Creative Director
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The Campaign Setting (p.217) indicates that Darkmoon Vale in Andoran is the second largest source of Pesh after Katapesh.
1. Is this accurate, or outdated?
2. If it is accurate, how does the Pesh cactus grow in Darkmoon Vale's temperate forest climate?
3. Would Pesh production be illegal under Andoran law? I'm designing an adventure that pits the PCs against the Lumber Consortium in the Vale, and I'm thinking that illegal Pesh production by the Consortium might be a good adventure hook, and a way for the PCs to get the Consortium in trouble with the authorities.
1) Outdated. Pesh doesn't grow that well in Andoran at all.
2) It doesn't. It's been fixed, one of many errors that crept into the 3.5 version of the campaign setting.
3) If it grew there, yes, it probably would be. But it doesn't.
James,
What would paladins of Sarenrae, Iomedae and Ragathiel think about prostitution (assuming it's locally legal)?
Could they, for example, lawfully hire a prostitute for themselves?
Do you emphasize the musical aspects of your bards? What would you wish to see in a spell-less bard?
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Creative Director
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James,
What would paladins of Sarenrae, Iomedae and Ragathiel think about prostitution (assuming it's locally legal)?
Could they, for example, lawfully hire a prostitute for themselves?
We've got paladin codes for Sarenrae and Iomedae out there, but not one for Ragathiel.
Paladins of Iomedae are expected to be temperate in their actions and moderate in behavior—they would not be into hiring prostitutes as a result.
Paladins of Sarenrae have no real strictures in their code that could be interpreted as "no prostitution." As long as it was legal and all that, they'd be fine with it.
A paladin of Ragathiel would focus on chivalry, among other things, and as such would, of the three you mention, likely be the one that's most anti-prostitution.
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Creative Director
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Do you emphasize the musical aspects of your bards? What would you wish to see in a spell-less bard?
Depends if they're musical bards. As a general rule, I tend to play bards who are more about acting, dancing, oratory, singing, and string instruments.
I wouldn't want to see a bard who doesn't use spells in some way. I'd be fine with a bard who collects various spell-like abilities as she gains levels.
A bard who totally doesn't use spells at all though? I'd like to see that character look more like a swashbuckler. To the extent that they wouldn't be a bard anymore. They'd be a swashbuckler.
Hmm, would a Bard without Spells but with Sneak Attack Dice and maybe a scaling reduction of the Feint to being a Swift or Free Action be a good Swashbuckler in your eyes?
Do you prefer to play Optimized by Numbers or Optimized by Concept Characters?
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Do you emphasize the musical aspects of your bards? What would you wish to see in a spell-less bard?Depends if they're musical bards. As a general rule, I tend to play bards who are more about acting, dancing, oratory, singing, and string instruments.
I wouldn't want to see a bard who doesn't use spells in some way. I'd be fine with a bard who collects various spell-like abilities as she gains levels.
A bard who totally doesn't use spells at all though? I'd like to see that character look more like a swashbuckler. To the extent that they wouldn't be a bard anymore. They'd be a swashbuckler.
Spell-like Abilities? Unorthodox Bard, the 3.5 supplement from Le Games, did exactly that for their Minstrel bard. Their Skald version was basically a rune inscribing spell-less cleric that granted supernatural abilities.
@Azaelas Fayth -- What you just described is basically what the Rogue archetype Swashbuckler does. Just take the Feint things as rogue talents or bonus feats.
Is there a basic formula to determine the purchase price of a captive monster?
How much would it cost for a party to purchase a gelatinous cube? To purchase an otyugh?
@Azaelas Fayth -- What you just described is basically what the Rogue archetype Swashbuckler does. Just take the Feint things as rogue talents or bonus feats.
But still having Performances. Though most would probably be traded or altered to fit in with the theme.
Actually, with Plasma being designated as half-and-half fire and electric damage, would you be comfortable with non-robotic sources of it?
Do you emphasize the musical aspects of your bards? What would you wish to see in a spell-less bard?Depends if they're musical bards. As a general rule, I tend to play bards who are more about acting, dancing, oratory, singing, and string instruments.
I wouldn't want to see a bard who doesn't use spells in some way. I'd be fine with a bard who collects various spell-like abilities as she gains levels.
