These posts are coming fast and furious I know. This is a continuation of my main Pathfinder page, where I am documenting all of the changes to the classes, archetypes and Prestige Classes from the tabletop to the video game. If a feature or ability is the same as the tabletop game I will not list it here–assume it is present and unchanged. So, to continue:
Barbarian: The game uses the unchained version of Barbarian. Barbarians gain 3 skill points/level now. There are 31 rage powers in the game. Tireless Rage no longer has the limitation of not gaining temp HP’s if done within 1 minute of ending a rage.
Armored Hulk: This archetype is essentially unchanged.
Beastkin Berserker: Savage Rapport is altered, and now adds half his level on Lore (Nature) and Persuasion (Intimidation) skill checks; it has no connection with any animals. Feral Transformation is altered as well: at level 4 you become a medium wolf, at level 8 you a medium leopard, and level 12 a large bear.
Flesheater *DLC only*: It’s similar but there are enough changes I’ll just say how it works in WotR:
- Level 1 a Flesheater gains a bite attack, the damage scales with level
- Level 2: Power From Flesh, which was One Flesh. Game benefits include +2 to atk and dmg and a 20% of becoming confused for a round. Also gained is a “minor trait” from the creature and 1 essence point (max 1 can be stored). Hint: most of the creatures will be Outsiders
- Level 2: Devour Essence. Consume an essence point to gain 1d8 + Con modifier HP’s, which scales every 5 levels, or spend them on getting abilities
- Level 7: Changeable Form. Devouring flesh now grants a “major trait” and 2 essenced points can be stored
- Level 11: Unbound Range is unchanged
- Level 14: You Are What You Eat. Now gain a “special ability” which can be used as a standard action, costing 2 essence points. Max essence points goes up to 3
- Level 20: Unbound Form is altered. Size increase from unbound rage increases by a further size category (probably to Huge). Max essence points increases to 4
*Instinctual Warrior: This is a new archetype, and it’s great for multiclassing for clerics and monks: two levels will get you Cunning Elusion. IW abilities are Wisdom-based, and taking the mythic ability Limitless Rage lives up to its name. The IW has no armor proficiencies. This is a defense-oriented Barb. IW alters rage and lose DR. They have new abilities:
- 1st level: Focused Rage. You rage for 4 + his Wisdom modifier rounds/day. While in rage an IW gets +2 bonus to attack and Wisdom
- 1st level: Fervent Reflexes. Add Wisdom mod to initiative checks
- 2nd level: Cunning Elusion. If unarmored and not using a shield, add Wisdom bonus to AC and CMD. You also gain a +1 bonus to AC and CMD at 4th level. This scales every four barb levels thereafter
- Rage Power (IW): In addition to normal rage powers they also poach Monk abilities which work when an IW rages: Diamond Soul, Diamond Body, Deflect Arrows, Perfect Self and Purity of Body
- 6th level: trade out a rage power for Blind-Fight, and immunity to gaze attacks
- 10th level: you gain Improved Blind-Fight
- 11th level: Greater Focused Rage. +3 to attack and Wisdom, temp HP’s
- 14th level: trade out a rage power for Greater Blind-Fight
- Unparalleled Senses at level 18. You gain blindsense 30′ and blindsight 15′
Invulnerable Rager: Extreme Endurance is altered: Endure Elements is gone (probably unneeded), but you gain +1 to fire and cold resistance, both of which scale
Mad Dog: Ferocious Fetch is now Ferocious Trip, gaining Trip as a bonus feat. It also grants a +2 bonus to CMB when performing this maneuver, and a +2 bonus to CMD when defending against it. Great archetype since it grants a full-scaling pet, and pets are OP in the game. Pack Tactics stack with Outflank, and flanking is far easier to do in WotR. Throat Cutter is a great boost, especially if you have a dog or wolf pet who trip all the time. My favorite Barb archetype.
Pack Rager: Raging Tactician now grants her teamwork feat to all allies within 50 feet instead of 30. Otherwise this archetype is unchanged.
Bard: Bards are more heavily altered for the video game than other classes. They gain 4 skill points/level. They are no longer proficient with the sap or whip. Bards no longer have the Countersong, Distraction, Suggestion or Versatile Performance abilities. I detail further changes below:
- Bards now have Bard Talents, which are identical to Rogue Talents. A bard can select these at level 2 and every four levels thereafter. They can’t select talents that modify sneak attack, but with 22 to choose from you’ve got some good options
- The Fascinate ability is now available at level 6 instead of 1, its range is now 30 feet instead of 90, but it starts out affecting multiple enemies
- Lore Master is altered a bit, as a Bard cannot choose to take 20
- Jack-of-all-Trades now offers a flat +1 bonus on all skill checks
- Be aware the new Mythic Inspiration ability will benefit most bards and skalds
Archaeologist: Archaeologist’s Luck can now be used for 2 additional rounds for each level after 1st. Clever Explorer grants the skill bonus to Trickery and Perception. Archaeologists begin gaining rogue/bard talents at level 2 and can start taking advanced talents at level 10. Nice upgrade!
