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When does Bestiary 4 come out? Will there ever be a Pathfinder version of Unearthed Arcana?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Alch wrote:

Dear JJ,

the APG brought us quite a few new polearms. However one of the most famous ones (next to the halberd) is missing.

Will there ever be rules for a Pollaxe?

In the meantime, here's my house rules:

Pollaxe: Cost 12gp; Dmg(M) 1d10; Crit x3; Weight 12lbs; Type B or P or S; Special 'brace'.

What do you think?

I guess that works. I'd probably just use a glaive though; it's the closest to what an axe does on a long stick.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
nightflier wrote:
4) Who do you prefer for Graz'zt's father? Personally, I like the idea of Asmodeus being his dad. :)

Honestly? I prefer Nyarlathotep as Graz'zt's father. I believe I stashed hints to that in my Graz'zt Demonomicon article, but I can't recall for sure...

Paizo Employee Creative Director

AdamWarnock wrote:

1) I seem to have an obsession with playing petite, female characters, and rogues in particular. Do I need an intervention or am I not a crazy as I think I am?

2) My main character that I play for PFS is a rogue 3/fighter 1 that has recently gone through having her skull smashed by a gorilla, being brought back from said smashing, attacking herself by attacking a gelatinous cube that turned out to be a party member, finding out the large pile of gold she just dived onto was not gold and was poisoned, seeing party members vanish, seeing a party member have her soul stolen by a devil, playing the part of the damsel in distress while having a pendelum descend to bisect her, and becoming the avatar of on of the Four Horsemen. (NOTE: everything after being brought back from the dead happened in a homegame that was set on Golarion and dealt with recovering the Pathfinder Society treasury.) Do I need to consider getting her some therapy?

1) You're not crazy at all.

2) Your character's probably crazy. If she's not, you might be crazy instead after all.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

1 person marked this as a favorite.
A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
When does Bestiary 4 come out? Will there ever be a Pathfinder version of Unearthed Arcana?

We haven't announced Bestiary 4 yet, but when we do, I'll let ya know.

Depends if you're talking about 1st edition Unearthed Arcana or 3rd edition Unearthed Arcana. Because APG, Ultimate Combat, and Ultimate Magic are all Pathfinder versions of the 1st edition UA. I don't really want to ever do a 3rd edition version. I would rather produce rules we support, rather than produce rules we deliberately brand as "optional" and then don't support.


James Jacobs wrote:
Steve Geddes wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
Funny... I feel like we've barely scratched the surface of what we COULD do with Absalom if we turned the full force of our creativity at it. For the supposed "city at the center of the world," it feels a lot less important to Golarion than Varisia, which makes sense since Varisia's the focus of so many APs.

This is my impression too. The Absalom sourcebook is one of few 'misses' for me from Paizo. I quite liked what was in it, but it just felt too sketchy for such an integral part of the setting.

Even if there was no AP in the offing, is there any chance of eventually seeing either an "Absalom 2" 64 page sourcebook or (better) an expanded hardcover?

There's a very good chance of both an Absalom AP happening some day AND an expanded Absalom book happening some day. The city's too important to the campaign setting for something like this to never happen.

Great. :) I've always found the 'big smoke' appealing in every campaign world for some reason - Greyhawk, Waterdeep, Tyr and Sharn.. I'd love a more complete account of the various Absalom districts.

.
Without asking for any actual spoilers - about how far out do you plan the upcoming APs (roughly)? Like do you have the one after Shattered Star 'pretty much decided' and the next one loosely pencilled in with a few 'potentials' to follow those? Or do the announcements follow pretty quickly on the heels of a firm decision?

Grand Lodge

Master Tyrannasaur,

A few humble inquiries,

Would Erastil under any circumstances accept an a female adventuring cleric? Adventuring in general seems to be considered a sometimes necessary evil, but especially a priestess who leaves her home behind seems somewhat against the faith, but I have a player in a upcoming Kingmaker game who wants to make that concept work. Any advice for her?

