Stag Plan and Dissolution House Rules: Difference between pages

Revision as of 22:48, 8 April 2014

House rules for the Dissolution campaign.

Basic Conversion

Since Ptolus is a 3.5 production, some basic conversion to Pathfinder was required.

Classes

We add some unofficial classes:

Elemental Druid - a variation of the druid class, based on the four elements instead of animals and nature.
Arcane Hierophant - a divine/arcane prestige class lifted and mutated from 3.5.
Spellsword - a gish prestige class lifted and (severely) mutated from 3.5. After using it for a while, we ditched it.

Experience

Progression

This is a really casual game that doesn't meet very often. So, we are using the "fast" experience table.

Ding!

Along the same lines: we follow a more video game style of advancement. As soon as you gain enough XP to level, you immediately do so. In addition, you regain all hit points and gain and benefits as if having taken a full rest (spells refresh, etc.). There are campaigns where things like training and safe zones and such matter; this isn't one of them.

Sneak Attacks and Ranged Weapons

Just a clarification to the standard rules on sneak attacks:

Sneak attacks can be made with ranged weapons, so long as the rogue is within "point-blank" range (30').
Sneak attacks are allowed if the target is denied a Dex bonus, or if the rouge flanks the target.
You cannot normally flank a target with a ranged weapon.

So, as practical matter, the only way you can typically sneak attack with a ranged weapon is by denying the target a Dex bonus (or by using Furtive Shot, below). Targets lose their Dex bonus to AC in any of the following situations:

Target is blinded
Target is cowering
Target is flat-footed and does not have Uncanny Dodge
Target is helpless
Target is stunned
Target is climbing
Target is running.
Attacker is invisible
Attacker successfully feints against the target.
Attacker or ally uses Greater Feint against the target.

Touch Attack Effects

Not sure if this is actually a house rule or just a clarification. Certain powers require a successful touch attack. For such powers that have a limited number of uses per day (e.g. produce flame, chill touch, the touch power from the Evil domain, etc.) we allow these powers to activate on standard natural or unarmed attacks as well. (If the user is willing to expend a use of the power, why not?) Further, if the user has several of these effects available, they can activate as many of them as they like on the same attack (provided they expend a use of each power, of course). Such activations can also be stacked on top of "always on" effects of a touch attack (e.g. a lich's paralyzing touch, a spectre's energy drain, etc.).

None of these effects can be used during attacks of opportunity.

Note that this rule tends to be much more useful for monsters than it does for PCs.

Bloodline Attacks

Many of the sorcerer bloodlines bestow a standard action minor attack as bloodline power at first level, usable a limited number of times per day, but not really scaling well with level (apart from a very minor damage bump, usually). These powers are intended to give a first level sorcerer a bit more firepower, but they quickly become useless as the sorcerer levels, having better things to do with a standard action. This makes them significantly worse (and more boring) than some otherwise equivalent bloodline powers that do scale well with level.

We change these powers to scale the timing of the minor attack with level. This still keeps them in the realm of small utility benefits, but turns these powers into something a rational sorcerer might actually have a reason to use at any level. These powers gain the following text: "At fifth level, this ability may be used as a move action. At tenth level, this ability may be used as a swift action. At fifteenth level, this ability may be used as an immediate action."

This ruling effects at least the following powers (bloodline): acid ray (shaitan), acidic ray (abberant), electricity ray (djinni), elemental ray (elemental), fire ray (efreeti), frost ray (marid), heavenly fire (celestial), horrific visage (accursed), minute meteors (starsoul), wasting ray (dæmon)

Critical hits

When you roll within your critical range, you have a choice:

You may roll for a critical hit, as per the standard rules.
You may automatically just take max weapon damage. (If your critical multiplier is ×3, you deal two times max weapon damage. At ×4, you deal three times max damage.)
You may roll for a critical hit, and on confirmation, draw a card from the Critical Hit deck, doing what the card says. If your critical multiplier is ×3, you add one to the multiplier mentioned on the card. With a ×4 multiplier, you add two.
You may roll for a critical hit, and on confirmation, draw a number of cards from the Critical Hit deck: ×2 multiplier draws one card, ×3 draws two, ×4 draws three. You then select one of the cards and do what it says exactly (i.e. no adjusting the multiplier).

This is a bit of a trade off. All attacks deal three types of damage, and each choice deals with them differently:

Type	Weapon damage	Bonus damage	Ancillary damage
Description	the base dice damage of the weapon	fixed damage from strength, magical plusses, etc.	sneak attack, vital strike, added energy damage, etc.
Standard rules	Make to-hit roll again. If you would hit, damage calculated a number of times equal to your critical multiplier (usually ×2)		Applied only once, even if critical succeeded.
House rule	No additional roll needed. Damage roll treated as if highest number came up on each die. If multiplier is ×3, multiply the result by 2. If multiplier is ×4 multiply the result by 3.		Applied only once

To use abilities that trigger off of critical hits (such as critical feats), you must make the confirmation roll to determine if they take effect; however, you can still elect (prior to rolling) either damage option. For example, if someone with the Bleeding Critical feat rolled within their critical range, they could take the max damage, then roll a confirmation to see if the bleeding crit triggers, or they could roll the confirmation and, if successful, roll extra damage and the bleeding crit triggers.

