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General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
The Sameness Of The Six Abilities Over Time
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<blockquote data-quote="Campbell" data-source="post: 7802664" data-attributes="member: 16586"><p>In general I consider it a positive trend that Pathfinder 2 characters are more broadly capable and less specialized than what we see in most other versions of modern Dungeons and Dragons. This means the core math of the game is far less likely to break over time as characters rise in levels. It also means certain concepts like fighters who are every inch a legitimate knight with strong social skills or multi-class wizard/fighters are much easier to realize without tanking their core competency.</p><p></p><p>I do think you are somewhat underselling the impact of specializing, particularly in a game where every single bonus is worthwhile. Some ability scores like Intelligence, Charisma, and Strength (also if you want to be melee) are really only useful if you have the skill training to back it up. Honestly I expect to see more specialization than you expect because I have a lot of experience with games like Legend of the Five Rings and Exalted where escalating costs for ability scores are a thing and while you do see some generalists specialists are still definitely a thing. My experience with these games is that most characters will pick a couple of key areas to specialize in instead of just one, not that they try to be good at everything.</p><p></p><p>More importantly I think it's a good thing that when we get to things like social encounters or dealing with traps and the like that multiple characters are able to effectively contribute, even if one character may be better. It means these things engage multiple players which means we can have more of them at the table.</p><p></p><p>I also think even if you are right and ability scores are very similar it will not really be felt in play that much because differences in proficiency level and specializing through skill and class feats will provide plenty of differentiation in terms of what characters are capable of that characters will still feel plenty distinct. I played in a lengthy Exalted game once where my Zenith caste martial artist had ability scores that were very similar to the Eclipse Caste bureaucrat (strong physical and social scores), but our skills and special abilities were so different that at the table they felt materially different.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Campbell, post: 7802664, member: 16586"] In general I consider it a positive trend that Pathfinder 2 characters are more broadly capable and less specialized than what we see in most other versions of modern Dungeons and Dragons. This means the core math of the game is far less likely to break over time as characters rise in levels. It also means certain concepts like fighters who are every inch a legitimate knight with strong social skills or multi-class wizard/fighters are much easier to realize without tanking their core competency. I do think you are somewhat underselling the impact of specializing, particularly in a game where every single bonus is worthwhile. Some ability scores like Intelligence, Charisma, and Strength (also if you want to be melee) are really only useful if you have the skill training to back it up. Honestly I expect to see more specialization than you expect because I have a lot of experience with games like Legend of the Five Rings and Exalted where escalating costs for ability scores are a thing and while you do see some generalists specialists are still definitely a thing. My experience with these games is that most characters will pick a couple of key areas to specialize in instead of just one, not that they try to be good at everything. More importantly I think it's a good thing that when we get to things like social encounters or dealing with traps and the like that multiple characters are able to effectively contribute, even if one character may be better. It means these things engage multiple players which means we can have more of them at the table. I also think even if you are right and ability scores are very similar it will not really be felt in play that much because differences in proficiency level and specializing through skill and class feats will provide plenty of differentiation in terms of what characters are capable of that characters will still feel plenty distinct. I played in a lengthy Exalted game once where my Zenith caste martial artist had ability scores that were very similar to the Eclipse Caste bureaucrat (strong physical and social scores), but our skills and special abilities were so different that at the table they felt materially different. [/QUOTE]
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The Sameness Of The Six Abilities Over Time
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