foods foods I guess.
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Creative Director
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Would you like to hire a QA tester for NPCs? :)
More seriously...
Do you have a set way you make PCs?
Like with a picture first, or story, or concept? Or all of the above plus more?
We actually have plenty of "QA testers" for NPCs (we call them developers), but there's always more to learn, and the moment any of us (be we GMs or designers or developers or editors) think we don't have more to learn, that's the instant things start to go down hill.
When I build a PC, I usually start with the character's personality and history, often picking a deity for her to worship as a way to get things started. I prefer to build bards, clerics, rogues, or (more recently) swashbucklers, but sometimes go with other classes when it becomes apparent a role in the party is lacking. Actual stats and the like are something I don't start working until the end, once I've got in my head the character's personality and goals.
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Hello sir, I have a few questions if you would be up for answering them.
Which of the human races have curly and/or frizzy hair?
If Arazni learned of Herald's Fall from the occult realms book, what would her response be?
Does Arazni still hate Tar-Baphon as much as she did when she was alive?
And finally the most important question, if you were going to make a pathfinder video game, what kind of game would it be? An open world RPG like skyrim? A story filled game like wolf among us or walking dead? Some cross between the two like dragon age? RTS? First person shooter? Or something else altogether?
Who is the interior artist in the APs that does the busts/headshots? I love their work.
Also, did you do the map to the Church of Asmodeus in Song of Silver? I love that design too.
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In all that spare time you have (I think there was a whole half a second of it three years ago) have you considered writing something for the fiction line? Even if it were web fiction (gods forbid a whole novel.)
In fact, writing fiction (be it short stories or a novel) is what I've always wanted to do when I grew up, but fate and destiny have so far worked together to prevent me from ever seeing any of my stories being published. I certainly would LOVE a chance to write a Pathfinder Tales novel, or heck, even write a comic book installment, but so far... just hasn't seemed to be in the cards for me.
Actually, I did get one piece of fiction published in the Pathfinder Journal back in volume 8... but so far, those six pages are pretty much the sum total of my published fiction credits. :-(
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Creative Director
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Who is the interior artist in the APs that does the busts/headshots? I love their work.
Also, did you do the map to the Church of Asmodeus in Song of Silver? I love that design too.
The artists hired to do the head shots is not one artist, and often multiple different artists do head shots for the same adventure. It often changes from volume to volume. One of the jobs the art directors have is to ensure that even if they use a dozen or more different artists in a single book that their styles all work together without being too disruptive.
I did indeed design the map for the Church of Asmodeus in Song of Silver—in fact, I designed ALL the maps for that adventure, along with the maps for many other parts, as it happens—redrawing author map turnovers is one of the bigger parts of a developer's job, since a shockingly low number of adventure writers are good at making maps. Most of those who DO do well at maps tend to see work more often, of course!
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Creative Director
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Hello sir, I have a few questions if you would be up for answering them.
Which of the human races have curly and/or frizzy hair?
If Arazni learned of Herald's Fall from the occult realms book, what would her response be?
Does Arazni still hate Tar-Baphon as much as she did when she was alive?
And finally the most important question, if you were going to make a pathfinder video game, what kind of game would it be? An open world RPG like skyrim? A story filled game like wolf among us or walking dead? Some cross between the two like dragon age? RTS? First person shooter? Or something else altogether?
Any of the human races could potentially have curly or frizzy hair, but if you want to draw parallels with Golarion's ethnicities and the real-world ones they're based on, that works too.
Assuming she doesn't know about it (which may NOT be accurate!) she'd probably try to either harness it for her own uses or, barring that, wreck it.
Yes. She does still hate him.
