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Paizo Employee Creative Director

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kevin_video wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
kevin_video wrote:

Hey James,

Has anyone, anywhere, done a proper build of what the lantern archon gestalt should look like when joined together? If not, how would one go about writing it up?

As far as I know we've never illustrated one. I've always assumed it looks like a mobile orrery sorta.
Sorry, I should have been more specific. By "build", I meant stated out. There seems to be some discrepancies in the community regarding just how close to a large air elemental's stats they truly are.

Ah, yeah, that was unclear in your original post.

I think it's pretty clear. Take the stats of a large air elemental and add the abilities listed. Feel free to add or subtract powers as you wish to make the monster more interesting for you, but in the end, the rules are pretty cut and dry.

The XP you get for defeating a gestalt lantern archorn is equal to that of nine of them, so 5,400 xp.

That puts its total CR between 8 and 9, which is quite a bit higher than what you get for a normal Large air elemental, but the new things you add to it more than help to bolster its CR upward. Removing in-place air elemental abilities won't help it, so those should stay in place.

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16

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FYI, the 'Answer to Life, the Universe, and everything' is 42. The 'Question to Life, the Universe, and Everything' is unknown.

Spoiler:
The planet Earth was designed as the ultimate supercomputer by the white mice to figure out the Question (the computer built to figure out the Answer helped design it), but certain other forces that feared the universe might collapse bulldozed Earth to make way for a hyperspace highway seconds before it was figured out.

No worries, the dolphins made us another planet and moved all the humans across to it, so nobody realizes what really happened here.

==Aelryinth


Is the 3.x Savage Species book sorta kinda transferable to Pathfinder, by chance? Or is there a better guide to use? I always dug the level breakdown for the monsters.


on the topic of Hell's Rebels and Hell's Vengeance...:

1. Is it understood that Barzillai's retaliation and A Song of Silver begin literally minutes after the end of the Ruby Massacre? I got a strong "immediate sequel" vibe from the fourth volume.

2. What are Barzillai's orders to his underlings as soon as the Ruby Massacre fails?

3. It's stated that after all the districts are taken back, Barzillai bunkers himself down in the Temple of Asmodeus. Where was he based before then?

4. What happens to the Dottari and Chelish Citizen's Group following the defeat of Barzillai? Do they just take off their uniforms and run away like defeated or low-morale armies in the real world do?

5. Where does the Chelish Citizen's Group hang out in Kintargo? Do they have a base or something or do they just sort of sit around and chill?

6. Who was Tombus Regegious and what did he do prior to Barzillai becoming Lord-Mayor? What was his job prior to being appointed the head of the CCG and why does Barzillai not trust him?

7.

Hell's Rebels Player's Guide page 8 wrote:
The majority of Iomedae’s worshipers in Kintargo do not agree with what the knights of the Glorious Reclamation are doing. It is not that they oppose the idea of challenging House Thrune, but that they believe now is not the right time to rise up and that the eager crusaders might have acted too soon. Certainly, from Kintargo’s viewpoint, life has grown much worse since the Glorious Reclamation forced House Thrune to put its cities under martial law.

In that case, what do the Iomedaens in Kintargo actually do once the rebellion formally kicks off? They don't have a written role in the adventure path as is, but is it assumed they would join the Silver Ravens or just keep nodding their heads?

8. In the first volume of Hell's Vengeance, we get the names of most of the Glorious Reclamation high command and the volumes in which their stats are written up. However, Knight Banneret Pavaris Ordannica and Knight Commander Reska Nivilli's stats aren't mentioned. Do they not appear in the adventure path?

9. What's the first volume of Hell's Vengeance that features artwork of Lord Marshal Alexeara Cansellarion? I have The Hellfire Compact, but I haven't read Wrath of Thrune yet.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Marvin Ghey wrote:
Is the 3.x Savage Species book sorta kinda transferable to Pathfinder, by chance? Or is there a better guide to use? I always dug the level breakdown for the monsters.

Not really. We don't use ECL in Pathfinder, since it's a relatively flawed patch to try to back-end inappropriate-for-PC-use races into PC races. The Advanced Race Guide is our answer to Savage Species.

Of course, the basic d20 mechanic still works, so in theory you COULD use Savage Species with Pathfinder, but as with all significant mods, you'd run a big chance of breaking things or changing the game in ways you might not anticipate, so if you do use it just be willing to make adjustments and changes during the game as needed to keep things fun.

Grand Lodge

Marvin Ghey wrote:
Is the 3.x Savage Species book sorta kinda transferable to Pathfinder, by chance? Or is there a better guide to use? I always dug the level breakdown for the monsters.

I can help with part of this question. While still being released on a monster by monster basis until completion, the Monster Classes by Dreamscarred Press is the Pathfinder version of Savage Species.

