| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
]I'll just keep praying to Desna that Twilight vampires continue to never scream, "Awesome!" to the good folk at Paizo.A little faith. Your prayers are better spent on more likely threats. Like all the world's air molecules spontaneously turning into VHS recordings of season 2 of Disney's Gummibears.I feel like there is an inside joke here that I'm simply not understanding.
Also, I didn't know that Disney made a Gummibears TV Show. I now understand what Daigle and Sutter meant when they said that the true horror of the Schnedierian psyche have not yet manifested upon this plane.
(Gotta say the Swedish version is the exception that proves the rule that everything is at least slightly less good if dubbed.)
... why? WHY DID YOU SHOW THIS TO ME?!
Its like someone took Secret of NIMH, replaced the rats with bears, set the show in the world of the old Dungeons and Dragons cartoon, and then ripped of the Smu^fs for its theme song!
So ... much ... pain ....
With my dying breath, I scorn thee ...
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
]I'll just keep praying to Desna that Twilight vampires continue to never scream, "Awesome!" to the good folk at Paizo.A little faith. Your prayers are better spent on more likely threats. Like all the world's air molecules spontaneously turning into VHS recordings of season 2 of Disney's Gummibears.I feel like there is an inside joke here that I'm simply not understanding.
Also, I didn't know that Disney made a Gummibears TV Show. I now understand what Daigle and Sutter meant when they said that the true horror of the Schnedierian psyche have not yet manifested upon this plane.
(Gotta say the Swedish version is the exception that proves the rule that everything is at least slightly less good if dubbed.)
... why? WHY DID YOU SHOW THIS TO ME?!
Its like someone took Secret of NIMH, replaced the rats with bears, set the show in the world of the old Dungeons and Dragons cartoon, and then ripped of the Smurfs for its theme song!
So ... much ... pain ....
With my dying breath, I scorn thee ...
You say that like the D&D show and the Smurfs were worth-while television experiences...
Gummi Bears were incredibly rad - watch a few episodes and see for yourself. Its especially awesome to watch the show over 20 years later with my 4-year old niece and see her enjoy it as much as I did :)
hi Wes - Thanks for taking the time to answer questions here. Can you say anything about how The Guide to the River Kingdoms ended up with an entry by China Mieville? It was a very pleasant surprise to see his name on that book and Outsea certainly did not disappoint.
China is a friend of the company and a longtime gamer. We wrote up his whole Bas Lag setting way back in Dragon #352 and have exchanged a few mutual love notes since in books like Dragon: Monster Ecologies and there in Guide to the River Kingdoms. We had always planned the River Kingdoms to be a place where multiple designers could have their personal fiefdoms, which is why you see names like Elaine Cunningham, Steve Kenson, Chris Pramas, and Lisa Stevens in there along some much more familiar faces from the Paizo freelancer stable.
To head off the next question: No, this does not mean to expect a China Mieville Pathfinder Tales novel.
You say that like the D&D show and the Smurfs were worth-while television experiences...
Oh heck no! Secret of NIMH was awesome, though.
Mr. Schneider: What do you think about the thread being overrun by smurfs?
Do smurfs have trample?
Odd spiritual question:
What happens when a person on Golarion practices or embraces some behavior or ideal associated with a deity, but personally dislikes the way it is practiced or promoted by that deity, especially if the behavior is favored by an evil god and the person itself is non-evil and practices the behavior in a benign way?
To use an example, a person greatly enjoys gluttony, spending most of his/her money on good food. He/she is more than happy to invite other people to join them in these feasts, and tempers their eating in the face of things like famine. This person, however, does not worship Urgathoa and finds the practices of her worshipers like cannibalism, undeath and whatnot as disgusting.
Another example could be a person who promotes freedom and equality, but finds Milani's doctrine of revolution disruptive and problematic, and thinks Cayden Cailean's followers are idiotic drunks whose view of freedom is too irresponsible and anarchic. They feel the best way to achieve freedom is through rule of law and representative democracy, increasing the freedoms of the people through slow and small changes.
Where exactly do these persons sit spiritually, then? Which deities do these persons turn to when the deity in charge of the aspect of life they enjoy and practice the most is repugnant to them?
