>>Ask *James Jacobs* ALL your Questions Here!<<

[Cheapy]

James Jacobs wrote:

For Golden-Esque:

Hark! A dancing hut!
Has it been one hundred years?
Get them mythic rules!

Huh. A soothesayer?

---

How's GenCon?

[Alexander Augunas]

Cheapy wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

For Golden-Esque:

Hark! A dancing hut!
Has it been one hundred years?
Get them mythic rules!

Huh. A soothesayer?

---

How's GenCon?

I can't believe I had a prophecy bequeathed to me in form of haiku! But the silly thing? I thought prophecies were all broken now.

[Alan_Beven]

Ultimate campaign and Mythic Adventure looks to be my favourite new releases!! Do all in your power to make sure levels 10-20 get some attention oh mighty dinosaur!!

[deuxhero]

James Jacobs wrote:

Snip

Does "simulacrum can't learn" mean just stuff with a statistical effect or does it mean it can't do something like "ask that guy for directions and tell them to me" because it can't remember the directions?

[Evil Midnight Lurker]

James? THANK YOU FOR MYTHIC. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

...gotta ask a question... Do you plan to implement a Mythic level cap, or will the rules just support going as far as the players and GM are willing to?

[Tels]

Where can I read more about the Mythic Rules release? Have the posted anything officially announcing it or only announced it at GenCon and haven't posted anything yet?

[Kevin Mack]

Continuing the Mythic rules question trend Will we know be seeing things like the oilephaunt or daemon lords ect built using these rules or is there likely still a chance of there being other epic rules?

[The Thing from Beyond the Edge]

A couple questions out of the blue here...

1. Would sumptuary laws be a great fit for Cheliax?
2. Are sumptuary laws actually in existence (rather than merely being a good fit) in the Inner Sea Region? If so, where?

Thanks in advance

[blackbloodtroll]

How large must a site, building, or structure be for me to cast Hallow/Unhallow upon it?

Could it be an Outhouse, a Birdhouse, a Boat, or Instant Fortress?

[Evil Midnight Lurker]

blackbloodtroll wrote:

How large must a site, building, or structure be for me to cast Hallow/Unhallow upon it?

Could it be an Outhouse, a Birdhouse, a Boat, or Instant Fortress?

Can you cast Hallow/Unhallow on a witch's hexed hut or other mobile building and have it carry the effect around?

[Humphrey Boggard]

Any thoughts on how AC is balanced versus AT at higher levels?

Seems like a lot of people on the boards are of the opinion that AC defense at higher levels is either a full time occupation or completely useless. I haven't played at higher levels (my 9th level samurai in RotRL is the highest level PF character I've played) but think that at later levels a good AC means more "stopping a greater percentage of iterative attacks" than "stopping the majority of primary attacks".

btw - the group is having a great time with RotRL (just got the new edition the session before last), thanks for all your hard work on that.

[Steve Geddes]

The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

A couple questions out of the blue here...

1. Would sumptuary laws be a great fit for Cheliax?
2. Are sumptuary laws actually in existence (rather than merely being a good fit) in the Inner Sea Region? If so, where?

Thanks in advance

What's a sumptuary law?

[ArianDynas]

How would you advise a DM to go about roleplaying Nethys for an interaction with PCs in a campaign?

[Robert Hawkshaw]

Steve Geddes wrote:

The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

A couple questions out of the blue here...

1. Would sumptuary laws be a great fit for Cheliax?
2. Are sumptuary laws actually in existence (rather than merely being a good fit) in the Inner Sea Region? If so, where?

Thanks in advance

What's a sumptuary law?

Laws that attempt to enforce a social hierarchy by making sure people don't dress above their station. No one but a prince can wear lace, only nobles can have silver buttons, outlawing kilts except for members of the military etc... Sometimes viewed as preventing wasteful spending or decandence, or protecting tradition (no foreign fabrics or styles). Other times promoted as a modernizing measure (turkish ban on religious garb). Also often applied to laws that ban alcohol or tobacco or other vices.

[Steve Geddes]

Cool. Thanks - I'd never heard of the word (or the concept, for that matter).

[Enlight_Bystand]

The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

A couple questions out of the blue here...

1. Would sumptuary laws be a great fit for Cheliax?
2. Are sumptuary laws actually in existence (rather than merely being a good fit) in the Inner Sea Region? If so, where?

Thanks in advance

In Taldor, only nobles can grow beards, if I recall.

[Samnell]

Steve Geddes wrote:

Cool. Thanks - I'd never heard of the word (or the concept, for that matter).

