Creative Director
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Mr. James Jacobs,
I didn't pay too much attention to the playtest adventers, so a question. Did the playtest adventures have to deal with just the Countdown Clock in Osirion or the Countdown Clock and the Stars Becoming Right?
Doomsday Dawn was focused on the Countdown Clocks and a potential apocalypse... not the "Stars are right" but close.
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What would Nocticula's domains as a demon lord have been in PF2? Darkness and Passion are obvious, Secrecy seems likely, but I'm stuck on the fourth.They would have been Artifice, Chaos, Darkness, Good, and Travel, probably.
Chaos and Good because those would have been required (lame).
Darkness because of her association with midnight.
Artifice because of her association with the creation of art.
Travel because of her association with exiles, but this one's sort of an awkward fit. Could see Liberation go here as well.The new Nocticula is certainly a lot friendlier, and she's certainly not chaste, but lust/passion are not Domain-level things for her anymore. She left that level of influence over that thing behind when she stopped being a demon.
Sorry, I meant it the other way around. If I were to run an adventure pre-4717 but still use the Pathfinder 2e rules, what domains would I give Demon Lord!Nocticula?
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Now that Second Edition is out, I can finally ask this question. Will there be epic levels or mythic tiers in Second Edition? I really wish there will be both epic levels and mythic tiers in Second Edition!We've made no announcement for this yet. Personally, I'd rather not bring back Mythic in the same way, but I do love the idea of stuff to do after 20th level. We'll see. It'll be a while before we make the decision, and a while beyond that before we say anything about that decision to go forward or not with beyond 20th level play. It'd be irresponsible and foolish to dive right into that immediately. Give the new rules time to breathe and say hi!
Its mechanics might end up different in the new edition, but the flavor of "mythic power" should still exist in 2E, at least as a quality Runelord Alderpash notably lacked but Xanderghul and Sorshen possessed, right?
I've got a DM perspective question for you regarding 1st edition. A sorcerer who maximized one of the various pit spells from the APG (let's say acid pit). Do you think it would maximize both the falling damage and the acid damage or do you think the falling damage should be rolled independently? I actually have a villain with this combo and I'm trying to come up with how it would function (he wasn't intended to maximize this spell.. but backed into a tactical corner he combed it).
Dear James Jacobs,
In your previous statement, you indicated that Yog-Sothoth in 2nd WOULD have the Void domain. Does that also mean he'll get the Time domain too?
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Creative Director
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Sorry, I meant it the other way around. If I were to run an adventure pre-4717 but still use the Pathfinder 2e rules, what domains would I give Demon Lord!Nocticula?
You'll need to wait and see. Her domains are in Gods and Magic, and I wrote her section, but I'm at home after midnight on a Sunday/Monday so I'm not sure off the top of my head what I gave her... There ARE some new domains in that book though!
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Its mechanics might end up different in the new edition, but the flavor of "mythic power" should still exist in 2E, at least as a quality Runelord Alderpash notably lacked but Xanderghul and Sorshen possessed, right?
We won't need to make those decisions until we stat one of them up, but at least as far as NPCS go, they can still be up to level 30 in power.
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When you GM and players start debating a plan, and this debate seems like it is going to go on for a while, do you (assuming it isn't affecting your enjoyment)
A) let them go on...it is how they are choosing to have fun
Or
B) stop them...they don't realize they are doing it
A. I don't really have a schedule I try to keep games on, generally. If I do, I'll coax them to get back on track, but normally I don't and take advantage of the chance to prepare other things or just sit back and relax.
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I've got a DM perspective question for you regarding 1st edition. A sorcerer who maximized one of the various pit spells from the APG (let's say acid pit). Do you think it would maximize both the falling damage and the acid damage or do you think the falling damage should be rolled independently? I actually have a villain with this combo and I'm trying to come up with how it would function (he wasn't intended to maximize this spell.. but backed into a tactical corner he combed it).
Falling damage would be rolled normally. Frankly the pit spells are already too good for their levels, so I'm fine ruling that they're not as efficient at being maximized.
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In Second Edition, are monsters still up to level 30 in power? I really wish monsters would be up to level 40 in power in Second Edition, because I think demigods and kaiju should be more powerful!
