As someone playing a Druid in a Season of Ghosts campaign, the amount of value we've gotten out of Nature and Survival has been astronomical. My face when you said a party of 7 didn't have Nature training...!! Amazing video with some great advice!
Regarding the spear: Consider grabbing the Dueling Spear or Dancer's spear, both of which are versitile, either slashing and piercing (slashing with the spearhead) or piercing and bludgeoning (hitting with the haft). Anyway, great video, too many people don't consider this. I had a game fall apart because no one played a frontliner, and everyone refused to step up. Also, Wasp swarms are terribly underleveled. I hate them and refuse to loose them in games. I did a video on how busted they are.
I normally find myself filling whatever roll hasn't yet been occupied, or else one that I think will synergize nicely. We've just started on Curtain Call (with out Season of Ghosts characters), with the plan being Sky King's Tomb next. This is further in advance than I've ever called a character shot before, but I went ahead and declared to the group my intention to play a Gnome Construct Inventor now, so the role wouldn't be scooped up by someone else in the interim. Why? I wanted to learn Gamemaker, so am making a simple platformer that essentially introduces my intended character, showing a snippet of their backstory. I like high effort bits, and the idea of making a full-on video game to show character backstory entertains me a lot, though of course I don't expect anyone to actually play the thing. Been working on it for maybe three weeks at this point, expect it to take another three or so. As one might have guessed, one of my pet peeves is when other players are not at all invested in their characters or stories. Even when I'm not doing ridiculous shit, I at least want to take the time to draw the character proper. Wish more of the folks I played with cared enough to do the same.
Versatile weapons are a great way to avoid the most common martial problem, for sure. Thanks for dropping by the channel! I'm going to check out your wasp swarm video because you're not the only one who mentioned how busted they are. I also want to do a video about how busted poison is, because it really can be brutally unfair to PCs in ways that it just isn't to NPCs.
For our Extinction Curse campaign, we only had two in our party of five that overlapped, our Ranger and our swashbuckler (me). But because I was more support, it worked out.
That Bless part really stuck with me. In the Kingmaker game i play our Cleric always cast Bless first thing in combat even tho our Champion is a Marshal also giving the same bonus. I tried to talk him out of it but he seems to thing it's worth it since the areas don't overlap 50% of the time.
Oof. I'm playing as a Bard and we do also have someone with the Marshal archetype so there's some overlap but (1) it's a big party of 7 so there'll be overlap no matter what (2) neither of us are using spell slots up on overlapping abilities.
4:04 It's a valid point even just in Rune properties. Try hard to avoid too much redundancy on one dmg type. Ie. Fire runes on everyone. Great, if it's all you have and it's fire or nothing. And puts everyone on the same field. And rocks against fire weak foes. But fire resistant or immune will devastate the party Power complex.
Good point on needing to look out for redundancies even past initial character creation and the first few levels. Redundancies can sneak up on you even at later levels!
7:36 Well, The flanking rogue/skirmisher... That moves behind enemy mines. Into the thick of enemies... Might be exposed to multiple attacks, And might not have the single highest ac in party either. And won't usually have the highest HP in party either. Such Character might be hit multiple times, and might really benefit from some extra layers of defense.
2:37 Alternate take would be having a Cantrip. For the melee Chara Ter, who would need to Draw a thrown wpn, and strike, but lacks quick draw, That will often take 2 actions anyway. Xbows take 2 actions, to fire, after the first shot if preloaded. So a 2 action cantrip, that's always on hand, and always ready in an emergency? As a bonus, if it targets a save, and ignores MAP It can combine with an attack sequence. But the 2 action cost isn't as painful as it might seem at first, when you factor in other two action strike sequences. The Flurry Monk, being a great exception, making 2 strikes for 1 action. Although, they potentially have the ability to then unload a 2 action cantrip. Food for though.
1:54 Yup. The Spear, rapier, pick, and all bows, By default all deal piercing, and might seem unique, but would all hit the same damage wall against piercing resistance or immunity. Definitely a thing to watch out for. One benefit to having versatile weapons in the build. One benefit to having at least one alternate weapon per character, which is at least partially invested, If not as Maximized. Ie. Our hammer used a hammer. Striking. Plus a damage Rune. But kept a Striking Returning Javeling for emergencies. Our Archer has a throwing hammer on belt. And a sling. For emergencies.
