The actual first attempt is on paper in my notes, but here’s the cleaned-up version using the RPG Superstar Character Builder.
The not-so-famous Mortog the Orc Artificer (in training) wanted to built an Orc made of Copper. Copper is a nice, softer metal so Mortog could mold the thing in his own image. At least the first would look like him, anyway. He planned to make an army of them.
The frame of the creature is actually a wooden tun with an iron frame built around it. A suit of old, worn chain mail was draped over the skeleton. The head and arm assemblies were made of copper, along with the face and a metal bucket to act as a helm to protect the head. The legs were crudely carved wood and bound in copper to act as muscles of sorts. The feet were little more than wooden planks nailed onto the bottom of the legs.
Much like any other popular fantasy TTRPGs, monster creation for PF2E is better with computers.
A lot of more simplistic (Old School) TTRPGs only require a stat block and imagination. I can pound out a Dungeon Crawl Classics monster stat block in minutes offline. I probably spend more time figuring out special abilities when compared to other monsters of a similar level in DCCRPG than I do on the basic stat block for Pathfinder 2E. Even then, I’m pretty much eyeballing it in DCC. My best guess usually works in game, and the players are never going to know I was “faking it” even if I’m completely off on the stat block.
One of the few weaknesses and hidden strengths of PF2E I’m discovering are the dozens of traits tied to everything. I find it rather cumbersome in the design phase having to look at every special ability and attack and trying to figure out. I also spend a lot of time digging on Archives of Nethys to figure out if I’ve got the right traits, enough traits and if they’re balanced with similar creatures already in the game. Maybe I’m low-key paranoid because it’s RPG Superstar and I’m trying to get everything perfect for the judges.
Luckily, the Copper Warrior is not for the judges and probably won’t be. I’m two submissions in and I’m freaking out. This third one has to be dynamite if I want to have any hope of getting my foot in the door of this industry. It’s getting easier, though. I wish I had more time to crash test these things, though. It’s definitely been a learning experience, regardless.
PF2E is crunchy like concrete.
That’s a compliment. The one thing I truly admire about PF2E is that it is codified and measured. If I’m wondering about something specific in the numbers, there’s probably a rule for it. The designers really put a ton of thought and effort into the game, and I admire that. The upcoming Remastered GM Core looks like they’re taking all the best parts of the GM Mastery, Core Rulebook, and key parts of the Bestiary and rolling them into one book from what we’ve heard. My fondest request would be that they put ALL of the monster creation rules in one spot in that book including a full traits list.
As a GM, I love the idea of running PF2E because I might have to look up something specific in the rules, but I know it’s in there most of the time. Worse comes to worse, I pop open Archives of Nethys and look for it. So far I’ve been able to find comparative rulings or specific rules to cover just about anything if I dig long enough. This website would have been a godsend back in the old 3.5 D&D days.
Thank you for stopping by. I hope your monster creation efforts go well in whatever system you’re a fan of. I appreciate you being here. Keep being wonderful.
Jeff's Game Box 