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Character Creation.

Posted by The Elder DarkestFor group 0
The Elder Darkest
GM, 2 posts
Ruin has come to
our family.
Mon 14 Dec 2020
at 02:56
  • msg #1

Character Creation

There are a few things you should know before you continue. You may have heard of Pathfinder referred to as 3.75. Well, this is D&D 3.67 - I'm cribbing some ideas from the future.

Standard 28 point buy for abilities.

Skill requirements for classes, feats, and whatnot are 3 less now. Hurrah!

Your skill points are equal to your per level ranking, and no higher. For example, Fighters gets (2 + Int) modifier skill points per level, including at level 1. Boo!

BUT! If the skill is a class skill for you, you get a +3 bonus when using it as long as you have at least one rank in it, and if it is cross-class it doesn't cost you double points. You just don't get anything extra out of it, and you can use it if it is otherwise a Trained skill. Like Pathfinder, for those familiar with it. This is overall beneficial, so... Hurrah!

You can use the Pathfinder Fighter or Paladin as they are in Pathfinder. Don't ask about Unchained stuff or other Pathfinder classes. If you do, you didn't read this, or you are deliberately pushing a button, and I'll ignore you. Being serious here.

If your Intelligence increases on a permanent basis, you will gain retroactive skill points. Hurrah!
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:52, Mon 14 Dec 2020.
The Elder Darkest
GM, 3 posts
Ruin has come to
our family.
Mon 14 Dec 2020
at 03:16
  • msg #2

Character Creation

Skill Consolidation

Athletics (Climb, Jump, Swim) = Str*
Acrobatics (Balance, Tumble) = Dex
Awareness (Listen, Spot) = Wis
Magic (Concentration, Spellcraft) = (your primary casting stat)
Security (Disable Device, Open Lock) = Int
Stealth (Hide, Move Silently) = Dex*
Persuade (Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Gather Information) = Cha

If one skill is in-class for you, you have access to all of them.
There are no synergy bonuses anymore. Sorry.

Skill Tricks are still worth 2 skill points each, but as above, have skill requirements reduced by 3 to a minimum of 1.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:15, Tue 15 Dec 2020.
The Elder Darkest
GM, 5 posts
Ruin has come to
our family.
Mon 14 Dec 2020
at 04:05
  • msg #3

Character Creation

Races

I default to using the Savage Species method. A Level Adjustment, should it still be needed, is a Level, meaning if you are a level 4 wizard with a +2 adjustment, you are a LV6 character as far as my brain is concerned, and that is the end of that. Just don't take more negative levels than you have HD, or you will be sad.
The Elder Darkest
GM, 6 posts
Ruin has come to
our family.
Mon 14 Dec 2020
at 04:10
  • msg #4

Character Creation

Not A Mere Recommendation

Make a backup character. Seriously.

Sometimes a card might take you out of the picture for a bit, or longer. Have a backup.

Your backup will normally be just trolling around in the background, doing their own thing. I'll bring attention to them now and again, but they are generally "safe" from me... unless The Rogue is pulled, at which point they are a candidate for it, and honestly the most likely choice.

You should kill them if The Rogue is drawn. Better safe, than sorry.

Complicating this - no Evil alignments starting out. Players who play Evil tend to have a sense of "humor" that goes a bit too far. There will be plenty of time for you to go Evil as a direct result of the Darkest Deck.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:54, Mon 14 Dec 2020.
The Elder Darkest
GM, 8 posts
Ruin has come to
our family.
Mon 14 Dec 2020
at 04:39
  • msg #5

Character Creation

Starting Gear

You mean you think this will matter after a couple draws from this thing?

Fine. You start with 13000 gold pieces worth of gear.
The Elder Darkest
GM, 9 posts
Ruin has come to
our family.
Mon 14 Dec 2020
at 09:15
  • msg #6

Character Creation

What IS not permitted, actually?

Generally, I have to think about it. I'm REALLY not sold on the niche of the Totemist or the Soulborn, so I'm actually going to nix those. There are a LOT of existing things I am permitting.

Truenamers?
Sure, but I have no idea why.

Warblade?
You do you.

Factotum?
I know what it is, and sure.

Variant Paladins?
Only Paladin of Freedom would be open due to the above "no evil" clause, but sure - you do you.

Dragon Magazine stuff?
NO.
No. None of that here.

Commoner?
You've got something horrible planned that doesn't involve Chicken-Infested, don't you?

Someone is going to bust out something really obscure on me, and I know it. I'll try to be accommodating.

Then there is the Pun-Pun caliber stuff, the Tier Zero characters. The Hulking Hurler builds that deal damage measured in scientific notation, the guys who can set Europe on fire once a day - you know the builds I'm talking about.

Why? Why would you play these? Be respectful.

Buy me a drink first, at least.

In short, I cannot stop and control everything, and I really don't want to. I'll probably allow a lot of builds that would be considered broken by most GMs. So, I'm asking you, the player, to go along with the ride and not completely snap all challenge over your knee.
The Elder Darkest
GM, 11 posts
Ruin has come to
our family.
Mon 14 Dec 2020
at 10:51
  • msg #7

Character Creation

Backup Characters and You

Your backup character is not "protected" by me until you control them due to primary character incapacitation, but they are generally "safe". That being said, this could lead to an interesting situation if your backup happens to be The Rogue when you are in The Donjon or The Void. I will inform you of this unlikely development, should it arise, and give you some options to encourage you to stab yourself in the back and have fun doing it.

Now, when I say "not 'protected'", I mean they do not have a degree of plot armor I am straight up giving you, and I feel nothing toward them but a vague desire to find an excuse to do them harm. My rules inform me that I am not out to get you, and I generally will not be aiming for you specifically when I aim at them. But if the logic of the story informs me that harm should befall them, well - I'm cocking the bolt action and looking at them through the crosshairs, eager for a clean shot, same as I would everyone stupid or unlucky enough to cross your main character's path.

It's your story, not theirs, after all.

On the other hand, they are your backups, likely have some significance in your story, and are potential future characters. So, if I aim for one (and The Flames and especially The Rogue both give me carte blanche to do so), I will do it without remorse. But it will not be fickle, or careless - their suffering will have purpose, and you will certainly have warning of it.

Seriously, though, do not automatically stab your backup if you draw The Rogue. Consider a warning stab to let them know who's in charge. Get some evidence first, you lunatic, and consider talking out their grievance first.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:55, Mon 14 Dec 2020.
The Elder Darkest
GM, 21 posts
Ruin has come to
our family.
Tue 29 Dec 2020
at 01:52
  • msg #8

Character Creation

Ah, yes, two extra things I forgot:

One: Choose a favored class, and that becomes your favored class. Racial class is always favored, so you don't need to pick it, and you basically get two favored classes - a prop for the ill fortune of having racial class dice.
    Multiclassing penalties are out, because they are annoying. Instead, when you level up your favored class, you gain your choice of either one extra HP, or one extra skill point.

Two: If your non-racial class (favored or not) has a full Base Attack bonus, Iaijutsu Focus is automatically a class skill for you. That's from Oriental Adventures. Enjoy.
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