E6: The Game Inside D&D (with PDFs!)

[Kunimatyu]

I found 8 feats that could probably be used in E6 on Monte Cook's site.

Originally posted by Monte Cook.

Eight New Feats​

The world does not need more +2/+2 feats. Just create a feat called Talented that gives a +2 bonus to 2 skills of the player's choice and you're done.

Ranged Expertise is allowable I suppose, though it feels a little wonky. It's also somewhat overpowered with ranged touch attacks, since the caster can gain +5 AC and still generally hit with their attacks. I would probably not allow it -- I'm not big on letting ranged weapons get mirror versions of the melee feats, especially with things like Power Attack and Expertise.

YMMV, though...​

 

[tvar]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Eberron depicted as a campaign setting with very few high level characters? If you needed a 9th (or 11th, or 13th...) level wizard in Eberron, how hard would it be to find one?

Well, it would be impossible to find one in E6 (or E8)...

For those who don't know the specifics about Artificers, they basically are able to use a UMD check to "emulate" any spell prerequisite when creating magic items (DC is 20 + caster level of the spell). This doesn't really cause any problems in a normal campaign, I'm just wondering what should happen if an Artificer attempts to emulate a spell that doesn't really exist by virtue of it being an E6 or E8 game.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Well, it would be impossible to find one in E6 (or E8)...

I very carefully wrote "Eberron", not "E6erron" or "E8erron".

In any event, I would see what normal 6th level characters in the campaign setting could do. If they have access to something, great. If not, too bad.

 

[Ry]

I'd leave the dragonmark abilities out of what an Artificer can emulate, for flavor's sake.

 

[Stalker0]

I've been reading up on E6 for the 1st time and I definitely like some of the things going on. I am highly in the camp of 6th level being the best level overall, so sticking around at that point is a benefit for me.

I do have 1 question and 1 concern. How do you handle wealth at the 6+ level? What should a 6 + 2 feats character have in terms of money vs a straight up 6th character?

This concern evolves from my wealth question. A wizard's power is mainly wealth driven, as there spell access increases with wealth. A sorcerer's is level based, they only gain new spells with levels. Now I see there are feats to increase it, but I'm wondering if the wizard will just keep adding lots of new spells and getting new feats while the sorc gets left behind getting a new spell every once in a blue moon.

Also, let me say I love the raising the stakes mechanic. I'm going to try it in my next game!!

 

[green slime]

I've been reading up on E6 for the 1st time and I definitely like some of the things going on. I am highly in the camp of 6th level being the best level overall, so sticking around at that point is a benefit for me.

I do have 1 question and 1 concern. How do you handle wealth at the 6+ level? What should a 6 + 2 feats character have in terms of money vs a straight up 6th character?

This concern evolves from my wealth question. A wizard's power is mainly wealth driven, as there spell access increases with wealth. A sorcerer's is level based, they only gain new spells with levels. Now I see there are feats to increase it, but I'm wondering if the wizard will just keep adding lots of new spells and getting new feats while the sorc gets left behind getting a new spell every once in a blue moon.

Also, let me say I love the raising the stakes mechanic. I'm going to try it in my next game!!

My solution would be quite simply to track the total amount of XP the characters have accumulated, and compare that to what an non-E6 character with a similar amount of XP would have. I feel that this is the easiest manner, simply because slaying CR-similar foes will provide the majority of their loot.

 

[Ry]

We talked a lot more about wealth three threads ago... I'm trying to remember what was said.

For my part, I don't have a lot to add to the discussion because I don't use the wealth guidelines much, and in the original E6 game my players' cash tended to funnel into things like buying a tavern, equipping a small army, irrigating a village's fields, stuff like that.

 

[joela]

E6 and non-standard classes

"A: My experience in D&D is that at around 6th level the characters are really nicely balanced, both in terms of balance against other classes, and against the CR system."

Has anyone examined the impact of including non-standard classes (i.e., duskblade, swordsage, psion, etc.) under the E6 variant? Are they still balanced against the standard classes or against each other? Or do they lose their uniqueness?

 

[jjsheets]

E6 Amazing Idea

I signed up just to post in this thread (thank Google...

E6 is an amazing rule variant. I've decided to use it for an upcoming campaign lacking magic of any sort, but with psionics. The feel of E6 really fits the concept I have for my campaign, and I'm really glad I stumbled onto this thread. Once I get the campaign background fleshed out and get ready to start the campaign, I'll be hosting the game over at rpol.net.

Again, awesome idea rycanada, et al.!

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

My solution would be quite simply to track the total amount of XP the characters have accumulated, and compare that to what an non-E6 character with a similar amount of XP would have. I feel that this is the easiest manner, simply because slaying CR-similar foes will provide the majority of their loot.

I've been thinking about wealth following PC CR. So when they are 6+5, they have 7th level wealth, 6+10 they have 8th lvl wealth and so on.

Of course, your idea is valid too (and might even be better).

I think maybe the Wealth Feats from Mastering Iron Heroes could be useful in E6? That way, the players can keep finding treasure (non magic) and still get benefits from it, and at the same time stay at wealth level 6.