Dark Archive

Any AP ideas or concepts in your wish list?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Axial wrote:

Hell's Rebel's questions...

Spoiler:
1. Is it understood that Barzillai's retaliation and A Song of Silver begin literally minutes after the end of the Ruby Massacre? I got a strong "immediate sequel" vibe from the fourth volume.

2. What are Barzillai's orders to his underlings as soon as the Ruby Massacre fails?

3. It's stated that after all the districts are taken back, Barzillai bunkers himself down in the Temple of Asmodeus. Where was he based before then?

4. What happens to the Dottari and Chelish Citizen's Group following the defeat of Barzillai? Do they just take off their uniforms and run away like defeated or low-morale armies in the real world do?

5. Where does the Chelish Citizen's Group hang out in Kintargo? Do they have a base or something or do they just sort of sit around and chill?

6. Who was Tombus Regegious and what did he do prior to Barzillai becoming Lord-Mayor? What was his job prior to being appointed the head of the CCG and why does Barzillai not trust him?

7.Hell's Rebels Player's Guide page 8 wrote:

Quote:


The majority of Iomedae’s worshipers in Kintargo do not agree with what the knights of the Glorious Reclamation are doing. It is not that they oppose the idea of challenging House Thrune, but that they believe now is not the right time to rise up and that the eager crusaders might have acted too soon. Certainly, from Kintargo’s viewpoint, life has grown much worse since the Glorious Reclamation forced House Thrune to put its cities under martial law.

In that case, what do the Iomedaens in Kintargo actually do once the rebellion formally kicks off? They don't have a written role in the adventure path as is, but is it assumed they would join the Silver Ravens or just keep nodding their heads?

8. In the first volume of Hell's Vengeance, we get the names of most of the Glorious Reclamation high command and the volumes in which their stats are written up. However, Knight Banneret Pavaris Ordannica and Knight Commander Reska Nivilli's stats aren't mentioned. Do they not appear in the adventure path?

9. What's the first volume of Hell's Vengeance that features artwork of Lord Marshal Alexeara Cansellarion? I have The Hellfire Compact, but I haven't read Wrath of Thrune yet.

Hell's Rebel's answers...

Spoiler:
1) Yes. The idea is that "A Song of Silver" begins immediately after "Dance of the Damned." Or at the very least, the very next day. It's an exception to the general rule that we like to have gaps between adventures for the PCs to do downtime stuff. It's also intended to push the PCs to the limits of their resources, to make them rely on the allies and benefits they've earned to that point but also to force them to think tactically and not do a 15-minute-adventure-day on everything.

2) He spends some time fuming and raging at the failure, of course, but the first thing he orders his closest minions to do is to mostly retreat to the Temple of Asmodeus to regroup and consolidate their forces there; he realizes the PCs are tougher than he thought and wants to have himself and his closest allies close at hand in the place they're most protected. At the same time, he sends other agents out to start doing things as detailed in the start of "A Song of Silver." One of them being the raid on the PC's home base.

3) He was originally based in the Opera House, but when the Ruby Masquerade happens, he relocates to the Temple. Once the districts are taken back, Barzillai " bunkers in" at the temple in that he simply doesn't leave until things get better for him, or until the PCs force a confrontation. In the space between that and the Ruby Masquerade, he's still based in the temple, but could conceivably step out of the temple to do things now and then if needed (although the adventure doesn't script anything like this).

4) The Chelish Citizens Group's fate is left to the PCs, but if they do nothing, it just falls apart. The Dottari remain but might need time to rebuild and recover; they remain under the control and command of the lord mayor of Kintargo, whoever that may be. A shift from Barzillai to someone like Jilia or someone similar would suggest the firing/removal of certain high-ranking folks who Barzillai put in place, but chances are good they're all defeated or imprisoned as a result of the events in A Song of Silver so that's not likely to be an issue.

5) The Chelish Citizens Group doesn't really have a "central base" of operations; they're more of a "swarm" type thing. Having them be a satellite militia to the Dottari works—they likely used government buildings for organization purposes.

6) Before Barzilai, Tombus was a mid-ranking jerk in both the Dottari and in a minor noble house. Not good enough to be of note in either, he was simmering in a self-made dead-end of frustration and bitterness, and when Barzillai showed up, he was among the first in the Dottari to fall in line with Thrune and saw his chance; he organized the Chelish Citizens Group and got Thrune's indirect support and presto, he was the leader of a brand new gang of militiarized citizen/thugs. In a lot of ways, he's a parasite on Thrune's power, although I guess symbiont is a better term; he's kinda nothing without Thrune, but with Thrune he becomes a threat. Barzillai doesn't really trust him because he (rightfully) sees Tombus's "loyalty" for what it is, a desperate attempt to be something he's not. If Tombus were that willing to abandon loyalties to Jilia, why wouldn't he be just as willing to abandon loyalty to Thrune, Barzillai would wonder. So he takes advantage of Tombus's gung-ho attitude and uses him as a disposable tool.

