[Contemplating] Dragonlance Classics

[GruTheWanderer]

Re: ranger or fighter

Do you plan on upping the fighters skill points as well? Its hard enough to get the ranger the skills he needs without going to two per level. If your saying their fighter/rouges than how did Riverwind survive by himself? That's quite a reduction in b.a.b and hps.

Yes, I would consider giving each class an additional two skill points. I enjoy a skill-rich game. On the other hand, if I am using 40 point buy, it is not hard for characters interested in skill points to put 14 or higher in Intelligence.

 

[GruTheWanderer]

I think I need to drop out, its not possible to convert Riverwind as he was originally envisioned. Good luck to you all looks like its going to harder than it was before. Or the monsters are definately going to have to be toned down. Dragon Lance is a low-magic world for the most part, there are obvious exeptions like the blue crystal staff, but on the whole things like +3 swords are considered relics. So if your reducing attributes and keeping the modules treasure alotment, their will be problems.

I hope I am not reading too much emotion into this, but you sound really upset. As I mentioned before, this is a discussion thread, not a recruitment. Nothing is set in stone, and I can be convinced to change my mind. If you can recommend an alt ranger that doesn't use spells, I would be interested.

Let me shed some light on monsters and treasure. I don't plan on an exact conversion. Before 3E, balancing encounters and treasure was really tough, and even the best modules made mistakes. Thus I will feel free to change the types of encounters, the number of foes, the types of treasure found, and so on. I will preserve unique items and villians, but their stats may change. And I will introduce some new villians of my own.

 

[rangerjohn]

Well about the best solution I can see to a spelless ranger,also dropping favoured enemy; which btw would be stronger in DL less diversity in enemies means it would be used more often; is the barbarian. This might actually fit as the Que-shu are supposed to be a barbaric tribe, but you've disallowed barbarians as well.

 

[Douane]

I think I would go with a 36 point-buy, nobody needs to be an expert on everything.

Besides, those original stats had some serious flaws in my opinion (ie. Caramon's Int of 12, right along with Tanis)

However, perhaps even a 40 point-buy would be in order, considering that the Heroes of the Lance never relied much on equipment and Dl itself seems to be a rather sparse setting considering magical items.

Perhaps you should be thinking about making them Pre-Gen PC's.

Re. the Ranger: Why not use the OA method? Instead of a new spell-level, he gains a feat.


Folkert

 

[GruTheWanderer]

I think I would go with a 36 point-buy, nobody needs to be an expert on everything.

Besides, those original stats had some serious flaws in my opinion (ie. Caramon's Int of 12, right along with Tanis)

However, perhaps even a 40 point-buy would be in order, considering that the Heroes of the Lance never relied much on equipment and Dl itself seems to be a rather sparse setting considering magical items.

Perhaps you should be thinking about making them Pre-Gen PC's.

Re. the Ranger: Why not use the OA method? Instead of a new spell-level, he gains a feat.


Folkert

Pre-Gen PC's are an option. I'd prefer to share the responsibility and privilege with the players, but we'll see.

I think the essence of the problem is that some of the ranger and barbarian abilities (two-weapon fighting, spells, rage, animal companions) do not fit the feel of the Dragonlance Classics, IMO. However, if I was really picky, the same could be said of numerous wizard and cleric spells.

On the other hand, the skill selection and number of skills, the decision to use light armor, and favored enemy ability do fit the setting. Since the characters would start at 5th level, the usual concern of front-loading rangers is not an issue.

The OA method is a possibility. I could also substitute a feat for the animal companion. Or I could just relax a bit about the difference if feel, and trust the player to develop the character appropriately. Perhaps Riverwind does get an animal companion in this version. Maybe Riverwind could rage.

To be fair, let's make poll #3: What about rangers?

1. Use the PH version
2. Give fighters a few more skills and Track feat
3. Use an alternate ranger
4. Allow barbarian instead
5. Other

 

[rangerjohn]

Poll #3

I not stating a preference either way but as for animal companion that's only with animal empathy or the animal friendship spell. Rangers favoured enemy would account for his buried memories, he would instinctively know the weaknesses. As for rage I could see it, but only if Goldmoon was in danger. I could also see Riverwind having the 40' move, the hd12 and the evasion. One other thing there will be no divine spell-casting untill the appropiate gods come back. How long before Kiri-Joloth and Habbakuk return? That would be up to you Gru.

 

[Keia]

As to your Ranger poll, I'm in favor of an alternate ranger. There are many out there and this poll wasn't for which alternate ranger to use. I have my own thought on that, but I'll save it for later.

Overall, the characters should start out relatively close to the starting characters from the books. However, there are going to be differences after play begins. Every time I run them (with different groups) the character developed differently - whether it was items they found or that were related to them in the books were gioven to someone else, character advancement, spell choices, etc. When the groups split, they didn't even have the same members in them.

I think that if you want the players to have an investment in the character, then you must have the players involved in the creation process. Obviously, the GM would have the over-riding say.

Dragonlance is a low magic world, but not everything glowed or was obviously magical, either. I think the magic level will be reduced even by having just one wizard and a little bit of a cleric. That will limit the magic right there.

Keia

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Keia, I concur on the issue of character creation and development. This needs to be a joint project.

Magic in the DL modules seems to be handled in ways similar to LOTR. Most items are gifts, recovered from crypts, or quested for. Very little is looted from enemies. And yes, the characters seem to get a few really powerful items (Wyrmsbane, Dragon orbs) and a handful of supplemental ones (armor, shields, glasses).

I haven't made characters with 40-point buy before, so I listed some stat combos to chew on:

18, 18, 15, 8, 8, 8
18, 16, 14, 12, 12, 8
17, 15, 15, 12, 12, 11
15, 15, 14, 14, 14, 14

Seems reasonable to me (the first and the last are a little silly, but those are the extremes). I like the arguments about the strength of the heroes vs. the strength of the magic items.

 

[Keia]

Probably the most intriguing of those is the second which can have some variation:

18,16,14,14,10,8
18,16,14,12,10,10
18,14,14,14,14,8

For 40 point buy I like this one probably the best (unless you're a spellcaster):
16,16,16,12,12,10

And the list goes on.

Keia

[Man, I have too much time on my hands]

 

[ErichDragon]

I know I am jumping in here a little late, but I am VERY interested to play the Dragonlance modules. The novels were the first fantasy I read and have always been a favorite of mine.

On the question of Riverwind, I think the 3E Barbarian would be a near perfect fit for him (no spells, take the track feat, extra movement and able to take a pounding - sounds like Riverwind to me!!). Plus it's simple to do.

Pre-Gen characters would be the most authentic way to go, but I agree with an earlier post that the Players will be more interested if they have a hand in Character Creation. That said a point buy is the best option. As long as the modules are converted with the stats of the characters in mind I don't think the number of points should matter all that much, just pick a number.

All that being said, I would love to play Sturm Brightblade.