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Pathfinder Epic Level Handbook, v1.6 - the dead levels update

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Roughly two years ago, I brought you version 1.5 of a project I've worked on for ages: the Pathfinder Epic Level Handbook, based on the old Epic level Handbook that Wizards published for D&D 3.0.

Today, I'm happy to announce that version 1.6 is live!

The main revision of this 185-page guide is the elimination of dead levels. As one forum user said of the previous version, "I couldn't imagine grinding for millions of xp to just get an extra skill point and 1d8 HP."

Now, every class gains something at every level, be it a bonus class feat (now working off a standardized system to avoid low-feat-progression classes actually ending up with more feats in the short term), an iterative improvement of existing class features, or new, epic improvements to class abilities or spellcasting.

Other improvements in this edition include:

  • Reworking the universal class advancement bonuses
  • A "prowess bonus" that classes automatically get, to improve the utility of iterative attacks
  • A ton of new feats, bringing the total up to 445 epic feats (nearly three times as many as in the original Epic Level Handbook), with a new organization scheme to make the section more convenient
  • A new epic armor quality and three new epic weapon qualities
  • A new, across-the-board focus on boosting damage output rather than to-hit bonuses, with the aim of making combat more dynamic and much quicker

    Please bear in mind that this is a living document and if you have any suggestions or corrections you'd like to bring to my attention, I'm always eager to improve what I can. That being said: please enjoy!

    •

    Hey there. I just read over the entire document and I love it! Love the additions made with this update. My only comment is that on page 4 in the small box dealing with Pathfinder Unchained and Automatic Bonus Progression mentions information for epic scaling in Chapter 8. I did not find any information about Epic Automatic Bonus Progression in the chapter. If you could please add in the missing information that would be great.

    Thanks again for bringing us epic play.

    Something I'd like to point out is that the magus arcane pool feature does not add a bonus to weapons based on number of pool points spent. The bonus scales with the magus level but arcane pool cost to enhance the weapon always remains at 1. So a level 17 Magus only needs to spend 1 point from her arcane pool to a Vorpal to her +5 longsword.

    So a level 21 magus would be able to add an enhancement bonus equal to +6 to a weapon with the arcane pool and this bonus would increase every four levels there after. Deep Pool would allow the Magus to enhance his weapon to an epic level bonus.

    Good to see some updated PF epicness. ;)
    Black Handed Mage wrote:
    My only comment is that on page 4 in the small box dealing with Pathfinder Unchained and Automatic Bonus Progression mentions information for epic scaling in Chapter 8. I did not find any information about Epic Automatic Bonus Progression in the chapter. If you could please add in the missing information that would be great.

    Damn...knew I forgot something. And that's something I specifically footnoted, because I'll probably need it for a campaign I'm running right now.

    I'll prioritize that edit and thanks for pointing it out!

    On page 73 you should add in the Nirvana Ki feat under the Sprial Shield benefit so it reads ".....You become immune to all spells...,"

    Wow, goes up to level 125!?

    Keeps a lot of the stuff I didn't like about Epic though (limiting # of attacks, changing BaB scheme of things), as it feels taking things away from Martials and adding them to Spellcasters rather than the other way around.

    However, regardless of how I like or dislike the old Epic Rules (preferred the Advanced Players Guide from S&S instead),

    These look fantastic for those who do like them. Nice job. In addition, it downloaded very fast and was a smaller PDF than many of those others put out with more text and information inside than those other PDFs.

    Nice Job.
    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    *blink*

    I kept reading "Arsenal Hall" on pg. 139 as "Arsenio Hall", and I don't know why.

    Not a fan of the new focus on higher damage dealing. Otherwise I like your changes (and I liked them when you posted them a couple years back, too).
    Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

    I think I have identified the issue with your site that was brought up in your Giants in the Playground posting, along with why nobody has mentioned it here.

    When I attempted to follow some of the links from the end of your document, I could access every PDF link I tried but invariably was denied access to all website links. From the error messages I saw, I think you somehow have your site set up so that a password is required to access anything but the PDFs (and yet we are not prompted to enter one for some reason).

    Since you provided a direct link to the PDF here but not at Giants in the Playground, nobody using your link in this thread would notice any problem unless they tried to look at the rest of your site. On the other hand, anyone who has only your site URL with no direct PDF link is currently blocked.

    You might want to think about including some demonstrations of epic character builds using this new rule set as well as some hooks of what an epic level adventures might entail.
    Scarab Sages

    I see you worked very hard on this. Well done!

    I have a lot to read now... And I love that.

    This one is page not found too.
    I searched and found this, and will try to download.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Pathfinder_RPG/comments/49d83s/pathfinder_epicleve l_handbook_v16_released_the/

    Same page not found.

    uh-oh page not found :(
    5 people marked this as a favorite.

    Try this one:

    http://www.jessesdnd.com/sites/default/files/EpicPathfinder1.6.pdf

    DOT-DOT~! Woot!
    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    And my productivity for the day just plummeted.
    2 people marked this as a favorite.
    Hrothgar Rannúlfr wrote:

    Try this one:

    http://www.jessesdnd.com/sites/default/files/EpicPathfinder1.6.pdf

    That worked.

    It amuses me that you could have a cataclysmic healing spell. I guess if you cast it on an undead, it would make more sense.
    1 person marked this as a favorite.
    Hrothgar Rannúlfr wrote:

    Try this one:

    http://www.jessesdnd.com/sites/default/files/EpicPathfinder1.6.pdf

    this works perfectly, thanks!

    i will check the content and hope don´t mind the advice :3

    good work!
    1 person marked this as a favorite.
    Goth Guru wrote:
    Hrothgar Rannúlfr wrote:

    Try this one:

    http://www.jessesdnd.com/sites/default/files/EpicPathfinder1.6.pdf

    That worked.

    It amuses me that you could have a cataclysmic healing spell. I guess if you cast it on an undead, it would make more sense.

    I don't know the author of this EpicPathfinder 1.6. Nor, have I played into such levels in Pathfinder or 3.X, but I might take a deeper look at it once our group achieves levels close to 20th.

    Thanks!
    1 person marked this as a favorite.
    Hrothgar Rannúlfr wrote:

    Try this one:

    LINK-LINK~! Woot!

    Service with a smile!

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