Contributor
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Mr. Jacobs: we know that dretches are created from chaotic evil souls whose greatest sin was sloth. Could you give an example of such a soul? I'm having trouble envisioning a soul with the moral conviction to be chaotic evil, yet that lacks a more powerful sin to affect their larva's destiny.
Thank you! ^_^
Mr. Jacobs: we know that dretches are created from chaotic evil souls whose greatest sin was sloth. Could you give an example of such a soul? I'm having trouble envisioning a soul with the moral conviction to be chaotic evil, yet that lacks a more powerful sin to affect their larva's destiny.
Thank you! ^_^
Someone who summoned Fiendish Badgers with the sole purpose of washing dishes due to being too lazy to do it themselves.
EDIT: fixed badger alignment.
I'd like to expand on Archpaladin Zousha's question: is there a comprehensive list somewhere of demonyms for all the nationalities of Golarion (or at least the Inner Sea)?
Also, which order of Hellknights would one be most likely to encounter serving with the crusaders on the wardstone line between Mendev and the Worldwound?
Almighty dinosaur, am I excited for Starfinder? My main campaign setting is a modernish technology setting where magic is widely known to exist. I've been trying to use Pathfinder as a system chassis for this game, but I'd like to inquire whether you think Starfinder could do the job if I erased laser guns and wrote assault rifles.
Creative Director
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Given the recent decision that slavery is an inherently evil act... what is your take on the spells "Summon Monster" and "Planar Binding"? Or what about golem production considering that involves stealing the will of an elemental for the animation process?
Is dominate now inherently evil since it is a form of slavery no matter how you choose to use the power?
How about the Manacles of Cooperation?
Those spells are in a gray area, along with mind control. But since the servitude enforced by those spells is temporary it's not quite the same as slavery.
Golem production is a concept that slipped through the cracks; in order to keep that from feeling evil, my suggestion is to instead of saying that it requires an elemental to animate, it just requires a fragment of elemental animative power. Or maybe just say it requires a mote of positive energy.
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Creative Director
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Mr. Jacobs: we know that dretches are created from chaotic evil souls whose greatest sin was sloth. Could you give an example of such a soul? I'm having trouble envisioning a soul with the moral conviction to be chaotic evil, yet that lacks a more powerful sin to affect their larva's destiny.
Thank you! ^_^
An extreme would be someone who committed suicide by just laying around and refusing to find shelter or help. Another example would be someone who couldn't be bothered to save or help someone because they were too lazy to help, and did so over and over and over. Someone who ignores someone in need or someone who doesn't step up to defend another is also slothful in a way. Do that too much and presto! Dretch!
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Creative Director
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Have you ever accidentally mentioned an upcoming product on the forums and then later realized, "oh crap, that wasn't public yet"?
Has anyone else at Paizo?
Would someone get fired for something like that? :b
I have not. It has happened before I believe, but never something major or big. And it ABSOLUTELY can result in someone getting fired if the leak is big enough. Which is one of the reasons we don't do it.
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Creative Director
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What's the proper adjective for a person or thing from Kyonin? Kyonan? Kyoninani? Kyoninian?
Off the top of my head I don't know the official adjective; we have ALL of those catalogued in our editorial style guide at work. I'm at home now though, so I can't check the official Paizo one. Kyonin isnt' the name of my elven kindom from my homebrew (it changed for Golarion, but the core concept of an elven kingdom at war with Treerazer did not). If I had to choose one off the top of my head I'd say it was "Kyonin" to keep things simple.
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Creative Director
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I'd like to expand on Archpaladin Zousha's question: is there a comprehensive list somewhere of demonyms for all the nationalities of Golarion (or at least the Inner Sea)?
Also, which order of Hellknights would one be most likely to encounter serving with the crusaders on the wardstone line between Mendev and the Worldwound?
There is. It's a part of our extensive in-house and not public style guide.
The Order of the Godclaw I believe is the one that started in Mendev, so they're PROBABLY the most likely to have members up there... but the whole thing attracts all sorts of would-be crusaders, so it wouldn't be impossible to find a Hellknight of any order up there. Probalby not an entire platoon, but a few on personal crusades perhaps.
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Creative Director
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Almighty dinosaur, am I excited for Starfinder? My main campaign setting is a modernish technology setting where magic is widely known to exist. I've been trying to use Pathfinder as a system chassis for this game, but I'd like to inquire whether you think Starfinder could do the job if I erased laser guns and wrote assault rifles.
