Battlecry Specilation

[WWHsmackdown]

Outside of commander and guardian, what items, game systems, and character options do you guys expect/want from Battlecry? Just wanted some guesses before the product page drops in a month or two.

[BotBrain]

I am personally hoping for a good helping of weapons, especailly with the increasing amount of classes that can access advanced weapons.

I would also like a "sling-master" archtype. It'd be nice for slings to get something, they're pretty ignored atm.

[exequiel759]

I'm kind of expecting an archetype that introduces some sort of combat maneuvers like the old 3.5's Tome of Battle. I'm not expecting anything deep since archetypes don't take more than 1 or 2 pages each in the books, but even something simple like 5e's battle master would be enough.

I also would like battle harbinger-like archetypes for other casters (luckily better than battle harbinger, if possible) and, even if highly unlikely, a variant system that allows you to either tweak or create weapons. Ideally something to allow you to treat advanced weapons as martial if you remove some traits or reduce their damage die size would be golden, since with the exception of like 2 advanced weapons I feel using them is a trap most of the time.

[moosher12]

I'm not expecting it. But what I'd HOPE to see is a weapon design system for GMs to create weapons, ranging from simple to advanced (and much less likely but ideally with accomodations toward Stasian and Numerian weapons). Perhaps based on a point-based budget system.

[moosher12]

BotBrain wrote:

I am personally hoping for a good helping of weapons, especailly with the increasing amount of classes that can access advanced weapons.

I would also like a "sling-master" archtype. It'd be nice for slings to get something, they're pretty ignored atm.

I cannot remember where, but I do recall one of the devs confirming plans for a sling specialist of some sort. No recollection of what book that would go to, though.

[WWHsmackdown]

exequiel759 wrote:

I'm kind of expecting an archetype that introduces some sort of combat maneuvers like the old 3.5's Tome of Battle. I'm not expecting anything deep since archetypes don't take more than 1 or 2 pages each in the books, but even something simple like 5e's battle master would be enough.

I also would like battle harbinger-like archetypes for other casters (luckily better than battle harbinger, if possible) and, even if highly unlikely, a variant system that allows you to either tweak or create weapons. Ideally something to allow you to treat advanced weapons as martial if you remove some traits or reduce their damage die size would be golden, since with the exception of like 2 advanced weapons I feel using them is a trap most of the time.

Wrestler archetype has a lot of CC, but more options wouldn't be bad. A druid archetype for wave casting and martial scaling on wild shape feats would be pretty awesome

[PossibleCabbage]

The Spore War PG mentions that there will be rules for "skirmishes with PC-controlled troops", so I'm hoping we finally get rules for naval battles.

[Perpdepog]

I'm hoping for some rules and options surrounding troops, or rather Troops, in one way, shape, or form.

I'm also hoping for archetypes representing various military organizations across the Inner Sea. Maybe this could be where we see the printing of the Gray Maiden archetype, along with others, like Druma's Blackjackets.

I'm also always hoping for more weapons and armor. I'm also hoping we get a little something for animal companions, specializations that are especially suited for synergizing with a rider, for example.

Kinda out there, but a system for building and customizing a keep or similar base would also be pretty great.

[moosher12]

Honestly, a remaster of building bases, (and possibly a revised kingdom building engine) would be an amazing feature.

Kingmaker's is... it works. Legendary Games did a great job. But it definitely needed more polish.

[exequiel759]

WWHsmackdown wrote:

Wrestler archetype has a lot of CC, but more options wouldn't be bad. A druid archetype for wave casting and martial scaling on wild shape feats would be pretty awesome

I was more on the "anime martial superpowers" than literally doing trips and grapples, which I guess is kind of the niche of 5e's battle master and the wrestler in a sense does that too (though that's luchador / WWE flavored).

Ideally I would want some sort or recharge-discharge mechanic kinda like a kineticist that allows martials (or whoever takes the archetype) to use actions with extra effects, AoE damage, etc. Something like Sever Space but hopefully earlier, an attacks that heals instead of deal damage, etc.

[Perpdepog]

Oh, I'm also looking forward to all the martially-inclined spells. Hopefully we get an Incarnate spell that calls up the spirit of a powerful warrior, or a bunch of guys, or maybe a cantrip that lets you reload your buddy's ranged weapon at a distance, or generates ammunition.

