[Drop Dead Studios] Spheres of Combat Kickstarter

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Rednal wrote:

Stretch Goals aren't always revealed until close to when the main product is funded. ^^

I suspect as much, but was too lazy to edit my post to include "yet".

[Lirya]

Backer #46

[rainzax]

Ssalarn wrote:

...creating a T-Rex who could use his bite to throw an adventurer into the air before homerun hitting them across the battlefield with his tail...

Nice.

[Michael Sayre]

rainzax wrote:

Ssalarn wrote:

...creating a T-Rex who could use his bite to [throw] an adventurer into the air before homerun hitting them across the battlefield with his tail...

Nice.

I know, right?

(Also, thanks for correcting my post in your response, I went in and fixed it. Been a busy day, phone posting is catching up with me!)

[Luthorne]

A third of the way there already! Hopefully this will hit a lot of stretch goals, but we'll have to see.

And indeed, sounds like some cool options. Would also love a giant stomping the ground to trip people or a mobility-based quickling and similar things...

[amberkat]

Backer #60...looking forward to this book :)

[LuniasM]

Loved Spheres of Power, so I'll be backing this once I scrounge up the cash to do so. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

[Azten]

Ssalarn wrote:

rainzax wrote:

Ssalarn wrote:

...creating a T-Rex who could use his bite to [throw] an adventurer into the air before homerun hitting them across the battlefield with his tail...

Nice.

I know, right?

This HAS to happen!

[Rednal]

I vote for that being one of the samples for how the system can work. XD

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

I was going to come here and ask if there were any Spheres/Talents that were good for animal combat. So I timed that right.

[Baval]

Nabbed one of them commander spots. Would a drow be too outlandish? Would be cool to have my main in a book (i have a backup plan)

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Baval wrote:

Would a drow be too outlandish?

Why would one be? I can think of a bunch more races more outlandish.

[Michael Sayre]

Baval wrote:

Nabbed one of them commander spots. Would a drow be too outlandish? Would be cool to have my main in a book (i have a backup plan)

I don't believe a drow should be an issue.

[Baval]

SilvercatMoonpaw wrote:

Baval wrote:

Would a drow be too outlandish?

Why would one be? I can think of a bunch more races more outlandish.

I assumed it wouldnt be, but still worth asking

[Lathiira]

Another True Hero. First Kickstarter I've ever backed too. This book will look lovely beside my hardcopy Spheres of Power :)

[Taperat]

Just upgraded my pledge to Master General, since the Commander tier was all gone. Couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a character immortalized in print, and the special session at Paizo Con is just the motivation I need to finally go for the first time.

[Distant Scholar]

Backer #95; just a squire.

It took you guys over four and a half hours to reach past the 50% mark. How will this ever be funded in time?

Seriously, please try to make the add-ons actually separate from the main book, so that the add-ons don't slow down the main book.

[TriOmegaZero]

Lathiira wrote:

Another True Hero. First Kickstarter I've ever backed too. This book will look lovely beside my hardcopy Spheres of Power :)

High five! :)

[Azten]

I really hope I can manage to get my goblin in the book. At the rate it's going though, I might need to win the lottery.

[Lord Mhoram]

Backer 105. Would have been sooner but was at work for the last 6 hours.
True Warrior. I did SoP at PDF, and later bought the book. Not waiting this time.

I don't use Hero Lab, so not need to True Hero. :)

[Lathiira]

TriOmegaZero wrote:

Lathiira wrote:

Another True Hero. First Kickstarter I've ever backed too. This book will look lovely beside my hardcopy Spheres of Power :)

High five! :)

*High fives TOZ*

[Luthorne]

Hmm, over two-thirds of the way of the way to the goal! Definitely excited to see things going well...with luck, you'll be having to pull out a stretch goal or two quite soon!

Edit: Oh, and I'm at True Warrior, since I already have a hardcover of Spheres of Power and am looking forward to adding Spheres of Might, though potentially replacing them sometimes with a truly massive combined hardcover is appealing...or at least a Spheres of Power one with all the sphere expansion books applied as well as Spheres of Power: Expanded, which would be a mighty beast itself. And I don't use Hero Lab, so.

