Author Topic: [OCC] The Pale Horse Tavern & Info Dump  (Read 32147 times)

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dither

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[OCC] The Pale Horse Tavern & Info Dump
« on: May 31, 2009, 05:06:44 PM »
This thread is for asking questions to get answers (from me or anybody else) and OCC discussion.
« Last Edit: June 01, 2009, 08:26:19 PM by dither »
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[spoiler]
Quote from: Shadowhunter
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"Vegeta! What does the scouter say about Dither's power level?"
It's over nine thousand!

Quote from: Bauglir
Quote from: Anklebite
Quote from: dither
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PhaedrusXY

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2009, 12:36:05 AM »
So... are you not allowing the Autohypnosis skill, then?
[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]

The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2009, 01:18:46 AM »
So, are you still doing a blue mage revision, and if so when can I reasonably expect to see it?  I'm a little unable to do anything until I see my class...
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dither

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2009, 02:23:07 AM »
So... are you not allowing the Autohypnosis skill, then?

Um, Autohypnosis is okay with me. Did I suggest it wasn't?

So, are you still doing a blue mage revision, and if so when can I reasonably expect to see it?  I'm a little unable to do anything until I see my class...

I've attached version one of my "magician" class.
"Stuck between a rogue and a bard place."

vanity
Read my webcomic!
Dither's Amazing Changing Avatars

[spoiler]
Quote from: Shadowhunter
Quote from: Flay Crimsonwind
"Vegeta! What does the scouter say about Dither's power level?"
It's over nine thousand!

Quote from: Bauglir
Quote from: Anklebite
Quote from: dither
Well blow me down! :P
A SECTION OF THE CAVERN HAS COLLAPSED!
dither, Miner, has died after colliding with an obstacle!
[/spoiler]

PhaedrusXY

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2009, 02:41:32 AM »
So... are you not allowing the Autohypnosis skill, then?

Um, Autohypnosis is okay with me. Did I suggest it wasn't?
In the recruiting thread you said "I use the 10 skills from the PHB", and then talked about merging Psicraft and Spellcraft, etc, but didn't specifically mention Autohypnosis. So I wasn't sure.

I'm still debating on that horse... On the one hand, they are pretty awesome. Decent fighters in their own right at the low levels, can carry stuff, and they can give tactical advantages in combat due to mobility. On the other hand, having to constantly worry about thieves and "challengers" sounds like a bit of a pain... Maybe I should get a mule?  :P Or I guess I could carry my heavy-assed backpack around, but drop it the instant combat starts. Pretty much everything in there is cheap crap, anyway.

Suggestions for developing my backstory further are welcome, too. I know more than the average Joe about ancient Greece, but that's still not saying much.  :bigeye


Edit: Hmm... I think I will get a mule. They have almost exactly the same stats as a light warhorse, except their Wisdom is 2 lower and they don't have a bite attack (which will usually miss, anyway), and they are a lot slower. Could I get it trained for war?  :lol

(An aside: We used to own a horse farm, and I think mules are actually smarter than horses. I think they should actually have the higher wisdom, and probably a higher strength and con, too, but the horse should be faster, and the mule should have a lower charisma. The old "strong as a mule" and "stubborn as a mule" sayings are very much based in reality. ;) )
« Last Edit: June 01, 2009, 02:49:18 AM by PhaedrusXY »
[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]

dither

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2009, 03:12:40 AM »
In the recruiting thread you said "I use the 10 skills from the PHB", and then talked about merging Psicraft and Spellcraft, etc, but didn't specifically mention Autohypnosis. So I wasn't sure.

I was referring to the 10 Knowledge skills listed in the PHB, particularly because you'd listed a "Knowledge (law)," and I wasn't sure if anyone else might want something like Knowledge (psionics) or something like that. I mentioned the Psicraft --> Spellcraft thing because it's handy to know. Autohypnosis is uneffected by the changes. Martial Lore will probably be merged with Knowledge (history), but I'm not sure yet.


