Zaygroth
2011-03-06, 07:31 AM
Ok, first off I'd like to say that I've looked through the forum to see if I could find any of my questions already asked, but I couldn't find anything. To be honest, the search function doesn't work very well, and this forum is BIG. So please forgive me if some of these questions have already been asked and answered.
Alright, my first questions about legal issues. (I know the forum rules are a bit touchy on that subject. I'm pretty sure Im not breaking any rules by asking these questions. Basically, I want to know if something illegal, but since I don't know if it is yet, I dont know whether or not to discuss it.)
Basically, if I don't own the books from a certain setting, such as forgotten realms, but I've seen one of the feats or skills or something from that setting somewhere else, and can remember it well enough to use it, whats stopping me from just putting it in my campaign? In other words, is it illegal to use bits and pieces of a different campaign, specifically a copyrighted one, if I don't do anything illegal to obtain it, such as downloading a pirated copy online?
Second question is about balance. How hard would it be to create, or more specifically, balance, a race that basically threw conventional means of character progression out the window? What I'm thinking of doing is making a Construct class/race combo, that would effectively make their entire character progression, aside from a few small things, based on money, and magic items. In other words, the character would have to buy "upgrades" that would allow them to increase STR, DEX, CON (I know constructs don't have CON, I've already fixed that), their hit points, and their magic abilities, along with their size, reach, and attacks. Their other three abilities, along with their reflex and will saves, and their skills and feats, would progress as normal using experience points. The disadvantages I've thought of to balance the race, are initially low physical abilities, no spellcasting of ANY kind without runes (my campaigns version of wands, or 1/day-week-month use magic items), and the inability to benefit from natural healing, and any magic that affects living things, e.g. potions, wands, rings, magic spells that increase ability scores or heal, and magical tomes or artifacts (they would still be able to benefit from magic weapons and armor that fit their shape and size, along with enchanted upgrades to their bodies). The advantages of the Race would be that you could upgrade your size and shape, become almost anything, and that you would gain incredible durability, along with most of the advantages of the construct traits.
Thanks in advance for any answers
Alright, my first questions about legal issues. (I know the forum rules are a bit touchy on that subject. I'm pretty sure Im not breaking any rules by asking these questions. Basically, I want to know if something illegal, but since I don't know if it is yet, I dont know whether or not to discuss it.)
Basically, if I don't own the books from a certain setting, such as forgotten realms, but I've seen one of the feats or skills or something from that setting somewhere else, and can remember it well enough to use it, whats stopping me from just putting it in my campaign? In other words, is it illegal to use bits and pieces of a different campaign, specifically a copyrighted one, if I don't do anything illegal to obtain it, such as downloading a pirated copy online?
Second question is about balance. How hard would it be to create, or more specifically, balance, a race that basically threw conventional means of character progression out the window? What I'm thinking of doing is making a Construct class/race combo, that would effectively make their entire character progression, aside from a few small things, based on money, and magic items. In other words, the character would have to buy "upgrades" that would allow them to increase STR, DEX, CON (I know constructs don't have CON, I've already fixed that), their hit points, and their magic abilities, along with their size, reach, and attacks. Their other three abilities, along with their reflex and will saves, and their skills and feats, would progress as normal using experience points. The disadvantages I've thought of to balance the race, are initially low physical abilities, no spellcasting of ANY kind without runes (my campaigns version of wands, or 1/day-week-month use magic items), and the inability to benefit from natural healing, and any magic that affects living things, e.g. potions, wands, rings, magic spells that increase ability scores or heal, and magical tomes or artifacts (they would still be able to benefit from magic weapons and armor that fit their shape and size, along with enchanted upgrades to their bodies). The advantages of the Race would be that you could upgrade your size and shape, become almost anything, and that you would gain incredible durability, along with most of the advantages of the construct traits.
Thanks in advance for any answers