Author Topic: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]  (Read 64953 times)

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RobbyPants

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Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #20 on: October 01, 2008, 03:12:41 PM »
Skill Focus is +3 in 3.5 by default.
I'm curious what you mean here.

Alertness should give both Spot AND Listen as class skills, and perhaps grant the Elf "Detect Secret Doors" ability. It's not much as-is.
Well, if I did that, I think the +2/+2 feats would be completely better than skill focus, in that you'd get two skills as class skills instead of one.

Eh.  Maybe it's not that bad.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

SiggyDevil

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Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #21 on: October 01, 2008, 03:21:39 PM »
http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/featsAll.html#skill-focus

Quote
SKILL FOCUS [GENERAL]
Choose a skill.
Benefit: You get a +3 bonus on all checks involving that skill.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new skill.

I have never seen +2/+2 feats used effectively in a pnp campaign. Well, maybe once, but the guy was ADD and wanted to "max the shit out of sneaking on the assassin". He got hyped over having a fuckhuge Hide and Move Silently after grabbing the Stealthy feat and slapping on synergy, items, and stat bonus (hint: the latter few overshadow the feat by far)
That Stealthy feat was retrained out after dying to someone that got lucky on a Spot.

I don't know what to recommend for the double skill feats but all I can tell you is that they're not very popular in my experiences.

RobbyPants

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Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #22 on: October 01, 2008, 03:23:53 PM »
Okay, I guess I'm confused why you linked me to Skill Focus in the SRD.  Is it because I posted +3 on my version?  I also add it as a class skill.  That's where the change comes in.  I wasn't planning on increasing the +3 boost any.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

SiggyDevil

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Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #23 on: October 01, 2008, 03:26:51 PM »
Okay, I guess I'm confused why you linked me to Skill Focus in the SRD.  Is it because I posted +3 on my version? I also add it as a class skill.  That's where the change comes in.  I wasn't planning on increasing the +3 boost any.

 :eh
(drum, drum, cymbal)

Regardless, adding as class skill is a good pick. There's a feat that does similar in some crappy splat but I've likewise never seen anyone other than desperate CharOp builders use it.

Midnight_v

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Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #24 on: October 01, 2008, 03:33:39 PM »
Okay, I guess I'm confused why you linked me to Skill Focus in the SRD.  Is it because I posted +3 on my version?  I also add it as a class skill.  That's where the change comes in.  I wasn't planning on increasing the +3 boost any.

Seriously... its not even that big a deal. The major change wass the class skill bit anyway. I'd leave it.
\\\"Disentegrate.\\\" \\\"Gust of wind.\\\" \\\"Now Can we PLEASE resume saving the world?\\\"

RobbyPants

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Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #25 on: October 18, 2008, 11:13:36 AM »
I made several changes to feats:
- Altertness and other +2/+2 skills now grant a competence bonus to skills.  Both skills are gained as class skills.
- Skill Focus grants a +4 competence bonus to the skill.
- I removed the prereqs from Spring Attack.  It can be taken at level 1.
- I removed all of the prereqs form Shot on the Run except Point Blank Shot.  It can be taken at level 1.
- I created a new feat, Act on the Move, that allows you to take a standard action in the middle of your movement (similar to Spring Attack or Shot on the Run).
- I created a new feat, Mobile Assault, that allows you to take a full attack in the middle of a move.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

RobbyPants

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Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #26 on: October 20, 2008, 09:55:50 AM »
Added the 3, 8, 13, 18 abilities for the wizard and sorcerer.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

RobbyPants

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Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #27 on: October 30, 2008, 04:07:27 PM »
I modified the fighter slightly, to make it work better with a swashbuckler ACF.  Added the swashbuckler (and ACFs in general) to the Other Classes post.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

Mister_Sinister

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Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #28 on: November 07, 2008, 11:14:40 AM »
Well, it's been a while since I posted on this here project, due to various issues. Having seen what's been going on while I was gone, a lot has been done, and that can only be a good thing. I applaud Robby for keeping with this project, and everyone who contributed to what can be described as very active and lively discussion on a wide range of topics.