7) There really aren't a lot of Iomedans in Kintargo. Not enough to matter as far as do anything. There might be a few... but overall, Kintargo is a chaotic good city where most folks worship Cadyen Cailean, Desna, Sarenrae, and Shelyn in private, or Abadar in public, with lip-service as needed to Asmodeus. Iomedae's faith simply doesn't have much of a presence at all in Kintargo, so that faith is as much a non-issue for things in the adventures as are the faiths of other non-involved faiths in the AP. The role of the faith in any one game should be determined by whether or not any PCs are worshipers of her. If there are no Iomedae worshipers, then nothing. If there are Iomedae worshiping PCs, then the role the faith takes in the rebellion is left to that or those PCs to determine... but for the story's sake, it's best to assume they would not agree with the over-exuberance of the Glorious Reclamation and would join with the Silver Ravens out of necessity, and would hold a grudge against the Glorious Reclamation for forcing them to do something as distasteful as throwing in their lot with a group of chaotic rebels.

8) They have no roles to play in the AP. They are in there STRICTLY for GMs to play with and to expand or ignore as they wish. And yeah... that confused me too when I first read it. We should have put in print "These two NPCs are yours to play with; they have no hard-coded role in the coming AP" so folks would understand why they were there.

9) I don't know; that's a Rob question. I developed the 5th volume, so I know that person doesn't show up there, but beyond that I've been focused on Hell's Rebels and then Crimson Throne. I THINK the lord marshal is illustrated on the last cover though. Not 100% sure though.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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NenkotaMoon wrote:
Any AP ideas or concepts in your wish list?

Yes. Always. I've had an evolving list of AP ideas for over a decade, for as long as I've been working on APs, which is since Dungeon issue 97 or thereabouts.

I don't list that list of ideas publicly, since they have a tendency to become actual APs.

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32

Why have you avoided the Hitchhiker's Guide (series)? Not your preferred genre?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

mechaPoet wrote:
Why have you avoided the Hitchhiker's Guide (series)? Not your preferred genre?

As a result of it being a genre I'm not fond of (comedy, particularly comedy sci-fi or comedy fantasy), combined with lots of people pushing it and being kinda rabid in their fandom of it made it off-putting.

I DID try reading the first book back in college, and got a few chapters in, which was far enough for me to realize I wouldn't like the book, in any event.


James Jacobs wrote:
mechaPoet wrote:
Why have you avoided the Hitchhiker's Guide (series)? Not your preferred genre?

As a result of it being a genre I'm not fond of (comedy, particularly comedy sci-fi or comedy fantasy), combined with lots of people pushing it and being kinda rabid in their fandom of it made it off-putting.

I DID try reading the first book back in college, and got a few chapters in, which was far enough for me to realize I wouldn't like the book, in any event.

Lol, same story here. Feels oddly comforting to know I'm not the only one to have that reaction.

Did you watch the (latest) movie version, though? I enjoyed it right well. But I don't mind the comedy-mix on-screen.

I even shamefully enjoyed Your Highness, for the most part.


Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber

It is the essence of species that animals that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring are in the same species. Humans and elves can do that, so can humans and orcs. So in Golarion are humans, elves, and orcs all in the same species? I wouldn't expect gnomes to be - they're fey - but what about halflings? Or dwarves? (Granting I've not heard of any such interbreeding wrt to the last two).


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Ed Reppert wrote:
It is the essence of species that animals that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring are in the same species. Humans and elves can do that, so can humans and orcs. So in Golarion are humans, elves, and orcs all in the same species? I wouldn't expect gnomes to be - they're fey - but what about halflings? Or dwarves? (Granting I've not heard of any such interbreeding wrt to the last two).

Not necessarily true... hence the species problem.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Marvin Ghey wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
mechaPoet wrote:
Why have you avoided the Hitchhiker's Guide (series)? Not your preferred genre?

As a result of it being a genre I'm not fond of (comedy, particularly comedy sci-fi or comedy fantasy), combined with lots of people pushing it and being kinda rabid in their fandom of it made it off-putting.

I DID try reading the first book back in college, and got a few chapters in, which was far enough for me to realize I wouldn't like the book, in any event.

Lol, same story here. Feels oddly comforting to know I'm not the only one to have that reaction.

Did you watch the (latest) movie version, though? I enjoyed it right well. But I don't mind the comedy-mix on-screen.

