Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 18 hours ago
Silly YouTube seems to have deleted my pinned comment. Here it is again, hopefully YT won't mess with it:
ADDITIONS/ERRATA:
-The "main DC" is just the "typical" DC. The GM can also choose to use a different DC (e.g., if trying to use Deception to help an ally's attack roll by distracting an enemy, using the enemy's Perception DC), a Level-Based DC, or Simple DC from CRB p. 503.
-At 3:22, a caption says you automatically "critically" succeed at Level 6, but that's actually true at Level 14 with master proficiency in a skill.
-I've seen the idea that Aid as written simulates the party jelling together as a team. First, I think the gameplay effect on low levels is too important to ignore. Second, Aid as written doesn't care how long the PCs have been adventuring together. Third, why should +4 be walled off for lower-level characters? In Lord of the Rings, Sam was low-level but we all know the Aid he offered was LEGENDARY.
-I see the idea popping up in the comments, of having tiers of DCs that have greater effect, like Treat Wounds does: +2/+3/+4 on a crit depending on doing a DC 20, 30, or 40 check. That is certainly something to try; I had discarded the idea because I wanted to keep it gameplay simple and avoid a probability problem every time someone wants to Aid. Also, "I want to try to Aid a lot unlike last time" I found hard to justify in the narrative.
-There is a good argument for getting rid of the roll altogether! A roll to Aid slows down play. Some tables might want to adapt what Derik of Knights of Last Call does: without a roll, you provide a +1 circumstance bonus if you are Trained in the check you would otherwise roll, and this goes up to +2 if you're Expert, +3 if Master, or +4 if you're Legendary.
-I forgot to include that on our Discord we also discussed nerfing some numerical bonuses to Aid that come from Feats. The human feat Cooperative Nature, for example, goes from a +4 circumstance bonus to a +2
-"Let's Fix Aid" thread on the Rules Lawyer Discord:
discord.com/channels/870925179570753616/1122390638307057724
0:00 Intro
1:35 Problems with Aid
7:19 Ronald's Rules of Aiding
11:01 Thoughts on using it so far
13:14 Outro
"Let's Fix Aid" thread on the Rules Lawyer Discord:
discord.com/channels/870925179570753616/1122390638307057724
Ronald's Rules of Rolling:
youtube.com/watch?v=HgbYjfQY-jM
=============================
LIKE & SUBSCRIBE! I'm a lawyer who teaches and runs tabletop RPGs (Pathfinder, D&D, Starfinder) for kids, teens, and adults, and making videos related to TTRPGs and board games.
JOIN MY DISCORD to chat with our community and/or try the Pathfinder Beginner Box or our drop-in PF2e play system! discord.gg/ruleslawyer
SUPPORT MY PATREON for early access to many of my videos and access to exclusive content, and to support me! I do unpaid public-interest legal work and rely on the Patreon and private GMing.
patreon.com/theruleslawyer
For PF2E actual plays, SUBSCRIBE to my other channel, "RULES LAWYER DISCORD COMMUNITY CHANNEL":
youtube.com/channel/UCc1K95QD8Mv2Tr6Wne6KS9g
Follow me on TWITTER at: twitter.com/theruleslawyer1
Pick up your Pathfinder 2e book on Amazon using my affiliate links below. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases which helps me continue doing what I love!
Pathfinder 2e Core Rulebook: amzn.to/3BiFCSj
Pathfinder 2e Beginner Box: amzn.to/3eVsUBB
Silly YouTube seems to have deleted my pinned comment. Here it is again, hopefully YT won't mess with it:
ADDITIONS/ERRATA:
-The "main DC" is just the "typical" DC. The GM can also choose to use a different DC (e.g., if trying to use Deception to help an ally's attack roll by distracting an enemy, using the enemy's Perception DC), a Level-Based DC, or Simple DC from CRB p. 503.
-At 3:22, a caption says you automatically "critically" succeed at Level 6, but that's actually true at Level 14 with master proficiency in a skill.
-I've seen the idea that Aid as written simulates the party jelling together as a team. First, I think the gameplay effect on low levels is too important to ignore. Second, Aid as written doesn't care how long the PCs have been adventuring together. Third, why should +4 be walled off for lower-level characters? In Lord of the Rings, Sam was low-level but we all know the Aid he offered was LEGENDARY.
-I see the idea popping up in the comments, of having tiers of DCs that have greater effect, like Treat Wounds does: +2/+3/+4 on a crit depending on doing a DC 20, 30, or 40 check. That is certainly something to try; I had discarded the idea because I wanted to keep it gameplay simple and avoid a probability problem every time someone wants to Aid. Also, "I want to try to Aid a lot unlike last time" I found hard to justify in the narrative.
-There is a good argument for getting rid of the roll altogether! A roll to Aid slows down play. Some tables might want to adapt what Derik of Knights of Last Call does: without a roll, you provide a +1 circumstance bonus if you are Trained in the check you would otherwise roll, and this goes up to +2 if you're Expert, +3 if Master, or +4 if you're Legendary.
-I forgot to include that on our Discord we also discussed nerfing some numerical bonuses to Aid that come from Feats. The human feat Cooperative Nature, for example, goes from a +4 circumstance bonus to a +2
-"Let's Fix Aid" thread on the Rules Lawyer Discord:
discord.com/channels/870925179570753616/1122390638307057724
0:00 Intro
1:35 Problems with Aid
7:19 Ronald's Rules of Aiding
11:01 Thoughts on using it so far
13:14 Outro
"Let's Fix Aid" thread on the Rules Lawyer Discord:
discord.com/channels/870925179570753616/1122390638307057724
Ronald's Rules of Rolling:
youtube.com/watch?v=HgbYjfQY-jM
=============================
LIKE & SUBSCRIBE! I'm a lawyer who teaches and runs tabletop RPGs (Pathfinder, D&D, Starfinder) for kids, teens, and adults, and making videos related to TTRPGs and board games.
JOIN MY DISCORD to chat with our community and/or try the Pathfinder Beginner Box or our drop-in PF2e play system! discord.gg/ruleslawyer
SUPPORT MY PATREON for early access to many of my videos and access to exclusive content, and to support me! I do unpaid public-interest legal work and rely on the Patreon and private GMing.
patreon.com/theruleslawyer
For PF2E actual plays, SUBSCRIBE to my other channel, "RULES LAWYER DISCORD COMMUNITY CHANNEL":
youtube.com/channel/UCc1K95QD8Mv2Tr6Wne6KS9g
Follow me on TWITTER at: twitter.com/theruleslawyer1
Pick up your Pathfinder 2e book on Amazon using my affiliate links below. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases which helps me continue doing what I love!
Pathfinder 2e Core Rulebook: amzn.to/3BiFCSj
Pathfinder 2e Beginner Box: amzn.to/3eVsUBB
