Are we likely to see Flumphs in a bestiary soon, maybe with a visual update? (Not that I think they need a visual update as they are perfect cinnamon rolls)I doubt it.
If I may ask, what are your reasons for doubting that they will turn up anytime soon?
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I have my conjectures, Rysky...
JJ, do some ancient Azlanti still have purple eyes in P2? If so, do Thassilonians, like the Runelords, have them too, or has that gene been diluted/phased out? Would it be possible for a modern-day Varisian to have purple eyes as well, as it was described in Inner Sea Races for individuals of Azlanti heritage, or that wouldn't work?
(I hope you're not counting this as 3 questions because then it will annoy you a great deal. It's... a single, 3-parts question?...).
Thank you as always,
Ros-
Some Azlanti have purple eyes, but not all of them. Going forward, I suspect that Thassilonian will perhaps be its own ancestry apart from Azlanti, though.
Purple eyes in the modern setting are likely more the result of elven ancestry in your family tree than Azlanti.
|
Creative Director
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
If I may ask, what are your reasons for doubting that they will turn up anytime soon?Are we likely to see Flumphs in a bestiary soon, maybe with a visual update? (Not that I think they need a visual update as they are perfect cinnamon rolls)I doubt it.
Because I have never really liked them, and my opinion as Creative Director carries weight.
While I do love what Adam's done with them in Misfit Monsters Revisited, I also don't really like that they're attached to the grim and nihilistic elements of the Elder Mythos either. They don't fit well in my opinion.
But perhaps the biggest reason? They're 100% a D&D invention, and we can only use them because they were included in the Tome of Horrors. With 2nd edition Pathfinder, I'd rather spend hours building up cool lore for creatures we invented or that are from mythology, rather than do all that work for something we can't use in a novel because of OGL reasons.
In order to change flumphs into something that doesn't trigger my "This is goofy and makes fun of me for liking the game" response AND something that we could use more often without the D&D legacy looming over it, they'd have to change so dramaticaly (in name AND in appearance) that they wouldn't be flumphs anymore, at which point why pretend? They're something else.
I'd rather have the yaddithians (from Lovecraft and presented in Bestiary 6) be our "against the Great Old Ones potentially friendly weird non-evil aberrations" to be honest instead of flumphs.
Would a group of LE heretics who buy into the idea of Socothbenoth switching allegiance to Hell receive spells from the Silken Sin in the same way Nocticula's heretical followers did prior to her ascension? If so, what domains would he offer such heretics given Asmodeus is the god of pride - I assume any domains Socothbenoth might offer such heretics would have to veer towards his other "interests"? Thanks and I hope that counts as one question.
|
Creative Director
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Would a group of LE heretics who buy into the idea of Socothbenoth switching allegiance to Hell receive spells from the Silken Sin in the same way Nocticula's heretical followers did prior to her ascension? If so, what domains would he offer such heretics given Asmodeus is the god of pride - I assume any domains Socothbenoth might offer such heretics would have to veer towards his other "interests"? Thanks and I hope that counts as one question.
In this situation, I see those Lawful Evil worshipers of Socothbenoth being quickly converted to Chaotic Evil, and becoming corrupted to his worship in that way and then pretending to be lawful evil to seduce more of their lawful evil brothers and sisters into the cult. Socothbenoth and his cult doesn't have any interest in maintaining a lawful evil sect. A group who decided to worship him in this way, as heretics, could do so but their clerics wouldn't receive any spells until they converted to chaotic evil, and if they resisted for long and continued to maintain that they were worshiping Socothbenoth but acting lawful evil, it'd just be a matter of time before Socothbenoth's intolerant cultists tracked them down and slaughtered them.
Do fire giants emit heat and if yes, how do they deal with the constant risk of setting their surroundings and possessions on fire?
|
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Do fire giants emit heat and if yes, how do they deal with the constant risk of setting their surroundings and possessions on fire?
They do emit heat, but not enough to damage unless they're also attacking. They don't do fire damage at a touch. They're not hot enough to set their belongings on fire.
Dear James Jacobs,
With the demise/removal/ascension of certain Demon lords, does that mean now the Abyss will start promoting more of the nascent demon lords or will it just be chaos as usual?
|
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Dear James Jacobs,
With the demise/removal/ascension of certain Demon lords, does that mean now the Abyss will start promoting more of the nascent demon lords or will it just be chaos as usual?
