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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Angcuru" data-source="post: 899330" data-attributes="member: 10948">I feel that it is rediculous for characters to NEED the magical weapons and armor to go toe-to-toe with the baddies in D&D...but I also think that magical item rarity should depend on the setting.  Of course, in a high-magic setting like the Forgotten Realms, it is specifially stated that magic is EVERYWHERE, so perhaps the commonplaceness of magic items fits in there.  But in a low-magic setting, you need something to balance the lack of magic items with the bad-assness of the obstacles.Perhaps for low-magic settings, you should allow for greater amounts of feats per level and easier access to epic-type(but toned down where appropriate) feats such as E.Prowess, Penetrate Damage Reduction, Gain (Insert Stat), etc.  The way I would run a low-magic setting with the normal monsters(which usually require magic items to take down) would be that characters would gain a feat every level(and another ever 3), and then any bonus feats.  The useful feats in the Epic-Level Handbook would be modded to allow for characters to be able to take them without NEEDING to be epic. I.E.:LVL1- 2 Feats2- Feat3- 2 Feats4- Feat5- Feat6- 2 Feats7- Feat 8- Feat9- 2 Feat10- Featetc.In a normal-magic setting, characters have 4 feats by level 10.  In a low-magic setting, characters have 14 feats.  By level 20 in a normal-magic setting, characters have 7 feats, in a low-magic setting, characters have 27 feats. While the amount of feats skyrockets, the characters don't have that +4 longsword of wounding and +3 Full Plate of Fortification, etc. that normal-setting characters do.Increased Availability of Feats: if a character meets the prerequisites of a epic feat, she can take it even if not epic.  HOWEVER, feats such as Energy Resistance or Epic Life Span(excepting Great {Instert Attribute}), which have no prerequisistes, cannot be taken until Epic Level is actually reached (With more feats, characters will be able to gain access to these feats earlier, so they can get the so-called super-powers if they choose their feats right.) For stats like great fortitude, their lesser non-epic version must be taken as a prerequisite.Additional Feats:Thick Skin / Skilled Defense: [General]Prerequisites:  Con 15 / Dex 15.Benefit:  Your skin has been toughened beyond normal, making it dificult to penetrate. / You have spent significant time practicing how to parry, dodge, duck, and generally avoid blows that would hit someone with lesser skill.  Gain +1 Armor Bonus(thick skin) / +1 Dodge Bonus(skilled defense).Special:  Can be gained multiple times. The effects stack.Lesser Damage Reduction: [General]Prerequisites:  Con 18Benefit:  You gain damage reduction 1/-.Special:  Stacks with any existing Damage reduction.  Can be gained multiple times.Prowess: [General]Benefit: Gain a +1 bonus to all attacks.Special:  May be gained multiple times, it's effects stack.Pierce Damage Reduction [General]Prerequisites: +5 Base attack Bonus.Benefit:  Your attacks are made is if with an additional +1 bonus for determining if Damage Reduction is nullified.Special:  Can be taken multiple times(once for every +5 BaB i.e. can be taken only once with BaB 7, but three times at BaB 16). Its effects stack.etc. etc. etc.So, in effect, characters become able to take on foes which they would normally require magical equipment to face.  While a character could drop all of his feats into Prowess and become incredibly accurate with his weapons, he leaves himself vulnerable by not being able to penetrate a foe's damage reduction without a magical weapon, and is quite easy to hit due to his lack of AC-increasing feats.  A good mix is required, but I think this system would work rather well, with a few tweaks, of course.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /></blockquote>

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