The Pathfinder RPG, by Paizo Publishing, is a fork of the d20 ruleset that was open licensed from Dungeons & Dragons v3.5.
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What are the differences and similarities between Pathfinder and Fantasy Craft?
Pathfinder or Fantasy Craft?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of these two unofficial D&D 3.5 "upgrades" compared to 3.5 and each other?
What kinds of play/groups are they more fit for? ...
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2answers
307 views
How are feats determined for creatures with hit dice and class levels?
For a character with hit dice that is adding its first character level, does it get a feat at first character level or its next odd hit dice?
For example a bugbear becomes a bugbear barbarian 1. ...
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5answers
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How to reduce minis dependence in d20-based games?
In Pathfinder and similar versions of D&D, there is a lot more miniatures/tactical map dependence than in earlier versions (and in most other RPGs). I am interested in reducing the dependence on ...
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3answers
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What is a good starting point for GMing Pathfinder Society Games?
So I am considering GMing a few Pathfinder Society (PFS) modules (probably home games at first, the PFS group that plays at our local gaming store doesn't meet more than once a month), and I was ...
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4answers
434 views
Which skill is more suitable for provoking someone?
If a character wants to provoke some sort of reaction (be it anger, or even just breaking his self-imposed silence) by talking to another [player] character; which skill is best suited for a skill ...
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5answers
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Can a character take free action out of her turn?
Free actionsD20PFSRD in Pathfinder take almost no time. But can they be performed outside of one's turn or in response to some trigger?
Scenario 1: Can a Barbarian enter rage in response to taking ...
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1answer
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Are any bonuses added when using Vital Strike in Pathfinder?
For the Vital Strike feat in Pathfinder, are other bonuses such as enhancement or sacred bonuses to damage applied when rolling the extra damage dice?
From the Pathfinder SRD.
Vital Strike ...
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2answers
333 views
Catching falling characters
In my experience, whenever a character falls because of a pit trap or a botched climb check there is always at least one player that that tries to catch them. I can't seem to find any specific rulings ...
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1answer
231 views
How can I balance an encounter with reinforcements?
I've been planning encounters that come in two parts or have reinforcements recently, and it occurs to me that reinforcements don't have the same effect on an encounter as if they were there from the ...
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5answers
1k views
How real are illusions?
The PCs this week tried to do something that stumped me this week, though I am sure this question has been asked before. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the PCs decided that they would cast an ...
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3answers
643 views
At what level can a fighter gain damage reduction?
Being new to D&D, I'm very intrigued with damage reduction. Creating a new level 1 fighter, I'm trying to acquire damage reduction, but have been unable to find a way to do it at first level, or ...
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3answers
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Why use NPC classes for NPCs?
I am a fairly novice game master, but something I've never really understood NPC classes. As far as I understand them, they are noticeably weaker versions of PC classes (e.g. the NPC warrior in 3.5 ...
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What does a perception check really signify? Can they be repeated?
When a character makes a perception check, does fail indicate whether they permanently fail to see what is hidden, or just that they need to try again? So far our DM has let us repeat perception ...
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1answer
250 views
Penalty for failing Aid Another? Does it change per circumstance?
We were having a diplomacy-off yesterday between the party and a higher level bard where we needed a succession of successes to beat the encounter. The issue was that it was basically a 50/50 shot for ...
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1answer
555 views
How can I convert 3.5 Generic Classes to Pathfinder?
I recently obtained the Pathfinder Core Rulebook, and I'm really impressed by the changes. I am going to change my campaign from 3.5e to Pathfinder, but I'm stuck on one major thing.
In our ...
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2answers
891 views
Lycanthropy and elves - what is the general guideline?
Well, to get to the point. AFAIK, lycanthropy is mostly reserved for humans and, from what I gained from the books, elves are immune to it as it is a human disease. I recall seeing somewhere a ...
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2answers
760 views
Potions and Oils in Pathfinder
In Pathfinder, in the magic items chapter it discusses oils under the potions section. An oil is essentially a potion that can be applied to whatever target you can interact with, following the rules ...
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2answers
822 views
Does a Pathfinder Witch's Slumber Hex Count as Mind-Affecting Effect?
From d20pfsrd.com, the Witch gets the following Hex:
Slumber (Su): A witch can cause a
creature within 30 feet to fall into a
deep, magical sleep, as per the spell
sleep. The creature ...
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1answer
572 views
Does Protection from Evil protect against the Fear spell?
Does Protection from Evil protect against Fear in Pathfinder?
