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Making Custom Classes

October 8, 2012 /

It's funny the things that come to you when you are working on rules for a specifically NON-D&D game. The KOHE system, which I've written about on Google+. I'm building a spell point system for it because characters do not have levels. Seeing how flexible characters are, I began to think about D20 style class systems again. (Near the end of the post is a link to a system I used to generate classes for a retroclone.) Here's what comes from rumination on custom classes.

I've read it somewhere that the only currency to manage classes in AD&D and older versions of D&D was Experience Points. Building on that premise, Crabaugh wrote a class creation system that allowed the creation of various classes whereby more power equaled more experience points per level.

In the 2e DMG, a similar system was developed, but the rules said upfront that the system couldn't be used to build the standard classes and that the rules were mainly designed for GMs to use for NPCs.

Then came Skills & Options (aka 2.5e).

I am still not a fan of it. However, the system did allow for a simpler way to do customized classes and multiclass characters. For example, even the PHB mentioned Priests of Specific Mythoi with different spell choices and alternatives to Turn Undead. I always created Priests of Specific Mythoi for my campaigns mostly for the alternatives to Turn Undead. At the time, I didn't always like the choices, but they made sense for Clerics of a God of War, etc.

Still, Priests of Specific Mythoi are still not different classes, just variations of the Priest class. What I want in making custom classes, I want something more than variations of a theme and a mixture of two existing classes. Since new class concepts are very difficult to come by, especially in a set of tables, at least let there be several forms of magic, unique abilities that do not currently belong to the standard five classes (thinking 2e) and a way to adapt spells into spell-like abilities. I realize that this is still variations of a theme, but at least it can add a sense of multiple cultures reflecting multiple ways of doing things.

For example, in 2e, the Shaman class had Spirit Magic. Invoking spirits required a ritual, but the spirit allowed for certain abilities and spells. It's not a spellbook and the spells are a mixture of traditional Mage and Priest spells.

Another example, outside 2e, would be a set of abilities centered around ghosts and shadows. I'm thinking more B/X and OD&D here. In the Basic Rules, shadows were explicitly defined as "not" undead. Going back further to Strategic Review #3, Ghosts were defined as "not true undead", either. (Yeah, I know that changed later, but work with me here.) An ability to temporarily grapple incorporeal creatures would be unique in any class-building system I've seen. As stated in an earlier post, this is also a natural segue to the use of psionics.

Some time ago, I wrote a Class_Generator that allows me to correctly generate the standard classes for Basic Fantasy. So, I wondered if I could adapt it to "add-in" these ideas. So far, adding in abilities that are equivalent to Turn Undead is pretty straightforward. Adding in the aforementioned Spirit Magic was pretty easy as well. However, trying to add in a Verb/Noun magic system is more complicated and I'm not quite there yet.

We'll see how progress goes.

RPG Class Generator

May 1, 2012 /

Chaoticshiny has two new generators out. A Rune Generator and an RPG Class Generator.

I love the idea of a Rune generator, even though I do not draw very well. I may use it to inspire the psionic combat chart...

Of great interest, though is the RPG Class Generator. In a sense, it reminds me of the Pars Fortuna rules. I don't know how flexible the ACKS system would be to this kind of treatment, but it makes some great results. Here's the first generated results I got. (Yes, I chose 4 classes.)

This class predominantly features exploring skills, aiding allies, offensive fighting and rituals. They are poor at cultural skills, crafting skills and agility. This class is associated with those from a specific background.

This class is best at speedy movement, cultural skills, battlefield control and a specific nature skill and is also capable with heavy weapons. They have no talent for magical melee combat, healing, physical ranged combat and wisdom. They draw power from the elements. They have one of several signature weapons.

This class is best at cultural skills, defensive fighting, charisma and exploring skills. They are especially bad at stealth, magical melee combat and physical strength. The class is restricted by philosophy.

This class is best at stealth. They are weak at a specific physical skill and cultural skills. They are better known for their non-combat skills.

Nothing hits me strongly about these first four. The first one makes me think of a spell-wielding Ranger. The third makes me think of a cross between a warlord and an invoker and thus more interesting. Let's try another roll:

This class is good at healing. They are weak at rituals, magical area effects, battlefield control and physical strength. They are best known for a specific skill. Certain subclasses are associated with certain philosophies.

A healer class. I guess you could say that this would be the exact opposite of a necromancer. (Vivamancer?)

This class is good at dealing with metaphysical entities. They are especially bad at mechanical skills, exploring skills and heavy weapons. They have a signature weapon. The class is associated with a particular race.

Metaphysical entities, eh? I think of metaphysical entities as things like Entropy, Chaos, Order, Life, Death, etc. It could be a specific type of mage or a meta-cleric. Meta-cleric meaning that no specific gods are invoked, but more of a metaphysical reality. Very Hindi in flavor...

This class is best at cultural skills. They are especially bad at a specific social skill, exotic weapons and rituals. The class has subclasses which can vary widely in their abilities based on region of origin.

Cultural skills. I have to figure out what that would mean.

This class is good at a specific nature skill, a specific physical skill and defensive fighting and is also capable with speedy movement and physical skills. They are not very capable with fighting multiple opponents, battlefield control and intelligence. Progression beyond a certain point requires an ordeal. They have a signature fighting style.

I don't know why this makes me think of a monk, but with an animal companion or totem of some sort.

Happy rolling!

More Alternate Cleric Stuff

April 1, 2012 /

One of things about using clerics without Spell Lists is that it fits well with Scott Ludwig's Basic D&D Custom Class Template. Since the ACKS custom system is really similar, once I get the Player's Companion, I can make comparisons.

The system uses thirds and halves, so custom classes are easy. 1/3 Cleric gets two categories, 2/3 Cleric gets four, 150% gets 8 categories.

For the Human Template, anyone choosing 200% for Divine gets all 11. I would like to have 12, but even one of my five additional categories is a bit of a stretch.

Looking at the sample Paladin at the link: d6 Hit Dice,  three categories, melee weapons as "Monster" and missile weapons as a Magic-User. I like the idea that not all Paladins are the same.

Will a 1/2 Cleric get a category at half strength? That's up to you. It complicates the formulas used to determine success. Since it's a custom class, though, you can just make a table for success.

If you go the full strength route like me, I simply changed the XP values for Divine. Basically, it matches the Arcane table. This breaks the system for calculating a regular Cleric, but since I allow a spell at 1st level, I use a different chart for Clerics anyway.

One other route could be to have a Piety score. By default it could be Level/3 for non-Clerics and set a Hit Dice limit on using the categories. This means a Paladin with Healing is not healing 2d6 hit points until 6th level and reaches a ceiling of 5d6 at 15th level. The other advantage of going this route is that you don't have to say "no spells at 1st level", the only category that can be used at 1/3 power is healing and that only equates to 1 or 2 hit points.

Still some details to work out. The Paladin still feels too powerful even with my change to the XP Table. (Which is 2125 XP to advance to 2nd level on my adjusted charts instead of 1750 xp on the standard chart.) Also, changing the Divine chart has consequences for non-human clerics.

Postscript

Here is the conversion of the Turning Formula for ACKS:

1d20 + ( 3 * (level of cleric - hit dice of undead) )
Hit dice of undead is increased by one for every special ability (asterisk next to HD number)

Success is adjusted roll of 10 or better

For example, 1st level cleric turning skeletons:

1d20 + (3 * (1 - 1) ) or roll 1d20 with a 10 or better.

As Keith Davies mentioned in the original G+ post, there's a better way to state it:

d20 + 3*level >= 10 + 3* (undead HD + special)

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