So, Seekers of Secrets was replaced in the Core Assumption by the Field Guide. However, important bits and pieces are still only present in Seekers of Secrets. This isn't a complaint, since the book has a fairly tiny price tag. However, I have noticed that things such as generic wayfinders, rules for Pathfinder training, layout and information about the Grand Lodge, etc seem to be reserved for this book. The Field Guide, while a good resource, doesn't really touch on a lot of these topics.
That being said, my question is this... exactly how much of Seekers of Secrets is still legal? I ask this for a specific reason. I saw posted recently a question about learning the handsign language in the Pathfinder Tales book Prince of Wolves. Someone mentioned that it might be a usable language later on, via a chronicle sheet for the book. However, in Seekers of Secrets, it says that handsign is a universal Pathfinder skill, and that, "...every Pathfinder picks up a handful during training, often relating to combat, directions, and hazards..." (Seekers of Secrets, pg. 25).
Is it safe to assume that all of the Pathfinder PCs in my PFS games should be able to communicate this way? The same passage provides context for dialect issues with handsigns, but suggests that most should be easily translated. The assumption with PCs is that every PFS character has gone through the training, and the book states that every person who goes through the training picks up at least a few basic signs. Is this still legal and accepted?
Further than that, how much is legal for my character to understand? One of my fellow players is a deaf Oracle, who has taken the extra skill point in Linguistics to read lips (as approved in a post on these boards). However, could we both assume that we are able to communicate effectively via the Pathfinder handsign language? He would still need to read lips to communicate with non-Pathfinders (ie, most NPCs in modules once the scenario gets off the ground). Would we be able to safely assume that our characters could communicate effectively in the handsign language?
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That being said, my question is this... exactly how much of Seekers of Secrets is still legal?
Everything listed in the Additional Resources page for this book is still legal. It's shift from the Core Assumption to an Additional Resource does not make it any less useful of a book, it just changes who is assumed to own a copy of what.
Venture-Captain, Texas—Waco
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Seeker of Secrets is still very much legal, it's just not "required" for PFS play.
When in doubt, always look in the Additional Resources section of the Paizo/PFS website. The Seeker of Secrets entry says:
Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Seekers of Secrets
Everything in this book is legal for play with the following notes. Equipment: ioun stones use method 1 for resonance and never use method 2. Additionally, only normal ioun stones have resonance—inferior ioun stones never do. Prestige Class: Pathfinder Savants replace the item creation feat prerequisite with Spell Focus.
EDIT: Damn you, Garringer! ;p
Excellent, thanks for the responses guys! I wasn't sure if this would be allowed, since it doesn't exactly give specific rules or limitations on it. Glad to know I can use it. :)
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Excellent, thanks for the responses guys! I wasn't sure if this would be allowed, since it doesn't exactly give specific rules or limitations on it. Glad to know I can use it. :)
You may want to consider the following posts on the subject:
I don't see the slang of the lodge as a separate language. I see it as colloquial Common slang that most Pathfinders get. It has no mechanics, it's just flavor.
and Post #2
I'm not sure where the post is, but it's just assumed Pathfinders know this. It's not a complete language (not even close), it's more akin to baseball signs or football hand signals or military hand signals for maneuvers and scouting and I can't imagine that taking a skill rank to select it like Undercommon would take, for example.
Great responses! I was talking with my home GM, and she told me pretty much the same thing. I am more used to 3.5, and the Drow Sign there, so I was under the impression this was the same sort of thing. It makes a lot more sense, rules-wise, why they would have it be so limited. Thanks for getting back to me :)
