Faulty
2009-08-09, 10:35 AM
Quite a few people have made alternate classes, or fiddled with the magic system of 3.5 and others have revamped large portions of the way 3.5 works (like Fax's epic d20 Rebirth). I figure I'd get in on the fun with some ideas I've been toying around with, and I figured I'd run some basic design ideas past you guys, and also ask you what YOU would want in a 3.75.
Anyway, some basic concepts:
Classes:
I want to focus on customizability. Giving every class basic abilities (Sneak Attack and Trapfinding for Rogues; Bonus Feats for Fighters; Smite and Lay on Hands for Paladins; etc) and then filling in the blanks by giving players options out of lists of abilities to customize their characters, being essentially pick-and-choose class abilities. There would be things like plain numerical bonuses (+s to skills, extra Sneak Attack damage on crits, etc.), abilities that add new aspects to characters (Rangers gaining climb speeds and the ability to brachiate, Rogues gaining Hide in Plain Sight), static effects (making Fighters immune to Hold and Charm spells, giving Paladins energy resistance) and entirely new active abilities (ToB maneuver-esque abilities for fighting classes, choices of music for Bards, auras for Paladins, instant metamagic for Wizards*, etc.).
*I plan on removing metamagic feats, and making them an x/day Wizard ability.
Other ideas include:
Wanting to make Psionics seed based. As opposed to the study, divine inspiration or natural aptitude of arcane and divine casters, psionics comes from within, a manipulation of personal forces, and I want crunch to emphasize that.
Allowing Fighters to "unlock" feats. They can choose a certain Fighter feat they have, and "unlock" it, gaining abilities or bonuses that only Fighters have access to.
Letting Paladins use daily uses of smite to power different abilities.
Giving Barbarians abilities that they can trigger when they rage.
Giving Monks "fighting styles"; basically, particular attack styles, one of which would be Flurry of Blows, and the other alternatives. Give Monks Fighter BAB.
Wizards can no longer specialize; there will be 8 prestige classes for each specialization instead.
And so on.
I want to bring in proficiencies. Instead of gaining access to, say, all Simple and Martial weapons, X class could choose Y number of weapons to be proficient in.
I also want to remove class skills, allowing any class to choose a certain number skills to be class skills, any skills they want, with one exception: only Rogues get Use Magic/Psionic Device. Certain skills would always be class skills though, ex: Wizards would get Concentration, Knowledge (Arcana), Spellcraft and 4 other class skills.
I also want every class to have a choice from a few level 20 capstones, rewarding people who stick with a class for 20 levels.
Remove multiclass XP penalties.
Feats and Skills:
Make more feats scale. For example, I'd remove Improved and Greater TWF, and condense it into the TWF feat, as well as allow people with the TWF feat to attack once with both weapons as a standard action. Condense some skills (ex: Move Silently + Hide = Stealth). Have characters fer feats at every odd level instead of every 3 levels.
Combat:
Introduce "rushed" attacks. Basically allowing characters with BABs of 6+ to make full attacks as standard actions, but with a penalty to attack rolls. Add class abilities and feats to mitigate this a bit.
I also want to make damage dealt affect people. I think it's weird that a Fighter can lay a beat down on a dragon, dealing tons of damage, and then still get a tail slap in the face because the dragon had 1 hp left and could thus move as easily as if it had full health. Dunno how I'd do this.
Magic, Spells, and other such things:
Remove metamagic feats.
Increase the casting time of certain spells. One idea was:
0: Swift.
1-3: Standard
4-6: Full Round
7-9: Two Fulls Rounds, Full Round + Standard, or Full Round + the spell doesn't manifest until the beginning of casters next turn
With certain spells having longer or shorter casting times of course (ex: dimension door).
I was also thinking of removing SR for a lot of evocation spells, like fireball.
Also, make all casters but Wizards spontaneous casters. Give Wizards a limited spells list like Sorcerers have. Give Wizards the spell level progression of Sorcerers, resulting in them getting high level spells at later levels.
Remove, edit or increase the level of a lot of trouble spells, like polymorph.
