>>Ask Crystal All the Things!!!<<

[Crystal Frasier]

Archpaladin Zousha wrote:

I'm stuck trying to decide on a race for a Giantslayer character. Should I go with a dwarf, which has a stronger connection to some of the history and natural advantages against the titular enemies even though they're pretty rare in Trunau and, at least from your perspective, less interesting? Or a half-orc, which requires less explaining as they're a sizable minority in Trunau and have stronger connections with the opening part of the campaign, but who would probably offend dwarven PCs or NPCs if they touched dwarven stuff?

Tough call, as the dwarf and the half-orc are objectively the greatest nonhuman races in the game (far superior to elves, certainly). I think the real question here is, do you want tusks, or do you want to spend the entire campaign knowing you could've had tusks if you'd just tried harder.

Of course... there's no rule saying you can't play a half-orc... and have the other half be dwarf.

[Kalindlara]

Crystal Frasier wrote:

I think the real question here is, do you want tusks, or do you want to spend the entire campaign knowing you could've had tusks if you'd just tried harder.

A brief how-to. ^_^

[Esquizo]

Crystal Frasier wrote:

Esquizo wrote:

Hello Crystal. I running the fantastic Hell rebels campaing (amazing story btw , one of the best campaing out there) I have some problems making one of my players to hate barzillai or his organization , i made Barzillai to kill 4 members of the hellknight order of the torrent in the public park of kinthargo and he burtally killed 2 inocents tieflings by letting his dogs ''to have some fun with them'' But my friend (he is playing a paladin of abadar) said that they were crimminals and the justice was made not in the best way but it is justice after all.

In fact, my friend said that he consider Barzillai Thrune like a national tragic hero that is making alot of mistakes.
My questing is How can i make my player change his maind about Barzillai thrune ?

This kind of sounds like a problem on a player level more than a character level, and you might want to ask this player (one-on-one, away from the table) why he's trying so hard to make excuses for the campaign villain. Maybe he has a character arc in mind for his paladin, setting him up to feel personally betrayed (or he might just be a contrarian).

From the perspective of a paladin, torture is never okay, and Barzillai leans more heavily on torture than even the average Thrune (especially without any legal conviction). He's also an illegitimate ruler according to the city charter, making his a tyrant who ignores the legal due process of the city, and any lawful-leaning character (as any paladin of Abadar would be) should be bothered by that. He eagerly associates with evil (summoning devils, binding devils to his servants, ect), and is demonstrably evil himself. A paladin can see him as a tragic figure but still realize he needs to be stopped from harming others.

From an Abadaran perspective, he's imposing unhealthy and unfair economic conditions, and using state power to manipulate the local economy. He's placing restrictions on what people and sell and who can buy/sell it. He's placing restrictions on merchants...

Thanks alot for the advice crystal , i spoke with him about it and he toldme that his paladin is a dork and that he was Roleplaying the cannon Lawfull idiot for fun , he dais that his paladin it so traumatized with the violents actions of the goverment in kinthargo that the poor paladin cant beleave it . Next sesión he is plaining to have a breaking point for his pali ;)

[Crystal Frasier]

Esquizo wrote:

Thanks alot for the advice crystal , i spoke with him about it and he toldme that his paladin is a dork and that he was Roleplaying the cannon Lawfull idiot for fun , he dais that his paladin it so traumatized with the violents actions of the goverment in kinthargo that the poor paladin cant beleave it . Next sesión he is plaining to have a breaking point for his pali ;)

Great to hear it all worked out!

[ulgulanoth]

Crystal is there any food on Golarion that you'd like to try but can't because essential ingredients don't exist here?

[Message board troll]

ulgulanoth wrote:

Crystal is there any food on Golarion that you'd like to try but can't because essential ingredients don't exist here?

I recommend goblin on a stick. Delicious!

[Misroi]

I bet reefclaw tastes amazing.

[The Doomkitten]

Why do people think being a social justice warrior is a bad thing? I mean, it just sounds awesome!

(I'm completely ignorant of most internet culture, and that's why I'm asking about this. Sorry if it's actually really offensive.)

[Ambrosia Slaad]

Social justice witch is cooler. ;) Plus if you swing by Crone Island, the bar on the southwest beach charges happy hour prices all day for SJWitches.

[Captain Killjoy]

Message board troll wrote:

I recommend goblin on a stick. Delicious!

