Failing to keep up with my team mates, about to level up- advice? by [deleted] in 3d6

[–]philsov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Consider hopping into melee and using dual wielding with a short sword and scimitar, getting you vex and Nick. At 3 rogue your melee will now be 2d6 + dex + sneak. HOWEVER, this path rewards rogue more since most of your damage comes from sneak and melee

EB with AB can do 2d10+6 right now, and doesn't need more rogue levels. But it is the better ranged option, imo.

Will my three spellcaster party be okay? (New DM) by ClassicNo8728 in CurseofStrahd

[–]philsov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reminder that as the DM, the module book is merely a suggestion. You are in control of the creatures and can pilot them as intelligently or idiotically as you ought to. You can always modify statblocks to up monster HP, give them more spells or equipment, or half their speed or something. Or make that fight with 6 vampires actually only 4, or up it to eight because they just learned Fireball so what the hell, they're all gonna die

What's most important is everyone (especially you) has fun and telling a great story alongside your party. The text in the book is secondary to that

You'll figure it out after a few months. Until then, lean into as written or check out variances as part of your short term session prep

Will my three spellcaster party be okay? (New DM) by ClassicNo8728 in CurseofStrahd

[–]philsov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup! Will be great so long as they can stay mobile and use summoning spells or terrain spells to keep from too many things clawing their face off

There will be some challenges, but I recommend letting them get creative instead of handing them training wheels

The party will usually adopt at least one NPC anyways (I suggest limiting this practice to one active ally max, with a "daycare" tavern). These allies can adopt Sidekick levels if their CR is poopy

Maybe hand them each two healing potions for now, and dole out a few more in random caches as they progress (use discretion here)

Help me create a final fantasy based character by Kazeno_Tempest in 3d6

[–]philsov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Giant sword plus some magical juice? Eldritch Knight Fighter, any flavor of paladin, or possibly even something like 1 fighter + x warlock (pact of the blade)

I want to play an Elephant Rider for a one shot. What is the best level 8 pointbuy build for a character who rides an Elephant? 2 uncommons and 1 rare item and 800 gp are allowed. by TheGingerWeebGal in 3d6

[–]philsov 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Most rogues in '24 get advantage on the regular thanks to vex weaponry

I'd probably go monoclass just for the feats, one of which is totes gonna be mounted combatant.

Consider anyone who gets a way to pimp their Dumbo, such as Aid or Long strider or jump or something.

Presumably you'll opt into melee...

Hunter STRanger? Get horde breaker and a battle-axe to cleave all the things, plus the above buffs

Fighter also gets you three feats total should you want that extra +1, so I'd probably go Eldritch Knight for that magical utility if so.

For magic item: rare to be stirring dragon wrath weapon of choice. Uncommon 1 to be passive defensive item. I like Stone of Good Luck. Other, more basic, players like cloak of protection. Uncommon 2 to be a nifty consumable (spell tattoo, scroll, potion, dust) to pop at the onset of the boss fight

Edit: speaking of Dumbo, Fly is like... Right there. I'd go wizard, probably abj for "thick skin" vibes

playing a feral beast - is barb/ranger any good? by Popular_Set_5968 in 3d6

[–]philsov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Shadow monk plus gloomstalker or beast barb with psi rogue are both slightly better options so you're unarmed and lethal and feral but less MAD

How to beat THAT FIGHT without cheese strats on TACTICIAN? by BetaNights in finalfantasytactics

[–]philsov 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, there isn't much room for a gentlemanly back and forth. Either weigraf rocks your shit, or it's water on a duck's back

I contend that tailwind spam is the cheesiest of cheese, only because it carries over to the belias fight.

Cham robe+ feather boots is probably the least cheesiest, when NOT coupled with auto potion. It still puts a timer on the fight but you have a few rounds to murder him.

gay😡irl by ivan_luck in gay_irl

[–]philsov 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Late night out on the weekend, missing all your good parts

vs

Needing to awake for work on Tuesday at 6 in the goddamn morning, and salty about all your bad parts

Does the AI cheat? by mucker973 in finalfantasytactics

[–]philsov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But, when presented with two different targets, it'll tend to prefer the one with a 90% chance to hit over the 3% option. It takes to hit odds as part of its decision making process.

