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luiscyfer
Acolyte
4 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Aug 2005 : 20:09:07
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Hello all, I'm new to the forum so please have a little patience with me. Thank You.
Has anyone seen or created their own guidlines for creating 0-level characters? I'm about to start a new campaign and I want the players to begin a character between the ages of 11 and 14 years of age, if human. Some of my players are recently new to the game, and I want them to experience the joys of beginning a character before they reached their chosen class and profession and seeing that character evolve and change based upon roleplaying circumstances within the game. In effect, breathing life into a character that is no longer just a bunch of numbers and skills written on paper, but a living, breathing element of the psyche.
I have some ideas, but am interested in a d20 DC system of allowing the characters to explore the many abilities of each of the core classes in attempts to learn as a very young teen would. In effect, if a character wishes to attempt a spell after apprenticing themselves to a wizard, what denotes successful learning of said spell? Or for instance, a character wishes to squire themselves to a knight and begin training to one day become a paladin, what DC checks does the character make to successfully show aptitude and the required amount of faith? One character attempts to learn how to pickpocket, and show aptitude for becoming a rogue. Or even if successful, as a 0-level rogue in training, switches to the skills of a druid. Trying to reach out with his senses and learn the ways of the animals and how to effectively communicate with them?
I hope I've given enough of a rough idea of what I'm looking for, and any responses to this post would be welcomed greatly. Thank You everyone for your patience with my post and the generosity of your intellects as I've seen exhibited here in Candlekeep in the past.
Til next we meet, sweet water & light laughter.
Luiscyfer
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Misericordia
Seeker
Italy
66 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2005 : 20:44:01
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There is N4-Treasure hunt, is an old module for AD&D (1st ed!), where the characters begins as 0 level.
I haven't played it, but maybe you can find some good informations about the gestion of no level pc.  |
Omnia sunt communia. |
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luiscyfer
Acolyte
4 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2005 : 02:07:46
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Thanks Misericordia, for the quick reply. However, after searching a bit online, I think finding a copy of the Greyhawk Adventures hardbound book published in 1988 would be just the thing. Roughly 9 pages of text is devoted to creating 0-level characters and I could use that as a basis for my system extrapolating and converting it to 3.5 edition game mechanics. Plus, taking what I want and leaving the rest.
If anyone happens to know of where this information can be obtained online without myself having to search for and buy the book itself, would be most generous. I realize this is a Forgotten Realms board and plan to use the 0-level info within my Realms campaign.
Thank You all again, Luiscyfer |
Edited by - luiscyfer on 26 Aug 2005 02:17:20 |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
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luiscyfer
Acolyte
4 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2005 : 22:23:39
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I'd like to thank those brave few for responding to my original post, and let everyone know that I have received the information requested by a very generous fellow by the name of Halaster, whom of course I'm sure has a special place reserved for him in Gamer's Heaven.
Thanks again everyone. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4689 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2005 : 22:55:47
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Under current system it appears that there can not be 0 level characters, further all are born as young adults *wink*
If you want to use 0 level in current system my best offer is start a Level 1 and apply a negitive level to them. Starting them at a negitive experience value. Once experience reaches 0 allow them to level up. You can allow them to be any class as a negitive level causes " -1 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, ability checks; loss of 5 hit points; and -1 to effective level (for determining the power, duration, DC, and other details of spells or special abilities). In addition, a spellcaster loses one spell or spell slot from the highest spell level castable. " with one modification , that minimun hit point can not be less then 1.
This is a quick answe that might meet your needs. NM (Normal Man) does not exist in 3.x Edition. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
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webmanus
Learned Scribe
Sweden
338 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2005 : 07:18:40
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Although it seems that luiscyfer is satisfied with the answers, I come with a some thoughts that I have had about 0-level NPCs:
- They have 1 hp.
- They have 0 - 4 skill point.
- They might have one feat.
- They have -1 on all Saves.
- They have several minus in ability scores.
- They start with -1,000 XP.
Actually, I have never created a 0-level character. But, I have some thoughts about it. For example, what would that young boy of 6 or 12 years know? Would that boy be also a 1st-level Commoner. No, I do not think so. So, I decided that I would have 0-level NPCs and would consider them, depending on their age, as 10%, 20%, 30%, and so on of the the appropiate 1st-level characters. All depending of the percentage, I would remove skill points, feats, and so on from the NPC. |
Link to my homepage: http://user.tninet.se/~bsu242v/ |
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Iliphar1
Learned Scribe
Austria
133 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2005 : 00:46:27
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start with 1 HP?
Did it ever occur to you, that even sowing might be lethal to such characters (if needles still make 1 damage in 3rd edition), let alone hitting your fingers while blacksmithing a tool...
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'You see dead bones? ... I see an army!' Ezechiel 37 |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4689 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2005 : 02:05:46
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The game was redesigned not to have 0 level characters. The negitive level appears best fix with a minimun of one hit point. After all you need to get to -10 before you die so can stabilise.
As far as it goes a needle prick could result in tetnus and kill you, a stubed toe could cause gangreen. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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webmanus
Learned Scribe
Sweden
338 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2005 : 10:33:42
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Hi,
Yes, 1 hit point. For example, a 1st-level wizard has 1d4 hp. A PC Wiz1 would then have 4 hp, while an NPC Wiz1 could have 2 hit points. Now, in a game where there are no 0-level characters (PCs or NPCs), how many hit points should such a character have, if such type of characters are added to the game? Well, I think that 1 hit point is OK. 0-level characters are in my view kind of 0 to 14 or 15 years old. So, a Wiz0 would have only 1 hp. Now, I can imagine using 0-level NPCs in my campaign. But then, they should stay out of adventures ...
Did it ever occur to me ... Yes, of course. At the end, it is just a game, a set of rules, that cannot be applied to all situations.
Best regards,
Webmanus |
Link to my homepage: http://user.tninet.se/~bsu242v/ |
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0-level character creation guidlines
