Spoilers for Rise of the Runelords!

I start running book #3 tomorrow and I'm a bit taken aback at how scant the information is for the journey from Magnimar to Turtleback. I'm halfway tempted to just red line the party there uneventfully, but I'm curious if anybody has done something interesting with that voyage.

I've been running into a problem when I run higher level and larger-scale combat: I try to play my enemies reasonably intelligently, using their spells for good effect, attempting maneuvers, positioning to block charge angles, readying actions, etc. But I also want to keep things moving, and am constantly either taking enemy turns or handling player actions. I try to limit myself to only a few seconds' consideration per enemy turn, but I'm increasingly discovering that that's not enough time to weigh all my options and find good strategies for enemies.

Obviously, I usually design encounters or npcs with an idea of what they'll do a la 'tactics' sections in the bestiary, but rigidly following a flowchart like that usually winds up ineffective (no plan survives contact with the enemy, after all). This isn't a problem from a challenge perspective per se since I can always add more raw power to compensate, but I want to keep my enemies feeling reactive and tactically competent when appropriate.

Do experienced DMs have any suggestions for managing the tactical load? Is this just an experience/practice thing?

Link: Feast Of Ashes

This spell was not renamed in the Remaster. The Knights of Last Call 'All Spells Ranked' series ranked this spell as C Tier. Would you change that ranking, and why?

What items or class features synergize well with this spell?

Have you ever used this spell? If so, how did it go?

Why is this spell good/bad?

What are some creative uses for this spell?

What's the cheesiest thing you can do with this spell?

If you were to modify this spell, how would you do it?

Does this spell seem like it was meant for PCs or NPCs?

Previous spell discussions

In 3.5, this spell grants a permanent +1 Spot bonus to anyone who learns it. I am curious if there are any other spells like this in PF1e, that grant a permanent bonus to a skill at all.

In our campaign we're travelling between islands and lately we've had a stretch of several days on board where nothing happened. The rolls didn't bring up any combat so we were just hanging around. My druid made her potions in 4 minutes and then tinkered with her alchemical lab, but that's a 30 seconds role play scenario regardless of how much time it takes in game. The ranger tinkered with her construct companion, another 30 seconds of role play, the sorcerer meditated (same) and the rogue did nothing. As we don't know if we will face any encounters during that day I need to prepare useful spells just in case and cannot just spam Full Pouch to create more alchemical reagents, and as we are on a ship we cannot build cities and such.

What would you do with all that time? It seems a waste to just say ok then we take a nap.

Last night we had a Monk use Life-Giving Blows on a vampire and the nonlethal damage done took it out. The ability specifically states “destroyed.”

This same statement is found in the disruptive weapon special ability.

My question is how does this affect vampires (or even ghosts also with their Rejuvenation)?

The debate was the vampire is destroyed; meaning it doesn’t go gaseous form and flee to its coffin. It’s 100% eradicated.

My argument was it’s destroyed just like taking any undead to 0 hit points and that it does go into gaseous form to flee, as per normal for vampires.

Which is it?

Tried to omit spoilers as much as possible, but: In WOTR's final fight of Book 5...is the Inelectuable Prison not part of his realm on account of having stolen it from Asmo, or is there something else going on?

So I created a Medium class character, and he has the spirit channeler archetype because I disliked the idea of the location being all that relevant in summoning a spirit, I also liked the idea of hot swapping spirits. But I'm confused on if choosing a spirit is a 24hr mandatory choice, or if I can drop a spirit and choose another one but take another point of influence? It says specifically it acts exactly like spirit dance, which does not look like it's a 24hr mandatory choice. But while playing my DM said I could only use one per 24hr.

The feature is called Spiritual Invocation

Here is the page of information

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/alternative-rule-systems/paizo-rules-systems/occult-adventures/occult-classes/medium/archetypes/paizo-llc-medium-archetypes/spirit-channeler-medium-archetype/

What happens if someone gets trapped in the gemstone and then someone else casts dispel magic on the gem? Does nothing happen? Are they trapped inside the gem? Are they freed?

So a while back I made a 4e Ranger that did a bunch of stacking DoTs that made her really deadly and fun to play spreading bleeds, poisons, Magic Disease and other things to groups and single targets and I have been wanting to play something like that again but not a ton of games seems to support that fantasy.

Is there anything in PF 2e that would allow stacking damage stuff like that while remaining evasive? I doubt I'll reach the same damage numbers because it was hundreds of damage a turn but iis it buildable?

