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Paizo Employee Creative Director

Monkeygod wrote:

James, I am about to be in a serious conumdrum: I am almost finished reading Undead Revisited, and I have no idea which to read next.

So I seek your wisdom, do I read Faiths of Corruption or Horsemen of the Apocalypse??

Heeeeeeelp!!.

Horsemen of the Apocalypse!!!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

BYC wrote:

James, when will Paizo address the Padishah Empire of Kelesh in Cassmarion? And what is the proper protocol for the empire? Is it Padishah, or Kelesh empire?

Although I understand the Far East is of more interest to most gamers, I am much more interested in the great empire in the middle of Golarion. Perhaps it's like Taldor, and it's falling apart from the inside. Perhaps it's stronger than anything else we've seen on Golarion.

Having just endured the detailing of Tien Xia, and since that was one of the hardest things I've had to do here, I'm not that eager at all to jump right onto another continent. My guess is, at the minimum, we're a couple of years... probably more... before we do much with any other continents on Golarion beyond Avistan, northern Garund, Tian Xia, and the Crown of the World.

Scarab Sages

James Jacobs wrote:
Horsemen of the Apocalypse!!!

Speaking of that book, James, how would you rank the Harbingers (cool name by the way) as far as CR. Are they about the same level as Nascent Demon Lords?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Kelsey MacAilbert wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Kelsey MacAilbert wrote:
Kelsey MacAilbert wrote:
This this awesome?
Is this more awesome?
Random You Tube videos generally don't get watched by me when I answer these questions, by the way. Just one of several policies I've hidden in the unwritten rules of the thread. :-P
Takes too much of your time? Gotcha. No more Youtube videos from me.

Not so much "takes up too much time" (which is true), but a bit of "it's not cool for someone to see the Creative Director watching you tube at work, whether you're the Creative Director's managers or the Creative Director's minions" and a bit of "Even though Paizo is really open and liberal, certain NSFW things still apply."

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Aberzombie wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Horsemen of the Apocalypse!!!
Speaking of that book, James, how would you rank the Harbingers (cool name by the way) as far as CR. Are they about the same level as Nascent Demon Lords?

Harbingers, Nascent Demon Lords, and Maelbranche are all the same power level—generally CR 20 to CR 25.


James Jacobs wrote:
Kelsey MacAilbert wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Kelsey MacAilbert wrote:
Kelsey MacAilbert wrote:
This this awesome?
Is this more awesome?
Random You Tube videos generally don't get watched by me when I answer these questions, by the way. Just one of several policies I've hidden in the unwritten rules of the thread. :-P
Takes too much of your time? Gotcha. No more Youtube videos from me.
Not so much "takes up too much time" (which is true), but a bit of "it's not cool for someone to see the Creative Director watching you tube at work, whether you're the Creative Director's managers or the Creative Director's minions" and a bit of "Even though Paizo is really open and liberal, certain NSFW things still apply."

That was NSFW? Guess I need to think a little more. Still, I got you. No more Youtube in the thread.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Kelsey MacAilbert wrote:
That was NSFW? Guess I need to think a little more. Still, I got you. No more Youtube in the thread.

I have no idea if it was NSFW, since I didn't watch it. The title of the video didn't make it feel SFW though...


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
BYC wrote:

James, when will Paizo address the Padishah Empire of Kelesh in Cassmarion? And what is the proper protocol for the empire? Is it Padishah, or Kelesh empire?

Although I understand the Far East is of more interest to most gamers, I am much more interested in the great empire in the middle of Golarion. Perhaps it's like Taldor, and it's falling apart from the inside. Perhaps it's stronger than anything else we've seen on Golarion.

Having just endured the detailing of Tien Xia, and since that was one of the hardest things I've had to do here, I'm not that eager at all to jump right onto another continent. My guess is, at the minimum, we're a couple of years... probably more... before we do much with any other continents on Golarion beyond Avistan, northern Garund, Tian Xia, and the Crown of the World.

continues to ask for Gazetteers for Casmaron, Arcadia, Azlant, and Southern Garund.

