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Ooh, there's a magic warrior specialization right off the bat? Nice!
And "Sharpshoot" as a fighting style!
I hope I can get two snipers in the party when I run this. An operative and a soldier, and watch them compete.
Allright! Varied BAB progression confirmed? Higher Skill points for fighter classes is something I like, as is the combination of Jump/Climb/Swim into "Athletics." Also, it looks like we have the full list of Class Skills for the Soldier: Acrobatics, Athletics, Engineering, Intimidate, Medicine, Piloting, Profession, and Survival. Was the old "Heal" Skill renamed "Medicine" or is that a new skill?
Last thing: What is the difference between basic and advanced melee weapons? Is it like Martial/Exotic Weapons, or are there swords with buttons and settings that do things that really make them advanced?
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Awesome art.
Looks like the Soldier fixes a lot of the problems the fighter has.
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I greatly approve of the Acrobatics (DEX) and Athletics (STR) pairing of skills. I would have liked a pairing of Search (INT) and Notice (WIS) instead of just Perception (WIS), but hey, it works.
So I can start with my desired weapon style, then at 9 pick up arcane assailant to add magics to my own weapon. Very cool. Very very cool. Also yeah Versatile Focus! Was hoping soldiers didn't need weapon focus for every kind of weapon. Just take it twice!
Last thing: What is the difference between basic and advanced melee weapons? Is it like Martial/Exotic Weapons, or are there swords with buttons and settings that do things that really make them advanced?
Going off other sci fi sources, Basic melee weapons will probably be things like swords, ahmmers, machetes, the sorts of things you're liable to see in Pathfinder.
Advanced weapons would be like chainswords, gravity hammers, and blades covered in power fields that disrupt the material of whatever they touch. The awesome sort of melee weapons that comes with science fiction.
The soldier is obviously the Starfinder Fighter, down to the focus on weapon and armor (or more generally, gear) capabilities and the lack of broad skill proficiencies. Comparing it to the fighter, I like that many of the longstanding house rules and suggestions that players have suggested to "fix" the fighter in Pathfinder have made their way into Starfinder. Good will saves, 4 skills per level, and a selectable "fighter-only" set of class features that seem like they might work like advanced weapon and armor trainings (only better, and earlier).
I've got this strange feeling that after playing the soldier the Pathfinder fighter is going to look pretty sad!
I'm definitely looking forward to the fighting styles, as it looks like (Su.) abilities are not off limits like they've been in the past. And since they're not feats, there is also potential that they'll be giving the soldier stuff that players can really look forward to as cool and unique.
Count me in as excited :>
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Awesome preview Owen. The classes previewed so far have definitely convinced me that my dollars will be well spent.
Keep up the good work everyone.
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This bit here, "Other than proficiencies and specializations, feats generally have at most one other feat and a few base attack or ability score minimums as prerequisites, making even a few bonus feats able to cover a wide range of options." is pretty interesting to me. Hopefully it means that long feat chains are gone, replaced by broad feat trees. With luck, previous feats like "Greater Trip" are just ways "Improved Trip" gets better with age.
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Since soldiers are proficient with light and heavy armor, I would infer that they have eliminated the medium armor category.
So hot right now.
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Soldier On!
I wonder how translatable soldier class features will be back to Pathfinder. A more robust core fighter would be great.
But back to the preview. I'm not super happy about ability score prerequisites still being part of feats. It just narrows interesting options.
Well if you have a negative Dex modifiwe and want to take something that involves being super dexterous... hardly makes sense
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Well if you have a negative Dex modifiwe and want to take something that involves being super dexterous... hardly makes senseSoldier On!
I wonder how translatable soldier class features will be back to Pathfinder. A more robust core fighter would be great.
But back to the preview. I'm not super happy about ability score prerequisites still being part of feats. It just narrows interesting options.
I see feats as training that allows you to do things beyond your natural aptitudes.
A person who is generally clumsy but is a great two-weapon fighter has practiced their fighting style a lot and locked it into muscle memory.It's a personal preference and easily House-ruled, but ability score pre-reqs tend to punish martial classes more than anything.
