Mister Jacobs!
Brass Knuckles and Monk Unarmed Damage interactions... GO!
Is it possible to have just one Preview thread that doesn't turn into a bunch of the OP crowd arguing?
Secondly, am I the only one who gets annoyed by the OP crowd and think they suck too much of the fun out of the game?
There have been 5 iconic previews and the Bloodrager, Investigator and Swashbuckler have been, over all, very positive. Most posts seemed focused on "That's awesome!" or "I'm really excited!" or "Sweet background!"
It's just Warpriest and the Arcanist that have turned into arguments.
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Mr. Jacobs, !
I am absolutely in love with the Sable Company Marine, !
I purchased Inner Sea Combat so I could utilize the new Ranger archetype, and I already own Varisia, Birthplace of Legends, !
I've read your blog and searched your comments for the word "Sable", !
I'll be playing this character in PFS, !
Thank you for your time, !
So how was Paziocon this year?
Hey James Jacobs,
Long time listener, first time questioner.
1. Have you ever played Dungeon World (or another rules light system)?
2. If so, what did you think of it?
3. Do you think there is anything pathfinder could learn from rules light systems?
Creative Director
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I have a few design questions:
In the design of a Player character or a paizo iconic: what is the most important headlines that a writer should bring up, and how in-depth should it be at a minimum and when is it too much?
Character design in general for either minor or major characters i have the same question, but in terms of a game. What kind of headlines/details would have the most impact?
And in all of the above situations, how much room is it reasonable/needed to leave "open" for others to pick up on or fill in depending on their usage? ( especially in case of player characters, not so much in major NPCs. )
I am a tad inexperienced in the field of character making, but some of my notes goes around Background, "Why are you now here" and future motivation. Sadly the iron curtain comes along when i am staring at a blank paper when it comes to where i should start.
I'm not sure what exactly you're asking about... we design all of our Iconics in-house, and the goal there is to both create a character who exemplifies the role of her or his class without being terrible or perfect... these are iconics, and therefore should be more or less "average" or "typical" members of their class. Where we try NOT to make them average or typical is in their personalities and backstories; we do try to make them compelling and interesting characters since they are one of the ways we can provide additional world detail on Golarion.
If you're asking about building player characters for Pathfinder Society... I don't have any advice other than remembering that if you build a character with a lot of obscure fringe options you may find complications with errata or play styles or GM preferences at tables. Keeping it somewhat simple is not a bad thing.
If you're asking for advice on the Heroes of Magniamr contest, though... I've got nothing to say about that. The point is that it's a contest, and I don't want to give the folks who read this thread an unfair advantage or something like that.
If you're asking for something else entirely... I obviously misunderstood the question, and in that case, please rephrase it?
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Creative Director
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On this note, would you be willing to suggest some Pathfinder options (feats, archetypes, prestige classes, etc.) that would make sense for a sorcerer that sees themselves as a priest of the Dark Tapestry entities?1) I'd probably make him a sorcerer with the Dreamspun bloodlineHey James, :)
1) If you had to offer a Pathfinder-based class/level for Randolph Carter post-Dream Quest (moreso as the King of Ilek-Vad and less as whatever appears in 'Through the Gates of the Silver Key.), what would you offer?
Saying "Priest of the Dark Tapestry entities" is like saying "Priest of the Abyss's entities." There's a LOT of very different deities associated with the Dark Tapestry. And frankly... they're all antagonistic. I wouldn't suggest playing a PC associate with them in that way at all in something like PFS. In a home game, that's a different story, since the GM and other party members have a lot more flexibility in adjusting to that.
I wouldn't make the character a sorcerer at all. I'd make them a witch or an oracle or a cleric.
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I was more speaking about drow who DON'T venerate Mazzmez who get fleshwarped. Wouldn't their punishment forms be different to properly reflect their own master's displeasure, like tentacles for Abraxas, or rotting fungus for Cyth V'sug? Why is it ALWAYS spider transformation 100% of the time?
