Ancalagon
Dusty Dragon
Hello
So this is pretty interesting:
http://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lks3?Everyone-Has-a-Past
It seems that these background are quite similar to the 5e backgrounds. You get some skills, a partial backstory and some perks. Instead of having a background "perk" you get a feat, but close enough. As I think the 5e backgrounds are fantastic, this is good right? Welll....
There are two things I like *less* about this setup though.
1: The stat boosting. I find this concerning because ... now backgrounds can be a bit power gamy. In 5e your background pic is *really* about what kind of character you want your PC to be. Want a sneaky fighter? Pick urchin or criminal? A poet swordsman? Pick entertainer. A warrior-sage? etc etc. Now with stats increases, considerations like "well, I better take blacksmith so I can boost my strength and con" come in. I think this is a serious mistake.
2: The lore skills seem *very* specific. Pathfinder society lore? wow.
"Player 1: I do an undead lore check to see if I know any weaknesses against the vampire
GM: ahem. You have incorporeal undead lore, it doesn't apply here
Player 2: I have corporeal undead lore, can I do a check?
GM: No, your have animated undead lore, it doesn't apply to intelligent undead"
The more knowledge skills you have, the narrower each is (and thus less useful). I think 5e has too *few* of such skills, but this seems to be the reverse.
So this is pretty interesting:
http://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lks3?Everyone-Has-a-Past
It seems that these background are quite similar to the 5e backgrounds. You get some skills, a partial backstory and some perks. Instead of having a background "perk" you get a feat, but close enough. As I think the 5e backgrounds are fantastic, this is good right? Welll....
There are two things I like *less* about this setup though.
1: The stat boosting. I find this concerning because ... now backgrounds can be a bit power gamy. In 5e your background pic is *really* about what kind of character you want your PC to be. Want a sneaky fighter? Pick urchin or criminal? A poet swordsman? Pick entertainer. A warrior-sage? etc etc. Now with stats increases, considerations like "well, I better take blacksmith so I can boost my strength and con" come in. I think this is a serious mistake.
2: The lore skills seem *very* specific. Pathfinder society lore? wow.
"Player 1: I do an undead lore check to see if I know any weaknesses against the vampire
GM: ahem. You have incorporeal undead lore, it doesn't apply here
Player 2: I have corporeal undead lore, can I do a check?
GM: No, your have animated undead lore, it doesn't apply to intelligent undead"
The more knowledge skills you have, the narrower each is (and thus less useful). I think 5e has too *few* of such skills, but this seems to be the reverse.