house rules

[glosz]

Just thought I'd share my house rules with the community.

Some of it is in shorthand so if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them.

House Rules

google document

Combat and Monk Techniques

google pdf

[rainzax]

dig your techniques! this is an elegant way to consolidate feats

you should let rogues get in on the fun tho, for reals (Combat Trick, Weapon Training, etc)

question: if i choose a technique in place of a combat feat, do i automatically get all the feats in the technique path when i qualify for them?

[Ethereal Gears]

Tiny nitpick: Why do wizards need 4 skill ranks + Int per level?

[Scrogz]

Interesting trade off between a 5' step provoking and full BAB on iterative attacks.

I might poll my fighters and see hat they think.

Willing to bet they jump at the full BAB option.

[glosz]

rainzax wrote:

you should let rogues get in on the fun tho, for reals (Combat Trick, Weapon Training, etc)

I should probably make up a rogue list like I did for Monks. I just don't see them as a martial class so was reluctant to hand out the techniques to them.

rainzax wrote:

question: if i choose a technique in place of a combat feat, do i automatically get all the feats in the technique path when i qualify for them?

You gain the feats at a rate of 1 per class level. Most techniques have up to 5 feats so at 5th level (and beyond) you would gain all the feats in the technique as long as you meet the prerequisites as soon as you choose the technique.

For example if you are a 6th level fighter (with STR 13) and choose Bull Rush Technique you would gain all the feats except Bull Rush Strike as you need BAB +9. Once you reach 9th level you automatically gain it.

I probably should put in something about multi-classing martial classes stack levels when determining the number of feats you gain. So if you were a 1st level barbarian with Bull Rush Technique (Power Attack), then took a level of ranger you would gain a second feat (say Improved Bull Rush).

The idea behind the feats is to let fighters use their non-combat feats to flesh out their character although you could still choose a Combat Technique if you like!

Ethereal Gears wrote:

Why do wizards need 4 skill ranks + Int per level?

I wanted to make it minimum 4 across the board.

Scrogz wrote:

Interesting trade off between a 5' step provoking and full BAB on iterative attacks.

My rationale behind the 5'step is that it was too easy for a caster or archer to avoid AoO. As soon as they were threatened they could just 5' step away and be in safety. I have been playing with this and it has made combat heaps easier and casters actually sweat when they are being engaged in melee.

Note that the 5' step only provokes an AoO when you leave a threatened square.

[rainzax]

so, if i'm a level 2 fighter with two techniques, do i get 2 feats or 4? ie is it 1/level or 1/level/technique?

regarding the 5-foot step: is 'because it makes casting safer" the only reason you 'removed' them?

also, if you don't want to create an entire new list of techniques, you could just let the aforementioned rogue talents each 'dip' a single technique from any list.

[glosz]

rainzax wrote:

so, if i'm a level 2 fighter with two techniques, do i get 2 feats or 4? ie is it 1/level or 1/level/technique?

You would get 4.

Keep in mind that a lot of the techniques overlap.

rainzax wrote:

regarding the 5-foot step: is 'because it makes casting safer" the only reason you 'removed' them?

One of the main reasons. Also, archers could 5' step backwards and full attack. I wanted there to be a penalty for letting a melee guy get that close to you. You still have a choice. Take the AoO or cast defensively. For an archer you could either take the AoO or make a melee attack.

rainzax wrote:

also, if you don't want to create an entire new list of techniques, you could just let the aforementioned rogue talents each 'dip' a single technique from any list.

I really wanted to limit the martial aspect of the rogue as sneak attack and high skill points really keeps the character relevant. The fighter, barbarian, paladin and ranger are the fighting classes.

It is also a slippery slope as then do I allow the bard and magus access to Combat Techniques or even the cleric and druid? So maybe just force the rogue to multi-class or encourage the player to play an urban ranger instead.

[rainzax]

i propose rogue because it'd otherwise be the only spell-less technique-less class under your system

what if instead 5-foot-steppin' was a move action? then, the archer at best could get a single shot, and the wizard would have to choose between safety and metamagic/full-round spells?

[glosz]

Most of a wizards arsenal is not full round spells.

I agree though that the rogue is short-changed as the only non-caster not getting a boost.

I guess they could use their Combat Trick (rogue talent) to select a Combat Technique rather than just a single Combat Feat. They must still meet the pre-requisites of the feats.

1 Combat Technique is reasonable and doesn't step on the martial characters toes. It also falls in-line with how a fighter can spend his bonus combat feats.

I'll write that into my house rules. I am sure my players will be happy!

[Adam Luchjenbroers]

rainzax wrote:

what if instead 5-foot-steppin' was a move action? then, the archer at best could get a single shot, and the wizard would have to choose between safety and metamagic/full-round spells?

Alternatively, if five-foot steps bother you that much give everyone Step Up as a free feat instead? It has almost the same affect, unless the caster finds some way to immobilize their opponent / be more mobile than their opponent (feather step would become a bit more useful / interesting).