Archetype/Demi-class system

[thejc]

I suffer from a diesease. A new system comes out I love it. I DM it for 3-4 months. I hate it. It's always too something or not quite the other. For example for 3.x I loved the options, then there were too many options. Combat lasted whole sessions(plural...one encounter). But I soldier on till the next one comes out. Doesn't seem to matter. GURPS, Savage Worlds, Pathfinder, Warhammer. It's always the DMing. But I love running the game. I am the Seinfeld of D&D.

I recently overhauled my use of the d20 system. I went to an all point based system. I use Hit Point/Wound Point. Everything is points. Instead of BAB I use a melee combat skill. Saves are still named the same but pointed out also.

My purpose of this is to see if anyone else has done something similar. For Character creation we used a 3 archetype base package. Fighter/Rogue/Spellcaster. From here you buy out your points and add some flavor. For your other basic classes it's sort of somewhere in between. Ranger=Fighter+Rogue elements. Barbarian= Fighter(with armor restrictions, and a rage)

So far it has worked out great, the PC's are level5/6ish combat is a breeze. I don't know how this will get as we get into higher levels. It's pretty neat so far. If nothing else a great distraction.

Has anyone ever publsihed something even close to this?

 

[thejc]

I posted this in a different forum and it was suggested I throw it here so.....

 

[kitsune9]

Wow, some kind of disease. We should come up with a name for it like fickleporosis or something. Hopefully it's not contagious and hope modern medicine finds your cure.

Anyways, I don't know of a specific product that actually addresses all the aspects you've described but I do know that there is a builder book called Trailblazer where you build the classes, hit points, and magic systems for the d20 system from the ground up. They also implement variant rules which are point based.

True 20 uses the three class system you described--warrior, spellcaster, expert (I think those are the names).

The 3.5 version of Unearthed Arcana also has some variant rules in there that are point-based.

What I would do is that if you have your system where you are very comfortable with its progression to 5th / 6th level, then take a look at what works for that progression and then carry it to 10th level. No need to go whole hog to 20th or 30th level just yet. Experiment and play around with your system up to the 10th level and then once you're satisfied, work out your progression to 15th level and so on until you hit a level cap that you're comfortable.

Let us know how it works out for you and hope you get well soon!

 

[Aus_Snow]

there is a builder book called Trailblazer where you build the classes, hit points, and magic systems for the d20 system from the ground up. They also implement variant rules which are point based.

Er, not that I recall. Uh, IIRC. Natch.

The 3.5 version of Unearthed Arcana also has some variant rules in there that are point-based.

Hm, nope. Not point-based there. This one, I'm darn near certain of. Menu-based, I guess you could say.


As for point-based d20, you'd be looking at either Buy The Numbers, or Total Control. The latter is the more recent of the two.

And yeah, M&M (i.e., Mutants & Masterminds) would be the other direction to go. Comic book superheroes by default, but it's incredibly flexible, and yep, you buy everything with points. Stats, skills, feats, saves/defences, powers...

The new version of that is called DC Adventures. Pretty much what it sounds like. Not quite d20 any more, so you might prefer the 2e take instead. Me, I rather like the third edition (aka DCA) changes. It's its own game now, proper-like. The Mastermind's Manual is the single most useful supplement for 2e, if you're looking to alter the rules in radical ways, and want some assistance or guidance. Reverse-engineering, so to speak, is part of what it offers.


edit: And agreed, True20 covers the other part of your post - the three archetype thingy, that is.

 

[thejc]

Thanks guys....Completely forgot about Mutants and Masterminds*looks to his right and see's four Mutants and Masterminds source books sitting on his book shelf*

What I am running right now is sort of a pot luck of all the different mechanics that I have liked. This stems from the fact that running combat becomes such a pain at higher levels. Anyway. I will continue plugging away. I may post some PDF's of how Character creation and advancement works ect. We will have our 9th session this weekend. It should be pretty combat laden. They may get a level may not.