The It's Man
Explorer
From SKR:
Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system.
Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system.
What´s a 15th Lvl Commoner ?
- Thread starter Rashak Mani
- Start date
I worked out a system rather like Sean's for my homebrew. One thing that falls out of this is that there aren't any 15th level commoners, nor very many at even 10th level. But another thing that falls out is that the DMG system that has the vast majority at 1st level becomes nonsense. Typical commoners will range from about 3rd to 6th level, and 1st level commoners will be fairly uncommon. I worked out some alternative demographics (including other NPC classes with a similar set of rules-again, not SKR's rules but some very like them in spirit), and frankly, 1st level PC's are not exactly going to be even mildly important. Until mid-levels (i.e. 8th to 10th), the most important figures in society will be considerably more powerful.
I haven't decided yet if this is a good or bad thing.
I haven't decided yet if this is a good or bad thing.
Wolfen Priest
First Post
I didn't read this entire thread so it's possible this has been said before.
I think the perfect example(s) of a 15th level commoner would be the head miner, or a head sailor perhaps.
Think about it. Miners don't really need the skills of an expert, yet after years and years of such strenuous activity, they would grow heartier (read: more hps, better saves, etc.). A few scuffles now and again would improve his BAB.
Exact same thing with a sailor, a farmer (possibly), a longshoreman, carpenter, tavern owner, smith, steward, even a slaver in some cultures.
I think the perfect example(s) of a 15th level commoner would be the head miner, or a head sailor perhaps.
Think about it. Miners don't really need the skills of an expert, yet after years and years of such strenuous activity, they would grow heartier (read: more hps, better saves, etc.). A few scuffles now and again would improve his BAB.
Exact same thing with a sailor, a farmer (possibly), a longshoreman, carpenter, tavern owner, smith, steward, even a slaver in some cultures.
KDLadage
Explorer
Well, in the overall scheme of things, a 15th level *anything* is damn rare...
Granted, I sort-of prefer the system used in Star Wars for handling commoners and NPC classes... but this is beside the point. Given that D&D does not have Wounds/Vitality -- going this route would be a bad idea due to the nature of the Hit Point system.
But... in my humble opinion, a 1st level commoner is a bit too fragile. Way too fragile, as a matter of fact. So... in my campaigns, commoners (and other NPC classes) follow this sort of progression:
Levels 1 - 3: This would be adolescents and that stage where child-hood and adult-hood meet. This is where a person is still learning thier chosen craft.
Levels 4 - 6: This is the typical adult population. The bulk of society.
Levels 7 - 9: These are grizzled veterans. Few and far between, and special in every sense of the word.
Levels 10+: Very rare. But then, I have rules to mediate levels away from NPC classes and into PC classes so that a 12th level Commoner (or Expert) is not something I have to worry about...
You will be able to read the full extent of these rules in Volume V (or VI, depending on how long V gets...) of the UMBRAGIA setting.
Granted, I sort-of prefer the system used in Star Wars for handling commoners and NPC classes... but this is beside the point. Given that D&D does not have Wounds/Vitality -- going this route would be a bad idea due to the nature of the Hit Point system.
But... in my humble opinion, a 1st level commoner is a bit too fragile. Way too fragile, as a matter of fact. So... in my campaigns, commoners (and other NPC classes) follow this sort of progression:
Levels 1 - 3: This would be adolescents and that stage where child-hood and adult-hood meet. This is where a person is still learning thier chosen craft.
Levels 4 - 6: This is the typical adult population. The bulk of society.
Levels 7 - 9: These are grizzled veterans. Few and far between, and special in every sense of the word.
Levels 10+: Very rare. But then, I have rules to mediate levels away from NPC classes and into PC classes so that a 12th level Commoner (or Expert) is not something I have to worry about...
You will be able to read the full extent of these rules in Volume V (or VI, depending on how long V gets...) of the UMBRAGIA setting.
thundershot
Adventurer
Like a few others have mentioned, with the Epic Level Handbook on the horizon, we'll be seeing 45th level Commoners in no time. 
From the sound of it, any class can be made epic, so it should be really easy to make epic NPC classes... (Farmer Jim and his returning flame burst mighty cleaving vorpal hoe)
Heh.
Chris
From the sound of it, any class can be made epic, so it should be really easy to make epic NPC classes... (Farmer Jim and his returning flame burst mighty cleaving vorpal hoe)Heh.
Chris
kengar
First Post
ooo! ooo! I wanna play Jack the Farmer in my next campaign!
Seriously, though. d12's description is an excellent one. Remember, just because a character has X number of feats and skills, doesn't mean they would choose the same ones that an adventurer would.
SKR's article mentioned earlier is pretty good! I would look there for ideas too.
Last, but not least, if you liked +5 vorpal hoe, read Knights of the Dinner Table (FARM: The roleplaying game)
Seriously, though. d12's description is an excellent one. Remember, just because a character has X number of feats and skills, doesn't mean they would choose the same ones that an adventurer would.
SKR's article mentioned earlier is pretty good! I would look there for ideas too.
Last, but not least, if you liked +5 vorpal hoe, read Knights of the Dinner Table (FARM: The roleplaying game
)
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