Really? You never heard of it before? That's surprising. When reading about Kaer Maga my first reaction was "Oh, so this is like a fantasy version of Kowloon walled city - but with trolls. That's cool". So I always assumed that Kowloon must have been the primary inspiration for the City's architecture.
Is Kowloon walled city anything like how you imagined the ring districts of Kaer Maga to be?
What were your inspirations for Kaer Maga?
** spoiler omitted **
I think the ring districts are probably VERY similar to Kowloon Walled City. If I had known about it beforehand, I would definitely have looked to it for inspiration!
That said, my actual inspirations for the city were twofold. The first was Erik's mandate that our setting needed something like Castle Greyhawk: a huge uber-dungeon with nigh-endless potential for additional dungeon levels beneath it. The second was really a desire to combine China Mieville's Perdido Street Station and Star Wars' Mos Eisely--a bizarre, anarchic sort of place where all of my craziest ideas could flourish.
Actually, I guess the third inspiration was the fact that I needed somewhere to set Seven Swords of Sin that would allow for all the incongruous weirdness in that adventure (which was the result of it growing out of the team-built Gen Con delve). I dashed off the original description of the city in about a page, and didn't actually know what things like bloatmages and wormfolk were when I wrote it--I figured that stuff out while writing my first Eando Kline story in Pathfinder #3, along with all the various district names, etc. And those were in turn created at the last minute in order to provide some sidebars for the story--it wasn't until City of Strangers that I went back and explored them further, even in my own head.
I often find that my best work comes from going back and expanding on the random little details that I dropped hastily in earlier writings, which is one of the reasons why all the gazetteers I write these days tend to have allusions to things that are never fully explained. Job security, I guess. :)
Anyway, in p.57 of Distant Worlds you mention "reskinning" monsters for aliens not described. For variant Aballonians, what would you recommend for:
1. Huge excavators in the planet’s deep mines?
2. Dragonflylike predators that “feed” on other machines in order to cull weaker designs from the race?
3. Boxy and bureaucratic brain bots?
4. Fleets of mouse-sized messenger automatons?
5. Delicate, jellyfish-like mechanics and optimization engineers?
6. Disembodied processor intelligences?
If you don't mind, I'll take a stab at this. Currently prepping a Distant Worlds PBP set on Aballon so I've been thinking a lot about this:
1. Bulette
2. Cloaker
3. Brain in a Jar
4. Lantern Archon
5. Stirge (shame there's no Grells in Pathfinder)
6. Ghost
#6 could be any intelligent incorporeal creature.
Yeah, ghosts were just the least overtly evil of the bunch and had a CR in the ballpark of other aballonians. I'd also concider upsizing the bulette using the template and downsizing the lantern archons, and probably slap the construct template on everything.
Unfortunately, you're unlikely to get a full-on side-view schematic like that in a novel. If we were to do it, it would have to be in a setting book--anything else would just be too small and hard to decipher, especially in black and white on novel paper stock. And since we've already published City of Strangers, I'm not sure where we'd find a place to print such a thing.I doubt I am the only one to hold the belief that Kaer Maga could have more books.
All you folks agitating for more Kaer Maga do my writerly heart good! While I can't promise another Kaer Maga sourcebook anytime soon, have you all seen Pathfinder #63: The Asylum Stone? While it's an adventure rather than a sourcebook, it details places like a balcony mansion in Bis, The Dark Forest, some more dungeon levels beneath the Therassic Spire, three different gangs of Kaer Maga, the caulborn's living library brain sacs... basically as much Kaer Maga flavor as I could pack into the thing while still leaving room for, you know, adventure. :) So far comments on that module have been pretty quiet, but it seems like the folks in this thread might be the target audience...
I'll have to agree with Mr. Lincoln. Kaer Maga is one of my favorite places in Golarion.
I've even cobbed together a whole new Book for my Rise of the Runelords campaign just so I could send the PCs there! Its a Sutterific chapter, consisting of most of Seven Swords of Sin, bits and pieces of The Asylum Stone, several plot hooks from City of Strangers, Feast of Sigils (which I know isn't your work), and enough homebrew to tie these together into a coherent plot.
Thanks for dreaming up the place!
[EDIT to add...]
Oh! My questions...1)In Kaer Maga, is The Forever Bore the same passage as the "Tube to Nowhere" in Seven Swords? If it is, do you have any idea how far past the entrance chamber is the crack that leads into the Chambers of Truth?
2) Where in the city is the entrance to the Tube?
Thanks!
Wow, I'm flattered! Thank, Haladir!
