Learning Curve: Apprentice-Level Characters (PFRPG) PDF

This pdf is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 1/2 a page editorial, 1 page SRD, leaving10 1/2 pages of content for apprentice-level classes.

So what are they? the basic idea is that you choose from 2 classes, one of which should be your favored class. As soon as you reach 2nd-level, you're considered 1st level in both classes you've been an apprentice of. The pdf offers an easy-to-follow 10-step procedure to guide you through the process of creating such an apprentice and even offers an example. The process is simple and amounts to basic addition of values from tables and is nice in its simplicity. The pdf contains tables for the core-classes, APG-classes (including the Antipaladin), Ultimate Magic's Magus and the 3 Ultimate Combat classes. The addition of the UM and UC classes is a prime example of great product support, for which the guys from Tricky Owlbear definitely have to be applauded!

After getting these tables (all featuring two entries - the apprentice level and modified 1st level), we are introduced to the concept of single-level apprentice-classes as well as the idea to use the apprentice-levels to balance out ECL-races that are non-core (and which I considered obsolete) - nice if you have to go for a more powerful race, I guess. The advice provided for the DM to create apprentice level adventures is a night closing point for the pdf.

Conclusion:

Editing and formatting are top-notch, I didn't notice any glitches. Layout adheres to a printer-friendly b/w-2-column standard and the artworks are ok. The pdf has no bookmarks, but at this length that's ok. The focus of this pdf in comparison to SGG's is different, centering on the idea of Apprentice-level characters as basic for multi-class characters and the pdf succeeds at what it sets out to do - the combination of the respective rules to create unique hybrid apprentice-classes ensures that each combination feels slightly different - a neat combination of simplicity and diversity. While this diversity makes for a more interesting approach than SGG'S cutting stats into half and I love the additional UM and UC-support, there also are some downsides to this pdf: I would have loved to get some guidelines to convert e.g. classes of other 3pps to this system and no such advice is provided.

I really did not like SGG's take on 0-lvl characters and I have similar gripes with this one: While it does its job and does it well, focusing on multi-classed characters, it also is a rather bland approach. I would have loved for some synergy effects for formerly apprentice-leveled characters, special glitches, abilities that don't work reliably etc. While SGG offered only the math and this one results in more unique apprentices, they could have easily made for an even more unique playing experience. As written, all the potential for the botches, fumbles, and painful learning from literature remain largely untapped. In Germany, there's a saying "Lehrjahre sind keine Herrenjahre.", meaning that being an apprentice is a hard time where you'll be living in rather unpleasant circumstances and experience some humiliations and hardships. This aspect, unfortunately, is also absent from this pdf. The narrative potential once again wasted. That being said, I did prefer this pdfs take on apprentice-level characters, as it would be more work to create rules like that yourself and balance them. The dual apprentice-classes per se are cool due to offering variety and the pdf itself is solid, accomplishes what it sets out to do and is not a purchase I'd regret. The low price and ultimate magic/combat-support are commendable. However, while there's nothing wrong with this pdf, I wasn't wowed by the content.

Some creative (perhaps alternate fumble-rules, fluff, unique restrictions etc.) additional rules, class-specific problems like animal companions not listening, wizards fumbling, fighter botching putting armor on or becoming exhausted - essentially some rules to incorporate the iconic failures of being an apprentice would have made this product a stellar offering. As written, I can recommend it as an elegant multi-class option, but not as something more. If you're looking for that, this file might be up to 4 stars for you. Unfortunately, the pdf didn't do it for me personally and I figure there are other people out there who think like me. Thus, as a reviewer, my final verdict will be a compromise of 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 - slightly above average, but could have easily been THE resource for apprentice-level characters.

Endzeitgeist out.

Learning Curve by Tricky Owlbear Publishing

This product is 12 pages long. It starts with a cover, credits and Intro. (2 pages)

Multi-Class Characters (2 pages)
This section is what the book was really made for. Making a multi-Class character at level one. It has 10 steps involved in making one and then a example character showing how it is done. Really the Intro also helps with this, which is half a page as well.

Core Classes (5 pages)
This section has a list of charts for each character class. For example Barbarian, it will list what you get at apprentice level and then what you gain at first level. Really you are to combine the two apprentice class levels between two classes to get a first level character, then at second level you combine the two first level rows of each class. At that point your character has one full level of each class. It list all the core classes and the new APG classes.

Additional Uses for Apprentice Rules (2 pages)
This section gets into how to use this book if you just want to start the PC's off at level 0 instead of using the book to multi-Class. It also has a section on how this could be used to help balanced a stronger race, but using one of these at the first two levels to balance it out. The final bit is advice for the game master, which offers some suggestions on how to run things using these rules.

It ends with a OGL. (1 page)

Closing thoughts, using this to start off as a multi-Class character are first level seems like it would work very well. It looks like things are balanced fairly well between what you get at apprentice levels and what you get after you get another level. Instead of having you roll for hp, it has set hp you gain. At Apprentice levels you add the hp together of both classes and then again when you level again. Giving you max at first level and a avg for your next level.

The artwork is fair and black and white. The layout is clean and simple. I didn't notice any obvious errors. I did have one minor critic, while the product is written with the idea you will be playing multi-Class characters. It does have a section on how to use it for apprentice levels or 0 level PC's. Which is where the on critic comes in. Since the charts listing the classes have the second hp gain for the level up being a avg instead of max(since with multi-Class you would be 2nd level when you got that). I felt it needed a sidebar in the apprentice level section for using this for 0 level characters saying use the first hp total instead of the second. Minor but still something I felt needed to be added to be clear. Other than that I really have no critics of the book, it does exactly what it sets out to do.

Now some are going to ask how does this stack up to The Genius Guide to Apprentice-Level Characters by Super Genius games. Well they are similar products, but their main goals are slightly different, this more geared for multi-Class and the one by SGG more for zero level characters. Both products can be used for the other. I am not going to directly compare them though, I will say as a whole I personally liked this one better, but you can't go wrong with either one. So what's my rating? Well other than the one minor issue I think it is a well done, simple clean, easy to print product. So I am giving it a 4.5 review. If you like the idea of this product then I recommend it.