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Dark Archive

James Jacobs wrote:
the Haunted Jester wrote:

Are there any books discussing some of the details of the Pathfinder Iconics pasts? Whether it be Campaign Setting material or Pathfinder Tales.

Apart from the "Meet the Iconics" blog posts, we haven't done much with the iconics at all.

Are there any plans to do any more things with the Iconic's? (I'm thinking books novels etc.)

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 4

When James Jacobs pronounces dhampir, does it rhyme with vampire, ham-beer, or something else?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Kevin Mack wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
the Haunted Jester wrote:

Are there any books discussing some of the details of the Pathfinder Iconics pasts? Whether it be Campaign Setting material or Pathfinder Tales.

Apart from the "Meet the Iconics" blog posts, we haven't done much with the iconics at all.

Are there any plans to do any more things with the Iconic's? (I'm thinking books novels etc.)

Not really. Not that we've announced, at least.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

MillerHero wrote:
When James Jacobs pronounces dhampir, does it rhyme with vampire, ham-beer, or something else?

Rhymes with vampire. Since that's where they're from.

But sometimes it rhymes with ham-beer.

I switch back and forth.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Obakararuir wrote:
If Vic is correct, then once I change the name... I'm sure I'd have to credit the original works... and so how would I go about doing that?

The rules for how you credit OGL sources are contained within Section 6 of the OGL itself. (Basically, you take the complete Section 15 Copyright Notice from any product you use and drop it in to your own Section 15 Copyright Notice.)

Dark Archive

after the inner-sea and tien xia, what will be next in the pathfinder line? :P

also, given that mermaids have a land speed of 5ft do they craw on the ground or hop on their tail?

Dark Archive

So what do we have to do as fans, to get a hardcover Tian Xia campaign setting book?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

ulgulanoth wrote:

after the inner-sea and tien xia, what will be next in the pathfinder line? :P

also, given that mermaids have a land speed of 5ft do they craw on the ground or hop on their tail?

We don't have plans to start detailing any more continents at this time—between the Inner Sea, Tian Xia, and in Pathfinder #51, the Crown of the World... that should be enough for now.

Mermaids on land crawl. Kind of like seals. Not very dignified, so they generally avoid it when they can.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Jeremy Mcgillan wrote:
So what do we have to do as fans, to get a hardcover Tian Xia campaign setting book?

Show us that you love Asian settings—buy lots of copies of Dragon Empires Gazetteer, Master of Devils, Dragon Empires Primer, Ruby Phoenix Tournament, and the Jade Regent Adventure Path. Give them excellent reviews. Talk them up on other boards. Champion them.

AKA: Might be wise to wait and see what we did with the topic before you start asking for more. I certainly hope people love it, and I'm really proud of it all... but you never know what works and what doesn't until the product is out there in the wild.


James Jacobs wrote:
MillerHero wrote:
When James Jacobs pronounces dhampir, does it rhyme with vampire, ham-beer, or something else?

Rhymes with vampire. Since that's where they're from.

But sometimes it rhymes with ham-beer.

I switch back and forth.

Ham beer sounds disgusting.

I got this Werewolf brand beer from a local 'specialty boozes' store. When during Broken Moon (Carrion Crown #3) should I drink it? Should I try and save it for when someone gets bit?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

ANebulousMistress wrote:
I got this Werewolf brand beer from a local 'specialty boozes' store. When during Broken Moon (Carrion Crown #3) should I drink it? Should I try and save it for when someone gets bit?

Yup! Save it for a bite!

Liberty's Edge RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16

ANebulousMistress wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
MillerHero wrote:
When James Jacobs pronounces dhampir, does it rhyme with vampire, ham-beer, or something else?

Rhymes with vampire. Since that's where they're from.

But sometimes it rhymes with ham-beer.

I switch back and forth.

Ham beer sounds disgusting.

I got this Werewolf brand beer from a local 'specialty boozes' store. When during Broken Moon (Carrion Crown #3) should I drink it? Should I try and save it for when someone gets bit?