I'm greatly anticipating the RotR hardcover, but had some concerns about the the disjointed nature of the 3rd and 4th chapters. It seems you've just got done clearing out Ft Rannick, the games afoot with this Mokmurian chap, and suddenly your called upon to return home forthwith to deal with the rumors of giants. Wouldnt Deverin and Belor look to Magnamar for help? Could we get a bit more connective tissue between these story beats, or is it to late in the game for that?

Have you ever watched Denver the Last Dinosaur, or Dinosaucers, or Jim Hennsons Dinosaurs, and if so, did you enjoy them at all?

Im aware of your disinterest in superhero comics, favoring horror instead. Have you ever read Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. That book molded my morality in a very real way, and Ill soon be getting my favorite line of the whole 67 issue affair tattooed on myself, and it seems a shame for someone i respect so much to have never heard of it.

What planet in Golarions solar system would you be the most interested in exploring, should you have the opportunity.

Likewise what plane of the great beyond?

Im planning on playing a cleric of Desna in a game where the other players, while my friends, seem to thing of the "pansy fairy goddess" as trivial and silly, no matter what i say in her defense. Any ideas on how to extol how awesome she is?

Overall you come off as intelligent and thoughtful, but when you do show your sence of humor, its dry and witty. Is there any room for slapstick and silly in your life?

Thanks for any answers, and thanks for the literally hours and hours ive been entertained by you and your compatriots, both here on this thread, and the games we play. Your efforts are never in vain.

RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

James Jacobs wrote:
nightflier wrote:
4) Who do you prefer for Graz'zt's father? Personally, I like the idea of Asmodeus being his dad. :)
Honestly? I prefer Nyarlathotep as Graz'zt's father. I believe I stashed hints to that in my Graz'zt Demonomicon article, but I can't recall for sure...

You did.


James Jacobs wrote:


1) You're not crazy at all.

2) Your character's probably crazy. If she's not, you might be crazy instead after all.

Yay! @ 1

@2: No, she's crazy. Actually, she was borderline at the start of the homegame and it just went downhill from there. (I can give you the full story if you want.) I'm just trying to decide the exact flavor of crazy. Any suggestions?

Shadow Lodge

James Jacobs wrote:
Kelsey Arwen MacAilbert wrote:
Do you like Warhammer 40K?
I guess... although not enough that I've ever played or bought a 40K thing ever.

You guys should try out the 40K RPGs from Fantasy Flight Games. It's really good stuff, and I'd say their production quality is equal to your own.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Steve Geddes wrote:
Without asking for any actual spoilers - about how far out do you plan the upcoming APs (roughly)? Like do you have the one after Shattered Star 'pretty much decided' and the next one loosely pencilled in with a few 'potentials' to follow those? Or do the announcements follow pretty quickly on the heels of a firm decision?

I generally have Adventure Paths roughly planned out for 3 years or so in advance, actually. Those plans are exceptionally fluid, though, with the order of APs shifting dramatically and sometimes entirely new ones getting put on the schedule.


James Jacobs wrote:
Alch wrote:

Dear JJ,

the APG brought us quite a few new polearms. However one of the most famous ones (next to the halberd) is missing.

Will there ever be rules for a Pollaxe?

In the meantime, here's my house rules:

Pollaxe: Cost 12gp; Dmg(M) 1d10; Crit x3; Weight 12lbs; Type B or P or S; Special 'brace'.

What do you think?

I guess that works. I'd probably just use a glaive though; it's the closest to what an axe does on a long stick.

A Pollaxe is not just an axe on a pole.

It is quite similar to a halberd, but instead of a spike opposite to the axe blade it has a hammer.

Here are some pictures of replicas.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Kithik wrote:
Would Erastil under any circumstances accept an a female adventuring cleric? Adventuring in general seems to be considered a sometimes necessary evil, but especially a priestess who leaves her home behind seems somewhat against the faith, but I have a player in a upcoming Kingmaker game who wants to make that concept work. Any advice for her?

