If I had a chance to run a DnD Game.

Running a DnD Game.

Low Magic World. Dark Ages, Falling Civilization and fighting back impossible odds.

• Core Rules Mostly

  • Outside Core Elements up to 2006 3.5ED upon approval. Ideally none.

• Armor Gives DR / -- equal to Armor Bonus.

  • Yes. It takes 2-handed weapons and Power Attack to penetrate armor consistently.

  • As for Natural Armor, DR is equal to Half Rounded down.

  • Taking the AC from T20, Str mod for Parry AC bonus

  • Shields give an AC

• Characters cannot have any spellcasting/psionic class (or combination of classes) greater than half their total HD.

  • Representing the loss of Institutions of Magical Learning and to reinforce how hard Magic is supposed to be.

• Slow Advancement. 1/2 XP

• All Non-Humanoid Creatures are CR x1.1 to 1.2, those with Su/Sp/Ex abilities are CR x1.33.

• Sense of Scale

  • Lvl 1-3 Green to Regular

  • Lvl 4-6 Seasoned

  • Lvl 7-9 Veterans to Elite

  • Lvl 10+ Leaders, Movers and Shakers.

• Extra Effort Rules

• Magic Items. X2 GP

• All monetary values are in Silver (convert all gp values to 10 sp)

  • 1gp = 20 sp = 80 cp

  • 1 lb of silver = 240 sp

  • 1sp = 4 cp

• Character Creation

  • 32 points (expect NPCs to follow 25 point elite build).

  • HP = 1/2 Hit Die plus 1

  • Magic Items are x2 cost except for items the character can make, Maximum Creator CL is 9. (no rings or staves)

  • Starting Silver is 27,000sp (11lbs of silver or 1,350gp)

* surprisingly ring of sustenance have a CL 12 req. despite saying it has a CL5 since it requires forge ring which needs CL12.

and even More tinkering

Ogre Cleric of Magic and Chaos CR 6

[Core Rules Only]

Appearance: They appear like ornate giant statues of coarsely beaten black steel, heavy crusted with dried blood. Calligraphy in Giant cover the armor, cursing those who would oppose at the same time proclaim its wearer's glorious deeds of malevolence. In one arm, it carries a towering Black Pike 15ft long tipped with wicked barbs and flying its black banner. When its gaze falls upon you, it draws a the flayed skin of a humanoid with painted symbols and vanishes.

Male Ogre Cleric 5

Chaotic Evil Large Giant

Init +3 (-1 Dex, +4 feat); Senses [Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision] Listen +10, Spot +10

Languages Common and Giant.

AC 23, touch 8, flat-footed 23 (+8 armor, -1 Dex, -1 size, +5 nat)

hp 71 (9 HD (+4 Race, +5 Class))

Fort +11, Ref +1, Will +8 (Race F+4, R+1, W+1; Class F+4, R+1, W+4; Con +3, Dex -1, Wis +3)

Spd 30 ft. in Halfplate (6 squares); base speed 40 ft.

Melee (MW) Large Longspear +11/+6 (2d6+7) (+6 BAB, +4 Str, -1 size, +1 weapon quality, +1 feat)

(MW) Large Armor Spikes +10/+5 (1d8+4) (+6 BAB, +4 Str, -1 size, +1 weapon quality)

Ranged Composite Mighty Longbow (Str +4) +4/-1 (2d6+4) (+6 BAB, -1 Dex, -1 size, +1 weapon quality)

[Space 10x10 ft; Reach 10 ft] (20ft with Longspear, but cannot attack creatures in 10ft -instead use Armor Spikes)

Base Atk +6 (+3 Race, +3 Class); Grp +14

Atk Options

• Reckless Offense (MW) Large Longspear +13/+8 (2d6+6) (+6 BAB, +4 Str, -1 size, +1 weapon quality, +1 feat)

• Power attack

Combat Gear Large Fullplate 3,000gp with Masterwork Spikes 400gp, Large Masterwork Longspear 310g, Large Mighty (Str+4) C.Longbow 600gp.

Special Abilities:

• Magic Domain

  • Use spell trigger device as a wizard equal to half cleric level. Wizard caster level check +2

• Chaos Domain

  • +1 chaster level for chaos spells.

Spells (CL 5 cleric; CL 2 wizard, +9 melee touch, +4 ranged touch)

• 1st Level- Bless, Bane, Command (Will DC 14) x2, and Obscuring Mist

• 2nd Level- Bull's Strength x2, Hold Person (Will DC 15) and Desecrate.