In most cases, the house rule will result in a lower average damage, but is reliable (i.e. you don't need to make the confirming "attack" roll). Some examples, always assuming a critical actually happens:

	Damage Roll				No crit			Standard crit (if achieved)			House rule
Situation	Weapon	Bonus	Ancillary	Crit range	Min	Average	Max	Min	Average	Max	Min	Average	Max
Lostwhite w/ +1 flaming flail	1d8	+9	+1d6 fire	×2	1+9+1= 11	4.5+9+3.5= 17	8+9+6= 23	2(1+9)+1= 21	2(4.5+9)+3.5= 30.5	2(8+9)+6= 40	8+9+1= 18	8+9+3.5= 20.5	8+9+6= 23
Lostwhite w/ +1 greatsword	2d6	+11		×2	2+11= 13	7+11= 18	12+11= 23	2(1+11)= 24	2(7+11)= 36	2(12+11)= 46	12+11= 23
Lostwhite w/ +1 battleaxe	1d8	+7		×3	1+7= 8	4.5+7= 11.5	8+7= 15	3(1+7)= 24	3(4.5+7)= 34.5	3(8+7)= 45	2(8+7)= 30
Caralaria w/ fist and vital strike	1d10	+6	+1d10	×2	1+6+1= 8	5.5+6+5.5= 16	10+6+10= 26	2(1+6)+1= 15	2(5.5+6)+5.5= 28.5	2(10+6)+10= 42	10+6+1= 17	10+6+5.5= 21.5	10+6+10= 26
Scoffney w/ +1 rifle	1d10	+1		×4	1+1= 2	5.5+1= 6.5	10+1= 11	4(1+1)= 8	4(5.5+1)= 26	4(10+1)= 44	3(10+1)= 33
Scoffney w/ +1 rifle and sneak attack	1d10	+1	+3d6	×4	1+1+3= 5	5.5+1+3(3.5)= 17	10+1+3(6)= 29	4(1+1)+3= 11	4(5.5+1)+3(3.5)= 36.5	4(10+1)+3(6)= 62	3(10+1)+3= 36	3(10+1)+3(3.5)= 43.5	3(10+1)+3(6)= 51
Oreni's scorching ray	4d6			×2	4(1)= 4	4(3.5)= 14	4(6)= 24	2(4(1))= 8	2(4(3.5))= 28	2(4(6))= 48	4(6)= 24

The moral of all this is that if you have a decent chance to hit, you will likely do more damage using the standard rules, but if you need a good roll to hit, you are better off with the house rule. Also, the larger your bonus damage is, the more advantage you will get from using the standard rule.

Feats and Such

Reach Spell

Warning: this house rule is broken (you can tell because it is hard to imagine any caster that wouldn't take this feat). It also changes magic a bit (particularly for clerics and other healers). We know. We don't care. It's fun.

This one started as a mistake, but was active for long enough to make us keep it. Reach Spell is no longer a metamagic feat. It is a standard feat that lets the caster cast any touch spell as a ranged touch attack if within "point blank" range (30').

Intensified Spell

Since, as written, intensified spell applies to such a small number of spells, we allow it to extend the level caps for certain spells beyond just damage dice. It now explicitly applies to spells that generate a level capped number of items per casting, including magic missile, scorching ray and call lightning.

It also applies to spells with damage formulae such as "2d8 + caster level (max x)", increasing x by five (i.e. most cure spells, produce flame, fire shield, etc.). This change is not all that useful in most cases (e.g. healing spells), as often you are better off casting a higher level spell instead of adding paying the one level metagmagic penalty. Might be worth it for druids casting heals or when using a metamagic rod. This feat still does not apply to non-damage formulae of this form (e.g. ray of enfeeblement).

Vital Strike

From the look of the errata, looks like we read this one wrong as well, but we're keeping it too. We allow any attack to be declared (post attack roll) as a vital strike, but only once per round.

Arcane Strike

Alchemists count as "arcane casters" for the purposes of qualifying for this feat. This may or may not be "official"; depends on who you ask. (Hero Lab does it this way, for example).

Arterial Strike

This is a new feat, adapted from (but a bit more flexible than) the feat of the same name in Complete Warrior.

Prerequisite: Sneak attack ability, base attack bonus +4.
Benefit: If you hit with a sneak attack, you may choose to forgo one or more +1d6 of extra sneak attack damage to deliver a wound that won't stop bleeding. For each die forgone, the target takes 1 bleed. Bleed from multiple arterial strikes stacks with each other, but not with other bleed effects that deal damage.

Close Shot (Combat)

This is a new feat, which extends "point blank" range.

Prerequisite: base attack bonus +3.
Benefit: Any effect which specifically only works within "point blank" range may be used from an additional 30' away. That is, "point blank" range becomes 60'. Situations that benefit from this feat include:

Using Point Blank Shot.
Sneak attacking with ranged weapons.
Using the Reach Spell feat (see above).
Casting touch spells from wands (see below).
The Furtive Shot rogue talent (see below).

Normal: Point blank range is normally 30'.

Furtive Shot

This is a new rogue talent:

Furtive Shot (Ex): If within point-blank range of a target that is flanked by two or more of your allies, you may sneak attack that target with a ranged weapon.

Magical Items

Pearl of Power

Spontaneous casters can use a pearl of power to restore a spell slot, with one restriction: that slot can only be used to cast a specific spell that the user has already cast that day (specified when the perl is used). Also, anyone using a pearl must spend a full action to do so.

