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I love details, rules and encumbrance.
I specifically design characters to carry everything they need, I use every official pathfinder rule, to milk every last ounce of usefulness out of my character.
My DM hates it, because the rest of the players barely look at the rules, so they often feel underpowered or useless when my character can easily deal with any situation that arises.
No offense, as you're not doing anything wrong. You're using the rules as they exist to improve your options in game, you're doing basic optimization. However, if I were your GM with the other players like you describe, I'd hate it too - and it currently is my situation - too a lesser degree.
The problems that arise, is that your success forces me the GM to make encounters a little harder, so they can be a challenge to you, but now that same threat is too much for the rest of the party. It isn't fair, and the point of the game for everyone to have fun. If only you're having fun, and the rest of the party is not, that's a problem.
If tables could be ideal, it would be great to have all players being optimizers, or no players being optimizers. Mixed groups are problematic.
Again, I'm not saying you're doing anything wrong, but your style of play is not the only style, and you'll have to adapt somehow, perhaps make yourself less optimized (not suboptimal), or it could kill a table. I've seen it happen.
I agree 100%. and it has been a problem in the past. So to compensate I give myself lower ability scores, and always give everyone else a chance to act before I do. I might end up saving the group in the end, but at least everyone had a fair shot first. I am also doing my best to focus on rollplay, and relationships with other characters. But I agree. I always provide all the rules I use to everyone, but no one else seems to care, and I would love to play 1 game where everyone optimizes the way I do. Because it would be epic.
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Pugwampies and sheyln
the pugwampies because they are freaking hilarious to make invisible and then follow the party around with.
Sheyln because its a goddess of love who wields a glaive whos whispers drove her brother insane. and that is my bad ass goddess of love
Pugwampies and sheyln
the pugwampies because they are freaking hilarious to make invisible and then follow the party around with.
Sheyln because its a goddess of love who wields a glaive whos whispers drove her brother insane. and that is my bad ass goddess of love
Hey, who doesn't like Shelyn? I'll grant you running a hardcore follower of hers, is going to be incredibly difficult without a certain group (after all, just look at her paladin code; stereotypically paladins come to arguments with their group over not killing surrendered enemies; with her, the arguments would be over killing enemies in battle), but I haven't found anyone who takes issue with her, in general.
I also like Dhampirs.
I like the fact that spellcasting classes are superior to the average Joe with a sword.
I like Vancian casting
...For wizards, clerics, druids, and the lesser spellcasting classes.
It makes sense for them to know a preset spell but feels unnatural when it comes to a sorcerer or Oracle.
I like words of power and feel it fills that void nicely.
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I like Paladins. Great thematic powers, teeny tiny amount of leeway in the wrong group. and its very easy to end up in the wrong group for a Paladin. Like my current group, the GM loves Paladins, but everybody wants to play CN, or a loose CG, so my Paladin is going for a ride on the bus* for a CN Slayer. Some people like the RPing challenge it brings, but I can't help but feel like I'll have to kill one of these "Vigilante"-type PCs eventually.
*coming back right away if we do carrion crown, though. I like him too much to never play him again.
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Pugwampies
the pugwampies because they are freaking hilarious to make invisible and then follow the party around with.
ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
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I love Rogues and Monks and the Explosive Runes spell.
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I like to incapacitate enemies by using nonlethal damage as much as possible. I know many many people would rather just slaughter their way through everything, but I would rather play my Good aligned character as a good person.
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I like to incapacitate enemies by using nonlethal damage as much as possible. I know many many people would rather just slaughter their way through everything, but I would rather play my Good aligned character as a good person.
+99999999999
On a related note, the Compassionate weapon ability is awesome.
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I like to incapacitate enemies by using nonlethal damage as much as possible. I know many many people would rather just slaughter their way through everything, but I would rather play my Good aligned character as a good person.+99999999999
On a related note, the Compassionate weapon ability is awesome.
On a related note, using Diplomacy or Bluff to avoid fights.