[WWHsmackdown]

Yea, army mechanics, more troops, and possibly a troop style companion archetype would be cool. Idk how much power a troop companion could have considering the constraints put on swarm master, though

[Lucas Yew]

As the old 4E positions of Defender and Leader are finally getting fulfilled, maybe a slew of martial Controller abilities (minor AoE with thematically and mathematically appropriate BFC and/or debuffs).

[pixierose]

i'm hoping to see more class archetypes

[Tactical Drongo]

More weapons and maybe a section on how to design weapons (and how some of the more mind-boggling designs come together balance wise)

and lots and lots of archetypes

hopefully at least *one* that lets you specialize in an advanced weapon without it being cut to specifically that weapon

[Neochance]

Some things I'd like to see in no particular order:

* better armor property runes
* more non damage weapon runes
* more USEFUL skill feats for underused skills like survival
* a general feat that treats 1 advanced weapon as a martial weapon
* archetype(s) based around formations other than flanking
* additional weapon group archetypes (like archer)...maybe a polearm archetype based around repositioning or a knife archetype around bleed, etc.
* more companion items for animal companions
* something to keep animal companions more relevant at high levels like accuracy/ac fundamental runes

[Perpdepog]

WWHsmackdown wrote:

Yea, army mechanics, more troops, and possibly a troop style companion archetype would be cool. Idk how much power a troop companion could have considering the constraints put on swarm master, though

I suspect that if we got a Troop-like companion it'd be pretty heavily limited in what it could do. Troops are arguably more potentially disruptive than swarms, because it's easier to do stuff like hide behind a troop. I suspect that's why it's not possible to summon creatures with the Troop trait; they'd be too effective as literal meat shields, able to wrap around casters and ranged enemies, and guaranteed to survive a couple of hits thanks to how thresholds work.

[moosher12]

Neochance wrote:

* a general feat that treats 1 advanced weapon as a martial weapon

I'd love a feat like that.

[Veltharis]

There's a decent chance Battlecry! is tied into an in-universe event similar to how War of Immortals was tied to the death of Gorum and the Godsrain, which isn't too surprising as we've had murmurings of a coming war for some time - there are plenty of theories as to who will be fighting whom, but because I'm extremely predictable, I'm hoping for Cheliax vs. Andoran.

If that turns out to be the case, I think there's at least a chance we might see an update to the Hellknight archetypes - even though the Hellknight orders aren't technically subservient to the Chelaxian state.

Probably more likely to end up in a Lost Omens: Hellknights faction book a la Firebrands, to be fair, but I figure there's at least a possibility.

[TheWayofPie]

Some good Fury Barbarian feats would be nice. xD

Would be interesting to see class archetypes for Investigator or Ranger that tie more into warfare. Would also want to get a Bard class archetype similar to Battle Harbinger.

And finally more combat skill feats for undercooked skills. Survival seems like a good candidate for War themed combat skill feats.

[Squark]

Oh, skald returning as a bard class archetype could be a lot of fun.

[Perpdepog]

Veltharis wrote:

There's a decent chance Battlecry! is tied into an in-universe event similar to how War of Immortals was tied to the death of Gorum and the Godsrain, which isn't too surprising as we've had murmurings of a coming war for some time - there are plenty of theories as to who will be fighting whom, but because I'm extremely predictable, I'm hoping for Cheliax vs. Andoran.

If that turns out to be the case, I think there's at least a chance we might see an update to the Hellknight archetypes - even though the Hellknight orders aren't technically subservient to the Chelaxian state.

Probably more likely to end up in a Lost Omens: Hellknights faction book a la Firebrands, to be fair, but I figure there's at least a possibility.

I suspect we're going to see more than one war popping off at the same time, myself.

[Red Griffyn]

Hoping for:

1.) Skald (but done way better as a baseline chassis that follows wavecaster/magus baseline design than the battle harbinger). I think we'll be missing that 'shifter' druid wave caster for a while yet as many of the primal focused books just sort of passed us by.

2.) Filling out mechanical pain point holes in the current weapons/unarmed strikes list including:

- 1d6/1d8 damage dice size finesse thrown weapons for switch hitters (there is something with less traits between a starknive and tamchal chakram).