Sumptuary laws.

[Kthulhu]

Run, Just Run wrote:

How would you go about converting Tomb of horrors and should I convert from 3.5 or 1st edition?

I'd NOT play it in Pathfinder. It's not the same module under d20 rules. Play it with a ruleset that it was designed for, or at least a close approximation.

[feytharn]

Have you heard of this kickstarter project?
If they use the outline of the italian reprint that is a translation of the german Pegasus Spiele version I described here that would be an amazing re-release.

[The Best Goblin!]

On a scale of one to ten, how excited are you to start the public playtesting of the Mythic Adventures rules set?

[alientude]

No question here. Just wanted to point you to a shirt that you might love.

Wishful Thinking

[Azure_Zero]

Your input on this?

[The Thing from Beyond the Edge]

James hasn't answered any questions since Tuesday. He must have something or other going on.

:D

[doctor_wu]

The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

James hasn't answered any questions since Tuesday. He must have something or other going on.

:D

Gencon.

[The Thing from Beyond the Edge]

doctor_wu wrote:

The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

James hasn't answered any questions since Tuesday. He must have something or other going on.

:D

Gencon.

Yeah, I know. That's why the big smilie. :D

[Tels]

The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

doctor_wu wrote:

The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

James hasn't answered any questions since Tuesday. He must have something or other going on.

:D

Gencon.

Yeah, I know. That's why the big smilie. :D

Methinks James is tuckered out...

... and now I suddenly have a picture of James in his hotel room, wearing Paizo Golem jammies and snuggling with his Goblin plushie.

There's something wrong with me...

[Dicey the House Goblin]

Tels wrote:

The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

doctor_wu wrote:

The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

James hasn't answered any questions since Tuesday. He must have something or other going on.

:D

Gencon.

Yeah, I know. That's why the big smilie. :D

Methinks James is tuckered out...

... and now I suddenly have a picture of James in his hotel room, wearing Paizo Golem jammies and snuggling with his Goblin plushie.

There's something wrong with me...

Au Contraire, there's something very right with you! :P

[edduardco]

Hi James

Is there any chance that Paizo publish a class/archetype builder like the race builder? (sorry if this have been already answered)

[Fract]

I'm completely mesmerized by the new Varisia map, and I want more.
Are there any plans, in the immediate future, for a collection that
covers the rest of the Inner Sea / known world? Especially for those
regions which have already been covered by Companions, or other
releases.

If not, is there some other way we can fund the maps (privately or crowd
-sourced), as web-enhancements, or something of the like? If we could get a
physical copy later, especially on some form of durable material, I would happily
buy it twice. . . or even three times.

Please take more of my money!

[Steve Geddes]

Fract wrote:

I'm completely mesmerized by the new Varisia map, and I want more.

Are there any plans, in the immediate future, for a collection that
covers the rest of the Inner Sea / known world? Especially for those
regions which have already been covered by Companions, or other
releases.

If not, is there some other way we can fund the maps (privately or crowd
-sourced), as web-enhancements, or something of the like? If we could get a
physical copy later, especially on some form of durable material, I would happily
buy it twice. . . or even three times.

Please take more of my money!

Excellent idea. Maybe an "Atlas of Golarion" done in-game style?

[Rhuarc]

Hey James,

you once said that if Paizo would make Mytic rules, you would probably cap the CR at somewhere around 36. Will the new book you announced for next GenCon provide rules and/or guidelines for PCs to become powerful enough to even face such high-level adversaries?

Thanks a lot in advance and hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend in Indy :-)

[Zark]

Theoretically, if Pharasma would lean towards one alignment on the G-E axis or C-L axis would it be LN, CN, NE or NG?

Does Pharasma dislike birth control or is she cool with it?

[Coridan]

I know it might not be till after Gencon for a response but just curious

Deepmaw/Shattered Star:

What's with the similarities in storylines (Derro messing with people's memories) between these two adventures? It almost feels like a retread

[Danny Kessler]

What are the names and locations of the 10 dwarven Sky Citadels, and which ones are still in dwarven hands?

[Xyllen]

I was wondering if there was any final word on the question of a magus being able to wield a two handed weapon and use spell combate or not.
I know he can't use spell combate, but does the (cheesey) free action to hold a two handed weapon in one hand, cast a spell with the off hand, regrip your weapon with both hands, and finally deliver the spell via spell strike leagle? (all in one round?)

