Creative Director
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James, which AP are you proudest of? which one is your favorite? And which one do you consider your worst, or would have reworked somehow?
I'm not in the habit of saying which one of them is my favorite, for the same reason parents don't say which of their children they love the most.
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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.
*sigh* Well, at least I have an Adventure Path subscription now, so I won't miss it. I hope it doesn't necessarily tread the roads the other APs have, so in my campaign they have ability to develop on their own that won't be contradicted by later canon material.
What do you do if you want to play a certain class, but feel it'd be redundant because EVERYONE is playing some variant of it (like a rogue in Skull and Shackles, or a Paladin in Wrath of the Righteous)?
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.
To follow up, if trying to backfigure a monster's ability score modifiers, do they have an extra +1 over the base 11/11/11/10/10/10 for every four normal hit die, or is it something that only factors in for advancement?
James, I have many questions.
-Has there ever been an instance where something a user has posted in the forums here has directly inspired or driven a product to be made officially by Paizo?
-On the forums there are many discussions about particular classes being weaker than others, mostly involving the proposed caster-martial disparity and there are several changes suggested by posters. Could it be inferred that future products like the Advanced Class Guide aim to solve these issues by providing more options for the players, rather than by retconning years of already developed and released products? Examples in my mind are things like the Slayer being akin to a "Rogue Fix" and the Warpriest being akin to a "Paladin of all alignments Fix." Could we see in the future classes and/or archetypes that expand on the active topics that get brought up by the boards, or do they really have much influence at all on the kinds of products you consider?
-Are there any design choices that you remember consciously making that in retrospect you would go back now and change?
-Why does everyone seem to address you formally at the beginning of the posts the make by opening with "James, "?
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Creative Director
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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.
*sigh* Well, at least I have an Adventure Path subscription now, so I won't miss it. I hope it doesn't necessarily tread the roads the other APs have, so in my campaign they have ability to develop on their own that won't be contradicted by later canon material.
What do you do if you want to play a certain class, but feel it'd be redundant because EVERYONE is playing some variant of it (like a rogue in Skull and Shackles, or a Paladin in Wrath of the Righteous)?
I play the class anyway and take it as a challenge to make that class NOT feel redundant.
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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.
To follow up, if trying to backfigure a monster's ability score modifiers, do they have an extra +1 over the base 11/11/11/10/10/10 for every four normal hit die, or is it something that only factors in for advancement?
Nope. Only factors in for advancement above the monster's baseline.
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Creative Director
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James, I have many questions.
-Has there ever been an instance where something a user has posted in the forums here has directly inspired or driven a product to be made officially by Paizo?
-On the forums there are many discussions about particular classes being weaker than others, mostly involving the proposed caster-martial disparity and there are several changes suggested by posters. Could it be inferred that future products like the Advanced Class Guide aim to solve these issues by providing more options for the players, rather than by retconning years of already developed and released products? Examples in my mind are things like the Slayer being akin to a "Rogue Fix" and the Warpriest being akin to a "Paladin of all alignments Fix." Could we see in the future classes and/or archetypes that expand on the active topics that get brought up by the boards, or do they really have much influence at all on the kinds of products you consider?
-Are there any design choices that you remember consciously making that in retrospect you would go back now and change?
-Why does everyone seem to address you formally at the beginning of the posts the make by opening with "James, "?
-Yes.
- That's a better question for the design team. I play a single-classed rogue in one of my current games and am having GREAT fun with the character, and she's keeping up in her role in a party that includes a wizard, an oracle, and a fighter.
- Yes.
-Because it's a polite way to begin a question with a salutation like that.
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I play the class anyway and take it as a challenge to make that class NOT feel redundant.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.
*sigh* Well, at least I have an Adventure Path subscription now, so I won't miss it. I hope it doesn't necessarily tread the roads the other APs have, so in my campaign they have ability to develop on their own that won't be contradicted by later canon material.
What do you do if you want to play a certain class, but feel it'd be redundant because EVERYONE is playing some variant of it (like a rogue in Skull and Shackles, or a Paladin in Wrath of the Righteous)?