At the same time, I have noticed quite a few alarming and rather regrettable alterations, or lack thereof, particularly where classes, but, in truth, almost everything is concerned. While being brief and concise is important, it would be best for me to explain myself as fully as possible on these issues, while trying to avoid any tl;drs.

Races

These are all good, and I heartily approve. However, one thing that I see was unfortunately retained are favoured class mechanics, which, frankly, do not belong, and are a part of DnD that should be done away with. If this is the case, then it should probably be specifically stated. If they are still there, I propose, again, this solution:

Suggested Fix:Favoured class mechanics, as well as multiclassing XP penalties, no longer exist. If you take a level in your favoured class, you gain an additional skill point. If your first level is a level in your favoured class, you gain 4 additional skill points. Half-elves and humans do not get this twice - their bonus skill points are assumed to be the equivalent of 'Favoured Class: Any' for this purpose.

I believe this encourages taking a race's favoured class without having to institute clunky and unfair mechanics, as they really only penalise flavour builds which don't happen to be full casters, which are the exact people we want to hurt the least.

Classes

This is the area where the most obvious issues are visible, in particular where the hot-button topics of the fighter and the monk are concerned.

Barbarian: This is a good suggestion, and makes the barbarian distinctively different. A definite positive move.

Clerics and Druids: Both of these classes get base numerics which are made of bullshit. Seriously, while sorcs and wizards have to end up with the worst BAB (1/2 level), worst HD (d4) and worst saves (one good, rest bad) in order to get their 9th level casting, why in the name of everything sane do clerics and druids end up with average BAB, an average HD and two good saves, and still get 9th level casting, without ASF? Yes, I realise the designers were on some seriously wacky backy at the time when these classes were written, did not playtest them properly (just look at their sample druid in Enemies and Allies!) and thought that making these classes broken would encourage people to play them (which, by the way, does not work at all, and just wrecks the game, but it's a discussion for another time), but this is not a reason to persist with this line of thinking, particularly given that it was largely the efforts of people like the ones who frequent BG that brought this Sparta to light. Therefore, we should not perpetuate the mistakes of the past, and should bring them back down to earth.

Suggested Fix: Clerics and Druids have bad BAB, one good save (Will for both, in my humble opinion) and a d6 hit die.

Additionally, as I have mentioned before, 2+Int skill points is insulting beyond belief on any class that isn't powered by Int. As clerics fall into this category, let us rectify this immediately.

Suggested Fix: Give clerics 4+Int skill points per level, to match the druid.

Additionally, clerics are still largely clones of one another. Aside from their domains (which represent one spell per level, as well as a power granted at first level, which is roughly equivalent to a feat, usually), and the choice of whether to channel negative or positive energy, clerics are identical to each other. This is highly odd, and actually fairly dull. This is also what causes the 'generalism' problem of clerics, which can basically do anything. While certain other things (*cough* divine power *cough*) do exacerbate this problem, this is indeed at its heart. Clerics of different deities need to be, well, different!

Suggested Fix: Clerics no longer automatically know all their spells, nor do they spontaneously cast cure or inflict spells. Additionally, clerics gain ALL the domains of their deity, up to a maximum of 5, including their powers and benefits. The domain slot is also eliminated, and clerics instead automatically know all their domain spells. At every level (including 1st), clerics learn an additional 2 spells from the cleric spell list. All clerics also have a 'favoured domain' from among their chosen domains, which they can spontaneously cast by sacrificing a spell of equal level that they have prepared.
Note: As this obviously increases with the number of supplements, if a deity would grant more than 5 domains, the cleric picks which 5 they get the benefits of. Furthermore, any deities which, at present, do not have 5 domains should be improved to having 5.
Additionally, clerics no longer get turning by default. Instead, a cleric can replace one of his chosen domains' domain powers to gain the ability to turn or rebuke undead, according to his choice. This cannot later be changed.

Now, obviously, this leaves druids in all kinds of crazy-town, as they suddenly randomly know spells like bloodsnow even if they have never seen normal snow before, which is obviously stupid.