There are three big options here:
Deal with It: You can certainly take a "don't throw the baby out the bathwater" sort of view as it relates to your deity. There are whole religious schisms built up around highlighting or ignoring aspects of particular deities' faiths. If you can't find a better fit or your culture/upbringing pigeonholes you into a particular faith, your personal worship might focus on what you favor and ignore what you don't. That probably isn't going to get to a high place in the church's theocracy, but it might work for you on a personal level.
Find Another Deity: The core 20 deities are big deals because they have dominion over very broad portfolios. There are lesser deities and outsider demigods that have much more specific interests. If a powerful generalist doesn't work for you, then it might be time to look into worshiping a deity with more specific views.
General Faith: This isn't going to win you any magic from a divine being, but if you ultimately decide that no deity gets it right, but don't denounce them outright, when you die you'll still be judged and pass onto an afterlife likely determined by your alignment. So just because you don't go to church every Sunday doesn't mean you're condemned to the Boneyard. You can still hold your beliefs and do what you believe is right and still get to a reward in the afterlife that should appeal to you.
Hope this helps!
Wes, what is best in life?
Ever hear the 16th-century tune Westron Wynde?
|
Odd spiritual question:
What happens when a person on Golarion practices or embraces some behavior or ideal associated with a deity, but personally dislikes the way it is practiced or promoted by that deity, especially if the behavior is favored by an evil god and the person itself is non-evil and practices the behavior in a benign way?
To use an example, a person greatly enjoys gluttony, spending most of his/her money on good food. He/she is more than happy to invite other people to join them in these feasts, and tempers their eating in the face of things like famine. This person, however, does not worship Urgathoa and finds the practices of her worshipers like cannibalism, undeath and whatnot as disgusting.
Another example could be a person who promotes freedom and equality, but finds Milani's doctrine of revolution disruptive and problematic, and thinks Cayden Cailean's followers are idiotic drunks whose view of freedom is too irresponsible and anarchic. They feel the best way to achieve freedom is through rule of law and representative democracy, increasing the freedoms of the people through slow and small changes.
Where exactly do these persons sit spiritually, then? Which deities do these persons turn to when the deity in charge of the aspect of life they enjoy and practice the most is repugnant to them?
There are three big options here:
Deal with It: You can certainly take a "don't throw the baby out the bathwater" sort of view as it relates to your deity. There are whole religious schisms built up around highlighting or ignoring aspects of particular deities' faiths. If you can't find a better fit or your culture/upbringing pigeonholes you into a particular faith, your personal worship might focus on what you favor and ignore what you don't. That probably isn't going to get to a high place in the church's theocracy, but it might work for you on a personal level.
Find Another Deity: The core 20 deities are big deals because they...
Somewhat. I suppose a gluttonous person who isn't evil could fall in with a gluttony cult of Lissala or something. She can have Lawful Neutral followers. Though even that doesn't exactly work as it seems gluttony is inextricably tied with necromancy and undeath, as far as Thassilon was concerned. Yeah, I know, kinda weird I wanna play a fat character that like stuffing their face. DON'T JUDGE ME! :P
Here's an odd question: Which human subtype on Golarion would you say is the best one to use if I wanted to play a Cymric or Welsh person? Where would a character have to come from if they had a name like Cuneglas ap Gorfydydd?
Wes, what is best in life?Ever hear the 16th-century tune Westron Wynde?
I have now. Good answer. :D
Hello Wesley, thank you for taking the time to answer all of our questions!
OK, have you played In Nomine? If so, what are your thoughts on the setting and how has it shaped your gaming?
I have not. I lusted over those books back in the days I worked in a game store, but I never picked them up or played with them. Sounds like that might be a character flaw?
| 6 people marked this as a favorite. |
What, in your mind, makes a good kyton story for an adventure scenario? What elements should absolutely be in place to utilize such a being to its fullest extent (from a dramatic standpoint, not a mechanical one)?
Ever read the "Hellbound Heart?"
The thing I like the most about kytons is that their entire race wants to achieve perfection. This seems so basic, and at it's heart so pure an endeavor. You could walk up to anyone on the street and ask if they wanted to be their perfect selves and the majority would likely say "yes."
It's their view of perfection and their path to it that gets... twisted.
They legitimately do strive for physical/mental/sensational perfection, they want to be the ur-sensates, having the ur-experiences, but they willingly cast away anything to reach those experiences and often see any means as justifying the ends.
