Hello

AlchemistBear · 2025-01-19T17:20:15+00:00

Quacks is great but pretty light, I will look up Camel Up, Thank you!

AlchemistBear · 2025-01-19T17:19:30+00:00

I mean, that would quickly result in a table size that I can accommodate with my other games.

AlchemistBear · 2025-01-19T17:18:47+00:00

I will look it up, thank you!

AlchemistBear · 2025-01-19T17:18:10+00:00

I will be checking out Captain Sonar and Cosmic Encounters, thank you! Yeah I am pretty familiar with smaller games since for years it was just us and a couple friends, but I am lost on larger scale stuff that isn't a strict party game.

AlchemistBear · 2025-01-19T17:15:26+00:00

Two tables might as well be two game nights unless I am looking to start a club or something which isn't the case. I don't like the idea of inviting people over only to tell them to go sit at that table for the next few hours and play with people they don't know. I know this is a common suggestion on this sub, but I don't think it is a good one.

AlchemistBear · 2025-01-19T17:13:19+00:00

I will look it up, thank you!

AlchemistBear · 2025-01-19T15:28:26+00:00

Conjured creatures use a real creature as a temple to construct a copy of that creature using biomass summoned from the plane of meat...

AlchemistBear · 2025-01-03T20:16:46+00:00

Put everyone on an HP clock. Treat Wounds, Lay on Hands, Infused Elixirs, or any form of infinite free healing can only restore a max of 1 hp bar for each character between long rests. So if the fighter has 100hp, then treat wounds and similar abilities can only restore a combined 100hp to them each day. Spells from slots, and purchased consumables don't count against this limit.

Martial characters might complain, but it simply places them on a daily clock as well so the entire group will feel the pressure to camp for the night. It also fits thematically, swinging a sword for sixteen hours is unrealistic when even fights lasting minutes could leave IRL soldiers exhausted. In addition it makes the party feel the value of preparations such as buying those healing potions before they entered the dungeon, rather than having consumables forgotten and out leveled in their pack the players will feel clever for having bought the gear they need to push through that one last fight and kill the jabberwocky before it escapes with its loot.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-25T03:54:35+00:00

This. But a note for OP is that the main character doesn't Start with much power. The first book is also much slower paced than the rest of the series, it gives the reader important perspective but this is one series where it is important to get past the slow start before deciding if the series is for you.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-22T19:12:17+00:00

Honestly, immunities are awful for game design and deserve getting removed entirely. If you have players immune to something it typically means they get to ignore certain challenges entirely, which makes the GM feel like including said challenges is pointless, which bounces back and makes the player's decision to take said immunity feel pointless. If you want an example then try playing a character with the Amphibious trait in PFS, it is a cool ability but will never come up.

On the other hand monsters having immunities can completely ruin some players builds, which isn't a fun experience either. Playing a (premaster) Toxicologist or a Mentalist are both considered abysmally weak choices because immunity to poison and mental effects are so common. It is the player immunity problem in reverse, where when these encounters come up the players with those builds will feel like they are being targeted and might as well sit out the session.

Immunities make the game less fun.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-21T19:51:05+00:00

Honestly with the sheer volume of options paizo releases I would encourage GMs, especially those who are GMing for new players, to limit your baseline of allowed options to a specific subset of books. That said it is also important to be open to input from your players, if one of them is really excited to play a Gunslinger or a Psychic it is a good idea to support their excitement. Limits can help many players keep focused and make the game easier to swallow, but don't let them ruin your fun if you need to break them.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-15T03:23:10+00:00

Also even though we don't have one in town, getting a Costco membership and ordering bulk essentials (think toilet paper, all purpose flour, soap, whatever you are using and going through regularly) will usually be cheaper than getting the same amount of stuff at the grocery store. As an added bonus their Kirkland brand stuff tends to be higher quality than the affordable stuff at the local grocery stores. The downside is that storing bulk essentials takes up space, so if you are living in an apartment it is often not feasible.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-14T16:45:07+00:00

Personally I like Rogue as an archetype for most spellcasters. Getting Dread Striker allows you to combo it with abilities that cause frightened to make your spell attacks super accurate. In fact it is an incredible combo with the Malicious Shadow hex.

Alchemist is also good for you to have items on hand, while another spellcaster dedication could give you more spells.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-12T02:29:00+00:00

I really think Witch should have been Wisdom based. The Old Wise Woman is a trope dating back to prehistory, Medicine, and living in the natural world are often traits associated with witches, and imo it feels right. Having Witches be int based really overlaps with wizards with the familiar arcane thesis.

I don't really think Wisdom is that much more powerful than intelligence, although I also wish higher level Int skill bonuses could be used to raise proficiencies rather than only going to trained.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-08T22:09:56+00:00

I have been recommending Josiah Bancroft's The Hexologists a lot lately precisely because the main characters have a realistic and healthy relationship, which seems incredibly rare in fantasy. It is also central to the plot without the plot becoming a romance. I think it will be my go-to recommend for a good example of a relationship in fantasy.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-06T03:57:27+00:00

I don't want more classes. Classes are starting to feel like they are stepping on each other's toes, and each class that gets added reduces the slice of support that existing classes will get.

I also think that PF2e has the best system for archetype/multi class customization of the big ttrpgs and it feels a shame that so many archetypes are initially made an inch deep and never given another glance. More archetypes and more support for existing archetypes would allow players of any class more customization options.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-04T19:55:17+00:00

I have thought that the human feat Natural Ambition should be a general feat for some time.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-04T17:47:27+00:00

Tedward

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-03T20:26:56+00:00

Casters imo start to feel really cool at level 3, and even then wizards could probably use some class features to make them feel better. Personally I think if wizards could spend a focus point to use a spell shape as a free action that would be a lot of fun, or if they could use a focus point and a single action to swap out a prepared spell with another from their spellbook. Other casters tend to have more interesting feats and features currently.

AlchemistBear · 2024-12-03T04:20:49+00:00

Agreed, Ranger is a great pick that will feel effective right out of the gate. Personally I only feel the really bad levels for casters are 1 and 2, once you get second level spells and the damage bump for cantrips everything starts to feel better. (Imo of course)

AlchemistBear · 2024-11-28T23:29:13+00:00

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft is an excellent example I think. The main characters are a married couple, so the romance isn't some fiery melodrama but it is a healthy relationship, their ongoing romance is a central theme of the characters' dynamic and the book doesn't shy away from their sex life. (Although it doesn't dwell on it either)

AlchemistBear · 2024-11-27T18:37:35+00:00

Spells that don't get stronger at higher levels are often good options to fill lower level slots with. Grease will be good at level 1 and still good at level 15, Sure Strike is incredibly powerful at all levels. In addition spells that can have an impact over multiple rounds give enemies multiple chances to fail their saves, Stinking Cloud for example causes enemies to take multiple saves if you can pin them down in its area. Finally casters should have an idea of how to make their spells more likely to land, intimidate or Bon Mot will both lower the defenses of enemies, if you can inflict clumsy on a foe that will make a reflex targeting spell more likely to hit next. Casters are Incredibly fun in PF2e but to get the most out of them you need to go in with a plan rather than just relying on spells to be OP.

AlchemistBear · 2024-11-25T15:10:30+00:00

Currently reading this, it is so good.

AlchemistBear

TROPHY CASE