|
I think it would work esecially well with the CotCT Path. You could play out how the characters ran afoul of that local crime lord (sorry, I don't have the name ready...)The adventures should be rules (and combat) light, but provide challenges for the skills and abilities the characters are to develope.
Since some classes (wizard, monk, even fighter if it is a "trained warrior") require some (semi)academic training before first level, it would be best to allow some time to pass between the 0 level adventures and the start of the first 1st level adventure.
DCC 0 from Goodman games uses NPC classes to get the same prequel effect. You can always retrain that level. I've run it and it's a great intro module.
|
I have not yet done that, but have considered it. My idea was to start with NPC classes designed with an eye on the class they will take. Something in the "prequel" happens and they are inspired to choose a PC class at level 1 and drop the NPC class.
I think Unearthed Arcana may have something for 0 level classes as well. Essentially you get partial access to level 1 abilities.
Let us know how it goes.
DCC 0 from Goodman games uses NPC classes to get the same prequel effect. You can always retrain that level. I've run it and it's a great intro module.
I played this myself, its a lot of fun. So much so that my players had the crazy idea of running a game with only NPC classes. I highly recomend this module.
|
I've done this several times in my campaigns...just let them pick an NPC class and run with that until they receive 500 Exp and the either retrain into the class they want...or as Ive done a couple times, let them keep the stuff they had as an NPC class and let them take a regular class elvel...this essentially makes them 1&1/2 level...so a bit more powerful than a regular party...Just means you have to add 1 monster per encounter...kind of ;) and playes into the idea that the party is a cut above...Its good for high fantasy games...especially as an alternative to giving a higher point build.
Here is a link to the GoodMan Games Dungeon Crawl Classic for O-level characters. I think the DMG also has rules on O level characters which essentially get half the abilities of a first level character.
I've done this several times in my campaigns...just let them pick an NPC class and run with that until they receive 500 Exp and the either retrain into the class they want...or as Ive done a couple times, let them keep the stuff they had as an NPC class and let them take a regular class elvel...this essentially makes them 1&1/2 level...so a bit more powerful than a regular party...Just means you have to add 1 monster per encounter...kind of ;) and playes into the idea that the party is a cut above...Its good for high fantasy games...especially as an alternative to giving a higher point build.
That is really a great idea. I'll have to try that out at some point.
We routinely begin our games with the PCs having only NPC levels. We're even playing our CotCT game this way, though admittedly aristocrat levels are much stranger than, for instance, commoner levels.
We just treat them as levels and people carry on. Those hardest hit are rogues, since even experts for skill points compared to them. Anyone else just recovers over a couple levels and carries on. We like it because it has the feel of humble beginnings (or at least non-heroic origins).
Here is a link to the GoodMan Games Dungeon Crawl Classic for O-level characters. I think the DMG also has rules on O level characters which essentially get half the abilities of a first level character.
The 3.0 DMG has the rules for "apprentice" level characters, but not the 3.5 DMG (I think).