If you want to see how a kyton reasons and rationalized this to mortal, just check out the page of kyton rhetoric included with the eremite in Pathfinder #64.
As far as what I think makes a great kyton adventure: I love that kytons are lawful and will only give mortals what they ask for. They're civil but strident, they will be polite but they will also take what they have been promised. They are sympathetic of limited views and seek to free limited minds from them. That they're not conquerors, they're philosophers of experience and possibility and limited moral restrictions like taboos or morality mean nothing to their liberated sensibilities.
Think of them as doctors with a sick baby. The child is terrified, it knows there's some inscrutable being with a needle bound to hurt it. If that child needs a shot, though, and fate or more potent beings have brought the child to the doctor, it doesn't matter how much kicking and screaming it does. The doctor has a broader perspective and knowledge far greater than that of the child and will do it what must do. What is a moment's pain compared to all that's at risk, all that could be?
What, in your mind, makes a good kyton story for an adventure scenario? What elements should absolutely be in place to utilize such a being to its fullest extent (from a dramatic standpoint, not a mechanical one)?Ever read the "Hellbound Heart?"
The thing I like the most about kytons is that their entire race wants to achieve perfection. This seems so basic, and at it's heart so pure an endeavor. You could walk up to anyone on the street and ask if they wanted to be their perfect selves and the majority would likely say "yes."
It's their view of perfection and their path to it that gets... twisted.
They legitimately do strive for physical/mental/sensational perfection, they want to be the ur-sensates, having the ur-experiences, but they willingly cast away anything to reach those experiences and often see any means as justifying the ends.
If you want to see how a kyton reasons and rationalized this to mortal, just check out the page of kyton rhetoric included with the eremite in Pathfinder #64.
As far as what I think makes a great kyton adventure: I love that kytons are lawful and will only give mortals what they ask for. They're civil but strident, they will be polite but they will also take what they have been promised. They are sympathetic of limited views and seek to free limited minds from them. That they're not conquerors, they're philosophers of experience and possibility and limited moral restrictions like taboos or morality mean nothing to their liberated sensibilities.
Think of them as doctors with a sick baby. The child is terrified, it knows there's some inscrutable being with a needle bound to hurt it. If that child needs a shot, though, and fate or more potent beings have brought the child to the doctor, it doesn't matter how much kicking and screaming it does. The doctor has a broader perspective and knowledge far greater than that of the child and will do it what must do. What is a moment's pain compared to all that's at risk, all that...
YES
|
So with the release of the worldwound and the liltu demon I've been pondering on the whore queens again.
What does Ardad Lili's realm look like and the theme therein?
Will we ever get a Lilith style devil for Ardad Lili or other female devils for the Whore queens? I feel like the liltu is the mic drop for cool powerful female outsiders and I've been waiting for another female devil to sit beside the ernyies and help inform us a little more on the whore queens and female devils in the pit.
Contributor
|
Other question are their any gods or demigod level entities associated with cicadas and their mythology? I'm looking into them for my home game and I'm wondering if their is anything built around them. If not what kind of entity would it be i.e. empyreal lord, infernal duke, etc.
Not Wes, but Cicadas were associated with Apollo and Dionysus, because of their link to ecstatic song. Tithonus, the lover of Eos, was transformed into a cicada. Their name in Chinese (Le) suggests wisdom. Also, they're tasty.
I'd think something good... But perhaps Wes has a different notion.
|
|
Other question are their any gods or demigod level entities associated with cicadas and their mythology? I'm looking into them for my home game and I'm wondering if their is anything built around them. If not what kind of entity would it be i.e. empyreal lord, infernal duke, etc.Not Wes, but Cicadas were associated with Apollo and Dionysus, because of their link to ecstatic song. Tithonus, the lover of Eos, was transformed into a cicada. Their name in Chinese (Le) suggests wisdom. Also, they're tasty.
I'd think something good... But perhaps Wes has a different notion.
Yeah that was what I was thinking since the more I've started to look up the more they seem to be painted in a benevolent light. Also I have another thread in the suggestions board where I'm wanting to bounce idea for this around at as well.
I've been told by Sutter to post this in your thread.
