Creative Director
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First of all, you are awesome for having a thread like this. I was just recently made aware that this thread existed and I think it's great. I only have two questions right now:
1. A similar question has been asked about teleportation in general, and answered by you. I still have a nagging curiosity in the back of my head so I hope you don't mind. Lets say a character has the Dimensional Dervish feat and is fighting a flying creature. Can that character teleport up to the creature's level, strike it, teleport around it striking it a few more times, then teleport back to the ground for his final stopping point? Or do all intermediate teleportation points need to be on solid ground? This is assuming the creature is within range to do this, as the feat limits total distance you can travel. I know it could be done with some method of levitation or flying, but how about without it? Due to the general answer about teleportation you gave before I feel like this probably can't be done, but I am still curious.
2. Dimensional Agility specifically calls out Dimension Door or Abundant Step as it's only prerequisites. Could a Shadowdancer's Shadow Jump ability qualify for taking Dimensional Agility? The only difference I could see between abundant step and shadow jump that would really make a difference was the range increments for Shadowdancer's vs. the Ki required for Monks, so I compared them. A lvl 20 Monk with 18 WIS could use Abundant step 7 times per day (this is assuming the Monk doesn't use Ki for anything else that day), a Shadowdancer would eat up his total range in about 5 jumps if he used the full 60 feet allotted for each jump. Of course the number of jumps could go up slightly if he did not use a full 60 feet each time (this is assuming the Shadowdancer only use Shadow Jump for Dimensional Dervish attacks that day). I am curious if there is an official rule on this? If not what is your opinion?
V/R
Shadowlord
Thanks!
Alas... those types of rules verification questions aren't the ones that I can really answer here without it causing ripple effects elsewhere on the boards. Rules questions from the rulebook lines need to be directed to the rules forums; sorry!
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Creative Director
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O_o Hope you survive Mikaze!
For James Jacobs:
About linear warriors, quadratic wizards:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards1) Assuming that you think this is true of Pathfinder, do you think it is a flaw or a feature?
I kind of like that this is the case as long as the martial characters can still contribute to a group at high levels (which they can).
2) Are there any BBEGs in APs that are non-spellcasters? Which APs?
3) Do you have any advice on making non-spellcaster BBEGs? I want to make a warlord type villain that is still a threat by himself. I'm thinking some good unique magic items might go a long way toward that goal. Any other advice?
1) I don't think it's a flaw OR a feature. A lot of those tropes neglect to remember that over the course of a campaign, a lot can change and alter things. I've seen fighters dominate games as often as I've seen wizards dominate them, or vice versa. I think that fighters and martial classes contribute a LOT to the game at all levels. If they don't it's user error on one side of the screen or the other.
2) Do you count being able to use spell-like abilities as being spell casters? If not, then Legacy of Fire, Council of Thieves (I think... can't remember for sure...), Jade Regent sort of, Skull & Shackles, Shattered Star, and the upcoming Wrath of the Righteous. So... quite a lot of them.
3) Big bad end guys need allies whether or not they're a spellcaster... otherwise they're either outnumberd by the PCs, or they're so powerful that they one shot the PCs. That said, the final battle doesn't have to be a huge epic thing. It's okay if it's over fast sometimes.
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Creative Director
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Given that sneezing powder, a non-damaging, disabling alchemical item is allowed to be use with Alchemical Weapon (Su). Why would tanglefoot bag, a similar, non-damaging, disabling alchemical item, not be allowed?
Because of an arbitrary decision that "goo" doesn't count as liquid. It could just as arbitrarily be decided that it does.
Pick the one that's more fun.
Which order is crocodile and alligator in for 1 and 2?I think Mikaze is having an aneurysm guys.Whoa, that's one of my top three swamp-related fears.
Hey James this off topic...this not the 'James asks questions thread' you know. (I an kidding this is the internet so I have to say that)
Anyway question...
