Pure ability, skill buy?

[Dreaddisease]

I happened to be playing a cheap game that I found (Warlords Battlecry) and found that it did something with its character advancements that I really enjoyed. You got to choose a general class, a specifici class (at a certain level) and then you could basically buy any ability, skill, 'feat', spells, mana, etc...

This got me thinking of a pure ability buy, where you earn XP and as you get a certain amount of XP then you basically buy the thing you want. Your total cost of abilities, saves, skills, feats, attack bonus, HP, spells, misc stuff would be equal to or less than your XP. Now I know I'm not the first to think of this, so I was wondering if there is a game out there like this?

And if there isn't one could 3E be used as a template to create it (practically making a 4E style)?

I was also considering showing how with the same XP advancement you could make the core classes using the buy system. Also spell power would hve to be fixed as a character could buy a 9th level spell early on and figuring out if he could cast it would be interesting.

Anyways I ramble...

 

[Zappo]

Spending points to get advancements? As far as I know, the vast majority of games work like that. Pick up any game besides D&D, and it'll more likely than not have a point based system.

Maybe you meant something that is just like D&D except that you buy abilities... that's pretty hard to do, because the choice of level-based versus point-based is an extremely low-level one. It influences everything in the game. Switching a game from level-based to point-based or vice versa generally results in a mess.

 

[Dreaddisease]

I would rather have unlimited possibilities, or a official class creation (including prestige class) with a point buy system to create them just so there is truly unlimited possibilities, but that is just me.

 

[The_Gneech]

I would rather have unlimited possibilities, or a official class creation (including prestige class) with a point buy system to create them just so there is truly unlimited possibilities, but that is just me.

Try Fantasy Hero, my favorite. See also GURPS.

-The Gneech

 

[Praeco]

I would rather have unlimited possibilities, or a official class creation (including prestige class) with a point buy system to create them just so there is truly unlimited possibilities, but that is just me.

As Zappo said, many many games already work that way. GURPS is a good example... you just take what you want based on the number of points you have.

I think the Hero system works similarly (though my only exposure to it is through Champions).

There are no classes at all in a lot games, the character is defined by the chosen skills and abilities, which can be pretty much be anything. Actually it seems that this method of character creation supplanted class-based systems for a while, at least until D20 came along and a lot of systems started putting out rulesets based on the D20 mechanic.

I think trying to plug the class-free mechanic approach into D&D is the wrong approach... it would be far easier to pick up a game that already works this way and tailor the setting and atmosphere to the D&D style.

 

[Zappo]

As far as I know, D&D is the only successful level-based game. It's weird that at the same time it is the most successful game by far. I think that the level-based system is one of the most important parts of the D&D style and flavor. Removing it immediately and automatically means that the game can't be called D&D any more IMO.

Which may be just what you want, but then I'd suggest picking up a game that has already done and tested it. You aren't going to have the same flavor as D&D with a point-based system anyway.

 

[Praeco]

Isn't RIFTS level based?

I would at least call it moderately successful. I don't actually know anyone who plays it, but it's got a ton of supplemental material.
Of course it is still dwarfed by D&D, but then what isn't?

 

[cerberus2112]

Re: Isn't RIFTS level based?

Rifts, and all of Palladium's other games for that matter, is one of the earliest beneficiaries of open game content.


Well, actually, legally it is sufficiently different that it just doesn't infringe upon any copy written or trademarked material. But only just sufficiently different. Physical strength instead of Strength, you get the picture.
If you are looking for some interesting ideas for magic, its worth checking out the Palladium Role-Playing game and porting some of the the ideas (particularly circles and wards) over to D20.

 

[yennico]

Isn't RIFTS level based?

Yes, Rifts is level based.

I would at least call it moderately successful. I don't actually know anyone who plays it, but it's got a ton of supplemental material.

the right word tons of supplemental material (Owning nearly all palladium and rifts books. )

Of course it is still dwarfed by D&D, but then what isn't?

Compared to D&D or AD&D nearly every RPG System is only moderately successful

Just my 2 cents
yennico

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Bloodsuckers: The Pretense works like that, too (and all the other Games that play in the World of Darkness, which are all compatible). At character creation, you pay on a one-on-one basis (IIRC), and if you level-up later, you pay a multiple of your current score.