Pathfinder 2E Martials > Casters

[Celtavian]

Since I'm not ready to add completely homebrewn items to my PF2 EC campaign just yet*, I would dearly like to find items such as this in an official book.

Maybe I'll be more open to doing things myself in a second campaign, but I need high-level experience before that.

*) I mean, adding a strange seldom-used story item like a more interesting Grail of Twisted Desires is one thing. Adding an item that introduces a whole new bonus category has a much larger potential impact, and I want Paizo to give the green light first.

I"m thinking of letting casters add weapon specialization damage to cantrips. I don't see a problem with it right now. I think part of the reason they didn't is because casters can do insane damage at higher levels with bursty spells versus martial better round to round damage. But I don't know. it seems cool to let casters use weapon specialization with cantrips.

I did wreck a party with a lich unloading AoE spells on them. I should have known a critical fail on an 8d12 spell would do nasty damage, but it didn't register until my player critically failed and took 110 points of damage when a critical fail doubled the spell base damage. That is super nasty at higher level.

I was reading that cataclysm level 10 spell which does like 21d10 damage. If you critically failed that spell save, ouch. You could wreck a large enemy group.

Maybe I won't let them use weapon specialization. I'll see after they hit lvl 20 in age of ashes and how I feel.

 

[Campbell]

I do not really think there is a general caster problem. I do think there is somewhat of an arcane caster problem. Basically the Druid and Bard ganged up on the Wizard and took all his stuff. When a Bard is just as good at control spells as a Wizard and Druids match them at blasting it just does not feel good.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

But is that a "doesn't feel good" because wizard no longer has something unique that it is better at, or a "doesn't feel good" because any reduction of potency feels like losing even if it is completely fair and justified?

 

[Xenonnonex]

Maybe I won't let them use weapon specialization.

Why take away their toys. Why.

 

[Celtavian]

But is that a "doesn't feel good" because wizard no longer has something unique that it is better at, or a "doesn't feel good" because any reduction of potency feels like losing even if it is completely fair and justified?

I think it is the wizard losing his unique niche and being built poorly compared to other classes. Interesting 1 action options within the new paradigm should be a design rule for PF2.

 

[Hoffmand]

I can’t get into game balance. I have a fixation that magic should be dangerous and very feared by players and the world. With an omg that man delves into magic. And the system should be complex and take considerable time for a player to learn because it is so esoteric and complex. Not insulting anyone who doesn’t like that style of play. But that’s what turns me on with magic in an rpg.

 

[dave2008]

Why take away their toys. Why.

Unless I am mistaken, he/she was talking about giving them new toys and then reconsidering that choice. No toys were taken from my understanding.

"I"m thinking of letting casters add weapon specialization damage to cantrips..."
"...Maybe I won't let them use weapon specialization."

 

[CapnZapp]

I"m thinking of letting casters add weapon specialization damage to cantrips.

I'm assuming you're talking about cantrips with attack rolls (i.e. not electric arc?)

 

[CapnZapp]

But is that a "doesn't feel good" because wizard no longer has something unique that it is better at, or a "doesn't feel good" because any reduction of potency feels like losing even if it is completely fair and justified?

You're conflating things.

If you want to make the argument "Wizards and casters in general should be nerfed compared to d20" feel free, go ahead. (You'll be smashing in open doors, since nobody here is the hardcore PF1 grognard I'm assuming you're attempting to troll; you know, the one insisting there was no caster-martial balance problem in 3E/PF1 that needed solving)

But if you're trying to make the argument "Wizards should suffer more than other casters" you really need to improve your arguments.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

...I'm not conflating anything, I was asking a question.

Information gathering, not argument - so stop trying to put words in my mouth, if you please.