I'm still debating on that horse... On the one hand, they are pretty awesome. Decent fighters in their own right at the low levels, can carry stuff, and they can give tactical advantages in combat due to mobility. On the other hand, having to constantly worry about thieves and "challengers" sounds like a bit of a pain... Maybe I should get a mule?  :P Or I guess I could carry my heavy-assed backpack around, but drop it the instant combat starts. Pretty much everything in there is cheap crap, anyway.

A horse (or any beast of burden) will cause the same problem. People are kinda lazy, and like having big, strong, easily manipulated creatures to do their heavy lifting. Dragging a mule around will have the same basic effect -- you'll be a target for thieves and con-men who want to take your beast and sell it to someone else. You get off a little easier with a "less desirable" creature like a horse, in that people won't automatically assume you're a great prince, king, or general based solely on the fact that you're traveling around with a large, expensive beast.

Just imagine how much cooler a paladin's mount becomes when you realize how people swoon about him not only having a horse, but a magic horse, to boot.


Suggestions for developing my backstory further are welcome, too. I know more than the average Joe about ancient Greece, but that's still not saying much.

I'll send you a PM tomorrow. I'm turning in soon, but I've got some ideas for you that I'll send your tomorrow morning.

...

On a separate note, the magician class isn't quite finished, but I'd like to think of it in "beta." My primary sources of inspiration for the class were Merlin (of Arthurian legend) and Jafar (Disney's Aladdin). I'm still working on some higher-level class abilities to shore up the dead levels and make sure that there's a decent capstone ability. If anyone's interested, I made a lotta, lotta notes on the creation of the class, that I might be willing to transcribe (well, some of them, anyway) for a better understanding of how the class features and spell list came about.

Actually, I'm thinking a 20th-level capstone ability like: "spells in your Spell Repertoire no longer require a full-round action to cast, but instead require the normal casting time of the spell" would be almost sufficient in and of itself.
"Stuck between a rogue and a bard place."

vanity
Read my webcomic!
Dither's Amazing Changing Avatars

[spoiler]
Quote from: Shadowhunter
Quote from: Flay Crimsonwind
"Vegeta! What does the scouter say about Dither's power level?"
It's over nine thousand!

Quote from: Bauglir
Quote from: Anklebite
Quote from: dither
Well blow me down! :P
A SECTION OF THE CAVERN HAS COLLAPSED!
dither, Miner, has died after colliding with an obstacle!
[/spoiler]

ksbsnowowl

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2009, 03:02:19 PM »
So I'm still debating between straight Druid and Wiz 1/Druid 6/Arcane Hierophant.  The big item of... contention isn't the word, but it'll do... contention within my mind is the vast difference in starting HP's.  As a straight Druid I'd start with 25 or 26 HP's.  As a first level Wizard I'd start with 13 HP's...  That's a huge difference.

I've got an idea/question that may help in that decision and let me play the AH I'd prefer, without gimping my HP's.  I have absolutely no problem with you saying "no," as it is a variant rule from the 3.0 DMG.  It is the 1st-Level Multiclass Characters variant on page 40 of the 3.0 DMG (if anyone still has a copy of that book).

What it does is give you limited abilities of the first level from your two classes.  You also choose one class as "primary," and that is the class that grants your HD, skill list, and skill points for 1st level.  The other class is "secondary" and grants the HD, skill list and skill points when you become second level.  Once reaching second level, you are then just a normal 2nd level multiclassed character.

If I were to use this to start as a 1st level Druid/Wizard (diviner), I'd start with the following:

d8 HD (for this campaign it would be 24+ Con HP's)
Skills as a 1st level Druid
BAB +0
Fort +1
Ref +0
Will +2
Wizard Spells: Two 0th level spells, 0 normal 1st level spell slots per day, 1 1st-level divination spell slot, and my bonus spell slot from Int
[Total 0th- 2, 1st- 1 divination +1 Int Bonus]
Druid Spells: Two 0th level spells, 1 normal 1st-level spell slot +1 slot for Wisdom
[Total 0th- 2, 1st- 2]
A normal 1st-level Wizard's spell book
Both Caster Levels would be 1st

Adding Precocious Apprentice would also give me the two 2nd-level Wiz Divinations.

