Creative Director
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How would you say Alaznist should act personality wise? What I mean is what kind of philosophy she follows, what particularly poses her off and if there's anything she actually likes doing.
Like a violence-addicted James Bond villain. She likes sadisim and cruelty and anger and wallowing in her own wrathful nature. Other runelords cover the deeper and more complex villainy stuff, particularly Belimarius and Sorshen; Alaznist is a handy contrast to them, I feel, in keeping her relatively simple and just plain mean, personality-wise.
How did Xanderghul and Alaznist achieve mythic power respectively? If it was stated in Return of the Runelords I apologize, I must have missed it.
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How did Xanderghul and Alaznist achieve mythic power respectively? If it was stated in Return of the Runelords I apologize, I must have missed it.
Xanderghul achieved it in –6466 AR, and Alaznist in –5294 AR, but beyond that, we didn't really indicate how they've become mythic, nor are we likely to anytime soon. It would make sense that they did so by achieving a notable feat or act, but it could also be that it's just the end result of years or even decades of study. Sorry there's not more details... but the idea of these wizards being super powerful predates Mythic rules by half a decade, if not more, and as such their histories were already up and running and it wasn't as easy to make up some new transition element for them out of the blue without it feeling tacked on.
My preference is that their transition into mythic power (Sorshen's as well) was merely the combination of destiny and magical research. Not super sexy as far as legendry goes, but you can also see it as open waters for you as the GM to come up with your own stories too.
My preference is that their transition into mythic power (Sorshen's as well) was merely the combination of destiny and magical research. Not super sexy as far as legendry goes, but you can also see it as open waters for you as the GM to come up with your own stories too.
Thank you for the great answer. I think you did a pretty stellar job of keeping the canon straight and adding game elements into the lore, as they were developed.
Reading Rise of the Runelords again, I noticed that Karzoug had to have a silver tongue to convince Mokmurian to serve him. That got me wondering how did the runelords rank in their diplomatic ability? For the life of me I cannot imagine Zutha being great at diplomacy.
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My preference is that their transition into mythic power (Sorshen's as well) was merely the combination of destiny and magical research. Not super sexy as far as legendry goes, but you can also see it as open waters for you as the GM to come up with your own stories too.
Thank you for the great answer. I think you did a pretty stellar job of keeping the canon straight and adding game elements into the lore, as they were developed.
Reading Rise of the Runelords again, I noticed that Karzoug had to have a silver tongue to convince Mokmurian to serve him. That got me wondering how did the runelords rank in their diplomatic ability? For the life of me I cannot imagine Zutha being great at diplomacy.
Sorshen was best at it, Alaznist the worst, the rest spread out between them.
Was Xanderghul always so obsessive (like obsessing over what Sorshen was up to) or was that only after his first defeat?
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Does Sword of Lust become inactive after campaign is over and Sorshen doesn't count as "Runelord of Lust" anymore or does it still say active because Sorshen is alive?
Also, does this mean Return of the Runelords is kinda last opportunity for GMs to do something with remaining sin swords before they become inactive for good?
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Does Sword of Lust become inactive after campaign is over and Sorshen doesn't count as "Runelord of Lust" anymore or does it still say active because Sorshen is alive?
Also, does this mean Return of the Runelords is kinda last opportunity for GMs to do something with remaining sin swords before they become inactive for good?
Which runelords survive in your game depends on how your game plays out, but yes, most of the swords will go inactive. Canonically, the two that will remain active are...
...with there always being a potential in the future for new developments, of course.
Xanderghul paid Alaznist a visit on the eve of Earthfall just before the runelords were to activate their contingency plans to survive the apocalypse. Did Xanderghul visit each runelord that day or was Alaznist the only “lucky” one?
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Xanderghul paid Alaznist a visit on the eve of Earthfall just before the runelords were to activate their contingency plans to survive the apocalypse. Did Xanderghul visit each runelord that day or was Alaznist the only “lucky” one?
That was the only visit.
I feel like the choice came back to haunt him.
Are you currently reading anything for leisure?
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Creative Director
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I feel like the choice came back to haunt him.
Are you currently reading anything for leisure?