But no hurry on those just when you can get them done.:)

EDIT: except Iblydos you can do that as soon as possible, in fact wouldn't that be a cool place to visit during Skull and Shackles?


nightflier wrote:
Cheapy wrote:
nightflier wrote:
2) Would you allow a feat that enables the alchemist to attack with his vestigial arms and take Multiattack feat later on?

FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S GOOD AND BALANCED, NO.

You've seen Thri-kreen ranger in play, right?

You mean the Thri-kreen that isn't in Pathfinder? :)

Scarab Sages

James Jacobs wrote:
Aberzombie wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Horsemen of the Apocalypse!!!
Speaking of that book, James, how would you rank the Harbingers (cool name by the way) as far as CR. Are they about the same level as Nascent Demon Lords?
Harbingers, Nascent Demon Lords, and Maelbranche are all the same power level—generally CR 20 to CR 25.

Cool!

Will we ever see an AP with Daemons as the big bads?

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

James, with youre recent listing of your top 10 campaign settings, it got me wondering, did you like Al-Qadim, the spinoff Forgotten Realms setting based on arabian fantasy? I thought it was one of the best TSR campaign settings that really did an amazing job of capturing a different culture's history and mythology. In many ways it reminds me of the great attention to detail that Paizo puts into Golarion.

When you do at some point delve into Casmaron, I'd hope that Al-Qadim would be a source of inspiration (aside from the actual source material of course).

On a related note about areas beyond the Inner Sea region, could it be possible to further detail some of the areas just beyond the edge of the map occasionally, without having to do a full book on a new continent - similar to Iobarra (sp?) in one of the Kingmaker AP books?


James Jacobs wrote:
Khonger wrote:

Does Channel Energy look the same, flavor-wise, no matter what deity the cleric worships?

I kind of imagine a cleric of Sarenrae's channeled energy looking like sunlight, but i can't imagine a cleric of Gorum's looking the same.
That depends entirely on the GM. In my games, no, channeled energy looks SIGNIFICANTLY different based on your deity. A worshiper of Pazuzu might spew out a cloud of flesh-eating birds when he channels negative energy, while a cleric of Sarenrae might cause a burning halo to manifest over the heads of the targets she chooses that then shoots divine power down into their heads.

I love that! How would you give the other core deities the same treatment?

Liberty's Edge

James, looking stuff about reincarnation I re-read this:

Heavens Oracle wrote:
Final Revelation: Upon achieving 20th level, your rapport with the heavens grants you perfect harmony with the universe. You receive a bonus on all saving throws equal to your Charisma modifier. You automatically stabilize if you are below 0 hit points, are immune to fear effects, and automatically confirm all critical hits. Should you die, you are reborn 3 days later in the form of a star child, who matures over the course of 7 days (treat as the reincarnate spell).

What is a star child? Some specific kind of creature, or it simply a way to say "you are reborn in a new body"?

Edit:

I have been pointed out tot he fact you have already replied to that:

James Jacobs wrote:
Correct. "Star child" is merely a flavorful way of saying "A reincarnated oracle." And an easter egg to 2001, I suppose.

So another question:

Witches and Prehensile hair

Quote:


Prehensile Hair (Su): The witch can instantly cause her hair (or even her eyebrows) to grow up to 10 feet long or to shrink to its normal length, and can manipulate her hair as if it were a limb with a Strength score equal to her Intelligence score. Her hair has reach 10 feet, and she can use it as a secondary natural attack that deals 1d3 points of damage (1d2 for a Small witch). Her hair can manipulate objects (but not weapons) as dexterously as a human hand. The hair cannot be sundered or attacked as a separate creature. Pieces cut from the witch's elongated hair shrink away to nothing. Using her hair does not harm the witch's head or neck, even if she lifts something heavy with it. The witch can manipulate her hair a number of minutes each day equal to her level; these minutes do not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 1-minute increments. A typical male witch with this hex can also manipulate his beard, moustache, or eyebrows.

