PC's for CORE games


Pathfinder Society

Grand Lodge

Ok, looks like I should have expected this, but of course I didn't.
Of the 15 or so CORE character's I've seen:
6 have been rangers
5 have been druids

That's more than just a bit lopsided and my ranger doesn't feel so special to me now.

So I'm thinking I may want to rebuild my CORE ranger before he gets to 2nd level in order to bring a few of the more rare capabilities to the table. I don't like to be just "another one of those" at the table.

So I'm trying to get an idea of what is common so I can pick something less common. What classes have you seen? Or especially, what have you seen too often?

Grand Lodge 5/5

Ive seen lots of melee hitters and lots of arcane, but no skill monkeys and no healing.

Makes it kinda rough sometimes. :P

5/5 *****

I see quite a lot of Barbarians, Rangers and Druids. I have yet to see a Core Monk or Rogue I think.

Scarab Sages 4/5 **

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Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path Subscriber

I've been playing at two different game stores, so far we're all TIer 1-5.

I have the only druid I've seen (and I have the fire domain, not an animal companion). My next core PC is going to be a wizard.

I've seen 3 barbarians, 2 paladins, 1 monk, 1 cleric, 1 sorceror.

At this point I think everything is anecdotal.

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

i really don't do much with PFS at all (or much CORE only for that matter), but i'm always surprised that there don't seem to be many bards... they're a great support class, which seems important when you never know who/what else you'll be playing with! They can be a skill monkey, they make everyone (including themselves) better at combat, they have decent casting abilities (including healing), and are natural UMD candidates...

I'd guess more people don't make them because you don't get as much glory as the barbarian who's one-shotting baddies left and right or the caster who drops 3 or 4 chumps with a single big burning hands, but they're a solid class that has (or, at least, could have) something to contribute in every situation.

4/5

In my local area, I've seen:

3 clerics
3 rogues
1 fighter
1 druid
1 wizard (mine)
1 barbarian
1 paladin
Edit: 1 bard...forgot this, and he is going Dragon Disciple

Must be an area thing.

Grand Lodge

nate lange wrote:
... i'm always surprised that there don't seem to be many bards... I'd guess more people don't make them because you don't get as much glory as the barbarian who's one-shotting baddies left and right ...

off topic tangent:
Not all of us. One of my most favorite style of character is a buff caster.

Some unknown-but-non-zero percentage of us just have trouble with the whole "I sing, dance, and prance so wonderfully that everyone fights better!" It just screams B.S. to some of us. (In a world of magic it just goes that slight nudge past where I can usually suspend my disbelief.) Plus it doesn't help that nearly every one that I've ever seen roleplayed is like Elan from OOTS.
I am aware that it isn't the only way to look at the bard and that the song abilities are (SU) which goes a long way toward justifying them. But the fluff, descriptions, and the way I usually see them played all combine to make them difficult to swallow.
I'm trying to get past it, I really am. I'm currently playing a skald in a home game as a first step on that road.

.
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Hmm... Ok, must be just a blip in our area.

My first character was almost a CORE sorcerer because that was all I had for a while. Not really in love with wizards (spell book and prepared, yech). Not coming up with a concept that strikes my fancy for monk or rogue atm. Maybe I'll switch to a battle cleric.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

I have a...

Ranger-3 (Half-orc with Double Axe)
Bard-3 (Support. Throws nets)
Cleric-3 (Gnomes are surprisingly good Clerics!)

I GM Core Sundays in my area, and I've seen literally every race and class in just this short amount of time. The character that stands out to me as a powerhouse is a Monk that "juices up" with potions and Flurries with a Shillelagh.

I did encounter another Half-orc Ranger built virtually the same as mine, but there's simply not going to be the same level of variety available as what we're used to.

