Tsunamiatunzen1
2021-07-18, 05:24 AM
Ever wanted to use that level 20 class ability but couldn't find a DM willing to run an adventure that long?
Tired of having to choose a different class because someone else dibsed it first?
Well this is the variant rule for you!
What This Variant Rule IS
This allows players to experience end game abilities while still playing in the sweet spot of the game (level 5-8 in my case).
It also allows for players to customize a class's progression even if another player is playing the same class. Full BAB Sorcerer? You got it. Fighter with Bonus Feats every level? Done.
This is also intended to work with the majority of D20 systems. However, as I haven't played nearly enough of them, I will be using Pathfinder examples to help explain these concepts.
What This Variant Rule IS NOT
While this may give players access to specific abilities, it does not mean they can take stupid risks. Their saves, BAB, skills, and hp are not on the same level as their abilities and they will not be able to obtain all the abilities and/or spell slots their class might normally offer.
This does not allow you become a TRUE level 20 character, as you'll need to be selective about what you want to specialize in early on.
Custom/Rapid Variant Levelling a.k.a. (Selective Levelling)
Each time you level up, or create a new character, you choose a level you wish to obtain from your class's progression table (you will reference this table for all level gains). This selection may only be made within Class Level x 2. It is recommended that players build these characters level by level and note which class levels they have obtained. Each character will be extremely unique and proper tracking is necessary.
It is also recommended the character level be capped at 10 or 1/2 of the maximum level normally allowed.
Special abilities
When you obtain a class level, you obtain that specific level's special abilities. Obtaining these special abilities may not mean you can actually use them if you are missing an earlier level's ability that the later level's special ability is linked to.
Hunter is a newly created level 2 Ranger. He may select the special abilities of the 1st or 2nd level Ranger for his first level and 1st through 4th for his second level. He chooses to take the 2nd level Ranger for his first level and 4th level Ranger as his second level. He gains a Combat Style Feat and Hunter's Bond. However, he does not gain the special abilities from 1st or 3rd level. He decides in the future he will avoid any special abilities that rely on favored enemies or favored terrain since he skipped those abilities and doesn't want to pick them up at later levels.
Base Attack Bonus and Saves
When you obtain a class level, your BAB and Saves increase by the difference in the level you obtain and the previous level you would normally advance from on the progression table. This can result in characters having Full BAB when they normally do not.
Anne the Wizard has just reached Character Level 3 and wants to take another Wizard Level. She took 2nd and 4th level Wizard for her first 2 Character Levels. This allows her to have a total BAB of +2, since 1st level (+0 BAB) and 2nd level (+1 BAB) has a difference of one (1 - 0 = 1) and this is repeated for her 2nd Character Level selection of Wizard level 4. However, she only has a +2 in Will Saves and +0 in all her other saves since the difference between 1st (+0/+0/+2) and 2nd (+0/+0/+3) is +1 towards Will Save and the difference between 3rd (+1/+1/+3) and 4th (+1/+1/+4) is another +1 towards only Will Save. Wizard level 5 wouldn't increase her BAB or any of her Saves since the difference between Wizard level 4 and 5 is 0 (BAB 2 - 2 = 0, Fort 1 - 1 = 0, Ref 1 - 1 = 0, Will 4 - 4 = 0). She decides to take the 1st Level of Wizard since she wants to cast more spells. This means she gets +0 towards BAB since 0 - 0 = 0 and she gains +2 towards Will since 2 - 0 = 2.
Spell Slots and Spells Known
This follows the same rules as increases to Base Attack Bonuses and Saves. You gain the difference between the level you selected and the level it normally advances from. This can result in characters knowing only a few spells of the highest level or even a complete omission of an entire spell level.
Carthos, a Sorcerer, has just gained his 3rd level. He spent his first two levels on the 1st and 3nd Sorcerer Levels. He then decides to gain the 6th level Sorcerer as his 3rd level up. He gains one 2nd level spell slot three 3rd level spell slot and gains a single
cantrip known and one 3rd level spell known. Although Carthos has a 2nd level spell slot, he doesn't actually know any 2nd level spells. However, he can simply use any metamagic feats he knows in order to make use of the slot.
Level-Dependent Bonuses/Modifiers
Your class level does not change despite your character having access to higher-level abilities than would normally be allowed. Any level dependent abilities or spells use your class level as normal, not the highest class level you have selected via this rule.
Health and skills are also treated similarly. You gain the normal allotment of health and skill points for a single level.
You also gain Bonus Feats and Ability Score increases according to your character level as normal.
Roland, a Paladin, is a 2nd level Paladin and has obtained the 4th level abilities of Paladin. He has Smite Evil and can use this ability twice per day since the progression table states he gains an extra use despite being only second level. However, he is still counted as a 2nd level Paladin when he calculates the bonus damage he deals with Smite Evil.
Feat, Item Creation, and Prestige Class Requirements
As some feats, classes, and some items require you to be of a specific level or BAB, using this system makes the normal method of procurement difficult or impossible. For the purposes of requirements, halve all numerical requirements for BAB, Saves, HD, Character Level, and skill points. Do not halve spell requirements.
Currency
It is recommended for GMs to adhere to the normal progression of wealth, although this is not a strict requirement.
Archetypes (Pathfinder Specific)
When selecting an archetype, only replace or change features that affect the level you are obtaining. You still may not take an archetype's feature if the ability it would change or replace has already been changed or replaced by a previous archetype selection.
