Unified Progression - why level/2?

[Voss]

If you don't have good numbers in perception and initiative, you're easily ambushed and killed. Training and skill focus and a reasonable attribute modifier put a character at roughly +12. Without training or focus, that character would be at a +2.

Now imagine starting each combat rolling at +2 vs someone rolling at +12. Basically, you have a very high chance of be shot at multiple times while flat-footed. That potentially means you are starting every single combat with damage by the time you get to act for the first time. That isn't a good place to be.

On the flip side, you can easily build a small droid with a level of scoundrel and essentially wander around with a +24 bonus to stealth rolls... at first level. The odds of being spotted and attacked before you act are very, very small.

 

[Aldarc]

If you don't have good numbers in perception and initiative, you're easily ambushed and killed. Training and skill focus and a reasonable attribute modifier put a character at roughly +12. Without training or focus, that character would be at a +2.

Now imagine starting each combat rolling at +2 vs someone rolling at +12. Basically, you have a very high chance of be shot at multiple times while flat-footed. That potentially means you are starting every single combat with damage by the time you get to act for the first time. That isn't a good place to be.

On the flip side, you can easily build a small droid with a level of scoundrel and essentially wander around with a +24 bonus to stealth rolls... at first level. The odds of being spotted and attacked before you act are very, very small.

Jeez. Well let's hope that WotC and the playtesters are seeking to rectify this problem.

 

[Remathilis]

based on the perception feat, I think a.) the trained/focused bonuses will be smaller and b.) there will be more avenues to add to skill level beyond those two.

 

[nerfherder]

It'd probably look something like this:

BAB, AC, Fort, Ref, Will, (MAB*): ½ character level + relevant ability modifier + class bonus

*Not sure about this one, but it makes sense to have a special attack bonus for magic.

Class bonus will then be the only difference between a fighter and a wizard, and the gap will not become greater nor smaller over time. My guess is that the best class bonuses are +5 and the worst +0, with the others inbetween.

Interesting.

I wonder how multi-classing would be handled?

 

[Bluenose]

Interesting.

I wonder how multi-classing would be handled?

In SW: Saga you use whichever calss bonus is best, and ignore the other.

 

[nerfherder]

In SW: Saga you use whichever calss bonus is best, and ignore the other.

Yeah, but the best heroic class bonus only gives +2 to a defence. If Fighter gave you +5 to BAB, then I could see a lot of dipping into it...

 

[bgaesop]

The one mystery is how AC bonuses from armor will work. I suspect it'll work a lot like it does in SWSE, with characters taking the armor bonus or their level bonus, whichever is higher, with a talent allowing some to add 1/2 their armor bonus to their class bonus. I also wouldn't be surprised if certain classes (like rogues) gain misc. bonuses to AC when not wearing armor, and wizards gain a misc. armor bonus to AC from an always-on mage-armor-like effect.

My hope is they'll go all Iron Heroes on us and make a well-working damage reduction system for the armor.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

My hope is they'll go all Iron Heroes on us and make a well-working damage reduction system for the armor.

Mearls already said something about nixing DR though it wasn't specific it definitely hinted at 'no armor as DR'

 

[ShinRyuuBR]

Actually, he was quite specific about them exploring the possibility of armor as DR and utterly rejecting the idea for several problems he mentioned: its hard to balance combat with four factors (hit, defense, damage and DR) and it adds yet another step to resolve in combat, to sum it up.

About the problem of +12 vs. +2, we know that there will feats that grant a +2 feat bonus to skills and expand their uses, like Alertness that prevents you to granting combat advantage when surprised (apparently replacing uncanny dodge). I'm betting they learned the problem from SWSaga or playtesting and nerfed Skill Focus to this form.

 

[small pumpkin man]

Interesting.

I wonder how multi-classing would be handled?

Our current understanding, although it's never been described properly, is that to multi-class, instead of taking levels of a different class, you continue with your current class, but take "training" in another class, allowing you to get some of their abilities appropriate to your level.