What do you think of the whole 'player entitlement' and tyrantical GM' debates going on the message boards?
I would like to hear your opinion on it...though if you don't want to get involved publicaly I understand. Can you PM your opinionnif that is the case.
Which order is crocodile and alligator in for 1 and 2?I think Mikaze is having an aneurysm guys.Whoa, that's one of my top three swamp-related fears.
JAMES JACOBS IS ASKING US A QUESTION!
JAMES JACOBS IS ASKING US A QUESTION!
*Hits panic button. Runs out of the internet screaming.*
For Kyonin, check out Elves of Golarion and the Kyonin gazetteer in Pathfinder #17. There's a lot of non-rule stuff about Kyonin in both places.
For EoG is the only thing that's changed the D&D carry-over about Elves meditating? I know now all humanoids in Pathfinder sleep. But, specifically, I'm asking about things about their history like how ancient humanity basically kicked their butts due to birth rates and whatnot. I'm just curious how much of that book actually applies and if anything else has changed. Either way I immensely enjoyed it.
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Regarding Tanglefoot bags please explain why a flask of alchemist's fire is a liquid and a bag of tar or resin is not. Viscosity does not change its state of matter.Because I said so?
More seriously though... that's always how I've imagined them to be. It's no big deal if you let tanglefoot bags work.
Fair enough. :-)
I really hope she is not yet another hot female patron for the PCs.
James, could you speculate on what Coridan has against hot female patrons?
O_o Hope you survive Mikaze!
For James Jacobs:
About linear warriors, quadratic wizards:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards1) Assuming that you think this is true of Pathfinder, do you think it is a flaw or a feature?
1) I don't think it's a flaw OR a feature. A lot of those tropes neglect to remember that over the course of a campaign, a lot can change and alter things. I've seen fighters dominate games as often as I've seen wizards dominate them, or vice versa. I think that fighters and martial classes contribute a LOT to the game at all levels. If they don't it's user error on one side of the screen or the other.
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Well, personally, I think it is more of a feature, but honestly it’s not until Wizards (etc) get 9th level spells that the domination is pretty solid. However, few games are played at that level, and many more at played at lower levels, where a good martial build can easily dominate.
But what do you think of D&D “tropes”? I think they are part of what makes D&D the top Fantasy Roleplaying game of all time- heck few other games even have tropes. That’s why I agree with you on Vancian spellcasting (not to mention a distaste for spellpoints).
Why do you think folks want to change D&D/Pathfinder so much it no longer has these tropes?
And, what do you think is the "sweet spot" of levels for adventuring?
I'm building a backstory for a character that involves the Hermean Project (is there a more official name?) and I had a question.
In the ISWG it's made pretty clear that Mengkare's design is pretty humanocentric; It's almost entirely human breeding stock with the occasional elf or two.
While I think it'd be obvious that someone born on the island with an Infernal or Abyssal heritage would be cast out almost immediately, how would Mengkare/Council of Enlightenment feel about someone born with Celestial blood (an Aasimar).
*For the sake of the example let us assume the this individual's parents passed the screening and their "Celestial-bloodedness" was missed.
Next question is about Zon-Kuthon . In another thread a player mentioned that after the battle they were going about, finishing off the foes, administered a coup de grace. The Zon-Kuthon worshiper was saying that his kills counted as “sacrifices” to that evil deity, but I am thinking there is likely a bit more than just muttering the name under your breath as you slit a throat- maybe some incense, altars, special knives, being a ordained priest, special victims, etc?
And, could one be a neutral worshiper of Zon-Kuthon?
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Deities in Golarion sustain on worship right?
So...
1) Do demi-god level beings that receive worship like the Empyreal Lords and Archdevils need worship to survive?
Aka, if no one worships them do they "slowly die off due to lack of worship"?
2) Can a Dead god be brought back to life if ALL (every single one) worshipers (beings/people that worship a god) in the Golarion universe starts worshiping that Dead god?
