Right now, I'm working on a story in which Harry Potter characters meet Planescape characters (using Pathfinder rules, of course). Now, obviously, I'm not going to try and create a whole Harry Potter d20 game just to write a story; however, I figured I needed a few basic stats for the HP characters (such as hit points and saving throws) so that I could have some idea how Pathfinder spells would affect them.
I start with the assumption that Harry Potter wizards (which I call "wandmages") have the same d6 Hit Die, BAB, and base saving throws as Pathfinder wizards. I also figured that when a student arrives at Hogwarts, they're not yet 1st level, but rather a sort of "half" level. The idea is they have the ability to do magic, but haven't got any training yet. If a wandmage can meet the required standards at the end of his first year, then he is considered 1st level. The same thing goes for the other years, so a wandmage who can pass his OWLs at the end of his 5th year is 5th level.
Now, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are not your average Hogwarts students, seeing as how they've had a lot more opportunities to pick up some XP than most of their peers. I decided that Harry is 8th level, while Ron and Hermione are 7th. Draco Malfoy is 6th; he's a little ahead of the curve because of his father's ruthless demands of excellence. Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange are 16th level, since they are in Voldemort's inner circle. Of course, Dumbledore and Voldemort are both 20th level.
Here's the interesting part: ability scores. What I did was to give Harry an 18-point buy, Hermione and Draco the elite array, and Ron a 15-point buy (which has the same number of points as the elite array, but I wanted to avoid any 8s for him.) They all get their human +2 as well as level increases. Dumbledore uses a 20-point buy and has modifiers for old age.
Harry Potter: Str 11, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 17
Ron Weasley: Str 12, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 13
Hermione Granger: Str 8, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 13, Cha 14
Draco Malfoy: Str 8, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 16
Albus Dumbledore: Str 7, Dex 8, Con 9, Int 20, Wis 16, Cha 20
What do you think? Do these ability scores seem appropriate?
Why such high charisma scores and lower intelligence scores? Since they are "wizards" per say, Intelligence should made the highest attribute for all the characters.
Actually, I might go with the following:
Harry Potter: [As the star he gets a 20 point buy]
Ron Weasley: [15 point build]
Hermione Granger: [15 point build]
Draco Malfoy: [15 point build]
You also need to give a bit more information on what this "wandmage" might be? I use the Wizard Class (Universal) from the rulebook.
Why such high charisma scores and lower intelligence scores? Since they are "wizards" per say, Intelligence should made the highest attribute for all the characters.
Yes, but it's obvious that the level of magical power an HP wizard has isn't really dependent on Intelligence, since Crabbe and Goyle are as dumb as posts, but can cast Fiendfyre and Avada Kedavra. Therefore, I decided that Charisma would modify the saving throw DCs of HP spells, though that doesn't mean it limits the "level" of spells they can cast.
You also need to give a bit more information on what this "wandmage" might be? I use the Wizard Class (Universal) from the rulebook.
There isn't any other information, really, because I'm just trying to get a vague idea of basic stats rather than actually writing up a whole class.
Oh, and I'd say Harry is NG and Ron is CG. Harry isn't quite as enthusiastic about breaking rules as Ron is. After all, the first thing Ron wanted to do when appointed Prefect was give Crabbe and Goyle detention.
I agree, though, about swapping Dex and Con for Hermione. She doesn't really need a lot of hit points, but she does need a little Dex to be able to aim her wand properly.
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I'd argue that the Harry Potter variety of magic lends itself more towards Sorcerer than Wizard. Although we've seen a few spellbooks, they seem overwhelmingly to be teaching aids, not necessary components for every caster. They seem to be casting spontaneously...we've never seen a situation where Herminone wishes she had memorized spell X instead of spell Y. And as stated above, there exist a few really dumb characters that don't seem to have their power level affected.
I'd actually say that it would be a new class, one that combined aspects of wizard (the bonus feats...there's definately an emphasis on potions, and Ron's brothers seem to specialize in low-level wonderous items), and sorcerer because non-Intelligence based spontaneous spellcasting. Also, while Hermione obviously has a high intelligence, she's played by Emma Watson, who obviously enjoys a rather nice Charisma bonus.
Kthulhu, I'd agree with you that the witches and wizards in Harry Potter are actually Sorcerors, since in that universe you are either born a wizard or a Muggle, and Muggles not only have no magic powers of any sort, no matter how much occult learning they do, they can never gain any.
