New Culinary Magic Recipes

A while ago I wrote a lot of recipes for the Culinary Magic Cookbook. This is another homage to it.

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Cauliflower Pasta Soup

A delicious vegetable soup that puts you in contact with the plant world.

Ingredients: ½ pound mixed pasta, 1 pound cauliflower, olive oil, parmesan, 1 garlic clove, parsley, salt

Servings: 4; Prep & Cooking Time: 1 hour

Cost: Common

Directions:

Step 1: Cut the cauliflower in little pieces.

Step 2: Lightly fry the garlic with oil. Remove the garlic, add water and boil the cauliflower until it is half cooked.

Step 3: When the soup begins to thicken, add the pasta and continue cooking until the pasta is done and the soup is pleasantly dense. Season with salt, grated parmesan, and parsley. If you like, you can leave the parmesan’s whole crust in for flavor.

Duration: 6 hours

Magical Benefit: Eating a serving of cauliflower pasta soup grants a +1 bonus on Profession (herbalist) and Knowledge (nature) skill checks regarding plants, and on Diplomacy skill checks to modify the reactions of plant creatures. These bonuses increase by +1 for every 5 points by which the cook exceeds the Craft (culinary) check. The benefits last for 6 hours after consumption.

Neapolitan Lasagna

With fresh egg pasta, meat, and tomato sauce, this dish has everything you need to stay strong. 

Ingredients: 7 oz lasagna, 5 oz provola cheese, 5 oz mozzarella, 3 oz grated parmesan, 5 oz tomato puree, 14 oz ricotta, salt, 2 pounds meat sauce, 1 pound tiny pork meatballs or pieces of sausages

Servings: 4; Prep & Cooking Time: 90 minutes

Cost: Common

Directions:

Step 1: Cut all the cheese in little pieces.

Step 2: On a baking dish put alternate layers of meat sauce, lasagna, meat, and cheese. End with a layer of lasagna, one of meat, and dust the top with powdered parmesan.

Step 3: Bake in the oven at high heat for 35 minutes.

Duration: 6 hours

Magical Benefit: This extremely nourishing dish grants a +2 alchemical bonus on Constitution to each consumer that eats a portion of Neapolitan lasagna.

The Culinary Magic Cookbook is in Endzeitgeist’s 2018 Top 10!

As written in the title- I couldn’t be happier and hope to work again for Flaming Crab Games soon!
To celebrate, tomorrow a little bit of exclusive related content will be posted for patrons only on my Patreon page. Don’t miss it!

Lady Angela de Darkenthal, Mahatma

Today, I’m beginning to introduce you my own characters, heroes of a novel I wrote and partially published (in Italian). I could post some bits of it here sooner or later.
This one -Angela the Peaceful Priestess- is among the characters that I found most difficult to translate in Pathfinder (she and her companions were originally built with 2.5E material). If you remember, a long time ago I told you about my difficulties in creating a real nonviolent priestly character in the game. I was speaking of her.
In fact, I had to create personally almost everything to make her in Pathfinder! She uses the Mahatma prestige class I published on this blog, and the new Virtuous Creeds I made for Flaming Crab Games’ Her Story book (with the mythic versions also posted here). She uses the Spring spirit I made for Everyman Options: Shaman Spirits from Everyman Games, and the compassionate oracle curse published first here, and then in Pathways #77 from Rite Publishing.
Yes- all of these were made in an effort to create her. It’s true that great problems give you the pulse to make new solutions.
I have other builds for her and her companions, that costed me less effort. You will see them, in time.
This post already appeared for patrons only on my Patreon page. If you wish to see stuff in advance and have access to other rewards, please consider donating!
(A slightly different version of Angela, together with some translated excerpts of her story, is in The Book of Passion from Misfit Studios).

