D20 - Earth Auroch - Writing a rosetta stone for the newest old edition

---

Earth.- water 1, air 2, fire 3, you do the math.
Auroch.- a disappeared mythic creature that got recreated in shape by mixing different lineages

In short recreating number 4 using new elements...


My purpose is to recreate the base game but using different idiosyncratic elements so it remains playable but as far away as possible from existing IP. But also to remain as compatible with existing material as possible.

Core Mechanic and Math

The d20 core mechanic remains very similar

1d20 + Level + Ability bonus + other modifiers (including proficiency and class)

However there are changes to DCs, there is only one roll when attacking different targets or when attacking more than one defense.

The reason: the regular game aims for a +1 increase per level on all areas, but recurs to lots of fiddly bonuses to get there, which is the reason there is a math hole. Just defaulting to adding level to the rolls and defenses fixes this.

Ability Scores

They remain the same. But the bonus scale changes.

  Score Bonus
    10    +0
    11    +0
    12    +0
    13    +0
    14    +1
    15    +1
    16    +2
    17    +2
    18    +3
    19    +3
    ... and so on
The reason: at first sight this looks like a nerf, but in truth it isn't. Applying the full level to rolls has a net +1 all over the place, so ability bonuses have to be decreased to match. This has the added benefit of decreasing pressure on low scores, 10s and 11s now have the same value as 12s and 13s.

Point buy also changes to match. 20 points to spend (no chance to reduce a score for more points)

Score Cost
  10    0
  11    1
  12    2
  13    3
  14    5
  15    6
  16    9
  17   11
  18   15

This message was last edited by the player at 03:46, Tue 24 June 2014.

Feats

Feats are very present in all D20 games, that element is renamed Talent. In this version Feats are special abilities -like spells, combat maneuvers and the like-. feats come from class, race and other elements.

Defenses
Besides AC, there are three other defenses (known collectively as NADS): Touch, Endurance and Willpower. Nads are calculated in the following way:

Relevant ability score + level + bonuses from class/race/equipment

You choose which score applies to each NAD, typically your highest scores. Each ability score is associated to one or more of them -though class features and talents can change that-. Each score can only apply to one NAD.

Strength: Endurance.
Dexterity: Touch.
Constitution: Endurance or Willpower.
Intelligence: Touch or Willpower.
Wisdom: Touch or Willpower.
Charisma: Willpower

AC.- To calculate AC it depends of the kind of armor you use. For light armor add the armor value to your Touch defense, for heavy armor use the value provided by the armor. If you are using a shield, add that value.


Hit points and healing

Each class designates a number of hit points per level, a "Hurt value" (Roughly equivalent to half their hit points) and a Heal value (More or less one fourth their hit points). When a character has less HP than their hurt value they are Hurt. When they reach 0 the characters falls unconscious and they can still take more damage, up to their Constitution, before actually dying.

Each character also receives a number of Heals per day (Their Healing Pool). Most healing abilities require the expenditure of Heals from the healing pool.

Other combat bonuses
In addition the the Key score modifier, characters add half their level to the damage produced by their attacks.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:48, Tue 24 June 2014.