Creative Director
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Does writing "crunch" that many times in one post make you cringe?Elves of Golarion was indeed designed for 3.5; since that's the only one in the races book that has that honor, chances that we'll do something to update it in the future are not insignificant, but it's not something we have any plans to do anytime soon.
If you're just looking for rules crunch, I can't really say which ones you should pick up next since they've all got about the same amount of rules crunch, honestly. The Arms and Equipment one has more crunch than most, I guess, but that crunch had some problems with errata and also had chunks of its crunch reprinted in hardcovers here and there.
But since the majority of the Player Companion line (although they DO have rules in them) are built to serve Golarion and to build the world's flavor first and foremost for players to build Golarion-themed characters from... it's kinda hard to say what ones you might like best.
If you haven't picked up the Inner Sea Primer, though... that's probably the best bet since the contents of that one support ALL of the other ones.
A little.
Not on the part of Paizo, no. Goblinworks is the company building Pathifnder Online.Is there an active effort on the part of Paizo to discourage the three role paradigm that's been in force since the days of Ultima Onlne?
What's the "three role paradigm?"
5)Do you collect anything like books, comics, movies, toys..I mean action figures, artwork, coins, etc.?5) I guess you could say that I collect movies, RPG books, and horror books. I've sort of got a goal to collect all the original British published Fighting Fantasy books too. And Lovecraft stuff. And things with dinosaurs or Godzilla or frogs.
Which of the British Fighting Fantasy books are you missing?
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Creative Director
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What's the "three role paradigm?"
Tank—Damage—Healer
The way MMO games work these days, a monster's AI depends on a hate (or agro) mechanic, in which they focus their attentions on specific players who attract their attention more than others. At it's simplest, the AI sends the monster to attack whoever does the most damage to them, or whoever is healing the most damage. The tank is designed not to do a lot of damage, but to do a lot of attention getting of the monster to distract them from the actual threats to the monster's existence; the tank can take a lot more damage than the characters focused on damage or healing, and thus can stay alive longer and thus keep the monster distracted longer while the damage dealers damage the monster and the healers keep everyone alive long enough to do all their jobs.
Which of the British Fighting Fantasy books are you missing?
I'm not sure where my checklist is at the moment (somewhere here in my office, buried under other papers, no doubt), but I'm actually not all that far into this collection. I'm missing, I would guess, about 45 to 50 of the books still. It's a long-term project!
James, do you enjoy the Quintessential series of books from Mongoose?
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Creative Director
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James, do you enjoy the Quintessential series of books from Mongoose?
I purchased a few of them back when they came out as part of my "OMG SO MANY D&D TYPE BOOKS MUST BUY THEM ALL" insanity during the first half of the OGL/d20 craze... but they were of too uneven quality to ever really grab my attention, alas.
I like the good ones (such as Human, which is one of the best 3PP race books available), and don't touch the bad ones. That's pretty much how I am with all 3PP. It works for me. Internet reviews are a good thing.
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Creative Director
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Which area outside the inner sea area have you been daydreaming about filling in as you have with the Dragon Empire books?
Currently? Probably Arcadia. Because that's a different enough region from a region like the Inner Sea, Casmaron, or Tian Xia that it doesn't have to follow the same style as the gazetteer for the Inner Sea or Dragon Empires.
South Garund is probably 2nd place.
As a tyrannosaur, would you prefer to dine on...
-A fully armored knight
-A dainty princess sacrifice
-A sacred calf
-A sumo wrestler
-A lawyer
As a tyrannosaur, would you prefer to dine on...
-A fully armored knight
-A dainty princess sacrifice
-A sacred calf
-A sumo wrestler
-A lawyer
Is a 5 course meal allowed?
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Why did Achaekek get Aroden to assassinate Asmodeus?
Not a real question but I thought it should be said.
As for a real question, until recently I wasn't a fan of non-"core" races in my games but I've had a change of heart as time has passed. I was wondering, of the races that have character stat blocks (I know they're actually meant for NPCs), what are your favorites, or at least your favorites from the ones you remember off the top of your head.
Why are humans so superior to the other core races? I'm talking mechanics, not fluff.
