I have had this idea several times while dming a game, and it has never really worked well.
I like the idea of there being retired "heroes" for which players can learn things, either faster or unavailable to their class. It is usually a limited class feature, weapon or armor proficiency or perhaps a feat. They have to find the NPC, get a good rapport via diplomacy or tasks and then the NPC would teach them one thing.
To me its a fun strategy and allows some fun roleplaying aspects for characters. No sane wizard would take weapon proficiency with a greataxe normally, but maybe the character really wanted to learn? The only real exception, is a magic-less class, cannot suddenly start casting spells. All training takes 3-7 days based on DM (my) discression.
The problems i run across are:
1. Only one or two players use the system, and eventually learn a bunch of free feats, leaving others behind the power curve or feeling "upset that others are getting free things".
2. Even though the "quests" are easy, no one seems to do them.
3. No one even bothers to find the Guildmasters, even when they are right in their face. EX. Lady Sisca, a great well known halfling Bard or the epic levels, retired. A halfling Bard named Sisca was running a Pub called "The lady". Everyone respected her but no one said why. She stopped a brawl between 2 ogres by just clearing her throat and pointing to the door. Everyone called her "The Lady Sisca"....
Thoughts? suggestions?
I have NPCs like this in my game world, but I don't let my players get free things that break the game.
A free spell to write in you spellbook? Sure. Access to a special material or weapon ability that was previously unavailable? Why not?
These characters are also the guys that my players go to for the purposes of retraining as per Ultimate Campaign.
I would have the guildmasters have more impact on the story, like: the only way to get into this door is by casting a unique spell on it that was invented and can only be cast by Jadix the Blue, the greatest wizard of all time. If you want to get into this door, you will need to not only find him, but learn this spell and be able to cast it yourself!
I like to use the Three Clue Rule. A situation may seem obvious to you, but it's not to the players.
Always present to them at least 3 individual clues to any situation.
They do get multiple clues, see #3 above. The lore was given within the first few minutes of town. The guardsman they asked sent them to that pub. The Lady Sisca introduced herself as Sisca, the serving wench called her "The Lady" after she had left, and the bard on stage was singing a song called the "The Lady's Travels." During the first sitting, the ogre fight started. Short of a neon sign, i was not sure how to make that more obvious.
As for Marshmallow, i dont see a few bonus feats "depending on what they are" as game breaking. If they try to go to crazy, i have DM Fiat saying "I'm sorry that NPC does not know that move/spell, etc." The concept is to make a bit more well rounded, maybe grab a bonus feat or two, or learn how to specialize in something better (bonus to dc's or some such)
One such example was a paladin that wanted to learn how to use guns (think she fired em two times in the whole campaign), empowered her Lay on hands(healed 5 more hp), and wanted to study undead "favored enemy +2 undead"(her backstory and class had her hunting for a specific lich that had killed her entire family as a child)
If they don't get the 3 clues and you really want them to know the situation. Then just throw it at them. Have the Lady Sisca herself inform them who she is.
Have a mysterious stranger tell them.
Heck, tell one of the players that their character after hearing the information believes there may be something more to know about The Lady Sisca.
They may have even guessed it but just not cared enough to mention it.
I have had this idea several times while dming a game, and it has never really worked well.
I like the idea of there being retired "heroes" for which players can learn things, either faster or unavailable to their class. It is usually a limited class feature, weapon or armor proficiency or perhaps a feat. They have to find the NPC, get a good rapport via diplomacy or tasks and then the NPC would teach them one thing.
To me its a fun strategy and allows some fun roleplaying aspects for characters. No sane wizard would take weapon proficiency with a greataxe normally, but maybe the character really wanted to learn? The only real exception, is a magic-less class, cannot suddenly start casting spells. All training takes 3-7 days based on DM (my) discression.
The problems i run across are:
1. Only one or two players use the system, and eventually learn a bunch of free feats, leaving others behind the power curve or feeling "upset that others are getting free things".
2. Even though the "quests" are easy, no one seems to do them.
3. No one even bothers to find the Guildmasters, even when they are right in their face. EX. Lady Sisca, a great well known halfling Bard or the epic levels, retired. A halfling Bard named Sisca was running a Pub called "The lady". Everyone respected her but no one said why. She stopped a brawl between 2 ogres by just clearing her throat and pointing to the door. Everyone called her "The Lady Sisca"....
Thoughts? suggestions?
:D This sounds like fun! Here's what I think. Assign every player a "Floating Improvement Slot". This slot is empty, and remains empty unless problem number 1 fixes itself. The player must go about earning this reward.
Now, as for what types of rewards, well lets say, any feat without a prereq can go in here. Additionally, any one level 1 spell usable relevant ability modifier times per day, or any class feature (level 2 or lower) usable once per day. Neither of these options can qualify as a...
INTERESTING, I LIKE THAT IDEA