
Ariax |
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I've been quietly following this project for a long while now, and wanted to add my thanks and encouragement for your careful and dedicated work!
Can we use this thread to talk about house rules and suggestions for P6 games? If not, please let me know and I'll delete the following.
MINOR ADVANCEMENTS
One thing I've done with E6/P6 games is to insert a minor advancement in between each full level. At each minor advancement, the character gets:
1 feat
1 skill point
1 hit point
This slows down levelling, so that PCs don't rocket to "epic" power at level 6 quite as fast. It also makes some builds possible at lower levels due to the extra feats. After level 6, minor advancements replace individual feats as the reward for continued "levelling".
Each minor advancement requires the same amount of XP to attain as the level that follows it would normally require. I like to use this XP track:
L1: 0 XP
MA: 1000 XP
L2: 2000 XP
MA: 4000 XP
L3: 6000 XP
MA: 9000 XP
L4: 12000 XP
MA: 16000 XP
L5: 20000 XP
MA: 25000 XP
L6: 30000 XP
MA: 35000 XP
MA: 40000 XP
MA: 45000 XP
...etc. For slower games, multiply values by 1.5 or 2.
PRESTIGE CLASSES
I've been experimenting a bit with converting some PrC's into 3-level classes that can be entered after 3 levels of a normal class. (So skill rank requirements are lowered to 3 ranks, BAB and spellcasting requirements are lowered accordingly, etc.) Since these characters won't be eligible for some of the epic/capstone feats of P6, I've also condensed some class abilities or moved them up to be available within 3 levels of the PrC. I haven't playtested these PrC's, but they seem reasonable. Has anyone out there done something similar?
SKILL BONUS FEATS
I was considering a house rule for the +2/+2 skill bonus feats. Those feats increase the bonus to +4 when you have 10 skill ranks, which of course a P6 character can't get. Would it be reasonable to increase the bonus to +3 when you reach 7 ranks, (which is possible if you take the Greater Skillfulness feat)?
Similarly, I'm considering increasing the bonus from the Skill Focus feat to +4 or +5 when you reach 7 ranks in the skill.

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It seems like what people are looking for in E6 varies a lot from group to group - a lot of posters seem to want E8 or to do gestalt, and others want to keep it solidly at 6. :::shrugs::: I'm just aiming for the spot I want and hoping it can be useful for some other groups too.
After a year and a half of tinkering with this E6 game, we've come to the conclusion that all that leaning forward, gestalt, E8+, capstone nonsense is just for players who really want to play a normal game instead of E6. We had a long, honest discussion and came to the conclusion that, if we really wanted a bunch of level 7+ powers, spells, and items in our game, we'd just play a normal game instead of shoehorning a bunch of house rules into our E6 game.
Thinking about calibrating things, how many sessions does it generally take you to level pre-6th.
We do one experience point per session, just like PFS. It only takes one session to get to 2nd level, three to 3rd, six to 4th, ten to 5th, and fifteen to 6th. After that, characters get one bonus feat every three sessions. In effect, we have sped up the early levels, slowed down the later ones, and ensured that characters hit 6th level exactly when they normally would in PFS.
We make full use of retraining, though
Jr. Annalist wrote:Just the standard Ultimate Campaign retraining, or some house rules?
Just the standard rules, minus the hit point stuff (we use PFS hit point progression: 1/2 HD +1 per level).
For a while we used all the downtime rules, too, but that got way too complicated. Plus it almost instantly broke the economy in our game. I think a well-designed downtime system would be a better supplement to E6 than a big book of house rules designed to stretch E6 out until it's just as complicated, time-consuming, and overpowered as a regular 20th level game.

Unimportant |

Almost done with a revision of the abridged (a few small tweaks, several suggested upthread) and with the rogue for the full thing. Cautiously optimistic to have the former done in a few days.
Great! I've been working on an E6 background, and your materials have been a godsend. Thanks for all the hard work!

rooneg |

Hi there, was just looking at the current alpha you've got up on your site and was wondering what the status on the rest of it is? What you've got up there is fantastic, I'd just love to see what you've got in mind for the Rogue/Sorcerer/Wizard classes!

rooneg |

The Rogue and some revisions to the abridged are almost done (been in a holding pattern for quite a while!), and I'm hopeful to find some time to get them out this week! Sorc and Wizard should follow much more quickly.
Thank you for the interest!
Awesome! Looking forward to seeing the Rogue.
One quick question, I see you mentioned earlier in the thread that you'd added the Magus and Monk classes to the alpha PDF. I can see the Monk in there, but the Magus is among the missing. Did it get dropped accidentally?

Jr. Annalist |

Hey Jr. Annalist, any word on the Rogue and Magus classes?
I don't want to be a bother, but I know when I'm working on something seeing people interested in the results can be motivating. So here's a person interested in the results ;-)
Push is appreciated. Hoping for time this coming weekend to get them up!

