This is Alton. With family this weekend but I'll be ready on Monday or so.
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I've created a Playtest Feedback Thread over in the playtest forums. I've tried to sum up what you guys have been saying in the comments thus far. Please, add any additional comments you might have as you're playing through.
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I've played this one plenty of times. The Silver Warden won't be doing anything stupid or unusual. *ahem*
Color me underwhelmed, overall. There are some neat things in the Vigilante class, but this Avenger is basically a Fighter with one less combat feat and no weapon or armor training. Nice skill options though.
It seems to me the Vigilante should either be four separate classes or, better yet, the talents should be all in one big pool, with the initial specializations as selections more like a Ranger's Combat Style--a useful ability that doesn't so totally define the character.
The Stalker's throat jab thing really annoys me. Great ability, but it shouldn't require taking 4 levels in a specific class for a character to learn how to smack somebody's vocal chords.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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GM, I just discovered that if you use Google Slides instead of Google Drawings, mobile users that can install the Slides app can move their tokens from that app.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Back in the ACG playtest, it was very clear, but never officially stated that the Devs loved some classes and only touched others (Warpriest most notably), with a 10ft pole because they where forced to. I kind of get the same feeling here with the Warlock, which is pretty clearly the one that they love the most. Zealot gets mostly crap while the Warlock gets a lot of really cool options. The Warlock is really the closest thing to an actual PC Class of all of them, from what I see. Avenger is next, then Stalker, (where it seems most of the issues seem to more stem from the Devs not understanding the rules as well as the community, so things seem cool, but don't fully work as well as it seems they where intended to).
My suggestion would be to make the Warlock a Cha based Spont Caster, possibly even using the Bard list rather than the Wizard list. This would make it more difficult for the class, which is most SAD in comparison, to get less Skill Points. The Zealot instead becomes a Spont Wis Based caster. I'm honestly even tempted to suggest that they have the entire Inquisitor list Known. Their spell casting is kind of that bad, and Divine casting is already pretty subpar to Arcane. A lot of crossover and they also tend to be much less friendly towards scaling. Having the entire Inquisitor, or even Cleric list Know is not going to be game breaking when you are only casting 2 or 3 spells per day.
The Warlock should probably also drop Fly and Use Magic Device, (just too good). While Fly at least is appropriate, it's just one too many good skills on what is basically the best skill list of the 4 already. Use Magic Device, however, basically makes the Zealot as is a redundant tertiary class once the ability to buy cheap wands comes online around 2nd-4th ish levels.
I can see the majority of the Zealot's spellcasting being used on out of combat healing, and a half-decent Warlock with Ranks in Use Magic Device trained really steps on even those toes, not to mention the little that the Inquisitor's Spell List brings has so much potential crossover. Unlike the Zealot, (at least now as written), the Warlock also has plenty of pretty amazing Talents that really make deciding between further Arcane Training an honest hard choice.
So far, and I know it's still early on, I see no reason to play a :
Avenger over a Ranger or Lore Warden Fighter
Stalker over a Rogue/Unchained Rogue, Bard, <Urban> Ranger, etc. . .
Zealot over a Cleric/Rogue or Ranger, Oracle, or most importantly an Inquisitor.
Even if it's purely for flavor, all of the above would simply be better at the job if they took a single level dip in Vigilante for the Dual Identity, which for the most part really seems to be one of those options that decreases what EVERYONE ELSE could already kind of do just to make itself seem cool.
You can already have the flavor of a secret identity, for instance with the a Day Job. Rules already exist for the Disguise and Bluff Skill, not to mention the Hat of Disguise, a Masterwork item (clothing or Noble Outfit). Codifying it as a special Class Feature just robs everyone else of that flavor for no good reason, and the fact that it's gotten at Level 1 in full makes it a terribly attractive Dip, (that's a lot, a dang lot of Class Skills suddenly). Heck, even the Zealot, which I see as the worst, still gets a few Spells per day, which at the very least means they can use a Wand of CLW without a check. That's not a terrible 1 level dip trade off for anyone, (except Divine Casters who could instead go Warlock and probably make out even better for the skill points, Shield, Burning Hands vs Swarms, and similar spell types they normally can't use). +2 Refl and an even higher Will, and All Martial Weapons are just extra cake on the side.
What's even more funny, is that it might even offer a rather strange opportunity to play, for example a TN Cleric of Sarenrae who is secretly a Zealot of Urgathoa, as the Zealot does not, for right now, require a Patron Deity for it's powers.
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I've been looking over the Zealot, and have actually started to like it more than initially thought. Mostly for flavor, as while not the best mechanics wise, I'm more of in the boat that a person of common upbringing decided that enough was enough. They want to take t hi vs into their own hands, but don't have the means to properly train, and may be ostracized if they come out as an adventurer.
I feel that this is a great class for fluff, and will hold great for home or online RP capabilities. Someone's first adventure may not be their best, but somehow they adapt enough to contribute something for the seasoned veterans.
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So, the chronicle sheet for us just came out here, we can keep play testing until August 17 for more bonus stuffs. What say we all apply the edit/changes to our characters and go for a second, short scenario, like first steps or something and keep our current group?
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I'm mostly ready to run Masters of the Fallen Fortress. How long does every one think it will take once this is over to be ready? I'd like to (unless Wasp is really wanting to run) start as quickly as possible and push through it pretty fast.
I don't mean rush, but it seems like there is a pretty solid posting rate here, and it's a lot less complicated. Depending on time frame, might also be able to run First Steps or Black Waters, too. Both are pretty quick.
Also, who was in or out?
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I won't be able to do Black Waters (for credit) as I am just about to play through it with another credit.
We can probably knock out MotFF in a week if we keep at it fast enough.
First Steps after that sounds good to me.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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I'll keep going. Not thrilled with the class, but it has some interesting notions. I can certainly see an all-vigilante campaign outside of PFS could be great fun, but within PFS it seems too awkward. But I haven't yet reviewed the playtest changes they already made, so I will look that over before the next scenario.
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It says "no items"
Hrm, even when logged out, it shows. Message me your email address and I'll send it to you.
Anyone else having trouble seeing the chronicles?
Gm, are you going to fill out our chronicle sheets for the playtest or should we?
Yes. Converting the chronicle sheets last night took longer than I expected, because I originally tried a program that didn't end up working well. I'll have the playtest one up tonight.
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In homage to Lore Defender's idea, I have created a new thread for the follow up game. Please note it will not begin until after this one has finished. But, feel free to head over and say high.
I just wanted to repost this. Everyone is welcome, though we do need to push this game pretty fast.
Please let me know if you are in and also when your character is ready.