I even shamefully enjoyed Your Highness, for the most part.

Nope. Didn't watch the movie either.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Ed Reppert wrote:
It is the essence of species that animals that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring are in the same species. Humans and elves can do that, so can humans and orcs. So in Golarion are humans, elves, and orcs all in the same species? I wouldn't expect gnomes to be - they're fey - but what about halflings? Or dwarves? (Granting I've not heard of any such interbreeding wrt to the last two).

They are not the same species. The fact that orcs and humans and elves and humans can interbreed is due to other reasons that are undefined and unlikely to ever be defined.

(Half-elves and half-orcs exist mostly because they're imports from D&D and from the game's genesis in the d20 open game license... had we built Golarion from the ground up, I doubt half-elves or half-orcs would be in the game at all, partially because their presence raises more questions than it's worth it to a certain extent... would have probably been better to just have elves and orcs as PC options and leave it at that.)


As a biologist, there are actually many biological species concepts, many of which are NOT based on whether members of the species produce viable offspring in nature.

So if you were building PFRPG from scratch, and wanted to rejigger the core races, what would you have?

Humans obviously
Dwarves? I know you're pretty meh on dwarves in general.
Gnomes? Probably right?
Elves obviously
Halflings? Seems likely.
Orcs? Some other orc-like or goblin-like race?
Tieflings and Aasimars (I'm pretty sure you've said before you'd like to see these as core races)
Tengu? WARK!

What's your ideal lineup?

Sovereign Court

When did Taldane Trade Tongue become 'Common'?


Can any idiot in Golarion with a score of 11 or higher in Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma be taught magic, or does it require some gift that any player character takes an arcane or divine class is assumed to have?

IF the answer is yes, why hasn't some ruler filled his armies with low-level magic cannon fodder?

Grand Lodge

James, I have become very interested in starstone lore. I'm using it in an AP I'm writing for a home game. What resources (splat books, scenarios, AP books, etc.) would you suggest?

Specifically, I'm looking for information about the aboleth, the starstone, and end-times prophecies. I've heard rumors that such exist, but in my googling I'm not finding many resources.

Any help?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Paladin of Baha-who? wrote:

As a biologist, there are actually many biological species concepts, many of which are NOT based on whether members of the species produce viable offspring in nature.

So if you were building PFRPG from scratch, and wanted to rejigger the core races, what would you have?

Humans obviously
Dwarves? I know you're pretty meh on dwarves in general.
Gnomes? Probably right?
Elves obviously
Halflings? Seems likely.
Orcs? Some other orc-like or goblin-like race?
Tieflings and Aasimars (I'm pretty sure you've said before you'd like to see these as core races)
Tengu? WARK!

What's your ideal lineup?

Core rulebook is kinda my ideal lineup actually for a world like Golarion which is based on "classic" D&D stuff. Although I also would have not minded just having humans only and putting other races in something like the secondary book and having a setting more akin to Game of Thrones or Conan.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Nightdrifter wrote:

When did Taldane Trade Tongue become 'Common'?

In the real world it's been that way from the very start.

In Golarion timeline? Probably about 0 AR.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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Drahliana Moonrunner wrote:

Can any idiot in Golarion with a score of 11 or higher in Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma be taught magic, or does it require some gift that any player character takes an arcane or divine class is assumed to have?

IF the answer is yes, why hasn't some ruler filled his armies with low-level magic cannon fodder?

An 11 Intelligence is hardly an idiot, first off.

That said, spellcasters only need 1 of the three ability scores to cast their spells, and if your score is below 10 you can't cast spells tied to that ability.

Beyond that, only PCs use XP to gain levels.

NPCs gain levels when the GM or the world creator or story teller says the NPC does. The reason 'some ruler hasn't filled his armies with low-level magic cannon fodder' is, to a certain extent, because we haven't written that story. Mostly because we don't want to because it gives a flavor of fantasy that isn't appropriate for Golarion.

In-world, the ability to master magic, be it divine or psychic or arcane, is not easy. Nor is the ability to master swordplay or sleight of hand or bardic performances or anything else that requires you to gain levels to get better. For the VAST MAJORITY of humanity (and associated races) even getting a PC class is too much for their fate/destiny to handle.

PC classes are relatively rare among NPCs in the world. And with each level beyond 1st, they get progressively more rare.

Why don't rulers fill their armies with low-level magic cannon fodder? There's just not enough of them to do so.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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tchrman35 wrote:

James, I have become very interested in starstone lore. I'm using it in an AP I'm writing for a home game. What resources (splat books, scenarios, AP books, etc.) would you suggest?

Specifically, I'm looking for information about the aboleth, the starstone, and end-times prophecies. I've heard rumors that such exist, but in my googling I'm not finding many resources.