At this point, if anything were possible, I'd love to see a Pathfinder game that feels close to how Dragon Age Inquisition felt, but with an EVEN STRONGER emphasis on interaction between the player's character and the NPC companions, and a storyline that's not quite so overwhelmingly end-of-the-world and thus had a chance to revel in smaller stories and stuff. That said, I'd also love to see a stealth game akin to something like the Thief or Splinter Cell games where you play a red mantis assassin.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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At this point, if anything were possible, I'd love to see a Pathfinder game that feels close to how Dragon Age Inquisition felt, but with an EVEN STRONGER emphasis on interaction between the player's character and the NPC companions, and a storyline that's not quite so overwhelmingly end-of-the-world and thus had a chance to revel in smaller stories and stuff. That said, I'd also love to see a stealth game akin to something like the Thief or Splinter Cell games where you play a red mantis assassin.
In this hypothetical Pathfinder video game, would you prefer a single PC and all NPC companions to round out the party, or multiple player created and advanced characters? If the later, how many player created characters and how many NPC slots do you think is ideal?
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In all that spare time you have (I think there was a whole half a second of it three years ago) have you considered writing something for the fiction line? Even if it were web fiction (gods forbid a whole novel.)In fact, writing fiction (be it short stories or a novel) is what I've always wanted to do when I grew up, but fate and destiny have so far worked together to prevent me from ever seeing any of my stories being published. I certainly would LOVE a chance to write a Pathfinder Tales novel, or heck, even write a comic book installment, but so far... just hasn't seemed to be in the cards for me.
Actually, I did get one piece of fiction published in the Pathfinder Journal back in volume 8... but so far, those six pages are pretty much the sum total of my published fiction credits. :-(
Desna weeps for the novel by the creative director for the setting that has yet to be born.
Speaking of "desna weeps" are there any Golario-centric mannerisms/adages that have been adopted by the Paizonians? Do you/your colleagues throw the tines (ideally as a macabre joke), or the like?
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Creative Director
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In this hypothetical Pathfinder video game, would you prefer a single PC and all NPC companions to round out the party, or multiple player created and advanced characters? If the later, how many player created characters and how many NPC slots do you think is ideal?
At this point, if anything were possible, I'd love to see a Pathfinder game that feels close to how Dragon Age Inquisition felt, but with an EVEN STRONGER emphasis on interaction between the player's character and the NPC companions, and a storyline that's not quite so overwhelmingly end-of-the-world and thus had a chance to revel in smaller stories and stuff. That said, I'd also love to see a stealth game akin to something like the Thief or Splinter Cell games where you play a red mantis assassin.
I'd much prefer a single PC. It's FAR more interesting to me to be able to focus on one character and FAR more entertaining to interact with characters I didn't design, because it opens up a lot more doors for the game builders for telling more interesting stories the more control they have over the characters that play roles in the game.
This actually very closely mimics one of the things I like the most about tabletop RPGs; I'm only controlling one character as a player and the way my interactions and friendships or rivalries grow with the other players is one of the most rewarding aspects of play. If I control all the PCs... be it in a table top game or a video game... I miss out on that.
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Creative Director
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In all that spare time you have (I think there was a whole half a second of it three years ago) have you considered writing something for the fiction line? Even if it were web fiction (gods forbid a whole novel.)In fact, writing fiction (be it short stories or a novel) is what I've always wanted to do when I grew up, but fate and destiny have so far worked together to prevent me from ever seeing any of my stories being published. I certainly would LOVE a chance to write a Pathfinder Tales novel, or heck, even write a comic book installment, but so far... just hasn't seemed to be in the cards for me.
Actually, I did get one piece of fiction published in the Pathfinder Journal back in volume 8... but so far, those six pages are pretty much the sum total of my published fiction credits. :-(
Desna weeps for the novel by the creative director for the setting that has yet to be born.
Speaking of "desna weeps" are there any Golario-centric mannerisms/adages that have been adopted by the Paizonians? Do you/your colleagues throw the tines (ideally as a macabre joke), or the like?
Plenty! I'm pretty fond of the kobold saying "Pinch off!" when they're trying to tell someone, rudely, to go away. And I'm also quite amused by the curse "Besmara's Cleat!" as well, although I'm not sure that one's seen print yet.