Yup. Lots of stuff. I'm almost done re-reading "The Ceremonies" by T.E.D. Klein, one of my favorite ever books. I'm about to start reading John Langan's "House of Windows." Got lots of anthology books I'm idly reading as well, and gonna be reading the third and final of Ramsey Campbell's latest trilogy, "The Way of the Worm," ASAP.
Been re-reading Mythic Adventures and a question occurred to me: Aroden ascended to godhood when he survived the Test of the Starstone, but when — if ever — and how did he achieve mythic ascension?
Somehow I knew you were gonna say that. I have another question, but I'll save until PF2 comes out. :-)
Hi James,
Fey (at least in general) are not native to the material plane, but their 1st edition creature type is "fey", not "outsider".
Do you feel this correctly reflects their nature as different from actual outsiders, or do they ought to be actual outsiders and this is just a mechanical artifact inherited from D&D?
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Hi James,
Fey (at least in general) are not native to the material plane, but their 1st edition creature type is "fey", not "outsider".
Do you feel this correctly reflects their nature as different from actual outsiders, or do they ought to be actual outsiders and this is just a mechanical artifact inherited from D&D?
The problem here is that we came up with the First World and how fey function LONG after we published Pathfinder and the Bestiary, where we used 3.5's definition of fey as an assumption. We maybe should have just stuck with that, rather than redefine that when we started to really explore the first world about a year later in the later stages of Kingmaker, but we didn't.
Outsider is, I think, far too broad of a term anyway. And "Fey" can be redefined how we wish. All great things to address during an edition change, yeah? One that's not quite out yet and so I can't get into more details yet, of course!
Hey James, final question relating to my Necromancer character, albeit only tangentially related to the craft. Our party completed Vengeance, and after everything was said and done we were left wondering what to do with the sword that the Reclamation had that kicked the whole thing off. It seemed like a waste to just let it sit somewhere and we didn't have the means in-game to alter it into its Evil variant, so I suggested dropping it in the laps of the Knights of Ozem, even though I'm a Necromancer that doesn't necessarily mean I'm a fan of Tar Baphon.
My question is, do you think this decision would alter anything msjor about how Tyrant's Grasp plays out, or is Heart's Edge not powerful enough of an artifact to matter much to the Horned King?
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Hello James,
I apologize if this has already been asked, but it is mentioned in the Carrion crown adventure path that Luvick Siervage predates the whispering tyrant himself.
I was wondering, does this mean he predates Tar-baphon before he returned as a lick or is he old enough that he existed before Tar-baphon as the Wizard king? Precisely how old is this ancient vampire?Also, good luck with your second edition work!
"Returned as a lick" is my favorite typo of the week so far.
That said, I dunno. I wasn't inovlved in and haven't yet been involved in developing or telling Siervage's story. I suspect Wes Schneider knows more, but he left Paizo a few years back. And while he still lives about 100 feet to the north of where I live, it's too snowy outside for me to want to go across the path and throw pebbles at his window to ask him about vampires.
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Creative Director
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Hey James, final question relating to my Necromancer character, albeit only tangentially related to the craft. Our party completed Vengeance, and after everything was said and done we were left wondering what to do with the sword that the Reclamation had that kicked the whole thing off. It seemed like a waste to just let it sit somewhere and we didn't have the means in-game to alter it into its Evil variant, so I suggested dropping it in the laps of the Knights of Ozem, even though I'm a Necromancer that doesn't necessarily mean I'm a fan of Tar Baphon.
My question is, do you think this decision would alter anything msjor about how Tyrant's Grasp plays out, or is Heart's Edge not powerful enough of an artifact to matter much to the Horned King?
It only makes a difference if your GM wants it to.
I suspect Wes Schneider knows more, but he left Paizo a few years back. And while he still lives about 100 feet to the north of where I live, it's too snowy outside for me to want to go across the path and throw pebbles at his window to ask him about vampires.
Weather permitting, do you ever go throw pebbles at his window and ask him about vampires?
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Creative Director
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I suspect Wes Schneider knows more, but he left Paizo a few years back. And while he still lives about 100 feet to the north of where I live, it's too snowy outside for me to want to go across the path and throw pebbles at his window to ask him about vampires.Weather permitting, do you ever go throw pebbles at his window and ask him about vampires?
Nah, I either text him or just walk over and knock on the door.
