The Know Direction podcast held a nearly 3-hour video interview with Pathfinder lead designer Jason Bulmahn, and the Ultimate Intrigue open playtest of the brand new Vigilante class. The episode is split into two videos, below, in which he discusses secret identities, anti-scrying mechanics, masked hero concepts, and villains with alter-egos!
Here are the main points, but watch the videos for more!
[video=youtube;eeR0gzJbjzY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeR0gzJbjzY&feature=youtu.be[/video]
[video=youtube;5OR0H-vlWys]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OR0H-vlWys[/video]
- "Wanted a class that could talk to the more social and skill oriented part of the game but would still be fun to play outside of the Baron or King's wedding. We wanted a class that would allow you to play with both of those natures more direct."
- New Mechanics had to be introduced in order to have a vigilante so that simple scrying wouldn't ruin the concept.
- The secret identity can have completely different alignment than the vigilante side of the character.
- Many of the abilities of the class are relying on his reputation in a specific area, though this area can be moved. Favors campaigns that focus on the same area or city.
- The Classes needed to have a lot of specializations, the play test has four but that may not be the final number.
- The Avenger: Weapons and Armor and fighting focused.
- The Stalker: Sneaking around in shadows.
- The Warlock: "Blastery, Spellcasty Vigilante."
- The Zealot: Inspired for areas where following a particular religion wouldn't be allowed. Such as worshiping a good deity in Chelliax or any deity in Rahadoum
- More than just Batman, designed to make many comic masked hero concepts in Pathfinder.
- The class also was designed to make a really intriguing villain, so that investigation focused campaigns could be more possible. Allows you to interact with the bad guy in their secret identity without making it obvious who the villain is.
- First Villain drafted at PaizoCon was the "Gold Barron." Robs from the poor and homeless and gives to himself.
- Some options could not be placed in the Play-test because they depend on abilities from Occult Adventures releasing later this year.
- The idea of "Amateur Vigilante" has come up in play-test, similar to the Amateur Gunslinger trait to spread some of the concept to other classes, nothing decided of course.
- Play-testers seem to really be attracted to the Warlock's Mystic Bolt ability, designing builds that get as many magical blast attacks in a round as they can.
- Play-test has already inspired many changes to the class.
- Play-test ends July 20 but there will be a 'final comments' round afterward.
[video=youtube;eeR0gzJbjzY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeR0gzJbjzY&feature=youtu.be[/video]
[video=youtube;5OR0H-vlWys]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OR0H-vlWys[/video]