Wands

We treat wands as if they all have the Reach Spell feat (see above). That is, if they cast a touch spell, they can do so as a ranged touch attack from 30 feet away.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-In no particular order, some possibilities for [[Stag]]. These make use of the [[Exalted Improving|costs and training table]].
+House rules for the [[campaign::Dissolution]] campaign.
-== The Way of the Ass-Kicking Martial Artist ==
+== Basic Conversion ==
-=== Short Term Goal: Mastering a lesser martial art ===
+Since ''Ptolus'' is a 3.5 production, some basic [[Ptolus Pathfinder Conversion|conversion to ''Pathfinder'']] was required.
-Stag cannot learn sidereal martial art form charms (see following goals) until he learns every charm in a lesser martial art. Since he already knows many charms in the Violet Bier of Sorrows tree, it would be logical to finish the rest:
+== Classes ==
-*''Conclusion-Pursing Approach'' (pg. 181, 9xp, 40 hours training). For a scene, gain a point of Willpower each time you do damage. Also, opponents wound penalties are tripled when attacking you or defending against Martial Arts attacks from you. You can also enhance this with a prayer strip to remove a point of Willpower from your target each time you do damage. Since this is the pinnacle charm for this style, learning it requires a trainer.
+We add some unofficial classes:
-=== Medium Term Goal: Four Magical Materials Form ===
+* [[Elemental Druid]] - a variation of the druid class, based on the four elements instead of animals and nature.
+* [[Arcane Hierophant (Pathfinder)|Arcane Hierophant]] - a divine/arcane prestige class lifted and mutated from 3.5.
+* [[Spellsword_(Pathfinder)|Spellsword]] - a gish prestige class lifted and (severely) mutated from 3.5. After using it for a while, we ditched it.
-This is a sidereal form that Stag already has most of the prerequisites for. To finish:
+== Experience ==
-* Master a lesser martial art (see above)
+=== Progression ===
-* Increase Essence to 5 (32xp, 4 months training)
-* Find a sidereal teacher.
-* From the teacher, learn ''Four Magical Materials Form'' (pg. 191, 10xp, 240 hours training). When active, he becomes a living artifact (+12B/+12L soak, +7L damage, +2 to speed/accuracy/defense, ability to parry lethal and ranged attacks with bare hands, convert any lethal damage you receive to bashing, strike at distance and all the bonuses of Five Jade Fury).
-=== Long Term Goal: Games of Divinity Form ===
+This is a really casual game that doesn't meet very often. So, we are using the "fast" experience table.
-This form builds from God Ways. It isn't quite as impressive as the previous one, but isn't as difficult, either. You need:
+=== Ding! ===
-* Find a sidereal teacher.
+Along the same lines: we follow a more video game style of advancement. As soon as you gain enough XP to level, you ''immediately'' do so. In addition, you regain all hit points and gain and benefits as if having taken a full rest (spells refresh, etc.). There are campaigns where things like training and safe zones and such matter; this isn't one of them.
-* From the teacher, learn at least one instance of ''(Type) Exalt Ways'' (pg. 193, 10xp, 192 hours training), where ''type'' is is a type of exalted. Your anima banner will appear as this type of exalt for five turns while active. You also get five automatic successes for every test using an ability favored by the type. For example, suppose you learned Earth Dragon-Blooded Ways. Your anima (if visible) would erupt into a mantle of white and yellow light, shifting like rolling sand. Earth aspect dragon-blooded favor Awareness, Craft, Endurance, Martial Arts and Resistance, so at the time of casting, you could choose one of these and get automatic successes in tests using it. Note that lunars favor attributes (e.g. Dexterity) instead of abilities. [[Hammer in the Woods]] knows the Eclipse version of this charm.
-* Master a lesser martial art (see above)
-* Increase Essence to 5 (32xp, 4 months training)
-* From the teacher, learn ''Games of Divinity Form'' (pg. 194, 10xp, 240 hours training). When this form is active, attackers must fail a Compassion roll to be able to attack you, even if you are beating the crap out of them at the time. People who see this form may also become addicted to watching it.
-=== Long Term Goal: Demesne and Manse Form ===
+== Sneak Attacks and Ranged Weapons ==
-A short path to another form. It isn't quite as impressive as the previous one, but isn't as difficult, either. You need:
+Just a clarification to the standard rules on sneak attacks:
-* Find a sidereal teacher.
+* Sneak attacks ''can'' be made with ranged weapons, so long as the rogue is within "point-blank" range (30').
-* From the teacher, learn ''Demesne Emulation Practice'' (pg. 193, 10xp, 192 hours training). For a scene, each time you hit something, you also do a separate batch of aggravated damage.
+* Sneak attacks are allowed if the target is denied a Dex bonus, or if the rouge flanks the target.
-* Master a lesser martial art (see above)
+* You cannot normally flank a target with a ranged weapon.
-* Increase Essence to 5 (32xp, 4 months training)
-* From the teacher, learn ''Demesne and Manse Form'' (pg. 194, 10xp, 240 hours training). When this form is active, a 5 dot hearthstone is brought into existence, with a power matching Stag's personality.
-=== Long Term Goal: Soul Fire Shaper Form ===
+So, as practical matter, the only way you can typically sneak attack with a ranged weapon is by denying the target a Dex bonus (or by using Furtive Shot, below). Targets lose their Dex bonus to AC in any of the following situations:
-A longer path to another form. It contains some extremely potent abilities for messing with other people's magic. You need:
+* Target is [[pfsrd:gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Blinded|blinded]]
