Aravan's page

Now I understand that I am derailing what the current thread has become but I would like to respond to the original poster and his concerns with Pathfinder. Possibly much/all of this was brought up in the previous thread but to be frank I am too lazy/disinterested in sifting through the many pages. I agree with some of Shallowsoul’s points, mainly the fact that magic items have largely become static numeric bonuses that are neither fun nor interesting. As a player and as a DM I want the entire group to think Awwww, sweet! when a magic item is gained and generic cloaks of resistance +x and shopping at a magic mart does neither. However after playing and DMing several APs (our group pretty much only plays APs) I have come to the conclusion that static magic item bonuses are built into the system. Frankly without cloaks of resistance the DC on saves is too high for players to have a reasonable chance of making, without rings of protection and magic armor even mooks will have a far greater than 50% chance of hitting front line fighters, and without stat boosting items a 15 point buy is too limited for any character that needs more than one primary stat to function.

Myself and the other DM for our group talked about it and realized that to play Pathfinder without players having a ton of magic items we would either have to modify every single creature in an AP to balance it with the lower overall stats the party or we would have simply incorporate static enhancement bonuses into character leveling. Now I can’t take much credit for this idea as our system was based on a very nice system that someone posted on the house rules section of the forum. The basics are that on even levels players get several stats to increase while on odd levels they get to add enhancement bonuses to weapon damage/attack, armor, deflection, saves and natural armor. We have now gotten to 12th level in our Jade Regent campaign and it has more or less worked. I admit I think there are some improvements that could probably be made and at times it doesn’t play as nice with specific class abilities as I would like but I certainly think it works just as well as the standard Christmas tree effect that so many seem to complain about. Players have far fewer magic items but the items are actually interesting ones. Since there is no magic item economy when players find magic items they actually try to figure out cool ways to use them instead of selling them for half value so they can buy a better cloak of resistance.

If Pathfinder ever went to a second edition I would much prefer a system similar to this where there were no magic items of +1 to +5 but instead all magic items did something fun and cool. Overall I like the Pathfinder rules and they work better for me than any other system I have come across. When they don’t work our group sits down talks about how something does or doesn’t work and then comes to a consensus on wither or not to make a houserule.

For a completely different take on this subject there is the build I always help new players create. I call it 'Talk to the person and figure out what sort of cool idea they have.' After that I help them create a character that matches up with their idea and is effective in combat and has some out of combat skills. I mean having played numerous lvl 1-2 mods they aren't exactly killer so any character who is mildly optimized will run roughshod over the mod. Another key is to give the player some useful out of combat skills for several reasons. First combat is only about half the game and it sucks for the new player to be bored during the other half of the game. Second it also frustrating at low levels to fail at faction missions so I do everything in my power to make sure that new players have a few skills that might help them not fail. Finally I reassure them that after playing three mods they will have an opportunity to make changes to their character once they know what does and doesn't work in PFS.

I don't think a one trick pony build using mechanics from multiple books is the best way to introduce someone to PFS. I think a new player is far more likely to stick around if you help them build a character they can relate with and want to play. Also people are more likely to stick around if they have fun, and frankly a party of 6 encounter ending PC's who roll initiative to see who can end the encounter first isn't very fun.

Perfect example of this is I just helped build a new player a Samurai. Now I know this isn't the most optimal class, but it was what he wanted to play. He wanted to be able to talk to people both in a convincing and threatening manner, so having a choice to put int/wis/cha at 12, I picked cha even though this wasn't optimal. Finally he wanted to be able to do that ever so iconic move of intimidating people with his skill at blades so I gave him weapon focus katana and dazzling display. Once again not optimal, but I wasn't really worried because he had an 18 strength, chainmail, and a katana that he could wield two handed. He was going to be just fine in a level one mod. Maybe after a couple of mods he will decide that dazzling display isn't that effective and switch it out, or maybe he will like it because of the style factor. Either way he is very excited about his character and eager to play, and I don't think he would have been if I had created a power build for him to play without his input.

Aravan wrote:

TOZ wrote:

That's good.

Except that it isn't good at all, assuming you were responding to Cydeth.

Yes it is. It is better that Cydeth NOT play PFS it is not something s/he would like. It is better that every player in the Society enjoys himself than for some to not be enjoying themselves. Not everyone has to be a part of it.

I am of the opinion that some of the posts in this thread can be taken as heavy handed by people who read them. Such a perception of PFS does not match with the reality that I have experienced. In fact I have played with a lot amazing GM's who do their best to create a great gaming experience for the players. Our VC is a great guy who tries to make sure all are included and have fun. I don't want someone to read this thread and make a decision on whether or not PFS is for them based on a few statements made on a message board.

