Thamilon
2012-04-04, 06:42 PM
Hello everyone!
This summer, I'm going to be running a series of RPGs for the teens at my local library, based on a number of popular YA series that I thought would lend themselves well to such treatment. One of the games I'm going to be running will be based on the Ranger's Apprentice books by John Flanagan.
For those who might be unfamiliar with the series, it is set in a low magic/no magic world that is basically medieval Europe with the names changed. Indeed, apart from a race of beast men working for the bad guy in the first two books, a race of friendly beastmen in the last book and the fact that there's far more gender equality (at least among the nobility) than in the real middle ages, the series could be considered purely historical and does a fine job of subtly teaching readers about the realities of life at that time.
The biggest challenge I've been having so far is with determining how to handle the classes. Here's the notes I have so far...
RANGERS: The biggie, of course.
Using the standard 3.5 Ranger isn't viable because of the spell-casting abilities. Even the supernatural abilities given to Rangers in the alternative No-Casting Ranger from Complete Warrior are a bit much. Also, the preferred enemy abilities aren't really viable in a world without other races. And yet, the Rangers in this series are rumored to have magical powers by the commoners around them and do seem to have some supernatural ability to communicate with their speciallly trained horses... although the odds are equally good that each Ranger just imagines their horse's thoughts in their own heads!
My idea is to use the Borderer class from Conan d20 but allow the players to substitute Animal Companion in place of another level of Favored Terrain. This would fit as, by the time of the last book, Will has learned how to traverse several types of terrain with skill (temperate forest, tundra, desert) and has two animal companions - his horse, Tug, and his dog Ebony.
COURIERS - Employed by their respective lords as both diplomats and spies, The Couriers function in a manner similar to The Rangers, save that their training focuses more on social skills rather than survival.
After considering and discarding a modified bard, a social-skills emphasizing rogue, the Conan d20 noble and a level 20 version of the Spymaster from Complete Adventurer , I've hit upon the idea of using the Aristocrat NPC class from the DMG but give the courier bonus feats at 2nd level and every 3 levels after that from a limited list of social feats (Persuasive, Negotiator, etc.) and class abilities cribbed from the Conan d20 Noble (i.e. Comeliness, Entertainer, etc.)
KNIGHTS - Ironically, this was the easiest one. The Knight class from the PHB2 should fit perfectly, I think.
Any thoughts so far? Suggestions?
This summer, I'm going to be running a series of RPGs for the teens at my local library, based on a number of popular YA series that I thought would lend themselves well to such treatment. One of the games I'm going to be running will be based on the Ranger's Apprentice books by John Flanagan.
For those who might be unfamiliar with the series, it is set in a low magic/no magic world that is basically medieval Europe with the names changed. Indeed, apart from a race of beast men working for the bad guy in the first two books, a race of friendly beastmen in the last book and the fact that there's far more gender equality (at least among the nobility) than in the real middle ages, the series could be considered purely historical and does a fine job of subtly teaching readers about the realities of life at that time.
The biggest challenge I've been having so far is with determining how to handle the classes. Here's the notes I have so far...
RANGERS: The biggie, of course.
Using the standard 3.5 Ranger isn't viable because of the spell-casting abilities. Even the supernatural abilities given to Rangers in the alternative No-Casting Ranger from Complete Warrior are a bit much. Also, the preferred enemy abilities aren't really viable in a world without other races. And yet, the Rangers in this series are rumored to have magical powers by the commoners around them and do seem to have some supernatural ability to communicate with their speciallly trained horses... although the odds are equally good that each Ranger just imagines their horse's thoughts in their own heads!
My idea is to use the Borderer class from Conan d20 but allow the players to substitute Animal Companion in place of another level of Favored Terrain. This would fit as, by the time of the last book, Will has learned how to traverse several types of terrain with skill (temperate forest, tundra, desert) and has two animal companions - his horse, Tug, and his dog Ebony.
COURIERS - Employed by their respective lords as both diplomats and spies, The Couriers function in a manner similar to The Rangers, save that their training focuses more on social skills rather than survival.
After considering and discarding a modified bard, a social-skills emphasizing rogue, the Conan d20 noble and a level 20 version of the Spymaster from Complete Adventurer , I've hit upon the idea of using the Aristocrat NPC class from the DMG but give the courier bonus feats at 2nd level and every 3 levels after that from a limited list of social feats (Persuasive, Negotiator, etc.) and class abilities cribbed from the Conan d20 Noble (i.e. Comeliness, Entertainer, etc.)
KNIGHTS - Ironically, this was the easiest one. The Knight class from the PHB2 should fit perfectly, I think.
Any thoughts so far? Suggestions?