I would not have an animal companion, or the ability to get a familiar.  I wouldn't have Scribe Scroll, Wild Empathy, or Nature Sense.  I would gain those upon gaining 2nd character level.

So, thoughts on that?  If it's a no-go, I'll probably just go with straight Druid 20; I don't think I can justify starting with 12 fewer HP's.

Also, for Precocious Apprentice, I see that with my current Stat array (S 12, D 13, C 13, I 14, W 17, Ch 10) I can't qualify...[Requires Int 15] 
Since we can pick our stats anyway, I'll probably alter them to this:
Str 12, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 16, Cha 8

Effectively losing 2 "points" [as if per point buy] for the benefit of shifting stat points around.

Being a Diviner would be okay.  When I originally made an Arcane Hierophant (for a game that didn't work out) I did it with a Conjurer.  Conjuration has a lot more useful spells, but I wouldn't be opposed to taking the weaker Divination school if it fits into the setting better.  Being a part of the Apollo/Artemis cult sounds like an excellent way to implement this character.

Oh, I gave some thought to my character's motivations.  My thought was that one of my parents was a Druid who opposed one of the armies of Western Greece (we're Eastern, right?) that was moving through and trampling the countryside on their way to Troy for the war.  The result of that opposition was despoiling of the land and the death of my parent.  I'm seeking to become skilled enough to search out and kill the captains of that army regiment.  Overall I'd be True Neutral or Neutral Good, but I do have this one desire for vengeance.
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dither

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2009, 03:33:00 PM »
The big item of... contention isn't the word, but it'll do... contention within my mind is the vast difference in starting HP's.  As a straight Druid I'd start with 25 or 26 HP's.  As a first level Wizard I'd start with 13 HP's...  That's a huge difference.

In all likelihood, (unless I've vastly overestimated the roleplaying skill of this group), the party will reach 2nd level before there's any life-threatening combat. I don't know if this would be a factor in whether you're willing to start with fewer hit points.

My only real objection to the variant you're requesting is that it's "messy." I realize that you have to take Precocious Apprentice at 1st level, and that there is a large difference between the starting hit points of a 1st-level wizard and a 1st-level druid. If you like the "cult of holy siblings" idea, then I think I'd be willing to just spot you another +6 starting hit points and save us both a headache.

They're only hit points, after all. I like providing the extra hit points because they're a confidence booster, not because I'm a killer DM. I can also be kind of lazy when handing out healing items like potions, because I expect the party to rest and recover on a reasonable basis, so those extra hit points can help.  :smirk

...

On a side note, I appreciate input from my players at all times. Please PM me with anything you'd like to do insofar as "personal" character development is concerned, and post here if you want to see "more X" or "less Y" (unless you want to PM that to me). Let me know if you really, really want to fight a displacer beast ('cause you've always wanted to) or if you want your character to fall in love and be married before they're 30. Y'know, stuff like that. I'll do my best to tailor the story I've got to your requests.

On another note, if your character has a "personal objective," like killing the six-fingered man who murdered your father or finding your long-lost grandmother who's actually an immortal fey creature (don't ask), then I anticipate goals of that nature to start being fulfilled in the middle-ish-levels (6-12). The early levels I expect to fill with character development and mission-based adventuring (and some lesser personal quests, like getting your first +1 magic weapon, gaining a cohort via the Leadership feat, etc.).

edit: Oh, and obtaining flaws or traits. That'll probably happen in the early levels, too, if you want to take some flaws (probably no earlier than 2nd level, though, unless you have a clever idea).
« Last Edit: June 01, 2009, 03:44:13 PM by dither »
"Stuck between a rogue and a bard place."

vanity
Read my webcomic!
Dither's Amazing Changing Avatars

[spoiler]
Quote from: Shadowhunter
Quote from: Flay Crimsonwind
"Vegeta! What does the scouter say about Dither's power level?"
It's over nine thousand!