Suggested Fix: Druids no longer know all their spells. Instead, druids automatically know (and can spontaneously cast) all summon nature's ally spells. Furthermore, at every level, druids learn a number of spells equal to their Wisdom modifier at the time (thus, increases to Wisdom do not apply retroactively) from the druid list.

This keeps them within sane range of the cleric spell-knowledge-wise, and stops both from being ridiculous with splatbooks.

Additionally, while the turning fix is a good one, I think it would be improved by having the same standard apply to it as other damage spells.

Suggested Fix: Turning and rebuking damage/healing is increased by 1/2 the cleric's Wisdom mod, to a maximum of 1/2 the cleric's level.

While on the subject of clerics, favoured weapons are a very cool and interesting feature, but it can be possible that a cleric whose god doesn't have the War domain is not even proficient with his god's favoured weapon! This is clearly silly and should stop.

Suggested Fix: Clerics are automatically proficient with their god's favoured weapon. In light of this, the War domain power changes to "A cleric with the War domain automatically receives Weapon Focus with their god' favoured weapon as a bonus feat, and is considered to have fighter levels equal to his cleric levels for the purposes of the Weapon Focus feat."

I find the use of the Shapechanging variant by the druid to be a good one.

Fighter: *deep breath*

The fighter should not have 2+Int skill points per level. This is, as I have already said, insulting in the extreme.

Suggested Fix: Give the poor guy 4+Int skill points already!

Furthermore, this particular fix suffers a lot from what I term 'numericalisation' of the fighter - or, more specifically, the belief that the fighter needs bigger combat numbers. He doesn't - far from it! What he needs is the diversity that spells can provide, but his feats frequently cannot, as they encourage him to become a hyperspecialist. Thus, more numbers =/= good here, and this is frequently the problem.

Take the Art of War ability. Initially, this is a bonus you could honestly forget about. The only time when these bonuses become meaningful is by level 12 - by which time the fact that you're one size cat bigger for a bunch of checks (which is effectively what this means) actually means diddly-shit-all, because casters are throwing around stuff like blade barrier, greater dispel magic, or the ever-present favourite of disintegrate. And before cries of 'but the casters don't get these things at level 3!' arise, this is a non-argument, as the casters' level 3 abilities include things like hold person (which by level 12 can hold someone fast for over a minute), resist energy (which by level 12 can block 30 points of energy damage per attack) and scorching ray (which by level 12 does 12d6 damage), which STILL nail this ability out of the water without even trying very hard at all. Additionally, bigger numbers are not really abilities, in the sense that your character does not feel new or different at the level they are gained - he simply does what he did before, just slightly better. This is not fun or cool, and does not help matters.

Suggested Fix: Art of War (Ex) Starting at 3rd level, a fighter acquires a potent technique to aid in fighting his foes. At 3rd level, and every 3 levels thereafter, a fighter can either choose a new ability from this list, or improve an existing ability.
Armoured Freedom: A fighter with this ability reduces the armour check penalty of any armour he wears by his level or his Str modifier, whichever is less. If this would reduce the armour's armour check penalty to 0 or less, it is considered to be one category lighter for all purposes. This ability cannot be improved.
Mettle: You gents should all be familiar with this by now. If improved, it becomes improved mettle instead (which works like you expect it to). This ability can only be improved once.
Step Aside: As an immediate action, a fighter with this ability can force an attack that hits him successfully to be re-rolled, and receives a circumstance bonus to his AC against that attack equal to his Dex mod or his fighter level, whichever is less. If this ability is improved, it may be used an additional time per round, while still only consuming one immediate action.
Surge of Vitality: As a move action, a fighter can call up reserves of energy and gain temporary hit points equal to his level plus his Con modifier for 1 minute. Multiple uses of this ability overlap (don't stack). If improved, the number of temporary hit points gained doubles.

And so on. I'm certain that you gents could come up with a lot more, since that took me literally like 5 minutes to think up. These are real abilities that really matter.

Now, a lot of the abilities that were added are very good indeed. However, once one reaches Foil, one has to wonder how this is supposed to work in practice. Attack rolls and skill checks are very different beasts, considering that they can have substantial amounts of divergence, which this ability does not account for at all. Additionally, the fact that it forces the fighter to be adjacent to his opponent shoehorns people away from playing a ranged fighter, which is (or, actually, should be) an archetype of the fighter.

