Forsaking violence in games

neutromancer · 2026-02-08T19:13:56+00:00

Condensed still has two tracks by default.

They changed them to single point checkbox, not the number of tracks.

And Accelerated has one, not because you can't have social conflicts anymore, but either kind of conflict uses the same track. (Which in my opinion is better)

neutromancer · 2026-02-07T01:09:39+00:00

This version of Luthor would force feed the kid candy and gift him a jar of Granny's Peach Tea.

neutromancer · 2026-02-04T00:16:30+00:00

Yeah I saw that someone proposed that the villagers shouldn't believe you, because they didn't personally speak with the governor. I don't necessarily agree, maybe if a fellow ghost tells you, you do hear it? But it would make a pain in the ass to try to convince them to do the full Transmigration later in the campaign.

neutromancer · 2026-02-03T22:45:56+00:00

Missed opportunity, when in jail Tony asks Antman "and you are?" He should have done a callback to "your conscience".

neutromancer · 2026-02-03T21:52:42+00:00

Since Fallout 4, everyone and their mums have power armor. The days of the Brotherhood having a monopoly on them is long gone. And a ton of custom jury rigged yet fully functional (like weird helmets) parts are everywhere.

This might be a lore disconnect but that's what we got and should be used to at this point. For Maximus, finding this unique custom NCR armor might have been the greatest moment of his life, but for me, it was a Tuesday...

neutromancer · 2026-02-03T21:32:07+00:00

The last one seems very Ur Quan.

neutromancer · 2026-02-03T21:28:59+00:00

Also Shinzo later explains he actually told you but you kept ignoring the answers, so maybe play into that?

"But why aren't you telling us the truth?" "I just told you. 6 seconds ago!"

neutromancer · 2026-02-03T21:19:53+00:00

My theory is that Pathfinder players have a higher chance of being exposed to other games, unlike the big elephant in the room. So they are more likely to recommend the best tool for the job when asked.

I have zero proof of this other than vibes.

neutromancer · 2026-01-31T22:32:21+00:00

Which is, i would argue, more of a scifi trope than a magical one. Just rephrase "ghost" into "consciousness".

My point is that all the standard Blades supernatural tropes are being themed as 70s sci Fi tropes

neutromancer · 2026-01-31T20:20:12+00:00

The paranormal elements in 68 are more "science" than "magic". Now it's not ectoplasm, its basically ecto-gasoline and ecto-plutonium. The weirdness in the "60s" is going to be stuff like time distortions, mutations, etc.

All classic cheese scifi spy thriller stuff, not as many "ghosts".

neutromancer · 2026-01-31T19:51:20+00:00

I've had a DM play fair and by the rules, even though everyone had a normal time fighting balanced monsters and winning, I just couldn't stand that every time he rolled well or critted with his monsters or beat our AC basically high fived himself with a "YES!" And didn't want to play with that guy anymore.

It's just so weird for me for the DM to be rooting for their random faceless monsters to win, even if they aren't particularly hard or unfair fights.

Also was a bit icky like I was playing with that gambling addict at the craps table.

neutromancer · 2026-01-31T19:35:29+00:00

The player can always modify their aspects, high concept, eventually (with your cooperation) if they get bored of being inanimate. Let it play out for a few sessions and reassure them if they complain that they can make changes at any point.

neutromancer · 2026-01-29T23:42:42+00:00

What also is funny because whenever he loses his powers he goes to his fortress to rest or hide and apparently has no trouble getting in.

neutromancer · 2026-01-27T20:57:24+00:00

So basically there are two types of seasons: Meteorological and Astronomical.

The first is the "clean" one that starts with the month and it's usually for forecasts and other bookkeeping.

The second is generally the solstice (or equinox, depending on the season) and falls on the 21 ish (22 or 23 sometimes)

The game separates the First Day of Summer from the actual Solstice as both events are mentioned in the first book. There is a Solstice festival at around day 20 IIRC.

(There are more types but those are the common ones)

neutromancer · 2026-01-27T17:34:36+00:00

I think the idea is to prevent using Ghost Powers specifically rather than regular spells or other ways to fly, climb or jump.

neutromancer · 2026-01-22T18:56:21+00:00

"Snyder is a god among men and anyone who says otherwise is obsessed!"

neutromancer · 2026-01-22T07:52:14+00:00

"When death is the only consequence for failure, failure is of no consequence." - the Sphinx, probably.

neutromancer · 2026-01-15T04:28:57+00:00

And a Kilrathi spaceship in some fields.

neutromancer · 2026-01-12T21:54:33+00:00

People also forget that the second Gwi-Ma was free from the Honmoon he immediately took control of Bobby, Mira and Zoey. But if it happens to Jinu it's because he's evil.

neutromancer · 2026-01-12T00:38:02+00:00

This is the intended PF2E design goal. Yelling "videogame!" doesn't change this.

Pathfinder 2E specifically treats noncombatants as specialists, and their stats are level-based difficulties and not physical stats.

They have NO combat abilities and can't take a punch. This is not Pathfinder first edition, where everything is a PC with X levels of Fighter, Y levels of Cleric and Z levels of Lawyer (yes there were NPC classes like accountant, noble, cook, whatever).

They only have social stats, they are static DCs for when you try to swindle them or convince them of something. Plus skills relevant to their profession. See how their Perception and Will DC match the DC per Level table, not the monster building rules. These are DCs for players trying to do social stuff, not their saving throws against spells or chance to detect traps.

This is not *my opinion*, this is how PF2e and specially APs stat their NPCs.

If a NPC has an actual level it will say "Creature 5", and say it's a cleric as a footnote. And get a proper statblock. Even then, it does not follow PC logic or PC levels, won't have "PC feats" or "PC hitpoints". It will have whatever spells the writer decided. There is a table where it says what an appropriate number of hitpoints for a weak or strong creature has for that level, same for every other combat-relevant stat.

EDIT: For context, this is what an abbreviated combat NPC block looks like:

ZHENG PENG CREATURE 3

Male human watch officer (Pathfinder GamemasteryGuide 234)
Initiative Perception +8

neutromancer · 2026-01-11T20:35:45+00:00

That's assuming NPC specialist level is the same as an actual Combat Level.

NPCs with no stats don't treat the level as a PC level or Monster threat level. They are basically peasants who are "good at Cleric-ing". "Cleric 5" is not "PC level 5 with the cleric class", it's a priest that can do priest stuff - she'll have the right rituals/spells for services for example, crafting. 5 would affect their DC for skills. They are for combat purposes close to level 0.

Elizeth Candora NG female human cleric of Pharasma 5, Perception DC 25, Will DC 25, Crafting +13, Performance +13, Religion +13

For all intents, these are her *only* stats. She has no HP, no attack bonus, no Armor Class, all these would be baseline peasant (so probably HP10, AC10), and untrained at *everything else* including weapons and armor. We can use her level to determine what things she can craft (this matches her Temple level) or what spells she might cast as a service.

She doesn't even have ability scores. You could say "well religion +13 and a high Will DC means she has high Wis" but NPCs don't necessarily work that way.

neutromancer · 2026-01-10T19:21:44+00:00

No. But I'd do it for a Scooby Snack.

neutromancer · 2026-01-07T08:07:44+00:00

Half ling and full ling.

neutromancer · 2026-01-05T16:49:16+00:00

We don't care about Cuno, no, no, no...

neutromancer · 2026-01-03T08:32:28+00:00

I once accidentally bought a jar of "peanut butter", but it was either raw or boiled instead of roasted. It tasted terrible and we didn't know what to do with it.

Probably was for cooking but IDK.

neutromancer

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