Oathbound - an overlooked setting?

[Teneb]

I agree, I like the old way of doing prestige races better. However, there is certainly a point in the argument that higher level characters are better able to absorb the cost of taking a prestige race. Someone (psion maybe?) once said they didn't like the prestige races were done because they circumvent the experience system. Prestige levels strikes me as more "fair" in that it more accurately expresses the power level of the character. I think, at the very least, using the old method should apply a CR bump at certain stages of a PrR. Believe me, when we were playtesting Wildwood there was a whole lotta discussion on this very topic.

 

[Steverooo]

I agree, I like the old way of doing prestige races better. However, there is certainly a point in the argument that higher level characters are better able to absorb the cost of taking a prestige race. Someone (psion maybe?) once said they didn't like the prestige races were done because they circumvent the experience system. Prestige levels strikes me as more "fair" in that it more accurately expresses the power level of the character. I think, at the very least, using the old method should apply a CR bump at certain stages of a PrR. Believe me, when we were playtesting Wildwood there was a whole lotta discussion on this very topic.

But the way that your arguement is usually applied is flawed... A Prestige Race ability can only be bought once/level, and also has a minimum level. You cannot get fourteen PR abilities in one level, like you can magic items. You can get one, at most, and then have to wait several more levels to get the next. Starting a new PR in between costs you an extra 20% experience.

 

[tf360]

This was the most contentious subject during playtesting. Some people liked the prestige races and the xp system, others did not. I'd say the majority fell into the latter category, but both sides certainly had their share of advocates. I think that the bottom line in teh debate came down to style of play. Players and GM's that play fast and loose tended to like the xp system, while those concerned with balance and fairness did not, in general. I fell into the latter category. Also the original xp system deviated from the d20 mechanics in a number of critical ways. For instance, the ability score boost as originally written used a formula of (ability score bonus squared x 500 xp). So a +1 ability score bonus cost 500 xp. Granted it's an enhancement bonus, but a wizard casting a wish spell to grant a +1 inherent bonus would have to spend 5,000 xp to do so. Also, it's important to remember that the prestige race can't be dispelled or otherwise lost, so it's much better than a magic item(s) that grants these abilities.

 

[Teneb]

Tom,
Thanks for almost perfectly summing up my feelings on the matter. I definitely consider myself a "fast and loose" DM; that's probably why the XP version appeals to me more. However, as I said above, I think there are compelling reasons to move the system to a level based one. I certainly don't begrudge the move. In all likelihood, someone will convert any new Prestige Race Levels to the old XP system anyway, so everyone is happy.

 

[DMH]

Prestige powers are inherent to the character, they can't be used up like charges of your sample wand, disjoined, dispelled, sundered, stolen, or disarmed. They are extra racial benefits. Feats and class levels seem the two best mechanisms in the game for granting such innate powers after creation when LA is applied and sticks.

But the abilites gained are worth less to higher level characters since they have more access to magical items, class abilities and other sources of magical and mundane powers. Why spend xp on a PrR that gives skill bonuses when you can hire experts in that field? Why spend xp to become a plant when you can hire a powerful herbalist to create a cocoon of greengifting (I think that is the correct name)? Money and political power can produce much of the abilities the PrRs provide.

This is a rather moot subject, but I do hope that the rules for creating PrRs will stay a sticky on OB.net.

 

[DMH]

Tom,
In all likelihood, someone will convert any new Prestige Race Levels to the old XP system anyway, so everyone is happy.

If they do, they will have to post them on a messageboard since PRLs are not OGC.

Which brings up another question- is the WW book (vs the pdf) going to have a different designation of OGC? I was rather suprised at the small amount of OGC in WW.

 

[tf360]

Unfortunately, the designation of what was OGC and what was not was not my decision so I can't give a definitive answer on that issue. In most likelihood, I can't imagine that there will be much deviation from the pdf version to the print version.


Yes, I have no problem leaving the sticky for the xp system on the website.

 

[DMH]

Necroing because of Steve's release of the Player's Guide to Oathbound.

I don't expect many people have read it yet, but I would like to see reactions to the new form of prestige races. Instead of xp or levels, they are gained by exchanging feats and ability score boosts.

 

[Banshee16]

Necroing because of Steve's release of the Player's Guide to Oathbound.

I don't expect many people have read it yet, but I would like to see reactions to the new form of prestige races. Instead of xp or levels, they are gained by exchanging feats and ability score boosts.

Where do we find it?

Banshee

 

[Voadam]

But the abilites gained are worth less to higher level characters since they have more access to magical items, class abilities and other sources of magical and mundane powers. Why spend xp on a PrR that gives skill bonuses when you can hire experts in that field? Why spend xp to become a plant when you can hire a powerful herbalist to create a cocoon of greengifting (I think that is the correct name)? Money and political power can produce much of the abilities the PrRs provide.

This is a rather moot subject, but I do hope that the rules for creating PrRs will stay a sticky on OB.net.

This argument applies to any abilities gained from taking a level in something, whether it is a base class, a prestige class, a paragon racial class, or a prestige racial class.

Each of these paths of character advancement provide permanent inherent abilities in a character and it makes sense to me for the mechanics to be similar.