Alright. So, opinions: what do you think of those ideas? what would you want in a revised system? what do you think of potential changes to the magic system? what spells would you like removed, if you want any removed?
Anyway, some basic concepts:
Classes:
I want to focus on customizability. Giving every class basic abilities (Sneak Attack and Trapfinding for Rogues; Bonus Feats for Fighters; Smite and Lay on Hands for Paladins; etc) and then filling in the blanks by giving players options out of lists of abilities to customize their characters, being essentially pick-and-choose class abilities. There would be things like plain numerical bonuses (+s to skills, extra Sneak Attack damage on crits, etc.), abilities that add new aspects to characters (Rangers gaining climb speeds and the ability to brachiate, Rogues gaining Hide in Plain Sight), static effects (making Fighters immune to Hold and Charm spells, giving Paladins energy resistance) and entirely new active abilities (ToB maneuver-esque abilities for fighting classes, choices of music for Bards, auras for Paladins, instant metamagic for Wizards*, etc.).
*I plan on removing metamagic feats, and making them an x/day Wizard ability.
Other ideas include:
Wanting to make Psionics seed based. As opposed to the study, divine inspiration or natural aptitude of arcane and divine casters, psionics comes from within, a manipulation of personal forces, and I want crunch to emphasize that.
Allowing Fighters to "unlock" feats. They can choose a certain Fighter feat they have, and "unlock" it, gaining abilities or bonuses that only Fighters have access to.
Letting Paladins use daily uses of smite to power different abilities.
Giving Barbarians abilities that they can trigger when they rage.
Giving Monks "fighting styles"; basically, particular attack styles, one of which would be Flurry of Blows, and the other alternatives. Give Monks Fighter BAB.
Wizards can no longer specialize; there will be 8 prestige classes for each specialization instead.
And so on.
I want to bring in proficiencies. Instead of gaining access to, say, all Simple and Martial weapons, X class could choose Y number of weapons to be proficient in.
I also want to remove class skills, allowing any class to choose a certain number skills to be class skills, any skills they want, with one exception: only Rogues get Use Magic/Psionic Device. Certain skills would always be class skills though, ex: Wizards would get Concentration, Knowledge (Arcana), Spellcraft and 4 other class skills.
I also want every class to have a choice from a few level 20 capstones, rewarding people who stick with a class for 20 levels.
Remove multiclass XP penalties.
Feats and Skills:
Make more feats scale. For example, I'd remove Improved and Greater TWF, and condense it into the TWF feat, as well as allow people with the TWF feat to attack once with both weapons as a standard action. Condense some skills (ex: Move Silently + Hide = Stealth). Have characters fer feats at every odd level instead of every 3 levels.
Combat:
Introduce "rushed" attacks. Basically allowing characters with BABs of 6+ to make full attacks as standard actions, but with a penalty to attack rolls. Add class abilities and feats to mitigate this a bit.
I also want to make damage dealt affect people. I think it's weird that a Fighter can lay a beat down on a dragon, dealing tons of damage, and then still get a tail slap in the face because the dragon had 1 hp left and could thus move as easily as if it had full health. Dunno how I'd do this.
Magic, Spells, and other such things:
Remove metamagic feats.
Increase the casting time of certain spells. One idea was:
0: Swift.
1-3: Standard
4-6: Full Round
7-9: Two Fulls Rounds, Full Round + Standard, or Full Round + the spell doesn't manifest until the beginning of casters next turn
With certain spells having longer or shorter casting times of course (ex: dimension door).
I was also thinking of removing SR for a lot of evocation spells, like fireball.
Also, make all casters but Wizards spontaneous casters. Give Wizards a limited spells list like Sorcerers have. Give Wizards the spell level progression of Sorcerers, resulting in them getting high level spells at later levels.
Remove, edit or increase the level of a lot of trouble spells, like polymorph.
Alright. So, opinions: what do you think of those ideas? what would you want in a revised system? what do you think of potential changes to the magic system? what spells would you like removed, if you want any removed?