[rant] Something I realized about the d20 system...

[TheGM]

When the rules get in the way of the game just push the rules aside.

Here here!

I think that people get too wrapped up in "that's the rules!" Crap. People change the rules in Monopoly, even Solitaire. Why do some people have this love affair with "everything is perfect in DnD rules"?

I use the rules, they do not use me.

 

[billd91]

Welcome to the difference between a reasonably balanced game and a story with a main character. Stories with main characters are more like D&D games in which the DM shows blatant favoritism to the PCs who are the main characters. Gina is able to do things in the Gold Digger comics because the author wants her to so he can develop the story the way he wants it to develop.
Characters in an RPG generally don't have that going for them to such a degree. In other words, the players have to use their PCs to work for the same things Gina gets directly from the author's desires.
That said, there are situations in which level-based RPGs might not simulate the kind of game you want. In these cases, I would recommend a different set of mechanics. However, if you're OK with abilities in combat, defense, and skills advancing all together, then d20 or other level-based games are for you.
As for simulating good skills with science and technology rather than magic, give her some tech item that gives her a high, flexible circumstance bonus. Whether it's a copy of the Hitchhiker's Guide or a sonic screwdriver doesn't really matter. It's a plot device to give you the results you want.

 

[Psion]

Has anyone else run into this problem? Did you ever want a character who was extremely powerful in one very narrow approach, and found that the d20 system wouldn't let you do that? How did you answer that?

It's pretty much the reason that I feel d20 is not well suited for supers as-is (and why M&M has to ditch strict level/power relations to work.)

That's okay though. There are other decent systems out there and d20, while a lot more flexible and powerful than its detractors would like to admit, is not an end-all be-all.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I'm not saying this is the case here - I haven't read the comics - but it's struck me over the years that people oftentimes vastly overestimate the abilities and powers of characters in books and movies. This is especially so if the character is particularly beloved by the person doing the estimation. For example, my own version of Conan (Howard's character, not the one from the movie) way, way back when I was a teenager was pretty over-the-top - maybe 50th level with a 1000 hit points or some such nonsense. Sometimes it takes a more objective eye to make a good conversion.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Sounds like you should just be using Mutants & Masterminds.

My suggestion as well.

 

[Aaron L]

DC Heroes! (or Blood of Heroes) The bestest superhero game ever.

 

[Dragonblade]

One thing I'd really like to see from someone who knows the game inside and out is a CR adjustment table for loot.

The science-fiction items are essentially magic items for all intents and purposes. What EL is a 2nd level character with loot appropriate for a level 30 character? I sure don't know, but it's somewhere between 2 and 30, right?

I'd also like it to see the opposite. What EL is a level 10 character who only has a bronze dagger or whatever?

Anyway, I'd buy such a product in a heartbeat.

I came up with the following for 3.0. I haven't looked at it in a couple years, so it may not quite work for 3.5, but this may be what you are looking for:

Normally, character level = CR if that character as all the appropriate magical gear for their level. The following is a CR chart for character levels 1 to 20 if the character in question has NO magical gear:

Level/CR

1/1
2/2
3/3
4/3
5/4
6/4
7/5
8/5
9/6
10/6
11/7
12/7
13/8
14/8
15/9
16/10
17/10
18/11
19/11
20/12

Furthermore, the CR boost gained by magic items corresponds to the previous table and the magical treasure by character level table in the 3.0 DMG so that they both average out to the standard CR progression when both the character level and the magic items possessed are "in sync" so to speak.

Here is a rough work up of CR boost per X amount of magical gear:

0-5400 GP = no change
5400-9000 GP = +1 CR
9000-19,000 GP = +2 CR
19,000-36,000 GP = +3 CR
36,000-66,000 GP = +4 CR
66,000-110,000 GP = +5 CR
110,000-260,000 GP = +6 CR
260,000-440,000 GP = +7 CR
440,000-760,000 GP = +8 CR

 

[Dragonblade]

Per my chart, a level 20 character without any magical gear is a CR 12 opponent. Likewise, a 3rd level Rogue who gets outfitted with 500K of magical equipment has a CR of (3+8) = 11.

 

[I'm A Banana]

<copy, save as>

Wow, thanks, Dragonblade. Even if that's not right on, it's more of an eyeball than I've seen so far!

In normal circumstances, I'd say ditch the rules, but this makes me think:

Why does she need an Int of 40?

What is special about that stat, at that number? Thunderfoot makes a REALLY good point: High technology doesn't mean an Int of 40, it just means different knowledge. She has knowledge (quantum gizamajig) +whatever, her friends have knowledge (cartoons) +whatever. They know jack about quantum gizamajigs (which are common in her PL), while she doesn't know much about caroons (an extinct art form long since forgotten in her era).

d20 does have some problems with great imbalances in power. You can't be invincible in one area and pathetic in another very easily. However, skills and abilities work around this imbalance. There is a significant difference between an NPC Commoner of 20th level and a 20th level Barbarian. There are only certain basic "skills" (BAB, HP, saves) that are universal in advancement, and even those don't nessecarily have to be (though without them, a character will be seen to be unbalanced, and rather correctly so, unless new monsters and challenges are designed to accomodate a more rock-paper-scissors system).

It's like saying Gandalf had to be a 20th level Wizard, when he could've been something like a 3rd level Druid and be a good emulation.

It's also why direct translations to d20 from fiction aren't easy.

 

[Land Outcast]

Maybe I'm too rules-loose, but... If you want her to have "x" and "x" isn't even in her stat block, she has it.