Creative Director
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Hi James.
I've got a player in an an upcoming game who wants his character to at some point join the Hellknights. I feel there is little information on the pre-requisite of killing a devil.
Why do hellknight initiates have to kill a devil? The fact that devils are LE and hellknights are anti-chaos seems odd. Are the devil's summoned for the purpose of the initiation or are initiates asked to go out into the world and find their own devil to kill and bring back evidence?
Any insight on this would be most appreciated?
Please keep up the good work.
All that the Hellknight needs to do is kill a devil. Exactly HOW that comes about is up to the Hellknight-to-be.
One thing that's easy to forget about Hellknights is that they don't see themselves as allies of devils at all... they modeled their organization on Hell and use the names to help inspire intimidation, basically. They, like the Chelish government, see Hell and devils as tools that can be used to keep law and order and power. A Hellknight would be perfectly okay with summoning up a devil to aid in a fight against criminals, but wouldn't be as fine with entering into an alliance with a non-bound, non-controled devil.
By killing devils, Hellknights exert their dominance and prove that they're the ones in charge, basically, not the devils. The initial killing of a devil is a sort of initiation into the ranks; if you're good enough to kill a devil, you're good enough to join the Hellknights because the devil can't control you... you control him.
Whether or not the devil to be killed is summoned up for a spectator-style gladiatorial battle or the devil is killed in the course of an adventure doesn't matter. For PCs, the devil kill is more likely to happen during an adventure, of course.
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Creative Director
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Any plans for high level archetypes?I've noticed that some of the archetypes are things you can't choice at first level. Is there anything horribly wrong with a archetype you couldn't pick till much higher level? Maybe a caster that can do a bit more with certain high level spells or such?Nothing wrong with a high-level archetype at all.
Not really. At this point, we're more interested in archetypes that allow you to play a specific role, as in "swashbuckler" or "pirate" or "dinosaur druid" or "gladiator" or whatever. They'll swap out abilities as appropriate for the theme, which may or may not focus on high level powers... but since the vast majority of gamers play low or mid-level games, that's where archetypes will focus.
High level stuff, to me, always kinda seems like better stomping grounds for prestige classes in any case.
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Creative Director
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I think I should ask a non-rules related question, to balance out my forum karma a bit :)
I've been preparing diligently for the last 5 months, working on two of my RPG Superstar entries (the wondrous item, and an archetype, hopeful that it will be relevant). I'm very happy how they have turned out, and I'm pretty confident the judges will like them too. I've tremendously enjoyed the development around the contest - and obviously was delighted that a good friend of mine - Jerall Toi - got so far!
What I'd like to know is: what (if any) special expectations you have for the 2012 RPG Superstar competition? Given the surging popularity of Pathfinder, it is likely to explode all boundaries of the competition that we've known up to now.
I have no real expectations for 2012 at this point at all, beyond hoping that it's even more exciting than ever before. Also: Gen Con and PaizoCon are kinda overwhelming my mind these days...
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Creative Director
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Do you ever watch BBC? Wondering if you like Topgear, Dr. Who, or, more importantly, Primevil. :)
I do watch the BBC now and then, and in particular I'm a huge fan of Primeval. Alas, my cable provider does not provide an HD option for watching BBC, so it's actually kind of painful to watch the low-res stuff. I watched half of the latest season of Primeval, and the other half has been sitting on my Tivo for months now unseen due to the non HD curse.
Basically it was the complaint that with skills, being an intelligence based system, why does the Wizard, Cleric, Paladin, and Fighter each only get two skill points plus int per level. Mainly why in an int based system, the guy most scholarly has the same skill points per level as the fighter, who is known to be one of the leased intelligent on average. While the rogue gets eight plus int per level. In an int based system, the wizard is essentially being punitively punished.
Really, I thought it was basically a closed-minded man trying to tell people how they should be playing their rogues and only using one interpretation of why skill points are alloted in a certian way.