Lady Angela de Darkenthal (CR 22)

Female middle–aged human mahatma 10/oracle 9 (Spirit Guide)/hierophant 7

LG Medium outsider (good, human)

Init +5; Senses darkvision 30 ft., Perception +22

Defense

AC 34, touch 29, flat–footed 20 (+14 Charisma, +5 deflection, +5 natural)

hp 120 (9d8 + 10d6 + 19 + 21)

Fort +21, Ref +18, Will +32

Special Defenses force of will, hard to kill, mythic saves, recuperation, shield of goodness; SR 21 (magic mantle)

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee compassionate holy peaceful (merciful thawing) quarterstaff +5 +10/+5/+0 (good, 2d6+4,  +2d6 vs. evil creatures [nonlethal damage], x2)

Special Attacks  censure evil (DC 29), mythic power 17/day, pacifying aura (DC 29), pacifying touch (DC 29), surge +1d10

Spell–like Abilities (CL 19, concentration +33)

At will (spending mythic power)– entangle (DC 25), barkskin, plant growth, command plants, wall of thorns, repel wood, animate plants

1/day– charm person (DC 25), protection from chaos/evil; align weapon (good/law), calm emotions (DC 28), compassionate ally (DC 26), qualm (DC 26); charitable impulse (DC 29), magic circle against chaos/evil, suggestion (DC 29); heroism, holy smite, forced repentance (DC 28), order’s wrath; atonement, charm monster (DC 29), commune, dispel chaos/evil (DC 29); blade barrier (DC 30), geas/quest, hold monster (DC 30); dictum (DC 31), holy word (DC 31), insanity (DC 31); summon monster IX (good only)

Oracle Spells Known (CL 19, concentration +33)

9th Level (6/day): miracle (DC 33), overwhelming presenceM (DC 33)

8th Level (8/day): cure critical wounds, mass, euphoric tranquility (DC 34), holy aura (DC 32), spell immunity, greater, sunburst (DC 32)

7th Level (8/day): changestaff, cure serious wounds, mass, refuge, restoration, greater, resurrection, sunbeamM (DC 31)

6th Level (9/day): blazing rainbow, cure moderate wounds, mass, dispel magic, greater, heal, heroes’ feastM

5th Level (9/day): atonement, break enchantment, breath of life, cure light wounds, mass, hymn of mercy, wall of light (DC 29), wall of thorns

4th Level (9/day): brightest light, charm monsterM (DC 28), cure critical wounds, dismissal (DC 28), grove of respite, imbue with spell ability, kiss of the first world (DC 28), restoration, stay the hand (DC 30)

3rd Level (9/day): accept affliction, create food and water, charitable impulse (DC 29), cure serious wounds, daylight, magic circle against evil, neutralize poison, plant growth, speak with plants, suggestion (DC 29), symbol of healing

2nd Level (10/day): abeyance, animal trance (DC 26), burst of radiance (DC 26), charm animal (DC 26), compassionate ally (DC 26), cure moderate wounds, daze monster (DC 28), enthrallM (DC 30), lesser restoration, mantle of calm (DC 28), peacemaker’s parley (DC 30), soothing word, touch of mercy (DC 28)

1st Level (10/day): bless, calm animals (DC 27), charm personM (DC 25), calm emotionsM (DC 27), command (DC 29), commune with birds, compel hostility (DC 27), cure light wounds, detect animal or plants, detect undead, goodberry, kaleidoscope of butterflies, peace bond, protection from evil, sanctuary (DC 27), speak with animals, unbreakable heart

0–Level (at will): create water, detect fiendish presence, detect magic, detect poison, enhanced diplomacy, guidance, light, purify food and drink, read magic, resistance, stabilize, virtue

Mystery life; Spirit spring

Statistics

Str 8, Dex 6, Con 13, Int 19, Wis 24, Cha 38

Base Atk +11; CMB +10; CMD 24

Languages Common, Celestial, church sacred language, Elven, Infernal, Sylvan

Traits Peace Maker, Redeemer

Feats Brew Potion, Call Truce, Cry of Mercy, Damned Love (completed), Divine Interference, Extra Revelation (x2), Merciful Spell, Mythic Spell LoreM, Peacemaker, Persuasive*M, Skill Focus* (Diplomacy), Virtuous Creed (Mercy), Virtuous CreedM (Peace), Voice of the Sybil*M

