Boro Beads: Is my alchemist screwed?


Pathfinder Society

Dark Archive 4/5

1 person marked this as FAQ candidate.

Long before Ultimate Equipment, I asked on the forums if my alchemist would be okay using pearls of power to recharge his extracts, and was met with mixed replies. I ended up going with James Jacobs' 'yes', along with the blessing from local Venture Officers.

Now Ultimate Equipment comes out, and I notice that there is an item that is unquestionably just for alchemist extracts, except I've already shelled out 5,000 gp for a few pearls that I'm not even sure if I can use anymore. What are my options?

Thanks.


If they allowed the pearls already, nothing in the pearls' text changed, and nothing in boro beads talks about pearls not working, so I don't see why they wouldn't continue to work.

Other than that, is getting them to be ret-conned into boro beads possible? I don't see how the item working the same but changing in name and appearance slightly is less disruptive to game immersion than an item that your character previously used suddenly no longer works because some book came out.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Seems like the thing to do.. would be either to keep using the Pearls, as Stream pointed out..nothing in THEIR text has change, or see if Mike and company alows for a change.

To be honest I never thought of the idea of a Pearl till the Ultimate Equipment guide came out.

5/5

If you really want to eliminate table variation, take your lumps and sell them back for 2,500. Heck, that's less than half the cost of a raise dead. ;-)

Liberty's Edge 5/5 **

What Kyle said.

Personally, I wouldn't have bought them in the first place. Rulings from VCs are not something I would base a purchase decision on.

Silver Crusade 2/5

Feral wrote:

What Kyle said.

Personally, I wouldn't have bought them in the first place. Rulings from VCs are not something I would base a purchase decision on.

But a ruling from James Jacob usually is good enough.

Mergy wrote:

I ended up going with James Jacobs' 'yes', along with the blessing from local Venture Officers.

Dark Archive 4/5

Considering he was the one who wrote the alchemist, I figured it was fine. It's mostly annoying because I've already rebuilt this character once thanks to the vivisectionist banning. I'm starting to think about retiring him due to frustration, but that would mean losing my highest level.

Liberty's Edge 5/5 **

I would take rulings from James with a grain of salt too. He's admitted he's not a rules source. He's just giving his opinion most of the time.

In any event, it's a 2500 gp mistake with an easy fix. Call it a learning experience and move on.

5/5

Since you were acting on information from a game developer and local venture officers, and if boro beads are the same price, I would say you are well within your rights to erase "pearl of power" and write in "boro bead" on your character sheet.

Liberty's Edge 5/5 **

That makes sense.

In the future, just try to avoid making decisions for your character on the word of a venture captain or a random post from JJ.

4/5

Mergy wrote:
Long before Ultimate Equipment, I asked on the forums if my alchemist would be okay using pearls of power to recharge his extracts, and was met with mixed replies. I ended up going with James Jacobs' 'yes', along with the blessing from local Venture Officers.

As one of the Venture-Officers in question, I'd like to point out that Mergy asked, specifically, on the forums for an answer and didn't get a definitive one from anyone other than JJ.

If he wasn't to make a decision based on the word of a venture-captain or a random post from JJ, Feral, what should he have based the decision on?

Frankly, given this:

'PRD' wrote:
This seemingly normal pearl of average size and luster is a potent aid to all spellcasters who prepare spells (clerics, druids, rangers, paladins, and wizards). Once per day on command, a pearl of power enables the possessor to recall any one spell that she had prepared and then cast that day.

I stand by my decision earlier. Though I freely admit that table variation may happen.

5/5 5/55/55/5

Feral wrote:

That makes sense.

In the future, just try to avoid making decisions for your character on the word of a venture captain or a random post from JJ.

What else is he supposed to use? Its not like Mike Brock (or anyone else that wants to keep a vestige of sanity) can weigh in on every single issue that may come up in every characters build/purchasing decisions.

He made a purchase in good faith. The item is nearly identicle to the boro beads, he should be able to just switch them over.

The Exchange 4/5

When in doubt, usually assume that you cannot use an item like you intend. At least in this case, I would not assume a pearl of power works for alchemists.

Liberty's Edge 5/5 **

Simply don't. Use nothing. If you have something like this that is a definite grey area don't get involved with it. In this case, that would mean living without a way to regain spells beyond your normal allotment.

