Originally these were meant to be a translation for the convenience of my players, but I noticed that they became a bit more expansive than the original SRD text. These are already accepted by my players so there's no turning back, but I just wanted to share these with you. Comments are more than welcomed. Please notice that alignments are always a touchy subject so take a deep breath before posting :)

LAWFULNESS

Lawful characters are always serious when they undertake an endevour. Lawful characters set goals for themselves. Lawful characters do things systematically. Lawful characters may have personal goal which they follow.

Lawful characters always defend rules that appeal to their sense of justice and fight against those that don't. Right people must create the right rules in the right way. Lawful characters have the tendency to change rules within the system and not outside.

Things are black and white to lawful character. If you don't do something, you never do it. If you do something, you always do it - unless you have a real reason to stop.

Lawful characters always see themselves as a part of a larger body of people, which is organised hierarchically. Everyone has their own duties within that system.

Lawful types usually fall into two categories:
Followers are loyal to some cause, code, organization, deity or a person. Their loyalty know no bounds.
Supporters of order like generally all things that promote order, as long as it doesn't violate against their morality in good/evil axis.

Additional note: Lawful characters are allowed to lie, but if they lie to someone, they will always lie. If they tell the truth to someone, they will always tell the truth to him or her. Everything is black and white and lawfuls persist to the end.

CHAOS

Chaotic characters do as they see best. Opinions of other do not concern chaotic characters. It's irrelevant to them if you agree them or not, they will do things in their own way.

Commitments do not concern chaotic characters. They may do few or many commitments, but they hold little value. Other things such as love or friendship may hold value, but chaos does not directly deal with these things.

However, chaotic characters do appreciate that things are done smartly. Thus, they work with others in order to accomplish important things like family unity and functioning society, but that's all. They do not carry responsibility, even though they may make decisions.

Chaotic characters do not actively oppose rules, because they hold no value. If rules restrict (their) freedom, they may do something about.

Chaotic character do not like routines, unless they bring obvious benefits. They promote change in order to achieve perfection. Perfection might suite a chaotic character, but it's still very uncertain.

Additional note: Chaotic characters do not lie just for the sake of lying. They may lie occasionally if they feel like it and sometimes tell the truth. Everything depends on the situation. Chaotic characters have no particular inhibitions against lying, because they don't care what someone else thinks about it.

NEUTRAL

Neutral characters are just like normal people in regards of law and chaos. They are not particularly determined, systematic, committed, independent or unpredictable. They listen and obey others normally.

GOOD

Good characters are willing to make sacrifices for others’ well-being. Good characters recognize that there are forces in the world that wish to harm the innocent. Good characters either want to destroy the evil or give a chance for redemption, if genuine remorse is shown. Good characters are allowed to be practical and sly, and they don’t need to take lots of risks and go through too much trouble in their mission against evil and for good.
Good characters do not sacrifice their own lives, because their life is just as important as anyone else’s. In the same way, they do not sacrifice others, not even for good reason.

EVIL

Evil characters do not possess normal and healthy inhibitions against harming others, no matter who are they dealing with. They may have some positive feelings towards some, such as their offspring, but in general evil is a terrible and destructive force. Evil characters usually enjoy harming others and inflicting pain.
Evil characters see evil in others and they are suspicious. Servants of evil cannot genuinely trust each other, and normal cooperation is impossible without a clear common cause or threat.
By default, the greatest enemy of evil is evil.
Evil types usually fall into two categories:
The remorseless inflict pain and suffering when given an opportunity.
Those who are devoted to evil spread it for the sake of evil.

NEUTRAL

Neutral characters are just like normal people in regards of good and evil. They are not willing to make any sacrifices for others and they don’t enjoy harming others. Neutral characters have inhibitions against killing, threatening or harming the innocent, just any mentally healthy person in our contemporary world.

I was just mulling over D&D character stats, with one of my gripes being that I wished that the game expected that characters only had a 15 in their best ability score, and that anything higher was really, really rare (whereas, with the point buy games I've seen since 3E, 18 seems to be the minimum).

Well, if you do the math, having an 18 in any one of your scores (rolling 3d6 for each) means that in the average population, one person out of 216 will have an 18. Going a little further, having an 18 in any one particular ability is a 1 in 1,296 chance. (Can someone do the math for a 15? I'd have to do it out longhand myself).