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Inverarity i.e. The greatest fanfiction writer in existence got her start trying to design an "American Hogwarts" roleplaying setting I think with D20 Modern. You could certainly ask her.
All the Best,
Kerney
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Sorceror, arcane bloodline + arcane bond (wand); If you really want to increase the HP flavor, let the wand substitute for most focus components. ALSO, sorcerors get "Eschew Materials" for free. And if you want to make it a universal rule, since you won't have anyone playing a Wizard class, just make int their spellcasting stat.
i would argue wizard because they have to learn their spells and they know many many spells. Spontaneous casting is typical of almost all movies. They are definitely not sorcerers as their magic is learned in my humble opinion.
Harry did a lot of magic spontaneously before he was taught. Ditto Tom Riddle before him. They're sorcerers, and Harry and Tom both have the new snaky bloodline from the APG which I believe lets you talk to snakes.
Other than that, it varies. Snape obviously not only has Brew Potion but also the Master Alchemist feat. The Weaseley twins obviously have Craft Wondrous Item.
I would definitely write up membership in the various Hogwarts houses as Pathfinder traits. I expect Ravensclaw would give you a bonus for all Knowledge checks or work something like bardic knowledge, Gryffindor would give you a free reroll versus fear effects, Hufflepuff would likely give a bonus to Diplomacy and Handle Animal, and of course Slitherin would give you a large bonus to Diplomacy and Intimidate when dealing with dark wizards or any other evil magical creatures.
Harry did a lot of magic spontaneously before he was taught. Ditto Tom Riddle before him. They're sorcerers, and Harry and Tom both have the new snaky bloodline from the APG which I believe lets you talk to snakes.
Other than that, it varies. Snape obviously not only has Brew Potion but also the Master Alchemist feat. The Weaseley twins obviously have Craft Wondrous Item.
I would definitely write up membership in the various Hogwarts houses as Pathfinder traits. I expect Ravensclaw would give you a bonus for all Knowledge checks or work something like bardic knowledge, Gryffindor would give you a free reroll versus fear effects, Hufflepuff would likely give a bonus to Diplomacy and Handle Animal, and of course Slitherin would give you a large bonus to Diplomacy and Intimidate when dealing with dark wizards or any other evil magical creatures.
I don't think that the OP was looking to set a campaign (or even an adventure) at Hogwarts.
In any event the magic system of the game and the D&D/Pathfinder magic systems do not mesh well.
Harry did a lot of magic spontaneously before he was taught. Ditto Tom Riddle before him. They're sorcerers, and Harry and Tom both have the new snaky bloodline from the APG which I believe lets you talk to snakes.
Other than that, it varies. Snape obviously not only has Brew Potion but also the Master Alchemist feat. The Weaseley twins obviously have Craft Wondrous Item.
I would definitely write up membership in the various Hogwarts houses as Pathfinder traits. I expect Ravensclaw would give you a bonus for all Knowledge checks or work something like bardic knowledge, Gryffindor would give you a free reroll versus fear effects, Hufflepuff would likely give a bonus to Diplomacy and Handle Animal, and of course Slitherin would give you a large bonus to Diplomacy and Intimidate when dealing with dark wizards or any other evil magical creatures.
I don't think that the OP was looking to set a campaign (or even an adventure) at Hogwarts.
In any event the magic system of the game and the D&D/Pathfinder magic systems do not mesh well.
Mainly because students at a "Wizard's School" in D&D/Pathfinder aren't even going to be level one. It's generally assumed you reach level one (along with your whopping 1d6 hit points) when you graduate. Not so in Harry Potter.
Remember that Hermione knocks down Draco with one blow. Either Draco should have a terrible Con or she should have surprising strength.
Also, Hermione should have the same point-buy as Harry. She is, after all, the "most talented witch of her generation." Ron should have a 15 point buy, as Hermione's definitely marrying beneath her.
I kind of like the idea of Ron multi-classing, myself, since he's so bad at magic.
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Remember that Hermione knocks down Draco with one blow. Either Draco should have a terrible Con or she should have surprising strength.
Also, Hermione should have the same point-buy as Harry. She is, after all, the "most talented witch of her generation." Ron should have a 15 point buy, as Hermione's definitely marrying beneath her.
I kind of like the idea of Ron multi-classing, myself, since he's so bad at magic.