Sure, I CAN bludgeon someone into submission, but with Diplomacy, I don't have to. And we can all go home happy! :)
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I like to incapacitate enemies by using nonlethal damage as much as possible. I know many many people would rather just slaughter their way through everything, but I would rather play my Good aligned character as a good person.+99999999999
On a related note, the Compassionate weapon ability is awesome.
On a related note, using Diplomacy or Bluff to avoid fights.
Sure, I CAN bludgeon someone into submission, but with Diplomacy, I don't have to. And we can all go home happy! :)
That goes without saying. :)
I like to incapacitate enemies by using nonlethal damage as much as possible. I know many many people would rather just slaughter their way through everything, but I would rather play my Good aligned character as a good person.+99999999999
On a related note, the Compassionate weapon ability is awesome.
On a related note, using Diplomacy or Bluff to avoid fights.
Sure, I CAN bludgeon someone into submission, but with Diplomacy, I don't have to. And we can all go home happy! :)
That goes without saying. :)
YES!!!
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I like to incapacitate enemies by using nonlethal damage as much as possible. I know many many people would rather just slaughter their way through everything, but I would rather play my Good aligned character as a good person.+99999999999
On a related note, the Compassionate weapon ability is awesome.
On a related note, using Diplomacy or Bluff to avoid fights.
Sure, I CAN bludgeon someone into submission, but with Diplomacy, I don't have to. And we can all go home happy! :)
That goes without saying. :)
I, too, am in on this being great, and have managed it upon occasion.
Hell, my Evil character tried to do this...though not notably successfully, I admit (the forces of Good were sadly unwilling to listen to reason from the Drow Bard with an Antipaladin bodyguard...though the GM wanting us to have to fight things may also have had something to do with it).
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In Rite Publishing's Way of the Samurai (PFRPG) supplement, we specifically included both a samurai archetype called Kuge that is essentially a courtier - slower progression of resolve in exchange for more skill points, and leadership/diplomacy talents, and a samurai prestige class called Bugyo that is an aristocrat holding major office with some samurai like abilities mixed with tea ceremony and diplomacy bonuses. I wanted some samurai to fit the machinations of the court with intrigue and diplomacy - more than the base class accomplishes that.
I guess this also covers my love for being a freelancer and get the opportunity to develop Pathfinder material, write/design products, create maps. I even got the opportunity to write some of the City of Kasai gazetteer (and designed the original city map) for Paizo and got credited as a contributing author to The Empty Throne module of Jade Regent AP. Without Pathfinder, it was unlikely I'd gotten any of that opportunity at all...
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Monsters that push their CR Rating or even go above what they are assigned. That is as a GM and player.
I also like classes/ways to play that force GM's to think outside the box a little and get rid of conventional strategies.
I also say this as a GM and player.
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The "+5 DC to skip a prerequisite" rule.
The "+5 DC to skip a prerequisite" rule.
LOL, that fits in the "... others might not" category very well. I have a severe dislike (but not quite hate) for that rule.
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I quite like the +5 dc rule as well. Allows non-standard crafters (like a magus) functional. Otherwise, only mystic theurges would be able to properly craft anything on their own...
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I also really like the +5 DC rule as well as the no more XP cost for crafting.
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I mostly like it because it allows a very easily adaptable way to get kind of "ritual magic" in pathfinder, via custom single-use use-activated magic items.
Design Manager
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I like to incapacitate enemies by using nonlethal damage as much as possible. I know many many people would rather just slaughter their way through everything, but I would rather play my Good aligned character as a good person.
Shameless plug here, but for the new Magic of Incarna book I'm writing for Dreamscarred Press, one of the new base classes, the Guru works entirely from a mechanic of dealing non-lethal damage effectively. If you decide to check it out, let me know what you think in the playtest thread here.
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Related to my last post, I love archetypes, as a means to customize a character class to add options, or to give a class specific flavor to fit a concept. I don't just mean the existing archetypes as found in Paizo books, nor content produced by 3PP, but as a tool for individual GMs and players to get what they specifically want in any class build.
