If you haven't already done so, go check out the Glass Cannon podcast's preview of 2E. Gives a great look at some of the key differences we'll have coming our way.
Awesome! Looks like we'll have a good crew! I'm leaning either soldier or solarian, though I'm pretty flexible on that if something really catches my eye. I'm also excited about what they've been saying about how Starfinder won't really stick to the "core 4" team build theory. Definitely puts less pressure on everyone to avoid doubling up on the same class as another player.
Agreed with the others, the offensive build seems like a solid route. I might suggest throwing Toughness in as a solid feat option, though. Like you said, there's a good chance that you'll get swarmed as one of the party's few front liners, so some extra HP couldn't hurt. I'd personally take that over Cleave at 3, though feel free to go with Cleave and move into that series as you progress. I've not played with that feat a lot, but what I've heard from many people on the forums is that Cleave can be extremely situational and not entirely useful even when the needed circumstances do show up. At the end of the day, though, it can always be fun to cut down a swathe of enemies in a single turn... :)
OMG! If that's the case, then my wildest dream of a Pathfinder version of the 4e Warden class seems like it might finally be coming! SQUEEE!!! Also, re: wilderness-themed AP, seems like Ironfang Invasion, the current AP, is kinda fulfilling that role, especially in the first couple books. Guess the release of all these wilderness books gives me an excuse to wait on trying to get into a group or starting one up myself.
LUURG!!!! YES! I was having a hard time deciding who to bring to play here, but I'm almost positive it'll be Begrilda now. She's a support cleric 2. If someone else doesn't have anything besides a cleric for the game, however, I do also have a lvl 1 (2XP) melee inquisitor or a lvl 1 (1XP) melee ranger. @KOA: Unfortunately, I don't have anything available that's eligible for high tier. One character is currently in a PbP scenario, and the other is set aside for a IRL game of Tyranny of Winds part 3 next week. Another time, hopefully.
Seems to me that the settings books they release are more about helping to flesh out stories set in a given region, not about giving an exact topographical and meteorological survey. If you think about Tolkien, to use a played-out example, he never gives us the rain index for Rohan, but the stories that occur there are still extremely evocative. As Drahliana stated, giving the level of detail and depth you're requesting would do little more for the game than equip people with the ability to derail games.
Oh my gosh, HMM, I love that you have a Blues Brother. Suits you perfectly! Haha! As for the current exercise...: 1. Inghinn MacBruthe, Redeemer (in progress) of House MacBruthe of Galt, Human Fighter
"I will restore my family's honor, no matter what those fool Revolutionaries think of us!" 2. Fastred "Red" Stoor, Author and Hero of Epic Sagas, Halfling Skald (Spell Warrior)
3. Friar Robun, Priest of Sarenrae, Human Life Oracle
4. M'boka, 5. Thordir, Wandering Historian, Half-Elf Barbarian
6. Vindlér Far-seer, Soldier of Lastwall and Defender of Civilized Lands, Dwarf Inquisitor of Abadar
7. Azhagoth Fellcleaver, Witch hunter, Half-Orc Spellkiller Inquisitor (Preacher) of Gorum
8. "Gorgeous" Gallix Granbonne, World-Renowned Pit-fighter and part time Pathfinder, Human Brawler (Mutagenic Mauler)
...a couple of characters who are waiting to get their first taste of action, then... 11. Begrilda Hammerhild, Priestess of Bolka and Fiancee* of Gallix Granbonne, Dwarf Cleric
Progression of interest in this book from beginning of the post to the end: Beginning: Oh, that's cool! More info on Qadira! ...Keleshite ethnicities: 'Noice! Sunsinger Skald: Hey now, that sounds like my cup o' tea! Intro to Kelish: WANT!