The hair should be always used as a secondary attack, even when the witch is attacking only with them or they are a kind of natural attack that can be used, with the usual malus of being treated as a secondary attack, in conjunction regular attacks or alone and at full attack bonus?


Diego Rossi wrote:

James, looking stuff about reincarnation I re-read this:

Heavens Oracle wrote:
Final Revelation: Upon achieving 20th level, your rapport with the heavens grants you perfect harmony with the universe. You receive a bonus on all saving throws equal to your Charisma modifier. You automatically stabilize if you are below 0 hit points, are immune to fear effects, and automatically confirm all critical hits. Should you die, you are reborn 3 days later in the form of a star child, who matures over the course of 7 days (treat as the reincarnate spell).
What is a star child? Some specific kind of creature, or it simply a way to say "you are reborn in a new body"?

2001 Space Odyssey, I believe.

Dark Archive

in a game i've been running, the party met an unexpected TPK, mostly due to poor party interactions (petty character conflicts borderline with player conflicts). now there is the possibility for an NPC ally of the group to resurrect them, but maybe it would be better if they made new characters, what do you think i should do?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Justin Franklin wrote:
EDIT: except Iblydos you can do that as soon as possible, in fact wouldn't that be a cool place to visit during Skull and Shackles?

Since whenever we do an AP that's set in one region and then do an adventure in that AP where you leave that region folks get annoyed and angry and cranky due to the fact that they wanted to stay in the region they'd spent the last several adventures coming to enjoy... nope. Would probably not be cool at all.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Aberzombie wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Aberzombie wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Horsemen of the Apocalypse!!!
Speaking of that book, James, how would you rank the Harbingers (cool name by the way) as far as CR. Are they about the same level as Nascent Demon Lords?
Harbingers, Nascent Demon Lords, and Maelbranche are all the same power level—generally CR 20 to CR 25.

Cool!

Will we ever see an AP with Daemons as the big bads?

Maybe.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

JoelF847 wrote:

James, with youre recent listing of your top 10 campaign settings, it got me wondering, did you like Al-Qadim, the spinoff Forgotten Realms setting based on arabian fantasy? I thought it was one of the best TSR campaign settings that really did an amazing job of capturing a different culture's history and mythology. In many ways it reminds me of the great attention to detail that Paizo puts into Golarion.

When you do at some point delve into Casmaron, I'd hope that Al-Qadim would be a source of inspiration (aside from the actual source material of course).

On a related note about areas beyond the Inner Sea region, could it be possible to further detail some of the areas just beyond the edge of the map occasionally, without having to do a full book on a new continent - similar to Iobarra (sp?) in one of the Kingmaker AP books?

I actually DID like Al-Qadim, and it's probably tied for 10th place. And probably even higher if I thought about it a bit more. Good stuff!

There's a lot more to Casmaron than Al-Qadim stuff. That'd be like saying the Inner Sea is all about Egypt stuff or Viking stuff.

If it makes sense, we'll do tidbits of more info on areas beyond the edge of the map now and then. We have no plans to do anything like that anytime soon though.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Khonger wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Khonger wrote:

Does Channel Energy look the same, flavor-wise, no matter what deity the cleric worships?

I kind of imagine a cleric of Sarenrae's channeled energy looking like sunlight, but i can't imagine a cleric of Gorum's looking the same.
That depends entirely on the GM. In my games, no, channeled energy looks SIGNIFICANTLY different based on your deity. A worshiper of Pazuzu might spew out a cloud of flesh-eating birds when he channels negative energy, while a cleric of Sarenrae might cause a burning halo to manifest over the heads of the targets she chooses that then shoots divine power down into their heads.
I love that! How would you give the other core deities the same treatment?