Any help?

We haven't said much about the Starstone at all. Mythic Realms is the book you'll want to pick up, but even that information is incomplete.

For the aboleths, you should check out Inner Sea Bestiary's entry for the veiled masters, "Into the Darklands," and "From Shore to Sea." There are aboleth tidbits in lots of other places, scattered all over.


Hi James

I would like your advice on a couple of thing from Rise of the Runelords. Sorry if it is a bit long the setup
My players read this thread so

RotR spoiler:

I don't know how much you were involved with him, but we are running the hardcover book, and at the end of chapter 3 the PCs were heading to Hook Mountain Clanhold, when they noticed the hill giant Razmus (from the appendix) spying on them in the Valley of Broken Trees.
They chased and attacked him, but felt bad about it and stopped in a stand-off to talk to him. But the wizard, a bit greedy, decided to cast Detect Magic to see if he carried magic items. Razmus thought he attacked, and they beat him down to negative HPs. Again they felt bad (especially since a holy weapon failed to do extra damage), so they stabilized him, took his gear and left him there.
I'm wondering how he will react now? He obviously resents the PCs but on the other hand they spared him. Do you think he'd join Mokmurian to seek revenge? (they asked him about Sihedrons and stuff) or do something else?

Secondly,
Lucrecia fled Fort Rannick because Kaven warned her about the PCs. She didn't believe him at first, but as they attacked from above, dealing with the Kreeg leadership and were cutting their way to her she withdrew with Kaven, to Barl Breakbone's side.
My question is, will she fight to the death alongside Barl? or will she run away if she is brought low enough on HP, and leave Barl to fend for himself?

Thanks for any insights

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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SnowDM wrote:

Hi James

I would like your advice on a couple of thing from Rise of the Runelords. Sorry if it is a bit long the setup
My players read this thread so

Spoiler:
I don't know how much you were involved with him, but we are running the hardcover book, and at the end of chapter 3 the PCs were heading to Hook Mountain Clanhold, when they noticed the hill giant Razmus (from the appendix) spying on them in the Valley of Broken Trees.
They chased and attacked him, but felt bad about it and stopped in a stand-off to talk to him. But the wizard, a bit greedy, decided to cast Detect Magic to see if he carried magic items. Razmus thought he attacked, and they beat him down to negative HPs. Again they felt bad (especially since a holy weapon failed to do extra damage), so they stabilized him, took his gear and left him there.
I'm wondering how he will react now? He obviously resents the PCs but on the other hand they spared him. Do you think he'd join Mokmurian to seek revenge? (they asked him about Sihedrons and stuff) or do something else?

Secondly,
Lucrecia fled Fort Rannick because Kaven warned her about the PCs. She didn't believe him at first, but as they attacked from above, dealing with the Kreeg leadership and were cutting their way to her she withdrew with Kaven, to Barl Breakbone's side.
My question is, will she fight to the death alongside Barl? or will she run away if she is brought low enough on HP, and leave Barl to fend for himself?

Thanks for any insights

Spoilering the answers...

Spoiler:
Welllll... I'm not sure how "legit" the feeling bad is if the PCs are eager enough TWICE to beat Razmus to an inch of his life, then robbed him and left him unconscious in the wild! :P

How he'll react now? He'll probably be SUPER angry and eager to get his stuff back, but he's not THAT much of an idiot to try to get his things back on his own. He'd go hook up with the ogres on the dam or even the giants and ogres on Hook Mountain, joining them and advising them on the PCs tactics, perhaps, in return for a promise that he can have his stuff back once his new friends help him beat the PCs up!

Lucrecia won't fight to the death at Barl's side. If you can, try to make her into a recurring villain? Maybe she'll team up with poor Razmus?


Sorry about the double post and thank you for your quick reply :-)

It really helped on how I'll play it from here.

Some more general questions:

1) given your love of dinosaurs, did you ever consider becoming a paleontologist?

2) I'm becoming more interested in Lovecraft's universe(cosmology?), especially from reading your thread. Where would you recommend someone who knows very little about it to start? Which book/short story?

3) I believe you mentioned playing RPGs with your father and sister the first time you GMed. Does your father and/or sister still play?

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

So on that CR 10 "Everyone at Thistletop + Erylium at same time" session of today.. Well, party took hits, but only the wizard died out of five players <_< (They did successfully recruit Orik and Tup & Shalelu were there too) Anyway, so they did kill Ripnugget & Bruthazmus, but they did capture Lyrie for the bounty and decided to not coup de grace unconscious Nualia. Erylium got away again though. Dunno what she should do in meanwhile, maybe follow Nuala in secrecy when guards take her to Magnimar?

This made me think of some things:

What kind of sentence would Nualia, Lyrie and Tsuto get in trial in Magnimar?

