Pathfinder Remastered Previews, Starfinder Field Test 2, and More

Catching up on all the Pathfinder Remastered previews, Starfinder Mystic class Field Test, Stream schedule, and Organized Play updates.

Catching up on all the Pathfinder Remastered previews, Starfinder Mystic class Field Test, Stream schedule, and Organized Play updates.

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Pathfinder Remastered Previews​

Paizo has been giving us all the previews lately on what's going on with the Pathfinder Remastered project. If you want to go even more in depth, check out the Core Preview File. It will talk more about changing "spell level" to "spell rank," the removal of spell schools, and the new spell format.

Spell components have been removed from spells which will allows the classes more freedom to define how they cast spells. You no longer need to track different proficiencies for each tradition of spells you have, it's just the highest proficiency you already have and lets the attributes do the work. Damaging cantrips will now only use the damage dice rather than adding an attribute modifier. Many focus spells with longer casting times have had their casting times reduced so you can use them in the middle of an encounter.

Pathfinder Player Core will include the following ancestries: dwarf, elf, gnome, goblin, halfling, human, leshy, and orc. In order to reflect the diversity of Golarion, it will introduce versatile heritages: extra options of mixed ancestries and extraplanar origins. Characters can only have one heritage and one lineage feat, but that doesn't mean that other bloodlines don't show up in interesting ways in their DNA.

Ranger's are getting a tweak in their spellcasting. Spellcasting progression is now part of the core components of being a ranger. Their feats will also be streamlined to accrue and recategorize their spells. There will also be some new feats like Warden's Reload, which allows the ranger to reload as a free action once per round if they cast a warden spell. Snares are not going to appear in the Player Core, but will be added in Player Core 2 with the Snarecrafter archetype. Crossbows are now their own weapon group, and a martial crossbow has been added.

There was an entire blog outlining the chapters of the GM Core that took you through running published adventures to making your own game, as well as handing out treasure.

Starfinder Mystic Field Test​

The second field test for Starfinder Second Edition is live and it is the first five levels of the mystic class, along with a few Starfinder 2e spells. The mystic relies on its connections and forming bonds with fellow party members. These connections help customize how they use their vitality network, allowing them to be a powerful healer. There will be more chances for mystics to be more directly connected with deities, but they won't be required to worship deities if they don't chose to.

Stream Schedule​

Paizo announced their Twitch Schedule for the month. This includes a Friday the 13th Lost Omens discussion of the upcoming Pathfinder Lost Omens: Tian Xia World Guide and Pathfinder Lost Omens: Tian Xia Character Guide, as well as Pathfinder and Starfinder Society Foundry Showcases.

Organized Play Updates​

The following adventures will be available on October 25, 2023: Pathfinder Society Scenario #5-05: The Island of the Vibrant Dead, Starfinder Society Scenario #6-08: Lost Revelry, and Starfinder Society Scenario #6-09: Ridgerock Rescue.
 

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Dawn Dalton

Dawn Dalton

Staffan

Legend
I don't have my finger on the pulse of PF fandom, but I think people mostly understand and agree with the de-OGLing. As long as they take a light touch with everything else, I bet they'll be fine.
They're also being a bit cunning about the player-facing parts. Player Core 1, which is coming in a month or two, mostly has the classes that aren't seeing a whole lot of change. Player Core 2 which is coming in the spring or summer (can't be hedgehogged to look it up) will have the classes with more drastic changes, relatively speaking. For example, Champions in PF2 have subclasses based on alignment (LG, NG, CG in the core rules, with LE, NE, and CE in the APG). Since alignment is being removed, that's going to need some work, and so far I don't think they've said much about how. This lets them ease people into PF2R more gradually.
 

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Staffan

Legend
Is it a third version? Or a remake of PF2?
From what I understand, the changes are about as comprehensive as 3.0 to 3.5 was, or 3.5 to Pathfinder 1. You can easily use material from earlier versions with later ones, but some things might need some thought. I think the biggest stumbling block in using older material with the remastered version is that a lot of things are changing names and possibly getting some minor changes. For example, there will still be a 5th level spell that deals cold damage in a huge point-blank AOE, but it won't be exactly the same as cone of cold.
 



From what I understand, the changes are about as comprehensive as 3.0 to 3.5 was, or 3.5 to Pathfinder 1. You can easily use material from earlier versions with later ones, but some things might need some thought. I think the biggest stumbling block in using older material with the remastered version is that a lot of things are changing names and possibly getting some minor changes. For example, there will still be a 5th level spell that deals cold damage in a huge point-blank AOE, but it won't be exactly the same as cone of cold.
Foundry already has some of the changes implemented for spells. I’m running Abomination Vaults and some magic items will have the old name, but refer to the remaster spell name. It’s caused a few double takes to make sure I’m reading the item description correctly but nothing that caused an issue yet.
 

They're also being a bit cunning about the player-facing parts. Player Core 1, which is coming in a month or two, mostly has the classes that aren't seeing a whole lot of change. Player Core 2 which is coming in the spring or summer (can't be hedgehogged to look it up) will have the classes with more drastic changes, relatively speaking. For example, Champions in PF2 have subclasses based on alignment (LG, NG, CG in the core rules, with LE, NE, and CE in the APG). Since alignment is being removed, that's going to need some work, and so far I don't think they've said much about how. This lets them ease people into PF2R more gradually.
That’s a good point I hadn’t considered. I’m sure there’s some planning on which things went into each book to ease the transition since there’s such a time gap between the books being released. We’ll see I guess.
 

I don't have my finger on the pulse of PF fandom, but I think people mostly understand and agree with the de-OGLing. As long as they take a light touch with everything else, I bet they'll be fine.
There’s been some concern similar to what you see in the 5e 2024 discussion but overall it seems less divisive from what I’ve seen. Maybe I just miss those Reddit posts and end up missing most of the objections.
 



Retreater

Legend
No. We have multiple very long threads in which people fight rather viciously about the definition of a "different game" in context of D&D and its descendants.
I guess we'll see if GMs toss their copies of Abomination Vaults when the new APs start hitting the shelves.
I predict they will.
 

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