For instance when looking at creating class archetypes for an Old West setting idea, I wanted a card sharp magus that relied on pistols as his chosen weapon and fitting the concept of a Doc Holiday. So I created a specific magus build that replaced his spellbook with a spell playing card deck, got rid of spellstrike and replaced with ranged spellstrike (as this guy doesn't plan to ever fight in melee), with ability to wield dual pistols with spell combat, even an ability to swerve incoming bullets like 'deflect arrow' but with magic.
So practically any concept of adventurer you have in mind and any given selected player class can be adapted by replacing class features with those that best fit a specific concept.
I like the fact that the steps needed to alter any class to fit any concept are easy to employ, and as long as you are careful to meet the balance of any replaced feature it can be done without being OP.
While many GMs might prefer the wide existing archetypes available, I like the fact that its easy to customize to create brand new archetypes easily on my own - as a GM or player (or as a 3PP).
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Can't believe I didn't post this earlier...
I love half-orcs....
How do you make a Druid better, give it a great axe, bite attack and darkvision!
How do you make a Bard better, give it a great axe, bite attack and darkvision!
How do you make a Sorcerer better, give it a great axe, bite attack and darkvision!
How do you make a Wizard better, give it a great axe, bite attack and darkvision!
How do you make a cleric better, give it a great axe, bite attack and darkvision!
How do you make a Inquisistor better, give it a great axe, bite attack and darkvision!
etc
Tactics and cinematic combat.
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Oh and steampunk/magitech stuff. I freakign love that. Fantastical machines powered by magic and fuzzy physics scream fantasy to me far more than dudes in armor with swords.
I love that so many healing and reviving options don't work on dhampirs.
Cure spells, lay on hands, channel positive energy, heal, breath of life, reincarnation, raise dead.
I'm gonna throw in my vote for the many, many options in Pathfinder. Im currently in three campaigns, 2 of them Pathfinder (I'm running one and playing in my fiance's gestalt campaign), and the other is 5th edition. While I appreciate the things that 5th edition has done to fix issues, and a couple of the people that are in the two PF games as well state they prefer 5th because its much simpler and they feel fits with RP better, I will firmly stick with Pathfinder as my preferred option. Sure, there's a lot I dislike about Pathfinder that I'm sure others love, but I like the options. I like that I can sit down and find a few feats and archetypes that will get my character more or less to the concept I want.
I love bringing a ton of equipment with me, and always get disheartened when I see a player bring nothing but a backpack and the mandatory items for their class. Guy's have you not considered the awesomeness of A PORTABLE RAM?!
Beyond that Paladins are awesome, and I honestly love having so much material to work with in my games as a player and DM.
The arcanist.
Vancian casting that I actually like!
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I love when combat plays out like a game of chess. My GM actually banned reach weapons for years because he didn't have a battlemat, and we all kept track of combat in our heads. "Moving to flank" was a move action. He said it was easier, but I hated it. It took a lot of convincing to get him to change his mind, but the result was a major improvement.
I like Bull Rushing as a tactic. Sure, you can't really build a whole character around it, but you dont' need to-- any zweihander martial type is already taking Power Attack and has feat slots to burn after that anyway. What better way to protect your squishier friends than by physically pushing threats away from them?
I like Bull Rushing as a tactic. Sure, you can't really build a whole character around it, but you dont' need to-- any zweihander martial type is already taking Power Attack and has feat slots to burn after that anyway. What better way to protect your squishier friends than by physically pushing threats away from them?
By physically pushing your friends away from the threat. Why make a maneuver check against that orc barbarian when your friend's wizard is a much more easier target?
By physically pushing your friends away from the threat. Why make a maneuver check against that orc barbarian when your friend's wizard is a much more easier target?
I like Bull Rushing as a tactic. Sure, you can't really build a whole character around it, but you dont' need to-- any zweihander martial type is already taking Power Attack and has feat slots to burn after that anyway. What better way to protect your squishier friends than by physically pushing threats away from them?
Bull Rush requires very specific positioning, whereas the Pull and Reposition maneuvers are more likely to give you the ability to place an unconscious comrade back safely behind your own party lines.
...Guy's have you not considered the awesomeness of A PORTABLE RAM?!
