|
I'm relatively new to Pathfinder and I'm considering options for my first AP to run. One thing I'd rather not deal with is too much non-Core content. My concern is mainly around having to figure out how NPCs with levels from APG, UC, and UM work: it is not something I really want to deal with at this point.
So how much non-Core content can I expect to see in the Anniversary Edition?
|
|
APG, UC, and UM are all considered core (as they are all on the PRD,) but I can see your concern. I believe that James Jacobs said that there aren't going to be many changes in terms of NPC's classes.
I think that Ameiko may be built like she was in Jade Regent, but that's not too bad, as usually you will not be using her in combat.
I ran Runelords, and I had a blast... what was the issue then is that they used some 3rd party stuff, though whatever was used was fully stat blocked out, so you had everything that you needed to run the scenario.
Good luck! I wouldn't worry too much.
Creative Director
|
You'll want to have Bestiary 2 and Bestiary 3 handy for sure.
There are very few (and there might not be ANY) NPCs with levels from classes from APG, UC, and UM. In fact, I know for a fact that there are no ninja, samurai, gunslingers, or magi in there. And while I can't remember for sure (at one point I know there was an oracle, but that character changed into something else), I'm relatively sure there are no alchemists, cavaliers, witches, summoners, oracles, or inquisitors. If there ARE... it's like one or two NPCs. In any event, if we DO use things like that, or archetypes, those NPCs will get full stat blocks anyway. Since they're NPCs.
But you'll need Bestiary 2 and 3 for certain. There are short stat blocks for things in Runelords that are from those two books.
|
Chief Technical Officer
|
But you'll need Bestiary 2 and 3 for certain.
...or just the free online PRD.
|
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
UPDATE:
Just finished statting up a character who uses a base class from Advanced Player's Guide and modifies that with an option from Ultimate Magic and is of a race from Bestiary 1 who has a new template detailed in this very hardcover.
That's the most extreme case in the book, I'm 99% sure. And that character's got a full stat block anyway so folks who don't have access to all those books should be able to run the encounter fine anyway.
What I'm curious is how NPCs that used 3.5 PrCs are being converted. There's on in particular that seems like it'd be a good fit for a summoner...except for the whole divine / arcane thing.
|
Creative Director
|
What I'm curious is how NPCs that used 3.5 PrCs are being converted. There's on in particular that seems like it'd be a good fit for a summoner...except for the whole divine / arcane thing.
No summoners are going into this book. There ARE some significant changes to some of the characters, though... And I suspect the one you're thinking of isn't one who has a 3.5 prestige class but a 3rd party base class from Green Ronin's Book of Fiends anyway...
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
This book needs to hurry up and get out so I can see all the changes
No summoners are going into this book. There ARE some significant changes to some of the characters, though... And I suspect the one you're thinking of isn't one who has a 3.5 prestige class but a 3rd party base class from Green Ronin's Book of Fiends anyway...What I'm curious is how NPCs that used 3.5 PrCs are being converted. There's on in particular that seems like it'd be a good fit for a summoner...except for the whole divine / arcane thing.
Ah right, someone mentioned that that's the case. It looks like I mistook that class name for the PrC.
Just finished statting up a character who uses a base class from Advanced Player's Guide and modifies that with an option from Ultimate Magic and is of a race from Bestiary 1 who has a new template detailed in this very hardcover.
Hm... Could be Delvahine? You might be moving away from using that 3rd party 3.5e prestige class.
|
Creative Director
|
Just finished statting up a character who uses a base class from Advanced Player's Guide and modifies that with an option from Ultimate Magic and is of a race from Bestiary 1 who has a new template detailed in this very hardcover.Hm... Could be Delvahine? You might be moving away from using that 3rd party 3.5e prestige class.
About Delvahine:
About the "mystery character who uses APG and UM content:
About the "mystery character who uses APG and UM content: ** spoiler omitted **
Will those modified PrCs be available? Or will they just be a part of the stat blocks.
Sounds like a good Blog article if they won't be...
|
Creative Director
|
Will those modified PrCs be available? Or will they just be a part of the stat blocks.
Sounds like a good Blog article if they won't be...