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Plenty! I'm pretty fond of the kobold saying "Pinch off!" when they're trying to tell someone, rudely, to go away. And I'm also quite amused by the curse "Besmara's Cleat!" as well, although I'm not sure that one's seen print yet.Speaking of "desna weeps" are there any Golario-centric mannerisms/adages that have been adopted by the Paizonians? Do you/your colleagues throw the tines (ideally as a macabre joke), or the like?
Not that any would commit such a cruel act as cursing, but what would a Sarenite curse sound like? I imagine it'd be pretty tame.
Where is County Jeggare? In which Duchy? In which Arch-Duchy?
How many Baronies are in County Jeggare?
Do nobles at the various levels in the hierarchy owe fealty to the next higher ranking noble, or is all fealty owed strictly and only to the Crown?
How is it that a mere Count is "arguably the wealthiest noble in Cheliax" (from Dave Gross' website)? Wouldn't the various Dukes and Arch-Dukes be wealthier?
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Creative Director
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Not that any would commit such a cruel act as cursing, but what would a Sarenite curse sound like? I imagine it'd be pretty tame.Plenty! I'm pretty fond of the kobold saying "Pinch off!" when they're trying to tell someone, rudely, to go away. And I'm also quite amused by the curse "Besmara's Cleat!" as well, although I'm not sure that one's seen print yet.Speaking of "desna weeps" are there any Golario-centric mannerisms/adages that have been adopted by the Paizonians? Do you/your colleagues throw the tines (ideally as a macabre joke), or the like?
It wouldn't be tame at all. Sarenrae and her faithful are neutral good, but that absolutely doesn't mean "tame." Nor is cursing "cruel" really; words themselves don't hurt someone. If you use cursing directly at a person, of course that's cruel, but no more so than using any sort of words against someone to be cruel.
That said, I've not put much thought into what a Sarenite curse would sound like, probably because they tend to be nice (which, again, is not tame) and patient.
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Creative Director
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Where is County Jeggare? In which Duchy? In which Arch-Duchy?
How many Baronies are in County Jeggare?Do nobles at the various levels in the hierarchy owe fealty to the next higher ranking noble, or is all fealty owed strictly and only to the Crown?
How is it that a mere Count is "arguably the wealthiest noble in Cheliax" (from Dave Gross' website)? Wouldn't the various Dukes and Arch-Dukes be wealthier?
I'm pretty sure we don't specifically plot out where each and every county is in Cheliax anywhere; that, if it DOES ever happen, is a project for the future.
It's a pyramid scheme, sorta. A lower ranked noble owes fealty to the next higher one, but ALSO owes it to the Queen as well.
Dave Gross's website is not canon, first of all, but that said, wealth and political position aren't always the same.
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To put it another way: You're a duke and you own 10,000 sq miles of land.
I'm Count Jeggare and I own 5000 sq miles of land.
Your land is forests, fields that have been warred over and are half-barren, with the other half intermittently farmed or raising herds on by unmotivated slave populations, to be trampled on by other invading armies, hostile fey, and the like.
My land is deep in the peaceful heart of Cheliax, and consists of some of the most advanced and productive free-folk run farms, orchards, wineries, horse-breeding farms, dairy farms, cheese-makers, and cattle ranches on the Continent. No slave revolts and unrest for me!
Oh, and I own half of Westcrown, too (rental income is great!).And bits and pieces of other major Cheliax cities. And four banks, six docks, and six trading companies, my own fleet of trading ships and am owed outstanding debts to the tune of several million gold by members of the nobility who don't know how to run their lands.
Aren't you glad you own more land then me? You just keep paying those conquering armies that are sucking your gold and manpower away like a bloody wound, while your civilian population stays rebellious due to high taxes, conscription, and indentured servitude. That'll help your wealth problems, it will.
Note: Having a lifespan longer then most humans means consistent long-term management that encompasses a longer and more productive time period then every generation having a new noble take over, and the throne taxing the hell out of the inheritor. I imagine when Count Jeggare dies, his heir is going to lose a LOT of property paying inheritance taxes. It's how governments typically keeps dynastic wealth in check. And it's not been split among multiple heirs/rival branches of the family, either.
