Author Topic: Mind Blown: Removing Classes from 3e via Point Buy  (Read 2300 times)

PlzBreakMyCampaign

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Mind Blown: Removing Classes from 3e via Point Buy
« on: June 25, 2017, 03:05:22 PM »
http://www.easydamus.com/Custom_Characters.pdf
(click to show/hide)

Are you sad that the 3rd edition writers don't allow your character concept to have Slippery Mind and Greater Flurry of blows on the same character in core, pre-epic just because they were narrow-minded? Free yourself of their limitations with a point-buy system that enforces balance on millions of permutations.

Yesterday I came across this guy who had stripped the rigid and inflexible containers of classes from D&D back in 2010-2011. The complications for 3.5 melted away and the elegance shown through. It simultaneously simplifies and empowers players and DMs alike. It can even fully recreate standard 3e play if need be.

I know understand his system fully. Here's the most important part from the 2010 version's 4th page:
Quote
Trait             Cost (XP)       Maximum Value
Base Attack Bonus          300 for +1       +1
Base Save Bonus          100 per +1       +2
Base Hit Points          25 per HP       12 HP
Skill Rank             25 per       Rank 4 Ranks per Skill
Base Feat             100    per      Up to normal for Character level
Armor and Weapon Proficiency    Feats 100 per Feat    --
Bard Spellcasting       150         Up to Character level
Cleric Spellcasting        300      Up to Character level
Druid Spellcasting        200      Up to Character level
Psion Manifesting           500      Up to Character level
Sorcerer Spellcasting        500      Up to Character level
Wizard Spellcasting        500      Up to Character level
Special Ability        100 per Ability      Up to Character level
Class Level              25 per      Up to Character level
Ability Score           150 per +1    Racial Max
Who has questions?
« Last Edit: June 25, 2017, 03:34:51 PM by PlzBreakMyCampaign »
Sigh. Not again. :(

bhu

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Re: Mind Blown: Removing Classes from 3e via Point Buy
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2017, 10:58:58 PM »
I am intrigued.  Does anyone know how much playtesting this has had to determine how the math works out.

Garryl

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Re: Mind Blown: Removing Classes from 3e via Point Buy
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2017, 11:11:01 PM »
Whee! Yet another system built on the premise that all classes are equal and that massages the numbers until they fit that.
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archon

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Re: Mind Blown: Removing Classes from 3e via Point Buy
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2017, 02:50:29 AM »
This system is really cool. From here, it would be nice to work on putting some better balance into the game, since you can fix abilities(or their pricing) one by one. But I don't know how to go about that - Spell-casting in particular is just very structurally different.

But still, very cool. I'm glad someone got around to doing this.

And let me second the request for play-testing.

 

PlzBreakMyCampaign

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Re: Mind Blown: Removing Classes from 3e via Point Buy
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2017, 03:57:15 PM »
It seems as if this guy has run the variant along with his attempt at simplifying magic (basically he makes it into a complicated skill system so it becomes transparent to the point buy). If anyone wants to email him, I'm curious to see how the balance of his awfully round numbers worked. It seems apparent that the numbers may need tweaked a bit (specifically the casting, saves, and BAB).

Whee! Yet another system built on the premise that all classes are equal and that massages the numbers until they fit that.
There is analysis on the 2011 version's page 54 that goes through and shows how the classes aren't fully equal, but assuming the chassis really matters (a design principal that 3e initially held), they are usually close-ish. As expected Fighters are noticeably weak and druids are noticeably strong. Has anyone else ever point buy chassis and class abilities before better? I'll settle for "fully".

Ugly text dump of the table:
(click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: June 29, 2017, 03:59:28 PM by PlzBreakMyCampaign »
Sigh. Not again. :(