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I've been working on a low fantasy campaign, and I want opinions on some ideas. Anyone who has some experience with low fantasy campaigns is welcome to comment, and so is everybody else.
Here are my ideas so far.
- Low fantasy point buy. Yes, that means 10 points.
- Slow experience progression
- Half the loot. This includes treasure and NPC gear. Keep in mind that this is already brought down by the slow xp progression.
- NPC classes only. I'll add the Magewright from Ebberon to the list. I think I should expand on the spell-lists, though.
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I've been working on a low fantasy campaign, and I want opinions on some ideas. Anyone who has some experience with low fantasy campaigns is welcome to comment, and so is everybody else.
Here are my ideas so far.
- Low fantasy point buy. Yes, that means 10 points.
- Slow experience progression
- Half the loot. This includes treasure and NPC gear. Keep in mind that this is already brought down by the slow xp progression.
- NPC classes only. I'll add the Magewright from Ebberon to the list. I think I should expand on the spell-lists, though.
I don't mean to sound condescending or anything but, why? So, your playing average (or below average) people that take on? what exactly?
Ask yourself these important questions before you take too many more steps forward:
1 - would anyone play this (i wouldn't/no offense)
2 - are you trying to capture "realism" in a fantasy game or are you trying to up the anti with more danger
3 - or are you trying to capture a more low-magic setting aka Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean (yes the Disney version), etc.
My suggestions are this...
- Don't force NPC classes unless you plan to boost them to normal classes at some point
- Non-heroic stats are 13, 12, 11, 10, 9 , and 8
- Heroic (at least the players) are 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, and 8
- if you want high danger then try these things:
Low-levels (max around 5 or 6)
Wound Points (they're are plenty of systems out there)
or ...*ugh...stronger enemies
All character have a set amount of wounds
this may or may not increase over levels
Critical hits deal damage to wounds as well as hp (or called fatigue)
If you want more detailed rules just ask and I'll post 'em. I feel after tweaking with them for years I've got a solid system down.
It's called E6, google it.
In addition google Dungeons and Dragons realism, should be first link.
The Alexandrian.
THAT is the system you want for low power, hardcore gaming.
It forces the players to think, and is easier on the DM.
I've tried the system and love it, personally.
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I've already heard about E6, but thanks for reminding me. I've downloaded it.
I've also read that article from the Alexandrian before.
Actually I'm really aiming for a low magic campaign. Spellcasters are rare, so are magic items. In fact, humans are the only playable race, as elves and dwarves are rarely seen in the human lands. Monsters are rare too.
I dont see the point in taking the fantasy out of a fantasy game? If you want a low everything campaign why not play a game that supports that? You will basically have to rework everything from scratch here to accomplish this in pathfinder.
For instance when I feel like a low to no magic game I pick up my copy of the Game of Thrones RPG. IT's d20 based but has a much greater emphasis on realism. It has things like armor as dr, nearly no magic including healing so it takes a long time to recover from fights. It works for me when thats the kind of game I want to play.
Here you dont want to use the PC classes, you want to heavily limit gear, and xp, limit races, monsters, make magic extremy rare, what exactly do you actually want out of the pathfinder core book? The combat and skill system? I would strongly recommend picking a game system that better supports this kind of gaming then trying to shoehorn it into pathfinder.
My first question is how much work do you want to put into keeping the PC's alive. Not that a low everything game couldnt be fun, but its going to make alot of work for you. Played a prision campaign like that once, but the DM had to abondon it due to the frequent near party wipes. The enemy needs to be toned down a great deal, saves need to be lowered everthing needs significant reduction.
Well kolok, you're not taking the fantasy out of a fantasy game by making it low magic, or e6, or low power.
You're adding a bit more realism, for some strategics, for some additional fun.
There is still PLENTY of fantasy left, if any of it is removed in the first place.
Fantasy doesn't mean Dragon Ball Z style or Demi-God power.
Aside from that, if you need some cool non-magical stuff to add to a low magic campaign. I've got a thread sitting around here, apology and homebrew.
It's got some interesting stuff in there that you may like. Namely my Masterwork system, and my Helmets. Make sure to always scroll through the posts as the first page is never the newest version unfortunately. >< Oh, my helmets have a stand alone thread too.
I'll be updating both systems later on down the week's road.
My first question is how much work do you want to put into keeping the PC's alive. Not that a low everything game couldnt be fun, but its going to make alot of work for you. Played a prision campaign like that once, but the DM had to abondon it due to the frequent near party wipes. The enemy needs to be toned down a great deal, saves need to be lowered everthing needs significant reduction.
Actually... not really. And it's easier in Pathfinder to lower a creature using templates in reverse fashion.
:P
I think you will have to take a look at lot more than just that. He is talking about halfing wealth, xp and stats. It will result in some fragility that will have to be dealt with aside from just ac, hp and bab. There is going to be alot of failed saves, a great deal of the stock answers to certain traps or environmental issues wont be available, and skill checks will be far less likely to be passed. These things can be fixed and you can have a great time, but I am just saying some extra thought will be needed. Beyond that the NPC classes get very little of the assumed feats and abilities for the same level.
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I've been working on a low fantasy campaign, and I want opinions on some ideas. Anyone who has some experience with low fantasy campaigns is welcome to comment, and so is everybody else.
Here are my ideas so far.
- Low fantasy point buy. Yes, that means 10 points.
- Slow experience progression
- Half the loot. This includes treasure and NPC gear. Keep in mind that this is already brought down by the slow xp progression.