Quote from: Bauglir
Quote from: Anklebite
Quote from: dither
Well blow me down! :P
A SECTION OF THE CAVERN HAS COLLAPSED!
dither, Miner, has died after colliding with an obstacle!
[/spoiler]

ksbsnowowl

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2009, 03:47:32 PM »
That's cool.  I'll just start as a Wiz 1 then (yea +6 hps!) I think I'll also plan on taking Improved Toughness.

Thoughts on Conjuration over Divination?  I'll admit, Abrupt Jaunt is tasty...
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The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2009, 03:57:41 PM »
My first impressions of the class, in no particular order.  I hope it doesn't seem too harsh - that certainly isn't my intent.

Only two spells at first level?  Ouch.

Your repertoire ability looks like a more complicated version of the spell point system, with the odd twist that higher level slots are slightly less valuable, since getting "exact change" is important.  I'm not entirely certain why there's a spell list at all, instead of a list of "default repertoire spells", since the odds of using the normal casting mechanic after the first three levels are practically nil, given the repertoire is casting+.

Essentially, it's a class with a spell point system that grows as follows:
1   2
2   3
3   4
4   11
5   13
6   15
7   27 > the jump in spell slots available here is surprisingly large.
8   30
9   33
10   48
11   51
12   54
13   75
14   80
15   85
16   108
17   114
18   120
19   126
20   126

That doesn't progress spells known if prestige classed, has no chance of ASF, and uses the spell-like ability versions of metamagic feats.  Having a low will save is kinda weird, too.  I assume that I still would have to pay GP/XP components, unlike normal SLAs, because otherwise it would be completely broken.

The spell points available are comparable to the variant spell point system, except while in that system spells cost (Level*2-1) points to cast, this one costs (level) points.  Given that the spell point system is pretty unbalanced (thirteen ninth level spells!), and this system appears to be slightly worse, I'm not sure I can in good conscience accept using this class.  It could probably take on a lightning warrior and win easily.

Oh, and I can't cast cantrips.  Ever. 

I'm also a little unsure about how the familiar would fit in with the greek setting, since, IIRC, the familiar myth was invented in dark ages England.
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dither

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #10 on: June 01, 2009, 03:58:04 PM »
Thoughts on Conjuration over Divination?  I'll admit, Abrupt Jaunt is tasty...

Sketchy. Divination fits the prophesy-theme of Apollo better, and generally fits the themes of Greek mythology better.

I'm thinking about how conjuration appears in Greek myths ... well, if your reason for wanting to specialize in conjuration were solely for the purpose of travel, I could justify an obscure cult, or an individual/personal worship of Hermes that practices arcane+druid magic in the wild (hermits -- Hermes is the root of the word hermit). Then, however, it becomes difficult to figure out how/why you'd come to the city seeking a job from ... people. Of course, it's easy enough to say that "Hermes told you to get off your ass and go see the world," since he's fickle like that, and the Order of Orion is offering travel to an exotic locale at the low, low price of *free*.

Actually, since Hermes is a patron of magic, invention, trickery, and travel, I'd say you could probably get away with being an arcane+druid devotee of Hermes, with the same excuse as the above: Hermes told you to get off your ass and do something with your devotion, you crazy, crazy dude. I imagine the message was delivered via a helpful (if cryptic) centaur, since they're among Hermes's heralds and allies.
"Stuck between a rogue and a bard place."

vanity
Read my webcomic!
Dither's Amazing Changing Avatars

[spoiler]
Quote from: Shadowhunter
Quote from: Flay Crimsonwind
"Vegeta! What does the scouter say about Dither's power level?"
It's over nine thousand!

