mr jacobs, why have you stopped answering questions?
He's a busy man! At least give him a two hour break.
How badly was your prissy little knocked kneed singy-songy bow legged pointy ear elf beaten by that dwarf fighter that you still have such hatred for the stout folk?This type of question would make more sense if your avatar was some sort of barrel-shaped beardo and not a fancy lad.
It's not that I got beaten up by a dwarf that makes me not like dwarves. It's merely that dwarves always seem to be the same old; they wallow so deep in their own cliches that when they step out to do something that's not dwarf-like it feels weird. No other race, for me, has this problem.
Also, the loud, stubborn, beer-drinking, overly conservative personality that cliched typical dwarf more or less mirrors one of my least favorite personality types. I'm MUCH more of the type of person who'd get along with elves or gnomes or halflings.
Also, in 1st edition, dwarves had extremely limited multiclassing options and really low level limits, which helped to color my distaste for them.
All that said, my very first character ever was a dwarf, so it's not like I've never played a dwarf. (He was not a loud, stubborn, beer-drinking, overly conservative dwarf, needless to say.)
Then why are Dwarves in the Dwarven book like this and not upgraded for Golarion?
Is there any chance, within the next few years, that Paizo will begin to have a presence at the various comic cons, particularly those on the east coast??
WotC does(or did, haven't been to one yet this year) and are usually quite busy. It would be a great way for people to meet the important folk, and interact with you guys. yes, i know there's Gencon and Paizocon, but I think if you can fit in going to the San Diego Comic Con and the New York CC, it would really help generate more interest, more fans, and more business.
Creative Director
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Is there any chance any of you guys would ever show up at our MBcon? :P
Unlikely in my case, since I try to avoid as many conventions as possible (just not a fan of conventions in general).
As for anyone else from Pazio showing up at any convention, those decisions are not made by me, so I can't really say.
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Creative Director
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What happens if a manticore and a human female get that special feeling for each other?Given the general rage to avoid "sexist" language, shouldn't the manticore be renamed folkticore?
Mark L. Chance | Spes Magna Games
Nope. That's silly, and a good example of political correctness veering into stupidity.
Nor will we have folkatees, Red Folktis Assassins, folkdrill monkeys, or darkfolktils.
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Creative Director
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Then why are Dwarves in the Dwarven book like this and not upgraded for Golarion?
Because, more so than other races, the folks who like to play dwarves REALLY like to play dwarves like this. I'm not interested in changing dwarves to try to appeal to non-dwarf fans when there's already a loud (VERY loud) fanbase for dwarves.
Also: part of this job is knowing that the game isn't just for me; I have to try to guide the game in a direction that will appeal to the widest group of folks as possible, and that means that oftentimes elements go into the game to support characters that I myself would never play or even use in my games. The game is not just for me.
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Creative Director
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Is there any chance, within the next few years, that Paizo will begin to have a presence at the various comic cons, particularly those on the east coast??
WotC does(or did, haven't been to one yet this year) and are usually quite busy. It would be a great way for people to meet the important folk, and interact with you guys. yes, i know there's Gencon and Paizocon, but I think if you can fit in going to the San Diego Comic Con and the New York CC, it would really help generate more interest, more fans, and more business.
I suppose it's possible... but it's unlikely. Paizo is a big company; perhaps the second largest in the tabletop RPG industry, but we're still only a tiny fraction of the size of WotC, and we don't have an enormous corporation like Hasbro to support us. As a result, we don't have the resources or time to hit a lot of conventions, and the further away those conventions are from the Seattle area, the less likely we are to go to them.
That said, Jason's at DragonCon this weekend, and Erik and Wes and Sarah are at PAX this weekend. Sarah also went to ComicCon this year at San Diego.
Personally, I'd rather not go to ANY conventions. PaizoCon is an exception, I guess, but I'm not a fan of other conventions.
Ask the Danish players who tried to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.
What movies have you seen whose content made even you squirm?Lots! This year alone, the following come to mind:
"Human Centipede"
"Martyrs"
"Antichrist"
"Feed"
"Aftermath"
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
"The Girl who Played with Fire"
"Dread"
"Irreversible"
One movie that makes me feel uncomfortable to watch is:
Then why are Dwarves in the Dwarven book like this and not upgraded for Golarion?Because, more so than other races, the folks who like to play dwarves REALLY like to play dwarves like this. I'm not interested in changing dwarves to try to appeal to non-dwarf fans when there's already a loud (VERY loud) fanbase for dwarves.
Also: part of this job is knowing that the game isn't just for me; I have to try to guide the game in a direction that will appeal to the widest group of folks as possible, and that means that oftentimes elements go into the game to support characters that I myself would never play or even use in my games. The game is not just for me.