Super mass worship = True Resurrection for dead gods?
3) If Rovagug is to break out of his prison now, would the combined might of the current generation of Golarion gods be able to contain Rovagug again? (Make a new prison, throw him back into his prison, or destroy him?)
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Creative Director
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What do you think of the whole 'player entitlement' and tyrantical GM' debates going on the message boards?
I would like to hear your opinion on it...though if you don't want to get involved publicaly I understand. Can you PM your opinionnif that is the case.
I think player entitlement is an ugly and obnoxioius thing most of the time. But then again, so is GM entitlement.
The game plays BEST when players AND GM respect each other enough to not get all entitled about things.
That pretty much goes for every other social interaction, of course.
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Creative Director
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1) Which Wrath of the Righteous adventure will they appear in?
2) Can you at least tell us their name? And/Or if they've already appeared in previous Paizo/Golarion products?
Also, questions about the "Artifacts and Legends" supplement, specifically a couple of the artifacts in it:
3) A ramification of the Book of the Damned is that Pharasma dooms any soul who reads it to Abaddon/Abyss/Nine Hells. Is this a hard and fast rule, or is it optional for GMs to include as they see fit? Does Golarion have a specific "canon" answer? (Where GM can change the canon for their own games if they decide it's necessary, of course.)
4) The Bottle of the Bound states that "no known force" can open it without the Word of Opening. Does that include a deity (or being of similar power) attempting to force it open?
5) How long ago was the Codex of Infinite Planes created, in terms of which gods were around to strike back at the Titans for creating it? Not looking for a specific date, just a general approximation of which deities were going against the Titans at the time.
6) Some things like the Codex and the Book specify "owners" having access to the power, but at the same time, these artifacts tend to be a bit difficult to lug around. If the artifact is secure in a character's stronghold (even if that stronghold is, say, a private demiplane), would you say that they still qualify as the owner, even though they currently don't carry it around with them? Or would they need to actually have it with them, such as in a Bag of Holding?
7) When was the last time the Codex showed up on the scene in Golarion, and was actively used? Who used it? I'd imagine that it was a fairly momentous occasion.
8) What was Seoni doing to end up in Valeros' armour like that on page 6 of the supplement?
1) She will appear in more than 1 adventure, and will appear on the cover of an adventure after she's first met by the PCs.
2) Not gonna tell you her name yet, but she has not yet appeared in any other product. Wrath of the Righteous is her debut.
3) Any soul consigned to the Abyss/Abbaddon/Nine Hells is either doomed (to demonic transformation, consumption, or torment), yes. Unless they're souls who are evil in the first place, in which case they have a good chance to become outsiders. But yes... that's the whole point of punishing the failed souls.
4) Up to the GM. But I would point out since we don't have rules for what deities can and cannot do yet, that kinda means that a deity's limits are not known...
5) That's still secret.
6) The artifact must be secure for someone to continue owning it, but the "owner" in this case is the last person to lay claim to it. So even if it's sitting in an open field, you can still own it. It's just more likely for someone to take it from you.
7) If I remember correctly, the codex had a small role in "Legacy of Fire."
8) She rebuilt herself using a meta artifact to become a fighter.
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Creative Director
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For Kyonin, check out Elves of Golarion and the Kyonin gazetteer in Pathfinder #17. There's a lot of non-rule stuff about Kyonin in both places.For EoG is the only thing that's changed the D&D carry-over about Elves meditating? I know now all humanoids in Pathfinder sleep. But, specifically, I'm asking about things about their history like how ancient humanity basically kicked their butts due to birth rates and whatnot. I'm just curious how much of that book actually applies and if anything else has changed. Either way I immensely enjoyed it.
Pretty much; that meditating bit was an error. The rest of the book should be fine.
Will there be a chance to have more Varisian APs in the far future or is it unlikely?