Oh yeah?! Well I recommend TROLL STEAKS BECAUSE THEY NEVER RUN OUT!

[Rysky]

Captain Killjoy wrote:

Message board troll wrote:

I recommend goblin on a stick. Delicious!

Oh yeah?! Well I recommend TROLL STEAKS BECAUSE THEY NEVER RUN OUT!

Worcestershire sauce does though :(

[ulgulanoth]

surely a troll stake runs out because you cook it to eat it, thus dealing fire damage and preventing its regeneration

[thejeff]

ulgulanoth wrote:

surely a troll stake runs out because you cook it to eat it, thus dealing fire damage and preventing its regeneration

That would work if you were doing a troll roast and cooking the whole thing at once, but if you're just slicing off steaks and cooking them ...

[Haladir]

I don't eat troll, because I'm afraid of coming down with blue guts. #bookofviledarkness

[Turin the Mad]

Rysky wrote:

Captain Killjoy wrote:

Message board troll wrote:

I recommend goblin on a stick. Delicious!

Oh yeah?! Well I recommend TROLL STEAKS BECAUSE THEY NEVER RUN OUT!

Worcestershire sauce does though :(

If we have troll steaks, then we have various means of nigh-infinite Worcestershire steak sauce too. Noms!

[Crystal Frasier]

ulgulanoth wrote:

Crystal is there any food on Golarion that you'd like to try but can't because essential ingredients don't exist here?

Dragon's foot sandwich with mustard. If only we had mustard int he real world...

[Crystal Frasier]

The Doomkitten wrote:

Why do people think being a social justice warrior is a bad thing? I mean, it just sounds awesome!

(I'm completely ignorant of most internet culture, and that's why I'm asking about this. Sorry if it's actually really offensive.)

They don't. It's a label some people apply to anything they don't like. It's a dog-whistle to dismiss someone's opinion out-of-hand.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Kalindlara wrote:

Crystal Frasier wrote:

I think the real question here is, do you want tusks, or do you want to spend the entire campaign knowing you could've had tusks if you'd just tried harder.

A brief how-to. ^_^

Thanks, Kalindlara! I'll keep that in mind.

Question, Crystal. What's the cooler weapon for a knight: longsword or greatsword?

[Ambrosia Slaad]

I have questions about rakshasas, but I'm not entirely sure which Paizoians would be best to ask for answers. You, Jessica, or maybe Wes? My rakshasa questions being:

1) Would rakshasa willingly work with devils on long-term plans beneficial to both races? I know neither would accept the other as equals, and both would seek ways to exploit the deal for personal gain and to undermine/outflank the other... but would they strike the deal(s) in the first place?

2) Rakshasa in Pathfinder (and D&D) are often depicted with predator heads (snakes, big cats, reptiles, raptors, etc.). Would any herbivores be applicable for a rakshasa head? If so, which?

[Rysky]

Jackalope.

[Ambrosia Slaad]

I grew up reading the old Bloom County paperbacks, so my brain instaconverts jackalope into basselope, which would be the least intimidating rakshasa ever.

Edit: Wait, wait... new fey: the corgilope!

Edit 2: Don't google image search "corgilope".

[thunderspirit]

I know must stat up the Bloom County Basselope. (For which I must blame Cosmo.)

[Crystal Frasier]

Archpaladin Zousha wrote:

Question, Crystal. What's the cooler weapon for a knight: longsword or greatsword?

Cool is pretty arbitrary. I prefer the longsword for versatility. It goes one-handed, it goes two-handed. Use it with a shield. Use it with a dagger. Use it with a torch. Use it with a potion. Greatsword is great for damage output, but it limits your options

[Crystal Frasier]

Ambrosia Slaad wrote:

I have questions about rakshasas, but I'm not entirely sure which Paizoians would be best to ask for answers. You, Jessica, or maybe Wes? My rakshasa questions being:

I don't think we have an appointed rakshasa expert in the office, but I think they're neat.

Ambrosia Slaad wrote:

1) Would rakshasa willingly work with devils on long-term plans beneficial to both races? I know neither would accept the other as equals, and both would seek ways to exploit the deal for personal gain and to undermine/outflank the other... but would they strike the deal(s) in the first place?

Devils and rakshasas would totally collaborate, but it would look like a 17th-century French court, or maybe the politicking between the Italian city-states of the Renaissance: lots of udner-the-table dealings and backstabbing and sabotage. Both sides would see the other as useful and versatile tools.