Just so you know, I love to play Dwarves, never play them that way, and do not allow them that way in my games.
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Creative Director
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Okay, serious question for a moment. :-?
Why can't a witch spend only a short time - say a round - communing with a familiar to prep a spell? I'm not asking for the hour a day of communing to go; I'm asking why a witch who's done her hour a day communing can't at some later moment have a quick 'chat' and fill a slot she left blank in a matter of seconds? So a party approaching the lair of a witch, who fear that they've been spotted, see her bending over her toad and chuckling and know that they've got mere seconds to act before she's potentially loaded with something utterly vicious to throw in their faces...
It's not quite spontaneous casting, but it's a good deal more spontaneous than anything a wizard without a bonded object can manage...
Because they can't. That's the simple answer. For a slightly longer answer; it's because wizards can, and by not allowing witches to do so that helps to further separate the witch class from the wizard. The witch's hexes are pretty potent, and allowing her to do TOO many of the wizard's tricks (or any other full spellcasting class's tricks, for that matter) is no good.
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Creative Director
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Just so you know, I love to play Dwarves, never play them that way, and do not allow them that way in my games.Then why are Dwarves in the Dwarven book like this and not upgraded for Golarion?Because, more so than other races, the folks who like to play dwarves REALLY like to play dwarves like this. I'm not interested in changing dwarves to try to appeal to non-dwarf fans when there's already a loud (VERY loud) fanbase for dwarves.
Also: part of this job is knowing that the game isn't just for me; I have to try to guide the game in a direction that will appeal to the widest group of folks as possible, and that means that oftentimes elements go into the game to support characters that I myself would never play or even use in my games. The game is not just for me.
Doesn't change the fact that the other 999,999 dwarf fans do.
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1.) Do you have any "rituals" that help get you psyched up/in the zone for your writing? (putting on a particular CD/playlist, clearing off your desk/specifically NOT clearing off your desk, lighting a candle/incense, having a favorite beverage at hand, etc.) If so, what are they?
2.) You come across a messageboard thread called ">>Ask ________ ALL your Questions Here!<<." Whose name filling in that blank would make you the most excited? What questions would you ask?
3.) Wine IS pretty awesome. Not feeling pressured to consume something "manly" even though you don't like it? Even more awesome. Way to go, you rugged individualist, you. ;) (*thinks*Oh wait, I didn't actually ask a question...) Uhh...want some wine?
4.) What was something that made you smile today? Like, with genuine happiness, rather than smirking at the irony of it all.
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Creative Director
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1.) Do you have any "rituals" that help get you psyched up/in the zone for your writing? (putting on a particular CD/playlist, clearing off your desk/specifically NOT clearing off your desk, lighting a candle/incense, having a favorite beverage at hand, etc.) If so, what are they?
2.) You come across a messageboard thread called ">>Ask ________ ALL your Questions Here!<<." Whose name filling in that blank would make you the most excited? What questions would you ask?
3.) Wine IS pretty awesome. Not feeling pressured to consume something "manly" even though you don't like it? Even more awesome. Way to go, you rugged individualist, you. ;) (*thinks*Oh wait, I didn't actually ask a question...) Uhh...want some wine?
4.) What was something that made you smile today? Like, with genuine happiness, rather than smirking at the irony of it all.
1) Nope; no rituals, really. I do listen to music sometimes. To a certain extent it depends on what I'm writing; sometimes I'll listen to music, but other times I won't.
2) Werner Herzog.
3) Yes! Delicious!
4) The movie "Machete" made me smile a lot! It's ridiculously delightfully goofy violent mayhem! Also, my cat! KITTY!!!
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I haven't read through all 1052 posts on this thread yet, so forgive me if this one has already been answered:
1) Have you ever been tempted to join a PbP on these boards?
2) Has anyone thought to ask?
(I figured since you spend so much time around the boards you might be tempted one day. Possibly a homebrew so you're not all spoilered and such from having planned the scenario yourself :) )
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Also, the loud, stubborn, beer-drinking, overly conservative personality that cliched typical dwarf more or less mirrors one of my least favorite personality types.I can understand the other stuff, but "beer-drinking"? What's wrong with that?1) Beer tastes nasty.
2) Go To 1.
Is there a problem with the boards? I see some kind of response, but it doesn't make sense.....
Anybody got some beer?
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Creative Director
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I haven't read through all 1052 posts on this thread yet, so forgive me if this one has already been answered:
1) Have you ever been tempted to join a PbP on these boards?
2) Has anyone thought to ask?