I doubt Ironbriar would care about Nualia's minions, but do you think he would help Nualia get out or would he be like "You are a failure" and leave her to rot? I was thinking of having Ironbriar get Nualia out(though clerics would cut off her demon talon before that, it wouldn't be complete "Ah dang it, she got away" situation for party), but I'm still considering my options.


Hello Grand Dinosaur and fellow horror fan,

Have you seen The Hallow yet? (The Irish movie with Roose Bolton and Benjen Stark, not the SyfY esq flaming tree monster movie The Hollow).

If so what did you think?

Related question which I am spoiling because of movie spoilers

spoiler:
How would you stat up the "fairies" from the movie? Would they be a new monster or is there an existing Pathfinder monster that is "close enough"


James, if I wanted to commission a painting like James Ensor's Skeletons Fighting Over A Pickled Herring (1891), which three locals in the Inner Sea Region would be the best places for me to look and why?

Also, what might the gold piece value of such a painting be?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

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SnowDM wrote:

Sorry about the double post and thank you for your quick reply :-)

It really helped on how I'll play it from here.

Some more general questions:

1) given your love of dinosaurs, did you ever consider becoming a paleontologist?

2) I'm becoming more interested in Lovecraft's universe(cosmology?), especially from reading your thread. Where would you recommend someone who knows very little about it to start? Which book/short story?

3) I believe you mentioned playing RPGs with your father and sister the first time you GMed. Does your father and/or sister still play?

1) I did as a kid, but ended up going the English major route instead when all was said and done.

2) I would recommend starting with a collection that contains "The Dunwich Horror," "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," "The Colour Out of Space," and/or "The Call of Cthulhu." Any of those four are good places to start reading Lovecraft, and any collection that has those four will likely have all the core stories.

3) That session was actually my 2nd time running. The first time was for my whole family and my best friend. And my first time as a player was before that with my 5th grade teacher as the GM. Neither my dad nor my sister still play tabletop RPGs though.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

CorvusMask wrote:

So on that CR 10 "Everyone at Thistletop + Erylium at same time" session of today.. Well, party took hits, but only the wizard died out of five players <_< (They did successfully recruit Orik and Tup & Shalelu were there too) Anyway, so they did kill Ripnugget & Bruthazmus, but they did capture Lyrie for the bounty and decided to not coup de grace unconscious Nualia. Erylium got away again though. Dunno what she should do in meanwhile, maybe follow Nuala in secrecy when guards take her to Magnimar?

This made me think of some things:

What kind of sentence would Nualia, Lyrie and Tsuto get in trial in Magnimar?

I doubt Ironbriar would care about Nualia's minions, but do you think he would help Nualia get out or would he be like "You are a failure" and leave her to rot? I was thinking of having Ironbriar get Nualia out(though clerics would cut off her demon talon before that, it wouldn't be complete "Ah dang it, she got away" situation for party), but I'm still considering my options.

That'd depend on the story you wanted to tell. Personally, if I was okay with derailing from the plot of Runelords for a while, I'd have the three sentanced to the Hells in Magnimar, but then have that be all orchestrated from within the prison by its creepy leader who wanted to recruit the three and have him be an increased bad guy presence in the campaign.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

MMCJawa wrote:

Hello Grand Dinosaur and fellow horror fan,

Have you seen The Hallow yet? (The Irish movie with Roose Bolton and Benjen Stark, not the SyfY esq flaming tree monster movie The Hollow).

If so what did you think?

Related question which I am spoiling because of movie spoilers

** spoiler omitted **

Just watched it a few nights ago. I liked it.

Spoiler:
I generally prefer to stat up specific monsters like this as their own unique things rather than have existing monsters stand in for them... but using the fungal creature template in some way would likely be involved.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Arazni, Harlot Queen of Geb wrote:

James, if I wanted to commission a painting like James Ensor's Skeletons Fighting Over A Pickled Herring (1891), which three locals in the Inner Sea Region would be the best places for me to look and why?

Also, what might the gold piece value of such a painting be?

No particular artists immediately come to mind. The artists that we HAVE detailed in the setting don't really paint in that style, so I'd make up someone new whose style worked for that type of painting.

As for the gp value... that's also up in the air. And would depend on the story you wanted to tell AND the level for which you wanted to set the story, since what's "expensive" to a PC varies by level, but if you want it to be a story where the PCs get control of the painting you don't want to price it so high that they'll just be tempted to sell it. Unless, of course, that's the story you wanna tell.


Some time back, I asked a question about what somebody would see if they went to the Starstone Cathedral and tried to look inside without attempting the Test by crossing the chasm without a bridge. At the time, you mentioned that you couldn't say any more about that yet.

