Frendle
2017-03-01, 04:13 PM
So, I am often interested in creating a gaming environment where all players can generally make the PC Archetype they want, and yet not be overshadowed by the T1-T2 classes/+2 PrC's.
My thought is that if I can devise a system which ends up with a full 20 level progression that ends with all PC's roughly equivalent to T3, I have done my job.
Full Min/Max has it's place and I enjoy it too, but it's not always what makes for a good campaign.
With that being the premise for what I am trying to accomplish, I have developed a level progression homebrew which I think goes a long way towards my goal.
Please take a look and let me know what I've missed, or where my theory craft is questionable.
Be tough, supportive or constructive as needed, and assuming first off that it makes basic sense and is understandable, maybe even maybe try it out to see if you can make a "broken" PC?
1) At each Level Advancement the Player will receive 5 build points to use in selecting which class/s to add.
2) PC's advance each level by spending points to gain up to 2 classes
Gestalt rules apply for levels in which 2 classes are chosen.
Multi-classing and preferred class rules would be suspended.
3) Points are spent based on the Tier of the class chosen using this breakdown. There may be some classes missing.
Tier 1 - 8 Points per level - Wizard, Druid, Cleric, Archivist, Artificer, STP Erudite
Tier 2 - 7 Points per level - Sorcerer, Favored Soul, Psion, Binder NV, Ardent, Wilder
Tier 3 - 5 Points per level - Beguiler, Dread Necromancer, Crusader, Bard, Swordsage, Incarnate, Totemist, Binder, Wild Shape Ranger, Duskblade, Factotum, Warblade, Psychic Warrior
Tier 4 - 4 Points per level - Rouge, Barbarian, Warlock, Warmage, Scout, Ranger, Hexblade, Adept, Spellthief, Marshal, Dungeoncrasher Fighter, Psychic Rouge
Tier 5 - 2 Points per level - Fighter, Monk, CA Ninja, Healer, Swashbuckler, Rokugan Ninja, Soulknife, Expert, Paladin, Knight, Divine Mind, Soulborn
Tier 6 - 1 Points per level - CW Samurai, Aristocrat, Warrior, Commoner, Divine Mind BME
No Tier - 0 Points per level - HP, Save, BAB, Skill Points
For PrC's there are several "Up one, Down one" threads. I like Suzerain's over at Min Max Boards, but whichever the DM chooses. The rules for PrC's are further down.
4) Points may be saved from a previous level. For instance at
level one you can play a fighter and save 3 points so that on level 2
you can take a level in wizard. (for level 1, 5-2=3 // for level 2, 5+3 =8)
5) Points may be saved for use in the subsequent level only.
Any points saved from level 1 for instance must be used
by level 2 or be lost.
6) Prestige Classes add their tier bonus to the class used to enter the PrC.
So if a cleric enters Stormlord, it costs him 8 points. 8 for cleric entry
and 0 for the bonus for Stormlord.
If a Cleric enters Dweomerkeeper then he must spend 10 points,
8 for the cleric entry and 2 for Dweomerkeeper
7) In levels where you save all five points, for instance you are planning on
adding a level of Dweomerkeeper at level 12 with a cleric entry and must spend 10 points to do so.
You can spend 0 points in level 11 by advancing only your chassis from the entry class (Cleric).
You would get the Hit Points(Plus Con if any), Save, BAB and Skill Points for cleric in the
above example.
You gain no other benefit from advancing the level in which you spend 0 points except for advancing the chassis (for example: no Character level, caster level or class level advancement.)
8) Fractional saves and BAB advancement is in effect for all levels.
9) In order to qualify for a prestige class, all pre-requisites must come from a single class.
This is then the "Entry" class for that PrC when it comes to determining points spent.
If two classes can qualify for entry into the PrC, the highest tier class becomes the entry class.
If this is not possible, for instance theurge classes, the highest qualifying tier class will be considered the entry class.
For instance Eldritch disciple would use Cleric as it's entry class, not warlock.
In the case of equal tier entry classes, the player may choose.
10) The Entry class for a PrC is chosen at the time the first level of the PrC is taken
and cannot change in subsequent levels, even if a higher or lower tier class becomes able to qualify for the PrC.
For instance if Paladin 4 is used to enter a PrC which requires the casting of 1st level divine spells,
the entry class for that PrC does not become Cleric if a level of Cleric is taken in subsequent levels.
11) All Increases in spellcasting level from a PrC must be taken in the entry class.