Quote from: Bauglir
Quote from: Anklebite
Quote from: dither
Well blow me down! :P
A SECTION OF THE CAVERN HAS COLLAPSED!
dither, Miner, has died after colliding with an obstacle!
[/spoiler]

ksbsnowowl

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #11 on: June 01, 2009, 04:13:28 PM »
Sweet.  I'll get my character sheet together.

Two final questions:

Your limit on 2-3 splat books per character, is that for spells too?  As of right now I'm planning on Alternate Class features from Complete Mage (Focused Specialist) and PHBII (Abrupt Jaunt), and taking the Precocious Apprentice feat from Complete Arcane.  Would this prevent me from using the Spell Compendium and possibly one other book for spells?

Would anything from Frostburn be okay, spell-wise?  I realize Greece probably doesn't see much snow, thus why I'm asking.
The spell I'd like to take for my Precocious Apprentice feat is Ice Darts from Frostburn (effectively Magic Missle, but conjuration, deals half cold damage, and requires ranged touch attacks).  I can pick something else without a problem - that's just the one I'd had planned with my previous Arcane Hierophant.  I also love the spell Bloodsnow (combined with Drifts of the Shalm, PHBII).  But, it won't break my heart if you disallow it.

Edit: Crap, I just remembered I'm also using Races of the Wild for Arcane Hierophant.... I'll probably cut the Abrupt Jaunt if it's too much.
« Last Edit: June 01, 2009, 04:27:19 PM by ksbsnowowl »
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dither

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #12 on: June 01, 2009, 04:24:13 PM »
Only two spells at first level?  Ouch.

Oops, that's a typo. Whenever a new spell level is gained, it's supposed to go 3-4-5-6 for the first four levels. Fixed that on my master.


Your repertoire ability looks like a more complicated version of the spell point system, with the odd twist that higher level slots are slightly less valuable, since getting "exact change" is important.  I'm not entirely certain why there's a spell list at all, instead of a list of "default repertoire spells", since the odds of using the normal casting mechanic after the first three levels are practically nil, given the repertoire is casting+.

Ah, I realize that I forgot to include the major balancing feature there ... Spells in a the magician's repertoire are only supposed to remain in her compliment of spells for 24 hours. I see that I forgot to include that bit.  :rollseyes I imagine it probably looks a tad ridiculous without it...


That doesn't progress spells known if prestige classed, has no chance of ASF, and uses the spell-like ability versions of metamagic feats. Having a low will save is kinda weird, too.  I assume that I still would have to pay GP/XP components, unlike normal SLAs, because otherwise it would be completely broken.

In my hurry, it looks like I also forgot to mention that although the spells in Spell Repertoire are treated as SLAs, they still require verbal and somatic components, like a warlock's invocations, and therefore are effected by ASF as normal. Therefore, a magician's personal spells are unaffected by wearing armor, but spells cast from her Repertoire are effected normally. The idea I'm trying to convey with Spell Repertoire isn't that it's powerful and somewhat unreliable, unlike the magician's primary spellcasting ability.

I'm working on cleaning up the rules text as we speak...


The spell points available are comparable to the variant spell point system, except while in that system spells cost (Level*2-1) points to cast, this one costs (level) points.

I'm taking inspiration from the Spellfire Channeler PrC (which, while probably not the best example to follow) uses spell levels, though in this case, they can't be "absorbed" by the magician, and must come from her personal power. Though, now that I think about it -- the spellfire channeler only converts spell levels into an eldritch blast-type attack. Hmm.


Oh, and I can't cast cantrips.  Ever. 
lol, not any that you know. I ought to include a bit that lets you duplicate cantrips via Spell Repertoire...  :p


I'm also a little unsure about how the familiar would fit in with the greek setting, since, IIRC, the familiar myth was invented in dark ages England.

Let me ponder that one for a bit...
"Stuck between a rogue and a bard place."

vanity
Read my webcomic!
Dither's Amazing Changing Avatars

[spoiler]
Quote from: Shadowhunter
Quote from: Flay Crimsonwind
"Vegeta! What does the scouter say about Dither's power level?"
It's over nine thousand!

