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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Scott DeWar" data-source="post: 5472472" data-attributes="member: 49929">[sblock=action points 1]from the hypertext d20 srdAction PointsAction points give character the means to affect game play in significant ways, by improving important rolls or unlocking special abilities. Each character has a limited number of action points, and once an action point is spent, it is gone for good.Metagame Analysis: Action PointsAction points give players some control over poor die rolls. Although this has little effect in an average encounter, it makes it a little more likely that characters will survive extremely challenging encounters and less likely that a single character will fall to what would otherwise be a balanced foe because of bad luck. A reserve of action points lets even careful players expose their characters to more risks, heightening the game’s tension and opening the door to even more heroic action. This variant also makes it less likely that an entire adventuring group will fall victim to one powerful effect, such as circle of death or cloudkill.Action points also make it more likely that the use of a character’s most potent abilities will be successful. For example, although its overall effect on an encounter might be minimal, few things frustrate a paladin more than missing with a smite attack—an event that becomes less likely when using action points.That said, action points can also lead characters to routinely get in over their heads (relying on action points to save themselves), and for GMs to unconsciously increase the difficulty of encounters (since characters are more likely to succeed against foes of equal power). This is as fine as long as the characters have a reserve of such points to spend—but if they run out, encounters that would otherwise be merely challenging can become incredibly deadly. Keep the number of action points available to your characters in mind when designing encounters.For GMs who are worried that action points increase the power level of characters without an offsetting cost, there’s an easy solution. Just think of each action point as a one-use magic item with a broad range of possible effects. With that analogy, it becomes easy to justify reducing the amount of treasure awarded to balance out the accrual of action points. Note that this is merely a tool for GMs interested in carefully monitoring character power levels; action points should never be for sale.An action point is roughly equivalent to a magic item worth 100 gp per character level (since the higher a character’s level, the more potent the effect).Acquiring Action PointsA beginning (1st-level) character starts the game with 5 action points. A character above 1st level starts the game with a number of action points equal to 5 + 1/2 his current character level.Every time a character advances, he gains a number of action points equal to 5 + 1/2 his new character level. Some prestige classes might allow a faster rate of accrual, at the GM’s option.Action Points and Existing GamesAdding action points to an existing campaign is easy, since characters don’t need to make any special changes. Each character simply gains a number of action points equal to 5 + 1/2 his character level.NPCs and Action PointsMost NPCs probably shouldn’t have action points, due to the added complexity this would create. In the case of important villains or other significant characters, however, the GM may award them an appropriate number of action points to use against the player characters. A number of action points equal to 1/2 the NPC’s level is a good baseline.Using Action PointsYou can spend 1 action point either to add to a single d20 roll, to take a special action, or to improve the use of a feat.You can spend 1 action point in a round. If you spend a point to use a special action (see below), you can’t spend another one in the same round to improve a die roll, and vice versa.Add to a RollCharacterLevel     Action PointDice Rolled1st-7th     1d68th-14th     2d615th-20th     3d6When you spend 1 action point to improve a d20 roll, you add the result of a 1d6 to your d20 roll (including attack rolls, saves, checks, or any other roll of a d20) to help you meet or exceed the target number. You can declare the use of 1 action point to alter a d20 roll after the roll is made, but only before the GM reveals the result of that roll. You can’t use an action point to alter the result of a d20 roll when you are taking 10 or taking 20.Depending on character level (see table), a character might be able to roll more than one d6 when he spends 1 action point. If so, apply the highest result and disregard the other rolls. A 15th-level character, for instance, gets to roll 3d6 and take the best result of the three. So, if he rolled a 1, 2, and 4, he would apply the 4 to his d20 roll.Special ActionsA character can perform certain tasks by spending an action point. In addition to the actions described below, some prestige classes or feats (see below) might allow the expenditure of action points in order to gain or activate specific abilities, at the GM’s option.Activate Class AbilityA character can spend 1 action point to gain another use of a class ability that has a limited number of uses per day. For example, a monk might spend an action point to gain another use of her stunning fist ability, or a paladin might spend an action point to make an additional smite attack.Boost DefenseA character can spend 1 action point as a free action when fighting defensively. This gives him double the normal benefits for fighting defensively for the entire round (+4 dodge bonus to AC; +6 if he has 5 or more ranks in Tumble).Emulate FeatAt the beginning of a character’s turn, he may spend 1 action point as a free action to gain the benefit of a feat he doesn’t have. He must meet the prerequisites of the feat. He gains the benefit until the beginning of his next turn.Extra attackDuring any round in which a character takes a full attack action, he may spend 1 action point to make an extra attack at his highest base attack bonus. Action points may be used in this way with both melee and ranged