B. Lee Adamson, Jr.'s page

A lot of the problem will hopefully be resolved in the Beta, which apparently makes the spell-like abilities back into bonus spells. With luck, most of the text will be edited for clarity and consistency as well, and for usage of game terms.

Hm, that is kind of a shame. I love the unlimited piddly damage ranged touch attacks, especially at low levels. It makes my casters feel less useless at that point.

As far as purging splatbooks, I'm debating turning most variant and/or prestige class features into feats/feat chains instead. e.g.: Swashbuckler -- be a fighter or fighter/rogue, take Lightning Reflexes to simulate "grace," take Dodge to simulate "dodge," and then Insightful Strike becomes a feat with prerequisites of Lightning Reflexes and Weapon Finesse. Done.

For the Duelist PrC, I'd make a new feat, "elaborate parry."
Etc.

That is a great idea. I don't like to use the splatbook core classes either. They should be definitely buildable with multiclassing and feats... Heck, I don't really like the splatbook PrCs either... Except for the Fochluchian Lyrist. Purrrr...

I guess extra core classes in splatbooks are what make money though...

Indeed, I think I will do the same.

I do still think the SRD prestige classes for multiclass casters need some loving though. Multiclass casters are totally less than the sum of their halves as it stands, even with the PrCs.

Though I expect it's too late for them to go into Beta at this juncture, if they're not already there. :P

Ah well... House rule time, LOL.

My group was talking about things like this earlier... The core group consists of myself (GMing), and an old friend of mine (occasional GM) and her husband. And some part timers who drift in and out, work schedules permitting.

She always plays male characters, Adonis-esque paladins, or half-orc barbarians. I always play female sorceresses or bards.

It is an odd trend. Lol. Although I suppose I shouldn't try to psychoanalyze us. I probably wouldn't like what I found, LOL.

We really like the increased HP at 1st level, as long as the monsters get it too. The PCs seem to expend more resources per encounter, but this seems to be offset by the increased power of the base classes.

My players refused to play level 1 characters in 3.5e, because of the level 1 attrition issue. Now they are just reaching level 2 and loving it.

We're using the Con score bonus method, but with average HD per level, no maximum HD at level 1.

I really don't like the maximum HD at level 1. It encourages multiclassers to take the class with the biggest HD at level 1. IMO, a Barbarian(1)/Sorc(1) should have the same HP as a Sorc(1)/Barbarian(1).

I apologize if I am repeating issues that have been brought up in other posts. ;P I haven't had time to grep through all of the forums yet...

Anyway, during my group's playtesting of alpha 3, we've run into some possible issues with multiclass wizards, specifically those who take prestige classes that advance caster level (Eldritch Knight in this case).

We built a Fighter-MU with the following progression, testing it in mock combats at various levels (1,4,7,8,9,11,15,20).

Levels 1-3: Wizard 1-3, Universal school
Level 4: Fighter 1 (Arcane Armor Training)
Levels 5-7: Wizard 4-6
Level 8: Spellsword 1 (-10% ASF)
Level 9: Eldritch Knight 1 (Arcane Armor Mastery)
Levels 10-18: Eldritch Knight 2-10
Levels 19-20: Wizard 7-8

Assuming that Spellsword -10% ASF stacks, the character can cast in full plate with a 5% chance of spell failure at level 9, assuming the use of a 2-handed weapon. Casting 4th level spells and hitting 15% less than a full BAB character of the same level. Perhaps this is balanced out by the very mediocre HP, but decent casting in full plate seems a little early for level 9, lol. At least it would have in 3.5; perhaps I am not used to Pathfinder's increased power level yet.

That isn't the problem though, lol. More of an observation.

Anyway, the real problems that we perceive are these, in regard to wizard schools:

Page 81, Pathfinder Alpha 3: "The wizard's level is used when determining the caster level of these effects." Then, in the school powers lists, the abilities are listed by Caster Level.

Problem 1: It is somewhat unclear whether PrCs that add wizard caster levels will also grant new school powers at the appropriate times, or whether the powers are only granted at that specific -wizard- level.

Problem 2: The text seems to state that the character's -wizard- level (rather than adjusted caster level) is used to determine the efficacy of school powers that have a level-based variable effect (fireball from the universal school, most everything from the evocation school, etc etc). As such, the school power fireball cast by the above character at level 12 (CL10) dishes out only 6d6 (or only 5d6 if the character entered EK as soon as possible instead of taking that extra level of wizard). This serves to make certain schools very 'bad' for multiclassing, as the ones that contain many powers without level-based numeric effects are more desirable.

Problem 3: While I totally dig the increase in base class power levels, I think that the PrCs from the 3.5 SRD (if they are to be included in Pathfinder as well) need some loving. They are underpowered compared to the more recently released PrCs. Of the ones I've played, I think the Mystic Theurge needs earlier entrance, maybe such that the caster levels only lag by two instead of three, as well as d6 or d8 HP. I also think that the Eldritch Knight should get either some free Ignore ASF (possibly stackable with the Arcane Armor feats?) at level 1 (to discourage cheesy one level Spellsword dipping), and/or a full caster progression instead of losing the caster level at L1, as well as d8 or d10 HP, and possibly a couple of fighter or wizard bonus feats in there somewhere (assuming that the character is going to be losing all those cool bloodline/school powers).

I mean, look at the Abjurant Champion... Granted, it's only 5 levels, but it's 5 levels of total (but nowadays expected) cheese, which is going to require an out of print book that will probably be difficult to find.

I suppose what I am trying to say is.... Casters have trouble multiclassing effectively without PrCs to fix the caster level progression. I think such PrCs (Arcane Trickster/Eldritch Knight/Mystic Theurge/etc) need some kind of Pathfinder loving and inclusion into Beta. As well as maybe a new one to make Cleric/Rogues work. Or even better, some kind of core rule change to make these PrC hacks unneeded. :)

Thanks for your time. I apologize for my inane ramblings. :) That being said, I love most of the changes that y'all have made to the game.