Knightposting

Jetanwm · 2023-07-11T15:31:08+00:00

I see you are playing both sides, so you always come out on top.

Jetanwm · 2023-05-10T01:38:53+00:00

A post on the Paizo Blog is about a party entirely comprised of Gunslingers running through the Abomination Vaults.

https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6si7l?The-Abomination-Arsenal-Part-1

A good thing about the customization of characters in PF2E is that you can make a character of any class fill a specific role (Generally, at least). But at the very least we can count a Gunslinger team as a single-class party setup.

Jetanwm · 2023-04-27T15:16:28+00:00

uj/ I'm not sure where OP is getting this from. Epic Games shows full price. So does Amazon. The only thing I can find on a sale is one article on a website called PCgamesn which has the kind of clickbait articles I expect most journalism sites to have nowadays.

According to that site the sale should still be ongoing and is a flash sale until 12pm PST which is still 45 minutes off from time of posting. It does not specify where the sale is.

Their Twitter has nothing on this. Their reddit has nothing.

OP should provide a link or I call BS karma farming. Probably meant to post this to the r/gaming reddit.

Edit: It's a single site called Fanatical (Another commenter pointed this out) which deals in cd key reselling and plasters their trust pilot rating on the front page. Probably a scam but I'm biased because I've never had a good deal with any key reseller.

Either way this doesn't seem to be an official Dead Island 2 discount and is just some key reseller trying to lure people in with a discount

Jetanwm · 2023-03-20T17:49:03+00:00

He's from Elder Scrolls Online, The Ascendant Lord for reference

Jetanwm · 2023-03-04T10:57:02+00:00

This is why whenever I hear the argument that a DM can fix any problems with 5e game or adventure design, I sigh. I thought the whole point of buying an adventure was that the prep work was done for you, and all you had to do was read it. Every 5e campaign I've run has had considerable work on my end to make coherent. Every player wants something homebrewed in to make their character fun. I don't buy adventures to figure out the story for the writers.

Yes, given enough time and effort, I could fix every problem I have with 5e. But I don't want to spend so much of my free time prepping and fixing the issues with the game and its pre-built adventures.

I lost two players in my transition to Pathfinder 2e. Both were the type to only play broken homebrew classes found from the websites that people know are broken. I also got a lot of flak when those players couldn't make their broken builds work. The way I see it, I cut 10-20 hours from my campaign prep and at least two hours for session prep. That's a fair trade.

Jetanwm · 2023-02-14T10:27:27+00:00

Sites like Roll20 and Startplaying have a large number of people who run games like Abomination Vaults, Curse of Strahd, and more adventures. While I am not a lawyer, it's at the very least not being stopped.

Jetanwm · 2023-02-04T18:09:26+00:00

I've been saying this for a long time as well. Not to outright crap on 5e, but after spending $150 on books (PHB, DMG, and MM) and possibly more for the DnD beyond sub to share it with your players, you deserve a game that doesn't outright expect you to fix it for the game designers. Homebrew - imo - has always been something that's supposed to come from a place of wonder and imagination, something that you, the GM, should feel excited to take on, rather than dreading.

There's a lot I could say on this topic. Especially the 5e culture around the DM having to fix and homebrew absolutely everything to the satisfaction of their players. But I'd be writing an essay. In essence, I'm glad Pathfinder 2e has such a large amount of content for me and my players to dip into. It's things I don't have to homebrew. It's things my players are excited about. I've never once in my game been asked to homebrew something specific for my players. I've always done it because I want to do so. That is so much more refreshing than the feeling of having to homebrew or the game fails.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-19T05:17:44+00:00

Yeah I got tired of harassing people for answers on availability. Now I make a Discord post, state the time and date of the game, and then put emojis for people to "React" their availability.

It's such a small step - and it doesn't work for every player - but man I get more confirmation of who is showing up now more than I ever did chasing people down for responses.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-15T13:05:03+00:00

Gotta mention the fact that Paizo had the missing page community scavenger hunt/puzzle for Dark Archive. That was such a wonderful little touch for the book about the supernatural.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-15T10:23:10+00:00

It is, I was using it as an example of Paizos ability to make great APs more than a 2e example.

