Nope.I have no idea about that; but this is hardly the thread that's gonna hit that ceiling first if it exists.From what I understand, a given thread becomes unstable once it hits a massive number of posts, at least in Vbulletin. Does Paizo's software have a similar problem, or is that purely a Vbulletin thing? If so, what's the thread size at which this thread will finally start to be unstable?
Also, is there any chance of Paizo's forum software ever becoming commercially available?
Oh, yea. I forgot about FAWTL. I've had that hidden for about 2 years now.
Hmm. It is on it's sixth iteration. Do you have any clue why?
All of the previous Fawtl threads hit the board maximum at the time and had to be closed. Gary continues to improve the code to allow longer Fawtl threads (probably other reasons too).
Anything new to tell us?
Considering that we have Champions of Purity and Champions of Balance, will we be seeing Champions of Corruption before 2015?
Why does Zon-Kuthon have the Death domain? It seems weird.
Zombies and skeletons don't suffer as mortals do, so self-torture is out of the question. With ghouls and vampires, it seems like they would be more into straight-out consuming people then torturing them. I mean...a vampire would exhaust his victim's blood supply pretty fast. What kind of allure does Zon-Kuthon have for vampires and necromancers.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Not counting the Orc pantheon, which we know is going to happen, can we expect to see any brand-new, never before seen deities in Inner Sea Gods?
Because his cult has a fair amount of undead involved in it, particularly vampires, and the Death domain is the closest thing to an Undeath domain, and because we wanted to spread the domains around anyway.
There are a few super obscure ones for sure that folks have likely forgotten. As for other brand new ones beyond the orc gods (who already existed in the setting but as nameless deities)... I don't think so. Maybe, but probably not.
So Zon-Kuthon has the Death domain just because a couple of his followers are undead?
Why do vampires actually serve him? It seems like they would have to prioritize between feeding on their victims or tormenting them in Zon-Kuthon's name.
Far more than a couple of his followers are undead. Remember, he's heavily associated with the Plane of Shadow, and undead have a strong presence there.
Vampires serve him primarily in that they have a pretty strong role in Nidal, his theocracy nation. And there's more to Zon-Kuthon than torture. He's as much a god of darkness, envy, and loss as he is a god of pain. Darkness and loss in particular are VERY strong themes that appeal to vampires.
Hmm, I guess I'll be making a Vampire Cleric of Zon-Kuthon as my next BBEG.
Would a Chain Devil with 8 Inquisitor levels be CR 14, or higher?
Creative Director
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Why does Zon-Kuthon have the Death domain? It seems weird.
Zombies and skeletons don't suffer as mortals do, so self-torture is out of the question. With ghouls and vampires, it seems like they would be more into straight-out consuming people then torturing them. I mean...a vampire would exhaust his victim's blood supply pretty fast. What kind of allure does Zon-Kuthon have for vampires and necromancers.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Not counting the Orc pantheon, which we know is going to happen, can we expect to see any brand-new, never before seen deities in Inner Sea Gods?
Because his cult has a fair amount of undead involved in it, particularly vampires, and the Death domain is the closest thing to an Undeath domain, and because we wanted to spread the domains around anyway.
There are a few super obscure ones for sure that folks have likely forgotten. As for other brand new ones beyond the orc gods (who already existed in the setting but as nameless deities)... I don't think so. Maybe, but probably not.
So Zon-Kuthon has the Death domain just because a couple of his followers are undead?
Why do vampires actually serve him? It seems like they would have to prioritize between feeding on their victims or tormenting them in Zon-Kuthon's name.
Far more than a couple of his followers are undead. Remember, he's heavily associated with the Plane of Shadow, and undead have a strong presence there.
Vampires serve him primarily in that they have a pretty strong role in Nidal, his theocracy nation. And there's more to Zon-Kuthon than torture. He's as much a god of darkness, envy, and loss as he is a god of pain. Darkness and loss in particular are VERY strong themes that appeal to vampires.
Hmm, I guess I'll be making a Vampire Cleric of Zon-Kuthon as my next BBEG.
Would a Chain Devil with 8 Inquisitor levels be CR 14, or higher?
If you mean kyton? It'd be CR 11.
Oh? That's great. It means I can deploy him at a lower level.
Why would he just be CR 11?
