Yes. Why wouldn't it be?Is the reverse true?Are there any stories you’ve been wanting to tell in Golarion but didn’t think PF1 was right for that you’re hoping will suit PF2?No.
All of the stories I wanted to tell in Golarion for first edition can (and will) sill work for second edition.
From time to time you’ve needed to invent rules subsystems to facilitate the story in an AP - kingdom building in kingmaker being the most obvious, the caravan rules in jade regent , etcetera...all the way up to war for the crown.
I wondered if there’d ever been a storyline you’d wanted to tell but felt it wouldn’t “fit” particularly well with PF1 rules/philosophy.
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Did any of the drow houses from Golarion survive past the Gap and still exist on Apostae? The four Houses mentioned in Pact Worlds (Zeizerer, Rycast, Srabani and Brevak) seem to be entirely new to Starfinder, so I'm wondering if houses like Vonnarc and Misraria died out.
That's a question for the Starfinder folks. The Gap isn't part of Pathfinder so it's not really something that plays any role at all in that game.
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Yes. Why wouldn't it be?Is the reverse true?Are there any stories you’ve been wanting to tell in Golarion but didn’t think PF1 was right for that you’re hoping will suit PF2?No.
All of the stories I wanted to tell in Golarion for first edition can (and will) sill work for second edition.
From time to time you’ve needed to invent rules subsystems to facilitate the story in an AP - kingdom building in kingmaker being the most obvious, the caravan rules in jade regent , etcetera...all the way up to war for the crown.
I wondered if there’d ever been a storyline you’d wanted to tell but felt it wouldn’t “fit” particularly well with PF1 rules/philosophy.
Lots of them, but not because of rules... more because it's awkward and difficult and treacherous to do certain storylines (think something that, if it were a movie, would be rated R) as something published by Paizo.
What is going on with Pathfinder Online? I haven't heard anything about it for a while, and the website does not seem to have been updated since 2016.
Also, did you do anything for Pathfinder Online?
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What is going on with Pathfinder Online? I haven't heard anything about it for a while, and the website does not seem to have been updated since 2016.
Also, did you do anything for Pathfinder Online?
I wrote parts of the Thornkeep and Emerald Spire books, but beyond being part of the approval process earlier for Pathfinder Online, I've not really been that involved in it.
You said you don't like musicals but are there any exceptions at all?
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You said you don't like musicals but are there any exceptions at all?
Yes. Animated musicals are okay, by and large, but I would rather see an animated movie that isn't a musical.
And if the movie is about entertainment, then it's fine too. Moulin Rouge is a great example of a musical that I enjoyed, in large part because it's about musicals. There's an internal reason for everyone to be a great singer and dancer there.
But it's not a movie I sought out to see.
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Is there going to be a big universe-shaking event to illustrate the shifting rules from the current edition to the new one for Golarion, like how the Spellplague and the Sundering were specifically written for Forgotten Realms to coincide with the shifts from 3.5 to 4th Edition and from 4th to 5th Edition, respectively?
Just the possibility of something like that scares me...
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Is there going to be a big universe-shaking event to illustrate the shifting rules from the current edition to the new one for Golarion, like how the Spellplague and the Sundering were specifically written for Forgotten Realms to coincide with the shifts from 3.5 to 4th Edition and from 4th to 5th Edition, respectively?
Just the possibility of something like that scares me...
No.
Hello James, this is my first post but I've been spending the last week binging this thread and I'd just like to say that the work you're doing to maintain a strong connection to the fanbase is admirable and greatly appreciated.
Now, I have a couple questions but I'll split them up.
It's been stated that the psychopomps and Pharasma judge all souls including gods, and while I can understand this process, it raises the question as to how the soul economy works with deities. I'd assume that unless special protections were put in place, these powerful souls would immediately be taken by daemons, hags and other scavengers. Are there any notable guardians or methods in place to protect these uniquely potent souls?
What are your top 10 non-horror based movie?
