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This is helpful. Can't wait for your character reviews.


Haven't seen this discussion anywhere (if so please direct me!), so wanted to start seeing if folks can provide reviews of how the new core set characters are playing. I am just starting out a new campaign with a friend and wanted to know what people think before getting too deep into it.

I have played Seelah a couple of times and here are my thoughts:

- I am overall enjoying the character - her base discard power is fun and adds a layer of drama to the gameplay, provides good support all around, and has great upgrades available - I can't decide which to pick.

- I am disappointed in her divine skill. I get that she's a paladin not a cleric, but the divine = charisma (d8)+0 for me makes her "before acting" power, which is already very situational, not a terribly exciting power, and also makes her recharge ability on spells lacking and inconsistent given that even most level 0 spells have recharge roll of 8. I get not making it a d10, but maybe a d8+1 would have been nice. Honor shield upgrades the skill by expanding the checks where you can use divine, which will be somewhat beneficial eventually, but the d8+0 check will still be not very exciting. I'll trust the designers on this one, but wish her divine were a little better.

- Her attacks aren't very exciting with level 0 weapons - round 1 I was pretty much a drag on the team. But as soon as I got a level 1 weapon in round 2 that changed (keen rapier is amazing). Patience is a virtue?

My friend is playing Seoni. She is and feels pretty much the same as in ROTR, and the addition of Soothing Word as a level 0 spell makes her even more powerful with healing in a pinch.

Anyone else with thoughts?


Cintra Bristol wrote:

I'm playing both Estra and Ahmotep. (4 character game - my husband plays Mavaro and Zadim.)

I'm enjoying Ahmotep more - she is more consistently able to succeed. I never use the "recharge a spell" staff power; I carry two weapon staves plus an item staff to use for the recharge for a +1d8. I also never carry attack spells, just utility spells.

Estra is a bit harder. She is more prone to get into situations she can't handle, particularly when multiple combats are required. I carry three attack spells and may need to increase that, but I've been reluctant to give up any of the utility spells I've got.

I'll agree with this. I am through the base set using only those two and seem to be having a much harder time with Estra succeeding at non-Wisdom based checks. I am really enjoying Ahmotep though, and have found some fun card combos for her.


BTW, in case anyone is into minis for characters like I am, I went with Lyrie Akenja for Ahmotep (http://www.pathfinderminis.com/gallery3.htm) and Baba Yaga for Estra (http://www.pathfinderminis.com/gallery14.htm). I also picked Duppy for Honaire (http://pathfinderminis.com/gallery7.htm). Curious to hear if anyone has other suggestions!

:-)


Thanks everyone.

FWIW, I've been trying a couple solo scenarios using just the two and am finding it neither too easy nor too hard, so it's been fun. Neither one has outshined the other just yet. I observed that Ahmotep has not been so great with barriers, although I started out with the recommended decklist, so that may have contributed (though note the explorer's staff helps with disable). On the other hand, she has been able to succeed in combats fairly consistently in different ways - she always gets a +2 whether it's melee or arcane and either a base d8 or d10 plus whatever bonuses from weapon or spell. I also like that you don't feel bad about varying your spell collection between attack spells and support spells given her staff ability and her base melee 1d8+2 (whereas with Estra I'm mindful that every support spell takes up an attack slot, often the way with divine casters). The hardest thing about her for me so far is that she gets closer to death, given no cure ability - I'm looking forward to getting a staff of minor healing which for her will both give her a little self-help plus the staff ability in a pinch.

Estra is also great so far with combat when she has attack spells. On a related note, so far I haven't ended up using her main examine ability very often - because she has no weapon slot (wish she did, for a staff or cane or something), at this stage with so few cards I often am choosing between attacking and using one of her powers (examining and damage reduction). I guess I need to be more careful about when I use Honaire, as you only really get him once a turn. The undead 1d8 hasn't come up much yet for me.


Calthaer wrote:

You actually can get an idea for what everyone else is playing...

http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2tz4y?Whats-your-party-for-Mummys-Mask

Sry - I meant I won't know who my friends are going to play so won't have an idea if either is best for the party I'll be in. That's a very helpful thread though, thanks!


Hi,

I am hoping to start a MM campaign soon with friends and am trying to decide which of these characters I'd like to play. They both seem fairly well rounded, based on Ahmotep's base dice and ability to +/-2 her dice rolls and her staff recharge for combat; and Honaire for Estra. Ahmotep seems a little more balanced, including b/c of her weapon proficiency, but Estra's prestige classes seem to be a little bit cooler than Ahmotep's.

I know it depends on who else others are playing, which I won't know for a bit, and I know we won't have experience with the prestige classes for awhile, but still any feedback from the community based on first impressions would be much appreciated!