[PF] Seeing the Writing in the Walls: A Cryptic Handbook

[Gee-chan]

Hello, I've newly joined this forum and would like to share with you the Cryptic Handbook I have been working on.

The handbook itself can be found here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1py_1rNW0H-GfMgYejgRf_dVqacvSt3daN91iSAM6tlE/edit?usp=sharing)

Any feedback, advice, fixes or insults are very welcome.

Still on the to-do list:
Archetypes
Feats and Traits
Items
Multiclassing and Gestalt
Fixes and Feedback

[Mithril Leaf]

Awesome, I'm really glad to see a new Cryptic handbook!

Might I request/suggest changing the color of the Cyan options to more of a Purple color? When you get around to it, the Brutal Disruptor is amazing. Eternal Tattoo can get you a decent amount of Aegis abilities or alternatively gain permanent 50% concealment from a non-illusion, non-intangibility effect. The natural attack Brutal Disruptor can deal more damage than most other things at a given level.

[N. Jolly]

Some things here.

-You have to actually establish what your colors mean, rating wise. Without a key, these are all just colors, and seeing how many people use different color codes, there's no clear way to tell what is what by colors alone, making them pretty difficult to follow.

-I'd suggest including a linked table of content to help people both find what they need more easily as well as to show what your guide covers, as right now it's somewhat haphazard in that respect.

-The race section to me at least has too much Cyan (agreeing with other posters that it should be purple.) At least for me, your highest rating should be more rare than this, but that's just my personal opinion.

-The bullet pointing is an interesting way to go with this, not really good or bad to me, just a different style that I haven't seen others do.

-For the power names, I'd bold them myself, make them more easily visible.

Aside from that all, I'd say it's the start to a pretty good guide, definitely worth checking out.

[Gee-chan]

Awesome, I'm really glad to see a new Cryptic handbook!

Might I request/suggest changing the color of the Cyan options to more of a Purple color? When you get around to it, the Brutal Disruptor is amazing. Eternal Tattoo can get you a decent amount of Aegis abilities or alternatively gain permanent 50% concealment from a non-illusion, non-intangibility effect. The natural attack Brutal Disruptor can deal more damage than most other things at a given level.

Cheers, I decided to do it because the old one was long-since abandoned.

I've taken your advice about colouring, so that is done.
I'm aware Brutal Disrupter is awesome, I'm just wanting to get the Powers and such done first so the base class is covered.


Some things here.

-You have to actually establish what your colors mean, rating wise. Without a key, these are all just colors, and seeing how many people use different color codes, there's no clear way to tell what is what by colors alone, making them pretty difficult to follow.

-I'd suggest including a linked table of content to help people both find what they need more easily as well as to show what your guide covers, as right now it's somewhat haphazard in that respect.

-The race section to me at least has too much Cyan (agreeing with other posters that it should be purple.) At least for me, your highest rating should be more rare than this, but that's just my personal opinion.

-The bullet pointing is an interesting way to go with this, not really good or bad to me, just a different style that I haven't seen others do.

-For the power names, I'd bold them myself, make them more easily visible.

Aside from that all, I'd say it's the start to a pretty good guide, definitely worth checking out.

Thanks for the feedback!
Yeah, I'd forgotten to do a colour key and I'll be doing an index once I get around to it. Right now the formatting is all over the places because I've been wanting to get the content in before I mess around with the layout.
That is the reason for the bullet points; it was just a way of sorting things while I got the info down to work with.

I'll look over the races again and be more harsh on the judgements. Looking over it again, though, I do see your point.

[stack]

Psionic meditation has a prerequisite of 13 wisdom, which maybe ought be mentioned in the attribute section.

[Gee-chan]

Psionic meditation has a prerequisite of 13 wisdom, which maybe ought be mentioned in the attribute section.

Very good point, I had forgotten about that. I've added a note about it.

[Novawurmson]

You already asked for this to be added to the guide to the guides, so IT SHALL BE SO!

[Gee-chan]

You already asked for this to be added to the guide to the guides, so IT SHALL BE SO!

Thanks, Nova!

Seeing as the hold guide was dead, there was no point not quickly getting this onto the index for people to peruse.

[Ilorin Lorati]

For traits, here's a few that will help with dumping Charisma for them:


Bruising Intellect (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/bruising-intellect)(especially for Brutal Disruptors!)
Pragmatic Activator (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/magic-traits/pragmatic-activator) (Considering their focus on gaining and using tattoos, this could be real nice)
Clever Wordplay (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay) (For Digsuise or someone that wants to use their magic trait on something else)


As always, Reactionary is god tier. There's also a guide for traits running around somewhere that you should look at for more stuff.

[Gee-chan]

For traits, here's a few that will help with dumping Charisma for them:


Bruising Intellect (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/bruising-intellect)(especially for Brutal Disruptors!)
Pragmatic Activator (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/magic-traits/pragmatic-activator) (Considering their focus on gaining and using tattoos, this could be real nice)
Clever Wordplay (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/social-traits/clever-wordplay) (For Digsuise or someone that wants to use their magic trait on something else)


As always, Reactionary is god tier. There's also a guide for traits running around somewhere that you should look at for more stuff.

Thanks for the suggestions! Yeah, the trait guide is great and I'd already got it linked.

[Tulya]

The Lost Mind's Gaze from Beyond varies in value depending on DM adjudication and playstyle.

Most creatures have no reason to be pre-emptively averting their gaze, and you should typically be able to use it as a PbAoE with a save. Just bear in mind that if other creatures treat you that you, you're going to be expected to treat unknown enemies with gaze attacks similarly.

Beyond that, it's not clear what action, if any, is involved in gaining the gaze attack.
If it's a non-action, and you just expend focus, then you can gaze every turn as soon as you get the ability by regaining focus as a full-round action. When you get Psionic Meditation or Essence Focus, you can also make a directed gaze as a standard action each turn.
If it's a standard action, you'll need focus management, and you'll never be able to use the directed gaze ability.

By RAW, other creatures of the same race as you may be immune to your gaze attack. With exotic races, you'll almost never grant that benefit to enemies, and you can potentially coordinate with allies - whether choosing the same race, or taking advantage of 'counts as race' feats/effects.

[Gee-chan]

Ok, so this is almost finished. Just need some advice on items and to do the multiclass section....which I suck at. If anyone with some time and the inclination could throw some ideas in the comments, that would be great.

I also added the Pattern Wielder archetype, which I had missed.

[Nyaa]

IIRC Unlocked Talent can't be taken by manifesters.

[Gee-chan]

IIRC Unlocked Talent can't be taken by manifesters.

No, it can be taken. It just melds it into whatever manifesting class you have.