As for my second question, I was hoping for some clarification on how situations like Nocticula's ascension would work. Mostly pertaining to domains and areas of interest. For example, currently Nocticula's purview includes lust, shadow, and assassination but it seems like the idea of her becoming a CN goddess of Artists, Outcasts and the Glories of Midnight removes other focuses. Would this mean that she currently has no true interest in what she currently stands for, does she have interests in both sides and just chooses whatever she thinks her followers would like more at a given time, or is it something totally different?
Again, thank you for you help, and I'd like to let you know that there is at least one fan here who would love to see Nocticula's ascension eventually making it's way into an adventure of some kind :)
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No.Is there going to be a big universe-shaking event to illustrate the shifting rules from the current edition to the new one for Golarion, like how the Spellplague and the Sundering were specifically written for Forgotten Realms to coincide with the shifts from 3.5 to 4th Edition and from 4th to 5th Edition, respectively?
Just the possibility of something like that scares me...
Oh, whew! That's an enormous relief. Thank you! :)
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Hello James, this is my first post but I've been spending the last week binging this thread and I'd just like to say that the work you're doing to maintain a strong connection to the fanbase is admirable and greatly appreciated.
Now, I have a couple questions but I'll split them up.
It's been stated that the psychopomps and Pharasma judge all souls including gods, and while I can understand this process, it raises the question as to how the soul economy works with deities. I'd assume that unless special protections were put in place, these powerful souls would immediately be taken by daemons, hags and other scavengers. Are there any notable guardians or methods in place to protect these uniquely potent souls?
We've got a bit more about this in Planar Adventures, but the short version is that each time a full-on deity dies, things play out a little bit differently. Just as there are no rules governing what a deity can do, there are no rules governing what a deity's soul can do. So, what happens to them is 100% in the jurisdiction of the specific story you want to tell, which means that they don't need protection from things. They've got plot immunity. Until they don't.
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What are your top 10 non-horror based movie?
Hmmmm... focusing on movies that specifically cannot be called horror... (thus leaving out movies like Jurassic Park and Godzilla and Jaws, which have horror themes and tropes baked in)...
In no particular order:
Seven Samurai
Big Trouble in Little China
Lilo & Stitch
Seventh Voyage of Sinbad
Yojimbo
Valley of Gwangi
Mad Max: Fury Road
Schindler's List
Gangs of New York
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
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As for my second question, I was hoping for some clarification on how situations like Nocticula's ascension would work. Mostly pertaining to domains and areas of interest. For example, currently Nocticula's purview includes lust, shadow, and assassination but it seems like the idea of her becoming a CN goddess of Artists, Outcasts and the Glories of Midnight removes other focuses. Would this mean that she currently has no true interest in what she currently stands for, does she have interests in both sides and just chooses whatever she thinks her followers would like more at a given time, or is it something totally different?
Again, thank you for you help, and I'd like to let you know that there is at least one fan here who would love to see Nocticula's ascension eventually making it's way into an adventure of some kind :)
That means she's grown tired and fed up with her current setup, and is eager to change focus into the new areas, but hasn't quite given up on the traditional stuff yet. What her followers want is largely irrelevant to her. She's chaotic and powerful. She'll do what she wants.
And while it's not going to be the entire focus of something... her ascension will be happening soon as a subplot.
What are your top 10 non-horror based movie?Hmmmm... focusing on movies that specifically cannot be called horror... (thus leaving out movies like Jurassic Park and Godzilla and Jaws, which have horror themes and tropes baked in)...
Whoa, hold up. How can Jurassic Park or Godzilla be called Horror or even related to horror?
(Note, I haven't seen Jaws)
Oh, have you read (or listened to) the original Jurassic Park books?
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What are your top 10 non-horror based movie?Hmmmm... focusing on movies that specifically cannot be called horror... (thus leaving out movies like Jurassic Park and Godzilla and Jaws, which have horror themes and tropes baked in)...
Whoa, hold up. How can Jurassic Park or Godzilla be called Horror or even related to horror?
