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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Jan 2006 : 03:00:24
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Has anyone tried running a campaign where the PCs start off as Commoners, Aristocrats etc?
Something similar exists in 1st edition (For exmaple the Cavalier class had pre levels, and the FR module Treasure Hunt is designed for 0 level characters)
What I was thinking of is this
The PCs start off as teenagers ie 15-16 years old for humans
The Players start off with 1 level of an NPC class (ie Aristocrat, Expert etc)
The players are at -500xp when they reach 1 xp then they can choose a proper class
The players would choose their regional feats here
When they create their 0 level character they can either choose to assign all their Skill points or they can assign them during the adventure
At the end of adventure the players come in contact with some potential mentors (They may be locals or an adventuring band traveling through the area NPCs of around 4-6 level) who offer to train them. what class each player gets offered depends on what skills theyve chosen in there NPC class for example a player whose chosen a commoner whose taken ranks in knowledge religion will be approached by the cleric mentor and offered training as a cleric, a player whose character took ranks in Animal handling might be approached by a druid or Ranger for training etc.
Anyone done anything similar? Coments? Suggestions?
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“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36971 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2006 : 03:37:07
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I could see it, so long as the backstory supported it.
It makes sense, too. A fighter isn't born with a dagger in his hand -- he's likely been raised to follow another career path, and instead chose to pick up a sword. All of the former farmers, failed merchants, and bored scribes had to have learned another trade before they became adventurers... |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2006 : 03:37:15
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I actually have thought about doing this as well, though I have never implemented it. One thing to keep in mind is that not all NPC classes are equal. Commoners definately are not equal to the others, while Adepts and Warriors aren't quite as bad, and Experts and Aristocrats are nearly even to adventuring classes (but not quite).
Rather than give them negative xp, I would assign an xp cost to "buy" another class. For example, commoners would only have to spend 500 xp, Adepts and Warriors might have to spend 750 xp, and Experts and Aristocrats might have to spend 1000 xp to get thier next class. From that point on, let them keep their NPC class as a "free" class, and figure XP from the PC classes.
Experts, especially, work well for all of this. If they are "scholars" they can take several knowlage feats, and if they take say, knowlage (arcana), you have a prospective mage, while if they take knowlage (religeon) then you have a budding cleric. |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2006 : 04:10:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I could see it, so long as the backstory supported it.
It makes sense, too. A fighter isn't born with a dagger in his hand -- he's likely been raised to follow another career path, and instead chose to pick up a sword. All of the former farmers, failed merchants, and bored scribes had to have learned another trade before they became adventurers...
Yeah Im oppossed to the old "You all meet at an inn and decide to band together and kill something" sterotypical way of begining a campaign. It also gives the character a bit more depth. |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Eremite
Learned Scribe
Singapore
182 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2006 : 05:56:54
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The key question is: what do your players think?
Running a game based on PCs using the NPC classes could be a tad on the dull side for most players.
Green Ronin's Cavalier's Handbook includes rules for characters prior to 1st level (IIRC). That might be a bit more palatable to your players rather than playing a commoner or similar.
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2006 : 06:17:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Eremite
The key question is: what do your players think?
Running a game based on PCs using the NPC classes could be a tad on the dull side for most players.
Green Ronin's Cavalier's Handbook includes rules for characters prior to 1st level (IIRC). That might be a bit more palatable to your players rather than playing a commoner or similar.
They get to be commoner for 1 level as soon as theyve earn 500xp (Read as soon as theyve finished the first module) they will be able to take a their first level of Fighter/Cleric/Wizar/Bard/Monk |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Eremite
Learned Scribe
Singapore
182 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2006 : 08:28:26
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What about training time? After all, if your goal is a more realistic progression to 1st level, how do you account for the time it takes to become a 1st-level wizard or monk etc...? Does this pre-campaign take places over a period of years? How do you account for the differences in races?
Overall, I think you'll end up with something that has less verisimilitude than the archetypal, "You meet in a tavern...."
Also, I still wonder what your players think. Perhaps it would be better to spend the time/effort thinking of a way to start the campaign with something other than a tavern?
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2006 : 09:10:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Eremite
What about training time? After all, if your goal is a more realistic progression to 1st level, how do you account for the time it takes to become a 1st-level wizard or monk etc...? Does this pre-campaign take places over a period of years? How do you account for the differences in races?
Overall, I think you'll end up with something that has less verisimilitude than the archetypal, "You meet in a tavern...."
Also, I still wonder what your players think. Perhaps it would be better to spend the time/effort thinking of a way to start the campaign with something other than a tavern?
The 'presequel' starts when the characters are 15, the main campaign would start 3 to 5 years later which would account for raining |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2006 : 03:58:23
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| I have tred this one time and it worked out well. it was with 2E though. I have always wondered about the way adventuring bands can form and a lot are kind of cheesy. I am sure not many people are goping to grow up and say hey, I want to be a thief. circumstances in life dictate what we become. so long answer to a short question...good idea |
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Starting your Players off with NPC classes