[Lune]

3 simple questions:

1. What reach does a Tiny sized creature wielding a Tiny sized whip have and what is his "dead zone"?

2. What reach does a Huge sized creature wielding a Huge sized whip have and what is his "dead zone"?

3. What reach does a Medium sized creature wielding a Huge sized whip have and what is his "dead zone"?

Hopefully this gets simple answers as the rules seem vague (perhaps intentionally?).

[Gauss]

Lune: just to clarify: A Medium creature cannot use a Huge whip.

Medium creature +Medium whip = onehanded
Medium creature +Large whip = twohanded and -2attack.
Medium creature +Huge whip = greater than twohanded and thus not possible by the rules.

- Gauss

[Coraith]

Came up tonight. When you get hit by a ghast and paralyzed, do you fall prone or do you remain standing?

[Alexander Augunas]

Coraith wrote:

Came up tonight. When you get hit by a ghast and paralyzed, do you fall prone or do you remain standing?

The answer to your question is written in the rules.

Paralyzed Condition wrote:

A paralyzed character is frozen in place and unable to move or act. A paralyzed character has effective Dexterity and Strength scores of 0 and is helpless, but can take purely mental actions. A winged creature flying in the air at the time that it becomes paralyzed cannot flap its wings and falls. A paralyzed swimmer can't swim and may drown. A creature can move through a space occupied by a paralyzed creature—ally or not. Each square occupied by a paralyzed creature, however, counts as 2 squares to move through.

Helpless Condition wrote:

A helpless character is paralyzed, held, bound, sleeping, unconscious, or otherwise completely at an opponent's mercy. A helpless target is treated as having a Dexterity of 0 (–5 modifier). Melee attacks against a helpless target get a +4 bonus (equivalent to attacking a prone target). Ranged attacks get no special bonus against helpless targets. Rogues can sneak attack helpless targets.

As a full-round action, an enemy can use a melee weapon to deliver a coup de grace to a helpless foe. An enemy can also use a bow or crossbow, provided he is adjacent to the target. The attacker automatically hits and scores a critical hit. (A rogue also gets his sneak attack damage bonus against a helpless foe when delivering a coup de grace.) If the defender survives, he must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + damage dealt) or die. Delivering a coup de grace provokes attacks of opportunity.

Creatures that are immune to critical hits do not take critical damage, nor do they need to make Fortitude saves to avoid being killed by a coup de grace.

So yes, you're technically prone but because you can't move around easily ranged attacks do not receive a bonus or penalty against shooting you. Essentially the Helpless condition includes a more severe state of being prone.

[Gauss]

Alexander Augunuas:

The person is not technically prone. If you state technically prone then they 'technically have to stand up' later on. That adds a penalty that does not exist.

Paralysis does not cause a person to fall over. They remain standing unless some other effect causes them to fall over.

- Gauss

[Lune]

Gauss, there are ways for a Medium sized creature to use a Huge sized whip. I know that you are aware of this as I have seen you post in threads that involve this.

I'll give you a clue: It begins with a "T" and ends with a "itan Mauler".

[Gauss]

Lune:

The Titan Mauler ability 'Massive Weapons' does NOT allow a Medium sized creature to use a Huge sized whip. It is currently not written that way.

The intent by the author was to grant it that ability but that is not what made it to print. The author of the ability stated what his intent was but he is not a developer and it is not an official change.

Until the errata comes out houseruling the intent into the ability is just that, a house rule.

So, currently, there are no methods by RAW that allow a person to wield a weapon that is beyond 2handed that I am aware of.

- Gauss

[Lune]

Fine. Half-giant. Happy?

[Icyshadow]

What are the domains granted to a Cleric of Alazhra?

I assume she is Neutral Evil, given she lives in Abaddon and Night Hags are Neutral Evil, too.

[Diego Rossi]

Hello James.
A question about the alchemist.
When he has the infusion discovery:

Infusion: When the alchemist creates an extract, he can infuse it with an extra bit of his own magical power. The extract created now persists even after the alchemist sets it down. As long as the extract exists, it continues to occupy one of the alchemist's daily extract slots. An infused extract can be imbibed by a non-alchemist to gain its effects.

he can use it to make infusion of personal range spells/extract, allowing other people to use them?

In other words, an alchemist can make an infusion of Shield and give it out to his greataxe wielding barbarian friend?

[Alex_UNLIMITED]

Hi James.
1)

Critical Hits and Defense:

In this alternative system, when a creature threatens a critical hit, it does not make a critical hit confirmation roll. Instead, the target of that critical hit makes a critical defense check instead. A critical defense check is 1d20 + a bonus equal to the creature's DR + the creature's Dexterity modifier (up to the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by any armor worn) + the sum of any deflection and shield bonus to Defense.

