Marus's page

My mother-in-law made up dwarf wizard for my up-coming game, and as we were diiscussing the build I noticed the dwarf racial attack bonus against orcs and goblins. And I had an idea: Would this reasonably, and with balance, give a +1 to the spell dc save against such creatures?

(If this is covered by a trait, such as in APG, I apologise. I have only Core Book, Bestiary, and Beginner's Box. I know of the PRDs, but try not to use them much.)

After having read THIS article on the blog Intelligence Check, and knowing that it is quite likely one of my players will want to play a bard in my new game, I have been tinkering with stream-lining the bard ability 'Versatile Performance.' Here is what I am considering:

§ The Bard class will have two types of Perform skill. Theatre, and
Music.

• The skill 'Perform: Theatre' will encompass the following skill
  groups listed in the Core Rule Book: Act, Comedy, Dance, and Oratory.
  'Perform: Theatre', as such, will also encompass the related skill
  synergies as listed under the Versatile Performance found on page 38
  of the Core Rule Book.

• The skill 'Perform: Music' will encompass the following skill
  groups: Keyboard, Percussion, Sing, String, and Wind (and any other
  instrument related music skills). 'Perform: Music', as such, will
  also encompass the related skill synergies listed under Versatile
  Performance found on page 38 of the Core Rule Book.

This game will be taking a cue from the Beginner's Box and I would like to simply some things as all my players are not only new to Pathfinder, but new to role-playing. Your thoughts?

Edit: Non-bards wanting to gain a rank in a performance skill must still select a specific type of performance. Keyboard, Sing, Comedy, etc.

I noticed that the armor listed in the HERO'S HANDBOOK doesn't have a maximum dexterity modifier bonus to armor class listed. While I have no problem with this, has anyone found it to be problematic with, say, a dex-rogue or ranger wearing full plate?

Or is it more the thinking of: "If a non-fighter wants to waste a feat to gain heavy armor proficiency, then let them get the extra AC?"

I own: Core Rule Book, Bestiary, Beginner's Box.

I know about: The PRD and D20PFSRD.COM

My experience: I GM'd Deathwatch briefly, but otherwise have no GM experience. However, I have played AD&D 2e, 3e, 3.5, 4e (Don't judge me too harshly), and many other non-D&D rpgs.

My players: Five of them. One has played D&D 3.5 in the past and has played some Final Fantasy. Another has extensive experience with World of Warcraft. Yet another has played many Final Fantasy games. And finally, two of them played 1st ed D&D so long ago they don't even remember how it worked.

I list all of this to give you good sages as much info as possible that might be needed to answer the topic's question.

I know how the effective challenge level works according to the Core Rule Book. I plan on using the adventure provided withe the Beginner's Box as the first for my players. However, I do want to allow them to play any of the races AND classes from the Core book. Considering all these factors: Should I simply throw more enemies at the per encounter, and/or make the enemies tougher at each encounter? I bow to experience here