RoTRL Experiment

Game Master ciretose

RoTRL Challenge Experiment.


First, there will be Rise of the Runelords Spoilers. If you have not run it, sorry, stay out.

I've proposed this in the theorycraft threads to deal with the "viability" and "overpowered" debates. Here is the concept.

Four "players" representing four classes create 4 legal 1st level characters.

A set of judges (at least 3, no more than 5) look at an encounter group and rate which characters would be the most useful to the group in that encounter, as built, with a number 1-4.

For example looking at the opening sequence of Rise of the Runelords, if I were a judge looking the beginner box party I would rate them as follows:

1. Fighter – Can one hit kill most of the time and unlikely to be hit.
2. Cleric – Healer will be helpful during the pauses, but having Father Zantus means it isn’t mission critical. May be first if not for Father Zantus being present considering healing likely needed over three consecutive conflicts.
3. Rogue- Skills not that useful and will be dependent on fighter for flanking.
4. Wizard- Will likely be great for one of the three encounters, but will likely run out of non-cantrips very quickly and low hit points and ac will leave vulnerable. A sorcerer would be much higher, possibly number one with multiple color sprays or the like. But a 1st level wizard isn't going to have the spells for such a drawn out encounter.

Something short and sweet like that from each judge for each encounter. Over time it will be clear if one person is lagging or not.

Prior to judging each person would say what their character would do to help the party for that specific encounter, and we would total the judges ratings over time with lowest average score being the most valuable.

You can only have what you acquire through the AP or can buy based on factors like availability in the city you are in, crafting skill at the time you craft it, etc...I would recommend a "lead" judge to adjudicate these disputes in the same way a GM would, as well as dividing up what is an "encounter" (as in what is a set of encounters that should be expected to be completed in a day) and when the characters should have enough XP to level.

Anyone interested, and if you are interested, in what role. I would like to see some of the "Wizard God" posted join and create their god wizard, as well as representatives from the "not viable" classes like monk demonstrating build value.