Legendary Games Presents: Arcforge: Stars Left Behind (Playtest)

[Thealtruistorc]

Well, this project is going again.

At present, there are three more Arcforge books which are finished and in the publication process. However, those weren't playtested in the open, and after all the help that you folks have offered in the past I felt like I was cheating you all a bit by doing that.

That said, this was far from the last thing that we have planned for Arcforge, and I will be resuming open playtests for the next few books in the series.

Arcforge: Stars Left Behind (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hwGqv5hxOqFU917rOmeFOIEbjYl98k6N7hq9KQP0-cU/edit) is a playtest which will constitute three books in total and contain a wide variety of content for Pathfinder and Starfinder. Quite a bit has been written, but plenty more is to come.

So far we've got...

-The Pilot Combat Sphere for Spheres of Power, designed for characters who utilize vehicles much in the same way Beastmastery is built for animal masterys

-A new Technomanncy Wild Magic Table for everyone wondering how technomantic magic can backfire.

-The Inspiring Captain, a new Charisma-focused Helmsman

-The Esoteric Machinist, a spheres-based Technomancer archetype

-New options for the Aegis, Occultist, Sorcerer, Tactician, and Zealot classes

-A wide variety of new Feats for characters

-A whole bunch of Spells and Powers tied to the mysteries of the greater Arcforge setting

-And finally, a wide variety of new Monsters for players to do battle against


Feel free to look through this, because we've got a lot to cover. Input is most certainly appreciated.

[StSword]

I don't suppose you'd share the intended themes of the three books?

I see quite a few possibilities with Pilot there. A Combat Engineer Blacksmith who is always fiddling with his vehicle's abilities, a Trick Gunner Armiger who gives his vehicles trick weaponry, a hi tech Armorist who gives his mecha special armor qualities...I've always figured it's a good sign when a game idea is inspirational. :)

[Thealtruistorc]

Updated with 5 new archetypes, all of which use Spheres of Might and several of which use Spheres of Power.

The Gearmaster Mechanic, who amplifies equipment with a wide variety of abilities

The Cosmic Prophet Mystic, whose powers guide civilization toward a variety of destinies.

The Agent of Resolution Operative, a spheres user with great versatility and impressive trick attack capacity

The Monadic Sage Solarian, a frontliner whose magical abilities are amplified as attunement increases

And finally, the Elite Commando Soldier, who utilizes both martial excellence and modernized warfare assets.

[khadgar567]

monadic sage solarion is kinda nuts in good was as this archetype solves nearly every issue solarian have and answers the issues never raise to surfice 20 blended training along with stelar manifestations yes please and rejoice folks you can get your stelar manifestations from any mental stat so that low skill points or being not effective in ship combat is no longer issue as all it takes is one regular sleep and you are ready for day with fresh list of talents to choose so grab barrage or sniper sphere for weapons duty or put few talents to leadership and make all of your captaining problems gone. oh no they board the ship well jack choose your poison from large array of options from precision damage to advance acrobatics that made your daredevil operative friend cry out in futustiration and that's not and if you want you can ditch your solar weapon and punch out the invaders like armor storm soldier and not being in armor is not a damn problem as equipment sphere solved that issue thousands of year ago.

sory for sales pitch there as i like the archetype so much to shut up.

[StSword]

monadic sage solarion is kinda nuts in good was as this archetype solves nearly every issue solarian have and answers the issues never raise to surfice 20 blended training along with stelar manifestations yes please

10 blended training- They only gain a talent every other level.

Oh anyway, I've been thinking about something, since this has a Helmsman archetype it's relevant, so I thought I'd suggest it here.

Classes that have stagnant spell lists, or in this case veil list, tend to get left behind as more books of goodies get produced that don't have them in mind.

So I imagine there are people who like the Helmsman, and well I'm aware of three books that have been produced since then that add more veils.

Now obviously going through all the books would be demanding too much and would only be a stopgap measure to begin with, so how about a note for the Helmsman in one of these books along the lines of "Here are the themes of Helmsman veils, if a veil matches one of these themes, it can be added to the Helmsman veil list."

I imagine I would not be the only one who would find a rule of thumb helpful there.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

[Thealtruistorc]

And we're back with a flurry of new updates!

The Cynosure Envoy archetype, a sphere user focused on coordinating and boosting their allies.

A whole bunch of new Mech Enhancements, from ejector seats to transformations.

New Alchemist Discoveries and Expanded Armor Penetration Rules for those who utilize explosives in a high-tech environment.

