Dungeon Master Assistance

Where anyone over 18 can share thoughts and ideas on RPGs.

Tag Archives: player character

D&D 3.5 – Iconic Bard

Leave a comment Posted by on July 31, 2012

Thinking of playing a Bard? Here is an excellent article regarding the pros and cons of playing a Bard: Bards with Class By Skip Williams.

Here is the information for playing an iconic Bard character. Start with my post on Iconic Characters, then add this specific information.

Hit Die: d6

Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Perform, Tumble, Use Magic Device

Class Knowledge: History

Spells: A bard casts spells which are drawn from the bard spell list. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time. Every bard spell has a verbal component (singing, reciting, or music). A high Cha sore will grant you additional spells per day.

Bardic music: Once per day per bard level, a bard can use his song to produce magical effects on those around him (usually including himself, if desired). The creatures affected must be able to see and hear him, and he must be able to see them. The target of the effect will normally be required to hear the music for at least one full found for the effect to take place. He must maintain his concentration to maintain the effect. The specific effects he can achieve depend on his level and are explained below.

Special abilities: The following are the special abilities available to bards. The abilities are listed under the level that they are acquired. Where an ability is described as (ref PHB), you should refer to that ability’s description in the players handbook.

1st Level
Quick Draw: You can draw a weapon as a free action instead of as a move action. You can draw a hidden weapon as a move action.
Bardic knowledge: Add +2 class bonus to Knowledge (history) checks
Bardic music – Countersong: (ref PHB)
Bardic music – Fascinate: (ref PHB)
Bardic music – Inspire courage: (ref PHB)
2nd Level
No additional abilities are added at this leve.
3rd Level
Skill Focus (Spellcraft): You get a +3 bonus on all Spellcraft checks
Bardic music – Inspire competence: (ref PHB)
4th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Bardic music – Fascinate 2: Like Fascinate, above, but you can now fascinate up to 2 creatures.
5th Level
Replace Spell: Can “loose” a single 0-level spell in exchange for a different 0-level spell.
6th Level
Alertness: You get a +2 bonus on all Listen checks and Spot Checks.
Bardic music – Suggestion: (ref PHB)
7th Level
Bardic music – Fascinate 3: Like Fascinate, above, but you can now fascinate up to 3 creatures.
8th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Bardic music – Inspire courage 2: Like inspire courage above, but your ally’s now get +2 bonuses.
Replace Spell: Upon reaching 8th level, you can “loose” a single 0-level spell or 1st-level spell in exchange for a different spell of the same level.
9th Level
Skill Focus (Use Magic Device): You get a +3 bonus on all Use Magic Device checks
Bardic music – Inspire Greatness: (ref PHB)
10th Level
Bardic music – Fascinate 4: Like Fascinate, above, but you can now fascinate up to 4 creatures.
11th Level
Replace Spell: Can “loose” a single 0, 1st or 2nd  level spell in exchange for a different spell of the same level.
12th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Agile: You get a +2 bonus on all Balance checks and Escape Artist checks
Bardic music – Song of Freedom: (ref PHB)
13th Level
Bardic music – Fascinate 5: Like Fascinate, above, but you can now fascinate up to 5 creatures.
14th Level
Bardic music – Inspire Courage 3: Like inspire courage above, but your ally’s now get +3 bonuses.
Replace Spell: Upon reaching 14th level, you can “loose” a single 0, 1st, 2nd or 3rd level spell in exchange for a different spell of the same level.
15th Level
Improved Initiative: You get a +4 bonus on initiative checks.
Bardic music – Inspire Heroics: (ref PHB)
16th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Bardic music -Fascinate 6: Like Fascinate, above, but you can now fascinate up to 5 creatures.
17th Level
Replace Spell: Can “loose” a single 0, 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th level spell in exchange for a different spell of the same level.
18th Level
Spell Penetration: You get a +2 bonus on caster level checks (1d20 + caster level) made to overcome a creature’s spell resistance.
Bardic music -Inspire Heroics 2: Like Inspire Heroics, above, but you can now affect 2 allies.
Bardic music -Mass Suggestion: Like Suggestion, above, but you can affect any number of creatures that you have already fascinated (see above).
19th Level
Bardic music -Fascinate 7: Like Fascinate, above, but you can now fascinate up to 7 creatures.
20th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Bardic music -Inspire Courage 4: Like inspire courage above, but your ally’s now get +4 bonuses.
Replace Spell: Can “loose” a single 0, 1st, 2nd, 3rd ,4th or 5th level spell in exchange for a different spell of the same level.
House Rules , , , , ,