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Sorry, JJ, Economics degree bursting to get out.
==Aelryinth
You could also easily model it under the Kingdom Building rules - if Count Jeggarre's cities are well-developed and well-maintained, he may pull in way more BP per month than his Chelish rivals.
I'd also point that Count Jeggare is also a powerful adventurer, and thus would regularly get massive influxes of wealth.
Question: are there any in-setting explanations for Golarion's low populations?
(Hmmm. Though looking at a brief summary of the Roman Empire's population growth and subsequent crash, I guess the numbers are right for a post-disaster population - the city of Rome had about 1 million people at the height of the empire, but dropped to under 100,000 by 6th Century AD.)
What's your favorite Christmas/Holiday/Yule/Winter (whatever) movie?
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Creative Director
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To put it another way: You're a duke and you own 10,000 sq miles of land.
I'm Count Jeggare and I own 5000 sq miles of land.
Your land is forests, fields that have been warred over and are half-barren, with the other half intermittently farmed or raising herds on by unmotivated slave populations, to be trampled on by other invading armies, hostile fey, and the like.
My land is deep in the peaceful heart of Cheliax, and consists of some of the most advanced and productive free-folk run farms, orchards, wineries, horse-breeding farms, dairy farms, cheese-makers, and cattle ranches on the Continent. No slave revolts and unrest for me!
Oh, and I own half of Westcrown, too (rental income is great!).And bits and pieces of other major Cheliax cities. And four banks, six docks, and six trading companies, my own fleet of trading ships and am owed outstanding debts to the tune of several million gold by members of the nobility who don't know how to run their lands.Aren't you glad you own more land then me? You just keep paying those conquering armies that are sucking your gold and manpower away like a bloody wound, while your civilian population stays rebellious due to high taxes, conscription, and indentured servitude. That'll help your wealth problems, it will.
Note: Having a lifespan longer then most humans means consistent long-term management that encompasses a longer and more productive time period then every generation having a new noble take over, and the throne taxing the hell out of the inheritor. I imagine when Count Jeggare dies, his heir is going to lose a LOT of property paying inheritance taxes. It's how governments typically keeps dynastic wealth in check. And it's not been split among multiple heirs/rival branches of the family, either.
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Sorry, JJ, Economics degree bursting to get out.==Aelryinth
Let's keep it to questions, please.
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Creative Director
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Question: are there any in-setting explanations for Golarion's low populations?
(Hmmm. Though looking at a brief summary of the Roman Empire's population growth and subsequent crash, I guess the numbers are right for a post-disaster population - the city of Rome had about 1 million people at the height of the empire, but dropped to under 100,000 by 6th Century AD.)
Monsters. They're everywhere. Golarion is a more dangerous place than Earth.
What's your favorite Christmas/Holiday/Yule/Winter (whatever) movie?Die Hard.
ROFL! Yes!
What's your favorite Christmas/Holiday/Yule/Winter (whatever) movie?Die Hard.
Huh! Same as Squirrel Girl in El Goonish Shive. You follow that webcomic?
==Aelryinth
It's been a few years since Wrath of the Righteous, I can't expect you to spill all the juicy secrets, but is there anything else about Nocticula that you're willing to share that isn't known yet?
Also, I've got an...odd question set of Golarion sexuality questions that are going to be relevant to a WotR game I'm in. (It does have some plot spoilers and imply others so hidden to save the minds of those who haven't gotten to enjoy it yet!)
First; Nocticula herself obviously doesn't have any particular issues with incest, given her brother, but what would her opinion be post-divinity? Or, to be more direct, what do the heretics like Ayavah think about Nocticula's lust domain, and would someone Chaotic Good with Touched by Divinity (Nocticula) have....alignment issues if they were to enjoy a moment of passion with Our Lady in Shadow? Actually, now that I've typed this out, what is the Golarion opinion on incest anyway? It's wrong from the modern perspective, and was normal in the middle ages, but Golarion is neither modern nor middle-aged Earth. What things are normal in Golarion that are considered deviant or wrong by, say, typical US standards?