(also flagged to be moved to the Core forum)

Sovereign Court 4/5 5/5 ***

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
nate lange wrote:

i really don't do much with PFS at all (or much CORE only for that matter), but i'm always surprised that there don't seem to be many bards... they're a great support class, which seems important when you never know who/what else you'll be playing with! They can be a skill monkey, they make everyone (including themselves) better at combat, they have decent casting abilities (including healing), and are natural UMD candidates...

I'd guess more people don't make them because you don't get as much glory as the barbarian who's one-shotting baddies left and right or the caster who drops 3 or 4 chumps with a single big burning hands, but they're a solid class that has (or, at least, could have) something to contribute in every situation.

While Core Bards are a solid class, they gained a lot from the APG, especially in the spell department. As a bard fan, I'd rather play something else in Core only because I'd rather have the bard toys in regular play. I'd rather be playing, say, an Irorian healing domain cleric which doesn't gain much from the rest of the hardcover line anyway.

4/5

PFS CORE - Hádanka wrote:
** spoiler omitted **

Archer bards are absolutely amazing in CORE (By archer bard, I mean all your feats are archery, dex is your main stat with charisma being secondary, and you focus on buff spells so your save DCs don't matter). My archer bard was my first character in PFS who was 100% CORE except for a few pieces of equipment and a couple spells and he could keep up with the splat book monsters...sometimes even outshining them.

Scarab Sages

I've as of yet not played Core, but have a Core GM blob at almost level 4. I'm planning to make it a Fighter/Barbarian or a Paladin. In the core games I've run, I've seen:
3 Rangers
2 Barbarians
2 Fighters
2 Druids
1 Wizard

Shadow Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant

In my area we've got:

Dwarven Paladin
Human Barbarian
Half-orc Barbarian
Elven Rogue
Human Rogue
Human Bard
Human Bard

and I have a human Cleric/Wizard going Mystic Theurge.

Grand Lodge

Nefreet wrote:

...

(also flagged to be moved to the Core forum)

Oops, never even noticed there was a CORE forum.

.
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Andrew Roberts wrote:
PFS CORE - Hádanka wrote:
** spoiler omitted **
Archer bards are absolutely amazing in CORE (By archer bard, I mean all your feats are archery, dex is your main stat with charisma being secondary, and you focus on buff spells so your save DCs don't matter). My archer bard was my first character in PFS who was 100% CORE except for a few pieces of equipment and a couple spells and he could keep up with the splat book monsters...sometimes even outshining them.

Never said they can't be effective. They quite obviously can be powerful. I just have trouble 'believing' the basic concept. And the way I usually see them played doesn't help.

Maybe I will give it another try.

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

hmm... i've never heard that objection before... bardic performance seems like one of the more realistic Su abilities to me... think about how many great movies have a scene (or scenes) where someone gives a rousing speech right before battle... William Wallace rallying the fleeing men in Braveheart, Theoden right before the rohirrim charge across Pelinor fields, even Captain America on the intercom before taking the Triskelion... those are (IMO) all examples of bardic performance (probably all inspire courage, though I suppose you could argue inspire greatness). Plus music obviously has some effect on people when it comes to get 'psyched up'- just consider how ubiquitous it is among athletes preparing for a game/bout/whatever (you always see them listening to something to get pumped up- sometimes they even play certain songs through the PA system to stir the home team).

Didn't mean to rant. All that is just to say that in the real world people are regularly inspired by music and/or speech and that, to me, is what that element of the bard is all about (plus they have so much other stuff going on that that's only a small part of what they can be).

Shadow Lodge *

Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber
nate lange wrote:

hmm... i've never heard that objection before... bardic performance seems like one of the more realistic Su abilities to me... think about how many great movies have a scene (or scenes) where someone gives a rousing speech right before battle... William Wallace rallying the fleeing men in Braveheart, Theoden right before the rohirrim charge across Pelinor fields, even Captain America on the intercom before taking the Triskelion... those are (IMO) all examples of bardic performance (probably all inspire courage, though I suppose you could argue inspire greatness). Plus music obviously has some effect on people when it comes to get 'psyched up'- just consider how ubiquitous it is among athletes preparing for a game/bout/whatever (you always see them listening to something to get pumped up- sometimes they even play certain songs through the PA system to stir the home team).