almost wonder if a session 0 should include some kind of feature checklist, kind of like a common character sheet for all the PCs to make sure the party is spread out
Martial damage type 'pigeon-holing' is the worst for Fighters (potentially). Other martials can always swap runes in downtime to a different proficient weapon. Some builds like ones that use the Thrower's Bandolier or Doubling Rings, can set up different weapons in combat without losing all runes. Fighters have the worst damage type selection now in the remaster now that the Mauler and Archer dedication no longer apply your highest proficiency to 2h weapons / bows. In theory you can swap to a different weapon group but in practice losing that +2 proficiency is rough when you don't have as much built in damage increases as other martials. I had a hammer based fighter back when the Warhammer, Maul, and Light Hammer were the only Hammer group weapons. We had a small stint trying to fight underwater foes and losing essentially my main class feature under water sucked. Polearm is probably the most diverse weapon group in terms of variety of different-enough weapons to choose from (even though its definitely not the biggest group). Hammer is still the smallest true weapon group with the least options (bombs and shield group notwithstanding) but there's at least Versatile P on the Earthbreaker and Hook Hammer now.
I'd allow Shattering Gem on the technicality it is in Gods & Magic, a book's content that is still essentialy in rotation until Divine Mysteries comes out, same goes for Guns & Gears (soon rotating out aswell), Secrets of Magic, Dark Archive and Book of the Dead content, until a remaster book overides them they stay in. Agree that all Player core and Advanced Players Guide content has essentialy rotated out at this point though.
Final comment is on the battfiled control + protector tree combo. If you are fighting 4 adverseries blowing back 3&4 , locking down no.2 with a tanky martial + protector tree & everyone else dogpiling no.1 is an excelent tactic so it can work in big fights.
Very true, but then you have to spend your gold and precious rune slots on this, boxing you out of other fun rune options 😬 That being said, the shifting rune can be a great option and even play well into your character concept, so if it serves the character and the party well, go for it!
What is the problem when you lose a fight with the enemy? Then you just retreat, hash it out and come back. I mean that's how he's done in real life on battle situations, and also in video games. Oh, I can't kill this guy right now. Okay. Well, either I can backtrack and set up my party or talk to my friends. Whatever to try another way. Or we can come back when we can kick some butt. But retraining why is that so bad? Why is that like? "No we need to kill everything we go against no matter what". Well that's not life and that's not fantasy at all.
I think it really boils down to one problem - not paying attention to the others in your party. And that was my guess from the beginning. 😁
As someone playing a Druid in a Season of Ghosts campaign, the amount of value we've gotten out of Nature and Survival has been astronomical. My face when you said a party of 7 didn't have Nature training...!! Amazing video with some great advice!
I immediatly guessed damage types were going to feature.
Regarding the spear: Consider grabbing the Dueling Spear or Dancer's spear, both of which are versitile, either slashing and piercing (slashing with the spearhead) or piercing and bludgeoning (hitting with the haft).
Anyway, great video, too many people don't consider this. I had a game fall apart because no one played a frontliner, and everyone refused to step up.
Also, Wasp swarms are terribly underleveled. I hate them and refuse to loose them in games. I did a video on how busted they are.
I normally find myself filling whatever roll hasn't yet been occupied, or else one that I think will synergize nicely. We've just started on Curtain Call (with out Season of Ghosts characters), with the plan being Sky King's Tomb next. This is further in advance than I've ever called a character shot before, but I went ahead and declared to the group my intention to play a Gnome Construct Inventor now, so the role wouldn't be scooped up by someone else in the interim. Why? I wanted to learn Gamemaker, so am making a simple platformer that essentially introduces my intended character, showing a snippet of their backstory. I like high effort bits, and the idea of making a full-on video game to show character backstory entertains me a lot, though of course I don't expect anyone to actually play the thing. Been working on it for maybe three weeks at this point, expect it to take another three or so.
As one might have guessed, one of my pet peeves is when other players are not at all invested in their characters or stories. Even when I'm not doing ridiculous shit, I at least want to take the time to draw the character proper. Wish more of the folks I played with cared enough to do the same.
Versatile weapons are a great way to avoid the most common martial problem, for sure. Thanks for dropping by the channel!
I'm going to check out your wasp swarm video because you're not the only one who mentioned how busted they are. I also want to do a video about how busted poison is, because it really can be brutally unfair to PCs in ways that it just isn't to NPCs.
Nice video, good points!
P. S. Timestamps would be very welcome
Timestamps added!
For our Extinction Curse campaign, we only had two in our party of five that overlapped, our Ranger and our swashbuckler (me). But because I was more support, it worked out.
That Bless part really stuck with me. In the Kingmaker game i play our Cleric always cast Bless first thing in combat even tho our Champion is a Marshal also giving the same bonus. I tried to talk him out of it but he seems to thing it's worth it since the areas don't overlap 50% of the time.
Oof. I'm playing as a Bard and we do also have someone with the Marshal archetype so there's some overlap but (1) it's a big party of 7 so there'll be overlap no matter what (2) neither of us are using spell slots up on overlapping abilities.
4:04
It's a valid point even just in Rune properties.
