Ask Owen K.C. Stephens Anything


Off-Topic Discussions

201 to 250 of 301 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | next > last >>

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Going off of Tacticslion's question

How likely are there for possibilities of official half races of the introduced races? (half lashunta/vesk/kasatha, etc.)

if not official, can any of the core races...interbreed?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Xa'sha wrote:


Thank you for answering me! I appreciate it!

I plan to roleplay an armor technician mechanic character so here's to hoping that it isn't too difficult for mechanics to get the feat for powered armor.

You can't get it until 7th, and it's easier for an exocortex mechanic, but it's not hard.

And heavy armor can get powered upgrades and look a lot like powered armor at lower levels. :)

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

2 people marked this as a favorite.
CorvusMask wrote:

So speaking of Guide to books, how likely is Janderhoff or Riddleport focused campaign setting book eventually? They are odd man out of the Varisia city state related books.

Come to think about it, how likely is Varisia in general campaign setting book?

Since I've been on Starfinder for more than a year now, I'm no longer as in-the-loop about such things.

that said, public support of the idea in less me-specific Paizo forums is the most likely way to swing the needle in your favor. :)

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Gordrenn Higgler wrote:
Is there a mappack or flipmap you think would be appropriate for use of the Throne card from a Deck of many things ?

I'm a big fan of Bigger keep.

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

1 person marked this as a favorite.
GM Rednal wrote:
Have you checked your RGG emails lately? I sent you a message on something you may be interested in.

Clearly not!

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

1 person marked this as a favorite.
David knott 242 wrote:

Owen -- Did you happen to catch this page in your honor on EN World?

I did. And I blush, even as I really appreciate it.

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Tacticslion wrote:

As you answered a question about hybrids with dogs, you've made yourself a target for a really weird questio . I apologize in advance.

Owen: I am curious, and have long had a question, and never had the temerity to look it up on the Internet. Can a Chihuahua breed, hypothetically, with a great Dane? Or any other similar extremity of the species? I would tend to presume, that the mother, at least, would have to be the larger of the two species. It also might not be possible without artificial means. But, I was curious about such extreme differences. I have no idea if you have any expertise on the matter, but, I mean, hey, you just answered that question right up there!

(This partially related to giant/hunanoid specization and twisted social experiments/hybridization.

The idea of Great Dane/Chihuahua crossbreeds is actually a fairly common thought experiment, and the consensus I always see is that while there aren't any specific confirmed examples of this specific combinations, every other known dog/dog breed crossing works and while the mother should be the larger of the two breeds (for safety), yes it's assumed Great Danes and Chihuahuas can interbreed.

Now there is a range of differences between what separates a Great Dane and a Chihuahua, vs what separates an orc and a human. But if you see most humanoids being actually the same species, just with radically different breeds (and a dash of magic can help explain that), then half rocs and half elves (and half-dwarf strip_ suddenly all make sense.


Cool! Thank you!

Also, did you know I'm not slow at all to follow suggested courses of action?


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Do you see playable Anacites (or other fully mechanical creatures) ever being a thing in Starfinder? Is there any particular type of sci-fi alien you really want to include in the game, that you haven't yet?

Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Are there any new classes(or class kits?) for Starfinder in the works? Any time frame on a Cat Race(ThunderCats!) for Starfinder? When can we find out more about Skittermander society and equipment?


How are you doing?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Brew Bird wrote:
Do you see playable Anacites (or other fully mechanical creatures) ever being a thing in Starfinder? Is there any particular type of sci-fi alien you really want to include in the game, that you haven't yet?

I certainly foresee technological construct PC race options in time, though they may not be Anacites specifically.

I continue to be intrigued by the idea of truly alien creatures so different from humans that it's difficult to even perceive then. This is the category of Palainians from Lensman and even the mostly-joke "hyperintelligent shade of blue."

But obviously playing a character than is part of a race humans can only partially understand is challenging. :)

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

1 person marked this as a favorite.
DragoDorn wrote:
Are there any new classes(or class kits?) for Starfinder in the works? Any time frame on a Cat Race(ThunderCats!) for Starfinder? When can we find out more about Skittermander society and equipment?

None of those are things we've announced yet, but they are all things we're thinking about.

We DO expect to keep thinking about what selectable class features, such as solider gear boosts and envoy improvisations, make sense to expand in specific contextes. And I foresee archetypes as a regular option to present new options and new explorations of groups.