Yes, he would. Whether or not any one particular church in his faith would accept would depend on the church. Most would. Some (particularly those in remote areas where tradition is stronger) might not. It's certainly tougher for a woman to progress in Erastil's church, but it's far from impossible... The extent of the difficulty is pretty much left up to your GM though.

Kithik wrote:
I'm greatly anticipating the RotR hardcover, but had some concerns about the the disjointed nature of the 3rd and 4th chapters. It seems you've just got done clearing out Ft Rannick, the games afoot with this Mokmurian chap, and suddenly your called upon to return home forthwith to deal with the rumors of giants. Wouldnt Deverin and Belor look to Magnamar for help? Could we get a bit more connective tissue between these story beats, or is it to late in the game for that?

Yes. I've punched up the "connective tissue" between parts 3 and 4. For a quick preview...

Spoiler:
...One of the things the PCs find in Barl Breakbones' lair is news of the plan for giants to attack Sandpoint, so the PCs learn about that danger almost first hand and have a chance to race back to help prepare the city for the attack.
Kithik wrote:
Have you ever watched Denver the Last Dinosaur, or Dinosaucers, or Jim Hennsons Dinosaurs, and if so, did you enjoy them at all?

Nope, haven't seen any of those.

Kithik wrote:
Im aware of your disinterest in superhero comics, favoring horror instead. Have you ever read Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. That book molded my morality in a very real way, and Ill soon be getting my favorite line of the whole 67 issue affair tattooed on myself, and it seems a shame for someone i respect so much to have never heard of it.

I've certainly heard of Preacher, but haven't read it.

Kithik wrote:
What planet in Golarions solar system would you be the most interested in exploring, should you have the opportunity.

Golarion. Next up, probably Castrovel.

Kithik wrote:
Likewise what plane of the great beyond?

Probably Elysium. Since the Abyss is not really that nice to visitors.

Kithik wrote:
Im planning on playing a cleric of Desna in a game where the other players, while my friends, seem to thing of the "pansy fairy goddess" as trivial and silly, no matter what i say in her defense. Any ideas on how to extol how awesome she is?

Maybe the fact that she singlehandedly invaded the Abyss to kill the demon lord Aolar in revenge for Aolar's killing of one of Desna's favorite priestesses? (See Lords of Chaos)

Kithik wrote:
Overall you come off as intelligent and thoughtful, but when you do show your sence of humor, its dry and witty. Is there any room for slapstick and silly in your life?

There absolutely is! Just not so much on messageboards. Slapstick and silly works better in person.

Kithik wrote:
Thanks for any answers...

No problem!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

CNichols wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
nightflier wrote:
4) Who do you prefer for Graz'zt's father? Personally, I like the idea of Asmodeus being his dad. :)
Honestly? I prefer Nyarlathotep as Graz'zt's father. I believe I stashed hints to that in my Graz'zt Demonomicon article, but I can't recall for sure...
You did.

Score one for me!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

AdamWarnock wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:


1) You're not crazy at all.

2) Your character's probably crazy. If she's not, you might be crazy instead after all.

Yay! @ 1

@2: No, she's crazy. Actually, she was borderline at the start of the homegame and it just went downhill from there. (I can give you the full story if you want.) I'm just trying to decide the exact flavor of crazy. Any suggestions?

Whatever type of crazy you go for... try to resist the type that constantly disrupts adventures or derails storylines or angries up the other players. It's one thing to play a crazy character... but it's another when doing so disrupts the game.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Alch wrote:

A Pollaxe is not just an axe on a pole.

It is quite similar to a halberd, but instead of a spike opposite of the axe blade it has a hammer.

Here are some pictures of replicas.

