Adventures of Mr. Chips

whatisitgoodfor

First Post
Following the trend, I'm planning to run a one-nighter this weekend featuring all non-humanoid PCs. I'm posting this here to further the discussions as to whether or not the ECLs are appropriate. What I need from the people on these boards, is an open mind and an ability to look at what I'm doing to see if anything will invalidate the playtest.

The Characters: All are being constructed with a 28 point buy, and the reccommended character wealth for a 9th level character.

Mr. Chips is a money barbarian. Following the article, all of the animal characters are assumed to be awakened. Mr. Chips is unique among the animal characters, in that he actually has hands.
Monkey Bbn9
Speed = 40 feet, Climb 40'
Str 10 (14 rage), Dex 16, Con 12 (16 rage), Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 6
HD= 12 (3d8 awakened monkey + 9d12 barbarian)
HP= 90 (114 rage)
SA = Rage 3/day, Uncanny Dodge (Can't be flanked, Dex to AC)
Saves = Fort +10 (+12 rage) Reflex +9, Will +4 (+6 rage)
BAB= +11/+6/+1
Equipment to be added later.

Sparky is a Dragon hatchling, at least in his own mind. Most other creatures just think he's a lizard with a unique gift for the arcane. Due to some random magical fluctuations during his awakening, Sparky's Int and Cha scores were reversed.
Lizard Sor9 (Note, this is using the Monte Cook Sorceror)
Speed = 20 feet, Climb 20
Str 2, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 4, Wis 8, Cha 18
HD = 11 (2d8 awakened lizards + 9d6 sorceror)
HP = 54
SA= Spells (no familiar)
BAB = +5
Equipment, skills, and feats to be added later.

Call-me-a-chipmunk-and-die is a squirrel who has been enjoying a life of intrigue, intimidation (I can't think of anything more intimidating than a squirrel talking about cutting off your ankles), and vices since the day of his awakening. (Using the entry for rat as a squirrel substitute)
Squirrel Rog9
Speed 15 feet, climb 15
Str 2, Dex 22, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 4.
HD = 11 (2d8 awakened squirrel + 9d6 rogue)
HP = 54
BAB= +7/+2
SA= Sneak attack +9d6, Uncanny dodge(can't be flanked, dex to AC).

Screech the eagle saw the face of god while surrounded by the mystical energies of the awakening spell. Since then, he has been following the path of enlightenment, seeking to serve his god to the best of his ability.
Eagle Clr6
Speed 10, Fly 80
Str 10, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8
HD = 9 (3d8 awakened eagle + 6d8 cleric)
HP = 62
BAB = +6/+1
SA= Spells, undead turning

Sniffles was one of the first companions of Sara, the druid who awakened all these animals. He enjoys rubbing it in thoroughly.
Wolf Rgr6 (Again, Monte Cook version)
Speed 50 feet
Str 14, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 14
HD= 10 (4d8 awakened wolf + 6d8 ranger)
HP= 79
BAB= +9/+4
SA= Trip, Spells, Track,

Finally, the party is finished by Bob the nameless faceless NPC human that is there only to be compared to the rest of them.
Human Fighter 9
Speed 30feet
Str 16, Dex 10, Con 14, Wis 10, Int 13, Cha 11
HD = 9d10
HP = 72
-------------------------------

Here are some things that I'm thinking of doing for the players.

1) allow use of the Opposable enhancement from MotW.

2) Allow scaled down versions of the reach weapons that let them threaten the spaces around them, but not their own.

3) Allow characters within a monster's space count as being in a flanking location. (ie. Mr. Chips and Sniffles are attacking a human. Mr. Chips enters the human's square, and then counts as flanking the human for his attack and Sniffles'.

ie. Mr. Chips and Call-me-a-chipmunk-and-die are both attacking a human. They both enter his square and then both get the flanking bonuses.)

Well, comments on whether or not this adventure will provide useful playtest info?
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Following the article, all of the animal characters are assumed to be awakened.

Where does it say this in the article from Dragon? If this is true, then the bat (for example) would have an ECL of higher than 2, because it would have at least +2 because of the extra hit dice from being awakened, in addition to ECL levels because of its batty abilities.
 

I took that as the bat being so NON-powerful, that he gets the two HD, but they don't count against him as part of his levels. Same with weasel.


Chris
 

That's one of the things I'm going to try and prove (or disprove). The extra HD may or may not off set the huge dis-advantages that the tiny animals have.

The article states that all of the animall ECLs are for awakened animals in the last sentance of the second to last paragraph on page 53.

One thing that defenitely does scare me, is the fact that Mr. Chips has 3 HD more than a normal character of his level. (Becomes really really important with his extra Rage constitution.)
 

"Hey Mr. Chips. How's the wife and kids? Are they still poisoned? Do you still... eat them?"
- Matthew Good - Advertising on Police Cars
 

HA! I found this thread lingering on page 11!

How goes Mr. Chips?

I also have a few questions...

What did you do about the animal skill points and feats? 10-15 skill points for the first 3 HD, and whatever feats the animal has naturally?

As a 1st level Barbarian, (4 HD total) Mr. Chips SHOULD get an additional ability score point to distribute, but no new feat until he's 6 HD (3rd level Barbarian), right? (You use the monster HD advancement rules until they take a regular class, then you use the PC rules)

In the long run, he'll have more hp than a character of his ECL (3 HD worth), but will have a miserable Str no matter how you cut it.

I think I'm gonna try this as an NPC with the party I DM, and see how it works out. It just seems so weird having 3 HD and ECL 0...

Chris
 


My understanding on adding character levels to monsters, was that you only count the character levels for the purpose of extra feats and stat points. Monsters have an entirely different progression for feats and stats that is not particularly compatable.
(Monsters get stat points when they go up a size category).

--Seule
 

Seule:

Yep, you're correct. MHD (Monster HD) effect skills, feats and similar abilities in a different manner than class levels.

In general, monsters get a feat for every 4 HD and a number of skill points based on thier HD type.

Unfortunately for Mr. Chips, animals don't get any feats or skills for advanced HD, and they only get stat increases for increasing size categories. In fact, the only feats animals can ever have (unless awakened) are weapon finesse for each of their natural attacks.

I decided to play it that any feats they had naturally they got to keep.

Oh, and thanks for the bump thundershot.

Sorry I haven't updated this in a while, but I had a lot of trouble talking my players into playing animals. For some reason, they didn't think playing animals would be any fun.
 

When you combine class levels and monster HD, you still get the same product. Stat adj at levels 4, 8, 12, etc, and feats at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, etc. So would Mr. Chips get a stat adjustment when he becomes a 1st level Barbarian? The feats are easy, since he'd get them at the same levels (3rd level would be 6 HD, etc) in addition to the Weapon Finesse (bite).

It'd be like Lizardfolk, who start with 2 HD. Wouldn't they get a feat when they become a first level Rogue? (3 HD), and a stat increase at 2nd Level? (4 HD)

Gotta keep this thread alive! :D


Chris
 

Remove ads

Top