How to Not Die: A Survey of Defensive Mechanics | Pathfinder 2e

[@TheRulesLawyerRPG]

Really good video! I love how 2e doesn't incentivize you into just making attack after attack, like "some other KZbinrs" might make you think :D (BTW I might use that little 5e PHB animation for my videos lol) Nice acknowledgment that these are a toolbox and there's a still a judgment call at the end of the day.

[@patfanning3792]

I'd suggest that speed be a defensive consideration in character builds. Having a higher rate of speed, such as monks, can allow you to out run your opponents, forcing them to use actions to move into combat range. this leaves them fewer opportunities to attack. The FLEET general feat and items such as boots of bounding and bracelet of dashing can add to one's speed. Elves start out at 30 ft movement speed too.

[@1dm564]

Great thought, I definitely should have mentioned it briefly.

[@JonWaterfall]

Also smart use of hero points, and reminding the GM to give out roughly 1 hero point per hour of play. I know I haven't been the best at dealing those out.

[@1dm564]

I always forgot to hand them out. On the few occasions players ask, I pretty much always give one

[@avivschwarz8513]

I give 1 point per session, so each player knows whether they have one or not and it's one less thing for me to keep in mind. It also feels kind of appropriate that once per short segment of the story (i.e one session) each of the PCs gets to do an heroic action. This works well on it's own, however because it is still less than what is recommended, I boosted it in 2 ways. 1: make hero points slightly stronger by allowing them to perform actions usually locked behind a feat (once, and appropriate to the scene- this is about creating dramatic action, not cheesing to make your build better). 2: I give them disposable points that can only be used for lower-risk actions outside of combat such as crafting or recalling knowledge. These points can be obtained by uncovering campaign-related lore, so they are less of a mechanical balance and more of a way of keeping them engaged with the story, and that works to some degree

[@quintinmirick8409]

Loved seeing the bear fight from AoA as your example of a choke point, we did that to that very same fight.

[@rafasiqalv]

STR, INT and CHA are all good stats for a melee alchemist, specially a Mutagenist using Beastial Mutagen with Feral Mutagen feat, since they’ll get the bonus to Intimidation too. Also for Alchemists, the Drakeheart Mutagen can give the value of Heavy Armor to any character, even Monks or spellcasters, which should be around +1~3 AC. It’s also the only mutagen that can end its effects without Revivifying Mutagen, so it’s even better for spellcasters. The penalties to Will and Reflex are worrying, but using it before a boss who doesn’t cast spells is the best buff an Alchemist can give IMO. And I think one thing that deserves a little mention is Temporary HP! Barbarian’s Rage (and Renewed Vigor, amazing feat), Juggernaut Mutagen or Polymorph spells are all good options for Temp HP that can give more survivability. Great video!!

[@generalfeed3187]

I don't know if you are still doing content or not, but with the pathfinder remastered project announcement, would you considered doing a video of things you feel could change. With you math videos and deep analysis maybe you could offer a more informed take on what things are lacking where.

[@luminousmage]

Yay new video! And a very nice topic that I can link to my newer players as a GM to take some edge of how punishing this system can be with poor tactics.

[@RydenDaniel]

Of note, in the druid example with AC is that wearing light armor with too little strength is not a high penalty. Wearing a chain shirt as an oracle can be very helpful and a low cost to get the most out of your stats.

[@1dm564]

Very true! I'd forgotten that unlike other systems, armor never hampers spellcasting.

[@Jasonwfd]

Great idea for a video! Well done and easy to follow I'd say. I am SO glad you spent the time and focus you did on tactical positioning, as some people don't understand how much this can change an encounter.

[@Thisismyhandleandanumber]

This reminds me of all the times i looked up mmo tutorials and boss guides.

[@cheezeofages]

As always your videos show me how beautiful the math and engineering of this game is.

[@rylandrc]

Some other options for defensive items: Drakeheart Mutagen: great if you have low AC Smokestick/Mistform Elixir: Makes you concealed (20% miss chance) to effects/attacks that target you.

[@toodleselnoodos6738]

Is this good or not? I had some discussions on line and have seen two views: Discord - No. Drakeheart is bad and you should be grabbing Sentinel if needed. Reddit - Yes! Drakeheart is amazing and should use it if your character needs it. Official Forum - They broke my OP build. I figured that an INT character can take advantage of Drakeheart either by grabbing Alchemist ded or getting Alchemical Crafting and crafting it yourself. Witch/Wizard with Alch ded for example has access to both of those with a Valet familiar able to apply both buffs with one turn.

[@rylandrc]

@@toodleselnoodos6738 Either way, Drakeheart can still be useful if you are ambushed at night and don't have time to put on armor. Good to keep at least one on hand imo.

[@rylandrc]

Another option for shields, a buckler doesn't require a free hand to wear!