What do YOU think we're still missing [in Pathfinder], and what would you like to see?Latin American and Spanish folklore and mythology! Alebrijes, more coatls, moai, Huay Chivo, the cucuy, Marimonda, encantado, the Sayona, the Tunda, the Patasola, nagual, and the weeping woman. So much to draw from!
La llorona (weeping woman) and alebrijes are my top suggestions from the list.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
(Jumping ahead, as this can not be ignored)
Why were you in my dream offering to buy me a sandwich?
Don't know man, dreams are total liars.
Case in point:
Will you buy me a sandwich?
No.
Thanks for posting the Paizocon Horror in RPGs seminar on youtube for those of us who couldn't attend! :)
I've been told by Sutter to post this in your thread.
La llorona (weeping woman) and alebrijes are my top suggestions from the list.What do YOU think we're still missing [in Pathfinder], and what would you like to see?Latin American and Spanish folklore and mythology! Alebrijes, more coatls, moai, Huay Chivo, the cucuy, Marimonda, encantado, the Sayona, the Tunda, the Patasola, nagual, and the weeping woman. So much to draw from!
Is the Alebrijes a creature? Wiki tells me its something else.
Ok my two folkloric creatures.
Batibat & Karkadann (or the fat evil dryad and the brown evil desert unicorn)
1# Are they pathfinder/paizo material or are they on the never-to-do list?
2# If you must create those creatures how would you create them? What would be their special abilities.
3# Did you know about these creatures or is this the first time you heard from them?
4# Would the Karkadann become a Rhinoceros in pathfinder or a cool feral unicorn creature?
LOTS! Lets see here...
1. Are we likely to ever see more of Bastardhall? I'm sure you hear this a lot, but I'd love to see a module, or even a campaign based around this location. If not a full module or AP, is it possible we could just get further details on the location to facilitate home games run there?
Yes! But I'll have to finish running it at Paizocon first. This was my fifth year and they just got within the the outermost curtain wall. So it's gonna be a while.
2. Do you have a personal favorite class/race combo in Pathfinder?
Not really. I'm a pretty big fan of dhampirs, changlings, and tieflings. I also like bards, clerics, oracles, wizards, and summoners a lot... and fighters much more than I expected having just played one in Erik's Kings of Absalom game. Sutter played a keen Salarian biotic (sorcerer) in my Mass Effect game a few months back. Rob's sneakily raced gunslinger in James's Sands of the Scorpion God game is also pretty badass. Ultimately it's the character that makes the race and class cool. Rarely is it the other way around for me.
3. Do you make use of any 3PP products regularly in your games? If so, which ones tend to get the most use?
Those interlocking tact-tiles probably see the most use around the Paizo game table. As far as supplements, you're probably more likely to see other games at the table than elaborate additional rules subsets for Pathfinder. We tend to either make stuff up on the fly or playtest our own systems.
4. Given how much you seem to have to do with Ustalav, I gather you're a bit of a horror fan. What is your preferred medium for horror? Movies, novels, comics, television?
Oh my yes. If you haven't stopped by my sites (click my avatar name) I tend to wear it on my sleeve. Preferred medium, though? Depends on my mood largely. During the day, it's usually movies. Evenings usually turns to novels, comics, and games. Late at night I usually read a few creepypasta stories before bed.
5. Could you name some of your favourite horror stories, of any medium?
Robert E. Howard's "Pigeons from Hell" is amazing. Edogawa Rampo's "The Human Chair" is one of my recent favorites. Junji Ito's Uzamaki (but really his entire body of work) is incredible (you can find a lot of his comics online). Le Fanu's "Carmilla" is as good as it is important. I love M.R. James's ghost stories, Shirely Jackson's work, Scott Snyder's American Vampire, Mignola's Baltimore (especially as I'm a Baltimore native), just to name a few. I just finished Dathan Auerbach's Penpal which ended weak, but of its five chapters two were cool, one was weak (the ending, sadly), and two were legitimately spine tingling.
I could go on, but hopefully you have a few books to look up. ;)
6. What are your feelings on the way vampires are being shown in popular culture at the moment? For example, Twilight (both the books and films), True Blood (and the series it was based on, The Southern Vampire Mysteries) and other similar movies/television series/literature?