The fact of the matter is, PFS as it is now, has no rules guru for grey areas. The best you're going to get is 'ask your local VC' which is just a different way of saying 'ask your DM'. If you want to avoid a headache, don't touch things with obvious grey areas.

I fully support the plan to just cross out Pearl of Power and write in Boro Beads. I understand it was made in good faith. Just be careful about where you put your faith in the future.

Grand Lodge 4/5

2 people marked this as FAQ candidate. Answered in the errata. 4 people marked this as a favorite.

The Boro Beads and Pearls of Power do essentially the same thing. They are also priced exactly the same. With that in mind, I understand your dilemma and apologize for not seeing your original post on the Rules forum. In this case, any alchemist who originally purchased a Pearl of Power, may swap it out with Boro Beads of the same level.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Feral wrote:


The fact of the matter is, PFS as it is now, has no rules guru for grey areas. The best you're going to get is 'ask your local VC' which is just a different way of saying 'ask your DM'. If you want to avoid a headache, don't touch things with obvious grey areas.

I am the rules person for PFS for grey areas. However, I am simply not going to see every post and will inevitably miss one. If a post is brought to my attention, I do my best to answer the question in A timely manner.

Liberty's Edge 5/5 **

Okay, let me amend that.

The fact of the matter is, PFS as it is now, has no rules guru for grey areas - that can or will see every request for a clarification.

Thanks Mike.

Dark Archive 4/5

Thank you Michael. I'll swap out the pearls for the beads this Thursday! :)

Grand Lodge 4/5

Feral wrote:

Okay, let me amend that.

The fact of the matter is, PFS as it is now, has no rules guru for grey areas - that can or will see every request for a clarification.

Thanks Mike.

But if you bring it to my attention, I will certainly address it ;-). Just send me a PM with a link. I've traveled a lot over the last six weeks so been unable to stay as active as I like on the forums. However, I don't have any other scheduled trips until January and should be able t be much more active on the forums now.

4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Wait... that was you NOT active on the forums?

Put the booze away, guys... we're not going to be able to get away with ANYTHING anymore.

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/5

Jeff Mahood wrote:

Wait... that was you NOT active on the forums?

Put the booze away, guys... we're not going to be able to get away with ANYTHING anymore.

You read my mind!

5/5

Put away the booze? You sir, are not my friend.

4/5

But... but... Mike's back! We'll get in TROUBLE!

Scarab Sages 4/5

Bug Juice = Booze

Grand Lodge 4/5

Any good follower of Cayden would argue booze is always needed.

I am curious how often a bead/pearl comes into play later as I'm playing a Gunslinger/Alchemist and am looking for thing to pump up my extract slinging abilities. The UE has several of them.

Dark Archive 4/5

Alchemists don't get a lot of extracts per day, ever. Boro beads are a great investment. It becomes even better with alchemical allocation: for 4000 gp you get another use per day out of that expensive potion you bought.

Sczarni 5/5 * Venture-Lieutenant, Washington—Pullman

As long as you pour him some...

5/5

Jeff, I have the answer. I know Mike's favorite beer.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Mergy wrote:
Alchemists don't get a lot of extracts per day, ever. Boro beads are a great investment. It becomes even better with alchemical allocation: for 4000 gp you get another use per day out of that expensive potion you bought.

I ask cause being a Gunslinger/Alchemist is already expensive. 3k for my backup gun. (Of course I went straight to MW Pepperbox to tide me over till I bump Ol Painless up to dual barreled musket.

4/5

Kyle Baird wrote:
Jeff, I have the answer. I know Mike's favorite beer.

If I sacrifice my highest-level character on the altar of Rats of Round Mountain will you tell me? ;)

...and now I'm going to stop derailing this thread.

Dark Archive 4/5

Thomas Graham wrote:
Mergy wrote:
Alchemists don't get a lot of extracts per day, ever. Boro beads are a great investment. It becomes even better with alchemical allocation: for 4000 gp you get another use per day out of that expensive potion you bought.
I ask cause being a Gunslinger/Alchemist is already expensive. 3k for my backup gun. (Of course I went straight to MW Pepperbox to tide me over till I bump Ol Painless up to dual barreled musket.

For a backup backup you can spend 2 pp to get a dagger pistol. Throw it in a spring-loaded wrist sheath and you can always have a gun at the ready.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ****

Kyle Baird wrote:
Jeff, I have the answer. I know Mike's favorite beer.

