Pathfinder 2E Pathfinder 2E and balance ?

[Thomas Shey]

PF1 is swingy and CR unreliable (more so than 5E) so it's a stark difference. For me, I have so many years of experience with 3E/PF1 that its like a feature because combats are less predictable and thus more interesting. However, they require an experienced GM not to go pear shape on the table. So, I can see the attraction in balanced reliable CR which PF2 delivers better than any RPG I have played.

I'm about as experienced a GM as they get, but even I couldn't keep that reliably true in D&D3e at least; there were too many moving parts as you got above a certain level.

 

[JmanTheDM]

PF1 is swingy and CR unreliable (more so than 5E) so it's a stark difference. For me, I have so many years of experience with 3E/PF1 that its like a feature because combats are less predictable and thus more interesting. However, they require an experienced GM not to go pear shape on the table. So, I can see the attraction in balanced reliable CR which PF2 delivers better than any RPG I have played.

I came into PF2 - actually scratch that - after about a year of running sessions, I evolved my thinking about how I want my PF2 game to be run (by me).

in 5e, I essentially run my games with a "combat as war" mindset. I run mostly "old school" mega dungeons (rappan athuk, rise of drow etc). where balance is much less a concern.

in PF2, I grew into "combat as sport". running mostly Paizo AP's and modules (plaguestone, slithering, AV, etc). running this as sport, I really want balance and rules to support that style of play. this was, i suspect, influenced by the modules I ran and "default mode" that paizo builds their adventures to. however, embracing this style of play and trusting their encounter building guidelines has been fun, refreshing, and centers my attention on other parts of gm'ing prep.

anyhow... [\tangent]

Cheers,

J.

 

[payn]

I'm about as experienced a GM as they get, but even I couldn't keep that reliably true in D&D3e at least; there were too many moving parts as you got above a certain level.

I guess I thrive in that ambiguous environment. It keeps me on my toes and I'm paying attention and looking down the road. Otherwise, I get a bit lazy and get caught off guard sometimes by tighter systems. That is probably more work than most GMs want to sign up for though.

I think JmanTheDM is spot on that 3E/PF1 and to some extent 5E are combat as war systems. They are going to be loose and unpredictable, sometimes even stressful. PF2/4E style games are built for reliable combat as sport style playing so that you know combat is going to stay in the lanes. Taking the guessing work out of GMing is something most folks want and find appealing. I guess im just crazy and embrace the chaos.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I guess I thrive in that ambiguous environment. It keeps me on my toes and I'm paying attention and looking down the road. Otherwise, I get a bit lazy and get caught off guard sometimes by tighter systems. That is probably more work than most GMs want to sign up for though.

I think JmanTheDM is spot on that 3E/PF1 and to some extent 5E are combat as war systems. They are going to be loose and unpredictable, sometimes even stressful. PF2/4E style games are built for reliable combat as sport style playing so that you know combat is going to stay in the lanes. Taking the guessing work out of GMing is something most folks want and find appealing. I guess im just crazy and embrace the chaos.

Well, to be honest, when I've wanted to do that sort of thing, D&D-derivatives have never where I've went with that. This is the game that has level elevating hit points specifically to slow pace-of-resolution after all. If I wanted combat-as-war I usually went to things in the BRP-sphere. And less and less as I get older.

 

[payn]

Well, to be honest, when I've wanted to do that sort of thing, D&D-derivatives have never where I've went with that. This is the game that has level elevating hit points specifically to slow pace-of-resolution after all. If I wanted combat-as-war I usually went to things in the BRP-sphere. And less and less as I get older.

Fair enough. I got PF1 tuned perfectly like a Ferrari for that style play.

 

[d24454_modern]

I'm about as experienced a GM as they get, but even I couldn't keep that reliably true in D&D3e at least; there were too many moving parts as you got above a certain level.

But that's what made it fun...

 

[Thomas Shey]

But that's what made it fun...

It isn't fun if its beyond your ability to keep track of.