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<blockquote data-quote="Janx" data-source="post: 2022141" data-attributes="member: 8835"><p>I think one of the arguments Low-Magic-lovers often point to is the condition where a PC=their stuff. Basically, all the cool things a PC can do is owed more to his gear than the character's built in features.</p><p></p><p>Heck I experienced this when my DM tried to take away my precious +3 vorpal sword. Dang that sucked. But I got it back. As his point was, "surely, there's more to your character than his sword.." Yeah, but I want my sharp sword back because I suck without it. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>But there's a very real truth to all this. Consider a basic fighter. Assuming the DM pits him against Level=CR monsters all the time, if he has no magic stuff, he's going to ultimately face critters he can't feasibly beat as he goes up in level.</p><p></p><p>Why?</p><p>We he's getting more HP, so he can take the hits</p><p>He's getting higher BAB, so he can keep hitting things (barring DR stuff)</p><p>His damage is static</p><p>His AC is static, that full plate is the best he's going to get.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, the monster is getting more HP, BAB, AC, and Damage.</p><p></p><p>It's an arms race that the fighter must keep up with.</p><p></p><p>The only way a fighter can keep up with it in RAW D&D is to get better equipment. That means magic weapons and armor.</p><p></p><p>Now consider that. If you want a low magic game, but want to keep the fighter in pace with the great arms race (or don't want to recalculate CRs for everything), you've got to supply the need.</p><p></p><p>So to reiterate:</p><p>PCs need damage dealing ability to go up as they go up</p><p>PCs need AC to go up as they go up (because everything hits better)</p><p></p><p>Solution:</p><p>Find a formula to increass AC and Damage per level, just like BAB does.</p><p>It's easy to justify, if you can hit more frequently, you're probably more accurate, and therefore hitting sensitive spots, thus you should do more damage (the monsters live on this philosophy).</p><p>Since you're getting better at combat (and hitting people), you're probably better at not getting hit as well (it's a skill us black belts learn, getting hit sucks, so avoid it). Thus AC goes up with levels.</p><p></p><p>How frequently? I'd look at it in terms of scale. How high do you want it to get.</p><p>Basic 1st level fighter = base AC 10 + full plate 10 = 20 AC</p><p>basic 20th level fighter (no magic) = base AC 10 + full plate 10 = 20 AC</p><p>normal 20th level fighter (with magic) = base AC 10 + full plate 10 + magic stuff 5 = 25 AC</p><p></p><p>I'd guess a 20th level PC is trying to get an AC of 30 or so. If you assume no DEX bonus (giving those chaps a real edge), you're gonna want a +10 AC bonus over the course of 20 levels.</p><p></p><p>That's not bad, basically give fighters +1 AC per 2 levels</p><p>For damage, let's stick with a +5 range. That means +1 damage per 4 levels</p><p></p><p>Assuming you like those numbers for fighters (the extreme combat edge of the classes), simply come up with a slower scale for weaker classes.</p><p></p><p>Apply the monk-like "I count as a magic weapon versus DR) formulas and you could run a low-magic PC against most of the MM critters.</p><p></p><p>Janx</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Janx, post: 2022141, member: 8835"] I think one of the arguments Low-Magic-lovers often point to is the condition where a PC=their stuff. Basically, all the cool things a PC can do is owed more to his gear than the character's built in features. Heck I experienced this when my DM tried to take away my precious +3 vorpal sword. Dang that sucked. But I got it back. As his point was, "surely, there's more to your character than his sword.." Yeah, but I want my sharp sword back because I suck without it. :) But there's a very real truth to all this. Consider a basic fighter. Assuming the DM pits him against Level=CR monsters all the time, if he has no magic stuff, he's going to ultimately face critters he can't feasibly beat as he goes up in level. Why? We he's getting more HP, so he can take the hits He's getting higher BAB, so he can keep hitting things (barring DR stuff) His damage is static His AC is static, that full plate is the best he's going to get. Meanwhile, the monster is getting more HP, BAB, AC, and Damage. It's an arms race that the fighter must keep up with. The only way a fighter can keep up with it in RAW D&D is to get better equipment. That means magic weapons and armor. Now consider that. If you want a low magic game, but want to keep the fighter in pace with the great arms race (or don't want to recalculate CRs for everything), you've got to supply the need. So to reiterate: PCs need damage dealing ability to go up as they go up PCs need AC to go up as they go up (because everything hits better) Solution: Find a formula to increass AC and Damage per level, just like BAB does. It's easy to justify, if you can hit more frequently, you're probably more accurate, and therefore hitting sensitive spots, thus you should do more damage (the monsters live on this philosophy). Since you're getting better at combat (and hitting people), you're probably better at not getting hit as well (it's a skill us black belts learn, getting hit sucks, so avoid it). Thus AC goes up with levels. How frequently? I'd look at it in terms of scale. How high do you want it to get. Basic 1st level fighter = base AC 10 + full plate 10 = 20 AC basic 20th level fighter (no magic) = base AC 10 + full plate 10 = 20 AC normal 20th level fighter (with magic) = base AC 10 + full plate 10 + magic stuff 5 = 25 AC I'd guess a 20th level PC is trying to get an AC of 30 or so. If you assume no DEX bonus (giving those chaps a real edge), you're gonna want a +10 AC bonus over the course of 20 levels. That's not bad, basically give fighters +1 AC per 2 levels For damage, let's stick with a +5 range. That means +1 damage per 4 levels Assuming you like those numbers for fighters (the extreme combat edge of the classes), simply come up with a slower scale for weaker classes. Apply the monk-like "I count as a magic weapon versus DR) formulas and you could run a low-magic PC against most of the MM critters. Janx [/QUOTE]
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