1) Maybe. And distance is a funny thing in those tubes... almost as if space were distorted... ;)
2) I haven't decided yet!
What do you think about lashunta oralces with the deaf curse does the telepathy sort of nullify the curse somewhat?
Can lashuntas stop there telepathy to ignore someone?
I imagine that the deaf curse is relative--it doesn't have to be *physically* deaf, more just a loss of a sense that's otherwise integral to the character's race. In my own game, I'd certainly have the curse correspond to telepathy as well.
And yes, I suspect that most lashunta can set up a mental block to ignore someone's telepathy, though it's probably difficult and depends on the mental strength of the respective individuals.
Also, just a quick note to let anyone on this thread who's going to Origins know that Death's Heretic has been nominated for an Origins Award, which con attendees can vote on! If you're going, don't forget to make your opinions heard--there are a bunch of great products nominated this year!
Hi James!
I don't have a real question, but I recently picked up a copy of Machine of Death and loved your story! The fact that the
Also, just a quick note to let anyone on this thread who's going to Origins know that Death's Heretic has been nominated for an Origins Award, which con attendees can vote on! If you're going, don't forget to make your opinions heard--there are a bunch of great products nominated this year!
Woot!
You've got a vote from me! :)
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1)How ugly do the male lashunta look like? Are we talking just harry dwarf or like a shorter version of that guy from Goonies with the misshapen head/eyes.
2)What is your favorite race from Distant Worlds?
3)What continent on Golarion would you like to see the most explored between Arcadia, Casmaron, Garund, Sarusan, or Azlant?
1) Not that ugly, really, more just short, muscular, and brutish-looking... not full-on dwarves, but more like a cross between a modern man and a Neanderthal. If you're into gorilla-shaped men (and hey, my dad falls into that category--dude's knuckles are like walnuts), then maybe Lashunta's the place for you!
2) I can't choose between my children! But I still crack myself up every time I talk about the oma. SPAAAAAAACE WHAAAAAAAALES!
3) The southern chunk of Garund, because really we would have already gone there if not for page dimensions on the gazetteer, followed closely by Casmaron.
2) I can't choose between my children! But I still crack myself up every time I talk about the oma. SPAAAAAAACE WHAAAAAAAALES!
Ever since I showed that monster to my players, they've been requesting a way to summon one so dropping one on their foes could be a viable tactic.
Any plans?
Also, just a quick note to let anyone on this thread who's going to Origins know that Death's Heretic has been nominated for an Origins Award, which con attendees can vote on! If you're going, don't forget to make your opinions heard--there are a bunch of great products nominated this year!
Great Novel, Great hero (actually heroic). Gratz.
Also, just a quick note to let anyone on this thread who's going to Origins know that Death's Heretic has been nominated for an Origins Award, which con attendees can vote on! If you're going, don't forget to make your opinions heard--there are a bunch of great products nominated this year!Woot!
You've got a vote from me! :)
Thanks, Gbone! :D
Ok the same questions here:
1: Do you like Greek Mythology?
2: Which monster from greek mythology do you like most?
3: Which monster from greek mythology (that isn't in pathfinder yet) is your favorite?
4: Which greek god/godess is your favorite?
1) Yes!
2) Oh man... uh... I'm really not sure! I'll have to come back to that when I have more time!
3) See above.
4) PRIAPUS! Seriously, that is the most hilarious and NSFW god ever. Look him up, but make sure that nobody's looking over your shoulder at the screen... his gospel and teachings are amazing....
For example:
Gotta love a god whose main doctrine is: "Are you sinful and wicked? Your punishment is sodomy! Are you just and virtuous? Your reward is ALSO SODOMY!"
We definitely have plans for multiple books with the same characters--in the next few years, you'll see a number of familiar faces popping up again, starting with Howard Andrew Jones' next Elyana novel.Hey James,
I was wondering are their plans for a longer seris of books to tell a story? Or other ongoing seris like Dave Gross's Radovan and Jeggare books?
Is there a reason you guys are sticking with stand alone novels?
Has that book been announced yet. If so can you possibly link to the blog post?
I'm a HUGE fan of Plague of Shadows and I can't wait until this book comes out...
The announcement hasn't hit yet, but will rather soon. By reading this thread, you are now privy to SECRET KNOWLEDGE. :D
My bad, I interpreted it as a friendly challenge, I wasn't trying to pit either of them against each other or provoke either of them, my apologies everyone.
No worries! Jacobs and I have plenty of friendly challenges and disagreements, but we solve them like the gentlemen we are. :)
Pistols at dawn.