You should also pick up some Vampire wine for Ashes at Dawn.


Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber
Obakararuir wrote:
JJ pretty much cleared it up as best as I'm going to get it cleared up. With what you are saying it seems to me that you are thinking I'm trying for a different plane which isn't the case. Maybe if the subterrain worked as a passage to Hell or the Abyss but that's not necessarily the case.

No, I was thinking of the original Greek Underworld, which literally was accessed through caves. If you look at the wikipedia article, there are a ton of different underworlds throughout mythology you could use. But it was just a suggestion. There are all sorts of options, like Cavelands, Subterranean Realm, Tellurian, Chthonic, etc.


Mr. Jacobs - First Pathfider is awesome

I need your help on a number of rules related to class features, I have spent hours combing the boards but cannot seem to find what I am looking for.

lets start with the Magus - I really like the class but there seems to be some confusion in my group at least on a number of its features

Spell Combat (Ex): At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells
and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much
like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell
that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one
hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic
components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee
weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make
all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and
can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting
time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this
spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively,
he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls,
up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a
circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check
fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty.
A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon
attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot
cast the spell between weapon attacks.

2 questions here - 1st why would you cast defensively, it is an extraordinary ability and they don't provoke AoO's - (the only thing i can think of is that a ranged spell is a ranged attack so that would provoke) 2nd - does the magus suffer any penalities associated with not having 2 weapon fighting (I am almost 100% sure that they don't - but my group wants to know)

next

Spellstrike (Su): At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a
spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he
can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as
part of a melee attack. Instead of the free melee touch attack
normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one
free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack
bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee
attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the
spell. If the magus makes this attack in concert with spell
combat, this melee attack takes all the penalties accrued by
spell combat melee attacks. This attack uses the weapon’s
critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen
weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect
only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the
weapon damage uses its own critical modifier.

Man my group have been round and round on this one - we have two members who swear up and down that the free attack associated with this ability is an extra attack (and barring intervention from you, Mr. Reynolds, or divine enlightendment from the great GG, they will not budge from the stance)

so basically level 8 magus two attacks +6/+1 uses spellstrike - does he get +6/+6 with spell/+1 or does he get +6 with spell/+1 (I think it is the latter but both sides have made compelling arguments)

Last question on this ability same example above but also using spellcombat would it be +4 with spell / spell / +1 or +4/+4 spell strike/ spell/ +1 (I camnnot see the latter being the case in this instance).

oh... sorry I lied about last question on this one if the magus has 2 attacks and is doing a shocking grasp via spellstrike I would assume that the spell strike attack comes first (highest BAB) if not then the character could attack take a 5' step and then spellstrike.

next

The Alchemist - simple compared to the last two

What exactly qualifies as an "alchemical Item" for the swift alchemy class feature - there are compelling arguments for everything that uses craft alchemy (including potions, bombs, mutagens) or is it just Alchemical items (such as smokesticks, acid, tanglefoot bags)

last thing

Would Pazio please, please consider creating a 30 foot radius channel template similar to the SteelSqwire AoE templates that you sell. I have to believe that it would be a must have item for anyone who plays the game and would sell like hotcakes.

Thank you for your time, (Help us James Jacobs, you're are only hope).

Liberty's Edge

James Jacobs wrote:
JoelF847 wrote:

What XP advancement track with the Rise of the Runelords hardcover use, fast or medium?

Will story awards be added for XP in the revision?

I've found that with the party of 5 I'm running through now, at the end of Skinsaw, they just hit 6th level, so I'm running a filler adventure tonight that will get them most of the way to 7th. Since they never dealt with Malfeshkenor, this forces the issue.

At this point, my guess will be that the Runelords hardcover will use the Fast XP track.

Story awards will be added in, although there's already a fair amount of story awards in there I think...

As for Skinsaw... I assume you gave out XP for all the haunts? Not giving out Haunt XP is a great way to be short on XP in that adventure...

