Creative Director
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Would you consider releasing it as a Web Enhancement? I'm sure there are many of us curious. If anything something we could incorporate in our campaigns.James I know previously you said, If you like dragons then you`ll like the AP after Jade Regent`. And you also insinuated this had to do with the mention of a rather large blue dragon destroying villages and flying northward, mentioned in The inner sea world guide history section. Is this still applicable to Skull and Bones AP or not?It's not at all. It's a great example of why we don't reveal an AP or any other product until we're 100% sure of it, though. Originally, the AP after Jade Regent was going to be heavily dragon themed, but after a few weeks of me, Wes, and Rob knocking our heads together to plot it out, we came to the conclusion that it wasn't going to work. So we abandoned that AP and went instead for a pirate themed one, and that one fell together in a few days it felt like.
We might go pick up the rumor about the blue dragon again in some future product or a completely different AP, but the one we abandoned is pretty much gone forever. Because it was, frankly, pretty boring.
Nope. Two reasons (not the only ones, just the biggest).
1) We don't want to do ANYTHING with it until we come up with an idea we think is good enough to talk about in public. What we came up with in our brainstorms was not up to the standards we hold ourselves to, so I'm not really interested in spreading that around in public.
2) Web enhancements save us a LOT of time in the printing and distribution part of a book's creation... but we don't do those in house anyway. Which means that to us, a web enhancement is no different time-wise than a print product. Save that they're free. And that they aren't on the schedule already. Which means we have to add a significant amount of work onto our already full schedule for something whose returns and benefits to the bottom line are very difficult to calculate. Web enhancements are more likely to happen when they're easy to do or when we plan for them months or even years in advance... and so far, a dragon-themed AP outline is neither.
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Creative Director
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** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
1) Can you alternate your weapon and shield with Whirlwind with this combo?
2) Do you loose your shield bonus if you don't have Improved Shield Bash if you can?
Thanks much.
First off... ask your GM. If I were your GM, I'd say:
1) Yes.
2) Yes.
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Creative Director
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What Trick is used to potty train a T-rex?
Same one you'd use to potty train an Allosaurus or a Spinosaurus.
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Creative Director
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I've recently become aware of an alarming play balance problem in the Carrion Crown Adventure Path. It seems that player characters have somehow been surviving the adventures. I can see the occasional low-level group slipping by, since everyone enjoys fanning the sparks of false hope in their little provincial hearts. Letting more powerful groups survive... that just reeks of negligence.
Please advise me about what you're doing to address this revolting state of affairs.
Man up, ya old bag of bones! They'll have no problem at all defeating your flunkies if you spend all your time fretting and worrying!
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Creative Director
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I know this isn't a rule forum, but ....
Pounce In the bestiary. Pounce does not stipulate what weapons you need to use. If a monster has natural attacks and can use manufactured weapons could it use pounce with manufactured weapons?
I always thought pounce was meant for natural attacks, but the rules doesn't stipulate that.
Pounce works with all weapons, manufactured or not. You can't take iteratie attacks with a pounce, of course, and in most cases that won't be an option anyway since the vast majority of creatures that have pounce are not manufactured weapon users.
James, if I was to combine Savage Tide and Serpent's Skull into one great sandboxy/piratey/scallywag-fest adventure, would you give me a high five?
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Pounce works with all weapons, manufactured or not. You can't take iteratie attacks with a pounce, of course, and in most cases that won't be an option anyway since the vast majority of creatures that have pounce are not manufactured weapon users.I know this isn't a rule forum, but ....
Pounce In the bestiary. Pounce does not stipulate what weapons you need to use. If a monster has natural attacks and can use manufactured weapons could it use pounce with manufactured weapons?
I always thought pounce was meant for natural attacks, but the rules doesn't stipulate that.
The problem is that pounce allow you to do a full attack.
So the question should have been:
- Pounce allow a monster/PC with iterative attacks to use them when pouncing?
The classic example would be a barbarian with the Greater beast totem ability using a greataxe and not his claws.
I think no one has problems with someone using a bite/claw/claw/rake attack, it is the grataxe//grataxe/greataxe/greataxe attack that make someone pause.
I'm not sure if or how product could be delivered to you by mundane courier, as the US postal worker's union has been all up in arms about Gallowspire (and really, all of Ustalav) being an unsafe and hostile work environment. Bunch of whiners.
Anti-labor lies!
The USPS doesn't deliver to Ustalav because it's not in the US!
