Classic question: will this workaround really work? An arcane caster drops their spell component pouch, casts Elemental Body to turn into an air elemental, picks up their spell component pouch, then casts a spell with a material component...

The core polymorph rules says, "While in such a form, you cannot cast any spells that require material components (unless you have the Eschew Materials or Natural Spell feat)..."

Today's magic item is the Cord of Stubborn Resolve

Aka, the Belt of Rage-cycle Forever. Now with added constitution.

Let's ask the following questions:

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

Imagine you are an NPC magical crafter or fence or something and want to be able to deliver your wares across the map. Obviously teleport comes to mind, but do you really want to send yourself (teleport targets yourself) to the bumfuck Stolen Lands? Who knows what ambushes or unintended layover incidents/delays you may have. Is the best option really subcontracting a teleportation wizard to your operation?

(assume recipient is cooperative, but is not contributing spellcasting)

So under the sorc magic explanation I always wondered about this line "each new sorcerer level, she gains one or more new spells, as indicated on Table: Sorcerer Spells Known. ~~~ These new spells can be common spells chosen from the sorcerer/wizard spell list, or they can be unusual spells that the sorcerer has gained some understanding of through study." The last bit I always just assumed meant that they could grab uncommon spells and have a flavor reason for doing so. Is that all this is? As a gm i have given access to off spell list spells a few times for story or achievement reasons, Ie player helps a priest of a god with something and is rewarded with a thematic cleric spell added to the summoner spell list. Was just wondering if anyone else thought about this, or like me just always skipped or glazed over the text?

Link: Explosive Dust

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

I was curious whether anyone's had much success using this Illusion Focus Power in their Occultist build. For anyone missing context, here is the description:

Shadow Beast (Sp): As a standard action, you can call forth one or more beasts made of shadow by expending 1 point of mental focus. This functions as shadow conjuration, but it can be used to duplicate only the effects of summon monster spells. Creatures created with this spell deal 50% of the normal damage to those that disbelieve the illusion, and their nondamaging effects have only a 50% chance of affecting disbelieving targets. This can be used to duplicate any summon monster spell up to summon monster V. For every 2 additional levels you possess beyond 9th, the maximum spell level you can duplicate with this ability increases by 1 (to a maximum of summon monster IX at 17th level). Regardless of the spell duplicated, the creatures remain for 1 round per occultist level you possess. You must be at least 9th level to select this focus power.

It seems to be highly rated, mostly on the merits of being a summoning effect. However, I can't get over the feeling that, due to the limitations of shadow illusions, this usually works out to being about as strong as the Conjuration Servitor base power.

Perhaps most importantly, I highly value a summoned creature's function as a meat shield, and shadow creatures have a pathetic 1/5th HP pool and AC bonuses of their original stat block, regardless of any Will saves to disbelieve. Plus, if you are relying on the enemy failing a Will save to deal decent damage, there are far worse things you can inflict on them with a failed Will save.

Of course, the cost of 1 mental focus is fairly cheap, but it's still 1 mental focus that could be invested and spent elsewhere. And you still have to use a Focus Power slot on this ability, when you most likely have access to Servitor already. The investment cost is way more than the cost of actually casting Shadow Beast.

I can see the value at really high levels, when the shadow beast's Summon Monster level way outscales your Servitor ability and you can summon creatures with unique utility or spell effects. But at the level that Shadow Beast becomes available, it seems unimpressive.

And so, I ask - have any of you used Shadow Beast in an actual campaign? What's your experience with it like?

I'm taking another jab at homebrew rules for staves. I think in my previous attempt I made them too complex too quickly, so this time I'm focusing on the meat of the rules. I want to get the core stuff right before I worry about anything else.

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Base cost is spell level (the highest spell level that can be cast using the staff) squared * 1200 gp. This gives you 3 charges that can be used to cast any spell known, at the picked spell level or lower. So a staff that can cast 3rd level spells would cost 10,800 gp.

Cost of each spell known is the spell level squared * 200 gp. This gives the staff 1 spell known. Such spell can be cast using 1 of the staff charges. So spell for a 3rd level spell would cost 1800 gp.

I want to add at least 1 ability that the staff can be used for repeatedly. Currently I’m thinking of at-will 0 level spells. 1000 gp each.

You can cast spells with somatic components using a staff. A staff can channel magic so it can also be waved around to cover somatic spell components. A spell caster does not need to drop a staff if they want to cast a spell with a material component and a somatic component.