Please, use the medium and expand the material. I have the Runelord AP (even if I haven't played it) and ill buy the new edition, but I feel that a slower advancement is better.

The "speedy" advancement of PC in the 3.x games was nice as it allowed you to reach higher level but at the same time left you less time to "savour" them.
If the problem is that of getting more groups to start a new campaign and thus buying a new series of AP maybe you can design the AP series as a basic structure that can be completed using the fast AP and publish stand alone but related modules that can be added to the adventure for those that want to use the medium track.

To make it clearer:
* Fast track AP module 1-6
* if someone want to use the medium track there will be a few modules that are located in the same area, are easy to link to the main story but are perfectly capable to stand as a separated adventure.
As you will be using the same backdrop hopefully you would need a bit less work than what is needed to develop a adventure in a totally unknown location.
As the player guide is a free download it would be sufficient to define the base informations for the adventure background.


James Jacobs wrote:
Sean Terrill wrote:

OOH! my player just brought up a serious issue as well i hope you might be able to elaborate on, He currently has the rune of wrath(from the highlady in #5) he was wondering if the mark from the champion of greed does the same(go to the player who takes the final swing)?

if so, how would the two interract?
would karzoug have control over that PC in the final showdown?
That'd be up to your GM. You won't have any spoilers from me!

but....but i AM the GM! I don't want to be too harsh on the players ;)

how would you go about the situation?

Spoiler:
P.S. I'm hoping that they fail to kill the Leng peeps and Mhar gets summoned....Primal earth elemental ho!

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
dartagnan4 wrote:

Mr. Jacobs - First Pathfider is awesome

I need your help on a number of rules related to class features, I have spent hours combing the boards but cannot seem to find what I am looking for.

lets start with the Magus - I really like the class but there seems to be some confusion in my group at least on a number of its features

Spell Combat (Ex): At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells
and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much
like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell
that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one
hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic
components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee
weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make
all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and
can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting
time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this
spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively,
he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls,
up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a
circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check
fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty.
A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon
attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot
cast the spell between weapon attacks.

2 questions here - 1st why would you cast defensively, it is an extraordinary ability and they don't provoke AoO's - (the only thing i can think of is that a ranged spell is a ranged attack so that would provoke) 2nd - does the magus suffer any penalities associated with not having 2 weapon fighting (I am almost 100% sure that they don't - but my group wants to know)

next

Spellstrike (Su): At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a
spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he
can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as
part of a melee attack....

On the first point, Spell Combat as an ability only means you can combine an attack with casting a spell. It doesn't mean that the spell suddenly changes into an ex ability, it follows all the normal rules for casting a spell.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Do some sentient undead ever want to emigrate to GEb so they do not be treated like they are shunned by society?
Also do rich undead in Geb find potions of inflict light wounds so they can heal themselves?

Scarab Sages

James,

Spoilered AP questions, just in case:

Spoiler:
We saw a Lovecraft themed adventure in Carrion Crown, and from what I'm seeing, it seems we have another coming up in Jade Regent. Is that just a fluke, or are these going to be staples of future APs?


Hello again, sir!

Couple more questions for you.

My group is playing a game in Andoran and following all of the Falcon's Hollow modules for now, and they are about to finish Hungry are the Dead and about to find out about the seals used to keep the Whispering Tyrant locked away. Since it isn't mentioned explicitly, I was wondering where the other seals might be located. I'm actually quite surprised that one of the seals is in Andoran of all places and not near Lastwall or Ustalav. It would be helpful if there are more in Andoran, perhaps in the Candlestone Caverns? the Also, did you have an idea for how the Night of Silver Blood went down in Olfden? That was the night the werewolves of Arthfell Forest attacked Olfden for three nights and were immune to silver weapons until they all started dying from the failed ritual. How did the Shadow Pack druids come to find out about this ritual?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

dartagnan4 wrote:
...wrote a wall of text...