Skills Diplomacy +54, Handle Animal +31, Heal +27, Knowledge (history) +20, Knowledge (local) +20, Knowledge (nature) +20, Knowledge (nobility) +20, Knowledge (religion) +20, Linguistics +20, Perception +23, Perform (oratory) +40, Sense Motive +23, Use Magic Device +27

SQ amazing initiative (+7), aura of good, avatar of peace, bonded spirit (heavens, life, nature, passion, spring, wood), divine surge (inspired spell), expert diplomat, life touch (1d4+9 hp, 10/day), mahatma domain, merciful channel 17/day (5d6), merciful weapon, nature magic, path abilities (animal friend, divine countenance, divine source x2 [Charm/Kindness, Good/Redemption, Law], endless bounty, flower in your footsteps, mortal herald [Plant domain]), oracle’s curse (compassionate), revelations (energy body [1d6+19 hp, 19 rounds/day], enhanced cures, healing hands)

Gear amulet of natural armor +5 (50,000 gp), cape of effulgent escape (14,000 gp), compassionate holy peaceful quarterstaff +5 (200,300 gp), dryad sandals (24,000 gp), headband of mental superiority +6 (144,000 gp), mantle of spell resistance (90,000 gp), potion of cure moderate wounds (300 gp), potion of magic vestment +5 (3,000 gp), ring of protection +5 (50,000 gp), staff of life (109,400 gp).

New Exits: The Culinary Magic Cookbook

The Culinary Magic Cookbook for Flaming Crab Games is out! I was proud to work on this expansion for one of their more successful books, and put in all my favored recipes. Next will be the Culinary Characters Options, so stay with us!

New Exits: Imaginary Friends and... Many (Other) Things

Two things of mine went out in the last days of November! The new update of Samurai Sheepdog's Book of Many Things includes my Bloodranger (renamed Blue Moon Ranger), greater raiju, and Monsterskewerer (renamed Greater Beast Spear), in addition to the Faerie Pact, all of which were previously presented in other posts of this blog. Ad Maiora!
The other one is not officially a thing written by me... officially, at least. :D Rather, it's the first published work for my two little boys in the gaming industry! Flaming Crab Games' Imaginary Friends tooks inspiration by nine real children's inventions and drawings to create an all-new type of companion creature, available also to adult characters. Read it and enjoy the critters created by our kids, written down by us parents (with every possible accuracy) and enriched with their own pictures!

Conversions: The Mahatma prestige class

Here's another conversion from the Book of Exalted Deeds, and one I longly struggled with. My first attempts at a Pathfinder version of the Apostle of Peace date back to 2011 in the Paizo forums! Now I think I'm finally satisfied (and by the way, this is also a way to make my intended type of priest!). Listed in the prerequisites there's also the Creed of Peace I created for Flaming Crab Games' Her Story book, and quoted previously in another post of this blog.

Mahatma (Prestige Class)

The Mahatma (“great soul”) class is the final goal for pacifist divine characters. Religious teachers and mystics, mahatmas are living examples of nonviolence.

Hit Die: d6

Requirements

To become a mahatma, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Alignment: Any good.

Feats: Virtuous Creed (Mercy), Virtuous Creed (Peace)

Skills: Diplomacy 5 ranks.

Spells: Able to cast 2nd-level divine spells.

Class Skills: The mahatma’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (all, Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (oratory, Cha), Profession (Wis), and Sense Motive (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells Per Day
1	+0	+0	+0	+1	Merciful channel, sacred soul	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
2	+1	+1	+1	+1	Mahatma domain, pacifying touch	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
3	+1	+1	+1	+2	Bonus feat, shield of goodness	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
4	+2	+1	+1	+2	Expert diplomat	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
5	+2	+2	+2	+3	Merciful weapon	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
6	+3	+2	+2	+3	Bonus feat	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
7	+3	+2	+2	+4	Pacifying aura	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
8	+4	+3	+3	+4	Censure evil	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
9	+4	+3	+3	+5	Bonus feat	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
10	+5	+3	+3	+5	Avatar of peace	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A mahatma gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Spells per Day: At each level, a mahatma gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in a divine spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. She does not, however, gain other benefits a character of that class would have gained, except for additional spells per day, spells known (if she is a spontaneous caster), and an increased effective level of spellcasting. If she had more than one divine spellcasting class before becoming a mahatma, she must decide to which class she adds the new level for the purpose of determining spells per day.