Try UPS: Teamsters ain't afraid of no lich!
According to my Business Agent: Unfair Production Standards.
What does UPS stand for?United Parcel Service. But if I were you, I'd stick with Fedex - much more reliable in my humble opinion.
I hate your package!
Hee hee!
J. Jacobs: What is your opinion of DUVEL?
J. Jacobs: What is your opinion of DUVEL?If I remember correctly, Mr. Jacobs does not like beer. Sad, but true.
What does Mr. Jacobs' dislike of bears have to do with the question? I don't get it.
What does Mr. Jacobs' dislike of bears have to do with the question? I don't get it.
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Pounce works with all weapons, manufactured or not. You can't take iteratie attacks with a pounce, of course, and in most cases that won't be an option anyway since the vast majority of creatures that have pounce are not manufactured weapon users.I know this isn't a rule forum, but ....
Pounce In the bestiary. Pounce does not stipulate what weapons you need to use. If a monster has natural attacks and can use manufactured weapons could it use pounce with manufactured weapons?
I always thought pounce was meant for natural attacks, but the rules doesn't stipulate that.
Thanks for the answer although it confuses me.
No iteratie attacks with a pounce?Barbarian with Greater beast totem ability can use it. So can druids in wildshape.
A raging level 11 Barbarian with Greater beast totem ability using his claw and animal fure rage power could charge and get 3 attacks. 4 if hasted.
A hasted level 11 barbarian with greater TWF using weapons would get 7 attacks, but you say he can use no iteratie attacks. So how many attacks would he get? Only one? Or one attack with weapon and one bite attack? Or two attacks and one bite?
As Diego Rossi put it: I think no one has problems with someone using a bite/claw/claw/rake attack, it is the greataxe//geataxe/greataxe/greataxe attack that make someone pause.
James, if I was to combine Savage Tide and Serpent's Skull into one great sandboxy/piratey/scallywag-fest adventure, would you give me a high five?
I'd give you a high five if you posted it on the boards here.
common man, don't leave me hanging
I'd give you a high five if you posted it on the boards here.
common man, don't leave me hanging
The new Skull and Shackles AP will make anything I do obsolete. :(
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Creative Director
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James, what do think of my homebrew Druid class?
It's interesting... but it's too different from the druid I'm used to. Animal companions and wild shape are what makes a druid a druid to me.
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Creative Director
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The problem is that pounce allow you to do a full attack.
So the question should have been:
- Pounce allow a monster/PC with iterative attacks to use them when pouncing?The classic example would be a barbarian with the Greater beast totem ability using a greataxe and not his claws.
I think no one has problems with someone using a bite/claw/claw/rake attack, it is the grataxe//grataxe/greataxe/greataxe attack that make someone pause.
There's a reason why we've been so hesitant to hand out pounce to PCs, you know...
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Creative Director
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Some layers of The Abyss have lots of demonic versions of creatures you could find on Earth, or a Material Plane rather, like manta rays apes, dinosaurs (at one point), sharks, etc. Along with other more monstrous demonic creatures from the material plane like minotaurs, hydras, plant monsters, dragons, etc. Does this mean that The Abyss has its own earth-like natural ecosystems unique to each layer that could support one only everything is fiendish? Or does The Abyss spawn these creatures independently just as it spawns demons?
Also, does a ghargatula seem more like a demon than a devil to you? It does to me. I think it looks to dumb, ferocious, and primeval to be lawful evil. What do you think, James?
The denizens of the Abyss come about in all sorts of ways. Some are created by it. Some are created by demons. Some are created by chance. Some are created by crazed spellcasters. Some evolve. Whatever's best for the story at hand, really, is what works.
As for ghargatulas... I think there's plenty of room for big ugly LE devils and there's plenty of room for sexy sophisticated CE demons. Alignments do not dictate monster shapes at all.
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Creative Director
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Thanks for the answer although it confuses me.
No iteratie attacks with a pounce?
Barbarian with Greater beast totem ability can use it. So can druids in wildshape.A raging level 11 Barbarian with Greater beast totem ability using his claw and animal fure rage power could charge and get 3 attacks. 4 if hasted.
A hasted level 11 barbarian with greater TWF using weapons would get 7 attacks, but you say he can use no iteratie attacks. So how many attacks would he get? Only one? Or one attack with weapon and one bite attack? Or two attacks and one bite?
As Diego Rossi put it: I think no one has problems with someone using a bite/claw/claw/rake attack, it is the greataxe//geataxe/greataxe/greataxe attack that make someone pause.