(Note, I haven't seen Jaws)
The original Godzilla is VERY much a horror movie; in it, Godzilla is a metaphor for the devastation of nuclear warfare.
But that said, both of the movies have staging and timing that are pretty in sync with horror. Take Jurassic Park. Imagine the scene where the velociraptors are stalking the kids in the kitchen, but replace the velociraptors with serial killers or werewolves. The fact that they're dinosaurs instead of stalking killers doesn't change the fact that the sequence is set up with horror beats to the pacing.
And there's jump scares too. Remember Sam Jackson's final scene, yeah? A severed arm dropping onto a person is pretty Horror as far as I'm concerned.
So having a jump scare or a scene of being approached unawares is horror? Seems rather odd since I see these quite commonly except in slice-of-life and purely social focused dramas. I see those not as horror elements but as tension raisers, and rising tension is important for more than just horror (which, last I checked, is all about fear, hence why I generally dislike horror. I don't feel fear so when there is nothing else, there is nothing for me to like).
So, what does that make movies like Event Horizon?
Have you seen Akira Kurosawa's Dreams?
Taking as an example a Sorcerer (Crossblooded archetype; Celestial & Arcane bloodlines) 1/Arcanist 5:
1. Does the Bloodline Development exploit apply to one Bloodline, both, or need to be taken twice to apply?
2. Do the Bloodline bonus spells (like, say flame strike) count as spells on my class list for using items (prior to acquiring them as bonus spells, that is)?
3. Do PrCs advance Bloodline bonus spells along with spellcasting? I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this one, but most of the threads I've found on it turn into flame wars after about 3 posts. (I've never found the Core FAQ, it doesn't seem to show up when I search.)
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So having a jump scare or a scene of being approached unawares is horror? Seems rather odd since I see these quite commonly except in slice-of-life and purely social focused dramas. I see those not as horror elements but as tension raisers, and rising tension is important for more than just horror (which, last I checked, is all about fear, hence why I generally dislike horror. I don't feel fear so when there is nothing else, there is nothing for me to like).
So, what does that make movies like Event Horizon?
Whether a movie is a "horror movie" or a "tension movie" is something that countless folks have long argued, in most part because of the stigma attached to the horror genre—it makes people feel uncomfortable (that's the point) and many people try to justify enjoying a horror movie by categorizing it as a thriller or even a comedy (note how the Golden Globes last year had "Get Out" up for the "Best Comedy" award).
Someone asked me to list my favorite non-horror movies, and I interpreted that to include all movies that have horror elements or themes. And I still feel that Jurassic Park, Jaws, and the original Godzilla (not so much the sequels) are horror movies at their hearts.
Event Horizon is absolutely a horror movie.
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Taking as an example a Sorcerer (Crossblooded archetype; Celestial & Arcane bloodlines) 1/Arcanist 5:
1. Does the Bloodline Development exploit apply to one Bloodline, both, or need to be taken twice to apply?
2. Do the Bloodline bonus spells (like, say flame strike) count as spells on my class list for using items (prior to acquiring them as bonus spells, that is)?
3. Do PrCs advance Bloodline bonus spells along with spellcasting? I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this one, but most of the threads I've found on it turn into flame wars after about 3 posts. (I've never found the Core FAQ, it doesn't seem to show up when I search.)
Ask your GM.
If you're the GM, or your GM isn't comfortable making this ruling for their game (something that they should work on gaining comfort for ASAP), then ask around on the rules forums for other folks' advice, so people can hit the FAQ button, and so that the design team will see the post.
So, I'm working on making an add on to an existing adventure path, essentially adding a final part from lv 17 to lv 20, taking inspiration from D&D's Tomb of Annihilation.
The premise is that there will be an artifact that uses souls as fuel and prevents all souls from joining the river of souls.
My question is, what kind of retaliation would you expect from the psychopomps or Pharasma herself for the activation of such an extreme and powerful artifact and are there any other organizations/ outsiders that would likely get involved?
