Creative Director
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Being that I know you have a close relationship with Golarion goblins, how do they typically feel about mules and donkeys?
Nervous. They're horse-alike, after all, and also kinda noisy. They'd probably eat them. They wouldn't ride them, because giant lizard > goblin dog > most other mounts > horse-shaped mounts.
1) No. I do not confirm the existence of spiderwolves or sharkwolves or stirgewolves. They DO NOT exist. I mean this. Don't go looking for them.
How about wolf spiders? ;)
James, what is your favorite
1. Demon Lord of the Abyss
2. Demon Queen of the Abyss
3. Favorite Layer of the Abyss
4. FavoriteDevil Prince or Princess
5. Favorite Layer of the Nine Hells
6. Favorite Celestial
7. Favorite Upper Plane of Existence
8. Favorite Elemental Plane
9. Favorite Undead
10. Favorite Dinosaur
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Creative Director
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James, what is your favorite
1. Demon Lord of the Abyss
2. Demon Queen of the Abyss
3. Favorite Layer of the Abyss
4. FavoriteDevil Prince or Princess
5. Favorite Layer of the Nine Hells
6. Favorite Celestial
7. Favorite Upper Plane of Existence
8. Favorite Elemental Plane
9. Favorite Undead
10. Favorite Dinosaur
1) Cyth-V'sug (Pathfinder) or Demogorgon (D&D)
2) Nocticula (Pathfinder) or Malcanthet (D&D)3) Midnight Isles (Pathfinder) or Zionyn (D&D)
4) Mephistopheles
5) Dis
6) Lillend
7) The Chaotic Good one (all systems, although the name changes)
8) Water
9) Lich
10) Tyrannosaurus.
2) My favorite Lovecraft story is "At the Mountains of Madness." Tied VERY CLOSE to that in second place are "The Colour Out of Space," "The Dunwich Horror," "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," "Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath," and "The Haunter in the Dark."
Rats in the Walls!!
I don't know why, and yes Mountains of Madness is better, but this one really got under my skin.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Is there any relationship between blackfrost up in the Crown of the World, and Black Blood of Orv in the Darklands?Yup!
Well, I know better than to ask how they're related, but is this something that you're planning at some point to elaborate on, potentially along with who created the vaults of Orv and what the Black Blood is intended for by them, etc?
Dear James Jacobs,
After having a chunk of my back removed as preventative surgery against melanoma, I was informed by my dermatologist that I have an unusually high tolerance for pain. With this in mind, what Core / Base class do you think I should identify myself as by shouting "I AM A [insert class here]!" when my players come over for our weekly Pathfinder game tonight? Archetypes / Alternate classes are also acceptable.
EDIT: Also, here's a second question for you (Yowzers! A two-parter!). For NaNoWriMo, I decided that I am going to try to get all of the fluff situated for my campaign setting. I have a wonderfully hand-drawn and photoshop-enhanced map. I have names of most of the nations I'm using figured out (there are a couple areas that are still open-ended that I'm saving in case I have a glorious AH HA! moment, but I have most of my major players figured out). The one big problem I'm having is in trying to figure out the region's timeline; I'm having trouble coming up with interesting events to happen. Do you have any suggestions for this kind of world building?
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Dear James Jacobs,
After having a chunk of my back removed as preventative surgery against melanoma, I was informed by my dermatologist that I have an unusually high tolerance for pain. With this in mind, what Core / Base class do you think I should identify myself as by shouting "I AM A [insert class here]!" when my players come over for our weekly Pathfinder game tonight? Archetypes / Alternate classes are also acceptable.
Remove the "A" and insert "BEST PONY!"
Dear James Jacobs,
After having a chunk of my back removed as preventative surgery against melanoma, I was informed by my dermatologist that I have an unusually high tolerance for pain. With this in mind, what Core / Base class do you think I should identify myself as by shouting "I AM A [insert class here]!" when my players come over for our weekly Pathfinder game tonight? Archetypes / Alternate classes are also acceptable.
Remove the "A" and insert "BEST PONY!"
Ponies ... blah. I seriously don't understand that fandom. Perhaps it's because I've never watched the T.V. show, but blah .... If anything, I've noticed that there's a Barney-colored dragon on that show. Why aren't people going "RAWR! DRAGONZ!" or something. I mean, I guess he kinda looks like a young, cuddly, round Spyro; that's something I might be able to understand. But ponies?
