Related to cannibalism...
Do the various humanoid races taste different? Do dwarves taste stringy and funky while elves taste faintly of wildflower honey? Or is it more realistic and elves always taste like beef jerky, even when fresh? Does every gnome taste different?
Two cannibals are eating a bard. One turns to the other and asks "Does this taste funny to you?"
...that jokes loses its ring in Golarion...
Dwarves taste like dirt dipped in lard.
Other races taste varying degrees of less gross.
Should we be disturbed that you know this?
Creative Director
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James Jacobs:
Serious question for a moment. Josh's departure from PFS seems rather sudden. Are you at liberty to explain anything further regarding the circumstances (is he ill? stressed out? has he been recruited by the FBI?) or is it just that Paizo have been waiting for everything to be in place for the handover before making the announcement?
I have no further comment about this other than what we've already said about the matter on other threads.
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Dreams is, in particular, a great movie.
God, yes it is.
I will never forget...
Truly beautiful, and a proud final testament of one of Japan's greatest directors.
I also loved certain scenes from Kwaidan, especially "The Woman of the Snow". Those are some powerful images from childhood that'll stay with me for the rest of my life.
Glad to see that an enthusiast for Japanese film will be at helm of the Tian Xia AP. I know there's been a lot of vocal concerns raised on the forums about this product, but I have faith.
Once again, the eternal question: Sandbox or Railroad?
Yup. Orcs taste like bison.
Bison tastes goooood...
But if bison tastes good and orc tastes like bison wouldn't orc taste good?
If a paladin was starving and too low-level to cast anything relating to creating food and has a dead orc right there, would the paladin fall for finding out how good orc tastes? Are only evil people allowed to know how good orc tastes?
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Creative Director
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Yup. Orcs taste like bison.Bison tastes goooood...
But if bison tastes good and orc tastes like bison wouldn't orc taste good?
If a paladin was starving and too low-level to cast anything relating to creating food and has a dead orc right there, would the paladin fall for finding out how good orc tastes? Are only evil people allowed to know how good orc tastes?
Eating roadkill orc is fine. Killing it to eat it is a bit sketchy.
Is it true that there will be a giant broken robot land in Tian Xia, that includes zombie ninjas fighting robot pirates? And if so which ones will be mounted on dinosaurs? :D
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Creative Director
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(edited, much clarified and corrected)
James Jacobs:
In the kingdom rules for Kingmaker, various buildings generate slots which are filled with randomly generated magic items.
PCs can buy items from these slots if they want (and have the cash).
The items can also be 'sold' to generic buyers by making Economy checks.Why do generic buyers apparently have somehow more secure wealth and power than PCs?
If an item is sold to a generic buyer by making an economy check, not only is the item assumed to have been purchased, but if it was a valuable enough item, it generates BP too.
If the PCs buy an item, irrespective of value, that sale generates no BP for the kingdom whatsoever.
Under the current rules making an Economy check to sell off a 2nd level spell minor item wand generates more BP for a kingdom than a PC paladin heading down to the Waterfront and putting down more than a hundred thousand GP for a Holy Avenger.
If generic trading of items benefits a kingdom, but the PCs supporting businesses by buying from their own citizens doesn't, then what's going on here, please? Why do money/resources spent by the PCs apparently drop straight out of circulation into a fiscal bottomless pit, whereas investments by generic buyers hang around to benefit the economy/kingdom?
Generic buyers have more secure wealth and power than PCs because they vastly outnumber the PCs, because they have networks of merchants and buyers, and because that's their job. The PCs are better at casting fireballs and stabbing dragons, but not at running a mercantile trade company... mostly because the game doesn't focus on that aspect of the game.
The magic item "churn" element of city building/kingdom building is NOT meant to be a way for PCs to go into business selling magic items, nor is it meant to be a way to game the system and stockpile mountains of BP or wealth. It's meant to be a way for the GM to give the PCs a way to sell and buy items that gives the GM more control over the concept of the magic item store than simply telling the PCs "This city has a GP limit of 40,000 gp; grab a rulebook and go shopping."
