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2018-07-10, 11:59 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2012
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2018-07-11, 04:20 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Apr 2006
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Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
I dunno how much you know about the industry, so I'm going to answer with all the information I could have really used when I started looking into doing this stuff. Hopefully you (or at least someone else reading this thread) will find it useful.
The vast majority of writers in this industry, even people who write for companies like Paizo and WotC, are freelancers. We aren't technically employed by any publisher or company (though some have very strong ties to one or more publishers), we are contracted for one product at a time, and earn money based on what we write. Very few of us write full time. I, for example, work in a hospital emergency room and supplement that job with writing. I do have days dedicated just to writing though. So, here's how writing goes for me.
First, I have to get a contract. There's a few ways to obtain one. Open calls, internal requests, networking, and pitches. Open calls are one of the easiest to get ahold of, since they're well, open. Sometimes a publisher throws a request out into the wild of the internet, saying "hey, I want this, can anyone deliver?" This is how I got started working with DDS: when Meyers wanted writers for sphere handbooks, he posted an open call on this forum, and I responded. If you've already worked with a publisher though, it gets easier. Most publishers use stuff like discord, slack (a more businessy discord), basecamp (a project organizer), or just to regularly talk to their freelancers and keep them apprised of new writing needs and opportunities. This is a good passive feed of work, and most of what I've written has come to me this way. Networking is the second cousin of internal requests, where you know a guy who knows a publishers, and they tell you that this publisher is looking for writers. I have a few writer focused forums and chat groups I stick in that keep me aware of work, and they fall in this category. Lastly... pitches. If you've got a cool idea, you can just throw it at publishers until it sticks. Or you can say "wow that publisher is cool," make something targeted at them and their needs, and throw it at them in the hopes of getting their attention. In the short term, this is one of the least successful ways of getting work... but it is a way to get your foot in the door somewhere new, and establish yourself with another publisher, which leads to getting more internal requests from that publisher.
The actual writing process starts with brainstorming. And for me... brainstorming isn't something I just sit around doing, most of the time. Its a passive process. Basically, my brain is a slow cooker, and I'll throw a contract or seed of an idea in the back of my head while I go about the rest of my day, doing chores, working in the hospital, or whatever. This more relaxed method of brainstorming prevents me from getting locked up by pressure and stress, and allows me plenty of time to come up with good ideas to start with. But usually this process eventually segues into research. Once I have a start on my idea, I often need to refine it. If its mechanics, I'll look for precedent - how similar abilities have been built and phrased, where they might be flawed or if my idea is redundant. I'll also look into relevant topics for ideas and details, especially for fluffy pieces. I looked a bit into the properties and effects of light as well as light based technology when making the Illuminator's Handbook, for example.
Once I've got a good grasp of what I'm writing, I chart out what I'm going to write if I haven't already been provided a template by my publisher. I cut the writing work into the section I consider necessary (like the different chapters of our sphere handbooks) and assign a rough word count to each. This last bit is important, because writers are normally given a range to hit in terms of word count, so it gives me an idea of how much I have to work with when writing the book. And then... I start filling it in. Sometimes I find I don't have enough ideas to complete a section, and I'll go back to brainstorming and researching. The different parts of the writing process tend to mix up and often happen simultaneously rather than being a clean step by step process.
As for staying in contact, I have a lot of instant messaging and online connections with my publishers and other writers (whether I'm working with them or not). We keep in touch, especially when projects are happening.
What's on my plate... quite a bit. The Warp Handbook has been sitting on the back burner for a while. I have an idea for another Apocrypha that I have about half done. I've been commissioned by an individual to write a custom race. I'm working on projects with Rite Publishing and Cobalt Sages Creations, and I'm looking to secure another pair of contracts with two new publishers.
Q 62)
What is the best part of having worked/working on this system? Again, open to any and all devs.
Q 63)
There was an idea that surfaced earlier in the thread about plans for expanding ideas for the sphere system and someone said "all it really needs is someone to take the reins". Is it that easy to get involved? If I have ideas and/or want to try and contribute something to this system, how would that be submitted?
