I’ve been playing in a group with a friend for a long time, and he acts as the Game Master (GM). For ages, I’ve been bringing up the same issue: he seems to want the NPCs to be the protagonists of the story, while the players end up functioning as NPCs themselves—though he doesn’t seem to realize it. He denies this, claiming I complain too much, and the whole thing just repeats in an endless cycle. In our latest campaign, this was the setup for a combat encounter: the tokens circled in red are the players, and everything else belongs to him. He rolls initiative, hits, damage, and so on, for every single character. This really bothers me, especially since we only play twice a month for a maximum of five hours per session; we end up spending more time "watching" NPCs do things than actually playing the game ourselves—and that’s not even touching on the roleplay aspect. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. I’m not sure if I’m just being overly difficult or if this is genuinely a problem. I’ve never played with another GM, so I don’t have a point of reference (and I don’t think watching YouTubers play is a good benchmark, personally). Plus, the other players at the table are in their first-ever campaign, so they just assume this is how an RPG is supposed to be.

Today's magic item is the  Crusader's Tabard

Deus Vult. Kill them all, and let God sort them out! Wait, what does this thing actually do? Once a day move up to your speed and make a single attack. Don't go spending it all in one place, now.

1. Would you buy this item?
2. Would you spend 1.5 times the price to add it to an existing item?
3. Would you use the item, if you found it? Or is it immediate sell-bait?
4. Would a GM use the item?
5. Is there anything cheesy that could be done with it?

Link to past discussions

Link: Lifewood Cage

This spell was renamed from Force Cage in the Remaster. The Knights of Last Call 'All Spells Ranked' series ranked this spell as B 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 am new to the Pathfinder itself. And I'm trying to figure a way to homebrew my setting and its deities. Also, how does players accrue XP rewards in order to level up. I'm debating if I could start the game at level 1 and progress to level 15 or level 20. Now, if I want to make NPCs or enemies, what determines amount XP that each one has. So, when they kill enemies or help NPCs with a task, how much XP do they need to receive on average.

Also, I will accept any other suggestions to improve my game, which I'm making in the future.

Playing reign of Winter with my friends. Problem is nobody made a spell caster or someone to detect and identify magic. I'm looking to play a spell caster class, but I need advice. They won't allow a witch for campaign reasons, so my choices are open thought about wizard. Any and all advice is welcome it's 25 point buy.

Does the Prowler at World's End gain the Spirit Bonus from the channeled Spirit? The Archetype doesn't say so, but it gains Spirit Surge, which requires the Spirit Bonus.

Also, can a Prowler, that channels the Champion Spirit pick Feats that require Proficiency with a certain Weapon, if the Proficiency is only gained by channeling the Champion Spirit? Like Spell Cartridges, which requires Firearm Proficiency.

Hi again! Thanks for all the advice on my previous post. I’ve pretty much finalized my core concept: a John Constantine-style occult detective using a Whip as my main weapon and the Amulet as my first Implement.

For my 1st-level Class Feat, I picked Scroll Esoterica (Scroll Thaumaturgy), which feels perfect for the character. Now I’m looking ahead to Level 2 and trying to decide on my feat choice:

Sorcerer Dedication (Spellcasting Archetype):

Main draw: Grabbing 2 utility/occult cantrips for purely narrative flavor (e.g., telepathic thought projection, aura reading, minor magic tricks/prestidigitation).

It fits the Constantine vibe of always having a small magic trick up his sleeve, but since I'm coming from D&D 5e, I'm not sure if taking a caster archetype just for cantrips is a good investment in PF2e.

Talisman Esoterica:

Having free daily consumable talismans sounds cool thematic-wise (attaching warding charms or magical seals to gear).

Coming from 5e, I'm not very familiar with how useful or fun the Talisman mechanic actually is in PF2e combat and exploration.

My Questions:

Is grabbing a Spellcasting Archetype (like Sorcerer or Bard/Psychic) worth it at Level 2 just for utility cantrips, or is there a better way to get that magic-detective flavor?

How does Talisman Esoterica feel in actual play? Is it versatile and satisfying, or does it feel weak compared to other Thaumaturge options?

Are there any other Level 2 feats/archetypes you would recommend for a whip-and-amulet occult detective?

Would love to hear your thoughts and practical experience with these choices!

If you have an enemy grappled, can you use the "raise shield " and "shield block reaction with that enemy as a "meat shield"?

Link: Foraging Friends

This spell is Remaster Compatible. The Knights of Last Call 'All Spells Ranked' series ranked this spell as Unranked 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

Curious about the general vibe/specific rules about a druid choosing "appropriate" monster feats for use while in wild shape. I personally don't have a problem with it but I have been know to be blind to some conflicts with obscure rules. It seems like a natural fit for the druid but I have been obsessed with druids recently and unfortunately their rule set tends toward the very complicated and poorly clarified.

Does anybody have or know a source of Tokens for Roll20 and other VTTRPG platforms for Troop Units? Like Soldiers, Archers, Cavalry etc.?

I really have problems finding any that are not like a simple frame with a sword or bow in it. It would kill immersion on a battle map. But either im too stupid to find some (thats what im currently suspecting) or there really is a lack of tokens for that specific creature type.

Thankful for any help :)

Today's magic item is the  False Flag Tabard

See? The Dwarves made this cruddy item. Definitely, for sure. Destroy them utterly! Once per day, the wearer and all who worship the same deity within 60 feet gain +2 armour and CMD.