I like vampires, but Twilight, Fifty Shades of Gray, etc--shockingly--aren't really my bag. I've heard great things about True Blood, largely depending on the season, but haven't gotten past the first episode. But popular attention is a fickle thing, the monster that just needs good loving was cliche before teen audiences noticed it and eventually it will be cliche for them to. I don't think you can really damage a story element as general as vampires.
At the same time, though, we are experiencing a fantastic resurgence in something much more at the heart of horror fiction: ghost stories. Say what you will about Paranormal Activity, but that it kicked off films like Insidious (which I still need to get all the way through), Sinister[i], [i]The Possession, and most recently (AND AWESOMELY!) The Conjuring is pretty awesome. I'm not saying they're all brilliant, but there are some really fun stories there.
So vampires can take their very public sub-genre vacation. I'm looking forward to the next wave of filmmakers who try to take them back to their roots, but ultimately it hasn't left me enjoying myself less at the theater.
|
|
So...here's a question that's been bugging me for a while. Why is Iomedae not venerated in Korvosa, a city that strives to be as Chelish as possible, while she IS venerated in Magnimar, a city that wanted to divorce itself from that nation? I find it odd that the people in Varisia who are most proud of their Chelaxian heritage favor a Kelish goddess (Sarenrae having more adherents in Korvosa than Iomedae, but trailing behind Abadar and Asmodeus, of course) rather than one of their peoples' own cultural heroes.
Wes, James Sutter was saying you wanted more Monsters. My supplement, the Manual of Aurania, written way back in 1977, has a number of weird monsters. Paizo is welcome to mine it, without charge of any kind. (Altho a mention of the source would be nice).
Mr. Schneider don't you like the Baykok?
I've got no gripe against the baykok.
Which divine figure, in your opinion, is the coolest or most awesome?
Sarenrae, Iomedae or Ragathiel?
I think there's neat stories for each of them.
Personally, if I were going to play a cleric of any of them, I'd probably go Sarenarae, Iomedae, Ragathiel, in that order.
If I were going to play a paladin, I'd probably go Iomedae, Ragathiel, Sarenrae.
Hi Wes,
What's vampire society like in Ustalav from the average moroi vampire's perspective? Is it more Interview with a Vampire with its secret cabals, soirees, hierarchy and generally unaware populace or is it more like Dracula with isolated vampires that are generally hunted and feared? What sort of reaction would be had were one to walk "openly" in a populated market, for example?
No opinion?
| 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
Wes, have you listened to Welcome to Night Vale?
WHOA! No, but that's going to change here real soon! Good find!
Wes, have you listened to Welcome to Night Vale?WHOA! No, but that's going to change here real soon! Good find!
Seconded. I started listening to this after seeing the recommendation while I was overseas, and started listening to it when I got home a couple of weeks back. I'm thoroughly addicted to it now, and have managed to get a bunch of my colleagues listening to it too.
I'm also working on a Welcome to Night Vale game to run with the Fate Core system now that my copy of that arrived.
Thanks for the answers Wes, much appreciated :)
I've noticed that in art, Tar-Baphon usually seems to be accompanied by crows. Is this a thematic thing, or magic, or..?
Short Answer: It's a thematic thing.
Slightly Longer Answer: The two campaign setting covers are the only places I can think of that show him with a bunch of crows, and the intent with those is that they're consecutive rounds of action, with the same group in the same place. Are there more you can think of?
I'm in the middle of running Rise of the Runelords, and I know in the future I want to run Shattered Star. I'm strongly considering running Curse of the Crimson throne in between, both for added backstory and because it looks fantastic. Today I was rereading some of Seven Days to the Grave, and it struck me that this adventure (and indeed the entire AP) demands theme music. Any suggestions to set the mood during different parts of 7DttG? Suggestions for other volumes would be bonus.
If you've posted suggestions somewhere else, just point me in that direction.
| 22 people marked this as a favorite. |
Of the Empyreals my favorite is Arshea, I'm loving the concept of a sex-positive transgender demigod. :3
Lust aside, where did the idea for Arshea come about? Here's hoping for another one of your meaty answers.
Oooh, I might be disappointing you here.
The idea was pretty basic: I thought we should have a deity that didn't think sex was a bad thing, but also wasn't all BDSM about it. Think Aphrodite for adventurers.
