Balancing no Magic items

[trentonjoe]

I don't know, it's been done before but I've forgotten most of what I have read. I am thinking of the 1e barbarian, kensai, 3e forsaker type mold here.

I am thinking about playing a character that just doesn't use magic items. Coming up with a reason why won't be hard but balancing the PC with other characters might be.

What I am thinking is to replace offset not being able to use any magic items, each level a PC gets to pick from a list of special abilities.

Here is the list I have so far:

a bonus feat
+2 inherent ability score
+2 insight bonus to AC
+4 to any skill
ability to negate DR 2/- ( or ignore 2 point of DR to anything)
DR 2/-
energy resisatnce (one) 5
Evasion
UnCanny Dodge

ANy ideas for the list? Are any of these to good? Any suggestions?
All comments welcome and thanks in advance.

 

[Tonguez]

I'd use the Talents from D20 Modern and allow the character to select from any list for which they meet prereqs (which I'd say was at least relevant Ability = 13

 

[trentonjoe]

I'd use the Talents from D20 Modern and allow the character to select from any list for which they meet prereqs (which I'd say was at least relevant Ability = 13

'I checked the D20 SRD, I didn't see talent. Are they called something else? Are they in a different link? Ae they not in it?

 

[Arkhandus]

He said D20 Modern, not D&D. The D20 Modern SRD is at the following URL:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/msrd
Edit: BTW, Talents are in the descriptions of the Basic Classes of the MSRD.

 

[jaker2003]

I picked up this class online, though i'm sorry to say that I don't remember where.
It might not be what you were looking for, but it is completely non-magical and you might want to use some of the weapon qualities.

 

[trentonjoe]

BTW, Talents are in the descriptions of the Basic Classes of the MSRD.

Found them. Thanks. I wasn't really sold on those mechanics and options so I just plucked some of them and added them to the list.

Thanks guys!

 

[trentonjoe]

I picked up this class online, though i'm sorry to say that I don't remember where.
It might not be what you were looking for, but it is completely non-magical and you might want to use some of the weapon qualities.

Neat class. I like the weapon abilities. I think I have most of those included somehow or other am thiking about the wounding property.

 

[AeroDm]

Well... from a balancing perspective your list needs some lesser abilities.

+2 to an ability, +2 to AC, Evasion (all slotless) are significantly more powerful than a low level character would have in terms of magic items. Even up to 3rd level you are only supposed to have 2700 gp worth of gear, and a +2 slotless AC bonus is worth 8k IIRC. Slotless ability boost should be around 8k as well.

 

[Li Shenron]

I am thinking about playing a character that just doesn't use magic items. Coming up with a reason why won't be hard but balancing the PC with other characters might be.

What I am thinking is to replace offset not being able to use any magic items, each level a PC gets to pick from a list of special abilities.

You may also base those bonus abilities from the Vow of Poverty feat. Just take a look at what the feat gives at every level and plan bonus abilities do that they cannot be larger than VoP at any level.

What I mean is: sum up everything (except bonus exalted feats*) which VoP gives on the span of 20 levels. Your "special abilities" should be altogether more or less equivalent to that. Try to split all those bonuses in 20 blocks, assuming your character would get one per level (or in 40 blocks and 2/level, or in 10 blocks and 1/2levels...). For example you may end up with bonus abilities such as a +2 on one stat, a +2 natural armor, etc... Finally, fix a cap for those - again based on VoP - so that one cannot e.g. get +2 to the same stat every level, but for example only every 5 levels.

*because the character isn't exalted, because he doesn't spend a feat for VoP, and because of the increased benefit of choosing the bonus abilities

 

[RangerWickett]

You could just, at each level, allow PCs to choose magic items worth the appropriate amount, and then have them gain those powers innately. Wizards could become naturally able to fly or be spell resistant, and warriors could train to have far mightier strength than their physical frame suggests.

That's the easiest solution. But if you want to listen to me pimp a book, you could pick up Four-Color to Fantasy, which has rules for converting recommended wealth into super powers. Or Elements of Magic - Lyceian Arcana, which has a class that gains magical powers as its primary class feature.