Take A Quick Look At PATHFINDER UNCHAINED!

Pathfinder Unchained, the "Unearthed Arcana" of the Pathfinder RPG, full of what the designers describe as "crazy ideas" and various alternate rules, tweaks, and subsystems which will mod your game and change the way Pathfinder plays, hits store shelves later this month, and for my money is the most exciting Pathfinder release since the core rulebook! Lead designer Jason "Let us do a book filled with whatever crazy ideas we have floating around in our heads" Bulmahn and designer Mark Seifter offer some info about the variant Barbarian, Monk, Rogue, and Summoner classes in the book.

The barbarian has less math-intensive abilities which adjust derived mechanics rather than the original stats, and gains temporary hit points rather than changing its maximum health.

The monk is more customizable, from kung fu to wuxia mystics, has a full base attack bonus, and some new martial arts strikes like flying kick.

The rogue has a new debilitation abilty, a rogues edge which offers unique uses for skills, and a boost to some rogue talents.

The summoner gains better focus and theme.

It's interesting how Paizo can look at existing classes and note their flaws. The original barbarian is "math-intensive"; the monk's abilities "don't always synergize" and are inflexible; the rogue "needed a way to rule her own niche"; and the summoner "lacks focus and theme". From that perspective, it feels a little more like the Unchained classes are designed to almost "fix" the originals.

You can click on the image for the full article.

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[Remathilis]

It refers to the "a la carte" Eidolon design from APG, where you can make the most unbelievable combat aberration possible if you game the numbers right.

Correct, as per the article: "The original summoner has plenty of innovative features, but he also lacks focus and theme. As Jason was fond of describing it 'You just have this amorphous blob with ten tentacles and two butts.'"

I added an extra tentacle because this one goes up to eleven.

 

[Remathilis]

True, but based on the way Jason Buhlman has talked about the class at Paizocon and in an interview with Know Direction Podcast, I get the suspicion this might be a sneaky backdoor way to get some errata into the "real" Summoner class if the reception of the "unchained" summoner is very positive. I think "unchained" is a bit of a misnomer, considering even Mr. Buhlman thinks the APG Summoner is a bit "unchained" as it is.

Maybe we should start unofficially calling the Summoner alternate the "chained" summoner.

I agree.

The problem with the original summoner was that it was the perfect storm of problems:

1.) It basically have a restrained form of the monster-building rules built into the class. This gave a creative summoner unlimited freedom to build his pet with, which was both daunting (there was so much math to keep straight) and exploitable (even relatively sane eidolons were beasts, abusing the system was nightmarish).
2.) The summoner's spells are deceptive in power: they look like they should be on par with bards (0-6 casters, limited spells known, no flashing attack magic) but they got some of best spells in the game, often at a discount. Using the summon eidolon spell gave you access to your Summon Monster SLA's which were always equal to max level casters (without the penalty of spell slots) allowing you both your tricked out eidolon and a elder earth elemental or three. Tack on Mage Armor (free +4 armor!), haste (as a 2nd level spell, no less!) and you get a one-man army if you want it.

The PFU one sounds like the spell list is going to be a bit more sane (no dominate monster as a 6th level spell anymore!) and that eidolons need to adhere to one of the types of outsiders (angel, archon, azata, devil, demon, daemon, etc) or other type of monster (elemental, fey, undead) rather than picking and choosing whatever limbs, powers, and abilities you want/can afford.

Its a much needed nerf, and one a few (like my friend) think is going to be very popular in non PFS games.

 

[Morrus]

True, but based on the way Jason Buhlman has talked about the class at Paizocon and in an interview with Know Direction Podcast, I get the suspicion this might be a sneaky backdoor way ...

I dunno. I'm not aware of any of this stuff. I just go on what I see.

 

[thom_likes_gaming]

I don't see the fuss. Much like any other book ever published in the RPG world, this one will provide options, ideas and rules I might use if me and my players like them - and not if we don't. Since when is roleplaying about following a set canon? (Ignore PFS in this context, obviously).

 

[Banesfinger]

I might have checked this out a few months ago, but after playing mythic, I've kinda soured or burned out on Paizo right now. I've enjoyed pathfinder since I liked it as a continuation of 3.5 rules and 4e didn't appeal to me but its getting to the point that the rules bloat and everything else just is weighing my fun done like a mafia stoolie wrapped in a bag with cement shoes in a lake.

I agree with EthanSental:
While I know the developers have adamantly denied this is a way to "test the waters" for a Pathfinder 2.0, I think a lot of players would welcome the game going back to its roots of: One big (revised) book is all you need. The current book bloat and rules cross-referencing is crazy. A single book with the "best of" would be the only thing that could pull our group back to Pathfinder right now...

 

[GlobeOfDankness]

i'm probably going to buy this to steal from for my 5e game. this is what WotC is driving us toward!

 

[Ace]

I just want too see the Fighter. The PF Fighter is heads and tails above the 3x one but it still need a bit of work.

 

[Kramodlog]

I just want too see the Fighter. The PF Fighter is heads and tails above the 3x one but it still need a bit of work.

From what has been said and leaked, there will be no alternative fighter class. Only the rogue, monk, summoner and barbarian will get one, if I understood correctly.

 

[Ace]

From what has been said and leaked, there will be no alternative fighter class. Only the rogue, monk, summoner and barbarian will get one, if I understood correctly.

Ah, Thanks.

Unless the fighter gets some very interesting support I guess the book is no longer on the agenda. The Rogue is fine as is, maybe OP with a good player, the Barbarian only needs a tweak (get rid of the temp HP as written basically) and I've never seen anyone even look at the Summoner, Ah well.

 

[Kramodlog]

Ah, Thanks.

Unless the fighter gets some very interesting support I guess the book is no longer on the agenda. The Rogue is fine as is, maybe OP with a good player, the Barbarian only needs a tweak (get rid of the temp HP as written basically) and I've never seen anyone even look at the Summoner, Ah well.

Your wish has been granted. Skills and a new very interesting mechanic for fighters.
http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?439604-Skills-amp-Feats-From-PATHFINDER-UNCHAINED