So, I finally convinced people I play with to give PF2e a try with the Beginner Box. It was costly though, as we are not meeting in person and trying to do it over Zoom (I had to get 5 copies, one for each person...which is good for Paizo...expensive for me though).
We plan on doing a mega marathon of gameplay over Thanksgiving Weekend. They are making characters in preparation for that today and tomorrow. A few Questions have come up already, which may have been answered in the past...but this thread will probably be if I have other questions as well that pop up over and throughout this week.
First - We have a Cleric that gets the ability to Shield Block but also has the Shield Spell. Can they use both at the same time? If they use both at the same time do the combine the AC bonus for a total of +3. Also, if they use them to block, can they use both to block one hit and get a total of -10 to the damage?
Second - We have a Fighter and they are trying to find out what they want to select. They are asking about Power Attack. Can they do a normal attack as their first action, and then do a Power Attack? This means they would not suffer a penalty for any additional attacks that round as it is their second attack? Or how is this supposed to work?
Third - With the same player as above, they are asking about Double Slice. One, as with Power attack, can they attack first with a normal attack and then do a second and final action with double slice? Two, if they use double slice first, and then follow up but ONLY use one weapon of the two they have, do they still get a penalty when attacking or does it default to a -5 from the first attack like normal?
Fourth - This is mine, personally. I have read the core rules and it had ability scores like D&D and PF1, but the BB only uses modifiers. Should I just figure that the ability scores are the even scores (so if they have a +1 it is a 12, a +2 it is a 14, a +3 it is a 16, etc..etc..etc)?
Thanks for the answers, and hopefully they enjoy it enough to give PF2e a bigger chance after this Thanksgiving.
Ah...yes...one more question now that I think about it. We have the Beginner Box adventure...I have Fall of Plaguestone somewhere (not sure where I put it), if we go through both of those is there any other adventures or scenarios that I could/should use?
I did get the Humble Bundle a while ago, which included some society scenarios and such...not sure which I would or should use from those though.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Flagging this to be moved to the Beginner Box forum
Beginner Box forum
1, 2, 3.
Haven't looked closely enough to answer off the top of my head.
4. - This is mine, personally. I have read the core rules and it had ability scores like D&D and PF1, but the BB only uses modifiers. Should I just figure that the ability scores are the even scores (so if they have a +1 it is a 12, a +2 it is a 14, a +3 it is a 16, etc..etc..etc)?
To play using the Beginner Box rules, your players don't need to know what the Ability Scores are. All the explanations and discussions just talk about the modifiers.
If you feel more comfortable yourself using those numbers in your head, then yeah, CRB only allows you to create characters with even Ability Scores at first level.
Also be aware that there is an errata (already) about character creation.
There are three Ancestry/Background/Class combinations that accidentally allowed new players to have a +5 modifier.
Human Cleric/Acolyte Background
Human Rogue/Criminal Background
Human Wizard/Scholar Background
You absolutely cannot go up to +5,
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ah...yes...one more question now that I think about it. We have the Beginner Box adventure...I have Fall of Plaguestone somewhere (not sure where I put it), if we go through both of those is there any other adventures or scenarios that I could/should use?
I did get the Humble Bundle a while ago, which included some society scenarios and such...not sure which I would or should use from those though.
The adventure in the Game Master's Guide will take your players through the first 3 levels.
There is a 'bridge' adventure that has rules for 4th level characters transitioning from the Beginner Box. It has three chapters that give players experience in a few more play styles.
Once they finish that adventure they'll be 5th level and able to play in any standard PF2 game.
Adventure: Troubles In Otari
It has its own Flip Mat
Troubles In Otari Flip Mat
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
- We have a Cleric that gets the ability to Shield Block but also has the Shield Spell. Can they use both at the same time? If they use both at the same time do the combine the AC bonus for a total of +3. Also, if they use them to block, can they use both to block one hit and get a total of -10 to the damage?
Can they use both at the same time?
Yes. Shield Spell specifically says "While the spell is in effect you can spend your reaction to block an attack with your magic shield to prevent up to 5 damage.Combined AC bonus
Yes, +3. Shield Block gives you a +2 circumstance bonus. Shield Spell gives you an untyped +1 bonus, so they stack.
If they were both circumstance bonuses they would not stack, and you would only be able to add the highest bonus.
Damage reduction
The spell itself doesn't have any damage reduction. The damage reduction is only from the reaction. So there's only +5 damage reduction
Second - We have a Fighter and they are trying to find out what they want to select. They are asking about Power Attack. Can they do a normal attack as their first action, and then do a Power Attack? This means they would not suffer a penalty for any additional attacks that round as it is their second attack? Or how is this supposed to work?
See Page 66 Attacks
A Strike (attack) is a single action. If you attack more than once on your turn, you take a multiple attack penalty.So the first strike would be at 0 MAP using 1 action. Their Power Attack, being their second attack would be at -5 MAP, and would use 2 actions. That's the end of their turn; they've used all three actions.
Third - With the same player as above, they are asking about Double Slice. One, as with Power attack, can they attack first with a normal attack and then do a second and final action with double slice? Two, if they use double slice first, and then follow up but ONLY use one weapon of the two they have, do they still get a penalty when attacking or does it default to a -5 from the first attack like normal?
If they attack first with a normal attack, their MAP increases to -5. So their two-action Double Slice would use -5 MAP for each attack. And then their turn would be done.
If they make the Double Slice attack first, using two actions, their first two attacks would be at 0 MAP, and their 3rd attack would be at a -10 MAP. (-8 if the 3rd attack is made with an agile weapon).
So their two-action Double Slice would use -5 MAP for each attack.
Hmm, thinking about this: since at least one of those weapons must be agile, the Double Slice probably has a -4, -5 MAP penalty (or -4, -4 if both weapons are agile).
