In the Return of the Runelord's Player's Guide, the holy symbol of Nocticula's Cult of the Redeemer is described as "a seven-pointed crown behind a moon bearing lips."
Is there an actual illustration of this anywhere, or just this description?
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In the Return of the Runelord's Player's Guide, the holy symbol of Nocticula's Cult of the Redeemer is described as "a seven-pointed crown behind a moon bearing lips."
Is there an actual illustration of this anywhere, or just this description?
There are illustrations. There's one in Return of the Runelords 6, I believe, and also in some of the upcoming Lost Omens books.
Cheliax, Katapesh and Qadira are portrayed as villainous because the developers regard slavery as evil. Geb is portrayed as villainous because the developers regard the undead as evil. The Worldwound is portrayed as villainous because the developers regard demons as evil. Thus, Rahadoum, alghollthu and the Dominion of the Black are portrayed as villainous because the developers regard atheism as evil?
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Cheliax, Katapesh and Qadira are portrayed as villainous because the developers regard slavery as evil. Geb is portrayed as villainous because the developers regard the undead as evil. The Worldwound is portrayed as villainous because the developers regard demons as evil. Thus, Rahadoum, alghollthu and the Dominion of the Black are portrayed as villainous because the developers regard atheism as evil?
No.
Why was Ydersius favored to the serpentfolk over Yig?
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Why was Ydersius favored to the serpentfolk over Yig?
In-world reason: Because Yig is too benevolent to be a proper deity for the cruel serpentfolk, and because his worship is more focused on surface dwellers.
Real-world reason: Because when we introduced serpent folk into Golarion we were still a bit timid about putting too much Lovecraft into the setting, but also because I wanted to bring in my homebrew deity Ydersius and use his story for an eventual Adventure Path.
Is the return of Choral, and his defeat by the new nation in Kingmaker, considered to be canon? The death of the Gorilla King being considered canon surprised me a bit, since it was a Continuing the Campaign idea.
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Is the return of Choral, and his defeat by the new nation in Kingmaker, considered to be canon? The death of the Gorilla King being considered canon surprised me a bit, since it was a Continuing the Campaign idea.
The Gorilla King's death happened "on screen" in an adventure path (Serpent's Skull), but the return of Choral did not; it was just a suggestion about a possible future, and is potentially a storyline we might want to explore in the future.
We're kinda done with telling Gorilla King stories though, so that's why his death has been made canon.
Cheliax, Katapesh and Qadira are portrayed as villainous because the developers regard slavery as evil. Geb is portrayed as villainous because the developers regard the undead as evil. The Worldwound is portrayed as villainous because the developers regard demons as evil. Thus, Rahadoum, alghollthu and the Dominion of the Black are portrayed as villainous because the developers regard atheism as evil?No.
Then can I anticipate that Rahadoum will be portrayed less villainously in Second Edition? I'm not sure whether portraying the only atheist country in the setting as a tyrannical slaver nation is a good idea or not.
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Then can I anticipate that Rahadoum will be portrayed less villainously in Second Edition? I'm not sure whether portraying the only atheist country in the setting as a tyrannical slaver nation is a good idea or not.
I have no idea where you got the idea that Rahadoum was a "tyrannical slaver nation."
If Rahadoum is portrayed as villainous, it's not because they're atheists, but because they're intolerant toward other beliefs that aren't their own.
In your opinion, what is the biggest single benefit to switching to Pathfinder Second Edition?
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In your opinion, what is the biggest single benefit to switching to Pathfinder Second Edition?
It'll increase your lifespan by 200 years. Which should give us time to build a 3rd edition, so we can continue to increase your lifespan exponentially, and so that some day in the future the universe will be populated by immortal gamers.
(The less goofy benefit is: You'll be able to continue playing the same types of games you enjoyed in 1st edition but with a ruleset that is much more empowering to GMs in that it gives them greater ownership over how they run their game without being undermined by player expectation/entitlement.)
Speaking of Rahadoum, revolutionary France famously rewrote the calendar to remove references to religion and to make it more "rational" (i.e., to decimalize it). Given that the months in Golarion are named after deities under Absalom Reckoning, has Rahadoum done anything like this?
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Speaking of Rahadoum, revolutionary France famously rewrote the calendar to remove references to religion and to make it more "rational" (i.e., to decimalize it). Given that the months in Golarion are named after deities under Absalom Reckoning, has Rahadoum done anything like this?
No, but they probably should have.
This is a really cool world lore idea, but it's pretty impractical in play, alas. In the same way having different denominations of money with different exchange rates between nations, or having a large number of regional dialects or languages. It might be more "realistic" but it clutters up the game play experience. It's already tough enough for players to remember that there's no January in the world but there is an Abadius, to the extent that I suspect most players don't even bother and just say "January." Having to remember that it's Abadius in one part of the world but something else entirely in another doesn't necessarily equate to fun game play, is what I'm saying, so it's something we haven't really explored in depth.