Didn't mean to rant. All that is just to say that in the real world people are regularly inspired by music and/or speech and that, to me, is what that element of the bard is all about (plus they have so much other stuff going on that that's only a small part of what they can be).

Not to mention cheerleaders at sporting events.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

And to mention the lack of cheerleaders at wrestling matches.

2/5

I've been playing/running a good bit of CORE lately. I've only got one CORE character (a Halfling Ranger heading to Shadowdancer, pulled from the CORE Character Challenge version1). We've got a pretty diverse group of characters locally, so I definitely think it's more your area.

My tables have included:
1 Ranger (Me)
1 Wizard
1 Wizard/Fighter Eldritch Knight Build
1 Sorceror
3 Clerics
1 Barbarian
1 Barbarian/Cleric (because 50ft movement)
3 Fighters
2 Paladins
2 Druids (both with big cats :shocked:)
1 Rogue
2 Bards

My next character when I get through 6th on my first one will be an Elven Fighter. I'll then likely do a Bard third, but I certainly miss some of the options available to the class in the other source books.

Grand Lodge

more tangent:
nate lange wrote:

hmm... i've never heard that objection before... bardic performance seems like one of the more realistic Su abilities to me... think about how many great movies have a scene (or scenes) where someone gives a rousing speech right before battle... William Wallace rallying the fleeing men in Braveheart, Theoden right before the rohirrim charge across Pelinor fields, even Captain America on the intercom before taking the Triskelion... those are (IMO) all examples of bardic performance (probably all inspire courage, though I suppose you could argue inspire greatness). Plus music obviously has some effect on people when it comes to get 'psyched up'- just consider how ubiquitous it is among athletes preparing for a game/bout/whatever (you always see them listening to something to get pumped up- sometimes they even play certain songs through the PA system to stir the home team).

Didn't mean to rant. All that is just to say that in the real world people are regularly inspired by music and/or speech and that, to me, is what that element of the bard is all about (plus they have so much other stuff going on that that's only a small part of what they can be).

I agree somewhat. Music can be used to manipulate emotions. But only to a limited extent and not instantly.

Music can make you happy, angry, etc... That might get you more likely to go some where and do something risky (or stay someplace risky). I can't see any way it can make you more skilled. "I will start dancing so you are better at picking locks."

I was not physically able to serve in the military, but the historical research I've done and the veterans I've talked to are pretty much in agreement. Although they are popular in literature and movies, rousing speeches only actually work in a few situations.
Very green troops that are terrified and might not do as ordered. Troops that about to or have already broken and fled in panic to try and get them under control and functioning again. (Both sound like inspire courage except I'm not sure about the + to damage.) Religious fanatics, to whoop them into a fury (skald raging song maybe). And those are pretty much exclusively out-of-combat.

Veteran troops that haven't panicked, pretty much just get annoyed or even actively lose confidence in officers that give rousing speeches.
I had one very experienced US soldier tell me that listening to such a speech before battle was one of the scariest things he ever heard. It either meant the officer thought the troops were going to route and was trying to head it off (leaving this guy alone) or he had no idea what to do. Either way, he wasn't planning anything for the battle if he was speeching.

And I'm pretty sure any officer that tried to play the flute and dance around the field during combat would get skragged by both sides as quickly as possible.

If it was a before combat buff that made a longer term effect of + to save vs fear or other mind influencing effects or even the skalds raging song for people of the same faith/society, yeah ok I can get behind that.
But the way it is currently described and the way it is usually played, I find it difficult to not roll my eyes every time.

I have been trying to think about it like sound based magic (the Abhorsen book series by Nix help). This specific tone, from this specific instrument, with the magical will of the caster behind it accomplishes X. But the fluff in the books and the way most players describe what they are doing make that difficult.

