Priorities chargen

[Wik]

So, me and my friends have always loved the "Priorities" system that you see in some FASA products (such as shadowrun). The original Mechwarrior was great for this - you got a pool of ten points, and you used those points to determine how many points you got to spend on skills, attributes, and other factors.

So, one player could be really strong and rounded in general attributes, but have little in the way of skills, while another PC could focus on wealth and social power.

It's a great system for a classless game, but I'm thinking of using it as a base for a d20 modern-style game (based in a post-apocalyptic caribbean). Characters would spend between 0 to 3 points on seven different categories (Skills & Feats; Ability Scores; Talents; Psychic Powers; Hit Points/Massive Damage Threshhold; Saving Throws & Defence; and Attack Bonus & Starting Proficiencies). I'm thinking of giving them around 10 points to spend, maybe a bit less.

Characters would still gain levels - they would just use this priority system to make up their own, unique character class. I guess it's similar to a point buy system that's been done to death, but I think it could be fun in the more generalized modern game style.

Ideas? Suggestions?

 

[Arkhandus]

It's a great system for a classless game, but I'm thinking of using it as a base for a d20 modern-style game (based in a post-apocalyptic caribbean). Characters would spend between 0 to 3 points on seven different categories (Skills & Feats; Ability Scores; Talents; Psychic Powers; Hit Points/Massive Damage Threshhold; Saving Throws & Defence; and Attack Bonus & Starting Proficiencies). I'm thinking of giving them around 10 points to spend, maybe a bit less.

Hmmm. Lessee. I dunno what you're planning in terms of psychic powers, mutations, technology, wealth/scavenging/whatever, or anything else, so.....here's what I can come up with. 7 or 8 points for priorities may be more appropriate with what I've laid out here.

[U]Number of Class Skills by "Feats & Skills" Priority Rating *[/U]
[B]Priority 0:[/B]	4 class skills
[B]Priority 1:[/B]	10 class skills
[B]Priority 2:[/B]	14 class skills
[B]Priority 3:[/B]	16 class skills
[I]* Psionic skills, such as those granted only by psionic classes,
cannot be chosen in this manner.  Such skills can only be gained
through assigning a priority of 1 or higher to Psychic Powers, in
which case all psionic skills become class skills for the character.[/I]

[U]Number of Skill Points per Level by "Feats & Skills" Priority Rating[/U]
[B]Priority 0:[/B]	2 skill points per level
[B]Priority 1:[/B]	4 skill points per level
[B]Priority 2:[/B]	6 skill points per level
[B]Priority 3:[/B]	8 skill points per level
[I]* Add the character's Intelligence modifier to the number of skill
points gained at each level, and multiply the total by 4 at the 1st
character level.  Regardless of Intelligence, characters receive at
least 4 skills points at their 1st character level, and at least 1 skill
point at each level thereafter.  Furthermore, humans receive 4
bonus skill points at their 1st character level, and 1 bonus skill
point at each level thereafter.[/I]

[U]Number of Feats Gained by "Feats & Skills" Priority Rating[/U]
[B]Character	Total Feats Gained by Priority *
[U]Level		0	1	2	3[/U][/B]
1		1	2	3	4
2		1	2	4	5
3		1	3	4	6
4		2	3	5	7
5		2	4	6	8
6		2	4	6	9
7		3	5	7	10
8		3	5	8	11
9		3	6	8	12
10		4	6	9	13
11		4	7	10	14
12		4	7	10	15
13		5	8	11	16
14		5	8	12	17
15		5	9	12	18
16		6	9	13	19
17		6	10	14	20
18		6	10	14	21
19		7	11	15	22
20		7	11	16	23
[I]* These are in addition to any bonus feats the character gains,
such as the bonus feat that humans gain at 1st level.  Each
character begins play with the Simple Weapons Proficiency feat
as a bonus feat.[/I]