By making things up on the spot, or consulting my old notes for the deities from my home brew. I'm not gonna list 20 alternative special effects here, since that sounds an awful lot like work, and I post to this thread when I want to DODGE work.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Diego Rossi wrote:
Quote:


Prehensile Hair (Su): The witch can instantly cause her hair (or even her eyebrows) to grow up to 10 feet long or to shrink to its normal length, and can manipulate her hair as if it were a limb with a Strength score equal to her Intelligence score. Her hair has reach 10 feet, and she can use it as a secondary natural attack that deals 1d3 points of damage (1d2 for a Small witch). Her hair can manipulate objects (but not weapons) as dexterously as a human hand. The hair cannot be sundered or attacked as a separate creature. Pieces cut from the witch's elongated hair shrink away to nothing. Using her hair does not harm the witch's head or neck, even if she lifts something heavy with it. The witch can manipulate her hair a number of minutes each day equal to her level; these minutes do not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 1-minute increments. A typical male witch with this hex can also manipulate his beard, moustache, or eyebrows.
The hair should be always used as a secondary attack, even when the witch is...

Yup. It's always a secondary attack.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

ulgulanoth wrote:
in a game i've been running, the party met an unexpected TPK, mostly due to poor party interactions (petty character conflicts borderline with player conflicts). now there is the possibility for an NPC ally of the group to resurrect them, but maybe it would be better if they made new characters, what do you think i should do?

Talk to your players and get their input.


James Jacobs wrote:
Khonger wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Khonger wrote:

Does Channel Energy look the same, flavor-wise, no matter what deity the cleric worships?

I kind of imagine a cleric of Sarenrae's channeled energy looking like sunlight, but i can't imagine a cleric of Gorum's looking the same.
That depends entirely on the GM. In my games, no, channeled energy looks SIGNIFICANTLY different based on your deity. A worshiper of Pazuzu might spew out a cloud of flesh-eating birds when he channels negative energy, while a cleric of Sarenrae might cause a burning halo to manifest over the heads of the targets she chooses that then shoots divine power down into their heads.
I love that! How would you give the other core deities the same treatment?
By making things up on the spot, or consulting my old notes for the deities from my home brew. I'm not gonna list 20 alternative special effects here, since that sounds an awful lot like work, and I post to this thread when I want to DODGE work.

I respect that.

I actually just found a really cool article from Wayfinder #2 on this very subject.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
Justin Franklin wrote:
EDIT: except Iblydos you can do that as soon as possible, in fact wouldn't that be a cool place to visit during Skull and Shackles?
Since whenever we do an AP that's set in one region and then do an adventure in that AP where you leave that region folks get annoyed and angry and cranky due to the fact that they wanted to stay in the region they'd spent the last several adventures coming to enjoy... nope. Would probably not be cool at all.

Oh well worth a shot!

Liberty's Edge

James Jacobs wrote:
Diego Rossi wrote:
Quote:


Prehensile Hair (Su): The witch can instantly cause her hair (or even her eyebrows) to grow up to 10 feet long or to shrink to its normal length, and can manipulate her hair as if it were a limb with a Strength score equal to her Intelligence score. Her hair has reach 10 feet, and she can use it as a secondary natural attack that deals 1d3 points of damage (1d2 for a Small witch). Her hair can manipulate objects (but not weapons) as dexterously as a human hand. The hair cannot be sundered or attacked as a separate creature. Pieces cut from the witch's elongated hair shrink away to nothing. Using her hair does not harm the witch's head or neck, even if she lifts something heavy with it. The witch can manipulate her hair a number of minutes each day equal to her level; these minutes do not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 1-minute increments. A typical male witch with this hex can also manipulate his beard, moustache, or eyebrows.
The hair should be always used as a secondary attack, even when the witch is...
Yup. It's always a secondary attack.

That bring up the second doubt I have with that hex.

The hair can deliver a touch attack?