Okay...what would you say are some themes and ideas that Second Darkness explores?
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Creative Director
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Okay...what would you say are some themes and ideas that Second Darkness explores?
Racial shame.
Lowlives rising from their low upbringing to become legitimate big damn heroes.Devastating ancient secrets.
Falls from grace.
Learning or not learning from history's mistakes.
Discovering ancient truths.
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.
Wait, so does a creature get a +1 ability score only if he has 4 class levels, or any HD? So, for example, if you had a level 8 orc with only 4 levels in shaman (bringing in the class guide ;)), would he get +1 or +2 to one ability score?
Also, if you had to live in one city/town in the Inner Sea, what would it be? Mine would be Ilsurian because then I could DESTOY KORVOSA!
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James, a question or 3 if I may.
1) Are gnoll merchants something seen in cities of Golarian from time to time. I know I have seen PFS scenarios of them on ships in cities, though I believe there was a rule about them leaving the ship or some such.
2) I would assume that if they were actually "accepted" and not attacked outright they would be much more common in the southern countries?
3) Would it make sense for gnolls to be working for Quadirans?
Thanks a bunch!
Mr. Jacobs,
1) You've said that you feel that devils are too limited? Could you extrapolate on what you mean by that?
2) How concrete are character levels within the world of Golarion? Of course no one is going to say "Well watch out, that guy has got to be AT LEAST level 15!" but would they be aware that that an 8th level character is indisputably more powerful than a 3rd level one? It has been hinted in some products that spell levels can be (and are) classified and categorized in-world, but how effectively do NPCs measure the power of non-spellcasters? Are they savvy enough to understand, in an abstract way, concepts such at hit points and saving throw bonuses. For example, if they were going to send, say, an assassin after a high level fighter, would someone say "Woah woah! We can't just poison him, he'd easily survive that (makes his Fort save). No, no, we gotta do something that attacks his mind."
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big damn heroes.
I thought you didn't like Firefly? Or is this proof of your secret love?
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Arguably, by their own admission, most of the time the protagonists of Firefly aren't that heroic.big damn heroes.I thought you didn't like Firefly? Or is this proof of your secret love?
I believe Malcolm once said:
Hi James i hope your having a great day
just a few things this time..when im working on my campaign world instead of writers block, i find myself with too many notes block..was wondering do you use any software or such to make sense of way too many notes
have you ever read ambrose bierce
do you like to read books about real world cryptids or mystries. if so have you ever read anything by nick redfern
thanks
oh one last thing im sure you have this book but just in case.
the del rey h.p lovecraft and others tales of the cthulhu mythos is a great book
Hi, James!
I have a question related to my new "Champions of Old Korvosa" campaign...
How do you pronounce "Jeggare"?
Is it "jeh-GAIR"? "jeh-GAR"? "juh-GAR-ee"? "JEG-ah-rhee"?
(I've been using the first one, but ome of my players insists its the latter.)
Thanks!
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James,
The grease spell says that you have to make an Acrobatics check whenever you enter a square with it present or when you're standing directly over it (ie. when the spell's cast). What if, the character was already prone before the grease spell appeared underneath them? Would they still have to make a check when they got up, or are you immune if you're already prone?
This question comes from my group's last session where two players argued for a solid five minutes about it, with vocals escalating each time.
An answer would be most appreciated.
James-
I'm not sure if they're open content or IP, but do you think that Draedens (from the gold box Immortals set) would make good Dark Tapestry creatures, possibly even Dominion of the Black creatures?
Hey James, hope you're doing well :)
I'm thinking of picking up Call of Cthulhu, but the 1920's don't interest me too much.
1) Have you ever played a more modern Call of Cthulhu game?
1a) If you have, was it fun or were there some things you didn't like about it?
2) When's the last time you were able to play Call of Cthulhu?
3) How did you first discover the game?
4) Any favorite moments that spring to mind that you'd like to share?
Completely unrelated:
5) How's your diet going? Are you done or still sticking with it?