Why are humans so superior to the other core races? I'm talking mechanics, not fluff.
Because people don't realize Dwarves are better.
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Creative Director
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As for a real question, until recently I wasn't a fan of non-"core" races in my games but I've had a change of heart as time has passed. I was wondering, of the races that have character stat blocks (I know they're actually meant for NPCs), what are your favorites, or at least your favorites from the ones you remember off the top of your head.
I'm not sure I understand the question... do you mean "the races in the Bestiary that have zero HD?" If so... that's probably a tie between the aasimar, the drow, the tiefling, and the tengu.
Why are humans so superior to the other core races? I'm talking mechanics, not fluff.
When the rules were finalized there was a big thread on how human were so much worse that anything that was not a halfling or gnome. :)
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Creative Director
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Why are humans so superior to the other core races? I'm talking mechanics, not fluff.
Because that's one way we can model the fact in concrete rules terms the idea of a game being humanocentric. We actually WANT the majority of characters in a group or world to be human.
That said... whether or not humans are "so superior" to the other core races is something of a matter of personal taste and opinion.
Why are humans so superior to the other core races? I'm talking mechanics, not fluff.Because people don't realize Dwarves are better.
Seriously. You get a feat and extra skill points, two highly desired things, while everybody else gets a bonus to a skill, maybe enhanced vision, and a situational bonus or two. Oh, and you get to choose your stat bonus and lack a penalty. It's so blatantly superior that it isn't even funny.
Why are humans so superior to the other core races? I'm talking mechanics, not fluff.Because that's one way we can model the fact in concrete rules terms the idea of a game being humanocentric. We actually WANT the majority of characters in a group or world to be human.
That said... whether or not humans are "so superior" to the other core races is something of a matter of personal taste and opinion.
...This is why I houserule the living daylights out of my Pathfinder games. I don't like punishing players for not being human in order to encourage them to be human.
James, would you like to stop the discussion about human superiority and my dislike of a couple parts of Pathfinder RAW now? I actually like most of the RAW. I just have a habit of saying so loudly when I don't. That's why I may sound like I hate the RAW and Pathfinder is not the game for me when that is absolutely not the case.
I can already tell that the humanocentrism discussion has the potential to explode (especially since I have a breath weapon). I really shouldn't have asked the question.
James, do you like the Neanderthal race from Frostburn? I'm considering using it.
If you were going to apply scientific names to races (Homo Sapiens for Human, Homo Neanderthalensis for orcs [Yes, I did just do what you think I just did], and so on), what would you call Elves, Dwarves, and Catfolk? No, I am not suggesting using the scientific names in place of the real names. That would sound really corny. I'm talking about adding the names for scientific purposes only like is done with humans IRL.
Seriously. You get a feat and extra skill points, two highly desired things, while everybody else gets a bonus to a skill, maybe enhanced vision, and a situational bonus or two. Oh, and you get to choose your stat bonus and lack a penalty. It's so blatantly superior that it isn't even funny.Why are humans so superior to the other core races? I'm talking mechanics, not fluff.Because people don't realize Dwarves are better.
Actual question: So you guys actually have a specific thing in mind for why Aroden died? Will it remain one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Golarion campaign setting (akin to "What happened to Cyre?")
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Creative Director
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James, do you like the Neanderthal race from Frostburn? I'm considering using it.
If you were going to apply scientific names to races (Homo Sapiens for Human, Homo Neanderthalensis for orcs [Yes, I did just do what you think I just did], and so on), what would you call Elves, Dwarves, and Catfolk? No, I am not suggesting using the scientific names in place of the real names. That would sound really corny. I'm talking about adding the names for scientific purposes only like is done with humans IRL.
I do. I designed the neanderthal rules in Frostburn, after all, so I would hope that I like them! :-)
I'd still call them elves, dwarves, and catfolk. Theyr'e not from science, and as such giving them scientific names is as weird to me as is giving actually things FROM science (like, say, dinosaurs) more fantasy-sounding names.
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Creative Director
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Actual question: So you guys actually have a specific thing in mind for why Aroden died? Will it remain one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Golarion campaign setting (akin to "What happened to Cyre?")
