Having been doing some work on my own update to 3.5, this is a serious question for me. Will the new pathfinder game be able to fit in a single book, or is Paizo planning to do some trimming and/or release this as two books?
If Pathfinder is supposed to be a complete game that you don't need the original books to play, either some sections will have to be trimmed from the SRD, seriously condensed or sections will be left out. Do we have any word which way this will go? I'm fairly certain monsters won't be in the book, but will anything else in the base SRD be hucked?
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http://paizo.com/store/paizo/pathfinder/pathfinderRPG/v5748btpy8254
I'm guessing some sections will be trimmed. What exactly I'm not sure. I think the chapter on combat will be significantly shorter due to the better/ simplified CMB mechanic. Other than that... I think it's going to be a thick book.
-- Dennis
Jason brought up about 400 pages.Am guessing that be trimmed a bit
It's seems Pathfinder will inclue the principals information of the DMG : NPC, XP, level up, creating monster. It will not inclue the MM.
But does the futur Pathfinder will replace the PHB ?
Does it contain all the spell ? all the equipement description ?
beta will have spells and equipment
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I am assuming Combat in the Beta will be longer than Alpha.
I was looking up the info on prone targets and found nothing in Alpha. I assume that means as is from SRD.
In all honesty the DMG is only useful to the newest players. And even then it is so long winded it isn't funny. Have you looked at the new DMG 4E. About 40 useful pages in the whole book.
Take out the garbage and I bet those 40 pages can be knocked down to 20.
I can see PHB and DMG being combined easily. I would not want the MM added no matter what. Besides then we are talking about a big hefty book.
I would like to see:
PfRPG
PfRPG MM
Setting Books galore
Splat books to enhance PfRPG classes and races.
Well, the main thing I'm looking at is my personal custom collection of the SRD rules plus my custom additions (10-point font, no pics) weighs in at about 800 pages. That's just the PHB/DMG section of the SRD. No "running the game" advice, just Races, Classes/Prestige Classes, Skills, Feats, Equipment, Combat & Adventuring section/rules, Spells, Magic Items and a few miscellaneous section (a few pages on background information and the like). I can well see PfRPG being well over 400 pages of material just for the basic rules, especially if it's going to teach how to play. If the plan is to have one book, that's going to be massive. Right now, the scheme seems to be a complete-game-in-a-book and if they decide to split it into two books, say player book & gamemaster book, I'd like to know as early on as possible so I can plan my purchase(s).
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I would like to see:
PfRPG
PfRPG MM
Setting Books galore
Splat books to enhance PfRPG classes and races.
just please gods be careful with number 4. I'd rather have good setting books with good splat classes and prestige not a glut of everything.
I like lots of fluff with my prestige classes
One problem I see (and maybe it's not a problem for everyone) is where the new rules are shorter but less clear than the standard SRD version.
Example #1: In the SRD, it states: "A dwarf’s base land speed is 20 feet. However, dwarves can move at this speed even when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load." The corresponding passage in Pathfinder is "Dwarves have a base speed of 20 feet, but their speed is never modified by armor or encumbrance." Never modified by encumbrance or armor? So a Pathfinder dwarf can run when carrying double his maximum load, but a 3.5 dwarf would stagger around at 5' per round? Does a Pathfinder dwarf monk keep his monk speed bonus when wearing armor?
Example #2: In 3.5, the grapple rules specify that a pin lasts one round. In Pathfinder, there's no line saying how long a pin lasts. So do I have to renew the pin every round? Or is an opponent pinned until the grapple ends?
Those are two cases where shortening the rules made them less clear (i.e. worse), in my opinion. Unfortunately, I suspect this will trigger an avalanche of the usual response: "Ambiguity is not a problem because the rules are whatever the DM says they are."
:`(
I think a lot of the DMG is laid out poorly, and a lot of the conditional rules (e.g. drowning) could be condensed and take up much fewer pages. Also the endless NPC tables could be cut - seriously, pages and pages I've never used and don't know anyone who has.
I'm hoping all of the space saved will leave room for some base charioteering DCs....
Peace,
tfad
OK, I would agree with the statement hat there is a tremendous amount of material, but might one humbly suggest that there be one book for PfRPG - Player and a second for PfRPG - GM? The GM book should have all specific tables, crunchy GM stuff, as well as all the Monster Write-ups. Could be a big book like the Player's Guide. Why need three? Then take your sweet time to produce some additional AWESOME World Material and then you can work on Splat stuff... That is just One Humble Opinion. I think we should all support Paizo, if for no other reason then they are actively seeking to preserve the experience we want. (Although they produce the best gaming stuff around as well!)
I have looked at 4e and it reads like Stereo Instructions and plays like a computer game. Let's all boycott the coffee brats from Wizards! Paizo RULES!
GREAT JOB ON BETA 3 Guys! See you all at Origins! Perhaps we will get some insight into the Cooperative Game.
Cheers!!!
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I'm fine with the one book priciple. If you look at D20 modern and Star Wars D20, WOTC manages to get the PHB, DMG, and MM into one book.
That said, there's an aweful lot of stuff in the DMG that just don't need to be there. Sure it's good, but it's not necessary if you have experience in DMing and if you don't, the info won't be missed.
Please one more request... I am a HUGE fan of Books in general, and yes that makes me rather geeky, but I am hopeful that it will be possible to have at least one version of the final books that hold up the test of time. I am not a fan of most of the WOTC books, as the bindings and pages deteriorate from general use. Could we please produce a full color book that is printed on heavier paper and bound with string and cloth??? Is that possible any more, or is it like travel to the moon?
I would dearly love to see some sort of leather-bound option for those of us who are older and can afford it. I know Games Workshop did a leather bound limited release with great success, although the pages inside left a little to be desired. Since the general consensus of pen and paper gamers is that they do not want to sit in front of a computer screen, why not embrace that aspect as well? (The comments above should NOT in any way be construed as to be unfavorable towards electronic .pdf and perfect-bound releases of PRPG material.) ;)
I'm just saying....(Print it once and save some trees in the long run)