If you'd just like to get into writing in general, keep an eye out for open calls and start looking at different publishers. Here are some handy links:
Open Publisher List
Third Party Open Call thread at Paizo
Most publishers have a section on their site about submissions and pitches, so peer around websites of publishers you might be interested in.
Also, Jolly's design server is great, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to get serious about writing.
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2018-07-11, 01:38 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Q 69 I find the Energy Focus drawback a little vague.
Originally Posted by Energy Focus
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2018-07-11, 01:44 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2011
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
A69: The concept of blast type groups was introduced in the Destroyer's Handbook, so the text in the base book obviously doesn't take them into account. You can take blasts within the same blast type group when you have the energy focus drawback. Example: energy focus fire means you can take any blast type form the fire group (Blistering Blast, Fire Blast, Searing Blast) as the bonus talent and can select the other two normally later, but you couldn't take force blast or acid blast. Of course, this only applies if you are using the Destroyer's Handbook; in a base book only game you would just be locked into flame blast with energy focus (fire).
You cannot use the base blast.
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2018-07-11, 02:48 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jan 2014
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- Seattle
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Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
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2018-07-11, 02:54 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2016
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2018-07-11, 04:31 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2018
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Q70 Is Elementalist's different CL for Destruction temporary effect or constant one, for purpose of all CL-increasing effects?
Say we got Elementalist 4 (so, CL 3, CL 4 for Destruction), non-caster 1, + trait that gives +2 CL "Up to HD". Does Elementalist apply before or after that, making total CL 5 or 6?
Q71 Gestalt game (two levels of different classes at each lvl). One side is Elementalist 20 (so, 15 CL for other, 20 for destruction). Other is full caster. Does Elementalists effective +5 CL apply, or is CL still 20?
[]Q72[] Elementalist 4/Rogue 2 (with no SoP option taken)/Evangelist 10 (progressing Elementalist) with Advanced Magical training would end up with 6th level looking like this:
>Evangelist 2 (Elementalist 5)
>AMT gives Evangelist 2 +1 CL despite it being non-caster class
>Elementalist 5 doesnt give +1 CL but it has +1 CL for destruction
What's outcome?
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2018-07-11, 04:46 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
A70: An Elementalist 4/Non-caster 1 with a trait giving +2 CL up to HD will have a CL of 5.
Q71 Gestalt game (two levels of different classes at each lvl). One side is Elementalist 20 (so, 15 CL for other, 20 for destruction). Other is full caster. Does Elementalists effective +5 CL apply, or is CL still 20?
Q72 Elementalist 4/Rogue 2 (with no SoP option taken)/Evangelist 10 (progressing Elementalist) with Advanced Magical training would end up with 6th level looking like this:
>Evangelist 2 (Elementalist 5)
>AMT gives Evangelist 2 +1 CL despite it being non-caster class
>Elementalist 5 doesnt give +1 CL but it has +1 CL for destruction
My reasoning for this is that Aligned Class feature of the Evangelist says the following (emphasis mine)
Originally Posted by Aligned Class (Ex):Last edited by Mehangel; 2018-07-11 at 04:50 PM.
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2018-07-12, 04:32 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2018
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Q73 Can we take Spell Perfection (Advanced Player Guide) feat for sphere? Or single sphere-modifying version, say Destruction (Radiant blast) or Destruction (Explosive Orb)?
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2018-07-13, 09:48 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2015
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
You haven't seen the latest preview on items yet. The gold increase is still wonky and you get a restriction on daily usages, because you have to use resonance. Honestly, some suggestions by players on how to fix this in the discussion thread seem to make much more sense than what Paizo provides. But if they truly listen to playtest results, then complaining about this mess might work still.
Avatar made by Mehangel - "Neigh?"