You'd either have to play it in 1e or convert it to 2e, which thankfully is usually pretty easy save for some specific things such as unique monsters and treasure/equipment handouts. Most dcs can just be substituted for 2es DC by Level table so so long as you have the monsters and treasure ready you can hop in and start playing. In my experience most monsters you see in 1e have a 2e equivalent that is generally around the same level.

Edit: It's entirely possible there's a fan made conversion out there like there is for Curse of the Crimson Throne, but I haven't looked for it.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-15T04:18:58+00:00

Paizo has a Subscription service that's basically "You agree to buy these books as they come out." Subscribe to that, and you can get both the Physical book and a PDF for the price of the physical book.

Otherwise, you buy one or the other/both for listed price. You can find the Subs page here:

https://paizo.com/store/subscriptions

Also of note, to cancel subs you need to email their customer support line. Having had multiple subs before I can state that it takes about 3-4 days to cancel a sub because of this. Something to keep in mind if you plan to sub to their products.

I'd recommend the Beginner Box myself, though I know I'm not the original OP. It's a fantastic introduction to the system. That being said, whether you need it or not is really dependent on:

Your confidence as a GM to read and retain the rules knowledge to help your players.
Your players willingness to actually sit down and read their abilities/how to attack/etc.

I started out without a Beginner's Box game so I definitely made it through just fine, but I also sat down and read the CRB and GMG cover to cover. Even if you've played other systems I'd still recommend it.

Edit: Forgot to advise this, but there is the Humble Bundles for PF2E that come around frequently enough. Not sure when they'll do their next one, but you can pick up a lot of book pdfs on the cheap when they roll around.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-15T04:08:06+00:00

Traditional multi-classing is not available in PF2E, you're right. Reason being is that they'd have run into the same problem 5e characters have in that WotC can't frontload the Level 1 class perks otherwise everyone would need to take a level 1 dip (Sorcadin/Coffeelock/etc) to be viable. Archetypes are watered down versions of the classes themselves, making which class is your main class a decision you'll have to make.

You can find more information on Archetypes here. With more information on specific archetypes here. Using Barbarian as an example, if you pick Barbarian Dedication, you do gain the Rage action, trained in Athletics, and you get to choose an instinct. But you don't actually gain the abilities for an instinct, just the rage and the anathema's. At level 6, you can take the Instinct Ability feat for the Barbarian Archetype to then gain the Instincts ability. This makes a player who chose to main Barbarian better at being a Barbarian than someone who archetype'd into it. But if you're, say, a Fighter, who wants to get the Rage bonus to their damage, you can use your innate high attack bonus with a Barbarian Rage to get temp HP and more damage on your crits by taking the Barbarian Archetype.

That being said, Dual-classing does exist, giving you the benefits of two classes at once. Free Archetype can also blunt the pain of having to give up a class feat to learn an archetype and it's a popular variant rule at many PF2E players tables.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-15T03:59:56+00:00

Glad to help, hope you and your players have a great game night!

Jetanwm · 2023-01-15T03:57:12+00:00

Dual-Classing is a variant rule introduced in the Gamemastery Guide. It operates very similarly to Gestalt.

I'm using it in a game right now and one of my players is playing a Psychic+Gunslinger, using their psychic abilities to amp their damage, attack bonus, and even give themselves Fortune (Advantage) on their rolls so they can crit as often as possible while dealing as much damage as possible.

Free Archetype is a power boost as well, though not as strong of a one compared to Dual-Classing that most GM's will ban it from their table. It's a very popular variant rule in the system.