[DM Papa.DRB]

Upped my pledge to True Warrior to get the Hard Cover.

-- david

ps. And it is funded !

[Grovestrider]

Backer #6 at Commander. While I don't use Hero Lab, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have a character immortalized as an NPC.

[Luthorne]

Indeed! Congratulations on being funded...now, time to start working on some stretch goals!

[Michael Sayre]

Thank you everyone who pledged! Funding this project in under 24 hours speaks a lot to the demand a project like this has in the community, and the faith you have in this team and company to deliver it. We're going to do everything in our power to make sure this is everything you all are hoping it will be and more.

Also, backers should start getting information on the Kickstarter page about things like stretch goals, playtest dates, etc. in the very near future, so stay tuned for that!

[Lord Mhoram]

Can't wait for playtest dates. I can't to get my hands on it and start trying it out.

[Michael Sayre]

Lord Mhoram wrote:

Can't wait for playtest dates. I can't to get my hands on it and start trying it out.

We're over $10k now (!!!!!), add-ons are active, and we'll be doing a two phase playtest; the initial playtest will be for backers only, giving them a little more influence on the final product, and then we'll hold an open playtest for anyone who wants to participate when we're closer to moving things to layout and publication. I'll make sure to share the information on things like playtest dates once we've locked them in a bit more.

[Lord Mhoram]

Ssalarn wrote:

Lord Mhoram wrote:

Can't wait for playtest dates. I can't to get my hands on it and start trying it out.

We're over $10k now (!!!!!), add-ons are active, and we'll be doing a two phase playtest; the initial playtest will be for backers only, giving them a little more influence on the final product, and then we'll hold an open playtest for anyone who wants to participate when we're closer to moving things to layout and publication. I'll make sure to share the information on things like playtest dates once we've locked them in a bit more.

Thanks!

I was a backer on SoP, but I loved reading the rules and tinkering with them. Didn't get to play, and thus report. This time I will.

[rainzax]

I may get away with being able to playtest Mighty NPCs against my PCs. Because, until the final product comes out, I would hesitate to give my players access to abilities that may be in flux. Perhaps just in conjunction with monsters? Not sure yet...

[Michael Sayre]

rainzax wrote:

I may get away with being able to playtest Mighty NPCs against my PCs. Because, until the final product comes out, I would hesitate to give my players access to abilities that may be in flux. Perhaps just in conjunction with monsters? Not sure yet...

I just wrapped up an in-house playtest session tonight! Party includes an Armiger, Blacksmith, Commander, and Scholar currently, though I'm hoping we'll be able to wrangle in one more player.

The Scholar is the party healer and does some control effects, the Commander is doing what commanders do, and the Blacksmith is a bit more tanky while the Armiger is the offensive pusher. I've been playing around with some of the martial monster ideas we're kicking around for the stretch goals, but I don't have a lot to report on that front other than that orcs with spears are nasty, and triceratops' with Guardian abilities felt like kind of a dick GM move combined with the orcs, so I probably need to fine tune the monster and NPC conversions I'm working on a bit :P

[Azten]

Ooh, would something like Simple Class Templates work?

[Michael Sayre]

Azten wrote:

Ooh, would something like Simple Class Templates work?

That's the general idea yeah; we want to create a simple template for martial monsters first as part of the $12k stretch goal, and if we make it far enough down the stretch goal line we'll have a few more truly unique monsters.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Yes, monster support is sorely needed, seeing as how so far Spheres of Power just has sample monsters.

[Luthorne]

I'd like to see ways to combine Spheres of Might and Spheres of Power. Things like:

...armorist getting an arsenal trick that allows him access to equipment-related combat spheres....
...hedgewitch gaining access to a new tradition that allows access to a combat sphere and a fairly low number of talents compared to dedicated combat sphere classes...
...if feats that allow access to combat spheres aren't inherently combat feats (though I hope they will be, since this helps give fighters and similar classes easier access), an archetype for mageknight that gets combat sphere access in place of combat bonus feats...
...shifter gaining bestial traits that allow access to appropriate combat spheres that are good for natural attacks and brute strength...
...an archetype for the Symbiat that swaps out psionics for being able to grant allies and themselves access to specifically chosen combat sphere abilities...
...War sphere being able to pick some combat sphere abilities and grant them to allies temporarily via a totem or something similar...

