More Castles & Crusades details

[cleaverthepit]

Let's see how modular and tinker-friendly C&C is.

Using the 3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18 system:

Particle_Man House Rule #1: A racial ability bonus raises that ability to the lowest number in the new penalty/bonus category. A racial ability penalty lowers that ability to the highest number in the new penalty/bonus category. Thus if you start with a 13 and get a bonus, it becomes 16, but if you start with a 15 and get a penalty, it becomes a 12. Exception: where the ability penalty is -2, then use the above house rule or lower the ability score 2 points, depending on which results in a lower ability score. (So an 18 would become 16, not 17, and a 16 would both become 14 while a 17 becomes 15).

House rule #1

Perfect. As long as it is consistently applied

The point is that I want the penalties and bonuses to be real penalties and bonuses, not hidden ones.

I am in agreement here but this is not the base rule. The base ruleis 1 up 1 down. Many people like it this way and it is the lowest common denominator so to speak. This system works on a 'depressed' bell curve to keep the extraordinary extraordinary. Its a style and tone choice. In my campaign for C and C I have a +1/+1/-2. This way I keep the upper end low, create a real variation, maintain the Bell Curve and some other stuff house rule #2

Another question: Do 3 and 18 act as absolute limits at character creation, or chould characters with certain races have 1, 2, or 19 in some stats? What are the bonuses/penalties for such extreme stats? How does giant strength work on this system?[ /QUOTE]

No there are not limits. Well 0 is the low. 1/-4, 2-3/-3, 18-19/+3, 20-21/+4

And for a house rule #3 the standard Initiative die is d10, high first etc. Mac is going to use a d6. We fought along time on which die is the best as a base. I won by force of logic or just being the guy who makes the final decision. Neither die really matters except for conversion to 3e, 2e. the d6 is just for nostalgia and liking that die.

 

[cleaverthepit]

and a few other things

double post sorry

 

[cleaverthepit]

and a few other things

First I want to offer an open apology to everyone out there who was under the impression this was a straight 3e lite game. For reasons to numerous and at this point, pointless to make, it is not 3e lite. It is a distillation of all editions of the game, what we believe to be the core set of rules/concepts that guide the entire process from '74 to '03. As I am in charge of advertising and 'getting the message across' it is all my fault for any misinterpretations. Chock it up to naivette, inexperience (I was and arcaheologist for 20 years not an ad man) and lack of mental faculty to do so in a consise, digestible manner. Also it was not finished. In any respect, if you have misgivings, please do not pre-order or purchase the book until you have a chance to see it or go over some rules and stuff once it is out. I am sure a lot of information will be floating around real quick. But also be sure to come over to the troll boards for the final word as some misinformation is already being floated. This was not disengenuous on my part. I am just stupid

And Henry

The fighter has NO penalties for weapons use!!!

 

[johnsemlak]

Davis

I think you might be being a little hard on yourself (especially by double posting htat message ). It's impossible to guarentee that everyone will get the message you want them to have. I think it was clear at the start what this was.

Of course some people getting on the train late may have not got the whole message and may have only heard part; that's unavoidable.

 

[Henry]

Epochrpg - I understand your example, but the character creation experience in every game is not necessarily the same. Sometimes when exploring all the options, it could take half and hour (or longer) to make the character you want to play. Conversely, if you just want to get playing, you can stat up a complete 3E character inside of 10 minutes (I've done it for cons and gamedays before) and let it ride.

Also keep in mind that, as C&C grows and expands, that add-ons may become a part of its repertoire, inflating the choices and therefore the amount of creation time for that game system. You're describing creation in a system that's been around for almost four years with dozens of supplements, against a game that hasn't even published its core system yet.

Finally, when I was growing up, and playing 1E and 2E, we used to have WHOLE SESSIONS for nothing but character creation too - it was one of the highlights of the whole campaign, to run through all you could be and choosing something different to play this time. It's not endemic to just one version of D&D.

As I get older, my needs change in a game system - it's better to have a system that you can start up quickly and play for a few hours than it is to have a very complex system full of options. That's why I've been attracted more lately to games like Feng Shui, Savage Worlds, and now C&C. It's why I'll be picking it up, not because of something D&D lacks, but because of something that C&C lacks.

And Henry
The fighter has NO penalties for weapons use!!!

 

[jmucchiello]

What about combat maneuvers like disarm, knockout, etc (in case you are allowed to talk about it)?

It's funny I asked about this a week ago on the private board and after a few days of kicking it around an elegant solution was discussed and enjoyed by various board members. (I can't go into it further.) Hopefully it finds its way into the rulebook.

 

[johnsemlak]

Conversely, if you just want to get playing, you can stat up a complete 3E character inside of 10 minutes (I've done it for cons and gamedays before) and let it ride.

In general I agree but I think it's harder for a lot of people to create characters quickly in 3e than in earlier editions. There're are so many more facets to consider. Everyone has to worry about skills. Feat selection. The starting packages do make it easier, true.

 

[Frostmarrow]

Now, would be a good time to spill some more details. What's so special about the ranger, anyway?

 

[BASHMAN]

creating a character can take some time in 3e. But I can also create one in 5 minutes just like C&C.

Yes, but only if you play: a fighter, paladin, or something real easy like that. Rogues have tons of skills that need sorted out, casters take time to pick spells, etc. Yeah, fighters have feats, but a human fighter at level 1 only has 3, and players usually know what combo they want to start with, i.e. dodge+mobility+spring attack (hmmm... am I missing one in that chain?) point blank shot+rapid shot+precise shot, ambidexterity+weapon focus shortsword+something else (just wanted to negate my -2/-2 down to -1/-1, he he he)

 

[Maggan]

The ranger done right!

Now, would be a good time to spill some more details. What's so special about the ranger, anyway?

Apparently it is special because this time it's been done right. Compared to all the other times that it's been done wrong.

I seriously doubt that the C&C ranger will be considered "right" by even most C&C players. It seems to be a curse that follows the ranger that it will never be right. We will see this one be good and maybe innovative, but "right"..? Next year we'll be up over our ears with C&C rangers that are done "really right this time!".

Fact of life. But I promise you this, if C&C does manage to do a ranger that people in general feel is "right", I''ll buy the book, just to celebrate that the elusive ranger has been tracked down.

Cheers!

Maggan