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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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 ...
8
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3answers
1k 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 ...
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7answers
949 views
Is casting the spell Blood Transcription an evil act?
A player of mine in a recent game of Pathfinder was playing a Lawful Neutral Magus and was about to drink blood from a fallen spellcaster to get his prepared spells for the day by using the spell ...
8
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4answers
591 views
Bull-Rushing someone off a cliff
Can you bull-rush someone off a cliff, with either melee or a spell such as hydraulic push?
Bull rush says You cannot bull rush a creature into a square that is occupied by a solid object or ...
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5answers
436 views
Starting a campaign at higher level
It's been difficult for me to start a game at higher level than level 1-4 in Pathfinder.
At higher level, the scale of the game changes. In the beginning of level 1-4 you save a village or a clan ...
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3answers
392 views
Pathfinder Fate Points
I'm looking for a mechanic in Pathfinder to provide a fate-point like system for the characters.
What mechanic could provide players a small boost here to belt the bad guy when needed or save them ...
8
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3answers
274 views
Was psionic combat removed from Pathfinder?
I have the 3.5 edition of the Psionic Handbook that covers psionic combat. But reading through the Pathfinder I have found nothing so far.
If changing to Pathfinder, will I no longer need psionic ...
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5answers
449 views
What is this player planning?
I'm running a Pathfinder game for a few friends (using core + UM + UC + APG). Last session the party thief said that he was planning on buying a called anchoring adamantium axe. What I want to know is ...
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3answers
4k views
Which classes continue to synergize well for a multi-class character?
I've recently committed to playing in a Pathfinder game, and I've become somewhat intrigued with the idea of playing a rogue/sorcerer multi-class character. I'm concerned, though, that as the game ...
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2answers
206 views
How do I interpret “add +1/3 to natural armor bonus”?
I am new to Pathfinder and am building a Half-Orc Druid.
Half-Orcs
Favored Class Options
The following options are available to all half-orcs who have the listed favored class, and unless ...
8
votes
2answers
532 views
Pathfinder 5-foot step vs. D&D 4e shift
Is a 5-foot step in Pathfinder essentially the same as a Shift movement in D&D 4th edition? I believe that neither movements provoke an attack of opportunity so they sound like the same thing with ...
8
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2answers
317 views
Can an enemy be taken over in a fight with charm person?
In a fight, can one wizard take over one of the enemies? Wouldn't it be strange, my new best friend was some seconds before my worst enemy?
And if it works, how to handle the rest of the fight? Does ...
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5answers
697 views
Character good for underwater environments?
What would be the best character to make for sub-sea and island-hopping adventuring? This would be a newly-rolled level 5 Pathfinder character.
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5answers
333 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 ...
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votes
3answers
268 views
How do new characters get equipment?
Last week I bought the Pathfinder Beginner Box and as the GM I am preparing the first adventure for my friends.
I'm pretty sure they will want to create their own characters instead of using the ...
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votes
2answers
515 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 ...
8
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3answers
166 views
What is a good way to handle a multi-plane adventure?
Any advice for a group/GM that's new to the concept when it comes to adventures across multiple planes? Ways to make the game more fun, issues to avoid, and potential hazards we may come across, both ...
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4answers
342 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 ...
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3answers
6k views
Is two-weapon fighting only as a full-round action balanced versus fighting with a two-handed weapon?
One of the players in a Pathfinder game in which I am playing is arguing that characters should be able to get the additional attack for fighting with two weapons when attacking as a standard action, ...
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votes
2answers
316 views
Druid in earth elemental shape and melded into a wall
A druid which is wild-shaped (elemental body) into an earth elemental has the ability "earth glide". I have a couple of questions regarding this:
If he's inside of a wall, can he see/hear what's ...
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votes
3answers
684 views
How can I convert a 3.5 Psion into a Pathfinder Game?
Basically how and what should I convert to change the Psion from the Expanded Psionics Handbook for 3.5 to be usable in Pathfinder?
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votes
1answer
207 views
How hard is it to stake a vampire?
For staking a vampire through the heart in Pathfinder, what type of DC value or combat method should be used in order to perform the staking?
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votes
2answers
552 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:
...
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2answers
208 views
Creating weapons and armor from giant crab remains?
I'm playing a Gnome Berserker in a pirate themed Pathfinder campaign, and we recently killed a giant coconut crab. Being a gnome of somewhat less than average height, the crab was described to me as ...
8
votes
1answer
369 views
What are the main differences and similarities between Pathfinder and RuneQuest?
As the question suggests, I'm interested in the main differences and similarities between Pathfinder and RuneQuest. I'm fairly familiar with the RuneQuest system. I've heard a bit about Pathfinder ...