Not being you, I can't say if you're excited for Starfinder or not. But Starfinder is very much going to be about a high-tech world where future tech and magic exist side by side. It's unlikely to give you much in the way of modern technology. Dunno. That's more a question for the Starfinder team.
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Creative Director
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NDA sucks.
What are your favorite extraplanar bads (besides cthulhu mythos).
My favorite are the golarion daemons. I never found the blood war merc concept compelling.
What are your favorite deceiver monsters?
I like the Lamia Matriarchs personally for a variety of reasons.
What is your favorite region on golarion 5o play in? Run as GM? Favorite (or most looked forward to) region to write stories and paizo material in?
In fact, NDA is VERY important and useful. Without NDAs, it's pretty likely that a fair amount of the things you like would not exist for you to like. Breaking NDA is not only a great way to get yoruself in trouble, but also a great way to significantly damage the company or group you promised to keep secrets for.
The Lovecraft mythos, at least in as much as they exist in Pathfinder, are expressly and intentionally NOT extraplanar; they're fully Material Plane threats. My favorite extraplanar threats are demons.
My favorite deceiver monster is the succubus.
My favorite area in Golarion is western Varisia as far as playing games, running games, or writing content for Paizo.
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An extreme would be someone who committed suicide by just laying around and refusing to find shelter or help.Mr. Jacobs: we know that dretches are created from chaotic evil souls whose greatest sin was sloth. Could you give an example of such a soul? I'm having trouble envisioning a soul with the moral conviction to be chaotic evil, yet that lacks a more powerful sin to affect their larva's destiny.
Thank you! ^_^
...
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Creative Director
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NDA sucks solely from the "I wish I could say something, because what I want to say might help a lot of people feel like their concerns, desires and opinions do matter."
I hate being under NDA when the only worthwhile thing to tell anyone is good news that can't be shared.
Everything else I agree with you on. Played this game before. I do understand how and, more importantly, why NDA exists.
But that doesn't stop it from sucking sometimes. Nor would I ever encourage someone to violate an NDA.
If you hate being under NDA then the best thing is to avoid putting yourself in positions where you have to be under an NDA. Which more or less means you'll never write for Paizo as a freelancer, since all of our freelancers are required to operate under an NDA as part of their contract with us.
But that said... let's keep this thread to questions, please.
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When I asked about the narrative themes of Iron Gods, you said a big one was twisting the narrative idea of "faith vs. science" by exploring the two working in TANDEM instead of in OPPOSITION. Could you perhaps elaborate on that idea? What kinds of questions is Iron Gods asking the players? What are good ways to explore this idea as a PC?
Will the upcoming hobgoblin invasion AP ring many bells for players familiar with your classic 3.5 super-module Red Hand of Doom?
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Creative Director
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Will the upcoming hobgoblin invasion AP ring many bells for players familiar with your classic 3.5 super-module Red Hand of Doom?
Probably not. It's a pretty different plot, and I'm not writing or developing the AP. It's pretty much all in Crystal's more-than-capable hands, so it'll be something different than Red Hand.
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Creative Director
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When I asked about the narrative themes of Iron Gods, you said a big one was twisting the narrative idea of "faith vs. science" by exploring the two working in TANDEM instead of in OPPOSITION. Could you perhaps elaborate on that idea? What kinds of questions is Iron Gods asking the players? What are good ways to explore this idea as a PC?
The best way to explore as a PC is to help Casandalee become a deity. Worshiping a deity associated with technology, such as Brigh, is also a good idea. But also just experiencing the ways faith and science work together in the AP is all a player needs to do...
Too often we see faith OR science be the question in fiction and the like; it's a conflict, with one or the other being "right." It's kinda like that in the real world, of course. Iron Gods turns that on its head, and explores what happens for good or ill when faith and science merge.
Do any of the paizo staff that work on mechanics have a thread like this? I'd love to ask about why certain choices were made or what considerations they had in mind.
Have you ever had a campaign go so far off the rails (or out of the sandbox, as the case may be) that you were seriously tempted to do an abrupt, "Rocks fall, everyone dies!" type of ending?
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Given the recent decision that slavery is an inherently evil act... what is your take on the spells "Summon Monster" and "Planar Binding"? Or what about golem production considering that involves stealing the will of an elemental for the animation process?
Is dominate now inherently evil since it is a form of slavery no matter how you choose to use the power?
