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54. Female NPCs with names are suspect. Never score on a named NPC.
Implying that the only women relevant enough to have names are going to turn out to be evil? Tsk tsk...
(Female NPCs are capable of more than just sex and betrayal.)
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Blarg! Why do we do this live??
220. Each additional question you can goad the bad guy who's cornered you into answering is one additional moment in which you haven't yet run out of options.
221. Over-shopping for Adventure A means less shopping for Adventure B. Under-shopping for Adventure A means pre-shop Resurrection before shopping for Adventure B.
222. If the Rogue wants an extra share of the loot for all those traps he disabled, make sure the Cleric gets an extra share for all those heals he cast, and the Fighter gets an extra share for all those hits he took, and the Wizard gets an extra share for all those Fireballs he threw.
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Implying that the only women relevant enough to have names are going to turn out to be evil? Tsk tsk...
(Female NPCs are capable of more than just sex and betrayal.)
Isn't your avatar a Succubus? :P
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Isn't your avatar a Succubus? :PImplying that the only women relevant enough to have names are going to turn out to be evil? Tsk tsk...
(Female NPCs are capable of more than just sex and betrayal.)
I didn't say they weren't capable of sex and betrayal. Just that there's other things female NPCs are capable of in addition to those two options. :P
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And a corridor is capable of not being full of traps, but it's wisest to assume they always are.
That one would probably be best as just "NPCs with names are suspect," though, since male NPCs are just as bad. Probably neuter and hermaphrodite NPCs, too, if they ever make an appearance.
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That one would probably be best as just "NPCs with names are suspect," though, since male NPCs are just as bad. Probably neuter and hermaphrodite NPCs, too, if they ever make an appearance.
I'mma go ahead and say a golem with a name is bad news.
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That one would probably be best as just "NPCs with names are suspect," though, since male NPCs are just as bad. Probably neuter and hermaphrodite NPCs, too, if they ever make an appearance.
Depends on the GM. If your GM names minor NPCs (or uses a concept of allies to any degree) then pretty much everybody could be either safe or dangerous. If the only people your GM ever names are villains then sure, you can start to distrust named NPCs (but I'd also lose some faith in a GM who didn't name any NPCs other than the villains).
The problem is that you don't always know the villains are villains, so you have to be paranoid and assume that everyone is a villain until proven otherwise by whatever means you deem satisfactory, and this thread can't really tell you what those means are or assume that they've already been proven non-villainous.
Reminds me of the great 'things an Evil Overlord shouldn't do' list that's been around forever... :)
Good reading, and quite nostalgic!
==Aelryinth
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225) There's no real material penalty for losing a familiar anymore. You don't need to hide it.
226) Ooooo, your wuvvable ANimal companion fritz died? That's horrible! Get another one with the same stats tomorrow.
227) Lost your paladin's steed? How horrible! You get another one in a month, not ten years.
==Aelryinth
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The problem is that you don't always know the villains are villains, so you have to be paranoid and assume that everyone is a villain until proven otherwise by whatever means you deem satisfactory, and this thread can't really tell you what those means are or assume that they've already been proven non-villainous.
Being paranoid of everyone is reasonable. Being paranoid of only the people whose names you learn is just begging for the main villains to disguise themselves as 'nameless' NPCs so that they can lure PCs seeking sexual conquest away from the rest of the party.
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228) The sooner you have something available to help you fly, the better off everyone will be.
229) Being able to move dimensionally, be it blink, dimension door, or teleport, solves a lot of problems. In a pinch, so does Gaseous Form.
230) The game makes no difference between 6 ranks in a skill, and one rank in a skill with a +5 Competence toy. Plan accordingly.
231) Yes, you can use a sword one-handed and two-handed without it being a bastard sword. It costs you 2.5 dmg over a Greatsword for the wonder and power of being able to use a shield.
232) Loot, THEN pillage.
233) The party that doesn't check their loot for collectibles, rarity, hidden items and curses is going to be a sorry party.
234) Selling the mega-cool item the DM put in the treasure for something you actually want is probably not going to make him happy.
235) yes, there are now magic shops everywhere.
236) A Scroll and potion collection that takes care of all sorts of small problems is not a sign of clutter.
237) A sorcerer who doesn't have a scroll collection isn't playing a sorcerer right.
238) Yes, CLW wands are the cheapest method of healing. Go with it.
239) Yes, as long as its on your class spell list, you can use a wand, even if you can't cast that spell, or any spell, yet!
240) That sword the bad guy used to kill the ox with can be sold and you can buy two oxen with it, and train them!
241) A Riding Dog w leather barding at level 1 is statistically better then a level 1 fighter.
==Aelryinth
1. Doing ANYTHING in a dungeon can get you killed. This includes doing nothing. Therefore, act. Tis better to die daring awesomely.
2. Never share a hiding spot with someone more foolish than thyself.
3. The easy way is trapped. The hard way is an ambush. The right way is hidden.
4. Levers are placed to be pulled.
I don't know about the list. I have already read about the bad things that can happen in games, especially the lever. It made me believe someone read this list somewhere. It's like being on a jet and you see that sign on an exit to pull Pull lever to open door and you do. Suddenly you and several other people are sucked out of the plane. As you all fall (float?) to your deaths one yells why did you do that and you say because you read it on a forum that levers were meant to be pulled. Oops!