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Does this mean the that caster can choose the direction that the creature moves (any direction)? As others have made clear to me, it is possible to "determine" the direction by where the caster is casting the spell from.The flavor and visuals the spell brings up in my head would say that you can only bull rush a target in one direction; you target one creature or object (not a square) within range, and then the spell bull rushes that creature or object in the direction you determine.Hi James,
Does the first level spell 'Hydraulic Push' allow you to bull rush a target in any direction (since it effects the square and is not directional)?Thanks,
M
The blast of water starts at the point chosen by the caster, not at the caster. It pushes in the direction the caster chooses.
1. Under what conditions would the leaders of Brevic noble houses be willing to meet each other?
2. Under what conditions would they be willing to meet with the (presumably level 17+) ruler of the Stolen Lands?
3. Who would actually side with House Surtova (i.e., the one that’s assumed the throne)? I’ve read a lot about the impending civil war in Brevoy but it seems like Surtova doesn’t have any allies.
4. In fact, the social dynamics of the houses aren’t mentioned. Was this due to space reasons or intentional vagueness?
5. In what ways does Brevoy differ from Westeros, besides the obvious (magic, actual seasons, no White Walkers, etc)?
6. In terms of terrain improvements, how well-developed is Brevoy?
7. A story idea I have: House Orlovsky, allied with Houses Lodovka and Medvyed as well as Restov, declares war on House Surtova, which is allied with Houses Garess and Lebeda. The Stolen Lands ruler, for religious reasons, openly provides humanitarian aid to both sides. Does it look interesting? Plausible?
8. Why would a noble spend thousands of gp on clothes when a hat of disguise (1,800 gp) or sleeves of many garments (200 gp!) provide infinite clothes at a better price?
I kinda own one book. The core one. I am poor and credit card less. I like to read along. So I can stop feeling lost. James, I swear, if you don't stop being such a g%*!@~n genius with your writing I will commit credit card theft just to read all of your stuffs. If I actually have a chance, the school OFTEN finds me walking about with an Ipad reading the PRD. Because its all I have.
Have you tried the D20 PFSRD? It may be blocked by your school if they block webcomics and game sites, but my public library doesn't block it. For Golarion-specific content, try Pathfinder Community. For story content, try Pathfinder Wiki. Also, speaking of your local library... at ours there are a few Pathfinder books in the system (AP books and Pathfinder Tales).
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Nope.Thanks! Another band-related question, have you ever listened to Nightwish?Nope; they were never designed. Open territory to design them how you want, in other words! ;)
Were coats of arms ever designed for House Endrin and House Bromathan of Korvosa? We have ones for Arkona, Jeggare, Leroung, Ornelos and Zenderholm, but not the last two. If they haven't been designed, what would you say would be appropriate heraldry for them?
They're a Finnish symphonic metal band, one of the greats despite their shifts in lead singers over the years, which have been polarizing among the fans. Shall I link you to some of their tunes?
Will there be other APs set in Varisia in the future? I'm wondering if Shattered Star will get a sequel, building Varisian canon further.
James, how do you map your own games? Do you let the players map things out, or are you the cartographer? Do you use a dry erase mat, printed art assets, digital tabletops, or something totally awesome that we don't know about?I draw out the maps on the tabletop, using TacTiles or a battlemat or gaming paper if the map is something that has combat on it. If no combat is involved, I'll sometimes instead map things out for the players on the whiteboard.
This reminds me that I miss TacTiles and still wish they were sold.
Question: Which obscure deity was it that you graduated? I'm thinking Camazotz :)
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1. Under what conditions would the leaders of Brevic noble houses be willing to meet each other?
2. Under what conditions would they be willing to meet with the (presumably level 17+) ruler of the Stolen Lands?
3. Who would actually side with House Surtova (i.e., the one that’s assumed the throne)? I’ve read a lot about the impending civil war in Brevoy but it seems like Surtova doesn’t have any allies.
4. In fact, the social dynamics of the houses aren’t mentioned. Was this due to space reasons or intentional vagueness?
5. In what ways does Brevoy differ from Westeros, besides the obvious (magic, actual seasons, no White Walkers, etc)?
6. In terms of terrain improvements, how well-developed is Brevoy?
7. A story idea I have: House Orlovsky, allied with Houses Lodovka and Medvyed as well as Restov, declares war on House Surtova, which is allied with Houses Garess and Lebeda. The Stolen Lands ruler, for religious reasons, openly provides humanitarian aid to both sides. Does it look interesting? Plausible?
8. Why would a noble spend thousands of gp on clothes when a hat of disguise (1,800 gp) or sleeves of many garments (200 gp!) provide infinite clothes at a better price?
