Poor explanations - Major impact on game experience

[Flatbuffer]

It's impossible to tell sometimes what the impact of a skill choice would be on your character. Is this something that's being worked on?

The explanations leave too much room for interpretation. They could and should not only be worded much better, but use a design overhaul. I don't think it should be a requirement to use google to research a skill just to understand what it does.

What would be a great help already is to use linked words. For example when you explain a skill like combat casting, use a linked word for concentration, with a hover desscription. That way it becomes clear what concentration is and in which situations it would be useful to have it buffed up.

This might seem like a minor gripe, but it's really essential. I find it incredibly annoying to read and re-read explanations only to come to the conclusion that it's simply impossible to know for sure what the skill really does from the provided text.

Glad I got that off my chest! Thanks for reading.

[Quacksalber]

I don't understand half of the skills in the game, and even now I don't get the metamagic system. The description of the classes on CC is also really vague, and there's no description of the magic schools.

[Dusty_Monk]

I agree, I also suspect this is on the to do list. There are probably many more things above this item on the to do list though. At the moment many things are not working as intended so explanations of how they should work would not help

[[TGC] MadGod]

Only too true. The players who have no experience in PF are basically left alone...which is a shame. :|

It would be cool to just have a searchable Encyclopedia that can display the applicable rules..

[Quacksalber]

Originally posted by Dusty_Monk:

I agree, I also suspect this is on the to do list. There are probably many more things above this item on the to do list though. At the moment many things are not working as intended so explanations of how they should work would not help

LOL

[OnlyOffensive]

Originally posted by TGC MadGod:

Only too true. The players who have no experience in PF are basically left alone...which is a shame. :|

It would be cool to just have a searchable Encyclopedia that can display the applicable rules..

its basically the same as D&D. I find explanations sufficent in most cases. There are like basic rules about different type of bonuses and most spells/feats based on them, i think most feats are pretty clear.

Metamagic is also simple, what is hard in understanding that "epower" doubles the power of your spell at expense of +2 spell slot level and "maximize" just rolls maximum on numbers

[Ammellisan]

D20pfsrd.com : o look all your problems are solved just like that

if only everyones 'problems' were so 'problematic'

[klaek]

Originally posted by Ammellisan:

D20pfsrd.com : o look all your problems are solved just like that

if only everyones 'problems' were so 'problematic'

Oh look concentration checks dont work the same in game as the srd. If only there was an in game explanation of how they worked.

[JonWoo]

Originally posted by EH!:

I don't understand half of the skills in the game, and even now I don't get the metamagic system. The description of the classes on CC is also really vague, and there's no description of the magic schools.

Metamagic enhances spells. Whenever you cast a spell using metamagic it changes it in some way and how you cast it depends on what type of caster you are. There's spontaneous casters that just know spells and don't prepare them like the sorcerer and prepared casters like the wizard that have to pick pick and change their spells between rests.

Using metamagic for spells increases the required spell level to cast it. For example, Quicken Metamagic changes the cast time of a spell it's used on to a swift action meaning it casts almost instantly with no wait time but it increases the required spell level by 4. So a first level spell would require a 5th level spell slot if you use quicken on it.

Now the difference between each type of caster, prepared(wizard) and spontaneous(sorcerer), when using metamagic is that when a sorcerer uses metamagic it increases the time it takes to cast a spell they're using metamagic on while also increasing the required spell level as normal. A wizard on the otherhand simply chooses which spells he wants to cast using metamagic like he's preparing any of his other spells and the cast time isn't increased.

An example would be a wizard preparing his spells and wanting to prepare a fireball spell(normally a 3rd level spell) with Empower. This would add 2 levels to it which would then require a 5th level spell slot. But as I said, the wizard doesn't suffer from increased casting time for this like a sorcerer would. It still casts at the same speed as a 3rd level fireball but it just takes a 5th level spell slot.

[jazzable]

A system like it was done in TOEE 10 (15?) years ago is perfect; click on anything in your character sheet abd it opens up a nice articel with anything you need to know with hyperlinks if you want to know more; in a easy-to-read browser-like interface.

[Quacksalber]

Originally posted by Jonwoo89:

Originally posted by EH!:

I don't understand half of the skills in the game, and even now I don't get the metamagic system. The description of the classes on CC is also really vague, and there's no description of the magic schools.

Metamagic enhances spells. Whenever you cast a spell using metamagic it changes it in some way and how you cast it depends on what type of caster you are. There's spontaneous casters that just know spells and don't prepare them like the sorcerer and prepared casters like the wizard that have to pick pick and change their spells between rests.

Using metamagic for spells increases the required spell level to cast it. For example, Quicken Metamagic changes the cast time of a spell it's used on to a swift action meaning it casts almost instantly with no wait time but it increases the required spell level by 4. So a first level spell would require a 5th level spell slot if you use quicken on it.

Now the difference between each type of caster, prepared(wizard) and spontaneous(sorcerer), when using metamagic is that when a sorcerer uses metamagic it increases the time it takes to cast a spell they're using metamagic on while also increasing the required spell level as normal. A wizard on the otherhand simply chooses which spells he wants to cast using metamagic like he's preparing any of his other spells and the cast time isn't increased.