5/5 5/55/55/5

andreww wrote:
I see quite a lot of Barbarians, Rangers and Druids. I have yet to see a Core Monk or Rogue I think.

You can break the game in core. Classic isn't for breaking games, its for making bad options viable.

4/5 *

One thing that I have found disappointing with Core is that almost every game I've run has been for people replaying the scenario. Now, in general people handle this quite well in-character, but there is something about running a scenario for an entire table of people who have already played it that makes it feel a bit flat. I have to work harder to keep my energy up when i know that they've already seen the exact same situation before.

Having said that, the combat aspects are fresher because I'm generally playing with folks who are playing Core as a challenge, so I don't see all druid-ranger-barbarian parties. In fact, I have yet to see a barbarian or a druid in Core.

5/5 *****

True story, this weekend I am running From Under Ice as a core game with 2 barbarians, 2 rangers and a fighter. They are APL3 so playing up with the 4 player adjustment. I am very curious to see what happens.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

They'll appreciate a couple items on that Chronicle Sheet.

Scarab Sages

I haven't played CORE yet, but I have a sorcerer and a constrictor snake Druid ready to play when I can. Both half orc, because I hate being in darkness.

My guess for least common would be typical for both campaigns : healers and skill monkeys. So, rogue and cleric.

5/5 5/55/55/5

Hadanka wrote:
And I'm pretty sure any officer that tried to play the flute and dance around the field during combat would get skragged by both sides as quickly as possible.

Nope

3/5

There are no Core games being run in my particular part of Colorado, due to lack of interest. There is no real interest in replay. I cannot speak as other areas of this (relatively large) state.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

You don't need to replay to enjoy Core ;-)

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/5 RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8

My PCs

Monk 7
Paladin 3 / Rogue 2 / Shadowdancer 2
Fighter 1 / Wizard 2 (headed Eldritch Knight)

Other PCs in the area above lvl 3 I know about

Ranger (switch-hitter) 7
Rogue 3 / Wizard 3 / Arcane Trickster 1
Cleric 7
Bard 7
Ranger (sword-board) 6
Barbarian 2 / Bard 3 (headed Dragon Disciple)
Bard 2 / Rogue 3
Ranger (archer) 3
Sorcerer (elemental) 3
Wizard (divination) 3
Bard 3

Thusfar we've had 3 core PC deaths locally.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

Walter Sheppard wrote:
Thusfar we've had 3 core PC deaths locally.

I've had many more deaths in Core when I've GMed. I touched on it in another thread, actually.

Silver Crusade 2/5

I was playing a cleric in CORE, but he got corrupted by non-core tables that were supposed to be core, so I stopped playing him.

My other CORE character is a first level druid with plant domain.

Grand Lodge 4/5 ** Venture-Agent, Colorado—Denver

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Nope

That is awesome!


Tangaroa wrote:
There are no Core games being run in my particular part of Colorado, due to lack of interest. There is no real interest in replay. I cannot speak as other areas of this (relatively large) state.

Where is that at? I'm in the springs

Liberty's Edge 1/5

Only played Core once:

Human Paladin
Halfing? Bard
Elf Cleric
Human Fighter
and two pregens (Harsk & Valeros)

We negotiated our way out of the final battle, so no deaths. However a crit by a flying handaxe almost permanently took out our Bard.

Grand Lodge 4/5 ** Venture-Agent, Colorado—Denver

Hzardus wrote:
Tangaroa wrote:
There are no Core games being run in my particular part of Colorado, due to lack of interest. There is no real interest in replay. I cannot speak as other areas of this (relatively large) state.
Where is that at? I'm in the springs

Yeah, I'm in Denver/highlands ranch and just played in a core game yesterday at Enchanted Grounds (3rd Thursday of each month). The new EG in Littleton will be doing _only_ core games after they open next month.

Shadow Lodge 1/5

Tangaroa wrote:
There are no Core games being run in my particular part of Colorado, due to lack of interest. There is no real interest in replay. I cannot speak as other areas of this (relatively large) state.