[U]Ability Score Determination by "Ability Scores" Priority Rating[/U]
[B]Priority 0:[/B]	Choose either 18 point-buy,
		or 3d6 per ability score (placed in order)
[B]Priority 1:[/B]	Choose either 25 point-buy, or 4d6 per ability score
		(place as desired, and drop the lowest die each time)
[B]Priority 2:[/B]	Choose either 32 point-buy, or 5d6 per ability score
		(place as desired, and drop the lowest 2 dice each time)
[B]Priority 3:[/B]	Choose either 40 point-buy, or 5d6 per ability score plus
		an additional 5d6 (drop the lowest set, place the other
		six as desired, and drop the lowest 2 dice each time)
[I]* Add racial ability score adjustments afterwards.  Normal humans
have no racial ability score adjustments.  Racial adjustments will not
reduce Intelligence below a score of 3.  If rolling ability scores,
re-roll the entire set if, before racial adjustments, your ability
modifiers total less than +0.  If "Ability Scores" priority is 1, you may
do the same if your ability modifiers total less than +2 or no score is
higher than 13.  If "Ability Scores" priority is 2, you may do the same
if your ability modifiers total less than +4 or no score is higher than
14.  If "Ability Scores" priority is 3, you may do the same if your
ability modifiers total less than +6 or no score is higher than 15.[/I]

[U]Ability Score Improvements by "Ability Scores" Priority Rating[/U]
[B]Priority 0:[/B]	Ability scores do not increase naturally with level
[B]Priority 1:[/B]	Increase any ability score by 1 at every 5th level
[B]Priority 2:[/B]	Increase any ability score by 1 at every 4th level
[B]Priority 3:[/B]	Increase any ability score by 1 at every 3rd level

[U]Number of Talents Gained by "Talents" Priority Rating[/U]
[B]Character	Total Talents Gained by Priority
[U]Level		0	1	2	3[/U][/B]
1		0	1	1	2
2		0	1	2	3
3		1	2	2	4
4		1	2	3	5*
5		1	3	4*	6*
6		2	3	4*	7*
7		2	4*	5*	8*
8		2	4*	6*	9*
9		3	5*	6*	10*
10		3	5*	7*	11*
11		3	6*	8*	12*
12		4	6*	8*	13*
13		4	7*	9*	14*
14		4	7*	10*	15*
15		5	8*	10*	16*
16		5	8*	11*	17*
17		5	9*	12*	18*
18		6	9*	12*	19*
19		6	10*	13*	20*
20		6	10*	14*	21*
[I]* The character may learn a class feature from an advanced
class instead of gaining a new talent, but may only select those
class features in the original order that the class would grant them.
The character must meet all prerequisites for an advanced class
before he or she may select any of its class features in this
manner.  Nonspecific bonus feats from an advanced class are not
selectable in this manner, and are not necessary for acquiring
further class features from the same advanced class.  Class
features from psionic classes also cannot be chosen in this
manner, and are instead gained only through assigning a priority
of 1 or higher to Psychic Powers (which grants a separate
progression for acquiring psionic class features).[/I]

[U]Total Action Points at Each Level by "Talents" Priority Rating[/U]
[B]Priority 0:[/B]	No action points
[B]Priority 1:[/B]	4 + one-half character level, rounded down
[B]Priority 2:[/B]	5 + one-half character level, rounded down
[B]Priority 3:[/B]	6 + one-half character level, rounded down

[U]Survivability by "Hit Points & Massive Damage" Priority Rating[/U]
[B]Priority 0:[/B]	1d6 hit points per character level, add
		Constitution modifier to each d6 of hit points
		(minimum of 1 hit point gained per d6), massive
		damage threshold equals 10 or Constitution score
		(whichever is lower)
[B]Priority 1:[/B]	1d6 hit points per character level, add
		Constitution modifier to each d6 of hit points
		(minimum of 2 hit points gained per d6), maximize
		the roll for 1st level hit points, massive damage
		threshold equals 10 or Constitution score
		(whichever is higher)
[B]Priority 2:[/B]	1d8 hit points per character level, add
		Constitution modifier to each d8 of hit points
		(minimum of 3 hit points gained per d8), maximize
		the roll for 1st level hit points, massive damage
		threshold equals 12 or Constitution score + 2
		(whichever is higher)
[B]Priority 3:[/B]	1d10 hit points per character level, add
		Constitution modifier to each d10 of hit points
		(minimum of 4 hit points gained per d10),
		maximize the roll for 1st level hit points, massive
		damage threshold equals 15 or Constitution
		score +5 (whichever is higher)