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Creative Director
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I don't really have the time or interest in watching a you-tube video about someone arguing about RPG rules, honestly. :-PDo you have an opinion about this guy's argument about the skill point system?
http://www.youtube.com/user/tetsubo57#p/u/14/1M5pxBh7pWw
Basically it was the complaint that with skills, being an intelligence based system, why does the Wizard, Cleric, Paladin, and Fighter each only get two skill points plus int per level. Mainly why in an int based system, the guy most scholarly has the same skill points per level as the fighter, who is known to be one of the leased intelligent on average. While the rogue gets eight plus int per level. In an int based system, the wizard is essentially being punitively punished.
I am just giving a summary here and I am curious about your opinion for why the class that is normally a genius gets the same skills as the class that is normally the idiot.
In which my case is that he wants a different game with a different design philosophy than Pathfinder or 3.5 in general can or wants to give to him.
The wizard is NOT intended to be a "genius" at skills. He's intended to be a genius at magic. Two different things.
A wizard will generally have a much higher Intelligence score than the fighter, so by design the wizard will have more skill ranks than the fighter, so it's a self-correcting problem on that account.
But also... The game traditionally has 4 central classes—fighter, wizard, cleric, rogue. Those four fill 4 classic roles. Combat (fighter; best attack rolls); healing (cleric, best healing powers), magic (wizard, best variety in spell selection), and skills (rogue, most skill points). Since the rogue's the one who's supposed to be the best at skills, she gets the most skill ranks per level of any class. Since those other three are supposed to be iconic NON skill users (weapons, offense magic, defense magic instead), they get the LEAST amount of skills per level.
All other classes are essentially variants of those four classes, and skills and ALL other powers get mixed up all over the place. But for the four classic core classes... that's why they have the skill ranks they have.
AKA: If you want to play a character with lots of skills... don't play a wizard. Play a rogue. Or a bard or a ranger.
Does the world Golarian have an equviliant to Davy Jones(flying dutchmen, locker, etc.)? and will we ever see stats for him or his? crew especially if he/they are anything like the "Pirates of the Caribean" movies
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 8
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I don't really have the time or interest in watching a you-tube video about someone arguing about RPG rules, honestly. :-PDo you have an opinion about this guy's argument about the skill point system?
http://www.youtube.com/user/tetsubo57#p/u/14/1M5pxBh7pWw
Basically it was the complaint that with skills, being an intelligence based system, why does the Wizard, Cleric, Paladin, and Fighter each only get two skill points plus int per level. Mainly why in an int based system, the guy most scholarly has the same skill points per level as the fighter, who is known to be one of the leased intelligent on average. While the rogue gets eight plus int per level. In an int based system, the wizard is essentially being punitively punished.
I am just giving a summary here and I am curious about your opinion for why the class that is normally a genius gets the same skills as the class that is normally the idiot.
I disagree with this idea that the wizard is being 'punished'. A lack of a bonus is not the same as a penalty.
Hi James--
If I were to base the weather patterns in Sandpoint on the weather patterns in Point Arena would I be close enough to the mark?
--Mike
Do you ever watch BBC? Wondering if you like Topgear, Dr. Who, or, more importantly, Primevil. :)I do watch the BBC now and then, and in particular I'm a huge fan of Primeval. Alas, my cable provider does not provide an HD option for watching BBC, so it's actually kind of painful to watch the low-res stuff. I watched half of the latest season of Primeval, and the other half has been sitting on my Tivo for months now unseen due to the non HD curse.
I really liked Primeval the first few seasons, but the first or second episode of the new season they had an early teen girl eaten. I know that's more gritty/real, but I don't watch TV to feel sick to my stomach, and I fell out of the habit of watching it. :( I also felt the same way about the Torchwood : Children of Earth miniseries, made me sick to my stomach and ruined the series for me. Which is a shame, they were both shows I liked alot.
I can, however, absolutely agree that Primeval is a show you need HD for.
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Creative Director
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Does the world Golarian have an equviliant to Davy Jones(flying dutchmen, locker, etc.)? and will we ever see stats for him or his? crew especially if he/they are anything like the "Pirates of the Caribean" movies
Yes.
Stats for him/her would indeed be neat. Not sure who he/she is yet, though.