Hi there! (In the future, if you have a lot of huge questions... it's easier on me if you post them separately so that I can quote entire questions to maintain context with the answers...)

As noted above, spell combat isn't why you're casting defensively. It's because the spell you're casting is still a spell; the spell combat ability only LETS you cast that spell in that way. It doesn't make it not a spell, and therefore it provokes attacks of opportunity normally.

The magus's penalties are built in to the class; he only suffers penalties for 2 weapon fighting if he's actually using two weapons.

Spellstrike: The free attack is NOT an extra attack. It's a free attack you ad on to spellcasting. Casting the spell still takes the normal amount of time—spellstrike just effectively adds the weapon attack as a part of the casting of the spell. Think of the attack as a somatic component if you will. So when he uses spellstrike, he does NOT get his full iterative attacks—his primary action in that round is the spellcasting, and normally that means he gets NO attacks. Spellstrike lets him make ONE attack as part of that spellcasting.

An "alchemical item" is any item that is listed in the equipment cost tables under the heading of "special substances and items."

As for spell templates... we'll look into that, but new spell templates aren't high on the to-do list.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Diego Rossi wrote:

Please, use the medium and expand the material. I have the Runelord AP (even if I haven't played it) and ill buy the new edition, but I feel that a slower advancement is better.

The "speedy" advancement of PC in the 3.x games was nice as it allowed you to reach higher level but at the same time left you less time to "savour" them.
If the problem is that of getting more groups to start a new campaign and thus buying a new series of AP maybe you can design the AP series as a basic structure that can be completed using the fast AP and publish stand alone but related modules that can be added to the adventure for those that want to use the medium track.
To make it clearer:
* Fast track AP module 1-6
* if someone want to use the medium track there will be a few modules that are located in the same area, are easy to link to the main story but are perfectly capable to stand as a separated adventure.
As you will be using the same backdrop hopefully you would need a bit less work than what is needed to develop a adventure in a totally unknown location.
As the player guide is a free download it would be sufficient to define the base informations for the adventure background.

Using the medium track would require SIGNIFICANT expansion of the material, I suspect (Haven't looked into it yet but I will be soon). Significant to the point where we wouldn't be able to fit the hardcover's contents in the size of the book we're hoping this to be—if the book gets much bigger, it creeps into not only a new cover price but also starts to cause a significant increased in cost of shipping due to weight.

Furthermore... it takes a LOT longer to develop a brand new adventure than it does to represent an old one. We're not reducing our schedule to accommodate the Runelords hardcover—it's an addition to the schedule, and a big part of why we're able to do that is because we've already decided NOT to add a whole new adventure (which is what would probably be required if we went to medium advancement).

And finally... we're already several months in to the development of the book WITHOUT adding a new adventure, and changing things at this point would be disruptive and bad.

SO: I'm still 90% sure we'll stick with the fast track, but we'll see!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Sean Terrill wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Sean Terrill wrote:

OOH! my player just brought up a serious issue as well i hope you might be able to elaborate on, He currently has the rune of wrath(from the highlady in #5) he was wondering if the mark from the champion of greed does the same(go to the player who takes the final swing)?

if so, how would the two interract?
would karzoug have control over that PC in the final showdown?
That'd be up to your GM. You won't have any spoilers from me!

but....but i AM the GM! I don't want to be too harsh on the players ;)

how would you go about the situation?

** spoiler omitted **

Well then... the rune on the champion of greed does NOT transfer. The one on Athroxis is unusual and unique.

(Personally, "rewarding" the PCs for doing as the adventure expects and defeating the champion of greed by setting them up to be controlled by Karzoug is kind of unfair, I think. I wouldn't do it.)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

doctor_wu wrote:

Do some sentient undead ever want to emigrate to GEb so they do not be treated like they are shunned by society?

Also do rich undead in Geb find potions of inflict light wounds so they can heal themselves?

I suspect some do.