Belief, personality, religion, alignment, and politics have no effect or influence on what drow fleshwarping transforms you into. It's 100% race. It's also not a "punishment" from the gods. That's Forgotten Realms talking, not Golarion.
All drow who undergo that particular fleshwarping procedure become driders. Why? Same reason that all elves become irnakurses and all humans become grothluts and all troglodytes become ghonatines. Which happens for the same reason that all babies born to humans are humans and all babies born to chipmunks are chipmnunks. It's a factor of (magically influenced) biology, more or less.
The IN GAME reason this is the case is so that these fleshwarps can gain a level of tradition in the game. Driders have that tradition but they've got decades of head start. If instead they were more like the ogrekin template, there would BE no tradition, and thus we'd do just 1 monster template for all possible variants, and that, frankly, is MUCH less interesting than having a brand new category of monster that can provide us with an essentially endless number of new monster possibilities.
So, saw your most recent pics from Paizo Con. Gotta say you're looking pretty great. Any way you could spill some of the info from the "Secrets of Golarion" panel?
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Creative Director
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Half silly. My feeling is that you may be prone to reinforce the negative stereotypes of lawful good, not unlike how others negatively portray elves. Don't you think that alignment deserves better? Given that (for example) I keep seeing paladins of Arshea pop up on these boards, I feel that Paizo's audience'll be receptive to lawful good being portrayed as something other than mean, stupid, or both.
As it turns out, every writer injects their own opinions, values, agendas, and goals into their writing. Same goes for me. The elements of Golarion I have direct input in and create content for DO have reflections of my values and interests, and I do personally find Chaotic Good to be a MUCH more compelling alignment than Lawful Good.
There are other writers of Golarion content that differ, and the way all of our contributions interact and build on each other helps to make Golarion into an interesting and complex world.
The fact that there ARE paladins of Arshea (and others) out there is all the proof I need that we, as a collective whole at Paizo, are doing a great job at providing for that type of play style. And the fact that I don't have to be the one to provide ALL of the information for every possible play style is part of the reason I can still do things like sleep and eat and have a life beyond this job. Which is of a pretty high interest to me.
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Creative Director
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Now that you actually have enough iconics to pull it off, will we ever see an Adventure Module or, Desna help us, Adventure Path with an all-Small-sized party?
Unlikely, and that's ENTIRELY due to scale. Small iconics are difficult for a lot of artists to get scaled right in artwork.
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Creative Director
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Is it possible to have just one Preview thread that doesn't turn into a bunch of the OP crowd arguing?
Secondly, am I the only one who gets annoyed by the OP crowd and think they suck too much of the fun out of the game?
It's possible, but to make that happen I'd have to release the preview to only one person and not allow that person to tell anyone about it.
You aren't the only one who gets annoyed at the "OP crowd," but you should also stop to consider that there are multiple ways to enjoy the game. The "OP crowd" is likely just as annoyed at the "Flavor crowd" or the "Newbie crowd" or whatever other crowds are out there. None of them have discovered the "one correct way to play the game." It's when folks mistake their preference for how to play the game as the RIGHT way to play the game that conflicts happen... so the more of us who accept the fact that there are multiple ways to play the game, the less those arguments matter.
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Creative Director
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I wonder, I know the inner sea campaign is your baby. But have you thought about any other campaign settings you'd like to do, and if so, give us a veiw of your creative imagination!
As it works out, my homebrew setting is very very very much like Golarion, because when it came time to create content for it... it just made sense to me to draw upon decades of writing and playtesting experience with what does and doesn't work rather than to rely upon a few weeks of brainstorming things that are brand new. Anyone who's familiar with Golarion who showed up to play in my homebrew game would find themselves recognizing a lot of names and concepts; often spelled a bit different or with a different spin, but it'd still feel like Golarion.
I do have an entire other game, "Unspeakable Futures," that I've been working on for about 12 years though. That one is a postapocalyptic game set in Future Earth.
