Alright, I have a player who is dead set on the idea that anything published in any book is open to the players. When I say open, I mean he thinks he doesn't have to ask the DMs permission to apply any template he finds in the Bestiary to his character. He wants to use the CR enhancement as ECL adjustment, and wants proof that templates are designed and formatted with NPCs mainly in mind. Help?
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1. On the PRD, the Templates segment is a subsection of the Monster Advancement text.
2. The description of the Monster Advancement section begins with the text, "The following rules allow you to adjust monsters, increasing (or even decreasing) their statistics and abilities while still creating a balanced and fun encounter."
3. The description of the Templates section begins with the text, "A template is a set of rules that you apply to a monster to transform it into a different monster. All templates give precise directions on how to change a monster's statistics to transform it into the new monster." (Emphasis mine)
Other than that, I'm not aware of any specific rule that says that templates should apply to NPCs only. Then again, that would be enough for me.
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Tell him no. Tell him exactly what books he can and can't use.
Wrong way of looking at this.
He has to provide proof that templates are designed and formatted with PCs in mind. Burden of proof is on him.
There is nothing like that as far as I remember but as intended they are just for NPC's and monsters.
If you are the GM and don't want templates in the hands of players (why is he reading the bestiary anyway?) then just say no. You have that authority over the game.
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And then tell him that you get to choose what's allowed. I mean, even the lead designer of PF says so here.
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(As a quick PS to this particular post, since I do not want to derail the thread. 3pp material is great. As with all material, you should decide on your own, as GM, what does and what does not belong in your game based on its quality and the needs of your campaign, regardless of who printed it. Just sayin...)
Emphasis mine.
1. On the PRD, the Templates segment is a subsection of the Monster Advancement text.
2. The description of the Monster Advancement section begins with the text, "The following rules allow you to adjust monsters, increasing (or even decreasing) their statistics and abilities while still creating a balanced and fun encounter."
3. The description of the Templates section begins with the text, "A template is a set of rules that you apply to a monster to transform it into a different monster. All templates give precise directions on how to change a monster's statistics to transform it into the new monster." (Emphasis mine)
Other than that, I'm not aware of any specific rule that says that templates should apply to NPCs only. Then again, that would be enough for me.
ditto
He might be going off this: Acquired Templates: Some templates, like the lich, are the results of a creature's choice and desire to transform.
It would seem like a valid argument to say that's his choice.