kobo1d's page

Vampire is only +2, and Lizardfolk is +1. These are balanced changes my players will love (moreso than 3.5 anyway)

I still like the book overall, its just a shame that most of the stuff only has a place behind the curtain.

kobo1d wrote:

Why doesn't it just say: "These rules don't really work, make something up on your own or use the old 3.5 (ECL = LA + HD) system."

Because the rules do work. The intent is, as with any game, that the GM is supposed to moderate the rules. Any GM with an iota of sense should realize this. The rules are just the rules. The game is what the GM makes of it.

I realize not everything can be perfectly balanced (in a any system), and that it's up to the GM to provide a fun game. But for a product that claims to have improved the 3.5 system, this seems to be a case of Paizo thinking that improvement and change are synonymous. It seems it was changed just for the sake of change, which looks to me like it actually resulted in a less balanced system than ECL.

Is it just me reading it wrong, or are the "Monsters as PCs" rules completely broken in the case of monsters with CR < HD?

To summarize it as I understand it: There is no more ECL or LA, just CR. CR is equivalent to class level. So for example, by the rules, you could play a 1st Level Xill Fighter (with the 9 Outsider HD and all) alongside a 7th level Human Fighter.

And then there is a recommended rule that allows the Xill to close the 6 level gap as the party levels.

Hmm...

Other interesting ones: Couatl at CR 10 that cast as Sorcerer 9 (with access to both Wizard and Cleric spell lists) And Couatls arent exactly lacking in other features to make up for that ONE CL loss.

Barghest is pretty crazy for 4 CR. Efreeti PC could grant 3 wishes a day (when everyone is level 8.)

I must be looking at this wrong.

I realize that it says "GMs should carefully consider any monster PCs in their groups. Some creatures are simply not suitable for play as PCs, due to their powers or role in the game. As monster characters progress, GMs should closely monitor whether such characters are disruptive or abusive to the rules and modify them as needed to improve play."

Why doesn't it just say: "These rules don't really work, make something up on your own or use the old 3.5 (ECL = LA + HD) system."