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All the class features sound really great, Erik!
I'm looking forward to buying the first issue on halloween and will put up a review as soon as i have read it.
I hope you can get around to write an introductory adventure set in Galt one day.
Hope to read your minis blog on friday (saturday morning here in germany).
Take care.
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Is it just me or are Jason and Owen really against any sort of rule that lets you swap your Dex modifier with the Strength modifier for damage no matter how limiting the rule might be? Anywho, thanks for the detail Erik. Wish you could have given us more but we'll take what we can get.
Is it just me or are Jason and Owen really against any sort of rule that lets you swap your Dex modifier with the Strength modifier for damage no matter how limiting the rule might be? Anywho, thanks for the detail Erik. Wish you could have given us more but we'll take what we can get.
It's not just you, there's a big push against allowing characters to focus solely on Dex.
Reading these blogs about building the archetype piqued my interest enough to convince me to subscribe. I'm looking forward to receiving my copy!
Is there any chance that we could see those 'few other original death vows' as unofficial supplemental material?
Is it just me or are Jason and Owen really against any sort of rule that lets you swap your Dex modifier with the Strength modifier for damage no matter how limiting the rule might be? Anywho, thanks for the detail Erik. Wish you could have given us more but we'll take what we can get.It's not just you, there's a big push against allowing characters to focus solely on Dex.
Reading these blogs about building the archetype piqued my interest enough to convince me to subscribe. I'm looking forward to receiving my copy!
Doesn't seem hard to fix; "you may never add 1.5x your dexterity modifier to damage, even when wielding a weapon two handed."
There, bang, fixed.
TARS TARKAS!!!
GREEN MARTIANS!!!!
Oh, and the Red Sonja stuff is cool too...
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Pretty cool series. I look forward to hear about other character conversions.
Is it just me or are Jason and Owen really against any sort of rule that lets you swap your Dex modifier with the Strength modifier for damage no matter how limiting the rule might be? Anywho, thanks for the detail Erik. Wish you could have given us more but we'll take what we can get.
This has been a big topic in the community.
I'm somewhat baffled by the resistance, because it's quite easy to balance Dexterity-to-damage without making it obnoxious to obtain. When you do the math, you can see that it's balanced as long as:
1) You can never add 1-1/2 times your Dexterity modifier to damage rolls
2) There's a feat cost for it.
3) Strength penalties apply to attack rolls so the character can't just dump Strength without some consequence (though, this wouldn't be necessary if Piranha Strike didn't exist).
I've been running a 4-year campaign that stretches from 1st level and 16th level. I allowed Dreamscarred Press's Deadly Agility (much more well designed than Slashing Grace) for the bladebound magus with a maxed out Dexterity. Yet, all of the Strength martials deal at least 50% more damage than her. At 16th level, the two-hander is dealing 40-45 damage a hit while the magus only deals about 20-25.
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Pretty cool series. I look forward to hear about other character conversions.Is it just me or are Jason and Owen really against any sort of rule that lets you swap your Dex modifier with the Strength modifier for damage no matter how limiting the rule might be? Anywho, thanks for the detail Erik. Wish you could have given us more but we'll take what we can get.This has been a big topic in the community.
I'm somewhat baffled by the resistance, because it's quite easy to balance Dexterity-to-damage without making it obnoxious to obtain. When you do the math, you can see that it's balanced as long as:
1) You can never add 1-1/2 times your Dexterity modifier to damage rolls
2) There's a feat cost for it.
3) Strength penalties apply to attack rolls so the character can't just dump Strength without some consequence (though, this wouldn't be necessary if Piranha Strike didn't exist).I've been running a 4-year campaign that stretches from 1st level and 16th level. I allowed Dreamscarred Press's Deadly Agility (much more well designed than Slashing Grace) for the bladebound magus with a maxed out Dexterity. Yet, all of the Strength martials deal at least 50% more damage than her. At 16th level, the two-hander is dealing 40-45 damage a hit while the magus only deals about 20-25.
In my experience it was never really about the damage potential so much as just not wanting Dexterity being a God stat.
Case in point, look at how much shit gets thrown at the Oracle with the right combinations.
