Pathfinder Grab Bag Competition Chat Thread

[SamBurke]

Oh, sorry to double-post.

I examined some templates in PF, and tried to imitate them. Does that work?

[Tanuki Tales]

Itemized list of things I've done:

• I've completed the trophies for the last contest and have sent them out. Congratulations once more to those who made it to the winner circle.
• I've made the addition of a template stat block to the contest coding examples. Hopefully this makes things easier to folks who'd want to do a template instead of a monster and it'll give them incentive to submit such entries.
• I've decided to start allowing Archetypes to be a submission type starting with the next contest. I've come to having the opinion that making an Archetype that meshes with the class and is balanced is just as difficult as coming up with a class from scratch. Anyone against allowing them?

@Sam:

• Is the template acquired or inherited?
• You should make the requirements for the template more mechanics specific.
• You didn't specify about recalculation because of type change.
• What is Large (Tall)?
• You mentioned feats under Abilities but have no feat section.
• Your example creature doesn't make sense when compared to the template now.

[SamBurke]

Itemized list of things I've done:

• I've completed the trophies for the last contest and have sent them out. Congratulations once more to those who made it to the winner circle.
• I've made the addition of a template stat block to the contest coding examples. Hopefully this makes things easier to folks who'd want to do a template instead of a monster and it'll give them incentive to submit such entries.
• I've decided to start allowing Archetypes to be a submission type starting with the next contest. I've come to having the opinion that making an Archetype that meshes with the class and is balanced is just as difficult as coming up with a class from scratch. Anyone against allowing them?

Sounds fine.

@Sam:

• Is the template acquired or inherited?
• You should make the requirements for the template more mechanics specific.
• You didn't specify about recalculation because of type change.
• What is Large (Tall)?
• You mentioned feats under Abilities but have no feat section.
• Your example creature doesn't make sense when compared to the template now.

1. Acquired.
2. I will try. The problem is that requiring someone to have a +3 Cold Iron Good sword seems a little... weird for a template.
3. Will fix.
4. There are two types of Large, Long/Tall. Tall gives additional reach.
5. Will Fix.
6. Hm? The thought I had is that he's a 14 HD Dwarf of various classes. Fighter 14 or Paladin 14, it *shouldn't* matter if I wrote the template correctly.

[Tanuki Tales]

4. There are two types of Large, Long/Tall. Tall gives additional reach.

Can you point out this distinction in the rules? Because this is honestly the first time I've heard of something to this end.

6. Hm? The thought I had is that he's a 14 HD Dwarf of various classes. Fighter 14 or Paladin 14, it *shouldn't* matter if I wrote the template correctly.

Except your template doesn't remove or change existing abilities of the creature. So if you stick it on a 14th level anything, it keeps its class features as you have it written. And there are things like the Giant subtype and the DR 15/Evil which are unaccounted for.

[Milo v3]

Can you point out this distinction in the rules? Because this is honestly the first time I've heard of something to this end.

It should be in the size section. I think its something about quadrepeds and bipeds.

[SamBurke]

Can you point out this distinction in the rules? Because this is honestly the first time I've heard of something to this end.

On the SRD it makes a distinction, [Here], all of the various sizes are divided into Long or Tall, which alters their reach. Large (Tall) has Reach 10', whereas Large (Long) has only 5' reach.

Except your template doesn't remove or change existing abilities of the creature. So if you stick it on a 14th level anything, it keeps its class features as you have it written. And there are things like the Giant subtype and the DR 15/Evil which are unaccounted for.

I've altered Defenses to solve the DR issue, and I've also altered the Abilities to say the following:

"All of the base creature's class features and other abilities are removed or forgotten with the length of time."

I've also altered the Challenge Rating to reflect the fact that the template changes the majority of a creature's dice and stats.

[Tanuki Tales]

It should be in the size section. I think its something about quadrepeds and bipeds.

On the SRD it makes a distinction, [Here], all of the various sizes are divided into Long or Tall, which alters their reach. Large (Tall) has Reach 10', whereas Large (Long) has only 5' reach.

Huh. You learn something new every day.

I've altered Defenses to solve the DR issue, and I've also altered the Abilities to say the following:

"All of the base creature's class features and other abilities are removed or forgotten with the length of time."

I've also altered the Challenge Rating to reflect the fact that the template changes the majority of a creature's dice and stats.

The "Ability" section is actually meant for Ability Score adjustments. Templates generally mention under each specific section if the creature loses or keeps specific abilities (defenses, special attacks, special qualities, etc.) from before the template's application.

[SamBurke]

The "Ability" section is actually meant for Ability Score adjustments. Templates generally mention under each specific section if the creature loses or keeps specific abilities (defenses, special attacks, special qualities, etc.) from before the template's application.

OK. I will try to edit that.

I'm debating about whether to add some ability bonuses, especially to Constitution. What do you think?

[Tanuki Tales]

OK. I will try to edit that.

I'm debating about whether to add some ability bonuses, especially to Constitution. What do you think?

Increasing Strength, Constitution, and Wisdom wouldn't be out of the question for the flavor of the template.