Would you be able to answer with some/more detail now, or is it still "classified" with what somebody would see?


Thanks I'll look into finding a collection with those stories :-)

James Jacobs wrote:


3) That session was actually my 2nd time running. The first time was for my whole family and my best friend. And my first time as a player was before that with my 5th grade teacher as the GM. Neither my dad nor my sister still play tabletop RPGs though.

Man, I wish I could have played with my family. Even one time, but alas they would never do that. I'm the only one into stuff like that.

Here is hoping that in about 6 years I can teach my own son to play :-)
Speaking of which:

Do you like kids?

Do you want kids?

As an adult, what age was the youngest player you've GMed for?

Radiant Oath

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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Is it possible on Golarion for deities to be "interpreted" or renamed by other cultures on Golarion? Like, what if, say, the Mwangi god Easivra, was worshipped in Sarkoris as Sturovenen the Dragoneagle by the Neverhome clan (same associations with dawn and avians, but different names)? Or do gods basically "introduce themselves," so to speak, to all their various cults with the same name? It's somewhat confusing given that there are Mwangi who hybridize Gozreh and Desna into Shimye-Magalla (Who does a cleric of Shimye-Magalla get spells from anyway?), yet you've made it quite clear that Shizuru is not just a Tian reinterpretation or aspect of Sarenrae, and despite being interpreted slightly differently in Tian Xia, Abadar and Shelyn evidently don't have localized names.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

*checks on the Hells from Magnimar pdf* Huh, cool ._. By derailing the campaign you mean like a sidequest or by shifting the focus from book stuff to Hells and making it part of main plot somehow?

Which demon lords Alaznist venerated/worshiped btw? Trying to make a puzzle for opening trap door in old light, but I'm not good with creating puzzles so I need ideas for that..

Sovereign Court

James Jacobs wrote:
Arazni, Harlot Queen of Geb wrote:

James, if I wanted to commission a painting like James Ensor's Skeletons Fighting Over A Pickled Herring (1891), which three locals in the Inner Sea Region would be the best places for me to look and why?

Also, what might the gold piece value of such a painting be?

No particular artists immediately come to mind. The artists that we HAVE detailed in the setting don't really paint in that style, so I'd make up someone new whose style worked for that type of painting.

As for the gp value... that's also up in the air. And would depend on the story you wanted to tell AND the level for which you wanted to set the story, since what's "expensive" to a PC varies by level, but if you want it to be a story where the PCs get control of the painting you don't want to price it so high that they'll just be tempted to sell it. Unless, of course, that's the story you wanna tell.

The Artistry skill in Unchained has some guidelines on painting value (or any other works of art, such as musical compositions, a book of poems, and other such less obvious items/projects).

Q: Would you consider Galt still a good place for poets, writers and other artists? My homecampaign is heavily centered on songwriters, dreamers and other freethinkers...


Batman vs. Punisher vs. Iron Man vs. Hawkeye vs. Green Arrow, five man battle royale of Marvel and DC's most well known non-powered characters.

They have one hour to prepare and do not know who they will battle exactly. The field is, let's say Death Valley at midnight on a cloudless night with a full moon, all approaching from opposite ends of the desert.

They are allowed only as much equipment as they can carry or wear, so Iron Man does not have access to like 372 suits when he needs to change styles.

What is the order of elimination? Who survives to the end? Why?


Just starting Hell's Rebels as a player. I am playing a human sorcerer kicked out of House Tanessen for recently questioning Thrune and the teachings of Asmodean. He had just started worshiping Sarenrae before martial law was enacted and the place of worship burned.

I am going with the Child of Kintargo trait and the Noble Scion Feat. I don't see any mention in the player's guide about where the PCs live so I was wondering if I can get a small 1 room flat in the worst neighborhood (which I assume is Old Kintargo) for the single non-magical 200gp item allowed under Child of Kintargo. Any idea how much a small run down place would cost based upon Kintargo's economy?

I looked at the Guide to Korvosa to get some idea about buying living quarters but it looked like it was out of my price range. Has martial law lowered the prices?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Alleran wrote:

Some time back, I asked a question about what somebody would see if they went to the Starstone Cathedral and tried to look inside without attempting the Test by crossing the chasm without a bridge. At the time, you mentioned that you couldn't say any more about that yet.

Would you be able to answer with some/more detail now, or is it still "classified" with what somebody would see?

Still not ready to pull back that curtain that far.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Snowsarn wrote:

Thanks I'll look into finding a collection with those stories :-)

James Jacobs wrote:


3) That session was actually my 2nd time running. The first time was for my whole family and my best friend. And my first time as a player was before that with my 5th grade teacher as the GM. Neither my dad nor my sister still play tabletop RPGs though.