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Creative Director
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Do you ever watch BBC? Wondering if you like Topgear, Dr. Who, or, more importantly, Primevil. :)I do watch the BBC now and then, and in particular I'm a huge fan of Primeval. Alas, my cable provider does not provide an HD option for watching BBC, so it's actually kind of painful to watch the low-res stuff. I watched half of the latest season of Primeval, and the other half has been sitting on my Tivo for months now unseen due to the non HD curse.I really liked Primeval the first few seasons, but the first or second episode of the new season they had an early teen girl eaten. I know that's more gritty/real, but I don't watch TV to feel sick to my stomach, and I fell out of the habit of watching it. :( I also felt the same way about the Torchwood : Children of Earth miniseries, made me sick to my stomach and ruined the series for me. Which is a shame, they were both shows I liked alot.
I can, however, absolutely agree that Primeval is a show you need HD for.
But... children are so tender. AND DELICIOUS.
Sometimes us prehistoric critters just can't help ourselves.
But... children are so tender. AND DELICIOUS.Sometimes us prehistoric critters just can't help ourselves.
LOL
But still, I watch TV to get away from stuff like that happening in the real world, so having it show up in a tv show kind of turns me off.
But... children are so tender. AND DELICIOUS.Sometimes us prehistoric critters just can't help ourselves.
LOL
But still, I watch TV to get away from stuff like that happening in the real world, so having it show up in a tv show kind of turns me off.
Prehistoric monsters eat children where you live? *is flabbergasted*
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Creative Director
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But... children are so tender. AND DELICIOUS.Sometimes us prehistoric critters just can't help ourselves.
LOL
But still, I watch TV to get away from stuff like that happening in the real world, so having it show up in a tv show kind of turns me off.
I suspect that our tastes in movies would not match all that well, then...
Prehistoric monsters eat children where you live? *is flabbergasted*
But... children are so tender. AND DELICIOUS.Sometimes us prehistoric critters just can't help ourselves.
LOL
But still, I watch TV to get away from stuff like that happening in the real world, so having it show up in a tv show kind of turns me off.
I was referring to the more generic horrible things happening to kids. Tusnami's, civil wars, drive by shootings, etc.
I suspect that our tastes in movies would not match all that well, then...
Quite possibly. I'm rather partial to older westerns (John Wayne, Clint Eastwood), comic adaptations (X-Men, Batman, Thor, Iron-Man), Sci Fi (Star Wars, Star Trek), Anime (Bleach, Ruroni Kenshen), and the occasional comedy (Groundhog Day, Ghost Busters). I also like imports to some extent (Zatochi, Jackie Chan).
Why wasn't the Soulbound doll made an option for the improved familiar feat? It doesn't seem that powerful to me and it would have been interesting to have.
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How, if at all, would you mechanically handle first impressions from an NPC point of view?I don't really. I let the PCs present themselves to the NPC and then I react as I think that NPC would react to those first impressions.
Apologies, I was a bit unclear. I meant before any actual face-to-face interaction. The sort of 'gut feeling' you get upon noticing someone you've never actually met. Mechanically speaking, as a way to determine starting attitude, before accounting for things like reputation, witnessed actions, etc. the NPC may or may not know about.
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Creative Director
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What was the inspiration behind the Iathavos qlippoth? Because everything about that one is scary-awesome.
As for Valeros/Imrijka... it's heart-warming to see that even Valeros can be loved.HAW!
Part of the inspiration was the illustration—it was originally ordered to be the illustration of the qlippoth familiar, but when the cythnigot illustraion came in, that picture almost wrote its own familiar entry—particularly the idea that a cythnigot is an abyssal fungus that eats up and replaces your familiar.
So that left the CR 20 qlippoth with no art. Of the pictures that were left, the nyogoth, shoggti, and chernobue were taken—they're updates of monsters from Green Ronin's Armies of the Abyss.
And of the others left, the augnagar and the thulgant ended up looking so weirdly similar that I decided those two needed some sort of weird symbiotic connection or something.
Which left the four-winged two clawed ball of fur and eyes as the CR 20 qlippoth.
