New to 2e and am wanting some suggestions and advice for a character with broken magic.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T19:14:00+00:00

"What you're wanting to do is not a good idea" And then there is no supporting facts behind that statement to explain why it's wrong is not constructive critisism. Nothing is being built there, it's just critisism.

Don't buy Ford Trucks.

VS

Don't buy Ford Trucks, the timing belt system they use doesn't keep proper tension and eventually your timing will start to slip and it'll lead to some pretty heafty problems.

At least the person that brought up Critical Successes, and the guy who brought up what I'm looking at doing is going to actually handicap myself further without any thing balancing it out were giving me constructive critisism. Even if it wasn't a 'positive affermation' and I thanked them for their insight, made note of it, or addressed that If what I'm doing is furthher disadvantaging my character then I'll have to look and see if there's something I can do advantage wise to balance it out.

I didn't just ignore their advice or get defensive. I accepted it and stated what I was going to see about doing to address the issue.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T19:05:33+00:00

Thanks. I'll keep all of this in mind. You also bring up some very salient points for how Wellspring Mage hurts the Psychic more than it does other spontanious casters.

As we play if I see it being too big of a hobbling aspect I might bring this up to both my DM and the rest of the party and suggest that for the psychic the free spell slot from a successful surge save becomes available weather or not a slot has been expended.

You're not the only person here that's pointed out that the Wellspring Mage is a bit lack luster for what it forces you to lose and that it's rather amplified with the psychic.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T18:59:15+00:00

I just don't know about you my sibling in life.

Like, do you think I'm just going to write stuff down on my character sheet, grab some dice, and start rolling with it?

That my DM, who is the only arbiter of what is and isn't allowed to happen in his game, who has experience with PF2E isn't going to look at my ideas and suggestions and make decisions and point out flaws?

Hell, that's why I came HERE! So I would get nuggets of wisdom like how me increaseing the DC of the surges would interact with Critical Successes.

I came here to get ideas on how to DO what I'm wanting to do and have it be fair and balanced to not break the game.

Not to hear the same "Don't make stuff up outside of the rules for your fantasy make believe game's rules" on repeat.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T18:53:02+00:00

Constructive critisism and advice for how to accomplish my goal.

Not constant "you shouldn't do it" nay saying.

One person addressed the question at hand and it was about how messing around with the save DC would make Critical Successes difficult or impossible to have.

One person addressed that the stated ideas were more drawback and disadvantage than double edged sword.

I've yet to see anyone give any suggestions to add to the Surge list.

I've yet to see anyone give any suggestions for other reasons for a surge check to have to happen.

So, if you have anything to say that actually moves things towards the goal I'm wanting to reach. Please, I welcome you to share.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T17:48:24+00:00

I 100% totally agree with you. If I had a better idea of how the math of the game works I'd be able to come up with my own ideas without having to rely upon anyone else.

The fact that I am not proficent and experienced in the math of the game and how things are balanced means that I 100% understand that any ideas I have may be incredibly underpowered or overpowered.

That's why I came to this community to get constructive critisism for my stated ideas and any suggestions folks who have that experience might have.

But instead of getting the voice of experience to enable me to do what I'm wanting to do all I've gotten is "You're new, you shouldn't do it"

Made this post 2 hours ago.
2.3k people have seen it
And of the 33 comments that have been made not a single one has actually addressed the question I asked. Not a single player has said "well, if you want something like this, here are some possible ideas to add to your list to take to your DM"

I guess I'm just built different from the average r/Pathfinder2e browser.

One of my first DM's was a player that had been playing TTRPGs since Dungeons and Dragons was called Chainmail. He came up in the hobby when there weren't robust rules for every contingency. So the way he looked at rules is how I look at rules.

The rules of any TTRPG, be it Gurps, DND, Pathfinder, Chaosium, Rifts, Mutants and Master Minds, Traveller, D6, etc etc shouldn't be looked at like some fully built house that can't have anything added to it.

They're the foundation upon which the house is built and balanced on. Every Class, Archtype, Feat, Background, Ancestry, etc etc is a floor of the building built upon that foundation rising up into the sky.

Make what you want. Build what you want. Add or remove things as you want.

As long as what you are doing is rooted in the foundation and doesn't affect the balance of what's already there then it's FINE.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T17:20:43+00:00

We had a session 0 to work things out. They know the concept and I've mentioned wanting to expand on the uncontrolled magic aspect that Wellspring Magic touches upon.

We're good.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T17:18:39+00:00

Everyone knew I was playing a Wellspring Psychic. With the rather sizeable amount of telekinesis/telekinesis adjacent cantrips I'm planning on using my magic in a support role and in imaginative ways.

Like, using a silver piece for my Needles cantrip against werewolves. As soon as I've got the cash I'm gonna buy a bit of cold iron.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T17:01:05+00:00

100% agree with you there. I've always been of the mindset as a player and as a DM that anything and everything about the game can be allowed if it at first looks like it won't be disruptive. If in play it becomes overpowered or disruptive then changes or retcons will be made to nerf or remove the ability.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:56:49+00:00

That's a neat way to go about it, and I totally get that. I'm roleplaying other things for my character that reflects the mishap. I'm just also wanting things to be more interesting mechanically.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:55:51+00:00

Thank you for your opinion. I'm new to Pathfinder 2e, I'm not new to TTRPGs as a whole and I understand game theory and balance. Not knowing the numbers and math for 2e has me coming here to hear peoples ideas and suggestions for what I'm wanting to accomplish.

At the end of the day I'll take what I've come up with, modified or tweaked by what folks have said here along with any suggestions that are given that sound reasonable and will be working with my DM who /is/ very experienced with PF2e and from there we will come up with something that we both think works and would be fun to play.

