d20 Modern-Dark Matter FX Classes: Action Points

[Hoodooman]

Can someone clarify the Action Points usage for FX Classes in d20 Modern-Dark Matter? Doesn't that limit FX Powers use? I thought Action Points were few and since you can't re-use Action Points, doesn't this limit the FX use? I mean, why take a FX Class like Diabolist or Visionary if you can't use your FX powers that much?

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

That's a feature, not a bug.

D•M isn't just low magic, it's rare magic. The use of any type of FX shouldn't come easy, and should require some type of sacrifice. These classes weren't intended for use alongside spell-slot casters.

 

[Ranger REG]

The Gnome is right. You don't see them use their powers openly and daily, otherwise they risk exposing themselves to the public and the authority, who may want to capture them for their own agenda.

 

[Hoodooman]

Ranger REG: So would use Occultist for the incantations and minor magics?

Thanks Twiggly and Ranger REG! A question for Ranger REG: So would you use incantations and the Occultist class for scroll-spells for minor magics?

 

[dream66_]

I personally wouldn't use any magic other than those classes with darkmatter..

 

[Ranger REG]

A question for Ranger REG: So would you use incantations and the Occultist class for scroll-spells for minor magics?

At this time, I have not yet made Occultist available in my game.

 

[buzz]

So would you use incantations and the Occultist class for scroll-spells for minor magics?

See, this is exactly why I think the Poly version of D*M did a poor job of conveying the setting. Hoodooman, have you had a chance to read the original D*M campaign setting published for Alternity? I would imagine that if you had, you wouldn't be asking this question.

There are no scroll-spells or "minor magics" in D*M. D*M is not Urban Arcana; it's X-Files. It's about conspiracies, aliens, secret societies, Men in Black, cryptozoology, parapsychology, and Illuminati. Magic (when it even comes up) is (generally) not a tool used by PCs; it's a plot device that *affects* the PCs. Nobody has magic items or casts spells. PCs Mulder-and-Scully their way through a world where everything they know is most likely a lie.

Granted, you can make D*M more like Urban Arcana if you want to; it's your game after all. I'm just talking about the setting as written.

I'd definitely advise reading the original D*M campaign setting, as well as jonrog1's excellent d20 Dark Matter story hour.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

I didn't really "get" the Poly rework of D*M ... while FX was rare, it wasn't PrC-Level rare ... PCs could get 1-2 limited abilities, if they wanted them badly enough, at first level. PCs could cast 2-3 spells per "Scene" if they needed to.

Most didn't translate over to "levels" or "minor" and "major" magics ... some of the most interesting spells had very little in the way of rules-based effect.

The whole FX system doesn't really translate from Alternity to D20 ... bleh. I hate that they went back to the Vancian sacred cow. I'm willing to do it for D&D because, well, that's D&D. I'd have liked to see something else, here.

A PrC doesn't allow access to anything early enough to even INTRODUCE the concept ... "Well, you're a seasoned agent ... look, a book on summoning demons!" It limits my ability to make workable FX foes, even.

So here I am, trying to rework the old system for D20M.

--fje

 

[Ranger REG]

There are no scroll-spells or "minor magics" in D*M. D*M is not Urban Arcana;...

Um, buzz. The Occultist advanced class is not part of Urban Arcana. It's part of the Shadow Chasers campaign model.

While the Shadow Slayer advanced class can be ported into Urban Arcana, the Occultist would be considered a much weaker class in the presence of Acolyte and Adept advanced classes (plus a whole other spellcasting classes in Urban Arcana).

I must confessed that I did not use the Occultist in my game because ... and I am embarrassed about it ... I'm still trying to understand how the Arcane Research class feature work. From what I gather -- and please help correct me -- at 2nd level Occultist you gain three spell scroll, all 1st-level arcane, one of which you can select if you can make the Research DC. The other two are randomly selected. To cast the spell from the scroll, you make a Use Magic Device check (DC is in the class description). The spell disappear from that scroll, leaving you with a blank page.

Now my questions are: when he reaches 3rd level Occultist, does he gain one more scroll spell or four more, according to the table? Can the occultist find more scrolls or spellbooks for which he can cast during gameplay? Does the spell from a spellbook disappear, or in order to cast a spell from a spellbook, he has to write them as a spell scroll?

Two more thing: Does the Arcane Research table limit the number of spells he can have? If I casted one spell at 2nd level Occultist (leaving a vacant slot), can I fill that with another spell (assuming I can decipher a new scroll or spell from a spellbook)?

Of course, I'm trying to model the Occultist in the same form as Buffy's Rupert "Ripper" Giles and Angel's Wesley Wyndham-Pryce.

 

[buzz]

I didn't really "get" the Poly rework of D*M ... while FX was rare, it wasn't PrC-Level rare ... PCs could get 1-2 limited abilities, if they wanted them badly enough, at first level. PCs could cast 2-3 spells per "Scene" if they needed to.

Well, you just can't get FX abilities at 1st level in d20M without creating a Basic class that grants them, and that wold just be lame. Ergo, a "straight" D*M conversion for d20M necessitates using Advanced or Prestige classes. Still I don't remember the prerequisites being all that steep in Poly's version.

But, yeah... it's yet another indicator that d20M would have been so much cooler with a feat/skill based FX system a la SWd20 or Alternity. You can always do like some here have and use the Psychic's handbook from Green Ronin.