Potions of inflict light wounds are available anywhere... but they're probably a lot more easy to find for sale in Geb than elsewhere.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Aberzombie wrote:

James,

Spoilered AP questions, just in case:

** spoiler omitted **

We've been tinkering with Lovecraft content for years now, and every time we do so, we get a VERY positive response. And since I happen to ADORE Lovecraft content, as do many other folks here at Paizo and among our authors, you'll keep seeing Lovecraftian elements popping up here and there in all of our products.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

That Guy With the Fox wrote:

Hello again, sir!

Couple more questions for you.

My group is playing a game in Andoran and following all of the Falcon's Hollow modules for now, and they are about to finish Hungry are the Dead and about to find out about the seals used to keep the Whispering Tyrant locked away. Since it isn't mentioned explicitly, I was wondering where the other seals might be located. I'm actually quite surprised that one of the seals is in Andoran of all places and not near Lastwall or Ustalav. It would be helpful if there are more in Andoran, perhaps in the Candlestone Caverns? the Also, did you have an idea for how the Night of Silver Blood went down in Olfden? That was the night the werewolves of Arthfell Forest attacked Olfden for three nights and were immune to silver weapons until they all started dying from the failed ritual. How did the Shadow Pack druids come to find out about this ritual?

We're still being coy about the other seal locations to a certain extent, although there's more info about them in the Gallowspire entry of "Dungeons of Golarion."

We haven't said much more about the Night of Silver Blood yet either, and I've not given it really any thought at all.

Both are elements we might touch upon in future adventures, though... so for now, I don't have much more to say about either. ;-P

Liberty's Edge RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16

So I'm updating and converting Hook Mountain Massacre to Pathfinder rules, and noticed that the animal companion bear that the PCs run into when they first meet the Grauls is technically not legal in PF, since a ranger can't select a bear as an animal companion. For simplicity sake, I'm probably going to either hand wave that away, or use one of the extra feats to give to his owner be a made up one that lets him have a bear companion that rangers normally cannot select.

I was wondering for the compilation hardcover, what's the general philosphy for converting things that don't quite work in the pathfinder RPG rules? Add something like a new feat to make them work, or make more significant changes to stat blocks, such as making the NPC a ranger 7/druid 1, that would be able to choose a bear companion, rather than a ranger 8?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

JoelF847 wrote:

So I'm updating and converting Hook Mountain Massacre to Pathfinder rules, and noticed that the animal companion bear that the PCs run into when they first meet the Grauls is technically not legal in PF, since a ranger can't select a bear as an animal companion. For simplicity sake, I'm probably going to either hand wave that away, or use one of the extra feats to give to his owner be a made up one that lets him have a bear companion that rangers normally cannot select.

I was wondering for the compilation hardcover, what's the general philosphy for converting things that don't quite work in the pathfinder RPG rules? Add something like a new feat to make them work, or make more significant changes to stat blocks, such as making the NPC a ranger 7/druid 1, that would be able to choose a bear companion, rather than a ranger 8?

The general philosophy is to preserve the flavor of the story where possible but NOT to simply make new feats or abilities to completely duplicate the original (changing actual character class or multiclassing is TOO much of a change). In this case, I might do one of two things:

1) I would change the bear into a legal animal companion for a ranger, since there's no art of the bear to worry about contradicting. I'd probably go with a firepelt mountain lion in this case, since that gives some cool synergy between an animal companion encountered earlier in the Adventure Path.

2) I would give the ranger the beastmaster archetype. In this case, I'd have to look closely at that particular ranger's personality and history and decide if giving him the beastmaster archetype fit those elements—if it didn't, I'd probably just go with option 1 above. Likewise, if making him a beastmaster increases his stat block just enough that the section bleeds over word count, I'd not make him a beastmaster and go with option 1 above.

In the end... the choice would be made for what's best for the flavor of the story, not for the rules.


Hi James,

About Old-Mage Jatembe:

1 - Who created him ? For me he is the coolest npc in all Golarion.

2 - Is there any AP or module concerning what happened to him?

