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View Full Version : Levelling, and feats, and attributes, oh my!


Cadrius
1st of October, 2003, 04:14
Bear with me on this concept here, it's not overly complex by any means, it simply requires a little bit of forethought (something easily doable in a PbP game).

One thing that's always bothered me about 3E is the arbitrary acquisition of feats, skills, attributes, class abilities, etc. It doesn't quite make sense to me to have the rogue say, "I think I'll just start dodging better," (improved evasion) without any real training (or sometimes any real reason due to a low magic campaign and a lack of area of attack spells).

Here's what I propose: keep in mind what your character is going to be building toward in the coming levels; your next feat, your next attribute increase, your next class ability, etc. Most stuff I'm pretty lenient about and won't require seeking a trainer (although PrCs, certain feats, and other things will require something else). Skills that neither you nor your companions have ranks in will likely need to be learned (at least at first) from someone, unless of course they're untrained.

All I want to do is get the occasional bit in a post where I can see that character working on it. Perhaps they spend an extra hour practicing with their sword each night (working toward Weapon Focus) or maybe they throw rocks at obscure targets with a companion (increase Dex).

Due to their nature, path abilities do not need to be played out in this manner, although they could be if the character had a sense of what was coming next.

This isn't meant to deprive any character of their hard-earned abilities, it's simply designed to keep me happy and give us all a sense of verisimillitude. As I said, it doesn't take much, just toss your poor DM a bone once in a while.

Questions? Comments? Rants? Raves?

Maeko
1st of October, 2003, 04:20
Good idea to give depth to the characters, I like it

Gralhruk
1st of October, 2003, 04:26
I won't like it if people start throwing rocks at me.

PullOfTheSpirit
1st of October, 2003, 04:27
I was already planning on doing this, particularly in regards to the Ancestral Bladebearer PrC. So, it sounds fine to me. *chucks a rock at Gralhruk*

Cadrius
1st of October, 2003, 04:28
Originally posted by Gralhruk
I won't like it if people start throwing rocks at me.

Once again Gral has seen through the thin veil to get to my real agenda; making his character miserable.

Gralhruk
1st of October, 2003, 04:39
It's just so . . . harsh.

Dirigible
1st of October, 2003, 05:32
Oh, I'm used to that system.

I play in a friend's homebrew rulesystem where you only gian attributes and skills if you practise them.

I swear, he laughs when I train up Endurance by stabbing myself over and over with needles...

Swashbuckler
1st of October, 2003, 11:26
:D *** throws a rock at everyone in the blink of an eye, thereby practicing his Quickened Heroic Path!*** :D

But seriously, good idea - it will make for great role-playing (vs. roll-playing).

Dirigible
3rd of October, 2003, 14:22
I'm jsut gald we don't hae a PC on the path of the Beast.

"Bad PC ! Bad ! Stop sniffing yourself ! Bad !"