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Ponies ... blah. I seriously don't understand that fandom. Perhaps it's because I've never watched the T.V. show, but blah .... If anything, I've noticed that there's a Barney-colored dragon on that show. Why aren't people going "RAWR! DRAGONZ!" or something. I mean, I guess he kinda looks like a young, cuddly, round Spyro; that's something I might be able to understand. But ponies?
I wouldn't have gotten it prior to watching it either, so I heartily recommend giving it a try. You'll be surprised by the quality of plot, humor, and characterization.
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Creative Director
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A while back, I was told Mephistopheles was able to have paladins. I found this hilarious and confusing at the same time, but then was told that was a typo and you folks at Paizo changed it. If this is true, why did you folks do this? There were so many awesome story ideas there since, logically, he actually can not have paladins. I was thinking of things like, maybe one of the Lawful Good deities were stuck in a contract of some kind with him and therefore had to provide power to paladins for him in some kind of sick scheme of his. Things like that, although that sounds a bit more like Nyarlethotep's alley. Anyways, had a lot of potential there out of a simple typo.
I suspect you're thinking of the mention in the article about Asmodeus in Pathfinder #29 indicating that he sometimes has paladins... not Mephistopheles. But yeah, that was an error that SHOULD have been caught during the article's development and editing cycle, but it slipped through and made it in to print. It's still an error though—no devil has paladins working for him—it just doesn't work that way.
In Kingmaker, we found out what the big villain was and we started planning tactics already at the start of the book. The DM said planning that this early is meta gaming since we should not know racial stats, even though it is obvious that certain stats would be lower based on her race. Like assuming that dinosaurs would have high strength and con based on their size. Are we actually metagaming here?
Yeah, you were metagaming. Anytime you start to make decisions in the game based on known or suspected game statistics, you're metagaming. But know what? That's expected. It's a GAME after all, and part of that is knowing the rules and getting better at the rules and using your knowledge of the rules to do better in the game. Now... if you let the metagame aspect of play leak into your actual roleplay, then I could understand why a GM or even other players might get annoyed...
What was the first Lovecraft or August Dereleth book you read? Mine was The Lurker at the Threshold, followed by Shadow over Innsmouth.
First Lovecraft story I read was "The Moon Bog," which actually didn't impress me. First Lovecraftian story I read was Robert Bloch's "Notebook Found in a Deserted House," which scared the CRAP out of me and remains one of my favorite stories today. First actual Lovecraft book I read was "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward," which was very entertaining and fun. First Derleth book I read was "Watchers out of Time", which was also one of the first Arkham House books I bought. Not sure what printing it was, though... I suspect the third printing.
Would any possible vampires in future bestiaries be Star or Fire Vampires?
Neither star vampires (created by Robert Bloch) nor fire vampires (created by August Derleth) are public domain, so unless we track down the copyright holders (since both authors are now dead) stats for those critters are unlikely to show up. We HAVE done similar things before, as with A. E. Van Vogt's couerl, but we don't do it often since usually we have to keep such creatures closed content.
What do you think the odds are of another actual CoC game coming out like Dark Corners of the Earth?
At one point, there were two sequels planned for "Dark Corners," but then that company went out of business and both sequels were shelved, alas. Which is too bad—that game was GREAT. Chances of other CoC videogames coming out, though? 100% There's been a fair number of them, in fact. The relatively recent game "Amnesia," while not being based on Lovecraft's actual writings, is VERY Lovecraftian and quite scary (you can buy it at Steam for PC or the Mac, btw). And there's a CoC videogame coming soon for iPhone and the like that's looking quite neat.
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Creative Director
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Well, I know better than to ask how they're related, but is this something that you're planning at some point to elaborate on, potentially along with who created the vaults of Orv and what the Black Blood is intended for by them, etc?Is there any relationship between blackfrost up in the Crown of the World, and Black Blood of Orv in the Darklands?Yup!
There IS some more to be said about the relationship between those two, as well as the relationship between the ruins at the North Pole and the Vaults of Orv themselves... but that time is not quite yet...
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Creative Director
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Dear James Jacobs,
After having a chunk of my back removed as preventative surgery against melanoma, I was informed by my dermatologist that I have an unusually high tolerance for pain. With this in mind, what Core / Base class do you think I should identify myself as by shouting "I AM A [insert class here]!" when my players come over for our weekly Pathfinder game tonight? Archetypes / Alternate classes are also acceptable.
