The Hero Point Draft


Rules Discussion


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I had an early problem transitioning to PF2e as a long-time PF1e GM; I always assigned too few Hero Points. My solution is a rules variant that proved so popular with my players that as they started GMing, they almost all started to do the same. I present it to you all to take or leave as you see fit. It uses the Hero Point deck.

The Hero Point Draft
'Draft' is not the right word, but this is kind of what we called it, so here it goes. Each session begins with me dealing three Hero Point cards to each PC. These cards are examined by each player, but they keep none of them. Instead, they pass one to the player to their left, and one to the player to their right. The third and final card returns to the GM and is shuffled back into the Hero Point Deck.

The PC's are told since they start with two hero points, the GM may be a bit stingier than expected awarding them.

Benefits
The first benefit is that the Draft allows PC's to have a little extra edge and helps avoid the problem of the GM simply not awarding enough Hero Points in the game. The awarding of Hero Points mid-play feels awesome because it can be a bit less frequent while still leaving players with the same number of points.

It causes players to take more interest in the other PC's. For example, if the Rogue tends to play a high-risk, high-reward, aggressive style, then maybe their friend hands them a card which helps make that strategy work like Strike True. If the Wizard just got a new staff, their friend might hand them a card that allows an exhausted item to be activated again.

Players absolutely love it when a card they gave their buddy helps them out.

Downsides
The PC's having two Hero Points at start does increase their power a small amount, though I do not find that to be a terrible downside.

The bonuses from Hero Points tend to be rather well-tailored to the PC's. Again, this doesn't strike me as a bug, but a feature. Spending a Hero Point should feel good.

A Drafting Variant
I did try a variant where the PC's each received three cards, took one, then passed to to the left. Repeat the process, with each PC picking one of the two remaining cards and returning the last card to the GM. This is more like "Drafting" cards in a CCG.

I found the players enjoyed this less. First, you did not have the thrill of seeing your friend use a thing you gave them. Second, it did not encourage the cooperative spirit of the group, since each PC invariably chooses the best card for themselves at both decision points. They do not have to think, 'What helps my friend out?'

Closing Matter
Thank you for reading. Feel free to steal, use, improve, or disregard as you see fit.

I did not see this variant listed before, but it is possible I've been scooped. With my schedule, I rarely have time for browsing the boards.


This is a cool houserule, thanks for sharing. I can't use it myself because we play online and I haven't got access to the hero point deck, but if I'm ever in a game with it I'll definitely recommend.

A GM who is used to handing out more hero points could down the power level by asking their players to hand out fewer cards. Everyone still gets three, but each person only hands a card to their party member to the right so everyone gets one. Or if the group are comfortable with swingier hero point results each person could get only two cards, instead.

I do agree that some element of cooperation is a must for that kind of system; if nothing else it gets everybody into the PF2E mindset.


You might consider using the Homebrew and House Rules section for this.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Perpdepog wrote:

This is a cool houserule, thanks for sharing. I can't use it myself because we play online and I haven't got access to the hero point deck, but if I'm ever in a game with it I'll definitely recommend.

A GM who is used to handing out more hero points could down the power level by asking their players to hand out fewer cards. Everyone still gets three, but each person only hands a card to their party member to the right so everyone gets one. Or if the group are comfortable with swingier hero point results each person could get only two cards, instead.

I do agree that some element of cooperation is a must for that kind of system; if nothing else it gets everybody into the PF2E mindset.

If you play on Foundry it's there and usable.

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