Tonight I hosted a few members of our PFS community as we ran through PFS Scenario 3-25: Storming the Diamond Gate with level 6 ACG classes. Creation was done using pure WBL guidelines. The classes were: Warpriest, Brawler, Arcanist, and Slayer.
All of the players had done the scenario before, though exclusively at the low tier. (They didn't metagame the scenario at all, regardless.) One character died during the second encounter. (We allowed a 'respawn' once the fight was over so we could continue the playtest.) Two characters died in the final combat, and the other two fled.
I'll leave it to the players to comment on their experiences with their specific classes. I'll just speak in general, comparing my experiences as a GM with these classes.
Overall, none of the classes stuck out as being tremendously unbalanced or overpowered. The Warpriest seemed overshadowed by his Slayer and Brawler colleagues in terms of melee combat, and the middling level of his casting stat meant that the power of his offensive spells were somewhat limited.
I'll be sending a link to this thread to all the players, so hopefully they'll weigh in in the next couple of days with their own reflections on the classes strengths and weaknesses at level 6.
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I played the Warpriest during the play test.
I tried to build a melee fighting caster.
My observations:
Blessings:
The "Good" Blessing is either really useful in some circumstances (say, in a PFS season 5 game...) or totally ineffective against non-evil opponents.
The Paladin's Smite is the same way, but the Paladin has other powers that make up for it. The Warpriest's powers aren't as numerous or as diverse to offset a situationally-ineffective Blessing.
Melee: My power attacking (with Furious Focus to offset negatives to hit), reach-weapon wielding Warpriest was whiffing quite a bit. The BAB for the Warpriest makes it a lightweight in Melee.
Weaknesses:
The Warpriest's weaknesses are:
1) The lack of extra abilities on par with a Paladin's.
2) The Cleric's BAB instead of a Fighter's BAB
Summary:
Presently, the Warpriest is not an equal with the Fighter, the Paladin or the Cleric in my view.
Either Boost the BAB OR remove some Extra Combat Feats in exchange for more Blessing abilities during level progression
Thoughts?
For reference:
Level 6, Human Warpriest of Sheyln
Str: 17
Dex: 10
Con: 10
Int: 10
Wis: 16
Cha: 14
Blessing: Good (allows for 1d6 extra damage vs. Evil creatures)
Blessing: Protection (+1 AC, +1 Saving Throws for 1 minute)
Weapon: Adamantium Glaive +1
Armour: Mithril Breastplate
Feats:
Power Attack
Selective Channelling
Furious Focus
Weapon Focus: Glaive (Free with Class)
Persuasive (I have a 17 on Intimidate and was hoping to use dazzling display)
Dazzling Display
Quick Channel
Intimidating Prowess
Triat: Bully +1 Intimidate
Reactionary: +2 Initiative