Of course, I also hope that Spheres of Might will offer ways to pick up a few more magical abilities for its classes as well!

[khadgar567]

Luthorne wrote:

I'd like to see ways to combine Spheres of Might and Spheres of Power. Things like:

...armorist getting an arsenal trick that allows him access to equipment-related combat spheres....
...hedgewitch gaining access to a new tradition that allows access to a combat sphere and a fairly low number of talents compared to dedicated combat sphere classes...
...if feats that allow access to combat spheres aren't inherently combat feats (though I hope they will be, since this helps give fighters and similar classes easier access), an archetype for mageknight that gets combat sphere access in place of combat bonus feats...
...shifter gaining bestial traits that allow access to appropriate combat spheres that are good for natural attacks and brute strength...
...an archetype for the Symbiat that swaps out psionics for being able to grant allies and themselves access to specifically chosen combat sphere abilities...
...War sphere being able to pick some combat sphere abilities and grant them to allies temporarily via a totem or something similar...

Of course, I also hope that Spheres of Might will offer ways to pick up a few more magical abilities for its classes as well!

agreed this also pasively boosts war sphere talents to be usefull hell lets made war hybrid sphere were auras and real combat stuff in same package

[A J Gibson]

khadgar567 wrote:

agreed this also pasively boosts war sphere talents to be usefull hell lets made war hybrid sphere were auras and real combat stuff in same package

War sphere already has methods of sharing feats in the new handbook. I suspect the new system will work with that.

[Wraithguard]

Now I need to think about what type of character I should try to get immortalized. Considering how they responded to the Dragon's Dogma question, I might take a look at my Assassin from that game.

[N. Jolly]

Wraithguard wrote:

Now I need to think about what type of character I should try to get immortalized. Considering how they responded to the Dragon's Dogma question, I might take a look at my Assassin from that game.

I support all video game avatars for something like this.

[Michael Sayre]

Wraithguard wrote:

Now I need to think about what type of character I should try to get immortalized. Considering how they responded to the Dragon's Dogma question, I might take a look at my Assassin from that game.

Have you seen the preview doc yet? The Scale Foe talent is included there.

[Lord Mhoram]

Ssalarn wrote:

Wraithguard wrote:

Now I need to think about what type of character I should try to get immortalized. Considering how they responded to the Dragon's Dogma question, I might take a look at my Assassin from that game.

Have you seen the preview doc yet? The Scale Foe talent is included there.

I love the it starts as "one size larger than you" - so it can be scaling a colossus, or just the Man in Black jumping onto Fezzic's back. It's such a classic cinema (and video game) trope, to actually have it included is amazing..... now off to watch Madmardigan fight a two headed dragon.

[Michael Sayre]

Lord Mhoram wrote:

Ssalarn wrote:

Wraithguard wrote:

Now I need to think about what type of character I should try to get immortalized. Considering how they responded to the Dragon's Dogma question, I might take a look at my Assassin from that game.

Have you seen the preview doc yet? The Scale Foe talent is included there.

I love the it starts as "one size larger than you" - so it can be scaling a colossus, or just the Man in Black jumping onto Fezzic's back.

That was very intentional :)

We've got a ton of other material lined up as well, I'm just not entirely certain what our exact preview/release schedule is going to look like. We talked about doing the Scholar as our next class teaser since it's our take on a 1/2 BAB martial class, and if that's the case we'll probably show the Trap sphere and one other; possibly Scout since that's the Scholar's other associated sphere, but I know that N. Jolly has been itching to show off the Boxing sphere we worked on.

[Taperat]

Wraithguard wrote:

Now I need to think about what type of character I should try to get immortalized.