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Creative Director
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Well, personally, I think it is more of a feature, but honestly it’s not until Wizards (etc) get 9th level spells that the domination is pretty solid. However, few games are played at that level, and many more at played at lower levels, where a good martial build can easily dominate.
But what do you think of D&D “tropes”? I think they are part of what makes D&D the top Fantasy Roleplaying game of all time- heck few other games even have tropes. That’s why I agree with you on Vancian spellcasting (not to mention a distaste for spellpoints).
Why do you think folks want to change D&D/Pathfinder so much it no longer has these tropes?
And, what do you think is the "sweet spot" of levels for adventuring?
I think the D&D tropes are worth keeping in mind, so that when you do RPG stuff, you can avoid or purposefully embrace those tropes. As with any type of cliche. Be aware of them and your writing improves.
Folks want to change D&D/Pathfinder because some people just like tinkering with things, and other people love the genre but hate the rules. The fact that the game is doing so well in sales, though, tells me that more folks like the rules than not.
The sweet spot for levels varies. For me, I prefer running games for PCs of levels 9–13, but I think the general sweet spot is actually 7th level. That's certainly far and above the level that the vast majority of adventure proposals for Dungeon Magazine were at.
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Creative Director
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I'm building a backstory for a character that involves the Hermean Project (is there a more official name?) and I had a question.
In the ISWG it's made pretty clear that Mengkare's design is pretty humanocentric; It's almost entirely human breeding stock with the occasional elf or two.
While I think it'd be obvious that someone born on the island with an Infernal or Abyssal heritage would be cast out almost immediately, how would Mengkare/Council of Enlightenment feel about someone born with Celestial blood (an Aasimar).
*For the sake of the example let us assume the this individual's parents passed the screening and their "Celestial-bloodedness" was missed.
Mengkare would feel the same about an aasimar as he would a tiefling—each is equally tainted for his experiment.
I keep flowing with questions! Admittedly these are mostly ponderings that come about during play.
1)When a new deity comes to be, in that first instant of their ascension, are they presented with all the accords of the other gods that generally bar them from interfering with life in Golarion and other major things such as agreeing to help keep Rovagug imprisoned and so forth or are they generally free to do whatever they want?
2)Would other deities stop them outright, from say, wiping out an individual they've had as an enemy during their mortal existence due to their agreements?
3)Or, at the moment of ascension is your outlook on things so vastly expanded that such things, no matter how important they seemed before, suddenly shrink before the vastness of existence?
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Creative Director
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Next question is about Zon-Kuthon . In another thread a player mentioned that after the battle they were going about, finishing off the foes, administered a coup de grace. The Zon-Kuthon worshiper was saying that his kills counted as “sacrifices” to that evil deity, but I am thinking there is likely a bit more than just muttering the name under your breath as you slit a throat- maybe some incense, altars, special knives, being a ordained priest, special victims, etc?
And, could one be a neutral worshiper of Zon-Kuthon?
A sacrifice is a sacrifice. Whether or not it's a spur of the moment happenstance thing or the focus of a big ceremony in a cathedral doesn't change the fact that it's not a sacrifice, but it does change the impact of the act on fellow believers and the like. Certainly, if you're expecting to get magical boons or the attention of a deity, you need to go grand or go home.
You can't be a neutral worshiper of Zon-Kuthon. You can certainly give lip service to him, but the more you actually worship a deity (and by extension, the more you actually follow that deity's teachings and do what you're supposed to do in order to actually perform the acts of worship in the first place), the more your alignment shifts to near that deity.
To be actually qualified as a worshiper of Zon-Kunthon, you'll need to be lawful evil, or maybe lawful neutral or neutral evil.
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Creative Director
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Deities in Golarion sustain on worship right?
So...1) Do demi-god level beings that receive worship like the Empyreal Lords and Archdevils need worship to survive?
Aka, if no one worships them do they "slowly die off due to lack of worship"?2) Can a Dead god be brought back to life if ALL (every single one) worshipers (beings/people that worship a god) in the Golarion universe starts worshiping that Dead god?