The Abyss doesn't promote anything or anyone, really. Shamira will be 99% likely to rise to demon lord status, though, and the Rasping Rifts will drift into Abyssal wilderness; no one will be replacing Deskari.
|
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
What are some visual tells that Azata's have aside from a preference for the color green?
They tend to have pointed ears, glowing stuff (be it eyes or wings or skin or hair or whatever... but not "detached" from them glows like halos–that's for angels) and incorporate "fairy tale" themes; they're the ones most likely to be often confused with fey. Of the four illustrated in the Bestiary, we probably should have worked a bit harder on the gancanagh, which is pretty bland looking overall. I like to assume that's one in humanoid form, and that in its true form it has long pointed ears and bright glowing eyes.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
What are some visual tells that Azata's have aside from a preference for the color green?They tend to have pointed ears, glowing stuff (be it eyes or wings or skin or hair or whatever... but not "detached" from them glows like halos–that's for angels) and incorporate "fairy tale" themes; they're the ones most likely to be often confused with fey. Of the four illustrated in the Bestiary, we probably should have worked a bit harder on the gancanagh, which is pretty bland looking overall. I like to assume that's one in humanoid form, and that in its true form it has long pointed ears and bright glowing eyes.
Cool, so like bioluminescence?
|
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Cool, so like bioluminescence?What are some visual tells that Azata's have aside from a preference for the color green?They tend to have pointed ears, glowing stuff (be it eyes or wings or skin or hair or whatever... but not "detached" from them glows like halos–that's for angels) and incorporate "fairy tale" themes; they're the ones most likely to be often confused with fey. Of the four illustrated in the Bestiary, we probably should have worked a bit harder on the gancanagh, which is pretty bland looking overall. I like to assume that's one in humanoid form, and that in its true form it has long pointed ears and bright glowing eyes.
Yup.
|
|
Yup.Cool, so like bioluminescence?What are some visual tells that Azata's have aside from a preference for the color green?They tend to have pointed ears, glowing stuff (be it eyes or wings or skin or hair or whatever... but not "detached" from them glows like halos–that's for angels) and incorporate "fairy tale" themes; they're the ones most likely to be often confused with fey. Of the four illustrated in the Bestiary, we probably should have worked a bit harder on the gancanagh, which is pretty bland looking overall. I like to assume that's one in humanoid form, and that in its true form it has long pointed ears and bright glowing eyes.
Oooooo, I would love to see more of that then. (I'm enjoying the new art, i've finally got settled enough to ask questions, sorry if it's aggravating :3)
What was the design decision for making Lamia Beasts instead of Humanoids?
|
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
What was the design decision for making Lamia Beasts instead of Humanoids?
Humanoids need to be human shaped. Two arms, two legs, and a head. The more you deviate from that, the more likely you are a beast or an aberration. Centaurs, for example, are beasts, but minotaurs, which have two arms and two legs and a head, are humanoids.
|
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Something I realized I never asked is how exactly are
Outsidersplanar creatures formed?Do they instantly poof into existence on their plane or are they grown from it or Petitioners or any of the above and then some?
The standard bit is that they start as petitioners and then transform into whatever. The exact mechanics vary by plane and realm. There are exceptions as well. Inevitables are built, for example, and qlippoth are ... "extruded" ... by the Abyss itself. Devils can be created by pit fiends. Asuras pop into being when a deity screws up. And so on.
Do fire giants emit heat and if yes, how do they deal with the constant risk of setting their surroundings and possessions on fire?They do emit heat, but not enough to damage unless they're also attacking. They don't do fire damage at a touch. They're not hot enough to set their belongings on fire.
Are they hot enough to set their pants on fire? :P
What was the design decision for making Lamia Beasts instead of Humanoids?Humanoids need to be human shaped. Two arms, two legs, and a head. The more you deviate from that, the more likely you are a beast or an aberration. Centaurs, for example, are beasts, but minotaurs, which have two arms and two legs and a head, are humanoids.
Does that mean that designating merfolk as humanoids was a mistake? They definitely don't have two legs.
|
Creative Director
|
Are they hot enough to set their pants on fire? :PDo fire giants emit heat and if yes, how do they deal with the constant risk of setting their surroundings and possessions on fire?They do emit heat, but not enough to damage unless they're also attacking. They don't do fire damage at a touch. They're not hot enough to set their belongings on fire.