EDIT: Also, here's a second question for you (Yowzers! A two-parter!). For NaNoWriMo, I decided that I am going to try to get all of the fluff situated for my campaign setting. I have a wonderfully hand-drawn and photoshop-enhanced map. I have names of most of the nations I'm using figured out (there are a couple areas that are still open-ended that I'm saving in case I have a glorious AH HA! moment, but I have most of my major players figured out). The one big problem I'm having is in trying to figure out the region's timeline; I'm having trouble coming up with interesting events to happen. Do you have any suggestions for this kind of world building?
First of all... yikes! Hope you're doing okay!
I've always interpreted a high tolerance for pain as being modeled best by damage reduction, so that means your best class to identify with would probably be the barbarian. Monk could work as well, but their DR isn't quite as good...
As for building timelines... the best way to do that is organically. Start by listing the founding dates for all of your campaign setting's current nations. Listing founding dates for religions can work as well. If there's any mention in your region writeups of big events in the past, drop them in as well. And make your timeline larger than you might initially want—if you're thinking a recent pat of 200 years will do it, go ahead and double or triple that, since that'll give you more room to build new events as they come to you. Then, as you develop more for your world or play games in it and new ideas come to you, just start dropping new dates in there.
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Creative Director
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What's your opinion of Real Life Superheroes? It seems that Seattle is the hub of this movement (or at least is getting the most attention due to the media focus lately on Phoenix Jones).
My opinion is that it's kind of dangerous. Interesting, sure, but there's a lot of variables and complexities that come in to play. I like the concept... I'm just nervous that once the real world gets ahold it'll all backfire. Cause I'm kinda pessimistic, I guess.
Do you guys have any plans for a Modern Pathfinder, Age of Sail Pathfinder, Steampunk Pathfinder, or any other deviation from the standard medieval/early renaissance tech level? Any chance of there ever being such plans?
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Creative Director
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Do you guys have any plans for a Modern Pathfinder, Age of Sail Pathfinder, Steampunk Pathfinder, or any other deviation from the standard medieval/early renaissance tech level? Any chance of there ever being such plans?
No plans at this point. We're pretty committed to remaining a very strong focus on Golarion as a fantasy setting. If we were to introduce a new setting (like a modern or a steampunk or whatever) we would have to support that setting with its own line of adventure paths and supplements, because that's our philosophy-a setting without constant support is not a viable setting, and thus not something we want to devote resources toward.
That philosophy may some day change... but that day is not today.
Do you guys have any plans for a Modern Pathfinder, Age of Sail Pathfinder, Steampunk Pathfinder, or any other deviation from the standard medieval/early renaissance tech level? Any chance of there ever being such plans?No plans at this point. We're pretty committed to remaining a very strong focus on Golarion as a fantasy setting. If we were to introduce a new setting (like a modern or a steampunk or whatever) we would have to support that setting with its own line of adventure paths and supplements, because that's our philosophy--a setting without constant support is not a viable setting, and thus not something we want to devote resources toward.
That philosophy may some day change... but that day is not today.
What about a book about how to update Golarion to the Age of Sail and use medieval adventure paths with muskets?
Who put the dog food in the washing machine?!
James,
I am currently reading Undead Revisited, and its one of my new favorite books!!
Which lead me to thinking about how much I love Golarion. One thing that I really love about the setting is how you can basically play any type of game or run any sort of adventure there.
So question time:
What's your favorite part of Golarion as a player?? As a GM?? and as a game designer/creative director??
If possible, please give three different answers.
Its been said that in order for there to be a possibility of a Inner Sea style book for Tian Xia, the upcoming books would need to be successful and popular.
Without giving away company numbers/policies, roughly how successful/popular would those books need to be??
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Creative Director
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What about a book about how to update Golarion to the Age of Sail and use medieval adventure paths with muskets?Do you guys have any plans for a Modern Pathfinder, Age of Sail Pathfinder, Steampunk Pathfinder, or any other deviation from the standard medieval/early renaissance tech level? Any chance of there ever being such plans?No plans at this point. We're pretty committed to remaining a very strong focus on Golarion as a fantasy setting. If we were to introduce a new setting (like a modern or a steampunk or whatever) we would have to support that setting with its own line of adventure paths and supplements, because that's our philosophy a setting without constant support is not a viable setting, and thus not something we want to devote resources toward.
That philosophy may some day change... but that day is not today.
Nope.
1)Favorite type of Dragon?
2)Favorite type of Fey?
3)Favorite type of Giant?
4)Favorite Lovecraftian creature?
5)Favorite type of Golem?
6)Favorite type of Magical Beast?
7)Favorite of the base player races?