Is there any chance that we could see those 'few other original death vows' as unofficial supplemental material?Maybe if I get the chance to actually write them instead of just thinking about them. :)
Here's hoping! I know you're a busy man.
Case in point, look at how much s~%! gets thrown at the Oracle with the right combinations.
Mind explaining please?
Because of Desnas shooting star feat?
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We'll eventually add all of the non-proprietary rules in these Worldscape appendices to the PRD and to tools like Herolab, though it make take until the release of the final hardcover collection of all six issues early in 2017. Right now the best place to get these rules is in the Worldscape RPG appendices in each issue.
Probably not until at least early 2017.
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Read the issue, and I have to say that I found a few things that immediately caught my eye and made me throw up red flags.
I agree with a few others when I don't see Dex to damage. Guess when Sonja can finally afford it, she'll get an amulet of might fists with the agile +1 weapon property (Pathfinder Society Primer) on it. But was the least of my finds that made me give my head a shake.
At least drop the armor and shield proficiencies and give her something like Dodge as a bonus feat even if she doesn't count for the requirements, or a fighter's bravery ability. Heck, give her Cha to just Will saves. That could have been her 4th level ability. In 3.5 it was called Indomitable Soul and the crusader class (Tome of Nine Swords) had it (gained at 2nd level). She could still have Iron Will, but it wouldn't be as necessary. Also wouldn't give her the -1 she currently has for having Wis 9.
And before anyone says "Well, this way she can use armor and shields at first level and get rid of them later, without penalty." That's not correct. If you take leather or padded armor at 1st level you don't incur any penalties, and if you come across masterwork studded before 4th level you still don't. There's no ACP on those. If she was really lucky to come across a mithral chain shirt, she'd be laughing.
Also, what point buy does she have? I keep on coming up with 31-40. Is she an Azlanti with +2 to each stat instead of just one, making her 14 points? And having PC wealth and more than 15 pt buy how is she still only a CR 7 despite being a level 8 ranger? As per Pathfinder's own rules this character should be a CR 9. This has been seen on multiple APs for when characters have higher stats and equal wealth to a PC. Something's off.
Overall, it was nice, but I think another re-write would have made it better. I wouldn't use it as it is right now.
I confess if what I've heard is true, I'd be more concerned about the sword-devil still having camouflage and hide in plain sight despite not having any favored terrain than about the sword-devil retaining armor proficiency, as without favored terrain these class features literally cease to function.
Case in point, look at how much s~%! gets thrown at the Oracle with the right combinations.Mind explaining please?
Because of Desnas shooting star feat?That's the newest one, but there's also the revelations that add Charisma to AC and Reflex, and the pre-errata Divine Protection feat.
On the one hand yes, on the other hand it comes with a hefty price and means you´re not doing or having other stuff.
Also i doubt that even after all those investments that the oracle is as or more powerful as many other options.And the whole DEX thing is overrated as well. What´s the problem with some DEX to damage and hit there, while STR is still a lot stronger and others have animal companions, eidolons or spirits which just shred everything while additional spells get cast?
That´s what i identified for myself as the greatest off-balance factor in game at all, because it not only breaks action economy, but also provides more hp and other stuff.
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I confess if what I've heard is true, I'd be more concerned about the sword-devil still having camouflage and hide in plain sight despite not having any favored terrain than about the sword-devil retaining armor proficiency, as without favored terrain these class features literally cease to function.
Originally I did too until it was pointed out that the 3.5 ranger didn't have favored terrain and those abilities worked fine back then. I've come to agree to disagree on that one.
I confess if what I've heard is true, I'd be more concerned about the sword-devil still having camouflage and hide in plain sight despite not having any favored terrain than about the sword-devil retaining armor proficiency, as without favored terrain these class features literally cease to function.Originally I did too until it was pointed out that the 3.5 ranger didn't have favored terrain and those abilities worked fine back then. I've come to agree to disagree on that one.
That might have been the case in 3.5, Pathfinder though:
Camouflage (Ex): A ranger of 12th level or higher can use the Stealth skill to hide in any of his favored terrains, even if the terrain doesn't grant cover or concealment.
Hide in Plain Sight (Ex): While in any of his favored terrains, a ranger of 17th level or higher can use the Stealth skill even while being observed.