[@astrid2432]

hit points; I play a vine leshy green order druid on lvl 1 I have 19HP (8 ancestry, 8 class and 3 con) Armor Class: I have 16 armor + 2 with shield (1 leather armor, 2 dex) Saving throws: 6fort, 4 reflex, 9 will (expert in will, +4wis) and yet I still got down as the only one from the group like 2-3 times in Age of Ashes xD we are lvl 5, items are in a range of ok we got before +1 armor or I think most of our group, hard to tell, if you can only see your own chara sheet stats wise: 1str, 3dex, 3con, 0int, 4wis and 1cha, so saving throws are mostly balanced even xD armor class is 22 defensiv feats: leshy superstition (reaction +1 circumstance bonus for spells and magic effects) goodberry at lvl 3 (3 berries each 1d6+4hp) herbalist dedication - poultice preparation (advanced alchemy for healing items + preparing them as poultice, who works as an aid for persistend dmg of fire, acid or bleed and immedial flat check for it) leshy familiar secret (if purifing air counts for that, giving +2 circumstance bonuns at smelling saving throws and the breathing) and weapon of choice: spear or a javeline, still unsure what I pick what I wanted to add: energy aegis is almost the same as from the druid primal aegis. as it gives a bonus to all the same dmg, except for sonic and force, but it scales with wisdom, so it could be like +5 or even +6 (with artifact even +7) and that is even for your whole party (aura of 30ft) and not only a single person

[@rasleyforde2363]

Great video!

[@Sequellbellhelmel]

shout out to cosmos oracles who get physical resistance equal to 2 plus half level. Even with subpar AC it's very valuable

[@1dm564]

I have a cosmos oracle in my party playing AoA right now, it's fantastic. I'm not sure he's ever gone unconscious haha

[@flameloude]

I wonder if you've been paying attention to the recent casters vs martials discussion that's been going on in the subreddit.

[@clockworkcthulhu8195]

What should I put in that 1dM does not mention the Canny Acumen general feat to boost Saving Throws? Is it just too bad to talk about?

[@1dm564]

Oh man, can't believe I missed that. I definitely should have mentioned it, but it also isn't that great lol. Every class gets Expert in every save anyway, the feat might just make it a bit earlier for you. And the Master advance at 17 is...okay I guess. The feat is just underwhelming because it doesn't actually *do* anything at most levels.

[@avivschwarz8513]

@@1dm564 Can you take it and retrain it when it no longer does anything?

[@12thLevelSithLord]

@@avivschwarz8513 You most certainly can.

[@jacobelgan5196]

Honestly, i find rogue to be the best at tanking, because hiding in plain site, even from creatures with special senses, means a 50% (55% for changlings) chance of the attack being negated BEFORE even rolling to see wether it hits the AC or not

[@tamadesthi156]

but how the hiding rouge "taunts" the creature as in making sure it is attacking him and not his party?

[@jacobelgan5196]

@@tamadesthi156 excellent question. First thing is to make sure you are within engagement range of the target. Then you'll need a reaction to demotivate the target from moving away from you. Attack of opportunity is useful, but i believe monk's Stand Still will be better (assuming you'll multiclass to monk or do a hiding monk build). Another way is to take Fascinating performance to fascinate the target the target before hiding from it for further demotivation

[@tamadesthi156]

@@jacobelgan5196 Tahnks for the detailed answer :) But if you are hiding the target is no longer fascinated by you? I mean it can't see you anymore.. And from what feat or class feature does the rogue get hiding in plain sight? I can't quite find it

[@jacobelgan5196]

@@tamadesthi156 you're welcome! Interesting enough, I can't find anything in the rules that demands the fascinated target to need to see the object/subject of their fascination, but 2e's rules are so abundent, it's hard for me to keep track. As for why i chose rogue, that's because many of the feats rogue has support hiding in multiple, sometimes unorthodox, ways (like staying hidden after attacking, or attacking a creature targeting an ally). If you are also legendary at deception, you can take Blank Slate at 16th level, which makes you undetectable, even by divination magic. The reason why this is important is because while Foil Senses (7th level skill feat) can make you hidden by special senses, some might argue that True Sight isn't a special sense. Blank Slate bypasses that.

[@tamadesthi156]

@@jacobelgan5196 Okay can't find anything in the rules yet, but that would just be logic for me. Blank state "only" makes you undetecable for Detection, revelation, and scrying effects, aka divination magic, you can still be found through ordinary means aka seek action. But how do you accomplish to hide while being observed without having cover?

[@joyfulcandycube6785]

I was wandering whether the fact that 2e doesn't have a specific Dodge action makes fighting defensively much harder to achieve. From what it seems your defensive options are those that you have prepared for or invested into. I both like this, but also find it a little concerning, for those cases when the new player or the wizard find themselves out of position. Are there any insights regarding the "absence" of a Dodge standard action?

[@joyfulcandycube6785]

Great video by the way! I really like these surveys!

[@1dm564]

Hmm, that's a good question. I'd say Raising a Shield has kind of taken its place as a basic defensive action, which now requires even more investment than just the action. There's also Take Cover which is actually pretty good but not generally usable in melee.

[@avivschwarz8513]

@@1dm564 I kind of like that there's no longer an option to "fight defensively" just by standing on the front lines. You have to either: take a shield and sacrifice both a free hand + action economy, or use your third action to put some distance/cover between you and the enemies (in a kind of skirmish combat style). It's just so much more interesting and flavorful than 1e's "I fight normally but a bit more carefully so I get more AC now"

[@TheRulesLawyerRPG]

There's no Dodge action, but Step away and Athletics skill actions and Demoralize are all pretty useful, plus Take Cover, Hide, and Create a Diversion.

[@12thLevelSithLord]

The wizard can also invest in the Shield spell as a basic defensive action.

[@guardian_of_the_rune]

I feel hiding should have had more focus.