Super mass worship = True Resurrection for dead gods?3) If Rovagug is to break out of his prison now, would the combined might of the current generation of Golarion gods be able to contain Rovagug again? (Make a new prison, throw him back into his prison, or destroy him?)
Nope; the deities of Golarion do not sustain on worship. That's a D&D thing, not a Pathfinder thing. We've not yet revealed what benefits deities actually get from being worshiped, apart from having it appeal to their egos and apart from it giving them mortal armies to do their works in the mortal realm.
1) Nope.
2) Nope. It takes much more than that to resurrect a dead god.
3) Unknown, but unlikely.
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Creative Director
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I keep flowing with questions! Admittedly these are mostly ponderings that come about during play.
1)When a new deity comes to be, in that first instant of their ascension, are they presented with all the accords of the other gods that generally bar them from interfering with life in Golarion and other major things such as agreeing to help keep Rovagug imprisoned and so forth or are they generally free to do whatever they want?
2)Would other deities stop them outright, from say, wiping out an individual they've had as an enemy during their mortal existence due to their agreements?
3)Or, at the moment of ascension is your outlook on things so vastly expanded that such things, no matter how important they seemed before, suddenly shrink before the vastness of existence?
1) Unrevealed.
2) No, but the new deity would be punished. The deities avoid meddling directly with mortal lives because that tends to start escalations with other deities.
3) The way any one person adapts to divine apotheosis varies person by person.
I can see a Mythic AP that revolves around the Starstone Test(s)...
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Creative Director
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1) If you had to be one of your characters in Golarion that you've created, which one would you be and why?
2) Favorite song you don't think many people have heard of?
1) Shensen, probably, since she's the one whose personality and mindset I understand the best.
2) Mazeppa, by Franz Liszt.
Mr. James Jacobs,
How would Mengkare react to one of his "Citizens" or their children manifesting gold dragon blooded sorcery? What about one of the less pretty bloodlines?
Next question is about Zon-Kuthon . In another thread a player mentioned that after the battle they were going about, finishing off the foes, administered a coup de grace. The Zon-Kuthon worshiper was saying that his kills counted as “sacrifices” to that evil deity, but I am thinking there is likely a bit more than just muttering the name under your breath as you slit a throat- maybe some incense, altars, special knives, being a ordained priest, special victims, etc?
And, could one be a neutral worshiper of Zon-Kuthon?
A sacrifice is a sacrifice. Whether or not it's a spur of the moment happenstance thing or the focus of a big ceremony in a cathedral doesn't change the fact that it's not a sacrifice, but it does change the impact of the act on fellow believers and the like. Certainly, if you're expecting to get magical boons or the attention of a deity, you need to go grand or go home.
You can't be a neutral worshiper of Zon-Kuthon. You can certainly give lip service to him, but the more you actually worship a deity (and by extension, the more you actually follow that deity's teachings and do what you're supposed to do in order to actually perform the acts of worship in the first place), the more your alignment shifts to near that deity.
To be actually qualified as a worshiper of Zon-Kunthon, you'll need to be lawful evil, or maybe lawful neutral or neutral evil.
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1) If you had to be one of your characters in Golarion that you've created, which one would you be and why?
2) Favorite song you don't think many people have heard of?
1) Shensen, probably, since she's the one whose personality and mindset I understand the best.
2) Mazeppa, by Franz Liszt.
I love characters you just click with on that level. I get wanting to play something "completely not you" but I like the connection. And I shall find this song and listen to it (I was bored at work and looking for new music to sample. Thus the question.)
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Creative Director
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You don't need to, I ranted about it in the snows of summer GM thread =p.I could, but I won't.I really hope she is not yet another hot female patron for the PCs.James, could you speculate on what Coridan has against hot female patrons?
In any event...
She will be hot; she's a succubus after all.