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In Second Edition, are monsters still up to level 30 in power? I really wish monsters would be up to level 40 in power in Second Edition, because I think demigods and kaiju should be more powerful!
Currently the highest level creature in the game is level 25. The math in 2nd edition scales MUCH better though so on one hand, there could be, in theory, no limit to the upper level limit.
But that way lies madness. If we don't set a limit to the upper level, it's impossible to design balanced world and adventure content for that level. If we say GODZLLATHULU is the most powerful monster in the game and we set them at level 325, then gamers will build 335 level characters (due to there being no cap) and complain/troll us that Godzillathulu isn't designed well enough to challenge them. It's a no-win situation for us. This is how the Epic Level Handbook worked in 3.5 D&D, and I designed a fair amount of content to support it and it was very frustrating and unsatisfying and aimless.
You're giving me a perfect example yourself. The upper level limit is somewhat arbitrary, so if we choose 30 for parity with 1st edition, you'll be disappointed we don't go to 40. If we chose 40, someone would be disappointed we didn't go to 50. We can't please everyone, so we basically have to aim at pleasing ourselves and hope that pleases the majority. And my preference is to set the limit at 30 because that's where we capped it in 1st edition.
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If we are talking about high powered characters, I really liked the mythic iconic art. I always wanted to see one piece of art after an adventure path where iconics look like the corpse looters that players are. Like a last page ROTRL picture where Seoni is wearing the robes of xin shalast and Merisiel has the scribbler's +1 cold iron returning dagger.Its mechanics might end up different in the new edition, but the flavor of "mythic power" should still exist in 2E, at least as a quality Runelord Alderpash notably lacked but Xanderghul and Sorshen possessed, right?We won't need to make those decisions until we stat one of them up, but at least as far as NPCS go, they can still be up to level 30 in power.
Please make sure to ask questions in this thread. This is not a good place to provide feedback.
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Hi James! Longtime reader, first-time poster. I have a question about Nethys’ anathema, which is to “pursue mundane paths over magical ones” (CRB 439). I’m not sure what this means. Could you give an example of what a cleric or champion of Nethys could do in order to violate this anathema?Building a house with a hammer and nails alone rather than use magic to help create it.
Going into an adventure and never once using magic to solve problems or defeat foes.
Etc. Basically, attempting anything of significance without some way using magic to handle things. You can certainly eat breakfast or go shopping or ride a horse without using magic without violation, but if it's supposed to be a big deal, you'd better use at least SOME magic!
Could a cleric or champion of Nethys make use of non-magical healing, such as using the Medicine skill to Administer First Aid or to Treat Wounds, without violating Nethys’ anathema? Or would they be obligated to use spells to heal their allies?
A qlippoth lord is only comparable to a nascent demon lord. And those qlippoth who became demons grew significantly in power. I didn't like these things because they imply qlippoth are inherently weaker than demons. I really wish a qlippoth lord would match the power of a demon lord. Would this error be corrected in Second Edition?
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Could a cleric or champion of Nethys make use of non-magical healing, such as using the Medicine skill to Administer First Aid or to Treat Wounds, without violating Nethys’ anathema? Or would they be obligated to use spells to heal their allies?
They can absolutely use nonmagical healing... just not exclusively. They'd violate the anathema if ALL they did was use nonmagical healing. And really... if you worship the god of magic, you should WANT to use magic to heal! Keep the Medicine options open as backup or for little things, but they shouldn't be the only option you use.
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A qlippoth lord is only comparable to a nascent demon lord. And those qlippoth who became demons grew significantly in power. I didn't like these things because they imply qlippoth are inherently weaker than demons. I really wish a qlippoth lord would match the power of a demon lord. Would this error be corrected in Second Edition?
The point is that qlippoth ARE inherently weaker as a whole (not individual) than demons, because that's the whole point of what's going on in the Abyss now. At one point, the qlippoth were the top of the heap in the Abyss, but that time has passed and they're now in decline. Demons are the rulers of the roost, which is a big part of why the qlippoth hate them so much.
It's not an error. It's intentional.
We COULD, for example, do a story where there's a huge shift in power and suddenly demons are on the decline and qlippoth are on the rise, but I'd want that to be a VERY significant change supported by an entire Adventure Path, at a minimum, rather than an idle change in rules.
Do you have a favorite dragon type? Not just among Chromatics and Metallics, but all dragons that've been released so far.