A bard who totally doesn't use spells at all though? I'd like to see that character look more like a swashbuckler. To the extent that they wouldn't be a bard anymore. They'd be a swashbuckler.
Spell-like Abilities? Unorthodox Bard, the 3.5 supplement from Le Games, did exactly that for their Minstrel bard. Their Skald version was basically a rune inscribing spell-less cleric that granted supernatural abilities.
@Azaelas Fayth -- What you just described is basically what the Rogue archetype Swashbuckler does. Just take the Feint things as rogue talents or bonus feats.
can you pm me a link to that supplement?
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The Campaign Setting (p.217) indicates that Darkmoon Vale in Andoran is the second largest source of Pesh after Katapesh.
1. Is this accurate, or outdated?
2. If it is accurate, how does the Pesh cactus grow in Darkmoon Vale's temperate forest climate?
3. Would Pesh production be illegal under Andoran law? I'm designing an adventure that pits the PCs against the Lumber Consortium in the Vale, and I'm thinking that illegal Pesh production by the Consortium might be a good adventure hook, and a way for the PCs to get the Consortium in trouble with the authorities.
1) Outdated. Pesh doesn't grow that well in Andoran at all.
2) It doesn't. It's been fixed, one of many errors that crept into the 3.5 version of the campaign setting.
3) If it grew there, yes, it probably would be. But it doesn't.
So...what illicit substances *might* the Lumber Consortium be growing there that could displease the Andoran authorities?
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Creative Director
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Hmm, would a Bard without Spells but with Sneak Attack Dice and maybe a scaling reduction of the Feint to being a Swift or Free Action be a good Swashbuckler in your eyes?
Do you prefer to play Optimized by Numbers or Optimized by Concept Characters?
A bard without spells but with sneak attack dice already exists; it's called the rogue. ;-P
Honestly... I think that the best way to do a swashbuckler base class is as a full BAB class; one that focuses on not wearing heavy (or maybe ANY) armor and fights with only one weapon in one hand.
I much much MUCH prefer the "optimized by concept" character. Optimized by numbers is tragically boring to me.
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Creative Director
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Hey James, a trip in the 'way back machine'. What was your very first D&D character, using what system? Knowing what you know now about that system, would you still have built and played your character the same way?
My first D&D character was back in 5th grade; my teacher split my class up into several groups of 4-5 and on lunches would run us through a dungeon he built. He'd do one encounter per session, and then wouldn't run the next one until someone in the group wrote that session's events up as a short story. As a way to "trick" 5th graders into writing, it was brilliant. At the end of the school year, those groups who finished the adventure (of which there were two... one of them mine) got to go down to the school printing press and see the stories all set up as a little booklet. I still have copies of that booklet around here somewhere.
Anyway, my character was a dwarf wizard named Semaj. The system was the old blue book rules, although my teacher made quite a few modifications... such as by allowing a wizard to cast spells. Instead of spell components or spell slots, he used big circles of paper with numbers on them—gold pieces. To cast a spell or to do other things, you needed to "spend" those gold pieces.
Knowing what I know now about that system... well.. I would definitely build a different character now that I'm 41 and have 3 decades of experience with RPGs as opposed to being 10 or 11 and having 0 years of experience. I would have not played a dwarf, for starters... ;-P
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Creative Director
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We've seen two Orvian vaults detailed so far (Ilvarandin and the Land of Black Blood). If you could choose the next one to cover, which would it be?
My vote goes to Denebrum. Yay worms.
The Midnight Mountains.
I've been wanting to write a 20th-level adventure set in the Midnight Mountains for a few years now... said adventure was even on the module schedule a few times, but it never got into the "actually starting to get written" stage since other events and things kept pushing it back.
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Creative Director
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So...what illicit substances *might* the Lumber Consortium be growing there that could displease the Andoran authorities?
Dunno. If we do something more in the future with the Lumber Consortium, we might change that whole subplot around significantly. Or it might just be flayleaf or something else.
Hmm, would a Bard without Spells but with Sneak Attack Dice and maybe a scaling reduction of the Feint to being a Swift or Free Action be a good Swashbuckler in your eyes?
Do you prefer to play Optimized by Numbers or Optimized by Concept Characters?
