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
255 views
Is it really possible to represent a 'genius' character completely accurately?
In this thread, we had several examples of many ways to role-play a character that's smarter than its player. Many suggested letting the DM give information to the player that the character could ...
0
votes
1answer
55 views
Pathfinder Wall of Ice Anchoring Rules
Is it allowable to cast a "Wall of Ice" spell in its hemispherical configuration in mid-air, or upside-down? The description of the spell is very explicit about it being anchored when it's in the flat ...
19
votes
6answers
973 views
Is Coup de Grace on sleeping and bound opponents an evil act?
So I was recently participating in a Pathfinder Society game. Our ship was attacked and boarded by pirates. First thing that happened was one of our party cast sleep, and succeeded in putting four of ...
13
votes
5answers
354 views
Mind Control: What's a Dominate Person between allies?
In a recent game of 10th level characters, we had a small issue in the group. To set the scene, my character was a serpentfolk witch, specializing in enchantment and specifically mind-magic. We had a ...
8
votes
2answers
474 views
Would magic 'weapons' make the monk more balanced?
The monk in D&D 3.5 (and, to a lesser extent, in Pathfinder) is generally considered underpowered.
Would adding magic 'weapons' that could add enhancement bonuses and magic weapon effects to a ...
6
votes
5answers
461 views
Rulesets to make magic more unpredictable and dangerous?
I am considering starting a Pathfinder game, however before I do this I would like to brew-up some house-rules on the use of magic for a "low-magic" setting (think Conan or A Song of Ice and Fire) ...
7
votes
2answers
135 views
If I am using 2 weapons, can I trip with one and attack the tripped target in the same round?
I'm playing a dual wield fighter and I was wondering is it possible to, when using a full round action to attack and you have more then one strike, can you trip with your first hit and then proceed to ...
12
votes
4answers
582 views
Reasons to multiclass in 3.5
I have been playing AD&D (and some other systems) for a long time, but I am new to 3.5/Pathfinder. I have just started looking at the optimization material, and it seems that multiclassing with ...
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votes
11answers
798 views
How to mitigate glass cannon syndrome in Pathfinder?
This is the more gamey part of my other question, What to do when your character is just too good?
In D&D 3.5e and Pathfinder, damage output grows very, very quickly. Much more quickly than hit ...
6
votes
3answers
183 views
Anything I should keep in mind before I start mixing and matching between D&D 3.5e and Pathfinder?
Anything I should keep in mind before I start mixing and matching between D&D 3.5e and Pathfinder?
Off the top of my head, the biggest difference is feats every 2/3 levels. Would it affect ...
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Do Manacles of Cooperation allow for a save to escape?
The Manacles of Cooperation have a line of text that seems a bit ambiguous to me:
The prisoner never attempts to escape of its own volition and agrees to any reasonable request unless it makes a ...
0
votes
3answers
181 views
3D Rules for a 2D Game
Often while playing Pathfinder, my group will run into problems where rules for 3-dimensional play simply don't exist, so far as we can find. Arguments will come up over things like carrying-capacity, ...
18
votes
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
136 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
228 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 ...
23
votes
3answers
525 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
217 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
144 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
235 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
143 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
353 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
243 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
104 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
244 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
234 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
755 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
122 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
142 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
336 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
346 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
274 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
334 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
270 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
327 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
124 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 ...
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votes
3answers
547 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?
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votes
3answers
463 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
456 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
457 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 ...