Once I decided that, and once I made it a Colossal outsider (rather than the Tiny one I'd ordered the art for) the rest kinda just came naturally. Also, I was working on "Lords of Chaos" at the time too, and came up with the idea of a single qlippoth living on a deep layer of the Abyss there.
The rest of it more or less just came from the same place most of the creepy stuff I write comes from—the old thinkbox.
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Creative Director
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Why wasn't the Soulbound doll made an option for the improved familiar feat? It doesn't seem that powerful to me and it would have been interesting to have.
Several reasons:
1) The soulbound doll's already complex enough without having one or two more sentences in there about how it works as a familiar.
2) It already has a way that it can be created as a minion.
3) We didn't think of it. And honestly, I still don't really think it'd make a good familiar. They've already got a really strong niche... no real need to give them one more thing to do.
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Creative Director
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Apologies, I was a bit unclear. I meant before any actual face-to-face interaction. The sort of 'gut feeling' you get upon noticing someone you've never actually met. Mechanically speaking, as a way to determine starting attitude, before accounting for things like reputation, witnessed actions, etc. the NPC may or may not know about.How, if at all, would you mechanically handle first impressions from an NPC point of view?I don't really. I let the PCs present themselves to the NPC and then I react as I think that NPC would react to those first impressions.
Ah. The furthest I go down that route is just deciding what the NPC's starting attitude (hostile, friendly, whatever) is. Usually that starting attitude is linked to the NPC's personality and the current circumstances in his/her life. It still comes down to roleplaying; I tend to get into NPCs I run and treat them all as individual characters I might even play as a player.
Is there a chance we'll ever see a list giving the relative power of the 20 major deities? I know PF has done away with the old deity ranking system, which I do appreciate, but as I read about these gods, I get the impression that, for example, Urgathoa wouldn't stand up to well against Sarenrae, or Shelyn to Asmodeus.
Ah. The furthest I go down that route is just deciding what the NPC's starting attitude (hostile, friendly, whatever) is. Usually that starting attitude is linked to the NPC's personality and the current circumstances in his/her life. It still comes down to roleplaying; I tend to get into NPCs I run and treat them all as individual characters I might even play as a player.
I think he was more looking for something like, do you take the character's stats into account.
For example, if there was a dwarf in the party with a 7 INT and 7 CHA, a human with a 14 INT and 14 CHA, and an elf with an 18 INT and 10 CHA, would an NPC walking up to the group have a more favorable first impression of the human, the elf, or the dwarf? Or would they have no first impression at all? Assuming no racial bias is going on of course. There's a couple of raging debates on the rules forum about stats, and a group that says a character's stats form the first impression the character gives (especially CHA), and a second group that says there is no such thing as a first impression, you have to make a diplomacy check to gain an impression.
What was the inspiration behind the Iathavos qlippoth? Because everything about that one is scary-awesome.
Qlippoth tidbits
I find this kind of question/answer to be very interesting.
What was the inspiration behind the Iathavos qlippoth? Because everything about that one is scary-awesome.Qlippoth tidbitsI find this kind of question/answer to be very interesting.
On a similar vein then, what was the inspiration for the Silvanshee (Don't have my book right now, it's the black cat outsider from B2)? My wife wants one for a familiar when her witch is high enough level.
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off the current topic, and without my bestiary at hand right now this question is kind of crippled, but I have a high level party that needs to be challenged and I want to do something with dinosaurs, does an advanced fiendish T-Rex seem like it will be enough or should I throw in some minions along with it?
Thanks!
L76M
How high is their level? 9, 13, 19? Depending on that, advancement by HD can get you far. Advanced and Fiendish bump it a bit, but it's not a huge increase.
Which Imentesh protean illustration do you personally prefer?
This may have already been asked, but any chance we can see a preview of the dragon shaman archetype? I have a friend who does not want to switch over to Pathfinder because he does not want to give up his Dragon Shaman, so I would love to be able to show this to him.
He wouldn't have to give it up. It'd work in PF.
Sounds like that's just an excuse not to learn new rules.