Man, I wish I could have played with my family. Even one time, but alas they would never do that. I'm the only one into stuff like that.

Here is hoping that in about 6 years I can teach my own son to play :-)
Speaking of which:

Do you like kids?

Do you want kids?

As an adult, what age was the youngest player you've GMed for?

Some kids are fine, some are not. My niece and nephews are awesome (although my niece is no longer a kid since she just turned 20), but the kids who shriek and yell on the airplane or in the theater or at the supermarket are not fine.

Given the right situation I could see having kids some day, but not sure that situation will ever be right.

Youngest player as an adult would probably be 10, I guess? Not sure. I've run kids through games at conventions but never asked ages.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Archpaladin Zousha wrote:
Is it possible on Golarion for deities to be "interpreted" or renamed by other cultures on Golarion? Like, what if, say, the Mwangi god Easivra, was worshipped in Sarkoris as Sturovenen the Dragoneagle by the Neverhome clan (same associations with dawn and avians, but different names)? Or do gods basically "introduce themselves," so to speak, to all their various cults with the same name? It's somewhat confusing given that there are Mwangi who hybridize Gozreh and Desna into Shimye-Magalla (Who does a cleric of Shimye-Magalla get spells from anyway?), yet you've made it quite clear that Shizuru is not just a Tian reinterpretation or aspect of Sarenrae, and despite being interpreted slightly differently in Tian Xia, Abadar and Shelyn evidently don't have localized names.

I'm not a fan of that whole "this different culture worships an Inner Sea deity as something else" stuff. I much prefer having other cultures having their own gods, with some cross-culture stuff happening (Like you see with Sarenrae or Irori in the Inner Sea region).

Paizo Employee Creative Director

CorvusMask wrote:

*checks on the Hells from Magnimar pdf* Huh, cool ._. By derailing the campaign you mean like a sidequest or by shifting the focus from book stuff to Hells and making it part of main plot somehow?

Which demon lords Alaznist venerated/worshiped btw? Trying to make a puzzle for opening trap door in old light, but I'm not good with creating puzzles so I need ideas for that..

By "derailing" I mean shifting focus to the Hells until that story plays out, and that may well take the party up to 15th level or thereabouts.

Alaznist didn't worship a single demon lord, but DID work with several. She also worked with qlippoth lords as well, particularly Yamasoth.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Purple Dragon Knight wrote:
Q: Would you consider Galt still a good place for poets, writers and other artists? My homecampaign is heavily centered on songwriters, dreamers and other freethinkers...

Galt's fine. Poetry is something that can exist more or less anywhere, but what KIND of poetry would certainly be influenced by the region.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Redbeard the Scruffy wrote:

Batman vs. Punisher vs. Iron Man vs. Hawkeye vs. Green Arrow, five man battle royale of Marvel and DC's most well known non-powered characters.

They have one hour to prepare and do not know who they will battle exactly. The field is, let's say Death Valley at midnight on a cloudless night with a full moon, all approaching from opposite ends of the desert.

They are allowed only as much equipment as they can carry or wear, so Iron Man does not have access to like 372 suits when he needs to change styles.

What is the order of elimination? Who survives to the end? Why?

In order of elimination, from first to last one standing:

Green Arrow
Hawkeye
Iron Man
Punisher
Batman

They survive in that order because that's the order of my familiarity with them, and thus the order of my preference in who wins. :P

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Big Blue 22 wrote:

Just starting Hell's Rebels as a player. I am playing a human sorcerer kicked out of House Tanessen for recently questioning Thrune and the teachings of Asmodean. He had just started worshiping Sarenrae before martial law was enacted and the place of worship burned.

I am going with the Child of Kintargo trait and the Noble Scion Feat. I don't see any mention in the player's guide about where the PCs live so I was wondering if I can get a small 1 room flat in the worst neighborhood (which I assume is Old Kintargo) for the single non-magical 200gp item allowed under Child of Kintargo. Any idea how much a small run down place would cost based upon Kintargo's economy?

I looked at the Guide to Korvosa to get some idea about buying living quarters but it looked like it was out of my price range. Has martial law lowered the prices?

You'll need to get those questions approved by the GM, really, as to where you can live. My preference for that kind of stuff is to simply use the cost of living rules in the Core Rulebook, rather than force players to track daily expenses. Martial Law would affect the prices of renting the same as it would the prices for anything else (but I can't remember off the top of my head if it DOES affect prices...).


Mr. Jacobs,

I was browsing templates for my homebrew, and came upon the N'gathau.

1) Was this inspired by the movie Hellraiser, by chance?
2) Who came up with them?
3) Would you think it possible, in the distant future, for a module being released, where you try to fight off an incursion team of these things?

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