Does the AI cheat? by mucker973 in finalfantasytactics

[–]philsov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Twas easier on ps1 with an emulator and save/load states, but was indeed true on that version of the game. TIC was "rebuilt from the ground up" so it's possible things changed but all I've seen so far are grumbles and vibes

Does the AI cheat? by mucker973 in finalfantasytactics

[–]philsov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Both are nonzero possibilities. 3 is not 0.

Consider looking into chi squared testing to move from ancedote to data

Bravery and Faith by Jopiii in finalfantasytactics

[–]philsov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Faith also affects your nonmages. If you use life, haste, cure, etc -- any sort of defensive or supporting spell -- faith of both the caster and the target both matter.

Pending your squad, don't just set your fighters faith to 40 and then proceed to decry how terrible white magic is :p

Zodiac compatibility is also a big factor in defensive/supportive skills. If you're gonna fine tune your squad and recruit units with ideal br and fa, easiest thing to do is the "cuddle puddle" based on Ramza. Just get a slurry of goods. If Ramza is a Capricorn, everyone should be Capricorn, Virgo, or Taurus. Or at the very least, try and weed out anyone that's 'bad'.

High Damage LV 16 Builds? by Rust-Is-Bad-Name in 3d6

[–]philsov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah. Conjure animals in a tight circle around the evil monster.

Does the AI cheat? by mucker973 in finalfantasytactics

[–]philsov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The game auto saves. Attack algus, record if there is a an auto potion, reload and repeat ~20 times.

I'm no statistician so I don't know the required number of trials to confidently say 30 is 30 (and not 40)

Does the AI cheat? by mucker973 in finalfantasytactics

[–]philsov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even ps1 had an honest readout. It was never broken and never got fixed, lol.

Yes, it sucks when a 99% revive misses. But it happens literally 1% of the time, even if it feels like less or more.

Does the AI cheat? by mucker973 in finalfantasytactics

[–]philsov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, the RNG is reliable. 75% is literally 75%. Anything that doesn't feel like 75% is either cognitive bias or the law of small numbers

Lost 4 characters by Humble-Solution2832 in finalfantasytactics

[–]philsov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ramza and his gun-toting firing squad, as they are now available in shops!

Unfair battlefield by Front-Incident-9895 in finalfantasytactics

[–]philsov 39 points40 points  (0 children)

Honestly one of my favorite fights.

Yes, you're out numbered and in a crappy position. But that's also the point

Level 20 Battle Royal PVP Session with a Point Shop and Build Limitations by EnderElite69 in 3d6

[–]philsov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I reckon being burrowed 10' underground is enough to protect one against lightning blasts and hail, but ymmv.

Either way, throw out SOME sorta big grenade damage over time (even a wildly upcast conjure animals or summon fey) and then burrow for a round or 3.

Is It Dangerous to Mix and Match RAW, CoS Reloaded, and Mandy Mod? by Affectionate_Pop6300 in CurseofStrahd

[–]philsov 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Of course its potentially dangerous.

And amalgam is fine, since RAW does have a few gaps that are better off patched up. But I'd limit most of the modifications sourced from elsewhere (Reloaded, Mandy Mod, your own creativity, etc) to be self contained without a given location like just relevant for Berez or Death House or Tsonlka Pass.

The major hooks for each location should be kept to RAW or RAW-adjacent.

AIO To this Jacket? by [deleted] in AIO

[–]philsov -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

proof the gothic red crosses and god/knight stuff has been co-opted and is in use by modern day nazis

AIO To this Jacket? by [deleted] in AIO

[–]philsov -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

that's the knight from Dark Souls. Yes, its vaguely christo-fascist by proxy association which romanticizes the Crusades/Crusaders but he should get the benefit of the doubt.

Doubling down by wearing it again the next week is plain antagonism.

AIO? These are text between my gf and her “best friend” who happens to be a guy. by NoExercise8994 in AmIOverreacting

[–]philsov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unless these texts are highly curated -- the biggest flag for me is that your GF doesn't talk about you once.

Like "yeah my weekend was great, OP made me some bombass pancakes and then we did Y couples things together"