Although at the very start, I don't think Erik had a specific thing in mind for how Aroden died—if he did, he's never told me.
I, on the other hand, have a pretty detailed "behind the scenes" scenario as to what happened during the onset of the Age of Lost Omens that describes not only how Aroden died, but why the Eye of Abendego formed, why the Worldwound happened, why there were storms all over, why Lung Wa collapsed, and all of that. A few vague hints about this mystery have appeared in print... but I doubt we'll ever reveal it all. The death of Aroden in particular isn't something we're likely to EVER reveal.
But yes, I have a VERY specific thing in mind for all of that, and have been keeping it in mind whenever other subjects brush up against it, so that if we DO ever reveal the truth... folks will be able to look back at what we've published to that point from the beginning and it will make sense in retrospect.
I do. I designed the neanderthal rules in Frostburn, after all, so I would hope that I like them! :-)
I am using the Neanderthal as a core race in my campaign setting, it looks like. For those curious, I define a core race as something that can be found living in most areas of the world and not a specific region.
I'd still call them elves, dwarves, and catfolk. Theyr'e not from science, and as such giving them scientific names is as weird to me as is giving actually things FROM science (like, say, dinosaurs) more fantasy-sounding names.
Well, I already dump a whole lot of science into my fantasy, so that ship sailed ages ago. In a case like this where you were going to do it, what would the scientific names be?
Lets say that I decided elves, dwarves, orcs, and the like should all be subraces of human. What should I call the human race now that the core races are all human?
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Creative Director
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Well, I already dump a whole lot of science into my fantasy, so that ship sailed ages ago. In a case like this where you were going to do it, what would the scientific names be?
I don't speak latin, so I can't just rattle off translations. Were I doing it, I'd look into some phrases like "stout folk" or "magic folk" or "cat folk" and then translate them into latin equivalents that also sounded cool when spoken out loud... but that'd be a pretty long and in-depth process, and I'm not really eager to do that for something that, to me, is purely a thought exercise.
AKA: I'm much more likely to give out free naming advice and game design advice on topics I'm actually interested in, because I get tricked into it by virtue of the fact that I get passionate about those topics. If I'm not passionate or even interested in something, common sense kicks in a lot earlier—and that would be "don't spend half an hour coming up with these names when you could be spending those 30 minutes getting more done on Chapter 6 of the Rise of the Runelords hardcover!" ;-)
Okay. Thanks for the advice on how you would go about it, at least. I'll get out my Latin and Ancient Greek dictionaries and get to work.
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Creative Director
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Lets say that I decided elves, dwarves, orcs, and the like should all be subraces of human. What should I call the human race now that the core races are all human?
And furthermore...
Renaming common concepts and well-used words into nonsense words is a great way to add unnecessary complexity to the story, which makes it more difficult for people other than the one who built the setting to get into and appreciate the story.
FOR EXAMPLE: In Final Fantasy XIII, there's a bunch of entities that are, essentially, angels and demons. But they don't call them that in the game—they're called made-up words that include apostrophes and sound very similar to each other. This made it EXCEPTIONALLY difficult for me to get into that element of an otherwise pretty fun and very beautiful-looking game, because the distracting nonsense names for things that already have well-established names in the genre kept getting in the way of enjoying the story.
So: I wouldn't rename humans at all. Or if I HAD to, I'd go the Golarion route and name the ethnicities of humanity and stop there.
Seriously. You get a feat and extra skill points, two highly desired things, while everybody else gets a bonus to a skill, maybe enhanced vision, and a situational bonus or two. Oh, and you get to choose your stat bonus and lack a penalty. It's so blatantly superior that it isn't even funny.Why are humans so superior to the other core races? I'm talking mechanics, not fluff.Because people don't realize Dwarves are better.
That's...not the case at all.
Okay. Thanks for the advice on how you would go about it, at least. I'll get out my Latin and Ancient Greek dictionaries and get to work.
Also, read this first: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binomial_nomenclature
James why did Asmodeus get Achaekek to assassinate Aroden?Heh... nope. You got it wrong.
Hmmm.
