New to 2E -- what takes most getting used to?


Advice

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magnuskn wrote:
Deriven Firelion wrote:

I don't a primary healer is necessary in PF2. Our groups in PF1 always had a primary healer because the game was built sufficiently brutal on purpose to create the need for one.

PF2's difficulty level is set high enough to create the illusion of challenge without the need a dedicated healer as you level. So it's better to have a secondary healer with a heal spell when you need it that can do other things.

The playtesting I did (about 8 fights between levels 1 - 16) did suggest otherwise, but then again I stuck mostly to moderate to severe encounters, to test how those fights felt. The elite rune giant and three storm giants actually were on the lower scale of encounter difficulty. That may have skewed my perspective somewhat.

Otherwise I'll just have to give out some extra healing items, I guess.

Sometimes you will need more healing than others. If rolls go against you and enemies like giants start critting you, that can be quite painful.

I can tell you how I handled healing before I switched to 5E upcasting. I prefer a sorcerer healer myself. I usually choose either primal or occult. At level 8 I take heal for occult caster. I make it my level 1 signature spell. So it is available for heightening across many slots as needed. Soothe is my level 1 signature spell until I can obtain heal.

I'm not sure your party composition.

Many of the same tricks work in PF2 that worked in PF1.

1. A Trip martial is great to have.

2. Focus fire targets.

3. Remember your slow spell. Slow is one of the best spells in the game. 3rd level version great against single target bosses. Make it a signature spell if you can or carry a bunch of them if a prepared caster.

AoE slow is a mook killer.

If you're slowing targets, tripping them, and focus firing, you can destroy a lot of targets quick.

4. Remember your walls. Wall of Force is very good. Wall of Stone not as much. They can beat through too easy at higher level. Wall of Force will give you more time to focus fire a target or two.

5. Calm Emotions or Phantasmal Calamity can be quite good against mooks.

6. Use stealth and range to your advantage. No use being first to engage. Let them use move actions to get to you wasting actions on moving.

7. Archers may do less damage, but they can hit from far away and really wreck things if you can keep them clean.

8. 4th level Invis is still your friend. 4th level invis with mind blank still exists at the highest levels.

I would recommend playing around with tactics. When we first started, we tried to use PF1 tactics. Didn't really work very well. Once we learned PF2 norms, that's when you notice dedicated healing isn't necessary because martials focus firing can kill quite fast.

9. Make sure to have reaction attacks and set up to use them. A rogue should always take Opportune Riposte and work with whatever mainline martial you have to focus fire something down fast applying Debilitations. Fighters should be focused on activating AoOs. Champions should be pick up extra reactions for using shields or Champion's reaction. Aoo combined with Trip is an amazing combo in this game.


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Hero Points.

If your GM isn't handing them out at the expected rate, you'll die.


All skills have an impact. And skill feats.
So you can have 2 dwarf fighters at level one and both are completely different because of skill choices and skill feats.

Also "subclasses" at level one for all classes.

Lastly there is no "master" ability score, like dexterity in 5e. And a straight forward rule that initive can be many skills not just one.

(Side note: all types of armors are viable, meaning all of the major sets are +5 to armor. Its just the dexterity distribution)

Liberty's Edge

There's a little trick about Armor and Reflex saves : the Bulwark trait for Heavy Armor gives you the equivalent of DEX 16 for damaging REF saves. It is not available for Medium Armor though.

So, if you have DEX 14 or less, grabbing Heavy Armor Proficiency (if possible scaling) is good for your health.

Note also that RAW you cannot retrain stat boosts. Those are IIRC the only thing gained when you level up that you cannot retrain later.

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