Skillbased D&D? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Skillbased D&D? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JimProfit
03-19-08, 10:09 PM It's my attempt to make D&D balanced by removing classes and allowing characters to customize their characters from the start..

SKILLPOINTS AT CHARACTER CREATION: 74
(more or less depending on the power level of the game)

---SKILLS----
Simple
Martial
Exotic
Firearms
Strength
Dexterity
Charisma
Intelligence
Wisdom
HP
Damage Threshold
Attack Bonus
AC
NoA
Fortitude
Reflex
Will
Spells Known

Stats As Skills:
Rather then distinguish between a bunchof individual skills, I jumbled them up into stats.. Bluff, intimidate, etc, they all fall under the charisma skill. In a way it hurts customization, but simplicity is better and it makes a character more powerful.

Feats:
Feats cost three skillpoints each to learn. You can only take a feat once. Some feats have been edited such as toughness (+3 hp and +3 damage threshold) Psionic Talent now gives a flat 4 powerpoints gain..

Armor/Shields:
One skillpoint to learn an armor or shield profficientcy.

Other feats with prequisites involving ceartain stats are ignored and only have other feat prequisites. (Probably increasing the power of feats several-fold..)

HP:
For every one skill point you put in HP, you gain 3 HP. Every character begins play with 10hp. When HP drops to zero, they die.

AC:
Your AC starts out at ten, you can increase your AC by one per two skillpoints.

Damage Threshold:
This determines when internal damage is triggerd, everyone's damage threshold startsout at 10. It works simaler to massive damage but you don't instantly die. It's a houserule for weapons.

Basic Attack Bonus:
You gain a base attack bonus with normal attacks.

Number of Attacks:
NoA for short. For eight skillpoints you can gain an additional attack. You can have no more then four attacks.

Fortitude/Reflex/Will
Gain a bonus on these saving throws...

Powers Known:
Slang term "PK", at the cost of a number of skillpoints equal to the Power's level x2. You cannot learn powers unless you have the wild talent fear or are naturaly psionic. Spells have been converted into powers.

Powerpoints:
Feats grant power points, you also gain additional powerpoints equal to your intelligence, wisdom, and charisma skill rank.

Manifestor Level:
One skillpoint per manifestor level.

Weight Capacity:
Your weight capacity is directly proporitionate to your skill score in strength.
<0: 6lbs
0: 10lbs.
For every point above 1, add an additional four pounds.

Abilities:
Special abilities are a case by case basis of how many skillpoints they cost and what exactly they do. Take this up with the DM.

RACES:
Races have to be converted to fit the new system. Though not offical, the new races might look something like this. What is notable is size does not lower damage dealt with weapons, only increases.

DWARVES:
+4hp.
+1 on damage threshold.

ELVES:
Naturaly psionic.
+1 bonus on martial weapon checks.

GNOMES:
Naturaly psionic
+1 bonus on simple weapon checks.

HAFLING:
+2 on dexterity checks.
+2 on strength checks.

ORC:
Darkvision
Poison bite (natural bite attack. damage: 1d4. Critical: 20. Internal Damage: 1 DC: 6 Foe makes fort save DC 12 or becomes unconsciousse.

Weapon Differances:
Weapons are dishing out more damage, it promotes people to take warriors instead of casters. Sense there's no strength modifier, melee weapons may need a boost in damage. Here's an example.

Bastard Sword:
Damage: 1d10+1 x2
Critical: 19-20
Internal Damage: 4
DC: 18

What this means: Ok, so the bastard sword is dealing 1d10+1 x2 damage with every hit (2 to 22 damage!) It automaticaly succeeds when you roll a 19 or 20 on your attack roll (regardless of opponent's AC), and internal damage is 4. So every round the foe has to make a d20 check 18 or higher or take 4 additional damage. (No skill modifiers to help you, jusre a pure d20 check!)

I let my friends make thier own characters with the system..

Amaya's Wizard:
HP: 33 (10 skillpoints) Manifestor level: 6 (6 skillpoints)
AC: 10 NoA: 1 Will: 3 (3 skillpoints) Intelligence: 9 (9 skillpoints) Internal Damage Threshold: 13 (3 skillpoints)
Powerpoints: 34
Feats: Wild Talent, x6 Wild Talent (21 skillpoints)
Powers Known: Teleknietic Force (6 skillpoints) Shadow Body (16 skillpoints)

Jame's Paladin:
HP: 57 (18 skillpoints) AC: 16 (6 skillpoints) NoA: 1 Internal Damage Threshold: 22 (12 skillpoints) Fort: 5 (5 skillpoints) Will: 8 (8 skillpoints) Number of Attacks: 3 Martial Weapons: 6
Special: Detect Evil (3 skillpoints)
Anuvrix
03-20-08, 09:22 AM To keep individuality, and still have the skills from the original system:

Call your list Ability List.
Add another skill to your list, like 3points to raise it, called Skills.
For each raise, it is a point bonus to skills. EX:

I put 12 AP on SKills, I now have 4 skill points per level to put on stuff like bluff, knowledge and such.

