Epic Modern: Defense Boni

[GuardianLurker]

I've just bought INFINITE:Epic Modern. Overall, good stuff. Some of the best $4 I've spent. Even solved a nagging PC issue.

I need some input WRT defense boni and my campaign, though.

Most of my victims player characters started as D&D characters, advancing to near-epic (18th) levels. Then they had a spaceship built for them and rocketed to the stars, and putting them in a d20 Future universe. A few of the players switched to pure d20 Future and met up with the others.

Now as D&D characters, they don't have defense boni. They can now acquire defense boni as they pick up (if they pick up) Modern/Future classes. Here's the question - what do I do with the defense boni (and rep boni) after they break the 20th level?

a) Normal Epic Progression as given
b) Non-epic progression until d20 M/F class levels == D&D class levels?
c) Non-epic progression until d20 M/F class levels hit a total of X? (Please specify in post what X is)
d) Some other progression (please specify)
e) No opinion, because this is just too crazy/munchinky/foolish to think about.

 

[Flynn]

I assume that you mean bonuses instead of boni, right?

From http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=bonus

bo·nus Audio pronunciation of "bonus" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (bns)
n. pl. bo·nus·es

<<SNIP DEFINITIONS>>

In regards to the actual question, I'd suggest you look at the Defense Bonuses in WOTC's Unearthed Arcana. Note, though, that the rules for Defense Bonuses in UA is different than those in D20 Modern. In UA, you take the better of the two values (armor or defense), where D20 Modern adds them both. (This is why UA values for Defense Bonuses are higher in the beginning. However, at the levels you're talking about, the Defense Bonuses are comparable.)

If you don't have UA, then the information is available here:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/adventuring/defenseBonus.htm

Hope this helps,
Flynn

 

[GuardianLurker]

In regards to the actual question, I'd suggest you look at the Defense Bonuses in WOTC's Unearthed Arcana.<snip>

Not quite - I'm not looking to retrofit defense bonuses (to use the English, instead of Latin, plural) to the D&D classes. Here's a concrete example:
Take a Cleric 18/Dedicated 2. His defense bonus is +2. Add 18 levels, 8 in Dedicated, 5 in Purifier, 3 in Tough. What's his defense bonus now?
a) 6 = 2 + (18/4)
b) 10 = 5 + 3 + 2
c) ?
d) ?

 

[JPL]

Glad you like INFINITE. A labor of love.

I would just do the regular epic progression [+1 per 2 levels] for everyone above 20th level. Keeps it simple.

I like the way the epic attack bonus and epic defense bonus advance at the same pace --- seems right that two 30th level guys will effectively cancel each other out, while having an enormous advantage over non-epic types.

 

[GuardianLurker]

I'm tending to agree with you, but I'm a little worried about the balance between my blended characters (D&D/d20M-F) and the pure modern characters. While generally the blended characters are more powerful (higher Attack, higher Saves, higher HP), and their armor is significantly better, I'm worried that the lack of defense bonuses might make them off-kilter. Especially since the D&D characters get NO defense bonus without either taking a (house-rule) feat, or a modern class.

Change the example around...
Make it a Dedicated 10/Purifier 5/Tough 3 who picks up 18 levels in Cleric... by the RAW, he'd have a defense bonus of 14.