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Creative Director
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Is it possible to have just one Preview thread that doesn't turn into a bunch of the OP crowd arguing?
Secondly, am I the only one who gets annoyed by the OP crowd and think they suck too much of the fun out of the game?
There have been 5 iconic previews and the Bloodrager, Investigator and Swashbuckler have been, over all, very positive. Most posts seemed focused on "That's awesome!" or "I'm really excited!" or "Sweet background!"
It's just Warpriest and the Arcanist that have turned into arguments.
Not seeing a question there. Please keep the posts here to questions.
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Creative Director
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1) With the Numeria book providing "Numerian Fluids" that, among the exceptional side effects, can provide immortality, how would you describe that particular brand of immortality? Compared with something like the immortality of a 20th level arcane discovery, an alchemist's eternal youth grand discovery, and so on?
2) What sort of biological process would you say the fluids are enacting on the body, if it's not magical? Would it be different for each person who acquired it?
3) Is it a reversible immortality? Since Numerian fluid is a drug, can it potentially go away if it isn't replenished?
4) Would one become addicted by default if they gained any of the exceptional side effects?
5) Why is it so cheap? At 500gp per dose, it seems easier to obtain than the secrecy of the Technic League would imply.
6) Could the original crew of the ship have controlled the effect of the fluid on an individual? It's very random now, but is Numerian fluid something the crew knew of, or is it a completely unforeseen side effect of the crash and later mixing of various substances?
7) The founder of the Technic League was killed in 4509 DR. The current "year" is 4714 DR. However, it's possible for a sufficiently-leveled cleric using a true resurrection to swing just inside the caster level limitation on 10 years/CL for resurrections (a means of obtaining CL 21 is needed, but there are magic items that can easily allow a 17th level cleric to reach that point). Was this intentional?
7a) Would she be likely to return, if the attempt was made? Or has she already moved on, been judged, or is she just unwilling to return to life?
1) That brand of immortality is more like a superpower or weird sci-fi mutation. Something that's a fluke of chance and not something that can be easily or ever replicated save for by luck.
2) Comic-book/50's sci-fi science-fiction processes. Processes beyond the scope of those drinking the stuff to understand.
3) Up to the GM. These effects are meant to be idea-starters for adventures or situations in a lot of cases, and I can see cool story lines starting from both angles.
4) Nope; you only become addicted via the normal addiction rules.
5) Because it's more likely to hurt you than harm you.
6) The way that the fluids function is a result of interactions with a magical world and due to decay after thousands of years of spoilage in such an environment. These fluids didn't do this back in the day before the ship crashed.
7) In order to successfully resurrect a character, they need to both be willing to come back and can't have been judged by Pharasma. For a PC, the player of that PC gets to decide if those restrictions apply. For all NPCs, the GM gets to decide. Or in this case, Paizo. The founder of the Technic League, in this case, has been judged and moved on, and as such is beyond resurrection. Unless you, the GM, want it to be otherwsie; in that case, if your PCs do find a CL 21 true resurrection, and you don't mind coming up with lots of backstory (which will be easier if you have all 6 volumes of Iron Gods) for her, then go for it!
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Creative Director
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Hello James
I have a question about rays.
If under Magic rules "You aim a ray as if using a ranged weapon" then under non lethal damage rules does "You can use a weapon that deals nonlethal damage, including an unarmed strike, to deal lethal damage instead, but you take a –4 penalty on your attack roll." apply to rays?
So if i cast Admonishing Ray to do 4d6 non lethal damage, can I instead (at a -4 penalty to hit) do 4d6 lethal damage?
Thanks.
"You aim a ray as if using a ranged weapon," is NOT the same as "A ray is the same as any ranged weapon."
That comment applies only to aiming the ray. Not to anything else.
Therefore, you cannot opt to use a ray to deal nonlethal damage. Furthermore, the very idea of using a beam of fire (such as from scorching ray) to do nonlethaldamage is kind of nonsensical.