Were the focus of the game intended to be a mercantile simulation and not high adventure, then we would have made this element of the game more richly detailed. But that's NOT the focus of the game—it's only support. And even though it can be tempting to turn all the reins of kingdom building over to the PCs, the GM needs to keep control so that if he feels things are getting out of hand and the PCs are churning TOO many magic items, he can just say, "the magic item market has dried up for a while due to your churn; for (rolls 2d6) months, no new magic items will be in stock. Go adventure if you want more magic!"
Is it true that there will be a giant broken robot land in Tian Xia, that includes zombie ninjas fighting robot pirates? And if so which ones will be mounted on dinosaurs? :DGiant broken robot land is still on the table.
What about zombie ninjas? Or robot ninjas for that matter?
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Creative Director
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What about zombie ninjas? Or robot ninjas for that matter?Is it true that there will be a giant broken robot land in Tian Xia, that includes zombie ninjas fighting robot pirates? And if so which ones will be mounted on dinosaurs? :DGiant broken robot land is still on the table.
Zombie ninjas, yes.
Robot ninjas... probably no.
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Creative Director
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I rambled a bit, and don't seem to have made my main point so clearly as I would have liked.
If the PCs pay 8000 gp directly into the Kingdom they get 2 BP for the kingdom.
If the PCs make an Economy check to shift a (market value 9,000 gp) wand of resist energy (a 2nd level spell unless it's a Ranger wand) currently sitting in a minor item slot in a Magic Shop the transaction (I assume which realises the full market price of 9,000 gp for the Kingdom) results in increase in general resources and prosperity to the tune of 2 BP for the kingdom.
If the PCs pay 9,000 gp themselves to buy a wand of resist energy currently sitting in a minor item slot in a Magic Shop the money they paid apparently simply evaporates into thin air - it does not result in any increase in general prosperity and resources in circulation in the kingdom; the kingdom does not get any BP.
Now I can understand that it might not make sense for PCs buying items themselves from businesses to benefit (in terms of BP generated) things quite so much as if they directly buy BP, but I don't understand why it doesn't even benefit at half or quarter BP value of a direct investment in BP?
If the UK government directly buys a dozen tanks and helicopters from UK businesses, that puts money and resources into circulation in the UK economy in just the same way as if the UK government had helped a company sell those same tanks and helicopters to the nation of Generica near-Orientalia.
Do economics and trade work different from that in your experience?
I know, I know, it's fantasy, it's magic, and little imps who specifically steal only resources invested by a country's own government lurk under shop-counters and in warehouses...
The benefit of buying an item to use is that you, the PC, get a cool new item to use. Allowing that to ALSO benefit your kingdom by basically converting your purchase into BP is too good—you're basically turning one resource expenditure into two resource gains. For that reason, any magic item the PCs buy for themselves from their own kingdom do NOT increase the kingdom's BP.
Again—the magic item generating aspect of several buildings is primarily meant to give the PCs things to buy while at the same time addressing the hatred many GMs have of the "magic shop" where anything and everything is available. With the method in Kingmaker, the only items that are available are limited, but there's a method to cycle through those items to vary up the selection.
If I were to revise this system, I would probably remove ALL BP generating elements from magic items. Those buildings should basically be places for the PCs to shop. Kingdoms make enough BP as they are normally without having the random factor of magic items there to bloat the BP production.
It's NOT an attempt to model real-world economics at all. Economics is a VASTLY more complicated subject than any RPG can be, and therefore exactly modeling economics in an RPG would, by the very nature of what you were doing, make that RPG unplayable.
Once again, the eternal question: Sandbox or Railroad?
What you don't trust me anymore? It's a funny comic.
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Creative Director
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Once again, the eternal question: Sandbox or Railroad?What you don't trust me anymore? It's a funny comic.
Was it a question? I interpreted it as a link and nothing more. It was amusing, that's for sure.
Was it a question? I interpreted it as a link and nothing more. It was amusing, that's for sure.Once again, the eternal question: Sandbox or Railroad?What you don't trust me anymore? It's a funny comic.
Well...it had a question mark. :-P
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Well...it had a question mark. :-PWas it a question? I interpreted it as a link and nothing more. It was amusing, that's for sure.Once again, the eternal question: Sandbox or Railroad?What you don't trust me anymore? It's a funny comic.