It only makes a difference if your GM wants it to.Hey James, final question relating to my Necromancer character, albeit only tangentially related to the craft. Our party completed Vengeance, and after everything was said and done we were left wondering what to do with the sword that the Reclamation had that kicked the whole thing off. It seemed like a waste to just let it sit somewhere and we didn't have the means in-game to alter it into its Evil variant, so I suggested dropping it in the laps of the Knights of Ozem, even though I'm a Necromancer that doesn't necessarily mean I'm a fan of Tar Baphon.
My question is, do you think this decision would alter anything msjor about how Tyrant's Grasp plays out, or is Heart's Edge not powerful enough of an artifact to matter much to the Horned King?
Well yes of course, even if I did show them your response they'd probably still do whatever they thought was the more interesting answer, I was just wondering what your opinion would be, since the Reclamation basically fought a war over/with that sword, so I just wanted to get your take on it if you had one.
As a side note, funnily enough, we also played it so that our Vengeance characters have connections to the Curse of the Crimson Throne characters we played for that campaign, so another possibility exists for the wielder of Serithtial from that campaign to also wield Heart's Edge if we really wanted to make that happen, now wouldn't THAT would be an Iomedian powerhouse.
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Creative Director
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It only makes a difference if your GM wants it to.Hey James, final question relating to my Necromancer character, albeit only tangentially related to the craft. Our party completed Vengeance, and after everything was said and done we were left wondering what to do with the sword that the Reclamation had that kicked the whole thing off. It seemed like a waste to just let it sit somewhere and we didn't have the means in-game to alter it into its Evil variant, so I suggested dropping it in the laps of the Knights of Ozem, even though I'm a Necromancer that doesn't necessarily mean I'm a fan of Tar Baphon.
My question is, do you think this decision would alter anything msjor about how Tyrant's Grasp plays out, or is Heart's Edge not powerful enough of an artifact to matter much to the Horned King?
Well yes of course, even if I did show them your response they'd probably still do whatever they thought was the more interesting answer, I was just wondering what your opinion would be, since the Reclamation basically fought a war over/with that sword, so I just wanted to get your take on it if you had one.
As a side note, funnily enough, we also played it so that our Vengeance characters have connections to the Curse of the Crimson Throne characters we played for that campaign, so another possibility exists for the wielder of Serithtial from that campaign to also wield Heart's Edge if we really wanted to make that happen, now wouldn't THAT would be an Iomedian powerhouse.
I don't have an opinion. I wasn't involved in the development or writing of either of those Adventure Paths except marginally, and I'm actually not 100% sure even what the sword is that you're talking about or how it ties into the plot of Hell's Vengeance. You know more about how that would affect things in Tyrant's Grasp than I do at this point! :-)
That said, please keep posts to questions here; I try to avoid turning the thread into a back and forth venue to keep my sanity and time in check; thanks!
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Creative Director
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Hello James,
Where on Golarion, in terms of geography and climate, would be the best place to run a stereotypical “Western?” I’m thinking something similar to Arizona, New Mexico, etc.
Varisia's Cinderlands, Belkzen, the Mana Wastes and the west coast of Cheliax, I guess. Maybe coastal/southern Rahadoum.
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Nah, I either text him or just walk over and knock on the door.I suspect Wes Schneider knows more, but he left Paizo a few years back. And while he still lives about 100 feet to the north of where I live, it's too snowy outside for me to want to go across the path and throw pebbles at his window to ask him about vampires.Weather permitting, do you ever go throw pebbles at his window and ask him about vampires?
What’s Wes up to these days? Has he done (or are there any future plans for him to do do) any freelance writing / design / developing for Paizo?
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Creative Director
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What’s Wes up to these days? Has he done (or are there any future plans for him to do do) any freelance writing / design / developing for Paizo?Nah, I either text him or just walk over and knock on the door.I suspect Wes Schneider knows more, but he left Paizo a few years back. And while he still lives about 100 feet to the north of where I live, it's too snowy outside for me to want to go across the path and throw pebbles at his window to ask him about vampires.Weather permitting, do you ever go throw pebbles at his window and ask him about vampires?
He's working on a cool project for another company but it's not my place to say what, but also working on several of his own creative projects, also not things I'm at liberty to say much more about yet but which I'm eager to play.
He's not doing any writing/design/development for Paizo these days though.