But those are a bit different from what you are asking.

As for skittermanders--we're thinking about it. :)

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Tacticslion wrote:
How are you doing?

Looking forward to a nice long break, but in the grand scheme of things I'm fine.

You?


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Were the Vesk partially inspired by the Velantians?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Wei Ji the Learner wrote:


Were the Vesk partially inspired by the Velantians?

Not in the specific -- they aren't nearly long and dragonlike enough, don't fly, and so on. Neither their name nor their specific concept ever came up when describing the vesk.

But in a broader sense, Velantians are part of a classic sci-fi trope of a lizardlike race, along with everything from serpentmen to gorns, and we definitely wanted to tap into that trope as a whole. We decided on a new, lizardlike, independent race with its own history that doesn't begin in the Pact Worlds, and vesk were where that idea ended up.


Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:
Tacticslion wrote:
How are you doing?

Looking forward to a nice long break, but in the grand scheme of things I'm fine.

You?

Oh, mercy, "swamped" might be covering it (kids are expensive in both time and money!), and struggling with the Con Crud, though I can't imagine what a piblisher's schedule might be like, so... I empathize to the extent that I am able!

Here's hoping your break is awesome!

Also, Merry Looming Christmas!

Also, also: what is a favorite video-, computer-, and/or board game you've played? Table top? What about one or more of those youve not played? And what is the best of those you've played or not played?

Note: if you've not played it, you should probably have at least read it or otherwise had enough significant exposure to make an informed opinion... but it's also Okay if you are just a super-fan!

Also: you may not select either SF or PF as favorite or best - we'll just presuppose those are up there somewhere. :D That said, other similar games could count (Blue Rose, True20, 3.5, 3E, and so on are generally "different enough" to qualify, though none are expected answers.


What is something you've designed in SF that you can talk about, and want to, but haven't had the opportunity, yet? Also, what would you say about that thing?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

3 people marked this as a favorite.
MagicA wrote:

Going off of Tacticslion's question

How likely are there for possibilities of official half races of the introduced races? (half lashunta/vesk/kasatha, etc.)

if not official, can any of the core races...interbreed?

Official? I literally couldn't say.

Unofficial? I'm the guy who wrote Bastards and Bloodlines for 3e. With genetic engineering AND magic? I don't see any reason any two races couldn't be combined.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

If I were to invert the bond angle of water, what would happen to Earth's ice caps?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Tacticslion wrote:
Also, also: what is a favorite video-, computer-, and/or board game you've played?

Video Game: Mario Sunshine. I love all the Mario games except galaxy and it's sequel, and I am enjoying Odyssey very much, but Mario Sunshine remains the top mark for me.

Computer Game: Tradewinds. My wife and I played that endlessly, together, when it came out 14 years ago.
Boardgame: Dungeon. I am a big fan of everything since that is similar, from Descent to the various D&D boardgames, but for me it's always about Dungeon. I even wrote variant rules for the version I got a few years ago.
Table top: Still Pathfinder. :) Okay, okay if you disallow Pathfinder... a 3-waY tie between 5e, 3.5E, and Mutants & Masterminds.

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Tacticslion wrote:
What is something you've designed in SF that you can talk about, and want to, but haven't had the opportunity, yet? Also, what would you say about that thing?

I love nuar maze cores. I hope they see a lot of creative use.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

What are you feelings on having dragonsteel starships?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Terrinam wrote:
If I were to invert the bond angle of water, what would happen to Earth's ice caps?

Tetrahedral molecular geometry isn't my speciality, but I presume since in ice the lone pairs form hydrogen bonds with neighboring water molecules (the most common arrangement of hydrogen atoms around an oxygen is tetrahedral with two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to oxygen and two attached by hydrogen bonds. Since the hydrogen bonds vary in length many of these water molecules are not symmetrical and form transient irregular tetrahedra between their four associated hydrogen atoms), that if you inverted the bond angle all four groups attached to the oxygen would be on one side of a plane.

...
Or, maybe you'd summon Cthulhu.

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Thomas Seitz wrote:
What are you feelings on having dragonsteel starships?

I think you should. Go for it.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Maybe later. I still need to give some 1st level PCs some dragonsteel so they can fight Krampus. :P :)


Who did the re-take on Oma for SF?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Tacticslion wrote:
Who did the re-take on Oma for SF?

