Pathfinder 1E Pathfinder Sneak Peeks (Old thread)

[Hunter In Darkness]

Ah, I see we're talking about theoretical D&D where the caster dominates the entire game, something I've seen only on message boards.

Same here. I hear of it, but ya know from what I have seen spells do in fact run out.

But guys lets not derail this ok, lets talk about the previews not how this rules or this is useless at level x

My fault as much as anyone's here

 

[dm4hire]

I have to agree about judging the game based on stat blocks and brief descriptions of feats and abilities. We're still 10 weeks out from the release with three classes down so that leaves the remaining classes and probably a combat preview as well as monsters and maybe one or two other peeks.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Yes, they should. And still work and be "fair".

Well, at least in a theoretical ideal where you might be willing to redesign a game from the ground up or something.

 

[Kishin]

Ah, I see we're talking about theoretical D&D where the caster dominates the entire game, something I've seen only on message boards.

Last I checked, us having divergent experiences did not give you the license to snark at me.

Also, please show me a Fighter who can stop time or remove 6+ opponents from a fight in a single round.

And well, I haven't seen personally seen Emperor Xian of the Eastern Han, but I'm pretty sure that the existence of plenty of corroborating evidence and sources supports the fact that he was a real person who accomplished tangible things.

Regardless of anything that may be implied above, I'm still excited for Pathfinder, and will almost certainly walk away from GenCon with a copy. 3.5E still has a place in my world (Although I'd really love an overhaul of the monster/CR rules that makes building them much more consistent..)

 

[Mournblade94]

I don't think that design paradigm will ever be changed, simply because it would have moved Pathfinder too far from 3.5E to do so.

Also, everything will always be a second class citizen to a caster in 3.5E and variants, unless you get into nerfing the casters.

In every game I ran, Fighters were inevitably the leader of the party. I have never seen this caster domination, except for people whining about it occasionally on the internet.

The fighter player is usually the one that carries our parties through. yes he gets buffs, yes he gets defenses. The fighter characters in my campaign though are always worthy to be called warriors of legendary tales.

 

[frankthedm]

I still don't get this complaint.

If you use prestige classes in your game, you are accepting the premise that the PCs will leave the base classes.

If for some reason you don't want the players to leave the base classes, then don't allow prestige classes.

There's no simpler fix-- assuming a fix is needed.

Balancing the base classes against the prestige classes often just feels to me like balance for balance sake-- with no real introspection on why prestige classes exist, or whether single-class purity is an ideal to be rewarded.

Pathfinder is doing this as a bandaid over the bullet wound of Overloaded full-caster-level PRCs in previous D20 splat. Since part of the design goal is compatibility with previously released material, incentives to prevent jumping ship are a easily added to the base class. It's not optimum, but given that there are PRCs designed for those who are willing to chop off their own for more power, addressing the issue was needed.

 

[frankthedm]

Also, please show me a Fighter who can stop time or remove 6+ opponents from a fight in a single round.

I'd use Whirlwind attack as an example, but the full attack requirement means a fighter has to set it up by first letting himself get surrounded. Greatcleave also is supposed to do this. Unfortunately neither work that well in 3E since most times you fight few things that can be dropped in one hit unless you are pulling some one trick pony damage shenanigans.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I'd use Whirlwind attack as an example...

Thanks!

 

[frankthedm]

sorry bout that.

Sweet, wolf is back at SNA2 & Dire wolf is is GONE from Summon nature's Ally 3! SNA4 is a much better place for that beast.

Looks like the Carnivorous Ape will now be the top of the SNA3 beat squad.

 

[Kishin]

I'd use Whirlwind attack as an example, but the full attack requirement means a fighter has to set it up by first letting himself get surrounded. Greatcleave also is supposed to do this. Unfortunately neither work that well in 3E since most times you fight few things that can be dropped in one hit unless you are pulling some one trick pony damage shenanigans.

Exactly. This works from about 1st-7th level. Otherwise, a non Spiked Chain fighter will never lock down/disable that many opponents in a round.

You'll never one shot/cripple opponents at say, 12th level with a Whirlwind Attack. Meanwhile, the Wizard can Evard's Black Tentacles and mop up half the fight. This is just the way it is.