To kind of put that in perspective, with an average school classroom of 30 kids (and one grade per class), that means you could expect one child in a given elementary school (K-6) to have an 18 (and it's only a 1 in 6 chance it would be intelligence). In the latter case, you could have two classrooms of each grade Kindergarten to College's Masters (plus 6 months on-the-job) and should expect to only find one person with an 18 intelligence. This would be someone in the top .007% of society (if I'm doing my math right).

Sure, it's not too unfeasible that players are portraying crack heroes who fit this bill - but with the way D&D plays, it's kind of hard to imagine that this dream team of Olympic level roustabouts gathers together at a bar (or worse, throw together by chance under dubious circumstances) and decides to go crack some heads in the local dungeon.

What do you think of character's ability scores? Where should they fall? Are 18's in the prime ability dandy or do you think they should be much lower?

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.a...d/4ll/20130520

Interesting stuff. The exploration rules still sound way too complicated (what was wrong with the old-school exploration rules?), and the interaction rules sound way too complicated (why do we even need rules for that?), but I am totally on board with the big ideas behind all this.

I like the idea of interlocking systems--this is an important thing that has been missing from D&D for over a decade. But I'm worried about modularity: What if I don't like the specific exploration system they use, and want to make up my own? etc.

I really want to see and use these systems. My inner old-school gamer is thinking "finally, this is starting to look like Dungeons & Dragons."

I run an admittedly pretty high combat, mostly core, 3.5 game and am looking for ways to allow the rogue to keep pace. Without being able to take advantage of their sneak attack ability, they are obviously a less than optimal class.

The problem, however, is that at higher levels, the group is going to be facing more and more creatures that are immune to this attack. Elementals, Constructs, Powerful Undead, even Huge plants (I use them all), and none of which would be phased by a typical rogue. Many even have DR which would completely negate the rogue's attack.

I remember hearing about either a feat or class variant (not sure the source material) that allows the rogue to still gain half sneak damage against things that are normally immune to criticals. I was considering allowing this as a class option for my rogues for free.

Would this seem overpowered? Still underpowered? Any tips or suggestions as to how you would handle this in your campaigns would be great.

Thanks.

Got a nice review of Adventure MAXIMUS! on Reviews from R'lyeh.

Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions.

Good episode tonight, featuring that sweetheart Mero, the Titan's Bastard, and the intro of Daario Naharis, as well as Sam becoming Sam the Slayer... though, no witnesses save Gilly on the show.

Poor Sansa & Tyrion.

Two weeks till the next episode - Behind the Candelabra is on next Sunday night.

Greetings,

My friend and I are looking for a group - preferably some flavor of D&D or Pathfinder (edition isn't an issue). We would like something we could play weekly or bi-weekly over the internet, using something like Roll20 or a similar setup.

He is 18 and I am 26, both friendly and wanting to roll some dice.

If anyone has any slots available, please let me know.

Thank you for your consideration!

There's not much more I can write here that isn't covered by the title of the article.

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/...by-eating-mice


I freaking love science.

Second Sons

Anyone else coming to Origins this year? I'm a local so I go every year as it is a short drive for me. Anyone interested in doing some gaming? If we can figure a time and enough people we can either do some one shot RPG or a board game.

A year ago or so, I posted here with a homemade race, and asked for help with it. I took in the criticisms, and remade the race below. What I need from you guys is your thoughts about the race- such as stuff I should keep, stuff I should change, or perhaps stuff I should simply trash, or if you thought it perfect (it never is), then feel free to say something as well.

Before I go into the fluff and statistics, I should mention that I made this race on the pretense of a few house rules, with the most important here being where I consider the Magical Sources to be coming from.

I scale some of the values differently, such that instead of (1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, etc.) its (1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, etc.).

Also, I don't use Skill Ranks when it comes to skill specialization. When you become "trained" in a skill, you gain a +5 bonus to the skill, and all skills you are trained in, and can be used untrained, increase by +1 every 2 levels. To get better at those skills, you need the Skill Focus feat, and other feats to improve your skills, or perhaps get gear that improves them or something like that.

There is also Combat Maneuver Bonus/Defense, which is basically a reiteration of Opposed Strength checks when using moves like Sunder or Disarm.

Some more on "Magical" Sources: In my games, I took most sources of "magic" from the D&D 3.5 splatbooks, and came up with an origin for them.

Arcane Magic comes from the world itself, be the world a planet, a plane, a universe, its laws and/or chaos, or even directly from other beings.

Divine Magic comes from the essence of something, be it from a Deity, a source of power, a philosophy, a landscape, or even yourself (provided that worshiping yourself is even looked upon at all, but it doesn't stop some people from doing it).