+* Target is [[pfsrd:gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Cowering|cowering]]
+* Target is [[pfsrd:gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Flat-Footed|flat-footed]] and does not have [[pfsrd:classes/basic-classes/rogue#TOC-Uncanny-Dodge-Ex-|Uncanny Dodge]]
+* Target is [[pfsrd:gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Helpless|helpless]]
+* Target is [[pfsrd:gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Stunned|stunned]]
+* Target is [[pfsrd:skills/climb|climbing]]
+* Target is running.
+* Attacker is [[pfsrd:gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Invisible|invisible]]
+* Attacker successfully [[pfsrd:gamemastering---final/combat---final#TOC-Feint|feints]] against the target.
+* Attacker or ally uses [[pfsrd:feats/greater-feint-combat---final|Greater Feint]] against the target.
-* Find a sidereal teacher.
+== Touch Attack Effects ==
-* From the teacher, learn ''Charm Redirection Technique'' (pg. 191, 10xp, 192 hours training). Use a parry action to either cancel or re-target someone else's charm as it is being activated.
-* From the teacher, learn ''Sequential Charm Disruption'' (pg. 192, 10xp, 192 hours training, requires Charm Redirection Technique). Expands on Charm Redirection Technique, allowing the cancellation or redirection of already running charms and Combos.
-* From the teacher, learn ''Spell-Shattering Palm'' (pg. 193, 10xp, 192 hours training). Attack a spell, countering it if successful.
-* From the teacher, learn ''Astrology Interruption Method'' (pg. 192, 10xp, 192 hours training). Attack astrological effects, canceling them if successful. This can even target the resplendent destinies of sidereals when they are not active.
-* Master a lesser martial art (see above)
-* Increase Essence to 5 (32xp, 4 months training)
-* From the teacher, learn ''Soul Fire Shaper Form'' (pg. 193, 10xp, 240 hours training). When this form is active, your Essence rating becomes effectively 10 (e.g. effects that "add your Essence rating", will add 10 instead of your normal Essence). This also increases the size of your personal and peripheral essence pools, but does ''not'' fill them; effects that regain essence will fill them up as normal, though. In addition, each turn you can make one free use of one of the four charms mentioned in this section.
-=== Ultimate Goal: Prismatic Arrangement of Creation Form ===
+Not sure if this is actually a house rule or just a clarification. Certain powers require a successful touch attack. For such powers that have a limited number of uses per day (e.g. ''[[pfsrd-spell:p/produce-flame|produce flame]]'', ''[[pfsrd-spell:c/chill-touch|chill touch]]'', the touch power from the Evil domain, etc.) we allow these powers to activate on standard natural or unarmed attacks as well. (If the user is willing to expend a use of the power, why not?) Further, if the user has several of these effects available, they can activate as many of them as they like on the same attack (provided they expend a use of each power, of course). Such activations can also be stacked on top of "always on" effects of a touch attack (e.g. a lich's paralyzing touch, a spectre's energy drain, etc.).
-This is the pinnacle of the sidereal form Stag has started on. You need:
+None of these effects can be used during attacks of opportunity.
-* Learn Four Magical Materials Form (see above)
+Note that this rule tends to be much more useful for monsters than it does for PCs.
-* Learn Games of Divinity Form (see above)
-* Learn Demesne and Manse Form (see above)
-* Learn Soul Fire Shaper Form (see above)
-* Find a sidereal teacher.
-* From the teacher, learn ''Soul Fire Shaper Form'' (pg. 194, 10xp, 240 hours training). This form doubles initiative and you notice everything happening within 50 yards (though noticing hidden things requires a Perception + Awarness roll, which you make for free and get automatic successes). The form's main benefit, however, is that it allows you to wave the restriction on using only one martial arts form at a time. You can activate all of the forms of this style as well as any two others.
-== The Way of Virtue ==
+== Bloodline Attacks ==
-Sidereals use the four virtues more than the other exalts. Among other things, for each virtue there is an "essence replenishment" charm that costs nothing to use (they are always on, like Ox-Body) that restore twice the virtue motes any time the virtue is rolled or a particular condition is met. Stag has one of these already (for Conviction) and have the prerequisites for two others (Valor, Compassion). Virtues can be rolled in two ways. First, you might roll them directly to defend against something (usually a spirit charm). More commonly, you can "channel" them. To channel a virtue, convince the GM that a virtue might come into play for what you are trying to do. For example, say you see a slave being beaten and want to smack the beater in the mouth. You could probably convince me that you could channel Compassion for your attack roll, since you are protecting the oppressed. You would then spend a point of Willpower to channel the virtue, which would give you extra dice equal to the virtue's rating for the roll. If you had Compassionate Essence Replenishment, you'd regain 2*Compassion motes.
+Many of the sorcerer bloodlines bestow a standard action minor attack as bloodline power at first level, usable a limited number of times per day, but not really scaling well with level (apart from a very minor damage bump, usually). These powers are intended to give a first level sorcerer a bit more firepower, but they quickly become useless as the sorcerer levels, having better things to do with a standard action. This makes them significantly worse (and more boring) than some otherwise equivalent bloodline powers that do scale well with level.