[U]Defensive Benefits by "Defense & Saving Throws" Priority Rating of 0[/U]
[B]Character	Class		Preferred	Secondary
[U]Level		Defense		Base Save *	Base Saves **[/U][/B]
1		+0		+1		+0
2		+0		+2		+0
3		+0		+2		+1
4		+1		+2		+1
5		+1		+3		+1
6		+1		+3		+2
7		+2		+4		+2
8		+2		+4		+2
9		+2		+4		+3
10		+3		+5		+3
11		+3		+5		+3
12		+3		+6		+4
13		+4		+6		+4
14		+4		+6		+4
15		+4		+7		+5
16		+5		+7		+5
17		+5		+8		+5
18		+5		+8		+6
19		+6		+8		+6
20		+6		+9		+6
[I]* Choose either Fortitude, Reflex, or Will at 1st-level.  That is
the character's preferred base save.
** The other two types of saving throw are the character's
secondary base saves.[/I]

[U]Defensive Benefits by "Defense & Saving Throws" Priority Rating of 1[/U]
[B]Character	Class		Preferred	Secondary
[U]Level		Defense		Base Saves *	Base Save **[/U][/B]
1		+0		+1		+0
2		+1		+2		+0
3		+1		+2		+1
4		+1		+2		+1
5		+2		+3		+1
6		+2		+3		+2
7		+3		+4		+2
8		+3		+4		+2
9		+3		+4		+3
10		+4		+5		+3
11		+4		+5		+3
12		+5		+6		+4
13		+5		+6		+4
14		+5		+6		+4
15		+6		+7		+5
16		+6		+7		+5
17		+7		+8		+5
18		+7		+8		+6
19		+7		+8		+6
20		+8		+9		+6
[I]* Choose either Fortitude and Reflex, or Reflex and Will, or
Fortitude and Will at 1st-level.  Each of the saving throw
types chosen is one of the character's preferred base saves.
** The other type of saving throw is the character's secondary
base save.[/I]

[U]Defensive Benefits by "Defense & Saving Throws" Priority Rating of 2[/U]
[B]Character	Class		Preferred	Secondary	Tertiary
[U]Level		Defense		Base Save *	Base Save **	Base Save ***[/U][/B]
1		+1		+2		+1		+0
2		+2		+3		+2		+0
3		+2		+3		+2		+1
4		+3		+4		+2		+1
5		+3		+4		+3		+1
6		+4		+5		+3		+2
7		+4		+5		+4		+2
8		+5		+6		+4		+2
9		+5		+6		+4		+3
10		+6		+7		+5		+3
11		+6		+7		+5		+3
12		+7		+8		+6		+4
13		+7		+8		+6		+4
14		+8		+9		+6		+4
15		+8		+9		+7		+5
16		+9		+10		+7		+5
17		+9		+10		+8		+5
18		+10		+11		+8		+6
19		+10		+11		+8		+6
20		+11		+12		+9		+6
[I]* Choose either Fortitude, Reflex, or Will at 1st-level.  That is
the character's preferred base save.
** Choose one of the three types of saving throw at 1st-level,
but not the same one as chosen for the character's preferred base
save.  This second choice is the character's secondary base save.
*** The other type of saving throw is the character's tertiary
base save.[/I]

[U]Defensive Benefits by "Defense & Saving Throws" Priority Rating of 3[/U]
[B]Character	Class		Preferred	Secondary
[U]Level		Defense		Base Save *	Base Saves **[/U][/B]
1		+2		+2		+1
2		+2		+3		+2
3		+3		+3		+2
4		+4		+4		+2
5		+4		+4		+3
6		+5		+5		+3
7		+6		+5		+4
8		+6		+6		+4
9		+7		+6		+4
10		+8		+7		+5
11		+8		+7		+5
12		+9		+8		+6
13		+10		+8		+6
14		+10		+9		+6
15		+11		+9		+7
16		+12		+10		+7
17		+12		+10		+8
18		+13		+11		+8
19		+14		+11		+8
20		+14		+12		+9
[I]* Choose either Fortitude, Reflex, or Will at 1st-level.  That is
the character's preferred base save.
** The other two types of saving throw are the character's
secondary base saves.[/I]

[U]Starting Proficiencies by "Attack & Proficiencies" Priority Rating[/U]
[B]Priority 0:[/B]	Simple Weapons Proficiency as a bonus feat
[B]Priority 1:[/B]	Simple Weapons Proficiency as a bonus feat,
		and one other bonus feat with "Proficiency" in
		its name, for which the character must meet
		any prerequisites (may choose Brawl, Combat
		Martial Arts, or Defensive Martial Arts instead
		of a "Proficiency" if they meet the prerequisites)
[B]Priority 2:[/B]	Simple Weapons Proficiency as a bonus feat,
		and three other bonus feats with "Proficiency" in
		their names, for which the character must meet
		any prerequisites (may choose Brawl, Combat
		Martial Arts, or Defensive Martial Arts instead
		of a "Proficiency" if they meet the prerequisites)
[B]Priority 3:[/B]	Simple Weapons Proficiency as a bonus feat,
		and three other bonus feats with "Proficiency" in
		their names, for which the character must meet
		any prerequisites (may choose Brawl, Combat
		Martial Arts, or Defensive Martial Arts instead
		of a "Proficiency" if they meet the prerequisites)

