SortofANoob
2013-01-17, 07:00 PM
*Note* Before you reply with something such as "TL:DR", the shorthand version of my questions are listed below...So :tongue:
So I have played a few campaigns for 3.0 and 3.5, but never really a Pathfinder one...I really don't know why, it seems like it is very similar to standard 3.5 rules however it seems a lot more cleaned up (especially with skills and Feat trees) and easier to customize (class archetypes, favored class options, race customization). I would think the majority of DM/GM's out there would adopt the PF rulings over the traditional play-style...seeing as the need for homebrew content would probably be less in PF (just my guess).
Anyways, on topic now, we are playing a new campaign in an urban setting...While I can find a plethora (can't believe I actually spelled that correctly without using the spellchecker) of information on it for 3.5, I haven't come across much that are officially Pathfinder (aside from the likes or Urban Rangers and similar archetypes). Is the traditional 3.5 set-up better suited for a Urban campaign (keeping in mind that we aren't using the Unearthed Arcana rule variants either; however we are allowing homebrew feats, classes, etc. assuming that they are balanced and plausible), or vice-verse, or like most things it is but a matter of opinion? If you feel Pathfinder is better suited, then I would love so some advice on a couple of books or a collection to check out.
Also say we adopt this Urban Campaign (or start up a new campaign in the near future) to the Pathfinder Rulings, is there an informal way to streamline the processes of changing any 3.5 content over to the Pathfinder system?...Say for instance a player has a base class that doesn't really match any that we can find from PF. Do we just build it normally (of course taking in the changes like the Feat Progression and Skills list), or would it be better to try to twist it a bit to match up with the typical Pathfinder classes?...b/c it seams like in PF, most classes actually get a little bit more than their non PF equivalent (TRYING to gain abilities or feats at least once a level, including a capstone ability), as well as races having much more customization involved.
As I have never DM/GM'd before, and I doubt I would do an outstanding job at it on my own (at least at first until I got used to it). Are there any resources available that would help me start up a campaign, and pretty much just play it by the book, with limited actual DMing at first? I know there are the starter boxes (which I wont buy anyways), but the ones that I have played from before all seemed a little boring, even though the action starts right off the bat usually. Basically I would look for something that will start me off in a single direction (and contain more actual adventuring and combat as opposed to being very social skill heavy), then after a few runs it opens up and leaves me and/or my players with more freedom. This book doesn't have to be a PF specific book, however I will more than likely adopt the PF ruling variants to it (especially the Skills)
Lastly (for now at least), between our campaigns I would like to set up a series of Epic battles and Adventures (as opposed to a full campaign) with high level characters. Basically roleplay will be limited and the whole campaign will take place only during the adventuring part (IE, no traveling, no player Keeps to worry about, etc.). It would just be something to do between the down time when the DM of our current campaign doesn't have enough story to play that week. I am thinking of something along the lines of having each player build a character to level 20, allowing them to use Gestalt Characters, and then they also have 10 epic levels (also considering 20 epic levels instead) that cannot use gestalt classes. And to make it more fun and unique they also get to max out one of the 3.5 homebrew Scaling Feats (assuming they fit the requirements) as well as max out a homebrew Racial Paragon HD. So basically they would be super-powered (extra strengths coming from the Gestalt levels, and the bonus gained from the scaling feat) level 33 or 43 (most racial paragon seem to max at 3 HD) level characters.
So are there any adventure books that I can follow that might be suited for such characters?...I would want it suited for a minimum of 3 players but would probably prefer it to suited for 5 or 6. If you know something that might fit, then great...If you know something similar (such as something that would be more like a 10 man raid), then let me know, I can always make adjustments such as having each player roll up 2 characters.
Sorry for the lengths of these, I tend to go into too much detail on forums.
Here are the questions condensed:
1) Which do you believe is better suited for an Urban campaign (standard 3.5 or PF) and why? Any PF specific books with Urban content?
2) Is there an easy way to adjust non-PF content to fit in better with other PF content?