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So, I'm working on making an add on to an existing adventure path, essentially adding a final part from lv 17 to lv 20, taking inspiration from D&D's Tomb of Annihilation.
The premise is that there will be an artifact that uses souls as fuel and prevents all souls from joining the river of souls.
My question is, what kind of retaliation would you expect from the psychopomps or Pharasma herself for the activation of such an extreme and powerful artifact and are there any other organizations/ outsiders that would likely get involved?
At 17th to 20th level, the retalliation and involvement should be significant. If I were to put a storyline like this into play, I'd have Pharasma use an avatar to contact the PCs and enjoin them to step in to destroy the artifact, and perhaps give them some powerful psychopomp-flavored aid... but I'd also have something in effect that prevents psychopomps from directly handling the situation. That job should be for the PCs.
Any undead-related group would be pro-artifact that prevents resurrection and and prevents souls from entering the river of souls, since that means those souls turn into ghosts or other sorts of undead. The Whispering Way, or the cults of Urgathoa, Orcus, Zyphus, Zura, Kabriri, and their ilk would make sense as enemies here.
Ok, so after looking at some information on Zura, she seems to be connected to some other technologies that all relate to blood based energy and magic. Is there an inherent power that's unique to blood or does blood just act as an easy conduit to channel energy from a different source?
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Ok, so after looking at some information on Zura, she seems to be connected to some other technologies that all relate to blood based energy and magic. Is there an inherent power that's unique to blood or does blood just act as an easy conduit to channel energy from a different source?
There's certainly power in blood, especially for vampires. There's also the idea of magical lineages existing in the blood—as seen in a sorcerer's bloodline, or the method of magic used by bloatmages.
Just curious about your take on this, the group already decided on a ruling for the game it's relevant to, and I'm plenty happy with it.
Elixir of Sex Shift. "The elixir has no effect on characters who are pregnant or are of races with no sexual differentiation." Is this the case for changelings?
You've mentioned before that a god with no worshipers has no reason not to be as powerful as a god worshiped by everyone. that sparked the question in me: do you think there are many gods who don't have worshipers kicking around the universe?
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Just curious about your take on this, the group already decided on a ruling for the game it's relevant to, and I'm plenty happy with it.
Elixir of Sex Shift. "The elixir has no effect on characters who are pregnant or are of races with no sexual differentiation." Is this the case for changelings?
I would say yes, it works fine on changelings. "No sexual differentiantion" is different from "always male" or "always female."
AKA: This elixir, as written, can't give a gender to a creature that doesn't have/need/want a gender.
But this is also a pretty personal topic/subject, so how it works in your game should be determined by 100% group buy-in, really. In a game I'd run, I'd be 100% open to reversing/changing my ruling as needed to make a comfortable and welcoming space for all my players. Even if that means changing how the elixir works from game to game as the player mix changes.
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You've mentioned before that a god with no worshipers has no reason not to be as powerful as a god worshiped by everyone. that sparked the question in me: do you think there are many gods who don't have worshipers kicking around the universe?
There are as many as there needs to be. I suspect there's quite a few whose planets/cultures/faiths have been destroyed and are without worshipers. "All of time" is a long time for various worlds to end, after all.
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Hey,JJ
How do you think about "Pay-to-play" in pathfinder?
I started to play the pathfinder TRPG nearly two years, and I usually use the Roll20 be our stage.
Recently, Roll20 have much of "Pay-to-play" game,I felt strange, this doesn't mean all game should be free(although), but this phenomenon let me starts thinking "Does GMing can be a job?"
So, have you ever pay for a game? (Not for book, Rent expense, food & drink , but for GM)
Have you be a GM and claim the charge?Thank you!
That's a somewhat slippery slope that encroaches on copyright and the like, first of all—it's kinda sketchy for a GM to make money running a game that he didn't create, or even worse if he's running an adventure he didn't write. Furthermore, it turns what should be a hobby and a game into a job, which starts to have weird tax implications.