Ki is the power of the Body, that is, it comes from the body of something. It could be a living person, a dead person, or even a landmass or galaxy if you prefer, so long as if it has a body. Ki is used a lot by Monks, Ninjas, and Samurai.

Psionics are the power of the Mind, that is, using one's mind to be directly tangible with the world around them. Anything can be psionic so long as it has a mind (or isn't cursed, but thats a whole other issue).

Incarnum is the power of the Soul, that is, it comes from the soul, or perhaps uses other's souls to manifest themselves into shapes and forms at the hands of a meldshaper. Anything with a soul, or anything that had a soul can learn to use Incarnum.

The last one is Transcendence. Transcendence is the power of overcoming all that is there to reality to do things that would otherwise not be physically impossible. Arcane Magic works with the world's power, while Transcendence bypasses the world's power to make your own power. Transcendence is used a lot by Swordsages, Warblades, and Crusaders (I'm not a fan of the term "Blade Magic", but to each their own).

...

With the above said, I think its about time to introduce my homemade race:

The Uhlure:

The Uhlure are a small sized race that are sensitive to all manner of extraphysical forces, be it Magic, Psionic, or even what is beyond those powers. Their communities are situated around fonts of such extraphysical power, such as for example, an ancient cathedral, or a tome enchanted with powerful magic, or even a significant amount of crystalized psionic power. The Uhlure gather around those sources like most living creatures gather around water sources.

Around their extraphysical power source, the Uhlure often become especially adept with the kind of power they gathered around as a community, but they also know better than to neglect all the other powers that exist around them.

As of such, no two Uhlure work with the exact same powers or the exact same sect of the same powers as their others.

Most often, the Uhlure see themselves as the watchers of powers, and if necessary, their guardians too. As of such, the Uhlure don't often leave home, but the few that do often do so to learn more of those powers, or to learn how to become a better watcher or guardian.

The Statistics, and a Forward: The primary reason I am bringing this race to you guys is because I'm making the racials in a way that I never have before. That is, picking your racial abilities from several lists of other powers. My main concern is in making sure that the racial system I'm making for it works.

• -2 Strength, +2 Intelligence. Uhlure are highly intelligent, but their physical stature keeps them from being as physically strong as other races.
• Small Humanoid
• Speed: 20ft
• Low-Light Vision
• Strong in a Power: The Uhlure can choose 1 power type that they are especially strong with. This power type brings the Uhlure an additional bonus as detailed below.
  
  • Power of the World (Arcane Magic): Once per day, you can add +1d6 to any d20 roll in addition to all of that roll’s normal modifiers. You can add this bonus in addition to an Action Point if you use the Action Point system.
  • Power of Essence (Divine Magic): Once per Day, the Uhlure can, as a Standard Action, heal all allies within a 20ft radius of themselves for an amount of hitpoints equal to the Uhlure’s HD + Uhlure’s Constitution Modifier. The Uhlure using this ability does not get healed by it.
  • Power of the Body (Ki): Once per Day, the Uhlure can, as a Standard Action, heal themselves for an amount of hitpoints equal to ((2 x Uhlure’s HD) + Uhlure’s Constitution Modifier).
  • Power of the Mind (Psionics): Naturally Psionic: The Uhlure gains +2 Power Points, and can take up Psionic Feats.
  • Power of the Soul (Incarnum): The Uhlure gains +1 bonus Essentia.
  • Transcendence of Power: Once per day, you can reroll a failed d20 roll. You must keep the result of the reroll even if it is worse.
  
  
• Presence of Power: The Uhlure can choose 2 additional power types that they did not choose for their Strong in a Power racial ability. The Uhlure gains 3 Racial Abilities between their 3 Power Sources (That is, the 1 power source chosen from Strong in Power, and the 2 additional power types that came from Presence of Power), but can only choose 1 Racial Ability per Power Source. The Uhlure can switch out their racial abilities, and redistribute them after 8 hours of consecutive rest.
  