Critical defense check bonus = creature's DR + Dexterity modifier + shield bonus to Defense + deflection bonus

The DC of the check is based on the die roll for the critical threat. It is further modified by the base attack bonus of the attacking creature, how many critical feats the attacking creature has (if any; 10 maximum), and a bonus relationship between the size of the attacking creature and the target of the critical hit, if the attacking creature is larger than the creature it attacked.

Critical defense DC = critical hit roll + 1/2 attacker's base attack bonus + 1 for each critical feat + 1 for each size category larger attacker is than target

For instance, if a Medium creature is hit with a crossbow fired by a Medium 6th-level fighter with two critical feats, and the critical threat attack roll is a 19, the target of the potential critical hit makes a critical defense check with a DC of 24 to reduce the critical hit to a normal hit. If the target is wearing +1 leather armor, has a Dexterity of 18, and is using a +1 buckler, that target would have a +9 bonus on the critical defense check to reduce the critical hit to a normal hit. On a roll of 15 or higher, the critical hit is reduced to a normal hit, and the target takes normal damage for the hit (which is reduced by its DR). If the creature firing the crossbow had rolled a 20, the target of the critical hit would need to roll a 16 or higher on its critical defense check to reduce the impact of the critical hit, making it a normal hit.

On a failed critical defense check, the target of the critical hit takes the damage for the critical hit. That damage is still reduced by the target of the critical hit's DR.

Impact critical shot:

With a series of ranged attacks, you bring your foes to their knees or force them to move.

Prerequisite: Dex 13, Point-Blank Shot, base attack bonus +9.

Benefit: Whenever you score a critical hit with a ranged attack, in addition to the normal damage your attack deals, if your confirmation roll exceeds your opponent’s CMD, you can push your opponent back as if from the bull rush combat maneuver or knock that target prone as if from a trip combat maneuver. If you choose to bull rush, you cannot move with the target. Your maneuver does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

How do they work?

2) Can a pc with

snapping turtle clutch:

Benefit: While you are using the Snapping Turtle Style feat, the shield bonus the style grants to your AC applies to your CMD and touch AC. Whenever an opponent misses you with a melee attack while you are using the Snapping Turtle Style feat, you can use an immediate action to attempt a grapple combat maneuver against that opponent, but with a –2 penalty.

starting a grapple against a reach attack?

[Xyllen]

After going threw alot of your answers to questions about casters and weapons i ran accross this, bonded two hander question answer. If, as you say you just interpret, apply the same logic to a magus they could in fact use the whole "one hand hold, cast, regrasp, free attack" that some want to use with the two hander. As you say there needs to be a trade off for a caster to use a two hander, that being the inability to use spell combate. However, I play a magus in a PFS group that rarely uses spell combate (I roll low alot) due to frequency of sucessful concentration checks. I do cast move strike alot.
Witch seems to be the way the two hander magus group wants to do things.
I don't realy think that the trade off of lossing spell combate is enough to trade off the extra damage that this would grant the magus tho. My magus at level 8 (level 1 Cross blooded socrerer/ level 7 magus) can do 10d6+20 several times. When hes done with getting into combate with damage he mirrior images up and displaces along with shield becoming the mage tank from hell. If I where to use elarge person while wielding a elven curved blade that's d10 becoming now a 2d8 plus an increase in str damage, with minimal lose of ac. I can see this being a boon for the Kensai (Archetype). Seems a bit overpowered at that point. Would a stipulation in the magus Weapon and Armor Proficiency section that if the magus wields a two handed weapon he then incurs the standard arcane spell failure be enough of a set back to make the trade off a little more equal? (aslo making Kensai the favored archtype for using two handers)

[Cheapy]

Will Demon Blight Crusade be high-fantasy, well suited for Paladins? AKA: A little less grey morality than the usual stuff.

[Thadius Stargazer]

So... The only info I can find in books concerning the use of supernatural abilities, refers to them taking a standard in combat.Lure of the Heavens is a SA that you can have constantly active, right? So shouldn't you then be able to fly as part of your movement(starting the duration immediately) or do you have to use a standard,again,to activate this part of the ability? Is this the only SA with this quandary?

[Thadius Stargazer]

Gauss said wrote:

So, currently, there are no methods by RAW that allow a person to wield a weapon that is beyond 2handed that I am aware of.

Actually a Tiefling with powerful build can wield a huge whip.