3) Any advice for a book to follow for a 1st time DM who is not very creative or quick? lol
4) Know of any high-octane campaigns for above-average Epic level characters?
So I have played a few campaigns for 3.0 and 3.5, but never really a Pathfinder one...I really don't know why, it seems like it is very similar to standard 3.5 rules however it seems a lot more cleaned up (especially with skills and Feat trees) and easier to customize (class archetypes, favored class options, race customization). I would think the majority of DM/GM's out there would adopt the PF rulings over the traditional play-style...seeing as the need for homebrew content would probably be less in PF (just my guess).
Anyways, on topic now, we are playing a new campaign in an urban setting...While I can find a plethora (can't believe I actually spelled that correctly without using the spellchecker) of information on it for 3.5, I haven't come across much that are officially Pathfinder (aside from the likes or Urban Rangers and similar archetypes). Is the traditional 3.5 set-up better suited for a Urban campaign (keeping in mind that we aren't using the Unearthed Arcana rule variants either; however we are allowing homebrew feats, classes, etc. assuming that they are balanced and plausible), or vice-verse, or like most things it is but a matter of opinion? If you feel Pathfinder is better suited, then I would love so some advice on a couple of books or a collection to check out.
Also say we adopt this Urban Campaign (or start up a new campaign in the near future) to the Pathfinder Rulings, is there an informal way to streamline the processes of changing any 3.5 content over to the Pathfinder system?...Say for instance a player has a base class that doesn't really match any that we can find from PF. Do we just build it normally (of course taking in the changes like the Feat Progression and Skills list), or would it be better to try to twist it a bit to match up with the typical Pathfinder classes?...b/c it seams like in PF, most classes actually get a little bit more than their non PF equivalent (TRYING to gain abilities or feats at least once a level, including a capstone ability), as well as races having much more customization involved.
As I have never DM/GM'd before, and I doubt I would do an outstanding job at it on my own (at least at first until I got used to it). Are there any resources available that would help me start up a campaign, and pretty much just play it by the book, with limited actual DMing at first? I know there are the starter boxes (which I wont buy anyways), but the ones that I have played from before all seemed a little boring, even though the action starts right off the bat usually. Basically I would look for something that will start me off in a single direction (and contain more actual adventuring and combat as opposed to being very social skill heavy), then after a few runs it opens up and leaves me and/or my players with more freedom. This book doesn't have to be a PF specific book, however I will more than likely adopt the PF ruling variants to it (especially the Skills)
Lastly (for now at least), between our campaigns I would like to set up a series of Epic battles and Adventures (as opposed to a full campaign) with high level characters. Basically roleplay will be limited and the whole campaign will take place only during the adventuring part (IE, no traveling, no player Keeps to worry about, etc.). It would just be something to do between the down time when the DM of our current campaign doesn't have enough story to play that week. I am thinking of something along the lines of having each player build a character to level 20, allowing them to use Gestalt Characters, and then they also have 10 epic levels (also considering 20 epic levels instead) that cannot use gestalt classes. And to make it more fun and unique they also get to max out one of the 3.5 homebrew Scaling Feats (assuming they fit the requirements) as well as max out a homebrew Racial Paragon HD. So basically they would be super-powered (extra strengths coming from the Gestalt levels, and the bonus gained from the scaling feat) level 33 or 43 (most racial paragon seem to max at 3 HD) level characters.
So are there any adventure books that I can follow that might be suited for such characters?...I would want it suited for a minimum of 3 players but would probably prefer it to suited for 5 or 6. If you know something that might fit, then great...If you know something similar (such as something that would be more like a 10 man raid), then let me know, I can always make adjustments such as having each player roll up 2 characters.
Sorry for the lengths of these, I tend to go into too much detail on forums.
Here are the questions condensed:
1) Which do you believe is better suited for an Urban campaign (standard 3.5 or PF) and why? Any PF specific books with Urban content?
2) Is there an easy way to adjust non-PF content to fit in better with other PF content?
3) Any advice for a book to follow for a 1st time DM who is not very creative or quick? lol
4) Know of any high-octane campaigns for above-average Epic level characters?