I suspect there'll be stats for them eventually then. Although frankly... they look just like halberds to me. Maybe giving a halberd reach is the only thing ya need to do? Or maybe just renaming halberds?

In the end, there's actually not a lot of differences between a bunch of weapons in the game from a raw rules perspective.


James Jacobs wrote:
Alch wrote:

A Pollaxe is not just an axe on a pole.

It is quite similar to a halberd, but instead of a spike opposite of the axe blade it has a hammer.

Here are some pictures of replicas.

I suspect there'll be stats for them eventually then. Although frankly... they look just like halberds to me. Maybe giving a halberd reach is the only thing ya need to do? Or maybe just renaming halberds?

In the end, there's actually not a lot of differences between a bunch of weapons in the game from a raw rules perspective.

Would be really awesome if the stats were added!

Also, Pollaxes are way too short to be a 'reach' weapon. They are the same size as a Spear or Halberd.

While the Pollaxe is very similar to the Halberd (which is why I based my Pollaxe house rules on it), the main difference is that the spike is traded for a hammer head.
This is why I removed the Halberd's 'trip' rule (which is done with the spike) and added the bludgeoning damage type (thus the Pollaxe has the 'B or P or S' type).


James Jacobs wrote:
It's more than the fact that Macs are great for graphic design... pretty much every experience that frustrated the heck out of me with Windows, from the cost of the operating system to the difficulty setting up a network to the stability of the numerous PCs I've owned to the stability of the programs that it ran to the physical appearance of the computer to most everything else I can think of save for ONE thing (see below), Macs are just flat better than PCs.

I'm completely with you on that; every time I have to use a PC at a job, it reminds me why it's worth paying the premium for a computer that was actually engineered with non-engineer end users in mind. I don't think it's a coincidence that every person I can ever remember meeting who preferred PCs to Macs has been either a student majoring in Comp. Sci., or some form of IT professional.

James Jacobs wrote:
The one exception is software choices. It's getting better, but the fact that most software continues to be for PCs and isn't also for Macs is frustrating. Fortunately, most of the video games I want to play are also available on consoles these days.

I haven't had too much of a problem with this, because I don't do a lot of computer or console gaming (don't even own any consoles, actually), and most of the games I do play are fairly simple and/or old. "Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters" is still my all-time favorite, and the freeware version runs just fine on my Mac. Most work I do requires nothing more complicated than Office or browser. Hobby-related stuff I've done (like creating a fillable-form version of what had been a plain PDF character sheet, a playing-card-sized Talis deck from the tiny one included in "Dragons of Faith," and MIDIs of the sheet music included in several of the old Dragonlance modules) has generally required only Acrobat, GraphicConverter, and a MIDI sequencer, which is one thing you can easily find for the Mac. However, I am waiting rather impatiently for the allegedly forthcoming Mac version of HeroLab; it'll make converting 3.5 characters and monsters to Pathfinder an awful lot easier.


James Jacobs wrote:
Steve Geddes wrote:
Without asking for any actual spoilers - about how far out do you plan the upcoming APs (roughly)? Like do you have the one after Shattered Star 'pretty much decided' and the next one loosely pencilled in with a few 'potentials' to follow those? Or do the announcements follow pretty quickly on the heels of a firm decision?
I generally have Adventure Paths roughly planned out for 3 years or so in advance, actually. Those plans are exceptionally fluid, though, with the order of APs shifting dramatically and sometimes entirely new ones getting put on the schedule.

What a busy brain you must have. :)

I really admire such creative energy and discipline. I was an artistic director (for a very small time) of a kids theatre group. It was always such a drain keeping the current project on track with day-to-day deadlines that it was easy to let the "big picture / forward planning" fall by the wayside. I suspect there are similar procrastinatory opportunities in your job. (and a great deal more pressure to get it right).

Half a dozen sketchy APs is pretty cool though. Makes me want to see the shattered star product pages and outline all the more.


