Do you absolutely have to become "grey and gloomy" colored upon becoming a Shadowdancer?


Rules Discussion

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Just curious if that is more flavor text or written in stone. How quickly does it happen? Is there a book somewhere that details why and how it happens, like more fluff, less crunch?


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Fluff is mit a particular popular Term around here for a number of reasons, you should Refrain from using it

There are No Infos about the shadowdancer around for 2e other then what's written in the archetype afaik

One could argue that with Shadow magic, ad it is void adjecent, it happens over time either way but the rate at which that happens probably is determined by a few dozen factors we can at best try to guess

In the end ist is probably Up to you If and how fast that happens, but a Ninja probably won't Run around in a vibrant Display in the first place ;)


Fluff is a fine term for lore and such vs crunch.

I think its silly and overly sensitive, the reasons they don't like that word but I can say "flavor text" instead, but I may forget as I've heard the other term used for a long long time now and not just for Pathfinder but for D&D, Vampire, and pretty much any other RPG. But I'll try.

Some ninja run around in vibrant colors. Look at Vega? ;-) Kimberly? *Both street fighter references), Rain from Mortal Kombat in his purple. Storm Shadow in all white.

But I'm going for a Kitsune with red fur and wears dark blue and black with some red. Inspired by characters like Ryu Hayabusa or Zeku.

Silver Crusade

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Fluff means “something of no value” so yeah, but of a jerk move to intentionally keep using that to refer to written works because you don’t care about it as much as you do the mechanics.


Rysky wrote:
Fluff means “something of no value” so yeah, but of a jerk move to intentionally keep using that to refer to written works because you don’t care about it as much as you do the mechanics.

That's what it means to you and some others. It's still used in a lot of discussions here, on D&D, VTM and many other gaming sites. I think you're just looking for a fight and some people are way too sensitive regarding the word, however I did say I would try not to use it and use flavor text instead.


As GM I allow a player to change the flavor part if he/she want once there's no rules attached to it and the char is yours so do as you will.

But I like the idea that shadow dancers becoming more closer to shadows thematic is more cool but I this is my personal opinion I will never force it to a char of anyone.


YuriP wrote:

As GM I allow a player to change the flavor part if he/she want once there's no rules attached to it and the char is yours so do as you will.

But I like the idea that shadow dancers becoming more closer to shadows thematic is more cool but I this is my personal opinion I will never force it to a char of anyone.

Yeah I was just wondering if there was a rules as written answer to my question.

Grand Lodge

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The archtype is about disappearing in the shadows (which are gray/dark/gloomy so this transformation will help you.
But if you are trying to disappear in the mob of a spring festival, bright colours would properbly be better.

Liberty's Edge

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Scott Henry wrote:
Rysky wrote:
Fluff means “something of no value” so yeah, but of a jerk move to intentionally keep using that to refer to written works because you don’t care about it as much as you do the mechanics.
That's what it means to you and some others. It's still used in a lot of discussions here, on D&D, VTM and many other gaming sites. I think you're just looking for a fight and some people are way too sensitive regarding the word, however I did say I would try not to use it and use flavor text instead.

Well you are the one taking offense to being taught this word should not be used on these boards.

And it's not a Rysky and some others thing. It's a wish from Paizo's creators to not see the lore and flavor they create for our enjoyment thus demeaned.

Since you sound familiar with this matter, why do you go searching for a fight ?


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The very first response to your question included in the information that you should refrain from usning the word 'fluff' to describe Paizo material.

Notice that it was not Rysky who first responded to you.

In conversations with players and staff on official Paizo forums, you're going to get told about social norms that you're violating. If you don't want multiple people explaining that social norm to you, you might find it useful to change your behavior to match what people say is more acceptable.

Multiple threads where you pick fights with people who are giving you asked-for advice is not helping your cause.


I think the main question of this thread has been answered and devolved into side discussion about decorum.

Probably good time to go ahead and lock this thread. I'm going to flag some posts and let the mods do there thing.

