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This thread is to develop house rules based off the discussion from my general forums thread, here: General Discussion
Basically, I'm tired of my characters NEEDING to have stat and ability enhancing magic items. I don't want to NEED belts of strength and +4 swords just to maintain game balance. I don't want characters that glow like Christmas trees whenever you shine a detect magic on them. I don't want to win because I have awesome stuff. I want to win because I AM awesome.
The fantasy movies I see focus on awesome characters. The fantasy books I read focus on awesome characters. A magic item or two will usually wind up playing a part in these stories, but even the smallest items are relics and artifacts. They are few, powerful and usually part of what defines a character.
I have three main options that I would like explored.
*Raise a characters stats directly. The bonuses from the Vow of Poverty feat from Exalted Deeds is the foremost example I have to work with right now. Apply those bonuses directly to the characters at the levels indicated. Any other stat-up suggestions? A key concern that I have expressed in my other thread is, "What do we call those bonuses?" If we call them "enhancement", then they don't stack with most buff spells. One of my goals is to make the party buffer a viable role, via Cat's Grace and stuff. OR, would that upset the delicate balance?
*As a side option to the first point, allow a point-buy style system for stats. Award "Advancement Points" based off of the "wealth beyond first level chart", which is designed for just this type of balancing to begin with. Only instead of items, you get "training". Depending on what "items" you put on the list, you might end up with weird stuff, like flying monks. *sigh* Okay, that should be weird, y'know.
*Raise the CR of monsters. Don't give the PCs ANY special bonuses or magic items. Just realize that monsters are going to be tougher. Of course this solution carries it's own set of problems that would need to be discussed.
*Any other ideas?
I hereby open this thread up for discussion. Have fun!