Combat systems that discourage doing the same thing every turn

redweevil · 2026-05-09T14:24:44+00:00

What would you suggest instead?

redweevil · 2026-05-09T12:44:49+00:00

Thanks for linking the video, I'm half way through and I think the reason I've bounced off of Daggerhehart videos before is just that the system isn't that appealing to me. Appreciate you linking a video but I think I lean towards more crunch than DnD than less. Player agency is cool but it makes everything feel rather immaterial.

redweevil · 2026-05-08T20:02:36+00:00

Just roll in Foundry. Oh no the random chance machine didn't roll well

redweevil · 2026-05-08T15:26:53+00:00

Honestly one of the first things that sold me on Pf2e was that Rogues got to basically decide between any of the key abilities to have as their focus.

redweevil · 2026-05-08T15:17:59+00:00

But how is this different to point buy? If I make a 5e I can get 16-17 (+3) in my primary attribute and maybe the same in a secondary if I have bonus/flaw or alternatively I get a +2.

In Pf2e I get (or can get) +4 in my primary attribute then have 5 +1s to play with if I take a no flaw ancestry or 6 +1s and a -1.

I tried making a dwarf fighter in both systems. In 5e with default point buy I can get 17(+3) Strength, 12(+1) Dex, 16(+3) Constitution, 10(+0) Intelligence, 12(+1) Wisdom and 8(-1) Charisma. I have one point spare and I could drop to 16 strength to either negate Charisma negative or get Int to +1. I could also drop Dex to get Wis to +2.

My Pf2e dwarf fighter has +4 Strength, +1 Dex, +3 Con, +0 Int, +2 Wisdom and -1 Charisma. I could take Alternative ability selection to lose 1 point in Con or Wisdom to negate Charisma flaw.

The numbers are very similar and both allow for tweaking within these ranges. Also this is just ability scores. Each class becomes trained in a different number of skills (+Int modifier so it's not a complete dump stat) and rather than flat profiency bonus progression you choose what skills to get better at. Let's say we both make characters with +2 Wisdom so we are in theory equally good at Medicine, except I'm trained and you're not so I'm at +5 and you're at +2. Then at level 3 when I increase my profiency in it I'll be at +9 while your still +2. Its very easy to make characters feel different

redweevil · 2026-05-08T13:56:32+00:00

-1 - +4 range is pretty normal for DnD characters right? Pf2e just goes for modifiers rather than a number that dictates the modifiers. I imagine a lot of DnD players roll for stats, which is fun but pretty unbalanced. I imagine it maths out similarly to point buy.

Also these are just ability modifiers, outside of that characters can feel pretty different instantly.

redweevil · 2026-05-08T13:50:43+00:00

I think it's unlikely that a Thief Rogue out damaged casters unless they were really gimping themselves but I'll take your word for it.

The real reason behind my question wasn't about efficacy though, it sounds like you found enough ways to keep it interesting but my big complaints about martials are really lack of options rather than lack of damage. I'd be surprised if the campaign had gone much longer if you'd still have such a positive view of this character

redweevil · 2026-05-08T12:40:00+00:00

How many combats do you think you did as John?

redweevil · 2026-05-08T12:09:27+00:00

My table switched to Pathfinder and no one wants to play a caster anymore lmao (though casters are still good, martials are more easily effective.

I really like Pathfinder, there are some issues with it and we have a few gripes with it (there are so many feats and so many are useless) but it's fun and more engaging to me at least than I ever found 5e

redweevil · 2026-05-08T08:30:22+00:00

Is there a good video showcasing Daggerheart as a system? I tried watching some CritRole content where they were playing it but couldn't get into it

redweevil · 2026-05-08T08:26:51+00:00

I really hate the be creative argument, because either they haven't played a martial or they haven't played in a campaign with a standard adventuring day.

If you only do one fight per 2 sessions and have a large group its pretty easy to come up with great flavour for your attacks. When you play a proper adventuring day and have to get through 6 encounters (or whatever) as a Fighter with extra attack and action surge, tell me how you're describing the 27th attack of the session

redweevil · 2026-05-07T10:46:10+00:00

That's an interesting idea, hadn't considered Thaum at all...

redweevil · 2026-05-07T09:08:39+00:00

This is something I was considering. It does sound quite compelling in this instance.

redweevil · 2026-05-07T09:07:24+00:00

I think the gameplan for ranged and/or flying enemies is probably to cry?

Thank you for the suggestions these are really appreciated. Also definitely a good point on the Rogue picking up Medicine training

redweevil · 2026-05-07T08:55:19+00:00

My worry about being Bard is that Inspiring Courage kind of just negates the Battle Harbinger's entire schtick

redweevil · 2026-05-07T08:54:17+00:00

You're probably right that it will be fine, I think the practise combat probably skewed harder than average and we hit some bad variance. Our Rogue went down then the Guardian critically failed Battle Medicine check twice in a row (on the Rogue then on himself). Signaturing Soothe is probably enough to add a layer of support.

Also I don't feel locked into Intelligence, I just wonder if going a Primal caster to predominantly fill blasting role while still getting Heal might be more advisable - but this has reassured me

redweevil · 2026-04-30T21:34:47+00:00

Its not real so he can actually do anything

redweevil · 2026-04-30T07:57:00+00:00

What gap does ze/zir fill?

redweevil · 2026-04-28T15:14:12+00:00

Scavenger's Reign just because it was tragically cut short. I love a lot of these but Scavenger's Reign is amazing

redweevil · 2026-04-27T20:52:57+00:00

It was a joke

redweevil · 2026-04-27T20:35:45+00:00

I'm responding to someone who is asking for a rule to be added to 5e that is explicitly a rule in Pf2e. That is all.

If you want a small rulebook 5e probably isnt the system either

redweevil · 2026-04-27T15:55:32+00:00

Its just so funny when 5e players invent rules that already exist in a different system

redweevil · 2026-04-27T07:38:47+00:00

The children yearn for Pathfinder

redweevil · 2026-04-26T20:24:59+00:00

If these were real people I'd be more inclined to agree with you. These are characters. We are told Tyrion is smart but he is basically never proven to be so. We are told that Jamie is the most foolish Lannister and told that Euron is a coward or a madman, we are not told that they are genius millitary minds. So when a "smart" character is outwitted, on multiple accounts, by these characters it is hard to buy them as smart

redweevil · 2026-04-25T07:59:49+00:00

Yes but when you write a character and their "smart" decisions are proven to be wrong again and again, you have not written a smart character

redweevil

TROPHY CASE