2) I can't choose between my children! But I still crack myself up every time I talk about the oma. SPAAAAAAACE WHAAAAAAAALES!
Oh yeah I meant to ask about those. Were they inspired by the Leviathan race from the sci-fi tv show Farscape? The description of them is even somewhat similar.
Have you heard Veronica Falls, yet?I have now. Not my usual style, but pretty good. :)
What prompted the question?
An attack of missionary zeal, I'm afraid. I guess it's true when they say that you'll never like any music more than the one you loved when you were 15-16 years old - and this band sounds exactly like they could have been around back then, so I want everyone else to hear them too .
Contributor
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4) PRIAPUS! Seriously, that is the most hilarious and NSFW god ever. Look him up, but make sure that nobody's looking over your shoulder at the screen... his gospel and teachings are amazing....
For example:
** spoiler omitted **
Somebody's read his Satyricon. Strangely, I read it in High School Latin Class (the Trimalchio bits, not the Quartilla bits).
Do you read Latin? Or Greek?In any case, I am looking forward to Iblydos... and Vudra (of course).
Hey James!
I know you're busy but I wanted to drop you a link to the play by post we're doing on here--set on Aballon!
Anyway
drop by if you get a chance and tell us what you think.
Was the Oma design meant to look vaguely like a Catfish eating Plasma?
4) PRIAPUS! Seriously, that is the most hilarious and NSFW god ever. Look him up, but make sure that nobody's looking over your shoulder at the screen... his gospel and teachings are amazing....
For example:
** spoiler omitted **
0_0
*0_0*
Thank you. Thank you for scarring me forever.
*cries in a corner*
I have to admit, that art is hilarious, though I think I saw it once in the BOEF.
Hi James!
I don't have a real question, but I recently picked up a copy of Machine of Death and loved your story! The fact that the ** spoiler omitted ** made for a much more uplifting tale than I'd anticipated. It definitely motivated me to finally pick up a copy of Death's Heretic. Congrats on the nomination!
Hooray! Thanks, Agnelcow! I always wonder if there's any cross-pollination between the various short stories I write and my Pathfinder work, and I'm glad to see living proof. :) Being involved with Machine of Death has been a great experience, especially as it gave me the chance to become friends with the editors (Dave Malki!, Ryan North, and Matthew Bennardo) and a bunch of other folks in the webcomics community. They're an awesome bunch!
I hope you like Death's Heretic!
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2) I can't choose between my children! But I still crack myself up every time I talk about the oma. SPAAAAAAACE WHAAAAAAAALES!Ever since I showed that monster to my players, they've been requesting a way to summon one so dropping one on their foes could be a viable tactic.
Any plans?
Plans for a "summon space whale" spell? While I can't say that I expect that to ever make it into print, I personally would applaud such a Douglas-Adams-esque tactic. :D
Also, just a quick note to let anyone on this thread who's going to Origins know that Death's Heretic has been nominated for an Origins Award, which con attendees can vote on! If you're going, don't forget to make your opinions heard--there are a bunch of great products nominated this year!Great Novel, Great hero (actually heroic). Gratz.
Thanks! And glad to hear that you consider Salim heroic, in spite of his many flaws. :)
Oh yeah I meant to ask about those. Were they inspired by the Leviathan race from the sci-fi tv show Farscape? The description of them is even somewhat similar.
2) I can't choose between my children! But I still crack myself up every time I talk about the oma. SPAAAAAAACE WHAAAAAAAALES!
Nope! I've actually never seen Farscape. But I've always liked the idea of interplanetary ships that are biological rather than mechanical. At one point I think somebody made a joke about space whales--perhaps in reference to the cover of an Eclipse Phase book (so rad!)--and the idea stuck in my head. Traveling inside a whale is hardly a new concept--I'm pretty sure Jonah beat me to it by a few millennia--but it still cracks me up, and I'm actually inordinately proud of the idea of electromagnetic baleen... that one I think I can claim full credit for. :)
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My bad, I interpreted it as a friendly challenge, I wasn't trying to pit either of them against each other or provoke either of them, my apologies everyone.No worries! Jacobs and I have plenty of friendly challenges and disagreements, but we solve them like the gentlemen we are. :)
** spoiler omitted **
Yay! ... oh wait not yay! NOT YAY!... unless you two are shooting someone else.
4) PRIAPUS! Seriously, that is the most hilarious and NSFW god ever. Look him up, but make sure that nobody's looking over your shoulder at the screen... his gospel and teachings are amazing....