3 - Is there any plans of an AP based on Magaambya?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

kaymanklynman wrote:

Hi James,

About Old-Mage Jatembe:

1 - Who created him ? For me he is the coolest npc in all Golarion.

2 - Is there any AP or module concerning what happened to him?

3 - Is there any plans of an AP based on Magaambya?

1) Not sure off the top of my head. Wasn't me.

2) Nope. Not yet.

3) Nope. Not yet.


Hello sir.

I'm not sure if it's been asked, honestly I didn't search very hard.

Anyway, I love your guys' stuff. Paizo is super. Are there any plans for releasing content for 20+? Similar to the old Epic Level Handbook or something similar (but better of course cuz it'll be paizo!)?


James Jacobs wrote:
kaymanklynman wrote:

Hi James,

About Old-Mage Jatembe:

1 - Who created him ? For me he is the coolest npc in all Golarion.

2 - Is there any AP or module concerning what happened to him?

3 - Is there any plans of an AP based on Magaambya?

1) Not sure off the top of my head. Wasn't me.

2) Nope. Not yet.

3) Nope. Not yet.

1)Tim Hitchcock?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

klevis69 wrote:

Hello sir.

I'm not sure if it's been asked, honestly I didn't search very hard.

Anyway, I love your guys' stuff. Paizo is super. Are there any plans for releasing content for 20+? Similar to the old Epic Level Handbook or something similar (but better of course cuz it'll be paizo!)?

This actually is one of the most frequently asked questions about our upcoming books. The answer is: We'd love to do something like this, but haven't yet had the chance to fit it in to the schedule. At one point, we were worried that there's not enough interest in the topic, but I'm starting to think that there is. In fact, I always thought there was interest, but that opinion is spreading here at Paizo.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
James Jacobs wrote:
klevis69 wrote:

Hello sir.

I'm not sure if it's been asked, honestly I didn't search very hard.

Anyway, I love your guys' stuff. Paizo is super. Are there any plans for releasing content for 20+? Similar to the old Epic Level Handbook or something similar (but better of course cuz it'll be paizo!)?

This actually is one of the most frequently asked questions about our upcoming books. The answer is: We'd love to do something like this, but haven't yet had the chance to fit it in to the schedule. At one point, we were worried that there's not enough interest in the topic, but I'm starting to think that there is. In fact, I always thought there was interest, but that opinion is spreading here at Paizo.

I would like to add to that interest!

Also, by far, this is my favorite thread.

Thanks for being so helpful.


James Jacobs wrote:
This actually is one of the most frequently asked questions about our upcoming books. The answer is: We'd love to do something like this, but haven't yet had the chance to fit it in to the schedule. At one point, we were worried that there's not enough interest in the topic, but I'm starting to think that there is. In fact, I always thought there was interest, but that opinion is spreading here at Paizo.

*does Burns-hands* Eeeeexcellent.

I remember some years back you expressed interest in following that up with "Immortals"-style god-tier play. Is that still on the table?

Scarab Sages

James Jacobs wrote:
Aberzombie wrote:

James,

Spoilered AP questions, just in case:

** spoiler omitted **

We've been tinkering with Lovecraft content for years now, and every time we do so, we get a VERY positive response. And since I happen to ADORE Lovecraft content, as do many other folks here at Paizo and among our authors, you'll keep seeing Lovecraftian elements popping up here and there in all of our products.

As a follow-up question: I noticed in the AP#51 article on the Crown of the World, there seems to be a settlement named Surtse on Cape Almhult. Should we be worried that this place has risen?


James Jacobs wrote:


This actually is one of the most frequently asked questions about our upcoming books. The answer is: We'd love to do something like this, but haven't yet had the chance to fit it in to the schedule. At one point, we were worried that there's not enough interest in the topic, but I'm starting to think that there is. In fact, I always thought there was interest, but that opinion is spreading here at Paizo.

I'm super-waiting-for-it. I think the reason why there wasn't so much interest is mainly because it had (according to some DM's I've talked to over the years) seemed so difficult to do. And a lot of the rules seemed like they were just slopped together in the ELH.