Suggested Fix: Foil (Ex) At level 7, a fighter may foil an action that takes place up to 30ft away as an immediate action. A fighter may foil another attack, a spell (even if cast defenisvely), or a skill check.  To resolve the foil, the fighter's opponent makes a Will save with a DC of 10+1/2 fighter's level+fighter's Int mod. If the opponent fails, his action is foiled, expending any limited resources (such as spell slots, components or uses), but the action itself not resolving. A fighter may only foil an action as it is beginning, and thus cannot foil an action that is already in mid-progress, nor one that began outside his range.
Note: By this token, Improved Foil works at 60ft away. Supreme Reach would not affect it.

This allows ranged fighters to work before level 15, and is also much less prone to DnD's skill craziness.

Supreme Reach, being a capstone, is distinctively damp. This is something that they could have obtained with a magic item and a spell like 10 levels ago. If anything, their capstone should be something inspiring and cool.

Suggested Fix: Supreme Warrior (Ex) At 20th level, a fighter is without peer in the martial realm. All weapons a fighter wields are considered to be one size category larger for the purpose of dealing damage, and are considered to be under the effects of Improved Critical as long as the fighter wields them. If the fighter already has Improved Critical or a similar effect for a wielded weapon, these benefits stack (a doubling of a doubling equals a tripling, and so on).

Monk: First of all, thank you Midnight, Risada and Orion. You guys did a lot right with your monk, especially in the realm of skills, and for that, you ought to be applauded. However, there are problem areas. First of all, the monk not having good BAB is a joke. Unlike bards (who get casting), rogues (who get UMD, which is essentially casting, not to mention sneak attack), clerics (who get CASTING!, which is differentiated from casting much as SCIENCE! differers from science), and druids (who get 'win the game in every orifice' as a class ability), monks get no such goodies, and should really have full BAB, because ultimately, their role is fighting stuff, like the ranger, fighter and barbarian, and should have base numbers to compare in the offensive department. Additionally, monk weapons shouldn't be set - what if someone wants to play a scimitar-master? Or someone whose fighting style revolves around spiked chains?

Suggested Fix: Monks have full BAB, proficiency with all simple weapons, as well as a number of martial and/or exotic weapons equal to their STARTING Wis modifier.

Now, the monk's AC bonus in the PHB is a total joke. It really is. Consider this: let us look at a 1st level fighter, a 1st level rogue and a 1st level wizard with a Dex bonus of 16. Now, the fighter and rogue can just plain wear studded leather, for +3 to AC at that level, while the wizard can throw down mage armour, which gives +4. What does the monk get? NOTHING. Yes, all you screamers, he does get Wis to AC. But, unlike the above cases, he is dependent on Wis to get anything meaningful at all. Especially on 25 point buy, a monk will be BEHIND on AC as compared to the party wizard. Think about what this means. Note that this doesn't improve later, since the PHB monk was MAD as hell, and this one doesn't help matters. The fact that this bonus pretends to scale doesn't save it being a ridiculous joke, as it forces monks to pay out both ends to have a decent AC, while everyone else just buys armour/uses magic like every sane individual.

Suggested Fix: AC Bonus: Starting at 1st level, a monk receives a +3 armour bonus to AC. This improved by +1 for odd-numbered level the monk gains. This bonus applies to touch ACs or when the monk is flat-footed.

This is much, much better, as it gives the monk decent AC numbers without forcing them to pay out the ass for them.