And finally, Enhanced Racial Traits, a series of Akashic and Psionic racial traits which can be taken by a variety of races.

Take a look everyone. This won't be the last thing you see as part of this project.

[Thealtruistorc]

Once again, I return.

We've got a whole bunch of new Technomancy Talents, Drawbacks, and Feats for people to check out in the Spheres and Feats sections. Take a look whenever you wish.

[Thealtruistorc]

Back with another update!

This time, we have a whole new system, Omphaloi. This is an alternative to typical deities for characters who live beyond Vandara, and I hope you like it.

[Thealtruistorc]

Another update! The monsters have been fixed up!

[khadgar567]

some how get inspiration for ompaloi in forgotten realms avatar series

[JMS]

Can we have Technomancy sphere talent based crafting guidelines?

[Thealtruistorc]

Can we have Technomancy sphere talent based crafting guidelines?

What do you mean by this?

[AlienFromBeyond]

What do you mean by this?

Talent-based Item Creation (http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/magical-items#toc9) you will note allows for certain capabilities of a sphere by default with requiring increasing complexity additional abilities in a sphere. It's specified because not every sphere is allowed every part of itself in item crafting to keep them in check. The USoP playtest (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h3IdFmTeEANygX3-qaOW3Q-r1n_ca0lVCZVEnEpgqVI/edit#heading=h.i8z1uvzcqrb1) has further refined and updated rules for this magic item creation method, which is pretty much what is used throughout the system for crafting many types of magic items (you can do the math yourself on them to see this is true).

[Thealtruistorc]

Added a set of talent-based item creation rules for Technomancy as well as a new drawback for technomancy.

I would like to inform you all that the omphaloi, racial options, spheres, and sphere-based archetypes will only remain in open playtest for one more week, as the book which will contain them is approaching completion. If you want to add commentary, now is the time.

[Awun]

Great stuff, I've been a big fan of the Acrforge line of products so far and these new entries definitely do not disappoint. However, a few questions did come to mind when reading through the documents.

Omphaloi: Love this idea, it brings to mind tulpas or shikigami, albeit on a grander scale. Though I am curious about the form taken by an Omphaloi. Are they just nebulous glowing masses of semi-divine soul energy or do they have a distinct physical form? In the case of a distinct form, is there some commonality between them, especially the ritually created ones, or are they as varied in appearance as traditional divinities? I keep picturing something like the Naaru from World of Warcraft when thinking about these things.
Related to the potentially low maximum level of spells granted by Omphaloi with smaller retinues, any plans to create metamagic "specialist" archetypes for divine casters or an Omphaloi related prestige class?

Pilot (combat sphere): The Gattai Sequence advanced talent mentions what happens to damage taken when the fused construct separates, but what about conditions such as entangled or the results of effects such as the spell rebuke technology?

[Thealtruistorc]

Great stuff, I've been a big fan of the Acrforge line of products so far and these new entries definitely do not disappoint. However, a few questions did come to mind when reading through the documents.

Omphaloi: Love this idea, it brings to mind tulpas or shikigami, albeit on a grander scale. Though I am curious about the form taken by an Omphaloi. Are they just nebulous glowing masses of semi-divine soul energy or do they have a distinct physical form? In the case of a distinct form, is there some commonality between them, especially the ritually created ones, or are they as varied in appearance as traditional divinities? I keep picturing something like the Naaru from World of Warcraft when thinking about these things.
Related to the potentially low maximum level of spells granted by Omphaloi with smaller retinues, any plans to create metamagic "specialist" archetypes for divine casters or an Omphaloi related prestige class?

Pilot (combat sphere): The Gattai Sequence advanced talent mentions what happens to damage taken when the fused construct separates, but what about conditions such as entangled or the results of effects such as the spell rebuke technology?

Glad you like what you see!

Omphaloi are soul-energy-masses at present, lacking a distinct physical form. A part of me thinks that a physical incarnation and thus a method of destroying them may be worthwhile, but I'll leave that for you to decide. I don't plan on making any more options like prestige classes or anything, but if people are interested I could pursue that angle.

Gattai Sequence has been given clarifying text.

[Mister Rex]

I've mentioned it on the playtest document itself, but I'm not comfortable with the Occultist Panoply granting temporary crafting feats. But regardless, under that same panoply, maybe a focus power to use your caster level in place of the item's.

[Thealtruistorc]

Hi there everyone!

