Hello folks,
I love Pathfinder, since the Beta.
However, until now I was running a D&D campaign, modified with many houserules, to the point it was quite another d20 system.
The reason I didn't make the switch to Pathfinder was probably that a conversion of my stuff would be too much work.
But recently I decided to make the jump, for various reasons:
It has several common changes in rules with my houserules.
As an official system, it will be more accessible to my players, as more transparent.
As a current system in print, it is more open to new players.
Now, Pathfinder or not, I still want to keep some of my houserules for thematic or mechanical reasons.
Overall, I want to recenter around a core system, while still keeping some houserules, but reduced to the ones really useful. So I would like some opinion about my main houserules:
Races: The campaign setting I run has specific races, including human subraces. I don't think I will really change much, but I might trim them down, and retailor them to the Pathfinder format.
I must admit I am not always convinced by the concept of +2 to a physical stat, +2 to a mental one and -2 to a third one. Some races don't feel like having mental bonuses to me.
Classes: I made my own versions of the base classes, as well as additional classes and class variants.
I might turn them into archetypes. No real question here, but still wondering. As DMs do you use core classes or do you change them? I am talking about important changes of course, not minor addons.
Skills: I abolished the barrier of class skills vs. non-class skills many years ago, to give more freedom in customization of characters.
Now, even if I admit the Pathfinder skills system is nice, I am not sure I will go back to class skills/non-class skills.
And I think I would miss the multiplier from 1st level, which translated the background of the character before he was an adventurer.
Feats: I reviewed some, created others and give some to everyone for free, like Power Attack and Weapon Finesse.
I also use weapon groups instead of simple/martial/exotic weapons and am wondering how they would work in Pathfinder.
Combat: I roll for initiative on every round, to avoid the routine.
I also use hit locations and armor damage reduction, not really for "realism" but to make combat grittier.
I also used advanced crits and fumbles but I might drop these.
Magic: I use Spell Points, not vancian magic (spells per day). This is one of the main houserules I intend to keep.
I give some of the metamagic feats as "innate" enabling spellcasters to modify their spells, but at higher cost in spell points and extending their casting time.
There are some other things, about combat and other things, but these are my main houserules.
So I would appreciate some comments or suggestions from DMs or players with similar houserules or just an opinion about that stuff.
I know I am not giving much details about these houserules, I just mention them as general ideas, not on a technical level.
Please try to be constructive and not just abrasive against one houserule or another, or houserules in general.
Thank you in advance.
- Seldriss -
Thank you, TOZ, but I already saw Kirth's houserules (and I must say they are pretty interesting).
But I am not looking for more houserules.
On the contrary, I am trying to reduce mine, to come closer to core rules.
The point of this thread is to get the opinion of other DMs or players about the houserules I listed, if they are somewhat similar to some others they experienced and what feedback or suggestions they might have on them.
Well, you might have convinced me for the skills.
I don't have Ultimate Combat yet, so I couldn't compare their version with mine (which is inspired by Unearthed Arcana).
I'll look it up online, if it is on the Pathfinder reference document or Pathfinder Wiki.
For the classes, you are probably right.
As my goal is not to mess too much with the core rules, I might just use the classes as RAW and convert my version into archetypes, or class variants as they used to be called.
Thanks Tim, that's exactly the kind of comments I am looking for.
I am coming back to this, because I am still pondering and wondering about the skills.
One thing I liked with the x4 multiplier at 1st level was that it could reflect the background of the character, before his adventuring life.
I don't think the +3 from class skill can replace that, as it is linked to the class, therefore doesn't transcribe what the character was doing before taking the road to adventure.
What do you fellows think?
Well, you might have convinced me for the skills.
I don't have Ultimate Combat yet, so I couldn't compare their version with mine (which is inspired by Unearthed Arcana).
I'll look it up online, if it is on the Pathfinder reference document or Pathfinder Wiki.