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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pauljathome" data-source="post: 6047866" data-attributes="member: 21807">In general, Pathfinder is significantly more balanced than 3.5 and rewards system mastery less. Many (not all) of the most egregious problems in 3.5 have been fixed.Paizo has consciously tried to avoid power creep.All of that said, power creep most certainly HAS occurred. If you want to avoid a great many issues (not all, but a great many) one very viable approach would be to limit players to the Core rulebook and Advanced Players Guide. While MOST class archetypes are fine (many are underpowered) some of them are definitely overpowered. Unfortunately, you pretty much have to look at them on a case by case basis.The most powerful characters from about L6 or so onwards are still primary spellcasters and, possibly, some of the Summoner variants (especially the Master Summoner). But the difference in power between martial and caster classes has been reduced to the point where a well built fighter can be far more powerful than  a poorly built spellcaster.Things are mostly balanced enough that it is mostly player skill at the table that is the most important factor in determining power. A well played rogue can outshine a poorly played wizard.If you have players consciously trying to mini-max the system you're going to have problems unless you keep a very firm handle on things. Far too many combinations.</blockquote>