• 3rd Level- Prayer, Animate Dead, and Dispel Magic (+5 dispel check)

Abilities Str 18, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 9

Feats Reckless Offense 1st hd level, Power Attack 3rd hd, Improved Initiative 6th hd, Weapon Focus (Long Spear) 9th hd.

Skills Listen +10, Spot +10, Concentration +8, Spellcraft +8, Knowledge (arcana) +3.

Possessions Onyx x2 500gp (250@), Scroll of Haste x2 750gp (375gp@; Caster Level DC 6); Scroll of Invisibility (3 minutes; caster level DC 4) x3 450gp (150@), Wand of Cure Critical Wounds (4 charges; 4d8+7) 1,800gp. (7,810gp)

Tactics

• Cast Invisible, then cast Bless, Haste, and Prayer.

• On the Ogre's action, declare Power attack – 6 even if not attacking.

• When making an Attack of Opportunity, you can declare Reckless Offense since it is an attack action.

• Against opponents with poorer reach, use ready action against charge.

• Retreat with invisibility (then cast desecrate and raise up to 20hd undead)

Ready action for a Charge (20ft reach! Huge threat area). (Best while invisible) (Bless, haste, Prayer @ give a +1 to hit).

• Reckless Offense (MW) Large Longspear +7 (4d6+36 /x3; ave 50dmg*) (+6 BAB, +4 Str, -1 size, +1 weapon quality, +1 feat, -6 Power attack). IF invisible gain a +2 to attack and opponent is flatfooted

• AoO (Leaving Threatened Square): Reckless Offense (MW) Large Longspear +7 (2d6+18) (+6 BAB, +4 Str, -1 size, +1 weapon quality, +1 feat, -6 Power attack).

* save fort vs DC14 for Death from Massive Damage.

Notes: Anti Charge Characters.

More Tinkering

Spear Martial Artist CR 5

(DND3.5 Core Rules Only)

Appearance: (Default) A handsome/beautiful strong lithe warrior of indistinguishable racial features in dazzling patterns of embroidered silks. She/He wields a black staff with a blackened spear end, which she/he handles with unusual speed and lightness.

Design this is supposed to look like a Rogue but has HP of fighter.

Defense. Its defense is to be able to bring down an opponent before they finish her off, AoO allows this character to get in at least 2 devastating attacks before being brought down.

(Any) Half Elf Fighter 4, Barbarian 1

(Any Non Lawful) Medium Humanoid

Init +3 (+3 Dex); Senses [Lowlight Vision] Listen +6, Spot +2

Languages Common and Elven

AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +3 Dex) [Tumble] (Rage AC16, )

hp 44 (5 HD (+4HD Ftr, +1HD Bar)) (Rage 54hp)

[Immune Immunity to sleep spells and similar magical effects]

Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +1 (Bar F+2, R+0, W+0; Ftr F+4, R+1, W+1; Con +0, Dex +3, Wis +1) [+2 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells or effects; Rage gives +2 morale bonus to will saves]

Spd 40 ft. (8 spaces, barbarian fast movement); 70ft (14 spaces with Haste)

Melee +1 Darkwood Longspear +9 (1d8+5/ x2) (+5 BAB, +2 Str, +1 weapon quality, +1 weapon focus)

Ranged Darkwood Javelins +9 (1d6+2/ x2) (+5 BAB, +3 Dex, +1 weapon quality)

[Space 5x5 ft; Reach 5 ft] (10ft reach with Longspear)

Base Atk +5 (+4 Ftr, +1 Bar); Grp +7 (Rage +9)

[Atk Options options; Power Attack, Stand Still]

[Special Actions special actions; special action feats]

Rage +4 Str and Con, +2 morale bonus to Will saves for 3 + (new) Con modifier (5 rounds).

• Melee +1 Darkwood Longspear +11 (1d8+8/x2) (+5 BAB, +4 Str, +1 weapon quality, +1 weapon focus)

Combat Gear gear

Abilities Str 14, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 13

[SQ Elven Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-elf is considered an elf. ]

Feats Combat Reflex 1st lvl, Reckless Offense Ftr 1, Power Attack Ftr 2, Weapon Focus (Longspear) 3rd lvl, Weapon Specialization (Longspear) Ftr 4.

Skills Jump +10, Spellcraft 3, Listen +6,

Possessions Entertainers Outfit free, Mithril Mail Shirt 2,100gp, Darkwood Longspear 95gp, Potion of Bull Strength x1 (3 mins) 300gp, Potion of Haste 750gp, Potion of Cure Serious (3d8+5hp) 750gp, Dark wood Javelins x4 84gp. (4,079gp/4300gp).