Floor is Lava

School: Evocation

Class/Level: (Wizard/Sorcerer 5)

Casting time: 1 Standard Action

Components: V/S/M (Piece of Dried Lava)

Range: Long (400 ft + 40 ft per level)

Area: 5 ft Circle with a 20 ft Radius

Targets:

Effect:

Duration: 1 round/level

Saving Throw: Reflex

Saving Throw half

On the first round the ground in the designated area becomes super-heated dealing 1d6 + 1d6 fire damage. Combustible materials such as wood, cloth and straw instantly ignite and will continue to blaze even after the spell's duration has ended. Other materials react as follows: Mud hardens instantly on the first round. Heal check DC 21 and a potion or spell of cure minor healing, 2 rounds to achieve

Round 2-On the second round, soft metals such as gold and tin, as well as glass will become molten dealing 2d6 + 2d6 fire damage. Healing Check DC 28 and a potion or spell of cure moderate wounds, two rounds to achieve

Saving Throw N/A

On the third round, harder metals will become molten dealing 3d6 + 3d6 fire damage. To escape upon the 3rd round, the spell would need to be dispelled or the victims can pray that Radagast The Brown has summoned giant eagles to their aid. Even after a dispel cast, the victims will take bleed damage (1d6 per round) until a heal check of DC 15 to stop the bleeding. The victims will have been mangled in such a way that a heal check to repair the body of DC 35 and a spell of regenerate is needed to fix. This process takes 4 rounds to complete.

Thereafter, all materials capable of melting will become molten including soil, ceramic, stone, etc. Any molten material will seek to flow to the lowest point at a rate of 5 feet per round even if that means it exits the radius of effect.

Creatures caught in the radius of effect must succeed in a reflex save to avoid damage on the 1st and 2nd rounds. If they remain within the circle of effect thereafter, no save can be made. Damage increases each turn, beginning at 1D6 damage +1D6 fire damage. (Second round is 2d6 + 2d6 fire, Third round is 3D6 + 3D6 fire, maximum of 5D6+5D6 Fire).

Link: Fear The Sun

This spell was not renamed in the Remaster. The Knights of Last Call 'All Spells Ranked' series ranked this spell as D Tier. Would you change that ranking, and why?

What items or class features synergize well with this spell?

Have you ever used this spell? If so, how did it go?

Why is this spell good/bad?

What are some creative uses for this spell?

What's the cheesiest thing you can do with this spell?

If you were to modify this spell, how would you do it?

Does this spell seem like it was meant for PCs or NPCs?

Previous spell discussions

I have a question about stealth. Let's say I'm a stealthy archer. I'm in cover and hidden and I have an option to snipe and take -20 penalty to remain hidden. But what if I decide to attack with my standard action. Now everyone knows where I am, I am being observed, but if I can reach another cover I could try stealth again, this time without -20 penalty. Right?

I've encountered a rule disagreement with my GM and would like to ask if you have any insight on the matter: we were in combat against two humans, I cast icy prison on one of them and the round after dominate person on the same oppo. The enemy failed both the ST and I felt the control over him. I asked my party to help free him from the spell and it took two rounds; at the start of the second round my GM told me I lost the control because the enemy was aware that it was taking damage from my spell, it was against his nature and it granted him a new ST with +2. At that moment I said that he was wrong and that it was against the rules and he didn't think so.

So that's what happened, but I want to add some background:

- we are in dire need of clues, with most of our equipment and a party member stolen

- our GM is very cryptic and specific in letting us find clues, so I was elated in thinking we were doing some progress

- I know that the GM has complete freedom in interpreting rules and whatnot

- the discussion continued in the days after, saying that dominate spell is not created to be used in combat

So, what do you think was I in the wrong or my GM?

I'm creating a Versus manga champaign, because there is a huge amount of rpg material in that stuff.

One of the main creatures in this world are Titans (basically oversized hill-giants with rage ability). I more or less know what stats should them be, but I'm unsure about the size. In the story they've never said concrete parameters, but here is a pic:

They should be either huge, or gargantuan, I guess. What do you think?

I run mainly PF2E games. I'm wondering if the 1e Sandpoint Campaign Book is mostly maps/lore and the like. Is there a lot of mechanical stuff dedicated to 1e?

I have ran long campaigns over the last 5 years. I want a setting that I can just sort of relax and run one shots from. I remember having the Blackfang book when I used to run 1e and I always found Sandpoint and it's hinterlands charming.

Would the campaign book be helpful in that regard? Even now that I run 2e?

OK - what do people think of this.... Kineticist's Gather Power ability says:

Gather Power (Su): If she has both hands free (or all of her prehensile appendages free, for unusual kineticists), a kineticist can gather energy or elemental matter as a move action. Gathering power creates an extremely loud, visible display in a 20-foot radius centered on the kineticist, as the energy or matter swirls around her. Gathering power in this way allows the kineticist to reduce the total burn cost of a blast wild talent she uses in the same round by 1 point.

