[d20 Modern] - Harry Potter (Urban Arcana) [Full]

[Paxus Asclepius]

"Well, that's why we're going' to school, i'n it? And you, skater boy, what's your take on this 'ole thing? You don't look any more like a wizard'n us two."

 

[FoxWander]

"Oh, I'm not a skater. AIn't nowhere near as good as some a them yanks. But I can get around alright. M' name's Shaw. Colin Shaw." He says offering a hand. After a proper handshake all round he says, "Oh yeah. We're wizards alright. You don't get invited to Hogwart's if you aren't! Are you both muggles then? Not that that's an insult, I mean. It's just the wizard word for the non-wizard types. I'm 'alf muggle myself on my father's side, but me Mum's a proper Witch. You're both first years also then?"

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

"That's roight. I 'spect you know more about this 'Ogwarts place then we do, roight? Black's told me a bit, but he doesn't know what's important to a kid. Cor, the man must be at least . . . thir'y-foive! Tell me, what's it loike, growing up knowing you're a wizard?"

 

[Vendetta]

"Right then. Uh... how, if I'm a muggle, do I have wizardry powers? Neither of my parents were. Or maybe they were but didn't know? How do these Hogwarts people know?" Basil asked, getting steam going and having a hoard of questions.

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

"Well, Black tol' me I was an "unusual specimen." See, I was working magic, and 'e was sent to find whichever silly git of a wizard was working magic where the Muggles could see 'im. See, Black works for the Ministry of Accidental Magical Reversal. If people see what they oughtn't, he makes 'em forget they seen it. 'Course, you can imagine 'is surprise when 'e finds out it's a couple of Muggle-born working magic themselves. He sent me the 'Ogwarts letters, same as you, but since I didn't answer them, he came himself, all set to Obliviate me ifn I didn't go to school. 'E's all roight, though, Black is. Just doin' 'is job. I take it, then, that you weren't doing no magic?"

 

[Vendetta]

"I... I... don't know how to do magic." Basil says, his face dropping a little, then, thinking, he looks back at Morgan. "But sometimes if I wished really hard, stuff kind of worked out. Mostly in the Library, like if I was looking real hard for something. I'd wish real hard and sometimes I would know, kind of sudden-like, where to find it. Or when I needed to hide from... bad guys... sometimes I would hide from them even if it wasn't a very good hiding spot. Could that have been magic?"

/ooc I was kind of hoping that in Basil, these "skills" of his have been aided by his inate magical ability as he doesn't know how to actually use magic, it comes through in these ways based on his character

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

"Don't know as I'd call that magic, but then I'm not quite the expert meself. Wot did you mean by 'bad guys?' Bullying gits, or real criminal types?"

 

[Arknath]

I think the existing six basic classes work fine, though new advanced classes are certainly necessary. I like the idea of house-based feat trees, though, or possibly talent trees available to any class, if they're in the right house.

Hey guys....good start to a game that is going to be great!!

Here are a few points that I want to bring to your attention:

1) Spellcraft will be a class skill for every class. It only makes sense for the type of game we're playing. Full-blooded wizards will start with a +4 bonus to these checks aside from any ranks or ability mods. Half-muggles and "mudbloods" receive only a +2.

2) As far as electronics and the level of technology that is ok...I'll leave that up to the rest of you. I'd, personally, like to keep to the feel of the originals where there is minimal technology and that anything that can be crafted with electronics can be made with magic. So, putting it to a vote between you guys, what level of tech do you want?

3) I've noticed that some of you have taken feats that give you +2 to a pair of skills. This has to be the most abhorrent excuse for new content that WotC could come up with. My house rule fix for feats like this is as follows:

Skill Synergy [General]

Prerequisite: 5 ranks in chosen skill

Benefit: Choose two skills that are based upon the same type of stat (meaning mental or physical). You gain a +2 synergy bonus to these skills.

Special: Every time you acquire 20+ ranks in these skills, you gain an additional +2 synergy bonus. Correct number of ranks that qualify for this benefit are (25, 45, 65, etc)

You are free to use this feat or the feats from the d20 modern book. Also, this feat will be added to the bonus feat list of all 6 base classes.

I'm going to start a thread over in the "Playing the Game" forum so that you guys can continue role-playing.

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

The only problem with the skill synergy feat is that it's unavailable to 1st level characters. That gets in the way of many, many Modern characters, especially mine. I'll have to stick with the Modern feats, because there really aren't any other feats I can take at 1st besides skill-boosters.

 

[FoxWander]

Paxus is right, the Skill Synergy feat is nice but it can't be taken by 1st level characters. I mainly took the skill boosting feats I did to be reasonable decent with the concept I was going for.

Of course that just reflects a problem with the system in accurately reflecting realistic modern day people. None of the "hero" classes really has the skill set that a typical kid would have. Like all the physical skills you get from just being a kid- climb, jump, tumble, balance maybe hide, move silently and spot. Then the stuff you learn in a typical shool education- computer use, and knowledge skills like science, history, research and pop. culture. The only way to build a "typical kid" would be to start as a 1st level Expert.

We could try doing it that way. Since before we get to Hogwart's we really shouldn't have any skill in Alchemy, Arcana or Spellcraft. But that's just my feeling. My character is mostly what I wanted. I guess he's just naturally talented in some of the formal things we'll be learning at Hogwart's.

As for technology, I'm fine with preserving the feel of the books. I didn't want to come in with a laptop and a cell phone or anything. I was just thinking of things like Gameboys or walkie-talkies. I hope a skateboard isn't too much. Since he just came from the states it really fit. I'm thinking of getting it enchanted to fly like a broom later on. (Never really like the idea of "brooms". Seems like it'd be kinda painful for guys. How about carpets?)

How do you feel about the "Magical Talent" feat. I think that's the name. The one that gives you the natural ability to cast 3 cantrips once a day. Urban Arcana has the "Wild Talent" feat which is the same thing but for psionics. I would've taken a feat like that if it was available. It would really reflect the kind of natural spellcasting that would show you were wizard rather than a muggle.