Feel free to add that level of detail you your games, of course, if your players are okay with that level of extra complication.
Then can I anticipate that Rahadoum will be portrayed less villainously in Second Edition? I'm not sure whether portraying the only atheist country in the setting as a tyrannical slaver nation is a good idea or not.I have no idea where you got the idea that Rahadoum was a "tyrannical slaver nation."
If Rahadoum is portrayed as villainous, it's not because they're atheists, but because they're intolerant toward other beliefs that aren't their own.
Were the Children of Light from Eye of the World an inspiration for these fellows?
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Were the Children of Light from Eye of the World an inspiration for these fellows?Then can I anticipate that Rahadoum will be portrayed less villainously in Second Edition? I'm not sure whether portraying the only atheist country in the setting as a tyrannical slaver nation is a good idea or not.I have no idea where you got the idea that Rahadoum was a "tyrannical slaver nation."
If Rahadoum is portrayed as villainous, it's not because they're atheists, but because they're intolerant toward other beliefs that aren't their own.
No idea. I don't recognize the reference, but I also wasn't the one who came up with Rahadoum, so I dunno.
In your opinion, what is the biggest single benefit to switching to Pathfinder Second Edition?You'll be able to continue playing the same types of games you enjoyed in 1st edition but with a ruleset that is much more empowering to GMs in that it gives them greater ownership over how they run their game without being undermined by player expectation/entitlement.
...What?
I mean, please elaborate. I thought the new rules was to make it easier to run for both players and GM, as well as deal with the balance issues and other wobbly bits 3.75 had.
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In your opinion, what is the biggest single benefit to switching to Pathfinder Second Edition?You'll be able to continue playing the same types of games you enjoyed in 1st edition but with a ruleset that is much more empowering to GMs in that it gives them greater ownership over how they run their game without being undermined by player expectation/entitlement....What?
I mean, please elaborate. I thought the new rules was to make it easier to run for both players and GM, as well as deal with the balance issues and other wobbly bits 3.75 had.
They're easier to run as players and GMs. But they give GMs more authority and tools. One of the cultural shifts of 3rd edition D&D was that there were SO many rules and player-facing options that a lot of players got feeling entitled over the years, and the issue of players bringing a stack of dozens of rulebooks to a game and demanding to be allowed to play a broken combo that was never intended to work together but over the course of dozens of books WAS allowed was not a pleasant experience.
The rarity system is what I'm talking about. It allows GMs an in-book built-in set of rules to use to throttle game content to the books they're comfortable and interested in running without setting an expectation to players that just because someone published a book and then the player bought the book that they automatically get to use the content in the book.
AKA: Giving GMs more agency and power while allowing us all to play the same stories we enjoyed in 1st edition is the biggest benefit of 2nd edition, in my opinion.
Anyone else's opinions may change, and won't form until the new rules are actually out, and I am not an authority on other peoples' opinions anyway.
EDIT: Furhermore, I'm wary about answering ANY kind of 2nd edition questions here because I always feel folks are fishing for previews or spoilers or trying to trick me into revealing content I'm not supposed to reveal yet and then my paranoid part thinks it's someone on the internet trolling me trying to get me in trouble, because there ARE folks out there who hate Paizo/hate me and just wanna see us all burn, it feels... so if I do answer some 2nd edition questions early before the rules are out (often against my better judgement), and the answers seem confusing... that could be why: I'm trying to answer without getting in trouble.
My takeaway from that is that I should just not answer 2nd edition questions at all here until after Gen Con launches and the game is officially released, I suppose.
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I've got Midwives to Death, and after reading the Developer Showcase I just wanted to let you know I really want to play a Sentinel of Nocticula :3
Also I love her new art.
I'm quite pleased with her new look! But remember, this is a question thread, not a feedback thread. I do love hearing feedback, but please post it to the product thread instead, or if you prefer, shoot me a PM or start a brand new thread. I just wanna keep this question thread on point.
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I'm quite pleased with her new look! But remember, this is a question thread, not a feedback thread. I do love hearing feedback, but please post it to the product thread instead, or if you prefer, shoot me a PM or start a brand new thread. I just wanna keep this question thread on point.I've got Midwives to Death, and after reading the Developer Showcase I just wanted to let you know I really want to play a Sentinel of Nocticula :3
Also I love her new art.
Okies, sorry!
Was Nocticula always designed to be redeemed or was that something you decided later on?
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I'm quite pleased with her new look! But remember, this is a question thread, not a feedback thread. I do love hearing feedback, but please post it to the product thread instead, or if you prefer, shoot me a PM or start a brand new thread. I just wanna keep this question thread on point.I've got Midwives to Death, and after reading the Developer Showcase I just wanted to let you know I really want to play a Sentinel of Nocticula :3
Also I love her new art.