Combat Insight is my next gripe. Although MUCH better than the terrible excuse for a set of class abilities that Art of War is, it is still a bit lacking for very similar reasons. What you want to do is something like this:

Suggested Fix: Combat Style (Ex): At 3rd level, the monk develops or trains in a fighting style. A monk may choose any of the following abilities:
Serpent Retorts for Death of Family: Whenever the monk succeeds on a Disarm, Trip or or Grapple attempt against an opponent, that opponent provokes an AOO from the monk.
Eyeball Striking Punch: As a standard action, the monk may make a single melee attack. If it hits, the target is blinded for 1 round instead of being dealt normal damage. Creatures without eyes cannot be affected by this ability.
Claws of the Tiger: Whenever the monk hits with at least two attacks, he may tear at his target as a swift action, dealing an additional amount of damage equal to his base unarmed strike damage+his Str, Dex or Wis modifier, whichever is highest.
The Way that is No Way: As a swift action, a monk can become evasive and shifty, making him difficult to hit. Until his next round, any attacks against the monk suffer a penalty equal to his Dex or Wis modifier (whichever is higher), and every time the monk is missed by an attack, he may, as an immediate action, take a 5ft step, which does not count toward his 5ft steps in that round.

And so on. I am certain more abilities can be devised. Next up, Ki Strike. While admirable, this does not go nearly far enough to compensate for the fact that everyone's been running around with these abilities for YHWH-knows-how-long now. What you should do is something similar to this.

Suggested Fix: Ki Strike (Su) Starting at 4th level, the monk's training allows him to transform his fists into a magical weapon. The monk's unarmed strike is considered to be a +1 weapon for all purposes. At every even-numbered level after 4th, the enhancement improves by +1. Instead of an increase to enhancement, the monk may instead choose to use any amount of enhancement (to a maximum of 1 less than the total enhancement available) to apply magic weapon abilities to his unarmed strikes. For example, at 6th level, a monk could, instead of getting +2 unarmed strikes, consider his strikes to be +1 flaming weapons. The distribution of abilities and enhancement is determined each time the monk gains a level, and the enhancement on a monk's weapons cannot be less than +1 or greater than +5.
Additionally, a monk may permanently sacrifice 1 point of enhancement on his unarmed strike to give his unarmed strike the properties of any one material of his choice. This may be done any number of times.

Now, Ki Reinforce has the fundamental problem of tying damage into skill checks, which often run right off the RNG and do stupid things before they are even supposed to. Additionally, daily limitation is ungood for this. Instead, consider something like this.

Suggested Fix: Ki Reinforce (Su) Starting at 8th level, the monk may, as a swift action, bolster his attacks with ki, dealing an additional 1d6 damage per 4 ranks in the Concentration skill that he possesses with his unarmed strikes for the rest of the round. Additionally, a monk's unarmed strikes are considered to be a force effect when this ability is used.

The rest, well done, good job.

Paladin: Pretty much my thinking too.

Sorcerer: Oh dear... once again, I must reiterate:

Suggested Fix: None of this 2+Int bullshit, please. It is an insult to expect people to work with that if they don't have Int as their primary.

Additionally, the slowdown of metamagic on spontaneous casters is utterly stupid, and is an example of a phenomenon known as 'Skip Hates Sorcerers'. It makes no sense whatsoever and should not be there.

Suggested Fix: Metamagic time increase for spont-casters is dead. Dead, dead, dead.

Wizard: Frankly, in my opinion, wizards don't need MORE bonus feats already. However, given the nature of their bonus feats, I don't think it's a big issue, really.

More to come later, I've been typing this for hours! It's good to be back.


Everything I learned about DnD I learned from Frank Trollman at The Gaming Den... but nowadays, my work space is the New DnD Wiki.

Check them both out!


RobbyPants

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Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #29 on: November 11, 2008, 09:49:19 AM »
I made a few changes:
- I'd forgetten to note the removal of the favored class from races.  I've added it to the post.
- The fighter gets 4 skill points per level.  I forgot to add that to the original version.
- I've changed mithril and adamantine in the armor section.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

RobbyPants

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  • Posts: 7139
Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #30 on: December 02, 2008, 12:11:55 PM »
Modified the Warmage's Edge to deal more damage (see Other Classes for more details).
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

Midnight_v

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  • Posts: 2660
  • Dulce et decorum est pro alea mori.
Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #31 on: December 02, 2008, 12:52:39 PM »
Just popped in for a sec. Lots of excellent changes. I really like the ACF swashbuckler. Brilliant.
Good stuff all the way around. Toughness + Improved toughness are now reasonable choices, as are Great fortitude/and the gang, as well as the "alertness" crowd.
Your 3.5 seems superior to lots of other fixes. Bravo.
\\\"Disentegrate.\\\" \\\"Gust of wind.\\\" \\\"Now Can we PLEASE resume saving the world?\\\"

RobbyPants

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  • Posts: 7139
Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #32 on: December 02, 2008, 01:02:58 PM »
Thanks.  I almost didn't recognize you with the new avatar :p

I had to take a fairly large break from this due to having a kid, but I'm trying to put in what time I can when I can.

