Turning Retraining into Training?


Homebrew and House Rules


Had this idea for a sandbox campaign, but my players didn't think much of it when I brought it up to them. Wanted to see if it was just my group, or did a wider audience think it sucked. ;) Note that this will completely suck unless the party has lots of downtime, so I'd recommend combining it with some way of limiting magic items. Also, the party will be a bit weaker than their ECL indicates.

I have been wondering why adventures adventure in a sandbox game after a certain point. If there is no overall plot, and the players (for the most part) get to choose the pacing, and what adventures they take on, what's the motivation? Around, say, 10th level, your character will already have significant wealth and power. Even in terms of causes, it is probably more efficient for them to retire to a command position and train others to fight the good fight. Unless some major threat pops up that only they can beat (which makes it no longer a sandbox game), they really have no reason to go on adventures.

The idea is basically this - rather than having characters gain a bunch of new abilities all at once when they gain a level, instead their *potential* increases but they have to find someone to train them to reach that potential. The trainer must already have that ability themselves. (In some cases, like HP, BAB, or saves, the trainer need not be of the same class.) Most of this could be handled by the retraining rules (or for some classes, spell research rules) - you are just training the first time, rather than retraining. The only things that don't seem to have training times are BAB and saving throws, but those probably shouldn't be that high anyhow - maybe 3 days.

This is easier at first, but looking for someone who can train you on 20th level abilities would be the subject of quests all on their own - this could mean, for example, that your 16th level character might hit 17th level or even 18th level before finding someone who can teach him 16th level abilities. (For this reason, the GM should probably include trainers in the campaign several levels higher than the characters, so they can be used for multiple level gains.

I feel this addresses the problem I mentioned because the character abilities will always be a bit below their actual level, and the effort of just reaching that potential will further boost their potential. It's like trying to catch up to a runaway horse - you can only do it when it finally chooses to stop. (20th level.)

So what do you think? Good idea, or too much work? Does it adequately address the problem I mentioned?


too much work imo and I don't even see your "problem" as a problem. The adventurers keep adventuring because their players enjoy playing them. If you must have an IC reason, ask each player individually for their character's motivation.

The mage wants to discover the secrets of an ancient civilization, so s/he must go there themselves to study the "primary source material" and because less powerful underlings might miss something since the don't have the skill s/he does.

The fighter STILL hasn't found all the ancient sword masters, so much continue to look for them.

Whatever.....


I am not blow away by the idea.

I would fear that it might harm the feel of the sandbox game, as I puts more emphasize on what the player wants to achieve rather than the character.

Your existing problem "High level adventurers don't need to go on adventures" is solved by "The go questing to learn new stuff, so they can go on new quests to learn stuff". Effectively it is a lot like having them go on quest to earn xp to get new levels.


You could just call them all adrenaline junkies and call it good.


Having played a game where you had to have trainers to level, I have to say this sucks. I also played a game where you didn't level for a long, long time and was DM arbitrary, but that one didn't suck as much as this where you knew you leveled but had to wait for appropriate PC and downtime.

Motivations for adventuring are many, this one feels so metagamey.

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