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2018-07-13, 11:08 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2010
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
I've seen it. It's the same thing they did in 4e (one magic item per tier per day), 5e (maximum 3 attuned items) and 13th Age (maximum one item per tier or level or something...). The problem here is that they continue to have a system for turning any spell into an item (4e has a list of items and 5e and 13th Age don't even let you make items). Spells are often balanced against three things: their cost in knowing, their cost in actions, and their cost in spell slots. The cost in knowing and spell slots is the same for prepared casters, while knowing is much more expensive for spontaneous casters. For classes that can cast directly from their spell books (like Magus using Improved Spell Recall), cost of knowing disappears.
Then we get items. An item removes the cost of knowing and the cost in spell slots, but not the cost in actions. So combat spells don't make good scrolls, because actions are their main cost. But spells that you use once in a blue moon are great in a scroll. Healing is also pretty bad in an item, because higher level healing is more action efficient, not more efficient in terms of spells, and you do most healing out of combat when it doesn't matter. However, healing is completely cumulative (so is damage, but you generally aren't interested in doing damage outside of combat), and can be a huge spell slot hog. So the only time healing is good in an item is if you can mitigate the spell slot cost - or make it dirt cheap, like a wand of CLW does.
The solution is to not have a formulaic system for items. Spells have different values as items, don't try to treat them as the same. Instead, introduce items that can duplicate spell effects for commonly used items, and add limitations if necessary. The healing potion maybe can't bring you above half max hp, for example. Or maybe keep scrolls/potions around but make them more expensive, so they are only useful for spells you don't want to use very often. Anything with a high cost of knowing would still make a useful scroll.
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2018-07-14, 09:55 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2015
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Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Q74 can the Antiquarian use casting traditions or drawbacks?
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2018-07-14, 10:36 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jun 2018
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2018-07-14, 11:39 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2018
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Q76 Would admixtured Radiant/Chilling blast that utilizes feat that changes save from reflex to fortitude affect undead, since Radiant's effect affects undead despite being fort based, or rather be fully ignored by undead?
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2018-07-15, 07:15 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2015
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Q77 Apologies if this has already been asked, but can a Technician with Mechanical Insight set their detonators to explode after, say, 1 second with the Timed mode, thereby making them explode on their turn? Just confirming how it works. Thanks, Aipaca
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2018-07-15, 02:09 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2018
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Maybe a very trivial question, but I have to figure this out...
Q79 In the Lancer Sphere, when it talks about what happens when the impalement status is lost they 'take bleed damage equal to the damage dice of the weapon used to impale the creature.' My question is this: Assuming the weapon is 2d6+6, does this mean they take 2 Bleed (since 2d6?) Or 2d6?Last edited by Kullervo; 2018-07-15 at 04:56 PM.
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2018-07-15, 03:08 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2015
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Q78 Do the Amateur X secrets of the Hedgewitch give access to Grand Secrets at the appropriate level?
I've asked this before, trying to get the original author of the class to clarify the intention, but failing that, any consensus from the devs would be much appreciated.
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2018-07-15, 06:12 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Nov 2009
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- Legendary Games
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Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Last edited by N. Jolly; 2018-07-15 at 07:20 PM.
My Pathfinder class guides
Alchemist
Barbarian
Warpriest
Investigator (Guide Addendum)
Gunslinger
Kineticist
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2018-07-15, 08:17 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2018
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Holy crap. Well... I guess thats one of my players going down - they were just fighting a boss who impaled one. Then:
Q80 Once the 2d6 from stopping being impaled has resolved, do they have a 'Bleed' tic on them, then? As in, do they continue bleeding?
Thank you!
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2018-07-15, 09:53 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Nov 2009
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- Legendary Games
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Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
My Pathfinder class guides
Alchemist
Barbarian
Warpriest
Investigator (Guide Addendum)
Gunslinger
Kineticist
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2018-07-16, 12:09 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2011
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Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Q81: Does the Brutal Strike granted by Bloody Counter count as an attack action for the purposes of feats such as Vital Strike and other spheres abilities? The wording is unclear, since Brutal Strikes are normally a special attack action.