How about the Manacles of Cooperation?Those spells are in a gray area, along with mind control. But since the servitude enforced by those spells is temporary it's not quite the same as slavery.
Golem production is a concept that slipped through the cracks; in order to keep that from feeling evil, my suggestion is to instead of saying that it requires an elemental to animate, it just requires a fragment of elemental animative power. Or maybe just say it requires a mote of positive energy.
What about those classes which get a capper that makes summon monster last indefinitely? Would that then be evil since it is not longer a short duration?
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When I asked about the narrative themes of Iron Gods, you said a big one was twisting the narrative idea of "faith vs. science" by exploring the two working in TANDEM instead of in OPPOSITION. Could you perhaps elaborate on that idea? What kinds of questions is Iron Gods asking the players? What are good ways to explore this idea as a PC?The best way to explore as a PC is to help Casandalee become a deity. Worshiping a deity associated with technology, such as Brigh, is also a good idea. But also just experiencing the ways faith and science work together in the AP is all a player needs to do...
Too often we see faith OR science be the question in fiction and the like; it's a conflict, with one or the other being "right." It's kinda like that in the real world, of course. Iron Gods turns that on its head, and explores what happens for good or ill when faith and science merge.
Thank you! ^.^
What kinda weapon is this?
How is Dance of the Dead fundamentally different enough from Animate Dead to not have the Evil descriptor?
Dance of the Dead (Su): At 10th level, a dirge bard can use his bardic performance to cause dead bones or bodies to rise up and move or fight at his command. This ability functions like animate dead, but the created skeletons or zombies remain fully animate only as long as the dirge bard continues the performance. Once it stops, any created undead collapse into carrion. Bodies or bones cannot be animated more than once using this ability. Unlike animate dead, dance of the dead requires no components and does not have the evil descriptor.
Emphasis mine.
How does a Lawful Good god that used to be a lich sound to you?
I have such a deity in my own setting; he's a former lich who redeemed himself prior to his ascension to godhood. He is now the god of time, redemption, and lichdom.
My setting does have a large number of good undead as a result, but the majority are still evil.
NDA sucks.
What are your favorite extraplanar bads (besides cthulhu mythos).
My favorite are the golarion daemons. I never found the blood war merc concept compelling.
What are your favorite deceiver monsters?
I like the Lamia Matriarchs personally for a variety of reasons.
What is your favorite region on golarion 5o play in? Run as GM? Favorite (or most looked forward to) region to write stories and paizo material in?
In fact, NDA is VERY important and useful. Without NDAs, it's pretty likely that a fair amount of the things you like would not exist for you to like. Breaking NDA is not only a great way to get yoruself in trouble, but also a great way to significantly damage the company or group you promised to keep secrets for.
Steve Jobs literally fired ATI from supplying graphics technology for his macs because they broke an NDA about the upcoming Cube, stealing his keynote thunder at Macworld. To this day, that's why Macs use NVidia technology. He even pulled the Radeon card from the Cube, replacing it with the Rage 128.
When I asked about the narrative themes of Iron Gods, you said a big one was twisting the narrative idea of "faith vs. science" by exploring the two working in TANDEM instead of in OPPOSITION. Could you perhaps elaborate on that idea? What kinds of questions is Iron Gods asking the players? What are good ways to explore this idea as a PC?The best way to explore as a PC is to help Casandalee become a deity. Worshiping a deity associated with technology, such as Brigh, is also a good idea. But also just experiencing the ways faith and science work together in the AP is all a player needs to do...
Too often we see faith OR science be the question in fiction and the like; it's a conflict, with one or the other being "right." It's kinda like that in the real world, of course. Iron Gods turns that on its head, and explores what happens for good or ill when faith and science merge.
Doesn't the fact that faith works demonstrable miracles in fantasy novels, yet doesn't seem to have that kind of muster in the real world work into this? Christian science claims aside, no one has ever cured tuberculosis or cancer, or struck down a Supreme Court Justice or President they didn't like, by praying for a miracle, as opposed to shooting them with a gun.
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Creative Director
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Do any of the paizo staff that work on mechanics have a thread like this? I'd love to ask about why certain choices were made or what considerations they had in mind.
They do, but they generally don't get into errata issuing or the like in these threads as far as I know. You should be able to find them by searching for their names in the off-topic forum.
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Creative Director
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What about those classes which get a capper that makes summon monster last indefinitely? Would that then be evil since it is not longer a short duration?Given the recent decision that slavery is an inherently evil act... what is your take on the spells "Summon Monster" and "Planar Binding"? Or what about golem production considering that involves stealing the will of an elemental for the animation process?