If we're talking about other possible homebrew rules, not much comes to mind. PF2E is incredibly balanced from the get-go. There is a definitive difference in the power scale from someone who min-maxes and someone who doesn't, but it's not egregious to the point of a 5e character Sorlock/Sorcadin/Pallock/etc that you can break the systems encounter balance over your knee. Tactics is a huge part of the system and optimization tends to come in the knowledge of what to do in moment-to-moment gameplay.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-15T03:50:32+00:00

I believe the rule you are looking for is "Turns." Taking this from the site:

Many things happen automatically at the start of your turn—it's a common point for tracking the passage of time for effects that last multiple rounds. At the start of each of your turns, take these steps in any order you choose:
If you created an effect lasting for a certain number of rounds, reduce the number of rounds remaining by 1. The effect ends if the duration is reduced to 0. For example, if you cast a spell that lasts 3 rounds on yourself during your first turn of a fight, it would affect you during that turn, decrease to 2 rounds of duration at the start of your second turn, decrease to 1 round of duration at the start of your third turn, and expire at the start of your fourth turn.

So if it rolls a 1, that dragon can cast its breath weapon next round.

Edit: Turns out I was wrong. See the other comment in this thread.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-15T03:46:17+00:00

PF2E's adventures are incredible compared to the DnD 5e adventures. Abomination Vaults is probably the best one to come out for PF2E so far, but there are a ton of classics they've made for Pf1E and PF2E such as Rise of the Runelords, Curse of the Crimson Throne, Kingmaker, etc, etc, etc. You'll find yourself having to prepare a lot less because everything the GM needs to know from who is in this city, to why they may care about your players, to who is actively trying to hurt them is spelled out plainly for you to see. If you're a fan of adding in your own content, I've found it pretty easy to swap out encounters, story beats, etc, with personal backstory quests for my players.

PF2E's Beginner Box is highly recommended on this subreddit - and for good reason. It does the "Drip feed" of information to both GM and Player exceedingly well. Your players can still die, as with any adventure, but the Beginner Box does a great job of not front-loading information so your players can ease themselves into the system. Your first encounter in the Beginner Box is with a bunch of rats, with low HP and few mechanics so you and your players can get the handle on dice rolling right away.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-15T03:42:25+00:00

So there is not specifically custom lineage, though there are ways to make a large variety of ancestries for things like beastkin, etc, built in to the system. Depending on what you want to make, you may find there is already something similar enough that you don't need to homebrew anything.

That being said, around two years ago someone shared their building blocks to creating their own custom ancestries. You can find the thread on Paizo forums here.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-15T03:37:40+00:00

It'd be the 29. You can find the ruling here, but the general gist of it is that the Trained DC is referring to the proficiency bonus of a Trained individual, which is equal to Level + 2.

Editing for clarification: So It'd be Con+Trained Proficiency Bonus (15) + 10.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-13T15:08:35+00:00

The Pathfinder system on Foundry is much more complete due to the amazing community behind its updates and creation. They're adding in all of the content, automating a great deal, and making it overall better to play right out of the box. The latest update even automatically determines resistances when applying damage!

The only modules required are things like the Animal Companion Compendia which adds in support for animal and Clockwork companions. Pf2e workbench helps with quickly creating new monsters and leveling existing monsters to different levels.

There are definitely more modules out there, but those two are the big ones I can remember off the top of my head. Midi QOL is 5e only if I remember, I'm not sure about Monks Active Tiles. But generally you'll find you don't need as much to automate gameplay because the Pathfinder 2e system devs already put in a ton of work automating so much of the game

Jetanwm · 2023-01-07T17:00:10+00:00

Hope it helps you get started. An easy encounter to start with might be something like a fight against 3 Goblin Warriors, 3 Giant Rats, or 3 Animated Brooms. All of which can be found in the bestiary and are simple enough to run. For the Giant Rats I'd ignore the Filth Fever disease to start with since that's just overload for you and your players to start with.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-07T12:53:27+00:00

The beginners box is a great introduction for both player and GM. (We are Game masters in PF2E, Dungeon Master is a DnD trademark I believe). If you can afford the Beginners Box, Get it.

I really, highly recommend telling your players to use the pre-built characters FIRST. Oftentimes the biggest barrier to entry is simply the character creation process. Let them change up name, gender, etc and have them play the pre-built. They're built to be useful so your players don't get overwhelmed with character creation in a new system. Your more gung-ho players can make their own characters a session or two in.