- 1d6/1d8 + ability mod damage unarmed ranged strikes (right now they are criminally under balanced at 1d4 with no mod.

- Patch to combination weapons to allow max proficiency on both sides of the weapon (a fair turnaround on the action tax for both sides)

- New weapon traits (e.g., penetrating which goes 5 ft beyond an enemy for possible 2 for 1s) or new rehashes (e.g., versatile flaming/cold/acid/electricity/sonic).

- Modification of monk thrown stance to include the spear (now another thrown monk weapon) and future proofed for more options.

- 20 more advanced weapons (ALL of which are good enough to warrant feats to take them).

- Variant Deity Favoured Weapons rules so you aren't so stuck with the extremely limiting current bespoke list. Maybe just any weapon from the same weapon 'group' as the deities favoured weapon.

- One martial and advanced weapon for every ancestry that has the L1/L5 weapon familiarity feats.

- Brawling weapon group items with larger weapon damage dice that 1d4

- at least one 1d6 free hand weapon option

- A finesse version of the wish blade (maybe like a shortsword or rapier equivalent).

- no more new 1d4 weapons (there are too many of these).

- more jousting/mount back weapons or weapon traits

3.) That both the new classes have built in support for ranged/thrown weapon concepts (PLEASE!)

4.) More 'war mount' animal companion items.

[keftiu]

I'd really like if we could get an Arcadia section with some brewing/open wars, the way Guns & Gears told us about the Deadshot Lands.

[The Raven Black]

keftiu wrote:

I'd really like if we could get an Arcadia section with some brewing/open wars, the way Guns & Gears told us about the Deadshot Lands.

The same for all continents would be great : wars in Mwangi, Tian-Xia, Casmaron, Arcadia ...

[WWHsmackdown]

Some simple mass combat rules would be great to spice up games in tier 4 of play. Id also enjoy some victor point like siege subsytem.

[ornathopter]

I'd like a piece of gear or two for kinetecists.

[SpontaneousLightning]

I would really like rules for building your own custom weapons. Additionally, I would also like new weapons that use the more underutilized traits.

For example, looking at the Archives of Nethys, the resonant trait exists on exactly two weapons, the wish blade and the wish knife, both of which are uncommon ancestral weapons. The vehicular trait was introduced in treasure vault is on weapons that are supposed to be attached to vehicles or worn by a mount, but the only vehicular weapon is a battle saddle (to be used on a mount), so there aren't any vehicular weapons that can be used on vehicles.

According to the Archives of Nethys, other traits that are only represented by one or two existing weapons include: brace, climbing, cobbled, double barrel, jousting, recovery, and training.

A lot of these can be used to make some really cool weapons in my opinion. For example, a double barrel shotgun does not currently exist. Another example is some sort of whip that has the training trait.

[Mythraine]

I would love a bunch of generic martial/military-themed archetypes. By generic I mean like the ones in PC2. I find it quite difficult to use a lot of the overly flavorful Golarion-themes archetypes.

[BotBrain]

Hot off a dream I had (Yes that's my source), A weaponsmith archetype that lets you stick traits on weapons that don't normally have them (or maybe just more inventor feats that do that). Come on paizo I want to put razing on something absurd.

In seriousness, I feel there's more space for weapon and item customization on a base level. I like the adjustment trait, and this is a great book to do even more with it.

[Justnobodyfqwl]

BotBrain wrote:

Hot off a dream I had (Yes that's my source), A weaponsmith archetype that lets you stick traits on weapons that don't normally have them (or maybe just more inventor feats that do that). Come on paizo I want to put razing on something absurd.

In seriousness, I feel there's more space for weapon and item customization on a base level. I like the adjustment trait, and this is a great book to do even more with it.

Honestly, I think that's a really fun idea. I love the way it would change your weapon selection process to pick a trait you really want, and then have to hunt for weapons that DONT have it already.

This is something I really like about the SF2E Playtest solar weapon- you can give it reach, two-handed d10, or a combination of two traits from a specific list. The "build your own weapon" element of the trait combining is very fun. (I'm still hoping for a feat like: "Pick two additional weapon traits. One becomes Photon-alligned, the other becomes Graviton-alligned").