Pathfinder 1E Pathfinder RPG teases with new barbarian class

[BryonD]

this is a classic case of Ain't Broke Don't Fix It.

I agree completely that the Barbarian works as is.

But I also see it as perfectly valid to take an idea that has worked well for nearly a decade and try breathing a new life into it. We don't have enough information yet. But if this class works, there is not reason not to have new options that could even be run side by side with a traditional barbarian. It need not be any less compatible than an AE Totem Warrior.

 

[DaveMage]

We haven't had barbarian PCs in my games enough for me to be concerned one way or the other.

But I certainly agree with the "ain't broke don't fix it" paradigm.

 

[BryonD]

I think I need to revise my thoughts.

I'm still fine with options and revisions. But I find making PF as broadly appealing as possible to be very important.

So: Don't Fix It.

 

[Gundark]

The player in me is so-so on the idea of rage points. The DM in me doesn't like 'em at all -- too much to keep track of! When I make a barbarian NPC I want something quick, brutal and effective in combat.

Yeah I have to agree, overall too much, especially given the other stuff you have to track in 3.5. I would say I like the 4e concept (Daily, at will, encounter) better.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I agree completely that the Barbarian works as is.

But I also see it as perfectly valid to take an idea that has worked well for nearly a decade and try breathing a new life into it. We don't have enough information yet. But if this class works, there is not reason not to have new options that could even be run side by side with a traditional barbarian. It need not be any less compatible than an AE Totem Warrior.

Off course, that has been done for 4E, too, and a lot of the Pathfinder fans don't seem to like it. That doesn't tell us whether different changes wouldn't be appreciated, but I will not count on it.

Pathfinder seems to be turning more in something like an Arcana Evolved game - classes that share similar roles, but are differently executed. I think AE was very % compatible with 3E in that way that you could use the classes together and shouldn't notice much problems with them interacting. If Pathfinder manages to change stuff without skewing balance (the first Fighter write-up didn't look like it, but I am not up-to-date any more), it can work fine.

Spoiler

Somewhat, I hate myself writing and commenting on Pathfinder. I love everything basically everything I heard so far on 4E, and simply can't believe that Pathfinder will be able to compare to 4E in playability.
But I want to discuss Pathfinder on its own merit. But I always feel that my 4E fanboyismn will color everything what I say and think on Pathfinder in negatively. I sometimes doubt I can judge it fairly, and if that was true, wouldn't I end up being the Pathfinder equivalent to a "4E hater", and being exactly what I disliked on the 4E forum? Could someone interested in Pathfinder actually read something useful or meaningful in my posts, or am I just an annoyance, spoiling his fun discussing the new cool stuff in the game?
[/meta]

 

[BryonD]

Off course, that has been done for 4E, too, and a lot of the Pathfinder fans don't seem to like it. That doesn't tell us whether different changes wouldn't be appreciated, but I will not count on it.

I don't see 4E as remotely comparable to PF. In this context I'm not saying one is better and one is worse, but simply that tweaking the 3X/D20 system is what I meant by "breathing new life". Scraping the core system and moving on is most certainly not 4e doing that too.

 

[Archade]

I do think we should all remember this is 'throw everything against the wall and see what sticks' playtesting right now. I admit I'm leery of points to track, but I won't judge it until I've tried it, or seen the rules that go with it.

I'm surprised no one commented on the magic items on her stat block.

If Jason was looking to stir up conversation prior to Alpha Release 2, he certainly has succeeded!

 

[ShinHakkaider]

Heh, the barbarian is one of the classes that I would leave as-is. The preview looks like a classic case of over-design.

Yeah, seriously.

I played my first Barbarian about a month or two ago (I usually DM and when I play I usually play clerics and rangers) and coupled with Extend & Extra Rage it was hella fun.

They really need to leave that class alone.

 

[GlassJaw]

They really need to leave that class alone.

Well that's one of the main concerns I had after looking over the Pathfinder Alpha doc. They aren't really fixing many of the 3ed "must-fixes". You can get similar tweaks and options in the House Rules forum.

They are staying away from the things that are difficult to fix (multiclass casters, the 15-minute adventuring day/rest mechanic, CR/EL system, etc) and focusing mainly on class ability tweaks.

 

[Starman]

Well that's one of the main concerns I had after looking over the Pathfinder Alpha doc. They aren't really fixing many of the 3ed "must-fixes". You can get similar tweaks and options in the House Rules forum.

They are staying away from the things that are difficult to fix (multiclass casters, the 15-minute adventuring day/rest mechanic, CR/EL system, etc) and focusing mainly on class ability tweaks.

I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that they are holding back on those right now because they are tougher issues to deal with and so they are still at work tweaking those.