tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post1299009040288468254..comments2024-03-29T13:22:19.434+00:00Comments on Roles, Rules, and Rolls: Prestige? Hell, I Was Born This WayRoger G-Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-18758234944176144222013-03-09T18:09:44.462+00:002013-03-09T18:09:44.462+00:00I think 4E had the right approach to NPC generatio...I think 4E had the right approach to NPC generation: just treat them like monsters. There is not really any benefit to engaging the whole PC chargen machinery. Just give NPCs hit dice, equipment, and (if appropriate) a few spells or special powers.Necropraxishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12716340801054739658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-7885315127229313322013-03-06T00:27:08.285+00:002013-03-06T00:27:08.285+00:00I like #2. I add choice by having players "un...I like #2. I add choice by having players "unlock" new classes in new locations. The bards of Halgorn, for example. If they create a new character there, he or she can be a bard. Alex Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17104864340940538702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-7972078386189174472013-02-27T15:48:18.196+00:002013-02-27T15:48:18.196+00:00@Josh & Mike: True, which is why my Basic-infl...@Josh & Mike: True, which is why my Basic-influenced instincts tend to head that way. Increazsing complexity with play wins!<br /><br />@Rev.: That system does look interesting, and there's much to recommend that approach. I'm reminded of FrDave's "druids as monsters," for example.<br /><br />@Rubberduck, Talysman, LGP: All good points and in the general same direction. I think letting druids be druids from level 1 while still being clerics/prophets is the way forward - this means that cleric flavor choice will have to be up front and similar to the magic-user's spell selection. A lot of biblical miracles are indistinguishable from druid nature powers anyway.Roger G-Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-63444971082318219132013-02-26T22:37:56.062+00:002013-02-26T22:37:56.062+00:00here is a current version of the above.here is a <a href="http://lasgunpacker.blogspot.com/2013/02/character-advancement.html" rel="nofollow">current version</a> of the above.Lasgunpackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13529298072677726064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-57703194547154647042013-02-26T21:57:25.602+00:002013-02-26T21:57:25.602+00:00I went with a FrDave like system of prestige class...I went with a FrDave like system of prestige classes coming with 4th level, <a href="http://lasgunpacker.blogspot.com/2011/08/prestige-classes-old-school-style.html" rel="nofollow">built on this post.</a> So at 4th level, you either become the name of your class (Fighter/cleric, etc.) or you decide to specialize in some way and become something else. <br /><br />Druids I treat specialy to prevent the issues you discuss with someone essentially "abandoning" their faith. Anyone can be a Bard at 4th level. Lasgunpackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13529298072677726064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-21610809567848447272013-02-26T16:41:36.540+00:002013-02-26T16:41:36.540+00:00Oh, you had a question. I like #1 -- my biggest gr...Oh, you had a question. I like #1 -- my biggest grief with overly customizable PCs and feats and all that is that I can't as easily, as DM, just thrown in a level 8 fighter or whatever NPC without going through a lot of pointless chargen. (Yeah, I can just ignore that stuff, but then the NPC is really weak compared vs. the PCs!) <br />I guess this is really something you should your players about though, unless you asking for input because this will be going into one of your projects.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-77089341917466245022013-02-26T16:40:29.050+00:002013-02-26T16:40:29.050+00:00You've been a long-time reader of my blog, so ...You've been a long-time reader of my blog, so you probably can already guess my answer is closer to (2): start with just a few classes (and their hybrids) and allow broad changes to the "fluff" part of a class without changing the particulars of the class at all. Thus, my druids are pretty much the same as my clerics, they just swap spell lists (since there are plenty of nature spell lists floating around out there.) And my witches are magic-users (perhaps swapping druid spells for M-U spells) but with familiars instead of spell books and they brew potions instead of memorize spells.Talysmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02162328521343832412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-60931333144652796342013-02-26T16:34:42.741+00:002013-02-26T16:34:42.741+00:00Gosh, supplement 1--Greyhawk introduced paladins ...Gosh, supplement 1--Greyhawk introduced paladins as a prestige class for fighters, right? Cha 17 and level 4 I think. I tried adding explicit 'guilds' and churches to allow specialist classes appropriate to the setting, but only the fighters and dwarves really wanted more options. Could be the fact that spell casters can learn different spells.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-56724931478178914612013-02-26T15:40:13.804+00:002013-02-26T15:40:13.804+00:00I'm a bit conflicted on this. I wouldn't r...I'm a bit conflicted on this. I wouldn't really want to go with the feat option. Things like the druid seem like they should be a package deal. Background, soft features (wooden weapons requirements and such), as well as the class features.<br /><br />On the other hand a dozen (or more) different classes does seem too much, if I'm playing oldschool. According to what I've picked up about the psychology of choice, less is definitely better.<br /><br />I think.. if I should go with something like this, I'd go for a prestige class option. The trick would be to make the base classes generic enough that it can cover the early career of the later specializations. So you'd be playing a druid from the start. You would have the same class as the cloistered cleric next to you, but stick to nature spells and otherwise act druidy, until you get the level where you go prestige and begin to get actual different abilities. Probably as early as level 2 or 3 for some of the prestige classes.The Rubberduckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12585052552943070379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-85792914995771706172013-02-26T14:45:16.600+00:002013-02-26T14:45:16.600+00:00In my own system that I am developing / hoping-to-...In my own system that I am developing / hoping-to-playtest-once-I-drum-up-enough-players, NPCs and Monsters are built the same way. Their "abilities" are even "priced" differently, but it is simple to translate a PC ability into a Monster/NPC ability -- so a <i>semblance</i> of an NPC with a PC class can be generated.<br /><br />I find this easier to "balance," but also side-steps to 3e problem of Monsters -- due to them being built the same as PCs -- being a pain or just slow to build.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-4585503387535116712013-02-26T13:12:27.304+00:002013-02-26T13:12:27.304+00:00Those "prestige classes" are based on th...Those "prestige classes" are based on the high level options from B/X. Nothin' new under the sun; fighters eventually needed to choose if they would be Avengers (chaotic), Paladins (lawful), or... some other thing (neutral). Mages needed to decide if they would be landed or free.<br /><br />Character evolution has been with us since the early days.JDG Perldeinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07632961831809544262noreply@blogger.com