You may have noticed that I just removed a good portion of the content on the playtest. This is because the first phase of the Arcforge Space Playtest is officially finished and the first two books (Spheres Left Behind and Starlight Inheritors) are soon entering layout!

Of course, I said that there would be more than two books for this project, so expect a batch of new archetypes and mechanics soon.

[Thealtruistorc]

Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, time to show off the first set of new archetypes from the next set of books. I'll be doing Spheres conversions of the psionic classes as well as the three new Starfinder classes introduced in the Character Operations Manual.

Introduced here are.

-Class Conversions for the Biohacker, Vanguard, and Witchwarper, allowing them to be played in Pathfinder

-Enhanced Talent Progression, a variant rule for groups that feel low- and mid-casters could use some extra firepower.

-Psionic Options in Spheres of Power, a guide to converting many mechanics from DSP's Psionics system to Spheres of Power

-The Mekanikos, a hyper-flexible sphere-based take on the Aegis

-The Schicksalshand, a new version of the Dread that merges powerful sphere effects with the class's signature Devastating Touch

-The Worldweaver, a sphere-using Psion capable of creating and warping immensely powerful magic effects

-The Miracle Soldier, a Psychic Warrior which can utilize both combat and magic spheres with immense aptitude

-The Bladeshaper, a champion Soulknife that takes advantage of the class' tenacity while merging combat and magic sphere abilities into its chassis

-And finally the Coalescent, a sphere-based Vanguard which trades out the theme of entropy for supersymmetry-based endurance abilities.

Look them over and feel free to offer your input. There's more where this came from.

[Mehangel]

Regarding to converting psionic Power Points to SoP spell points, I think it might be helpful to know that there exists a conversion formula in the Sanguinist Handbook (pg 13). According to the formula, 1 spell point = 1 power point + 1 power point per 4 HD.

[Thealtruistorc]

Regarding to converting psionic Power Points to SoP spell points, I think it might be helpful to know that there exists a conversion formula in the Sanguinist Handbook (pg 13). According to the formula, 1 spell point = 1 power point + 1 power point per 4 HD.

This...is very, very good to know. Thank you.

[Thealtruistorc]

Back with four new archetypes.

The Imperator, a champion Tactician that draws power from their collective members!

The Antestes, a Vitalist who amplifies the magic of their allies!

The Stellar Echo, a Wilder with four unique patterns of destructive and repressive power!

And finally the Refractor, a Witchwarper with the abiltiy to swap between casting traditions!

Feel free to share your thoughts! I've got ideas!

[Warriorking9001]

I know that it's not in playtest anymore, but is there any way to read information on the Pilot Sphere whilst we wait for a proper release of it?

[Thealtruistorc]

Finished with a bunch of new archetypes (in addition to some new Soulknife Blade Skills)

The Biollurgist Biohacker, a doctor with a more magical inclination.

The Extricator Cryptic, a debuffer with several new uses for Disrupt Pattern.

The Didact Highlord, capable of buffing, coordinating, and debuffing in a wide variety of ways.

The Stellar Shadow, a Marksman unrivaled at range.

And the Projectionist, a Voyager who is master of the Shadow Plane's strange patterns.

This will be it for archetypes on this project, although more class options may be one the way.

Art requests have been sent in for the first two volumes of this series, so they should be available at some point in January.

[Thealtruistorc]

Back again with another update!

Introducing Stimulants, a new category of magic items that offer immense power at a price.

As well as a whole bunch of new Feats for your consideration.

This will likely be my last batch of new content for a while, as it rounds out the third of four books planned in this line.

[StSword]

Something occurred to me.

Dreamscarred Press came out with rules to make their prestige classes more broadly compatible for greater accessibility- A War Soul Soulknife can give up psionic power advancement to gain PoW advancement, and kineticists can qualify for psionic prestige classes and can use their psionic advancement to further their kinetic talents.

Since the work includes essentially "Treat spherecasters with this tradition as psionicists," you might want to add similar guidelines for spherecasters, so that psionic spherecasters can likewise get in on the fun of being an Adaptive Warrior, Elocator, or Psychic Fist.

Not the end of the world if you don't, but since it's not like SoP is brimming with prestige classes, I'm sure there would be players who would appreciate it.

[Kris Moonhand]

Will there be non-Spheres versions of the psionic content?

[Kaouse]

You know, if you're already giving a blanket conversion for how spending spell points equates to spending power points, is it really necessary to convert the Aegis's "Augment Suit" class feature from power points to spell points? All it means is that there are now fewer archetypes you can combine the Mekanikos with, I think.