Skills (class): Jump 4 ranks (+2 Str, +4 fast movement), Spellcraft 4 ranks (-1 int), Listen 4 ranks (+1 wis) = 16 (16 skill points)

Tactics

Drink Potions before engaging opponents.

(W/o Enlarge) Rage, Reckless Offensive and Charge. AC 10, touch 5, flat-footed 7 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, -2 Rage, -4 Reckless Offense, -2 Charge). 10ft reach.

• +1 Darkwood Longspear +13 (1d8+18 /x2) (+5 BAB, +4 Str, +1 weapon quality, +2 Reckless Offense, +2 Charge, -5 Power attack).

• AoO +1 Darkwood Longspear +11 (1d8+18 /x2) (+5 BAB, +4 Str, +1 weapon quality, +2 Reckless Offense, -5 Power attack, +1 Weapon Focus).

(W/ Bull Strength) Rage, Reckless Offensive and Charge. AC 8, touch 3, flat-footed 5 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, -2 Rage, -4 Reckless Offense, -2 Charge). 10ft reach

• +1 Darkwood Longspear +13 (1d8+21 /x2) (+5 BAB, +4 Str, +1 weapon quality, +2 Reckless Offense, +2 Charge, -5 Power attack).

• AoO +1 Darkwood Longspear +11 (1d8+21 /x2) (+5 BAB, +4 Str, +1 weapon quality, +2 Reckless Offense, -5 Power attack, +1 Weapon Focus).

(W/ Bull Strength and Haste) Rage, Reckless Offensive and Charge. AC 11, touch 6, flat-footed 11 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, -2 Rage, -4 Reckless Offense, -2 Charge, +1 haste dodge). 10ft reach

• +1 Darkwood Longspear +13 (1d8+22 /x2) (+5 BAB, +6 Str, +1 weapon quality, +2 Reckless Offense, +2 Charge, -5 Power attack).

• AoO +1 Darkwood Longspear +11 (2d8+22 /x2) (+5 BAB, +6 Str, +1 weapon quality, +2 Reckless Offense, -5 Power attack, +1 Weapon Focus, +1 Haste).

• Jump +24 (can clear 6ft easy)

(W/ Rage, Bull Strength and Haste) Receiving a Charge

• Ready for a Charge +1 Darkwood Longspear +10 (2d8+44/x2) (+5 BAB, +6 Str, +1 weapon quality, +1 weapon focus, +1 Haste)

Design Choices

1. Why Half Elf? Save bonus vs Feat and Skill bonus of a human. +6 will (+1 base, +1 wis, +2 vs ench, +2 morale) vs charm person. It also seems

2. Appearance, once described tactics follow that this character is a flanker or a monk. The trick is to make the character seem like a rogue so that PCs will use such tactics accordingly.

3. Why Longspear? To receive charging Opponents and Too look less threatening. Use Ready Action to deal Double Damage and Reckless offense to raise your chances of making that shot count.

4. Why Low AC. With this character's movement, if there was a huge Obstacle to be cleared (like a man high wall 6ft) or hazardous terrain, the character can easy jump over it.

NPC Support CR4

Appearance: Men and Women, with worn and tired feature in dark verdant loose fitting clothes. What catches your attention are the black wooden tower shields slung over their arm, w/c they carry effortlessly. Still, they move as if they are burdened with armor.

(Any) Human Adept 4, Warrior 1

(Any) Medium Humanoid

Init +4 (+4 feat); Senses [none] Listen +2, Spot +2

Languages Common

AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 20 (+6 armor, +4 shield)

hp 30 (5 HD)

Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +6

Spd 20 ft.

Melee Darkwood Shortpear +4 (1d6/ x2) (+3 BAB, +1 weapon quality)

[Space 5x5 ft; Reach 5 ft]

Base Atk +3; Grp +3

Abilities Str 11, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 9

Special Abilities. Summon Familiar (Toad)

Feats Improved Toughness 1st lvl, Toughness human, Tower Shield 3rd lvl.

Skills Concentration +9, Profession (Mercenary) +8.

Possessions Splint Mail 200gp, Darkwood Tower Shield 480gp (23lbs), Wand of Cure Critical Wounds (heals 4d8+7; 2 charges) 900gp, Darkwood Short Spear 31gp.