My witch would disagree with you on that point.225) There's no real material penalty for losing a familiar anymore. You don't need to hide it.
==Aelryinth
And then the next day she gets another one and I win the argument. :P
It's not like you lose levels like in 1E, and have to wait a year and a day to get a new familiar.
Best way to incapacitate any enemy wizard instantly was to axe his familiar. So,naturally, wise PC's didn't have one.
==Aelryinth
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248. Street urchins will do almost anything for 1gp.
250. Perception is the second-most import skill in the game. Use Magic Device is the first.
250a. Ergo, Dangerously Curious is the best trait in the game.
251. Thou Shalt Not....
251a. ...needlessly tempt AoOs
251b. ...permit thyself to be boxed into a corner
251c. ...wear heavy armor to the docks unless thy Swim is spectacular
251e. ...cast Glitterdust on the undead
The witch uses her familiar as her spellbook. If it dies, her spell choice is severely hampered.My witch would disagree with you on that point.225) There's no real material penalty for losing a familiar anymore. You don't need to hide it.
==AelryinthAnd then the next day she gets another one and I win the argument. :P
It's not like you lose levels like in 1E, and have to wait a year and a day to get a new familiar.
Best way to incapacitate any enemy wizard instantly was to axe his familiar. So,naturally, wise PC's didn't have one.
==Aelryinth
Indeed.
And the next day she gets a new familiar with all her spells chock full and ready inside it. Doesn't even have to pay extra for new spells and whatall.
Remember, she's a prepared caster. Losing the familiar hurts her for one day, and not even then if she hasn't used up her spells. It's a short term financial loss, is it, not this massive blow to her capabilities.
==Aelryinth
No, she does not. I suggest you read the rules for witches' familiars.
If a familiar is lost or dies, it can be replaced 1 day later through a special ritual that costs 500 gp per witch level. The ritual takes 8 hours to complete. A new familiar begins knowing all of the 0-level spells plus two spells of every level the witch is able to cast. These are in addition to any bonus spells known by the familiar based on the witch’s level and her patron (see patron spells).
The patron spells and bonus spells from Int help some, but she loses all her spells that were learned from other familiars or scrolls.
Furthermore, she is now limited to only her hexes for a full day and 8 hours. Now, let us think for a moment instead of assuming that there will be pie in the sky.
If the familiar dies, it follows that it was killed. Where do things most often get killed? In combat? Why, self, I do believe you are correct. Now, when does a witch most need her spells? Might it be combat once again? Why, self, I do believe you are correct once again! Astonishing! But wait, self, for this isn't the end- another question dawns upon me. Does the witch automatically get a new familiar just by paying? Why, self, no, she does not! She must hope that she has eight uninterrupted hours to perform the ritual. A corollary, self- what would happen to be the case if the witch were so unfortunate as to be unable to spare eight continuous hours, perhaps due to the aforesaid combats, which are especially likely if this occurs in a dungeon such as adventurers often frequent? Why, self, then she would be well and truly hosed!
And she still has the scrolls that she used to teach her original familiar, so they can be retaught. And if she didn't make a backup scroll for the ones learned from other familiars, shame on her.
And no, she's not limited to her hexes. She prepares her spells from her familiar. She's limited to SPELLS IN MEMORY...and then her hexes. Her spells don't spontaneously combust. Her familiar is a walking spellbook, not a channel.
And 8 hours is a normal sleep period. If she can't buy herself 8 hours of time, then she'd better not go to sleep, either.
So she loses her familiar in combat, and it has no effect on her combat abilities. She finishes out the day, gets the heck out of dodge, thumbs her Ring of Sustenance, and starts up her ritual.
In the morning, her new familiar is there with level x2 +3 spells, which she uses to replenish those she spent, she teaches the familiar the ones she has in memory already, and starts on the scrolls for it.
Net cost, level x 500 gp.
Sure, if it happens five times in a row, we've a problem. But compare to a mage losing his spellbook five times in a row, and I'm sure you'll agree the witch has a much sweeter deal. Without Spell Mastery, the wizard has NOTHING except his level 1 Apprentice ability and cantrips.
And compare to a wizard taking instant and permanent level loss. Yeah, that sucked, too.
==Aelryinth
253) Not everyone enjoys a game of rocket tag. If everyone has to rebuild their character because they can't keep up with you, you're probably not helping the game.
And she still has the scrolls that she used to teach her original familiar, so they can be retaught. And if she didn't make a backup scroll for the ones learned from other familiars, shame on her.
Yeah, it's not a huge penalty, but if a witch is careless with her familiar and lets it die repeatedly, then she has to continually replenish her entire collection of backup scrolls.
One backup scroll collection isn't too expensive, but if you go through a dozen sets of backup scrolls re-teaching familiar after familiar after familiar. It could definitely get pricey.
...Then again I suppose a wizard forced to go through spellbook after spellbook after spellbook would face even worse expenses.