But then what gender do you make that deity? Well, everybody should want to make out with this deity. Being a deity she doesn't really have to worry about the limited nature of a static form, so she can swap back and forth however she pleases, so it just turns out that she favors both genders equally. As such, her faith typically depicts her as a beautiful androgynous figure. Gender's just not a big thing for her and she doesn't want love, physical or otherwise, to be tied to something as random as what chromosomes you were born with.
So that's the not too revolutionary idea.
As for more of the story behind Arshea, I've talked about the making of Chronicle of the Righteous at length on my personal site. If you get an opportunity, and want to see some of the really good buzz this has created, do check it out over on wesschneider.com.
And because you asked for meaty, here's something that I think would be right up the cult of Arshea's alley:
Aura faint transmutation; CL 9th
Slot none; Price 2,250 gp; Weight —
DESCRIPTION
Upon drinking this elixir a character permanently transforms into a member of that race of the opposite gender. While the user's physiology changes dramatically and the user's features slightly adjust to take on more masculine or feminine qualities, the change is not so radical that the character is no longer recognizable as the same person. The character has no control over the specific details of this new appearance, and the elixir grants no benefit on Disguise skill checks or similar checks.
This elixir's magic functions instantaneously and cannot be dispelled, though drinking a second transgender elixir reverts the character back to the former gender and appearance. The elixir has no effect on characters of races with no gender. Characters of races with more than two genders may decide which gender this elixir transforms them into.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Items, polymorph; Cost 1,125 gp
Additionally, here's the girdle of opposite gender revised as a normal magic item rather than a cursed item:
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 10th
Slot belt; Price 100,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
DESCRIPTION
When this magical cord is put on, the wearer immediately transforms into a person of the opposite gender. If the cord is removed, the character transforms back to the original sex. While the wearer's physiology changes dramatically and the wearer's features slightly adjust to take on more feminine or masculine qualities, the change is not so radical that the character is no longer recognizable as the same. A character has no control over the specific details of this new appearance, and the elixir grants no benefit on Disguise skill checks or similar checks.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Items, polymorph; Cost 50,000 gp
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Glad I shared Night Vale then. :)
I'm also working on a Welcome to Night Vale game to run with the Fate Core system now that my copy of that arrived.
I discovered it with a friend. We both thought it would make a great setting for a game.
Contributor
|
So many awesome things!Of the Empyreals my favorite is Arshea, I'm loving the concept of a sex-positive transgender demigod. :3
Lust aside, where did the idea for Arshea come about? Here's hoping for another one of your meaty answers.
This is wonderful insight -- and I love the fact that gender is such a fluid thing for Arshea. Well done!
The idea was pretty basic: I thought we should have a deity that didn't think sex was a bad thing, but also wasn't all BDSM about it.
And you touch on why Calistria does not appeal to me. Not that I'm against BDSM, Calistria just seems like she's got top's disease. Also, she's one of those "friendship makes you weak" types. What's ironic is that her most notable worshipper, a certain stabby elf, values friendship above all else.
As for the magic items, I've been thinking of the same thing -- but based on alter self! Seriously, if all they do is change gender then costs should go down by a couple orders of magnitude. Know how players can't cheat and get a +20-to-hit magic item by basing it around true strike? That should go both ways.Not to mention the practical economics of it, nobody will buy these items when even buying the services of a spell caster for polymorph any object (1,200 gp) is less expensive.
Oh, and since I thought you missed this question, I repeated and elaborated on my inquiry later.
Sir, I can not thank you enough for the blessing that is Hellknights. I may have been able to, but then you did a post about the origins of them and how they aren't actually evil and I discovered that the Order of the Godclaw has a prominent member that is a Paladin.
I love "I look friggin' evil, but I will save your kitten" characters since reading the Dragonlance books and about Steel Brightblade (even if his name is basically Metal Shinysword).
Were hellknights your idea or something presented that you took ownership of as a pet project in Golarion?
With Wrath of the Righteous announced, could you see a Hellknight fitting into that AP?
Any chance you can push for more Hellknight Minis to show up?
Can we expect the Hellknights to show up in any upcoming products with a large role?