Nope; they're just part of the stat blocks. I only converted the portions of the prestige classes I needed to make the NPCs work, and their stat blocks are presented with all the rules you need to run them, but not all the rules you'd need to use the prestige class. (Things like BAB and saving throw progression, or class requirements, are not included.)
And considering the nature of the two classes... and furthermore, the fact that we've never done a "update older 3.0 3rd party content to work with Pathfinder rules" blog post for several complex reasons... an updated look at these prestige classes would, alas, NOT make a good blog article at all.
Fair enough!
Glad there aren't any summoners, that's the one class I just can't get into from the APG. My opinion has changed of non-core classes going into this book. I'm glad to see an Oracle fitting in so well. That said, I still prefer the originals, but in JJs case it seems a better fit.
It'll be interesting to see if this collected volume goes the way the Star Wars trilogy did, where the purist fans didn't want a blue ray version of the ones with the new material, etc.
You can't please everyone. :)
I'm still waiting eagerly for this.
|
It'll be interesting to see if this collected volume goes the way the Star Wars trilogy did, where the purist fans didn't want a blue ray version of the ones with the new material, etc.
You can't please everyone. :)
I'm still waiting eagerly for this.
I've got the originals in PDF format, but I definately want the updated hardcover version!
PS - Han shoots first!
|
|
Mr. Jacobs,
My group is getting close to the end of Fortress of the Stone Giants, so I was wondering...
And I suspect the one you're thinking of isn't one who has a 3.5 prestige class but a 3rd party base class from Green Ronin's Book of Fiends anyway...
So, what did you do to this one? *curious*
|
Creative Director
|
Mr. Jacobs,
My group is getting close to the end of Fortress of the Stone Giants, so I was wondering...
** spoiler omitted **
Nope. Those things don't change class at all. There's a reason I've put into the adventure why not.
|
Creative Director
|
And I suspect the one you're thinking of isn't one who has a 3.5 prestige class but a 3rd party base class from Green Ronin's Book of Fiends anyway...So, what did you do to this one? *curious*
There's two of them, in fact...
Which makes 2 classes from APG, I guess.
|
Creative Director
|
Hmm... no inquisitors? That must mean ** spoiler omitted **
That's unfortunate... I hope he's actually worth something as an opponent this time.
Well...
The new version is a rogue 2/cleric six; he's still CR 7 but now he has an AC of 26 and 61 hit points. (Which, according to table 1-1 from the Bestiary, is 9 points low on hp but 7 points higher than the expected AC, so that should be pretty tough...) And furthermore, the adventure strongly suggests and sets things up so that he comes out to fight alongside his cultist minions rather than waiting to fight the PCs alone, which can quickly turn that into a CR 8 encounter. Which, for PCs that are probably still 5th or 6th level... should be plenty tough.
I didn't make him an inquisitor, in any case, because unlike the case with the others, his role and rules don't rely upon elements that are no longer available or true in Pathifnder. This character's class mix still works the same, so I didn't change it at all. I'm trying NOT to make changes that drastic to actual stat blocks in order to preserve as much of what made the original adventures what they were in the first place.
Well...
** spoiler omitted **
I didn't make him an inquisitor, in any case, because unlike the case with the others, his role and rules don't rely upon elements that are no longer available or true in Pathifnder. This character's class mix still works the same, so I didn't change it at all. I'm trying NOT to make changes that drastic to actual stat blocks in order to preserve as much of what made the original adventures what they were in the first place.
And of course, as a GM you always have the option of making him an inquisitor yourself :)
|
|
And of course, as a GM you always have the option of making him an inquisitor yourself :)
Well sure - and I did. I thought it worked so well because he's, well, a judge, so giving him inquisitor levels really worked in my head to cement his iron-fisted "hang 'em high" reputation. But mostly it meant he wasn't being hamstrung by a weak multiclass, which is what I was worried about for the new version as well. Sounds like James has found ways around that, though, so I'm content to wait and see how it comes out...
|
|
To me it never made sense. His reputation as a "Hang 'em High" Judge is handing down sentences, not executing them. So in my mind he shouldn't be an Inquisitor. I actually prefer the Rogue/Cleric multiclass. His focus is not in delivering "Norgorber's Justice" it's about killing/murdering and maintaining secrecy.
Just my opinion though... :)