Okies, sorry!
Was Nocticula always designed to be redeemed or was that something you decided later on?
The intent at the start was that she would have a redemption arc. It took a LOT longer to get that story out than I wanted , though.
Hello James,
After finally reaching the end of this thread (only took 40 years) and seeing all that’s transpired around Nocticula and her redemption/ascension, I was wondering: were/are there any plans to go one step further into Chaotic Good, or was chaotic neutral always the end goal of her story?
Thanks!
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Hello James,
After finally reaching the end of this thread (only took 40 years) and seeing all that’s transpired around Nocticula and her redemption/ascension, I was wondering: were/are there any plans to go one step further into Chaotic Good, or was chaotic neutral always the end goal of her story?
Thanks!
No plans. Chaotic neutral works better for her.
A while ago I noticed that my as of now favorite character, and my account name based off of them, used to look a lot like Zerthimon from forgotten realms until I changed it up a bit, even though the way I got to the name had nothing to do with the gith or forgotten realms.
Which leads me to ask, have you (or perhaps anyone at paizo) created something (name/place/class/etc.) that ended up being very similar to something else even though they have nearly nothing else in common? Sorry if this is a weird question to answer, I’m not really sure how else to put it.
Thanks as always!
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A while ago I noticed that my as of now favorite character, and my account name based off of them, used to look a lot like Zerthimon from forgotten realms until I changed it up a bit, even though the way I got to the name had nothing to do with the gith or forgotten realms.
Which leads me to ask, have you (or perhaps anyone at paizo) created something (name/place/class/etc.) that ended up being very similar to something else even though they have nearly nothing else in common? Sorry if this is a weird question to answer, I’m not really sure how else to put it.
Thanks as always!
Yup! Everyone has their own special stew of inspiration that accretes in their brains as time goes on, and now and then shards of things that inspired you yesterday or last year or last decade bubble to the surface.
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Hey James
Have you seen the new Spider Man movie? Actually, are you a fan of super hero movies? We all know how much you love horror movies ...
I did see it and I did enjoy it. I enjoy superhero moives, but I wouldn't call myself a fan of superhero movies. I generally watch them once and that's that.
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Speaking of movies, are you interested in seeing Crawl?
A horror movie about killer alligators by a great director and produced by Sam Raimi? Of course I'm interested in seeing it! :-P
In that I've got my tickets already and will be in the theater in 2 hours.
James, I just looked at the new Nocticula and I really like the update! in a moral sense though, what does it 'mean' to be redeemed from evil to neutral? a more profound redemption would have seen her going good and shaken at the core, shivering out of her evil pit, and welcomed into the arms of the Cayden and Desna gang. But how would you recommend GMing the effect of losing the evil and heading into the lukewarm waters of the neutral alignment, both from her personal new goals from the attitude of her clergy. Thank you!
Will the midnight isles still exist after the ascension of Nocticula? My understanding is that Abyssal Realms are strongly affected by the specific demon lord that controls it.
(trying to keep it to one question per post)
If the Midnight Isles do still exist how would they change with the loss of Nocticula? I would expect the Porphyry city to be less hospitable to non-demons, since that was one of Nocticula's big things.
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James, I just looked at the new Nocticula and I really like the update! in a moral sense though, what does it 'mean' to be redeemed from evil to neutral? a more profound redemption would have seen her going good and shaken at the core, shivering out of her evil pit, and welcomed into the arms of the Cayden and Desna gang. But how would you recommend GMing the effect of losing the evil and heading into the lukewarm waters of the neutral alignment, both from her personal new goals from the attitude of her clergy. Thank you!
By not being evil, I guess? Dunno really how to answer this question without writing a whole long story, and I don't feel up to that right now, alas. I suppose maybe just look at how Sorshen is portrayed in Return of the Runelords and then amp that up a bit.
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(trying to keep it to one question per post)
If the Midnight Isles do still exist how would they change with the loss of Nocticula? I would expect the Porphyry city to be less hospitable to non-demons, since that was one of Nocticula's big things.
Again, that's a story we've yet to tell. I sort of like the idea that some of the "dead" demons in the islands might start waking up though now that she's gone. Also suspect other demon lords will sneak in to try to poach things. It'll certainly become a more dangerous place with her not there.
Speaking of movies, are you interested in seeing Crawl?A horror movie about killer alligators by a great director and produced by Sam Raimi? Of course I'm interested in seeing it! :-P
In that I've got my tickets already and will be in the theater in 2 hours.
How was it?