I have a player that have taken them as a hex and I don't want to surprise him with new rulings down the road, so I wish to clear it up now, so that he can redo his build without too much retconning.


How much time do you actually get to RP? Do you do it often?


Would Heull Howser trying to explain Galorian be hilarious to you?

Spoiler:
you can see his shows on pbs in Califronia a lot.

Scarab Sages

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Maps Subscriber
Khonger wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Khonger wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Khonger wrote:

Does Channel Energy look the same, flavor-wise, no matter what deity the cleric worships?

I kind of imagine a cleric of Sarenrae's channeled energy looking like sunlight, but i can't imagine a cleric of Gorum's looking the same.
That depends entirely on the GM. In my games, no, channeled energy looks SIGNIFICANTLY different based on your deity. A worshiper of Pazuzu might spew out a cloud of flesh-eating birds when he channels negative energy, while a cleric of Sarenrae might cause a burning halo to manifest over the heads of the targets she chooses that then shoots divine power down into their heads.
I love that! How would you give the other core deities the same treatment?
By making things up on the spot, or consulting my old notes for the deities from my home brew. I'm not gonna list 20 alternative special effects here, since that sounds an awful lot like work, and I post to this thread when I want to DODGE work.

I respect that.

I actually just found a really cool article from Wayfinder #2 on this very subject.

Or try this thread, which I think was the inspiration for the wayfinder article. I had actually forgotten about it, but now I was reminded I was able to go back and favourite it, so thanks for the subject.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Diego Rossi wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Diego Rossi wrote:
Quote:


Prehensile Hair (Su): The witch can instantly cause her hair (or even her eyebrows) to grow up to 10 feet long or to shrink to its normal length, and can manipulate her hair as if it were a limb with a Strength score equal to her Intelligence score. Her hair has reach 10 feet, and she can use it as a secondary natural attack that deals 1d3 points of damage (1d2 for a Small witch). Her hair can manipulate objects (but not weapons) as dexterously as a human hand. The hair cannot be sundered or attacked as a separate creature. Pieces cut from the witch's elongated hair shrink away to nothing. Using her hair does not harm the witch's head or neck, even if she lifts something heavy with it. The witch can manipulate her hair a number of minutes each day equal to her level; these minutes do not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 1-minute increments. A typical male witch with this hex can also manipulate his beard, moustache, or eyebrows.
The hair should be always used as a secondary attack, even when the witch is...
Yup. It's always a secondary attack.

That bring up the second doubt I have with that hex.

The hair can deliver a touch attack?

I have a player that have taken them as a hex and I don't want to surprise him with new rulings down the road, so I wish to clear it up now, so that he can redo his build without too much retconning.

Well... first of all, it's your game, not mine. You get to make the decisions for the game, not me.

My preference would be that the hair can't be used to deliver touch attacks... but that's SOLELY because I prefer the imagery of a witch delivering touch attacks with her hands rather than with her crazy hair. Has nothing to do with actual game balance at all.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Kelsey MacAilbert wrote:
How much time do you actually get to RP? Do you do it often?

Not counting the games I run, I play as a character in a game every other Thursday night (Erik's Kings of Absalom game) which is about 4 hours per session.

I also play in Jason's "Weekly Grind" game, but that's pretty much the exact opposite of a roleplaying-heavy game, so I wouldn't count it.

Right now, those are pretty much it. Although Wes is starting up a series of one-shot adventures that I'll be playing in, so that'll be cool.

Dark Archive

James Jacobs wrote:
Harbingers, Nascent Demon Lords, and Maelbranche are all the same power level—generally CR 20 to CR 25.

I'm sure I can check re Maelbranche in my copy of Book of the Damned Vol 1, but am I correct to assume the devils such as Titivus, Bael, Amon and other Dukes of Perdition rank among the Maelbranche ? Or are these dukes even more powerful, but of course remain of lesser stature to the archfiends who rule the layers?

