Well, "faster casting times" itself is kinda misleading.
It used to be that casting spells affected initiative, since codified Actions didn't exist, nor did Attacks of Opportunity.
Basically, if you were a Wizard and wanted to cast a spell, say Web, you began casting the spell on your Initiative (let's say Init 18), and finished it when the spell was denoted (2 clicks of the Initiative later, or Init 16). If a Fighter that was within attacking distance of you had Init 17, he could charge up and attack you before your spell was completed, and ruin your spellcasting.
AoO's actually, in theory, make interrupting casting more common, though with the Concentration check a thing now, it should be about the same success rate of fizzling a spell as in 1st and 2nd ed.
Well, except that weapons had speeds, and I think movement also cost you clicks. It was very very hard to interrupt a short spell.
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Sorry just saw this post. On the topic of Pathfinder Bloat, there is a feeling by some local GMs in my area that way too much content (like the ACG) are coming out.
Could be the first sign of consumer fatigue.
The three groups I belong to do see it, they love the options. Again two groups MOAR and BLOAT...
I personally think the number of books that Paizo produces is perfect I can easily afford the ones I need.
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The issue with Wizards being able to do everything ever, and better than everyone else, including other Wizards, is pretty much as old as the game - back in OD&D, Wizards were basically powerless for the first few levels, but then became powerhouses thereafter, up to the point that the made all other classes useless. This carried over to 1st and 2nd Ed AD&D, and therefore was basically a core issue even in 3rd edition. Lots of 7th-9th Level magic just trumps Martials because of how much those spells warp reality.
So, whenever I hear people complaining about Wizards making everything obsolete in Pathfinder, like Paizo somehow is responsible for this inequity of power, I just imagine all those "Thanks, Obama" memes.
Except wizards became progressively weaker as their opponents saves grew better. A 20th level wizard against anything vaguely level appropriate was essentially reduced to blasting spells...at least they had some effect. Save or die was a quick route to watching the bad guy save and then eat your face.
3.x / spellcaster Vastly increased the power of spellcasters.
The issue with Wizards being able to do everything ever, and better than everyone else, including other Wizards, is pretty much as old as the game - back in OD&D, Wizards were basically powerless for the first few levels, but then became powerhouses thereafter, up to the point that the made all other classes useless. This carried over to 1st and 2nd Ed AD&D, and therefore was basically a core issue even in 3rd edition. Lots of 7th-9th Level magic just trumps Martials because of how much those spells warp reality.
So, whenever I hear people complaining about Wizards making everything obsolete in Pathfinder, like Paizo somehow is responsible for this inequity of power, I just imagine all those "Thanks, Obama" memes.
Except wizards became progressively weaker as their opponents saves grew better. A 20th level wizard against anything vaguely level appropriate was essentially reduced to blasting spells...at least they had some effect. Save or die was a quick route to watching the bad guy save and then eat your face.
3.x / spellcaster Vastly increased the power of spellcasters.
but those blasting spells basically were save or die considering how much damage they dealt and there was nothing published that was level appropriate past like 12th level. meaning, you had to make your own CR20 monsters.
The issue with Wizards being able to do everything ever, and better than everyone else, including other Wizards, is pretty much as old as the game - back in OD&D, Wizards were basically powerless for the first few levels, but then became powerhouses thereafter, up to the point that the made all other classes useless. This carried over to 1st and 2nd Ed AD&D, and therefore was basically a core issue even in 3rd edition. Lots of 7th-9th Level magic just trumps Martials because of how much those spells warp reality.
So, whenever I hear people complaining about Wizards making everything obsolete in Pathfinder, like Paizo somehow is responsible for this inequity of power, I just imagine all those "Thanks, Obama" memes.
Except wizards became progressively weaker as their opponents saves grew better. A 20th level wizard against anything vaguely level appropriate was essentially reduced to blasting spells...at least they had some effect. Save or die was a quick route to watching the bad guy save and then eat your face.
3.x / spellcaster Vastly increased the power of spellcasters.
Ah, that reminds me of a fight against a Dragon in BG2:TOB where I kept on casting what should be save or die spells, and none of them working.
Frustrating fight that was.
The issue with Wizards being able to do everything ever, and better than everyone else, including other Wizards, is pretty much as old as the game - back in OD&D, Wizards were basically powerless for the first few levels, but then became powerhouses thereafter, up to the point that the made all other classes useless. This carried over to 1st and 2nd Ed AD&D, and therefore was basically a core issue even in 3rd edition. Lots of 7th-9th Level magic just trumps Martials because of how much those spells warp reality.
So, whenever I hear people complaining about Wizards making everything obsolete in Pathfinder, like Paizo somehow is responsible for this inequity of power, I just imagine all those "Thanks, Obama" memes.
Except wizards became progressively weaker as their opponents saves grew better. A 20th level wizard against anything vaguely level appropriate was essentially reduced to blasting spells...at least they had some effect. Save or die was a quick route to watching the bad guy save and then eat your face.
3.x / spellcaster Vastly increased the power of spellcasters.
Ah, that reminds me of a fight against a Dragon in BG2:TOB where I kept on casting what should be save or die spells, and none of them working.
Frustrating fight that was.
I think I know what you you mean. That was the fight outside of a temple. I think I used a spell to lower its SR and another spell that I can't remember, plus disintegrate which was an SoD. I had to reset the game a few times. I could never beat that dragon in a straight fight. I don't even remember it being close.
but those blasting spells basically were save or die considering how much damage they dealt and there was nothing published that was level appropriate past like 12th level. meaning, you had to make your own CR20 monsters.
No they weren't. Most of them offered save vs spell for half damage and many many high level monsters had magic or energy resistance which dropped the damage further. Thus it was actually important for casters to remember the energy resistances of a given monster type. As you got higher and higher levels it was assumed you'd have longer and longer adventuring days. Take BG2 for instance in the mindflayer dungeon it is really hard to actually rest while there are still enemies present so you have to fight 12+ mindflayers, 12+ umber hulks, 2 brain golems, 12+ melee thralls, and an elder brain before anyone can recharge.
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No they weren't. Most of them offered save vs spell for half damage and many many high level monsters had magic or energy resistance which dropped the damage further. Thus it was actually important for casters to remember the energy resistances of a given monster type. As you got higher and higher levels it was assumed you'd have longer and longer adventuring days. Take BG2 for instance in the mindflayer dungeon it is really hard to actually rest while there are still enemies present so you have to fight 12+ mindflayers, 12+ umber hulks, 2 brain golems, 12+ melee thralls, and an elder brain before anyone can recharge.
but those blasting spells basically were save or die considering how much damage they dealt and there was nothing published that was level appropriate past like 12th level. meaning, you had to make your own CR20 monsters.
Actually, if the monster succeeded its Spell Resistance roll, the spell had absolutely no effect. And I don't remember many monsters with energy resistance...most were just flat-out immune to energy types they were aligned with.
Huh I may have been confused in the rulings then. With my group spell resistance reduced damage by spells for an amount equal to the percent and similarly reduced the penalty on debuffs. It was only save of dies that it flat out negated. I'm not sure which is better now that i know we were doing it wrong.
Energy resistances seemed to be everyone once you reached high level and were fighting underdark denizens and outsiders all the time.