Starting without equipment

[Dannyalcatraz]

The last time I did that was in a 3Ed game, in which the party was captured and then set free- naked- on a tropical island...to be hunted as prey.

Worked out great.

 

[drothgery]

Just note that such a scenario will totally screw anyone playing a rogue because they can't use sneak attack or any powers without having a crossbow or light blade.

Everyone else in the game can still use powers while nekkid or with improvised weapons, but not rogues.

There are some class features of certain classes that require you to have the right weapon or implement. For example, swordmage warding requires having a light blade or heavy blade. On the other hand, a dagger is a light blade and costs 1gp.

If I were doing something like this, I don't think I'd start PCs completely 'naked'; I'd start them with something like 10gp worth of gear (enough for a basic weapon or non-magical standard implement and clothes).

 

[Caragaran]

Rogues would be fine, as fists count as light weapons. This came up in a thread regarding monks and has been confirmed by WotC. So a rogue is good to go with clothes and a bit of wire for a lockpick. a decent bluff skill would be handy for gaining combat advantage.

 

[Shin Okada]

Light weapon? That is a 3.5e game term, not 4e.

A rogue needs a crossbow, a light blade, or a sling to make a sneak attack. If he is happen to be a Ruthless Ruffian, he can use a mace or a club, though.

 

[Caragaran]

Light weapon? That is a 3.5e game term, not 4e.

A rogue needs a crossbow, a light blade, or a sling to make a sneak attack. If he is happen to be a Ruthless Ruffian, he can use a mace or a club, though.

Yeah thanks for being padantic. Monks use weapon expertise light blade to improve thier punch attacks ergo, fists count as a light blade.

 

[Jhaelen]

4e isn't really set up for this. You can certainly do it, but some classes are heavily affected (fighters, rogue) and others take no penalty (wizard, monks).

Are you sure you are talking about 4e? All classes are affected in exactly the same way if they don't have their weapons or implements.

 

[Neonchameleon]

At 1st level, implements give you +0 - i.e. nothing. Weapons give you +2 or +3 to hit and the size of your damage dice. And Monks just laugh. Cloth armour is no different from naked, a +0 Ki Focus isn't possible to find (and doesn't give anything either), and that's about all they need for full combat effectiveness. (For that matter, Wizards are no different).

 

[DracoSuave]

(For that matter, Wizards are no different).

Except for the Implement Mastery class feature.

But yeah, Monks are pretty much aok so long as they're not starting with Superior Implement Proficiency.

(for the record, if memory serves me correctly, non-magical ki focuses are in the character builder, and superior ki focuses aren't actually a physical object, but it allows you to treat any ki focus as that specific superior focus, so long as you pay the one-time superior ki focus attunement cost)

 

[Lord Ernie]

The problem is pretty easy to solve given the right scenario, though. When using a prison/slave-based scenario, anything from a revolt to a single other prisoner breaking out to give them access to some simple weapons will do the trick. Give the rogue a knife/dagger of any kind, and the warrior a sword, and you're all set.

Alternatively, talk it over with your players, see what characters they want to play, and accomodate where necessary. Give the rogue the extra ability to use unarmed strike on his powers (note: unarmed attacks do not count as light blades, they are part of the 'unarmed' group), let the swordmage channel his powers through his arms, etc.

It's perfectly doable, you just need to be careful and try to accomodate your players - which is pretty much true for any scenario which does not follow the expected approach.

 

[Nytmare]

Yeah thanks for being padantic.

Actually it's pedantic.

Also, I can't find this rule anywhere?