Note that Protection from Evil is written a little differently in Pathfinder than in D&D 3.5:
Second, the subject immediately
...
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2answers
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How can I Intimidate (demoralize foe) as a Move or Swift action?
I would like to make Intimidate a major part of my PC's fighting style. I think it's cool, and themey; I don't like the fact that it takes a Standard action, though. Is there any way to speed it up a ...
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2answers
2k views
Do Pathfinder elves sleep instead of trance?
According to d20 Pathfinder SDR site in the Common Terms (Rest) section...
The Pathfinder Core Rulebook is somewhat vague on the requirements of resting and sleeping [...]
I found that this is ...
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7answers
385 views
How should a GM handle novice players?
In our game, we have 5 players - two are completely new to roleplaying, and one is new to the system we're playing (Pathfinder).
At the moment, the GM grants the new players no leeway - if the player ...
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1answer
2k views
Pathfinder: 2 Talon Attack or 2 Attacks?
In Pathfinder (as D&D) if you make a move action, you forfeit your secondary attack.
However, an Eagle has natural "2 x talon attack" listed as its primary, with a bite attack as a secondary.
...
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1answer
2k views
What are class skills in Pathfinder?
Stupid question, but what exactly are class skills in the Pathfinder RPG?
I believe it means I get one "free" skill rank in that class, am I right in this assumption?
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3answers
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Can half-elves multiclass at 1st level?
Half-elves get a trait called "multitalented." The rules describe it briefly: Half-elves choose two favored classes at first level and gain +1 hit point or +1 skill point whenever they take a level in ...
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1answer
399 views
Spell Selection on Lore Seeker campaign Trait
On page 331 of the Pathfinder Advanced Players Guide, there is the lore seeker trait that has the following:
If you cast arcane spells, pick three spells on your spell list. You are particularly ...
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1answer
706 views
Alchemist bomb attacks
In Pathfinder, is the Alchemist class capable of using Two-Weapon Fighting with bombs? If no, does the Fast Bombs discovery change this?
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2answers
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Regarding the Rogue Talent “Resiliency”
I'm not exactly sure how Temporary Hit Points work in Pathfinder but here's what the Talent states:
Once per day, a rogue with this ability can gain a number of temporary hit points equal to the ...
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2answers
714 views
What action type is retrieving an item in Pathfinder?
I couldn't find references about the action type(s) of the following acts (standard, move, full-round, etc.) nor if they provoke attacks of opportunity.
Retrieving an item attached to the ...
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3answers
527 views
Can you use a Metamagic Rod and a Scroll together?
Are you allowed to use a Metamagic Rod (say Extend) with a Spell read from a Scroll?
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1answer
365 views
Do underwater opponents have cover from someone in the water?
Someone under the water has total cover from someone on the land. If you are in the water but not under it you have partial cover from a land based opponent. What I'd like to know is if you are in ...
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2answers
1k views
Are there any resources for diseases or plagues in D&D 3.5 or Pathfinder?
In creating an adventure, there will be a major meterological event causing massive damage to the town's infrastructure. In the aftermath, there will be a pretty significant outbreak of at least one ...
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1answer
532 views
What's the difference between Pathfinder and Pathfinder Chronicles?
I was poking around the Paizo website, and noticed that there are minis for Pathfinder, and others for Pathfinder Chronicles. What's the difference between the two? I couldn't see anything in my ...
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3answers
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Can a Paladin have more than one Smite working at the same time?
Can a Paladin have more than one Smite working at the same time against different foes?
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1answer
948 views
Is smite evil damage multiplied by a critical hit?
In Pathfinder, smite damage adds +paladin level (or 2xpaladin level) to damage when smiting evil. The rules for critical hits say:
"A critical hit means that you roll
your damage more than once, ...
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votes
4answers
160 views
How far do you go with custom rules before you have a new game?
We are working on a setting with low magic for Pathfinder, and we initially started out on creating lots of custom rules to go with that. However we found that the more rules we created, the more we ...
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7answers
568 views
Can you use a mirror to get line of sight?
Some spells only require line of sight for targeting. Can you use a mirror to look around a corner and target your foe?
For example, Magic Missile:
The missile strikes unerringly, even if the ...
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3answers
1k views
How does a Paladin's Detect Evil Ability work?
Can a paladin's Detect Evil ability detect if there is Evil in the area, as per the spell, or is it target-only?
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5answers
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Any good steampunk material for d20?
The DM of my current Friday night game is running a steampunk-setting, using the Pathfinder rules system. We have two artificers in the party, but my feeling is that all of our material is fantasy and ...