Spells

• 1st Level- Bless, Burning Hands 4d4 fire (Ref DC13, 15ft cone) x2

• 2nd Level- Bull's Strength

Tactics.

• Stay back and support. Use Tower shield as full cover.

Another tid bit

Evil Cleric CR 5
Male Human Evil Cleric
Neutral Evil Medium Humanoid
Init -1 (-1 Dex); Senses Listen +3, Spot +3
Languages Common
AC 16, touch 9, flat-footed 16 (+7 armor, -1 Dex)
hp 29 (5 HD (5HD Class))
Fort +5, Ref +0, Will +7 (Class F+4, R+1, W+4; Con +1, Dex -1, Wis +3)
Spd 20 ft.
Melee (MW) Longspear +6 (1d8+3/x2) (+3 BAB, +2 Str, +1 weapon quality)
[Space 5x5 ft; Reach 10 ft (from reach weapon)]
Base Atk +3 (+3 Class); Grp +5
[Atk Options options; atk options feats]
[Special Actions special actions; special action feats]
Combat Gear gear
Abilities Str 14, Dex 8, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 13
Feats Reckless Attack 1st level, Feat 1st level (human bonus feat), Power Attack 3rd level.
Skills Concentration +9, Knowledge (Religion) +5, Knowledge (history) +5, Diplomacy +5
Possessions money derived from DMG tables for NPC wealth-item cost gp, item cost gp, item cost gp, item cost gp, item cost gp, XX gp remaining wealth in coins
Spells
1st Level- Bless, Bane (Will DC14), Entropic Shield, Sanctuary (Will DC14) plus Domain Spell
2nd Level- Hold Person (Will DC15), Cure Moderate Wounds plus Domain Spell
3rd level- Prayer, Cure Serious plus Domain Spell

Tactics.

Stand Still Causes Opponents that try to manuver to engage the cleric
Pre combat Round- Entropic Shield and Sanctuary (or invisibility with Trickery Domain)
1st Round- Bless and Move with Allies
2nd Round- Prayer and Move Defensively
3rd Round- Bane or Hold Person Threats

Some Encounter Ideas for our Game.

This is basically some encounter suggestions for the game. These guys would make it much harder

Eastern Soldier CR 2
M Human Warrior 3
AL (Any) Medium Humanoid
Init +0; Senses Listen +0, Spot +0
Languages Common
AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16 (+6 armor)
hp 16 (3 HD)
Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +1 (Class F+3, R+1, W+1; Con +1)
Spd 20 ft.
Melee Glaive +6 (1d8+1/x3) (+3 BAB, +1 Str, +1 Weapon Quality, +1 Weapon Focus Feat) (reach weapon)
[Space 5x5 ft; Reach 5 ft (10ft with reach weapon)]
Base Atk +3 ( +3 Class); Grp +4
[Atk Options Reckless Offense]
Combat Gear Splint Mail (Lamellar Armor) , MW Glaive,
Abilities Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 8
Feats Power Attack 1st level, Reckless Offense 1 level (Human Bonus Feat), Weapon Focus (Glaive) level 3.
Skills Profession Soldier +6, Intimidate +5.
Possessions Splint Mail (Lamellar Armor) , MW Glaive, and about other stuff worth a total less than 2,500gp.
Skills (class): Profession (Soldier) 6 ranks, Intimidate 6 ranks (-1 ability score).
General Tactics:
- Get as Many Support Buffs as possible (ex. Bless, Haste, Marshal's Aura, etc.)
- Swarm and flank lone targets with reach.

Reckless Offense + Charge + Power Attack:
Atk +7 Glaive (1d10+7/x3; Ave 12-13dmg).
AC 10, touch 4, flat-footed 10 (+6 armor, -6 penalty)
NB. Reckless Offense is for all attacks until the next turn. Which includes AoO.

Typically this is with a Mid level (5th lvl) Tough Cleric protected with probably Extended Sanctuary (DC13)
with the following buffs on the group: Bless, and Prayer, a Very Tough Bard, with inspire courage w/ song from the heart, Lingering Song, Inspirational Boost (+3 morale to attack and damage), and a Wand of Haste of 5 charges (1,125gp) DC20 to use the wand anyway, or a really really tough wizard.

Yesterday's game

Currently Calculating. the amount of xp i can convert to craft points. Too bad the materials are discarded when I salvage an item for craft points. we just got our hands on a +4 market price magic rapier. Planning to convert it into more usefull weapon for our Walking fireball: Rage'n (Half Orc Barbarian).

