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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 8122863" data-attributes="member: 27780">Polyhedron Issue 37: Jul/Aug/Sept 1987part 4/5Multi-class characters: AD&D's multi and dual class systems were always … idiosyncratic, to put it politely. Knowing precisely who could be what, in combination with what else, and what level they could reach in each class required an extensive table, and effectively prohibited you from using new classes from supplements with new races from other supplements. This aims to clear things up a little by turning each potential progression into it's own table, with it's own XP, hit point and proficiency progression. Since you won't gain a level this way until you've accumulated XP equal to the sum of all your classes requirements rather than spreading it evenly, plus your proficiencies are averaged instead of added together, and you're rolling 1 hit die vs several and halving them, which usually gives you a slightly higher average due to rounding effects, this is actually a step downwards in terms of overall power. This is a noob trap, and a tedious one at that, as it eats up a full 7 pages with it's iterated formulae. Anyone with the ability to do mathematical analysis themselves will avoid it easily, and the rest should follow their lead. With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: Dragon has had The Marvel-Phile trucking along reliably since the RPG was first released. Polyhedron's superheroic articles have been considerably thinner on the ground. No more! This brave freelancer has taken up the mantle of producing a regular column for the newszine, come rain, shine, or alien invasion! Let's hope his submissions are a little more punctual than a certain web-slinger who shares this motto. The first article, not too surprisingly, is on the quirks of running tournament adventures for superhero RPG's in particular. Even more than D&D, you really need to rely on pregen characters, as the power levels and flexibility can vary so widely, and letting people bring their own would all too likely make the scenario effortless or impossible. Don't hesitate to use existing heroes and villains from the comics, as this actually makes roleplaying easier. Choosing two or three villains to team up will often strongly suggest a plotline, based on their personalities, histories and goals. You also really need to keep things moving if you want that comic book style. Multiple routes are cool, but you can only plan so many, and you should make sure you have a failsafe to nudge them back on the plot if they grind to a halt or do something completely unexpected. It all seems pretty reasonable. You'll never be able to explore the logical ramifications of super-science on the world's long-term development in a 4 hour tournament slot, so you might as well lean into creating the best high-speed rollercoaster you can manage instead, and hope it stays fun enough that they don't start poking the backdrop and finding out how thin it is.</blockquote>

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