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How are you suppose to play as one in most Adventure Paths which take place above the water? They only have a 5 foot movement speed till level 9, I just can not wrap my head around such a thing possibly.
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How are you suppose to play as one in most Adventure Paths which take place above the water? They only have a 5 foot movement speed till level 9, I just can not wrap my head around such a thing possibly.
I think the answer is mostly "you probably don't want to play a merfolk in a story where you think it's going to be extremely inconvenient to play one." After all there are relatively few stories in fiction where a merperson crosses a mountain range.
However, unless you come up with a way around this (like bonus speed from a class, being carried on a swarm of bees, etc.) there is a sort of wheelchair for aquatic people in the book.
Not knowing the rules: You have a party to work with, and there's the possibility of a wheel chair, big strong ally's shoulder, mount, or chariot. A lot of characters could also have other movement features. You can also use the Fleet feat to gain 5 speed.
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Well, they errata'd the chairs to actually help Merfolk(and others as well). HoTW has an "Aquatic PCs" section on Page 9 that also says "just let them have Shore Gift or its equivalent as a bonus feat at Level 1" but suggests having narrative ties added. (Hoping OrgPlay allows the Shore Gift feat as a bonus feat or just as a Level 1 feat)
Another option is simply to start the game at a higher level beyond which you have already solved the problem. Like a 5th level Merfolk Monk with the Fleet General Feat and the Strong Tail Ancestry feat has a land speed of 30'.
Wardens of Wildwood (the current AP) starts at 5th.
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I wouldn't play a Merfolk in a non-aquatic campaign for the same reason I wouldn't play a Conrasu in a grounded, low-ish fantasy one. It's a niche option, intentionally; if you want legs, we have Azarketi for that.
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I really like the merfolk ancestry and would very much play them in any environment. Im glad the book suggests options to give players at level 1 to accommodate land campaigns.
You can make a drawback like the movie splash, if you come into contact with water or are hit with an ability with the water tag your legs revert to fins. It could be fun.
Merfolk limitations being built into the very concept, rather than just being a design issue, makes them tempting for a lot of unusual concepts to justify how and why they left the water in the first place.
A mermaid water kineticist, druid, barbarian, monk, gunslinger, alchemist, or inventor have so many great hooks
Just FYI for those commenting without seeing today's errata, check this out:
Page 113: The supramarine chair, land-delver’s chair, and similar aquatic accessibility options are intended to allow aquatic creatures to operate on land. Add the last sentence to the item: “You increase your Speed to 20 feet or your swim Speed, whichever is lower.”
"Wait up, guys. Guys, hey, wait up. Wait for me." Merfolk PC slides along dungeon floor at 5 feet per move.
The book expects in land based adventurs GMs provide a merfolk pc either a chair or be given the level 5 ancestry feat that changes their fins to legs for free at character creation. They just suggest giving some kind of quirk to the gift like you go back to fins on a full moon.
Mounts are pretty easy to use.
I had a long term Merfolk in PF1 and it was fine. Yes I took the extra movement options, but next time I do such a character I won't.
Don't we have assistive items for handicapped characters?
Could a merfolk attach 2 leg prostheses and use 2 crutches to move?
I know there's an aquatic wheelchair, but what about other alternatives?
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Don't we have assistive items for handicapped characters?
Could a merfolk attach 2 leg prostheses and use 2 crutches to move?
I know there's an aquatic wheelchair, but what about other alternatives?
Don't the existing assistive items key on your land speed, which for a merperson would be 5'?
That's why the aquatic chair is useful- it specifically keys on your swim speed.
"We designed these maneuverability aids to emulate your natural land-flop gate."
"Smurf that! I want the ones the humans are using."
"You can't have those."
How are you suppose to play as one in most Adventure Paths which take place above the water? They only have a 5 foot movement speed till level 9, I just can not wrap my head around such a thing possibly.
Fire Kineticist with Burning Jet: 2 actions for a Stride of 40'. Sure it's only in a straight line, but it's the best option at 1st level.
How are you suppose to play as one in most Adventure Paths which take place above the water? They only have a 5 foot movement speed till level 9, I just can not wrap my head around such a thing possibly.Fire Kineticist with Burning Jet: 2 actions for a Stride of 40'. Sure it's only in a straight line, but it's the best option at 1st level.
For something slower but more flexible, Unbound Step Psychic gives you two actions for 30 feet of movement, and you can use a focus point to do that with one action in an emergency.
Rocket merfolk has more style, though.
For something slower but more flexible, Unbound Step Psychic gives you two actions for 30 feet of movement, and you can use a focus point to do that with one action in an emergency.
What's nice with this is that it can be picked up with the Psychic Archetype Dedication, so any Merfolk with a Intelligence or Charisma of +2 can get it at 2nd level.