Pathfinder Advanced Player's Guide Preview #1

Dark_Mistress wrote:

I am going to go with.... Z

It's C for Cheliax, right? Or do I have to ask the Holy Inquisition to pay you a visit again? ;P

Nah Z, cause that is the end and we all know Cheliax will be their at the end dominating.

I'm gonna say B+. It is a minor change that can, and WILL, completely change the dynamics and playstyle of the class. Like clerics being nerfed down to medium armor, and look at the groundswell of opposition that complained about that (well deserved) nerf.

Here is my take on it.

There are two basic types of sorcerer bloodlines: Arcanists, who inherited magical potency and power, and Combatives, who inherited defensive qualities and assault powers.

The new human favored class ability will benefit the Arcanists greatly, increasing their versatility nicely. That odes not make them more powerful, only a little more versatile, because they still have limited castings that do not improve.

On the other hand, Combatives will always benefit more from taking the Hit Points or the Skill Points. What good are claws if you cannot survive an extra bit of damage? What good is having wings if your Fly skill is abysmal? Your chosen spells list will already do everything possible to increase your combat capability. The possibility of an extra spell is good, but it is actually more helpful to have the extra hit points and the toughness feat to put you on a par with the medium BAB progression in hit points. Your buffs will carry your attack bonus, and you'll even have the option to take an extra spell now and then at higher levels to increase that a little more if you need it. But having more hit points (3.5+2+con bonus=fighter average!)makes a melee sorcerer a viable possibility.

Options options options.

Also, the Elven Wizard ability actually makes sense - it is a weak one, but a high int wizard isn't going to need more spell points, or hit points (if he's in combat he did it wrong, right?)....but being able to let loose another Protective Ward, Blinding Ray, or Diviner's Fortune may make a critical difference. And it further backs up the idea that Elves are good at Wizardry, with their bonus to penetrate Spell Resistance and their understanding of magic items (bonus to Spellcraft to identify items).

I kinda dislike the stonesinger ability, I mean the ability is nice, but why does it have to replace stonecunning, it does not feel right for the flavor of the intimate connection with the earth and stone.

I kinda dislike the stonesinger ability, I mean the ability is nice, but why does it have to replace stonecunning, it does not feel right for the flavor of the intimate connection with the earth and stone.

I dunno, I actually like it better than stonecunning (I usually play spellcasters of one sort or another though, so I may be biased)

At my table, stonecunning is alright if they are in natural surroundings or the typical dungeon, but the rarely ever are. I mean, what do they do if they are in the trees in the elven forests? Or on a ship in the high seas? Or in an elaborate mansion made entirely of wood and steel? Or on any of the elemental planes, other than Earth? Or what if the DM doesn't use many traps? What if the player/DM forgets to add the +2 since they actually are around stone? Not to mention the automatic check regardless if they are actively searching or not, this can easily turn into a
"DM: Aaaand the floor falls out from beneath you, give me a reflex save.
Player:*rolls dice* A five... DM: you fall 50 feet into spiked pit trap.
Player: Wait! I'm a dwarf so I should have gotten an automatic check to see if the trap was there since it's a stone floor. *rolls dice* natural 20! yay I see it and avoid it!
DM: Crap."-situation.
And plus, it does make sense that an Earth Elemental Bloodline dwarf sorcerer ought to be better at all the earthy stuff than that fruity Earth Elemental Bloodline elf.
But to each his own.

Remco Sommeling wrote:

I kinda dislike the stonesinger ability, I mean the ability is nice, but why does it have to replace stonecunning, it does not feel right for the flavor of the intimate connection with the earth and stone.

I dunno, I actually like it better than stonecunning (I usually play spellcasters of one sort or another though, so I may be biased)

At my table, stonecunning is alright if they are in natural surroundings or the typical dungeon, but the rarely ever are. I mean, what do they do if they are in the trees in the elven forests? Or on a ship in the high seas? Or in an elaborate mansion made entirely of wood and steel? Or on any of the elemental planes, other than Earth? Or what if the DM doesn't use many traps? What if the player/DM forgets to add the +2 since they actually are around stone? Not to mention the automatic check regardless if they are actively searching or not, this can easily turn into a
"DM: Aaaand the floor falls out from beneath you, give me a reflex save.
Player:*rolls dice* A five... DM: you fall 50 feet into spiked pit trap.
Player: Wait! I'm a dwarf so I should have gotten an automatic check to see if the trap was there since it's a stone floor. *rolls dice* natural 20! yay I see it and avoid it!
DM: Crap."-situation.
And plus, it does make sense that an Earth Elemental Bloodline dwarf sorcerer ought to be better at all the earthy stuff than that fruity Earth Elemental Bloodline elf.
But to each his own.

you are kinda missing my point, I mean the stonesinger is losing one earth/stone related power to become more intimate with the earth/stone, at the same time it can not do what all the other dwarves do with stone though.