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Creative Director
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Mr. Jacobs, !
I am absolutely in love with the Sable Company Marine, !
I purchased Inner Sea Combat so I could utilize the new Ranger archetype, and I already own Varisia, Birthplace of Legends, !
I've read your blog and searched your comments for the word "Sable", !
I'll be playing this character in PFS, !
Thank you for your time, !
Wow... the boldface sirs kinda creep me out a bit...
Sable company characters are not really intended to be world-traveling pathfinders, frankly. They're not a very elegant or logical choice for PFS play, and not one that I would recommend, since it would be logical that if you spent all your time out in the world on adventures and not back home helping out the city you're supposed to defend, you'd get fired. They work best in a home game set in Korvosa or the region, or in a home game where the GM can work with you to develop a reason why you can be in the Sable Company while at the same time go on adventures. Those aren't flexibilities that the PFS program works well with.
1) Guide to Korvosa.
2) No relationship at all. The Sable Company generally doesn't send their members out of the city, because they're supposed to protect the city, not wander off.
3) We generally don't nail down those numbers in print, since that creates continuity traps. Suffice to say, there's enough officers that one more or one less won't matter.
4) None at this time. I'd have to design them, and that's beyond the scope of this thread.
5) Honestly? I'd save the Sable Company for a home game set in Korvosa or Varisia and go with a different character entirely for PFS; one who doesn't belong to a non-PFS group.
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Creative Director
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Hey James Jacobs,
Long time listener, first time questioner.
1. Have you ever played Dungeon World (or another rules light system)?
2. If so, what did you think of it?
3. Do you think there is anything pathfinder could learn from rules light systems?
1) I have not.
2) Haven't played it.
3) Yes... but I also think there are things that Pathfinder players and GMs could learn from them as well... particularly GMs. Learning that it's okay to do ad-hoc rulings at a table to keep the game going rather than get tangled in rules being the big one.
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Creative Director
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So, saw your most recent pics from Paizo Con. Gotta say you're looking pretty great. Any way you could spill some of the info from the "Secrets of Golarion" panel?
Thanks!
And the Secrets of Golarion panel is generally run as a Q&A session, with folks asking all sorts of questions that we then answer. As such, I never know what sorts of questions or themes are gonna happen until the seminar is underway, and once I answer them, I move on to the next question, and then once the seminar is over, I'm doing the next thing on my schedule. AKA: I don't remember what was or wasn't asked or answered. There were folks with recorders there though... so I suspect an audio copy of the seminar is out there or will be soon...
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Creative Director
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James,
Got a type vs. subtype question based on template additions. Say an aasimar or tiefling has the half-dragon template. What happens to its outsider type? Is it now "dragon (augmented outsider, native)"? How do you write that?
Works the same as if it's applied to any other creature. Type changes to dragon. It does not gain any augmented subtypes at all.
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Works the same as if it's applied to any other creature. Type changes to dragon. It does not gain any augmented subtypes at all.James,
Got a type vs. subtype question based on template additions. Say an aasimar or tiefling has the half-dragon template. What happens to its outsider type? Is it now "dragon (augmented outsider, native)"? How do you write that?
That means that'd work the same for solars and other full outsiders. Technically that would mean that the outsider would lose access to their weapon proficiencies which all outsiders have, and would now need to eat and sleep. Correct?
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Sable company characters are not really intended to be world-traveling pathfinders, frankly. They're not a very elegant or logical choice for PFS play, and not one that I would recommend
I was afraid of that possibility.
I suppose I can still go with my backup plan: an elven griffon-rider based loosely on the character Kith-Kanan from the Dragonlance novel Firstborn. I shall head back to the drawing board.
Thanks for your help!
Mr. James Jacobs,
Have you and company reached or almost reached the point where you will no longer be able to sustain the hardback world neutral line of books?
