I did have a discussion before when in a group, the Ninja would not leave my paladin alone (a situation you discussed before where a disruptive player makes the paladin a source of disruption) even though I had done little more than introduce myself to him/her so far. It got to a point where it built from other characters too and I was getting ganged up on for no reason. I explained I was taking it personal and they all said they "were just acting out their characters."
I tend to see my characters as me if I was in that situation/class/race/time period, but they all said it was their character, not them being rude. Do you think sometimes people use "acting as their character would" as an excuse to be rude and excuse their actions?
Yeah... that's one of several reasons why paladins are tough to play. Not only do you and the GM need to have the same ideas as to what being lawful good entails (and if you don't... it gets frustrating), but I've seen a lot of players who can't seem to handle the idea that there's a paladin in the group and are more interested in seeing the paladin break his code than actually playing along.
One thing that ALL players need to remember is that Pathfinder is a team effort. And REGARDLESS of what personality or alignment their character plays... the game generally suffers if they don't cooperate with the other players. There can certainly be inter-party strife and arguments, but once that gets to the point where folks aren't enjoying the game or it becomes the focus of every session, it's beyond gone too far, and the GM needs to step in and handle the situation.
Yeah. This isn't a new phenomenon, either. Back in my high school days in the late '80s, I once played a paladin for a while and successfully kept that piece of information from the other players for about five levels. (AD&D 1e, if it wasn't obvious from the date). I even went so far as to print up a fake first page of the character sheet. The GM was in on it, of course, and he and I saw eye-to-eye about it, but we both knew that three of the other players would just wig out if they knew there was a paladin in the party, and would not be able to resist going out of their way to do evil stuff in front of my PC. (And, when the truth finally came out, I was right!)
James: Have you every had to deal with that level of strife in a group you were in (either as a player or as a GM)? If so, how did you handle it?
As for me, I ended up quitting the group when I realized that the other players (and, to a lesser degree, the GM) were really a bunch of jerks, and that I didn't like them very much.
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Brief question on the Starwalker ability from Mythic Origins. I'm not sure if it's fully a rules question or an errata question, so if so then feel free to just send me on my way to the Rules forum. I'd also be happy to hear your own opinion on how you'd rule it if it came up in your home games.
Anyway, the ability states that you enclose yourself in a bubble of air shelled by force that grants a 240 foot fly speed per round, as long as you concentrate. What sort of maneuverability does this ability grant? Average? Good? Or Poor/lower down?
It also states that you have to concentrate to maintain it, but it's a supernatural ability, so does it have an effective spell level for the purpose of concentration check DCs?
I'm not all that familiar with that ability or Mythic Origins at the moment. And the fact that it doesn't list a maneuverability would indeed mean it's errata and should be asked on the product thread.
And concentrating to maintain an effect is different than making a concentrate check.
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Is the banner* held by Hazic Kel-Kalaar on page 48 of Towns of the Inner Sea depicting the arms of Solku, or something else?
* Two crossed gold scimitars with an eye in the middle on a white field with gold borders.
Dunno. Could be. That's a better question for whoever worked on that book... I don't know who it was off the top of my head, since its production occurred during a PARTICULARLY hectic time at Paizo...
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Hey James, just wondering if you ever got around to assembling and/or painting the Worm Drake, Aboleth, Harbinger or Maralee miniatures? Sorry the 'leth took some battle damage in my luggage on the plane out to Indianapolis, but the tentacle looked as if it was a clean break at the glue joint to the body.
I'm super stoked about the ‘Iron Gods’ AP. Great to have you at the helm of such an exotic and anticipated campaign. Man, between that and M.C.'s 'Numenera' release, it's shaping up to be quite the Sci-Fantasy year...It’s about time too!
Haven't had a chance to yet... I'm TERRIBLE at assembling and painting minis, alas. I need to get off my butt and fix those ones up though, for sure! Thanks again for them! They're sitting in my office and do a great job at making other folks jealous.
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How would a kobold react to accidentally destroying one of his dragon patron's eggs?