8)Favorite character you ever played?
9)Favorite villian you ever played against?
10)Favorite fictional Babe/Hot Chick?
Do the iconic characters have love lives? Will they ever? Are any of them LGBT?
I believe the official line is that all iconics should be thought of as bisexual until proven otherwise.
I believe the official line is that all iconics should be thought of as bisexual until proven otherwise.
Which really makes me want to do a post as Lem exclaiming "I've got a lollipop for both the boys and the girls!" Not going to, though, since I'm only "borrowing" him. ;)
Edit: And I hope this post is okay by Paizo. Bit hard to tell what's constitutes too far by American standards sometimes.
Oh god. I just wanted to know if Merisiel and Kyra were ever going to get together. I did not need... whatever that was.
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Creative Director
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What's your favorite part of Golarion as a player?? As a GM?? and as a game designer/creative director??
If possible, please give three different answers.
Its been said that in order for there to be a possibility of a Inner Sea style book for Tian Xia, the upcoming books would need to be successful and popular.
Without giving away company numbers/policies, roughly how successful/popular would those books need to be??
Honestly... I can't really pick favorite parts of Golarion. I'm too conflicted, because each time I think of one thing I think of two other things I like as much.
As for a big hardcover book of Tian Xia... in order for us to want to go do a hardcover version, I suspect we'd have to see Jade Regent and the Tian Xia stuff sell better than any of the Inner Sea stuff AND get lots of demand. I doubt that'll happen, honestly. Gamers aren't always all that into new stuff, like Asia.
Do the iconic characters have love lives? Will they ever? Are any of them LGBT?They do. They will some day. Yes.
Awesome ^_^.
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Creative Director
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1)Favorite type of Dragon?
2)Favorite type of Fey?
3)Favorite type of Giant?
4)Favorite Lovecraftian creature?
5)Favorite type of Golem?
6)Favorite type of Magical Beast?
7)Favorite of the base player races?
8)Favorite character you ever played?
9)Favorite villian you ever played against?
10)Favorite fictional Babe/Hot Chick?
1) Bronze
2) Nymph3) Rune and Marsh (tied)
4) Shoggoth
5) Clay
6) Bulette
7) Human (but sometimes elf, half-elf, halfling, or gnome)
8) Shensen
9) Balabar Smenk
10) Merisiel! Or Nocticula or Iggwilv or Malcanthet, I guess...
Do the iconic characters have love lives? Will they ever? Are any of them LGBT?They do. They will some day. Yes.
Questions about LGBT presence in the iconics are invariably all about the letters L, G, and B. Therefore it needs to be asked. Are any of the iconics transgender?
What's your opinion of Real Life Superheroes? It seems that Seattle is the hub of this movement (or at least is getting the most attention due to the media focus lately on Phoenix Jones).My opinion is that it's kind of dangerous. Interesting, sure, but there's a lot of variables and complexities that come in to play. I like the concept... I'm just nervous that once the real world gets ahold it'll all backfire. Cause I'm kinda pessimistic, I guess.
Have you thought that maybe you should replace "pessimistic" with "minimally observant?"
Spellstrike: The free attack is NOT an extra attack. It's a free attack you ad on to spellcasting. Casting the spell still takes the normal amount of time—spellstrike just effectively adds the weapon attack as a part of the casting of the spell. Think of the attack as a somatic component if you will. So when he uses spellstrike, he does NOT get his full iterative attacks—his primary action in that round is the spellcasting, and normally that means he gets NO attacks. Spellstrike lets him make ONE attack as part of that spellcasting.
I think you are missing the interaction between Spellstrike and Spell Combat. Spell Combat allows the Magus to cast a spell with his offhand as a full round action and still receive his iterative attacks. If that spell is a touch spell that provides a free touch attack as part of it (like shocking grasp) then the magus would still get this attack. So using Spell Combat, but without Spellstrike, the magus could attack with his sword and cast shocking grasp and deliver it as a touch spell with his off hand. With Spellstrike (which the ability states can be used with Spell Combat) the magus can make the attack for the shocking grasp with his sword instead of his off hand (though it is no longer a touch attack). I think this works fine so long as cantrips are errata'd to not be usuable with Spellstrike.
Does this make sense?
1)Will there be any snail like monsters in the Beastairy 3?
2)Will we ever get a playtest for other books then the main hardcovers?
3)What are the requirenments for you guys to think that something needs a playtest?
4)There will not be a playtest for ultimate equipment, correct?
