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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4answers
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Why the huge difference between divine and arcane compulsion effects?
In designing a new compulsion spell am not sure whether to follow the cleric tree or the bard/wizard/sorceror tree in regard to spell levels and other rules/effects.
On the cleric side, we have ...
8
votes
5answers
321 views
How far will Eagle Eye let me see on the open ocean?
How far will Eagle Eye let me see on the open ocean?
Eagle eye creates a magical sensor directly above you. The sensor can appear anywhere above you, to a maximum height equal to the spell's ...
8
votes
2answers
166 views
How does a Ring of Counterspells work against an area-of-effect (AOE) spell?
A person is wearing a Ring of Counterspells which is storing a Fireball spell. When this person is in the AOE of a fireball is the entire fireball countered? Do they negate it just for their square? ...
11
votes
2answers
337 views
Can you take 10 when creating an item?
You can take 10 when you make a skill roll "When your character is not in immediate danger or distracted".
Would this include when a character is making a magical item?
8
votes
2answers
163 views
In 3.5/Pathfinder, what is the rough CR adjustment for Damage Reduction?
I have seen several breakdown and rough rules for adjusting a monster's CR according to various special abilities and qualities. The Pathfinder Core book and Bestiary has rules about things like high ...
11
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2answers
385 views
How does Adventurer Conqueror King differ from B/X D&D, Labyrinth Lord, and Pathfinder?
Exactly how does Adventurer Conqueror King differ from B/X D&D, Labyrinth Lord, and Pathfinder? If I wanted to begin playing with a system-light D&D, preferred ascending AC, and wanted ...
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votes
2answers
97 views
Pathfinder Blade Barrier [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can a 'Blade Barrier' turn?
the rulebook says that Blade Barrier can either be cast as a 'vertical curtain' or as a ringed wall. It doesn't explicitly state that ...
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vote
1answer
293 views
Grappling interactions with Greater Grapple
A question came up at my last Pathfinder game: If a character has Greater Grapple, does it become possible to grapple and pin an opponent in one round? ( not tie up, though. That'd be 3 checks. )
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14
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1answer
1k views
What can I do in one round?
I'm still little confused about actions in Pathfinder. There are standard actions, move actions, full round actions, free actions, etc. I need to know which combinations of these actions I can use in ...
4
votes
2answers
140 views
Can a 'Blade Barrier' turn?
The Blade Barrier spell can be a Wall or a Ring without stating if the Wall has to be a straight line. Can the Wall have a curve or a turn in it?
5
votes
1answer
243 views
How high can 'Black Tentacles' reach?
The spell Black Tentacles does not say how high they can reach up. Could it grab some Stirges that fly over the area of effect for example?
6
votes
2answers
467 views
Can you create a skill bonus item to give a bonus to Concentration?
When a concentration check is made you roll d20 and add your caster level and the ability score modifier used to determine bonus spells of the same type. (quoted)
If I was looking to create a magical ...
8
votes
3answers
997 views
Can I create a +1 stat-boosting item?
For item creation in pathfinder the example magical item (The belt of incredible dexterity) is quoted with bonuses of +2/+4/+6
However the Magic item creation information states that the cost is ...
2
votes
2answers
745 views
Feats for a TWF Ranger?
Trying to find feats that I should focus on for a two-weapon fighting human ranger. I just hit level 2 and I have picked up two weapon fighting, weapon focus (scimitar), and double slice. My strength ...
5
votes
1answer
191 views
Action required for Infiltrator Ranger power?
Playing a Pathfinder Infiltrator Ranger. What kind of action does it take to activate the Infiltrator Ranger power for this archetype during combat?
Adaptation (Ex): At 3rd level, an infiltrator ...
1
vote
1answer
191 views
Counter-Attack Houserule
I'm thinking of making a house rule for Pathfinder which lets you counter attack when your opponent rolls a natural 1 to attack. First, is there already a counter attack system in Pathfinder? If not, ...
5
votes
1answer
568 views
Do weapons' damage types (P/S/B) have any effect?