I honestly don't know, though obviously I could look it up. But I was mostly working on rules systems on that book, rather than monster turnovers. I only wrote one creature myself, for example.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:
Tacticslion wrote:
Who did the re-take on Oma for SF?
I honestly don't know, though obviously I could look it up. But I was mostly working on rules systems on that book, rather than monster turnovers. I only wrote one creature myself, for example.

Which one, the Nuar?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Rysky the Dark Solarion wrote:
Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:
Tacticslion wrote:
Who did the re-take on Oma for SF?
I honestly don't know, though obviously I could look it up. But I was mostly working on rules systems on that book, rather than monster turnovers. I only wrote one creature myself, for example.
Which one, the Nuar?

Yep!


1 person marked this as a favorite.


Was the Carnivorous spell intended to allow you to use your dex for attack rolls?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

2 people marked this as a favorite.

Yes, which I also answered on the thread itself which I saw long before I happened to check this thread.

It's RAI and, in my opinion, RAW.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Could a Android be constructed during the gap and still live in the present?

What would be His status?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Gayel Nord wrote:
Could a Android be constructed during the gap and still live in the present?

Certainly. While androids normally feel the pull of renewal after roughly a century, there could be an exception who has retained the same consciousness for the 317 years since the end of the Gap.

Gayel Nord wrote:
What would be His status?

They remember the past 317 years, and have no clear memories of the time before that.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

So, Owen...

A five-year old post of yours is making the rounds on Facebook- the story of "the Lieutenant" during the Star Wars D20 launch at Planet Hollywood back in 2000...

1. How awesome was that?
2. What was the most satisfying rules improvisation you came up with for that session?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

2 people marked this as a favorite.

1. It's pretty surreal. The weirdest part is that I've written a much longer version, and even done a video of that story. but it's that short post that got the most attention.
2. ... I have NO idea. That was 17 or so years ago, and while I remember having to come up with answers for stuff ("What happens if we put this weapon..." "The E-Web repeating blaster?" "... indeed, as you say, the E-web, put it on a hover-cart and pus it down the corridor as a makeshift assault vehicle?" "Ahhhhhhhhh... ")--but I don't honestly remember what any of those rulings were.
But they were all pretty satisfying, since the players all enjoyed them, and got into the game.


Tacticslion wrote:

So! Owen!

I was looking at a free module I happened to have, and noticed an... interesting... name in the "About the Author" section at the end, that of "Owen Kirker Clifford Stephens"... BUWAHAHAHAHAH~!

I FOUND YOU~!

(I actually vaguely have an idea we talked about this at some point in the past, but I can't find the title in my post history, soooo... hahahahahah~! Take that, Stevens~!)

Now: I demand* all of the secrets of the module! ALL OF THEM, I SAY~! >:D

* by which I mean, "I respectfully request"
!

Okay, so you dodged that question, but now the obvious query comes up: when, exactly, can we expect a full conversion of A Dark and Stormy Knight to Starfinder?!

(Which, by the way, was the module which, in rereading my posts, I realize after-the-fact was never stated... OOOOOOPPPSSSSS. That said, if you happen to have access or links to any other free stuff you’ve ever done throughout your career, and feel like sharing them, even and especially if you are mildly embarrassed about them, I’d be super-hyyyyyyyped. Im just sayin’.)

EDIT: Okay, so I can bear the tone of my question in my head... doesn’t help anyone reading, though. Ugh. I had hoped it’s obvious that this is supposed to be a joke... but when I reread it, especially in the context of, “this is Internet,” I could see a lack of obviousness. I mean, I still expect an answer, ‘cause I like how Owen tends to answer things (no pressure), but I wanted to clarify that I do not actually expect an actual conversion from you... at least not an “official” one... >:D


As an unrelated: changelings in SF (especially with the introductions of space “good” hags): good idea, great idea, or BEST idea?! (I rigged it!*)

* This is a mild Gravity Falls reference; that said, I am asking Owen about Changelings - a thing he already noted was high on his list of non-Core PF races, so it’s kind of like rigging it... ;D


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Are Catfolk going to be Continuity Enforcement Police?

Going around reality, arresting folks who Drift too big of a chunk of Planar junk into normalspace with massive firepower and poor trigger discipline?


Oh, I hope so...

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Do you know if Rogue Genius is continuing with Blood Space?