MAP: the penalty is based on the weapon being used to make the current attack, not the weapon used in the previous attack. You don't have to keep track of previous weapons when calculating MAP.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
1a. You can not stack Raise Shield with the Shield Spell, as they both give circumstance bonuses to AC. The benefit of the shield spell is that it doesn't require hands (It's verbal only) nor does it require any monetary investment, and it can be used by anyone who has the cantrip rather than having to gain the Shield Block reaction.
1b. You can not use both to block damage, even if you had two reactions, as any single action can only trigger one reaction from any given creature. The trigger is the attack dealing damage, the reaction is Shield Block.
2. Yes as it has the Flourish trait not the Open trait, but it is way more effective to use Power Attack as your initial attack, since it does way more damage. A -4 to hit is approximately a 20% decrease in the chance to hit, and could even eliminate the chance to crit all together.
3. Same as above, yes, and same as above, it should probably be the first attack you make to increase your odds of hitting with both attacks, instead of making two attacks at -4.
Sidebar: Power Attack and Double Slice have the same approximate damage output, but are meant for two very different builds. You will want Power Attack with a Fighter wielding a heavy weapon to make use of the large damage die, and Double Slice for the dexterous two weapon fighter, to make use of the versatility of having two weapons in hand.
4. They use modifiers because that's all that really matters at level 1. It's only at level 5 where the actual score comes into play. Until then, all abilities are even numbers, 8 10 12 14 16 or 18. At level 5 you can apply a boost to any 4 scores, increasing it by 2 or 1 if the score is 18 or higher. The modifiers are indeed the same as PF1.
I would suggest trying to find some online Pathfinder Society games to play at. You would have to provide nothing and the GMs are usually very open to new players and can help you all learn the mechanics more.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
1a. You can not stack Raise Shield with the Shield Spell, as they both give circumstance bonuses to AC.
Might want to check Page 22 of "Hero's Handbook" in the Beginner Box. It's an untyped bonus there. You are citing the Core Rulebook version
2. Yes as it has the Flourish trait not the Open trait,
2, 3. Again, not in the Beginner Box. See page 27, "Hero's Handbook"
They don't have traits on those two actions. You're again citing the CRB, not the Beginner Box rulesI would suggest trying to find some online Pathfinder Society games to play at.
Be sure the games are Beginner Box games, not ones using standard Core Rulebook rules. Beginner Box rules are simpler and easier to learn than the 625+ pages of the CRB.
It can be confusing if you're just starting out and someone tries to teach you the more complex system.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I was not aware that the Beginner's Box had a different rule set to the CRB.
While yes, casting shield and raising your shield still stacks, it's still not worth doing, as you are wasting two of your actions to do it. You still wouldn't be able to block with both though, even if you somehow gain a second reaction.
I see that nothing really has traits in the box. It wasn't about it having the Flourish trait, it was more about it not having the Open trait more.
The Society games would be after they finish the Beginner's Box stuff, for when they want to get into the full game. I have on boarded many players who knew nothing about the game when they started and they have been with our lodge for months now. It's all pretty accessible now days with Archives of Nethys and VTTs.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I was not aware that the Beginner's Box had a different rule set to the CRB.
It's the difference between a 72-page Hero's Handbook, and a 625+ page rule book.
There are a lot of things that didn't make it into the Beginner Box.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
But why would you want to confuse a new player letting them stack bonuses that they won't be able to do in any other scenario after they move on from the BB? I would say no if I were (and will) GM it.
But why would you want to confuse a new player letting them stack bonuses that they won't be able to do in any other scenario after they move on from the BB? I would say no if I were (and will) GM it.
For the same reason I'd let them use Battle Medicine as a 'reaction' rather than a 'one-action' part of their turn.
That's what it says in the Beginner Box rules
Until Paizo issues a set of corrections and/or errata, I'm going to run Rules As Written for BB players.
Another question. AS I mentioned above, I got the humble bundle a while ago. Another item in that was the Core Rulebook which I have browsed through in case we want to advance past level 3. I had a question regarding class feats.
It appears (though in the BB I think they are incorporated into your choices while doing your class) that you can choose class feats at certain levels. Can you choose a class feat from a prior level instead of choosing one for that level?
For example, if you were a Fighter, could you choose a Level 1 feat instead of a level 2 feat when you level up to level 2?
Thank you for all the replies thus far, and sorry that I'm asking so many questions.
Another question, if you help or aid someone on an attack, is the bonus (or penalty if you get a critical failure) applicable only to one attack or all the attacks the PC they are helping makes that turn?
If it is only applicable to one attack, can they choose which one (for example, if the PC makes 3 attacks, can they choose to help with the second or third attack instead of the first?)
If the party wants to, can more than one person help a PC on a skill check or attack? For example, if all three of the other players wish to help, can they? If they choose to do so, would the PC being helped get a +3 bonus (if they all succeeded) on their roll?
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
It appears (though in the BB I think they are incorporated into your choices while doing your class) that you can choose class feats at certain levels. Can you choose a class feat from a prior level instead of choosing one for that level?
Yea, you just have to meet the level requirement, not be that exact level. You have much more versatility in what feats to choose.
Another question, if you help or aid someone on an attack, is the bonus (or penalty if you get a critical failure) applicable only to one attack or all the attacks the PC they are helping makes that turn?
In CRB, Aid needs an action to ready, and you use your reaction during the action you want to aid. So if you want to aid your ally attack, it would only be on a single attack roll, since you have only one reaction. You can definately choose which action to aid, but you should specify when you start the Aid action.
The bonus is a circumstance bonus, so unfortunately it wouldn't stack with multiple people helping. Too many cooks and all that.