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2018-07-16, 12:42 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2014
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Q82: Can you suggest a way to get the Warlords's 2nd level Tactical Presence (indomitable) ability with Spheres of Might? Possibly using already written material, or suggesting the best way to homebrew that in (possibly as a Warleader Tactic?).
We are in the process of converting a campaign from Path of War to Spheres of Might, and this has been one of a character's signature abilities - would be a shame if it got lost in the transition.Last edited by DrMartin; 2018-07-16 at 12:42 AM.
Hector Morris Ashburnum-Whit - Curse of the Crimson Throne - IC / OoC
Bosek of Kuru - A Falling Star - IC / OoC
Gifu Lavoi - Heritage of Kings - IC / OoC
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2018-07-16, 12:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Location
- Legendary Games
- Gender
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
My Pathfinder class guides
Alchemist
Barbarian
Warpriest
Investigator (Guide Addendum)
Gunslinger
Kineticist
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2018-07-16, 04:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2015
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
81..: The text of Bloody Counter specifically refers to the Brutal Strike it grants as an attack action (the last sentence says) 'If the creature attacking you is battered, you may resolve your attack action prior to their attack being resolved.' where attack action refers to your brutal strike.
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2018-07-16, 09:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
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- Legendary Games
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Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
My Pathfinder class guides
Alchemist
Barbarian
Warpriest
Investigator (Guide Addendum)
Gunslinger
Kineticist
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2018-07-17, 07:50 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2015
- Gender
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
so what book do you guys think will be next in the spheres handbook series? I've bought almost every one so far barring the newest Abjurer's Handbook and The Auspician's Handbook so i'm curious which one will be next to end up in my collection
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2018-07-17, 07:59 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2008
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
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2018-07-17, 02:31 PM (ISO 8601)
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- May 2012
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Questions about the Lattice Weaver incanter specialization's bullrush abilities:
Q87: Does the incanter's size limitation on bullrushes apply?
Q88: Do any abilities or items the incanter have affect the barrier wall's bullrush checks? (e.g. improved bullrush, gauntlets of the skilled manuever, or dipping into the brute sphere via feats.)
Q89: If the wall fails at its bullrush check, does it stop moving altogether or move around the target? What about in cases where the wall is bullrushing multiple targets and succeeds on one but not the other?
Q90: Rather than moving the barrier 20 ft., would it be possible to instead shrink a cube barrier by 5 ft. on a side? It's not allowed by RAW, but it's a fun idea so I figured I'd ask.
Quite like the specialization on the whole; it's a fun, unique ability.
Edit: Corrected question numbersLast edited by ICN; 2018-07-17 at 08:23 PM.
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2018-07-17, 11:00 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2012
Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Sorry for the double post. Saw a couple questions I could answer when traversing the backlog.
A33: You cannot see in your own darkness without darkvision.
A34: Basically, whenever you use one of the listed mind sphere abilities on a creature in your darkness, they take the penalty of Looming Darkness automatically, even if you didn't create the darkness with that talent.
An example: Bob the spooky dark caster casts a darkness effect on round 1 as a standard action, applying any darkness talent he'd like, such as Hungry Darkness. On round 2, with his standard action, Bob casts the Fear mind talent on John, who is in Bob's darkness. Therefore, John takes the Looming Darkness penalty to his save against Bob's Fear talent. Does that help?
A59: Only if they have the Destructive Weapons Arsenal Trick.Last edited by ICN; 2018-07-17 at 11:01 PM.
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2018-07-18, 08:42 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jan 2012
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Re: Drop Dead Studios Ask Me Anything #3
Q 91:
The Lich Oracle Curses grants (obviously death themed) bonus spells at some levels but not others. How would one make use of this on a Spheres Oracle? Same for any curse that grants bonus spells at some levels really.If you see me talking about Shaper Psions, assume that anything not poison immune within 100 feet will be dead.
My Homebrew Signature such as it is.