How far are we from learning more about the 13 eyeless kraken?
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.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?
Wait, so does a creature get a +1 ability score only if he has 4 class levels, or any HD? So, for example, if you had a level 8 orc with only 4 levels in shaman (bringing in the class guide ;)), would he get +1 or +2 to one ability score?
Yeah, Advancing 0HD races with Racial Hit Dice is something that occurred to me, but it would probably usually come out weird. Besides, class levels are better than racial hit dice like, 90% of the time (Dragon is the most debatable one, with d12 HD, all good saves, 6 skill points, lots of class skills, and full BAB, plus a bunch of immunities; All they don't have is weapon and armor proficiencies).
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Creative Director
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Is there a way to play a lowlife that ISN'T a rogue? When I say the word "lowlife" rogue seems to be the class that immediately comes to mind.
Any class can fit the role of a lowlife. It's easier for evil or chaotic characters, though, and a lot tougher for lawful or good ones, but with the right overarching society... what defines a "lowlife" changes.
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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.
Wait, so does a creature get a +1 ability score only if he has 4 class levels, or any HD? So, for example, if you had a level 8 orc with only 4 levels in shaman (bringing in the class guide ;)), would he get +1 or +2 to one ability score?
Also, if you had to live in one city/town in the Inner Sea, what would it be? Mine would be Ilsurian because then I could DESTOY KORVOSA!
Every time something's HD increase by 4 they get a +1 ability score. For humans, that means at 4 HD, 8 HD, 12 HD, and so on. For something that starts at 3 HD, that means at 7 HD, 11 HD, 15 HD, and so on. It doesn't matter if those additional HD come from class levels or templates or simply the GM giving the monster more HD than normal.
For your example, with the level 8 orc... that orc needs to have 4 levels in something else in addition to 4 levels of shaman. If he doesn't, he's not 8th level. He's 4th level. In any event, an 8th level orc has 8 HD, and therefore he has two +1 stat boosts, as per normal.
I would live in Sandpoint.
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Creative Director
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James, a question or 3 if I may.
1) Are gnoll merchants something seen in cities of Golarian from time to time. I know I have seen PFS scenarios of them on ships in cities, though I believe there was a rule about them leaving the ship or some such.
2) I would assume that if they were actually "accepted" and not attacked outright they would be much more common in the southern countries?
3) Would it make sense for gnolls to be working for Quadirans?
Thanks a bunch!
1) Yes; gnoll merchants (their preferred wares being slaves) are relatively common in Katapesh and some of the other cities on the east coast of Garund, where gnolls actually live and where cities tend to be a lot more open to monsters visiting in the role of merchants. A gnoll merchant would be weird in Absalom and probalby would raise a lot of eyebrows and would find her day-to-day activities to be very inefficient since she'd have to constantly justify herself. A gnoll in some other Avastani or west coast Garund city would be reacted to as a monster.
2) Depends on the location.
3) Depends on the location, and on the gnoll's personality.
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Creative Director
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Mr. Jacobs,
1) You've said that you feel that devils are too limited? Could you extrapolate on what you mean by that?
2) How concrete are character levels within the world of Golarion? Of course no one is going to say "Well watch out, that guy has got to be AT LEAST level 15!" but would they be aware that that an 8th level character is indisputably more powerful than a 3rd level one? It has been hinted in some products that spell levels can be (and are) classified and categorized in-world, but how effectively do NPCs measure the power of non-spellcasters? Are they savvy enough to understand, in an abstract way, concepts such at hit points and saving throw bonuses. For example, if they were going to send, say, an assassin after a high level fighter, would someone say "Woah woah! We can't just poison him, he'd easily survive that (makes his Fort save). No, no, we gotta do something that attacks his mind."
1) It's a combination of Hell being a much physically smaller place than the Abyss (and thus having fewer themes to build off of), and the fact that devils are pretty well-defined as having strong links to fallen angels and as such often have much more humanoid shapes than demons. Demon scan have humanoid shapes, but their shapes vary a lot more than devil shapes, and that makes them more interesting to me. Furthermore... I think that chaos has a wider design arena than law, simply by virtue of the nature of chaos and law.