If one were playing a skinwalker of the werebat-kin variety, you can take the feat Bat Shape to allow yourself to turn into a bat at will and for an unlimited time period (but otherwise following Beast Shape II)

so... if you are in bat form - you are not holding anything. no hands or any appendages are occupied... Can you gather power?

Does having NO prehensile appendages mean you can't gather power? OR since you cant occupy your limbs in any way - you are always free to gather power?

It was generally my understanding that this restriction was meant to prevent kineticists form weilding physical weapons and shields - or holding othr utility items at the ready...

The creation rules note that an Adamantine Golem requires 4,000 pounds of adamantine, mithral, gold, platinum, and other metals worth a total of 100,000 gp.

Assuming the PCs actually manage to kill one (well, two, actually[1]... How much of that would be "useable," i.e. suitable, in terms of mass, to sell on?

Nothing?

50%?

Almost all of it?

I have no idea. It's not something that USUALLY comes up with golems, because those made of precious materials aren't that common.

I suspect the answer is probably intended to be "none" just like you generally don't expect to get money for the bodies or any creature... But I feel like my players are going to ask (in the long, long, looong time away this will happen), so it would be nice to have a prepared answer. If anyone knows of any lore or established guideline, I'd very much like to know.

Edit: Having thought more about it, and crunched the numbers, 200k is only 25k split eight ways, so it's not wildly out of line compared to NPC wealth, which, on thread-prompting to go look at, is more than than for a heroic NPC of the same CR. So bollocks to it, if they can kill the things and they can transport 4000lbs of it, they can have it!

[1]Chance is quite small, because they may well not have the appropirate vorpal weapon to hand and they don't have a cleric or wizard to cast Miracle or Wish. Don't feel too sorry for them, by the time they'd be doing this, they'll be level 17, eight of them and mid-tier mythic. Having to find a way to keep the things down while the fight and loot the last room of the dungeon should prove to be entertainingly different...!

The short of it: I am creating an ability for a battle herald to use that allows them to have an ally make an attack as an immediate action. I was going to call it "Inspired Strike", but that is the name of a feat, and I want to avoid naming it after something that already exists in the game. So, I'm here to take suggestions.

Note: I am not looking for input on the ability itself at this time. I am already aware that it is strong.

Experimenting with character builds and looking at oracle for it's mysteries and curses, but not interested in the actual casting. Anyone have any ideas how I could make that happen? I know spell-less oracle is kind of ridiculous, but I am curious if anything like this exists, ideally full bab?

In my transition to Pathfinder, I've come to this group for advice a few times. Well, I just had my first combat with an actually well built character (warpriest), and it was great, and so I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for all your help! It is so much nicer having something functional in combat.

Link: Fear

This spell was not renamed in the Remaster. The Knights of Last Call 'All Spells Ranked' series ranked this spell as S Tier. Would you change that ranking, and why?

What items or class features synergize well with this spell?

Have you ever used this spell? If so, how did it go?

Why is this spell good/bad?

What are some creative uses for this spell?

What's the cheesiest thing you can do with this spell?

If you were to modify this spell, how would you do it?

Does this spell seem like it was meant for PCs or NPCs?

Previous spell discussions

So my players are struggling with basic mechanics involving their character sheets their character sheets we used path builder 1e for it and we've had like 10 sessions and they still don't get the concept of the first number is your first attack the second number is your second attack the other thing is prime example I asked them to give me a strength check they gave me their role plus their actual strength not their modifier and then I asked what's your initiative they told me 31 they rolled a nat 10 I have no idea where they got that number from then they corrected it after I told them that they were wrong honestly I'm at such a point of burnout I might just tell them I'm done

Edit: we are playing on roll20 and we use the app pathfielder 1e for our character shoes

Can anyone share any free adventures of any size or where to find them? It looks like a lot of the past free adventures got put behind paywalls. I also want this post to be a resource for new players to find.

The Song Pharaoh’s Coda is a nice one hot for lvl 9 characters, but I have not run it yet.

Sorry in advance for potentially mislabeling the post - I was unsure which E was relevant :>

Heya, I'm about to participate in my first session of Pathfinder, and I'm looking to play the Dreamstalker archetype for Mesmerist - I like all the devious little things you can get up to.

I'm wondering if there's anyone who's got some advice on fun stuff I can do with it. I've played DnD before, and realize there's some significant differences between it and Pathfinder. I am not looking for all sorts of meta combos and stuff, but I am curious if there's any worthwhile multi-classes that are fun, that might perhaps increase the efficiency, or perhaps some uses for the Mesmerist Tricks that aren't entirely apparent.

Also I am curious on the general consensus on the Dreamwalker feature. I've seen some saying that it works in Mindscapes, and some say it doesn't. I hope it works in Mindscapes, cuz create mindscape has taken my heart.