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Message: <blockquote data-quote="A'Kin" data-source="post: 1117680" data-attributes="member: 14187">I'd like to share a house rule that I have used for past campaigns - I call it "Meta Essence"I based it mostly on Christopher Perkins's suggestion of "Hero Points" a while back. Meta Essence is a system of points that characters gain which they can use basically for an extra boost of power when things are bleak.How is Meta Essence gained? Each newly formed character starts with one point. Then, they gain one per character level gained. A PC can also gain Meta Essence by performing an act that is truly heroic, and let me say right now that simply succeeding at the plot of an adventure doesn't always cut it. It has to be an act that scores a blow against the forces of evil, at least on the power level of the PCs. It is rare for a PC to have more than three points of Meta Essence.Meta Essence can be used in two ways, both usable in accomplishing tasks. A PC can use a point to make an improbable task an automatic success. For example, if the PC had to make a Fort save with a DC of 20, and his save bonus was +6, he'd have to role at least 14; the odds are against him, but certainly it is within the range of possibility. If he used a point of Meta Essence in this case, the save would automatically succeed.Now, lets say that the DC of the save was instead 30. Here the PC could only succeed on a natural 20. In this case, Meta Essence could not ensure success, but it could make it easier. It might, for example, cut the DC of said save in half. A PC might even have a chance to do something that would otherwise be impossible by using them.Naturally, a DM should be very stringent on giving out these precious points, as they can unbalance a campaign if used too much. However, they are nice rewards for a job well done.And by the way, NO, monsters and NPCs do not get them, which makes them all the more special.- A'Kin</blockquote>

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