Pathfinder 1E Your experiences with broken Pathfinder characters? (edit: more accurately, w/1 avg PF character when the rest of the party is meh)

[Jack99]

Doesn't this imply that superhero game systems, or game systems that model the superhero genre, can't be good game systems? Superhero comic books are loaded with very specific opponents to challenge very specific abilities and gear of individual heroes.

Sorry, I should have said a good fantasy RPG system instead. It was implied in my mind, as it is the only thing I play (and thus care about), but obviously, how could you know that

 

[knottyprof]

Sorry, I should have said a good fantasy RPG system instead. It was implied in my mind, as it is the only thing I play (and thus care about), but obviously, how could you know that

Right because there are no fictional fantasy stories where there are specific villians to challenge heroes. If players are going to make super-heroic characters (regardless of genre) doesn't it make sense that there would be opponents that would exist with specific abilities to challenge them?

 

[Jack99]

Right because there are no fictional fantasy stories where there are specific villians to challenge heroes. If players are going to make super-heroic characters (regardless of genre) doesn't it make sense that there would be opponents that would exist with specific abilities to challenge them?

Who is talking about fiction? I am talking about a game. And while I could certainly conceive of powerful characters being challenged by evil NPCs who have specific abilities to challenge them, I most certainly do not want a game where it becomes the de facto way for me as a DM to challenge them. What I am saying is that it shouldn't be the only way of challenging them. By far.

 

[knottyprof]

Who is talking about fiction? I am talking about a game. And while I could certainly conceive of powerful characters being challenged by evil NPCs who have specific abilities to challenge them, I most certainly do not want a game where it becomes the de facto way for me as a DM to challenge them. What I am saying is that it shouldn't be the only way of challenging them. By far.

Last I knew the game was fictional. Anywho options are:
a) limiting resources players can use for their characters because (speaking as a player) I want to give my character the most advantages I can
b) making encounters that challenges characters (and you have to take their abilities into account)

 

[ggeilman]

This seems to fall into 2 camps. One wants the Superhero type fantasy and one more the traditional D&D one. I fall into the latter one and can relate to the issues with the monk. We have a monk that plays some times in one of our games and even the player admits the class is overpowered. Not that I cannot deal with players with high ACs, the issue is the rest of the players. What happens to them when you have to throw challenges at the party to deal with one party member whose AC is that much higher than everyone else's? They all suffer for it.
To the OP, again you need to limit your sources. About everything but the wizard can be a problem. As for dealing with the monk, mage armor will only last so long so make sure you have evening and night time encounters when it is worn off and the party is low on resources.

 

[Super Pony]

Unless I am planning on investing the majority of my game time to Pathfinder for a year or so, I cut out splat like crazy. My players end up like Amish kids at Radio Shack...look but don't touch. The reason is, system mastery plays very heavily into the fun of a game of 3.X or Pathfinder once you clear level 5 or 6. So if I am boning up on rules, hitting up the various forums, and sharpening my wits, the added layers of complexity and challenge brought on by splat book options is fine. But if I've been playing Video Games, Warhammer Fantasy, Eclipse Phase, Marvel Heroic or something else for a while...my players need to be okay with giving an old dog a break (ie. no funky archetypes, and only APG and CRB options).

 

[RangerWickett]

I'm fine with superhero play. I just don't want getting there to be so non-intuitive.

Maybe let each character pick a schtick. A nimble character's could be "unhittable," and it lets her have an effective +5 bonus to her Dexterity modifier for the purposes of AC and Reflex saves, but only if she's not wearing armor. (Increasing a point every few levels.) The trick to threatening her is denying her Dex mod, or targeting non-Dex defenses.

But her AC could then be easily calculated: 10 + Dex mod. No Wisdom, no dodge, no enhancement, luck, deflection, insight, natural armor. Just give every PC the same formula 10 + Dex + armor + magic (+ cover in some circumstances).

Likewise, a warrior might have the schtick "strong as a giant," which would give him the ability to wield weapons as if he was a size larger, and grant him a +5 bonus to his Strength modifier for the purpose of damage. His attack bonus would be d20 + some small base attack bonus + Str + magic (+ circumstance for things like flanking).

I don't see how the complexity caused by having so many non-obvious bonuses provides much in the way of benefits.

 

[knottyprof]

I think the pathfinder "splat" books for the most part are actually thought out but from a DM's viewpoint definitely add to power creep for player characters.

Biggest Pathfinder splat book I have an issue with is the Advanced Race Guide. I am actually okay with the core races but then it offered up different "levels" of player races and when our game started last fall over half the party picked the more powerful player races. At the time I was able to tone their choices down a bit (in effect nerfing some of the stronger racial abilities), but then we had a new player start this week and she chose a Suli (Jann/human hybrid). Since my part as DMing is nearly over and her husband is taking over as DM I figured to just let it go but it does put some perspective as to how "official" materials can lead to super-heroish player characters using the RAW without any limitations placed by the DM.

 

[Kasbark]

I'm having a hard time seeing the problem here. The monk spends two turns in combat (unless they have prep time for short duration buffs) casting shield and reduce person, has taken 3 levels in a class solely to be able to do this, and deals damage (1d6 + str bonus, which is at -2 because of reduce person) in order to be unhittable. Is that not totally OK?

In my pathfinder game i have a sorceror who does the same, he spends most of the combat becoming untouchable. Once in a while i send a big baddie after him, to indulge him and make him feel like he is contributing, but overall he'd be a lot more effective if he would just cast... well offensive spells.

 

[Super Pony]

Pretty sure the Aasimar monk is wasting an action on reduce person since she's a native outsider and thus immune (same goes for charm person, hold person, enlarge person, etc). That is unless she has that trait that allows her to be a humanoid, or if there is a house rule at play.