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<blockquote data-quote="wingsandsword" data-source="post: 2484470" data-attributes="member: 14159"><p>I don't like classes and levels representing rigid archetypes, where your class is your societal role and what you are. I prefer a class/level system where the classes merely represent skill packages that are balanced and comprehensive. d20 Modern is pretty much perfect in this model IMO. </p><p></p><p>I'm real wary of pure skill/xp systems, I've seen them seriously abused. I've seen GURPS gravely abused in this fashion, as well as d6 Star Wars and Storyteller 1.0/Mind's Eye also horribly twisted and abused by people who focus on one thing and get it so astronomically high that they are nigh unstoppable in their role, but helpless with anything else. </p><p></p><p>With a class/level system, (for example with our normal d20) a wizard also gains some HP, saving throws (even in their poor categories), a little BAB, and skills (and probably enough that they just don't put it all into Spellcraft, Concentration and K:Arcana and can branch out a little. In a pure skill based game, they'll have the exact same amount of combat staying power and ability to avoid attacks they had at character creation, only the skills absolutely essential to their casting, and they'll progress in spellcasting much faster.</p><p></p><p>Also, it's much easier to create balanced NPC opponents and start PC's at a higher level when you're using a class/level system than pure skill/xp point buy.</p><p></p><p>Maybe, just maybe there are people out there in the real world and in fiction who are that specialized and could actually be represented by such a min-max build, but it makes for poor gaming when you've got characters who can do only one thing, do it better than everybody else can possibly do it, but can't do a dang other thing.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="wingsandsword, post: 2484470, member: 14159"] I don't like classes and levels representing rigid archetypes, where your class is your societal role and what you are. I prefer a class/level system where the classes merely represent skill packages that are balanced and comprehensive. d20 Modern is pretty much perfect in this model IMO. I'm real wary of pure skill/xp systems, I've seen them seriously abused. I've seen GURPS gravely abused in this fashion, as well as d6 Star Wars and Storyteller 1.0/Mind's Eye also horribly twisted and abused by people who focus on one thing and get it so astronomically high that they are nigh unstoppable in their role, but helpless with anything else. With a class/level system, (for example with our normal d20) a wizard also gains some HP, saving throws (even in their poor categories), a little BAB, and skills (and probably enough that they just don't put it all into Spellcraft, Concentration and K:Arcana and can branch out a little. In a pure skill based game, they'll have the exact same amount of combat staying power and ability to avoid attacks they had at character creation, only the skills absolutely essential to their casting, and they'll progress in spellcasting much faster. Also, it's much easier to create balanced NPC opponents and start PC's at a higher level when you're using a class/level system than pure skill/xp point buy. Maybe, just maybe there are people out there in the real world and in fiction who are that specialized and could actually be represented by such a min-max build, but it makes for poor gaming when you've got characters who can do only one thing, do it better than everybody else can possibly do it, but can't do a dang other thing. [/QUOTE]
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