One thing you could do is suggest on the week at Total Escape runs an older scenario is to run a second table as core.

4/5

My first table of Core: Fighter x2, Barbarian x2, Ranger, and my Lamashtan Cleric.

Second table: Paladin, Ranger (same one as before), Fighter, and my Lamashtan Cleric.

5/5 *****

Nefreet wrote:
They'll appreciate a couple items on that Chronicle Sheet.

They may well do.

Spoiler:
They managed to finish the mod but left with 0pp. It was going fine until they met the dwarf. Several roster changes meant they ended up with 2 clerics, a barbarian, fighter and rogue. They fought the guards but calm emotions kept all but the Captain out of the fight along with 2 PC's. He eventually fled, diving off the ship and swimming away. A lack of skills meant Haltani wasn't terribly impressed with their stories but they got to Dalun without incident.

The mercantile deals were fine as the Fighter was an Exchange member with Profession: Merchant. The PC's knew they had to speak to the Baroness and tried to find out how they might impress her. I decided she liked roses and that her garden was full of ice sculpted rose bushes so they procured some and I gave them a small circumstance bonus which made all the difference in getting her onside.

They found the town easily and dealt with the wolf without much problem although they got very lucky on the breath recharge at 4 rounds. Then they met the dwarf and things went very downhill. They were APL3 with only one character in tier so playing up with the 4 player adjustment. He was pretty much able to down any level 2 with a single attack and he proceeded to tear them apart. They were lucky that 2 of them had a resist up so the aura wasn't doing much (doubly lucky as I missed the 4 player change to it).

He killed one PC (since retconned when the aura mistake was spotted) and then managed to kill Haltani, the ice making it impossible for the melee to keep up with him. With Haltani dead they couldn't make the check for the last group and were "escorted" back to town which effectively lost all of their prestige.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed running it a second time.

Liberty's Edge 1/5

So far where I live we only had one core game played. It consist of:
1 half orc barbarian
1 human paladin (lvl1 still)
1 halfling bard (knowledge monkey only)
1 half elf socerer
1 human rogue (really racist)

The fact that we had no healers we almost got TPK on the first encounter vs. Goblins. But we all had fun

Grand Lodge 4/5

WiseWolfOfYoitsu wrote:

I've as of yet not played Core, but have a Core GM blob at almost level 4. I'm planning to make it a Fighter/Barbarian or a Paladin. In the core games I've run, I've seen:

3 Rangers
2 Barbarians
2 Fighters
2 Druids
1 Wizard

And one rogue who's working towards arcane trickster :)

2/5

I have a ranger because that was the next thing on my list, just so happened to be core.
In my area we are very diverse, even a rogue and monk.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/5 RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8

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Nefreet wrote:
Walter Sheppard wrote:
Thusfar we've had 3 core PC deaths locally.
I've had many more deaths in Core when I've GMed. I touched on it in another thread, actually.

I think that tactics play a big role in party success. And given that the central players in our Core Campaign are PFS veterans, they tend to use solid tactics. Still, nearly every scenario is a solid challenge for them when run at maximum tilt (no softballing).

Grand Lodge 5/5

Core doesn't seem to have caught on up here, but I only attend 1 venue. I have no clue how it does at home games, or other venues for that matter. The replay is nice, but for many of the local players, the core does not offer interesting enough options. Not I said and meant interesting, not powerful.

Dark Archive 5/5 5/55/5 *

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We just did Bonekeep 1 over the weekend with Core PCs.

PC List was as follows:

Human Paladin 5
Human Fighter 3
Half-Orc Rogue 4
Human Bard 4
Human Cleric 4
Halfling Paladin 3/Wizard 1

We rolled thru the mission is just under 4 hours.

We had a few close calls & everyone [who could] did leave the place with a nagging cough.

Solid tactics & teamwork kept the crew on track & made few of the encounters dangerous.

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