Quote from: Bauglir
Quote from: Anklebite
Quote from: dither
Well blow me down! :P
A SECTION OF THE CAVERN HAS COLLAPSED!
dither, Miner, has died after colliding with an obstacle!
[/spoiler]

dither

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #13 on: June 01, 2009, 04:36:54 PM »
Two final questions:

Your limit on 2-3 splat books per character, is that for spells too?  As of right now I'm planning on Alternate Class features from Complete Mage (Focused Specialist) and PHBII (Abrupt Jaunt), and taking the Precocious Apprentice feat from Complete Arcane.  Would this prevent me from using the Spell Compendium and possibly one other book for spells?

Would anything from Frostburn be okay, spell-wise?  I realize Greece probably doesn't see much snow, thus why I'm asking.
The spell I'd like to take for my Precocious Apprentice feat is Ice Darts from Frostburn (effectively Magic Missle, but conjuration, deals half cold damage, and requires ranged touch attacks).  I can pick something else without a problem - that's just the one I'd had planned with my previous Arcane Hierophant.  I also love the spell Bloodsnow (combined with Drifts of the Shalm, PHBII).  But, it won't break my heart if you disallow it.

As a rule, the fewer splatbooks I have to reference when I review any information on your character, the happier I'll be. I don't want to have to check 6 different books if I ever need to figure out how something your character does works. Spells get to be a real pain in the butt when they come from any of a zillion different sources, so if you pick up spells from a zoo of splatbooks, please include the EXACT spell description in your character sheet (plus book and page number).

<edit>Consider this a practical limitation. If you LOST your character sheet and needed to recreate it, how much fun would you be having if you had to flip through a dozen different sources to try and cobble the character back together? I like to be well-versed in the PCs' abilities so I can provide interesting challenges, and the harder you make me work to come up with challenges, the more likely it is they won't be specially geared towards your character. So, at your discretion. If your character's just going to tag along and you aren't interested much in character development, then in theory you could use as many splatbooks as you like, though you're tempting fate by doing so. </edit>

Sandstorm would probably be more appropriately thematically, if that helps. If you'll accept a mysterious (TBA) roleplaying-based hindrance to your character to occur at an unspecified time, I'll let you use those spells. I won't give you any hints; the challenge will just show up, and depending on how fun/interesting it is, it may become a recurring thing. I might tell you eventually what it is ... maybe.

Your choice.  :D
« Last Edit: June 01, 2009, 04:40:20 PM by dither »
"Stuck between a rogue and a bard place."

vanity
Read my webcomic!
Dither's Amazing Changing Avatars

[spoiler]
Quote from: Shadowhunter
Quote from: Flay Crimsonwind
"Vegeta! What does the scouter say about Dither's power level?"
It's over nine thousand!

Quote from: Bauglir
Quote from: Anklebite
Quote from: dither
Well blow me down! :P
A SECTION OF THE CAVERN HAS COLLAPSED!
dither, Miner, has died after colliding with an obstacle!
[/spoiler]

ksbsnowowl

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #14 on: June 01, 2009, 04:43:19 PM »
Oh, and my wealth:
Wiz avg gold 75 gp = +1
1 Rank Profession (Apothecary) = +1
Roll for wealth (2d4=4)

Bah!  So Wealth Level of 6.

So that means I can take 10 to get anything with a wealth level of 1st (DC 15), right?  And then I could cap things off by rolling to try to get a 2nd level item (DC 17), which would decrease my wealth level by 1, regardless of success or failure?

Wait, no, now I think that's wrong as I read over the d20 modern stuff.

5 gp or less I can buy all I want.  I get the two free 1/2 level and 1st level items.  If I buy anything with a DC higher than 6, then my wealth bonus decreases by 1, right? Arg.... I thought I was understanding this, but now I'm lost.