(I figured since you spend so much time around the boards you might be tempted one day. Possibly a homebrew so you're not all spoilered and such from having planned the scenario yourself :) )
1) I've been interested in trying a PbP game someday. I'm even MORE interested in trying a VTT game someday.
2) Nope; not yet. But that said, I'm not sure I have time to devote to a PbP game. My posting habits for that would be irregular, like they are here; and since a PbP game locks up if someone doesn't post for a few days... not sure that'd be all that fair to the other players.
1. What is your favorite Disney movie?
2. What are your thoughts on the Thor and Captain America movies coming out next year?
3. Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, or Spock?
4. Which famous person would you like to punch in the face if you could get away with doing so?
Doesn't change the fact that the other 999,999 dwarf fans do.Just so you know, I love to play Dwarves, never play them that way, and do not allow them that way in my games.Then why are Dwarves in the Dwarven book like this and not upgraded for Golarion?Because, more so than other races, the folks who like to play dwarves REALLY like to play dwarves like this. I'm not interested in changing dwarves to try to appeal to non-dwarf fans when there's already a loud (VERY loud) fanbase for dwarves.
Also: part of this job is knowing that the game isn't just for me; I have to try to guide the game in a direction that will appeal to the widest group of folks as possible, and that means that oftentimes elements go into the game to support characters that I myself would never play or even use in my games. The game is not just for me.
I have not seen that, however I also do not travel as much as you and quite frankly did not look through any threads on it when it was being disused. I am however disappointed if that is the case. They have so much more potential. Would you ever like to see say in a few years Dwarves revisited where they are updated into a much more capable race? Or maybe a 3rd party releasing a dwarf book that makes them more well rounded?
Anybody got some beer?
awa in bile yer heidd!!!
Will you ever make peace with your inner dwarf?
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Creative Director
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1. What is your favorite Disney movie?
2. What are your thoughts on the Thor and Captain America movies coming out next year?
3. Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, or Spock?
4. Which famous person would you like to punch in the face if you could get away with doing so?
1) Lilo & Stitch
2) Meh. I'll go see them, probably, but the anticipation for them is minimal.3) Lizard.
4) Whoever is most at fault for the oil disaster in the gulf. I'm not sure who this is, so I wait, patient and potent, for the stars to come right.
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Creative Director
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I have not seen that, however I also do not travel as much as you and quite frankly did not look through any threads on it when it was being disused. I am however disappointed if that is the case. They have so much more potential. Would you ever like to see say in a few years Dwarves revisited where they are updated into a much more capable race? Or maybe a 3rd party releasing a dwarf book that makes them more well rounded?
We've pretty much covered what we need to say about dwarves in "Dwarves of Golarion." I don't imagine we'll be going back there anytime soon. Again... the dwarf stereotype persists in large part because it is VERY popular, and it's not wise to change something that's popular. Even if I don't like it.
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Creative Director
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after Chann Ti, what will be the next part of golarion that paizo is planning on looking at that isn't part of the inner sea
I assume you mean "Tian Xia," first of all.
And since in order to GET to Tian Xia in the Jade Regent AP the PCs will need to go over the top, the Crown of the World will be the next non-Inner Sea region we explore. Not in as much depth as we explore Tian Xia, but we might even get to the Crown of the World BEFORE Tian Xia.
Will you ever make peace with your inner dwarf?I have no inner dwarf. Question makes no sense.
Weird. You must be one of those poor souls cursed with an inner elf. Sure you don't need a beer?
Weird. You must be one of those poor souls cursed with an inner elf. Sure you don't need a beer?Will you ever make peace with your inner dwarf?I have no inner dwarf. Question makes no sense.
He had an inner dwarf.
When he swallowed it, it had a "small" weapon handy and cut its way out. "Muscular action" closed the wound, though.
Weird. You must be one of those poor souls cursed with an inner elf. Sure you don't need a beer?Will you ever make peace with your inner dwarf?I have no inner dwarf. Question makes no sense.He had an inner dwarf.
When he swallowed it, it had a "small" weapon handy and cut its way out. "Muscular action" closed the wound, though.
That'd make sense. Even inner dwarves are tough as the mountain stone enough to cut their way out of being swallowed whole. It sure is tough beign so damn awesome sometimes...
Weird. You must be one of those poor souls cursed with an inner elf. Sure you don't need a beer?Will you ever make peace with your inner dwarf?I have no inner dwarf. Question makes no sense.
Considering the characters he plays he is indeed cursed with an inner elf. And it's a little girl.
So is it only wine you like? What about fruity drinks?
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I haven't read through all 1052 posts on this thread yet, so forgive me if this one has already been answered:
1) Have you ever been tempted to join a PbP on these boards?
2) Has anyone thought to ask?
