Is PvP doable in this game for fun? Not during an actual campaign obviously but I mean just battling it out with your friends trying new strategies etc. I remember in PF1 where you could 1 round a character easily as the characters just did too much damage or spells were too overpowered, and the PC hit points were less. Has anyone ever tried to do mock battles, is it even doable?
Why bother with HP if you just want to try out new strategies?
I feel like there are too many variables in games like this for it to be of any real value to run these simulations, personally.
Basically I'm asking can the fights last more then 2 rounds or is a martial just going to slaughter a caster too quickly in the arena setting
Basically I'm asking can the fights last more then 2 rounds or is a martial just going to slaughter a caster too quickly in the arena setting
If the Martial only need one stride to get to the caster, they will probably slaughter them (with exception Warpriest & Druid that would last 1 more turn).
However, at same level, casters still have spells that will end the Martial in 1 turn as well.
Just guessing but I'd say it gets even worst with levels as offensive DC probably gets higher than defensive ones.
D20 game are just not aimed for that kind of skirmish fights.
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I don't think simple arena pvp fights are at all suited to 2E. Depending on the arena and circumstances of the fight, one side will be massively favored (do the combatants start next to each other or far away from each other? among many other variables).
I think a pvp tournament can work, but it needs to be a lot more varied. Zee Bashew did a great video on this called "PVP D&D run with some flair" (not 2E, but the principle is the same) - where a lot of different types of combat were included; jousting, magic bouts, and standard fights.
Yes I was thinking winning initiative for the casters would be critical otherwise could be their demise. Powerful incapacitation spells would work in the favor of the casters certainly.
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Is it doable? Sure, why not?
Have I done it? Yup. Typically when the GM is late to the session or whatever. Winner gets bragging rights. Usually not "to the death" as these characters are on friendly terms and are adventuring partners, so 1st to 25% HP takes a knee.
I agree that if you're looking for a Street Fighter style game, Pathfinder probably isn't the best fit, but I think it works well enough if you just want to dabble. Why not, after all? It has rules for attacking and defending, and that's what a fight is.
I had a dueling guild discord server. Level one characters only. 1 vs 1. It was a lot of fun, but there were only three of us so it fizzled out.
My problem with campaigns was it took so long to find a group and by the time you got around to combat, you figured out the hard way there is a flaw in how you made your character. We learned tons about the system in our one on one fights.
To be clear, the flaws I am talking about are not maximized murder. Ten years ago, in my first Pathfinder 1e game, I was playing a tower shield fighter with a sword. They said pick a ranged weapon so I grabbed a bow. I realized my mistake at the table, in combat. You can iron out things like that in PVP.
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How I'd do it.
1) Map
2) Premise
3) Preparations
4) Staging
5) Fight
Map
Pick an interesting map. Perhaps choose 6, then randomize 1d6 to choose one. Terrain in fun. Throw in an "open field" as an option if you like.
Premise
Now that you've chosen your map, create a conflict as to the "why" of a fight. Ask the PCs to collaborate on the premise collectively. Show them the map.
Preparations
Choose an amount of Downtime, and sit with each PC (or Team) and ask them how they spend their time preparing. Bonus points for doing a couple "rounds" (blocks of time; hours, days, weeks, etc).
Staging
Resolve the outcome of those preparations above, including PC starting locations. If two PCs (or Teams) prepared in a mutually exclusive way, resolve with dice / skills, siding the winner the advantage.
Fight
Roll initiative and go!