[SamBurke]

Increasing Strength, Constitution, and Wisdom wouldn't be out of the question for the flavor of the template.

Alright. I gave them -4 Cha, +4 Str/Wis, and +10 Con.

In addition, I noted that all abilities gained from the old HD of the creature are removed, with the addition of the new Fey HD.

[Tanuki Tales]

It's three months early, but I just wanted to remind everyone that June's contest is going to require voting for.

For those of you who weren't here when it was discussed, June's theme is called "Once More! With Feeling!" and is a contest where we will pick one of the previous themes done so far and make that the theme for the month. There's still two themes to be added to the list of choices and we won't be doing the voting until May, but I just wanted everyone to start mulling it over.


Moving on to current business:

There's still 11 more days left in the contest for this month and I'm looking forward to seeing the entries that will be submitted in that time. I will be giving full rundowns on the current two entries on Saturday; I have a mid-term tomorrow and Friday, along with a few other plans so I don't believe I'll be able to devote the time to them before then.

[Tanuki Tales]

We've (basically) approached the last week of this contest.

So, without further ado, here's the preview for next month!

Spell it out for Us

[SamBurke]

Oooooh! Sounds fun.

[Tanuki Tales]

Oooooh! Sounds fun.

Hopefully it will be. I'm a little sad at the turn out for this month, especially with how interested folks were with both last month's and this month's contest themes. They also showed a good amount of interest in this theme as well, but we'll see.


In fact, turn out hasn't been that great all around, so I'm going to institute that you all decide on each month's contest themes from now instead of me (except for March's and June's. Those'll stay what they are) and this is how we'll do it:

• The first ten contest themes suggested will be accepted into a first-draft vote. Each person can suggest two themes and each person can vote for one theme when those ten are decided.
• The five with the highest number of votes will go for a second-draft vote. Again, each person can vote once.
• The two with the highest number of votes will go for a final round of voting to decide the contest for the following month. Again, each person can vote once.
• Themes that don't make first place can be suggested for following contests.

So assuming no one has any qualms with that, let's start deciding on May's contest theme!

[SamBurke]

Can we suggest themes ourselves?

[Tanuki Tales]

Can we suggest themes ourselves?

Erm...isn't that what I said? o.o

[SamBurke]

Erm...isn't that what I said? o.o

*checks*

It was only stated 8 or so times...

yay.

[Tanuki Tales]

*checks*

It was only stated 8 or so times...

yay.

Heh, it's fine.

Feel free to throw out your two at any time.

[Tanuki Tales]

Well, 2 days left in the contest folks. Here's to hoping we see at least one more entry before then!


In the mean time, please go ahead and start throwing out contest theme ideas for May!

[SamBurke]

How about "The Song of My People" for a music-themed contest. OR, "The Land I Call Home" for something about a specific region.

[Tanuki Tales]

How about "The Song of My People" for a music-themed contest. OR, "The Land I Call Home" for something about a specific region.

Mind explaining the second one?

I mean, are we picking a region in Golarion or...?

[SamBurke]

I was figuring that it would be more of a "this is only from a certain generic X region." So, like a prestige class tied to an area of the land, or a Desert-Themed Spell, so on.

[Tanuki Tales]

I was figuring that it would be more of a "this is only from a certain generic X region." So, like a prestige class tied to an area of the land, or a Desert-Themed Spell, so on.

So you meant more geographic regions than socio-political ones?

[SamBurke]

So you meant more geographic regions than socio-political ones?

Yeah, that would probably work better.

[Tanuki Tales]

Yeah, that would probably work better.

Well, then that's two themes so far!

{table=head]Working Name|Theme

The Song of My People|Music
The Land I call Home|Geographical region material[/table]

Eight more slots folks!

[Tanuki Tales]

Last day of this month's contest everyone.


Also, Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it.

[Deviston]

Theme suggestions.


{table=head]Working Name|Theme

When Two Become One|Biological Symbiosis (think sybionts)
A Symbol of the Past|Runes, Sigils, and More[/table]

[Tanuki Tales]

Theme suggestions.


{table=head]Working Name|Theme

When Two Become One|Biological Symbiosis (think sybionts)
A Symbol of the Past|Runes, Sigils, and More[/table]

{table=head]Working Name|Theme

The Song of My People|Music
The Land I call Home|Geographical region material
When Two Become One|Biological Symbiosis (think sybionts)
A Symbol of the Past|Runes, Sigils, and More[/table]


Suggestions added!

That's four down, six to go everyone!


Edit:

Oh and quick revision to how voting on these things will go:

Since this contest doesn't exactly have the largest community, you'll get 4 votes for the first draft and two for the second draft instead of just one. You can't put more than one vote to one theme though.

[DawnbringerSO]

{table=head]Working Name|Theme

The Call for a Hero|Dragons
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic|Technology/Science
[/table]


Sorry I didn't submit an entry for this months contest, I just wasn't into the theme.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

What about a video game themed one?

Or one based on myths from our world - sasquatch, thunderbirds, nessie, so on. Basically urban legends.