-Sidereals can milk this even further because they have charms that allow them to channel specific virtues even when they are not appropriate (that is, you don't need to convince the GM to let you use them). You have some of these already. For example, your charms that disintegrate zombies can always channel Valor. If you had Heroic Essence Replenishment, you'd gain 2*Valor motes for doing so.
+We change these powers to scale the ''timing'' of the minor attack with level. This still keeps them in the realm of small utility benefits, but turns these powers into something a rational sorcerer might actually have a reason to use at any level. These powers gain the following text: "At fifth level, this ability may be used as a move action. At tenth level, this ability may be used as a swift action. At fifteenth level, this ability may be used as an immediate action."
-Virtues are also important to sidereals because they provide limits or conditions to several charms. Optimistic Security Practice, for example, only works against targets with Essence less than your Compassion.
+This ruling effects at least the following powers (bloodline): acid ray (shaitan), acidic ray (abberant), electricity ray (djinni), elemental ray (elemental), fire ray (efreeti), frost ray (marid), heavenly fire (celestial), horrific visage (accursed), minute meteors (starsoul), wasting ray (dæmon)
-Lastly, the size of your Essence pool is calculated using virtues (among other things). Increasing a virtue increases your peripheral pool by one. Similarly, increasing your Willpower increases both your personal and peripheral pools by one (not to mention allows you to channel virtues more often). So:
+== Critical hits ==
-* Increase Compassion to 3 (6xp, 0 training time) to increase pool and make ''Optimistic Security Practice'' effective against low level exalts.
+When you roll within your critical range, you have a choice:
-* Learn ''Heroic Essence Replenishment'' (pg. 159, 9xp, 16 hours training). Regain 2*Valor motes anytime you roll Valor or make a Presence roll that bends an enemy to your will.
-* Learn ''Compassionate Essence Replenishment'' (pg. 149, 9xp, 16 hour training). Regain 2*Compassion  motes anytime you roll Compassion or a Performance roll gives people a significant surge of favorable feeling toward you.
-== The Way of Motion ==
+* You may roll for a critical hit, as per the standard rules.
+* You may automatically just take max weapon damage. (If your critical multiplier is &times;3, you deal two times max weapon damage. At &times;4, you deal three times max damage.)
+* You may roll for a critical hit, and on confirmation, draw a card from the Critical Hit deck, doing what the card says. If your critical multiplier is &times;3, you add one to the multiplier mentioned on the card. With a &times;4 multiplier, you add two.
+* You may roll for a critical hit, and on confirmation, draw a number of cards from the Critical Hit deck: &times;2 multiplier draws one card, &times;3 draws two, &times;4 draws three. You then select ''one'' of the cards and do what it says exactly (i.e. no adjusting the multiplier).
-Stag has already spent some xp to bump Athletics. This allows him to learn several Athletics charms. In general, Athletics charms tend to be used both in and out of combat. There are only five charms in the whole tree, with the final charm being seriously useful.
+This is a bit of a trade off. All attacks deal three types of damage, and each choice deals with them differently:
-=== Goal: Invisible Motion ===
+{| class="wikitable"
+|-
+| '''Type''' || Weapon damage || Bonus damage || Ancillary damage
+|-
+| '''Description''' || the base dice damage of the weapon || fixed damage from strength, magical plusses, etc. || sneak attack, vital strike, added energy damage, etc.
+|-
+| '''Standard rules''' || colspan="2" | Make to-hit roll again. If you would hit, damage calculated a number of times equal to your critical multiplier (usually &times;2) || Applied only once, even if critical succeeded.
+|-
+| '''House rule''' || colspan="2" | ''No additional roll needed''. Damage roll treated as if highest number came up on each die. If multiplier is &times;3, multiply the result by 2. If multiplier is &times;4 multiply the result by 3. ||  Applied only once
+|}
-This charm is the top of the tree and lasts for an entire day. This means you could theoretically cast it using peripheral essence in the morning while hidden somewhere, then wait for a half-hour or so for your anima banner to subside.  To learn this charm, you need to learn its prerequisites. You can learn the following right away:
+To use abilities that trigger off of critical hits (such as critical feats), you ''must'' make the confirmation roll to determine if they take effect; however, you can still elect (prior to rolling) either damage option. For example, if someone with the Bleeding Critical feat rolled within their critical range, they could take the max damage, then roll a confirmation to see if the bleeding crit triggers, or they could roll the confirmation and, if successful, roll extra damage and the bleeding crit triggers.
-* ''Burn Life'' (pg. 174, 9xp, 32 hours self-training). Roll Essence + Athletics. For each success, add a dot to Strength, Dexterity and/or Stamina for the rest of the scene.
+In most cases, the house rule will result in a lower ''average'' damage, but is reliable (i.e. you don't need to make the confirming "attack" roll). Some examples, always assuming a critical actually happens:
-* ''Forgotten Earth'' (pg. 175, 9xp, 32 hours self-training). Triple your leaping distance for a single jump (i.e. Strength + Athletics in vertical yards, times three).
-* Raise Athletics to 3 (3xp, no training needed).
-* ''Inexorable Advance'' (pg. 175, 9xp, 48 hours self-training). Ignore wound penalties for five turns.
