|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Specifically the APG and related material.
Now that Pathfinder is getting into it's full stride I've been watching how it interacts with my players. My local set tend to be engineering students, engineers, and ex-military. It's an interesting mix and really flavors the local play style. (Note: this is not stories of just one group...but rather a mix of previous and current players.)
I call this play style the Magical Engineer Commando. Think MacGuyver meets the A-Team dashed with Harry Potter. They tend to be BIG on overplanning, standard operating procedures, solving problems by throwing magic at it in creative ways, and aggressive squad mentality.
Back in the 3.5 days I noted some fun things:
*Standard 'gear' they were reaching for by level 10. (Prestidigitation Rods, Gloves of Storing, Boots of Leaping and Striding, Haversacks, etc.) They would pool resources to gear up and make sure to cover any caster's exp cost by pooling the creation time and effort.
*Everyone would get a hand crossbow. Or a Shortbow. Or at least a sling. Alphastrikes on foes were SOP especially enemy casters. There wasn't a fight they didn't like going into that they could snipe first. Close in fights usually involved a LOT of impromptu cover and visual distractions so they could 'set up'.
...things like that.
But then Pathfinder came along and things have changed in interesting ways:
*Stealth is the new favorite past time. Seriously, they have half the party dedicated to recon. They've been milking class abilities to cut down the magic item cost on their efforts. They LOVE the Pathfinder Rogue's bag of tricks. I'm waiting to see how they'll take to the new Trap Ranger. I have a feeling we'll be seeing Ultimate Magic Rangers in play a lot more.
*Witches are welcome! The once a day healing, easy access to flight, a brew potion machine. The witch has become the party's money sink. They've taken to creating potion pouches for everyone. If they find a fantasy Beer Cap, I think they would run around with Bull Strength and Enlarge Person double swigs.
*All hail the Inquisitor! Seriously, they love the domain access, the damage output, the weapon access. I think if they didn't like arcane healing so much they would play a party of Inquisitors.
*They're not sure what to make of the Summoner. They like the ability to build a custom pet, but they tend to play more internalized power and skill vs over reliance on a personal monster. Though my Sorcerer player of old has shown interest in trying out the UM variants. Especially the horde type. :)
*They keep eying the Alchemist. No one has tried one, but this group basically fell in LOVE with the Eberron style Artificer. It's just a matter of time I think.
*The new class powers and abilities have delayed the heavy itemization at early levels. I see less "everyone needs x,y,z" and more playing to specialties now. They love how the classes can cover each other far better now. The archtypes from APG really started debates on 'group healing' duty and other concepts like themed teams. This is a good sign.
*Recent tactics involve also a LOT of Disguise and subterfuge. They've taken to creating identities for themselves. In one game the Witch had no less than 4 covers. The poor beggar, the constable, the royal healer, and finally a member of a local mercenary band. Everyone one was getting into the act. They assumed the identities of a local mercenary group after killing the original members...and they kept adding members!
*Cohorts are useful suddenly. They always had the mentality of training and arming allies. (They foster rebellions and uprisings against their foes.) But now they've taken to recruiting on the fly. Like all the time. They offer deals to people they save or don't slaughter. Give them tasks and measure loyalty. And once they find someone they like...suddenly they're treated like family. It's like gang recruitment of the NPCs.
*They suddenly like mounts. The Cavalier in action made them drool. Everyone has mounts now...even if it's just a donkey. Overland speed boosts, carrying capacity. They have a cart and everything. It makes their self and NPC provisioning easier. They pick up weapons and junk anyway...now they give it out to NPC allies and talk tactics from their mobile command post.
I really didn't know where to post this, but it is Pathfinder related...just noticing some weird changes to my local player types and how Pathfinder impacted their game. Just sharing.
Vsry interesting! Unfortunately, it seems to me that the alchemist is nothing like the Artificer. Check out pathfinderdb.com and search for the Ardwright. The have a better take on the artificer, IMO.
|
For many reasons, but especially this;
*Cohorts are useful suddenly. They always had the mentality of training and arming allies. (They foster rebellions and uprisings against their foes.) But now they've taken to recruiting on the fly. Like all the time. They offer deals to people they save or don't slaughter. Give them tasks and measure loyalty. And once they find someone they like... suddenly they're treated like family. It's like gang recruitment of the NPCs.
I want to game with your group!
For me, most of the fun of Vampire: the Masquerade was building a powerbase, starting with pretty much everyone you met and could schmooze, seduce, bribe, blackmail, blood bond or dominate!
I love the idea of forging alliances, and building something, even if 'something' turns into a bewildering plethora of contacts, social connections, mercenaries, etc.
An NPC with a usable skill or ability is far more valuable, in the long run, than a magic sword or pile of coins.
|
|
Vsry interesting! Unfortunately, it seems to me that the alchemist is nothing like the Artificer. Check out pathfinderdb.com and search for the Ardwright. The have a better take on the artificer, IMO.
Oh I know that and I think that's why they haven't jumped on one yet. They grok Wizards and Sorcerer just fine, but the new casters have them feeling it out.
About the NPC recruitment. When presented with Kingmaker they were forging alliance with the kolbolds. They were unifying the different tribes under their banner.