Now PFS is not everyone, I agree with you on that. I have known players who didn't enjoy their experience and I have played with people who I didn't enjoy playing with. I can accept this because I understand that organized play allows anyone to join which at time creates its own set of problems. However I don't think we should risk turning people away who might be great PFS players or GMs by posting blanket statements claiming that to even play in a game that someone GMs you must have a unquestionably legitimate copy of source that you used to build your character.

I for one spent some time reading the PFS boards before I decided to take the jump and go to a local session. It was with some trepidation that I went to my first PFS session mostly due to some preconceptions about organized play, but in part because of some harsh posts on message boards. What and how we say things is important, and driving potential players away because of a heated message board topic is self destructive.

That's good.

Except that it isn't good at all, assuming you were responding to Cydeth. Pathfinder Society is a lot of fun and I have met an amazing group of people in my home town because of it. I also traveled to PaizoCon and had an amazing time, largely due to PFS. Having read this thread I can understand why someone who had never played PFS might come away with a negative opinion of it. There were statements to the effect of 'I would take the photocopy from them and tell them they would have to play a pregen or not play at all.' At least half the posts on this thread have a very draconian feel to them, making PFS sound like an organization with strict rules, severe punishments and place where we like to publicly shame those who intentionally or accidentally break a rule. Yet my experiences both in my home city and at PaizoCon tell me that nothing could be further from the truth.

In my opinion as players, and as GM's (I haven't GMed yet but am scheduled to in the next week or two) we shouldn't be the judge/jury/executioner but rather we should be fellow gamers enjoying a hobby with other gamers. Now I am not so naive as to believe there aren't any cheaters, or people who will try to steal Paizo content but I believe they are the exception rather than the rule.

I also think when you create rules and policies to prevent or expose cheaters but those rules also harm or turn away legitimate players who are trying to enjoy PFS you have in the end done more damage than a cheating player ever could have. Talk to players, explain that they should buy a copy of whatever product they are using but if they have a way of showing you the rules, even if you aren't sure how legitimate it is give them the benefit of the doubt and let everyone have fun at the table.

Any other working professional having issues with how this is being handled? This is my first year to Pazio Con, bought tickets and banquet back in October. Talk about super excited!!! Spend hours going over the lotto events, just to find out it was all wasted and would have been better just to randomly click on events, and focus on getting a PFS character up in levels. Then they hold the open events and remaining sign up at 2PM PST! So those of us who have to work until 5, home at 6 has no chance of sign up vs those who can do it at work or already home. Why isn't this done on a Saturday? And I know what you are thinking, i'm typing this up at at 3 what WTF. Well I am hoping I don't get busted for doing this at work and felt it's worth taking the chance even though its stressing me out. VERY VERY VERY disappointed in this whole process. Close to selling ticket and banquet and boycotting Paizoco!!!!!

Honestly I am not particularly worried at this point. While I am very excited to be going to my first Paizocon and a little nervous that I won't the games I really wanted to get into I am not that worried. Having dealt with their customer service before with an issue on an order, and having seen them deal with problems my friends have had, I have every confidence that they will get this right. In my experience not only do they make sure things work out with the best possible resolution they also communicate very well and don't leave you in the dark for too long.

Now I don't want to come off like a fanboy, (though I really kinda am) I am just suggesting a little patience is in order. Regardless Paizocon is going to be awesome and I am going to have a ton of fun!

There are a few things about the feat 'Spell Specialization' that I want to reiterate because I think a lot of people are overlooking them. First in the aforementioned build he gains 'Spell Specialization' at 3rd level and because you can change the spell you are specialized in every other time you level up you initially specialize in Burning Hands so from 3rd level on you are +3 caster levels over your actual wizard level for casting whatever your favorite blasting spell is.

Secondly 'Spell Specialization' opens up the feat 'Greater Spell Specialization' which is a godsend for a blaster. This allows you spontaneously cast your specialized spell just like a cleric does with cure spells. Suddenly you memorize only utility/defensive/crowd control/buff spells and then spontaneous turn them into the right blast for the right moment, and of course you can modify them with metamagic but when you do they take a full round action. Admittedly you have to be a level 9 wizard to do this but it still gives you much of the advantages of a blasting sorcerer while also having the advantages of an admixture specialized wizard. For your fixed evocation slots you can memorize the evocation battlefield control spells like Wall of Force or Resilient Sphere, versatility and blasty all in one neat package.