2) In world, yes, someone who's paying attention and makes a combination of Knowledge checks and Sense Motive checks would be able to determine the relative power of a person they face... unless that person took pains to disguise themselves, of course. They wouldn't think of things as saving throws and hit points, but that someone might be luckier, or protected by the gods, or just plain healthier or more in shape or smarter and thus more resistant to damage or quick to respond to problems.
That said... it's still a game. And at your table, it's okay for characters to say things in game like "Here's a +1 longsword" or the like, since it's as important for the players to know what's going on in the game as it is the characters. More important, in fact, since if the players are confused, their characters are. Obviously, the amount of "metagame chatter" that works for one group won't work for another; you'll need to find the right balance for your game.
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Creative Director
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big damn heroes.I thought you didn't like Firefly? Or is this proof of your secret love?
I love the show AND the movie. Excellent, well made, and very entertaining stuff. Not sure where you got the idea I didn't like Firefly... I'm not a Firefly zealot though, and if someone else doesn't like it or won't watch it because they resist watching stuff that's popular, that doesn't bother me. I don't mind if someone else is unwilling to expose themselves to something of quality.
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Creative Director
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Hi James i hope your having a great day
just a few things this time..when im working on my campaign world instead of writers block, i find myself with too many notes block..was wondering do you use any software or such to make sense of way too many notes
have you ever read ambrose bierce
do you like to read books about real world cryptids or mystries. if so have you ever read anything by nick redfern
thanksoh one last thing im sure you have this book but just in case.
the del rey h.p lovecraft and others tales of the cthulhu mythos is a great book
For story ideas and the like, I generally use my iPhone to jot down ideas, or a Moleskine notebook if I have it handy.
I've read a LOT of Bierce. He's one of my favorite writers.
I've never read anything by Nick Redfern, but interesting! (AKA: I do indeed read cryptid stuff.)
I do have that book, but in the 2nd printing hardcover Arkham House edition. It is, in fact, my favorite Lovecraftian anthology of its kind.
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Creative Director
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James,
The grease spell says that you have to make an Acrobatics check whenever you enter a square with it present or when you're standing directly over it (ie. when the spell's cast). What if, the character was already prone before the grease spell appeared underneath them? Would they still have to make a check when they got up, or are you immune if you're already prone?
This question comes from my group's last session where two players argued for a solid five minutes about it, with vocals escalating each time.
An answer would be most appreciated.
If you're prone, you have to make a check when you stand up. You're not immune, but you can't fall down if you're prone.
When you have two players arguing, the GM needs to step in and make a decision for them, and the players need to be mature enough to accept that decision.
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Creative Director
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James-
I'm not sure if they're open content or IP, but do you think that Draedens (from the gold box Immortals set) would make good Dark Tapestry creatures, possibly even Dominion of the Black creatures?
Draedens are entirely the property of Wizards of the Coast. They're also WAY more powerful than what we generally run with, demigods included, if I recall correctly. They certainly DO feel Dark Tapestry friendly though.
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Creative Director
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Hey James, hope you're doing well :)
I'm thinking of picking up Call of Cthulhu, but the 1920's don't interest me too much.
1) Have you ever played a more modern Call of Cthulhu game?
1a) If you have, was it fun or were there some things you didn't like about it?
2) When's the last time you were able to play Call of Cthulhu?
3) How did you first discover the game?
4) Any favorite moments that spring to mind that you'd like to share?
Completely unrelated:
5) How's your diet going? Are you done or still sticking with it?
1) Modern Call of Cthulhu is very very very fun! I still prefer period (1920s) CoC, but Cthulhu Now is great as well. Particularly if you use the Delta Green stuff from Pagan Publishing.
1a) The only thing I don't like about modern CoC is that it lacks the exotic feel of something set in the 20s has.