In any case this is a debate for a different thread.
I'm excited the soldier gets some magic toys built in as options to the class
Fair enough. I'm also not sure why Dex is used for range. Just a game thing for balance I guess? Anywho.
Loving these firing styles! Just a few guesses about each:
Arcane Assailant: I'd assume the eldritch signs are a big part of the character, though I highly doubt they'll get spells. Maybe some sa and su,but not spells themself.
Armor Storm: power armor user, obviously. I'm just wondering what cool things the armors can do. Maybe this is Ironman?
Blitz: is assume this is melee, Damoritosh style.
Bombard: the opposite. Focus on blading big and hard.
Guard: this one in most curious about, add a lot of defense boosting stuff usually is meh. Though if that gives you the chance to jump in front of a bullet meant for the Mystic, that would be cool.
Hit-and-run: sounds cool. Maybe gets something like shot on the run for free?
Sharpshoot: Sniper sounds cool, though I can't help but wonder if this is more like a gunslinger, or someone who does trick shots. I hope not though, I want everyone to be able to do called shots
Looks very nice. For a preview of something other than classes can I make request for how iterative attacks work.
Also have yet to get an answer of if there are effects to taking hit point damage other than longer to heal than stamina. This leads me to believe there may be something there.
Dave2
Any guesses on what fighting style Obozaya is? My guess is blitz.
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Why isn't Perception a class skill now? Shouldn't situational awareness be within a soldier's wheelhouse?
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Any guesses on what fighting style Obozaya is? My guess is blitz.
For Obozaya, I'd guess arcane assailant since arcane and divine magic is all lumped together. She drifted away from Darmoritosh's faith, but still uses his symbol on her "holo-banner" and probably inscribes her "sacred doshko" with his symbol.
Why isn't Perception a class skill now? Shouldn't situational awareness be within a soldier's wheelhouse?
At least fighter types can do first aid now. Still can't stand watch for guard duty though. :'(
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Why isn't Perception a class skill now? Shouldn't situational awareness be within a soldier's wheelhouse?
Hopefully because Perception is no longer a skill, and so not something you need to spend skill points on...
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Hopefully because perception is no longer a skill, and so not something you need to spend skill points on...
Stealth is still a skill, so Perception should still be a skill also. Otherwise a 5th level Operative/Ghost may very well never be seen by anyone.
Maybe it's something else now?
Hopefully because perception is no longer a skill, and so not something you need to spend skill points on...Stealth is still a skill, so Perception should still be a skill also. Otherwise a 5th level Operative/Ghost may very well never be seen by anyone.
Perception still seems to be a skill.
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Hopefully because perception is no longer a skill, and so not something you need to spend skill points on...Stealth is still a skill, so Perception should still be a skill also. Otherwise a 5th level Operative/Ghost may very well never be seen by anyone.
Well, Perception could now be a passive attribute everyone has, whose value is (say) lvl+3+wis. And that could be what's used in opposed Stealth/Perception checks. So it would be as if everyone maxed out the Perception skill (as is generally the case) without having Perception effectively be a skill point tax.
I don't know how likely that is... but I've got my fingers crossed!
Perception still seems to be a skill.Hopefully because perception is no longer a skill, and so not something you need to spend skill points on...Stealth is still a skill, so Perception should still be a skill also. Otherwise a 5th level Operative/Ghost may very well never be seen by anyone.
Ah, they've said that, have they? Oh well. :/
I know I saw it but I can't for the life of me remember where.
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I never had a PC without maxed out Perception at my table, so hopefully Pathfinder Reloaded Beta ... I mean, Starfinder axed that particular feat tax.
I know I saw it but I can't for the life of me remember where.
If they kept Perception as a skill, I'm sure they had some good reasons for doing so. Though I'm having a hard time thinking of what those might be...
