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Message: <blockquote data-quote="timbannock" data-source="post: 4462886" data-attributes="member: 17913">I actually do a fair amount of this with Action Points.  Basically, I give the PCs 1-2 APs at the start of the session, and will reward up to 1 more for good roleplaying during the session (like, REALLY good roleplaying).  They have 3 possible uses (you pick one at the time you spend the AP):1. Immediate action; heal you for 1/2 of your normal max hp2. Free action; give you an extra action that round (swift, move, standard)3. Auto-succeed one roll you make (attack, crit confirmation roll, save, skill check, ability check)I also use 4e design principles for crafting my monsters.  Short-version is that I give them a little more HP on average (unless I"m using minions, then they act like 4e minions), and trim down their abilities and attacks into a suite of 2-6 "powers".  An example of a goblin cleric of Orcus taken from the Necromancer Games module, Lost City of Barakus (plz don't sue me; this is a modified character!):Grezzo, male goblin cleric of Orcus 4; CR 4Small humanoid (goblinoid)===Aura: Protection from Good; hedges out good outsider or summoned creaturesHP 56AC 21, Touch 15, Flat-footed 18; +2 vs. good attacksFort +8, Ref +3, Will +7Speed 5===<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/bm.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":bmelee:" title="Basic Melee    :bmelee:" data-shortname=":bmelee:" /> Smiting Mace (standard, at-will)+9 melee; d6+5 damage<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/r.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":ranged:" title="Ranged    :ranged:" data-shortname=":ranged:" /> Light Crossbow (standard, at-will)+6 ranged, d8/19-20 damage<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Inflict Moderate Wounds (standard, at-will)+6 melee touch; 2d8+4 damage; Fort DC 14 for half<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/r.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":ranged:" title="Ranged    :ranged:" data-shortname=":ranged:" /> Hold Person (standard; recharge 5, 6)Range 12; target makes Will DC 16 or becomes paralyzed (save ends)<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/c.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":close:" title="Close    :close:" data-shortname=":close:" /> Cause Fear (standard, encounter)Close blast 3 x 3 squares; All targets are shaken for 1 round; targets must make a Will DC 17 or become frightened for 1d4 rounds.Squirrely Lil' Bastard (immediate; when missed by a melee attack)The goblin can take a free 5-foot step.===AL LE, Languages: Common, GoblinSkills: Concentration +8Str 14, Dex 14, Con 16, INt 10, Wis 15, Cha 10Equip: +1 light mace, light crossbow w/ 15 bolts, breastplate, light wooden shield, potion of cure mod wounds (2d8+4)For full-round attacks, I just do something like this:<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/bm.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":bmelee:" title="Basic Melee    :bmelee:" data-shortname=":bmelee:" /> Dogslicer (standard; at will)+9 melee; 1d6+1/19-20 damage.<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/m.gif"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":melee:" title="Melee    :melee:" data-shortname=":melee:" /> Shield Wall (full-round; at will)Makes 1 Dogslicer attack, followed by a Shield Bash.·    Secondary Attack: Shield Bash +4 melee; d6+2 and target is pushed 1 square and must make a Reflex save (DC 14) or be knocked prone.I use 4E language whenever possible because it's easier for me to read and comprehend quickly in the midst of combat.  But I still use mostly 3E ranges, DCs, durations, areas of effect, etc.You'll notice I took out all feats (any that affected his game stats were simply factored in), tossed out his spell list (any spells I assumed would be pre-cast were factored in), and I cranked up his attack bonuses just a tad (usually I add +1/2 level or so).My enemies definitely are tougher than the CR would suggest, but I sorta eyeball it so that it's more like a CR appropriate creature is a tough encounter, rather than a standard encounter.  And I don't send them up against anything more than 2 or 3 CRs above their level, tops (kinda like 4e, oddly enough).  To counter this, I often reduce enemies' versatility, slow them down a little (for creatures that have like a 150' fly speed, like dragons), or make some of their nastier attacks dependent on their last nasty ones hitting...i.e., make it a secondary attack that requires a weaker "basic" attack (like a simple claw or bite attack) to hit before it can even be attempted.Not sure if that makes a lot of sense, but I've been running like this for about 3 or 4 sessions and it's been awesome.  Combats have been more dynamic, more edge-of-your-seat, and easier for me to keep track of.  It takes me like 15 minutes to build a badguy or two, as opposed to 30+ min before.All of this could completely break at high levels though, so know that I've only been doing this during levels 3 and 4 so far.</blockquote>

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