No. Because if that were the case we could never illustrate them unless we did so with so much gore that the mere threat of showing something "sinful and private" wouldn't set off a mass panic.
|
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
What was the design decision for making Lamia Beasts instead of Humanoids?Humanoids need to be human shaped. Two arms, two legs, and a head. The more you deviate from that, the more likely you are a beast or an aberration. Centaurs, for example, are beasts, but minotaurs, which have two arms and two legs and a head, are humanoids.Does that mean that designating merfolk as humanoids was a mistake? They definitely don't have two legs.
It absolutely does not mean that.
2nd edition monster design has more art to it than math, and assigning traits to a creature in the game is more about the implication of what you want to say than hard-coding rules.
In the case of merfolk, since they're generally presented as creatures who advance in power by growing in their role rather than being born at higher level, it makes sense that they'd be humanoids. They're a good example of the exception to the rule, I suppose.
(The feel of calling a merfolk a "beast" or an "aberration" feels more wrong than calling them "humanoids" in this case. It's perhaps an opinion, but we get paid to have them and make decisions based on them, so there's that. :P)
Do fire giants emit heat and if yes, how do they deal with the constant risk of setting their surroundings and possessions on fire?They do emit heat, but not enough to damage unless they're also attacking. They don't do fire damage at a touch. They're not hot enough to set their belongings on fire.
I mean, humans emit heat, so...
Aside from frost giants, can you think of any other living humanoids that don't generate at least a little body warmth?
|
A number if the NPCs in the Breachill gazetter in Hellknight Hill are noted as Cleric X, actually cleric 5 in all three cases.
Are these people expected to have the full abilities of a 5th level PC cleric, or are there rules, either out there or forthcoming, for creating Creatures with cleric-like abilities?
|
Creative Director
|
A number if the NPCs in the Breachill gazetter in Hellknight Hill are noted as Cleric X, actually cleric 5 in all three cases.
Are these people expected to have the full abilities of a 5th level PC cleric, or are there rules, either out there or forthcoming, for creating Creatures with cleric-like abilities?
They're 5th level NPCs who have cleric-themed abilities.
If I were to have statted them up, I would have built them as unique 5th level NPCs, but with powers comparable to a 5th level PC cleric.
Building a 5th level PC cleric takes a LOT longer than building a 5th level NPC, and results in a stat block that has a bunch of clutter that the GM will probably never need and thus would be an inefficient use of space.
By listing a level for an NPC, we have a super effeciant way to communicate to the reader what the relative power level of any one NPC in an adventure is without having to spend lots of room in the text. In this specific case, it tells the GM that there are clerics in town capable of providing 3rd level spellcasting support for the purposes of PCs purchasing healing, for example.
Who is your favorite not-core deific entity in the setting?
|
Creative Director
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I noticed that the Caligni Stalker is Small in P2, is it just a change for those in particular or are all Caligni going to be Small going forward?
The caligni stalker is Medium.
Don't mistake the illustration on page 51 as being an illustration of a caligni stalker. That's an illustration of a caligni creeper. (Note that it weilds a dagger, like the creeper, not a short sword, as does the stalker).
A creature's size is always indicated in the trait line just under the name.
Is the Starstone significantly related to Aeon Stones? By which I mean, would it be accurate to refer to it as a super-powerful Aeon Stone?
|
|
I noticed that the Caligni Stalker is Small in P2, is it just a change for those in particular or are all Caligni going to be Small going forward?The caligni stalker is Medium.
Don't mistake the illustration on page 51 as being an illustration of a caligni stalker. That's an illustration of a caligni creeper. (Note that it weilds a dagger, like the creeper, not a short sword, as does the stalker).
A creature's size is always indicated in the trait line just under the name.
Doh, sorry, I committed the sin of using AoN and not doublechecking with the book. AoN has them as Small.
Are you interested in doing more with the Caligni going forward.
I presume that followers of Desna and Black Butterfly tend to get along reasonably well with one another. Are there any areas of friction that complicate the relationship?
|
Dear James Jacobs,
Have you heard/heard of "The Bloop"? We may have since confirmed that, here on Earth, it was nothing more/less interesting/scary than a massive fracturing of Antarctic ice...but that still doesn't have to be the case with a Bloop on Golarion, now does it?