-* ''Hungry Touch'' (pg. 174, 9xp, 48 hours self-training), need Burn Life first. Become extra effective at destroying objects.
-* Raise Athletics to 4 (5xp, no training needed).
-* ''Invisible Motion'' (pg. 175, 9xp, 64 hours self-training). For the rest of the day (24 hours), you suffer no penalties for wounds or to running speed. You double your movement rate. Every turn, you get a number of automatic successes equal to your Athletics score that you can spend on any physical action.
-== The Way of Buffness ==
+{| class="wikitable centeredcells"
+|-
+! !! colspan="4" | Damage Roll !! colspan="3" | No crit || colspan="3" | Standard crit (if achieved) || colspan="3" | House rule
+|-
+! Situation !! Weapon !! Bonus !! Ancillary || Crit range !! Min !! Average !! Max !! Min !! Average !! Max !! Min !! Average !! Max
+|-
+| '''Lostwhite w/ +1 flaming flail''' || 1d8 || +9 || +1d6 fire || &times;2 || 1+9+1=<br/>11 || 4.5+9+3.5=<br/>17 || 8+9+6=<br/>23 || 2(1+9)+1=<br/>21 || 2(4.5+9)+3.5=<br/>30.5 || 2(8+9)+6=<br/>40 || 8+9+1=<br/>18 || 8+9+3.5=<br/>20.5 || 8+9+6=<br/>23
+|-
+| '''Lostwhite w/ +1 greatsword''' || 2d6 || +11 || || &times;2 || 2+11=<br/>13 || 7+11=<br/>18 || 12+11=<br/>23 || 2(1+11)=<br/>24 || 2(7+11)=<br/>36 || 2(12+11)=<br/>46 || colspan="3" | 12+11=<br/>23
+|-
+| '''Lostwhite w/ +1 battleaxe''' || 1d8 || +7 || || '''&times;3''' || 1+7=<br/>8 || 4.5+7=<br/>11.5 || 8+7=<br/>15 || 3(1+7)=<br/>24 || 3(4.5+7)=<br/>34.5 || 3(8+7)=<br/>45 || colspan="3" | 2(8+7)=<br/>30
+|-
+| '''Caralaria w/ fist and vital strike''' || 1d10 || +6 || +1d10 || &times;2 || 1+6+1=<br/>8 || 5.5+6+5.5=<br/>16 || 10+6+10=<br/>26 || 2(1+6)+1=<br/>15 || 2(5.5+6)+5.5=<br/>28.5 || 2(10+6)+10=<br/>42 || 10+6+1=<br/>17 || 10+6+5.5=<br/>21.5 || 10+6+10=<br/>26
+|-
+| '''Scoffney w/ +1 rifle''' || 1d10 || +1 || || '''&times;4''' || 1+1=<br/>2 || 5.5+1=<br/>6.5 || 10+1=<br/>11 || 4(1+1)=<br/>8 || 4(5.5+1)=<br/>26 || 4(10+1)=<br/>44 || colspan="3" | 3(10+1)=<br/>33
+|-
+| '''Scoffney w/ +1 rifle and sneak attack''' || 1d10 || +1 || +3d6 || '''&times;4''' || 1+1+3=<br/>5 || 5.5+1+3(3.5)=<br/>17 || 10+1+3(6)=<br/>29 || 4(1+1)+3=<br/>11 || 4(5.5+1)+3(3.5)=<br/>36.5 || 4(10+1)+3(6)=<br/>62 || 3(10+1)+3=<br/>36 || 3(10+1)+3(3.5)=<br/>43.5 || 3(10+1)+3(6)=<br/>51
+|-
+| '''Oreni's ''scorching ray''''' || 4d6 || || || &times;2 || 4(1)=<br/>4 || 4(3.5)=<br/>14 || 4(6)=<br/>24 || 2(4(1))=<br/>8 || 2(4(3.5))=<br/>28 || 2(4(6))=<br/>48 || colspan="3" | 4(6)=<br/>24
+|}
-There are a couple of random increases Stag could make:
+The moral of all this is that if you have a decent chance to hit, you will likely do more damage using the standard rules, but if you need a good roll to hit, you are better off with the house rule. Also, the larger your bonus damage is, the more advantage you will get from using the standard rule.
-* Increase Strength to 4 (12xp, 1536 hours self-training)
+== Feats and Such ==
-* Increase Dexterity to 4 (12xp, 1536 hours self-training)
-* An additional level of ''Ox-Body Technique'' (11xp, 48 hours self-training).
-* Endurance to 3 (3xp, 288 hours of self-training)
-* Another additional level of ''Ox-Body Technique'' (11xp, 64 hours self-training).
-* Endurance to 4 (5xp, 384 hours of self-training)
-* Another additional level of ''Ox-Body Technique'' (11xp, 80 hours self-training).
-== The Way of Intuition ==
+=== Reach Spell ===
-You mentioned wanting to increase your Lore ability. Since you do not have this as a favored ability, it will be more expensive and take longer. The Lore charms are a bit odd, even for sidereal charms. They largely have to do with either gaining bonuses for abilities or manipulating fate in some way. Some of these charms require the participation of additional sidereals, so may not be that useful to you. In addition, the final charm in the tree seems not worth the effort to me.
+''Warning: this house rule is broken (you can tell because it is hard to imagine any caster that wouldn't take this feat). It also changes magic a bit (particularly for clerics and other healers). We know. We don't care. It's fun.''
-There are some useful things here, though. The first charm in the tree is needed for all that follow:
+This one started as a mistake, but was active for long enough to make us keep it. Reach Spell is no longer a metamagic feat. It is a standard feat that lets the caster cast any touch spell as a ranged touch attack if within "point blank" range (30').
-* ''Systematic Understanding of Everything'' (pg. 166, 11xp, 32 hours self-training). Gain a +1 specialty until you sleep. This is basically an extra die for using specific ability in a specific way. For example, you might pick a +1 swords specialty. This would give you an extra dice to Martial Arts attacks, but only when using swords. You'd also get the die for, say, Craft rolls involving swords. You choose the specialty at casting time.
+=== Intensified Spell ===
-After learning it, you could do the following (in any order):
+Since, as written, intensified spell applies to such a small number of spells, we allow it to extend the level caps for certain spells beyond just damage dice. It now explicitly applies to spells that generate a level capped number of items per casting, including ''magic missile'', ''scorching ray'' and ''call lightning''.
-* ''The Methodology of Secrets'' (pg. 167, 11xp, 64 hours self-training). Similar to Systematic Understanding of Everything, but using the specialty with a specific ability is at +3 dice instead of +1.
+It also applies to spells with damage formulae such as "2d8 + caster level (max ''x'')", increasing ''x'' by five (i.e. most cure spells, ''produce flame'', ''fire shield'', etc.). This change is not all that useful in most cases (e.g. healing spells), as often you are better off casting a higher level spell instead of adding paying the one level metagmagic penalty. Might be worth it for druids casting heals or when using a metamagic rod. This feat still does not apply to non-damage formulae of this form (e.g. ''ray of enfeeblement'').