I'm sure if there was a decent way to approach it, everyone would be super excited about it.

Is there any area in any of the books that suggests just basically what to do when you hit 20, or +? I noticed some of the characters in Inner Sea magic are 20+.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Evil Midnight Lurker wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
This actually is one of the most frequently asked questions about our upcoming books. The answer is: We'd love to do something like this, but haven't yet had the chance to fit it in to the schedule. At one point, we were worried that there's not enough interest in the topic, but I'm starting to think that there is. In fact, I always thought there was interest, but that opinion is spreading here at Paizo.

*does Burns-hands* Eeeeexcellent.

I remember some years back you expressed interest in following that up with "Immortals"-style god-tier play. Is that still on the table?

We have a big table here at Paizo. Not all of it will ever make it off the table.

If we do a Mythic level book that DOESN'T talk about "immortal" play (which I doubt it would), and IF that Mythic book does really well... then MAYBE we'll consider a deity level expansion. I personally think that's incredibly unlikely, though.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Aberzombie wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Aberzombie wrote:

James,

Spoilered AP questions, just in case:

** spoiler omitted **

We've been tinkering with Lovecraft content for years now, and every time we do so, we get a VERY positive response. And since I happen to ADORE Lovecraft content, as do many other folks here at Paizo and among our authors, you'll keep seeing Lovecraftian elements popping up here and there in all of our products.
As a follow-up question: I noticed in the AP#51 article on the Crown of the World, there seems to be a settlement named Surtse on Cape Almhult. Should we be worried that this place has risen?

Nah; it's spelled different.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

klevis69 wrote:
Is there any area in any of the books that suggests just basically what to do when you hit 20, or +? I noticed some of the characters in Inner Sea magic are 20+.

Listing those NPCs as being level "20+" just means they're more powerful than a 20th level character. HOW they're more powerful, I can't say yet. They could be higher than 20th level. They could be multiclassed. They could have prestige class levels. They could have unusually high resources or ability scores. They could have templates. They could have racial Hit Dice.

Until the Mythic level rules question is answered... I'm not gonna be able to say what exactly 20+ means as far as level... other than that it's tougher than level 20.


James Jacobs wrote:


Listing those NPCs as being level "20+" just means they're more powerful than a 20th level character. HOW they're more powerful, I can't say yet. They could be higher than 20th level. They could be multiclassed. They could have prestige class levels. They could have unusually high resources or ability scores. They could have templates. They could have racial Hit Dice.

Until the Mythic level rules question is answered... I'm not gonna be able to say what exactly 20+ means as far as level... other than that it's tougher than level 20.

Ok thanks. It's just so tantalizing! Especially when you put that damn Starstone in Absalom and told us what it's for!! ;)

Liberty's Edge

James Jacobs wrote:
Diego Rossi wrote:

Please, use the medium and expand the material. I have the Runelord AP (even if I haven't played it) and ill buy the new edition, but I feel that a slower advancement is better.

The "speedy" advancement of PC in the 3.x games was nice as it allowed you to reach higher level but at the same time left you less time to "savour" them.
...

Using the medium track would require SIGNIFICANT expansion of the material, I suspect (Haven't looked into it yet but I will be soon). Significant to the point where we wouldn't be able to fit the hardcover's contents in the size of the book we're hoping this to be—if the book gets much bigger, it creeps into not only a new cover price but also starts to cause a significant increased in cost of shipping due to weight.

Furthermore... it takes a LOT longer to develop a brand new adventure than it does to represent an old one. We're not reducing our schedule to accommodate the Runelords hardcover—it's an addition to the schedule, and a big part of why we're able to do that is because we've already decided NOT to add a whole new adventure (which is what would probably be required if we went to medium advancement).

And finally... we're already several months in to the development of the book WITHOUT adding a new adventure, and changing things at this point would be disruptive and bad.

SO: I'm still 90% sure we'll stick with the fast track, but we'll see!

OK, sorry, in my comment I have mixed two different things.