Ron Weasley Wizard 2 / Commoner 18
Heh
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i would argue wizard because they have to learn their spells and they know many many spells. Spontaneous casting is typical of almost all movies. They are definitely not sorcerers as their magic is learned in my humble opinion.
I would say their control of their magic is learned but their magic is not. Look what happened with Harry at the Zoo in book one. They go to school to learn control, much like the Mutants in the Marvel Universe are born with their powers and may attend Xavier's school for gifted youngsters.
Therefore I would say that most Harry Potter 'Wizards' are Sorcerers, though I think, like with d20 modern there might be different classes of wizards. For example:
Hermione
Academic Wizard--Intelligence based caster.
Most Quiditch Players would have levels in 'jock wizard' which is more Charisma based with someone like Cho Chang being multiclassed while Harry and Oliver Wood would be single classed, more efficent build.
Luna might be a wisdom based caster. Even though she's a bit crazy she does seem to be clear minded. She, with her interest in Magizoology would be a good wizarding or perhaps with some Oracle levels (And her delusions being her 'curse').
Guildaroy Lockhart Sorcerer/Mindbender?
I'd also throw in some alternate interpretations of some characters, like this one of Ginny Weasley.
Hope that helps.
The Pathfinder/d20 system doesn't do a particularly good job of modeling why some characters are better than others. Harry, it should be pointed out, doesn't have much special going for him as a wizard apart from being a parseltongue, and that's something he got artificially from Voldemort's mystical screw-up. Other than that, he just gets an insane amount of pressure to achieve from everyone, Voldemort included.
Hermione has a higher INT than either of them and likely some feat that gives her a bonus to Knowledge Arcana. Mostly I'd say it's high INT.
Ron? He's spent his points on being a member of Clan Weaseley, which, it should be pointed out, is a family chock full of wizards with a dozen different specialties, and it should also be pointed out and stressed, all the members of the current generations are both sane and non-evil. The closest any of them have come to "going to the dark side" is Percy getting in with the bureaucracy of the Ministry of Magic, and being a brown-noser is pretty tepid considering the other pureblood families that have evil whackjobs bouncing off the walls of Azkhaban. Ron would have something along the lines of the "Favored in House" feat from Eberron. You could also give him some variant on the Dragonmarked Heir prestige class where in place of the Dragonmark powers, he gets to reach into his pockets and pull out some magic item he's gotten from a family member. Flying car? Check. Assorted minor magic items from Fred and George? Check.
Funny this comes up here and on another forum I pass by. In rambling there I hit on an idea.
Why not butcher the 3.5 Psionics system for magical power? Not the powers themselves but the basic rules structure. More generic 'spells' with augmentable parts. Alter the rules on augmentation limits and how 'magic points' are acquired, spent, and recharged.
Thanks Kearney. Those "Alexandra Quick" books made my week. :)
"Stoppus badguyus"!
For something related to harry potter, I would recommend a free build rpg, like storyteller or savage worlds. But if u insist on pathfinder, can't say I blame u, I would say sorcerer for their class due to the bloodlines and I would say give them a choice of what stat they wana cast with, kind of like they did in 3.5 psionics. That way u can be dumb as a rock and still be a potent spellcaster.
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If you want to do a Hogwarts RPG, the setup seems very simple:
All players must take sorcerer (arcane bloodline) OR wizard for their first level. They must take a wand as a bonded object. Players may also choose, at GM's discretion, bard. But the bard must wield a wand in order to cast spells.
After that, everyone's free to multiclass. You gain one level at the end of each year in Hogwarts.
Some recommended character levels (by the end of the books):
Dumbledore - wizard 17
Voldemort - sorcerer 16
Hagrid - sorcerer 2 / ranger 10
Fred and George Weasly - wizard 5 (for the crafting) / rogue 2
Snape - wizard 13
Lockhart - bard 7 (with maxed acting)
Harry Potter - wizard 5 / Protagonist 5 (Protagonist is a prestige class with maxed saves, hp, and BAB with a class power: everything goes your way)
Ron Weasley - sorcerer 4 / "gizmo master" 3 (you'd have to make this class, since it doesn't exist yet, but he seems to do quite well at having access to and using magical gizmos of many kinds)
Hermione Granger - wizard 7
Neville Longbottom - wizard 1 (poor Neville!)
Draco Malfoy - wizard 5 / rogue 1
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Harry Potter - wizard 5 / Protagonist 5 (Protagonist is a prestige class with maxed saves, hp, and BAB with a class power: everything goes your way)
Everything goes his way?