Perhaps an illustration would provide some clarification? Suppose your level 2 pole arm fighter wants to make use of his fancy new ability. On his turn, he shortens his grip as an immediate action to attack the sneaky sneaky goblin that foolishly got right up in his face. He takes his attack with the -4 penalty and hits, but the goblin somehow survives! The fighter keeps his grip shortened, assuming that the goblin will stay put and he can attack again on his next turn. On the goblin's turn, the goofy gob decides to high-tail it away, but doesn't full withdraw because he is a goofy gob. Thus, he provokes an attack of opportunity from our pole arm fighter, though still at the -4 penalty. Sadly, he misses, and the gob continues to run, having escaped the threatened square. But wait, the goblin is continuing to run from the square at 10 feet from the fighter, and our brave warrior had the foresight to pick up combat reflexes, so he has the chance to make another attack of opportunity. After all, argue Andarion and Co., the ability does not specify that the fighter no longer threatens the square at 10 ft, just that he will take the -4 penalty on this attack as well because the grip is still shortened.* This time, the AoO hits and drops the goblin! Huzzah huzzah! *This is how I've understood your argument thus far. Please correct me or clarify for me if I've misrepresented your point of view. BUT WAIT, cries Chess Pwn Consolidated, the fighter SHOULD NOT have threatened the square at 10ft because the fighter's grip was shortened! The fierce little goblin should have escaped! In their view, when the fighter took the immediate action to attack the goblin at 5ft range, that meant that the fighter no long threatens the 10ft square, UNLESS THE FIGHTER TOOK THE ADDITIONAL IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CHANGE HIS GRIP BACK, though, of course, taking that action would have forfeited the ability to threaten at 5ft.** **Again, my understanding. To me, both sides have merit, but I think I would side with Chess Pwn. In my view, the -4 penalty to the attack is in place for using the weapon in a way that is sub-optimal for the weapon, something like using an improvised weapon. I understand that in real world martial combat, it is possible to use a pole arm at shorter range. This is not, however, the intended use of the weapon, and it requires special training, adjusted footing/grip, etc. in order to even begin to use such a technique, especially with any kind of proficiency. Hence, returning to the weapon's normal function (attacking at reach) requires an additional action, without which one surrenders that original function. TL;DR - Sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it too. ‾\_(ツ)_/‾
James Martin wrote:
My New Year's resolution in a nutshell! Coming in 2017: GM Mjolbeard!
Going down your revised list of issues with the class: #1 - Yup. That's a problem. I think most anyone who plays an Inquisitor will agree with you on this one to some extent, but that doesn't make the class useless. If your build really depends on having a single, multi-damage type weapon with reach and an adjustable toothpick holder, you're going to have to invest in it. So you lose a feat to get proficiency with the weapon of your choice. If it's going to make the experience more fun for you because you have the weapon you really want, then it should be worth not being 100% optimized. #2 - Maybe look at feats as less of "removing drawbacks" and more as empowering your character? True, for archery builds, that -4 to hit without precise shot is pretty debilitating at early levels, but if you play human you can easily get there by level 3 no matter what deity you choose (Lvl 1 martial prof (bow of choice) and PBS as bonus, Lvl 3 Precise Shot, gravy). As for Point Blank Master, if you're going for an archery build why are you up in people's faces where you can provoke? Also, that limitation isn't only on Inquisitors, but on any class that doesn't get either fighter levels or ranger combat styles, so we can't pin it only on this one class. #3 - If you're out to optimize, maybe those domains aren't a good choice. If you're out to try something interesting, even if it's sub-optimal, the world is your oyster. Plus, like Claxon said, the Inquisitions offer an interesting alternative to Domains. See if those are more up your alley. Hope this perspective from a relatively new player is helpful.
I'm in for sure. Already cooking up a couple potential PCs. Right now I'm working on a female Dwarf Cleric of Bolka (dwarven goddess of marriage) who is chasing Gallix because he got engaged to her due to a mix of his drunkenness and her "charming" personality. The other option, if I go more roguish, would be a Elf Investigator who's hunting him down for some other reason that I haven't come up with. It'd probably be a bit more serious, though.
I'm currently in a run of Consortium Compact with another character, but it's evergreen so that should be alright, yeah? And I've played Faithless and Forgotten 1, but that was CORE, so I can play it again standard no problem. The only real issue would be Between the Lines, which I played with another standard character. I could play it for no credit though. It's a fun one that I really wouldn't mind replaying. :) As far as character creation, I'm considering a divine caster as well. Uesugi, if you were really gunning for a divine character, I could give a more roguish character a go as well. I haven't really played in that wheelhouse before, so it'd be good to give it a shot. For tying in my new character, I'm thinking I'll have it be someone who is hunting Gallix down, and traces him to the Red Arm, but decides to hang with the group until Gallix gets back from his current mission (assuming he survives). Could be an acolyte of some religion whom he offended if I go divine, or a less savory type of character whom he cheated/betrayed/ticked off in any number of ways if I go the rogue route.
Non-magic: Brawler, nearly as many feats as Fighter plus ridiculous adaptability? Sign me up!
So, yeah, I'm not a big full-caster kinda guy. I'm learning, though.
Neriathale wrote:
That makes a ton of sense. I don't have a ton of resources for GMing right now (battle mats, minis for opponents, etc.). Would that be a huge detriment or do you think there's a way I could work around that?
So far I just play, but I'm hoping to try out the other side of the screen at some point. Any suggestions on a good place to start with that? I play a fair amount of PFS in some local game stores, and I'm getting to be pretty active in PBPs here on the boards, so a module or part of an AP might be a possibility as well. Where should I start?
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