Author's note: Thank you for taking the time to read through to the end! If you feel I have missed anything or have a suggestion, feel free to reply!
Tired of having to choose a different class because someone else dibsed it first?
Well this is the variant rule for you!
What This Variant Rule IS
This allows players to experience end game abilities while still playing in the sweet spot of the game (level 5-8 in my case).
It also allows for players to customize a class's progression even if another player is playing the same class. Full BAB Sorcerer? You got it. Fighter with Bonus Feats every level? Done.
This is also intended to work with the majority of D20 systems. However, as I haven't played nearly enough of them, I will be using Pathfinder examples to help explain these concepts.
What This Variant Rule IS NOT
While this may give players access to specific abilities, it does not mean they can take stupid risks. Their saves, BAB, skills, and hp are not on the same level as their abilities and they will not be able to obtain all the abilities and/or spell slots their class might normally offer.
This does not allow you become a TRUE level 20 character, as you'll need to be selective about what you want to specialize in early on.
Custom/Rapid Variant Levelling a.k.a. (Selective Levelling)
Each time you level up, or create a new character, you choose a level you wish to obtain from your class's progression table (you will reference this table for all level gains). This selection may only be made within Class Level x 2. It is recommended that players build these characters level by level and note which class levels they have obtained. Each character will be extremely unique and proper tracking is necessary.
It is also recommended the character level be capped at 10 or 1/2 of the maximum level normally allowed.
Special abilities
When you obtain a class level, you obtain that specific level's special abilities. Obtaining these special abilities may not mean you can actually use them if you are missing an earlier level's ability that the later level's special ability is linked to.
Hunter is a newly created level 2 Ranger. He may select the special abilities of the 1st or 2nd level Ranger for his first level and 1st through 4th for his second level. He chooses to take the 2nd level Ranger for his first level and 4th level Ranger as his second level. He gains a Combat Style Feat and Hunter's Bond. However, he does not gain the special abilities from 1st or 3rd level. He decides in the future he will avoid any special abilities that rely on favored enemies or favored terrain since he skipped those abilities and doesn't want to pick them up at later levels.
Base Attack Bonus and Saves
When you obtain a class level, your BAB and Saves increase by the difference in the level you obtain and the previous level you would normally advance from on the progression table. This can result in characters having Full BAB when they normally do not.
Anne the Wizard has just reached Character Level 3 and wants to take another Wizard Level. She took 2nd and 4th level Wizard for her first 2 Character Levels. This allows her to have a total BAB of +2, since 1st level (+0 BAB) and 2nd level (+1 BAB) has a difference of one (1 - 0 = 1) and this is repeated for her 2nd Character Level selection of Wizard level 4. However, she only has a +2 in Will Saves and +0 in all her other saves since the difference between 1st (+0/+0/+2) and 2nd (+0/+0/+3) is +1 towards Will Save and the difference between 3rd (+1/+1/+3) and 4th (+1/+1/+4) is another +1 towards only Will Save. Wizard level 5 wouldn't increase her BAB or any of her Saves since the difference between Wizard level 4 and 5 is 0 (BAB 2 - 2 = 0, Fort 1 - 1 = 0, Ref 1 - 1 = 0, Will 4 - 4 = 0). She decides to take the 1st Level of Wizard since she wants to cast more spells. This means she gets +0 towards BAB since 0 - 0 = 0 and she gains +2 towards Will since 2 - 0 = 2.
Spell Slots and Spells Known
This follows the same rules as increases to Base Attack Bonuses and Saves. You gain the difference between the level you selected and the level it normally advances from. This can result in characters knowing only a few spells of the highest level or even a complete omission of an entire spell level.
Carthos, a Sorcerer, has just gained his 3rd level. He spent his first two levels on the 1st and 3nd Sorcerer Levels. He then decides to gain the 6th level Sorcerer as his 3rd level up. He gains one 2nd level spell slot three 3rd level spell slot and gains a single
cantrip known and one 3rd level spell known. Although Carthos has a 2nd level spell slot, he doesn't actually know any 2nd level spells. However, he can simply use any metamagic feats he knows in order to make use of the slot.
Level-Dependent Bonuses/Modifiers
Your class level does not change despite your character having access to higher-level abilities than would normally be allowed. Any level dependent abilities or spells use your class level as normal, not the highest class level you have selected via this rule.
Health and skills are also treated similarly. You gain the normal allotment of health and skill points for a single level.
You also gain Bonus Feats and Ability Score increases according to your character level as normal.
Roland, a Paladin, is a 2nd level Paladin and has obtained the 4th level abilities of Paladin. He has Smite Evil and can use this ability twice per day since the progression table states he gains an extra use despite being only second level. However, he is still counted as a 2nd level Paladin when he calculates the bonus damage he deals with Smite Evil.
Feat, Item Creation, and Prestige Class Requirements
As some feats, classes, and some items require you to be of a specific level or BAB, using this system makes the normal method of procurement difficult or impossible. For the purposes of requirements, halve all numerical requirements for BAB, Saves, HD, Character Level, and skill points. Do not halve spell requirements.
Currency
It is recommended for GMs to adhere to the normal progression of wealth, although this is not a strict requirement.
Archetypes (Pathfinder Specific)
When selecting an archetype, only replace or change features that affect the level you are obtaining. You still may not take an archetype's feature if the ability it would change or replace has already been changed or replaced by a previous archetype selection.
Author's note: Thank you for taking the time to read through to the end! If you feel I have missed anything or have a suggestion, feel free to reply!