[d20M] Action Points replacing XP Costs
- Thread starter arscott
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Turanil
First Post
IMO it's a reasonable idea. In campaigns that provide a plethora of magic items, why would someone spend XP to manufacture one (along with costs and time requirements) anyway? Now, in a d20 Modern campaign without any magical item except those manufactured by the players, this is of course another matter entirely. In any case, using an action point is IMO still a good idea. Note that rather than converting Action Points into XP (1 AP = 100 XP worth?), you could rule that 1 charge of a wand costs 1 AP; 1 spell level in scroll or potion costs 1 AP; etc.
ALSO: let all PCs contribute to the cost in AP. If a character must manufacture an item that is almost necessary for the adventure, all PCs should participate into the magical ritual and manufacturing (not just the mage), thus every PC contribute some action points.
In any case a good idea I will remember for my own games...
ALSO: let all PCs contribute to the cost in AP. If a character must manufacture an item that is almost necessary for the adventure, all PCs should participate into the magical ritual and manufacturing (not just the mage), thus every PC contribute some action points.
In any case a good idea I will remember for my own games...
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HeapThaumaturgist
First Post
Mmm, quite interesting. I use a refreshing AP system for my games, but I'm sure I could think up something good.
--fje
--fje
dvvega
Explorer
Unless you could put a value of XP to an action point it is slightly difficult. How much is an AP worth in XP? It gives you an add to a roll, is that worth XP at all?
If you are going to put a value to it, I would say 50xp per level, but a maximum of 1 can be spent on the crafting, excess XP being spent from your own total.
I would also rule that the spending of the AP on the creation excludes the use of APs on any particular rolls made during the creation.
This will stop dumping a bunch of APs into a powerful item/spell, keeps to the flavour of the AP system (each AP adds to yoru roll/effect but doesn't replace it), and you also keep APs just in case something bad happens.
If you are going to put a value to it, I would say 50xp per level, but a maximum of 1 can be spent on the crafting, excess XP being spent from your own total.
I would also rule that the spending of the AP on the creation excludes the use of APs on any particular rolls made during the creation.
This will stop dumping a bunch of APs into a powerful item/spell, keeps to the flavour of the AP system (each AP adds to yoru roll/effect but doesn't replace it), and you also keep APs just in case something bad happens.
Humanophile
First Post
I like this idea. Most campaigns I've played in liked to have everyone stick to the same XP total, and it felt out of place for the casters and/or artificers to have to fall behind to cast party-required spells or make items for everyone. I've long wanted to have a reason to have non casters/crafters burn XP, but making AP's the fungible resource works quite well too. Some combination of them and power components would work quite well. (Power components covering two nice sides of the scale; keeping low-level scrolls and potions truly negligible in cost, while also allowing truly grand items to be crafted, at least in theory, without several party members banking AP's over many levels.)
As for the AP => XP value, all I can do is extrapolate from D&D materials. That 1XP = 5 GP is pretty well established there in many areas. UA says that action points can be seen as extremely versatile, one-use magic items worth 100 gold times the character's level. So 20 XP per level might be at least someplace to start.
As for the AP => XP value, all I can do is extrapolate from D&D materials. That 1XP = 5 GP is pretty well established there in many areas. UA says that action points can be seen as extremely versatile, one-use magic items worth 100 gold times the character's level. So 20 XP per level might be at least someplace to start.
arscott
First Post
okay. Here's the XP costs for scrolls and mastercraft items with a 15 purchase dc:
1st: 17 xp
2nd: 120 xp
3rd: 345 xp
4th: 728 xp
5th: 1305 xp
+1: 200
+2: 500
+3: 900
A smart3/mage2 can scribe a first level scroll (the highest level he has access to) for 17 xp. Assuming a party size of four, one EL 5 encounter gives him enough xp to scribe 22 1st level scrolls.
Conversely, a smart3/mage10 scribes his highest level scroll (5th) for 1305 xp. Again, with a party of four, one encounter's about enough for three quarters of a 5th level scroll.
A Smart3/mage3/artificer1 can craft two and a half +1 mastercraft items (using DC 15 for the item base price) for the experience provided by a single encounter. But a smart3/mage10/artificer5 can craft only one and a half +3 mastercraft items per encounter.
If we use the 1AP = 20xp/level then the smart3/mage2 can scribe 5 1st-level scrolls per point,but the smart3/mage10 needs to burn 5 APs for a single 5th level scroll. And the smart3/mage3/artificer1 would spend one and a half action points for his +1 item while the smart3/mage10/artificer spends two and a half.
So the Action Points provide a set number of XP per level seems to work well, but is twenty the right amount? Ive never played a d20M game with magic items before so I have no Idea whether this is too cheap or too expensive. what do you think?
1st: 17 xp
2nd: 120 xp
3rd: 345 xp
4th: 728 xp
5th: 1305 xp
+1: 200
+2: 500
+3: 900
A smart3/mage2 can scribe a first level scroll (the highest level he has access to) for 17 xp. Assuming a party size of four, one EL 5 encounter gives him enough xp to scribe 22 1st level scrolls.
Conversely, a smart3/mage10 scribes his highest level scroll (5th) for 1305 xp. Again, with a party of four, one encounter's about enough for three quarters of a 5th level scroll.
A Smart3/mage3/artificer1 can craft two and a half +1 mastercraft items (using DC 15 for the item base price) for the experience provided by a single encounter. But a smart3/mage10/artificer5 can craft only one and a half +3 mastercraft items per encounter.
If we use the 1AP = 20xp/level then the smart3/mage2 can scribe 5 1st-level scrolls per point,but the smart3/mage10 needs to burn 5 APs for a single 5th level scroll. And the smart3/mage3/artificer1 would spend one and a half action points for his +1 item while the smart3/mage10/artificer spends two and a half.
So the Action Points provide a set number of XP per level seems to work well, but is twenty the right amount? Ive never played a d20M game with magic items before so I have no Idea whether this is too cheap or too expensive. what do you think?
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