Merciful Channel (Su): At 1st level, a mahatma gains the power to heal with positive energy. This ability functions exactly like a cleric’s ability to channel positive energy to heal living creatures (but not to deal damage to undead), and counts as channel positive energy for the purposes of qualifying for feats or determining effects that rely on channel positive energy. A mahatma uses her class level as her effective cleric level when channeling. She can channel energy a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier. Mahatma levels stack with levels in any class that grants channel positive energy for the purpose of determining the number of hit points her channel energy ability heals (if any).

Sacred Soul: A mahatma’s class level stacks with her divine spellcasting class levels for determining the effect of her domain powers, oracle revelations, or shaman hexes. This does not grant additional abilities.

Mahatma Domain: At 2nd level, a mahatma adds all spells with the peace descriptor to her spell list (the spells with the peace descriptor are those who meet the requirements of the Peacemaker feat). If the mahatma is a spontaneous spellcaster, she must still select these spells as spells known in order to cast them.

Pacifying Touch (Su): Starting at 2nd level, a mahatma can spend one use of her merciful channel ability to pacify hostile or angry creatures. The effect is as if the mahatma had cast calm emotions on the target creature. The mahatma can affect only a single target with each use of the ability, and must succeed at a touch attack to do so. A touched creature can attempt a saving throw (DC = 10 + ½ the mahatma’s level + her Charisma bonus) to resist the effect. The pacifying touch can only dispel spells that incite negative or violent emotions in the target, such as fear or rage.

Bonus Feats: At 3rd level and every 3 levels thereafter, a mahatma gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be chosen from the following: Blessed, Call Truce, Calm Disposition, Cry of Mercy, Pacify Animal, Peacemaker, Persuasive, Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Virtuous Creed, Voice of the Sybil. The mahatma must meet the prerequisites of the selected bonus feat.

Shield of Goodness (Ex): At 3rd level, the mahatma’s aura of sanctity is like a barrier defending her from attacks. The mahatma may add her Wisdom or Charisma modifier (her choice), instead of her Dexterity modifier, to her Armor Class and CMD. Any condition that would cause her to lose her Dexterity modifier to Armor Class instead causes the mahatma to lose her Wisdom or Charisma modifier to her Armor Class.

Expert Diplomat (Ex): The mahatma values most of all talking and persuading adversaries before resorting to fight. At 4th level, she adds a bonus equal to ½ her class level to all Diplomacy and Perform (oratory) checks.

Merciful Weapon (Su): At 5th level, every weapon the mahatma wields is treated as a merciful weapon.

Pacifying Aura (Su): At 7th level, the mahatma’s pacifying touch power extends all around her calming the emotions of everyone near. This aura has a radius of 20 feet, centered on the mahatma. Creatures within the aura must make a successful Will save (DC 10 + ½ the apostle of peace’s level + her Charisma modifier) or be affected as by the calm emotions spell. Creatures who leave the aura and reenter it receive new saving throws. A creature that makes a successful saving throw and remains in the aura is unaffected until it leaves the aura and reenters. The aura is a mind-affecting, supernatural compulsion and lasts 1 minute per level of the mahatma.

Censure Evil (Su): At 8th level, the mahatma can spend one use of her merciful channel ability to punish a creature with the evil subtype that is attacking her or her allies. The creature is transformed in a Tiny or Diminutive animal or vermin, as with baleful polymorph (DC = 10 + ½ the mahatma’s level + her Charisma bonus). This transformation lasts 1 round per mahatma level. Transforming another creature causes the first to immediately revert to normal. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Avatar of Peace (Su): At 10th level, a mahatma gains perfect sanctity and union with the utter forces of good. She is forever treated both as her original race and an outsider with the good subtype for all spell and effects. Unlike other outsiders, the mahatma can still be brought back from the dead if she dies. In addition, she receives a bonus on all saving throws equal to her Wisdom or Charisma modifier (her choice) and may cast summon monster IX (good only) as a spell-like ability once for day.