Why is playtesting considered more important than other forms of analysis?


Advanced Class Guide Playtest General Discussion

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Nicos wrote:
ciretose wrote:


I don't think they are going to be able to "fix" the monk or rogue until the next edition. Doing so would obsolete the core version, and that isn't something I see them being interested in doing.
How is that core rogue and core monk are not obsolete now?

They will never stop being obsolete as long as people like them. If you are asking how are they not outdone, the brawler is still not as good at certain things as some monk archetypes. As it gets more archetypes though that could change.


Adamantine Dragon wrote:
Fair enough. We will just have to wait and see. I know that none of my players has expressed the slightest interest in these classes so far. The only ones I am mildly interested in are the arcanist and swashbuckler. If I get a chance I will throw those two into my game as NPCs and see how they work.

By contrast, my group has expressed tremendous interest in playing these classes. One of my players even actually got goosebumps in front of me while we were talking about him one day playing an investigator.

Anecdotal evidence ftw!


Starsunder, the more I read the swashbuckler thread, the less "mild" my interest is. I'm starting to really want to try one out.


Another reason why playtesting is good is that people theorycraft and play based on emotion. I have explained to a player why his build will have problems with X, Y, and Z, and he goes "I think it will work" based on how he felt.

Another example:
OP:Sneak attack and rogues are overpowered. They outdamage our fighter and barbarian at level 8ish. I only allow one sneak attack a round.

Me:That is not possible unless they are not built to do damage. Show us the builds.

OP:I don't have them memorized.

Me: <uses 5th warrior NPC class with power attack, weapon focus, and toughness> IIRC to outdamage the 8th level rogue, and by comparison the 8th level fighter I guess.

OP: Well I don't care about your numbers. I like long combats....

In the end, the issue was not about the rogue being too powerful. His playstyle of wanting long(more than 6 rounds) for CR=APL combats was the issue. I think this was the same poster who expected 7th or 8th level frontliners to do about 15 DPR.

Playtesting would let a designer know if the theorycrafter is closer or farther away from the norm and why.

Digital Products Assistant

Removed some posts and replies. Let's keep this thread on topic and leave personal insults out of it.

Designer

Okay, folks, this is getting way off topic. Thread is closed.

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