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Tacticslion wrote:
Okay, so you dodged that question, but now the obvious query comes up: when, exactly, can we expect a full conversion of A Dark and Stormy Knight to Starfinder?!

Just to cover this for completions sake, I'm afraid the answer is "never."

All rights to that belong to Wizards of the Coast, and I don't foresee them deciding to do (or even authorize) a Pathfinder conversion. Though, let's be honest, it wouldn't be a lot of work.

But if anyone really WANTS to read the 3.0 adventures I wrote for the WotC website more than 15 years ago, pdfs of them are available for sale here for $0.99 each.

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Tacticslion wrote:
As an unrelated: changelings in SF (especially with the introductions of space “good” hags): good idea, great idea, or BEST idea?! (I rigged it!*)

Chances are it's ONE of those... or not.

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Lord Fyre wrote:
Do you know if Rogue Genius is continuing with Blood Space?

That's the plan. It's RGG's default setting for all it's ongoing products, and work is being done on a setting book.


Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:
Tacticslion wrote:
Okay, so you dodged that question, but now the obvious query comes up: when, exactly, can we expect a full conversion of A Dark and Stormy Knight to Starfinder?!

Just to cover this for completions sake, I'm afraid the answer is "never."

All rights to that belong to Wizards of the Coast, and I don't foresee them deciding to do (or even authorize) a Pathfinder conversion. Though, let's be honest, it wouldn't be a lot of work.

But if anyone really WANTS to read the 3.0 adventures I wrote for the WotC website more than 15 years ago, pdfs of them are available for sale here for $0.99 each.

Will confirm: it’s a super-short dungeon adventure with a simple premise, and rather excellent execution. I’ve used it far too many times since I acquired the pdf ages ago, and have used it in 3.0, 3.5 and PF. Well worth a buck, for the amount of abuse use I’ve put it through over the years. Also comes with two unique magic items you can’t find anywhere else (one of which is now worthless for a PF non-adept, ‘cause at-will cantrips, but it still shows how Owen worked, even “back then” - thinkin’ up the awesome!

Also, Owen, I apologize - Inmay or may not have semi-permantely (for my games) placed a Deathweb that is also a Deck of Many Things (and who cannot leave that chamber for reasons) and its Dream Spider swarm progeny in that one room that has vaguely similar theming. I mean, you know, it’s a low-level module, but it’s probably fiiiiiiiiine... >.>

Oh! I also took a bunch of PF commoners through there, recently! It chewed through about five of them (give or take), before they won! (They had a variable party of 8-9; 4 being always only “Aid Another” NPCs, one being played by a six-year-old who popped in and out, and the other four being characters with average stats named by the players. One of the commoners managed to make it to the end! There were a total of thirty other commoners hanging out as part of the narrative; it was a distant prologue to the actual game I’m running. In that same game, the actual PCs will get to the same place, eventually! Then I get to run a stripped down variant! Again! Hah!)

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

2 people marked this as a favorite.

I'm always delighted when folks get use out of the adventures I wrote for the WotC web site.

I still get stories from folks playing Tiger's Den or Haunting Lodge.

But never Bad Light, House of Harpies, or Fait Accompli. (And that was SUPPOSED to be "Fate Accompli" It was a joke. The editors corrected it. I SHOULD have left a note that the spelling was intentional.)

I WAS once told a causal side-eek into Lest Darkness Rise resulted in a TCK. That's a "Total Campaign Kill," where not just the party, but every living thing in an entire campaign ended up dead.

So... that's a thing.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

We all know that Skittermanders are the best people in all Starfinder setting, but we're wondering what is the real meaning of their names? What do you mean with skitter (I know it's kind of a slang)?

I'm trying to translate their names to portuguese and wanna keep the meaning intent, so any tip is very welcome :D

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

1 person marked this as a favorite.

We definitely were thinking "skitter" in terms of "move lightly and quickly or hurriedly, likely while making a soft clicking or wooshing noise"

But we also just thought it sounded cool, which is often the case for alien names.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Hello Mr. Stevens. To what extent have you run adventures for players with your Really Wild West setting hack/microsetting? Would you kindly share a bit about any of those adventures with us?


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Well that’s mortifying. What I get for posting when drowsy. I apologize, Mr. Stephens.

201 to 250 of 301 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Gamer Life / Off-Topic Discussions / Ask Owen K.C. Stephens Anything All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.