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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3answers
2k views
Favored Class Bonus at 1st Level?
So, it doesn't seem entirely clear from the Core Rulebook: does one get the favored class bonus (+1 to hp or +1 skill) at first level? I wouldn't have thought so, but I notice that the Hero Lab ...
8
votes
1answer
132 views
Pathfinder DR and ability damage
In Pathfinder does Damage Reduction (e.g. the barbarians DR 2/- for e.g.) reduce the ability damage from, say, a Greater Shadow (1d8 Strength)?
11
votes
3answers
1k views
New GM Advice - How to best use an Adventure Path
I'm new to tabletop RPGs (although I have been interested for a long time, just had difficulty finding like-minded companions, and the funds required to get some of the stuff).
When I was finally ...
5
votes
1answer
226 views
Do touch spells crit via a natural weapon's crit range?
If I increase the threat of my natural weapon (improved crit) (19-20) does this affect my touch spell cast through it?
Pg 213: A touch spell that deals damage can score a critical hit just as a ...
22
votes
3answers
519 views
Why is Survival not a class skill for animals?
Question in title.
Seems odd that an animal isn't naturally inclined to get bonuses to Survival, which typically involves dealing with the wilds and it's associated difficulties (an animal's natural ...
2
votes
1answer
214 views
Can an Eidolon apply a reach evolution to a weapon attack?
Can an Eidolon apply a reach evolution to a weapon attack (such as a polearm)? The wording of the reach evolution does not seem to refer to natural attacks as most other Eidolon attack abilities do.
...
4
votes
1answer
143 views
Can my Animal Companion use Skills that it can't put ranks into?
I'm trying to make a druid, with an animal companion. I'm at the part where I'm deciding what skills he'll be trained in (2 at first level).
From the SRD:
Animal Skills
Animal ...
6
votes
2answers
233 views
Can cantrips be improved?
I have a player interested in ways to improve 0 level attack spells. Mainly, they're looking to not have to carry around a crossbow for attacks when they don't want to cast a spell, and the 1d3 ...
0
votes
1answer
142 views
Feat Selection for a Gestalt Druid/Ninja Wildshape assassin
I know the title isn't terribly descriptive, hopefully someone can help me out on that one.
I'm stating out a Pathfinder Gestalt Druid/Ninja who is trying to maximize usage of Wild Shape paired with ...
5
votes
2answers
210 views
Frequency of combat encounters in Pathfinder
I'm starting a new self-designed Pathfinder campaign as the DM and I'm unsure how many combat encounters I should plan each session.
The characters will start at level 1. The group consists of 4 ...
11
votes
4answers
348 views
How the heck does magical darkness work in Pathfinder?
I'm having a lot of trouble trying to divine the intent of the darkness spell in PF. It starts off easily enough:
This spell causes an object to radiate darkness out to a 20-foot radius. This ...
7
votes
2answers
239 views
Pathfinder benchmarks
I was recently creating a new level 10 character for Pathfinder, and realized that I had absolutely no idea of how much AC / HP / Attack Bonus /Saves I was suppose to aim for.
Is there, somewhere, a ...
15
votes
2answers
1k views
Lower spells in higher spell slots
Can you place a lower level spell in a higher spell slot? In other words, can you place magic missile in a 4th level slot if you want to, without a metamagic feat?
This came up in our Pathfinder game ...
9
votes
2answers
254 views
What body parts can I use to deliver a spell whose range is “touch”?
Within a pure Pathfinder game ...
When delivering a melee touch spell can I use any body part? (hand, elbow, foot, head), any body part I could attack with or must I use my hand?
If I am a witch ...
3
votes
1answer
143 views
Are class skill bonuses per rank or only once?
A skill gets a +3 bonus if it's a class skill. Do you only get the bonus once, or do you get the bonus for every rank put into the skill?
5
votes
1answer
102 views
Cleaving large enemies
Are there any clarifications or thoughts on if you can use cleave to get more than 1 attack against a large enemy (say takes up 4 tiles)?
The feat says "If you hit (with the first attack) you deal ...
7
votes
3answers
162 views
Advantage of Howling Helm in combat
My character has recently acquired an item called the Howling Helm. What I have been doing in some of the bigger encounters I've been in, is command the 1d3 Wolves it creates to attack before I do.