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I'm not Wes, but Hell yeah, Hellknights can fit into Wrath of the Righteous! The Order of the Godclaw got its start in Mendev when a bunch of Hellknights from other orders got together and went to Mendev to fight the chaos of the demons at its source. They distinguished themselves enough to become a full-fledged Order of their own, and I believe the Inner Sea World Guide mentions their old HQ still stands in Nerosyan to this day. And even if you're not Godclaw, ANY Hellknight order probably respects demon-slaying. Great way to bring order to the galaxy.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Hitting on the other details of AlgaeNymph's question:
Of the Empyreals, Arshea is by far my favorite given our shared interests. I've some questions about him that I put in a list format so you'd notice it better.
1. Where did the idea for him come up?
So I hit on that just a bit upstream here.
2. Given that he's both transgender and sexualized, has anyone complained about him perpetuating stereotypes or somesuch?
Not that I've noticed, but certainly anyone who is looking to Arshea for a non-sexualized example of a transgender character will be disappointed, as she's certainly not that. Arshea's liberated view of gender roles comes from a view of sexuality that's divorced from having a single gender. That's part of her personality and divine portfolio, gender just isn't a big thing for her personally and she doesn't feel like it has to be a major thing for her worshipers. Thus she encourages her worshipers to aspire to their vision of physical beauty and choose whatever course is right for them in the pursuit of being most comfortable in their lives and their forms. As much as she is a goddess of sexuality, she's also a goddess of physical beauty and freedom, and while these aspects overlap in certain regards they can also stand alone. Just as being transgender isn't all about sexuality for many transgender people it doesn't need to be entirely about that for Arshea, as she's also so concerned in people feeling free and beautiful. You could divorce yourself from the sexual aspects of her faith entirely and still rest assured that she'd be an advocate for your pursuit of the perfect you.
But all that aside, Arshea is far from our only transgender character in the Pathfinder Campaign Setting. If you're looking for transgender characters whose sexualities aren't major facotrs of their personalities or goals at all, I'd suggest checking out Gray Maiden Filario Grantsliem in Pathfinder AP #62, barbarian Lanani Shabu in the NPC Codex, Mirislova in Pathfinder AP #69, and Cesseer of Ning (gender neutral) in Pathfinder AP #70, just to name a few from the past year.
3. Since Ragathiel's celestial obedience means he wants people at the forefront of cosmic battles, what does Arshea's mean?
That you're engaging in, enjoying, and encouraging consensual sex, physical intimacy, and personal connections. That you're encouraging another person to be beautiful and praising them for how they're already beautiful. That you're not letting sexuality become just another rote habit or forgettable errand, you're keeping the mystery and spirituality in it. That you're experiencing or sharing freedom and an ecstatic experience.
These are all things Arshea thinks are good. They might not be as challenging as fighting embodiments of evil, but not all evils have fangs and claws. Boredom, disconnection, pain, depression, these are more subtle evils and are very worth being combated.
4. Given Arshea's obedience, would you allow any of his worshippers to take the hedonistic (Ultimate Campaign, p.65) drawback?
Totally. It's certainly not a great min-maxy choice, but it sure could make a fun character! :D
5. What exactly do Arshea mystery cults do? I'm guessing sex is a large part of it but Arshea seems activist from his description.
Certainly. Sexuality is only one part of Arshea's portfolio. The pursuit and maintaining of physical beauty likely leads to a great deal of physical training, so her followers might run and participate in gymnasiums, organized games, contests, spas, baths, and schools (you've got to know something to stay in peak shape), as a few examples. Freedom is also a very general idea, making them advocates against slavery, but also situations that enslave, like ignorance, poverty, social expectations, physical limitations, and depression, as a few examples. The latter three seem especially up her alley to me.
These are just off the cuff, but there are tons of ways you could take this. I hope this gives you just a few ideas.
6. Oh, and how is "Arshea" pronounced?
I say it "R-shey."
As for the magic items, I've been thinking of the same thing -- but based on alter self! Seriously, if all they do is change gender then costs should go down by a couple orders of magnitude. Know how players can't cheat and get a +20-to-hit magic item by basing it around true strike? That should go both ways.Not to mention the practical economics of it, nobody will buy these items when even buying the services of a spell caster for polymorph any object (1,200 gp) is less expensive.
