Karl Green
First Post
Hmm lots of these ideas, lots of good stuff. Excuse my rambling as I form these ideas 
I posted this over in the PBP Talking the Talk also. Just to continue here also I posted what I said over there...
I am thinking about high attribute buy at least 36 maybe 40. I like the idea of more Feats also, and the whole ‘Get a feat at every level’ and maybe a bonus extra one at 1st level (so humans would start with 3)
I am leaning towards a mix of heroes and anti-heroes. Everyone will have to accept that as player in the game they have work together, no backstabbing or stealing from each other, plotting against them, etc (and if you are playing a anti-hero you have to give me the reason why you have agreed to work for the league, something good and you go to play it out. Something that would make you loyal to your party, maybe not the government)
BUT back to character creation. One suggested I really liked was the whole sliding scale of different unique abilities. Still forming the idea, but the basics would be; each character is 4th or 5th level base WITH something extra (here is where it gets complex). I am debating something like a +4ECL or equivalent… MORE attribute points (or maybe one well above 18), Gestalt or Bloodlines for those who want it (but only to a certain level of ability), a powerful magic item or weapon, more feats, racial package (a half-dragon, a werewolf), or some other unique ability? Something like that… NOW that would take a bit more work… grrr should just run it in M&M
hehe just kidding.
Gestalt and/or Bloodlines/Heroic Paths would be pretty easy compared to this way BUT making everyone REALLY unique could be very cool. Maybe want I should do is ‘Choice one of the following packages’ and have a number of packages written up. Only one person can choice each one. So one would be Gestalt, one would be Bloodline, one be a Racial package (half-dragon and/or werewolf), one would be a non-racial template, one would be ‘skill and feat master’ with bonus to both and maybe a few extra attribute points, one with a minor artifact barer, etc
The other way to do this is everyone to give me your ‘basic character’ and then we work to build the characters’ Template (whatever that template be… BUT I want them all to be different and special)
Hmm all good stuff. I think that I have narrowed it down to one of the following two. What would people prefer more (or is there one that would not work)…
1.) Stuff that I am going to use no matter what - Attribute point buy 36-40 points (leaning toward 40). Bonus feats one every level (instead of every 3 levels) and a bonus Feat for all at 1st level (so humans start with 3). Starting level between 4th and 6th level. Not sure about this one yet.
2.) Gestalt (maybe with some Heroic Paths mixed it to really throw everyone off). If I go this route I am strongly tempted to ‘lock’ the two classes BUT if I do that I will go with DEFCON-1’s idea and allow players to buy prestige class abilities as feats. The prerequisite for the "feat" is the character level needed to acquire the ability through normal minimum class & prestige class advancement i.e. if your character wanted the "Impromptu Sneak Attack 1/day" ability of the Arcane Trickster (a 3rd level prestige class ability), you'd be able to get it with a feat at 11th level. (To get into the Arcane Trickster prestige class you need at minimum 5 levels of wizard to cast 3rd level spells and 3 levels of rogue to get the +2d6 sneak attack, then the 3rd level prestige ability would bring the character to 11th level at minimum.)
3. Create a dozen or so ‘packages’ that the players could choose from (see below). You would create the basic character (race, classes, etc against starting level between 4th to 6th) and then pick ONE of packages (obviously some packages would require certain classes and races only which would be included in their descriptions). I sort of like this idea a bit ONLY because it would make character even more unique then Gestalt characters.