Liberty's Edge

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This again...:
Yep, another thread derailed by this nonsense. If they don't like it and don't want it used they shouldn't be leveraging the worst and most obnoxiously argumentative and abrasive forum members to enforce it. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if the business really doesn't want people using it then they need to just at least add it to the community guidelines or add it to the swear dictionary, maybe they'll do that with the website overhaul, but that remains to be seen.

The term is normal and unoffensive in 99% of communities and the feeling it invokes here is an outlier/exception. The game is always going to bring in new customers and fans, most of which are used to using the terms of the industry and when they participate here and are met with accusations and insults it actively contributes to making the community less welcoming.

As for getting "ganged up on" yeah those posters, precisely the ones who harangued you in the Ninja discussion and here, are a tight-knit insular group that likes to rattle their sabers whenever they see or read anything they disagree with, you can safely ignore their snide commentary. Once one of them says something the rest of them tend to "circle the wagon" to defend the other no matter what but their opinions don't represent the entire community itself. There are browser extensions for the Paizo Forums that enable you to hide posts from specific users if you find that you don't wish to see what they write though it's only so helpful as they tend to cause the pot to boil over the edges with replies and bickering once they stir the pot.

NOW- Onto the OPs question: It's a thematic choice and as far as the setting "cannon" goes, that's indeed supposed to be true, you've been touched by the Plane of Shadow (Is this getting renamed?) but if you'd prefer for your own game to be different that's totally up to you, 100%.

Horizon Hunters

Themetricsystem wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

NOW- Onto the OPs question: It's a thematic choice and as far as the setting "cannon" goes, that's indeed supposed to be true, you've been touched by the Plane of Shadow (Is this getting renamed?) but if you'd prefer for your own game to be different that's totally up to you, 100%.

It is being re-named to The Netherworld. I do agree that it is a non-mechanical aspect of the archetype, but one that is very much in line with the flavor of being able to blend into the shadows. It's kinda hard to do that if you have neon pink hair.

But OP, it's your PC they can look however you want them to look.


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The owners of this forum have asked politely, and repeatedly to avoid the word "fluff" in describing Paizo's work. Whether or not you agree that's reasonable, they've asked and this is their place.

Insisting on using it anyway is like "insisting on calling somebody Steve, even though they've asked to be called Stephen"- you're being a jerk for reasons that are wholly unclear to others.

As for the Shadowdancer, it's generally a good guideline for "your character looks like whatever you want them to look like, with the bounds of whatever is reasonable (like you can have a gnome who is tall for a gnome, but not a gnome who is 7'6") It's a weird thematic mix between "Shadowdancer" and "colorful" though. I would think the "gloomy" effect is more like "being obscured" than "you become greyscale."


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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

There isn't really a separation between text that is purely narrative in PF2 vs text that is about how the imaginary abilities you are looking at interact with the world you are playing in. Losing the color from your form is a part of the abilities granted by the archetype.

At the same time, if you have a different idea for how these powers could work, and you discuss those ideas with your GM, then it is perfectly fine to change any text about the game for your table, whether that is "rules text" or "narrative/lore text."


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Scott Henry wrote:
Dancing Wind wrote:
The very first response to your question included in the information that you should refrain from usning the word 'fluff' to describe Paizo material.

Which had nothing to do with the subject.

I just wanted to give you some friendly meant advice on what by now is kind of code of conduct around here

and then moved on to answer your question properly

so yeah, it had nothing to do with the question, it's not like I have not answered your question either, but I slowly get the feeling that the for your question relevant part of my answer was completely disregarded because I wanted to help you to avoid missteps

I have the feeling that several people here were rather patient with you, in fact more patient then many of them need to be

and while I generally enjoy helping people in the forum here whenever I am around, my patience has stretched thin and I feel like saying anything more on the subject would only lead down to some misdemeanor on my side so I will just in future refrain myself from answering in any threads made by you

I wish you anyways good luck and a lot of fun with your hopefully in the future working ninja and hope you will give your pfs an easier time then us here on the forum


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Unicore wrote:
At the same time, if you have a different idea for how these powers could work, and you discuss those ideas with your GM, then it is perfectly fine to change any text about the game for your table, whether that is "rules text" or "narrative/lore text."