Try hard to avoid too much redundancy on one dmg type.
Ie. Fire runes on everyone.
Great, if it's all you have and it's fire or nothing.
And puts everyone on the same field. And rocks against fire weak foes.
But fire resistant or immune will devastate the party Power complex.
Good point on needing to look out for redundancies even past initial character creation and the first few levels. Redundancies can sneak up on you even at later levels!
@RebelThenKing agreed.
7:36
Well,
The flanking rogue/skirmisher...
That moves behind enemy mines. Into the thick of enemies...
Might be exposed to multiple attacks,
And might not have the single highest ac in party either.
And won't usually have the highest HP in party either.
Such Character might be hit multiple times, and might really benefit from some extra layers of defense.
2:37
Alternate take would be having a Cantrip.
For the melee Chara Ter, who would need to Draw a thrown wpn, and strike, but lacks quick draw,
That will often take 2 actions anyway.
Xbows take 2 actions, to fire, after the first shot if preloaded.
So a 2 action cantrip, that's always on hand, and always ready in an emergency?
As a bonus, if it targets a save, and ignores MAP
It can combine with an attack sequence.
But the 2 action cost isn't as painful as it might seem at first, when you factor in other two action strike sequences.
The Flurry Monk, being a great exception, making 2 strikes for 1 action. Although, they potentially have the ability to then unload a 2 action cantrip.
Food for though.
1:54
Yup. The Spear, rapier, pick, and all bows,
By default all deal piercing, and might seem unique, but would all hit the same damage wall against piercing resistance or immunity.
Definitely a thing to watch out for.
One benefit to having versatile weapons in the build.
One benefit to having at least one alternate weapon per character, which is at least partially invested,
If not as Maximized.
Ie. Our hammer used a hammer. Striking. Plus a damage Rune.
But kept a Striking Returning Javeling for emergencies.
Our Archer has a throwing hammer on belt. And a sling.
For emergencies.
My bard has a bastard sword but I use telekinetic projectile for those times when slashing won't do.
Hey, just subscribed. Using videos like this to help my PFS2 group.
almost wonder if a session 0 should include some kind of feature checklist, kind of like a common character sheet for all the PCs to make sure the party is spread out
I'm about to enter a Session 0 so you better believe we'll be going through a checklist like this!
Martial damage type 'pigeon-holing' is the worst for Fighters (potentially). Other martials can always swap runes in downtime to a different proficient weapon. Some builds like ones that use the Thrower's Bandolier or Doubling Rings, can set up different weapons in combat without losing all runes. Fighters have the worst damage type selection now in the remaster now that the Mauler and Archer dedication no longer apply your highest proficiency to 2h weapons / bows. In theory you can swap to a different weapon group but in practice losing that +2 proficiency is rough when you don't have as much built in damage increases as other martials. I had a hammer based fighter back when the Warhammer, Maul, and Light Hammer were the only Hammer group weapons. We had a small stint trying to fight underwater foes and losing essentially my main class feature under water sucked.
Polearm is probably the most diverse weapon group in terms of variety of different-enough weapons to choose from (even though its definitely not the biggest group). Hammer is still the smallest true weapon group with the least options (bombs and shield group notwithstanding) but there's at least Versatile P on the Earthbreaker and Hook Hammer now.
I'd allow Shattering Gem on the technicality it is in Gods & Magic, a book's content that is still essentialy in rotation until Divine Mysteries comes out, same goes for Guns & Gears (soon rotating out aswell), Secrets of Magic, Dark Archive and Book of the Dead content, until a remaster book overides them they stay in. Agree that all Player core and Advanced Players Guide content has essentialy rotated out at this point though.
Final comment is on the battfiled control + protector tree combo. If you are fighting 4 adverseries blowing back 3&4 , locking down no.2 with a tanky martial + protector tree & everyone else dogpiling no.1 is an excelent tactic so it can work in big fights.
The "Shifting" rune might help with that first issue 🙂
Very true, but then you have to spend your gold and precious rune slots on this, boxing you out of other fun rune options 😬 That being said, the shifting rune can be a great option and even play well into your character concept, so if it serves the character and the party well, go for it!
What is the problem when you lose a fight with the enemy? Then you just retreat, hash it out and come back. I mean that's how he's done in real life on battle situations, and also in video games. Oh, I can't kill this guy right now. Okay. Well, either I can backtrack and set up my party or talk to my friends. Whatever to try another way. Or we can come back when we can kick some butt. But retraining why is that so bad? Why is that like? "No we need to kill everything we go against no matter what". Well that's not life and that's not fantasy at all.
In fairness to y'all, wasp swarm is one of the most busted low level enemies in the whole system.
Well, that makes me feel a bit better, at least!