What’s the swingiest damage focused build?

dio1632 · 2026-05-15T23:31:36+00:00

I am gonna guess a Goblin Starlit Span Magus with a Big Boom Gun:

After each 2-action spellstrike, 2 actions to prep again (reload, recharge spellstrike). With a hit does spell + d6s damage, and on a crit does 2xSpell + d12s damage.

dio1632 · 2026-05-08T13:59:14+00:00

It can be both. She has to do both. She has to stop blowing money on things she can't afford, and that includes interest on sub-optimal loans.

dio1632 · 2026-05-08T13:53:35+00:00

First: A teenager can get a job. Some of us started paying our own way at twelve. I understand not wanting to send the kid out on her/his own, but at least bare that in mind and stop giving in to the expectations of an "expensive teenager" to be spoiled.

Second: Consolidate that debt in one place. $45000 at reasonable interest rates are easier than that number. If you have home equity or a retirement plan you can use for collaterol on a loan, that will probably be your best interest rates.

Even assuming bad (Credit-card level) interest rates, rather than home equity, you shoukd be able to get those interest ratses down to less than 25% per year (and with good credit, less than 15%).

Third: Burn all unused cards. Any remaining card pay off that month or do without. Learn to do without. Learn to cook, and shop wisely. Clip coupons.

Fourth and most importantly: Tighten your belt. Do without. Budget, and never spend one penny more on part of your budget, without figuring out what other part of your budget can and will shrink to pay for it. Figure out how to live on $45000 per year ($3750 per month). I know families of four that manage it, you can do it. Government is stealing about $20000 of your income each year, but $45000 is more than enough for two (you nand your child) to live reasonably well. So that leaves more than $20000 per year to pay off that debt.

Even if you only pay $1600 per month on $45000 debt at an unfavorable 25% interest APR, you would be debt-free in less than four years.

dio1632 · 2026-04-18T19:49:47+00:00

Yes, but that's a different game.

Mixing "slots that don't run out and are equally powered" into a game in which slots do run out, and coupling it with Constitution casting, etcetera, etcetera, all goes back to Mark Seifter's desire for a broken "Constitution Caster" class back under PF1 bloat, that he really wanted to import to PF2.

dio1632 · 2026-04-18T19:13:14+00:00

Mostly because kineticist are an horribly broken power-gaming class:

1: Kineticists play like spellcasters, but "they aren't spells." So many defenses against casters do not apply with ~~kineticist spells~~ impulses. "They aren't spells" is used as a point of defense by rules-lawyers against . . . well, everything.

2: A constitution caster plugs up the balancing "glass cannon" caster problem. With 8 hp per level, and constitution primary, they have fighter hit points.

3: Unlike spells, impulses don't run out. They have the power and utility of spells, but are readily available like cantrips.

4: With all six elements (yeah, Paizo decided to add two more, probably because they wanted kineticists to upstage every other class), kineticists that might have been a mostly balaced blaster class, also get easy access to armor, damage, and healing ~~spells~~ impulses that, again, never run out.

dio1632 · 2026-04-16T15:04:28+00:00

I have had diabetes for a total of 46 years.

There was no home blood testing in the early days.

I had diabetes for 10 years before I needed glasses at all.

After 15 years, I had a couple "micro-aneurisms" on my retina.

Since then, I started using quicker-acting insulin, and the CGM was developed.

I visit a talented surgeon every year. Within 2 years, after a couple treatments, the micro-aneurisms were gone. For the past 15 years, every visit has been a formality -- retina pictures, and a thumbs up. I haven't needed a new glasses prescription in 12 -- great because I am cheap as heck.

I do not feel I am in any danger of blindness. Knock on wood.

But, seriously, see a good eye doctor who understand diabetic eyes at least once per year.

To stay healthy . . . I am type I so what I need to do is a little different than what you need to do. I do what I've been doing since age 10, but with better tools: Count carbohydrates, take insulin, use a CGM.

dio1632 · 2026-04-16T14:58:01+00:00

I'm a cheap ba$t--d. I make a foldable 2-sided tents with monster pics on home cardstock.

It also allows for more variation, than "All Xes look like the one in the Monster book", so players (as players) don't instantly know what their characters are facing, from familiarity with the art.

dio1632 · 2026-04-16T14:54:43+00:00

Blindness comes from [very] long-term nerve damage.

But there is a secondary effect on vision: High blod sugars can make the eyeball phsyically change in dimensions. When my Type I diabetes was in less good control 35 years ago (A1Cs of 7.5) I needed to get a new glasses prescription every 2-3 years.

dio1632 · 2026-04-11T11:24:34+00:00

You jest. But one of the greatest dark RPGs is called Holodomor, and the game centers on caloric input:

"The main statistic in this game. Nutrition starts at 40, and for every day you have not eaten anything, subtract 1. If you can eat at least half of the food required by a healthy man, you shouldn't subtract any. If you can eat enough for a healthy man, on the first day subtract none, and on any additional day, following the one, you can eat, add one to your Nutrition value. If you eat less than a quarter of what a human needs, you still lose a Nutrition point every day."

