Action Points Accrual

[The_Gneech]

I'm starting a d20 game based on Crimson Skies, using d20 Modern and Pulp Heroes from Dungeon #102 and I just want to make sure I understand the accrual rate of Action Points, because I can see it going two ways.

The way I think is right, from the book, is that the formula adds on each time, like hit points. Thus, a character who went through their first two levels without ever spending Action Points would have 11 Action Points ... (5 + 1/2, rounded down =) 5 for first level, and (5 + 2/2 =) 6 for second level.

Or is it that they replenish to a set amount at each level? Thus a 1st level character has 5, and then no matter if they spent all or none of them, they'd have 6 at second level?

The first way suggests that a 10th level character who never spent any Action Points would have 65 saved up, while the second way means that any character would immediately have 11 action points as soon as they became 10th. As you can see, this is quite a difference! So which is correct?

-The Gneech

 

[King of Old School]

The first way suggests that a 10th level character who never spent any Action Points would have 65 saved up, while the second way means that any character would immediately have 11 action points as soon as they became 10th. As you can see, this is quite a difference! So which is correct?

The first way (i.e. 65 APs, and that's assuming that you had only accumulated levels in basic classes since advanced classes offer 6 APs/level and prestige classes offer 7 APs/level).

KoOS

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I'm starting a d20 game based on Crimson Skies, using d20 Modern and Pulp Heroes from Dungeon #102 and I just want to make sure I understand the accrual rate of Action Points, because I can see it going two ways.

The way I think is right, from the book, is that the formula adds on each time, like hit points. Thus, a character who went through their first two levels without ever spending Action Points would have 11 Action Points ... (5 + 1/2, rounded down =) 5 for first level, and (5 + 2/2 =) 6 for second level.

Or is it that they replenish to a set amount at each level? Thus a 1st level character has 5, and then no matter if they spent all or none of them, they'd have 6 at second level?

The first way suggests that a 10th level character who never spent any Action Points would have 65 saved up, while the second way means that any character would immediately have 11 action points as soon as they became 10th. As you can see, this is quite a difference! So which is correct?

-The Gneech

If you play from 1st-level onward, you get a certain number based on your level. So, you would get 5 AP at 1st-level, another 6 AP at 2nd-level (total 11), and so forth. I recall hoarding APs when I was playing. DMs will have to take notice of how many APs players have.

If you start as a higher level character, then you just get the AP for your most recent level. So, if you're a Strong 3/Soldier 3, you would get 9 action points (6 [Advanced Class] + 1/2 level = 9), not ... well, a huge amount. (I don't want to do the math behind that one.)

Heroic NPCs get 1 AP per 2 levels, rounded down. Ordinary NPCs get no action points (or satisfaction).

 

[takyris]

However, I believe that if you start a character at a higher level, you get only the action points from your last level. This is to avoid precisely that problem -- one tenth level character who got there from level one, who just has a few action points beyond what he levelled with, and one tenth level character with a huge load of action points because "his character never used them".

Personally, I don't like the accrual process being tied to levelling -- I dont like having to level my PCs to get their special abilities back. I use the M&M model, where you get (level/2, rounded up) action points per day or session. But that's just me.

 

[Fate Lawson]

Actually, you did the math wrong. A 10th level character that somehow managed to reach 10th level without spending any action points would have a total of 75 (5+6+6+7+7+8+8+9+9+10). The most common house rule for starting characters at higher levels is to only give them the last levels worth of Action Points. (in the case of a 10th level character = 10 to 12, depending on what the last class taken was).

 

[The_Gneech]

Thanks!

-The Gneech

 

[Tokiwong]

Sounds good I had a question about this myself... it works now to make my players spend their AP!

 

[C. Baize]

Actually, you did the math wrong. A 10th level character that somehow managed to reach 10th level without spending any action points would have a total of 75 (5+6+6+7+7+8+8+9+9+10). The most common house rule for starting characters at higher levels is to only give them the last levels worth of Action Points. (in the case of a 10th level character = 10 to 12, depending on what the last class taken was).

Of course... it also depends on whether they stick strictly to base classes, or take Advanced or Prestige classes, as well. Since those accrue action points faster.

 

[Brad Hindman]

Sounds good I had a question about this myself... it works now to make my players spend their AP!

Personally, I can't see any tactical advantage in saving those AP points. Why would you ever need 75 action points moldering in the bank? So, my philosophy, as a referee, is to not worry about players saving points. They are just handicapping themselves in the present.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Personally, I can't see any tactical advantage in saving those AP points. Why would you ever need 75 action points moldering in the bank? So, my philosophy, as a referee, is to not worry about players saving points. They are just handicapping themselves in the present.

Yep. Unearthed Arcana and d20 Modern don't mention a limit to how many you can have at any one time. Eberron does, though, interestingly enough; see p. 45 of Eberron.

The Planescape campaign I'm in uses action points, and we're not quite used to them yet. We're mostly saving them in case we REALLY need them; like, say, for a really big fight or something. There's a recurring joke that whoever has the most action points at the end of the campaign wins. ;-)

Brad