He 'forgot' to mention that he's creating a character for Organized Play.


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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

For PFS, shadow dancer is a level 8 archetype. It is a long time until that is going to be an important part of character development. Once it is, you probably need to decide if having the color drained from your character is a deal breaker or not, because it is a part of the archetype. Some GMs will definitely assume that your character is mostly monotone, since that is part of the archetype. Others might be more willing to let you be creative with your description of what is happening, but that is their choice and you will definitely butt heads with some GMs who think your goal is to get the power of the archetype without dealing with any of the consequences of the archetype.

Horizon Hunters

Unicore wrote:
For PFS, shadow dancer is a level 8 archetype. It is a long time until that is going to be an important part of character development. Once it is, you probably need to decide if having the color drained from your character is a deal breaker or not, because it is a part of the archetype. Some GMs will definitely assume that your character is mostly monotone, since that is part of the archetype. Others might be more willing to let you be creative with your description of what is happening, but that is their choice and you will definitely butt heads with some GMs who think your goal is to get the power of the archetype without dealing with any of the consequences of the archetype.

As a PFS GM I wouldn't care if a PC came with the most colorful token ever as a shadow dancer. I might make a joke about it (especially if they also happened to be a gnome), but it has no affect on gameplay so after that I would just let them play their PC.


Scott Henry wrote:
Yeah I was just wondering if there was a rules as written answer to my question.

There is the First Rule. If that isn't enough RAW for you and your group, I don't know what possibly would be.

And I am blatantly ignoring the language and terminology discussion because I have seen enough threads get derailed about it before. Nothing new to say there.

Grand Lodge

It is really more your choice of gear and cloth that makes your character blend in or makes your Character stand out.
Skin and hair colour is often covered up anyway.


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Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path Subscriber

Damn, and here I made the mistake of coming on to the forums and thinking I found an interesting topic without people being jerks.

@Themetricsystem: Hi, I'm not a part of that group, but I agree in this case that I don't see why it's such a big deal to just respect the wishes of the devs. It's not that much effort. This weird attitude of not wanting to respect the devs is one of the reasons I don't like coming on here. Off I go to regret trying again in a week probably.

Liberty's Edge

If I was GMing and a player wanted their PC to be different from the "grey and gloomy" mentioned in the Shadowdancer description, which makes total sense to me by the way, I would ask for their reasons behind this departure from usual canon.

If it's merely for aesthetics, I will let it fly. No reason to curtail how a player wants their PC to look like.

If it's to gain some in-game benefit, like people not realizing the PC is a shadowdancer when it would otherwise be obvious, then it's a big NO.


Just aesthetics. And grey and gloomy isn't really an obvious sign someone is a shadow dancer. Tons of edgelord PCs who dress the part out there.


TriOmegaZero wrote:
Didn’t we already get a EULA when we made our accounts?

Not that I remember, since the only legal documentation I saw when attempting to make another fake one was associated with privacy. If there is one, then it was either added more recently, or it's right before you confirm your account information when signing up.

Really, the only thing we have to regulate forum behavior is the Community Guidelines page, which makes no reference to how one identifies non-mechanical text in an inoffensive manner. It mostly, if not entirely, deals with interacting with other members of the community, which is a completely different subject.

As far as I'm concerned, people getting upset over his phrasing is not much better than being grammar police, since at no point are we looking at the non-mechanical text and saying "Oh, yeah, all this other stuff is unimportant," nor is that the intent behind the statement.

In fact, the thread title is asking if there is a mechanical implication behind this, not unlike, say, wearing Hellknight Plate, or wielding Sawtooth Sabers (besides the obvious mechanics, of course), which is a perfectly valid question to pose in regards to rules, and in those instances, it's relatively clear that the GM can have Hellknight or Red Mantis NPCs attack you on-sight for doing so. Shadowdancers, on the other hand, aren't as specific to the setting as Hellknights or Red Mantis Assassins, meaning maybe not all Shadowdancers have to undergo this physical transformation.

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