Ambrosia Slaad wrote:

2) Rakshasa in Pathfinder (and D&D) are often depicted with predator heads (snakes, big cats, reptiles, raptors, etc.). Would any herbivores be applicable for a rakshasa head? If so, which?

Yes, but only the jerk herbivores: goats, boars, hippos, ect. The most dangerous rakshasas have a goose head

[Rysky]

Don't forget Otters!

[Ring_of_Gyges]

***immediately starts writing hippo head rakshasa NPC (based on this guy) who is not nearly as cunning as he thinks he is..***

[Ambrosia Slaad]

Crystal Frasier wrote:

Ambrosia Slaad wrote:

2) Rakshasa in Pathfinder (and D&D) are often depicted with predator heads (snakes, big cats, reptiles, raptors, etc.). Would any herbivores be applicable for a rakshasa head? If so, which?

Yes, but only the jerk herbivores: goats, boars, hippos, ect. The most dangerous rakshasas have a goose head

Just thinking out loud, but maybe only the samrata and hakima castes have predator heads, and the rakshasa of lower castes have been demoted to herbivore and other less-esteemed noggins. That wouldn't mean lower caste rakshasa would be less dangerous, but being visibly marked as lower caste could help explain why they would be jerks.

[Haladir]

Kalindlara wrote:

Crystal Frasier wrote:

I think the real question here is, do you want tusks, or do you want to spend the entire campaign knowing you could've had tusks if you'd just tried harder.

A brief how-to. ^_^

I like your how-to better than this one.

Although this Tusk ain't bad!

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Crystal, if I'M the Keeper of the Cheese, then who's the Lemon Merchant?!

[Crystal Frasier]

Archpaladin Zousha wrote:

Crystal, if I'M the Keeper of the Cheese, then who's the Lemon Merchant?!

Oh, HE knows.

.....

And that's why HE's going to kill you.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

So we gotta BEAT IT! Before he sets loose THE MARMOSETS ON US!! Don't worry little missy! I'LL SAVE YOU!

[Steve Geddes]

My players got quite into the Harrow deck during Curse of the Crimson Throne - it got them immersed in both the world and the story (as they looked out for things predicted by the reading at the start of each adventure).

Have you found any other cool ways to use the Harrow cards as a DM?

[ulgulanoth]

How were the donuts?

[Crystal Frasier]

ulgulanoth wrote:

How were the donuts?

Donuts?

[Seltyiel Fangirl]

Crystal Frasier wrote:

ulgulanoth wrote:

How were the donuts?

Donuts?

Donuts! ^_^

[Crystal Frasier]

Seltyiel Fangirl wrote:

Crystal Frasier wrote:

ulgulanoth wrote:

How were the donuts?

Donuts?

Donuts! ^_^

No clue. I was nowhere near the office on Thursday.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Dear Crystal,

I'm getting a NG half-orc oracle of Life started for a Curse of the Crimson Throne campaign, planning on eventually becoming a Holy Vindicator and I've got a question:

After Gaedren Lamm shanked his Shoanti mom in an alley one night, he was left all alone in the world (dear ol' orcish dad died shortly after he was born), so he sought sanctuary with one of Korvosa's churches. The problem is, I can't decide which he'd gravitate towards. Pharasma makes a lot of sense, since she's popular both with half-orcs and Korvosa-dwelling Shoanti like his mom, providing solace after losing his only parent and because there's a LOT of undead in Crimson Throne that need smiting, but on the other hand, Sarenrae's church has more healers he might have learned from and they probably do more charity work in the slums he initially would have grown up in. Both could instill a sense of justice in him (the literally fiery passion of Sarenrae or the certainty of Pharasma's final judgment) so I can't decide. What do you think?

[ulgulanoth]

Crystal are you planning on writing APs for Starfinder?

[Delightful]

So I heard you've played Dragon Age Inquisition. Who were your favorite and least favorite companions?

