Dean A's page

Yeah my buddy is a glutton for punishment or desperate for a game cause next they are making 30 point builds for planescape with some stat called luck that he said effects things of chance.

Yes. Yes, I am. I do it because I like the sting of the dominatrix whip. Until someone creates a system that shocks you for taking damage I will continue to build things like Urban Ranger/Rake wielding Chakrams in a non-city adventure. Yes that actually happened, sorry Joey.

This time I wanted to be able to actually contribute as I was joining an ongoing adventure, hence the request for an optimizing consult from helpful individuals like yourselves.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP AND INPUT!!

(Well except for that one person, he was just plain mean.)

I am really enjoying the ideas thrown out there. And the opinions of others, without people going back and forth arguing, or putting down ideas.

The whole reason I started this was to hear ways to improve the format for my future Character generation adventures. I liked Tcliffs idea, and the 2+4d4 for additional randomness with post creation balancing and a method that limited the minimums to 6.

The idea of my adventure came from playing with a DM that is a power gamer, that gives me crap for picking random dance perform for a characters skills when there is no chance for using it. Its the same group of friends that I play with, that roll multiple games (icon, mutant and masterminds, Dark heresy, star wars, etc.) So, it was feasible to surprise them with the character format, telling them to take it and like it, lol. The plan is to take these characters from level 1 to 18-20 over the next XXmonths/years. Once in a while they will get the call to break out the losers. I also recently joked with one of them that the ranger cannot die as the other two have strength of 4 and 7, and won't be able to carry him anywhere.

And there is nothing wrong with any of the systems listed (except for that one on page one, that was just wacky).

So, again thanks to everyone. If anyone is interested in seeing how the adventure works out feel free to PM me.

Also I am starting a new thread, to get ideas on how to carry out an organized war, putting these same characters in the front lines of a mass battle. Would like the same additional input on good ways to keep track of the battle, and to let the battle develop organically rather than be predetermined.

Thanks,

Dean

The problem with straight 3d6 is the pure randomness of it. Too much of a chance to have a 'still born' character or run the risk of having one character that overpowers the other ones. If I was to go that route I would have to give them a little incentive to not just want to kill their character and reroll at the first opportunity.

Once the player rolled the character then I would check to see how many 'points' it would take to make that character:

1. If it was less that 10, forget it. The character would be more of a liability to the party than he is worth and to be honest the other players would probably leave him behind. If they really want to stick with their sub-par roll, maybe start them out at lvl 2 or give them a lvl in an NPC class.
2. 10-15, then I would give them a bonus feat to make up for the lack of stats.
3. 15-20, a bonus trait.
4. 20-25 no change.
5. Finally, if they come out over 25 points, I think I would actually give them a flaw that impacts their character [i.e. lame foot so their starting foot speed is -10 or drop their starting feat]. Just to bring them down to earth with the other players.

Yea 3d6 is good for role playing but really hurts roll playing.

This sounds really good, thanks Tcliff

Wraithstrike,

This is not about PCs facing adversity, who cares about the pcs. its about challenging players. It is always about players. There are plenty of options, yes, like mine. Like point buys. But, don't you find it occasionally mundane to make your character exactly right, drawing the most out of every stat, every single game? Having them planned from LVL 1 to 18. With feats pre-selected to make them the most effective killing machine they can be.

You can play any character you want anytime you want. If you want to play a wizard in an adventure with an 8 int, go ahead. He will suck on ice but he's there with the worst possible spell casting this side of the mississippi. (that such a fun word to spell)

And why the need of escalation, increasing the str of both sides seems pointless. I never understood that.

Here are the requested stat rolls.

STR/DEX/CON/INT/WIS/CHA
rogue - elf

4/17/10/11/5/15

dwarf - cleric

7/11/18/9/14/7

human - ranger

11/12/11/12/11/11 (the muscle - he will be opening all the jars)

Since there are a few debating the process, and I knew it would happen, I ask what is the appeal to having higher than average stats. It takes away from the occasionally exceptional rolls. I personally enjoy the randomness of character creation, the challenge of SURVIVING a battle using strategy and teamwork vs supercharged heroes.

In my experience, when characters have higher ability stats all the GM/DM does is increase the same stats on the creatures.

The group I play with know the books inside and out, backwards and forwards. Sometimes it seems that there is no challenge in battles except avoiding the crushing NAT 20 rolls from the creatures.

All methods are good, but I think all experienced role players should step back occasionally and generate characters that are random and difficult to play. You may find the experience rewarding, and give you a little reminder of the first time you rolled your first character sheet. (I was a ranger)

What is the worst that can happen? Your imaginary character may die.
Or you may have the most unlikely lvl 20 character. Are we not rolling heroes. Isn't that what heroes are? People who face adversity with so much stacked against them that there seems to be no likely hood for victory.

I love the occasional swarm battle. Once in a while, on video games, its fun to go back and one shot your way through things that gave you trouble. I does as someone wrote earlier give the players a sense of how far they've come and how powerful they are now.

I am actually trying to create an all out war for an adventure I am working on where the PCs are lower level and in the ranks/front lines. Surrounded by npc meat that they hack their way through. And basic coin flips decide the direction the battle swings in swarm vs swarm. And it will be up to them to decide to tactically retreat or fight on.

I am in the process of creating a series of adventures for my gaming group, where the party must first choose a Race, apply ability bonuses, and then roll down the line 3d6 for ability scores (STR, DEX, CON ETC....)

It created some surprising reactions from one of them, something similar to a toddler tantrum.

My goal is to create a open adventure, starting the group off as slaves, with no gear or wealth, where their first task is escaping and then returning across country to their home.

Typically the group rolls 3d6 plus 6 dropping the lowest. I myself and old school and prefer the randomness of low score characters, finding a way to survive and exist with abilities that may include a strength score of 4 (I include this because one of them actually rolled this stat.)

So, I would like to hear from the community.

1. How do you roll your stats and why?

2. Have you ever played with standard 3d6 stat rolls? What is your opinion of it?

<Also I plan on opening up the trait list, so that they can gain additional traits as the adventures progress. (Ex. When they escape they will all gain the Freed Slave Andoran trait.) They also start with additional traits from their years of slavery - (Ex.Indentured Blacksmith) **** Address this as an additional topic if you would like but do not include this in your statement about ability rolls. *This is not an argument for or against just something I have added, as I wanted to hear a few opinions of it.>

Just sent you an email Kevin, phone number included.

Yes, I am still around! Check in on the site about every day. So, have you ever done any Pathfinder and if interested let me know. THANKS!

very interested. A fellow gamer just passed copies of books to me. I'm new to the game but not the concept, haven't played in years and really miss the experiences.

Still looking for 3.5 gamers in the Lincoln,NE area. Havw been a DM for up the 10-15 yrs, and would like to start up a group. Hope to find others who may be intersted.

Realize this is an old post, but I am looking for local gamers interested in pathifnder.