Any developers who want to pre-emptively diffuse the inevitable angry mob are welcome to drop some clues as to what those reasons are. :)
...what do you mean you're prepping for PaizoCon? Where are your priorities?
Didn't expect to dig the Soldier, but I do. Was expecting more of a straight Fighter conversion but there are clear influences from Ranger and Magus/Warpriest too... and Obozaya's preview indicated Cavalier elements as well. Also seems like maybe they've had an eye on what 5e has been doing with Fighters.
Also really really pleased to see feat chains have been hacked down somewhat. Just comparing SF's Shot on the Run to PF's, it requires slightly higher Dex but 2 fewer feats. Almost all of my group's houserules involve eliminating/reducing feat taxes, so this will be very well received :)
All in all... I'd had my eye on the mechanic, but I might just make a soldier instead.
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I hope the jump jet's mentioned are gear and not an option for a class ability.
The Soldier looks great. Hmmm arcane assailant fighter with priest theme kind of gives me paladin vibes.
Interesting.. definitely the kind of thing I was hoping for, with a few surprise extras. (wasn't expecting the fighting styles)
So, of the classes so far, the mystic seems the only one with poor saves (i.e., only 1 good save). Was honestly hoping every class would have 2. (though I note everyone so far has good Will)
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The only fhing i dont like the sound of is weapon focus being a feat, but thats predicated on it being basically the same as 3.5, and the versatile focus even makes up for it a little. I paused on the implication of no more feat trees, because there are good feat trees (like many style feats), and feat trees which I consider bad (Like Greater Whip Mastery) But sweet mothers of mercy I love everything else in this.
Two good saves? 4+int ranks per level? Further skill consolidation? Non-spellcasting magic incorporated into 'mundane' classes? The phrase "plasma immolation"? Save me Owen-one Kenobi, you're my only hope!
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Definitely does sound interesting! And very nice preview, I especially like how you managed to weave in confirming A LOT of details about the Starfinder system in general beyond just the Soldier. Thanks for that!
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I'm liking it...was wondering how they'd make it more than just 'Fighter with gun proficiencies' and it sounds like that's been achieved.
and that android art is really cool!
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Everything I see in these previews of the Starfinder RPG system make me like it even more! A feat at every odd level? Minimum skill points of 4 + INT Modifier (so far)? Feat trees that don't require a ton of prerequisites? Removing the Medium Armor classification? Skill consolidations (Athletics)? Yes, PLEASE!
The only bad thing about this is that now I want to see Pathfinder updated in a similar fashion... who else is ready for Pathfinder 2.0?
Interesting.. definitely the kind of thing I was hoping for, with a few surprise extras. (wasn't expecting the fighting styles)
So, of the classes so far, the mystic seems the only one with poor saves (i.e., only 1 good save). Was honestly hoping every class would have 2. (though I note everyone so far has good Will)
Well that can't be good. Someone is bad to have a bad Will save. So of the Mechanic, the Solarion, and the Technomancer, I would think that the Technomancer would have Will, given that it's a mental focused class. Since the Solarion is based on Jedi in a bit, I would expect them to have good Will as well. Leaving just the Mechanic, as it would probably have Fort and Ref, given how often they're around grease and smog, plus being nimble enough to climb around the inside of a ship. Can't wait to see what's next!
There might be something wrong with me that the detail on all of this that stands out to me most is the fact that "mercy" is still a modifier that exists for weapons, and a well trained soldier can apply it to any weapon within the limitations of their Rune of the Eldritch Knight.
I mean, this isn't your mom's D&D/Pathfinder system. It's a space opera. We have rocket launchers and laser swords... that can be imbued with mercy. The phrase "Hit me Brutus" comes to mind...
...or, you know, "You'll be surprised what you can live through," for a reference that is more contemporary. "Hit me Brutus" is more of an in joke from a home brewed system in 3.5 that my brother ran years ago.
And you would be correct. :)Since soldiers are proficient with light and heavy armor, I would infer that they have eliminated the medium armor category.
So did most Medium armor get squeezed into Light, into Heavy, or more or less an even split between these?