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I'm GMing for a group where everyone (including myself) is entirely new to Pathfinder. We had our session 0 recently followed by a quick practice combat. The thing I noticed from that, plus a little theory crafting of building a low level character myself, is that people using ranged combat felt very underwhelming compared to melee weapon users.

  • They couldn't add any modifier to damage
  • They had far fewer feats upgrading them (particularly compared to dual wielders)
  • They had fewer "third action" options
  • Less ability to help out allies with things like flanking
  • Can't opportunity attack

Sure, for all that they have the advantage of being safer from getting damaged. But it didn't really feel like a worthwhile trade-off. Does this get better as you level up? Is it just something caused by inexperience? What options can/should you take to make ranged combat feel more interesting and valuable?

For context, my party had a rogue and a ranged fighter as ranged users, as well as a barbarian and a magus in melee, and a druid and sorcerer as casters.

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[-] Gwimdor@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah. I'm GMing some new players and I have a hard time getting my rogue to realize that there are a good number of ways to get a target flat-footed and deal sneak attack damage. I'm giving him as many suggestions as possible but it's not clicking for him yet.

[-] Drunemeton@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Stop "suggesting" and start "telling" him. If you've pointed out, step-by-step, how to do the thing, and he still doesn't do it then that's on him. Otherwise do just that.

[-] bionicjoey@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

Those skill actions take some time to wrap your head around coming from most other systems

this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2023
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