Why did Aroden commit suicide?
Why did Iomedae join the conspiracy to assassinate Aroden?
How did Charon manage to get the drop on Aroden?
Okay, I get that it was a bad idea to challenge Cayden Cailean to a drinking contest, but why was that fatal to Aroden?
That's...not the case at all.Seriously. You get a feat and extra skill points, two highly desired things, while everybody else gets a bonus to a skill, maybe enhanced vision, and a situational bonus or two. Oh, and you get to choose your stat bonus and lack a penalty. It's so blatantly superior that it isn't even funny.Why are humans so superior to the other core races? I'm talking mechanics, not fluff.Because people don't realize Dwarves are better.
Make a thread and we can go argue about it there.
Kelsey as a reformed powergamer I can tell you that dwarves and humans are about even.
Darkvision is not a small thing unless your GM always lets you fight outside or assumes that if one person can see that everyone can see. That +2 to saves that dwarves get also comes in handy. Their penalty to charisma is to the most common dump stat anyway. The bonus stats are con and wis, which affect the two saves that if failed often get you killed or owned by the bad guy. I don't want to hi-jack Jame's thread but if you need convincing I can make another thread. As for the other races, they can be better depending on the class. Humans just happen to be the best at being adaptable to any one class.
That is all for now. :)
edit:I was ninja'd.
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Creative Director
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James why did Asmodeus get Achaekek to assassinate Aroden?Heh... nope. You got it wrong.Hmmm.
Why did Aroden commit suicide?
Why did Iomedae join the conspiracy to assassinate Aroden?
How did Charon manage to get the drop on Aroden?
Okay, I get that it was a bad idea to challenge Cayden Cailean to a drinking contest, but why was that fatal to Aroden?
My kitty's name is Shimmy! She's a delight!
How much better are humans, really?
click the link
Does your kitty ever sit down on your keyboard as you're working?
Or sing to you and walk on you (Cat massage) in the middle of the night?
Litterbox or Backyard?
Dry food or wet?
Milk or Cream or Plain Water?
Why did Shimmy kill Aroden?
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Creative Director
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Does your kitty ever sit down on your keyboard as you're working?
Or sing to you and walk on you (Cat massage) in the middle of the night?
Litterbox or Backyard?
Dry food or wet?
Milk or Cream or Plain Water?
Why did Shimmy kill Aroden?
Nope; she sometimes stands behind my monitor and peeks out to watch me type or to watch the shapes move on the monitor, and sometimes walks across a keyboard though.
She gives cat massages and cat slashings, depending on her mood.
Litterbox; she's not an outdoor kitty at all.
Dry food. She's got a sensitive tummy.
Plain water.
Because he mouthed off one too many times in public.
I killed Aroden. >.> <.< >.>
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Lets say that I decided elves, dwarves, orcs, and the like should all be subraces of human. What should I call the human race now that the core races are all human?
Check some site about Shadowrun. In that game orcs, dwarves and c. were a subspecies of the human race. They had common names and "scientific" Latin names. The background material was great for a modern age fantasy game. The mechanics (at least the older edition) mediocre [it was good for starting characters but it broke up heavily as they did grow in experience or as they got cybernetic or magic enhancements].
James, you have ever played Shadowrun?
What do you think of that game?
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Creative Director
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James, you have ever played Shadowrun?
What do you think of that game?
I have, back in college in the early 90s. I was quite delighted with the world and the flavor of the game... but I hated the actual rules mechanics once it became obvious that stuffing a grenade into someone's underwear could at worst result in a serious (and thus not lethal) wound... and that by rolling a double-fistful of d6s, most characters could reduce that down to a scratch.
Why are grapes always drawn as purple? I've never eaten a purple grape.
What do you do if attacked by a Scottish catgirl?
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Creative Director
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Why are grapes always drawn as purple? I've never eaten a purple grape.
My guess: Because purple grapes actually exist, and purple is a more exciting color than green, which is the color of every other type of plant, and so when an artist is illustrating grapes, he wants to use a different color than the leaves.
I've eaten PLENTY of purple grapes, in any event. I've never felt that they were any more or less common than green ones.