[U]Attack Bonus by "Attack & Proficiencies" Priority Rating[/U]
[B]Character	Total Base Attack Bonus by Priority Rating
[U]Level		0	1	2	3[/U][/B]
1		+0	+0	+0	+1
2		+0	+1	+1	+2
3		+0	+1	+2	+3
4		+1	+2	+3	+4
5		+1	+2	+3	+5
6		+1	+3	+4	+6
7		+1	+3	+5	+7
8		+2	+4	+6	+8
9		+2	+4	+6	+9
10		+2	+5	+7	+10
11		+2	+5	+8	+11
12		+3	+6	+9	+12
13		+3	+6	+9	+13
14		+3	+7	+10	+14
15		+3	+7	+11	+15
16		+4	+8	+12	+16
17		+4	+8	+12	+17
18		+4	+9	+13	+18
19		+4	+9	+14	+19
20		+5	+10	+15	+20

 

[Wik]

Well, truth be told, that wasn't exactly what I had in mind.

See, I already know roughly how I'll space out the priorities. The main question I had was, more or less, what would the pitfalls be?

Here's roughly what I have in mind:

ABILITY SCORES
0 - 22 Points to assign to ability scores.
1 - 25 points
2 - 28 points
3 - 32 points

TALENTS
(Talents being analogous to talent trees in d20 modern, but expanded to be classless;  also, certain D&D abilities would be added as talents)
0 - 1 talent every 5 levels (and a talent at 1st level)
1 - 1 talent every 4 levels (and a talent at 1st)
2 - 1 talent every 3 levels (and a talent at 1st)
3 - 1 talent every 2 levels (and a talent at 1st)

FEATS & SKILLS
(quick note - all skills are class skills.  I'm also breaking the skills up into "active skills" and "knowledge skills", to encourage players to take skills that define their character, such as knowledge/geography, while still creating feasible characters.  All characters receive 2 bonus skill points a level that have to be spent on knowledge & Language skills).
0 - 2 skill points a level; 1 feat every 4 levels
1 - 4 skill points a level; 1 feat every 3 levels
2 - 6 skill points a level; 1 feat every 3 levels
4 - 8 skill points a level; 1 feat every 2 levels

HIT POINTS
(I also have a wound point system, but it's not fully developed yet.  The priority would factor in here;  I realize that, as it currently stands, it's a bit weaker than the others)
0 - d4
1 - d6
2 - d8
3 - d10

OFFENCE
0 - Poor Base Attack Bonus, Only Proficient in Simple Weapons
1 - Poor Base Attack Bonus, Proficient in Firearms
2 - Average Base Attack bonus, proficient in firearms and light armour
3 - Good Base Attack; Proficient in firearms, light armour, and one exotic weapon.

DEFENCE
0 - Only one "average" save; Poor Defence Bonus.
1 - two "average" saves; Poor Defence Bonus.
2 - one "good save, one "average" save; Medium Defence Bonus.
3 - one "good" save, two "average"; Good Defence Bonus

PSIONICS
0 - No psychic ability
1 - Wild Talent (one psychic power, used a certain number of times per day)
2 - Equivalent of a bard in ability (ie, limited selection of powers)
3 - Full "caster" ability.

A few general points -

1) PCs would NOT gain bonus feats & ability increases as they gained levels. Essentially, what they chose here would dictate their ENTIRE progression. HOWEVER, as they progressed, they would receive "Development Points" that function similarly to Karma Points in Shadowrun - points that can be spent to improve various areas of a character. Really, the idea here would be that the points can be used to improve ability scores, gain feats, skill points, etc... with the caveat that the more advanced a skill is, the harder it is to improve. The more feats you have, the harder it is to gain a new one. And so on.

2) Unlike other priority systems, wealth would not be determined by the system. Starting equipment would be determined solely through the charisma score (since it represents what you can get through trade and negotiation), as well as certain skill choices.

3) Each character would also receive 2 background traits, that replace the occupations of d20 modern. These traits are toned-down versions of those presented in Iron Heroes.