An often-heard comment on Age of Worms is that it's very difficult, and it's often countered with the comment that it's easier if you have and use [PHB2/Spell Compendium/Book of Nine Swords/Libris Mortis... pick one or more], and, probably more importantly, if you're good at the character design mini-game.
This is explained by the playtesters being hardcore D&D-ers who overwhelmingly are good at it.
However, looking at the characters for Hollow's Last Hope, I can't really say I see l33t minmaxing skillz shining through. A fighter with TWF and Wis 8, a sorcerer with Dodge, a cleric with Iron Will and Martial Weapon Proficiency (scimitar), a rogue with Int 8...?
Now, I'm fine with sample characters not being twinked to the utmost in principle, but characters with included in an adventure should assume whatever difficulty level the adventure assumes. Taught by AoW experiences and comments on Shackled City, I wonder how many people will actually be able accomplish much with the pregens if Pathfinder/GameMastery adventures are as difficult. I sure wouldn't want to take a Wis 8 fighter into AoW...
How playable are the adventures going to be using the characters right out of the books? Are Paizo folks going to use these characters themselves for playtesting?
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The only negative aspect of Adventure Paths is that they tend to steer character development. What good is your dwarven giant slaying ranger after 15 levels if your next adventure takes you into a living jungle full of mutant pygmy mycolids?
I thought this was a breath of fresh air! Real adventurers have to be versatile.
I would love to see an adventure path where every single installment was 180 degrees different than the last just to keep everyone guessing until the end. And then make my players only have access to the SRD!
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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We had the oposite problem dithering did.
We realigned the party after we lost one of our players to a heart attack. It was too hard to play those PCs w/o her there. We planned for Savage tide about 9th level, picked feats, skills, etc. Then the Dm changed his mind and we ended up in the underdark. So my character speaks about 6 languages, and the only one that has seen use is undercommon (because I like undercommon, not as a savage tide choice) and the Cleric with his maxed out diplomacy couldn't use it, since he couldn't be understood.