Is dominate now inherently evil since it is a form of slavery no matter how you choose to use the power?
How about the Manacles of Cooperation?Those spells are in a gray area, along with mind control. But since the servitude enforced by those spells is temporary it's not quite the same as slavery.
Golem production is a concept that slipped through the cracks; in order to keep that from feeling evil, my suggestion is to instead of saying that it requires an elemental to animate, it just requires a fragment of elemental animative power. Or maybe just say it requires a mote of positive energy.
No. In part because summon spells summon a "copy" of something, not the real thing. It doesn't exist before or after it gets summoned; it's whole POINT is to serve. That's the big difference between summon spells and calling spells. BUT feel free to rule otherwise if it makes sense for your game.
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Creative Director
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Have you ever had a thread go so far off the rails that you were seriously tempted to do an abrupt, "Rocks fall, everyone dies!" type of ending?
Yes, very often. Usually because some hatful monster troll starts spewing vileness in the thread and derails it. In which case, I do indeed have the thread closed and locked. Thankfully it hasn't happened to this thread.
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Creative Director
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When I asked about the narrative themes of Iron Gods, you said a big one was twisting the narrative idea of "faith vs. science" by exploring the two working in TANDEM instead of in OPPOSITION. Could you perhaps elaborate on that idea? What kinds of questions is Iron Gods asking the players? What are good ways to explore this idea as a PC?The best way to explore as a PC is to help Casandalee become a deity. Worshiping a deity associated with technology, such as Brigh, is also a good idea. But also just experiencing the ways faith and science work together in the AP is all a player needs to do...
Too often we see faith OR science be the question in fiction and the like; it's a conflict, with one or the other being "right." It's kinda like that in the real world, of course. Iron Gods turns that on its head, and explores what happens for good or ill when faith and science merge.
Thank you! ^.^
What kinda weapon is this?
Looks like a ranseur to me.
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Creative Director
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How is Dance of the Dead fundamentally different enough from Animate Dead to not have the Evil descriptor?
Dance of the Dead (Su): At 10th level, a dirge bard can use his bardic performance to cause dead bones or bodies to rise up and move or fight at his command. This ability functions like animate dead, but the created skeletons or zombies remain fully animate only as long as the dirge bard continues the performance. Once it stops, any created undead collapse into carrion. Bodies or bones cannot be animated more than once using this ability. Unlike animate dead, dance of the dead requires no components and does not have the evil descriptor.Emphasis mine.
It's more poorly written to not mesh well with the implied setting of Pathfinder. Another example of the periodic disconnect between the rules team and the rest of Paizo, unfortunately. It would have been better to describe the effect as functioning more like animate object than animate dead if they wanted to keep it "not evil."
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Creative Director
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How does a Lawful Good god that used to be a lich sound to you?
I have such a deity in my own setting; he's a former lich who redeemed himself prior to his ascension to godhood. He is now the god of time, redemption, and lichdom.
My setting does have a large number of good undead as a result, but the majority are still evil.
Sounds a bit far-fetched to me and not something I'd be interested in putting in my own campaign or into Pathfinder.
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Creative Director
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Doesn't the fact that faith works demonstrable miracles in fantasy novels, yet doesn't seem to have that kind of muster in the real world work into this? Christian science claims aside, no one has ever cured tuberculosis or cancer, or struck down a Supreme Court Justice or President they didn't like, by praying for a miracle, as opposed to shooting them with a gun.When I asked about the narrative themes of Iron Gods, you said a big one was twisting the narrative idea of "faith vs. science" by exploring the two working in TANDEM instead of in OPPOSITION. Could you perhaps elaborate on that idea? What kinds of questions is Iron Gods asking the players? What are good ways to explore this idea as a PC?The best way to explore as a PC is to help Casandalee become a deity. Worshiping a deity associated with technology, such as Brigh, is also a good idea. But also just experiencing the ways faith and science work together in the AP is all a player needs to do...
Too often we see faith OR science be the question in fiction and the like; it's a conflict, with one or the other being "right." It's kinda like that in the real world, of course. Iron Gods turns that on its head, and explores what happens for good or ill when faith and science merge.
I think faith has accomplished a HUGE number of miracles, both for good and for ill. Most miracles aren't what folks expect, and they're certainly not "pray and get magic" types, but they still happen all the time.
