(Almost) Anything Goes

[Nuke66]

I am pondering a barbarian or druid/MU.

Rolls I got coupled with the table mods would put a barbarian at AC2 naked with 18 hps, and an 18 STR to boot.

D/MU worked up like so: 10, 13, 18, 16, 11, 16, still formidable.

So Al, if you go ranger, I'd prolly do the druid/mu. But, if you go caster, I'd go barbarian. Could be interesting with two goody two shoes in the party.

[dmw71]

I was definitely leaning toward playing a Paladin, since it is my favorite class, but --

Oh, wait. I'm not playing in this game. Nevermind.

[Alethan]

I am pondering a barbarian or druid/MU.

Rolls I got coupled with the table mods would put a barbarian at AC2 naked with 18 hps, and an 18 STR to boot.

D/MU worked up like so: 10, 13, 18, 16, 11, 16, still formidable.

So Al, if you go ranger, I'd prolly do the druid/mu. But, if you go caster, I'd go barbarian. Could be interesting with two goody two shoes in the party.

Nuke, go ahead and start working up your Druid/MU combo, as I'm not going to play a caster type.

Last night when I was pondering it, I'd considered the barbarian. I think I'll either go Barbarian or Ranger.

Dave, do you have a PDF of UA in your dropbox? I'd like to read up a little more on the barbarian and my UA is at home (since I don't travel everywhere with a backpack of D&D books...).

[Alethan]

Never mind. Argennian had a link to it in his Dropbox on his game.

I'm good.

[Alethan]

Man, that XP requirement for barbarians is brutal (6,001 XP for 2nd level).

Even with the +50% XP bonus for being human, it's still the slowest leveling class.

I think I'm going to go for the Ranger.

[dmw71]

Dave, do you have a PDF of UA in your dropbox? I'd like to read up a little more on the barbarian and my UA is at home (since I don't travel everywhere with a backpack of D&D books...).

I know you later said to disregard your request, but I just wanted to point out for the benefit of everyone that hyperlinks to the reference materials used are provided in the 'General Game Information' thread (also copied below):

Commonly Used Abbreviations
1E PHB: 1st Edition Player's Handbook
1E DMG: 1st Edition Dungeon Master's Guide
1E UA : 1st Edition Unearthed Arcana
1E D&D: 1st Edition Deities and Demigods
---
2E PHB: 2nd Edition Player's Handbook
2E DMG: 2nd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide
---
5E: 5th Edition (or DND Next) Playtest Material

[dmw71]

Man, that XP requirement for barbarians is brutal (6,001 XP for 2nd level).

Even with the +50% XP bonus for being human, it's still the slowest leveling class.

Imagine a non-human Barbarian.

[Alethan]

Man, that XP requirement for barbarians is brutal (6,001 XP for 2nd level).

Even with the +50% XP bonus for being human, it's still the slowest leveling class.

Imagine a non-human Barbarian.

I know. I was thinking about a dwarven barbarian because I have an odd number of stat points to use and it doesn't matter if one of your stats ends on an odd number because it's no better than the next lower one (e.g. a 17 Dex is no better than a 16 Dex, as far as benefits goes). But then I pictured my 1st level dwarven barbarian running along side even multiclass characters with two full levels and a paladin and cavalier almost on their third and thought... nyah.

[onlyme]

I know. I was thinking about a dwarven barbarian because I have an odd number of stat points to use and it doesn't matter if one of your stats ends on an odd number because it's no better than the next lower one (e.g. a 17 Dex is no better than a 16 Dex, as far as benefits goes). But then I pictured my 1st level dwarven barbarian running along side even multiclass characters with two full levels and a paladin and cavalier almost on their third and thought... nyah.

Ahh, but he would be running. Our PCs will be the grandkids of the originals, while he is laughing off those missed attacks with his low AC.

[Alethan]

True!

Dang. Ok, maybe I'll think about it a little more.

[dmw71]

True!

Dang. Ok, maybe I'll think about it a little more.

Also note, the Barbarian is the only class that does not require training.

I'm actually in the process of re-thinking the currently posted costs to train, but the lack of training required for a Barbarian will remain intact.

[Alethan]

True!

Dang. Ok, maybe I'll think about it a little more.

Also note, the Barbarian is the only class that does not require training.

I'm actually in the process of re-thinking the currently posted costs to train, but the lack of training required for a Barbarian will remain intact.