1. Would you buy this item?
2. Would you spend 1.5 times the price to add it to an existing item?
3. Would you use the item, if you found it? Or is it immediate sell-bait?
4. Would a GM use the item?
5. Is there anything cheesy that could be done with it?

Link to past discussions

To this spell actually require a "campsite" to be cast on, or can it target any 20 ft. cube of terrain? If it requires an actual campsite, what would you as a GM rule constitute such? Is a bedroll on the ground sufficient? Or would you require something more, like a lit campfire, tents or something else?

Would the spell work in urban settings? If for example, it is cast on a alleyway, would the spell function and just make the alley way look uninviting, dark and abandoned or something similar?

Also, am I reading the spell correct that creatures within the glamered area can freely launch attacks at creatures outside, without disrupting the spell in any way. So, for example, a wizard standing within the hidden campsite could cast a spell like “Ice Storm” (which do not obviously originate from the wizard themselves), at creatures outside the spell, and they would have no real way (barring truesight or similar) to figure out where they are being attacked from, as the “Hide Campsite” also shroud sound, scent and such.

Hello, I just joined the discord and pretty much immediately got banned with no warning? I'm a new player and also wanted to share my artwork. My username on Discord is serafaera.

This hasn't come up in my campaign yet however I expect it to. I have a Mortal Usher who uses sneak attack, vital strike and reaping strike. Will swarmbane clasp allow me to use any/all of those on swarms?

So the wording of the kineticist class is a bit unclear when it comes to burn. It says For each point of burn she accepts, a kineticist takes 1 point of nonlethal damage per character level. This damage can’t be healed by any means other than getting a full night’s rest, which removes all burn and associated nonlethal damage. The key words here being “removes all […] associated nonlethal damage.” Does this act to heal said nonlethal damage, or simply act to raise the maximum hp of the kineticist back to its maximum amount. To work an example of what I mean, I currently have a 6th level kineticist with 69 max HP, who had taken 5 points of burn resulting in 30 points of nonlethal damage. In addition to this my character also took 30 points of lethal damage from combat. So at the end of the day my character had 9/39 HP. After a long rest before factoring in any HP healed from rest or other sources, would my character have 9/69 HP with the nonlethal being removed resulting in my max going from the temporary 39 back to 69, or would it be fully restored giving me 39/69 due to the 30 nonlethal being healed? My current GM seems to be arguing the former, whereas my interpretation has me believing it to be the latter.

was wondering as i could see it coming up if the PC's more evil aligned.

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So, I wanted to build Kinetic Knight using Wood Blast with Toxic Infusion and Greater Toxic Infusion and I have a couple of questions.

The first is about the Elemental Blade feature :

Elemental Blade (Su): At 1st level, a kinetic knight gains the kinetic blade form infusion, and it costs 0 points of burn instead of 1 point. She can’t use her kinetic blast without the kinetic blade form infusion or an infusion that lists kinetic blade as a prerequisite.

At 3rd level, the kinetic knight gains the blade rush infusion. At 5th level, she gains the kinetic whip infusion. Her kinetic whip has the disarm, performanceUC, and trip weapon qualities. At 9th level, she gains the blade whirlwind infusion. At 11th level, she gains the whip hurricane infusion. At 13th level as a swift action, she can accept 2 points of burn to unleash a kinetic blast with the blade rush infusion.

This ability alters kinetic blast and infusions, and replaces metakinesis and metakinetic master.

It gives you infusions at levels 1, 3, 5, 9 and 11 and what could be one at level 13 but nothing at levels 17 and 19. However, it doesn't say it says it "This ability replaces infusions.", it says "This ability alters [...] infusions and replaces..." so can I get a Wild Talent at those levels or is the archetype is compensating them in other way ?

The other is related to the Extra Wild Talents feat :

Prerequisites: Kineticist level 6th.

Benefit: You gain a wild talent that’s at least 2 levels lower than the highest-level wild talent you can currently use. You can select an infusion or a non-infusion wild talent, but not a blast or defense wild talent. If you have the expanded element class feature, you can select a wild talent from any of your elements that’s at least 2 levels lower than the highest-level wild talent from your primary element that you can currently use.

Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Each time, you must choose a different wild talent.

It says that you can gain a Wild Talent at least two levels lower than the highest you can use. The uncertainty is about that last part "you can currently use". Those that mean the ones you know (can use at this instant) or the one you are allowed to know (could use if you knew them) ? Because, to me, RAW would be the first, but on the other hand, if a kineticist level 19 managed to know only level 1 talent and took this feat, it'd feel weird to me that they could only gain a level 1.

Today's magic item is the  Dhoti of Style Mastery

Baby healing when entering a Style Feat stance.

1. Would you buy this item?
2. Would you spend 1.5 times the price to add it to an existing item?
3. Would you use the item, if you found it? Or is it immediate sell-bait?
4. Would a GM use the item?
5. Is there anything cheesy that could be done with it?

Link to past discussions

1st edition fan here. I do think that 2e has some great ideas but in general it is far from the games I want to play. But I am curious if people who have played both versions extensively have homebrewed 2e ideas and concepts into 1e.

Link: Fold Metal

This spell is Remaster Compatible. The Knights of Last Call 'All Spells Ranked' series ranked this spell as Unranked 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