5)What is your favorite type of Plant creature?
6)Favorite type of Bug(real world)?
7)Does the Distant worlds book have a set number of expected stats for monsters/races yet? How many creatures/races will be statted up?
8)What is your least favorite type of Bug(real world)?
9)What is your least favorite D@D monster ever created?
10)Who are least favorite Actors? Actresses?
What are the chance on seeing a Player Guide or anything that focuses on Irresen next year?
What are the chance on seeing a Player Guide or anything that focuses on Irresen next year?
I would expect to see stuff in 2013.:)
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Creative Director
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Questions about LGBT presence in the iconics are invariably all about the letters L, G, and B. Therefore it needs to be asked. Are any of the iconics transgender?Do the iconic characters have love lives? Will they ever? Are any of them LGBT?They do. They will some day. Yes.
I suspect so!
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Creative Director
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Spellstrike: The free attack is NOT an extra attack. It's a free attack you ad on to spellcasting. Casting the spell still takes the normal amount of time—spellstrike just effectively adds the weapon attack as a part of the casting of the spell. Think of the attack as a somatic component if you will. So when he uses spellstrike, he does NOT get his full iterative attacks—his primary action in that round is the spellcasting, and normally that means he gets NO attacks. Spellstrike lets him make ONE attack as part of that spellcasting.
I think you are missing the interaction between Spellstrike and Spell Combat. Spell Combat allows the Magus to cast a spell with his offhand as a full round action and still receive his iterative attacks. If that spell is a touch spell that provides a free touch attack as part of it (like shocking grasp) then the magus would still get this attack. So using Spell Combat, but without Spellstrike, the magus could attack with his sword and cast shocking grasp and deliver it as a touch spell with his off hand. With Spellstrike (which the ability states can be used with Spell Combat) the magus can make the attack for the shocking grasp with his sword instead of his off hand (though it is no longer a touch attack). I think this works fine so long as cantrips are errata'd to not be usuable with Spellstrike.
Does this make sense?
Cantrips should be errataed to just not be spells in the first place. Too many design assumptions rely upon spell level as a multiple or adjustment, and using "0" as a spell level causes too many problems.
Questions about LGBT presence in the iconics are invariably all about the letters L, G, and B. Therefore it needs to be asked. Are any of the iconics transgender?
I suspect so!
We already know it's Ezren.
Considering how much easier magic is than surgery, I would be unsurprised to discover that gender re-assignment is actually quite common in Golarion (for reasons both personal and cultural).
I would be unsurprised to discover that gender re-assignment is actually quite common in Golarion (for reasons both personal and cultural).
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Creative Director
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1)Will there be any snail like monsters in the Beastairy 3?
2)Will we ever get a playtest for other books then the main hardcovers?
3)What are the requirenments for you guys to think that something needs a playtest?
4)There will not be a playtest for ultimate equipment, correct?
5)What is your favorite type of Plant creature?
6)Favorite type of Bug(real world)?
7)Does the Distant worlds book have a set number of expected stats for monsters/races yet? How many creatures/races will be statted up?
8)What is your least favorite type of Bug(real world)?
9)What is your least favorite D@D monster ever created?
10)Who are least favorite Actors? Actresses?
1) Yes.
2) Probably not... although I sometimes do stealth playtests on the boards for elements in non-hardcovers. Orchestrating public playtests takes a HECK of a lot of work, and limiting them to once or twice a year is a necessity.
3) One part "does this involve weird new rules?" One part "will this playtest get people excited about the book?"
4) I'm pretty sure there won't be a playtest for Ultimate Equipment; there's not a lot of new rules in that book I don't believe.
5) Vegepygmy. Or maybe the giant flytrap.
6) Giant water bug. AKA Toebiter. AKA one of the few insects that is accurately and scientifically quantified as being a "bug." :-)
7) Distant Worlds is written and in development, so it does indeed have its contents locked in. Now's not quite the time to reveal details, though.
8) Expanding OUT of the scientific category of "bug," I would say that the fly is my least favorite. Also: it's my least favorite animal.
9) I'm not gonna say, since I don't wanna hurt the feelings of whoever made the gorilla bear.
10) I don't really have least favorite actors or actresses... but I'm not a big fan at all of Keanu Reeves or Reese Witherspoon, I tell you what.
I would be unsurprised to discover that gender re-assignment is actually quite common in Golarion (for reasons both personal and cultural).*cough*
You call that a curse? I would LOVE to get my hands on one of those. Way better than surgery and hormones.