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Creative Director
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Are there any hag-like figures in Lovecraft's work? Or ways in Golarion that hags intersect with its more Lovecraftian elements (especially in Ustalav)?
Witches and witchcraft play a large role in a lot of Lovecraft's writing. Check out "Dreams in the Witch House" (Keziah Mason) and "The Thing on the Doorstep" (Asenath Waite) for two strong examples. You could make an argument about more of these elements appearing in "The Dunwhich Horror" (Lavinia Whatley) as well. The fact that these elements happen to pretty much be the ONLY times when women play any role whatsoever in Lovecraft's works is one of the two big unfortunate truths about his writing (the other being his racisim) that one should be aware of when reading Lovecraft.
I think faith has accomplished a HUGE number of miracles, both for good and for ill. Most miracles aren't what folks expect, and they're certainly not "pray and get magic" types, but they still happen all the time.Doesn't the fact that faith works demonstrable miracles in fantasy novels, yet doesn't seem to have that kind of muster in the real world work into this? Christian science claims aside, no one has ever cured tuberculosis or cancer, or struck down a Supreme Court Justice or President they didn't like, by praying for a miracle, as opposed to shooting them with a gun.When I asked about the narrative themes of Iron Gods, you said a big one was twisting the narrative idea of "faith vs. science" by exploring the two working in TANDEM instead of in OPPOSITION. Could you perhaps elaborate on that idea? What kinds of questions is Iron Gods asking the players? What are good ways to explore this idea as a PC?The best way to explore as a PC is to help Casandalee become a deity. Worshiping a deity associated with technology, such as Brigh, is also a good idea. But also just experiencing the ways faith and science work together in the AP is all a player needs to do...
Too often we see faith OR science be the question in fiction and the like; it's a conflict, with one or the other being "right." It's kinda like that in the real world, of course. Iron Gods turns that on its head, and explores what happens for good or ill when faith and science merge.
Do you think that it's a placebo effect, or do you actually believe that there is a supernatural component to these miracles?
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Hey James is there a head of creative team (like a creative director or lead designer like role) for Starfinder? If so who is it?
Do you know if Casandalee is they A.I god they talked about that gifted access to a hyperspace dimension?
On a different topic, if a person were to use the butt end of say an axe or spear as an improvised weapon do you think they should get the weapons enhancement bonus to their attack and damage rolls on top of whatever penalties they take?
Are there any hag-like figures in Lovecraft's work? Or ways in Golarion that hags intersect with its more Lovecraftian elements (especially in Ustalav)?Witches and witchcraft play a large role in a lot of Lovecraft's writing. Check out "Dreams in the Witch House" (Keziah Mason) and "The Thing on the Doorstep" (Asenath Waite) for two strong examples. You could make an argument about more of these elements appearing in "The Dunwhich Horror" (Lavinia Whatley) as well. The fact that these elements happen to pretty much be the ONLY times when women play any role whatsoever in Lovecraft's works is one of the two big unfortunate truths about his writing (the other being his racisim) that one should be aware of when reading Lovecraft.
I haven't read all of Lovecraft's tales, but as far as I understand it it most of them he does state the gender of the POV character. With that in mind does assuming a female POV change or make the stories more interesting un your estimation?
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Creative Director
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I haven't read all of Lovecraft's tales, but as far as I understand it it most of them he does state the gender of the POV character. With that in mind does assuming a female POV change or make the stories more interesting un your estimation?
His stories aren't that ambiguous when it comes to gender.
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Creative Director
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Hey James is there a head of creative team (like a creative director or lead designer like role) for Starfinder? If so who is it?
Do you know if Casandalee is they A.I god they talked about that gifted access to a hyperspace dimension?
On a different topic, if a person were to use the butt end of say an axe or spear as an improvised weapon do you think they should get the weapons enhancement bonus to their attack and damage rolls on top of whatever penalties they take?
James Sutter is the creative director for Starfinder.
At this point, I'm pretty sure that they've not yet decided on who the AI deity is. Casandalee might make a good choice, but at the same time, tying Starfinder directly to Iron Gods might make things unnecessarily complicated and weird and it might even be completely unworkable.
And no, you wouldn't get the enhancement bonus in that case.
Do you think that it's a placebo effect, or do you actually believe that there is a supernatural component to these miracles?Both.
So you actually do believe in the supernatural, then? That's interesting, but I think we've reached a mutual dead end on this inquiry, since asking any further would probably be an intrusion at this point.