Second; What would you say Arueshalae's opinion of open relationships is? It's hard to loyal to her if she can't enjoy an intimate moment without sucking out someone's soul and you have an Obedience feat that requires nightly dalliances. As a succubus, would she be understanding or even encouraging, or would she try to distance herself from anything less than monogamous to avoid temptation? And what would be the case after completing her redemption?
Oh, and are you going to see The Force Awakens?
Mr. Jacobs,
How would you handle a party with no healing ability? Extra potions, letting non-casters use wands, a homebrew magic item?
Also, did you come up with Cayden Cailean? If so what was the inspiration for a mortal that drunkenly stumbled into godhood? Which leads to another question was he in the starstone chapel just the one night or was he really really drunk or is he lying about not remembering?
I don't. But it sounds like she's got good taste!What's your favorite Christmas/Holiday/Yule/Winter (whatever) movie?Die Hard.Huh! Same as Squirrel Girl in El Goonish Shive. You follow that webcomic?
==Aelryinth
She invites the gang over for popcorn and a day of Christmas Movies. Rolling their eyes, they go over, and the first thing she pops in is Die Hard. Moods improve quickly.
==Aelryinth
So, I'm playing a paladin with VMC life oracle in a pbp on the giantitp forums, and I was wondering how viable a dex-based weapon finesse paladin is and how to build it. This'll be my first campaign and I have very little experience with the game, as I have only played a couple of society modules at the convention I was volunteering at.
TL;DR: How can I build a good weapon finesse paladin?
To put it another way: You're a duke and you own 10,000 sq miles of land.
I'm Count Jeggare and I own 5000 sq miles of land.
Your land is forests, fields that have been warred over and are half-barren, with the other half intermittently farmed or raising herds on by unmotivated slave populations, to be trampled on by other invading armies, hostile fey, and the like.
My land is deep in the peaceful heart of Cheliax, and consists of some of the most advanced and productive free-folk run farms, orchards, wineries, horse-breeding farms, dairy farms, cheese-makers, and cattle ranches on the Continent. No slave revolts and unrest for me!
Oh, and I own half of Westcrown, too (rental income is great!).And bits and pieces of other major Cheliax cities. And four banks, six docks, and six trading companies, my own fleet of trading ships and am owed outstanding debts to the tune of several million gold by members of the nobility who don't know how to run their lands.Aren't you glad you own more land then me? You just keep paying those conquering armies that are sucking your gold and manpower away like a bloody wound, while your civilian population stays rebellious due to high taxes, conscription, and indentured servitude. That'll help your wealth problems, it will.
Note: Having a lifespan longer then most humans means consistent long-term management that encompasses a longer and more productive time period then every generation having a new noble take over, and the throne taxing the hell out of the inheritor. I imagine when Count Jeggare dies, his heir is going to lose a LOT of property paying inheritance taxes. It's how governments typically keeps dynastic wealth in check. And it's not been split among multiple heirs/rival branches of the family, either.
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Sorry, JJ, Economics degree bursting to get out.==Aelryinth
Or to use an historical example - the probably wealthiest man in the history of Sweden was called Bo Jonsson (Grip)* and his rank never rose above that of squire. Among his possessions was 1/3 of Sweden and all of Finland.
*Grip in brackets as family names wouldn't be used for another 200 years or so.
The new Pathfinder Campaign Setting product for Cheliax names House Henderthane ruling the Archduchy of Sirmium. Wasn't all of that house wiped out as a result of the events in the serial story contained in the Council of Thieves adventure path? Or was it just one branch of the family, leaving some distant cousin of the named characters as their heir? If the entire house was wiped out, who would have replaced them?
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Creative Director
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It's been a few years since Wrath of the Righteous, I can't expect you to spill all the juicy secrets, but is there anything else about Nocticula that you're willing to share that isn't known yet?