12) Paragon class levels are the tier of the spellcasting class they advance or are T4 if they do not advance spellcasting.
My thought is that if I can devise a system which ends up with a full 20 level progression that ends with all PC's roughly equivalent to T3, I have done my job.
Full Min/Max has it's place and I enjoy it too, but it's not always what makes for a good campaign.
With that being the premise for what I am trying to accomplish, I have developed a level progression homebrew which I think goes a long way towards my goal.
Please take a look and let me know what I've missed, or where my theory craft is questionable.
Be tough, supportive or constructive as needed, and assuming first off that it makes basic sense and is understandable, maybe even maybe try it out to see if you can make a "broken" PC?
1) At each Level Advancement the Player will receive 5 build points to use in selecting which class/s to add.
2) PC's advance each level by spending points to gain up to 2 classes
Gestalt rules apply for levels in which 2 classes are chosen.
Multi-classing and preferred class rules would be suspended.
3) Points are spent based on the Tier of the class chosen using this breakdown. There may be some classes missing.
Tier 1 - 8 Points per level - Wizard, Druid, Cleric, Archivist, Artificer, STP Erudite
Tier 2 - 7 Points per level - Sorcerer, Favored Soul, Psion, Binder NV, Ardent, Wilder
Tier 3 - 5 Points per level - Beguiler, Dread Necromancer, Crusader, Bard, Swordsage, Incarnate, Totemist, Binder, Wild Shape Ranger, Duskblade, Factotum, Warblade, Psychic Warrior
Tier 4 - 4 Points per level - Rouge, Barbarian, Warlock, Warmage, Scout, Ranger, Hexblade, Adept, Spellthief, Marshal, Dungeoncrasher Fighter, Psychic Rouge
Tier 5 - 2 Points per level - Fighter, Monk, CA Ninja, Healer, Swashbuckler, Rokugan Ninja, Soulknife, Expert, Paladin, Knight, Divine Mind, Soulborn
Tier 6 - 1 Points per level - CW Samurai, Aristocrat, Warrior, Commoner, Divine Mind BME
No Tier - 0 Points per level - HP, Save, BAB, Skill Points
For PrC's there are several "Up one, Down one" threads. I like Suzerain's over at Min Max Boards, but whichever the DM chooses. The rules for PrC's are further down.
4) Points may be saved from a previous level. For instance at
level one you can play a fighter and save 3 points so that on level 2
you can take a level in wizard. (for level 1, 5-2=3 // for level 2, 5+3 =8)
5) Points may be saved for use in the subsequent level only.
Any points saved from level 1 for instance must be used
by level 2 or be lost.
6) Prestige Classes add their tier bonus to the class used to enter the PrC.
So if a cleric enters Stormlord, it costs him 8 points. 8 for cleric entry
and 0 for the bonus for Stormlord.
If a Cleric enters Dweomerkeeper then he must spend 10 points,
8 for the cleric entry and 2 for Dweomerkeeper
7) In levels where you save all five points, for instance you are planning on
adding a level of Dweomerkeeper at level 12 with a cleric entry and must spend 10 points to do so.
You can spend 0 points in level 11 by advancing only your chassis from the entry class (Cleric).
You would get the Hit Points(Plus Con if any), Save, BAB and Skill Points for cleric in the
above example.
You gain no other benefit from advancing the level in which you spend 0 points except for advancing the chassis (for example: no Character level, caster level or class level advancement.)
8) Fractional saves and BAB advancement is in effect for all levels.
9) In order to qualify for a prestige class, all pre-requisites must come from a single class.
This is then the "Entry" class for that PrC when it comes to determining points spent.
If two classes can qualify for entry into the PrC, the highest tier class becomes the entry class.
If this is not possible, for instance theurge classes, the highest qualifying tier class will be considered the entry class.
For instance Eldritch disciple would use Cleric as it's entry class, not warlock.
In the case of equal tier entry classes, the player may choose.
10) The Entry class for a PrC is chosen at the time the first level of the PrC is taken
and cannot change in subsequent levels, even if a higher or lower tier class becomes able to qualify for the PrC.
For instance if Paladin 4 is used to enter a PrC which requires the casting of 1st level divine spells,
the entry class for that PrC does not become Cleric if a level of Cleric is taken in subsequent levels.
11) All Increases in spellcasting level from a PrC must be taken in the entry class.
12) Paragon class levels are the tier of the spellcasting class they advance or are T4 if they do not advance spellcasting.