[ot]Magnamund - Lone Wolf Series

[Eternalknight]

Someone mentioned the Buffy effect earlier. I think that is a serious consideration to keep in mind. For example, the above class is really great and captures the spirit of the Kai Warrior, but it is really much more powerful than the other core classes. In the books, the Kai Warrior is superior to other warriors. That's true. However, I think in a game it needs to be balanced with the other classes just for playability.

First I'd drop it to d8 hit points. Then I'd give it a medium BaB progression (like a monk or rogue). That might be enough to balance it out. As it is now there's not much reason to play any of the other fighter type classes. A game with this ruleset would never have any normal fighters, which I think would detract from the diversity and as a result the quality of the game.

Balancing seems tricky since the quality of powers gained at levels 11-20 are dramatically more powerful than those gained at 1-10. So, if you get one half of the class balanced, the other half gets out of whack.

Real nice job so far though.

So, ok, dropping it to d8 hit points seems ok. I'm not too sure about the medium BaB though; what do other people think? Staffan, this brings me to your points: I was trying to keep the class balanced. Thats why the bonuses are lower. However, I could see that if we turned it into a prestige class the powers MAY be able to go a bit higher. To address your points in order:

Animal Kinship: My whole problem was it states, specifically, "some animals" as you point out. I had to make a choice as to what "some animals" meant. I was tossing up between burrowing animlas (like a gnome) or forest animals. What would your suggestion be?

Camouflage: See above about balance issues.

Healing: Your point is good; however, couldn't Lone Wolf use this discipline on others? That's why I went for cure minor wounds. The reason I went for cure minor was the books state "restore 1 endurance point per section of the book".

Hunting: Balance issues.

Mind Over Matter: (Correct me if I'm wrong...) Supernatural abilities can be used at will, can't they?

Mindshield and Mindblast: I was trying to use existing rules from the books if I could. Plus these Disciplines are so much like psionic attack and defense modes it isn't funny.

Sixth Sense: You are right about this of course. I couldn't quite figure out what to do about this, so I went for what i did. Wisdom is supposed to be the intuitive ability score... maybe something to do with that?

Weaponskill: If you read the Magnakai disciplines, you will see why it isn't weapon focus. You should also notice why the ability bonuses are named; they cannot stack with each other that way.

And no worries about the color change

 

[Eternalknight]

Well, that's the question. IIRC, it was revealed in the New Order books that Grey Star (I think Tanis, as well) vanished. I honestly can't see Grey Star teaching others to be Shianti - after all, Legends states that the Shianti were an abomination and were cursed by Ishir - I don't think he'd challenge a goddess.

Which Legends book? I thought they were a race of wanderers who stumbled upon Magnamund and decided to make their lives there. Then once the formed the Moonstone (thus upsetting the natural balance) Ishir asked them to leave, but the Shianti didn't want to so exiled themselves to the Isle of Lorn.

 

[Codragon]

well

Thanks codragon, so what do you think so far?

Hello Eternalknight,

I think this is a great thread. I've loved the Lone Wolf books and been engrossed in them more than ANY fantasy author. The conversions to D&D stats are well-done!

However...I think its damn near impossible to create a Kai Lord base class that is balances with the existing D&D classes. Who would want to be a fighter when you could be a Kai Lord? Don't forget, the aptly titled Lone Wolf books are about solo adventuring. You (the Kai Lord) are able to fight, cast spells, cure yourself, use psionics and have a whole slew of skills. I don't think a prestige class fits the bill either..

A solution: to heck with D&D! Use the d20 system! What I mean is come up with a whole new set of base classes that balance with each other. Sorta like the Wheel of Time RPG book.
We could even keep the existing classes. We then have three "tiers" of classes, as follows:

Lone Wolf Classes
Kai Lord
Herbwarden
Member of Crystal Star Brotherhood
Elder Mage
Warrior-Magician of Dessi (whatever Paido was)
etc?

PH Classes
(as PH, maybe not all)

NPC Classes
(as DMG)

What do you guys think? I just don't think its entirely fair to keep "powering-down" the Kai Lord to make him balanced with existing D&D classes. Making a whole new class system requires a lot of thought though. We could also change the Magic system to be more like Grey Star...

 

[dagger]

Re: well

Good idea, i think maybe this should be looked at as well.

A solution: to heck with D&D! Use the d20 system! What I mean is come up with a whole new set of base classes that balance with each other. Sorta like the Wheel of Time RPG book.
We could even keep the existing classes. We then have three "tiers" of classes, as follows:

 

[Tim Connelly]

As for grey star

I don't know if this bodes well for him...but in the Grand Master series (I forget which one) I believe somehow Naar himself had come into possession of the Moonstone!

Btw good stuff on this thread so far. I loved this series.

 

[Tim Connelly]

A start on left and right handed magic

Since I don't own the book I'm going off of memory....but perhaps using the spells that require a "powers check" would be a good start in defining left and right. In addition.from the novels the guildmaster of the brotherhood of the crystal star's confrontation(s) with vonotar might be a good guide as well. For example Vonotar obviously has Soul Jar while the guildmaster has polymorph other(old school). Just some more brain storming.

 

[Eternalknight]

Re: well

Hello Eternalknight,

I think this is a great thread. I've loved the Lone Wolf books and been engrossed in them more than ANY fantasy author. The conversions to D&D stats are well-done!

However...I think its damn near impossible to create a Kai Lord base class that is balances with the existing D&D classes. Who would want to be a fighter when you could be a Kai Lord? Don't forget, the aptly titled Lone Wolf books are about solo adventuring. You (the Kai Lord) are able to fight, cast spells, cure yourself, use psionics and have a whole slew of skills. I don't think a prestige class fits the bill either..

A solution: to heck with D&D! Use the d20 system! What I mean is come up with a whole new set of base classes that balance with each other. Sorta like the Wheel of Time RPG book.
We could even keep the existing classes. We then have three "tiers" of classes, as follows:

Lone Wolf Classes
Kai Lord
Herbwarden
Member of Crystal Star Brotherhood
Elder Mage
Warrior-Magician of Dessi (whatever Paido was)
etc?

PH Classes
(as PH, maybe not all)

NPC Classes
(as DMG)

What do you guys think? I just don't think its entirely fair to keep "powering-down" the Kai Lord to make him balanced with existing D&D classes. Making a whole new class system requires a lot of thought though. We could also change the Magic system to be more like Grey Star...

The basic fighter really has to be kept (how else would we get normal soldiers? Not all of them a Kai Lords). Rogue I think needs to be there... Otherwise I like the idea. Border Ranger, Cener Druid, Sharnazim Warrior... there are some more to add to your list.

 

[Eternalknight]

Morrus has just announced on the news page that Sub Seven publishing is coming out tomorrow (11th) with a free pdf: Magnamund Sourcebook. Let's check it out and see what our collective heads can come up with.

 

[dagger]

Here is the link


http://www.eviloz.net/sub7/main.htm

 

[dagger]

Bump a roo I didnt forget you!