Some example Eberron-type extraordinaries Packages (just beginning any additional suggestions would be appreciated)…
Genius Inventor from the Arcanix University, whose family was killed by Karnath raiders during the Last War. He then led a one-man war against them from his air-gallon, and continued even after the end of the war two years ago. Recently he was believed to have been killed, but the government of Breland knows he is alive and forcing him to work for them as they have hinted that they ‘should’ inform the Karnath government that he is still alive. (Artificer character class. Should maybe have lesser and maybe major Dragonmarks of House Cannith?? His big bonus might be an air-gallon or some other nifty artifacts and magical items)
The last werewolf (or bear or some other type) on Khorvaire, who is seeking sanctuary from the Inquisition of Thrane. Old and lonely (but very long lived so still looks real young), bitter and hardened by the world. Sometimes he/she must fight their animal instincts and desire to rip the throats out of fools (human. Maybe some levels in Ranger should be required)
Half-dragon (black or red, other colors open also) from Aronnessen. Exiled for his/her non-dragon blood and a brooding and angry person. Might be able to use breath weapon more then once a day (maybe it cost em' a temporary CON point or two to use it more then once). (Maybe has working wings; but only if no one picks the Celestial/Daemon package below)
The only criminal ever to escape from Deathold Island (he/she is such an exceptional human, gaining bonuses to his Attribute points, or maybe across the board having ALL 16’s or maybe - two 18’s, two 16’s and two 14’s or something like that. Also gaining even more bonus to his feats and skills) (human, maybe a level or two in Rogue required)
An intelligent undead character (template) that’s the result of a failed Karnath experiment to create a higher form of undead to command their legions. It developed free will and escaped. Think of sort of a Frankenstein's monster type of character, possibly with fits of barbarian-like rage. (undead qualities, some extra stuff, possibly super-human strength) (human or elf/half-elf, maybe require a level or two of Barbarian)
A man/woman inhabited by two merged spirits (to explain the Gestalt abilities), maybe with some other weird ability (like get two Will saves to resist Charm spells as both personalities would try and fight it off, etc). Maybe only to a certain level, i.e. if I start the game at 5th level, the Gestalt is locked into two classes until then. After that they are normal class advancement (so that multiclassing and prestige classes are opened up). Sometimes confused and argues with him/herself
A man/woman with the blood of the Celestial or Daemon (Bloodline) running in their veils, gifted with a sword from their extra-dimensional parent…maybe with natural wings (angelic or demonic). OR maybe a Aasimar or Tiefling, with some extra abilities and gifts from their bloodline (human or elf/half-elf… maybe half-orc also)
A Warforge experiment with ‘certain’ artifacts grafted into it (think the big robot in Battlecashers; a couple of powerful magical affects already grafted onto his body; example of the Armblade and Crossbow attachment but so advanced that they are hidden and ‘pop-out’ on command when needed etc) (Warforged of course)
A Changeling with the ability not only to shapeshift, but also to change his/her color and shape even more, allowing them chameleon and polymorph like abilities (limited invisibility, many natural weapons as they turn their hands to claws or wall-crawling with spider like fibers on their hands. Faster swimming with webs they could form, bonus to Escape Artist as their bones mold and melt so easily. Maybe bonus movement or jumping with longer legs, etc) (Changeling of course)
...
If I allow Heroic Paths I will have to update them for 3.5 and maybe I will make them up to 10th level only or something. Plus I might add a few more ideas into them (maybe allowing them to be used more then ones a day)
Last notes, I have Unearthed Arcana, Complete Warrior, Complete Divine and Complete Arcane. I don’t have any of the Book of Exalted Deeds or Veil Darkness I am afraid and so I am leery of lets much in from those books. Again the only classes I really don’t see working out at all are the oriental ones (they would just break certain ‘gene’ stuff for, plus the Samurai is terrible compared to the one in Oriental Adventures).
Thoughts, feedback and suggestions please
!
I posted this over in the PBP Talking the Talk also. Just to continue here also I posted what I said over there...I am thinking about high attribute buy at least 36 maybe 40. I like the idea of more Feats also, and the whole ‘Get a feat at every level’ and maybe a bonus extra one at 1st level (so humans would start with 3)
I am leaning towards a mix of heroes and anti-heroes. Everyone will have to accept that as player in the game they have work together, no backstabbing or stealing from each other, plotting against them, etc (and if you are playing a anti-hero you have to give me the reason why you have agreed to work for the league, something good and you go to play it out. Something that would make you loyal to your party, maybe not the government)
BUT back to character creation. One suggested I really liked was the whole sliding scale of different unique abilities. Still forming the idea, but the basics would be; each character is 4th or 5th level base WITH something extra (here is where it gets complex). I am debating something like a +4ECL or equivalent… MORE attribute points (or maybe one well above 18), Gestalt or Bloodlines for those who want it (but only to a certain level of ability), a powerful magic item or weapon, more feats, racial package (a half-dragon, a werewolf), or some other unique ability? Something like that… NOW that would take a bit more work… grrr should just run it in M&M
hehe just kidding. Gestalt and/or Bloodlines/Heroic Paths would be pretty easy compared to this way BUT making everyone REALLY unique could be very cool. Maybe want I should do is ‘Choice one of the following packages’ and have a number of packages written up. Only one person can choice each one. So one would be Gestalt, one would be Bloodline, one be a Racial package (half-dragon and/or werewolf), one would be a non-racial template, one would be ‘skill and feat master’ with bonus to both and maybe a few extra attribute points, one with a minor artifact barer, etc
The other way to do this is everyone to give me your ‘basic character’ and then we work to build the characters’ Template (whatever that template be… BUT I want them all to be different and special)
Hmm all good stuff. I think that I have narrowed it down to one of the following two. What would people prefer more (or is there one that would not work)…
1.) Stuff that I am going to use no matter what - Attribute point buy 36-40 points (leaning toward 40). Bonus feats one every level (instead of every 3 levels) and a bonus Feat for all at 1st level (so humans start with 3). Starting level between 4th and 6th level. Not sure about this one yet.
