GM Ronin's Playtst Results


Playtest Results: Round 1

Lantern Lodge

Recently my group and I (as GM) ran a three session playtest utilizing each of the classes presented in the Ultimate Combat Playtest (i.e. Gunslinger, Ninja, Samurai) as well as their counterparts. Some may see this playtest as biased given the restrictions put on the players, but I feel it presents a more even base across the board. Some of these restrictions follow: I opted to send them in without a healer for purposes of seeing how the classes would run when low on health. Each of these classes were created at Level 7 with a starting wealth of 25,000 GP. Everyone chose their alignment as Chaotic Good as well. The only race the players were allowed to choose were human. You may find this unfair, but as I've already stated, I did this to present a control within this experiment.

In the coming posts, I'll post the builds that were used by each of my players as well as how each session faired. From there I will do a side-by-side comparison of each class and how they compare to their alternate. Though, I don't fully agree with the playtests put forth by Paizo Publishing, I will attempt to be as unbiased as possible. Please be patient while I attempt to compile all analysis and results together into succinct, easy-to-understand paragraphs that I believe should be easy to decipher. I also urge the staff at Paizo to follow this thread as well and post their own thoughts as I welcome any and all critique.

Thank you.

Lantern Lodge

The first two builds presented are of the Cavalier and the Samurai. Please look over how each player built their given character and critique if you want. I will post the details of the three sessions afterwards, but for now, here are our first set of rivals.

First up, we have Ryan and Calavas Eyre, his Sword Order Cavalier

Calavas Eyre, Lvl 7 Male Human Cavalier - Order of the Sword
(STR) 16 (DEX) 12 (CON) 15 (INT) 12 (WIS) 10 (CHA) 14
(FORTITUDE) +7 (REFLEX) +5 (WILL) +2
(INITIATIVE) +1 (HP) 60 (CMB) +10 (CMD) 21/20 Flat
(AC) 21 (TOUCH AC) 10
(Attack: Melee) +10/+5
(Attack: Ranged) +8/+3

FEATS
Fleet
Run
Lunge
Improved Bull Rush
Outflank (Cavalier Bonus)
Power Attack (Cavalier Bonus)

CLASS FEATURES
Proficienct with Light-Heavy Armor, Shields, and Simple-Martial Weapons
Animal Companion Link (Ex)
Banner +2/+1
Cavalier's Charge (Ex)
Expert Trainer +3 (Ex)
Sword's Challenge +7/+2 (3/day) (Ex)
Sword's Skills +3 (Ex)
Tactician (Outflank) 6r (2/day) (Ex)
By My Honor (Reflex Save Chosen)

IMPORTANT GEAR
+3 Agile Half-Plate Armor
+2 Mithril Lance

NOTES
For his Cavalier, Ryan opted to take the Eye for Talent Alternate Racial Trait for Humans and, as such, gave up his Human Bonus Feat.

Secondly, we have Martin and Calamore Silvan, Warrior Order Samurai.

Calamore Silvan, Lvl 7 Male Human Samurai
(STR) 16 (DEX) 12 (CON) 15 (INT) 12 (WIS) 14 (CHA) 10
(FORTITUDE) +7 (REFLEX) +3 (WILL) +4
(INITIATIVE) +5 (HP) 54 (CMB) +10 (CMD) 21/20 Flat
(AC) 19 (TOUCH AC) 10
(Attack: Melee) +10/+5
(Attack: Ranged) +8/+3

FEATS
Power Attack
Improved Initiative
Vital Strike
Furious Focus
Pushing Assault (Human Bonus)
Cleave (Samurai Bonus)

CLASS FEATURES
Animal Companion Link (Ex)
Resolve (4/day)
Warrior's Challenge DR 2/- (3/day) (Ex)
Weapon Expertise (Katana)
Mounted Archer
Banner +2/+1
Honor In All Things +4 (2/day)

IMPORTANT GEAR
+2 Adamantine Katana of Shock
+1 Agile Breastplate
+1 Ring of Protection

With a quick glance to these builds, it is obvious to see that each is built nearly identically to the other with a few variations here and there. Though the two are mechanically similar to one another, as they fought through each of the encounters, neither seemed to outshine the other. They were a few times during the first session when the Samurai actually seemed to outshine the Cavalier, however, this was mostly due to Ryan's poor rolls - three rolls of '1' in the first session. As I go more in-depth in the coming posts, I will post up the full details of the background of the scenarios they were given and how each of the classes fared.