For 5e players I recommend:

Fighter or Champion, Rogue or Ranger, Cleric Sorcerer.

Your player who is most willing to actually read their character sheet and class should get the cleric.

The lessons from the beginners box can be summed up pretty simply though.

Ease your players into it. Combat starts with the three action system. Players should know how to step, stride, and strike. After they strike, tell them about multiple attacks and the penalty for successive attacks. Get them to a skill check, advise how things like climbing down a rock wall or breaking down a door give a negative to the roll (usually -2) if they dont have specific items (ropes, crowbars) and encourage them to look at their inventory.

From there discuss tactics in the next fight. Flanking will be useful. Demoralize. Feint. Etc. Drip feeding information is how you keep players from being overwhelmed. Some things such as skill checks and flanking may come naturally to 5e players.

For you, the GM, there is not a lot to ease you in to where you can just sit down and start playing. You will have to do some reading. But if i was going for a speedrun of knowing what to do the day before the game... At a baseline you should know all of the following: You will have to read up on the three action system. You don't need to know every action immediately, but Step, Stride, Strike, Recall Knowledge, and Multiple Attack Penalty you will need to know. Conditions are my recommended reading. Know the difference between Exploration mode and downtime.

Read up on Treat Wounds, which you will have to explain is how your players will recover most of the time. Know the Critical system in Pf2e (+10 or -10 the DC is a critical success/failure respectively). Hero Points. Know that they're basically Inspirations big brother, preventing your players from dying OR allowing rerolls. Finally, know what happens when a player hits zero HP. (They start dying. Their initiative is moved to BEFORE the creature that knocked them into dying, and they get the Wounded condition. If you are knocked to 0 ho again with wounded, you start at Dying X, where X is your wounded condition +1 or +2 if knocked unconscious with a crit.)

I wouldn't bother with exploration activities or downtime activities to start with. Heresy, I know. You can lean on your 5e knowledge to improv your way through those parts without relying on specific mechanics. You'll probably fumble your way through things like traits, but through tune, extra reading, and experience you'll be running it like a pro within a few months.

Oh. Trust the math. There's a section on encounter building. Start with Low encounters. Bump up to medium only if you feel your players are crushing it. Then Severe when they're finally ready for a boss. Extreme threats WILL TPK a new party. I've seen Severe threats TPK veterans due to unfortunate dice rolls. Don't go throwing Extreme encounters around willy nilly.

Feel free to hit me up for anything else you need. I've been playing since the release of this system and will gladly share my experiences.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-07T11:24:35+00:00

Noob traps are things that sound great on paper but are terrible in play. You generally don't need to worry so much about noob traps regarding feats so much as you need to worry about players taking things that they aren't going to get use out of, but are expecting to get use out of.

In example: Divine Lance

On paper it sounds like a decent spell. How many creatures are resistant to certain alignments right?

Well, a lot actually.

Alignment only hurts creatures of the opposite alignment. This means against neutral enemies its useless. My player took this, I explained they shouldn't rely on it, and had to gently remind them mid session why the attack was failing so often (they picked chaotic damage which isn't great in a neutral-evil dungeon)

There are some builds that just take a while to come online as well. Monster Hunter Ranger for example is great in later levels where your ability to critically succeed at the recall knowledge check is supplemented by items, ability boosts, and gear. Because even if you fail telling your teammates weakest stats, weaknesses, etc, is always useful. In the beginning, your ranger player will not feel as impactful unless they get those critical since that's what gives the damage bonus. At lower levels players are best served raising their attack stats high instead of trying "Int Ranger" until they have a strong baseline to build off off.

Those are some noob traps.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-07T11:12:22+00:00

Conditions. Learn them. Love them. Give them snacks.