James Jacobs wrote:
Whatever type of crazy you go for... try to resist the type that constantly disrupts adventures or derails storylines or angries up the other players. It's one thing to play a crazy character... but it's another when doing so disrupts the game.

I'm generally pretty good about staying on track and try to avoid being a nuisance. I guess the kind that switches between normal, scared stiff, psychotic, and almost child-like, well creepy child anyway, sound good? (by the way scared stiff will only be when a gorilla shows up, then she'll probaly go psycho on it.)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Alch wrote:

Would be really awesome if the stats were added!

Also, Pollaxes are way too short to be a 'reach' weapon. They are the same size as a Spear or Halberd.

While the Pollaxe is very similar to the Halberd (which is why I based my Pollaxe house rules on it), the main difference is that the spike is traded for a hammer head.
This is why I removed the Halberd's 'trip' rule (which is done with the spike) and added the bludgeoning damage type (thus the Pollaxe has the 'B or P or S' type).

If they don't have reach... then they're really no different than Halberds at all save the change you suggested... and even without the change, they still work (since the curve of the hammer or axe head can certainly hook legs and trip foes).


Pathfinder's Gamemaster's Guide suggests space adventures. Let's say I want to do it. Could I import the D20 Future space rules to handle space travel, combat, and equipment, or are they just too different?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
Pathfinder's Gamemaster's Guide suggests space adventures. Let's say I want to do it. Could I import the D20 Future space rules to handle space travel, combat, and equipment, or are they just too different?

I can't answer that for 2 reasons:

1) I haven't seen any d20 Future space rules.

2) What's "too different" varies depending on the GM.


Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber

While on the subject of polearms. An ancient greek hoplite fought with a 9' spear in one hand and a shield in another. Why is it that a Pathfinder Fighter can't do this? Or more precisely, why isn't there a one-handed spear available? [Half the length of the spear was behind them as a counter balance, so they probably don't need reach.]


James Jacobs wrote:
A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
Pathfinder's Gamemaster's Guide suggests space adventures. Let's say I want to do it. Could I import the D20 Future space rules to handle space travel, combat, and equipment, or are they just too different?

I can't answer that for 2 reasons:

1) I haven't seen any d20 Future space rules.

2) What's "too different" varies depending on the GM.

Did you like Spelljammer? That's why I asked about D20 Future. I want to use it's space rules to create something that plays like Spelljammer, but is it's own setting, and uses Pathfinder rules.


deinol wrote:
While on the subject of polearms. An ancient greek hoplite fought with a 9' spear in one hand and a shield in another. Why is it that a Pathfinder Fighter can't do this? Or more precisely, why isn't there a one-handed spear available? [Half the length of the spear was behind them as a counter balance, so they probably don't need reach.]

The Pathfinder Fighter most certainly can do this. Check out the Phalanx Fighter archetype's 'Phalanx Fighting' class feature in the Advanced Player's Guide.


James,

I have been playing some form of ye' olde D&D for nearly 20 years (Ok, I don't do 4e and Pathfinder isn't D&D, sorta...) I started when I was 14 and it was still known as "Advanced D&D" (that was around 1992) I was wondering when you started? Did your first character have a totally stupid name? (mine did, shant be revealed, it's that bad...)

Also, what was the most epic campaign you've participated in and why?

Also, what are your thoughts on the Game Master having their own character or swapping out Game Masterin' with others in the group? Are you for it, against it?

Is there a way to send private messages to other users that I have yet to locate on this board? I've been looking...

Thanks!

-Tundra


James Jacobs wrote:
Alch wrote:

Would be really awesome if the stats were added!

Also, Pollaxes are way too short to be a 'reach' weapon. They are the same size as a Spear or Halberd.

While the Pollaxe is very similar to the Halberd (which is why I based my Pollaxe house rules on it), the main difference is that the spike is traded for a hammer head.
This is why I removed the Halberd's 'trip' rule (which is done with the spike) and added the bludgeoning damage type (thus the Pollaxe has the 'B or P or S' type).