[Crystal Frasier]

Archpaladin Zousha wrote:

Dear Crystal,

I'm getting a NG half-orc oracle of Life started for a Curse of the Crimson Throne campaign, planning on eventually becoming a Holy Vindicator and I've got a question:

After Gaedren Lamm shanked his Shoanti mom in an alley one night, he was left all alone in the world (dear ol' orcish dad died shortly after he was born), so he sought sanctuary with one of Korvosa's churches. The problem is, I can't decide which he'd gravitate towards. Pharasma makes a lot of sense, since she's popular both with half-orcs and Korvosa-dwelling Shoanti like his mom, providing solace after losing his only parent and because there's a LOT of undead in Crimson Throne that need smiting, but on the other hand, Sarenrae's church has more healers he might have learned from and they probably do more charity work in the slums he initially would have grown up in. Both could instill a sense of justice in him (the literally fiery passion of Sarenrae or the certainty of Pharasma's final judgment) so I can't decide. What do you think?

Always go with Pharasma.

[Crystal Frasier]

ulgulanoth wrote:

Crystal are you planning on writing APs for Starfinder?

Being an AP developer is extremely taxing, and as much as I hate to say it, the last thing I want to do after a long day of developing an AP is go home and write one. But who knows what the future holds? I'm a sci-fi fan and would love to add to the world, but my work-life balance is a flaming wreck these days and I can't keep that up forever.

[Rysky]

What do you like about Pharasma (I'm assuming by that response she's one of your favourite deities)?

[Rysky]

Also, Corgis come in Wolf format. Did you know of this?

[Crystal Frasier]

Delightful wrote:

So I heard you've played Dragon Age Inquisition. Who were your favorite and least favorite companions?

Favorite is Varick, easily. I have a huge crush on that dwarf and his personality is pretty close to what I already play in most campaigns. I also have a soft spot for Cassandra and her desperate need to seem respectable even when she's kind of a bleeding heart fangirl.

For least favorite, that's Sera. I despise Sera and her self-importance and her refusal to take any responsibility for the harm she causes others. I know tons of people love her, but she punches every one of my "terrible person" pet peeves. I hated her so much in my first playthrough that I just refused to let her join the inquisition in all my future playthroughs. It kills me that she's fully 50% of the lesbian options, and the only lesbian option you can team up with in the field.

[Crystal Frasier]

Rysky wrote:

What do you like about Pharasma (I'm assuming by that response she's one of your favourite deities)?

More that psychopomps are my favorite outsiders, but Pharasma is always a good choice because sooner or later she's the one who gets to say who goes where, so it's not a bad idea to hedge your bets

[Crystal Frasier]

Rysky wrote:

Also, Corgis come in Wolf format. Did you know of this?

If you are referring to the dire corgi, then yes, I am aware. I am very aware.

[Rysky]

Crystal Frasier wrote:

Rysky wrote:

Also, Corgis come in Wolf format. Did you know of this?

If you are referring to the dire corgi, then yes, I am aware. I am very aware.

Ooo, nice.

But I was actually talking about Vallhunds.

(Which I guess would the longer name assigned to a Dire Corgi?)

[Crystal Frasier]

Rysky wrote:

Crystal Frasier wrote:

Rysky wrote:

Also, Corgis come in Wolf format. Did you know of this?

If you are referring to the dire corgi, then yes, I am aware. I am very aware.

Ooo, nice.

But I was actually talking about Vallhunds.

(Which I guess would the longer name assigned to a Dire Corgi?)

You mean this vicious predators? Yes. Yes I have.

[Rysky]

Crystal Frasier wrote:

Rysky wrote:

Crystal Frasier wrote:

Rysky wrote:

Also, Corgis come in Wolf format. Did you know of this?

If you are referring to the dire corgi, then yes, I am aware. I am very aware.

Ooo, nice.

But I was actually talking about Vallhunds.

(Which I guess would the longer name assigned to a Dire Corgi?)

You mean this vicious predators? Yes. Yes I have.

Esteemed hunters, they are.

[Ambrosia Slaad]

Rysky wrote:

Crystal Frasier wrote:

Rysky wrote:

Crystal Frasier wrote:

Rysky wrote:

Also, Corgis come in Wolf format. Did you know of this?

If you are referring to the dire corgi, then yes, I am aware. I am very aware.

Ooo, nice.

But I was actually talking about Vallhunds.

(Which I guess would the longer name assigned to a Dire Corgi?)

You mean this vicious predators? Yes. Yes I have.

Esteemed hunters, they are.

Wait-? Valhunds can track, run down, and capture wild pairs of shoes?! I have always been a cat person, but this new information may change my thinking completely.

"Packs of noble valhunds droving vast herds of shoes across the wild Plains of Zappos..." [/Slaadi Attenborough]