Jr. Annalist |

Semester is coming to an end and I'll actually have a chance to put the next few classes into final shape and get them posted. ::crosses-fingers:::
In the meantime, two things I'm pondering...
1) I'd always felt the pair of ability improvement feats (ability training/ability advancement) fit nicely in the standard E6 and cleverly helped avoid the min-maxing of trying to get all odd ability scores (because it takes two feats to get +2). But I guess it can be viewed as just switching the min-maxing to trying to get all even attributes? Does it matter?
Is the ability training too weak if it doesn't give some other advantage (the one currently in the P6 Codex rules seems cludgy)?
One possibility is to make advancing an ability by +1 a signature feat, just like the way one gets the other 8th level powers. But that seems like it would make some must haves (Str? Dex?) and others more like an epic feat (Con?). Would it mean some of the class based feats would be even less likely to be picked? It also makes the starting scores even more important.
Do all of the abilities need to be treated the same? (Could some take one feat to advance, while others split the bonuses between two feats?)
What about giving an ability advancement every 10 epic advancements, like a signature feat, but without using up the signature feat slot?
2) I've tried to be pretty strict about having any 7th level ability come through an Epic feat and any 8th level one come through a Signature feat. This seems awkward with the Druid's animal companion where there is the 7th level can give you a huge advancment (pounce!) or nothing (if it had a 4th level instead) and nothing else, and 8th level then gives a hd, skill, and feat.
Is it best to just go in and modify the advancement table here and make the signature feat be getting either the 7th level advancement or the 8th level hd/skill/feat, but not both?
Thanks for all any thoughts (and for all of the encouragement above).

IronDesk |

I started setting up an E6/P6 but then realised the completeness of the work you've done so far makes mine pale by comparison, and I don't really want to launch a campaign without seeing your conversions of at least the remaining base classes first!
Fingers crossed your'se still working on this awesome project!
Some feedback:
1) I'd always felt the pair of ability improvement feats (ability training/ability advancement) fit nicely in the standard E6 and cleverly helped avoid the min-maxing of trying to get all odd ability scores (because it takes two feats to get +2). But I guess it can be viewed as just switching the min-maxing to trying to get all even attributes? Does it matter?
I don't think it matters. Someone wanting to min-max is going to find a work around no matter which way you go.
Is the ability training too weak if it doesn't give some other advantage (the one currently in the P6 Codex rules seems cludgy)?
I like keeping it deliberately weak then having the payoff on the second investment. I'd even suggest weakening it further by removing the option to move the bonus from day to day ( this removes some "cludgyness" and simplifies bookkeeping)
Do all of the abilities need to be treated the same? (Could some take one feat to advance, while others split the bonuses between two feats?)
My gut says yes. Treating them all the same allows players to design characters more freely and sets an even board for future system growth.
What about giving an ability advancement every 10 epic advancements, like a signature feat, but without using up the signature feat slot?
ooh, I like this even beter! Frees up those advancements for more interesting thing, which since characters are growing so slowly, might be key in maintaining long term player interest
2) <druid stuff>...Is it best to just go in and modify the advancement table here and make the signature feat be getting either the 7th level advancement or the 8th level hd/skill/feat, but not both?
That's a tough one. I think you've got the right of that they should be separated out.
Thanks for all the hard work you have put into this so far! Eagerly awaiting an update.

Nessus_9th |

My group is looking to start a P6 game, is the abridged version the only one available? What about the P6: apocrypha? Where can I find the complete rules on both mods? Where can I donate to the cause? Do I have to buy the books or are they free to download? I'm very interested in this and wish to know more about it!

Jr. Annalist |

Henrik Karlsson wrote:Bumping this, hows things going Jr. Annalist?Seeing as it has been almost 16 months since we last heard anything, I sadly suspect this project is now abandonware. :-(
I actually have some time this spring to get back to it. I'll try and post an update tomorrow or Friday of where I'm at and what I'm thinking to get some feedback and ask some quesitons!
Thanks for the prods!

MendedWall12 |

Unimportant wrote:Henrik Karlsson wrote:Bumping this, hows things going Jr. Annalist?Seeing as it has been almost 16 months since we last heard anything, I sadly suspect this project is now abandonware. :-(I actually have some time this spring to get back to it. I'll try and post an update tomorrow or Friday of where I'm at and what I'm thinking to get some feedback and ask some quesitons!
Thanks for the prods!
Excellent! Please keep us posted on your progress and thank you ever so much for your efforts!

Orfamay Quest |

My biggest question right now is if there is any reason not to update what's currently in the full P6 Codex rules (not the abridged) to use the unchained Barbarian, Monk, and Rogue instead of the originals...
Any thoughts?
I'd say "yes, update," because the URogue and UMonk are actually playable characters that can contribute to party success, and the UBarb is a lot more flexible as there are a few options other than the One True Build.

Jr. Annalist |

I've bought Sandy Petersen's "Pathfinder Cthulhu" book and will start a campaign based on that and P6 - should be a perfect match!
I downloaded the abridged document, it is great, but is there an UNabridged document somewhere?
I'm hoping to start putting out the stuff for at least a class every other week starting by the end of the month. I think I've got the decks cleared of the things that were standing in the way.

GRuzom |

GRuzom wrote:I'm hoping to start putting out the stuff for at least a class every other week starting by the end of the month. I think I've got the decks cleared of the things that were standing in the way.I've bought Sandy Petersen's "Pathfinder Cthulhu" book and will start a campaign based on that and P6 - should be a perfect match!
I downloaded the abridged document, it is great, but is there an UNabridged document somewhere?
:-)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slim Jim |

My biggest question right now is if there is any reason not to update what's currently in the full P6 Codex rules (not the abridged) to use the unchained Barbarian, Monk, and Rogue instead of the originals...
I would just treat them as separate archetypes rather than replacements (particularly in the case of monk). uRogue is 100% improvement over the original with no subtractions, so that can go straight in -- but uMonk and uBarb do feature some subtractive differences from the base class.