Why wasn't PF 1st edition's "Healer’s Hands" (Conduit feat) used in the Pathfinder Playtest to justify in lore the boost to the Heal skill in the prototype rules? It seems to accomplish the same outcome and is already part of the lore.
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Creative Director
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Why wasn't PF 1st edition's "Healer’s Hands" (Conduit feat) used in the Pathfinder Playtest to justify in lore the boost to the Heal skill in the prototype rules? It seems to accomplish the same outcome and is already part of the lore.
I suspect because that feat wasn't on the design team's radar at the time, and/or they preferred their solution. I wasn't part of the design or development for the playstest rules so I have no actual insight there.
Who at Paizo, both current and previously, would be the best people to ask about Andoran lore?
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Creative Director
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Who at Paizo, both current and previously, would be the best people to ask about Andoran lore?
There isn't really an Andoran specialist here. It's never really been high on anyone's passion regions, with the exception of Mike McArtor who did a lot of work with the Darkmoon Vale region.
Who at Paizo, both current and previously, would be the best people to ask about Andoran lore?There isn't really an Andoran specialist here. It's never really been high on anyone's passion regions, with the exception of Mike McArtor who did a lot of work with the Darkmoon Vale region.
Well dang, there was a character* who's appearance I wanted to ask about. What would you recommend in those cases? Ask the authors?
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Creative Director
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Who at Paizo, both current and previously, would be the best people to ask about Andoran lore?There isn't really an Andoran specialist here. It's never really been high on anyone's passion regions, with the exception of Mike McArtor who did a lot of work with the Darkmoon Vale region.Well dang, there was a character* who's appearance I wanted to ask about. What would you recommend in those cases? Ask the authors?
** spoiler omitted **
No idea. Sorry.
If I remember correctly, the runelords were loosely based off a cabal of wizards from your homebrew game. Would you mind talking a bit about that cabal and what they did in your game?
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If I remember correctly, the runelords were loosely based off a cabal of wizards from your homebrew game. Would you mind talking a bit about that cabal and what they did in your game?
They were all necromancers, and were the first to rediscover magic in the past after an ancient cataclysm reset the world. They were five in total, four minions serving one overlord. Most of the world's undead creatures were invented by them. They were eventually defeated and put in stasis, but then woke up when a PC group had a TPK and got enslaved by their cultists and helped set them free.
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So noticed Ghost Iron Scimitar item from Shattered Star while checking Archive of Nethys.
I'm kind of curious of what its status in canon is since according to timeline, Xin was assassinated before first of alara'hai was created. So does that mean that instead of being failed attempt at creating eight alara'hai, it is actually the first prototype attempt to create such an artifact sword?
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So noticed Ghost Iron Scimitar item from Shattered Star while checking Archive of Nethys.
I'm kind of curious of what its status in canon is since according to timeline, Xin was assassinated before first of alara'hai was created. So does that mean that instead of being failed attempt at creating eight alara'hai, it is actually the first prototype attempt to create such an artifact sword?
Could be. Or could be some sloppy timeline development on my part, alas. I doubt the Ghost Iron Scimitar is gonna be referenced much at all going forward.
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Creative Director
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Hello James, there is a wizards crossbow called "Mages crossbow" which adds it's enhancement bonus to your ray attacks (to hit and to damage).
If I were gonna use Battering blast as a level 20 wizard which equals to(five balls of force) with a Mages Crossbow +5, would you add this +5 bonus damage on the first battering blast only? or would it add to each subsequent battering blast attack made on that turn?
Mages Crossbow:
This +2 light crossbow is made of silver that never needs to be polished.A mage’s crossbow is especially effective against creatures with spell resistance. Against such creatures, the weapon’s effective enhancement bonusincreases to +3, and it deals an additional 1d6 points of damage. Whenever the wielder casts a spell that requires him to make a ranged touch attack (such as a ray) while he has the crossbow in hand, he gains a bonus on his ranged attack roll equal to the crossbow’s enhancement bonus against the target creature. If the spell hits, the caster also applies this bonus to the caster level check to overcome the target’s spell resistance (if any) and on the spell’s damage roll (if any).
Your GM will be able to give you the fastest and most appropriate answer for your table, as always. I don't answer rules questions here; you should ask them in the rules forum or on the product forum for the book in which the crossbow in question was published, so that you can get feedback and advice from the community at large.