High-power campaign

[Li Shenron]

I think the most common way to play a high-power campaign is just to use a more generous method to roll ability scores, or better to use point-buy with A LOT of points. Another common way to powerup the PC party is to have them find always double treasure or something like that.

For some time I have been thinking about making a poweredup setting, but rather increasing some class abilities, not just bumping up some stats... I think it's just more interesting to give PCs more things to do.

Then I thought this: my players are often starving for feats. They just can't get enough, and since most of the feats give an extra ability (or cancel a big penalty that basically prevents to use a common ability) they always look forward to the levels when they get a new feat. Ok, every class get something else as well, spells or special features, so there is usually something new at next level...

Has anybody ever tried to play with a feat every 2 levels instead of 3? I am thinking about a feat at every ODD level for example.

Beside the fact that the Figther gets indirectly toned down, since his bonus feats will be slightly less worth, I think there should be no problems in allowing this. Some PC may just get all the bumping feats, like bonus to ST or similar, but for example it will give more options for metacasters, it will allow to more easily reach high-prerequisites feats, it will make item creation feats less costly, and it give Spell Focus/GSF more appeal. It will also increase the use of less powerful feats, since a not-best feat would be a less waste. In any case, over 20 levels it's only 3 feats more, not a big deal after all...

What do you think? Bad idea?

 

[Thanatos]

I think if you and your players are going to think this is a fun concept, then do it.

Fun is the most important thing...because if you aren't having fun when playing the hobby...why are you playing the hobby?

But it is a good concept...I have never done it myself..but I have allowed a few bonus feats here and there to make their way into my games...and my players always love them...a good example is that I let my players have a bonus feat if they come up with a really good and detailed back story (at least 2 type-written pages, no double-spacing) and work the feat into the back story, its free...but only 1

and then I've let them gain a feat here or there for doing REALLY extraordinary actions in the game that mimic'ed that feat.

I didn't find it unbalanced anything...but I did find players competed a bit harder to be mor heroic in action...and worked harder to come up with good backstories.

As for indirectly toning down the fighter...you can offset it a bit by allowing the fighter to choose from a wider feat pool with his bonus feats or add in some other 'fighter-only' feats like from the DMG/ELH that give +1 to stats or some such...if you are truely worried about the tone-down...

I'd say run with it and if it doesn't work...tone it down across the board

 

[Velmont]

An idea from my master: let your player buy feats with XP. Here how it works:

- A player still gain a feat at level 1 and every 3 level as usual.
- Every level which a character don't gain a feat (excluding bonus feats) you gain an open slot to buy a feat with a level equal to that level (example, no slot at level 1 but at level 2, you gain a level 2 slot).

To buy a feat, you must pay 500XP*SlotLevel. (the value can be easily change).

So, for exemple, a level 5 human figther have 6 feats (human bonus, Feat lvl1 and 3, fither bonus lvl1,2 and 4). As the bonus feats don't count, he has 3 slot open (lvl2,4 and 5).

If he want to buy a feat, he could at the cost of 1000 XP (500*2). For a second feat, it would be 2000 (500*4). For a third, it would be 2500 (500*5). If he wan't a 4th, he will need to wait to level 7 to have a new open slot.

That way, a player can choose to have level faster or have more feats. The later will be slow down in his progression, but for a bit more power and someday, he will catch up, so everyone will be interested to take at least the low level slots and you'll have a powerup group. If you want them more or less powerfull, just adjust the base XP cost.

 

[Winternight]

Same idea, but other costs:
Experience Exchange System
Tried of waiting for three levels before your next feat? Need a few more skill ranks to get that prestige class? Want your magic items to be built in? Well, you can with the Experience Exchange System.
Feats
You can purchase additional feats starting a 1000 xps for the first feat and increasing by 1000 xps for each additional feat.
code:
Additional
Feats Experience Accumulated
Purchased Cost Total
1 1000 1000
2 2000 3000
3 3000 6000
4 4000 10000
5 5000 15000
and so on...


(note: This is NOT my idea, I have found it here and cut&pasted it. But I lost the source)

 

[Xeriar]

I actually have the feat at every odd level in my standard campaign.

It isn't much of a change, really. You end up with 11 feats at level 21 rather than 8. Three feats are not game-breaking, though it is certainly nicer given the vast number of feats out there.

I also moved metamagic and item creation into skills (giving wizards 8 skill points per level instead which I feel was vastly deserved of them) - but overall, the sheer number of bonus feats a fighter gets pretty well overshadows everyone getting three more.

 

[Winternight]

I also moved metamagic and item creation into skills (giving wizards 8 skill points per level instead which I feel was vastly deserved of them) -

Can you explain that a little more?

 

[Xeriar]

Can you explain that a little more?

Metamagic is a class skill for sorcerers and wizards, and for each rank you purchase in it, you get a metamagic ability (like the feat).

As for item creation, each one is a seperate magecraft skill - some are split up (shields, ranged weapons, armor and melee weapons for example) - and some are added (amulets, boots, and so on...) as necessary.

You can make items with up to 400 XP per rank in the skill taken. You can add to the DC to reduce item creation times, or XP/resources used, etc.

 

[Creamsteak]

Extra feats by this distribution seems like a great idea for a higher powered campaign. I might try this some-time. It seems fairly simple, and also changes the entire design of the game enough to give everyone a fresh feel about everything.

 

[Ace]

I think the most common way to play a high-power campaign is just to use a more generous method to roll ability scores, or better to use point-buy with A LOT of points. Another common way to powerup the PC party is to have them find always double treasure or something like that.

For some time I have been thinking about making a poweredup setting, but rather increasing some class abilities, not just bumping up some stats... I think it's just more interesting to give PCs more things to do.

Then I thought this: my players are often starving for feats. They just can't get enough, and since most of the feats give an extra ability (or cancel a big penalty that basically prevents to use a common ability) they always look forward to the levels when they get a new feat. Ok, every class get something else as well, spells or special features, so there is usually something new at next level...

Has anybody ever tried to play with a feat every 2 levels instead of 3? I am thinking about a feat at every ODD level for example.

Beside the fact that the Figther gets indirectly toned down, since his bonus feats will be slightly less worth, I think there should be no problems in allowing this. Some PC may just get all the bumping feats, like bonus to ST or similar, but for example it will give more options for metacasters, it will allow to more easily reach high-prerequisites feats, it will make item creation feats less costly, and it give Spell Focus/GSF more appeal. It will also increase the use of less powerful feats, since a not-best feat would be a less waste. In any case, over 20 levels it's only 3 feats more, not a big deal after all...

What do you think? Bad idea?

I have done this in my LOW powered game. When I reduced the magic itesm I increased feats (1,3,5,7 etc) and skill (+2 per level) and skills per level

Only the skill bit was tested and it worked fins. I say go for it ..

 

[Gothmog]

Looks like we are thinking along the same lines Ace. In my low-magic game, I give out feats at every odd level (3,5,7,etc), and one extra feat at 1st level which MUST be a background feat (like in the FRCS or Wheel of Time RPG). I also gave +2 skill points per level. This gives the PCs a little better chances in a low magic world- but just remember to give the NPCs and monsters the same consideration!