>>Ask *James Jacobs* ALL your Questions Here!<<

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Have a jolly good rest James Jacobs! You deserve it for all the hard work you do! *e-hug*

[A highly regarded expert]

Don't let the bastards grind you down.

[CorvusMask]

Ah, Automatic Bonus Progression removes ring of protection, amulet of natural armor, +weapons & armors and cloak of resistance from game and gives bonuses they give at certain levels. Like at 3rd level you get +1 to all resistances and so on.

Anyway, have as much rest as you can get!

[Darrell Impey UK]

Rest, recharge, and come back when you are ready sir.

(Maybe worth locking the thread whilst you are away, so that you're not swamped?)

[A highly regarded expert]

We use it in some of our games. I like it, personally. It lets you get more interesting items than the regular cloak, ring, belt, etc.

Automatic Bonus Progression

[Set]

James Jacobs wrote:

Hey there, everyone! This post is partially for me (so I can keep track of the last place the thread was at when I last looked at it) and partially a PSA to let folks know that I'm going to be stepping away from this thread for various reasons mostly to do with my own mental health.

Thanks for spoiling us with your insights to the setting, game, horror movies, etc.! I've never seen someone in the gaming industry so willing to spend so much time communicating with his fans, and that surely takes some emotional energy from you, that you might need for yourself.

Hopefully Shimmy can give you some zen-advice-by-example on life and contentment. Cats seem to have that stuff down. :)

[Purple Dragon Knight]

James Jacobs wrote:

Purple Dragon Knight wrote:

What's your favorite beer?

Blue moon... mostly because it doesnt' taste like beer.

I'll go buy a case and raise one to your health! Thank you for this thread so far. It was very much appreciated.

I went there for a week a few years ago, and it recharged my batteries for about three years' worth. I highly recommend it.

Take care!

[Cole Deschain]

Recharge, regroup, and take care of yourself.

[TrinitysEnd]

Something I always tell my players in games is this: Real Life (Which includes Health) is far more important than the game. We can always play another time, but if you don't get better, there may not be a another time.

See you when you get back and I hope you get the rest you need!

[cibet44]

James Jacobs wrote:

Hey there, everyone! This post is partially for me (so I can keep track of the last place the thread was at when I last looked at it) and partially a PSA to let folks know that I'm going to be stepping away from this thread for various reasons mostly to do with my own mental health.

Unfortunate. This thread is one of my favorite Paizo "products" and I read it weekly. It has often led me to other -for purchase- products I was either unaware of or uninterested in until some piece of information surfaced here. For me, this thread was what kept me regularly coming back to Paizo.com as the game itself, from a rules perspective, moves further away from something I enjoy.

Im not sure what led to James exit from this discussion. I have not seen any inflammatory or offensive posts (I assume mods removed them?) but it's a shame they were able to destroy it.

In general and as a long time Paizo customer I also continue to be baffled at James Jacobs changing -shrinking- role in Paizo products. Time after time in this thread he has publicly lamented Paizo's own staff trampling or ignoring his world vision, the ongoing rules bloat and lack of world/rules cohesion, and a total lack of involvement in rules based products that dont seem to cross his desk at all. Im not sure how a Creative Director can direct anything when these kinds of things happen. It must be supremely frustrating.

I also continue to be baffled by the decision to not have James involved in the Strange Aeons AP at all and instead do the Curse reprint. I've been waiting years to hear James's take on Lovecraft in Pathfinder with a full AP and when it finally happens he has little to no involvement with it despite being the most public and knowledgeable Lovecraft fan at Paizo? Wow.

Then a new game gets announced in Starfinder that follows the model James has been unsuccessfully lobbying for Pathfinder for years: a synergy of rules and flavor in print; a limited rules set that only expands when the story requires it; and a single world vision run by the CD. Not only does Starfinder get James preferred Pathfinder model but a new Creative Director gets named to run it. Stunning.

To me James Jacobs and Erik Mona are Paizo and as they have moved further away from creating the published products I'm interested in my enthusiasm for the game has declined in parallel. I hope the ending/furloughing of this "product" isn't a sign of bigger change for James and Paizo.

[Hitdice]

James Jacobs wrote:

Hey there, everyone! This post is partially for me (so I can keep track of the last place the thread was at when I last looked at it) and partially a PSA to let folks know that I'm going to be stepping away from this thread for various reasons mostly to do with my own mental health.

You'll be missed. :)

[Snowsarn]

Hi James

I want to thank you for keeping this thread going for so long, and for answering all of our questions. Not long ago I wrote that this was one of my favorite things about Paizo. The costumer contact that puts you above other companies, so I am sad that it has come to an end.