Does the type of weapon used (piercing, slashing, bludgeoning) have any effect in Pathfinder RPG? For example, in AD&D 2e, the type of weapon modifies attack rolls according to the defender's ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Flurry of Blows calculation
Let's say, we have there 1st level Monk, and he has STR 17/+3. Now we are calculating base attack with his Flurry of Blows. For first level, we have "Flurry of Blows Attack Bonus" -1/-1, plus 1st ...
2
votes
1answer
152 views
Question about weapon proficiency for Race and Class
Can my Sorcerer use a rapier without the penalty of -4, when I have racial proficiency in it from being Drow?
14
votes
2answers
289 views
Does your initiative change if your dex changes?
After combat has started will changes to your DEX stat (sufficent to change your dex bonus) change your initiative score?
Example:
Wizard Bob sees a goblin approaching and initiative is rolled; the ...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
How does the Ambitious Schemer racial trait for Drow work?
I'm confused here. It is written "You may choose either Bluff or Diplomacy as a class skill, and gain a +2 bonus on such skill checks." So, how it works with regular class skills?
2
votes
1answer
141 views
Legality of Gaining Mithral's Special Properties on Studded Leather
I recently had a Pathfinder random treasure generator create a mithral studded leather. This doesn't make sense to me since, quoting from the mithral section of d20pfsrd we see,
Items not ...
11
votes
3answers
228 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
1answer
294 views
“If I have 3 or more ranks…” What does that mean?
In some skills, it is written that if you have three or more ranks in the skill, something will happen, such as the Acrobatics skill:
If you have 3 or more ranks in Acrobatics, you gain a +3 dodge ...
7
votes
3answers
928 views
Does casting a spell require a check to succeed?
If my character is a spell caster, and he is not wearing any armor, is there any chance to fail casting the spell? I'm wondering specifically about normal circumstances: There is nobody who can attack ...
4
votes
1answer
822 views
Wearing armor without proficiency?
As far as I can tell, a sorcerer in padded armor has to apply a check penalty to attack rolls and all DEX and STR based skill checks… but padded armor has check penalty 0. Does that mean that a ...
3
votes
1answer
134 views
Can a spellcraft check reveal the target of a spell?
You can use spellcraft to identify a spell as it is being cast. But does this check let you know the target of the spell? As an example of when this could matter quite a lot, Dominate allows you to ...
15
votes
3answers
3k views
What are the major differences between Pathfinder and D&D 4e?
I'm really only familiar with D&D 4e. Could someone give me a rundown of the major things that would be different if I were to DM Pathfinder? (I gather it is more similar to 3.5e, but I only know ...
7
votes
1answer
223 views
Silence as a ready action
If a caster readies an action to cast the spell silence next to an enemy wizard who begins casting a spell with a verbal component, what happens?
The silence interrupts the casting attempt, causing ...
5
votes
3answers
884 views
How to roll perception checks for characters who aren't actively looking?
This applies to all d20 systems, but with an example from the from the Pathfinder PRD (emphasis mine):
Stonecunning: Dwarves receive a +2 bonus on Perception checks to potentially notice unusual ...
6
votes
2answers
317 views
How can I add more attack to my Wood Bond Oracle?
I am trying to build an oracle, and need some help with what I have so far. I'm still somewhat new to tabletop games, so any insight you have would be helpful. Here's what I have so far:
Race: Human
...
11
votes
3answers
608 views
What's the difference between “Ability to cast arcane spells” and “Arcane spellcaster”?
The prerequisite for Arcane Strike is "[the] ability to cast arcane spells." The prerequisite for Arcane Shield is "arcane spellcaster" and a specified caster level.
What's the difference? Is anyone ...
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votes
3answers
164 views
Ranged attacks against creatures trapped inside an air elemental's whirlwind
When an air elemental goes whirlwind and traps someone inside it, how do ranged attacks targeted at the trapped creature work?
Can I target the creature?
Does it have total concealment, as the air ...
