Action Points/Dice in D&D

[Jack Daniel]

I use them in my D&D campaign. It helps facillitate two important factors in my games -- the first is that my world is a swashbuckly setting, and action points cater to the sort of stupid stunts that heroes are supposed to attempt (likewise with the Heroic Surge feat). Second, it opened up a fabulous mechanic for eliminating multiclass XP penalties while retaining favored classes.

In d20 modern, characters need lots of action points, in part for the extra dice and in part to use certain class talents. So, of course, characters get 5, 6, or 7 + one-half their character level in action points at every level. That's not really neccessary in D&D, given that the classes are supposed to be balanced before hand and action points don't activate any class features, so I award 2, 3 or 4 action points per level, based not on the specific class, but on the class type. 2 points for a basic class, 3 for a prestige class, and 4 points for a racially favored basic class. Giving out more points for advancing in a favored class and eliminating XP penalties altogether helps cater to elven wizards and dwarven fighters, and often eliminates characters with one or two levels in their favored class (something that always bothered me about the core system).

 

[John Crichton]

I used a form of "Action Dice" 2 campaigns ago. It worked well and added some drama to things. I would consider using the system again after a refit.

 

[FungiMuncher]

I'm considering using this in my newly revised campaign. The issue I'm trying to address is awarding player actions without experience bonuses. The main reason my players chose to restart at first level was the disparity in character levels. There was one seventh level character, a couple fifth, and a bunch of fourth level ones. This was mostly due to deaths and retirements. Awarding bonus experience just adds to the disparity.

At character start, I award a few bonus ability points for providing character backgrounds, plot hooks and such. However, after the start of a new character, I used to award experience. I'm thinking of giving out action points of some sort. I'm thinking that they'll be rather rare, and none automatically received. I certainly would like to increase the drama and risk taking in the game.

I would welcome some ideas on how the players could use them.

FM