D&D 3.5 – Iconic Barbarian

Leave a comment Posted by on July 27, 2012

Thinking of playing a Barbarian? Here is an excellent article regarding  the pros and cons of playing a barbarian: Barbarians with Class   By Skip Williams.

Here is the information for playing an iconic Barbarian character. Start with my post on Iconic Characters, then add this specific information.

Hit Die: d12

Class Skills: Climb, Intimidate, Jump, Swim

Class Knowledge: Geography

Illiteracy: Barbarians are not illiterate unless the player wants to play them that way.

Alignment: Barbarians are not required to be of a non-lawful alignment. Any alignment, or no alignment, is okay.

Special abilities: The following are the special abilities available to barbarians. The abilities are listed under the level that they are acquired.

1st Level
Run: When running, you move five times your normal speed (if wearing medium, light, or no armor and carrying no more than a medium load) or four times your speed (if wearing heavy armor or carrying a heavy load). If you make a jump after a running start (see the Jump skill description), you gain a +4 bonus on your Jump check. While running, you retain your Dexterity bonus to AC.
Fast Movement: Add +10 to speed (except when wearing heavy armor or caring a heavy load).
Rage 1/day: once a day, temporarily gain a +4 STR bonus, a +4 CON bonus, and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, but take a –2 penalty to Armor Class. A fit of rage lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the character’s (newly improved) CON modifier. At the end of the rage, he loses the rage modifiers and becomes fatigued (–2 penalty to Strength, –2 penalty to Dexterity, can’t charge or run) for the duration of the current encounter.
2nd Level
Uncanny Dodge: Retain Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) when flat-footed.
3rd Level
Athletic: You get a +2 bonus on all Climb checks and Swim checks.
Trap sense: +1 bonus on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps.
4th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Rage 2/day: Rage as above, but you can now rage up to 2 times per day.
5th Level
Improved uncanny dodge: Can not be flanked.
6th Level
Endurance: You gain a +4 bonus on the following checks and saves: Swim checks made to resist nonlethal damage, Constitution checks made to continue running, Constitution checks made to avoid nonlethal damage from a forced march, Constitution checks made to hold your breath, Constitution checks made to avoid nonlethal damage from starvation or thirst, Fortitude saves made to avoid nonlethal damage from hot or cold environments, and Fortitude saves made to resist damage from suffocation. Also, you may sleep in light or medium armor without becoming fatigued.
Trap sense +2: As above but +2 to Reflex saves and AC vs. traps.
7th Level
Damage reduction -1: Subtract 1 from damage received from a weapon or a natural attack.
8th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Rage 3/day: Rage as above, but you can now rage up to 3 times per day.
9th Level
Diehard: When reduced to between -1 and -9 hit points, you automatically become stable. You don’t have to roll d% to see if you lose 1 hit point each round. When reduced to negative hit points, you may choose to act as if you were disabled, rather than dying. You must make this decision as soon as you are reduced to negative hit points (even if it isn’t your turn). If you do not choose to act as if you were disabled, you immediately fall unconscious.
Trap sense +3: As above but +3 to Reflex saves and AC vs. traps.
10th Level
Damage reduction -2: As above but -2 to damage.
11th Level
Greater rage: As Rage above but STR and CON bonus becomes +6, and Will saves bonus becomes +3. The penalty to AC remains at -2.
12th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Great Fortitude: You get a +2 bonus on all Fortitude saving throws.
Rage 4/day: Greater rage as above, but you can now rage up to 4 times per day.
Trap sense +4: As above but +4 to Reflex saves and AC vs. traps.
13th Level
Damage reduction -3: As above but -3 to damage.
14th Level
Indomitable will: While in a rage, +4 bonus on Will saves to resist enchantment spells.
15th Level
Persuasive: You get a +2 bonus on all Bluff checks and Intimidate checks.
Trap sense +5: As above but +5 to Reflex saves and AC vs. traps.
16th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Damage reduction -4: As above but -4 to damage.
Rage 5/day: Greater rage as above, but you can now rage up to 5 times per day.
17th Level
Tireless rage: No longer become fatigued at the end of a rage.
18th Level
Toughness: You gain +3 hit points.
Trap sense +6: As above but +5 to Reflex saves and AC vs. traps.
19th Level
Damage reduction -5: As above but -5 to damage.
20th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Mighty Rage: As Rage above but STR and CON bonus becomes +8, and Will saves bonus becomes +5. The penalty to AC remains at -2.
Rage 6/day: Mighty rage as above, but can now rage up to 6 times per day.
House Rules , , , , ,