Lantern Lodge

John's Rogue Build

Merrick Derelan, Lvl 7 Male Human Rogue
(STR) 14 (DEX) 18 (CON) 11 (INT) 12 (WIS)

13 (CHA) 10
(FORTITUDE) +2 (REFLEX) +9 (WILL) +3
(INITIATIVE) +4 (HP) 39 (CMB) +9 (CMD) 22/17 Flat
(AC) 22 (TOUCH AC) 15 (FLAT AC) 17
(Attack: Melee) +7
(Attack: Ranged) +9

FEATS
Agile Maneuvers
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Shadow Strike
Weapon Finesse (Rogue Bonus)

ROGUE TALENTS
Finesse Rogue
Peerless Maneuver
Fast Stealth

CLASS FEATURES
Sneak Attack +4d6
Trap Sense +2
Uncanny Dodge
Evasion
Trapfinding

IMPORTANT GEAR
+1 Vicious Mithril Rapier
+3 Glamered Mithril Chain Shirt
Bag of Holding I
Daggers x5 (Dagger Sash)
MW Thieve's Tools

Katie, my wife, chose to take a shot at the Ninja. This is her build. Choosing to ix-nay INT because of the Ninja's expansive skill list, she dropped the points into CHA and WIS instead.

Kisara Tsurugi, Lvl 7 Female Human Ninja
(STR) 12 (DEX) 18 (CON) 11 (INT) 10 (WIS) 13 (CHA) 14
(FORTITUDE) +4 (REFLEX) +9 (WILL) +3
(INITIATIVE) +8 (HP) 42 (CMB) +6 (CMD) 20/16 Flat
(AC) 17 (TOUCH AC) 11 (FLAT AC) 16
(Attack: Melee) +6
(Attack: Ranged) +9

FEATS
Improved Initiative
Quick Draw
Shadow Strike
Weapon Finesse
Great Fortitude

NINJA TRICKS
Vanishing Trick
Fast Stealth
Acrobatic Master

CLASS FEATURES
Ki Pool (5)
Sneak Attack +4d6
Light Steps
No Trace +2
Uncanny Dodge
Poison Use

IMPORTANT GEAR
+1 Vicious Cold Iron Wakizashi
+3 Studded Leather
+1 Shurikens x50

Next two builds that will be put up are the Fighter and the Gunslinger.

Lantern Lodge

James and his Meat-Shield... err, Fighter. Did his job well too.

Erevis Cander, Lvl 7 Male Human Fighter
(STR) 20 (DEX) 13 (CON) 14 (INT) 9 (WIS) 10 (CHA) 10
(FORTITUDE) +7 (REFLEX) +3 (WILL) +2
(INITIATIVE) +1 (HP) 84 (CMB) +12 (CMD) 23/22 Flat
(AC) 22 (TOUCH AC) 11 (FLAT AC) 21
(Attack: Melee) +12/+7
(Attack: Ranged) +8/+3

FEATS
Combat Reflexes
Toughness
Vital Strike
Weapon Focus (Greatsword)
Weapon Specialization (Greatsword)
Cleave (Fighter Bonus)
Great Cleave (Fighter Bonus)
Intimidating Prowess (Fighter Bonus)
Power Attack (Fighter Bonus)

CLASS FEATURES
Armor Training 2
Bravery +2
Weapon Training: Heavy Blades +1

IMPORTANT GEAR
+3 Agile Half Plate
+1 Keen Adamantine Greatsword

Donna was the one chosen to head up the Gunslinger and here's her build. Following this last build, I will detail the three sessions we went through as well as give a breakdown of each class and how they fared during the sessions.

i]Corina Valefor, Lvl 7 Female Human Gunslinger[/i]
(STR) 13 (DEX) 16 (CON) 12 (INT) 10 (WIS) 14 (CHA) 10
(FORTITUDE) +3 (REFLEX) +8 (WILL) +4
(INITIATIVE) +7 (HP) (CMB) +12 (CMD) 23/22 Flat
(AC) 18 (TOUCH AC) 13 (FLAT AC) 15
(Attack: Melee) +8/+3
(Attack: Ranged) +10/+5

FEATS
Extra Grit
Weapon Focus: Pistol
Weapon Specialization: Pistol
Rapid Reload
Improved Initiative (Human Bonus)
Quick Draw (Gunslinger Bonus)

DEEDS
Deadeye
Gunslinger Initiative
Covering Shot

CLASS FEATURES
Deeds x3
Grit +6
Bonus Feat
Gun Training
Brave & Tough +2

IMPORTANT GEAR
+1 Lucky Pistol x2
+1 Mithril Chain Shirt


Completely off-hand, but the fact that the Order of the Warrior-samurai isn't Lawful Good saddens me.


Severed Ronin wrote:


DEEDS
Deadeye
Gunslinger Initiative
Covering Shot

Not sure if you noticed but all Deeds are automatically gained at each corresponding level except for the ones which require feats.

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