Feel free to suggest anything in the other threads if you think of it.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

RobbyPants

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  • Posts: 7139
Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #33 on: December 04, 2008, 04:46:38 PM »
I officially nixed the soulknife now that I found that link to the Soulbound Weapon ACF for the psychic warrior.  Now, you can play a crappy class as an ACF for a much better class.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

RobbyPants

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  • Posts: 7139
Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #34 on: December 09, 2008, 11:04:38 AM »
Turn undead now has the same level of affect for living and undead creatures (so living creatures no longer are healed/damaged for half the amount).  Undead creatures get a Will save for half damage.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

RobbyPants

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  • Posts: 7139
Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #35 on: December 10, 2008, 09:38:45 AM »
Added barbarian changes.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

RobbyPants

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  • Posts: 7139
Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #36 on: December 11, 2008, 09:58:40 AM »
Modified the secondary effects of direct damage spells.  Came up with a list of conditions that qualify as "save-or-lose" (namely, those that limit actions, not just give penalties).  Those spells take a full round to cast.

Modified the powers known for the wilder, dropped Psychic Enervation, and modified how Wild Surge works.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

RobbyPants

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  • Posts: 7139
Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #37 on: December 12, 2008, 04:20:32 PM »
- Modified the cleric and druid to have a spells known list.  They no longer have access to their entire spell list.

- To help offset only getting two skill points, clerics get Knowledge(Religion) for free and sorcerers get Spellcraft for free.  Wizards do not get an increase, as they are Int-based casters.

- Sorcerer's spells known have been increased slightly (roughly one extra spell known per level).
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]

PhaedrusXY

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  • Advanced Spambot
Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #38 on: December 12, 2008, 05:44:55 PM »
Most of this looks quite nice. Well done. It would be interesting to see it used in some playtesting on here, maybe in a PbP game. Is anyone doing that?
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

RobbyPants

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  • Posts: 7139
Re: Rebalancing Compendium [Rebalancing 3.5]
« Reply #39 on: December 15, 2008, 01:15:53 PM »
Not that I know of, but it would be a good idea.  I guess the question is, how would we do it?  PVP doesn't seem like a good idea.  Would we just have a four person party with different classes run through a series of different level threats?

Right now, I don't have the time to truely get involved in this.

The classes I'd like to see tested the most are the fighter, barbarian, and monk, as they've seen the most changes.
My balancing 3.5 compendium
Elemental mage test game

Quotes
[spoiler]
Quote from: Cafiend
It is a shame stupidity isn't painful.
Quote from: StormKnight
Totally true.  Historians believe that most past civilizations would have endured for centuries longer if they had successfully determined Batman's alignment.
Quote from: Grand Theft Otto
Why are so many posts on the board the equivalent of " Dear Dr. Crotch, I keep punching myself in the crotch, and my groin hurts... what should I do? How can I make my groin stop hurting?"
Quote from: CryoSilver
I suggest carving "Don't be a dick" into him with a knife.  A dull, rusty knife.  A dull, rusty, bent, flaming knife.
Quote from: Seerow
Fluffy: It's over Steve! I've got the high ground!
Steve: You underestimate my power!
Fluffy: Don't try it, Steve!
Steve: *charges*
Fluffy: *three critical strikes*
Steve: ****
Quote from: claypigeons
I don't even stat out commoners. Commoner = corpse that just isn't a zombie. Yet.
Quote from: CryoSilver
When I think "Old Testament Boots of Peace" I think of a paladin curb-stomping an orc and screaming "Your death brings peace to this land!"
Quote from: Orville_Oaksong
Buy a small country. Or Pelor. Both are good investments.
[/spoiler]