Long-term planning for D&D characters

[Crothian]

My only issue would be if a Player had his character designed to rigid. But I can see how the system can force players to do it with how precise some prestige classes are to get.

 

[sckeener]

I had this problem with my last group. I was the DM and one of the players had his character planned out for every level. He was an Aasimar and wanted to become a half-celestial. I told him that he would have to have an 'in' game reason for starting that template, some triggering event. He told me that he felt it should just happen because he wanted it to....

We went round and round over the issue...

he viewed it like an option he had available to pick like in an MMORG...where as I viewed it as an easter egg that needed to be found.

He got upset over the issue because he had a time table....i.e. at X level he needed to start his template to munchkin the way he wanted.

It didn't end pretty....

 

[Piratecat]

I've implemented test-based requirements for prestige classes, as explained in one of the books (Unearthed Arcana? PHB2?) It helps a lot in that regard, as it relaxes the exact build requirements needed.

 

[Bacris]

I don't see anything wrong with planning a character out early - but it needs to have room for change if situations change.

For example, if your first level is rogue and, after a couple sessions of playing, the whole career path of rogue into whatever PrC you chose just doesn't look good, there's nothing that says "I must stick to what I planned!"

Just like you planned to study physics and discovered it just wasn't what you were looking for, your characters can have plans that change. You still originally planned to be a physicist, just like a character may have planned to grow up and be a Incantatrix only to discover that magic just wasn't fun for them.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

I don't see anything wrong with planning a character out early - but it needs to have room for change if situations change.

For example, if your first level is rogue and, after a couple sessions of playing, the whole career path of rogue into whatever PrC you chose just doesn't look good, there's nothing that says "I must stick to what I planned!"

Just like you planned to study physics and discovered it just wasn't what you were looking for, your characters can have plans that change. You still originally planned to be a physicist, just like a character may have planned to grow up and be a Incantatrix only to discover that magic just wasn't fun for them.

Unfortunately, this will then mean that you will have a hard time meeting the prerequisites for other interesting prestige classes which might interest your character now. Feats, especially, tend to be problematic because you get so few of them.

 

[sniffles]

I sometimes plan a character out, at least as far as looking at a prestige class I'd like to get into, but I always try to leave myself open in case in-game events take me in a different direction. And sometimes a new book comes out with something that seems just perfect for my character, so I don't want to be tied down to a particular progression.

I think it would help if prestige classes didn't call for cross-class skills or feats with prerequisites that are difficult for certain characters to fulfill, though. It would also help if GMs would be flexible and allow more character rebuilding in these situations.

 

[DonTadow]

Hey its there character. Why should I the DM place rules on how far in advance someone wants to think. A lot of DMs crave this type of character involvement from a player. I have players whom have everything worked out for 10 levels and some whom don't think about the characters next level until the day before they level.

A good question is how often do players stick to these plans. Many a players I've seen divert when a cool new splat book comes out or when the DM changes some options.

 

[schporto]

Put me in the 'either way makes sense' category. In real life some people dedicate themselves to one goal and work towards that tirelessly. (See Tiger Woods and golf, Michael Jordan in basketball, most doctors, most lawyers etc) Others may drift into their final chosen field (me, you Jurgen). Others may stumble into their place, the college football walk-on who turns pro. That kind of thing.
So too I can an adventurer's life be either planned, or happenstance. There are some prestige classes that probably shouldn't be planned though. Those that are part of secret organizations, or reflect pure happenstance (Blood Magus - really planning to be killed is not acceptable I think). I can see this easily for a fighter dedicated and working towards a Kensai, or Exotic Weapons Master, or a wizard working towards most of their prestige classes. I do have a drifter barbarian who lets life take him wherever it leads planning out to take levels in a prestige class.
Then again, there's also the part of a player wanting to make a character. Shouldn't I as a player be allowed to craft a character into what I want him to be?
Shrug. There's no wrong way I think.
-cpd

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Hey its there character. Why should I the DM place rules on how far in advance someone wants to think.

I think the main problem would be conflict between those players who have memorized numerous prestige classes from a large number of supplements and those who haven't. The former can plan their characters effectively, while the latter will howl in frustration: "Why didn't anyone tell me about that prestige class 7 levels ago? Now my character can't get into that class!"

Enjoyment of the way your character develops shouldn't hinge on memorizing large numbers of supplements. At least that's my stance, and I am sticking with it.

 

[Bacris]

Unfortunately, this will then mean that you will have a hard time meeting the prerequisites for other interesting prestige classes which might interest your character now. Feats, especially, tend to be problematic because you get so few of them.

Oh, I agree - but if you've just spent 2 years of college in physics (continuing that example ) only to discover "hey, I'd be better as a bio-engineer", not all of the resources you've just invested will carry over.

PHB2 offers retraining as an option to rectify this, as does the psionic power Psychic Reformation, to a limited but faster effect. Kind of like summer school to catch up on your curriculum.

There are ways to "fix" bad choices