Out of all the things you've contributed to Pathfinder--be it rules, lore, or anythings else--what is one thing you wish you had done differently (or not at all), if anything?
My Group has shown a distressing lack of interest in Pathfinder 2nd Edition. :(
Any thoughts on how I can "infect" them? :D
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Out of all the things you've contributed to Pathfinder--be it rules, lore, or anythings else--what is one thing you wish you had done differently (or not at all), if anything?
Yes. But I'm not gonna mention them here because they're rightfully on their way into obscurity, and bringing them back up defeats my goal of letting them be forgotten. :-P
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My Group has shown a distressing lack of interest in Pathfinder 2nd Edition. :(
Any thoughts on how I can "infect" them? :D
Other than simply appealing to them to let you run a game for them, perhaps have them watch some actual play videos?
Everyone has different reasons for not wanting to change, so if I were you I'd talk to your players to figure out what their hesitations are and address them as needed. You can always change rules in the game to make them work better for your home game.
I suspect one of the MAJOR reasons is the idea that folks have a lot of money invested in the older edition and see changing editions as "wasting" that money. THere's not much I can do about that, other than observe that it's still less expensive to "upgrade" an edition every year than it is to "upgrade" a computer or console to the new technology...
My Group has shown a distressing lack of interest in Pathfinder 2nd Edition. :(
Any thoughts on how I can "infect" them? :D
Other than simply appealing to them to let you run a game for them, perhaps have them watch some actual play videos?
Everyone has different reasons for not wanting to change, so if I were you I'd talk to your players to figure out what their hesitations are and address them as needed. You can always change rules in the game to make them work better for your home game.
I suspect one of the MAJOR reasons is the idea that folks have a lot of money invested in the older edition and see changing editions as "wasting" that money. THere's not much I can do about that, other than observe that it's still less expensive to "upgrade" an edition every year than it is to "upgrade" a computer or console to the new technology...
That last is the major reason. It is also why I am looking to convert as much of the older material as possible. However, ...
I don't know how much direct knowledge you have about it, but would The Fall of Plaguestone be a good "vector" for spreading the Pathfinder 2 infection?
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My Group has shown a distressing lack of interest in Pathfinder 2nd Edition. :(
Any thoughts on how I can "infect" them? :D
Other than simply appealing to them to let you run a game for them, perhaps have them watch some actual play videos?
Everyone has different reasons for not wanting to change, so if I were you I'd talk to your players to figure out what their hesitations are and address them as needed. You can always change rules in the game to make them work better for your home game.
I suspect one of the MAJOR reasons is the idea that folks have a lot of money invested in the older edition and see changing editions as "wasting" that money. THere's not much I can do about that, other than observe that it's still less expensive to "upgrade" an edition every year than it is to "upgrade" a computer or console to the new technology...
Was continuing support for 1E in parallel to the release of 2E ever a consideration? If my group consisted of new players they'd probably jump on 2E immediately, but the depth and level of complexity / options now afforded by 1E appeals to many (and to a certain extent, investment in 1E Paizo and HeroLab resources as well, as you mentioned). The stuff that was released in the last few months of 1E was to be honest just awesome and breathtaking. I'm still slowly digesting it.
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I don't know how much direct knowledge you have about it, but would The Fall of Plaguestone be a good "vector" for spreading the Pathfinder 2 infection?
The entire point of Fall of Plaguestone AND Age of Ashes are to serve as introductions for Pathfinder 2.
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Was continuing support for 1E in parallel to the release of 2E ever a consideration? If my group consisted of new players they'd probably jump on 2E immediately, but the depth and level of complexity / options now afforded by 1E appeals to many (and to a certain extent, investment in 1E Paizo and HeroLab resources as well, as you mentioned). The stuff that was released in the last few months of 1E was to be honest just awesome and breathtaking. I'm still slowly digesting it.
Nope, never a consideration. We've already got two full-support RPGS being produced, and it's pushing our schedules and productions to the limit. There's simply No Time and No Resources to add a third game to the schedule. Furhtermore, we are VERY proud of 2nd edition, and the optics of us supporting both would erode confidence in 2nd edition support—"If Paizo was happy with 2nd edition, why are they still spending time on 1st edition?" questions would be all over the place, and rightfully so.