Studying a scroll doesn't use up the spell. Casting the scroll uses up the spell. I.e. the scroll is just the witch's spare spell book.
And, yeah, the wizard doesn't get 2xlevel+3 spells back automatically when he buys his spellbook, either. he's still gotta pay to scribe them.
==Aelryinth
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Studying a scroll doesn't use up the spell. Casting the scroll uses up the spell. I.e. the scroll is just the witch's spare spell book.
And, yeah, the wizard doesn't get 2xlevel+3 spells back automatically when he buys his spellbook, either. he's still gotta pay to scribe them.
==Aelryinth
From the APG, page 68, sidebar titled "Adding Spells to a witch's familiar" under "Learn from a Scroll":
A witch can use a scroll to teach her familiar a new spell. This process takes 1 hour per level of the spell to be learned, during which time the scroll is burned and its ashes used to create a special brew or powder that is consumed by the familiar. This process destroys the scroll. At the end of this time, the witch must make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + spell level). If the check fails, the process went awry in some way and the spell is not learned, although the scroll is still consumed.
I do believe the words "this process destroys the scroll" suggest that, well, this process destroys the scroll. Thus re-teaching scroll spells to your new familiar would destroy all (or at least a lot of) your backup scrolls, and would be fairly expensive.
Studying a scroll doesn't use up the spell. Casting the scroll uses up the spell. I.e. the scroll is just the witch's spare spell book.
And, yeah, the wizard doesn't get 2xlevel+3 spells back automatically when he buys his spellbook, either. he's still gotta pay to scribe them.
==Aelryinth
From the APG, page 68, sidebar titled "Adding Spells to a witch's familiar" under "Learn from a Scroll":
A witch can use a scroll to teach her familiar a new spell. This process takes 1 hour per level of the spell to be learned, during which time the scroll is burned and its ashes used to create a special brew or powder that is consumed by the familiar. This process destroys the scroll. At the end of this time, the witch must make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + spell level). If the check fails, the process went awry in some way and the spell is not learned, although the scroll is still consumed.I do believe the words "this process destroys the scroll" suggest that, well, this process destroys the scroll. Thus re-teaching scroll spells to your new familiar would destroy all (or at least a lot of) your backup scrolls, and would be fairly expensive.
I stand corrected, the scrolls would still be destroyed.
What is the process for teaching the new familiar spells that you still have in your memory and didn't use up?Is there a cost factor if you use a spellbook instead of a scroll?
And do you have a witch friend with familiars sharing spells so you have a backup (definitely the best option).
None of which is still going to be as costly as the wizard having to replace an entire spellbook, and that's even if he preserves all his spells in memory and doesn't have to pay to buy the ones he already knew.
==Aelryinth
No, the wizard could get the spells from a friend, but he'd still have to pay for his spellbook all over again.
Transcribing dozens of spells ain't cheap. The familiars just need to frolic together for a few days, all other things being equal, and you can always prioritize what spells you want first so they are there for spell prep!
==Aelryinth
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No, the wizard could get the spells from a friend, but he'd still have to pay for his spellbook all over again.
Transcribing dozens of spells ain't cheap. The familiars just need to frolic together for a few days, all other things being equal, and you can always prioritize what spells you want first so they are there for spell prep!
==Aelryinth
It essentially boils down to whether or not the witch has purchased a Stone Familiar yet. If she has? Great! Those spells aren't lost. If she hasn't? Boo! Those scrolls all have to be purchased and consumed again, and those spells are (mostly) unavailable until then.
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252. The dark Drizzit clone always dies first. (Paizo has now thoughtfully provided an entire new character class, the Magus, to make the GM's monsters' snack-detection process that much more efficient. Really, it's the thoughtful touches like this which has made Pathfinder such a success.)
253. Buffing the melees is a luxury; buffing the casters is a necessity.
254. Children are excited by DPR; adults calculate attrition.
255. If your room at the inn contains a window, its only reason for being there is to permit the entry of vampires and werewolves while you're sleeping.
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256. You can judge how evil an npc is, by the sharpness of their cheekbones. Therefore, always ask to the see the portraits.
257. Any locked chest that you force open will always have potions inside, which you just shattered.
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258. Sometimes the best way to open a door is to knock.
259. If you are in the middle of an empty room, and then say you are "stealthing" to the other side do not be surprised when everyone looks at you weird.
260. Sometimes when you find a book in the lair of an evil wizard, its just a normal book.
261. Never shoot into melee unless you have Precise Shot.
262. If you shoot an ally because you did not follow #261, let them return the favor as a way of apologizing. Better you get an arrow in the back now than a dagger in the throat later.
263. If your GM asks "Who enters the room first?" The answer isn't "The guy with the most HP left."
I found this one out the hard way:
264. When offered food and drink at a shady tavern, always make sure a party member casts detect poison on it before you all dig in.
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265. The dead guy on the throne/beir/altar isn't dead. He's just waiting for you to get close.
Great list, very old school. I especially liked:
185. Read the fluff first, and the crunch second. It's poor gaming to take a class, especially a prestige class based solely on crunch.
192. It is okay to think in terms of aggro, DPS, Uber. It is not okay to use these at the table. Ever.