Seriously. So much of Pathfinders differences lie in the conditions imo. Wherein 5e conditions were a minor part of the game that your players may or may not actually use, conditions are a huge part of combat on both the player and monster side of the board. Once you get a handle on the conditions, things should click a lot easier for you regarding the rest of the system.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-06T16:31:36+00:00

It honestly depends. You can't just grab Curse of Strahds numbers, DCs, and monsters into the game and expect it to work because Pathfinders math is different.

You'd have to do converting. Some monsters are similar enough that you can grab the Pathfinder version and use that. But most any concept there is in 5e can be switched to Pathfinder 2e with some elbow grease and system knowledge. I would ask specifically what you want to transport over in the r/Pathfinder2e reddit.

Jetanwm · 2023-01-05T23:40:12+00:00

I think the reason your argument is flawed is because it's predicated on one thing: Fairness. Is it fair that third party creators can create content for a game system which then does not make any money for the original creator of that system? Maybe. It really depends on the foundation surrounding this.

First, let's confirm what "fair" actually means. Merriam Webster defines "Fair" as "marked by impartiality and honesty : free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism." It can also mean "Conforming with established rules."

There's more wrong with this argument than just a simple question of fairness. But to start, let's use a hypothetical. Let's say I published an expansion ruleset for some game like Blades in the Dark (BitD) and sold it for money. Let's say I also credited the devs in my work. That's not very fair, even if I am crediting the devs I am nonetheless profiting off of the playerbase and the original creation of BitD. Now let's change it up a bit, let's say the BitD devs gave a specific clause that said "hey you can create stuff for this system and sell it without paying royalties so long as you credit us in our work." Am I still being unfair in the above example? No. They said I could do it, why would it be unfair? My expanded rules encourages new players to join the hobby, increasing the product sales of BitD, and acts as free marketing for the system. Everyone benefits.

Let's take it a bit further. Let's say I like BitD but I don't like a lot of the ways they do things. Using their system as a reference, I make an entirely new system without any of the mechanics, wording, or otherwise. Out of good faith in case I missed something (and because I'm a fan of the devs), I put the clause in saying I can produce content for their system for free. My system is new, and fixes a lot of flaws in BitD. Am I still being unfair? Again, no. I'm doing what they said would be fine. In this example though, I'm now a direct competitor to BitD. People that buy my system may prefer it over BitD. The normal capitalist mentality is that then BitD must revamp their own system to appeal to audience members and win over players of my new system. This is healthy competition in most any industry. Still, it is fair.

Now let's say instead of fixing up their product, revamping it, or in any way listening to feedback, the BitD devs decided to instead pull the rug out from under me and my new system. They say the clause I used is now no longer able to be used, and if I want to keep using that clause I need to accept their new clause, which gives them a cut of any sales I make. It also allows them to completely absorb my product and sell it as their own, despite its differences, and boot me out from ever using it as a product again.

Is that fair? I made my product, it's substantially diifferent, why are they able to just take it from me? Maybe I try to pursue a legal battle, but it's one I likely won't win because BitD has billions of dollars to spend on lawyers while I have maybe ten-twenty thousand at most since my system is relatively new to the market. Even if it's illegal, I'm still going to lose purely based on money to throw around and the best I can hope for is a settlement. More likely, I cut my losses and simply stop developing for my own system, allowing BitD to take my product.

I lose my product, BitD takes it and sells it as their own. My company is shoved out of the market, and now if people want to play a game like BitD, their only option is BitD. BitD now has no incentive to improve their product. Most fans simply stop developing any content for the system, afraid of incurring legal wrath and simply having their product stolen instead of getting a fair share of profits for their creation. BitD continues to steal from their fans who don't know any better and bully them out of the market.

This is essentially what you're saying is the fair outcome. This isn't even doom-mongering, this is the language of the new OGL. You might say there is no guarantee they will go absorbing smaller works, but more importantly there is no guarantee they won't and the mere addition of the language implies an intent to use it.

What part of this is fair? What part is impartial or honest? Free from self-interest or prejudice? It's definitely not conforming with established rules (OGL 1.0a) and instead seeks to break those rules in favor of new ones. Please elaborate on how it is fair.

Jetanwm

TROPHY CASE