3
votes
1answer
191 views
Baleful polymorph on a dragon and spells with a somatic component
A dragon can cast spells with a somatic elements. If the dragon is polymorphed with baleful polymorph into a mouse and passes the second saving throw retaining the ability to cast spells:
will he ...
6
votes
2answers
224 views
Enervation, negative levels and monsters
Enervation causes the target creature to gain negative levels. In the description of the negative levels where (emphasis mine):
The creature is also treated as one level lower for the purpose of ...
8
votes
2answers
498 views
Death by losing constitution
This question regards the pathfinder setting:
I'm having a bit of confusion as to how a death by constitution drain would take place, specifically with these rulings taken from the Pathfinder SRD:
...
3
votes
2answers
182 views
Does Improved Channel increase DC for Command Undead?
The Command Undead-feat uses one channel and has the same save-DC as the channel. The Improved-Channel-feat increases the DC for the channel. Does this include the DC of the Command Undead?
For ...
5
votes
2answers
417 views
What kind of monster I can be?
How do you determine what level characters monsters are equivalent to in Pathfinder? I'm going to be playing a Pathfinder game in the future and I am playing as a monster PC. The GM gave me a few ...
4
votes
1answer
299 views
How does the +3 for class skills work when multiclassing a new class?
Inspired by this question:
Class skill +3, when you have 1 rank in that skill
OK, I have a fighter with a ranks in (for example) Acrobatics. Then I gain a level and add a Rogue. Now, if I started ...
2
votes
3answers
536 views
Class skill +3, when you have 1 rank in that skill
"If you select a level in a new class, all of its class skills are automatically added to your list of class skills, and you gain a +3 bonus on these skills if you have ranks in them."
I'm confused ...
6
votes
3answers
522 views
Question on Stacked conditions
According to Pathfinder rules on conditions: "If more than one condition affects a character, apply them all. If effects can't combine, apply the most severe effect."
Using this, is it safe to ...
4
votes
1answer
683 views
How does channel energy work in combat?
How is positive channel energy used in combat?
Do I just declare that I am using it or do I have to wish to use it and then roll to see if I am successful?
I suppose I'm asking when would the DC 13 ...
5
votes
1answer
203 views
Does a Paladin's Divine Bond stack with levels from Holy Vindicator?
I am unsure as to the answer to this myself. It states in the description of the Paladin's Divine Bond that you gain a +1 bonus every 4 levels, but it doesn't say this is restricted to Paladin levels. ...
6
votes
2answers
389 views
Arcane Bonds and Familiars
Is it possible for a Wizard to gain both an arcane bond and a familiar without multiclassing?
I have not found a way to do it, but I'm keen to find out if it is possible.
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votes
3answers
1k views
What special ability do Improved Familiars give?
The improved familiar feat allows a higher level arcane spellcaster to get a, well, improved familiar. However the Special Abilities for these familiars is not listed.
For some of these (Celestial ...
11
votes
5answers
302 views
What skill to use to determine cause of death and analyse wounds?
When running Pathfinder one of the players wanted his character to investigate how a walking corpse had originally died. This obviously calls for some skill check, as the task if far from easy (the ...
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votes
1answer
291 views
How should a stealthy attack start combat?
Say, a PC fires a longbow at an enemy without their knowledge before combat has begun, how should combat start?
Should there be a stealth/perception opposed check?
Should a successful/unsuccessful ...
7
votes
1answer
481 views
Does 2 handed multiplier apply to Dex mod with Weapon Finesse?
I have a rogue with Weapon Finesse.
This allows me to:
When making a melee attack with a light weapon or rapier, you may use your DEX Mod instead of your strength Mod on the attack roll.
Since ...
6
votes
2answers
524 views
Armor's effect on skills
If I read this correctly then it means that the armor I choose will affect my Dex and Str based skills.
Any armor heavier than leather, as well as any shield, hurts a character's ability to use ...
2
votes
1answer
95 views
While swimming during combat, do “double moves” allow/require 2 swim checks?
A PC is in water during combat and requires a swim check to move.
Say, a PC chooses to use the move action first, performs their swim check and fail, sinking 5 feet, are they then allow to use their ...