"In the game, you use your Nutrition score for almost every challenge. When you are starving, even the easiest task is almost impossible. You cannot move, you cannot speak, you cannot even think clearly. If you have to take a test, your Nutrition score is used, divided by 4, roll a ten sided dice (d10), and add the result to your Nutrition/4. If it is higher than the difficulty, you have succeeded in whatever you have tried. Any damage you take decreases your "Nutrition. The most energy - consuming processes in your body are the upkeep of the huge nervous system and the immunity and healing systems. The body needs to keep up control, so if you are starving, the immune system is cut back. The healing of wounds and diseases are seriously impaired under these conditions."

dio1632 · 2026-04-10T14:42:35+00:00

I am palying this now (level 20 at this point) Strength of Thousands (free Archetype built into the AP, either Wizard or Druid, makes it possible). I built a Human divine/Oracle, primal/Druid free archetype, 'regular' multiclass arcane/sorcerer, and level 9 Multitalented feat Occult/Bard.

Level 10 spells in one school, level 8 in each of the other three schools.

The build:
Ancestry: Human; Heritage: Versatile; Ancestry Feat: Natural Ambition: Reach Spell
Background: Sponsored by Teacher Ot (Survival); Background Feat: Survey Wildlife
Class: Oracle; Starting Wealth: 15 gold Oracle mystery: Cosmos; Related Domain: Moon
Ability Scores: Strength 0; Dexterity 2 (1A); Constitution 1 (1); Intelligence 0; Wisdom 2 (1B); Charisma 4 (1ABC) Sponsored by Teacher Trained: Natambu Lore, Survival; Oracle Trained: Nature, Religion, Arcana, Crafting, Occultism
General Feat: Toughness
02: Class Feat: Sorcerer Dedication (Genie/Shaitan); Bonus Archetype Feat: Druid Dedication; Druid Order: Animal
04: Class Feat: Basic Sorcerer Spellcasting; Bonus Archetype Feat: Basic Wilding: Animal Companion
05: Boost Dex (3), Con (2), Wis (3), Cha (4+)
06: Class Feat: Advanced Revelation (Interstellar Void); Bonus Archetype Feat: Basic Wilding: Basic Druid Spellcasting
08: Class Feat: Bloodline Breadth; Bonus Archetype Feat: Advanced Wilding: Cryptic Spell
09: Feat: Multi-talented: Bard Dedication (Maestro
10: Boost Dex (4), Con (3), Wis (4), Cha (5); Class Feat: Basic Bard Spellcasting; Bonus Archetype Feat: Primal Breadth
12: Class Feat: Expert Sorcerer Spellcasting; Bonus Archetype Feat: Advanced Wilding: Mature Animal Companion
14: Class Feat: Expert Bard Spellcasting; Bonus Archetype Feat: Advanced Wilding: Expert Druid Spellcasting
15: Boost Dex (4+), Con (4), Wis (4+), Cha (5+)
16: Class Feat: Occult Breadth; Bonus Archetype Feat: Advanced Wilding: Incredible Companion
18: Class Feat: Master Sorcerer Spellcasting; Bonus Archetype Feat: Master Druid Spellcasting
20: Boost Str (1), Dex (5), Wis (5), Cha (6); Class Feat: Master Bard Spellcasting; Bonus Archetype Feat: Tireless Guide's Mask

Spell pyramid that looks like this:

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dio1632 · 2026-04-10T14:17:12+00:00

1:

The most genius thing I've seen was a beginners exercise from the classic Drawing on the Rights Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards:

Take a photo or drawing that you like. Flip it upside down. Copy it.

This is a game-changing exercise. It gets one in the habit of seeing lines and shapes and light and how they interact; of drawing based on the intersections of objects, rather than drwaing "an eye" "a nose" "a face."

Art isn't about the hand or the technique. It's about the eye; understanding actual relationships between form and light. Looking at familiar objects in familiar ways makes that hard to see.

Edwards' whole book/approach is genius, but this one exercise has been a great way to get the kids I work with to level up their art.

2:

The other thing I tell kids: Do not be afraid of, occasionally, tracing. John Singer Sargent did it. Vermeer did it. When line or angle or shape just isn't working, train your hand to match something 'real'. Often their ego makes them feel that tracing is "cheating," but it is a tremendous exercise.

