Geron Raveneye's page

I've been pondering on something that came up during a discussion about the problem of seeming level-equivalence with the current 3.X multiclassing system. It was inspired by the attempt to mix 2E and 3E multiclassing systems. Since I wouldn't be surprised if something like that has been done (and published) already, I'd appreciate pointers in the right direction by those in the know. :)

Of course, simple feedback is also welcome. ;)

The idea is as follows: XP gained are split between the classes of a multiclass character, and recorded separately in order to level up the character in each class separately. This determines the class level in each class the character trains in. The character level is calculated by the total XP the character gained, and is determined from the Level/XP chart as well.

Benefits are gained either by class level or by character level. Class level basically only grants you the special abilities of the class (bonus feats, sneak attack, spells, turning, etc) and the class skill list. Character level grants you hit points, BAB, Base Save, skill points etc. You use the best BAB and Base Save progression of the classes your character has trained in, hit points (or rather HD) are averaged between the classes, as are skill points. He gains all abilities (proficiencies with weapons and armor), but also suffers all limits of each class (weapon restrictions, alignments, casting in armor, etc).

Example: A multiclass fighter/wizard 5/5 who has split his XP 50/50 between both classes has gained 20000 XP during his career. He has 3 figher bonus feats, Summon Familiar, Scribe Scroll, a wizard bonus feat and the spell selection and casting ability of a 5th level wizard.
With 20000 XP, he is at 6th character level. His HD are the average of d10 and d4 (in this case, the d7, or d8-1 reroll 1s), so he got to roll that 6 times, adding Con modifiers as usual. He has 2 skill points + Int bonus per level (both classes only offer 2 + Int bonus), and his max skill ranks are +9/+4.5. He combines the class skill lists of both classes. He has Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +4 as his saves. He has all abilities of both classes, and abides by all restrictions of each.

The system would work with later multiclassing, too. Simply set a year of training time before the 1st level in a new class can be gained, and recalculate all character level dependent benefits. What is lacking gets filled up, and what is too much already gets frozen until the new values would overtake the old. A fighter 5th taking 1st level of rogue would gain a LOT of new class skills, and the difference in skill points between 2/level and 5/level (average of both classes) would be available as new skill points. On the other hand, his HP wouldn't rise until the new HD (d8 instead of d10) would overtake the difference.

So, is there something like that already out there? People using it? And if yes, what's the experience? I realize it is a bit more complicated, but I think it beats the problem of levels, since that way, a multiclass character with equal levels will stay only a few levels behind his group mates (5/5 = 6th, 8/8 = 11th, 14/14 = 19th), and will be able to contribute a lot better to any adventure while not being too overpowered (I think).

As I said, feedback appreciated. :)

One question the Design Focus [Skills] thread kicked off in my head was the question where the "real" fiddly bits in the 3.5 skill system are, especially in context with being a DM and having to use it regularly, and for higher-level NPCs/monsters.

To wit, this is an attempt to find out where the 3.5 system could be simplified without mutating it too much, while coming at it from a DM's perspective. Players do have it easier, that's a given. :) To give a quick overview of my perspective, I'm a habitual auto-maxer, except if I really want a diverse spectrum of skills for one important NPC that doesn't get killed off on first contact. Otherwise, I treat skill points as a big pool.

Some that came to my mind (as far as it runs at 1 AM ;D)...

- The whole business with cross-class skills in a multiclass character. I can see why the designers might have thought it to be "more realistic" that training you get in one class only fully counts for those skills that class is optimized for...but it is a holy headache for more complicated NPCs.
Solution: Simply allowing all class skills from different classes in a multiclass combo to be class skills for every purpose solves this without creating too many compatibility problems.

- Synergy bonuses. To be honest, I like them, since they provide a non-magical bonus for skills...but they are hell to remember AND to look up. There's no table in the PHB that lists skills with their synergies. You have to check each skill description for that information.
Solution: A much better marking of which skill gives synergies to which, coupled with a condensed skill list, should help with finding the correct synergies. Add a column to the skill table, listing the synergies. Going down the list once after you assigned skill points to your NPC and checking the 5 ranks minimum should be doable. Keeping synergies simple is the other one. No "grants +2 synergy bonus to [specific application of skill A] if you have 5 ranks in [skill B]". A flat +2 to one skill if 5 ranks in other skill will keep the fiddly down already.

Thoughts, suggestions, anecdotes, complaints? ;)

I'm pretty sure everybody who is interested in this kind of thing has his/her own houserules, and I know of at least two D20 works that feature something like this already (Unearthed Arcana included), and since it is a quite interesting idea, I'd like to petition for some variant of an Defense Bonus for the Pathfinder RPG. Even if it's just optional, it would help keeping the whole "magical AC bonuses" race in check by providing characters with their own defense, and would make magical armor/shields and Rings of Protection or Amulets of Natural Armor something special again when found, and not something required to survive.

My personal variant (yeah, it HAD to come at some point, we're all houserule freaks after all, right? ;D) is that I grant everybody half his BAB (rounded down) as Defense Bonus to AC, reduced by the Armor Check Penalty of any armor worn (NOT shields, since shields are integrated into your personal defense). The Defense Bonus vanishes under the same circumstances the Dex bonus vanishes (for ease of adjudication).

Thoughts, variants, ideas? :)

One thing the whole 4E debate on ENWorld taught me was that artwork is extremely critical for how the game is percieved...not that I didn't know it in some way since I came from Basic D&D (Elmore) to the 1E Monster Manual and went like "WTF, that's not a Beholder, that's a ball with mouth and spaghetti on top!" ;)

So when I saw the line-up for the racial illustrations, my very first thought was "Oh damn, now THAT looks anime-videogamey!". Which is why I would like to ask around if I'm the only one who had that impression, or if people around here simply don't care about the context that the artwork will be put into?

As a qualifier, I don't MIND anime (LOVE it, actually) or videogames. The illus could have been for a line-up for Record of Lodoss War RPG, and that's not the worst comparison that could come to mind.

On the other hand, it simply puts the game into a certain corner in the mind of the "general" player...and as far as I see it, the "anime-videogame" corner is not really one this game should want to be put into, artwork-wise.

So basically, I'd petition for a different line-up in the racial chapter. I know Lockwood is probably not available, but I would point to his line-up in the PHB as a comparison. Or Claudio Pozas' alternative line-up. Something along those lines would say "D&D fantasy races" without asking to be called "donkey-ear elf".

Thoughts?

This is something that bothers me since 3E came out...for some reason, Favoured Classes are nothing but a "non-penalty" for the character. And with the fairly generous rules on multiclassing XP penalties, they rarely come into play as well, so a character didn't get anything for choosing his favoured class.

The Alpha 1 has a sidebar that grants every character a +1 HP for every level he gains in his favoured class. Now while the thought of actually rewarding a character for choosing his favoured class over others is a lot more like it, the "carrot" is a bit weird, to be honest. Hit Points representing a lot, but not wizardly acument (for example) or rogueish shiftyness..at least where I am concerned.

Personally, I'd suggest that a character who chooses his Favoured Class gain 10% more XP from every encounter if he is single-classed in it, or 5% if he is multiclassed in it (alternatively, do a fraction of 10%/total number of base classes). That way, it shows that the race is REALLY talented for that class by gaining more power faster, and gain better class abilities all over, and not just in the Hit Point department.

Thoughts? :)