2.) Gestalt (maybe with some Heroic Paths mixed it to really throw everyone off). If I go this route I am strongly tempted to ‘lock’ the two classes BUT if I do that I will go with DEFCON-1’s idea and allow players to buy prestige class abilities as feats. The prerequisite for the "feat" is the character level needed to acquire the ability through normal minimum class & prestige class advancement i.e. if your character wanted the "Impromptu Sneak Attack 1/day" ability of the Arcane Trickster (a 3rd level prestige class ability), you'd be able to get it with a feat at 11th level. (To get into the Arcane Trickster prestige class you need at minimum 5 levels of wizard to cast 3rd level spells and 3 levels of rogue to get the +2d6 sneak attack, then the 3rd level prestige ability would bring the character to 11th level at minimum.)
3. Create a dozen or so ‘packages’ that the players could choose from (see below). You would create the basic character (race, classes, etc against starting level between 4th to 6th) and then pick ONE of packages (obviously some packages would require certain classes and races only which would be included in their descriptions). I sort of like this idea a bit ONLY because it would make character even more unique then Gestalt characters.
Some example Eberron-type extraordinaries Packages (just beginning any additional suggestions would be appreciated)…
Genius Inventor from the Arcanix University, whose family was killed by Karnath raiders during the Last War. He then led a one-man war against them from his air-gallon, and continued even after the end of the war two years ago. Recently he was believed to have been killed, but the government of Breland knows he is alive and forcing him to work for them as they have hinted that they ‘should’ inform the Karnath government that he is still alive. (Artificer character class. Should maybe have lesser and maybe major Dragonmarks of House Cannith?? His big bonus might be an air-gallon or some other nifty artifacts and magical items)
The last werewolf (or bear or some other type) on Khorvaire, who is seeking sanctuary from the Inquisition of Thrane. Old and lonely (but very long lived so still looks real young), bitter and hardened by the world. Sometimes he/she must fight their animal instincts and desire to rip the throats out of fools (human. Maybe some levels in Ranger should be required)
Half-dragon (black or red, other colors open also) from Aronnessen. Exiled for his/her non-dragon blood and a brooding and angry person. Might be able to use breath weapon more then once a day (maybe it cost em' a temporary CON point or two to use it more then once). (Maybe has working wings; but only if no one picks the Celestial/Daemon package below)
The only criminal ever to escape from Deathold Island (he/she is such an exceptional human, gaining bonuses to his Attribute points, or maybe across the board having ALL 16’s or maybe - two 18’s, two 16’s and two 14’s or something like that. Also gaining even more bonus to his feats and skills) (human, maybe a level or two in Rogue required)
An intelligent undead character (template) that’s the result of a failed Karnath experiment to create a higher form of undead to command their legions. It developed free will and escaped. Think of sort of a Frankenstein's monster type of character, possibly with fits of barbarian-like rage. (undead qualities, some extra stuff, possibly super-human strength) (human or elf/half-elf, maybe require a level or two of Barbarian)
A man/woman inhabited by two merged spirits (to explain the Gestalt abilities), maybe with some other weird ability (like get two Will saves to resist Charm spells as both personalities would try and fight it off, etc). Maybe only to a certain level, i.e. if I start the game at 5th level, the Gestalt is locked into two classes until then. After that they are normal class advancement (so that multiclassing and prestige classes are opened up). Sometimes confused and argues with him/herself
A man/woman with the blood of the Celestial or Daemon (Bloodline) running in their veils, gifted with a sword from their extra-dimensional parent…maybe with natural wings (angelic or demonic). OR maybe a Aasimar or Tiefling, with some extra abilities and gifts from their bloodline (human or elf/half-elf… maybe half-orc also)
A Warforge experiment with ‘certain’ artifacts grafted into it (think the big robot in Battlecashers; a couple of powerful magical affects already grafted onto his body; example of the Armblade and Crossbow attachment but so advanced that they are hidden and ‘pop-out’ on command when needed etc) (Warforged of course)
A Changeling with the ability not only to shapeshift, but also to change his/her color and shape even more, allowing them chameleon and polymorph like abilities (limited invisibility, many natural weapons as they turn their hands to claws or wall-crawling with spider like fibers on their hands. Faster swimming with webs they could form, bonus to Escape Artist as their bones mold and melt so easily. Maybe bonus movement or jumping with longer legs, etc) (Changeling of course)
...
If I allow Heroic Paths I will have to update them for 3.5 and maybe I will make them up to 10th level only or something. Plus I might add a few more ideas into them (maybe allowing them to be used more then ones a day)
Last notes, I have Unearthed Arcana, Complete Warrior, Complete Divine and Complete Arcane. I don’t have any of the Book of Exalted Deeds or Veil Darkness I am afraid and so I am leery of lets much in from those books. Again the only classes I really don’t see working out at all are the oriental ones (they would just break certain ‘gene’ stuff for, plus the Samurai is terrible compared to the one in Oriental Adventures).
Thoughts, feedback and suggestions please
!
