How on Earth do you have a tightly controlled D&D world with normal magic (Long)

[Ace]

I think its important to remember that almost every single person is going to be multi-classed. They have to be to truly represent the multiplicity common in a society. Barons are going to have some communication skills beyond what they can get as a fighter (or they may have aristocrat ). Personally, i think most people will pick up a level in rogue and not have any skills dealing with traps/locks, and instead have people-relation skills like bluff etc.. Rogue is the most useful, non-magical, class when dealing with any situation outside of direct combat.

PC's are an abberation. Most people won't risk their lives on a daily basis. Those that do are those who take the reins of power eventually, or they die trying. I don't think you have to reduce the magic implicit in D20 to have a functioning society.

just me .002$

joe b.

Good thinking!

I tend to see basic people as about 3rd level -- Say a freeman or an expert would be a 3rd level character.

Even the common soldier is a War3

Nobles may be higher level, Aristocrat if they are at court or just rich folks.

Noble class there are challenges to be faced and Fighter or Warrior levels if they are fighting nobility

My typical compotent Nobles is Noble 3-5 Fighter 1-2 total

This balances things a bit

My biggest problems with 3e are the official DMG level distribution (85% of all people are 1st level) and the lack of realistic consideration of magic on society-- especially at will items of clerical magic and teleport

Once those are adjusted the game is fine and most sorts of human society that are familiar to me work just fine

The

 

[Bendris Noulg]

unfortunately there isn't a class that isn't combat oriented that provides the communication skill set a rogue gets.

Courtier (AEG).

 

[jgbrowning]

Courtier (AEG).

Don't have it.

joe b.

 

[AEtherfyre]

Anyone know how many skill points / level an Aristocrat gets? They have most of the communication skills as class, but if they don't get many skills, then, yeah, rogue does seem too valueble a class to anyone who isn't an adventurer...

On another note - I'd agree that the average NPC in a D&D world shouldn't be 1st level, though I was thinking fourth for human characters and highter for nonhumans - elves and dwarves, anyway. After over a human lifetime to learn their trade, you'd think a dwarven smith would be higher than first level!

 

[jgbrowning]

Anyone know how many skill points / level an Aristocrat gets? They have most of the communication skills as class, but if they don't get many skills, then, yeah, rogue does seem too valueble a class to anyone who isn't an adventurer...

On another note - I'd agree that the average NPC in a D&D world shouldn't be 1st level, though I was thinking fourth for human characters and highter for nonhumans - elves and dwarves, anyway. After over a human lifetime to learn their trade, you'd think a dwarven smith would be higher than first level!

4 +int modifier. they have a good skill selection, but the rogue's 8 +int modifier really outshines them.


joe b.

 

[Lalato]

This thread has some interesting thoughts on low magic...

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42250

--sam

 

[AEtherfyre]

4 +int modifier. they have a good skill selection, but the rogue's 8 +int modifier really outshines them.


joe b.

That's a pity.

Since they're an NPC class, and technically designed to be "weaker" than PCs in the first place, how damaging do you think a house rule to give them more skills might be? Would giving Ari's 6 or 8 skill points cause any balance problems?

If you're going to have high level leaders, the Ari class makes sense, after all - I mean, why wouldn't high level aristocrats be aristocrats?

 

[jgbrowning]

how damaging do you think a house rule to give them more skills might be? Would giving Ari's 6 or 8 skill points cause any balance problems?

my standard answer to any balance problems is "Are you the DM?" if so i'll add, "Well then, you can balance it."

if your not the DM, well you should talk to him about it. balance really comes from the DM, not the rules. the rules help, but its mostly the DM.

personally, i'd like a flat +2 skill points for all classes. hell, i'd actually like them to separate skills into mental/physical/social skill classes so they can have more skills (and skill points) for each class instead of somehow having these fighter/cleric types know nothing about anything... except killing things.

joe b.

 

[Ace]

Don't have it.

joe b.

Get Swashbuckling Adventures by AEG if you get the chance. The book is so crunchy it will make your teeth hurt

 

[Ace]

Just a note and a thread pimo. I will be posting my alt rules over in the hosue rules column. The rules are set up for a subtler magic with less impact on the game world and I would love it if you guys would give em a look.

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