That's why we have GMs. So they can make those tough decisions for us.
Pounce works best as a monster ability, to help monsters stay "caught up" to the PCs.
Not all abilities should be farmed out to anyone and eveyone.
Why are pugwampi described as Fey when they're really vermin?
What is the prize for the person who has the 10,000th post in this thread?
Does the prize involve candy?
How does it feel having over 10,000 posts in this thread?
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You have successfully confused me!
Roll d%.
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Creative Director
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Was Layer 600 always an infinite labyrinth, even when it was controlled by Pale Night before Baphomet discovered it? Or did Baphomet build it around Pale Night's tower area after he got there?
And in the awesome Dagon Demonomicon, some of the ancient sunken cities built by obyriths grown foul and stupid over the ages were built by the uzollru demons, right? The article says they possibly controlled the layer at one point (maybe their dead lord was killed by Dagon and now exists as one of the necroclasms or one of the pearls he sings to in his castle) and were far more intelligent than they are now. Evidence points to how they delight in killing intelligent prey the most. Is this far from the truth?
Those are mostly D&D versions of the Abyss, and as such I can only really answer with authority for them as regards 3.5 and earlier editions. As such, the following answers don't necessarilly apply to the Pathfinder version of the Abyss (which doesn't have entities like Pale Night or obyriths at all, and in which Dagon and Baphomet have slightly different roles).
The 600th layer was indeed always a crazy labyrinth; that's part of what drew Baphomet to it in the first place.
As for exactly where those old cities in Dagon's realm came from, I kind of left that vague on purpose to heighten the mystery. Certainly some come from uzollrus, but not all of them...
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Can you give me any help with these questions?
Fused Eidolon wrote:
While fused with his eidolon, the synthesist can use all of his own abilities and gear.
1a) While fused, does the synthesist keep any armour bonuses from armour he is wearing? Does this stack with the Eidolon's armor bonus?
1b) While fused, can the summoner use any weapons he is holding, in place of, or in combination with, the Eidolon's natural attacks? What about other items (like wands)? What if the Eidolon doesn't have hands?
Hitpoints
Fused Eidolon wrote:
The synthesist gains the eidolon's hit points as temporary hit points. When these hit points reach 0, the eidolon is sent back to its home plane...While fused, the synthesist counts as both his original type and as an outsider for any effect related to type, whichever is worse for the synthesist.
2a) Is there any way of healing the Eidolon (i.e. replacing the temporary hitpoints)? What happens when the synthesist/eidolon is targeted with cure light wounds? What about rejuvenate eidolon? Channeled positive energy? Negative?
Ability Drain/Damage
3a) Assuming the summoner is attacked by a shadow while fused, and his strength is drained, what happens? What about when the Eidolon is dismissed?
3b) If the fused Summoner/Eidolon takes ability damage or drain, can this be healed while remaining fused? Does it persist after the Eidolon is resummoned?
But thanks anyway, even if you don't want to weigh in on rules questions, though.
What is the prize for the person who has the 10,000th post in this thread?Bragging rights to lord over whoever makes the 10,001st post.
*flex*
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Creative Director
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Can you give me any help with these questions?
I'll give it a try... although I'll preface it with my own personal opinion that the synthesist class is a really weird and wacky one and that any player who takes it needs to work out how his GM wants to handle the class, or even if it's allowed in that particular game at all.
Also, it's important to keep in mind the fundamental truth of the way the synthesist works—it fuses the summoner to the eidolon. They're no longer really 2 creatures—they're one creature.
Finally, these are my gut-reactions to your questions. Frankly, the questions are GREAT ones and they deserve having a designer cogitate over them at length for the FAQ.
Weapons and Equipment
Fused Eidolon wrote:
While fused with his eidolon, the synthesist can use all of his own abilities and gear.
1a) Use the eidolon's armor bonus while fused. Your own armor is replaced by the eidolon's armor.
1b) Use the eidolon's limbs while fused. That means that if your eidolon can't wield weapons, neither can you when you're fused.
Hitpoints
Fused Eidolon wrote:
The synthesist gains the eidolon's hit points as temporary hit points. When these hit points reach 0, the eidolon is sent back to its home plane...While fused, the synthesist counts as both his original type and as an outsider for any effect related to type, whichever is worse for the synthesist.2a) Is there any way of healing the Eidolon (i.e. replacing the temporary hitpoints)? What happens when the synthesist/eidolon is targeted with cure light wounds? What about rejuvenate eidolon? Channeled positive energy? Negative?