Balance. Well, our GM has had a taste of manticore power playing. When i mean power playing, i mean their regular style of playing, which is very powerful. Don't get my motives wrong, I don't pity my, I empathize with him. Right now I don't like the amount of prep I need for my character to play him without making bad assumptions. What more if you are introduced with mega cheese helping.

I've been personally gravitating to the Basic Set + Eberron Setting Books. The "compete" series and the other books are pretty heavy and I only go where the DM has. I admit that the challenges are not severe but I don't need a severe challenge after a hard days work (or a week since this is my only game). I just want a fair challenge which stops me from doing stupid things and rewards me for improvised out of the box thinking, using basic core rules.

I admit that the playing style me and Henry are exhibiting with our DM falls in the Not-Intense Playing experience but its fun. I get to visit my gastroentarologist(sp?) , my best friend, and have the classic lesser faculty demands unlike those at work.

My own Game Urges. Right now less than 13C tech. I carry the karameikos setting with me in hopes of converting it into a demographically believable (at least for me). Arming swords, Temperamental Destriers , Mail, Scale and Mighty Composite Bows. Karmeikos is like a medieval Russia, moscow I think?. It has some byzantine influence, knights and kazaks. Hmmm... stuff I daydream in the long commutes.

Monday Already

interesting DnD tools. I considered doing some for my own use, especially for historical items and features.

Dan Howard's Armors. Started working on a Dan Howard Armor Tables for a non-existent game. Rereading and studying it helps me visualize the items and all the information that shaped its development. I'm planning to use his research as a reference when I work on my own game system. Planning to make a Simulative RPG game system which I will use for the CRPG. As I've been playing with the RPG tech out there and reading up on the reviews of various combat styles, I feel that having exposure to all these systems, real combat (well Martial arts, airsoft, and Larp), CCGs, arcade games, and classic RPGs will help me develop a very entertaining CRPG game system.

Mistakes mistakes...

been reading up on the details of my character. Since we in a hurry and we really are not seriously gaming we just breezed through many of the character details. Its no surprise that we have a couple of mistakes on what we can or can't do. Who can blame us, we just want to fix the paper work then and there on the game. I don't want it to bother the rest of my life.

To start, bonuses from synergy, equipment, class and race have to be detailed a bit more. I've found many mistakes on my part. Then there are some details we need getting used to. Almost forgot warforges can't be targeted by enlarge person, found this huge mess of powers with alterself (like being granted the racial skill and feats of the form taken; and what constitutes as a racial feat- elven weapon profs, feats from high hd creatures). Then there is the party inventory, stuff my artificer can retain essence on and how much we've spent and where it goes. Accounting all that is actually work... :(


it makes me want to play gurps :( as the system of choice.

Medieval Settings

Maximum options. Certain eras give a range of options. if you want all the medieval options available then you have to go to the very next era: the renaissance. All the armors and all the great weapons are available unfortunately they are all obsolete.

Then there are eras where certain weapons and armors reign supreme. Armors and Weapons have an interconnected relationship. Advances in Armors seem to influence weapons more than the other way around. Mail seems to be one of the best armors but the hardest and the most wasteful of skilled labor resources (because it is incredibly repetitive). Other armors are almost as just effective if not better is some areas. Scale is effective, more effective in some areas and is easier to make but has comfort and weight issues. Lamellar has many great strengths, but is pretty complicated to make and maintain. blah blah blah


Anyway, doing some little research a part of my compulsion.

Wanting to Game

GURPS medieval 12th Century. This was the rise of maces and when heavier and heavier swords were being needed to penetrate the advancing quality armor. Mail was still king of armors but the variety and quality are not well represented in the basic set.

3 basic mail sizes for the torso.
Shirt. up to the waist (where your belt would be)
Brynie. up to your crotch protecting it sufficiently except for strikes from leg level comming up.
Hauberk. falling up the the knees, as a skirt, thigh flaps or short leggings.

One of the things I want to apply is the frequency of encountering villages in travel and economics, the lack of comfort and the professional survival and outdoors-man skills of the warrior class. As magic is not part of the equation, strategy is in the planning, time and resource management.

In one of the many RPG quotes. In Real Life Bards rule.

Tactical mounted Combat. Still one of my challenges is how to run Tactical Mounted Combat.

Just a place to ramble about nothing important

Eberron Last Night.
Xp from the last 2 sessions: 2,560xp
Magical Items Salvaged:(saved for Craft Points)

1. Warforged claw (184xp?)
2. Studded Leather +1 (40xp)
3. Buckler +2 (160xp)