Unearthed Arcana Variant Rules - Previews and Questions

[qstor]

I'd like to see the rules for the instant kill and the hex map, could be pretty interesting. I see some stuff that just isn't a rehash of Dragon articles.

Mike

 

[Omega Minus]

I'm betting it's paladins of other alignments. At least, I hope it is.

Yes, it is. The standard paladin is designated as paladin of honor (LG), the new variants are paladin of freedom (CG), paladin of slaughter (CE), and paladin of tyranny (LE).

 

[Felon]

Hmmm... that PrC paladin is a bit wierd. First up, I like to try to get the paladin away from the knight in shining armour stereotype, so I don't like the mounted combat feat req much.

Well, the paladin gets that special mount, so the inclusion of a mounted combat feat is pretty logical--and more to the point, the absence of that prereq probably doesn't do a lot to deviate it from the cavalier stereotype since he'll still have the pokemount.

The honor system was in Oriental Adventures, just not the one you're thinking of. The original OA, the one for 1E, had an honor points rule. That's what was being referenced.

Ah, OK.

Likewise, taint was referenced only on the 3E OA, but while it was only used for that setting (Rokugan), it's not so setting-specific that you can't just lift it and drop it into another campaign with virtually no work.

It's pretty much just a type of Con. damage without much of a system to it, but OK I guess you could use it that way. IIRC, the honor rules were in issue #304 or 305 of Dragon (it was an issue dedicated to knights & chivalry). I believe the articles about taint, temptation, & redemption were in #306, which is also the issue that presented those variant (aquatic, arctic, etc).

 

[Omega Minus]

3- I really like how that Players roll all the dice thing sound. Can you give us an idea how this works ?

Each time an enemy attacks a PC, the player rolls a defense check (1d20+character's AC modifiers) against the opponent's attack score (11+enemy's attack bonus). Any time a player casts a spell or uses a special attack that forces the enemy to make a saving throw, he rolls a magic check (1d20+ spell level + ability modifier + other modifiers) against the enemy's fortidude/reflex/will score (11 + enemy's save modifier).

4- What are Level independant XP awards ?

An alternative experience point progression with fixed experience awards for monsters irrespective of character or party level.

 

[Michael Tree]

How does the spontaneous divine casting work? Can it be used for any divine caster, or is it a class of its own? Does it basically give the caster a limited "spells known" list like a sorcerer, which they cast using the same spells/day as in the PH?

 

[Omega Minus]

How does the spontaneous divine casting work? Can it be used for any divine caster, or is it a class of its own? Does it basically give the caster a limited "spells known" list like a sorcerer, which they cast using the same spells/day as in the PH?

Spontanous divine casting is a variant system for the cleric and the druid. The character's daily spell allotment is the same as a normal cleric's number (not including the domain spells), plus one spell per day of each spell level he can cast. The caster's selection of spells is limited just like a sorcerer's, but a cleric may additionally add his domain spells to the list of spells known, while a druid may additionally add the appropriate summon nature's ally spells.

 

[Geoff Watson]

I'd like to see the rules for the instant kill and the hex map, could be pretty interesting. I see some stuff that just isn't a rehash of Dragon articles.

Mike

The Instant Kill variant is in the DMG. Just roll 3 20s in a row and you kill anything.

Geoff.

 

[Tarril Wolfeye]

I'm ill. I will answer later.

The Checklist is taken verbatim from UA.

 

[Particle_Man]

Spontanous divine casting is a variant system for the cleric and the druid. The character's daily spell allotment is the same as a normal cleric's number (not including the domain spells), plus one spell per day of each spell level he can cast. The caster's selection of spells is limited just like a sorcerer's, but a cleric may additionally add his domain spells to the list of spells known, while a druid may additionally add the appropriate summon nature's ally spells.

Huh? I thought the 3.5 druid could drop any spell for the appropriate level summon nature's ally spell anyhow? Or is that different in the spontaneous druid version?

 

[shilsen]

Huh? I thought the 3.5 druid could drop any spell for the appropriate level summon nature's ally spell anyhow? Or is that different in the spontaneous druid version?

Looks like that's what Omega Minus is saying. Makes sense, since the druid is casting all spells spontaneously anyway under this system.