She will not be a PC patron. More akin to a potential ally.
She's also not gonna dress to show off the skin, as most succubi do.
Scandalized. Those defective citizens would be processed. As might be their parents.Mr. James Jacobs,
How would Mengkare react to one of his "Citizens" or their children manifesting gold dragon blooded sorcery? What about one of the less pretty bloodlines?
Processed? AS in kicked off the island or one of those mysteriously charred corpses that washes up on the coast?
In any event...
She will be hot; she's a succubus after all.
She will not be a PC patron. More akin to a potential ally.
She's also not gonna dress to show off the skin, as most succubi do.
Meh...
Sweet.
Sweet.
So, there have been quite a few of these "going out on a limb" type APs, like Skull and Shackles, Jade Reagent, or Reign of Winter where Paizo seems to commit to stuff that is out of the typical D&D comfort zone. What other similar stuff do you want to/will you try in the future?
Hello Mr. Jacobs,
I have a rules question if you don't mind. I already asked this of Mr. Reynolds, but I think he maybe busy.In this thread: Best Larger Weapon: Huge Falcata?
The question about if having to use an additional hand to use a larger weapon than they would normally be able to is considered a penalty.This is confused a little by the monster ability that the redcap has the ability:
Heavy Weapons (Ex) A redcap can wield weapons sized for Medium creatures without penalty.As a redcap is size small and uses a medium sized two handed weapon.
Now with the tiefling variant ability:
You have over-sized limbs, allowing you to use Large weapons without penalty.Very similar language is used and I was wondering if you could please give your best interpretation.
Thank you,
-HexenRedcaps break the rule and their ability should not enter into any arguments or assumptions about any other creature doing this trick, so you can't cite or refer to redcaps for this reason.
That said, the ability is basically the same, just worded different.
Thanks for your response!
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Creative Director
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Processed? AS in kicked off the island or one of those mysteriously charred corpses that washes up on the coast?Scandalized. Those defective citizens would be processed. As might be their parents.Mr. James Jacobs,
How would Mengkare react to one of his "Citizens" or their children manifesting gold dragon blooded sorcery? What about one of the less pretty bloodlines?
The method by which undesirables are processed off of Hermea has not yet been revealed.
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Scandalized. Those defective citizens would be processed. As might be their parents.Mr. James Jacobs,
How would Mengkare react to one of his "Citizens" or their children manifesting gold dragon blooded sorcery? What about one of the less pretty bloodlines?
Mengkare? As in that Gold Dragon on the island experiment?
What IS Mengkare's alignment?
(Can't say?)
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Creative Director
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So, there have been quite a few of these "going out on a limb" type APs, like Skull and Shackles, Jade Reagent, or Reign of Winter where Paizo seems to commit to stuff that is out of the typical D&D comfort zone. What other similar stuff do you want to/will you try in the future?
Lots of stuff I'm not ready to mention yet because they're gonna happen.
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Creative Director
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Scandalized. Those defective citizens would be processed. As might be their parents.Mr. James Jacobs,
How would Mengkare react to one of his "Citizens" or their children manifesting gold dragon blooded sorcery? What about one of the less pretty bloodlines?
Mengkare? As in that Gold Dragon on the island experiment?
What is Mengkare's alignment?
(Can't say?)
I can absolutely say, but I won't right now, because doing so would probably involve me pulling rank over James Sutter and that COULD end up with arguments and hurt feelings I don't want to deal with at this point. ;-P
So, there have been quite a few of these "going out on a limb" type APs, like Skull and Shackles, Jade Reagent, or Reign of Winter where Paizo seems to commit to stuff that is out of the typical D&D comfort zone. What other similar stuff do you want to/will you try in the future?Lots of stuff I'm not ready to mention yet because they're gonna happen.
Do you have some more "traditional" APs in the queue as well? (Shattered Star seems the most 'normal' we've seen for a while - although perhaps Wrath of the Righteous will be another?)