Role-playing Games Stack Exchange
Role-playing Games Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [pathfinder-1e]

Pathfinder is an RPG originally derived from the open licensed rules to Dungeons & Dragons v3.5. It was published by Paizo Publishing in 2009. (For questions about the 2nd edition, use the tag [pathfinder-2e] instead.)

Pathfinder is a rebranded derivative of the d20 SRD (v3.5), which are the open licensed rules to Dungeons & Dragons v3.5. It is also licensed using the Open Gaming License and its rules are freely available online in the Pathfinder System Reference Document.

Pathfinder was created by Paizo Publishing, the company that was producing Dungeon Magazine and Dragon Magazine for Wizards of the Coast during the 3e/3.5e years. When Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition was released and was a significant change in rules and direction from 3.X, and was no longer offered under an open license, Paizo decided to effectively "fork" D&D and continue the original direction of the rules - as a result, some people refer to Pathfinder as "D&D v3.75," as it is mostly compatible with the 3.X branch of D&D.

Playtest materials for Pathfinder Second Edition were released on August 2, 2018; the full product was released on August 1, 2019. For questions about the 2nd edition, use the tag instead.

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Who actually makes the Magic Books that boost stats?

The Pathfinder game has a series of Tomes and Manuals that, when read, permanently boost a specific ability score. Examples include the Tome of Understanding (Wis) or the Manual of Gainful Exercise (Str). Looking at the construction requirements,…
Gates VP
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How can I better show players that enemies are not friends?

I'm a new GM playing Pathfinder with other newbies. The problem I'm facing is that the group tries to be friends with almost every humanoid that they meet. It's not that they dislike combat, it's just that they sometimes are able to talk their way…
pan0ramic
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How playable is Pathfinder at higher levels?

I know this is rather subjective, yet I'm curious about your experience. We're considering switching to Pathfinder from DnD3.5, partly because we've always found problems with the playability of the higher levels of the latter. (The mechanics got a…
OpaCitiZen
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How can I murder people and lie about it?

My character is a Halfing Rogue specializing in lying and ranged sneak kills with a concealed crossbow. With the Childlike and Pass for Human feats plus max ranks in Bluff I'm crazy good at a believable lie if I act like a child and in theory I…
Ben Brocka
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What does 1-1/2 mean?

In Pathfinder I've seen the phrase "adds 1-1/2 the creature's strength bonus on damage rolls" Does that mean multiply by 1.5?
Nerevar
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How can I thwart a vampire in the party planning on dominating all of us?

We have a party member in Pathfinder get bitten on purpose where the rest of the party didn't see, so he turned into a vampire and nobody knows in-game. He is pretty much planing on turning the whole party into his slaves, and I wanted to know if…
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Do desert heat hazards actually pose a threat to a Pathfinder party?

I am about to bring my characters into the desert in my campaign, so I decided to read up on desert rules. From the Pathfinder SRD: Heat deals nonlethal damage that cannot be recovered from until the character gets cooled off (reaches shade,…
NT3RP
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Dispel Magic vs multiple summons

Dispel magic says: If you target an object or creature that is the effect of an ongoing spell (such as a monster summoned by summon monster), you make a dispel check to end the spell that conjured the object or creature. If a summoner uses…
Tim B
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Can a cat kill a rat?

The Cat is so weak (STR 3) that it's melee attacks don't do any damage. 2 claws (1d2–4), bite (1d3–4). Both have +4 to attack roll due to weapon finesse+dexterity bonus - so the cat will hit things, just do -3=>0 to -1=0 damage. Same is true for the…
Julix
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Do Attack of Opportunity and Readied Action both apply?

Suppose I have a rogue facing an enemy spell-caster. My rogue drinks a potion of invisibility, stealths behind the caster, and readies an action to attack when the caster casts a spell. The caster obligingly casts a spell without casting…
C. Ross
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How can I overcome spell resistance?

Is there a reasonably complete collection of ways for casters to overcome spell resistance?
ladenedge
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Can a blink dog take items with them when using their Dimension Door ability?

Blink dogs have "quickened Dimension Door (self only)" as an at-will spell-like ability. I am having some trouble determining exactly what the "self only" restriction entails in this case. It clearly intends to forbid the blink dog bringing along…
Matthew Najmon
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How do you choose treasure for encounters with creatures that drop treasure?

In the past, I generally try to send the PCs off on a quest "yadda yadda yadda, kill this and I'll give you 200 gold!" However, this time, my PCs went off without any quest and entered a cave. I designed the cave and put some Ghouls in there. The…
Nerevar
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Is there a noticeably better buffer class in Pathfinder?

I tend to min/max slightly and outshine my fellow players so in the next campaign I decided to play a support role who buffs the other players to avoid this and help my fellow players shine. My aim is to be a buffer first and foremost with little…
Aaron
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Why can you only craft one magic item per day?

Most magical items of any significant power will take far longer than one day to create. Given the crafting rate of 1 day per 1,000 gold, it seems unlikely there will be any serious balance concerns with allowing multiple inexpensive items in a…
Eric B
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