So does the Riddler. :)
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Creative Director
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What do you think of 3.5 Warlock class? Do you find it overpowered or underpowered? Do you like it or not? In your opinion, is there a way to reproduce the Warlock using existing PFRPG rules?
I kind of think it's a little dull, with not enough variation in the class to really lend well to customization—similar to how the 3.5 barbarian, monk, and paladin all had relatively little way to individualize themselves. That said, having seen plenty of warlocks in play, I think they're pretty well balanced—they introduce some new game play elements that GMs need to learn to cope with is all, but the warlocks I've seen in play didn't dominate the table at all. The best way to "reproduce" the warlock into the existing rules is simply to use the class as-is, in my opinion—we kept the rules compatible with 3.5 for a reason, after all! The only real changes would be to adjust its HD to match its BAB progression, which, if I remember correctly, might already be the case?
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Creative Director
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Your friend has left their computer unattended with all of their email, Facebook, and other blogs up. What do you do?
The key word of your post is the word "friend." I don't mess with his/her computer, and make sure that it's secure and let my friend know that he/she left it open to mayhem so they can come fix the situation.
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Your friend has left their computer unattended with all of their email, Facebook, and other blogs up. What do you do?The key word of your post is the word "friend." I don't mess with his/her computer, and make sure that it's secure and let my friend know that he/she left it open to mayhem so they can come fix the situation.
With friends like you, who needs security?
Your friend has left their computer unattended with all of their email, Facebook, and other blogs up. What do you do?
Were you looking for moral guidance here, Studly, or were you testing Jacobs?
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Creative Director
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Can you name ten base classes from 3.5 that you think are fun, not broken, enjoyable to both players and GM, importable to Pathfinder and you would not mind seeing them in Golarion/your own campaign.
As in ten non-open base classes?
If so... not really. I think that the 18 base classes we have right now cover things pretty well. The only one I particularly like that isn't open that I wish WAS open is the binder, I guess.
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Your friend has left their computer unattended with all of their email, Facebook, and other blogs up. What do you do?Were you looking for moral guidance here, Studly, or were you testing Jacobs?
My friends end up with a friendly, "Facebook Hijack" if they leave it running. It's just meant to highlight that they should shut down their computers.
Besides, they started it. >:)
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Can you name ten base classes from 3.5 that you think are fun, not broken, enjoyable to both players and GM, importable to Pathfinder and you would not mind seeing them in Golarion/your own campaign.As in ten non-open base classes?
If so... not really. I think that the 18 base classes we have right now cover things pretty well. The only one I particularly like that isn't open that I wish WAS open is the binder, I guess.
I thought the Binder in "Secrets of Pact Magic" was way better than the one from WotC.
It's awesome to have the power to jump into space.
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Creative Director
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In your opinion, is the Beguiler class from the PHB II 3.5 on par with the new base classes in Pathfinder? Is there any changes you would make?
The beguiler is too powerful in my opinion... too focused in its power, actually. It basically out-does the bard at the bard's main spell focus, but at the penalty of not having much to do other than be overpowered with those spells. In the game I ran with one, the beguiler was way over the top against foes who could be affected by mind-affecting stuff, but basically was useless against other foes. Not a very balanced class in my opinion.
I haven't looked at the class for a few years, though, and haven't really put much thought into how it stands up against Pathfinder classes.
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Your own apocalypse setting, "Unspeakable futures" sounds like something along the lines of Monte Cook's World of Darkness, ChtuluTech and Alpha Omega. Have you read those settings? What do you think of them if you have? I would very much like to see "Unspeakable futures" in one huge book, like Monte Cook's WoD. Do you thing that is feasible? Would you need to include some kind of bestiary in that book? In your own campaign, how do you deal with firearms? Do you have house rules about that?
Do you think that Numeria is appropriate for "Thundar the Barbarian" type of game? What do you think of postapocalypse fantasy instead of sf? In my RL game I used modified warforged for Numeria's robots and modified spelljamer for alien ship. When will we get more info on Numeria?
There has not been discussion about this... as far as I know. But that's also upstairs-talk and I wouldn't know about that kinda talk anyway...Has there been any discussion about a community participation rewards program??