For example:
** spoiler omitted **
Somebody's read his Satyricon. Strangely, I read it in High School Latin Class (the Trimalchio bits, not the Quartilla bits).
Do you read Latin? Or Greek?In any case, I am looking forward to Iblydos... and Vudra (of course).
I don't read Latin or Greek. Sadly, while I used to know a fair bit of Spanish and ASL, I've let any hope of fluency there lapse. I tell myself that that it's because I'm spending all my time mastering English, but it may just be because I'm lazy. :)
I have intense admiration for those folks who speak a bunch of different languages!
Hey James!
I know you're busy but I wanted to drop you a link to the play by post we're doing on here--set on Aballon!
Anyway
drop by if you get a chance and tell us what you think.
The fact that there are folks currently gaming on Aballon makes me intensely happy. :)
Was the Oma design meant to look vaguely like a Catfish eating Plasma?
It wasn't in the art order, but I agree--it's hard to look at that image and think the artist wasn't looking at a fish from a bayou somewhere. That was some of the first art we got in for that book, and I still remember thinking "Oh man, this is going to be AWESOME!"
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What did you thought of the community trying to explore the golarion solar system before any real info on it was out? for example
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Contributor
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4) PRIAPUS! Seriously, that is the most hilarious and NSFW god ever. Look him up, but make sure that nobody's looking over your shoulder at the screen... his gospel and teachings are amazing....
For example:
** spoiler omitted **
Somebody's read his Satyricon. Strangely, I read it in High School Latin Class (the Trimalchio bits, not the Quartilla bits).
Do you read Latin? Or Greek?In any case, I am looking forward to Iblydos... and Vudra (of course).
I don't read Latin or Greek. Sadly, while I used to know a fair bit of Spanish and ASL, I've let any hope of fluency there lapse. I tell myself that that it's because I'm spending all my time mastering English, but it may just be because I'm lazy. :)
I have intense admiration for those folks who speak a bunch of different languages!
Having taught ESL, English is up there with Aklo in terms of how difficult it is to get real fluency in.
Though I found I got skill synergy (not a thing in PF, I know...) from Latin, Greek, and French for developing my English skills. Though being tired and speaking/thinking in the wrong language(s) (instead of English) is something that happens to me now. It's a weird pidgin, like Undercommon, in my dreams.
Was the Oma design meant to look vaguely like a Catfish eating Plasma?It wasn't in the art order, but I agree--it's hard to look at that image and think the artist wasn't looking at a fish from a bayou somewhere. That was some of the first art we got in for that book, and I still remember thinking "Oh man, this is going to be AWESOME!"
Oh it is awesome. And looks like something you would see in Doctor Who. Oh. My. Gosh. A Space Bayou would be an awesome concept...
Speaking of... I can't remember if I asked you this...
Are you a Whovian?
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What did you thought of the community trying to explore the golarion solar system before any real info on it was out? for example
I thought--and still think--that it's awesome! It's immensely flattering that people would be so taken by something I (or we, as in most cases at Paizo) created as to invest a bunch of their own time in expanding upon it.
Personally, I'm of the opinion that imagination is the point of roleplaying. I know some people feel like they can't use a thing unless they know all the canon associated with it, but I'm not one of them--to me, sourcebooks are meant to be inspirational, not prescriptive. So while I of course love the people who say "we want to hear more about Sutter's ideas!", it's just as vindicating as a game designer to meet the folks who say "we loved your ideas--and they inspired us to make stuff of our own!"
In short: We're just the guys who built the house. How you choose to decorate once you move in is entirely up to you. :D
Are you a Whovian?
Nope! Not as conscious choice, I just don't watch a lot of television, and as such tend to be leery of shows with a ton of episodes. Mark Moreland and Erik Mona are huge Whovians, though, so I've certainly heard its praises sung. :)
Dear Mr. Sutter,
Could you please describe your job responsibilities at Paizo in the form of the Up Goer Five Challenge?
Thank you!
Nope! Not as conscious choice, I just don't watch a lot of television, and as such tend to be leery of shows with a ton of episodes. Mark Moreland and Erik Mona are huge Whovians, though, so I've certainly heard its praises sung. :)
Are you a Whovian?
Wow... Nice.
Hello James Mk II. I posted some questions to the AJJ thread a while ago about the Lashunta but got a fair numbers of 'Unknowns'. Then this thread started, which is cool! Already saw a few responses you've had about the Lashunta, was hoping you could provide even more detail!