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votes
2answers
229 views
Does casting Pyrotechnics for Fireworks break Invisibility?
Does casting Pyrotechnics for fireworks break Invisibility?
For example, a caster turns invisible, then casts Pyrotechnics on a burning tree, which forces several creature to roll a saving throw or ...
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1answer
456 views
How do touch spells work in Pathfinder?
You would think touch spells would be fairly straightforward: You cast a spell, you touch someone or several someones, and effects occur. Unfortunately, the touch spell rules contain the following ...
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3answers
1k 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 ...
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votes
2answers
792 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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votes
2answers
131 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)?
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votes
1answer
230 views
Can a wizard change a spell they have prepared?
I have read in professor Q's guide to Pathfinder wizards that
Unlike the Sorcerer or Bard or Oracle you never have to sit and wish that you had picked a different spell this level since in a ...
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votes
3answers
708 views
What type of Bonus does a Ragechemist's Strength Mutagen Provide?
This recently came up while my group and I were discussing potential builds for the next game we would be playing.
A Ragechemist (Ultimate Combat) gets the following at first level:
Rage Mutagen
...
8
votes
1answer
88 views
Do the Bracers of the Merciful Knight also affect the ability to channel positive energy?
How I am supposed to combine these two pieces of information?
From the description of the bracers:
When worn by a paladin, he is considered four levels higher for the purposes of determining the ...
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1answer
148 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)?
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182 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? ...
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2answers
1k views
Quick Draw / Quick Sheath Items?
Does the Quick Draw feat allow you to also store the weapon you were wielding as part of the free action? If not, what sort of action is it to 'switch weapons' without dropping one or the other on ...
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votes
1answer
920 views
Does Weapon Finesse affect Combat Maneuvers?
If a character has the Weapon Finesse feat, and is wielding an appropriate weapon, is the Combat Maneuver bonus changed to include the Dex bonus, or not? How about for Combat Maneuver Defense - would ...
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2answers
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What's an optimum build for a set-up character for Pathfinder Society character?
My wife plays a barbarian in Pathfinder Society that does massive amounts of damage when she is able to use Cleave. I decided to build a character that would reposition foes for her to cleave.
What's ...
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2answers
256 views
Can a large mundane attack affect a creature only hit by “magical” attacks
A player in a 8th level campaign against giants is a shadow dancer. He has a pet shadow that does strength damage and is incorpreal. The question is, can a humanoid like a giant ever hit the shadow ...
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3answers
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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 ...
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2answers
457 views
How do I implement Social Combat into a D&D/D20/Pathfinder game?
One of the coolest parts of White-Wolf games, in my opinion, is that they usually offer the ability for Social Combat to be just as exciting as physical or mental combat.
How can I run Social Combat ...
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votes
2answers
237 views
Earthquake spell on floating castle?
Does that affect the floor of the castle or just the ground where the castle is floating on?
Does it depend on what the caster wants?
Does it depend on if the caster can/cannot see the "real ...
8
votes
3answers
276 views
Does dispelling with an opposing spell require a check or save?
In Pathfinder there are a few spells that are effectively polar opposites, and as such have the text counters and dispells [opposite]. The rules for counter spell are spelled out fairly well, but I'm ...
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1answer
590 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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votes
2answers
175 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 ...
8
votes
1answer
690 views
Using Pathfinder's variant “Wounds and Vigor” rules
I am in the early sessions of running a science-fantasy Pathfinder game. I'd like a grittier feel to the game and came across the "Wounds and Vigor" variant rules.
For those who have used these ...
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1answer
176 views
Can all skills and feats be used in conjunction with Magic Jar?
The spell Magic Jar allows you to possess a nearby creature. The spell states:
If you are successful, your life force occupies the host body, and the
host's life force is imprisoned in the magic ...
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2answers
449 views
Increasing Save DC for new magic items
Paizo PRD:
Magic items produce spells or spell-like effects. For a saving throw against a spell or spell-like effect from a magic item, the DC is 10 + the level of the spell or effect + the ...
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1answer
2k views
Pathfinder: Arcane Duelist melee build
I've finally decided to make an Arcane Duelist (bard archetype). It'd like to enhance my own melee part as well the party ones.
I can use the "Core Rulebook" and the "Advanced Player's Guide" only.
...
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1answer
563 views
Easing Someone Into RPGs One-on-One
I decided to get back into RPGs after a long hiatus and bought the Pathfinder Core Rulebook. My girlfriend picked it up and started reading it. Somewhat unexpectedly, she got really into it. She ...
