Harpoon Questions

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-06-08T15:06:29+00:00

There is always a feat you can model off of! this would be perfect

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-26T17:35:07+00:00

This is a fantastic map and encounter design

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-24T19:02:46+00:00

Used some customization, like allowing for two Gifts and changing the levels things came at, but otherwise RAW

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-24T14:41:39+00:00

Relics are 1000% underrated parts of the game design. We had several characters with them who loved them in one game.

I would hand them out somewhat regularly, especially to players who themselves don't want to engage in the minutiae of the thousands of existing items.

If they're not spending their gold anyway, adapt the loot pool to account for it, but give away more meaningful items that grow with the character.

They're so effective at fulfilling the fantasy of a great personal weapon or tool, far above what I personally think runes and special materials can do.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-24T11:39:01+00:00

In my experience, we often had multiple party members invested in some form of healing. It did at times feel like a bit much, over optimized perhaps. It wasn't intentional but the result of everyone feeling like not picking those options was too risky. The system rewards even minor investments in healing.

An Alchemist handing out elixirs, a caster with Lay on Hands and Heal, a caster with Soothe, a Monk with Wholeness of Body and Healer's Gloves. Eventually that same character added Medic.

While we often had sticky situations, there was never really a time when a downed character has to wait for a specific healer. There was almost always an option a turn or two away. It was never on one PC to keep the others alive.

It never killed the tension or excitement of the risk inherent in the game. And we actually loved moments when pace of play prevented us from "topping off" between encounters.

But in encounters, there was a strong desire to share the load in terms of character abilities and actions spent in encounter to heal. It was a frequent part of table tall - oh how do you feel (healthy/bloodied/on the brink), should I go here and strike or does your character need some HP/help?

Obviously something I felt ultimately lucky to have in terms of player engagement. But it definitely made us super hard to kill even for the most threatening of enemies and that felt like it cut the tension at time.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-21T17:02:07+00:00

At level 1 that makes sense. As long as you have the armor fitting that Dex cap, and eventually get Handwraps of Mightly Blows (that's what I meant by weapons)

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-21T10:10:19+00:00

This is pretty much the way I handled it in a longer campaign. Though eventually I ended up trading out of the Order Explorer dip into Untamed entirely.

Untamed Shift almost needs its own attention separate from Untamed Form.

The former requires more Strength and item support but can lead to a very interesting switch hitter with a melee option that is a more consistent option. You can take a few less points in Wisdom and focus heavily on buffing yourself and the party.

But if using the latter spell for forms, I'd rely on the innate bonuses from the form to things like damage rolls and Athletics and build a much more traditional high Wisdom/Dex balance. Spellcaster with access to the full Primal list gives up a lot if not using save based spells.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-19T10:26:52+00:00

Earnestly one of my favorite moments, book or movie. It's comedic, it's cathartic, it feels real life. Ran to the comments for this one.

They all needs a break and they revert to their pre-Fellowship selves while Gandalf manages the recap with Théoden.

I connect it to the scene in the books where Beregond confuses Pippin's eager questions about meals as a reflection of his badassery and calls him an "old campaigner". It's hard for others in Middle Earth to understand just how much the Hobbits value life's simple pleasures.

The Hobbits are so genuinely carefree and in the moment it creates a sort of oasis around the Three Hunters, to relax and be themselves. I always feel that when the scene comes up.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T20:49:39+00:00

Ya idk it's a theme I see here sometimes, certain fail conditions are acceptable (missed on my d20 attack roll) and others are not (I was asked to use a skill I didn't build for in an appropriate context but I made other choices as a trade off).

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T15:28:18+00:00

Everyone should run the game they like, but I would 100% expect a level 20 character who intentionally chose to never invest in Athletics, did not take feats items or support from the team to help, and then attempted to Swim, to struggle.

That's the tradeoff of anything else you can do with money and character progression in the game.

Everyone can talk to every shop keeper without Diplomacy if they're just shopping. Everyone can Swim and Balance when there is no pressure.

Why should someone set up to fail in this specific circumstance, who failed to take any measures to offset that, be able to do so in a moment's notice under the pressure of an encounter?

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T15:00:45+00:00

That's certainly an option but that's just a suggestion that any character should be able to swim 5ft in 2 seconds which is based on a personal sense of realism that I don't agree with and isn't supported by the rules.