I've made a kobold alchemist who, like most kobolds, thought of dragons as invulnerable and godlike. He was trying to set traps for egg thieves, and it went horribly wrong.
I thought of it as the implications kinda snapping him, and he's currently a demolitions guy-for-hire who wanders Varisia, uses ale in everything he makes, he's a pyro, and he's manically friendly. He's Chaotic Neutral.
Korrith's my alias, and I've posted as him on the Ask Merisiel thread, you can look at his backstory in a bit more detail on his profile page.
Depends entirely on the kobold, the circumstances, and whether or not the dragon noticed at once.
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James: Have you every had to deal with that level of strife in a group you were in (either as a player or as a GM)? If so, how did you handle it?
As for me, I ended up quitting the group when I realized that the other players (and, to a lesser degree, the GM) were really a bunch of jerks, and that I didn't like them very much.
Unfortunately, I have. I've seen grown men nearly come to blows, make promises "To kill your character every time he's in a game I'm in," or even break down in tears. Not a fun scene, and fortunately it's only happened a few times in my 30 years of gaming.
If you could pic 10 monsters from movies/TV shows that you could use for pathfinder without legal issues, what would they be?
You can pic anything even if copyrighted.
He used to run the Customer Service department, though, so he had a LOT of contact with customers... that might be why folks talk about him a lot on the boards?
As someone who participates in the Blame Cosmo thread, its mostly because he simply takes the jokes so well. Rather than genuine dislike, I propose that its mostly a giant community-wide in-joke that Cosmo not only takes in stride, but also perpetuates to a certain degree.
James, have you ever kicked anyone from your table?
I just wanted to say: best username ever.
Argh! James, do I want the Celestial Dance t-shirt or the owlbear plushie?Ummmm... both?
Now, why did I just know you'd say that?
will we ever get a cities of the Mwangi Expanse book
Isn't that Heart of the Jungle?
Nine new jungle cities, from the colonial trade town of Bloodcove to the cyclopean astrologer-fortress of Jaha, complete with full statistics and maps
Mr. James Jacobs,
I was wondering if you could give me your reaction to this. Not an in depth analysis because I know you're busy, but a thought or two would be nice. If it's too long I understand. Thank you.
Sagira-valn
Female Demon lord of Freedom, Survival, and Wastelands
Domains: Chaos, Evil, Destruction, Liberation
A new demon lord just risen from the fringes of the World Wound, Sagira-valn values her freedom and survival above all else. She brooks no threat to these from mortal and demon alike.
She bears a great disdain for any who would debase themselves before a master, be it a lord, a god, or ideological construct and laughs at those who claim true freedom while slavishly adhering to their tenets.
Her cult is largely made up of lone survivalists and small resistance cells who will do any and everything to ensure their group's freedom. The irony of the cult is not lost on her and that in addition to the occasional fun it affords her are the sole reasons she lets them continue.
As with any demon lord secrets and rumors abound. For instance, though she is said to have arisen from the World Wound it is rumored that she was originally a Rahadoumi who crafted herself demon in order to be the master of fate. One secret is her connection to the Elves of Kyonin. Though what this connection is is unknown her name is spoken with whispers and venom by the elves. Stranger still is how she has managed to arise with little interference from the other factions within the World Wound. True her domain is not as large as it could be and she keeps her business out of the way of Deskari it is whispered though that her relative peace in this demon blighted wasteland is due to some weapon or secret that the others fear.
Mr. James Jacobs,
I am told you can't look at homebrew stuff for legal reason. I was unaware of this and apologize.
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Mr. James Jacobs,
I am told you can't look at homebrew stuff for legal reason. I was unaware of this and apologize.
No worries!
And yeah... It's the same reason authors don't look at manuscripts or provide feedback to aspiring writers. They might WANT to... but that suddenly creates a huge drain on time, and worse, opens them up to lawsuits if they happen to write a novel 30 years later that might have inspirations in something they read long ago and forgot about...
It's just safer for authors to avoid reading and providing feedback in their own industry's stuff is all. Sorry!