attacks.Spell BoostA character can spend 1 action point as a free action to increase the effective caster level of one of his spells by 2. He must decide whether or not to spend an action point in this manner before casting the spell.Spell RecallSpellcasters who prepare their spells in advance can spend 1 action point to recall any spell just cast. The spell can be cast again later with no effect on other prepared spells. This use of an action point is a free action and can only be done in the same round that the spell is cast. Spontaneous spellcasters such as sorcerers and bards can spend 1 action point to cast a spell without using one of their daily spell slots. This use of an action point is a free action and can only be done as the spell is being cast.StableAny time a character is dying, he can spend 1 action point to become stable at his current hit point total.Improving FeatsThe use of action points opens up a whole range of possible feats. However, it’s easier on characters simply to improve existing feats to take advantage of action points—that way, characters needn’t spend their precious feat slots simply to gain the ability to use their action points. Below are a few examples of how action points can be used with existing feats. Unless otherwise stated, each effect requires a free action to activate and lasts 1 round.Blind-FightYou can spend 1 action point to negate your miss chance for a single attack.Combat ExpertiseYou can spend 1 action point to double the bonus to Armor Class granted by the feat. For example, if you take a penalty of -3 on your attack roll, you gain a +6 dodge bonus to AC.DodgeYou can spend 1 action point to increase the dodge bonus granted by the feat to +2. The effect lasts for the entire encounter.Improved CriticalYou can spend 1 action point to double your critical threat range. Since two doublings equals a tripling, this benefit increases your threat range from 19-20 to 18-20, from 17-20 to 15-20, or from 15-20 to 12-20, including the effect of your Improved Critical feat. This benefit stacks with the benefit from Improved Critical, but not with other effects that increase threat range.Improved InitiativeYou can spend 1 action point to double the bonus on initiative checks granted by the feat, from +4 to +8.Metamagic FeatsYou can spend 1 action point to add the effect of any one metamagic feat that you have to a spell you are casting. The spell is cast at its normal level (without any level adjustment because of the feat) and takes no extra time to cast.Heighten Spell automatically raises a spell’s effective level to the highest level of spell you are capable of casting. For example, if a 7th-level wizard with the Heighten Spell feat casts burning hands and spends 1 action point to heighten the spell, the spell is treated as if it were a 4th-level spell in all respects even though the wizard prepared it normally (as a 1st-level spell).Power AttackYou can spend 1 action point to double the bonus on damage rolls granted by the feat. For example, if you take a penalty of -3 on your attack roll, you add +6 to your damage roll.Spell FocusYou can spend 1 action point to double the increase to save DCs granted by the feat, from +1 to +2.Spell PenetrationYou can spend 1 action point to double the bonus on caster level checks granted by the feat, from +2 to +4. The effect lasts for the entire encounter. [/sblock]wulf ratbanes's to minute rest period[sblock=The Trailblazer Solution]The Trailblazer SolutionThe 10-minute Rest Period• A “rest period” is redefined as 10 minutes of uninterrupted rest, to include no more than conversation and light activity.• All character abilities and class features that were previously granted “per day” are instead granted “per rest.” This includes rage, smite, wild shape, etc. as well as spellcasting (see below).• The number of Reserve Points allocated per PC is up to the DM. A baseline of 1 +½ character level, rounding down, is a good low end. (If you use Action Points, which we recommend for the full Trailblazer ruleset, you can simply fold the two mechanics together.)• Each time a PC gains a level, he can choose to put one of his own Reserve Points into a “Party Pool.” A player can choose to spend Reserve Point from the Party Pool instead of from his own total (and does not need permission from the other players to do so).• The DM can award additional Reserve Points, either individually or to the Party Pool, for reaching quest milestones, good roleplaying, bringing snacks, busting up the table with a good joke, etc.• All abilities are refreshed once every 24 hours, at no cost of Reserve points. (In other words, always at least as often as the current 3e rules allow.)After a successful rest period, at no cost of Reserve Points:• All “per rest” abilities are refreshed.• All characters heal an amount of hit points equal to 50% of their normal hit point total.• All Rote spells are refreshed. (See below).• Any ongoing spell effects on your person are dispelled when your rest is complete, regardless of any duration they may have remaining. This does not apply to spells with instantaneous or permanent durations; however it does apply to spells both beneficial and harmful, regardless of their origin.After a successful rest period, at a cost of 1 Reserve Point:• A character can recover an additional amount of hit points equal to 50% of their normal hit point total (which will restore any character to full hit points).• A spellcasting PC can refresh all of his Restricted spells (see below) .• A spellcasting PC can refresh one Ritual spell per Reserve Point spent.SpellcastingAll spells are designated as Rote, Restricted, or Rituals.Rote spells include:• All 0-level spells.• Any single target spell with a duration of 1 min/level or less.Restricted spells include:• Any area of effect or multiple-target spell.• Any spell with a duration of 10 minutes/level or longer.• Any Conjuration (creation, calling, or teleport).Ritual spells include:• Any spell with an XP cost.• The big three gamebreakers: Divination/Commune, Raise Dead, Teleport• “Edge case” spells that create permanent goods (water, food, iron) at the DM’s discretion.[/sblock]</blockquote>

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