A bard without spells but with sneak attack dice already exists; it's called the rogue. ;-P
Honestly... I think that the best way to do a swashbuckler base class is as a full BAB class; one that focuses on not wearing heavy (or maybe ANY) armor and fights with only one weapon in one hand.
I much much MUCH prefer the "optimized by concept" character. Optimized by numbers is tragically boring to me.
As always, thanks for your time.
I like the numbers, but I always stray from the optimized plan when the rubber meets the road. Swashbuckler types (as you describe them here) interest me - using the currently available Core or APG classes, how would you build your swashbuckler? Since you say full BAB, are you looking at a fighter? Any archetypes?
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Creative Director
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Dear sweet lord yes, that would be incredible. Could be a great Mythic adventure...
The Midnight Mountains.I've been wanting to write a 20th-level adventure set in the Midnight Mountains for a few years now... said adventure was even on the module schedule a few times, but it never got into the "actually starting to get written" stage since other events and things kept pushing it back.
It wouldn't be a Mythic adventure at all. It'd be a non-mythic 20th level adventure.
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Creative Director
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I like the numbers, but I always stray from the optimized plan when the rubber meets the road. Swashbuckler types (as you describe them here) interest me - using the currently available Core or APG classes, how would you build your swashbuckler? Since you say full BAB, are you looking at a fighter? Any archetypes?
My preference for swashbucklers these days are bards or rogues, because it's more appealing to me to have a class where you use all the goodies you get and then specialize to do a specific TYPE of build, rather than go with, say, the fighter and ignore one of your big advantages—armor training.
As for a base class swashbuckler... I'm actually not gonna be building one. But if I were, yes, it'd be a full BAB class.
As for a base class swashbuckler... I'm actually not gonna be building one. But if I were, yes, it'd be a full BAB class.
No, I didn't think you were planning on building one, but I thought that preference might color your choice of class to use.
Are you a fan of archetypes in your characters? I realize using them for NPCs is completely different because of the flexibility it gives the DM. It seems like there could be - or are - swashbuckle-y archetypes that would trade the armor for some other feature. The time it takes to keep up with all the options! But thanks to the Paizo team for the options...
Who'd win in a fight between Moloch and Szuriel?
Who'd win in a chess match between Asmodeus and Charon?
Hmm, would a Bard without Spells but with Sneak Attack Dice and maybe a scaling reduction of the Feint to being a Swift or Free Action be a good Swashbuckler in your eyes?
Do you prefer to play Optimized by Numbers or Optimized by Concept Characters?
A bard without spells but with sneak attack dice already exists; it's called the rogue. ;-P
Honestly... I think that the best way to do a swashbuckler base class is as a full BAB class; one that focuses on not wearing heavy (or maybe ANY) armor and fights with only one weapon in one hand.
I much much MUCH prefer the "optimized by concept" character. Optimized by numbers is tragically boring to me.
The Bard would still have things that a normal rogue doesn't but I am actually working on a Fencer Archetype for the Fighter. Though I think my experience with Fencing might make it less of that...
And I agree that Optimized by Numbers is boring...
why should a club made of silver take a penalty to damage? It's a silly rule.
It doesn't, actually. The CRB includes this lovely line:
On a successful attack with a silvered slashing or piercing weapon, the wielder takes a –1 penalty on the damage roll (with a minimum of 1 point of damage).
That said, I do agree that even for the piercing and slashing weapons it's an unnecessary tidbit which over-complicates things.
If you had to pick a setting from 3.5 to run, or modify to Pathfinder's Rules, which would you choose?
Mine would be Eberron simply so my standard Party load out didn't stand out as much.
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We've seen two Orvian vaults detailed so far (Ilvarandin and the Land of Black Blood). If you could choose the next one to cover, which would it be?
My vote goes to Denebrum. Yay worms.
I would note that Deep Tolguth has been detailed in Called to Darkness. Sure it's not a full gazetter, but it's better tha nothing.
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Creative Director
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As for a base class swashbuckler... I'm actually not gonna be building one. But if I were, yes, it'd be a full BAB class.No, I didn't think you were planning on building one, but I thought that preference might color your choice of class to use.