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As you have repeatedly mentioned your love of the horror genre, are you familiar with the work of Jonathan Wojcik AKA The Infamous Bogleech? He's a true afficianado of all things spooky and disturbing. He's written several articles about bizzare D&D monsters, as well!
I don't believe I have. Interesting looking blog!
Is it possible to flavor a vampire/dhampir to be like Dio Brando from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure?
That is, draining blood through hands/claws rather than a bite?
Speaking of Dio Brando, I'm kinda sad that you can't stop time, throw a bunch of knives, watch them freeze in midair, then resume time and let them fly.
Or... can you? The spell description for time stop only says that enemies are immune to your attacks. Could one set up something like that?
That seems like it could be dangerous when used in conjunction with, say, magic missile, which already throws a whole bunch of projectiles at high levels.
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And do they dream of electric sheep?
(I'm sorry, I had to!)
I have a player in Runelords who took the trait friends with Ameiko and ended up being long lost childhood friends, so she'll play a big(ger) part in our RPing, I may even have her join up since I'm running a group of 3.
If you had to compare her to a companion from a Bioware game, which one would best model her personality?
Of all the Demigods/Demon Lords/Empyreal Lords/etc in Golarion, which have the best chance of actually beating Cthulhu in a one-vs-one battle?
This can be a demigod that hasn't been stated up yet.
ANYway... I don't know what the plan is yet for Pathfinder Online's dialogue and storylines. That's a decision that's still quite a bit in the future.
Personally, I'd LOVE to see the iconics in the game as NPCs controlled by Paizo and Goblinworks employees... we'll see.
We all know you're going to roll up Merisiel anyways
Certain evil deities (like Uruskreil or Quindiovatos in Princes of Darkness) possess the "Glory" domain, which grants some good-aligned spells.
When used by a cleric of said deities, do this spells still function as normal, or do they switch to being evil-aligned and dealing damage against Good creatures?
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Is it possible to flavor a vampire/dhampir to be like Dio Brando from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure?
That is, draining blood through hands/claws rather than a bite?
I"m not sure what Dio Brando is... but anything is possible if the GM wants to change things.
As written, though, no. Vampires drain blood via the bite. A claw-induced blood drain would either be a different creature, a variant vampire, or a GM adaptation.
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Speaking of Dio Brando, I'm kinda sad that you can't stop time, throw a bunch of knives, watch them freeze in midair, then resume time and let them fly.
Or... can you? The spell description for time stop only says that enemies are immune to your attacks. Could one set up something like that?
That seems like it could be dangerous when used in conjunction with, say, magic missile, which already throws a whole bunch of projectiles at high levels.
Time stop doesn't work that way. You're looking for a game with a higher power level than Pathfinder, I suspect.
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in the Inner Sea Gods Hardcover will ther be new planar allys / any new outsiders? will we learn about the gods planar realms
I believe that's the plan for new planar allies. Not sure how much more we'll be saying about their planar realms... not a lot, I think, beyond what we've said already. I'm not really all that involved in the book at all; this is more a Sean or Mark question.
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Fafnheir, from Lands of the Linnorm Kings (or any Linnorm really for that matter)Who do I talk to about the forum avatars? I've been looking for a headshot of Faffy to pop up for awhile now.Gary.
(Note: we almost NEVER do custom avatars for folks... and I'm not sure who or what a Faffy is...)
Oh! Ok. Never heard him called "Faffy" before.
Dio Brando is the vampire villain of two arcs of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.
Most people nowadays know him as the "Za Warudo" guy. Yeah, he doesn't have fangs (that he uses), he just jams his fingers into people's throats.
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I have a player in Runelords who took the trait friends with Ameiko and ended up being long lost childhood friends, so she'll play a big(ger) part in our RPing, I may even have her join up since I'm running a group of 3.
If you had to compare her to a companion from a Bioware game, which one would best model her personality?
Hmmm... I guess Leliana from Dragon Age is probably the closest, but not as involved with religion.