That said your mental health is paramount and I hope you get better soon.

I wish you all the best

Cheers

[John Kretzer]

Wait...is this a permanent break...or a temporarily one?

Either way it is probably a good idea.

Thanks for answering all of our questions and I hope one day you feel better to come back.

[Haladir]

Hi, James.

I want to give you a hearty and heartfelt "Thank-you!" for the time and dedication you've put into this thread in particular, and to the hobby in general.

I hope you return to this thread someday, but I totally understand why you might choose not to.

Take care of yourself, and best wishes to you!

[Bill McGrath]

Hi James,

this thread is one of my favourite things across the entire Internet; thank you for making it such a joy for so many years.

Hope all is well and you can look after yourself properly.

[MMCJawa]

Hi James,

I understand and respect your decision to back out of this thread and hope things improve to the point that someday you feel like you can come back. Best wishes regardless!

I almost feel like this marks a new age for Paizo. James was the last long time staff member to regularly post (outside the product pages at least). It sucks that certain posters, intentionally or unintentionally, have to ruin it for everyone else.

[Ral' Yareth]

Good afternoon, Mr Jacobs

I hope you are feeling better.

My questions:

1) More or less, how old would you say is White Estrid (The linnorm King/Queen)? 40s? More ? Less?

2) Does she have any immediate kin that might succeed her in case of her death? Sons, daughters, nephews, sisters and such?

[Sara Marie]

Hi folks, James and I have chatted about this AMA thread and we've decided to lock it for now.

[James Jacobs]

Ok; took about a week off the thread and I'm ready to open it back up. Going forward, I'll continue to try to answer every question frankly and honestly and entreatingly as possible... but I'm also going to be a lot more selective about which questions I answer. Certain questions, such as those asking for information about things we've not yet announced, almost all rules clarifications, most questions that ask for my personal opinions about products we publish, and questions that I feel have an agenda toward trolling won't be answered, but I'll let folks know so that it'll be apparent.

Now, let's return to questions and answers.

AND: Be good to each other!

[James Jacobs]

Ral' Yareth wrote:

My questions:

1) More or less, how old would you say is White Estrid (The linnorm King/Queen)? 40s? More ? Less?

2) Does she have any immediate kin that might succeed her in case of her death? Sons, daughters, nephews, sisters and such?

1) Low to mid 30s.

2) No, but that's not really the way succession works in the Linnorm Kingdoms anyway.

[Paladinosaur]

Hey James,
I'm glad you're back and hope you're feeling better!

So, have you played Diablo III and it's expansion?

[MMCJawa]

Hi James,

So glad you are back and hope you are feeling way better.

Since this is a question thread:

1)Do you have a favorite prehistoric mammal?

[Thomas Seitz]

Dear James Jacobs,

What is your opinion on having the Inhumans appear on the small screen versus them appearing on the Big Screen?

Also comic books: Do you think that DC is learning from the mistakes it made in Batman versus Superman and trying to do less grim dark?

[Rysky]

Yay! Welcome back Directorsaur!

*hugs*

Watched any good movies lately?

Played any good video games?

[Dragon78]

Do you have any interest in getting the mini NES(when it becomes available again)?

List of 30 games

Balloon Fight
Bubble Bobble
Castlevania
Castlevania 2
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Jr.
Double Dragon 2
Dr. Mario
Excite Bike
Final Fantasy
Galaga
Ghost and Goblins
Gradius
Ice Climber
Kid Icarus
Kirby's Adventure
Legend of Zelda
Mario Bros.
Mega Man 2
Metroid
Ninja Gaiden
Pac-Man
Punch Out
Star Tropics
Super C
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Tecmo Bowl
Zelda 2

[Flynn Greywalker]

James, what is the unlaiden speed of a Flumph and can they become military scouts for the Nirmathian militia?

Also, as another questions, can Flumph's cast fireball out of their eyestalks or do they have to use the tentacles?

[Flynn Greywalker]

James, also a question for Paizocon, will you offer a Misfit Monster plushy as a gift bag item for coming to the Con? Or Mini?

[James Jacobs]

Paladinosaur wrote:

So, have you played Diablo III and it's expansion?

I have. I played through to act IV, Heaven, and then got bored with the game and never played again.

[James Jacobs]

MMCJawa wrote:

1)Do you have a favorite prehistoric mammal?

I do!

Smilodon.

[James Jacobs]

Thomas Seitz wrote:

Dear James Jacobs,

What is your opinion on having the Inhumans appear on the small screen versus them appearing on the Big Screen?