If they don't have reach... then they're really no different than Halberds at all save the change you suggested... and even without the change, they still work (since the curve of the hammer or axe head can certainly hook legs and trip foes).

True, but since it would definitely be harder to trip an opponent than with the halberd (or not easier than with any other non-trip weapon) I just removed it.

Also, I thought it would be better balanced, since I am just swapping two (equivalent?) weapon features.


Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber
Alch wrote:
deinol wrote:
While on the subject of polearms. An ancient greek hoplite fought with a 9' spear in one hand and a shield in another. Why is it that a Pathfinder Fighter can't do this? Or more precisely, why isn't there a one-handed spear available? [Half the length of the spear was behind them as a counter balance, so they probably don't need reach.]
The Pathfinder Fighter most certainly can do this. Check out the Phalanx Fighter archetype's 'Phalanx Fighting' class feature in the Advanced Player's Guide.

True, but that assumes that you have to be 3rd level before really becoming a hoplite.


Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
deinol wrote:
Alch wrote:
deinol wrote:
While on the subject of polearms. An ancient greek hoplite fought with a 9' spear in one hand and a shield in another. Why is it that a Pathfinder Fighter can't do this? Or more precisely, why isn't there a one-handed spear available? [Half the length of the spear was behind them as a counter balance, so they probably don't need reach.]
The Pathfinder Fighter most certainly can do this. Check out the Phalanx Fighter archetype's 'Phalanx Fighting' class feature in the Advanced Player's Guide.
True, but that assumes that you have to be 3rd level before really becoming a hoplite.

Personally, I've solved this problem by introducing a new weapon with the general profile of a longspear but which is a martial weapon when wielded in one hand. Presto, have a dory.

<edit> Oh, and if I remember correctly, it doesn't have reach when wielded one-handed.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

deinol wrote:
While on the subject of polearms. An ancient greek hoplite fought with a 9' spear in one hand and a shield in another. Why is it that a Pathfinder Fighter can't do this? Or more precisely, why isn't there a one-handed spear available? [Half the length of the spear was behind them as a counter balance, so they probably don't need reach.]

1) Because Pathfinder was never intended to be a "model all aspects of medieval warfare" simulator. Some limits are in the game for game balance reasons that the hoplites didn't have to concern themselves with.

2) There is a one-handed spear available—the shortspear.

3) A feat or archetype or prestige class or whatever that allows you to "break the rules" and use a longspear with a shield is a neat idea. Just because we haven't done that yet (and who knows... maybe we have! I am not caught up on the hardcover's combat options...) doesn't mean that you can't run with it.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
Pathfinder's Gamemaster's Guide suggests space adventures. Let's say I want to do it. Could I import the D20 Future space rules to handle space travel, combat, and equipment, or are they just too different?

I can't answer that for 2 reasons:

1) I haven't seen any d20 Future space rules.

2) What's "too different" varies depending on the GM.

Did you like Spelljammer? That's why I asked about D20 Future. I want to use it's space rules to create something that plays like Spelljammer, but is it's own setting, and uses Pathfinder rules.

I really looked forward to Spelljammer in the months leading up to its release. I had a LOT of excitement for it. And that excitement carried my delight with the setting through for several months after it came out, but eventually the inherent goofiness that riddled the entire setting turned me off to it, and now all that I can remember are the silly parts that annoy me. It's one of my least favorite official D&D settings as a result... and might actually be my LEAST favorite setting.


Is an anti-paladin archetype that can create undead as well as a wizard or cleric something that would be unbalanced?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Alch wrote:
deinol wrote:
While on the subject of polearms. An ancient greek hoplite fought with a 9' spear in one hand and a shield in another. Why is it that a Pathfinder Fighter can't do this? Or more precisely, why isn't there a one-handed spear available? [Half the length of the spear was behind them as a counter balance, so they probably don't need reach.]
The Pathfinder Fighter most certainly can do this. Check out the Phalanx Fighter archetype's 'Phalanx Fighting' class feature in the Advanced Player's Guide.