2a) Granting the eidolon's hp as temporary hp is, I think, a poor decision. In games I run, I would just replace the summoner's hp with the eidolon's entirely. That way, the hit point question answers itself—they're just normal hp. If a fused summoner's hp go to 0, his eidolon goes away, leaving him standing there with his normal summoner hit point total he had when he activated the fused eidolon (any healing he received while fused won't have touched his actual summoner hit points since they weren't there to be healed at the time).
Ability Drain/Damage
3a) Assuming the summoner is attacked by a shadow while fused, and his strength is drained, what happens? What about when the Eidolon is dismissed?
3b) If the fused Summoner/Eidolon takes ability damage or drain, can this be healed while remaining fused? Does it persist after the Eidolon is resummoned?
3a) His eidolon loses the Strength points. If drained to 0, the eidolon dies but does not become a shadow. Strength remains drained from an eidolon normally.
3b) Yes; ability damage or drain done to an eidolon must be healed normally.
Jalmeray, Vudra, and the Kelesh Empire are all said to make extensive use of bound and/or summoned genies.
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Creative Director
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in Golarion is there a country that is built on summoning outsiders to do their bidding? say summoning devils, demons and other evil outsiders for war, and good outsiders to keep the peace and help build laws ect?
Yup. Cheliax is all about using devils as tools and Hell itself as a blueprint for how to run a country efficiently. The government of Cheliax doesn't WORSHIP devils, but they are diabolists who are well-practiced at summoning and commanding devils as slaves. Including for war.
There are lots of other countries who incorperate the summoning/control of outsiders to lesser degree, but Cheliax is the one that immediately comes to mind.
EDIT: Katapesh and Qadira are also quite fond of using summoned/bound genies for work as well as Jalmeray. And on the demon front, the drow of the Darklands do a LOT of demon summoning and control. And even deeper, the urdefhans of Orv have a lot to do with daemons.
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Creative Director
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I really enjoy reading any answer you have. 3/3.5 is what I'm most familiar with anyway. I just discovered Pathfinder's Abyss about a month ago, and it's wonderful, but I don't know much about it yet. And you already stated you don't like the 4th edition, so I shant ask you anything about it haha. I'm just glad to discuss The Abyss and what is in it with you because what you've written about it (like the Demonomicon articles and FC1) are basically my favorite things. I really enjoy reading your work. Much thanks for those and these answers! Dagon's article was very mysterious indeed and I loved that aspect of it. Was probably the best in my opinion, along with Demogorgon's and Zuggtmoy's. I dunno, they're all sooo good = )
Yay! Thanks! :-)
Question time! Did Sertrous have a different form than the snakelike-looking monster it is now before he was cast out of The Abyss by the Queen Of Chaos?
The phaerimm from forgotten realms are cool, sort of obyrith-like to me, how they appear as floating sea anemones that live underground. Perhaps they might worship a demon lord somewhere in the depths of The Abyss? always got room for one more, right?
Sertrous was always a snake monster.
And while I've always been a fan of the phaerimm, they never really struck me as being Abyss-themed. Probably because they're neutral evil—they mesh better with the evil elemental princes or daemons as a result, but honestly, I think they work best, like aboleths and mind flayers, as a race that doesn't really have much going on in the worshiping gods department at all.
What is the prize for the person who has the 10,000th post in this thread?Bragging rights to lord over whoever makes the 10,001st post.
So, no candy then?
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Creative Director
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Ahh, I see. Makes sense. That reminded me of Lords Of Madness, which the aboleth chapter you wrote was another spectacular read. The phaerimm also strike me as "worshippers" of the Elder Evils that the aboleth sorta revere in that chapter. And yeah, no problem = ). seriously, I'm really gonna miss your writings on The Abyss and demons. the new demonomicons hardly compare.
But the beholders... They are born in The Abyss from The Great Mother, but their alignment is lawful evil usually. How does that work? or is it just another chaotic wonder from The Abyss?
And this might be a foolish question, but undead monsters can't be fiendish can they?
Beholders coming from the Great Mother is just another example of the wacky weirdness of the Abyss, really. Beholders are also really weird and crazy themselves. (I wrote the beholder chapter in Lords of Madness as well, and it was really fun trying to explain a lot of why beholders are what they are and why they don't do what something capable of using their abilities at will COULD do if they put their minds to it...).
Fiends can certainly be undead, and undead can certainly be fiendish.