1) Depends on the story you want to tell... but it'd probably need to be something big and campaign worthy.
2) The fact that the level 17+ leader of their new neighbors is level 17+ is in and of itself the best reason for the Brevic lords to start wheeling and dealing.
3) Houses who aren't confident of their ability to stand against House Surtova. I'm not up on my Brevoy lore at this time though; it's been years since I've had my head in that space, so I can't really give a lot of details or advice for these questions, I'm realizing.
4) Space reasons, for the most part.
5) They're PG-13 in their activities, for one.
6) Slightly above average.
7) Dunno; see #3 above.
8) Because that's cheating and a real noble would realize that. It's conspicuous consumption. It's not the fact that the clothes are fancy. It's the fact that you could afford them all.
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What qualifies as 'patience' in the game? Barbarians, unless they possess a feat or ability, cannot enact on things that require concentration or patience while raging. What qualifies as having patience? I feel that planning in combat, has some degree of patience. What degree of patience prevents a Barbarian from acting upon that action if said Barbarian is raging?Yes.Can a Raging Barbarian ready an action? Not just to hit the first thing that moves. A Barbarian that is raging, not an urban that is in a controlled rage but a standard, and surrounded by enemies readies an action to attack a spell caster after the summons vanish. Could a Raging Barbarian do that?
I'm inclined to believe that the Raging Barbarian would have to attack things around him that are enemies. As opposed to plan things out and ready an action to move after summons vanish so he can threaten and get AoOs if the spell caster does not cast defensively.
Patience more or less means spellcasting, using things that require concentration, or doing things that don't have immediate results in the same round, more or less. Diplomacy and bluff, for example. As for the degree? That's left a little vague beyond spellcasting and concentration, and for you and the GM to work out.
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They're a Finnish symphonic metal band, one of the greats despite their shifts in lead singers over the years, which have been polarizing among the fans. Shall I link you to some of their tunes?
Will there be other APs set in Varisia in the future? I'm wondering if Shattered Star will get a sequel, building Varisian canon further.
Nah. Not a huge fan of metal bands, frankly. Don't hate them, but don't seek them out.
And yes, there'll be more Varisia stuff in the future.
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Creative Director
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Kind of like when Silver Fang werewolves in Storyteller duel each other they do so with silver blades?
9) Given the right situation, such as a fey-hunting fey or a demon-hunting fey, yes.
.
Sure.
Or highlanders who carry things capable of beheading themselves.
Question: Which obscure deity was it that you graduated? I'm thinking Camazotz :)Book's almost here. If I wanted to spoil who it was this close to its release, I would have said! :P
Awwww okay. Well because of you and Second Darkness, I've made Camazotz a horrifying god of demons in my setting. Like Lamashtu :)
Question. Will Inner Sea Gods be part of the Core Rules Subscription?
Why does the minor goddess Naderi only have three domains?
I believe you've missed this question. Or maybe there is no answer.
1) What'd be the CR range for the Barghest Hero Gods? I'd guess 20 to 22, but I wonder if I'm overshooting.
2) Are you aware of any plans to stat out any of the malebranche in the near future?
Kind of like when Silver Fang werewolves in Storyteller duel each other they do so with silver blades?
9) Given the right situation, such as a fey-hunting fey or a demon-hunting fey, yes.
.Sure.
Or highlanders who carry things capable of beheading themselves.
Is there anything in Golarion of which there can be only one?
James,
This is kind of a mechanical question but it's a simple one and one that you have a lot of experience with as a builder of many monsters:
Do monsters get +1 to an ability score every 4 Hit Dice like PCs do, or is that one of the differences between Racial Hit Dice and Class Levels?
Unrelatedly, the Adept NPC class gets 0-level spells, but doesn't have a Cantrips/Orisons class feature. Does that mean their 0-level spells are expended when used? Or are they indeed at-will?
We aren't currently working on a Cheliax vs. Andoran Adventure Path, and have no plans to do so in the near future.
After getting over my initial sads at the build up and subsequent denial about this adventure, I have a question.
In said adventure, how would you feel about the players as Cheliax supporters? :3
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Creative Director
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Question: Which obscure deity was it that you graduated? I'm thinking Camazotz :)Book's almost here. If I wanted to spoil who it was this close to its release, I would have said! :PAwwww okay. Well because of you and Second Darkness, I've made Camazotz a horrifying god of demons in my setting. Like Lamashtu :)
Question. Will Inner Sea Gods be part of the Core Rules Subscription?