Dark Archive

Does Desna, in her province as goddess of Dreams, play a role as a guardian/protector of Golarion's sleeping denizens as certain gods from the Dark Tapestry try to force their will from distant worlds?

How close is Desna related to some of these distant gods from the Void?


As an aside to the baron's question...

As Desna is originally from the Dark Tapestry does this make her a Great Old One in the whole Derleth sense? Or does that stray too far from Lovecraft's original idea? Is she perhaps kin to the Great Old Ones?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

baron arem heshvaun wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Harbingers, Nascent Demon Lords, and Maelbranche are all the same power level—generally CR 20 to CR 25.
I'm sure I can check re Maelbranche in my copy of Book of the Damned Vol 1, but am I correct to assume the devils such as Titivus, Bael, Amon and other Dukes of Perdition rank among the Maelbranche ? Or are these dukes even more powerful, but of course remain of lesser stature to the archfiends who rule the layers?

Oops... I misspoke. After looking more closely, the Infernal Dukes are the ones who are akin to nascent demonlords and harbingers. The malbranche are mostly CR 20 or thereabouts.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

baron arem heshvaun wrote:

Does Desna, in her province as goddess of Dreams, play a role as a guardian/protector of Golarion's sleeping denizens as certain gods from the Dark Tapestry try to force their will from distant worlds?

How close is Desna related to some of these distant gods from the Void?

Yes.

She's not closely related to the Lovecraftian deities and Great Old Ones at all... although she DOES know about them and DOES work to oppose their influence.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

ANebulousMistress wrote:

As an aside to the baron's question...

As Desna is originally from the Dark Tapestry does this make her a Great Old One in the whole Derleth sense? Or does that stray too far from Lovecraft's original idea? Is she perhaps kin to the Great Old Ones?

Desna is from space, and probably not even the Material Plane's outer space... that's not necessarily the same thing as the Dark Tapestry.

She is NOT a Great Old One, in any event.


James Jacobs wrote:
ANebulousMistress wrote:

As an aside to the baron's question...

As Desna is originally from the Dark Tapestry does this make her a Great Old One in the whole Derleth sense? Or does that stray too far from Lovecraft's original idea? Is she perhaps kin to the Great Old Ones?

Desna is from space, and probably not even the Material Plane's outer space... that's not necessarily the same thing as the Dark Tapestry.

She is NOT a Great Old One, in any event.

I can see where people are getting that though. Her "holy wondrous item" is the "Cloak of the Dark Tapestry".


James Jacobs wrote:
Kelsey MacAilbert wrote:
How much time do you actually get to RP? Do you do it often?

Not counting the games I run, I play as a character in a game every other Thursday night (Erik's Kings of Absalom game) which is about 4 hours per session.

I also play in Jason's "Weekly Grind" game, but that's pretty much the exact opposite of a roleplaying-heavy game, so I wouldn't count it.

Right now, those are pretty much it. Although Wes is starting up a series of one-shot adventures that I'll be playing in, so that'll be cool.

Does that mean you were killed in your sleep by super skeletons like Erik was saying on his Facebook today? If so, care to grant some context?!


This came up in my Jade Regent game recently.

A spider's web entangles, right? So... could it be used to entangle the spider with the entangle spell? RAW says only plants and weeds can be affected, but spider webbing is natural, too.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Cheapy wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
ANebulousMistress wrote:

As an aside to the baron's question...

As Desna is originally from the Dark Tapestry does this make her a Great Old One in the whole Derleth sense? Or does that stray too far from Lovecraft's original idea? Is she perhaps kin to the Great Old Ones?

Desna is from space, and probably not even the Material Plane's outer space... that's not necessarily the same thing as the Dark Tapestry.

She is NOT a Great Old One, in any event.

I can see where people are getting that though. Her "holy wondrous item" is the "Cloak of the Dark Tapestry".

Perhaps. She DOES have an edge to her. But she's not a Great Old One.