(I figured since you spend so much time around the boards you might be tempted one day. Possibly a homebrew so you're not all spoilered and such from having planned the scenario yourself :) )
1) I've been interested in trying a PbP game someday. I'm even MORE interested in trying a VTT game someday.
2) Nope; not yet. But that said, I'm not sure I have time to devote to a PbP game. My posting habits for that would be irregular, like they are here; and since a PbP game locks up if someone doesn't post for a few days... not sure that'd be all that fair to the other players.
Thanks for the answer. I'm actually not sure what VTT is, you may need to explain that me at some stage hehe.
Well, if I ever get the time to start up a homebrew PbP I'll throw an invite out to you and the crew so you at least have the chance to say no, rather than just sit there in resignation that another opportunity has passed. :)
Cheers
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Creative Director
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Weird. You must be one of those poor souls cursed with an inner elf. Sure you don't need a beer?Will you ever make peace with your inner dwarf?I have no inner dwarf. Question makes no sense.Considering the characters he plays he is indeed cursed with an inner elf. And it's a little girl.
So is it only wine you like? What about fruity drinks?
Fruity drinks can be good.
Again, I'm not a big alcohol drinker. To the extent that usually when I'm out with a bunch of friends and the urge to order a drink seizes me, the others at the table make a big deal about it. ESPECIALLY if Sarah Robinson is involved.
Jacobs-Approved Alcohol:
Korean Raspberry Wine
Mead
Screwdrivers
Mojitos
Guinness (if beer is the only choice)
Cider
Raspberry Lambic
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Creative Director
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I'm curious as to what's the thinking behind Paizo comparing the witch to the wizard? The witch seems to me to be more of a bardic character in party role, than a wizard. Looking at a witch's first level spell list, a witch lacks grease, colour spray, magic missile, and sleep, all of which I would consider essential spells to a low level sorcerer or wizard. (The witch does have the option to take the slumber hex, true, but this is a single target only effect, and if the witch fails against a target, she can't try again on that particular target the next round, unlike a sorcerer, or even a wizard who has a couple of sleep spells prepped.)
The witch's role seems to me to be more one of buffing other party members and applying healing where needed, than one of trying to control or do things to the enemy. (By the way, why didn't fox's cunning make it onto either the main witch list or any of the patron lists? I'm not clear on what the thinking is of why a witch shouldn't have the second level spell to self-buff her own casting ability stat, or be able to make potions/items to do the same? I think that the witch is currently uniquely hampered here amongst casting classes, as even paladins and rangers have the spells which buff their respective casting stats on their spell lists.)
Edit:
Threefold Aspect might possibly be considered a self-buff option for a witch, but it's a fourth level 'self' spell so can't be made into potions, it doesn't have any wondrous items associated with it thus far to my knowledge, and it harms another stat (Dexterity) if a witch is using it to get an Intelligence boost.
Jason did the design work for the witch, so it's him you'd have to ask to get the exact details on the witch. The OVERALL design goal was that no base class should ever be a mere "reskinning" of another class. A base class needs to bring something new to the table, something that no other class can really do—this can be an entirely new mechanic, such as the summoner's eidolon or the alchemist's elixirs. Or it can simply be filling an obvious but empty niche, such as how the oracle fills the niche for a divine spontaneous caster class. As a result, no two base classes should be completely interchangeable in how they play or how they fill a role in a party.
For the witch, the idea was that we could have a class that relies as much upon a wide range of supernatural abilities (her hexes) as she does on her spells, and that she'd have a full (cantrip to 9th level) caster progression but with a much narrower range of spells, all draped over an iconic an well-known mythological role. And on top of that, it's a spellcaster who blurs the line between the types of spells a divine and an arcane spellcaster normally are limited to. Similar to a bard's spell philosophy in one way, but all the way to 9th level instead of stopping at 6th level.
As for the witch's role in a party—she's a hybrid class. Depending on how she's built, she can be a potent ranged magic character, a healer, a buffer, or a manipulator. With her hexes, she has a LOT of options for things to do without ever using up her spells—I could see a witch build that treats her spells as entirely supplemental. And beyond that, the witch offers an iconic and very popular roleplay style of character for folks to play.
Anyway, that's my understanding of the design philosophy behind the witch; for a more detailed analysis, you'd have to ask Jason Bulmahn. And he doesn't have a 1000+ thread where he answers questions—he has 1000+ THREADS where he has to answer questions, so it's obviously a lot tougher to get ahold of him. Hopefully the above insights into base class design answered your question.
You know those little packages of silica gel that say "do not eat" on them? What happens if I eat them?
Dear Mr. Top 8 of 2009,
Ask Bracht.Hoping that this has been helpful.
Ask A Succubus.