2) About 6 months ago, alas. :(
3) I saw the 2nd edition boxed set for sale at a bookstore in Mendocino, CA. I already knew about the game from the 1st Edition Deities & Demigods, and had been interested in it, and so I bought it there and then... fortunately I could afford its price of 20 bucks even though I was only about 14 years old at the time... thank Desna for the allowance!!!
4) Lots. The one that immediately comes to mind was when I killed Erik Mona's character off with a completely arbitrary die roll. He was not prepared for that.
5) The diet is still going strong. I'm down about 166 pounds... probably up to close to 170 by Saturday when I weigh in. I'm probably gonna be on the diet for about another month, after which I finally phase off and get to go back to eating normally (but healthy) and exercising to maintain weight. Weight maintenance is, as far as I can tell, much easier and less frustrating and more interesting than weight loss...
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Creative Director
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3) Strength: Fafhrd
Dexterity: The Gray Mouser
Constitution: Conan
Intelligence: Tyrion Lannister
Wisdom: Picard
Charisma: Jon SnowNot Hercules for Strength? Or is he "not human" to you because he's a demigod who winds up ascending to deity status?
Additionally: You say Abadar doesn't have a Starstone in the First Vault. However, the description of the First Vault does describe it as something where he has the perfect forms of everything ever created or seen by mortals (excepting the shadow that he gave to Zon-Kuthon). Does this mean that the Starstone has never been seen by a "mortal" (i.e. by the time any prospective reached it, they were no longer classified as mortal) or is it just something that special?
Lastly: How is your Skull & Shackles game going? The one where nobody is allowed to touch the model ship in the office? If I remember rightly, you're playing a rogue called Lady Vermilion?
Hercules works fine for Strength... but he's also not human. He's a half-god. He's also not what I would really qualify as "fictional" but as "mythical." When someone asks for "Fictional" characters I think of characters from novels or movies or TV shows or stories I've read, not mythology. Furthermore... I had to pick one character. Be it Fafhrd or Hercules or the Hulk or Superman or whomever... I'm going to skew to the character I've got more interest in personally. And I've gained a LOT more entertainment from Fritz Leiber's writing than mythology.
As for Abadar and the first vault... the Starstone was never seen by mortals, nor was it created, really... as revealed in Mythic Realms.
And we're about halfway through the 2nd adventure in Skull & Shackles. Progress slows down during convention prep season, with games getting cancelled more often than not, alas. My character in that game is indeed Sasha Dracktus, AKA Lady Vermillion, AKA Captain Firetop, AKA a few other nicknames my enemies or some chuckleheaded fellow players have come up for her. Jerks.
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Creative Director
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Yeah, Advancing 0HD races with Racial Hit Dice is something that occurred to me, but it would probably usually come out weird. Besides, class levels are better than racial hit dice like, 90% of the time (Dragon is the most debatable one, with d12 HD, all good saves, 6 skill points, lots of class skills, and full BAB, plus a bunch of immunities; All they don't have is weapon and armor proficiencies).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.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?
Wait, so does a creature get a +1 ability score only if he has 4 class levels, or any HD? So, for example, if you had a level 8 orc with only 4 levels in shaman (bringing in the class guide ;)), would he get +1 or +2 to one ability score?
I would advice against advancing 0 HD races with racial HD. It is indeed weird.
My crude attempt at a literature search unsuccessfully, I feel the compulsion to ask a question about Ameiko's back story as presented in Jade Regent. I'm curious as to how much, if any of it, came from the actual PC history of Ameiko (if my understanding that Ameiko was once a JJ character is correct)?
How far are we from learning more about the 13 eyeless kraken?More than 6 months away.As in, after Iron Gods? As in, the much-awaited (by me at least) aboleth AP is nigh?! As in, learning about the veiled masters in Occult Mysteries wasn't just a one-off fluke, but in fact a preface to far greater things just a bit down the road, something I scarcely dared hope, but did nonetheless?
I guess there isn't any question in there that you can answer, so I've violated the tenants of this highly useful thread, and I'm sorry for that, but...
Squee!
Actually he may be referring to an upcoming module considering that his time estimate places it in September/October which would be in the middle of Iron Gods.