WinnipegDragon said:
Here's a curious question...
Has anyone here started a campaign with 0-level characters? Basically, no XP earned until you earn you 1st class level by roleplaying.
I'd imagine the characters would still roll attributes, but would have 4hp (+CON), no feats, no skills, no armour or weapon proficiencies, and base saves of zero across the board. Obviously there would be little to no combat until the class levels were awarded, but it would certainly help players get in touch with their new characters and each other's characters when the entirety of the first one or two game sessions is about regular folk in regular situations. Of course, the regular situation will rapidly turn into one requiring heroes to step forth.
Part of the reasoning behind this is that our group is adding a new player, and this should be a good way to get her into her character before getting her into the rules. Also, the experienced players should find it easier to tone down the meta-game thinking while playing commoners and make it easier on the new girl.
Has anyone tried this? Any potential pitfalls I am not seeing?
It can be done quite easily, if you want the sort of story where the PCs are everyday people who finds themselves thrown into adventures by accident... and become heroes!
But they still should be different from each other, so IMO the must have elite ability scores (obviously) and some feats/skills to start with.
What I suggest (of course you could just use the apprentice rules in the DMG 3.0) is to ask the players which class they want to play later, so that they setup their ability scores appropriately, then give them a character made for example like this:
- only 1 feat instead of 2 (assuming they are human)
- half their skill points (depending on which class they will be at 1st lv)
- 4hp + Con to everyone is good
but don't allow every feat or skill, instead let them choose feats & skills which aren't related to combat, magic or other heroic deeds.
For instance, you may disallow Spellcraft, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (The Planes), Decipher Script, Use Magic Device, Speak Language (unless it's a friendly race's language) and a couple of others.
Then you may disallow all combat-related feats which come from training, allowing only the ones which can be seen as an innate talent: Dodge, Toughness, Great Fort/Light Refl/Iron Will, all the +2/+2 feats, Skill Focus, Endurance, Improved Initiative, and Run.