All I'm planning to take from Complete Arcane is the Precocious Apprentice feat, and Complete Mage is only for Focused Specialist.  Those basically only serve to allow me to qualify for Arcane Hierophant with a single level of Wizard.  Other than that, I'll limit myself to Races of the Wild (Arc. Hierophant), PHBII, and Spell Compendium.  That cool?
« Last Edit: June 01, 2009, 04:49:27 PM by ksbsnowowl »
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

KSB Snow Owl's Archer Build thread

dither

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #15 on: June 01, 2009, 05:17:45 PM »
Wait, no, now I think that's wrong as I read over the d20 modern stuff.

5 gp or less I can buy all I want.  I get the two free 1/2 level and 1st level items.  If I buy anything with a DC higher than 6, then my wealth bonus decreases by 1, right? Arg.... I thought I was understanding this, but now I'm lost.

All I'm planning to take from Complete Arcane is the Precocious Apprentice feat, and Complete Mage is only for Focused Specialist.  Those basically only serve to allow me to qualify for Arcane Hierophant with a single level of Wizard.  Other than that, I'll limit myself to Races of the Wild (Arc. Hierophant), PHBII, and Spell Compendium.  That cool?

Regarding equipment:
Two free 1/2 level items, plus two free 1st-level items. These can be traded up/down using normal rules as in Magic Item Compendium (eg. get four 1/2-level for your two 1st-level items, or trade in both to get one 2nd-level item, etc.).

Items costing 5 gp or less are effectively free, though please don't abuse this. Imagine the sword of Damocles over your head when I say this.

Hard & Fast rules regarding Wealth:
Anything you buy with a Purchase DC higher than your Wealth costs you 1 point (stacking).
Anything you buy with a Purchase DC of 15 or higher costs you 1 point (stacking).

(11-15 points higher than current Wealth bonus costs an additional 1d6 points of Wealth; if it's 16+ points higher, it instead costs 2d6 additional points of Wealth.)

...

Regarding spells & character, that sounds good to me. Please don't think of me as tyrannical or anything for asking that things be kept simple. I mean, that *is* the whole point of using the Wealth system instead of the normal system. Less bookkeeping for me. :p
« Last Edit: June 01, 2009, 05:22:23 PM by dither »
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[spoiler]
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"Vegeta! What does the scouter say about Dither's power level?"
It's over nine thousand!

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ksbsnowowl

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #16 on: June 01, 2009, 05:39:40 PM »
Hard & Fast rules regarding Wealth:
Anything you buy with a Purchase DC higher than your Wealth costs you 1 point (stacking).
Anything you buy with a Purchase DC of 15 or higher costs you 1 point (stacking).

(11-15 points higher than current Wealth bonus costs an additional 1d6 points of Wealth; if it's 16+ points higher, it instead costs 2d6 additional points of Wealth.)
Ok, so in my case, where I have a wealth of 6, anything I buy with a DC higher than 6 (which is just about everything at this point), drops my wealth to 5.
And if I buy anything with a DC of 15 (a first level item), that lowers my wealth level to 4 (-1 for DC 15, -1 for higher than my Wealth)?  So I could Take 10 once and hit a DC 15, but thereafter my wealth would be 4.

Okay, assuming the above is right, what happens when you try to buy something (via rolling to hit a DC 17, for example) but don't hit the DC?  You just can't afford the item, but you don't lose wealth.  Right?

I'm not trying to be dense, honest.  I think the thing that's screwing me up is how the 1st level item DC (15) fits into the rules from the d20modern SRD.  The idea is that a first level item is somewhat difficult for us to get right now (it will lower our wealth by 2, thus limiting us to one or two of them, depending upon our wealth), correct?
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KSB Snow Owl's Archer Build thread

dither

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #17 on: June 01, 2009, 05:57:52 PM »
Ok, so in my case, where I have a wealth of 6, anything I buy with a DC higher than 6 (which is just about everything at this point), drops my wealth to 5.
And if I buy anything with a DC of 15 (a first level item), that lowers my wealth level to 4 (-1 for DC 15, -1 for higher than my Wealth)?  So I could Take 10 once and hit a DC 15, but thereafter my wealth would be 4.