And there you are.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Tundra Dragondust wrote:

James,

I have been playing some form of ye' olde D&D for nearly 20 years (Ok, I don't do 4e and Pathfinder isn't D&D, sorta...) I started when I was 14 and it was still known as "Advanced D&D" (that was around 1992) I was wondering when you started? Did your first character have a totally stupid name? (mine did, shant be revealed, it's that bad...)

Also, what was the most epic campaign you've participated in and why?

Also, what are your thoughts on the Game Master having their own character or swapping out Game Masterin' with others in the group? Are you for it, against it?

Is there a way to send private messages to other users that I have yet to locate on this board? I've been looking...

Thanks!

-Tundra

I started playing in 5th grade, back in about 1981 or thereabouts with the blue box. My first character was a dwarf wizard named Semaj (spell it backwards to find out why it's kind of a stupid name).

The most epic campaign I've participated in is a tie between two games I've run—one was Savage Tide, but the other one combined plots that would eventually be transformed into "Curse of the Crimson Throne" and "Serpent's Skull" with a third plot about super-powerful abandoned "first draft angels" who broke free from their prison to start assassinating deities, and the PCs had to invade that prison realm to destroy the partially-living deity-slaying transdimensional seige engine before more gods died.

I think that a group where there are NPCs controlled by the GM and those NPCs are members of the party who travel with the party is really cool, and allows for some really fun roleplay opportunities. Once the GM starts to think of those NPCs as his/her characters, though... that's bad. They must remain NPCs.

No private messaging on these boards for technical reasons.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

deinol wrote:
Alch wrote:
deinol wrote:
While on the subject of polearms. An ancient greek hoplite fought with a 9' spear in one hand and a shield in another. Why is it that a Pathfinder Fighter can't do this? Or more precisely, why isn't there a one-handed spear available? [Half the length of the spear was behind them as a counter balance, so they probably don't need reach.]
The Pathfinder Fighter most certainly can do this. Check out the Phalanx Fighter archetype's 'Phalanx Fighting' class feature in the Advanced Player's Guide.
True, but that assumes that you have to be 3rd level before really becoming a hoplite.

I don't see a problem with that.

In any event, I feel that the saga of the spear/poleax is more or less covered at this point. If there's more to be said, it deserves its own thread.


To expand upon James, Paizo staff has promised that there are plans to create a private messaging system. It just hasn't been done yet.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
Is an anti-paladin archetype that can create undead as well as a wizard or cleric something that would be unbalanced?

Yes, if that means that you'd never want to play a wizard or cleric because you could play an antipaladin and do the same thing.


James Jacobs wrote:
A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
Is an anti-paladin archetype that can create undead as well as a wizard or cleric something that would be unbalanced?
Yes, if that means that you'd never want to play a wizard or cleric because you could play an antipaladin and do the same thing.

Well, Wizards and Clerics have all sorts of other spells. This anti-paladin would be able to raise dead as well as them, but that would be pretty much it for it's magic.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
Is an anti-paladin archetype that can create undead as well as a wizard or cleric something that would be unbalanced?
Yes, if that means that you'd never want to play a wizard or cleric because you could play an antipaladin and do the same thing.
Well, Wizards and Clerics have all sorts of other spells. This anti-paladin would be able to raise dead as well as them, but that would be pretty much it for it's magic.

Still sketchy ground to give away entire class features to a class that already has most of the features of a paladin to begin with...


James Jacobs wrote:
A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
Is an anti-paladin archetype that can create undead as well as a wizard or cleric something that would be unbalanced?
Yes, if that means that you'd never want to play a wizard or cleric because you could play an antipaladin and do the same thing.
Well, Wizards and Clerics have all sorts of other spells. This anti-paladin would be able to raise dead as well as them, but that would be pretty much it for it's magic.
Still sketchy ground to give away entire class features to a class that already has most of the features of a paladin to begin with...