Also, I've got an...odd question set of Golarion sexuality questions that are going to be relevant to a WotR game I'm in. (It does have some plot spoilers and imply others so hidden to save the minds of those who haven't gotten to enjoy it yet!)
Spoiler:First; Nocticula herself obviously doesn't have any particular issues with incest, given her brother, but what would her opinion be post-divinity? Or, to be more direct, what do the heretics like Ayavah think about Nocticula's lust domain, and would someone Chaotic Good with Touched by Divinity (Nocticula) have....alignment issues if they were to enjoy a moment of passion with Our Lady in Shadow? Actually, now that I've typed this out, what is the Golarion opinion on incest anyway? It's wrong from the modern perspective, and was normal in the middle ages, but Golarion is neither modern nor middle-aged Earth. What things are normal in Golarion that are considered deviant or wrong by, say, typical US standards?
Second; What would you say Arueshalae's opinion of open relationships is? It's hard to loyal to her if she can't enjoy an intimate moment without sucking out someone's soul and you have an Obedience feat that requires nightly dalliances. As a succubus, would she be understanding or even encouraging, or would she try to distance herself from anything less than monogamous to avoid temptation? And what would be the case after completing her redemption?Oh, and are you going to see The Force Awakens?
No new secrets yet, apart from any that may have shown up in the entry I did for the bonus NPC I wrote up for Pathfinder #100's NPC retrospective,t hat is. There are of course other Nocticula secrets and plans, but they're not ready to be revealed quite yet.
As for Arueshalae's opinion on open relationships... I'd say that before her change she was into it, but after her redemption she's trying to curb her libido and focus on new ways of interacting with her sexuality... I think that open relationships in this point in her life would complicate things and confuse things and make it harder for her to cast off her past. Maybe in the future that might change for her, but for now, she's already got plenty on her mind, and the added complexity of managing multiple relationships would be a bad thing for her to juggle at this point.
Eventually, yeah. I've not yet bought tickets, and am in no huge rush to do so. It's gonna be out in theaters for plenty of time for me to eventually see it once the hype dies down.
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Creative Director
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Mr. Jacobs,
How would you handle a party with no healing ability? Extra potions, letting non-casters use wands, a homebrew magic item?
Also, did you come up with Cayden Cailean? If so what was the inspiration for a mortal that drunkenly stumbled into godhood? Which leads to another question was he in the starstone chapel just the one night or was he really really drunk or is he lying about not remembering?
I've done this before—the best way is to build an NPC ally who's a healer to accompany the party. Extra wands and potions help, but at that point it's not a party with "no healing ability." They've just swapped having a bard or cleric or whatever for spending most of their money on healing supplies, and those supplies STILL have to go to a player character or characters, and that means that the party will then have healing ability after all—they just don't get it for free like they would if one or more of the players bothered to build a character to support the game's expectations.
If it's something that I as the GM wanted to do, though, as a specific campaign theme, that's a different story. In this case, I'd rebuild and restructure encounters and game play from the ground up to account for no magical healing; perhaps allowing hp to recover fully after a night's rest, for example.
If it was a typical campaign and none of the players wanted to be a healer, then I'd be less accommodating, though. Part of the social contract we all enter when we play a table top game is to play together, and every player choosing to abandon a specific role, be it healing or damage or social interaction or whatever, when the GM's plans for the campaign require those elements, is kinda lame.
I helped create Cayden Cailean, but it was James Sutter who named him. The rest of us at Paizo at the time (me, Sutter, Wes, Bulmahn, Erik, etc.) all worked together on him here and there to build up the character. He wasn't one of the many deities who came from my homebrew setting.
The inspiration for him accidentally becoming a god was not from me; you'd have to talk to Erik or Sutter, but I suspect the basic idea was born out of a disinterest or even cynicism about faith or religion, and that it would be interesting to have someone who accidentally became a deity to show that things like that don't always have to just happen as a result of inhumanly hard work or belief. It's certainly an interesting take on it all.
He was, in any event, really drunk.