1) Are Lashunta men typically not allowed to ride the giant dinosaurs unless they get permission from the tribe matriarches first? Or is it more of matter of they can't control them the same way as the women?
2) How sensitive are Lashunta antennae and in what ways?
3) Elves and Fetchlings don't like each other in some indescribable way, which incidentally I find hilarious for some reason. Since they grew up on the same planet as Elves, do Lashunta have this same vague aversion / animosity?
4) How do groups of Lashunta typically organize with respect to families, communities, and nations? For example, do extended families usually live together under one roof and is there a strong bond between the communities of Lashunta with an organized power structure?
5) Is there anything that you wanted to include with the Lashunta vis-a-vis their antennae and natural telepathy (I'm assuming the former makes the latter possible here) that didn't make it in? For example, a bonus to the save DCs of their mind-affecting spells, or something similar?
6) What does the Lashunta language sound like?
7) Why don't the Lashunta show up on other planets, like the Elves do on Golarion? Or can we expect to see that in the future?
8) What's the Lashunta life-span like? Is it comparable to elves, dwarves, half-elves? Also, does it vary from one gender to the other?
Thanks in advance. Looking forward to asking questions here in the future!
1) Can you lean on Reaper to make a Grippli? I've been hounding them for a while now. Or heck, Wizkids.
2) What is the process of training to become an editor?
3) What are the most important qualities of an editor?
6) What does the Lashunta language sound like?
IANJS...but my wager would be the sweet sound of slience. I mean they are a telepath race after all.
Hey James, I just finished Death's Heretic last month and I loved it. The ending kinda got me down, but I completely understand why it ended the way it did.
I'm curious if there's an approximate ETA when Salim's next adventure is coming. Even something as vague as "this year" or "sometime next year."
I'm also really interested in Nidal, but there doesn't seem to be too much about the nation right now (the bit in Inner Sea World guide, one novel that's only partially set there, and a module, that I know of). Is there anything else that talks about Nidal or provides more details about it that I've missed (or maybe that are coming down the pipeline and you're allowed to talk/hint about)?
Thanks a million. :)
Not James, but there's a web-fiction piece featuring the same character as the novel, and Cities of Golarion has a chapter on the city of Nisroch.
Dear Mr. Sutter,
Could you please describe your job responsibilities at Paizo in the form of the Up Goer Five Challenge?
Thank you!
Here's a shot:
I make books and games and manage a team that makes books and games. I write about things that are not real. I help decide what books we should do. I pick who should write some of the books. I help make the books go once the writing is done.
(Also, XKCD is awesome.)
1) Can you lean on Reaper to make a Grippli? I've been hounding them for a while now. Or heck, Wizkids.
The things I would do for paintable minis for all the Advanced Race Guide races...
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1)How ugly do the male lashunta look like? Are we talking just harry dwarf or like a shorter version of that guy from Goonies with the misshapen head/eyes.1) Not that ugly, really, more just short, muscular, and brutish-looking... not full-on dwarves, but more like a cross between a modern man and a Neanderthal. If you're into gorilla-shaped men (and hey, my dad falls into that category--dude's knuckles are like walnuts), then maybe Lashunta's the place for you!
So... Frazetta Man?
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FrazettaMan
1) Can you lean on Reaper to make a Grippli? I've been hounding them for a while now. Or heck, Wizkids.
2) What is the process of training to become an editor?
3) What are the most important qualities of an editor?
1) If only! I'd love to see some rad grippli miniatures. (Editor Judy Bauer is currently playing a grippli named Chitl the Amazing! in my Shattered Star game.) I guess I could try to get one into an adventure path as a prominent character... hmm...
2) An English degree helps, especially if the focus is on writing and editing rather than lit-crit, but ultimately, a lot of becoming an editor is on-the-job training. Write and edit wherever you can--newspapers, small presses, etc. Get paid if you can, intern if you can't, volunteer for things that seem cool. Learn from the people doing the job you want, but also write things and learn from the criticism given by the people you're trying to sell to. Everybody's path to editorship is a little different!
3) An editor needs to be detail-oriented, first and foremost. An editor needs to be self-confident enough to express his or her opinion, even to those that awe them, yet at the same time be humble enough to know when to shut up and listen rather than getting drunk on editorial power. An editor should to strive to make or suggest the changes that improve a work, but never make changes just for the sake of making changes, or out of a need to prove themselves/assert dominance/justify their existence (the dreaded Red Pen Syndrome). An editor should take pride in being an unsung hero--your job is to make authors shine, with little or no credit outside of the industry. If you need the spotlight, be an author instead!