Would Kyle's favorite beer be fermented from the tears of hundreds of players? :P

2/5

Mergy wrote:


For a backup backup you can spend 2 pp to get a dagger pistol. Throw it in a spring-loaded wrist sheath and you can always have a gun at the ready.

I find this amusing. "Oh no, my gun misfired! Better get out my backup... wait, that misfired too!? Better get my... backup backup!"

I'm now picturing a gunslinger with 10-20 guns laying at his feet, having simply dropped them and gotten a backup each shot instead of reloading.

Dark Archive 4/5

Sean H wrote:
Mergy wrote:


For a backup backup you can spend 2 pp to get a dagger pistol. Throw it in a spring-loaded wrist sheath and you can always have a gun at the ready.

I find this amusing. "Oh no, my gun misfired! Better get out my backup... wait, that misfired too!? Better get my... backup backup!"

I'm now picturing a gunslinger with 10-20 guns laying at his feet, having simply dropped them and gotten a backup each shot instead of reloading.

Hey, if your dagger pistol misfires, just throw it. It's still a dagger.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ****

Mergy wrote:
Sean H wrote:
Mergy wrote:


For a backup backup you can spend 2 pp to get a dagger pistol. Throw it in a spring-loaded wrist sheath and you can always have a gun at the ready.

I find this amusing. "Oh no, my gun misfired! Better get out my backup... wait, that misfired too!? Better get my... backup backup!"

I'm now picturing a gunslinger with 10-20 guns laying at his feet, having simply dropped them and gotten a backup each shot instead of reloading.

Hey, if your dagger pistol misfires, just throw it. It's still a dagger.

One of these days I'm going to make a Gunslinger/Knife Master rogue who does exactly that...

2/5

That's a great idea! However, thinking about it I think a buckler pistol may be more effective. Still 750gp, but holds two shots instead of one.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Sean H wrote:
That's a great idea! However, thinking about it I think a buckler pistol may be more effective. Still 750gp, but holds two shots instead of one.

Actually the plan is to use the Pepperbox in close with Alchemical infusions and later on Explosive missile since I can't do the with my musket. (For whatever reason).

But getting back to the threads intent, the UE has some nifty toys for Alchemists. The admixture funnel, boro beads, the apparatus that lets you learn formulas from suitable positions. The alchemical widgets that let's you convert a potion into a close in cloud effect. (Not close to my book at the moment)

Grand Lodge 4/5

Kyle Baird wrote:
Jeff, I have the answer. I know Mike's favorite beer.

No you don't.

5/5

Michael Brock wrote:
Kyle Baird wrote:
Jeff, I have the answer. I know Mike's favorite beer.
No you don't.

Yes, actually, I do.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Kyle Baird wrote:
Michael Brock wrote:
Kyle Baird wrote:
Jeff, I have the answer. I know Mike's favorite beer.
No you don't.
Yes, actually, I do.

No, you actually don't.

Grand Lodge 5/5 ****

Mergy wrote:


Hey, if your dagger pistol misfires, just throw it. It's still a dagger.

This reminds me of a gunslinger in Mist of the Mwangi who started to use his gun as a club (improvised weapon - just hold it the other way round) after an incident in the entrance room.

Was great fun how he played the gunslinger.

Grand Lodge 5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Michael Brock wrote:
Kyle Baird wrote:
Michael Brock wrote:
Kyle Baird wrote:
Jeff, I have the answer. I know Mike's favorite beer.
No you don't.
Yes, actually, I do.
No, you actually don't.

I suspect Mike found a new favorite beer in his recent travels.

EDIT: Oh, I've got it. Mike favorite beer is always his last one.

5/5

Don Walker wrote:
Michael Brock wrote:
Kyle Baird wrote:
Michael Brock wrote:
Kyle Baird wrote:
Jeff, I have the answer. I know Mike's favorite beer.
No you don't.
Yes, actually, I do.
No, you actually don't.

I suspect Mike found a new favorite beer in his recent travels.

EDIT: Oh, I've got it. Mike favorite beer is always his last one.

My guess: not the last one, but the next one.

5/5

You're both very close. And Mike, you had several of them at both Gen Con and Dragon*Con.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ****

Kyle Baird wrote:
You're both very close. And Mike, you had several of them at both Gen Con and Dragon*Con.

Hmm. Is Mike Brock's favorite beer one that's bought for him by someone else?

(I still think Kyle's favorite would have to be fermented tears...)

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