Nyaricus
First Post
So, here's a character creation idea I've been mulling over. It changes a few of the core ideas of D&D, and makes it so that Experts are the true craftsmen in the world while still giving D&D heroes a backstory, and better defining, in my opinion, the place D&D heroes have in the world at large. Please keep in mine this is an incrediably rough draft and that there are multiple layers of this idea.
Okay, firstly, Appraise, Craft and Profession are all taken of of all class skill lists, except for the Experts.
Experts are the everyday folk who are very skilled in their feilds. They can be jewelers, blacksmiths, cobblers or basketweavers. They are the peoepl who help make the world go 'round in the cities, dealing out their masterwork wares.
But, this means that PCs have no skill in doing anything, and they can't even have a background in anything. This is why I would give, as a bonus, Free Background Skills. I choose 4 ranks, because you can max out a skill at first level (and so it seems like a natural number) and any of the following skills can be chosen: Appraise (all), Craft (all), Knowledge (all but the Planes) and Profession (all). This allows characters to get some depth for their character for free - however I'd personally encourage people to vary their skill selection, like take Know: (local) so they know even a smidgeon about their homeland, etc.
Another idea I am toying with is basically Expert Substitution levels. Instead of there being an Expert Class in and of itself, anyone can become an Expert in a given field. So commoners can learn a trade an take a substitution level, Warriors can learn how to craft a sword or repair a set of armour, and Wizards can become Master Alchemists, etc. Probably level 1, 5, and 9 would be Expert Substitution levels (or something like that) and bonuses would include Appraise, Craft, and Profession as class skills and they can choose 5 other skills as class skills (or soem similar number) They get 4 or 6 skills/level, bad BAB, and all throws are poor (again, just a rough draft). They'd also get Skill Focus for free, and maybe a special ability to to let skill focus for the same skill stack (but only those feats that are gained through this Substituion Class).
I dunno, these are all just thoughts that I need to work out - what do you think?
Okay, firstly, Appraise, Craft and Profession are all taken of of all class skill lists, except for the Experts.
Experts are the everyday folk who are very skilled in their feilds. They can be jewelers, blacksmiths, cobblers or basketweavers. They are the peoepl who help make the world go 'round in the cities, dealing out their masterwork wares.
But, this means that PCs have no skill in doing anything, and they can't even have a background in anything. This is why I would give, as a bonus, Free Background Skills. I choose 4 ranks, because you can max out a skill at first level (and so it seems like a natural number) and any of the following skills can be chosen: Appraise (all), Craft (all), Knowledge (all but the Planes) and Profession (all). This allows characters to get some depth for their character for free - however I'd personally encourage people to vary their skill selection, like take Know: (local) so they know even a smidgeon about their homeland, etc.
Another idea I am toying with is basically Expert Substitution levels. Instead of there being an Expert Class in and of itself, anyone can become an Expert in a given field. So commoners can learn a trade an take a substitution level, Warriors can learn how to craft a sword or repair a set of armour, and Wizards can become Master Alchemists, etc. Probably level 1, 5, and 9 would be Expert Substitution levels (or something like that) and bonuses would include Appraise, Craft, and Profession as class skills and they can choose 5 other skills as class skills (or soem similar number) They get 4 or 6 skills/level, bad BAB, and all throws are poor (again, just a rough draft). They'd also get Skill Focus for free, and maybe a special ability to to let skill focus for the same skill stack (but only those feats that are gained through this Substituion Class).
I dunno, these are all just thoughts that I need to work out - what do you think?