Are you a fan of archetypes in your characters? I realize using them for NPCs is completely different because of the flexibility it gives the DM. It seems like there could be - or are - swashbuckle-y archetypes that would trade the armor for some other feature. The time it takes to keep up with all the options! But thanks to the Paizo team for the options...
I do use archetypes for my characters.
One of my characters is a Dawnflower dervish bard.
Another is a pirate and a scout.
And a third doesn't have any archetype at all.
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Creative Director
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why should a club made of silver take a penalty to damage? It's a silly rule.It doesn't, actually. The CRB includes this lovely line:
On a successful attack with a silvered slashing or piercing weapon, the wielder takes a –1 penalty on the damage roll (with a minimum of 1 point of damage).That said, I do agree that even for the piercing and slashing weapons it's an unnecessary tidbit which over-complicates things.
That's good... but it's also further evidence for my claim that the rules for alchemical silver are overly complicated and unnecessary with that damage penalty.
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Creative Director
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If you had to pick a setting from 3.5 to run, or modify to Pathfinder's Rules, which would you choose?
Mine would be Eberron simply so my standard Party load out didn't stand out as much.
Greyhawk.
Eberron would be my last choice.
We've seen two Orvian vaults detailed so far (Ilvarandin and the Land of Black Blood). If you could choose the next one to cover, which would it be?
My vote goes to Denebrum. Yay worms.
The Midnight Mountains.
I've been wanting to write a 20th-level adventure set in the Midnight Mountains for a few years now... said adventure was even on the module schedule a few times, but it never got into the "actually starting to get written" stage since other events and things kept pushing it back.
Sweet bloody hell, yes! A thousand times yes! I've been wanting to see the Midnight Mountains detailed ever since the Darklands book first released. Please do this. Find a way. Perhaps the new 64-page module format will finally make this possible? You probably have the next module after the Alkenstar one lined up, but the one after that could be a perfect opportunity for this. Please.
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As for a base class swashbuckler... I'm actually not gonna be building one. But if I were, yes, it'd be a full BAB class.No, I didn't think you were planning on building one, but I thought that preference might color your choice of class to use.
Are you a fan of archetypes in your characters? I realize using them for NPCs is completely different because of the flexibility it gives the DM. It seems like there could be - or are - swashbuckle-y archetypes that would trade the armor for some other feature. The time it takes to keep up with all the options! But thanks to the Paizo team for the options...
If you guys don't mind it being 3pp, Adamant Entertainment did a Swashbuckler base class a couple of years ago.
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Sweet bloody hell, yes! A thousand times yes! I've been wanting to see the Midnight Mountains detailed ever since the Darklands book first released. Please do this. Find a way. Perhaps the new 64-page module format will finally make this possible? You probably have the next module after the Alkenstar one lined up, but the one after that could be a perfect opportunity for this. Please.We've seen two Orvian vaults detailed so far (Ilvarandin and the Land of Black Blood). If you could choose the next one to cover, which would it be?
My vote goes to Denebrum. Yay worms.
The Midnight Mountains.
I've been wanting to write a 20th-level adventure set in the Midnight Mountains for a few years now... said adventure was even on the module schedule a few times, but it never got into the "actually starting to get written" stage since other events and things kept pushing it back.
I put my vote in on this as well.
What did you think of the D&D 3.5 Swashbuckler class?
If you had to pick a setting from 3.5 to run, or modify to Pathfinder's Rules, which would you choose?
Mine would be Eberron simply so my standard Party load out didn't stand out as much.
Greyhawk.
Eberron would be my last choice.
Eberron would be mine as well. If it wasn't for my party looking like an Anime Line Up every other game...
I can never seem to find any good Greyhawk recommendations. Where do you recommend starting at with Greyhawk?
If you guys don't mind it being 3pp, Adamant Entertainment did a Swashbuckler base class a couple of years ago.
I tried to use that class in a pbp. The DM and I both agreed it needed a lot more work. I think Adamant was wanting to rush to be the first with a 3pp book for Pathfinder and it showed.
It had potential and maybe it just needed some polish with some SERIOUS elbow grease. But I don't expect to use it again as-is and I don't have time to try and fix it myself.
