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4 months ago ::
Jan 25, 2013 - 4:59PM
#151
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Date Joined:
Nov 18, 2004
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When I played 3E, I let players roll twice and take the higher result. Did something similar with attributes. I was a total softy, and as a result everyone was overpowered for their levels. Ended up compensating by re-rolling monster HPs, giving them about 25% more.
However, one time the fighter rolled a 1 and a 2 for his HPs. He was a very sad panda, despite having rolled near-max HP for every one of the previous 8-10 levels.
Please no random rolls, or at least leave it as an optional rule. While you're at it, change Durable to remove the reference to rolling for hit points and instead give some other benefit.
Similarly, point buy for attributes is the way to go. =P
I disagree. At that point, the Character Creation aspect of the game largely seems redundant. No one is ever going to create a character who doesn't have a maximum prime attribute and mid-range secondary, then every character will have the same HP value as well, they'll literally be carbon copies of each other.
IMO that would make for an extremely boring game, since every character would come out virtually identical to the others in it's class.
Every character doesn't need maximum's in his important attributes and maximum hit points.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 25, 2013 - 6:57PM
#152
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@Veggie-sama
HP do have an option to be static. When you check the HP meter it says 1-6 (or 4) or 1-8 (or 6). So if you want static HP, just take the 4/6 HP that is the median rounded up. Personally, I like the idea of the Dice taking a more active roll in the game (pun, hah!).
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4 months ago ::
Jan 26, 2013 - 12:43PM
#153
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Date Joined:
Feb 25, 2008
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Our DM allows each character to either roll or take a flat increase at each level. This allows the players to decide how much of their future they want to risk. I have rolled each time, and so far I haven't rolled less than the static rate... Of course I also rolled my basic stats (4d6 drop lowest) and have the lowest stats in the party. People keep forgetting I'm a fighter because I don't have the highest strength in the party. 
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4 months ago ::
Jan 26, 2013 - 4:17PM
#154
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2011
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It is true that there's an option for static HPs, but the feat Durable assumes you are playing with random hit dice rolls. The feat's only half as good in a static HP game. I just want to see the feat adjusted so it doesn't assume one way or the other. No one is ever going to create a character who doesn't have a maximum prime attribute and mid-range secondary, then every character will have the same HP value as well, they'll literally be carbon copies of each other.
IMO that would make for an extremely boring game, since every character would come out virtually identical to the others in it's class.
The nice thing about point buy is if the player insists on maxing two attributes, then she won't have anything left over for other attributes. I would rather have an enforced balance over some dude with incredibly lucky/unlucky stats sitting at the table. Players can be petty, jealous, and unhappy over stuff like that, and I'd rather make sure everyone's on an even playing field.
I think there are plenty of other non-random character options that let us avoid the fear of the cookie-cutter. At least--there better be!
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 1:22AM
#155
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Date Joined:
Feb 26, 2010
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I disagree. At that point, the Character Creation aspect of the game largely seems redundant. No one is ever going to create a character who doesn't have a maximum prime attribute and mid-range secondary, then every character will have the same HP value as well, they'll literally be carbon copies of each other.
IMO that would make for an extremely boring game, since every character would come out virtually identical to the others in it's class.
Every character doesn't need maximum's in his important attributes and maximum hit points.
Well, I think your point here about cookie-cutter holds true as long as the designers don't allow any further benefit for taking stats unrelated to your chosen class. Sure, there's the general ability checks, but often times that won't be enough incentive. Like in 3.5, Int added skill points, and Wis added to will saves, etc. If they could add benefits to all the stats that help everyone (like Dex and Con currently provide) beyond just the ability checks, then the players would have better options for making point buy characters.
For instance, I'm playing a Pathfinder (point buy) home game now as a rogue, and Intelligence is my highest stat, with feats that give me extra languages, trained skills, and skill bonuses (he has 13 skill points per level). Bear in mind that this is not a combat-light game either. I made my character based on his backstory of being a noble, and while he has some minor fighting capability, he is far more educated than he is proficient in combat. So, it's important to remember that players may surprise you with their choices, as long as they have a reason to make those choices.
The nice thing about point buy is if the player insists on maxing two attributes, then she won't have anything left over for other attributes. I would rather have an enforced balance over some dude with incredibly lucky/unlucky stats sitting at the table. Players can be petty, jealous, and unhappy over stuff like that, and I'd rather make sure everyone's on an even playing field.
For my first D&D campaign, the DM let us roll 4d6 7 times, drop lowest die, drop lowest total. I ended up with the equivalent of a 3.5ed 54 point buy character, and one of the other players made a paladin with a 70 point buy equivalent. The rest of the players were in the high to mid-30's. It was a pretty significant difference. I appreciate the point buy system to prevent this kind of situation from happening. Still, I would never begrudge a DM from wanting to roll for stats =).
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 7:22PM
#156
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Date Joined:
Sep 20, 2006
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I tried to start a group up on some version years ago.
We were 3 players, planning to just start off with some tactical fights where I was a DM and player.
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We rolled stats; Roll 4, remove the lowest -- no rerolls unless you're literally not going to want to play that character and already consider suicide because he's never going places:
I got two 18s, two 16s and 13 as my lowest score.
One player, my archnemesis, just told me he didn't want to play, after all -- right there.
Hit dice is, too, just a plain bad idea.
In theory, a fighter with 10d10 can within the realm of realism have about 30 HP from those dice (Tens rolls of 3 average), while a 10d6 roller has 50 HP from his (four times 6, three times 5, two times 4 and one time 3.).
That is no fun for the 10d10 player.
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If HP is going to represent anything remotely related to training, ingame, it should solely be based on the class and attributes.
Dice for HP (and attributes) should be for the random monsters doing random stuff with random background stories and random professions and random parents and random tales of adventure -- and the combat with them.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 28, 2013 - 1:28PM
#157
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Date Joined:
Jan 11, 2012
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It is true that there's an option for static HPs, but the feat Durable assumes you are playing with random hit dice rolls. The feat's only half as good in a static HP game. I just want to see the feat adjusted so it doesn't assume one way or the other.
Durability (modified benefit): Whenever you determine your new hit point maximum (such as when you gain a level) or to regain hit points by spending a hit die, you always take the higher value of a die role and the median value of the die (i.e. the average roll of the die, rounded up).
It's not quite the same, but it get's the same basic idea and it does not make any reference to which way HPs are being determined.
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