  • Power of the World (Arcane Magic):
    
    • Arcane Infusion: All physical attacks the Uhlure makes are infused with elemental power. The Uhlure can choose 1 Elemental Damage type: Fire, Cold, Acid, Electricity, Sonic, and Force. The Uhlure deals +2 additional damage per attack of that damage type if the Uhlure chooses Fire, Cold, Acid, or Electricity. But the Uhlure only deals +1 additional damage per attack if that damage type is Sonic or Force. The Uhlure can change damage types after 8 hours of rest. This ability does not function in an Anti-Magic field.
    • Arcane Understanding: The Uhlure can reroll any Knowledge (Arcana) and Spellcraft check they make, but the result of the reroll must be taken even if it is worse.
    • Elemental Resilience: The Uhlure takes 2 damage less from any source that causes Fire, Cold, Electric, or Acid damage, but only 1 damage less from Sonic and Force damage sources.
    • Learned: The Uhlure gains a +2 Racial Bonus to all Knowledge checks. In addition, the Uhlure is treated as if trained in all Knowledge skills.
    • Magical Excess: The Uhlure is treated as if having +2 more Ability Score Points in a single ability score for the purposes of gaining bonus Arcane spells per day. This bonus does not apply to any other source of magic other than Arcane magic.
    • Magic Tricks: The Uhlure can use the following spells as Spell-Like Abilities once per day: Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, and Ghost Sound at a caster level equal to the Uhlure’s HD.
    • Temporal Celerity: The Uhlure moves at a speed that is +10ft more than the Uhlure’s speed. If the Uhlure were to carry a Medium or Heavy Load or wear Medium or Heavy Armor, then the Uhlure only gains +5ft more speed. This ability does not function in an Anti-Magic Field.
    
    
  • Power of Essence (Divine Magic):
    
    • Divine Excess: The Uhlure is treated as if having +2 more Ability Score Points in a single ability score for the purposes of gaining bonus Divine spells per day. This bonus does not apply to any other source of magic other than Divine magic.
    • Divine Understanding: The Uhlure can reroll any Knowledge (Religion) and Spellcraft check they make, but the result of the reroll must be taken even if it is worse.
    • Force of Personality: Gain a +3 Bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate Checks.
    • Instincts: The Uhlure gains a +3 bonus to all Perception and Survival checks.
    • Miracle Worker: The Uhlure gains the following spell-like abilities that can be used Once per Day: Cure Minor Wounds, Create Water, and Light. The caster level is equal to the Uhlure’s HD.
    • Natural Understanding: The Uhlure can reroll any Knowledge (Nature) and Spellcraft check they make, but the result of the reroll must be taken even if it is worse.
    • Sacred Aegis: The Uhlure reduces all physical damage they take by 2.
    • Spirited Casting: Whenever the Uhlure successfully casts a spell or manifests a power successfully, then the Uhlure becomes healed for a number of hitpoints equal to the spell’s or power’s level (always at least 1).
    • Spirited Combat: Whenever the Uhlure hits with a physical attack, the Uhlure becomes healed for 1 Hitpoint for every 5 above the target’s AC the Uhlure’s attack roll exceeds, but always at least 1 Hitpoint. This ability does not grant temporary hitpoints. This ability ceases to function in an anti-magic field.
    
    
  • Power of the Body (Ki):
    
    • Agile: The Uhlure gains a +3 Bonus to Acrobatics, and Sleight of Hand checks.
    • Athletic: The Uhlure gains a +2 Bonus to Climb, Jump, and Swim checks.
    • Bolstering Spells: Any friendly spell or power you cast on an ally also grants them a +1 Bonus to their AC in addition to other effects. This effect does not stack, and it goes away once the spell’s duration expires.
    • Nirvana: The Uhlure is treated as if having +2 more Ability Score Points in a single ability score for the purposes of gaining bonus Ki Points.
    • Piercing Attacks: Your physical attacks ignore up to a total of 2 DR of any kind on the target.
    • Stability: The Uhlure’s size is treated as being 1 size category larger than normal to resist Combat Maneuvers, such as Bull Rushing and Overrunning.
    • Stone Muscles: The Uhlure gains a Natural Armor Bonus of +1.
    
    
  • Power of the Mind (Psionics):
    
    • Controlled: The Uhlure gain a +3 bonus on Concentration and Autohypnosis checks.
    • Influencing: Any ability the Uhlure uses that grants a Morale bonus to an ally is amplified by +1 more than normal.
    • Mental Understanding: The Uhlure can reroll any Knowledge (Psionics) and Psicraft check it makes, but it must take the result of the reroll even if it is worse.
    • Mind Over Matter: The Uhlure’s spells ignore 2 SR on the enemy, and its powers ignore 2 PR on the enemy.
    • Psionic Expansion: The Uhlure is treated as if having +2 more Ability Score Points in a single ability score for the purposes of gaining bonus Power Points.
    • Psychic: The Uhlure gains a psi-like ability that can be used once per day: Empathy. Empathy’s power is as a manifester level equal to the Uhlure’s HD.
    • Wary: The Uhlure gains a +1 Racial Bonus to all of their Saving Throws.
    
