Our gaming group has been utilizing the rules as they have been released, but recently decided to try the full package as it is presented in the Beta and the campaign setting. As much as we can argue the various virtues/failings of the rules, there is no better test of a game system than seeing how it runs...
My intent is to post a variety of commentaries as we go through the rules. We have begun the character development stage, and within a day or two I should have some preliminary reports from that portion of the test. I think that testing the whole system requires a new start, but definately requires a group to play the game for a few sessions at least...
Also, if anyone has any campaign ideas for Ustalav this would be a good time to help a DM out!!! Please and thank-you
Ok, so roll ups have been done!
I started the group at level 8 to see what sort of mid-level rules we could break (find fault with). There were a few highlights that I wanted to throw up here!
2 Barbarians! That was the funniest part to the process. We did the roll up in two sessions due to some sceduling issues, and there was one in each group. One said how the liked the added abilities that the rage powers offered, and the other thought that they took away from the main power that the barbarian possesses. He had an interesting suggestion that might be of interest to others. Instead of breaking down the rage into one point but system, why not integrate these powers into the rage, and allow the barbarian to use particular powers while raging only...I am not certain that I prefer that option, but as I told him, it was an interesting option to consider.
Holy warrior: My girlfriend chose the holy warrior option with her cleric, and even though it meant loosing her domain powers, is very excited to play a "fighter with cleric spells!" There was a thread a while back about making "holy warriors" out of paladins, and so when we saw this we had to give it a shot! I would have to say that this is a better version of the holy warrior than altering a paladin, because really it takes loads less work to make it work for any alignment.
Sorceror/Wizard: The fellow who eventually created a sorceror was heard complaining "Damn Paizo for balancing classes!" Although he went through each class with a fine tooth comb, he was after 3 days still uncertain as to which would make the more powerful caster, so he went with easier to play...I thought the quote was a good reflection on the Beta rules!
The other main character...One of my players had to make a monk, mostly 'cause I usually don't have them in my campaigns for rp reasons. He went through the revisions with pleasure, knowing that it would irk the DM ... not really that much, but well, ever since 1st edition added them to the core rules, I have thought they were really only valid in an oriental campaign (or one where there is a lot of traffic from an orietal area, as eutropean monks were not exactly martial). He had one suggestion to which I had to completely agree, in respect to the selection of bonus feats for monk. None of the "stance feats are listed there, and it seems to me that they should be available to a monk, if they are available to anyone!
So there's a start for the campaign!