On an unrelated note. I had this odd dream. In it I stumbled into your offices. I was looking around when you guys were getting ready to close for the day but one of you realized that you needed plums to go with tomorrow's snacks, but it was inconvenient so I volunteered to get them for you. Does that dream seem weird to you? Also later there were ghouls and the tardis.
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Creative Director
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That means that'd work the same for solars and other full outsiders. Technically that would mean that the outsider would lose access to their weapon proficiencies which all outsiders have, and would now need to eat and sleep. Correct?Works the same as if it's applied to any other creature. Type changes to dragon. It does not gain any augmented subtypes at all.James,
Got a type vs. subtype question based on template additions. Say an aasimar or tiefling has the half-dragon template. What happens to its outsider type? Is it now "dragon (augmented outsider, native)"? How do you write that?
The rules for how to apply templates could certainly stand to have a bit more to them. As written, though... yes, it would remove the solar's proficiencies and they'd now need to eat and sleep.
Frankly... I think the idea of a half-dragon solar is kind of silly though...
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Creative Director
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Q: What's the "OP crowd"?You aren't the only one who gets annoyed at the "OP crowd,"Is it possible to have just one Preview thread that doesn't turn into a bunch of the OP crowd arguing?
As far as I can tell, it means "Over-Powered crowd." I could be wrong. I'm not a native speaker of IA. (Internet Acronym)
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Creative Director
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Mr. James Jacobs,
Have you and company reached or almost reached the point where you will no longer be able to sustain the hardback world neutral line of books?
On an unrelated note. I had this odd dream. In it I stumbled into your offices. I was looking around when you guys were getting ready to close for the day but one of you realized that you needed plums to go with tomorrow's snacks, but it was inconvenient so I volunteered to get them for you. Does that dream seem weird to you? Also later there were ghouls and the tardis.
We can sustain what we're doing, but only just barely. The addition of the Emerald Spire hardcover was an anomaly due to a kickstarter, and I don't think we'll try to do that many hardcovers again in a year. Four a year seems to be the sweet spot, I guess. That's certainly MY preference, but I don't make those decisions, really.
It's more a question for management/Erik though.
It does seem weird. Why would ghouls want plums?
When is the Jason punch coming? The children may, or may not, be demanding blood.
1. Regarding the beastmorph alchemist, how much cosmetic control does she have over her animalistic features? Not just what appropriate features show up but how they look (e.g., beastial, Geigeresque, etc).
2. Also, could she take persistent mutagen (normally a class feature) as a discovery?
3. I'm looking to create an alchemist who uses arrows instead of bombs. Poison instead of fire damage, increased range & precision making up for lack of splash damage, and replacing Throw Anything with an archery feat seems the way to go (though the bomb discoveries will need reworking at best). Agree or disagree?
Mr. James Jacobs,
Have you and company reached or almost reached the point where you will no longer be able to sustain the hardback world neutral line of books?
On an unrelated note. I had this odd dream. In it I stumbled into your offices. I was looking around when you guys were getting ready to close for the day but one of you realized that you needed plums to go with tomorrow's snacks, but it was inconvenient so I volunteered to get them for you. Does that dream seem weird to you? Also later there were ghouls and the tardis.
We can sustain what we're doing, but only just barely. The addition of the Emerald Spire hardcover was an anomaly due to a kickstarter, and I don't think we'll try to do that many hardcovers again in a year. Four a year seems to be the sweet spot, I guess. That's certainly MY preference, but I don't make those decisions, really.
It's more a question for management/Erik though.
It does seem weird. Why would ghouls want plums?
Bait?
Could someone bribe or influence Pharasma in some way to have her judge a soul faster or slower? Or out of order in some fashion?
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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James, how did your Red Bishop game go?
Do you have a twin? I saw a guy at the table next to me at the banquet that could be your doppelganger.
The environment books from 3.5 (Frostburn, Sandstorm, etc) were among my favorite books from the line. Are there any plans for Paizo to publish setting neutral books like them? Specifically books with lots of rules and advise for running games in non-typical environments.