...
24
votes
9answers
1k views
Sword-and-board balance in D&D
Fighting with a weapon and a shield seem to be relatively ineffective in D&D relative to two-weapon or two-handed weapon fighting. This seems unfortunate, given their historical ubiquity, ...
5
votes
2answers
243 views
How does becoming undead interact with constitution increases?
In a game that I'm in, the DM has decided to go with a lycan vs. vampire concept, and this has created a few conundrums.
One of the characters in our group is a dragon disciple, and another character ...
7
votes
4answers
231 views
Pathfinder Battle Royale!
A friend and I were thinking about doing a Colosseum battle to the death with our group, for game sessions when not everyone was there, or just to let people test out character builds.
What we were ...
4
votes
2answers
702 views
How do multiple natural attacks work?
Okay, I need some clarification. The Pathfinder Core Rules state this about natural attacks:
You do not receive additional natural attacks for a high base attack bonus. Instead, you receive ...
6
votes
1answer
132 views
How many attacks can an Olethrodaemon get with a full round attack?
I am a new DM having a little trouble understanding the monster stas blocks for higher level Pathfinder monsters. I get most of the lower CR monsters, but then I doubt myself when enemies seem to be ...
3
votes
1answer
118 views
Attack Bonus question for Monsters with multiple attacks from multiple weapons
When a monster wields multiple weapons, and can attack multiple times with each, how do I alter (or should I leave) the given attack bonuses on each type of attack on the enemy's stat block?
Take, ...
3
votes
1answer
136 views
What level should I start including medium and major magic items randomly rolled loot?
I understand how to roll a magic item from the all the tables Core Rulebook includes, but what I don't know is when I should begin giving them chances at random medium or major armor and weapons.
Is ...
5
votes
5answers
347 views
Impact of allowing characters to change their main casting stat
I have never really understood the rationale of "wizards use Int, clerics use Wis and sorcerers use Cha". So for my new campaign, I am considering getting rid of that rule, and allowing characters to ...
10
votes
3answers
330 views
Can a Barbarian/Rogue Sneak Attack during a Rage?
Can you sneak attack and rage at the same time?
Honestly, I only ask because it seems like one of those things that you just shouldn't be able to do, but I can't find any rule preventing it. Am I ...
26
votes
20answers
3k views
Beyond hit points: injury in D&D
I'm interested in adding a touch of realism to combat in D&D 3.5 or Pathfinder. Hit points are a very simple way of measuring injury and stamina, that contributes to the "hit things first, ask ...
7
votes
2answers
342 views
In Pathfinder, are there any weapon buffs that overcome all forms of Damage Reduction?
Is there a spell in the Pathfinder world that grants a power to melee or ranged weapons similar to the Smite Evil / Smite Good ability to overcome all forms of Damage Reduction?
3
votes
2answers
265 views
How does the Master Craftsman feat work?
The feat Master Craftsman allows opportunities for non-caster classes to fabricate magic items. If a level 6 fighter has both Master Craftsman and the Craft Magic Arms and Armor feats, how would this ...
6
votes
2answers
322 views
How can I adapt warforged to work with Pathfinder
I'd like to use pathfinder for my next Eberron game. However, while I can give changelings and kalashar a pass, I really like warforged and want to keep them as an option for my players. How can I ...
8
votes
2answers
126 views
Devourer and negative levels
How many negative levels does a creature gain when trapped by a devourer? Does he gain the neg. levels immediately or only when the devourer drains the essence point from the pool (for casting)?
7
votes
3answers
267 views
Finger of death and Raise death/Resurrect/Reincarnate
If someone dies because of a Finger of death, can he be brought back with one of Raise death/Resurrect/Reincarnate? In all spells it is said that
"A creature that has been turned into an undead ...
2
votes
3answers
323 views
Sites for finding online RPG players for a play-by-chat RPG Campaign?
Are there any online sites in which you can look for people that are looking to play in an online play-by-chat RPG Campaign?
I'm thinking of running a Pathfinder campaign for Skype (text only) and I ...
6
votes
1answer
123 views
Does Mnemonic Enhancer give you extra spells the next day?
