PDA

View Full Version : Strain System WIP



re_e
2013-07-17, 02:28 AM
Usually strain systems are used to balance spellcasters, and affect only spells. My system is a little different, it affects both mundanes and spellcasters. For balance, I tried to make mundane characters uses less strain than spellcasters.

The system is still unfinished, and probably unbalanced.


Strain Points: Strain is basically a reverse of spell/power/whatever points. Instead of using points, creatures accumulates strain points. A creature suffer ill effects and can not use more abilities, or cast spell, when accumulates high amounts of strain points.

Recovering Strain: When a creature recovery strain it decrease his strain points. Resting allow a creature to recovery from strain.
5 minutes of rest recovery one strain point.
1 hour of rest recovery one strain point per two points of the creature highest primary ability score.
A 8 hour rest recovery from all strain.
Penalties and bonuses to a creature strain recovery are not cummulative.

Primary Ability Score: Each class have a primary ability score, if a class has more than one primary ability score, use the highest ability score.
If a creature multiclass, he must use the primary ability score of the class with more levels*. In case of a tie, the creature chooses what class use until a new level is gained.
* For spellcasting classes with 9th spells, like the cleric, druid, sorcerer and wizard, use the caster level instead of class level.
For creatures without primary ability score (like monsters), use the highest ability score.

Strain Resistance: Strain resistance is the number of strain points a creature can accumulate before suffering ill effects. A creature strain resistance is equal half his HD plus his primary ability score.

Effects of high strain: After accumulating a certain ammount of strain points a creature suffer negative effects.
A creature with more strain points than half his strain resistance becomes fatigued*, and his strain recovery is half of his normal speed.
A creature with more strain points than his strain resistance becomes exausted*, recover only one strain point per hour of rest, and can not use any action that increases his strain.
* These conditions can not be cured until the affected creature recovery from his excessive strain.

Conditions: Some conditions affect strain.
Fatigue: A fatigued creature recovery from strain at half his normal speed.
Exaustion: A exausted creature recovery 1 strain point per hour of rest.

re_e
2013-07-17, 02:30 AM
Classes: Some classes have abilities that accumulate strain.

Barbarian
Primary ability score: Strength or Constitution.
Rage: A barbarian can rage unlimited times per day, but each round of rage increase the barbarian strain by +1.
Greater Rage: Each round of greater rage increase the barbarian strain by +2, a barbarian can choose to enter a regular rage instead of a greater rage to accumulate less strain.
Mighty Rage: Each round of mighty rage increase the barbarian strain by +3, a barbarian can choose to enter a normal or greater rage instead of a mighty rage to accumulate less strain.

Bard
Primary ability score: Charisma.
Bardic Music: WIP

Cleric
Primary ability score: Wisdom or Charisma.
Domain Powers: WIP
Turn Undead: Can be used unlimited times per day, but each use increases the cleric strain by a number equal half his cleric level used on the turning check/damage. A cleric can use a lesser cleric level to accumulate less strain (like casting a spell with a lesser caster level). This mechanic is used to all powers that function equal turn/rebuke undead.

Druid
Primary ability score: Wisdom.
Wild shape: Can be used unlimited times per day, but each time that the druid uses this ability, his strain increases by a number equal the HD of the form used. While in a wild shape the druid do not recover strain. Wild shape no longer heals hit points.

Monk
Primary ability score: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, or Wisdom.
Flurry of blows: A monk may make two extra attacks, at the cost of accumalating one strain point.
Greater flurry: A monk may make three extra attacks, at the cost of accumalating one strain point.
Wholeness of Body: Can heal an unlimited number of hit points, but for each two hit points healed, the monk accumulates one strain point.
Abundant Step: Can be used unlimited times per day, but each use increases the monk strain by +3.
Empty body: Can be used unlimited times per day, but each round of use increases the monk strain by +6.

Paladin
Primary ability score: Strength, Wisdom, or Charisma.
Smite Evil: Can be used unlimited times per day, but the paladin strain increases by a number equal half the bonus damage, a paladin may opt to add a lesser bonus damage to accumulate less strain.
Lay on Hands: Can heal an unlimited number of hit points, but for each hit points healed, the paladin accumulates one strain point.
Remove Disease: Instead of gaining a new ability, add remove disease to the paladin spell list, as a 2nd-level spell.
Turn Undead: See cleric ability.

Fighter
Primary ability score: any

Ranger
Primary ability score: Strength, Dexterity, or Wisdom.

Rogue
Primary ability score: Dexterity or Intelligence.
Sneak Attack: A rogue can increase his sneak attack damage by 1d6, at the cost of accumulating one strain point.

Sorcerer
Primary ability score: Charisma.
Spells:All sorcerer spells accumulates 2 less points of strain.

Wizard
Primary ability score: Intelligence.
Spells: A wizard can choose to prepare a extra copy of a spell, the chosen spell accumulates 1 less strain point.

re_e
2013-07-17, 02:31 AM
Existing Feats: Some old feats have a strain cost or extra benefits. WIP

Combat Expertise: A creature using this feat can choose to accumulate one strain point per dodge bonus instead of taking penalties to attack rolls.
Dodge: A creature can increase the dodge bonus by +1, at the cost of accumalating one strain point.

Extra Turning: Decreases the strain accumulated by 1, to a minimum of one strain point accumulated per use of turn undead.

Power Attack: A creature using this feat can choose to accumulate one strain point per bonus damage instead of taking penalties to attack rolls.

Natural Spell: Spells casted while in a wild shape accumulate one extra strain point.

re_e
2013-07-17, 02:32 AM
Spells: If a spellcaster normally prepares spells, the prepared spell slot is not used and can be cast again as long as the spellcaster has suficient strain. Clerics and druids spountaneous spells are considered always prepared. Spellcasters do not gain bonus spell slots from high ability scores.
The spell level and the caster level are used to determine the amount of strain accumulated when casting a spell. All classes with spellcasting progression uses the same table.

Cantrips and Orisons do not accumulate strain.

{table=head]Strain by Spell Level
{table=head]CL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
1 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
2 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
3 | 8 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
4 | 8 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - |
8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - |
9 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - | - | - | - |
10 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - | - | - | - |
11 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - | - | - |
12 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - | - | - |
13 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - | - |
14 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - | - |
15 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - |
16 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | - |
17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
19 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
20 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
[/table][/table]

re_e
2013-07-17, 02:33 AM
New Feats WIP

Extra Strain Resistance [general]
Benefit: Your strain resistance increases by +1.
Special: You can gain Extra Strain Resistance multiple times. Its effects stack. A fighter may select improved extra strain resistance as one of his fighter bonus feats.

Improved Sorcerous Casting [General]
Prerequisites: Sorcerer level 3rd
Benefit: Sorcerer spells with level lower than your highest spell level accumulates 1 less strain point.