I have recently played through most of the Beginner Box about mid level 3. And I am going to change to the Core Rulebooks, now, we are going to roll new characters, and mainly use the Core Rulebook for character advancement and options. And I'm wondering if my players ever use any of the Ultimate books, or Advanced books if they will become over powered? I know this happens in 3.5 with many supplements, but does it happen with Pathfinder?
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Having more options is always empowering, but apart from that: there is indeed "power creep" in the additional books.
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The Paizo (first party) books aren't too bad. The main problem is that adding more options means more combinations, some of which result in a better "min-max". In general, though, no where NEAR as bad as 3.5... yet.
Once you get into the 3PP (third party publishers), though, all bets are off. Concepts like "balance" go straight out the window. And that's just for the "Pathfinder Compatible" 3PP. Get into d20 splats and you might as well play Rifts
The Advanced Player's Guide is pretty tame. The classes are for the most part very interesting and not greatly overpowered compared to the core set. The exception to this is the Summoner (all flavors) and certain Alchemist builds (since bombs go against touch AC). You can generally handle Alchemists with smart encounter design, but Summoners are just... painful.
The UM/UC books are a mixed bag. The base classes are either useless or overpowered (gunslinger is very strong but easy enough to avoid; simply say there are no guns in your world). The feats are not overly broken, nor are the spells, but it does make for a lot of extra stuff to read up on and be sure you understand. UC is also full of great things for monks, like styles and several feat trees, which can be good fun for a monk player.
In my games, I have allowed CRB and APG as well as limited access to spells and feats from UC/UM (players must ask if they can have X or Y). I don't allow classes from UC/UM, nor do I allow the Summoner. The only thing I have fully opened up are archetypes from any of those books and any of the monk stuff in UC for my monk player.
I like archetypes a lot, but they aren't required. You can get a lot out of the game with just the CRB and no other player books. The others are like some of the original 3.5 supplements; interesting and a bit more impressive in power, but mainly because they fill in missing gaps. They generally aren't as broken as the later 3.5 supplements.
The first rule of DMing:
Anything broken my characters can build, I can build broken-er.
Remember, you're allowed to cheat.
Eventually your players will fear powergaming, as if they invent some new broken idea, all they did was add it to your arsenal forever as a DM.
Some DMs saw Punpun and wept.
Others saw Punpun and said "I can do worse."
I tend to allow APG and the core rule book in my games.
I just recently allowed all spells from other paizo books and words of power. It hasn't broken anything.
APG has great base classes, it would be sad not to use it.
However I would glance over what they've got, especially when it's from other books. The best thing is to have any book with nice players that know not to push it.
Oh, and the first person that asks to be a drow noble has to eat the bestiary, that helps powerkreep.
APG has great base classes, it would be sad not to use it.
However I would glance over what they've got, especially when it's from other books. The best thing is to have any book with nice players that know not to push it.
Oh, and the first person that asks to be a drow noble has to eat the bestiary, that helps powerkreep.
The italicized part is key. Some players will try to exploit loopholes, and others will be willing to play "fair."
I've allowed things on a trial basis, but if it turns out unbalanced IMO, I reserve the right to ban or change it. Haven't had to since 3.5 (retributive amulet!).
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Stick with the core book 'til you get used to the rules. My home group only uses the Core book and Advanced Player's Guide. You might want to consider joining Pathfinder Society. I learned a lot over the past couple years of Society play where every book is used but it's just too much for a straight-up casual home campaign.
Have fun!