Have you READ the books?
That poor kid gets so much crap dumped on him that it's not funny.
Perhaps the prestige class should be:
Subject of Murphy - things either go your way or they go into the toilet.
Max saves, d8 HD, 1/2 BAB, +1 spellcaster level
Class Ability: Twice per day you may change any roll made to your benefit.
Drawback: Twice per day, the DM may change any roll made to his benefit.
Heh, this has got to be the funniest crack on Harry Potter I've yet to see. They did it without being too overly mean... and they make some really good points.
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0253.html
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Sorry, I really should have said "all combat goes your way" or "you always win in the end because you're special". Being an orphan is pretty crappy, and having to live with a family that would name their own son 'Dudley Dursley' is, in fact, a terrible punishment. Everything that wouldn't involve a roll on his part, in Pathfinder, gets heaped up on him like so much manure.
But when the chips are down and Mister Potter gets down to business, it's all natural twenties for him all the time.
Clearly, fame isn't everything. Is it, Mister Potter?
Sorry, I really should have said "all combat goes your way" or "you always win in the end because you're special". Being an orphan is pretty crappy, and having to live with a family that would name their own son 'Dudley Dursley' is, in fact, a terrible punishment. Everything that wouldn't involve a roll on his part, in Pathfinder, gets heaped up on him like so much manure.
But when the chips are down and Mister Potter gets down to business, it's all natural twenties for him all the time.
Clearly, fame isn't everything. Is it, Mister Potter?
Harry was probably dipped in that luck potion as a baby or something. LOL
Prestige Class: Plot Monkey
You, while clearly the hero, are also the butt monkey of your universe. You will prevail in the end, but I pity any of your friends, cause they are likely to die. Also, watch out for stalkers who are good with potions.
Prerequisites - +5 to any save, any feat that gives a bonus to a saving throw, being the main character in a book.
Benefits - When the fecal matter hits the rotating metal vanes, you will be the only one to still smell like roses as the end. Your friends may not be so lucky.
Sorry, I really should have said "all combat goes your way" or "you always win in the end because you're special". Being an orphan is pretty crappy, and having to live with a family that would name their own son 'Dudley Dursley' is, in fact, a terrible punishment. Everything that wouldn't involve a roll on his part, in Pathfinder, gets heaped up on him like so much manure.
But when the chips are down and Mister Potter gets down to business, it's all natural twenties for him all the time.
Clearly, fame isn't everything. Is it, Mister Potter?Harry was probably dipped in that luck potion as a baby or something. LOL
Prestige Class: Plot Monkey
You, while clearly the hero, are also the butt monkey of your universe. You will prevail in the end, but I pity any of your friends, cause they are likely to die. Also, watch out for stalkers who are good with potions.
Prerequisites - +5 to any save, any feat that gives a bonus to a saving throw, being the main character in a book.
Benefits - When the fecal matter hits the rotating metal vanes, you will be the only one to still smell like roses as the end. Your friends may not be so lucky.
Whoa, Peter Parker must have every level in that class...
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Whoa, Peter Parker must have every level in that class...
[OT tangent]
Spidey maxed out the epic levels of Plot Monkey.
Seriously, the only important character to remain dead for over 20 years in Marvel comics? Gwen Stacy. Who DID come back from that storyline? Norman Osborne...who has gone on to heap more abuse on Peter than should really be concieved. I can't really think of any comic book villains (or many villains from other sources) who have been as effective at putting the protagonist through mental anguish over and over as Osborne has been. Of course, they screwed up the recent chance for him to go REALLY over the top, with Peter's silly "psychic blindspot" power coinciding with Osborne's rise to power.
[/OT tangent]
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So, randomly, how would one model something like expeliarmus? I find myself thinking it would be defined something like a ray which works like the Greater Disarm feat -- ranged touch attack, then a CMB equal to caster level plus casting stat plus... say, 4? If you succeed, it makes the weapon/wand/whatever go flying for 10' plus an extra 5' for every 5 you beat their CMD by.
Call it a level 1 or 2 spell at most, since it's single target and doesn't do direct damage. It's a slightly different way of doing the standard "I cast grease on the giant's club", I guess.
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Inverarity i.e. The greatest fanfiction writer in existence
Seeing this, I went ahead and clicked the link.
To paraphrase Billy Madison:
What you've just typed is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard.
At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought.
Everyone in this thread is now dumber for having read it.
I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.