-* ''Avoiding the Truth Technique'' (pg. 169, 11xp, 80 hours of self-training). Convince target that a true statement you utter is a lie.
-You could also/instead increase your Lore to 4 and learn these:
+=== Vital Strike ===
-* Increase Lore to 4 (6xp, 384 hours self-training)
+From the look of the errata, looks like we read this one wrong as well, but we're keeping it too. We allow any attack to be declared (post attack roll) as a vital strike, but only once per round.
-* ''Of the Shape of the World'' (pg. 168, 11xp, 112 hours self-training). Lower target number on astrology rolls.
-* ''Of Secrets Yet Untold'' (pg. 168, 11xp, 96 hours self-training). Bind a spirit to owe you a favor, chosen by necessity, not desire. While bound, spirit has penalties to initiate hostile action against you.
-== The Way of Knowing ==
+=== Arcane Strike ===
-Stag is on his way into the Investigation charm tree. These charms basically allow the harvesting of information the sidereal has never actually learned in various ways. Given that he is looking for answers to questions that others most others have never even considered, this could help him a lot.
+Alchemists count as "arcane casters" for the purposes of qualifying for this feat. This may or may not be "official"; depends on who you ask. (Hero Lab does it this way, for example).
-=== Goal: Embracing Life Method ===
+=== Arterial Strike ===
-To learn this you need the following (any order):
+This is a new feat, adapted from (but a bit more flexible than) the feat of the same name in ''Complete Warrior''.
-* ''Marvelous Inclusion of Details'' (pg. 163, 11xp, 32 hours self-training). Add automatic successes to an Investigation roll. Also helps locate type of evidence you want to find.
+'''Prerequisite''': Sneak attack ability, base attack bonus +4.<br/>
-* ''Raise Investigation to 3'' (4xp, 288 hours self-training) then 4 (6xp, 384 hours self-training).
+'''Benefit''': If you hit with a sneak attack, you may choose to forgo one or more +1d6 of extra sneak attack damage to deliver a wound that won't stop bleeding. For each die forgone, the target takes 1 [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/conditions#TOC-Bleed bleed]. Bleed from multiple arterial strikes stacks with each other, but not with other bleed effects that deal damage.
-* Once done, learn Embracing Life Method (pg. 164, 11xp, 112 hours self-training). Form a question while writing a prayer stip and plant a the strip like a seed. It grows into a tree the next day. Over the next five days, spirits are drawn to it and leave small gifts and information relevant to the question.
-== The Way of Sorcery ==
+=== Close Shot (Combat) ===
-Stag has Occult as a favored ability. If you want to take Stag in a whole new direction, he could become a sorcerer. His essence is already high enough to cast Celestial Circle Sorcery (Jorias, the only other sorcerer in the group, only has Essence 3, so he is at least three months away from being able to do this). Those bone lions you fought are an example of Celestial Circle Sorcery. The drawback to it is that spells require a lot of essence.
+This is a new feat, which extends "point blank" range.
-=== Goal: Terrestrial Circle Sorcery ===
+'''Prerequisite''': base attack bonus +3.<br/>
+'''Benefit''': Any effect which specifically only works within "point blank" range may be used from an additional 30' away. That is, "point blank" range becomes 60'. Situations that benefit from this feat include:
+* Using [[pfsrd:feats/point-blank-shot-combat---final|Point Blank Shot]].
+* Sneak attacking with ranged weapons.
+* Using the Reach Spell feat (see above).
+* Casting touch spells from wands (see below).
+* The Furtive Shot rogue talent (see below).
+'''Normal''': Point blank range is normally 30'.
-To follow this path, you need to do the following (in order):
+=== Furtive Shot ===
-* Occult to 3 (3 xp, no training time needed)
+This is a new [[pfsrd:classes/basic-classes/rogue#TOC-Rogue-Talents|rogue talent]]:
-* Find a trainer (Jorias would qualify, as would his trainer, Guen's friend Jaguan, also books from the tomb can act as tutors)
-* Undergo a five-stage initiation
-* Learn ''Terrestrial Circle Sorcery'' charm (pg. 171, 9xp, 24 hours training). This will also teach you a spell.
-* Acquire written spells. (You have tons of books.)
-* Learn spells from the writings (each spell 8xp, 48 hours self-training)
-=== Goal: Celestial Circle Sorcery ===
+''Furtive Shot ([[pfsrd:basics-ability-scores/glossary---final#TOC-Extraordinary-Abilities-Ex-|Ex]])'': If within point-blank range of a target that is flanked by two or more of your allies, you may sneak attack that target with a ranged weapon.
-One requirement for this circle for sidereals is that they must know a prayer strip charm. You already know one (Earth and Sky Bargain) and a number of others are suggested in these pages. To follow this path, you need to do the following (in order):
+== Magical Items ==
-* Learn Terrestrial Circle Sorcery (see above)
+=== Pearl of Power ===
-* Occult to 4 (5 xp, no training time needed)
-* Discover a method of initiation (some of Wyr'palja's books can help here)
-* Follow the method of initiation
-* Learn ''Celestial Circle Sorcery'' charm (pg. 171, 9xp, 64 hours self-training)
-* Learn spells from the writings (each spell 8xp, 48 hours self-training)
-=== Goal: Unweaving Method ===
+Spontaneous casters can use a ''[[pfsrd:magic-items/wondrous-items#TOC-Pearl-of-Power|pearl of power]]'' to restore a spell slot, with one restriction: that slot can only be used to cast a specific spell that the user has already cast that day (specified when the perl is used). Also, anyone using a pearl must spend a full action to do so.