- NPC classes only. I'll add the Magewright from Ebberon to the list. I think I should expand on the spell-lists, though.
Sounds like you would make the Ideal Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Fan
I was under the impression we convinced him to use base classes with an e6 like system >.> With slow treasure and experience progression >.> or maybe medium or such, due to e6.
But hey, whatever he wants to do.
Anyway.
I've been working on a low fantasy campaign, and I want opinions on some ideas. Anyone who has some experience with low fantasy campaigns is welcome to comment, and so is everybody else.
Here are my ideas so far.
- Low fantasy point buy. Yes, that means 10 points.
- Slow experience progression
- Half the loot. This includes treasure and NPC gear. Keep in mind that this is already brought down by the slow xp progression.
- NPC classes only. I'll add the Magewright from Ebberon to the list. I think I should expand on the spell-lists, though.Sounds like you would make the Ideal Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Fan
Oh you.
I played a Ratcatcher and lasted 4 games before the game stopped. I don't want to hear it. You people clearly are bad at finding ways to survive in combat situations.
Besides, you get fate points in WFRP, no such thing in D&D. D&D is WAY deadlier unless your GM is a jerk and sets you up against Beastmen (Which we killed by the way, only losing two guys to their FIVE).
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Okay, so I thought about a couple of things, and here's what I want to add for the players:
- 1 class ability per character. This gives players some room for customization and every character will have something to be good at.
- Multiple spell-lists for the adept to choose from. You can get a different selection of Spells, depending on your faith.
I overheard Luke Crane say "House Rules are such a waste of time". If people used that time to find a game that did what they wanted, it would be so much faster.
I think he's got a point. Much as I love Pathfinder, it sounds like you're leaving the basic fantasy genre. Try Twilight 2000 or Burning Wheel.
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I overheard Luke Crane say "House Rules are such a waste of time". If people used that time to find a game that did what they wanted, it would be so much faster.
I think he's got a point. Much as I love Pathfinder, it sounds like you're leaving the basic fantasy genre. Try Twilight 2000 or Burning Wheel.
I think there is something to be said for tailored systems, but I also think if you and your player are familiar and comfortable with a system there's nothing wrong with tailoring it to what you need. The real success of the d20 system has been its adaptable nature.
If you're looking to play fantasy, why are you playing Pathfinder/D&D?
Not just gritty fantasy. Not just heroic fantasy. But fantasy in general?
Or, flipping the question:
What makes a good fantasy for you in a roleplaying context?
There is the standard D&D style fantasy which is based off of known sources (Lankhmar, Conan stories, Tolkien) and which has transmogrified itself into its own trope with self reference (Salvatore, DragonLance).
So, what kind of fantasy are you trying to recreate?
Personally, I'd look into GURPS for low-fantasy. The rules system works very well at the 'gritty realism' level (less well as power inflates)
This is my recommendation (Full disclosure - I wrote it.)
Nearly everything in it is system-neutral and could be ported over to a D&D game; the whole is definitely greater than the sum of the parts, however.
I've been working on a low fantasy campaign, and I want opinions on some ideas. Anyone who has some experience with low fantasy campaigns is welcome to comment, and so is everybody else.
Here are my ideas so far.
- Low fantasy point buy. Yes, that means 10 points.
- Slow experience progression
- Half the loot. This includes treasure and NPC gear. Keep in mind that this is already brought down by the slow xp progression.
- NPC classes only. I'll add the Magewright from Ebberon to the list. I think I should expand on the spell-lists, though.
I like fanatasy games because I can do things I can't do in real life. With a 10 point buy I can only be myself.
If you want a low fantasy game Iron Heroes might be for you. There is one spellcasting class, and from what I understand people don't like them too much.
I've been working on a low fantasy campaign, and I want opinions on some ideas. Anyone who has some experience with low fantasy campaigns is welcome to comment, and so is everybody else.
Here are my ideas so far.
- Low fantasy point buy. Yes, that means 10 points.
- Slow experience progression
- Half the loot. This includes treasure and NPC gear. Keep in mind that this is already brought down by the slow xp progression.
- NPC classes only. I'll add the Magewright from Ebberon to the list. I think I should expand on the spell-lists, though.I like fanatasy games because I can do things I can't do in real life. With a 10 point buy I can only be myself.
If you want a low fantasy game Iron Heroes might be for you. There is one spellcasting class, and from what I understand people don't like them too much.
Iron Heroes is heroic low fantasy. Being able to shoot arrow ladders into big monsters doesn't sound like the thing he's going for.
I consider the archer a caster class. He has save or dies, area attacks, and attacks that don't miss. Plus his arrows do crazy crazy things at high levels like ricochet off of walls to go behind cover. How do you DO that?
I think Iron Heroes may not be what he is going for--it is good, but the PCs are ultimately just as powerful or more than in regular 3.5.
I run a low-fantasy historical campaign myself, and I would really suggest against not allowing them class powers and such. As cool as low fantasy is, players like to level and gain cool abilities. It's as simple as that. What I did was, while I limit their base scores with 10-point buy, I allow them any non-magic class that I've compiled from D&D supplements, and so forth, and we do a pseudo-micro-leveling system wherein the players have a career that determines their skill point options and then a class to satisfy the players since they get less loot and no magic items.
Like I said though, unless your players are yearning for a low fantasy, slow-leveling game, the "ROLL-players" in your group will not be happy, no matter how good your plot is.
Fabesminis ran a successful low fantasy play by post on these boards a while back. Treasure hunt or something like that. It might be worth giving that a look.