D&D 3.5 – Iconic D&D Characters

2 Comments Posted by on July 27, 2012

In my D&D Lite games everyone plays an iconic D&D character. These are the 11 core classes, without regard to race or sex, with each class being the “typical” stereotype character for that class. All of the class descriptions in the players handbook apply with these exceptions:

Weapon  and  Armor  Proficiency:  These are not assigned per class. You start out only proficient with the armor and weapons you own.  You can quickly become proficient with other armor and weapons by using them in combat.

Quest skills: All characters have some experience with these skills: Diplomacy, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, and Spot. Skill check modifiers for these skills will include a bonus equal to your class level.

Class Skills: [These are different from the class skills listed in the players handbook.] Each class has a set of skills they are especially good at. This may reflect special training in that skill. Members of the class receive a +3 class bonus to these skill checks as well as a bonus equal to your class level.

Alignment: Other than clerics whose alignment must match that of their deity and paladins whose alignment is always Lawful Good, your character can be of any non-evil alignment or no alignment at all.

Feats: We aren’t using feats. Each class receives specific abilities (many are identical to feats) presented for each class at each level.

I will be posting the specifics for each individual class seperately.

House Rules , , , , , , ,

D&D 3.5 – Eliminating Feats

Leave a comment Posted by on July 20, 2012

“In a classic D&D game you might make one choice: dwarf. Then you fill in all the other details if you like. In AD&D, you make two choices: dwarf and fighter. Again, you fill in all the other details. As the game evolved, players gained more choices to help create the character they wanted to play. Second Edition expanded the proficiency system and introduced kits. Third Edition replaced proficiencies with skills and feats, and it added prestige classes. Fourth Edition ditched prestige classes but brought in paragon paths, epic destinies, backgrounds, and themes.” Form: Beyond Class and Race

I have mentioned before that I prefer Third Edition to any of the others. However, I really enjoyed the open-endedness and fun of First edition. To bring back some of the feel of First Edition I have proposed to require only that you select a race and class. All of your player character’s skills and abilities – which improve as you advance in level – are determined based on those first two choices. The one exception is a single additional skill of your choosing that you can add to represent your characters background and the type of character you want to play. This skill will also improve as you advance in level.

Some objections that I hear to removing feats: “Feats are the principle means for customizing my character. Won’t a total lack of build options and feats make all the characters the same? How will I make a character that is unique and matches my vision of the character I want to play?”

My answer to these objections is that the characters that people played in the First and Second editions were as varied as 90% of the characters being played in later editions. You vision of your character and how you actually play that character has more to do with the type of character than any combination of feats and skills. Furthermore, I find that most players tend to choose the same feats all of the time. Rather than attempting to make a character that has a fun story they tend to design characters for maximum combat effectiveness. To eliminate feats and have D&D v3.5 play more like the early versions of the game, I provide each different character class with its own set of special abilities. Many of these abilities are identical to feats. As the character advances in level additional abilities are added. For this to work, you can not play a multiclass character. All characters become iconic D&D characters. These are the eleven core classes, without regard to race or sex, with each class being the “typical” stereotype character for that class.

House Rules , , , , ,

Newer posts →