Now, I gave up on the table-top when the forums of WotC said they were bringing in 4e. Now I'm told we're not indulging in flame wars, so let's just say my local store were fanatical to the Wizards and stopped selling the Dungeons and Dragons magazines about a year before they went out of print.

Thankfully I managed to buy those 'missing' issues a few months back, as well as find a new store (three hours away T-T) that sold Paizo's 'Pathfinder' items. However, being very far away from the hub, as it were, their stock is all old and/or second hand.

I managed to pick up both the Pathfinder Chronicles and the Pathfinder Beta Playtest Player's Manual. Hooray! I don't have to play a soul-less rip of of World of Warcraft!

Just .... saving now to buy the Pathfinder 'Finished Product', as it were, from this site. Which will likely be a few weeks from now (g+~ d$+n you, Christmas presents!) and I've got a few questions as I flick through the Pathfinder Player's Manual.

Is Diplomacy still a part of the Druid's Skill-list? I know in Golarion, where the game is based, Druids are not a global organistation but more solitary hermits and/or rural spiritual leaders in very isolated villages, but we don't have Diplomacy anymore? Does that mean that Druids are 'entangle first talk to later'? Are Half-Orcs doomed to be that one race where their preferred classes never give them the option to be more than a "ME SMASH PUNY NIGHT ELF!" class?

Less a gripe, love the concept of Warriors trading in the first feat to get +2 Skillpoints and all those nummy skills. Finally warriors are more than grrrr full attack machines *gleeeeeeeeeeeee*

Monks don't have Heal or Diplomacy anymore? That sounds rather odd to me. They are quasi-religious, after all, or is the change from Knowledge (Religion) to Knowledge (History) supposed to remove the religious connotations to the class? In that case, I do understand that Heal as a class skill becomes a little less thematical to the class, also with Monks and Wholeness of Body, most monasteries wouldn't need more than a few minor potions for training accidents, would they? And again, a lack of peaceful interaction in one of the more 'society' based classes? Errrr....

Other than that, I am fairly confident I can run the next game (in 4 days time) successfully, but with the above skills, were they just omitted in the Beta Test or are we going to have to houserule on them? Any advice would be appreciated, however if it IS a violation of the ToU please let me know so I can take down the post.

*Does another dance of joy*

Skills have changed quite a bit from 3.5

Follow this link to the PRD for more info about what made it into the finished Pathfinder.

Edit: Oh, and having a skill as a class skill now only gives you a +3 rather than cross-class skills costing double. So it's not such a big thing.

Class skills aren't the be all end all as they were in 3.5.

Sure, for 1 skill point in a class skill, you get +4 against +1 in a non-class skill, but above a certain level, the +3 difference becomes less of an issue.

So a mid-level druid (let us say level 8) could have 8 ranks in Diplomacy for a +8 bonus (before adding Cha bonus) opposed to a cleric of the same level who would have +11. Considering that clerics live in society and lead congregations while druids generally live in the wild or at least on the outskirts of society and generally don't have enormous "hordes" of worshippers, I think it is fair.

Same kinda goes for the monk...solitary life spent contemplating your own belly button at the monastery does not promote diplomacy :)

I'm not sure what you mean by the half-orc thing, though...

Class skills aren't the be all end all as they were in 3.5.

Sure, for 1 skill point in a class skill, you get +4 against +1 in a non-class skill, but above a certain level, the +3 difference becomes less of an issue.

So a mid-level druid (let us say level 8) could have 8 ranks in Diplomacy for a +8 bonus (before adding Cha bonus) opposed to a cleric of the same level who would have +11. Considering that clerics live in society and lead congregations while druids generally live in the wild or at least on the outskirts of society and generally don't have enormous "hordes" of worshippers, I think it is fair.

Same kinda goes for the monk...solitary life spent contemplating your own belly button at the monastery does not promote diplomacy :)

I'm not sure what you mean by the half-orc thing, though...

Okay, I thought that was the correct way to read the skills, was just making double-sure on it before I GMed a game with the old gang.

And in regards to the Half-Orcs, just an old, old, old gripe about them being relegated to the 'dumb ugly brute' and seldom being portrayed as anything other than villains or throw-away characters. Excuse me for that, it's an old sore point for me.

MANY THANKS to everyone who posted and helped me out here. I hope to be able to be able to return the favour and help out as much as I can around here!

You're welcome...

And actually, take a look at the half-orc in Pathfinder...my next character will be either a half-orc bard or paladin, which certainly was possible before, but not very satisfying...now it can be :)

First off, welcome back. PRPG is a pretty good continuation of 3.5, if you liked that system, this one should be right up your alley.

Secondly, have you actually looked at the Beta Half-orc? Not sure how you come up with "SMASH PUNY ELF" from those stats. That said they were changed a lot for the final version, you may like it, many of us do not. They are IMO considerably weaker as a PC race than Half-elves. But I still loves 'em.

And finally, I and many others agree with your views on 4e, but for the sake of community we don't run around openly slamming the system. There are folks here how like the game and take it personal when we get TOO negative about it. ESPECIALLY comparing it to an MMO.

Again; welcome back, enjoy your stay and see if you can rustle up some cookies from Lilith.

Yeah now half orcs provide a +2 to any stat you choose, so you have all the versatility in half-orcs you want, stealthy, +2 dex; Powerful orc like, +2 strength; wise like humans +2 wisdom, wise like elves +2 int.

I seriously recomend that you use the PRD or just download the final (only 9.99) instead of using the beta since the playtest is finished.

I like that the +2 can be assigned anywhere in Abilities. It represents something that half-orcs were really lacking in my opinion. An aspect of their human heritage. Most game desigenrs seemed to fixate on the half-ORC and make them watered down orcs instead of also remembering the human half and drawing on that as well.

Same with half-elves.

-Weylin

Pathfinder Beta Playtest Player's Manual.

preferred classes

Welcome

The Beta is far off from the release.

Favored Classes are very different now, check out the online 3.p rules link.

And in regards to the Half-Orcs, just an old, old, old gripe about them being relegated to the 'dumb ugly brute' and seldom being portrayed as anything other than villains or throw-away characters. Excuse me for that, it's an old sore point for me.

You'd have enjoyed Eberron, In that setting, Orcs among other things are the original Druids and still provide most of the leadership for the largest of the Druid sects. The appearance stereotype has been subverted as well, half-orcs and orcs are allowed to creep up considerably furhter towards the "not to bad-looking and downright handsome" categories.