|
I'll start with the obvious, Liches.
They need to Craft their phylactery, so need a Craft feat.
Other NPCs presumably craft our items, so presumably have those feats too.
And of course, all the variant races are allowed.
So it can be done.
But I'm not really looking for instances, but rather the rules on breaking the rules.
-Can they take Leadership? (How about for a combat encounter?)
-Can they be Pure Azlanti? (Does this change their CR?)
-Can they keep their 'illegal' class feats and not swap them, or do they have to swap them like a PC?
-Can "no racial HD" humanoids take Bestiary feats?
And NPC followers:
-Can ACs/mounts take Bestiary feats?
-Can PCs' Eidolons?
-Can Familiars?
That's it for now, I reckon others will have questions to add.
(And apologies if my responses are delayed, I'm heading out camping soon.)
Thanks to all you answerers,
JMK
|
I don't think I have ever seen any NPC, anywhere, with the Leadership feat.
Unless the scenario or module includes time travel, I don't think pure Azlanti is available in "modern" Golarion. Closest I know of is Low Azlanti/gillman.
As far as I have seen and remember, NPCs in PFS scenarios, and Pathfinder Modules, are built using the normal Pathfinder rules, so NPC Wizards start with Scribe Scroll as their free feat instead of Spell Focus, etc.
Not usually on the Bestiary feats, since most of the feats won't benefit someone without what the feat modifies or gives.
ACs/Mounts can take those Bestiary feats explicitly listed in a legal resource.
Again, only if you can find a resource that explicitly allows a Bestiary feat for Eidolons.
Same, once more, for Familiars.
Director of Brand Strategy
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
NPCs aren't held to the same restrictions as PCs because they're not playing in an organized play campaign. The answer to all of your questions is "yes" with the caveat that we generally don't deviate from an established set of parameters in terms of what an NPC can and can't have in terms of ability scores, wealth, and feat selection. But if the PCs were to face, say a runelord from ancient Thassilon, who were all pureblood Azlanti, then that NPC would be that race and it's CR would reflect the rules for that particular human race.
|
NPCs aren't held to the same restrictions as PCs because they're not playing in an organized play campaign. The answer to all of your questions is "yes" with the caveat that we generally don't deviate from an established set of parameters in terms of what an NPC can and can't have in terms of ability scores, wealth, and feat selection. But if the PCs were to face, say a runelord from ancient Thassilon, who were all pureblood Azlanti, then that NPC would be that race and it's CR would reflect the rules for that particular human race.
That response seemed awfully specific.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
That response seemed awfully specific.NPCs aren't held to the same restrictions as PCs because they're not playing in an organized play campaign. The answer to all of your questions is "yes" with the caveat that we generally don't deviate from an established set of parameters in terms of what an NPC can and can't have in terms of ability scores, wealth, and feat selection. But if the PCs were to face, say a runelord from ancient Thassilon, who were all pureblood Azlanti, then that NPC would be that race and it's CR would reflect the rules for that particular human race.
Working on favored enemy Thassilonian for my next ranger, I guess :D
I don't think I have ever seen any NPC, anywhere, with the Leadership feat.
Eando Kline has the Leadership feat in Thousand Fangs Below. I only noticed because I was inputting him into Hero Lab the other day.
Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant
|
Dr. Tom, no offense, but this is about PFS, not adventure paths.
As for NPC's breaking the PFS rules, why would they even have to follow them? I mean pretty much every BBEG is already breaking the rules by being evil, so why bring it up? I guess the only thing I can think of is if Castilliano is planning on submitting a scenario?
|
|
NPCs aren't held to the same restrictions as PCs because they're not playing in an organized play campaign. The answer to all of your questions is "yes" with the caveat that we generally don't deviate from an established set of parameters in terms of what an NPC can and can't have in terms of ability scores, wealth, and feat selection. But if the PCs were to face, say a runelord from ancient Thassilon, who were all pureblood Azlanti, then that NPC would be that race and it's CR would reflect the rules for that particular human race.