Something like for every 20 posts in the non-off topic forums, gain 1 Community Participation point, and for every five product reviews gain 1. And then when you get 100, earn $5.00 in store credit??
If we all thought Heathansson posts a lot now ...
Hi, James, do you or any of your fellows in Pathfinder's staff know and like the masterpiece videogame series Legacy Of Kain? Did it inspire anything in Golarion or in rule mechanics of some sort?
Are you saying Richard bites?Since I am moving to the UK in 2011 should I be concerned/ afraid of sharing an island with the likes of Richard Pett and Nicholas Logue?Probably. Get your shots.
We're waiting at your house already Jeremy, chomp chomp.
Chomp chomp.
Ummm may i ask what a gas- spore duelist is?Alas, it was breached only this weekend by a flock of hungry 7th level gas-spore duelists. I'm just off from the estate and Pett Manor to fix it.See that is why I'm afraid of moving to the UK. Wait I'll be in Scotland, so is old Hadrians wall still up?Will we ever see stats for penguins? How about dire penguins?Yes. No dire penguins, but maybe giant albino ones.Flubber, flubber
Mnar Mnar
Give me your fisheses! Build me a hurdy gurdy!
Hunger hunger
A floating ball of sword blurring terror that is long overdue its own adventure.
Pht pht.
Pht pht.
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Are you saying Richard bites?Since I am moving to the UK in 2011 should I be concerned/ afraid of sharing an island with the likes of Richard Pett and Nicholas Logue?Probably. Get your shots.We're waiting at your house already Jeremy, chomp chomp.
Chomp chomp.
Wait I don't even know where the new house is yet. Wait you have the entire city of glasgow covered?
Wait I don't even know where the new house is yet. Wait you have the entire city of glasgow covered?Are you saying Richard bites?Since I am moving to the UK in 2011 should I be concerned/ afraid of sharing an island with the likes of Richard Pett and Nicholas Logue?Probably. Get your shots.We're waiting at your house already Jeremy, chomp chomp.
Chomp chomp.
We do.
Re: ninja in Tian Xia;
what's Paizo's official position; are they going to do one, or are they dead set against it thinking a rogue is a ninja?
Then I promise I'll shut up about it; prolly in a day or two, but I'll shut up about it, I vow it.
Ninjas shminjas heathy.
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Creative Director
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Your own apocalypse setting, "Unspeakable futures" sounds like something along the lines of Monte Cook's World of Darkness, ChtuluTech and Alpha Omega. Have you read those settings? What do you think of them if you have? I would very much like to see "Unspeakable futures" in one huge book, like Monte Cook's WoD. Do you thing that is feasible? Would you need to include some kind of bestiary in that book? In your own campaign, how do you deal with firearms? Do you have house rules about that?
Do you think that Numeria is appropriate for "Thundar the Barbarian" type of game? What do you think of postapocalypse fantasy instead of sf? In my RL game I used modified warforged for Numeria's robots and modified spelljamer for alien ship. When will we get more info on Numeria?
I have not read any of those settings—although I've glanced at Cthulhu Tech. I haven't looked at any of them enough to really formulate much of an opinion, though.
"Unspeakable Futures" as one big book is certainly possible, physically speaking. The rules are currently at about 90,000 words, which would end up being something like a 128 page book. I still need to round out the equipment chapter, the setting information, and the bestiary, which could easily turn it into a 256 page book. Unspeakable Futures, of course, has plenty of rules for firearms—when they show up in my home games, I just use those rules.
Numeria is indeed appropriate for a "Thundar the Barbarian" type game, although its primary inspiration is the old D&D adventure "Expedition to the Barrier Peaks." Postapocalypse fantasy is interesting... but I think I like postapocalypse Sci-fi better because seeing recognizable elements from the real world cast in such a dramatic new setting is part of the excitement and wonder of the postapocalyptic setting. A postapocalyptic setting in a totally made-up world isn't as interesting as a result.
There's a tiny taste of Numeria in Pathfinder #35. Hopefully, more will be coming soon.
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Creative Director
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Not sure how much longer I can keep up with this thread. I'm kinda curious about that myself.So James it is 1 month in and going strong, How long can you keep going?
Forever. AKA: As long as folks don't get bored with the thread. I'm just answering the questions; that's the easy part!