Iron Heroes useable in regular D&D?

[Ashanderai]

My group is starting a game next Sunday that will be mixed 3.5 and IH. It will be set in the Iron Kingdoms. It will use the IH classes, except for the arcanist, and the 3.5 spellcasting classes along with the 4 Iron kingdom classes. The 3.5 magic system will be combined with the rest of the spellcasting classes stats and skills changed to the IH method. The 3.5 spellcasters will also keep their special abilities. Their skill sets are converted to the skill groups that IH uses. I don't know yet how this combined campaign system will work in practice, but our group all thinks it should be roughly balanced to work well.

None of us knows yet what we will be playing. Our DM will be handing out cards for us to draw at random. These cards will have 6 ability scores written on them along with 2 traits. We can assign these scores to whatever ability we choose, but a couple of us decided to assign them at random. We will then begin play as effectively 0-level characters as part of a military unit. Our first session or two will help us decide what classes we will become during play. As we decide what to do during play and find out what feats and abilities we wish we had we will become the class that fits those happenings and we will get our feats on the spot when we wish for them. We did this once before and it was a great success as far as roleplaying enjoyment for our group. IH should make it even more fun.

 

[Tharen the Damned]

I have IH and think about bringing the Weapon Master as a NPC Class into my Campaign (trying to build real tough, magic hating Foes).
I think if you compare an IH Class to the Core you have to build both of them with the implied magic items or lack of them.
I haven´t done the math yet, but I think a Fighter 10th can stand toe to toe with a Weapons Master, if he has enough magic goodies.
The IH DR for armor for example does not work for magic items, so the Core fighter should get through with his full damage.

 

[RSKennan]

I just got Iron Heroes the other day, and I agree with Tetsujin; it's my favorite version of D&D/D20 so far. It actually broke some serious writer's block I was dealing with.

I have two questions for those who have had more time with the system, or who are just better at quickly analyzing game mechanics.

1- How do you think standard PrCs would fit with this system?

2- How do you think standard spellcasters would fit with a party of IH characters?

I'm actually thinking of adapting it to use with the next version of the Morningstar setting, which is oddly a high magic setting, except that I want the PCs to be more valuable than their equipment.

If Mearls is reading this: Bravo.

 

[SweeneyTodd]

1- How do you think standard PrCs would fit with this system?

2- How do you think standard spellcasters would fit with a party of IH characters?

I'll take a shot at it, although this is just my opinion.

1- I'm hard-pressed to think of a PrC that I'd want to take over another IH class level. Seriously. I could see doing it for the specific specialties offered in the PrC, or for flavor. I imagine they wouldn't get used all that often in general, but they'd be fine.

2-Actually, I think this would work fine. Low level spellcasters would probably be really weak in comparison, but by the time you're up to Fireball levels and above you might be okay. I think you'd have a situation where the spellcasters are valued more for their special tricks (fly, teleport, invisibility) than for their combat usefulness.

Oh, and you'd have to take a long hard look at DCs, since IH saves are so beefy. Everybody gets the best save progression in everything.

 

[RSKennan]

2-Actually, I think this would work fine. Low level spellcasters would probably be really weak in comparison, but by the time you're up to Fireball levels and above you might be okay. I think you'd have a situation where the spellcasters are valued more for their special tricks (fly, teleport, invisibility) than for their combat usefulness.

Oh, and you'd have to take a long hard look at DCs, since IH saves are so beefy. Everybody gets the best save progression in everything.

Thanks for the input SweeneyTodd, I think I'll start a new thread on this.

 

[Particle_Man]

Oh, and you'd have to take a long hard look at DCs, since IH saves are so beefy. Everybody gets the best save progression in everything.

In fact, IH save progressions force us to redefine "best", since they are better than any save progressions in the standard SRD, for any monster, NPC or PC, including the save progression of an epic PC or NPC. Admittedly, I haven't looked closely at Divine Ranks, where the non-IH characters may start to catch up. But note that IH heroes do *not* auto fail a save on a natural 1.

 

[Driddle]

How do you think standard PrCs would fit with this system?

It's not worth trying to mix. The Iron Heroes character class progressions are so absolutely delightful that any prestige class option feels cheap and dirty by comparison.

 

[A'koss]

Regarding the high saving throws, keep in mind that there are few ways to remove unwanted conditions in IH, heal damage in combat and apart from a weakish recussitation, nothing in the way of resurrection. So you want to consider the long-term survivability of your PCs when weighing any criticism against it.

Mearls touched briefly upon an idea he had for Prestige Feats (on Monte's site), instead of making Prestige Classes, as perhaps a better fit for IH. You would go through some kind of trial first to prove your worth, then gain access to the organization's feat chain(s) once you were a member. An interesting concept methinks...