    
  • Power of the Soul (Incarnum):
    
    • Aligned Spells: Any spell the Uhlure casts, and any power it manifests against a foe of an opposite alignment from theirs has its save DCs increased by +1 against them. True Neutral Uhlure that choose this ability gains a DC bonus against Lawful Good, Chaotic Good, Lawful Evil, and Chaotic Evil foes.
    • Animal Empathy: Gain a +3 Bonus to Handle Animal and Ride checks.
    • Expressive: Gain a +2 Bonus to all types of Perform checks, and is considered Trained in all Perform skills.
    • Hardened Spirit: Gain +3 Hitpoints, +1 Hitpoint per HD of the Uhlure.
    • Improved Meldshaping: All soulmelds with Save DCs have their Save DCs increased by +1.
    • Overflowing Spirit: If you are affected by a beneficial Morale effect. That effect’s power is increased by +1 more than normal. Morale effects you put on yourself are not affected by Overflowing Spirit.
    • Strength of the Soul: The Uhlure can use their Constitution Modifier for their Melee and Ranged attack bonuses instead of their Strength and Dexterity Modifiers for them if they desire.
    
    
  • Transcendence of Power:
    
    • Ability Substitution: When the Uhlure has to roll an Ability check, they can substitute the ability being rolled with another ability of the Uhlure’s choosing once per day. For example, an Uhlure needs to make a Strength check to move a boulder, and this Uhlure has a poor strength score, but a good intelligence score. So, the Uhlure uses Ability Substitution, and turns the check from a Strength check to an Intelligence check to move that boulder.
    • Buy Time: Once per Day, the Uhlure can take an additional Move Equivalent Action in a single round.
    • Eyes and Ears: The Uhlure can reroll any Gather Information and Knowledge (local) check, but they must accept the result of the reroll even if it is worse.
    • Martial Defense: The Uhlure gains a +1 Racial Bonus to AC against all Martial Maneuvers.
    • Martial Offense: The Uhlure gains a +1 Racial Bonus to Attack Rolls for all Martial Maneuvers.
    • Save Substitution: When the Uhlure has to roll a Saving Throw, the Uhlure can choose to use a different Saving Throw bonus from the Saving Throw they have to roll once per day. The different saving throw bonus is treated as if it were the original saving throw being used for the purposes for abilities.
    • Skill Substitution: When the Uhlure has to roll a Skill check, they can substitute the skill being rolled with another skill they are trained in of their choice once per day. If the Uhlure is making a Skill check that requires trained use in the skill, and they go and substitute that skill with another, then the Uhlure takes a -5 penalty on the Skill check roll.
    
    
  
  

• Automatic Languages: Common, Uhlure
• LA: +0
• Favored Class: Any that employs extraordinary power.

Let me know what you think. If something isn't clear, say something, and I'll see if I can't explain it.

I am interested to know What everyone thinks is the most Damaging on shot spell of any level without metamagic, Such as kelgore's fire bolt or shocking grasp.
Caster Level of the spell would be level 20 wizard.

All published 3.0, 3.5 and Pathfinder materiel is acceptable reference.

does anyone think its okay to take on multiple archetypes if they affect different class options and don't interfere with each other?

Do you like post-Apocalyptic RPGs?

Well, we've made the leap into the public arena and moved our old private The Mutant Epoch RPG forum to a public venue. Anybody can join in the conversation, lurk or snag ideas for their own post-apocalyptic role playing game.

Curious? Here's the link:

http://mutantepochforum.boards.net/

Come on by and say hello!
WM

Hi guys! I've been really wanting to run a good old-fashioned dungeon crawl in Pathfinder.

I'm looking for a module or an AP that involves one or more good dungeons. Preferably, I'm looking for an epic dungeon that the party will adventure through for some time. I'm looking for a dungeon with a story to it, where things make sense (i.e. the dungeon is an ecosystem). The bigger and more involved the dungeon, the better. I would like a dungeon that has interesting traps, and one with something like riddles that involve the players having to think to get past the trap would be awesome.

Any recommendations you guys can give would be awesome, especially if you can tell me what you like about that particular dungeon. I don't want to have to do conversions, so plesae limit it to Pathfinder material.

Thanks!