We're the same people who did 1st edition, so if you liked what we did with the game and its options and its stories there, you'll most likely like what we're doing going forward. It'll take time to get more options out, but once the Gamemastery Guide is out GMs will have the tools they need to create lots of more content for their games, and that'll include helping them to translate old content they like that hasn't yet made the edition switch.
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Was continuing support for 1E in parallel to the release of 2E ever a consideration? If my group consisted of new players they'd probably jump on 2E immediately, but the depth and level of complexity / options now afforded by 1E appeals to many (and to a certain extent, investment in 1E Paizo and HeroLab resources as well, as you mentioned). The stuff that was released in the last few months of 1E was to be honest just awesome and breathtaking. I'm still slowly digesting it.Nope, never a consideration. We've already got two full-support RPGS being produced, and it's pushing our schedules and productions to the limit. There's simply No Time and No Resources to add a third game to the schedule. Furhtermore, we are VERY proud of 2nd edition, and the optics of us supporting both would erode confidence in 2nd edition support—"If Paizo was happy with 2nd edition, why are they still spending time on 1st edition?" questions would be all over the place, and rightfully so.
We're the same people who did 1st edition, so if you liked what we did with the game and its options and its stories there, you'll most likely like what we're doing going forward. It'll take time to get more options out, but once the Gamemastery Guide is out GMs will have the tools they need to create lots of more content for their games, and that'll include helping them to translate old content they like that hasn't yet made the edition switch.
Thank you for your answer.
Are you considering adding more 1E conversion books for future 2E APs in the same way the upcoming Revised Kingmaker AP is handling it?
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Was continuing support for 1E in parallel to the release of 2E ever a consideration? If my group consisted of new players they'd probably jump on 2E immediately, but the depth and level of complexity / options now afforded by 1E appeals to many (and to a certain extent, investment in 1E Paizo and HeroLab resources as well, as you mentioned). The stuff that was released in the last few months of 1E was to be honest just awesome and breathtaking. I'm still slowly digesting it.Nope, never a consideration. We've already got two full-support RPGS being produced, and it's pushing our schedules and productions to the limit. There's simply No Time and No Resources to add a third game to the schedule. Furhtermore, we are VERY proud of 2nd edition, and the optics of us supporting both would erode confidence in 2nd edition support—"If Paizo was happy with 2nd edition, why are they still spending time on 1st edition?" questions would be all over the place, and rightfully so.
We're the same people who did 1st edition, so if you liked what we did with the game and its options and its stories there, you'll most likely like what we're doing going forward. It'll take time to get more options out, but once the Gamemastery Guide is out GMs will have the tools they need to create lots of more content for their games, and that'll include helping them to translate old content they like that hasn't yet made the edition switch.
Doesn't that kind of put Paizo into a similar position that WoTC found themselves (i.e., competing with themselves) in when they released D&D 4th?
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Are you considering adding more 1E conversion books for future 2E APs in the same way the upcoming Revised Kingmaker AP is handling it?
No. To be honest, IF we do another AP compilation in the future (we have no plans for any at this time beyond Kingmaker) I hope that folks'll be fully into/supporting 2nd edition.
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Doesn't that kind of put Paizo into a similar position that WoTC found themselves (i.e., competing with themselves) in when they released D&D 4th?
Or any game company that publishes any new edition for their game; this wasn't unique to 4th edition. That said, there was a LOT of staff turnover between the publication of 3rd edition D&D and 4th edition D&D, as well as a significant change in company direciton/ownership (the ramp up to 3rd edition predated the Hasbro purchase of D&D, for example), so I wouldn't say it was the same people making the game in that case.
In any event, new editions are a necessary if sometimes painful part of RPG publishing.
Would it be better if you answered question in this threat with Interpretive Dance?
What's the name of that huge body of water in the middle of Casmaron?
Is that huge body of water in the middle of Casmaron salt water or fresh?
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Would it be better if you answered question in this threat with Interpretive Dance?
Nope.
Will 2E be introducing Subdomains for divine casters?
Have you ever played in or ran an adventure in which the PCs encountered the Starstone?
As a GM, what type(s) of PC backstories to you prefer receiving from your players (e.g. merely a sentence or two, a summary paragraph, a short-yet-moderately-detailed backstory, a long write-up with the more details the better, etc.)?