It makes me a little sad when I don't have the carrying capacity to do stuff like this. I once pulled out a portable ram about two years and twelve levels into a campaign. I'd been carrying it the whole time... it just hadn't come up.
By physically pushing your friends away from the threat. Why make a maneuver check against that orc barbarian when your friend's wizard is a much more easier target?
I like Bull Rushing as a tactic. Sure, you can't really build a whole character around it, but you dont' need to-- any zweihander martial type is already taking Power Attack and has feat slots to burn after that anyway. What better way to protect your squishier friends than by physically pushing threats away from them?Bull Rush requires very specific positioning, whereas the Pull and Reposition maneuvers are more likely to give you the ability to place an unconscious comrade back safely behind your own party lines.
Perform:Comedy check failed :(
Though honestly, I am now debating about making a character around the concept of "STAND BACK WIZARD, I GOT THIS!" - constantly positioning to stay between allies and foes to look for an excuse to bull rush my squishy friends away.
I mean hey, they're not taking damage.
Anyway, more on topic.
Undines. Most other people I've come across either don't care or are entirely unimpressed. I don't know anyone else who thoroughly enjoys the race (of course I don't get out much though).
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Gnomes. 100% Gnomes. I want to play a game where everyone rolls a Gnome.
Not really that people hate Sorcerers, per se, but I greatly prefer Sorcerers to Wizards. If I'm gonna cast spells, I wanna look sexy doing it.
Bards.
Cavaliers and Paladins. ESPECIALLY Paladins.
I like restrictions for the purpose of a coherent theme. A prehistoric game with Shamans and Druids only. A steampunk game with alchemists and gunslingers. It's a story telling game and I think stories are better told when there's a cohesive narrative structure. Even if that means this game isn't the one where I get to roll up my Beastmorph Alchemist.
I love Rogues and Monks and the Explosive Runes spell.
You prepared what spell today??? Oh...
Personally... I LOVE word casting... it depresses me that Paizo has not done ANYTHING else with word casting and have pretty much abandoned it but I LOVE it... With spontaneous casters it is awesome! Arcanists get... really weird with them too though :P
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Gnome-rolling is a time honored orcish sport, right before dwarf tossing ...Gnomes. 100% Gnomes. I want to play a game where everyone rolls a Gnome.
Not really that people hate Sorcerers, per se, but I greatly prefer Sorcerers to Wizards. If I'm gonna cast spells, I wanna look sexy doing it.
Bards.
Cavaliers and Paladins. ESPECIALLY Paladins.
I like restrictions for the purpose of a coherent theme. A prehistoric game with Shamans and Druids only. A steampunk game with alchemists and gunslingers. It's a story telling game and I think stories are better told when there's a cohesive narrative structure. Even if that means this game isn't the one where I get to roll up my Beastmorph Alchemist.
With the kind of will saves most orcs sport, they probably think they're rolling gnomes...
Paladins - with all their restrictions.
Alignment
Vancian casting
Those last two are, for me, such an integral part of AD&D and its offspring that I am amazed at the dislike for them. Sure, it can be done differently maybe even better, but it wouldn't be the same game anymore.
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Here's a recent thing I've developed a taste for that at least the people in my groups tend to dislike:
Not having god stats. Part of this is probably because we've mostly moved on to 5E (Sorry, Paizo! Still love ya.) which brought back the items setting scores to fixed numbers - who cares if you find Gauntlets of Ogre Power when you're already sitting at your STR cap, anyway?
But I play with people who will steadfastly refuse characters who don't start with at least one 19-20. They all do generous rolling that pretty much ensures it, too.
On the one hand, this still worked for me a bit in Pathfinder - it let me play character concepts that were typically too underpowered to work in most games. But now it just ruins a lot of the challenge/fun for me. And good luck running a decent horror game as a GM when every character is The God-@#%^ Batman.
Prestige classes.
I love RAI. I love that the rules as written can be interpreted for my game the way I and my players them to exist. I love hat not every rule s so set n stone and that my nterpretation of the role matters.
I hate auto correct