NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 7481432" data-attributes="member: 92305">LEVEL ADVANCEMENTWhen a character advances a level, I award them their new hit points and bonuses due to that level.  My thought is that the character has earned that through the acquisition of experience points.What I don't do is allow new Feats and skills to magically improve the character.  The character is eligible for a new Feat, now that he has attained the level, but the character may not have learned enough for the Feat to take effect.  If the Feat is a combat feat, and the character has done a lot of fighting over the time of his previous level, then I automatically make that Feat available to him.  But, if the character wants a Feat, like Improved Unarmed Strike, and I can't remember the last time the character attempted an unarmed strike, then the character needs to train.For skills, I do the same.  I just use common sense.  If a character never climbs but wants to put some new points into his Climb skill, then he needs to start practicing.  Once players get the hang of this, they'll start practicing skills or finding trainers before they advance in level.  Otherwise, they'll have to practice and/or find a trainer during their current level.If a character wants to multiclass into a class where he has no experience, then the character has to do the same.  A Scholar classed character cannot multi-class into a Soldier class without at least practicing weapons, getting used to wearing armor, etc.  And, this usually requires a trainer to show the character how to fight.  Again, if the player thinks of multiclassing his Scholar into a Scholar/Soldier at level 4, then at level 3, the player needs to have his character seek out training.What About A Roll?I typically just use common sense about Self Improvement, but if you want a roll, then pick the most appropriate character attribute and roll that or less on a d20.  Success means that the character advances.  Failure means that the character needs training before advancement is possible.This works especially well with skills.  Let's say that a Nomad character levels up and wants to use some of his new points to improve his Survival skill.  That's a no-brainer for me.  Survival is a Nomad class skill.  I'd allow the improvement automatically.  No training needed.But, let's say that same Nomad wants to start a brand new skill--a skill he hasn't improved before--like Craft (Swordsmith).  Mundane skills like these are Nomad class skills as well, but this Nomad has never improved the skill.  He doesn't know much beyond what his innate knowledge gives him from his INT score.In this case, I would probably require the Nomad to gain training from a smith.  But, let's say that the Nomad's background was that he spent time among the Meadow Shemites, and the player says that there's at least a chance that he picked up some knowledge from a smith in one of those City-States.In this instance, I might let the dice decide.  Besides, dicing is fun!  Craft (Swordsmith) is governed by INT.  So, just throw a d20, looking for the Nomad's INT or less.  If the roll is successful, then no training is required.  The Nomad has the required background knowledge.  If the roll fails, then training is required before any skill points can be applied to that skill for that character.</blockquote>

Verification