(My bold.)
Thanks, Mark.From your answer, it sounds 'generally' like PFS NPCs (both enemies and party members from class abilities) can take any Paizo feat they qualify for (except of course Leadership for party members).
I'll go with that for now when contemplating scenario design and my future Summoner.
Assumed as much about the 'why', and you've strengthened my assumption that any NPC parameters can be broken for specific, legitimate plot purposes and with reasoned adjudication.
Thanks again,
JMK
@kinevon, Bestiary feats are poor for PCs usually, but several PC builds can make great use of them (perhaps too great, which is why they're banned, and because it's hard to mitigate all the possible combos with PC builds.)
I've seen NPCs with Leadership too in Paizo products.
A scenario designer would have to play nice with any follower they made. Level X with level X-2 is typically CR+1, so the encounter should make up for it with the extra CR or some advantage/disadvantage to balance it back.
Eando's follower, for example, is dead/gone. (Or it's that insane gal who isn't much of a boon to him.)
|
|
That response seemed awfully specific.NPCs aren't held to the same restrictions as PCs because they're not playing in an organized play campaign. The answer to all of your questions is "yes" with the caveat that we generally don't deviate from an established set of parameters in terms of what an NPC can and can't have in terms of ability scores, wealth, and feat selection. But if the PCs were to face, say a runelord from ancient Thassilon, who were all pureblood Azlanti, then that NPC would be that race and it's CR would reflect the rules for that particular human race.
He could just be referring to Rise of the Runelords. I hope not though. Kinda. 'Big K' is one bad mofo.
|
|
And any of the Runelords would destroy a party of level 12 PFSers without trying too hard.
I thought about pointing that out as well, but then again the special for Gencon this year is for characters up to 12+. In RotR the party should be roughly level 17 (just one higher than currently achievable in PFS, I think) when they face Karzoug. And I'd be surprised if he isn't/wasn't one of the tougher of the seven of them. Having one lof them make an appearance in Gencon Special- Part 2 might be doable.
|
I believe that it was discussed at the "Inside Pathfinder Society" seminar at PaizoCon when I was there ... It's available at pathfinder-podcast.com, I believe.
M&M hinted strongly that there may be a Runelord involved around December or so .... And that it may or may not be Karzoug, if memory serves.
Dr. Tom, no offense, but this is about PFS, not adventure paths.
None taken; the poster I was responding to had made the statement that he'd never seen an NPC _anywhere_ with the Leadership feat, so I chimed in.
|
|
None taken; the poster I was responding to had made the statement that he'd never seen an NPC _anywhere_ with the Leadership feat, so I chimed in.Dr. Tom, no offense, but this is about PFS, not adventure paths.
And I still haven't seen one, of my own knowledge, with the Leadership feat.
I started playing in a game of Kingmaker, which folded because they tried to bring it down to a reasonable number of people, and they lost too many. Only did a small part of the first book. And, other than a portion of Shackled City, has been my only AP.
None of the PFS scenarios, Pathfinder modules, LG scenarios, or other PFRPG/3.5E material I have played in or run have, so far as I can recall, had an NPC with Leadership.
|
|
And any of the Runelords would destroy a party of level 12 PFSers without trying too hard.
I thought about pointing that out as well, but then again the special for Gencon this year is for characters up to 12+. In RotR the party should be roughly level 17 (just one higher than currently achievable in PFS, I think) when they face Karzoug. And I'd be surprised if he isn't/wasn't one of the tougher of the seven of them. Having one lof them make an appearance in Gencon Special- Part 2 might be doable.
I did mention somewhere else around here that I guarantee even the highest level PFS characters (18 max right now) would be challenged in even part 1 of the Special. >:) Part 2? Well... we'll have to see if anyone survives.
The Special is a major event in Golarion and will require the best The Society has to offer in order to win the day.
