Zovc
2009-10-17, 08:43 PM
I'd like to make a few 0th levels for players and DMs to be able to use for adventures "before the 1st level."
A lot of groups seem to play with the idea of having everyone starting with a level in [NPC class]. The problem I have with this is that the NPC classes aren't necessarily equal, and there is no tangible reward to this system unless you consider the NPC class a free level or reward each player with a magic item, etc.
So, currently, I'm going to base the first three 0th levels I provide on the Adept, the Expert, and the Warrior.
The premise of these 0th levels are to provide as equal as possible rewards to each archetype they are meant to be used with. For example, the Adept "level" should benefit a spellcaster as much as as the Warrior "level" should benefit a martial character.
"The Adept"
Hit Points: The adept receives an amount of hit points equal to her constitution score. She does not add her constitution modifier to these hit points.
Skills: The adept receives a +1 insight bonus to the Spellcraft and Concentration skills, she treats these as trained, class skills regardless of whether or not she has ranks in the skills or a class she gains levels in has them on their class skill list. An adept may also choose a number of skills equal to her intelligence modifier from the list below to receive a +1 insight bonus to. Skills chosen this way are considered to be trained class skills, whether or not she has any ranks in them, or they are on her class skill list.
Craft
Decipher Script
Heal
Knowledge (all skills, taken individually)
Profession
Spell-Like Ability: An adept gains a spell-like ability, chosen from the list below, that she can use once per encounter. The Adept uses half her character level, rounded up (minimum 1) for the purpose of determining caster levels. This spell is considered spontaneous and arcane. If the adept later gains levels in a class with spellcasting, she retains this ability but also adds the spell to her spell list as a level 1 spell; this spell like ability uses the adept's caster level (and type) for the class she gained for her spell like ability instead of half of her character level. Once an adept's caster level reaches 10, she may use this ability 3 times per encounter.
(This is probably a wording mess, but I think I got the point across.)
Spell-like Ability List:
Burning Hands
Magic Missile
Cure Light Wounds
Feel free to make recommendations, I don't want powerful spells like sleep, though. Spells recommended should scale with caster level.
A character who completes a session (/"half-level") with this class then gains his first class level, it gives wizards a lot more than one 1st level spell a day, but that might be too many, should it be 1/day?
This is a rough outline of what the adept would look like, I'm having a hard time deciding what sort of scaling bonus I could give to the Warrior or the Expert.
EDIT 1: Here is the Warrior.
"The Warrior"
Hit Points: The warrior receives an amount of hit points equal to his constitution score. The warrior adds 4 plus his constitution modifier to his hit points.
Skills: The warrior receives a +1 insight bonus to the Intimidate skill, he treats it as a trained, class skill regardless of whether or not he has ranks in the skill or a class he gains levels in has it on its class skill list. A warrior may also choose a number of skills equal to one plus his intelligence modifier from the list below to receive a +1 insight bonus to. Skills chosen this way are considered to be trained class skills, whether or not he has any ranks in them, or they are on his class skill list.
Climb
Craft
Handle Animal
Jump
Ride
Swim
Tumble
(I couldn't pick one of those that every warrior should have, so I did Intimidate as the only forced one, then gave them 1 + Int choices for their skill bonuses.)
Bonus Attack: Once per encounter, a warrior can make an extra attack. Any time after the warrior makes an attack, he may decide to make another attack on the same target at the same base attack bonus. Once a Warrior's base attack bonus becomes +10, he may use this ability three times in an encounter.
Other edit notes: Regendered the adept to be a lady. I gave the adept Concentration instead of Use Magic Device.
A lot of groups seem to play with the idea of having everyone starting with a level in [NPC class]. The problem I have with this is that the NPC classes aren't necessarily equal, and there is no tangible reward to this system unless you consider the NPC class a free level or reward each player with a magic item, etc.
So, currently, I'm going to base the first three 0th levels I provide on the Adept, the Expert, and the Warrior.
The premise of these 0th levels are to provide as equal as possible rewards to each archetype they are meant to be used with. For example, the Adept "level" should benefit a spellcaster as much as as the Warrior "level" should benefit a martial character.
"The Adept"
Hit Points: The adept receives an amount of hit points equal to her constitution score. She does not add her constitution modifier to these hit points.
Skills: The adept receives a +1 insight bonus to the Spellcraft and Concentration skills, she treats these as trained, class skills regardless of whether or not she has ranks in the skills or a class she gains levels in has them on their class skill list. An adept may also choose a number of skills equal to her intelligence modifier from the list below to receive a +1 insight bonus to. Skills chosen this way are considered to be trained class skills, whether or not she has any ranks in them, or they are on her class skill list.
Craft
Decipher Script
Heal
Knowledge (all skills, taken individually)
Profession
Spell-Like Ability: An adept gains a spell-like ability, chosen from the list below, that she can use once per encounter. The Adept uses half her character level, rounded up (minimum 1) for the purpose of determining caster levels. This spell is considered spontaneous and arcane. If the adept later gains levels in a class with spellcasting, she retains this ability but also adds the spell to her spell list as a level 1 spell; this spell like ability uses the adept's caster level (and type) for the class she gained for her spell like ability instead of half of her character level. Once an adept's caster level reaches 10, she may use this ability 3 times per encounter.
(This is probably a wording mess, but I think I got the point across.)
Spell-like Ability List:
Burning Hands
Magic Missile
Cure Light Wounds
Feel free to make recommendations, I don't want powerful spells like sleep, though. Spells recommended should scale with caster level.
A character who completes a session (/"half-level") with this class then gains his first class level, it gives wizards a lot more than one 1st level spell a day, but that might be too many, should it be 1/day?
This is a rough outline of what the adept would look like, I'm having a hard time deciding what sort of scaling bonus I could give to the Warrior or the Expert.
EDIT 1: Here is the Warrior.
"The Warrior"
Hit Points: The warrior receives an amount of hit points equal to his constitution score. The warrior adds 4 plus his constitution modifier to his hit points.
Skills: The warrior receives a +1 insight bonus to the Intimidate skill, he treats it as a trained, class skill regardless of whether or not he has ranks in the skill or a class he gains levels in has it on its class skill list. A warrior may also choose a number of skills equal to one plus his intelligence modifier from the list below to receive a +1 insight bonus to. Skills chosen this way are considered to be trained class skills, whether or not he has any ranks in them, or they are on his class skill list.
Climb
Craft
Handle Animal
Jump
Ride
Swim
Tumble
(I couldn't pick one of those that every warrior should have, so I did Intimidate as the only forced one, then gave them 1 + Int choices for their skill bonuses.)
Bonus Attack: Once per encounter, a warrior can make an extra attack. Any time after the warrior makes an attack, he may decide to make another attack on the same target at the same base attack bonus. Once a Warrior's base attack bonus becomes +10, he may use this ability three times in an encounter.
Other edit notes: Regendered the adept to be a lady. I gave the adept Concentration instead of Use Magic Device.