*Beast Tamer: This is a brand new archetype. In short these are “bards that can greatly enhance the abilities of their beastly allies through inspiring performances.” Beast Tamers lose some of their performances (they retain Inspire Greatness, Soothing Performance, Inspire Heroics and Deadly Performance) and Well-Versed. In exchange they gain the following abilities:
- 1st level: Spontaneous Summoning. They can spend a prepared spell in order to cast any summon nature’s ally spell of the same level or lower
- 1st level: Inspire Ferocity. This performance enhances ferocity in their summoned and pet allies, and the bard. It’s a +1 morale bonus against charm/fear effects, and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. These bonuses increase by 1 at levels 5, 11, 17. At 10th level it grants allies the effect of Magic Fang, natural attacks count as silver and cold iron (at the cost of a bard talent). At 14th level their attacks are adamantine. At 18th level they get Greater Magic Fang
- 1st level: Beast Call. A beast tamer can cast Summon Nature’s Ally I as a spell-like ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier. It’s cast as a standard action, and the creatures remain for 1 minute/level (instead of 1 round/level). At 3rd level and every 2 bard levels after, the power of this ability increases by 1 spell level (up to SNA IX at lvl 17). Only one summon active at a time, sorry
- 2nd level: Augment Summoning feat (in place of a bard talent)
Chelaxian Diva *DLC only*: This is, of course, the Chelish Diva from the tabletop game. Costume Proficiency is gone. Famous is about the same, but it scales every other class level for Persuasion. Devastating Aria is added for free at level 2, the damage is now 1d6 but only to objects. The problem is some of these abilities combine with Inspire Courage and some do not:
- 3rd level: Tragedy of False Hope: makes all enemies flat-footed if they fail their Will save.
- 5th level: Prima Donna is added, but it works for any bardic performance now
- 6th level: Deadly Vibrato is the full Devastation Aria from the game, but damage is now d8, and it scales at 14th and 20th level
- 9th level: Blazing Rondo gives Haste to the party, but the bonuses are only 1/5th of her bard level and the party is fatigued afterward
- 12th level: Vindictive Soliloquoy is essentially Call Lightning Storm dealing sonic damage instead of electricity. Damage is increased with a DC 30 Persuasion check to 5d10
- 16th level: Banshee’s Requiem makes all living creatures gain 2 negative levels
Dirge Bard: For Haunting Refrain he gets the normal scaling bonus to his intimidate checks that is not limited to keyboard or percussion. Otherwise it is unchanged. Great archetype, the only thing DB’s lose is Well-Versed and Jack of All Trades. Probably an upgrade from the base class.
Flame Dancer: The game version of Fire Dance begins at 3rd level now, not 1st, and it functions exactly like Fire Break. At third level allies gain Fire Resist 10, at 6th it becomes 20, and at 11th it becomes 30. All this comes at the cost of Inspire Competence, Dirge of Doom and Frightening Tune.
Thundercaller: Incite Rage now affects all creatures, not just one. The user can select it so affect allies, enemies, or all. Storm Call is slightly altered, with a bolt of lightning hitting a random enemy within 50 feet. Otherwise this archetype is unchanged. Minor spoiler: depending on your choices, you may gain a companion with this archetype late in the game.
*Tranquil Whisperer: This is a brand new archetype for the video game. According to their description thees Bards “… play their soothing compositions to alleviate any emotional pressure on their comrades and improve their concentration.” In addition to the trade-offs below they lose Well-Versed. Their abilities are as follows:
- 1st level: Inspire Tranquility (in place of Inspire Courage). “An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects and suppresses the effects of all kinds of rage. At 5th level, and every six bard levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +4 at 17th level”
- 7th level: Saving Tranquility (in place of Inspire Competence). “Inspire Tranquility also grants a moral bonus to saving throws against mind-affecting effects equal to the AC bonus”
- 13th level: Tranquil Senses. “Inspire Tranquility also grants blindsense with 10 feet range”
- 20th level: Tranquil Apotheosis (in place of Deadly Performance): “He gains immunity to confusion and mind-affecting effects, and counts as an outsider”
Whew. My original intention was to cover all the classes that begin with the letter B, but Bloodrager will have to wait. This post has already gone on a bit too long. Next post it will be the B’s and C’s!