Well, it loses smite good, cruelties, and maybe channel energy. Heavy armor, full BAB, and an army of undead is it's shtick, and it loses stuff that doesn't help do that. This archetype is designed for NPC bad guys, so it can get away with being a one trick pony.


What do you think Detective John Munch's alignment is? I'm torn betweeen Lawful Good and Neutral Good.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
What do you think Detective John Munch's alignment is? I'm torn betweeen Lawful Good and Neutral Good.

No clue who John Munch is. Neutral Mysterious, perhaps?


James Jacobs wrote:
A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
What do you think Detective John Munch's alignment is? I'm torn betweeen Lawful Good and Neutral Good.
No clue who John Munch is. Neutral Mysterious, perhaps?

You don't watch Law and Order SVU? John Munch is pretty much the greatest fictional detective ever created. He's witty, acerbic, a conspiracy theorist, and charismatic as all hell.


Have you ever used any virtual tabletop software, as either a GM or a player?

If so, which one would you recommend? I'm leaning toward D20Pro, but it does currently lack one feature I really like, the dynamic fog of war, that Maptool and Battlegrounds both have. I have a bit of experience with Maptool as a player, and found it clunky and user-unfriendly, so I think I'm going to go with one of the non-freeware programs, but I'd be very interested to hear your opinion, if you've had the chance to form one on this topic.

Former VP of Finance

Kavren Stark wrote:

Have you ever used any virtual tabletop software, as either a GM or a player?

If so, which one would you recommend? I'm leaning toward D20Pro, but it does currently lack one feature I really like, the dynamic fog of war, that Maptool and Battlegrounds both have. I have a bit of experience with Maptool as a player, and found it clunky and user-unfriendly, so I think I'm going to go with one of the non-freeware programs, but I'd be very interested to hear your opinion, if you've had the chance to form one on this topic.

I'm not James, but...I play all my games on VTT software. As far as I know, they're all clunky and user-unfriendly.

Liz Courts says that TTop is good stuff. But it's not Mac compatible, so it's not viable for my games.

Contributor

No TTop on Macs makes me sad. ;_;

Paizo Employee Creative Director

A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
A.P.P.L.E. wrote:
What do you think Detective John Munch's alignment is? I'm torn betweeen Lawful Good and Neutral Good.
No clue who John Munch is. Neutral Mysterious, perhaps?
You don't watch Law and Order SVU? John Munch is pretty much the greatest fictional detective ever created. He's witty, acerbic, a conspiracy theorist, and charismatic as all hell.

I've never watched an episode of ANY Law and Order show, in fact. Not all that interested in that genre of TV, really.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Kavren Stark wrote:

Have you ever used any virtual tabletop software, as either a GM or a player?

If so, which one would you recommend? I'm leaning toward D20Pro, but it does currently lack one feature I really like, the dynamic fog of war, that Maptool and Battlegrounds both have. I have a bit of experience with Maptool as a player, and found it clunky and user-unfriendly, so I think I'm going to go with one of the non-freeware programs, but I'd be very interested to hear your opinion, if you've had the chance to form one on this topic.

I never have used any virtual tabletop as a GM or player, but I've always wanted to try it. I'm VERY intrigued by the idea that you could play an RPG in this manner, because it not only seems like it'd be easier to schedule than getting everyone together in one room, but I can't help but think the extra visual (and perhaps audio) tools the GM has to present the game could only enhance the experience.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Liz Courts wrote:
No TTop on Macs makes me sad. ;_;

Same here. Which is a SIGNIFICANT reason why I've not yet tried them out. Not only because I use Macs, but at least one player in all my groups uses Macs (and usually that ratio is a lot higher).

Saying "You can play in my game as long as you own a PC and don't own a Mac" would annoy me.

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