Furthermore, that means that if you pay to play, you need to expect MORE than you would get for normal, so suddenly there's weird levels of entitlement or expectation in there.
Nope. I don't like it.
Dear James Jacobs,
How to do you feel if paid Owen K Stephens to come teach game design in Morgantown for an open Con and had you help via Skype?
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Dear James Jacobs,
How to do you feel if paid Owen K Stephens to come teach game design in Morgantown for an open Con and had you help via Skype?
I'm having trouble understanding what you're asking. Are you asking if I would like to help Owen teach a class on game design via Skype when he goes to some convention held in some place called Morgantown?
If so, I'd rather not—conventions make me uncomfortable, as do phone calls and Skype calls, and unless I'm being told to do the convention as part of my job by my boss, I'd rather avoid it, to be honest.
If not, please rephrase your question.
Hey,JJ
How do you think about "Pay-to-play" in pathfinder?
I started to play the pathfinder TRPG nearly two years, and I usually use the Roll20 be our stage.
Recently, Roll20 have much of "Pay-to-play" game,I felt strange, this doesn't mean all game should be free(although), but this phenomenon let me starts thinking "Does GMing can be a job?"
So, have you ever pay for a game? (Not for book, Rent expense, food & drink , but for GM)
Have you be a GM and claim the charge?Thank you!
That's a somewhat slippery slope that encroaches on copyright and the like, first of all—it's kinda sketchy for a GM to make money running a game that he didn't create, or even worse if he's running an adventure he didn't write. Furthermore, it turns what should be a hobby and a game into a job, which starts to have weird tax implications.
Furthermore, that means that if you pay to play, you need to expect MORE than you would get for normal, so suddenly there's weird levels of entitlement or expectation in there.
Nope. I don't like it.
Do you believe referees of nonprofessional game leagues (like high school and NCAA college sports) also shouldn't ever be paid since they didn't create the sports league, or the rules, and it turns a hobby and a game into a job?
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Do you believe referees of nonprofessional game leagues (like high school and NCAA college sports) also shouldn't ever be paid since they didn't create the sports league, or the rules, and it turns a hobby and a game into a job?
Nope. Different topic gets different answer: No.
Maybe in a few hundred years in a world where tabletop RPGs are as fundamental a part of culture as something like a ball game, my answer would be different, I guess.
Also (and I wish I didn't have to ask this): Please try to avoid asking questions like this where you try to make it look like I'm a jerk. Those types of questions don't encourage me to continue answering questions. I'd rather not have to worry that every question I answer here will be used against me to make it look like I'm saying something I'm not.
Is there a class you haven't played as yet or not very much that you'd like to.
I guess I should have clarified that Morgantown, WEST Virginia is my home town...and I was mostly asking "If paid Owen Stephens to come here for a Con...would you join him in teaching what I asked?" Which you answered No... So I guess I got my answer.
I asked this five years ago and now have a follow-up.
The adjustments happen regardless of the saving throw. Canny gamers can certainly metagame to figure out what's going on.An addendum to the lycanthrope question:
A creature that catches lycanthropy becomes an afflicted lycanthrope, but shows no symptoms (and does not gain any of the template's adjustments or abilities) until the night of the next full moon, when the victim involuntarily assumes animal form and forgets his or her own identity. The character remains in animal form until the next dawn and remembers nothing about the entire episode (or subsequent episodes) unless he makes a DC 20 Will save, in which case he becomes aware of his condition.Whether the afflicted lycanthrope makes the Will save or not, do the ability score adjustments of the template take effect after the first full moon? That is, a character who has gone through the transformation once, whether they're aware of it or not, takes the +2 Wis and -2 Cha from that point on in their normal form, thus giving other people (or themselves) a chance to notice something different about them (less forceful, more perceptive)?
If a player suspects that an NPC (in human form) is a lycanthrope, would you give the PC a Knowledge roll to verify it or just make them go with their hunch?