Okay, assuming the above is right, what happens when you try to buy something (via rolling to hit a DC 17, for example) but don't hit the DC?  You just can't afford the item, but you don't lose wealth.  Right?

I'm not trying to be dense, honest.  I think the thing that's screwing me up is how the 1st level item DC (15) fits into the rules from the d20modern SRD.  The idea is that a first level item is somewhat difficult for us to get right now (it will lower our wealth by 2, thus limiting us to one or two of them, depending upon our wealth), correct?

You're correct on all three accounts; you'd take a -2 hit to Wealth for a DC 15, if you don't hit the DC, you can't afford the item and you lose nothing (except some time), and acquiring items of your level is intended to be a "challenge," so that only a couple can be acquired at a time.

And don't worry about being dense on the subject. I don't mind reiterating the rules in this case, because the system is fairly new to me, too, and I've never really tried to implement it in a game before (just something that's been kicking around in the back of my mind for a while).
« Last Edit: June 01, 2009, 06:00:22 PM by dither »
"Stuck between a rogue and a bard place."

vanity
Read my webcomic!
Dither's Amazing Changing Avatars

[spoiler]
Quote from: Shadowhunter
Quote from: Flay Crimsonwind
"Vegeta! What does the scouter say about Dither's power level?"
It's over nine thousand!

Quote from: Bauglir
Quote from: Anklebite
Quote from: dither
Well blow me down! :P
A SECTION OF THE CAVERN HAS COLLAPSED!
dither, Miner, has died after colliding with an obstacle!
[/spoiler]

The_Mad_Linguist

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #18 on: June 01, 2009, 07:55:48 PM »
Wow, 24 hours is a severe limit.  I'm like Gogo.

Given the amount of downtime that I see in most PbP campaigns, it looks like I'll be going into virtually every encounter with no offensive spells whatsoever...

And it looks like I can't learn from items, either, so plan "buy scrolls" is permanently shelved... and since you specified other casters, I can't mimic myself and cast the spells I don't want to forget every day.

As far as spells go, I always have a .doc on my computer with all my spells' information available.  I'll PM you a copy when I make it.  Makes for easy referencing.
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dither

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Re: [OCC] The Pale Horse
« Reply #19 on: June 01, 2009, 08:03:35 PM »
Wow, 24 hours is a severe limit.  I'm like Gogo.

Given the amount of downtime that I see in most PbP campaigns, it looks like I'll be going into virtually every encounter with no offensive spells whatsoever...

And it looks like I can't learn from items, either, so plan "buy scrolls" is permanently shelved... and since you specified other casters, I can't mimic myself and cast the spells I don't want to forget every day.

As far as spells go, I always have a .doc on my computer with all my spells' information available.  I'll PM you a copy when I make it.  Makes for easy referencing.

You're welcome to use the blue mage you linked me to. As I said before, I just wanted to play with the concept. I won't stick you with the magician class I came up with if it doesn't sound appealing to you, I just wanted to take a crack at rebuilding it and see if you fancied it more.

Though -- I think I managed to squeeze Use Magic Device on the magician's class list, so that doesn't mean you can't use offensive spells from wands and scrolls. *shrug* I won't push it, though, if it isn't what you're looking for.
"Stuck between a rogue and a bard place."

vanity
Read my webcomic!
Dither's Amazing Changing Avatars

[spoiler]
Quote from: Shadowhunter
Quote from: Flay Crimsonwind
"Vegeta! What does the scouter say about Dither's power level?"
It's over nine thousand!

Quote from: Bauglir
Quote from: Anklebite
Quote from: dither
Well blow me down! :P
A SECTION OF THE CAVERN HAS COLLAPSED!
dither, Miner, has died after colliding with an obstacle!
[/spoiler]