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Hello Everyone,
I just wanted to quickly make some observations and comments on the state of PF1, and a hope for PF2. First, role-playing has been my hobby of choice for 40 years. In that time, I have played in an incalculable number of game systems. As far as PF1 is concerned, Paizo has created an engaging and exciting game system-I greatly admire and respect everything that they have done with this system. Many thanks to them, especially for their creative output and I greatly thank them for the Adventure Paths.
However, it my belief that PF1 now is in the same dilemma as what 3.5 was in at its end; a system that is very unbalanced in which power creep has warped the overall game system. For example, I run AP's and in the last AP chapter I ran, I saw 9th level players make DC:60 rolls and hitting AC:30+ creatures for over 300 hps. in one round, and that was on a bad day. In fact, my players are begging me to triple or quadruple the hps of the monsters. In addition, my players are not power players per se, but just working people that enjoy playing. Now Hero Lab (which I really like for its utilitarian value) has helped them a lot to manage their characters. Nevertheless, PF1 is no longer a challenging, nor by approximation, an exciting game system-and I know most of all the tricks and creative ways to make an encounter more engaging and difficult. The characters are just so powerful that the players are not exited nor challenged by the listed opponent(s) that they face.
Therefore, my hope and advise to Paizo is that they take their time and carefully release PF2 with the goal to both entertain, but to challenge the players. I have seen comments on the forums that the monsters in PF2 (which I play tested) were too difficult. My suggestion is to not water down the monsters and to keep as they are, or to make it possible to easily adjust them to fit the play styles of individual game tables. As a gaming axiom, the more difficult and clever the monsters are, the sweeter is the victory in the end. Character deaths, which are not welcomed, must be allowed to happen from time- to-time to reinforce the sense of risk, and therefore, excitement of the game. My hope is that PF2 is enjoyable, challenging, exciting, balanced, and easy to learn.
In conclusion, many thanks to the staff at Paizo and to the PF2 play testers. I am really eager for PF2 to be released.
P.S. I really hope Paizo continues to release Adventure Paths. The APs are really a godsend to working adults that don't have the time to create adventures on their own. Overall, they have been exceptional and very fun to play. My only comment is that a stronger editorial presence is maintained for all 6 of the AP chapters in order to maintain both the continuity structure and qualitative aspect of the AP. The narrative thread of any multiple part story must be carefully maintained within the different parts in order to sustain the fundamental coherence of the story.
Thank you and please have a great gaming year.