Plot-driven training, outside of level advancement

[AbdulAlhazred]

Retraining is your friend. Yes, technically it can only be done when you level up, but really there is no reason why a character can't retrain at any appropriate juncture.

 

[RangerWickett]

In my game, the PCs pick up new skills and tricks all the time. The monk-mage learned how to gather the souls of dying enemies, and has been slowly influenced by them. The pacifist necromancer encountered a centaur and started experimenting on how to create his own hybrid critters -- he even combined a PC who died with an NPC who the PC killed, making an unnatural amalgamation.

The rock-obsessed mage (yes, they're all mages) communed with the spirit of a volcano and forged metaphysical chains of magma linking him to it so he can invoke the volcano's power from afar.

It's my game, so screw balance, I say. If I had to design mechanics, though, I'd say, "Reward players who are creative. Let them use their tricks when appropriate, and be generous with page 42."

Remember the DM's best friend. +2 for favorable circumstances. If the PCs say they spend time practicing putting out fires on themselves, looking like fools rolling around after first setting themselves on fire (they've obviously got to set themselves on fire first, or else the training isn't realistic enough), grant them a +2 bonus to saves to end ongoing fire damage. If they want to abuse it, fine, let them abuse it. A +2 bonus won't break the bank.

I dunno, maybe put a limit of 4 things like this that a given PC can have trained for without a feat. I mean, sure, you might have learned 5 years ago how to avoid hurting yourself when you jump through glass, but in the heat of the moment you probably won't remember your training. A few things, though, you care about and will recall.

 

[Zaran]

Could you do this with the alternate awards system in the DMGII?

Make it function kind of like a Boon or something?

Aside from that- I don't think the +2 is really unreasonable... Like an "I'm brushing up on my knowledge before the big exam" sort of bonus. Not enough hard core studying to really let it sink in as a permanent bonus, but one that lasts a short time maybe.

I think this is exactly the idea of alternate awards. I like it alot.

 

[Mengu]

Davros Elden's Fire Putter Outer Technique? I guess it could work. You and allies within 5 squares gain +2 item bonus to saving throws against ongoing fire. Make this take up one of the magic item reward slots for the level.

 

[BobTheNob]

So you think that spending a day or two showing someone how to effectively roll on the ground, use available dirt or sand or tapestries, etc., to smother a fire couldn't possibly grant as much as +2 to a check on putting out a fire? I'm not talking about neutralizing the entire dragon -- just increasing the odds of passing a save against ongoing damage, or passing the Aid Another check to help someone else do so.

He gave you feedback, the value of which is to you, not him. Denouncing the feedback achieves nothing.

Now, in so far as the bonus to saves is concerned. Think about the price here. To get a bonus to saves under normal rules is a very pricy thing. Its a racial feature, or a feat, or a power. Put basically, you have to build toward it, meaning a finite resource (be that the race you are obligated to take, of the feat slot you have to give up) has to be put toward that.

This training idea is good (loved the mountaineering example) but if you make things relative to a players "power" (i.e. their combat efficacy) you set a very dangrous precedent. Time/Money...you can always get more, their cheap, so all players have to do is come up with a "real world" feasible argument to why they should have a bonus, and all of a sudden the formerly high price of finite character resources is pushed aside for replaceable time/money.

Who needs a feat or ability to give me a save bonus if I can argue my GM into it?

Its a pandoras box. I cant tell you not to do it, but if you want my feedback (You do want feedback?) I would pay skill check related things, but I wouldnt pay combat related. Too easy for my tastes

 

[Saeviomagy]

I'd probably let people get a temporary +2 from training for some predetermined period of time at a specific task. That would apply to characters who are trained as well as untrained.

Climbing a specific mountain, making a thievery check against a particular locksmith's locks, performing arcana checks to identify subcategories of a specific monster would all be the sort of thing that would be possible.

I'd probably also say that you only get one such specialization per character: you can't maintain study on multiple such specializations at once.

Oh, as an additional requirement to training, some sort of story element would be required: you can't just say "I study mountain X to get the bonus", you say "I seek out an expert on mountain X to get trained: do I find one? Yes? But he needs something done before he'll train me?" etc etc.

 

[Prestidigitalis]

He gave you feedback, the value of which is to you, not him. Denouncing the feedback achieves nothing.

Denouncing??? I have no idea where you get that from, seriously.

 

[Nytmare]

In general, I say no to such things.

Throw me in with everything he said.

[EDIT] Oh yeah! XP!

 

[Infiniti2000]

off-topic a little

The pacifist necromancer ...

Come again? Is he also a meat-eating vegetarian?

 

[Infiniti2000]

So you think that spending a day or two showing someone how ...smother a fire couldn't possibly grant as much as +2 to a check on putting out a fire?

Correct. I actually used the word ridiculous. Note that this is my opinion, like it or not, take it or leave it. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone, though.

Is it that you believe any adventurer already knows that stuff? That they are so hardened to the various dangers of an adventuring life that it's already old hat?

I believe this example is such that it's not possible for any such training to be worth +2. If there's something I can teach my 3 year old to do within 5 minutes, then no, absolutely not should it ever be allowed as a +2 bonus in the game. And, yes, my 3yo can do all those things about rolling on the ground, staying low, and finding the designated meeting spot outside the house.

I apologize for picking on your example, but it was relevant and available. There are probably others that are more of a gray area, but IMO this isn't.