Nope. If anything, it's part of the Campaign Setting subscription.
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Creative Director
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1) I seem to recall that elves don't trance in Pathfinder like they did in 3.5, but when I was looking through some of the books, I can't figure out where I got that from...am I remembering correctly? And if I am, why is it that elves (and half-elves) are immune to sleep effects? Different brain chemistry? Tradition?
2) What are some of your favorite alien races in fiction, whether book, video game, movie, television series, or pen and paper role-playing game? And why do you like them?
3) What are some fictitious (but human) characters whose portrayal springs to mind for you as exemplifying each mental ability score? Someone whose Charisma seems unearthly, someone whose Intelligence treads on mental planes far above others, someone whose Wisdom strips bare all illusion and sees to the heart of all things...or whatever those ability scores mean to you?
1) Correct. "Trancing" is really a Wizards of the Coast thing... and in particular, a Forgotten Realms thing. It's their intellectual property, in other words, and we actually can't really do that with our elves. Not that I'd actually want to, because that makes elves into something FAR to outlandish and unhuman for my tastes. Elves are immune to magical sleep effects because they are... it's part of their psychology and physiology. But they still have to sleep.
2) Vulcans are fun because Leonard Nimoy made them awesome. Quarians are neat because of their backstory and how it intertwines throughout the Mass Effect setting. Elder Things are probably my favorite, though, since they made us!
3) Strength: Fafhrd
Dexterity: The Gray Mouser
Constitution: Conan
Intelligence: Tyrion Lannister
Wisdom: Picard
Charisma: Jon Snow
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Why does the minor goddess Naderi only have three domains?I believe you've missed this question. Or maybe there is no answer.
I did miss it.
She has four domains; there were several deities published in Gods & Magic that erroneously had only 3 or even 2 domains. That was a mistake. We correct it in Inner Sea Gods.
(As a preview of that book, her domains are Charm, Nobility, Repose, and Water, and her subdomains are Love, Lust, Martyr, and Souls.
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Do you know who is posting weird book codes in chat?
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2qtvj?Weird-Chat-JibJab-Moment
Can you confirm that it is a staffer?
I have no idea what that's about. If it's a staffer, I don't know who they are or what they're up to. I wouldn't be surprised to find out it has something to do with PFS, which I seem to always be the last person to hear things about.
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1) What'd be the CR range for the Barghest Hero Gods? I'd guess 20 to 22, but I wonder if I'm overshooting.
2) Are you aware of any plans to stat out any of the malebranche in the near future?
1) You are, in fact, vastly undershooting. All four of them grant 4 domains, and that means they're demigods, whcih means they fall into the CR range of CR 26–CR 30.
2) No plans to do so in the near future.
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Creative Director
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Is there anything in Golarion of which there can be only one?Kind of like when Silver Fang werewolves in Storyteller duel each other they do so with silver blades?
9) Given the right situation, such as a fey-hunting fey or a demon-hunting fey, yes.
.Sure.
Or highlanders who carry things capable of beheading themselves.
Yes. The Starstone, for example.
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Creative Director
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James,
This is kind of a mechanical question but it's a simple one and one that you have a lot of experience with as a builder of many monsters:
Do monsters get +1 to an ability score every 4 Hit Dice like PCs do, or is that one of the differences between Racial Hit Dice and Class Levels?
Unrelatedly, the Adept NPC class gets 0-level spells, but doesn't have a Cantrips/Orisons class feature. Does that mean their 0-level spells are expended when used? Or are they indeed at-will?
Monsters get a +1 to an ability score every 4 HD they gain over and above their racial HD, be those HD gained from class levels or just by advancing their HD. Unless the monster's growth rules follow specifically different rules, such as is the case for true dragons.
Yes, an adept doesn't get at will cantrips. They expend their cantrip uses like any other spell.
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Creative Director
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We aren't currently working on a Cheliax vs. Andoran Adventure Path, and have no plans to do so in the near future.After getting over my initial sads at the build up and subsequent denial about this adventure, I have a question.
In said adventure, how would you feel about the players as Cheliax supporters? :3
If said AP were about PCs as Cheliax supporters, it would also need to be our first Evil AP. Which isn't something that's out of the question...
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Inner Sea War breaks out. Almost every nation picks a side. Which is a stronger bond, Lawfulness vs Chaos or Good vs Evil?
Do the Nuetral Nations pull a Switzerland or pick a side?
What two or three nations would you like to see team up?