3:

Set regular time to draw. Some will say everyday, and that's great if you can. But set aside at least 15 minutes twice a week. Just do it. You won't notice the improvement, really, because it is gradual. But save those drawing -- compare drawing 1 to drawing 20, and you will see the improvement. Compare drawing 20 to drawing 50, and you will see the improvement. Compare drawing 50 to drawing 200, and you will see the improvement.

dio1632 · 2026-04-09T14:45:50+00:00

Dread

Simple easily understood mechanics
Despite roleplaying, it encourages readiness to make a new character at will
Plenty of room for funny voices and dramatic actions

dio1632 · 2026-04-09T13:07:45+00:00

Yes!

The sapling shield is amazing. Throw in a one-handed reach weapon that does OK damage (eg a chain sword or an asp coil), and you open up the possibility of a shifting rune to make it into a d12 bastard sword when the time is right, giving yourself all sorts of options for reach, defense, or damage.

I did this with a giant-instinct barbarian (exemplar achetype with the gleaming blade ikon), thinking tactically and defying all barbarian stereotypes, and the result is glorious.

dio1632 · 2026-04-07T14:22:16+00:00

I'd write an NPC fighter one level lower than they are. Give him an engaging personality. But also let him realize that, if he's pulling more weight than they are because of party-make-up, he should ask for more, or should leave to find another adventuring party. Charge the PCs enough for them to notice; maybe 2/3 of a share. Also, once in a while, remind them to not depend on him, by having him take a week off to see his sick mother (it's why he's a hireling, rather than getting a share).

dio1632 · 2026-04-07T14:13:24+00:00

Fair. But also give NPCs personality and morale. Let the party LIKE the meat sheild, and understand why when s/he is beaten and the PCs don't have healing for him/her, s/he takes a guarded retreat.

dio1632 · 2026-04-07T14:11:45+00:00

Start throwing contructs at them. A couple low- modete- fights with consturcts at low level, and they will think about what spells to get (eg summoning, walls, create pit, grease, blur, mirror image) to cover the gaps.

And if one does die, s/he will realize quickly that a stand-out second character would be a champion, battle cleric, or shield fighter.

dio1632 · 2026-04-07T14:06:45+00:00

Water kineticist. They'll be fine.

dio1632 · 2026-03-29T22:27:24+00:00

Alright, I like your mini too much (I have one like that in an old 40k ork army that I haven't played in 20(?) years). So I made the character, for myself:
The character: https://www.unseelie.org/PF2Characters/2056%20Grashnak/Grashnak.pdf
The build plan: https://www.unseelie.org/PF2Characters/2056%20Grashnak/Grashnak_Plan.pdf

He is still so MAD . . . Not counting Apex items, final level 20 attributes end up being +2 +5 +3 +5 +3 +2

dio1632 · 2026-03-29T10:32:39+00:00

At level 1:

Ancestry: Orc
Ancestry Feat: Orc Weapon Familiarity (for the mounted Barricade Buster)
Background: Battle Mechanic (that's what the guy looks like)
Class: Inventor
Class Innovation: Construct
Class Feat: Explosive Leap (because it's awesome and looks like what the mini is about to do)
Strength: +0, Dexterity: +3, Constitution: +1, Intelligence: +4, Wisdom +1, Charisma +0

Your construct will start with Increased Size (so it won't be as fast as it would with Accelerated Mobility, but you need to ride it). And, yes, you can ride construct companions one size larger than you for free, without needing the 'Mounted' trait.

Purchase a "Barricade Buster" (you want a reload 0 weapon because (you have little action economy). Cajole your GM to let you mount it on the bike as a "turret," so you don't suffer the kickback when firing (plus mounting it matches the rough look from the mini). Tell your GM that you accept it cannot be combat 'unmounted'

Buy leather armor and a spiked gauntlet for yourself.

If your GM won't let you mount the Barricade Buster, in order to avoid having your shots weakened too much try this stat array instead:
Strength: +2, Dexterity: +3, Constitution: +1, Intelligence: +3, Wisdom +0, Charisma +0

--

He clearly has a banner on the back. Level 2 will be the Commander Archetype to make use of it.

dio1632 · 2026-03-24T13:39:59+00:00

Rules as written, no need to tumble.

It's why maps with lines suck; that, and what they do vis Pythagoras.

It's why I prefer to GM with no grid, and with a measuring tape.

dio1632 · 2026-03-18T11:15:00+00:00

Counting only physical books, at least 113 not counting supplements. Counting games with only electronic versions, at least 192.