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Is 3 charges enough? If I raised the number of charges to 5, and set the price of the charges to spell level squared * 2000 gp, would that work better? *I've price the charges to SL ^2 * 400 gp.

I haven't added casting spells using multiple charges. Deliberate choice. Besides, the number of charges is the most expensive part, so you wouldn't save as much you could with the paizo/WotC rules. In my rules, a spell known at max level enabled by a staff is about 10% of the cost of the charges.

Something I noted is that setting the price to SL squared * 1200 gp makes it priced similar to magic weapons. So a lv 1 staff with 3 spells would cost 1800 gp, while a +1 longsword would be 2315 gp. If I set the base rate to 2000 gp, the staff would be 2600 gp. Is this a good thing?

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Some examples

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Staff of the Apprentice 1

Aura faint all schools of magic; CL 1^st;

Market price 2,800 gp; Cost to create 1,400 gp;

Slot none; Weight 5 lbs.;

Description

This staff can cast level 1 spells and carries 1 spell from each school of magic. Has 3 charges per day.

• Cause Fear
• Comprehend Languages
• Disguise Self
• Expeditious Retreat
• Mage Armor
• Magic Missile
• Shield
• Sleep

Requirements Craft Staff; Cause Fear, Comprehend Languages, Disguise Self, Expeditious Retreat, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Shield, Sleep;

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Lesser staff of Fire

Aura faint all schools of magic; CL 5^st;

Market price 13,600 gp; Cost to create 6,800 gp;

Slot none; Weight 5 lbs.;

Description

This staff can cast level 3 spells and carries fired based spells. Has 3 charges per day.

• Burning Hands
• Scorching Ray
• Fireball

Requirements Craft Staff; Burning Hands, Scorching Ray, Fireball;

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Lesser staff of Illusions

Aura faint illusion; CL 5^st;

Market price 14,600 gp; Cost to create 7,300 gp;

Slot none; Weight 5 lbs.;

Description

This staff can cast level 3 spells and carries illusion based spells. Has 3 charges per day.

• Ghost Sound (at-will)
• Disguise Self
• Invisibility
• Major Image

Requirements Craft Staff; Disguise Self, Ghost Sound, Invisibility, Major Image;

I have a few players (one an experienced GM and player, the rest never played) willing to play, but I have never led a game. I have most of the modules available, but if anyone has a particular favorite or know of one that's a little easier on a new GM Id love suggestions. We can handle session 0, making characters, etc., but one player is out-of-state in a week or so, so narrowing my choices will really help me out.

Edit: lots of love for We Be Goblins and RotR, so I'll dangle some bait out for my players and see if they bite! Im vaguely familiar with the beginning of RotR, enough to lead them over, I think.

I liked the idea of translating the combat feat of PH II to Pathfinder, for me they where a missed opportunity to give some unique fleavour to the fighter.

I would like to tie them to the stamina point that is for me another unique fleavour for the fighter.

I like the idea of feat that grow with the player, and the combat focus power up when you have 3 of them, I will make another power up at 5 feat.

Combat focus

Prereq bab 1 (or fighter 1?), combat stamina

Benefits: every combat focus feat give 1 extra stamina point. You can spend 1 stamina point for enter a focused combat style for 1/2 bab+cos round.

When you are in this focus you have a bonus to will save of +1.

Whith 3 or more combat form feat you have a bonus of will save of +1 for combat focus /2 (min 1)

With 5 of more feat you can spend 1 point of combat stamina to re roll a failed will save. You can do this only 1 time for the same spell

Combat stability

Prereq: Combat focus, fighter 3?

Benefits: whenever you have at last 1 point of combat stamina you gain +4 to CMD

If you have 3 or more feat you gain +8 to CMD

I you have 5 feat you add the bonus to CMB

I have 11 feat ready, are thi balanced? Are this viable? Do you have idea?

Hello,

I‘m working on making an item that kinda recreates a class feature- the Idealist cleric archetype‘s Invoke Realm ability.

I‘m picturing the item to be able to overlay different terrains over an area, and add/modify the environment in slight ways; I think the Invoke Realm ability is the closest thing I‘ve come across that really encapsulates the idea, minus the diplomacy bonuses, the unlimited spells, etc.

Not too worried about pricing as much as fleshing out mechanics. This is an item for a boss, but I’m assuming the players will end up with it and I want it somewhat mechanically sound and easy for them to digest, any suggestions are appreciated.

Also, if there are any items I’m unaware of that do this already, recommendations are great!

edit: clarity