Ok. This is the first part of my review of the pathfinder rules version 2. I tried to stick to the mainstream feeling and ideas even if they aren’t my favorites so I hope this will help the Jason and the other guys to improve this game.
RACES
General Notes:
Artwork (pg 4): Honestly there has to be done something. First of all, every race looks like made out of stone. While this might be cool looking for the dwarf and maybe the half-orc, it’s particularly strange looking for halfling and the elf. To stick to the elf: man, this guy way too tall and way too broad build for an elf. Remember -2 CON? And the ears… This should be D&D and no manga stuff.
Keen Senses: It was a bit strange to see all non-human races have keener senses then humans. But then again, it fitted somehow. But that’s just one thing they all have on top of the poor humans.
Hatred: Since the name already gives it away, I would suggest making the bonus to attack rolls actually a morale bonus and erase the line about special training, since this never made that much sense (at least too me).
Defensive Training: While it might be there since aeons, I would suggest to eliminate this ability. Why do dwarves and gnomes undergo special combat training against giants and not against all creatures of a particular size (and what about dragons and dwarves)? Since size is already measured into the combat stats this ability is just not necessary, and doesn’t really add anything that special, other then just another combat bonus.
Favored Classes: I REALLY liked the addition of a second favored class for every race. I didn’t like the choices for some races, but that will be written down below.
The other point about favored classes is the bonus hit point. That’s just lame and not fitting with the mechanics.
My proposal: Every time you take a level in your favored class you get 5% (or maybe 10%) of the XP needed to achieve the next level, beginning with 1st level.
Dwarves
Except the general notes above, I think the Dwarves are just fine. One could argue about the ability adjustments. For myself, I don’t know if -2 DEX or -2 CHA is fitting better. But I tend to CHA, since dwarves are exceptional artisans and craftsmen, but while having a strong will (+2 WIS) they are more stubborn and complicate than charming.
Elves
Ahh, the elves. Since the D&D halfings had grown out of the hobbit-flare and became something independent (actually the Dragonlance kinder), I never ever liked the tolkienish elves in D&D und also never understood why they couldn’t evolve too. But I know that I will never get rid of them in any core book. So I will live with that and concentrate my critics on the elves as they are.
I know this won’t be used ever, but did anybody thought that -2 STR might be more appropriate than -2 CON? Elves are more frail than humans, but do they get sick more often? Are they less resistant to poisons? Are they loosing their breath quicker than humans?
While I’m one of those who are really happy to see Unearthly Beauty gone, I would suggest to give elves a +2 bonus of Stealth checks or better give them the Favored Terrain (Forests) feat. I think this would go very well with the ranger as favored class.
That’s all I have to say about the elves as they are now.
Gnomes
I have similar problems with gnomes as I have with elves. Gnomes right now, are all around Illusion magic. But why? Sure it was so all before, but can’t we come up with something better?
For my there were always two gnome races around: The “hobbidish” nature guys close to the fey and the crazy tinkeres with their machines and magical experiments.
And while I know that this won’t happen too, I really would like to see this distinction for the gnomes.
So to stick with the gnomes as they are right now, I can only criticize their favored class choice.
I would suggest letting them choose between druid and wizard.
Half-Elves
I always thought that half-races shouldn’t be necessary as core races if there are so many other full races around, but since this too would never happen and the fact that I always liked half-elves, I will shut my mouth on this one. ;)
Ability Adjustments. +2 on any one stat will result in a lot of +2 STR half-elves, and I don’t think that this will be a good one. I would suggest to let them choose between DEX or INT, since those are the good abilities for the elves.
One could consider giving half-elves the skilled ability of the humans instead of the skill focus but except that, the half-elves are just fine.
Half-Orcs
I think half-orcs should just get +2 STR and that would be it. At every other stat you could argue pros and cons. So I would just leave them alone and stick to STR.
I don’t understand why every half-orc should be proficient with the greataxe and the falchion. Is this some genetic wonder going with the orc blood or what? Since half-races might be raised in any of their parents societies a fixed weapon prof. just doesn’t make sense. Give them the humans weapon training instead.
Next: Why are the half-orcs the only ones without keen senses? I think smell, taste and sound are just perfect for them, so please give them at least one of those.
In addition, giving them (and the orcs) the scent ability might be very interesting.
At last, the favored classes. Getting +2 WIS is not enough to qualify for the cleric as a favored class! Giving them the ranger or even the druid is much more appropriate.
Halflings
I had a hard time with the +2 INT. I really think +2 WIS is fitting better here. Halflings are keen sensed and strong willed and I don’t think that they are smarter then the average human. But than again, maybe…
Ok, except there is also only one thing that really disturbs me: Halflings as wizards?! You must be kidding. Like the half-orcs, a +2 INT is just not enough to qualify for wizard as a favored class. Again the ranger is a much better choice.
Humans
Since humans haven’t changed (much), there is nothing much to admit. As with half-elves, humans with +2 STR might be strange, but than again, why not.
The only thing to add here is to let humans pick one additional skill as a class skill at first level (as part of the skilled ability).
I’m still thinking that humans might get a bit short compared to the other classes, but I can’t come up with a good solution right now.
Humans
I too would like to see them get an "extra" skill that is a class skill for them, but also keep the extra skill rank per level.
I would also like to see the weapon proficiency changed a touch. I would like it to be either a martial weapon, or a weapon focus.
This will fighters/rangers/paladins or clerics (who's Deity uses one of the weapons on the clerics weapon list as favored weapon) to actually gain a benefit from the human weapon proficiency.
Humans are supposed to be the most numerous race, but their racial bonuses just don't stack up against the other races. My current gaming group does not have a single human in it.
Since this forum and I hate each other, I just push this post up once. Please post here and not in the other one. It's just double posting again...
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It should be noted that with the new skill rules, the one free skill rank per level for humans does give them a free skill at first level, since the maximum number of ranks you can have in a skill is equal to your level.
The only difference is that if that extra rank is put in a class skill, they get the +3 bonus. 3.5 humans didn't get an extra class skill at L1, and neither do PF humans.
Just bumbing one more time. Sorry.