Also comic books: Do you think that DC is learning from the mistakes it made in Batman versus Superman and trying to do less grim dark?

No real opinion. I like what Agents of Shield has done with them so far, although I'm relatively ambivalent about Agents of Shield as a whole. I enjoy it when I'm watching it, but there always seems to be a more interesting show to watch so episodes of Agents of Shield tend to accumulate and gather dust on my Tivo until guilt forces me to binge them away.

I don't. I think DC is in semi-panic mode and is trying to make their movies do everything at once, rather than do what's right for the movie in question. Furthermore, I think they're hiring the wrong directors for most of their movies. If you want to make a movie about Superman, hire someone who likes Superman, not a dark and cynical director who wants to present Superman as dark and cynical.

[James Jacobs]

Rysky wrote:

Watched any good movies lately?

Played any good video games?

Movies: I quite enjoyed "I Am the Prettiest Thing in the House" on Netflix, and "Arrival" is one of the best sci-fi movies I've seen in a long time.

Videogames: DIshonored 2 is astoundingly fun, as I knew it would be. I'm almost done with it, at which point I'll switch over to Tyrrany, which I have only just barely started but love what Oblivion's done with the game so far.

[James Jacobs]

Dragon78 wrote:

Do you have any interest in getting the mini NES(when it becomes available again)?

No interest.

[James Jacobs]

Flynn Greywalker wrote:

James, what is the unlaiden speed of a Flumph and can they become military scouts for the Nirmathian militia?

Also, as another questions, can Flumph's cast fireball out of their eyestalks or do they have to use the tentacles?

As listed on page 119 of Bestiary 3, a flumph's unladen speed is 5 ft, fly 20 ft.

They cannot become military scouts for Nirmathas for 2 reasons:
1) They're lawful good and would not agree with Nirmathas's reasons for fighting and would not agree to work for them in the first place, and...
2) Nirmathas wouldn't hire them because they think flumphs are goofy.

All spellcasting requires the ability to fulfill the components. Fireball requires verbal, somatic, and material components. A flumph can talk, and can make somatic components with its tentacles, but if it somehow had access to the material components, then a flumph spellcaster could cast fireball just as easily as any other spellcaster; the fireball would manifest in the air before them as they cast it, in the same way it does with humans. Fireballs don't shoot out of a human's eyes, so they wouldn't come out of a flumph's eyestalks.

[James Jacobs]

Flynn Greywalker wrote:

James, also a question for Paizocon, will you offer a Misfit Monster plushy as a gift bag item for coming to the Con? Or Mini?

I will not.

Whether or not Paizo will is up to management, but if they DO decide to do something like this, they'll announce it in due time.

[Fergie]

Some video game questions:
-What are the earliest video games that you really enjoyed?
-Did you ever play any of the Ultima series?
-The Bards Tale? (The originals from the 1980's)
-Do you enjoy turn based games?
-And finally, are you familiar with Darkest Dungeon?
Also, Welcome Back! I hope this thread lives up to the excellent effort that you have put into it.

[Rysky]

James Jacobs wrote:

Rysky wrote:

Watched any good movies lately?

Played any good video games?

Movies: I quite enjoyed "I Am the Prettiest Thing in the House" on Netflix, and "Arrival" is one of the best sci-fi movies I've seen in a long time.

Videogames: DIshonored 2 is astoundingly fun, as I knew it would be. I'm almost done with it, at which point I'll switch over to Tyrrany, which I have only just barely started but love what Oblivion's done with the game so far.

Cool :3

And I'll probably wait till Christmas before I get Dishonored 2.

Are you playing as Emily or Corvo?

And did you:

Reject The Outsider's offer or accept it to get powers?

[John Kretzer]

I have seen ' I am the Prettiest Thing in the House' on Netflix but have yet to watch it. Can you give me a recommendation and maybe a spoiler free review?

When it comes to horror movies you have really broaden my horizons.

Also have you seen a horror movie called The Monster (2016). I have noticed other on rental streaming service and debating on rather to rent it or not.

Also I am glad that you are back.

[James Jacobs]

Fergie wrote:

Some video game questions:

-What are the earliest video games that you really enjoyed?
-Did you ever play any of the Ultima series?
-The Bards Tale? (The originals from the 1980's)
-Do you enjoy turn based games?
-And finally, are you familiar with Darkest Dungeon?
Also, Welcome Back! I hope this thread lives up to the excellent effort that you have put into it.

-Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Jungle Hunt, Joust

-I didn't have a home computer until I was heading into college in 1990, and as such missed out on Ultima I, II, III, IV, and V. I started playing the series with Ultima VI, but I was relatively frustrated with how monsters respawned and some other gameplay elements and never really got all that into the series as a result..

-They had Bard's Tale II on one of the computers at my High School and I loved playing it there, but never got to play it much at all. It was fun though, and I did play some of the later games more.

-Yes

-Yes

[James Jacobs]

Rysky wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

Rysky wrote:

Watched any good movies lately?

Played any good video games?

Movies: I quite enjoyed "I Am the Prettiest Thing in the House" on Netflix, and "Arrival" is one of the best sci-fi movies I've seen in a long time.

Videogames: DIshonored 2 is astoundingly fun, as I knew it would be. I'm almost done with it, at which point I'll switch over to Tyrrany, which I have only just barely started but love what Oblivion's done with the game so far.

Cool :3

And I'll probably wait till Christmas before I get Dishonored 2.

Are you playing as Emily or Corvo?

** spoiler omitted **

Emily, of course. No question there at all.

Spoiler:

Accepted the powers. And originally I had hoped to go low chaos, but that pretty instantly didn't work out and I'm all about high chaos now. Will likely be finishing the game tonight to find out what that ends up meaning...

[James Jacobs]

John Kretzer wrote:

I have seen ' I am the Prettiest Thing in the House' on Netflix but have yet to watch it. Can you give me a recommendation and maybe a spoiler free review?

When it comes to horror movies you have really broaden my horizons.

Also have you seen a horror movie called The Monster (2016). I have noticed other on rental streaming service and debating on rather to rent it or not.

Also I am glad that you are back.

"I am the Prettiest Thing in the House" is an EXCELLENT movie, directed by Osgood Perkins (son of Anthony "Norman Bates" Perkins from "Psycho"). It's not action packed at all, and is very much a mood-piece and of the slow-burn horror genre. If you like Shirley Jackson's writing, you'll love this movie. If you want something that's more action-packed with jump scares or a more classical movie construction (such as you find with movies like "The Conjuring" or "Insidiious") then this isn't the movie for you.

I just watched "The Monster" earlier this week. Excellent movie as well, with some incredible performances and a surprisingly effective practical-effects creature.

[Rysky]

James Jacobs wrote:

Rysky wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

Rysky wrote:

Watched any good movies lately?

Played any good video games?

Movies: I quite enjoyed "I Am the Prettiest Thing in the House" on Netflix, and "Arrival" is one of the best sci-fi movies I've seen in a long time.

Videogames: DIshonored 2 is astoundingly fun, as I knew it would be. I'm almost done with it, at which point I'll switch over to Tyrrany, which I have only just barely started but love what Oblivion's done with the game so far.

Cool :3

And I'll probably wait till Christmas before I get Dishonored 2.

Are you playing as Emily or Corvo?

** spoiler omitted **

Emily, of course. No question there at all.

** spoiler omitted **

*nods*

[Alayern]

Have you played Child of Light? I just picked it up yesterday and it's already lovely.

[James Jacobs]

Alayern wrote:

Have you played Child of Light? I just picked it up yesterday and it's already lovely.

I haven't, but I've heard great things about it. It always slips through the cracks when I start looking for new games to buy and play, for whatever reason.

[Kevin Mack]

Ever played Warhammer or Warrhammer 40k? (Or for that matter any of there offshoot games bloodbowl, mordeheim, necromunda ect.)

[Crusinos]

If you had a choice between listening to a boring speech for all eternity or having the same conversations for all eternity, would you flee the room and leave the obvious trap for some other sucker?

[Ed Reppert]

Dunno if I've asked this before, but did you ever play "Wizardry"? That's the one that got me into computers and computer gaming, back in the early 80s.

[Rysky]

What's it been like working with Sandy Petersen? Are you enjoying it?

[James Jacobs]

Kevin Mack wrote:

Ever played Warhammer or Warrhammer 40k? (Or for that matter any of there offshoot games bloodbowl, mordeheim, necromunda ect.)

Nope.

[James Jacobs]

Crusinos wrote:

If you had a choice between listening to a boring speech for all eternity or having the same conversations for all eternity, would you flee the room and leave the obvious trap for some other sucker?

Conversations at least are interactive. I'd choose that.

[James Jacobs]

Ed Reppert wrote:

Dunno if I've asked this before, but did you ever play "Wizardry"? That's the one that got me into computers and computer gaming, back in the early 80s.

I played one or two of them around the time of Wizardry 7 or thereabouts.