An example would be a wizard preparing his spells and wanting to prepare a fireball spell(normally a 3rd level spell) with Empower. This would add 2 levels to it which would then require a 5th level spell slot. But as I said, the wizard doesn't suffer from increased casting time for this like a sorcerer would. It still casts at the same speed as a 3rd level fireball but it just takes a 5th level spell slot.

Thank you for the explanation. I'm still confused though. First it only says what the metamagic does by hovering over the 1. Then there are those empty squares underneath that look to me like they mean you have to drag other spells there, but apaprently not. So say I drag "resist energy communal" into matamagic. the spell level and resulting spell level are both 3. Anyway, so I hit "write spell" and it clones the spell with the same description and level and then also clones it in the "favourites" section, which in turn reads "you can't memorize spells from the favourites section". What's the point of that section then?

Disregarding that, if I take say "Summon Monster 1", it says resulting spell level 2, but it also just clones the spell in the level 1 section and it still has the same description (1 round/level). Which means it basically does nothing from what I can tell. I'm probably being ultra dense, but I really just don't get it. xD

https://imgur.com/OAxfKMa

[jazzable]

From looking at the interface (sorry, haven´t played for a while) it would seem that you have to apply your metamagic by dragging one or more effects into those three empty slots at the bottom of that window. Just guessing though.

[Gregorovitch]

Originally posted by OnlyOffensive:

its basically the same as D&D. I find explanations sufficent in most cases.

Well the reason yuou find the explantions sufficient is becasue you know D&D. If you didn't the situation would be different. The game should in no way assume prior knowledge of D&D or PF ruleset.

Originally posted by Ammellisan:

D20pfsrd.com : o look all your problems are solved just like that

if only everyones 'problems' were so 'problematic'

No video game should ever require you look up it's rules outside of the game itself. Under any circumstances whatever.

[JonWoo]

Originally posted by EH!:

Originally posted by Jonwoo89:

Metamagic enhances spells. Whenever you cast a spell using metamagic it changes it in some way and how you cast it depends on what type of caster you are. There's spontaneous casters that just know spells and don't prepare them like the sorcerer and prepared casters like the wizard that have to pick pick and change their spells between rests.

Using metamagic for spells increases the required spell level to cast it. For example, Quicken Metamagic changes the cast time of a spell it's used on to a swift action meaning it casts almost instantly with no wait time but it increases the required spell level by 4. So a first level spell would require a 5th level spell slot if you use quicken on it.

Now the difference between each type of caster, prepared(wizard) and spontaneous(sorcerer), when using metamagic is that when a sorcerer uses metamagic it increases the time it takes to cast a spell they're using metamagic on while also increasing the required spell level as normal. A wizard on the otherhand simply chooses which spells he wants to cast using metamagic like he's preparing any of his other spells and the cast time isn't increased.

An example would be a wizard preparing his spells and wanting to prepare a fireball spell(normally a 3rd level spell) with Empower. This would add 2 levels to it which would then require a 5th level spell slot. But as I said, the wizard doesn't suffer from increased casting time for this like a sorcerer would. It still casts at the same speed as a 3rd level fireball but it just takes a 5th level spell slot.

Thank you for the explanation. I'm still confused though. First it only says what the metamagic does by hovering over the 1. Then there are those empty squares underneath that look to me like they mean you have to drag other spells there, but apaprently not. So say I drag "resist energy communal" into matamagic. the spell level and resulting spell level are both 3. Anyway, so I hit "write spell" and it clones the spell with the same description and level and then also clones it in the "favourites" section, which in turn reads "you can't memorize spells from the favourites section". What's the point of that section then?

Disregarding that, if I take say "Summon Monster 1", it says resulting spell level 2, but it also just clones the spell in the level 1 section and it still has the same description (1 round/level). Which means it basically does nothing from what I can tell. I'm probably being ultra dense, but I really just don't get it. xD

https://imgur.com/OAxfKMa

You drag that circle near the top with the hand on it into one of those empty circles around the spell to apply the metamagic to it. Those boxes at the bottom are only cosmetic and change the apperance of the new spell icon for the enhanced spell. Same as clicking one of the colors.

When you're done click the "Write Spell" button and it will add it to the appropriate spell level page. That Communal Resist Energy would end up on the 4th level page for example.

[RJM]

You make a fair point. Unfortunately the game is built on the Pathfinder rules system, kickstarted by fans of the Pathfinder rules system and they don't have the resources to copy the entirety of the Pathfinder rules text into the game and reword bits so its easy for complete novices to understand. Any more than Baldur's Gate copied in the entirety of the D&D ruleset and how to play it into their game 20 years ago.

Yes, the tooltips should be better in places, but to understand all of it you're going to need to rely on external resources to explain it better or give you details that there just isn't space in the game to expand upon properly.

[Quacksalber]

Originally posted by jazzable:

From looking at the interface (sorry, haven´t played for a while) it would seem that you have to apply your metamagic by dragging one or more effects into those three empty slots at the bottom of that window. Just guessing though.

I tried dragging other spells / the same there and nothing happens. BUT, apparently dragging the metamagic icon down into the top circle above the selected spell does something. It turned Resist Energy Communal into a level 4 spell, and on top of it, it says "Metamagic: Extended", so I guess that worked.