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Yes. The Starstone, for example.Is there anything in Golarion of which there can be only one?Kind of like when Silver Fang werewolves in Storyteller duel each other they do so with silver blades?
9) Given the right situation, such as a fey-hunting fey or a demon-hunting fey, yes.
.Sure.
Or highlanders who carry things capable of beheading themselves.
Does Abadar have a Starstone in the First Vault?
1) What'd be the CR range for the Barghest Hero Gods? I'd guess 20 to 22, but I wonder if I'm overshooting.
2) Are you aware of any plans to stat out any of the malebranche in the near future?
1) You are, in fact, vastly undershooting. All four of them grant 4 domains, and that means they're demigods, whcih means they fall into the CR range of CR 26–CR 30.
2) No plans to do so in the near future.
Interesting. I incorrectly figured they fell into the same weight class as the malebranche, which each grant four domains, but if IIRC were estimated to be in the CR 18 to 22 range.
1) Is the line between the dukes of Hell (like Lorthact) and the malebranche rather thin? IIRC, 23 to 25 was intended as the "normal" range for the dukes.
2) Has Earth's malebranche been named?
3) Does Earth's malebranche know he/she/it got stuck with Cthulhu?
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Creative Director
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Inner Sea War breaks out. Almost every nation picks a side. Which is a stronger bond, Lawfulness vs Chaos or Good vs Evil?
Do the Nuetral Nations pull a Switzerland or pick a side?
What two or three nations would you like to see team up?
Good vs. Evil is stronger.
Some do, some don't.
Cheliax, Nidal, and the Darklands.
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Creative Director
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Does Abadar have a Starstone in the First Vault?Yes. The Starstone, for example.Is there anything in Golarion of which there can be only one?Kind of like when Silver Fang werewolves in Storyteller duel each other they do so with silver blades?
9) Given the right situation, such as a fey-hunting fey or a demon-hunting fey, yes.
.Sure.
Or highlanders who carry things capable of beheading themselves.
Nope.
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Creative Director
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1) What'd be the CR range for the Barghest Hero Gods? I'd guess 20 to 22, but I wonder if I'm overshooting.
2) Are you aware of any plans to stat out any of the malebranche in the near future?
1) You are, in fact, vastly undershooting. All four of them grant 4 domains, and that means they're demigods, whcih means they fall into the CR range of CR 26–CR 30.
2) No plans to do so in the near future.
Interesting. I incorrectly figured they fell into the same weight class as the malebranche, which each grant four domains, but if IIRC were estimated to be in the CR 18 to 22 range.
1) Is the line between the dukes of Hell (like Lorthact) and the malebranche rather thin? IIRC, 23 to 25 was intended as the "normal" range for the dukes.
2) Has Earth's malebranche been named?
3) Does Earth's malebranche know he/she/it got stuck with Cthulhu?
1) Yes, it is in some cases thin.
2) Nope.
3) Who says Earth even has a malebranche?
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Where did the eastern border of Sarkoris reach? Different sources cite the Lake of Mists and Veils as the border (ISWG p213), or between the Realm of the Mammoth Lords and Mendev as the extent (Sarkorian Prophecies PFS Mod, p3). ISWG notes that Mendev existed at the time of the Worldwound (118) as a minor blip kingdom, but to what geographic relation to present Mendev did it have?
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Where did the eastern border of Sarkoris reach? Different sources cite the Lake of Mists and Veils as the border (ISWG p213), or between the Realm of the Mammoth Lords and Mendev as the extent (Sarkorian Prophecies PFS Mod, p3). ISWG notes that Mendev existed at the time of the Worldwound (118) as a minor blip kingdom, but to what geographic relation to present Mendev did it have?
It varies depending on the date—Lost Kingdoms pretty much has that border at the river though.
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1) It kind of bothers me that an ostensibly primarily lawful good race like dwarves, by default, have racial traits called 'greed' and 'hatred'. Would you agree that it's a bit problematic, or do you just view the actual names of the traits as being convenient labels that don't really mean anything? Or do you just like having that as something of a contradiction in the dwarven racial character?
2) What's your second and third favorite kind of dinosaur?
3) What are some of your favorite non-extinct and non-domesticated animals, and why?
1) The names are convenient labels that no one, apparently, really thought of the implications to for a normally lawful good race.
2) Second: Deinonychus. Third: Allosaurus.
3) Tuatara because they're cute and primeval. Komodo dragon because they're the biggest lizards. Ravens because they're spooky and neat-sounding.