Question: Beta or Final?

[Ares]

Hi guys, I bought the paperback version of the Beta rules about six months or so ago. I've been wondering if i should invest in the final rules for Pathfinder. I have checked out the srd, but other than a few things here and there, I don't really see a huge difference between the Beta and the Final rules. So I bring it to you fine gentlepeople: can you tell me what relavent changes were made between the Beta and the Final? In other words, is moving to the Final worth it or is the game practically the same with only a few minor adjustments. I ask because unlike many who simply downloaded the Beta, I was so impressed I bought a hard copy and don't know if I should further invest in the hardback book (btw, I'm not huge into pdf's but I am aware that they go for 9.99 on site).

Any help here on my decision would be great.

 

[Twowolves]

The changes to clerics alone are worht it. They went back to bonus spells for domains, their domain powers changed, they lost automatic proficiency in heavy armor, etc.

Many of the combat feats changed (no more "combos" needed, at least not directly), I think the final Paladin and Monk are vastly different (don't recall off the top of my head how though). I think the wizard school specialization abilities changed significantly too (no longer at will, but mostly 3+Int Mod/day).

That plus the final has all of the bonus PDF material in it as well, the PrCs, the Magic Item section, a LOT of DM/environment rules that weren't in any Beta PDF, and so on.

 

[Scott DeWar]

didnt the baarbarian change too?

and I think humans no longer get the automatic one martial weapon proficency.

With the hardcopy of beta, you could always just stick to beta, or consider buying the pdf of the final and read abot the changes and make what ever changes to your world that you want to change to the final pfrpg. I am not totally sure as to what all is in the pfrpgsrd vs the final pdf so you may even want to change to only the srd.

so many options so little time.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

There's a thread for discussion of changes from Beta to Final here.

I think they got most of the changes listed, and a couple of the posts have summaries of about everything.

I got the final version - for me, the production quality alone is worth it. This is a cool book. Changed my Legacy of Fire game over going forward, but I'm letting my players keep most of the Beta stuff they got. For example, in the Final rules humans don't get a martial weapon proficiency, but I let the human wizard keep his.

 

[Kralin Thornberry]

As a really non-Pathfinder player (who bought the core rulebook just for the art alone!), I think that going w/ the final is the better bet. Some of the changes are subtle, but the paladin and cleric are very nice (except for that whole "I can't wear heavy armor AND be a cleric w/out a feat thing).

 

[Ares]

Thanks guys, this has been quite helpful.

 

[Samurai]

I too bought the beta book, and I'm happy I also bought the final version. A surprising number of additional changes were made, and a lot of additional info was added. In my opinion, it's worth it. Also, our campaign started with the Beta rules, but we've now switched to using final version rules. I think the vast majority of PF games out there will use the final rules, and there are enough differences (especially in the Barbarian, Wizard, Cleric, Paladin, and Monk) to trip up someone trying to use the beta book in a final rules game.

 

[Scott DeWar]

Changed my Legacy of Fire game over going forward, but I'm letting my players keep most of the Beta stuff they got. For example, in the Final rules humans don't get a martial weapon proficiency, but I let the human wizard keep his.

and for the record I am quite grateful for, even though the weapon lost a battle against a sonic attack from those *bleep bleep* pugwumpis!

 

[mxyzplk]

Well, and there's a lot more content in the final... They are different enough that if I were GMing a PF game and someone showed up with a beta character I'd say "Go spend $10 on the PDF and update that, slick."

 

[Kralin Thornberry]

Well, and there's a lot more content in the final... They are different enough that if I were GMing a PF game and someone showed up with a beta character I'd say "Go spend $10 on the PDF and update that, slick."

Or "Go download the conversion guide buddy!"