Category: Pathfinder

  • Introduction In previous posts in this series, I showed the differences between fighter builds, and especially that “fast fighters” are a weak decision that is particularly bad for halflings and elves even though they are the more agile races. In this post I will approach the question of fighter builds from a different angle, that…

  • As part of my continuing exploration of the statistics underlying Pathfinder, I’ve been comparing mortality for different types of fighters under different types of character generation systems. The basic Pathfinder rules recommend a point-buy system, but also allow for 4d6 choose the best three. I’ve generated PCs under all four point buy systems, 4d6 choose…

  • This weekend I continued my work on the epidemiology of Pathfinder, including an expansion of my programs to allow for different types of point buy. In the process I took the advice of some commenters at a related thread on the Pathfinder message boards: I think for the non human fast fighters dropping weapon finesse…

  • Continuing my series of posts exploring the epidemiology of Pathfinder, today I will report on the impact of adding ferocity to the orc stat block. Is the orc still a CR 1/3 monster when one accounts for ferocity, and just how tough does a fighter have to be to walk away from a fight with…

  • I’ve decided to begin a long-term research project aimed at understanding the underlying epidemiology of Dungeons and Dragons. This research project will consist of a series of (hopefully) increasingly complex simulations of battles between D&D PCs and various nemeses, to answer some key questions in character development and perhaps also to investigate some key controversies…

  • When last we left our heroes, they were recovering from a horror ambush, in which gnomish guns almost beat them. However, having prevailed (and left one gnome permanently enveloped in a shroud of high-speed comedy stories, in response to which he could only ever laugh, laugh, laugh…) the characters were soon ready to push on…

  • Reader note: this is a game report by one of my players, posted here for the Japanese players. It’s vastly superior than anything I could have written. It also contains pictures. Enjoy! 始めに:このレポートはくまさんに書かれています。私より面白い日本語ができるから! そんなわけで、土曜の夜に軽めのTRPGセッションを囲んできました。 行ったゲームは Pathfinder RPG。言わずとも知れたD&D3.5の流れを組む、色々と面白どころ満載のシステム でありんす。 舞台となったのは、山の上にある温泉施設。 裕福な老人の護衛役として、一冬を越すまで温泉施設に滞在しながら、裕福な老人の世話と依頼をこなして行くという背景情報です。 ある晩秋の日、ちょっとしたパーティの最中に発生した襲撃事件。 石つぶてを散弾銃のように発射する、凶悪な飛び道具で武装したノーム部隊に襲われた温泉施設テルマエ・ロマエ(笑)にて、とりあえずは襲撃を退 けたPCたち。 けれど襲撃は陽動で、隠し部屋に幽閉(?)された”温泉妖精”を連れ去るのが主目的。 この温泉妖精の魔力で、普通の温泉に過ぎないお湯を、万病の癒しを可能にする優れものの温泉へと変えていたのだという。これを知った裕福だけど 傲慢な老人は、PCたちに温泉妖精の奪還を依頼(命じ)するのでありまして。 ところが連れ去れた先は、濛々たる温泉の噴気に満ちた渓谷の向こう側。 届く視界は僅かに20フィート(約6メートル)ほど。しかも場所によっては高熱の蒸気が噴出し、間欠泉すらあるかも知れないという危険地帯を、 レンジャーの足跡追跡だけを頼りに、逃げたノーム部隊の跡を追いかけていく。 そして受けてしまう、蒸気の中からの奇襲。 相変わらずの『石つぶて散弾銃』が降り注ぎ、蒸気の中から続々と現れる後続のノーム兵士たちに、PCたちは大苦戦! 何しろ視界は利かないし、主戦力たるバーサーカーは蒸気と魔法と奇襲によってノックアウトされ、ソーサラーの必中呪文《グリース》もあまり効果 を与えられない。 それでも何とかノーム部隊を削っていくものの、ノーム・ソーサラーの呪文によって「霧の中から更に大軍がやってくる」ような幻聴を聞かされ、 バーサーカーとクレリックがまともに混乱したことで更に長期戦の様相を呈し始めてしまう。…

  • As I mentioned in my previous post, I (slightly foolishly) offered to DM a group of 5 players, in Japanese. The game was last night, so here are a few notes. We played at my friendly local gaming store (FLGS), upon which at some point I need to blog. The owner only has experience of…

  • Last night I DMd my first session of Pathfinder in Japanese. It was mostly successful, and I’ll be putting up my thoughts about the DMing in a separate post. This is a brief report of the session. The adventure took place in an Onsen (hot spring) resort in the Steam Mountains. This resort is blessed…

  • Note for my English readers: I’m now using this blog for communication with my Japanese players, just as I did for my English ones, so there will be occasional Japanese posts. In some cases I will also put English with them, in some cases not. My apologies if this causes your browser to render the…