She's certainly not in her original form, though, when she shows up as an elf with butterfly wings.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Golden-Esque wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Kelsey MacAilbert wrote:
How much time do you actually get to RP? Do you do it often?

Not counting the games I run, I play as a character in a game every other Thursday night (Erik's Kings of Absalom game) which is about 4 hours per session.

I also play in Jason's "Weekly Grind" game, but that's pretty much the exact opposite of a roleplaying-heavy game, so I wouldn't count it.

Right now, those are pretty much it. Although Wes is starting up a series of one-shot adventures that I'll be playing in, so that'll be cool.

Does that mean you were killed in your sleep by super skeletons like Erik was saying on his Facebook today? If so, care to grant some context?!

The context? Three 3rd level characters and 1 2nd level character versus a CR 8 encounter when we were asleep at the start of said encounter, despite the fact that we were supposedly safe in an inn in the middle of the city is the context. (grumble grumble)

No, I'm not a big fan of encounters where you die because you happened to roll an average initiative check. Give me save or die effects any day of the week instead... at least you get to roll a save in the first place!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Hu5tru wrote:

This came up in my Jade Regent game recently.

A spider's web entangles, right? So... could it be used to entangle the spider with the entangle spell? RAW says only plants and weeds can be affected, but spider webbing is natural, too.

Nope. Entangle only works on plants. Webs are not plants, so therefore entangle doesn't work on webs.

Liberty's Edge

James Jacobs wrote:

Well... first of all, it's your game, not mine. You get to make the decisions for the game, not me.

My preference would be that the hair can't be used to deliver touch attacks... but that's SOLELY because I prefer the imagery of a witch delivering touch attacks with her hands rather than with her crazy hair. Has nothing to do with actual game balance at all.

It is my game and the final choice will be on my shoulders. But, as it is the first time with a witch (and Oracle and Summoner) I like to get some advice from people that has already had them at their table. Playing them or GMing them they could have noticed problems that aren't evident without experience.

I see the possibility to deliver a touch spell at 10' range as something fairly powerful, but the hexes are meant to be fairly powerful. The imagery of the witch delivering spells with the witch crazy hairs has some appeal for me, so I am tentatively favourable to allow it.
I am asking other people opinion here and in the rule section mostly to see if people had problems I am not foreseeing and what the forum collective wisdom think of the idea.


I've been playing with the idea of making ability checks, including Initiative, 3d6 instead of d20.

Those things are too difficult to raise generally speaking, and even with you have 30 Strength, the dice roll still contributes more to your check.

3d6 fixes that by rewarding people who focused in it.

Owner - House of Books and Games LLC

James Jacobs wrote:
As for working on multiple projects at once ... [lots of projects listed], and working on several other projects that are still top secret. It's pretty crazy.

Mythic Rules!


Cheapy wrote:

I've been playing with the idea of making ability checks, including Initiative, 3d6 instead of d20.

Those things are too difficult to raise generally speaking, and even with you have 30 Strength, the dice roll still contributes more to your check.

3d6 fixes that by rewarding people who focused in it.

We roll a d12 for Initiative for this very reason. It really makes the bonuses from traits and improved initiative shine.


Dal Selpher wrote:
Cheapy wrote:

I've been playing with the idea of making ability checks, including Initiative, 3d6 instead of d20.

Those things are too difficult to raise generally speaking, and even with you have 30 Strength, the dice roll still contributes more to your check.

3d6 fixes that by rewarding people who focused in it.

We roll a d12 for Initiative for this very reason. It really makes the bonuses from traits and improved initiative shine.

I originally went with 1d10, but even with 20 Dex, the die still matters more. With 3d6, I think any bonus actually "matters", since it's so hard to get above average.

Liberty's Edge

James Jacobs wrote:

Tradition; the game's always kept the vast majority of the healing spells in the divine category, just as they've traditionally kept the big damage spells in the arcane category. And beyond that, they've traditionally kept the MAJORITY of spells overall in the arcane category. Note that healing itself is NOT necromancy... it's conjuration. So a good necromancer wouldn't be using healing spells anyway.