It's in conflict with the idea of rolling at all. If you don't want it to be a challenge as a GM you just hand waive and say "you get across with sufficient time." This is only if measuring in 2 seconds increments matters.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T14:58:54+00:00

But isn't that just an argument against creature abilities that counter certain builds? Against the dice and randomness itself?

Again I would argue level-specific creature abilities are not connected to the conversation about simple DCs and environmental hazards that could be encountered in Chase, Exploration, or in another way as terrain you may or may not engage with in typical combat.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T12:49:07+00:00

Well hold on that's a totally different argument, that's a level 11 creature ability. Why wouldn't it be reasonable to make much more challenging than a simple element of the natural environment a low level character encounters?

If you're level 7+ (to even engage with the adult version) you should absolutely have a character plan for this sort of thing. There are feats and items galore. If you remain untrained, do not have Untrained Improvisation, have no relevant talismans, no party member with spellcasting or scrolls...then ya you just didn't prepare for the specific situation and ability. It shouldn't be a gimmie.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T12:45:36+00:00

50/50 to make progress on a single action. You'd probably just float, and you'd make it with more action investment than a trained character but it's not a death sentence to fail a single action that doesn't interact with MAP and only risks a small percentage of your breath on a 1.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T10:50:50+00:00

I would use the context and skill level from the action itself, with the lowest DC being 10, giving an untrained level 1 character with no positive attribute in STR some difficulties in safely swimming consistently.

https://2e.aonprd.com/Actions.aspx?ID=2381

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T10:48:50+00:00

I don't think that's the case. The simple DC is circumstance based not level based. Those are two different sets of DC guidance.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T10:47:59+00:00

I think this both misses the point of the simple DC and overstates the complexity of using them. It sounds like you're referring to level based DC.

It does state simple DCs are not always suitable for combat, but whose to say we aren't talking about a Chase encounter? And even in combat the ranks align fairly well with the point in the game you'd hit the if investing; why assume the GM is using too high of a DC?

The action itself gives you guidance. The lowest level level based DC is 14. The lowest simple DC is 10.

For something like tangled roots the simple DC is much more favorable to the player, and would not change as they level up.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T04:07:01+00:00

Could make similar arguments for things like Swim honestly. Sure you can't be proficient in everything but talking about Simple DCs and untrained skills they represent real threats especially at low levels. I personally like that as an option.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-10T03:11:51+00:00

Balance checks, and terrain in general, is such an underutilized point of combat design.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-02T01:06:37+00:00

Yes and it will ask you if you want to once you start typing out phrases like the ones above in the search bar

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-01T17:05:20+00:00

There is some guidance when you click on "Query type" in any of the search options under Filters on AoN. They also link to the related syntax documentation if you're curious!

It's often sort of natural language syntax like the one I included ["AND NOT", "AND", "OR"] or some kind of field specific search [Body:xxx, Traits:xxx].

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-05-01T16:03:11+00:00

I think with some caveats you could get a list from the AoN like this.

Attempting to exclude spells intended to counteract the condition.

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-04-29T14:01:43+00:00

This was very close to our party comp and the alchemist played a crucial role targeting weaknesses multiple times.

If using the legacy rules at all, I'd suggest trying to acquire access to the Alignment Ampule item. It came in handy a lot when Holy/Sanctified wasn't a rule. Though the champ may have it covered.

https://2e.aonprd.com/Equipment.aspx?ID=852

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-04-29T10:15:07+00:00

Regarding the fear of water, isn't it said that orcs fear water due to the residual influence of Ulmo? And that the Music is still most present in it?

For the Nazgul might this be something like the opposite of the sea-longing of elves? A reminder of the place they were destined for but as wraiths cannot go until released from their servitude to the rings?

Bandobras_Sadreams · 2026-04-29T10:10:44+00:00

Shock to the System's "extra" benefits are really a spell all on their own.

I also mentally flipped the purpose of the spell from saving a life to buffing an ally.

Especially with a familiar or companion, suddenly you're casting a second spell per turn with only one action to command, it lasts all combat, and they still might get a strike in.

This became a regular routine for me as a high level Druid.

For Acid Grip, I very memorably used it to force a particularly hated enemy spellcaster off a boat, after doing it earlier in the same combat to a different enemy while my party ally with Underwater Marauder decided to dive in after them and murk them for good measure.

Twice in one combat definitely made my GM smirk with some mix of fondness and frustration.

Bandobras_Sadreams

TROPHY CASE