1) I would like the see the medium track in Rise of the Runelords but it is not critical. I will buy it the same. As you point out there are several good editorial reasons not to do that.
As most (all, I would say) gamers I am greedy for good material and this was a way to get more of it.

2) A plea to keep the AP to the medium experience track.
- sub 2) a half backed idea about keeping a AP within his 6 volume limits and at the same time giving players the possibility to reach higher levels that those possible in the common AP.
Something that could maybe work with Rise as the last modules were meant for high level characters, but only a very rough idea.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Shoggothic wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
that type of micromanagement has NEVER, in my nearly 30 years of gaming experience, made a game more fun. It has almost ALWAYS made the game more annoying.
Okay, annoying role playing situations aside, how widely accepted are trade bars in Golarion? Are they accepted in large cities only or in specific nations?

The major issue with trade bars for most merchants.... would be making change. :) It's like going to the nickel candy stand and trying to pay for a pack of gum with a C-Note.

Liberty's Edge RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16

More questions about conversion plans for RotRL -

1) since the XP assignment has changed, so that 0-HD races are CR = class level -1 instead of simply class level as in 3.5, will all the 0-HD race NPCs be getting one more class level to compensate?

2) where it makes sense, will material from APG, UM, and UC be used instead of the core rulebook only? You mentioned looking at the beastmaster archetype earlier, but would you also say make Mammy Graul a witch instead of a necromancer if you felt it was a better fit?


Hi.

How dificult do you think is to kill Razmiran?

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
klevis69 wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:


Listing those NPCs as being level "20+" just means they're more powerful than a 20th level character. HOW they're more powerful, I can't say yet. They could be higher than 20th level. They could be multiclassed. They could have prestige class levels. They could have unusually high resources or ability scores. They could have templates. They could have racial Hit Dice.

Until the Mythic level rules question is answered... I'm not gonna be able to say what exactly 20+ means as far as level... other than that it's tougher than level 20.

Ok thanks. It's just so tantalizing! Especially when you put that damn Starstone in Absalom and told us what it's for!! ;)

There are some very rough ideas in the Gamemastering chapter of the Core book as well


Mr. Jacobs.

Have you ever DM'd professionally? Friends and I were suggesting that it's rare to find a truly exceptional DM, and were throwing ideas around about what it'd cost/be worth paying for one.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Diego Rossi wrote:

1) I would like the see the medium track in Rise of the Runelords but it is not critical. I will buy it the same. As you point out there are several good editorial reasons not to do that.

As most (all, I would say) gamers I am greedy for good material and this was a way to get more of it.

2) A plea to keep the AP to the medium experience track.
- sub 2) a half backed idea about keeping a AP within his 6 volume limits and at the same time giving players the possibility to reach higher...

1) Excellent, because on even more examination, chances of the Runelords hardcover being on the fast XP track have risen to close to 98%. And still rising.

2) We actually tinkered with doing a fast track AP, but when it turned out that doing so would only add 1 or MAYBE 2 levels (and still wouldn't let us hit 20th, which is the only reason to do a fast track AP in my opinion), we decided against it. The APs will remain medium XP for the foreseeable future.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

LazarX wrote:
Shoggothic wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
that type of micromanagement has NEVER, in my nearly 30 years of gaming experience, made a game more fun. It has almost ALWAYS made the game more annoying.
Okay, annoying role playing situations aside, how widely accepted are trade bars in Golarion? Are they accepted in large cities only or in specific nations?
The major issue with trade bars for most merchants.... would be making change. :) It's like going to the nickel candy stand and trying to pay for a pack of gum with a C-Note.

And like what happens when you try that in real life... most merchants won't accept trade bars unless you're buying so much that change would be a few coins.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Nicos wrote:

Hi.

How dificult do you think is to kill Razmiran?

Well, as revealed in Inner Sea Magic...

Spoiler:
...he's 19th level. He also has an entire nation of resources. So pretty difficult indeed. Certainly as difficult as completing an Adventure Path!
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