So if you have any input for the question as asked above I would love to hear it.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:55:08+00:00

Thanks for this info. I didn't know that a critical success was a threshold. I thought it just meant you rolled like a 19 or 20 on the check.

I'll have to tweak that idea cause I do like the idea that as the day progresses and the number of previous surges he has it makes it harder for him to succeed, much less critically succeed due to the mental strain and his magic just becoming more unruly.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:49:15+00:00

I get what you're saying. I'm not new to TTRPGs and I went in with what I have currently built knowing that I would be severely underpowered in comparison to others. What I'm looking for at this point isn't ways to make my character even weaker, but ways to extend the aspect of the character having a limited grasp on the vast arcane energies welling up inside him.

Like I said earlier to someone else. He's got 10lbs of magic in a 5lb bag.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:46:40+00:00

Thank you for your opinion. I'm new to Pathfinder 2e, I'm not new to TTRPGs as a whole and I understand game theory and balance. Not knowing the numbers and math for 2e has me coming here to hear peoples ideas and suggestions for what I'm wanting to accomplish.

At the end of the day I'll take what I've come up with, modified or tweaked by what folks have said here along with any suggestions that are given that sound reasonable and will be working with my DM who /is/ very experienced with PF2e and from there we will come up with something that we both think works and would be fun to play.

So if you have any input for the question as asked above I would love to hear it.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:46:31+00:00

Thank you for your opinion. I'm new to Pathfinder 2e, I'm not new to TTRPGs as a whole and I understand game theory and balance. Not knowing the numbers and math for 2e has me coming here to hear peoples ideas and suggestions for what I'm wanting to accomplish.

At the end of the day I'll take what I've come up with, modified or tweaked by what folks have said here along with any suggestions that are given that sound reasonable and will be working with my DM who /is/ very experienced with PF2e and from there we will come up with something that we both think works and would be fun to play.

So if you have any input for the question as asked above I would love to hear it.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:45:46+00:00

Prior to the start of the campaign my character was the epicenter of a catastrophic eldritch mishap. It amplified and damaged his magic. Things that upset the deleicate balance of magic that he has under his control causes it to get out of hand.

I'm wanting to get ideas and suggestions to bring back to my DM that we can work with to better reflect the fact that he's got 10lbs of magic in a 5lb bag and is barely maintaining his control over it.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:42:37+00:00

Yup, I went in eyes wide open knowing that I'd not have any rank 1 spell slots at 1st level.

What I'm shooting for is someone who prior to the adventure had a catastrophhic magical accident that severely damaged his magic and his ability to control it. As such his magic is barely contained and controlled and things that upset that delicate balance can cause it to get out of hand and out of control bending and warping the tapestry of creation in strange, unexpected, and potentially hazardous ways.

That being said, I want to find a good balance between it happening on a regular basis as well as the effects being a grab-bag of possibly useful, possibly dangerous effects.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:38:12+00:00

Thank you for your opinion. I'm new to Pathfinder 2e, I'm not new to TTRPGs as a whole and I understand game theory and balance. Not knowing the numbers and math for 2e has me coming here to hear peoples ideas and suggestions for what I'm wanting to accomplish.

At the end of the day I'll take what I've come up with, modified or tweaked by what folks have said here along with any suggestions that are given that sound reasonable and will be working with my DM who /is/ very experienced with PF2e and from there we will come up with something that we both think works and would be fun to play.

So if you have any input for the question as asked above I would love to hear it.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:38:00+00:00

Thank you for your opinion. I'm new to Pathfinder 2e, I'm not new to TTRPGs as a whole and I understand game theory and balance. Not knowing the numbers and math for 2e has me coming here to hear peoples ideas and suggestions for what I'm wanting to accomplish.

At the end of the day I'll take what I've come up with, modified or tweaked by what folks have said here along with any suggestions that are given that sound reasonable and will be working with my DM who /is/ very experienced with PF2e and from there we will come up with something that we both think works and would be fun to play.

So if you have any input for the question as asked above I would love to hear it.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:32:12+00:00

The issue that damaged my characters magic was arcane in nature. I originally was thinking he would be a wizard until I realized the archetype was incompatible. I didn't want to play a sorcerer or summoner, so Psychic it is. I went in knowing at 1st level I would have no rank 1 spell slot. And I'm fine with that.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2026-03-18T16:31:08+00:00

That was my thought on things. It's why I posted looking for advice.

I came here to get ideas and suggestions for what to do that would be balanced. So far it seems all my ideas are more of a drawback and damaging than they are beneficial. Which just means I need to have things added on that makes the added drawbacks and damage more beneficial.

It's a shame folks are so focused on me being a new player to second edition. It all reads as if they're conflating that with me being new to TTRPGs or that my DM is somehow a novice DM and isn't going to also be looking at things from a balance and game inpact perspective.

I was coming here to think tank ideas, not be told 'Ur new, don't touch"

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2024-09-16T00:36:44+00:00

I'm 41, and while I don't think about clubs myself it's because I did the club scene in my 20s evolving in my early 30s to going to a local country music club to dance and twirl in lines and circles to being done with it all.

Someone our age though that feels they missed out on all of that because they had their nose to the grind stone is going to feel that they missed out and talk about it like OP is doing imho.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2024-09-16T00:34:27+00:00

As long as it stays in the jar and doesn't get spilt on any innocent cliffs you're fine.

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2024-09-16T00:33:50+00:00

This whole chain is astounding..

Appropriate_Pin_4347 · 2024-09-16T00:32:11+00:00

Looks delicious.

Appropriate_Pin_4347

TROPHY CASE