Oh man, I'm agonizing over this. Right now I'm strongly considering trying to recreate my Warlord (Path of War) shield-basher that I'm currently playing in Hell's Vengeance. He's not Chelish Captain America, I swear XD

[Wraithguard]

I missed that my first look. Thanks for pointing it out. That reads like a great way to capture that type of combat.

Scale Foe with Mighty Leaper could get you some hilarious mobility and a decent chance to ignore lots of falling damage. Sounds like the Assassin from Dragon's Dogma is a perfect fit for this sort of thing.

[Michael Sayre]

Taperat wrote:

Wraithguard wrote:

Now I need to think about what type of character I should try to get immortalized.

Oh man, I'm agonizing over this. Right now I'm strongly considering trying to recreate my Warlord (Path of War) shield-basher that I'm currently playing in Hell's Vengeance. He's not Chelish Captain America, I swear XD

Well, just wait until you see the Guardian, Shield, and Warleader spheres.....

Wraithguard wrote:

I missed that my first look. Thanks for pointing it out. That reads like a great way to capture that type of combat.

Scale Foe with Mighty Leaper could get you some hilarious mobility and a decent chance to ignore lots of falling damage. Sounds like the Assassin from Dragon's Dogma is a perfect fit for this sort of thing.

Athletics was really about capturing all those really cool, totally martial appropriate abilities that the core rules don't really cover all that well. Combine that with a design mandate to make things very cinematic, and Athletics was something that we all agreed would be a great fit for the teaser alongside the Armiger. You should definitely be able to run up a wall, leap onto a dragon, and then ride that beast around for a bit with full and straightforward mechanical support.

[Lord Mhoram]

I love unarmed combat, and I saw Athletics and immediately start thinking of a half SoP half SoM monk for pure Wujia. Or Matrix kind of stuff.

One other question - in the document it states "Armigers are considered Non-Combatants" is that a typo, or a specific keywords that isn't explained.

[Lord Mhoram]

Ssalarn wrote:

Lord Mhoram wrote:

Ssalarn wrote:

Wraithguard wrote:

Now I need to think about what type of character I should try to get immortalized. Considering how they responded to the Dragon's Dogma question, I might take a look at my Assassin from that game.

Have you seen the preview doc yet? The Scale Foe talent is included there.

I love the it starts as "one size larger than you" - so it can be scaling a colossus, or just the Man in Black jumping onto Fezzic's back.

That was very intentional :)

Kind of figured. :)

[Michael Sayre]

Lord Mhoram wrote:

I love unarmed combat, and I saw Athletics and immediately start thinking of a half SoP half SoM monk for pure Wujia. Or Matrix kind of stuff.

One other question - in the document it states "Armigers are considered Non-Combatants" is that a typo, or a specific keywords that isn't explained.

"Non-Combatant" is the equivalent of SoP's "Low Caster", essentially the martial equivalent of a 4 level spellcaster. Armigers get a lower base progression than would typically be normal for a full BAB character, due to all the bonus talents they can key to their weapons.

[Rednal]

...Sounds a bit like the Thaumaturge, then. XD Or at least somewhere in that family. Which is fine, of course - variety is good.

[Blackwaltzomega]

The Athletics Sphere seems really cool. I've been wanting an ability that let you wall-run or use strength for jumping for a while, and this delivers very nicely on a way to expand mobility while saving on skill ranks and apply it in new ways. I liked using the optional rules for climbing on larger enemies in 5e, and this looks like an interesting way to bring the fun of the Colossus Climb to Pathfinder.

I am LOVING the preview of the Sniper sphere. During one of my campaigns, one of my players was playing a Bolt Ace whose schtick was that they used a Large Heavy Crossbow to be a living ballista for the party, using the Vital Strike line and such; they didn't make use of the Bolt Ace's ability to go rapid-fire with their Crossbow, but instead focused on stopping power with a single shot. We homebrewed a couple of feats to power the style up a bit on the basis that you're shooting small trees at the enemy. This sphere makes me think fondly of those days, and I'm betting my rifle-loving friend who has lamented that just doing full attacks with a firearm isn't very satisfying in this game will be very interested in this sphere.