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I confess if what I've heard is true, I'd be more concerned about the sword-devil still having camouflage and hide in plain sight despite not having any favored terrain than about the sword-devil retaining armor proficiency, as without favored terrain these class features literally cease to function.Originally I did too until it was pointed out that the 3.5 ranger didn't have favored terrain and those abilities worked fine back then. I've come to agree to disagree on that one.That might have been the case in 3.5, Pathfinder though:
Camouflage (Ex): A ranger of 12th level or higher can use the Stealth skill to hide in any of his favored terrains, even if the terrain doesn't grant cover or concealment.
Hide in Plain Sight (Ex): While in any of his favored terrains, a ranger of 17th level or higher can use the Stealth skill even while being observed.
Ha! I KNEW it! I shouldn't have left that argument alone.
Well i only checked because i wasn´t sure myself ;)
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Yeah, the 3.5 version of each ability reads:
Camouflage (Ex) A ranger of 13th level or higher can use the Hide skill in any sort of natural terrain, even if the terrain doesn’t grant cover or concealment.
Hide in Plain Sight (Ex) While in any sort of natural terrain, a ranger of 17th level or higher can use the Hide skill even while being observed.
Change hers to these, and you'd probably be okay. Just change camo to being 12th level and swap "Hide" for "Stealth". They'd somewhat work for her style of ranger. (Funny enough, Kobold Press gave this version of Camo to the Elven Archer race class they made.) Maybe give her the ability to ignore difficult terrain in natural environments.
Other ideas to replace them outright would be:
-Fast movement +10 at levels 5th, 12th, and 19th.
-Uncanny Dodge and Improved Uncanny Dodge.
-Cha-mod plus half ranger level rounds to her Inspiring Example at 17th level. Change it from a standard action to a move action for activation at 12th level.
-add half her bonus from Death Vow to her saves vs. their spells and effects.
-be the first ranger to have improved evasion.
Can't say I'm a big fan of Second Combat Style. Add another ability in addition to Second Combat Style as quarry is a decent ability and just adding more feats to a list isn't really that great of an exchange.
I'll be curious to see a revision of this archetype.
Here´s my thoughts on the comic:
I really love the story and the art. Both makes me look forward to the next issue!
I also think the adaption of Red Sonja is successfull. The spirit of her better comics and abilities is nicely captured, a well done job from this perspective! From this point, i also like the archetype.
From another point, the archetype deserves a bit of feedback though in my eyes on several points.
-Like others have mentioned, camouflage and hide in plain sight not being replaced by something while the feature they depend upon gets replaced is a bit unnecessary. Happens too often with archetypes.
-Death Vow and Slashing Fury: Awesome abilities and certainly fun to play. I would have changed them up though, Slashing Fury at level 1 and Death Vow at level 3, because from a playing perspective, if you go weapon finesse, what do you do untill level 3? Either you really suck before, do ranged combat (without the necessary feats probably) or spend a feat that will then be kind of doubled and maybe retrained. Untill level 4 Death Vow doesn´t make up to that.
-Armor + Untouchable: After some consideration i think it´s cool for this ability to come at level 4, but it should have been "when wearing no or light armor" in my opinion and some regular armor, maybe even a chain shirt. That would have made for a lot more early game consistency.
It´s a good thing Mr Mona mentions his unarmored male barbarian in this context, because the chainmail bikini is far too political and a red rag for many, while this archetype from a player perspective handles another sort of unarmored combat.
Personaly i prefer and support realistic armor, but in cases like this and others like when playing any unarmored or lightly combatant there should be more liberties. It´s keeping a lock on the whole sword-and sandal genre.
-Acrobatics could have gotten a running start as well, so she can actually jump.
To say it in short words, the adaption of Red Sonja as is feels awesome, sword devil as a player archetype leaves something to wish for and i feel that´s because of policies which are in parts unlucky and don´t even make that much sense anymore in the overall scope of the game, nor outside of it, because the underlying principles and problems have moved on. Mr Mona tried though and that is highly appreciated!
I also feel something like this should be endorsed, more class features and options making unarmored characters competitive and reducing the "christmas tree" effect.
I love the Sword Devil Archetype. It's what I've been looking for in a ranger for a more versatile kelish skirmisher than dervishes. Now if only we can get Herolab support and PFS legality