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Zero to Level 1 Characters
- Thread starter Grishnak
- Start date
Psychotic Jim
First Post
Have you checked out the Appretince rules in the DMG? You might be able to mofify them to get 0th level characters.
AshremBayle@Home
First Post
In my latest Midnight game, all of the characters started out as pregenerated 1st level commoners. I have two player who got to choose their characters out of a pool of 4 pregens.
When they reached 500xp, they chose a class and became 1st level of whatever class they chose. With a few minor changes to the rules.
For example:
Character began as a 1st level commoner created as per the standard rules.
Upon gaining 500xp, he gained.
Starting skill points for the class x 3 instead of x 4. He had previously gotten the normal x 4 amount as a commoner, but this is Midnight, a very tough world, so I allowed them to have more skill points.
He also gained enough hit points to put him at whatever he should have as a 1st level member of his new class.
The end result was basicly a 1st level character with a few more skill points than usual.
When they reached 500xp, they chose a class and became 1st level of whatever class they chose. With a few minor changes to the rules.
For example:
Character began as a 1st level commoner created as per the standard rules.
Upon gaining 500xp, he gained.
Starting skill points for the class x 3 instead of x 4. He had previously gotten the normal x 4 amount as a commoner, but this is Midnight, a very tough world, so I allowed them to have more skill points.
He also gained enough hit points to put him at whatever he should have as a 1st level member of his new class.
The end result was basicly a 1st level character with a few more skill points than usual.
Aaron2
Explorer
For 0th level character, I have a chart that lists the number of skill points based on the starting age of the character. So, for example, a human age 21 will start with 15 skill points while a 32 year old starting character will have 18 skill points. These skills can be spend on a list of racial class skills (for humans its all Crafts and all Professions) or any other skill as cross classed. They all start with 1d8 hit points (rolled 'natch). They need 500 xp to gain the first level of any class.
Anyway, that's how I do it.
Aaron
Anyway, that's how I do it.
Aaron
Simplicity
Explorer
You can use the Apprentice rules almost directly. Instead of
having two apprentice classes, you just have 1. And your HD starts off at d4.
Doing so misses the real fun behind 0-level characters... total customization of your character. There were rules in the old Greyhawk Adventures book (2nd ed) for 0-level characters that worked well. Here's the basic concept:
Instead of XP, you earn AP (advancement points? apprentice points?). With AP, you can buy something to improve your character from their base of a 0-level commoner. Want a d6 HD instead of d4? That'll be some AP. Want d12 HD? That'll be a lot more. Want 2 skill points per level or 8? Want access to the wizard/cleric/bard/paladin/ranger spell list? Bonus feats? Class-specific abilities? You want that 18 strength? Everything has an AP value that you purchase.
The tricky part is ensuring everything has a proper cost, and
there's no obvious abuses of the system. It's not easy, but with 0-level characters, you're kind of off the beaten path anyways. Some mild imbalances are bound to occur.
Once you reach 1000 AP, you've hit level 1. Happy hunting.
having two apprentice classes, you just have 1. And your HD starts off at d4.
Doing so misses the real fun behind 0-level characters... total customization of your character. There were rules in the old Greyhawk Adventures book (2nd ed) for 0-level characters that worked well. Here's the basic concept:
Instead of XP, you earn AP (advancement points? apprentice points?). With AP, you can buy something to improve your character from their base of a 0-level commoner. Want a d6 HD instead of d4? That'll be some AP. Want d12 HD? That'll be a lot more. Want 2 skill points per level or 8? Want access to the wizard/cleric/bard/paladin/ranger spell list? Bonus feats? Class-specific abilities? You want that 18 strength? Everything has an AP value that you purchase.
The tricky part is ensuring everything has a proper cost, and
there's no obvious abuses of the system. It's not easy, but with 0-level characters, you're kind of off the beaten path anyways. Some mild imbalances are bound to occur.
Once you reach 1000 AP, you've hit level 1. Happy hunting.
Years ago. In 1e there was an FR adventure called Treasure Hunt. You all start as zero level slaves who become shipwrecked on an island.
Your actions on the island allow you to accumulate points in particular classes. Once you gained a certain number of points you became 1st level whatever.
Your actions on the island allow you to accumulate points in particular classes. Once you gained a certain number of points you became 1st level whatever.
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