|
Sunday night we converted PCs in my Eberron game to Pathfinder. I'll be running my campaign until about 16th level, and will report on it here at least once per level.
Some caveats: (1) We've made some changes to skills, beyond even what Pathfinder's done. You can see our changes (so far) HERE. (2) We're not using Pathfinder's double-bonus to non-human abilities (nor the bonus for humans), because we created these PCs using a house-ruled point-buy system. (3) We're not using any of Pathfinder's suggested fixes for 1st-level HP, because we have a HP-minimum house-rule. (4) We use the Magic Item Compendium, which has some fairly major rules at odds with the direction Pathfinder has chosen. (5) Finally, we're using a lot of non-core options, even beyond what's included in Eberron.
Given these caveats, I'm not sure how valuable our playtesting will be, but, you know, can't hurt.
Character Conversion Notes
Warforged Artificer 11 -- His Use Magic Device modifier took a small hit (from losing synergy bonuses), which he complained about. The artificer also has a lots of stuff explicitly or implicitly tied up in 3.5's use of XP as a balancing factor for several things, most notably item creation and the use of a 1st-level infusion called spell storing item. After some give and take, I decided that magic item creation works like spells (i.e., 5 gp per XP), but folded and allowed him to continue using XP to pay for his spell storing item infusion. I probably should have been adamant, because it is the ridiculous power of this infusion that contributes significantly to the brokenness of the artificer. But we'll see how it goes.
Sea Spirit Folk Shugenja 11 -- No real issues. One thing I noticed (because of this player's feat choice) is that for most characters who will bother, Agile Maneuvers (DEX instead of STR to CMB) is significantly better than Defensive Combat Training (+4 to defensive use of CMB). If a PC is only taking one, it will almost always be the former. A high-DEX PC who takes both will be all but CMB-proof. They should probably be mutually exclusive.
Goblin Fighter 4 / Rogue 6 -- No real issues, other than the ambiguity as to what, exactly, is subject to sneak attack. For now, we've settled on oozes, elementals, and incorporeal creatures being immune. I'm a little concerned that the rogue got too much of a power boost ... all of those abilities, increased HD, plus (effectively) a bonus feat every two levels (Rogue Talent). But I'll hold off judgment until I see it in combat. (He picked Minor Magic (ghost sound, 2/day), BTW, which I thought was a fun choice.)
Kalashtar Paladin 10 -- No real issues at all. He's excited that his Channel Energy may see actual use, and he was happy with the change to Lay On Hands.
Halfling Druid 10 -- A new PC. Other than an incredible +29 to Notice (Perception), nothing troubling. He's using the Shapechange variant druid rules from the PHB2, and I have to say I really like that variant. I like the Pathfinder use of beast form, too, but the PHB2 variant has to be my favorite.
I also created some future foes for them using Pathfinder, including an adult white dragon and a number of classed hill giants. I didn't notice a significant decrease in prep time, but on the other hand, the skills system isn't yet second nature to me. I kept having to recalculate, sure I'd made mistakes. Once I get more used to it, that change alone will help.
I do have some concern, based on this NPC creation, that the +3 bonus for trained class skills should only be awarded at 1st level. But we'll see how it goes.
Oh, I almost forgot: Nearly everyone is having some issues with Jump being folded into Acrobatics. It just doesn't feel right to us that anyone who can tumble is also a stellar jumper, and conversely that anyone who wants to be a strong jumper ends up being a great tumbler. For whatever reason, we don't have nearly as big a disconnect between Climb and Jump, or even between any of Climb, Jump, and Swim. This also fails the "usefulness test" for skills, as currently Acrobatics is so much more useful than Climb and Swim it's ridiculous. I think we're probably going to take Jump out of Acrobatics and combine Jump, Climb, and Swim into Athletics. We'll allow a feat to use DEX instead of STR.
Interesting read.
One general question, though: Why does everyone like to play out-of-default races? Monsters races, and such? I'm one of the few people I know who enjoys just being human, or elf, or dwarf.
Interesting read.
One general question, though: Why does everyone like to play out-of-default races? Monsters races, and such? I'm one of the few people I know who enjoys just being human, or elf, or dwarf.
It's Eberron, so warforged, kalashtar and goblin are basically default races (although goblin is a little bit rarer, I suppose).
|
|
One general question, though: Why does everyone like to play out-of-default races? Monsters races, and such? I'm one of the few people I know who enjoys just being human, or elf, or dwarf.
I'm actually with you on that. Dwarf's my favorite race, followed by human, followed by half-orc and (Pathfinder's) half-elf.
The warforged's player loves incredibly powerful combinations that nobody else sees coming. He saw the brokenness of the artificer and the extreme brokenness of the warforged artificer way, way, way before I did. (Luckily, he's a pretty reasonable guy, or I'd have had to invite him out of my game by now.)
The spirit folk's player wanted to play an Asian-themed PC. I decided he was from Thelanis, and crossed between the planes when he was in a shipwreck.
The halfling's player ... well, he's newish, but his character in our Age of Worms game is human, and his previous character in this game was half-elven, so I don't think he's "weird race" prone or anything. I think he just wanted to be a dino-rider.
The kalashtar's player is a drama queen and loves the whole idea of mind-linking, "purity," and "otherworldly beauty." He plays an avariel in our FR game, as another example.
And the goblin was human. He died several levels back, and all they could afford at the time was reincarnate. Since he's a fighter/rogue, both the player and the PC decided the benefit was enough to justify staying that way. He's having a great time with it, having developed a serious fear of anything with Improved Grab and (especially) Swallow Whole.
In short, we really only have one player who's actually not up for playing more standard races. It just worked out by genuine coincidence that we have none of the most common races in my game.