Especially given that past Pathfinder Bestiaries have already given us Mothman, La Llorona, most-certainly-not-Godzilla, and even the alien-mind-control-lizardfolk of conspiracy-fish-story infamy, how likely is it we can expect a Pathfinder Kaiju/deity/whatever based on The Bloop? :D
I presume that followers of Desna and Black Butterfly tend to get along reasonably well with one another. Are there any areas of friction that complicate the relationship?
I'm interested to know this as well.
Q: Can you tell us more about Kurgess' relationship with Cayden and Desna, and what happened during the Third Running of the Raptors which made his sacrifice worthwhile? (i.e. what was different with the Third Running compared to all other Runnings ever since? how is this event even possible and not an absolute bloodbath?)
Hi James,
In PF1, I know your preference for the appearance of Catfolk was that they were humanoid with some feline features, as shown in the first illustration in (I think) Bestiary 2. Since then they have often been depicted as anthropomorphic cats, and so far in PF2, all artwork I have seen sticks with the humanoid cat appearance. Is this the new standard for Catfolk moving forward in PF2?
|
Creative Director
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
I presume that followers of Desna and Black Butterfly tend to get along reasonably well with one another. Are there any areas of friction that complicate the relationship?
Nope, not really. Other than the standard potential for ANY two people to not get along together even though they have similar role-models and jobs.
|
Creative Director
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Dear James Jacobs,
Have you heard/heard of "The Bloop"? We may have since confirmed that, here on Earth, it was nothing more/less interesting/scary than a massive fracturing of Antarctic ice...but that still doesn't have to be the case with a Bloop on Golarion, now does it?
Especially given that past Pathfinder Bestiaries have already given us Mothman, La Llorona, most-certainly-not-Godzilla, and even the alien-mind-control-lizardfolk of conspiracy-fish-story infamy, how likely is it we can expect a Pathfinder Kaiju/deity/whatever based on The Bloop? :D
I certainly have—I followed that story kinda obsessively when it came out back in the late 90s. Very interesting stuff!
We could some day put in something big that makes a long-range sound underwater that's mysterious and name it something else, absolutely. It won't be called a Bloop though, cause that's too jokey.
|
Creative Director
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Q: Can you tell us more about Kurgess' relationship with Cayden and Desna, and what happened during the Third Running of the Raptors which made his sacrifice worthwhile? (i.e. what was different with the Third Running compared to all other Runnings ever since? how is this event even possible and not an absolute bloodbath?)
Kurgess/Desna: Not allies, but not enemies. They don't have much in common, but they do respect the other.
Kurgess/Cayden Cailean: Lots of friendly competition and good-natured ribbing like you'd see between two very competitive brothers who don't NEED to compete because one's an athlete and the other's a partier.
Third Running of the Raptors: Unrevealed.
|
Creative Director
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Hi James,
In PF1, I know your preference for the appearance of Catfolk was that they were humanoid with some feline features, as shown in the first illustration in (I think) Bestiary 2. Since then they have often been depicted as anthropomorphic cats, and so far in PF2, all artwork I have seen sticks with the humanoid cat appearance. Is this the new standard for Catfolk moving forward in PF2?
Bestiary 1 has the look dialed in pretty well, and so far, so good for 2nd edition. Solidifying the artistic look of ALL the monsters was a big part of the Bestiary's purpose, and there are some monesters that got into that book that otherwise wouldn't have so that we could get out ahead of the question and solidify their look from day 1. Catfolk's in there in part for that specific reason, but also because we know they're very popular.
Q: Can you tell us more about Kurgess' relationship with Cayden and Desna, and what happened during the Third Running of the Raptors which made his sacrifice worthwhile? (i.e. what was different with the Third Running compared to all other Runnings ever since? how is this event even possible and not an absolute bloodbath?)Kurgess/Desna: Not allies, but not enemies. They don't have much in common, but they do respect the other.
Kurgess/Cayden Cailean: Lots of friendly competition and good-natured ribbing like you'd see between two very competitive brothers who don't NEED to compete because one's an athlete and the other's a partier.
Third Running of the Raptors: Unrevealed.
Cayden + Desna = ❤ = Kurgess?