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FWIW, I think a chaotic neutral Nocticula is just fine and is a significant change from being a chaotic evil demon. I think we may be too used to PCs using chaotic neutral as "chaotic evil-lite" and not really appreciating the magnitude of the change from evil to neutral for an outsider with alignment as part of their type.
My question goes back to the Moonscar (which I'm currently running and which, for better or worse, I've tried to update to the current canon). I guess I don't understand how the actions of Nocticula's followers on the Moon contributed to her redemption. They seem to be more about the straight up accumulation of power over others, in others part of a move to being an evil deity. Could you explain how the actions of Nocticula's followers in the Moonscar contributed to the process of redemption and her becoming a non-evil deity?
The art of the elohim on page 86 of Bestiary 4 was gorgeous. What inspired this art? I mean, was the artist inspired by some ancient paintings or sculptures? Or was the art purely an imagination of the artist(Wayne Reynolds, maybe?)?
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How was it?Speaking of movies, are you interested in seeing Crawl?A horror movie about killer alligators by a great director and produced by Sam Raimi? Of course I'm interested in seeing it! :-P
In that I've got my tickets already and will be in the theater in 2 hours.
Delightful!
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FWIW, I think a chaotic neutral Nocticula is just fine and is a significant change from being a chaotic evil demon. I think we may be too used to PCs using chaotic neutral as "chaotic evil-lite" and not really appreciating the magnitude of the change from evil to neutral for an outsider with alignment as part of their type.
My question goes back to the Moonscar (which I'm currently running and which, for better or worse, I've tried to update to the current canon). I guess I don't understand how the actions of Nocticula's followers on the Moon contributed to her redemption. They seem to be more about the straight up accumulation of power over others, in others part of a move to being an evil deity. Could you explain how the actions of Nocticula's followers in the Moonscar contributed to the process of redemption and her becoming a non-evil deity?
They didn't. Her Moonscar followers are old-school worshipers.
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The art of the elohim on page 86 of Bestiary 4 was gorgeous. What inspired this art? I mean, was the artist inspired by some ancient paintings or sculptures? Or was the art purely an imagination of the artist(Wayne Reynolds, maybe?)?
I don't know what specifically inspired that artist, but the elohim are from mythology. See wikipedia for this type of thing.
Mr. James Jacobs,
It is said that the PCs from WotR greatly influenced/pushed Nocticula towards her redemption. Assuming one or more of the PCs from that game ascended to godhood themselves would she be on good terms with or at least be up for establishing good terms?
Hello James, huge fan of yours and the teams work!
Just curious, I was setting up to run Tyrants Grasp as a send off for V1, question has some spoilers in regards to TG -
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Mr. James Jacobs,
It is said that the PCs from WotR greatly influenced/pushed Nocticula towards her redemption. Assuming one or more of the PCs from that game ascended to godhood themselves would she be on good terms with or at least be up for establishing good terms?
Depends entirely on how her relationship with that PC played out in game.
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Hello James, huge fan of yours and the teams work!
Just curious, I was setting up to run Tyrants Grasp as a send off for V1, question has some spoilers in regards to TG - ** spoiler omitted **
All living creatures have souls, but you need an intelligence of 3 or higher to be able to make moral and ethical decisions. AKA: You need an intelligence of 3 or more in order to be anything other than neutral if you're a living creature.
As such, animals can't make choices in life that would result in punishment, but nor can they make choices in life that earn them rewards.
My take is that an animal's soul goes to the Boneyard like anything else but is "processed" quickly and doesn't become an outsider; it just recycles back into the system to get used again. Pharasma will know if an animal is prone for a potential resurrection though and such souls will linger in the Boneyard until they are brought back.
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Hello James, huge fan of yours and the teams work!
Just curious, I was setting up to run Tyrants Grasp as a send off for V1, question has some spoilers in regards to TG - ** spoiler omitted **
All living creatures have souls, but you need an intelligence of 3 or higher to be able to make moral and ethical decisions. AKA: You need an intelligence of 3 or more in order to be anything other than neutral if you're a living creature.
As such, animals can't make choices in life that would result in punishment, but nor can they make choices in life that earn them rewards.
My take is that an animal's soul goes to the Boneyard like anything else but is "processed" quickly and doesn't become an outsider; it just recycles back into the system to get used again. Pharasma will know if an animal is prone for a potential resurrection though and such souls will linger in the Boneyard until they are brought back.
So all dogs don't go to heaven? They just sort of are on an eternal treadmill? Man, that started as a joke, but just ended up depressing.
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So all dogs don't go to heaven? They just sort of are on an eternal treadmill? Man, that started as a joke, but just ended up depressing.
Which is why we tend to not talk much about it in print, cause the idea that pets are just cosmic energy that gets recycled over and over and over until there's nothing left tends to do just that... depress people.
Feel free to adjust as you wish for your game!