If you guys don't mind it being 3pp, Adamant Entertainment did a Swashbuckler base class a couple of years ago.I tried to use that class in a pbp. The DM and I both agreed it needed a lot more work. I think Adamant was wanting to rush to be the first with a 3pp book for Pathfinder and it showed.
It had potential and maybe it just needed some polish with some SERIOUS elbow grease. But I don't expect to use it again as-is and I don't have time to try and fix it myself.
Depending on how the 'Find the Mark' ability and Improved Crit/Keen is ordered, the Swashbuckler is either a critical master or critical fiend. If Mark is applied first, he's a fiend, if applied second, he's a master. A rapier would go from 18-20 to 17-20 doubled to 13-20 with Improved Crit/Keen. If it's applied last, then it goes from 15-20 with Improved Crit/Keen to 14-20. Improved Mark makes this 11-20 or 13-20 respectively.
The real fun, though, is using your finesseable light pick and giving it either a 17-20x4 or 18-20x4 crit depending on the order; 15-20x4 and 17-20x4 with Improved Mark.
Who'd win in a fight between Moloch and Szuriel?
Who'd win in a chess match between Asmodeus and Charon?
Probably Szuriel.
Definitely Asmodeus.
In regards to the first, how many times out of ten? Also, would I be correct in assuming that Gorum could wipe the floor with the both of them?
In regards to the second, aside from the incident with the Dustbringer, what's the relationship like between Asmodeus and Charon? Have the two ever been on...not friendly terms, but had some sort of alliance? Is there any form of grudging, mutual respect between them?
Also, is there any relationship or connection between Rovagug and the qlippoth?
Depending on how the 'Find the Mark' ability and Improved Crit/Keen is ordered, the Swashbuckler is either a critical master or critical fiend. If Mark is applied first, he's a fiend, if applied second, he's a master. A rapier would go from 18-20 to 17-20 doubled to 13-20 with Improved Crit/Keen. If it's applied last, then it goes from 15-20 with Improved Crit/Keen to 14-20. Improved Mark makes this 11-20 or 13-20 respectively.
The real fun, though, is using your finesseable light pick and giving it either a 17-20x4 or 18-20x4 crit depending on the order; 15-20x4 and 17-20x4 with Improved Mark.
Improved Crit/Keen does not stack with other like abilities. So, it would not work that way.
Improved Crit/Keen does not stack with other like abilities. So, it would not work that way.Depending on how the 'Find the Mark' ability and Improved Crit/Keen is ordered, the Swashbuckler is either a critical master or critical fiend. If Mark is applied first, he's a fiend, if applied second, he's a master. A rapier would go from 18-20 to 17-20 doubled to 13-20 with Improved Crit/Keen. If it's applied last, then it goes from 15-20 with Improved Crit/Keen to 14-20. Improved Mark makes this 11-20 or 13-20 respectively.
The real fun, though, is using your finesseable light pick and giving it either a 17-20x4 or 18-20x4 crit depending on the order; 15-20x4 and 17-20x4 with Improved Mark.
Except that Find the Mark and Improved Mark are specifically stated as part of their description as stacking with other effects that increase critical threat ranges.
Morning Mr. Jacobs!
1. How are you?
2. What will you be working on today? :-)
3. What are your top few favorite 1st edition era modules?
(Mine are Expidition to the Barrier Peaks; the ultimate in the slavelord series; and Isle of Dread).
Thanks and have a great day!
So, apparently there are now a lot of theories saying that the Tyrannosaurus Rex had feathers (at least, in some regions). What are your thoughts on this?
James,
What would paladins of Sarenrae, Iomedae and Ragathiel think about prostitution (assuming it's locally legal)?
Could they, for example, lawfully hire a prostitute for themselves?
We've got paladin codes for Sarenrae and Iomedae out there, but not one for Ragathiel.
Paladins of Iomedae are expected to be temperate in their actions and moderate in behavior—they would not be into hiring prostitutes as a result.
Paladins of Sarenrae have no real strictures in their code that could be interpreted as "no prostitution." As long as it was legal and all that, they'd be fine with it.
A paladin of Ragathiel would focus on chivalry, among other things, and as such would, of the three you mention, likely be the one that's most anti-prostitution.
Where would I be able to find more information on paladin codes as per specific deities? I'm guessing Gods & Magic is the obvious supplement. Are there any others out there?