The trick here is that the spell we want doesn't currently exist (hint, hint all you armchair game designers out there). Alter self is close, but it's temporary, so it's not really the permanent fix we want. What we need is essentially permanent alter self--which is probably a 4th-level spell or so--or a very limited, permanent, look-a-little-different spell with few to no status effects--which probably clocks in a 3rd or 4th level. This is a pretty strict interpretation of the rules, but I stated these up as if I were writing this for inclusion in the Pathfinder RPG product and so folks could see a route we might favor if we did this in an official product.
For my personal game, though, yeah, I could see slapping about a 100 gp up-charge on what is essentially a potion of alter self (300 gp + 100 gp = 400 gp) and call it good. And if you want to do that too, by all means! Unless you're trying to make saving and scrimping for one of these items a plot point, there shouldn't be a huge reason to prevent characters who want to from swapping back and forth as they see fit--especially since there's no statistical change involved.
Ultimately, whatever makes players and their characters happy around the table and doesn't take any enjoyment of the game for them, the other players, and you as the GM.
And because you asked for meaty, here's something that I think would be right up the cult of Arshea's alley:
I'd imagine that many transgendered people within the Cult would still probably prefer the girdle over the cord, if only because the "cursed" magic item doesn't require you to wear it after it has changed your gender.
|
|
I'd imagine that many transgendered people within the Cult would still probably prefer the girdle over the cord, if only because the "cursed" magic item doesn't require you to wear it after it has changed your gender.
And because you asked for meaty, here's something that I think would be right up the cult of Arshea's alley:
That or the cord should be much much cheaper.
|
Wes, we recently rolled our character's backgrounds but we are having some difficulty having them tie in to Golarion, the game is set in the most present day of Golarion and our characters are of middle age in human terms, but one was supposed to have witness a natural distaster and the other war, even though their backstories tie them to Absalom and the inner sea region, any thoughts on what these events could have been?
I'd imagine that many transgendered people within the Cult would still probably prefer the girdle over the cord, if only because the "cursed" magic item doesn't require you to wear it after it has changed your gender.
That or the cord should be much much cheaper.
Totally viable options on both counts! Go for it and totally let me know how they play in your games.
My Questions:
Will we see a Magnetic-based monster soon? A monster that like the Metalmaster and Lodestone Marauder of D&D will ONLY use magnetic powers and not like the Plasma Ooze uses almost every power possible including magnetic powers...
Sounds like a totally viable niche. I can see it happening. As for soon... in geological terms, yes: soon.
Will we see a Gravity-using monster soon? Much like the Gravorg of D&D that only uses gravity as a weapon, so not a Jean Grey/Exodus/Professor X monster that uses everything possible and mixes abilities, just gravity, much like the Black Biship/Harry Leland from x-men villians.
Maybe interestingly, the plasma ooze originally had a brother named the gravity ooze, but, if I recall correctly, wonky art crib deathed him. So we've got one floating around here, but it isn't in Bestiary 4 and hasn't found a new home yet.
Oooh, that's a fun reverse spoiler game: What monsters AREN'T in Bestiary 4. Here's five:
Jackalopes
Trolls
Nisps
Swaithes
Almost nothing from Borges's Book of Imaginary Beings
Oh, and one of these things might be a lie.
ENJOY!
Cool spoilers! I love some small spoilers!
I hope soon means Bestiary 4 soonish haha ;-) Or maybe a magnetic demon in one of the demon AP bestiary is cool too.
That brings another question, are there more monsters like the Gravity Ooze that hang around you guys but which (because of bad art for example) still haven't reached one of the Paizo products yet?
For the Spoiler Game:
Let me see, I don't care for Jackalopes anymore since pathfinder has Wolpertingers and Almiraj which are much better, there are enough trolls, tho I think the troll in the list MIGHT be the lie ;-)
I don't know what Nisps and Swaithes are... (Should I be ashamed?)
Looks-on-google for the Book of Imaginary beings list as for who's a shame not making it in bestiary 4 and then I come up with: Alicanto, Chesire Cat, Namazu!!, Ouroboros and the Echeneis/remora. Most of the others are already in Bestiaries or other pathfinder products.
So I kinda hope the lie is about the Book of Imaginary beings, Namazu, Echeneis/Remora and Chesire Cat are just too much fun, but again you said almost nothing from borge's book of imaginary beings, so that means not all. :-D