[StSword]

You know, if you're already giving a blanket conversion for how spending spell points equates to spending power points, is it really necessary to convert the Aegis's "Augment Suit" class feature from power points to spell points? All it means is that there are now fewer archetypes you can combine the Mekanikos with, I think.

That's a very good point.

I know I like as much archetype compatibility as possible.

[Thealtruistorc]

Suggestions implemented!

[Kaouse]

Suggestions implemented!

Awesome, thanks. My last suggestion concerning the Aegis is about it's customization points. It seems kind of arbitrary. Since you're ending up with 15 at level 20 anyway, wouldn't it be better to have it scale the same as Medium BAB?

It's okay to have 0 customization points at level 1, since this archetype gives you Casting and a Martial Tradition, which is like 6 talents worth of stuff. Plus, you also get your free customizations from your Astral Suit.

[Thealtruistorc]

Hello everyone. I want to issue a one-week warning on the playtest. Given that all of the content for the next book (Gleam of Eternity) has been up for a while and the rest of the book's fluff is finished, I will be pulling the playtest soon so that I can put it into print.

If anyone has comments to make, this is the time.

[StSword]

This playtest has referenced the Mana sphere before.

Since in Arcforge there are spherecasters whose powers stem from technology- psionics and akasha, it seems to me that a talent or feat to enable one to use mana sphere effects on technological energy instead of magical energy, to represent a technological spherecaster manipulating the source of their powers instead of magic would be appropriate.

As would a drawback that only allows a spherecaster to use Mana on technology, not magic.

Not that someone using technology to manipulate magic isn't unheard of, but options are nice.

Pity that the Initiate's handbook only came up recently, a manabond based Tactician or Vitalist, or a manasurge based Cryptic seem quite appropriate, maybe someone will homebrew it. :)

[Thealtruistorc]

This playtest has referenced the Mana sphere before.

Since in Arcforge there are spherecasters whose powers stem from technology- psionics and akasha, it seems to me that a talent or feat to enable one to use mana sphere effects on technological energy instead of magical energy, to represent a technological spherecaster manipulating the source of their powers instead of magic would be appropriate.

As would a drawback that only allows a spherecaster to use Mana on technology, not magic.

Not that someone using technology to manipulate magic isn't unheard of, but options are nice.

Pity that the Initiate's handbook only came up recently, a manabond based Tactician or Vitalist, or a manasurge based Cryptic seem quite appropriate, maybe someone will homebrew it. :)

The manabond Tactician and Vitalist I considered, but ultimately decided that such things were better off as side options (hence why I integrated them through a feat). The manasurge cryptic should be possible with the extricator and certain mana talents.

The akasha and mana sphere stuff may be coming down the road, perhaps in the form of another project.

[Kaouse]

You know, if there's one more thing I'd want out of the Aegis, it would probably be the ability to select magic armor special abilities by paying for them with customization points. But that's probably asking for way too much and would no doubt make the class somewhat broken...if it isn't already, lol.

That said, can the Aegis at least get some sort of customization that gives them Fortification? Preferably one that goes up to 100% if you spend more customization points on it. Like maybe 1 CP for 25% fortification that stacks with itself, can take at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter? That way, you get a mini-capstone at level 20, for staying in the class.

[StSword]

That said, can the Aegis at least get some sort of customization that gives them Fortification? Preferably one that goes up to 100% if you spend more customization points on it. Like maybe 1 CP for 25% fortification that stacks with itself, can take at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter? That way, you get a mini-capstone at level 20, for staying in the class.

Form Astral Juggernaut armor and it comes with a level of the fortification customization for free.

Fortification is a 2 point customization. The second level can be bought at level 8, the third at level 12.

[Kaouse]

Oh, I'm just blind then. I knew in the back of my head that the Aegis had a customization that helped them against crits, but for some reason I couldn't find it. Thought I was going crazy for a second there, lol.

[Thealtruistorc]

The playtest is now finished and closed. Thank you all for your support and expect the books to be dropping soon.

[Kaouse]

Has the book dropped yet? If so, can we get a link?

[Thealtruistorc]

Here to announce that the third book from this playtest, containing the remaining feats and archetypes, has just dropped. You can get it here (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/319333/Arcforge-Campaign-Setting-Gleam-of-Eternity?src=hottest_filtered&filters=44235_0_0_0_0)