I think there are some White Necromancers who just might respectfully disagree with this statement :)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Marc Radle wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:

Tradition; the game's always kept the vast majority of the healing spells in the divine category, just as they've traditionally kept the big damage spells in the arcane category. And beyond that, they've traditionally kept the MAJORITY of spells overall in the arcane category. Note that healing itself is NOT necromancy... it's conjuration. So a good necromancer wouldn't be using healing spells anyway.

I think there are some White Necromancers who just might respectfully disagree with this statement :)

Using 3rd party content isn't fair! :-P

But in my favor, I said "GOOD" necromancer, not "WHITE" necromancer.


James Jacobs wrote:
AbsolutGrndZer0 wrote:

Oh a recent question reminded me of a question I had about how Monster PCs work... So, the rules say that for example the minotaur gets another level between 4 and 5, then additional levels later equal to half the total of it's CR.

Now, my question then is what about 1-3 CR creatures? Do they get just one level? None for the CR 1 creature?

I'm not sure what "rules" you're quoting here, but in my opinion, letting players play mixed races with racial HD is a bad idea. A game where all the PCs play minotaurs? That's fine. But letting the players play all sorts of different creatures (like, say, a drider, a minotaur, an awakened deinonychus, a bugbear, and a gibbering mouther) is not only going to be a nightmare to run, but the focus of the adventure would irrevocably change from the adventure to "why are these five weirdos working together." Not my cup of tea.

True, though for low CR races (which is what my question entails) it might not be so bad... as for the rules, they are in the back of the Bestiary pgs 313-314...

Spoiler:
For monsters with racial Hit Dice, the best way to allow monster PCs is to pick a CR and allow all of the players to make characters using monsters of that CR. Treat the monster’s CR as its total class levels and allow the characters to multiclass into the core classes. Do not advance such monsters by adding Hit Dice. Monster PCs should only advance through classes.
If you are including a single monster character in a group of standard characters, make sure the group is of a level that is at least as high as the monster’s CR. Treat the monster’s CR as class levels when determining the monster PC’s overall levels. For example, in a group of 6th-level characters, a minotaur (CR 4) would possess 2 levels of a core class, such as barbarian. Note that in a mixed group, the value of racial Hit Dice and abilities diminish as a character gains levels. It is recommended that for every 3 levels gained by the group, the monster character should gain an extra level, received halfway between the 2nd and 3rd levels. Repeat this process a number of times equal to half the monster’s CR, rounded down. Using the minotaur example, when the group is at a point between 6th and 7th level, the minotaur gains a level, and then again at 7th, making him a minotaur barbarian 4. This process repeats at 10th level, making him a minotaur barbarian 8 when the group reaches 10th level. From that point onward, he gains levels normally.

So then, my question is in the case of a +1 or +2 race, would they get a level between 3 and 4, then no more (for the +1), one more (For the +2), or would they not get that level between 3 and 4? I personally read it as they would get the single level, then no more, but some of my friends have interpreted it as the +1 would not get any free levels and the +2 would only get a single level.


So I finally got to drink that Werewolf beer. (disappointing. When I pick up a red ale I expect it to be red. And the bitter had none of the advertized bite.)

My PC failed her save. But to ensure no one got murdered the PC and GMPC slept in trees on the night of the full moon since wolves can't climb (at least not well). So no PCs were harmed and the loss of the horses was not unexpected.

My question is... Since she woke up naked in a ditch she's figured out intellectually what's going on. But she failed her will save to figure out what's going on. Does she still have the memory blackout? Does she have to make that will save in order to retain those memories despite all the overwhelming evidence?

Essentially... When confronted with overwhelming evidence does an oblivious werewolf get the flashbacks then? Or do they still go into a crazy rant of denial? Or is it both where they can have their crazy rant of denial but end up getting flashbacks later on even without the successful will save?

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