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Creative Director
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Is there a chance we'll ever see a list giving the relative power of the 20 major deities? I know PF has done away with the old deity ranking system, which I do appreciate, but as I read about these gods, I get the impression that, for example, Urgathoa wouldn't stand up to well against Sarenrae, or Shelyn to Asmodeus.
Unlikely, since I'm not sure what that kind of list would accomplish, and since I don't want to really nail down deity power levels until we actually have rules to back up those ranks with.
Urgathoa's been around for a while. She wouldn't be able to stand up well to Sarenrae, who's all about the destruction of undead and the sun... but Urgathoa vs. Shelyn or Asmodeus would be more than a fair fight. Note that doesn't mean Sarenrae could kick Shelyn or Asmodeus's ass... just that Sarenrae's uniquely set up to do really well versus a vampiric deity.
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Creative Director
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Ah. The furthest I go down that route is just deciding what the NPC's starting attitude (hostile, friendly, whatever) is. Usually that starting attitude is linked to the NPC's personality and the current circumstances in his/her life. It still comes down to roleplaying; I tend to get into NPCs I run and treat them all as individual characters I might even play as a player.I think he was more looking for something like, do you take the character's stats into account.
For example, if there was a dwarf in the party with a 7 INT and 7 CHA, a human with a 14 INT and 14 CHA, and an elf with an 18 INT and 10 CHA, would an NPC walking up to the group have a more favorable first impression of the human, the elf, or the dwarf? Or would they have no first impression at all? Assuming no racial bias is going on of course. There's a couple of raging debates on the rules forum about stats, and a group that says a character's stats form the first impression the character gives (especially CHA), and a second group that says there is no such thing as a first impression, you have to make a diplomacy check to gain an impression.
I absolutely do take the character's stats into account. Usually by asking a chatty PC to make a diplomacy check, though, which low Charisma PCs aren't usually expecting...
As for that argument... I'm not really interested in becoming part of it, since it sounds like an argument just for argument's sake.
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Creative Director
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On a similar vein then, what was the inspiration for the Silvanshee (Don't have my book right now, it's the black cat outsider from B2)? My wife wants one for a familiar when her witch is high enough level.What was the inspiration behind the Iathavos qlippoth? Because everything about that one is scary-awesome.Qlippoth tidbitsI find this kind of question/answer to be very interesting.
That's a Sean K Reynolds question. He came up with that creature when he was tasked to design a CR 2 familiar for that alignment.
(The original name changed from the Sylvestros, because we didn't have a Tweetiloth bird famiilar for it to chase.)
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This may have already been asked, but any chance we can see a preview of the dragon shaman archetype? I have a friend who does not want to switch over to Pathfinder because he does not want to give up his Dragon Shaman, so I would love to be able to show this to him.He wouldn't have to give it up. It'd work in PF.
I agree, and I have tried to explain that. However, it is worth a try to convince him to give it a try.
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Add Hit Dice until terror strikes.off the current topic, and without my bestiary at hand right now this question is kind of crippled, but I have a high level party that needs to be challenged and I want to do something with dinosaurs, does an advanced fiendish T-Rex seem like it will be enough or should I throw in some minions along with it?
Thanks!
L76M
Why am I not surprised?
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Creative Director
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This may have already been asked, but any chance we can see a preview of the dragon shaman archetype? I have a friend who does not want to switch over to Pathfinder because he does not want to give up his Dragon Shaman, so I would love to be able to show this to him.
Unlikely, since I believe we're pretty close to being done with Ultimate Magic previews.
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Creative Director
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Are there any adventures/monsters/characters that you originally thought were a terrible idea (and might even have vetoed as editor) which turned out to be good things in the end?
Yup. But I'm not gonna call them out, because I might still think they're kinda bad ideas despite the fact that they're good for the game... :-P
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This may have already been asked, but any chance we can see a preview of the dragon shaman archetype? I have a friend who does not want to switch over to Pathfinder because he does not want to give up his Dragon Shaman, so I would love to be able to show this to him.Unlikely, since I believe we're pretty close to being done with Ultimate Magic previews.
Wow, with moot court and finals and all I did not realize the release date was so close. I have really been out of the loop.