-A number of other Occult charms exist. Stag knows one already (Incite Decorum). Stuff to learn along the way:
+=== Wands ===
-* ''Mark of Exaltation'' (pg. 170, 9xp, 16 hours self-training). Your caste mark casts a light seen only by spirits and sidereal, by which unmanifested spirits can be seen. Also gives one automatic success in social dealings with spirits or in Yu-Shan (heaven).
+We treat wands as if they all have the Reach Spell feat (see above). That is, if they cast a touch spell, they can do so as a ranged touch attack from 30 feet away.
-* ''Innocuous Maneuver'' (pg. 171, 9xp, 48 hours self-training), must know Mark of Exaltation. Gain a spirit's support in some political matter.
-* Once done, learn ''Unweaving Method'' (9xp, 64 hours self-training). Inflict unsoakable, undodgeable, unblockable aggravated damage on any object you can see.
-== The Way of Fate ==
-Stag has Craft (Fate) as a favored ability. This is good for working sidereal astrology. Astrology uses some involved dice rolling and planning to create long term bonuses and resplendent destinies. Because you are detached from sidereal society, many of the bonuses typically used in astrology tests will not be available to you. There are things you can do to get around this.
-There are 25 constellations. Each one has a body of learning to manipulate it called a college. The college provides a base number of dice for some of the tests involved in astrology, so increasing your rating in a college improves your chances. You can only work astrology in a college you know. You can do astrology in a college to create some kind of bonus or penalty related to that college (for example a blessing using the Mask might reduce the target number of any tests the target makes to conceal themselves). The effect is long term, ranging from months to a hundred generations. The target can be anything from a single person to hundreds of millions. The larger the target and the longer the time, the harder to succeed and the more paradox it generates. You may target yourself with these effects, but not other sidereals or targets outside fate (Primordials, Deathlords, demons of the second and third circles). Beings with essence greater than one require additional successes to be affected.
-Astrology may also be used to generate resplendent destinies on yourself, which can be worn as disguises. All destinies are “on” you at once, but only one (or none) is the “active” identity. The active identity will be remembered by people, but out of character acts generate paradox. Each identity has a number of “effect points”. These points can be burned to generate effects (based on college). Once all the effect points are gone, the identity vanishes, and people's memory of it along with it. Thus, sidereals usually have some destinies they only use as identities and others used only for effect dice. In a departure from standard rules, you may have multiple destinies from the same college on you at once, provided they are completely different identities.
-=== Goal: Improve Colleges ===
-Additional colleges will allow you you create different kinds of resplendent destiny. Increasing your rating in colleges you already have will allow more dice when generating effects. Some possibilities:
-* Increase the Lovers to 3 (6 xp, 192 hours self-training).
-* Learn the Captain to 1 (5 xp, 288 hours self-training). Increase to 2 (3 xp, 96 hours).
-* Learn the Musician to 1 (5 xp, 288 hours self-training). Increase to 2 (3 xp, 96 hours), then 3 (6 xp, 192 hours).
-* Learn the Pillar to 1 (5 xp, 288 hours self-training). Increase to 2 (3 xp, 96 hours), then 3 (6 xp, 192 hours).
-* Learn the Peacock to 1 (5 xp, 288 hours self-training). Increase to 2 (3 xp, 96 hours), then 3 (6 xp, 192 hours).
-* Learn the Ship's Wheel to 1 (5 xp, 288 hours self-training). Increase to 2 (3 xp, 96 hours).
-* Learn the Banner to 1 (5 xp, 288 hours self-training). Increase to 2 (3 xp, 96 hours).
-* Learn the Gauntlet to 1 (5 xp, 288 hours self-training). Increase to 2 (3 xp, 96 hours).
-* Learn the Quivver to 1 (5 xp, 288 hours self-training). Increase to 2 (3 xp, 96 hours).
-* Increase the Ewer to 3 (6 xp, 192 hours self-training).
-=== Goal: Practice Astrology ===
-You might want to spend some of the training time doing astrology instead. You could make a new resplendent destiny or provide a bonus for yourself of other members of the circle. Astrology can take many days to do well, and has a greater chance of failure than most things (failures simply generate no effect). Some possibilities:
-* Invoke the Ewer to lower your target numbers for seduction attempts by 1.
-* Invoke the Lovers to allow yourself (or party member) to gain a point of Willpower every time they have sex.
-* Invoke the Mask to lower Varden's difficulty when applying a disguise.
-* Invoke the Shield to curse someone such that their target number for parrying is increased by 1.
-== The Way of Serenity ==
-=== Goal: Greater Sign of Venus ===
-You can already make the Lesser Sign of Venus (this is your anima effect: 10 motes to give 4 successes on Performance rolls to you or allies). The Greater Sign is considerably more devastating: spend 10 motes, 1 dot of permanent Essence and 1 dot of permanent Willpower to manifest a brilliant blue aura around you. Within four or five miles of you, all magical effects that are not Solar Circle Sorcery or the work of greater gods (like the Maidens) snuff out. This include spells, effects from artifacts, charms, etc. This is obviously a very drastic thing to do, but imagine doing it facing an army of undead. Since undead are all animated by magical effects, they would all simply collapse.
-You don't need to spend xp to learn how to do this. All you need to do is have a rating of 3 in all of the Colleges in the House of Leisure (Ewer, Lovers, Musician, Peacock, Pillar).