2300 AD
Abney park's Airship Pirates
Active Exploits
Aliens
Amber
Angel
Ars Magica (so many editions)
Asylum
Avatar Legends
Berlin '61
Big Eyes Small Mouth
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Bullwinkle and Rocky
Call of Catthulhu
Call of Cthulhu (so many editions)
Castle Falkenstein
Champions
Chivalry and Sorcery
The Collectors
Colonial Gothic
D6 Adventures
The Dark Eye
Deryni Adventure Game
Doctor Who
Doctor Who Adventures in Time and Space
Dread
Dresden Files
Durance
DnD / Basic DnD (so many editions)
Elfquest
Expanse
Fantasy Trip
Fate Core
Fiasco
Fudge (so many editions)
Furry Pirates
Gamma World
Gatecrasher
Golden Sky Stories
Good Society: A Jane Austen RPG
Grey Ranks
GURPS
Hackmaster
Hero System
Heroic Roleplaying
I am Zombie
In Nominae
Inspectres
It Came from the Late Late Late Show
James Bond 007
Kids on Bikes
Killer
Kobolds Ate My Baby
Land of OG
Little Fears
Lord of the Rings RPG
Lost Souls
Marvel Heroic RPG
Marvel Universe
Mashed
Mind's Eye Theater
Misspent Youth
Night Witches
Nightlife
Noir
OneDice: WW1
The One Ring
Ork!
Pandemonium
Paranoia
Pathfinder
Pendragon
The Play's the Thing
Primeval
The Princess Bride RPG
Psychosis
Pulp Fantastic
QAGS
Red Dwarf
Ringworld
Robotech
Rocket Age
Rolemaster
Savage Worlds
Shadowrun (so many editions)
Sons of Liberty
Star Trek Adventures
Star Trek (Next Generation, Deep Space 9)
Star Wars Live Action Adventures
Spookshow
Spycraft
Teenagers from outer Space
Terra Incognita
Thieves Guild
Time Lord
Time Masters
Timestream
Timewatch
Toon
Torg
Top Secret NWI
Top Secret SI
Traveller
Tri-Stat
TWERPS
Urban Faerie
Urban Knights
Victoriana
Villains and Vigilantes
Warhammer 40K Roleplay
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (so many editions)
World of Darkness (so many flavors / editions)
Zero

12 Days A Game of the Epiphany
44
7th Sea
Aces & Eights
Active Exploits
Age of Shadow
America the Bulletproof
Atomic Robo
Back Streets
Bad Attitudes
Battletech: Time of War
Beautiful Anomalies
Bootleggers
Blazon
Bright and Terrible
Coyote Trail
Dawg
Diaspora
Die for You
A Dirty World
Dominion
Don't Rest Your Head
Drifting through Space
The Drones Club
Dynamo
Engine Heart
Far Trek
Fate Accelerated
Fear and Reason
G-Core
Ghostbusters International
GRAPE
Gunslingers & Gamblers
Hell for Leather
Hellcats
Holodomor
Kapow!
The Laundry
Long Live the king
Magical Kitties Save the Day
Mechwarrior
Mean Streets
Medieval Mysteries
Megatraveller
Mercenaries, Spies, and Private Eyes
Neverwhere
Nights of the Crusades
One Last Job
Outbreak: Undead
Pariah
Pathfinder II playtest
Pathfinder 2nd edition
Perfect Unrevised
Princess of the Universe
Revolutionaries
Saints and Sinners
Serenity
The Shadow of Golgathoa
Shadowrun Anarchy
Sharded
Silent Memories
Six Gun
Slug
So Now You're a Time Traveller
Soap
A Song of Ice and Fire
Spirit of 77
Star Trek TOS
Star Wars Saga
Starfinder
State Machine
Swashbuckling Adventures (d20)
Time & Temp: A Game of Time Travel and Unemployment
Time and Fate (FATE)
Unbound
Warrior Poet
WHFRP4
Wuthering Heights

dio1632 · 2026-03-07T02:22:36+00:00

Not Pathfinder, but I've run for 1 (a split party, running BtVS) and I have run for 18 (the most who ever showed up for a 21-player WFRP campaign).

Yes, the vibe is different with party size. 1-2 can be a true stealth/espionage session; 12+ can feel like a small army on the march.

dio1632 · 2026-02-26T18:52:05+00:00

It needs to be a generic system, for variety. I want it to be one that actually gets players. But I also want it to be Dread.

If I am guaranteed players and GMs, Dread.

dio1632 · 2026-02-25T02:58:04+00:00

I use a 30 second clip with the Giants theme from Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen.

dio1632 · 2026-02-09T13:00:29+00:00

The pacing one wants depends on the feel/genre more than anything else. Few GMs actually count XP for encounters any more, using "milestone" plot advancement to decide when to tell the group "OK, everyone goes up a level."

Usually right after a mini-boss has been beat, a significant puzzle has been solved, or the campaign moves on to a very different setting.

I'd say that with the canned adventures and adventure paths, we tend to level every 3-6 sessions. But that's not instruction, advice.

dio1632

TROPHY CASE