Yeah, I had noted that. So does that mean once you get enough xp to level, then you automatically get everything bumped up? Or do you need to get a good night's sleep? Or... what is your ruling?

[dmw71]

Yeah, I had noted that. So does that mean once you get enough xp to level, then you automatically get everything bumped up? Or do you need to get a good night's sleep? Or... what is your ruling?

"A Barbarian character does not require training when gaining a level, needing only a night of rest."

[Alethan]

Yeah, I had noted that. So does that mean once you get enough xp to level, then you automatically get everything bumped up? Or do you need to get a good night's sleep? Or... what is your ruling?

"A Barbarian character does not require training when gaining a level, needing only a night of rest."

So... what are you trying to say?

[dmw71]

"A Barbarian character does not require training when gaining a level, needing only a night of rest."

So... what are you trying to say?

As experience points will normally be distributed once the party has returned to a location of safety or established camp in a new area they hope to be safe, if the Barbarian receives enough experience points to go up a level, they will be granted their new hit points immediately as part of their untrained level increase. Any new skills the character would add as a result of their level increase (e.g. 'May use magic potions' at level 3) will become available to them after the character has had a night of rest.

[Alethan]

"A Barbarian character does not require training when gaining a level, needing only a night of rest."

So... what are you trying to say?

As experience points will normally be distributed once the party has returned to a location of safety or established camp in a new area they hope to be safe, if the Barbarian receives enough experience points to go up a level, they will be granted their new hit points immediately as part of their untrained level increase. Any new skills the character would add as a result of their level increase (e.g. 'May use magic potions' at level 3) will become available to them after the character has had a night of rest.

Sorry... I should have added <sarcasm> tags to that.

[dmw71]

Sorry... I should have added <sarcasm> tags to that.

I thought I read sarcasm in your response, but figured I would formally define how the advancement would work. Going through the exercise in my head actually helped make sure it wasn't completely crazy.

[Stonjuz]

Now for a worksheet on spells

The dmwdmg says that two spells will be furnished. Just in case those two are not set in stone already, here is Shanny's wish list.

Cantrips Tie, Untie, Bluelight, Color, Firefinger
1st Identify, Detect Magic, Alarm, FeatherFall and Mount (but only if a large Sheepdog, Mastiff, St. Bernard type dog, with harness, is allowed), Write will probably be beneficial over the long haul too. Im probably going to pick from these depending on dmw's initial spells and whether someone talks me out of them.

Requests? Recommendations?

again, just a worksheet

[dmw71]

The dmwdmg says that two spells will be furnished. Just in case those two are not set in stone already, here is Shanny's wish list.

Cantrips Tie, Untie, Bluelight, Color, Firefinger
1st Identify, Detect Magic, Alarm, FeatherFall and Mount (but only if a large Sheepdog, Mastiff, St. Bernard type dog, with harness, is allowed). Im probably going to pick from these depending on dmw's initial spells and whether someone talks me out of them.

Is it safe to assume you are electing to keep the ability to cast cantrips?

I am currently in the process of composing my rules regarding 'Spells' and, in the process, have realized that there are certain details I didn't originally include when I originally posted the rules for the various spell-casting classes. Expect for there to be some clarifications and revisions to those classes in the very near future. In response to your inquiry, however, I've temporarily reworked the 'Starting Spells' section in the rules for Magic-Users, mostly just clarifying the two options:

1. Cantrips
2. No Cantrips

If you elect for your character to retain the ability to cast cantrips, which appears to be the route you're looking to take your character, you have two spell book options. Can you please review the 'Starting Spells' section and let me know which of the spell books you would like to begin with? Basically, you get to start with either 5 or 10 cantrips. If 5 cantrips, your spell book also holds 5 low-level spells (four of which will be assigned during initial character creation). If you elect to have the full 10 cantrips, your spell book will only hold 4 low-level spells, all of which will be assigned during the intial character creation process (this spell book will be completely filled).

I will be discussing what will be needed in order to obtain additional spell books as part of rules on 'Spells,' but they will be rather expensive (I haven't finalized my thoughts on this yet) but it is something to keep in mind.

Feel free to follow-up with any questions you may have... or, if you know for sure which spell book you want to begin with, let me know that, too, so I can inform you of which two (or three) 1st-level spells will be assigned to you.

[Alethan]

... and Mount (but only if a large Sheepdog, Mastiff, St. Bernard type dog, with harness, is allowed)...

What is this? Labyrinth?