Help out a d20:Modern Virgin!

[krunchyfrogg]

I don't even own any books (yet).

My gaming group is planning on starting a new d20:Modern game, and none of us have played before.

Anyway, I'd like some advice on character creation. All I'm looking for is something that won't be too rules-wise complicated, and a character that I will have fun playing.

So, any and all advice is welcome. TIA!

 

[d4]

d20 Modern's character creation system is a lot freer and more versatile than most other d20 games. you can create an amazing array of characters.

my group and i haven't had any trouble making up whatever type of character we have envisioned. the game is flexible enough to handle just about anything.

so my advice would be to decide what type of person you want your character to be -- describing him with no game mechanical terms at all, but simply as if he (or she) were a real person. from there, you should have no problem translating the character into the d20 Modern rules (once you get them).

 

[BrooklynKnight]

The one disadvantage to d20 modern is that its a tad less newbie friendly since the classes are less pidgeonholed.

I think the best thing for you to play would be a gunslinger.

Take Fast and Tough as your class levels and focus your feats on using your guns.

The Gun Toting fast hero, is IMO the equivalent of the D&D Sword Swinging fighter. Simple, and to the point. Its one of the easiest combat heros to construct.

Feel free to ask any specific questions.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Thanks for the quick responses. I'm sure I'll have more questions later, as I get my first peek at the book tonight.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Alright, after scanning through the book, and getting virtually nothing from it (I really only did a small skim, not much of a chance for much else), I was told by the future GM to just come up with a good concept, and that we'll work on the character together next week.

Here's a little excerpt from his initial e-mail proposing this campaign on the type of setting he's proposing:

I am thinking that the campaign will be an x-files/terminator/scarface/james bond/universal soldier/Hell raiser/CHUD/Blade type of setting.

I asked him about a supernatural martial arts type character, something kind of like the characters with all the wire tricks in movies like Bulletproof Monk and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Since he's new to the game as well, he thought the concept sounded like a good one, but didn't know if it was a feasable one.

Is this type of character feasable? We're starting at 1st level. If it is feasable, how would I go about creating him?

 

[Biohazard]

I asked him about a supernatural martial arts type character, something kind of like the characters with all the wire tricks in movies like Bulletproof Monk and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Since he's new to the game as well, he thought the concept sounded like a good one, but didn't know if it was a feasable one.

Is this type of character feasable? We're starting at 1st level. If it is feasable, how would I go about creating him?

It isn't feasible at 1st level. A 1st level character is basically a newbie adventurer; think Luke Skywalker in *A New Hope*. The Crouching Tiger dudes would easily be 15-20 level characters in d20 terms.

There is a Martial Artist advanced class in d20 Modern. I don't know if you have Urban Arcana, but it has additional advanced classes, and I believe the Modern Player's Companion (published by Green Ronin) has a Ninja-type dude (can anyone help me on this one?)

So if your goal is a Martial Artist, here's what you do:

1. Create a 1st level Strong hero (fastest path to the Martial Artist).
2. Take 4 ranks in Jump (it's a Strong hero class skill, so 4 ranks will only cost you 4 skill points, and as a 1st level character you can max out this skill at 4 ranks). The prerequisite for Martial Artist is only 3 ranks in Jump, but it's best to max out skills at 1st level.
3. Each character begins the game with 2 feats. Select Combat Martial Arts and Defensive Martial Arts.

Now you're almost set. When your character reaches 3rd level (Base Attack bonus +3), you are elegible to take a rank in Martial Artist.

HOWEVER, you also mentioned that you want a *supernatural* Martial Artist; which may mean pursuring the Mage or Acolyte advanced classes, or even the Battle Mind, and perhaps combining this with Martial Artist, or just loading up on Martial Arts-related feats as a Strong Hero and perhaps taking additional levels in Fast.

Now if you bring Urban Arcana into the mix, you may wish to take a look at a few other advanced classes: Archaic Weaponsmaster, Mystic, Shadow Hunter, Street Warrior, Swashbuckler.

Whew. Welcome to d20 Modern.

 

[DMauricio]

Is this type of character feasable? We're starting at 1st level. If it is feasable, how would I go about creating him?

Martial arts type character?

Well lets see. You can either take strong hero and simply advance to martial artist asap, and pick up some knowledge skills.

The only problem you will encounter is that at first level, you're going to be pretty limited with what you can do.

I'd suggest strong hero as starting level (simply to get combat martial arts)
Alternatively fast hero with defensive martial arts (and you'll have to wait till 3rd to pick up combat martial arts)

The ideal build for me is wait for combat martial arts, take dodge and defensive martial arts, get a starting occupation that gives you either archaic weapons or brawl as a bonus feat. Put skill points in balance, climb, jump, tumble and take feats such as nimble, acrobatic, athletic, stealthy etc depending on what "image" you're trying to give your character.

As to the more mystical aspects, use either battle mind(explain the psi powers as some type of chi channeling) or use the shadow slayer advanced class.


HTH

D.

 

[olethros]

You could also add the Thrasher to the choices to create a super strong/tough character.

If you want martial arts Game Mechnics has just released the pring version of Martial Arts Mastery which uses MA's similar to OA and has a magical martial art style. It's also available as a pdf at rpgnow.com. (Volume 2 has the magical marital art) Rpgnow.com also has alot of d20 Modern stuff at great prices.
Rpgobjects also has released Blood and Fists which is also good for martial arts.

It's definetly not so easy on beginners, but d20 modern is very flexible.

Another idea for a Li Mu bai (CTHD) type charcter would be to combine the mage advanced class with the swashbuckler advanced class from Urban Arcana. Can you imgaine a swordsman that can cast haste and enhance ability?

 

[BrooklynKnight]

If you want a martial arts type character that uses really wacky moves like from movies, I suggest you check out Martial Arts Mayhem.

It has everything you need to learn martial arts schools (using a combination of feats) to learn special moves and abilities.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

Martial Arts Mayhem is what Olethros is talking about. He screwed up the name.

Green Ronin has released a print version of the book. RPG now has both pdf volumes at 5$ each.