The 4th level spell Mnemonic Enhancer seems a bit weird and a bit useless:
Burn a forth level spell to get back a third or lower spell you cast the previous round.
You prepare up to three additional ...
11
votes
3answers
524 views
How does time work in 3.5/Pathfinder?
I am wondering about preparing spells per day. How long is a day? One session?
Also some spells last 15 minutes. How long is that during a combat encounter?
6
votes
3answers
446 views
Pathfinder RPG in Forgotten Realms 3.5 setting?
Is it possible to prepare and run a Pathfinder game in the Forgotten Realms settings? Has anyone tried this?
I've found "Finding your Path in the Forgotten Realms Project" but I can't validate how ...
11
votes
4answers
453 views
How can I balance giving the party a teamwork feat?
I decided that in my campaign, I wanted to train the PCs so that they'd be a bit better prepared for the harsh conditions they've gone through, and also just to make things a bit more interesting.
In ...
20
votes
5answers
455 views
Can a flaming sphere be kicked away?
In the flaming sphere spell description it is said that "the surface of the sphere has a spongy, yielding consistency".
So the sphere has some "consistency" and acts like a physical object, rolling ...
6
votes
4answers
228 views
Can I use Run in an area where there is no straight path available?
The Combat rules have to say this about Running: "When you run, you can move up to four times your speed in a straight line ...".
Now my question is: what if I'm in a dungeon, or more generally in a ...
5
votes
3answers
700 views
Magus Cast then Move then Attack Legality
I am starting a Magus in a Pathfinder campaign. Assuming a scenario where the Magus of at least 2nd level starts 5 feet away from a enemy. Using the Magus' "Spell Combat" power can I do the following?
...
5
votes
3answers
156 views
Rules for ending movement in an opponents space?
Is there any way in Pathfinder to end your movement in another creatures space? Let's ignore the special exemptions for creatures of greatly different sizes.
The rules contain the rather absolute ...
11
votes
3answers
226 views
Are there any free resources for Bards that focus on stories to be told?
I am playing a Bard in a Pathfinder game and I have his perform skills focused in oratory and comedy. The game is played online via Play-by-Post. I was wondering if anyone knew of free resources that ...
6
votes
3answers
231 views
The effects of saving throws on mind reading
A number of creatures in D&D systems (specific editions may not be necessary here, but let's use 3/3.5/3.75 for simplicity) have the ability to use spell or spell-like effects such as Detect ...
2
votes
2answers
176 views
I'm having trouble being effective as a Lore Oracle and would like to improve
I've been playing in a campaign as an Oracle of the Lore Mystery for a few months. I've saved my party's hide a few times now as the only healer, but as the party gets stronger they need healing less ...
10
votes
2answers
7k views
Bomb based alchemist builds
I'm looking for help with building a bomb-slinging alchemist at level 10. Assume 25 point buy for initial generation. The focus is getting the most effective bomb usage possible. Fast bombs is ...
5
votes
4answers
451 views
Why do spells need to be “prepared”? [closed]
I'm not asking about the rules or concepts of spell preparation, as they are well described and reasoned, but I'm wondering why it's even necessary, from a logical (well, however logical you can be in ...
5
votes
1answer
150 views
I'm a starter and need help with the Alchemist class
and thanks for reading my question.
My wife and my friends play Dungeons and Dragons for around 6 months now, and since last week I decided to play too. I am dutch but emigrated to the US, and since ...
7
votes
3answers
715 views
Is a monk of the empty hand considered proficient with improvised weapons before level 6?
The monk of the empty hand is all about using improvised weapons. However, it can receive the feat "Improvised Weapon Mastery" as a bonus feat only at lvl6.
The thing I'm not sure about is: is he ...
3
votes
3answers
316 views
Better Weapon Focus
Last time a played DnD it was 3.0, I remember, the Weapon Focus feat, thinking ti is kind of dull, but sometimes prerequisite for more advanced feats.
So I would changed it in a way like:
...
8
votes
4answers
311 views
The fastest Elf in the West (at initiative anyway)
They called him Ernie, the fastest Elf in the West.
Ahem. I'm trying to improve the initiative of an Elf Wizard.
At the moment it's at a respectable: +15
+4 Dex (Base)
+4 Improved Initiative ...