For the lack of stat bonuses, make it 4 points to raise and keep the original modifier bonus thing.
M-bark
03-21-08, 08:39 AM There is a thread in the House Rule board (I think) where someone has made a Single Class system (or rather, a classless system). You might want to check that out.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JimProfit 03-19-08, 10:09 PM	It's my attempt to make D&D balanced by removing classes and allowing characters to customize their characters from the start.. SKILLPOINTS AT CHARACTER CREATION: 74 (more or less depending on the power level of the game) ---SKILLS---- Simple Martial Exotic Firearms Strength Dexterity Charisma Intelligence Wisdom HP Damage Threshold Attack Bonus AC NoA Fortitude Reflex Will Spells Known Stats As Skills: Rather then distinguish between a bunchof individual skills, I jumbled them up into stats.. Bluff, intimidate, etc, they all fall under the charisma skill. In a way it hurts customization, but simplicity is better and it makes a character more powerful. Feats: Feats cost three skillpoints each to learn. You can only take a feat once. Some feats have been edited such as toughness (+3 hp and +3 damage threshold) Psionic Talent now gives a flat 4 powerpoints gain.. Armor/Shields: One skillpoint to learn an armor or shield profficientcy. Other feats with prequisites involving ceartain stats are ignored and only have other feat prequisites. (Probably increasing the power of feats several-fold..) HP: For every one skill point you put in HP, you gain 3 HP. Every character begins play with 10hp. When HP drops to zero, they die. AC: Your AC starts out at ten, you can increase your AC by one per two skillpoints. Damage Threshold: This determines when internal damage is triggerd, everyone's damage threshold startsout at 10. It works simaler to massive damage but you don't instantly die. It's a houserule for weapons. Basic Attack Bonus: You gain a base attack bonus with normal attacks. Number of Attacks: NoA for short. For eight skillpoints you can gain an additional attack. You can have no more then four attacks. Fortitude/Reflex/Will Gain a bonus on these saving throws... Powers Known: Slang term "PK", at the cost of a number of skillpoints equal to the Power's level x2. You cannot learn powers unless you have the wild talent fear or are naturaly psionic. Spells have been converted into powers. Powerpoints: Feats grant power points, you also gain additional powerpoints equal to your intelligence, wisdom, and charisma skill rank. Manifestor Level: One skillpoint per manifestor level. Weight Capacity: Your weight capacity is directly proporitionate to your skill score in strength. <0: 6lbs 0: 10lbs. For every point above 1, add an additional four pounds. Abilities: Special abilities are a case by case basis of how many skillpoints they cost and what exactly they do. Take this up with the DM. RACES: Races have to be converted to fit the new system. Though not offical, the new races might look something like this. What is notable is size does not lower damage dealt with weapons, only increases. DWARVES: +4hp. +1 on damage threshold. ELVES: Naturaly psionic. +1 bonus on martial weapon checks. GNOMES: Naturaly psionic +1 bonus on simple weapon checks. HAFLING: +2 on dexterity checks. +2 on strength checks. ORC: Darkvision Poison bite (natural bite attack. damage: 1d4. Critical: 20. Internal Damage: 1 DC: 6 Foe makes fort save DC 12 or becomes unconsciousse. Weapon Differances: Weapons are dishing out more damage, it promotes people to take warriors instead of casters. Sense there's no strength modifier, melee weapons may need a boost in damage. Here's an example. Bastard Sword: Damage: 1d10+1 x2 Critical: 19-20 Internal Damage: 4 DC: 18 What this means: Ok, so the bastard sword is dealing 1d10+1 x2 damage with every hit (2 to 22 damage!) It automaticaly succeeds when you roll a 19 or 20 on your attack roll (regardless of opponent's AC), and internal damage is 4. So every round the foe has to make a d20 check 18 or higher or take 4 additional damage. (No skill modifiers to help you, jusre a pure d20 check!) I let my friends make thier own characters with the system.. Amaya's Wizard: HP: 33 (10 skillpoints) Manifestor level: 6 (6 skillpoints) AC: 10 NoA: 1 Will: 3 (3 skillpoints) Intelligence: 9 (9 skillpoints) Internal Damage Threshold: 13 (3 skillpoints) Powerpoints: 34 Feats: Wild Talent, x6 Wild Talent (21 skillpoints) Powers Known: Teleknietic Force (6 skillpoints) Shadow Body (16 skillpoints) Jame's Paladin: HP: 57 (18 skillpoints) AC: 16 (6 skillpoints) NoA: 1 Internal Damage Threshold: 22 (12 skillpoints) Fort: 5 (5 skillpoints) Will: 8 (8 skillpoints) Number of Attacks: 3 Martial Weapons: 6 Special: Detect Evil (3 skillpoints)
Anuvrix 03-20-08, 09:22 AM	To keep individuality, and still have the skills from the original system: Call your list Ability List. Add another skill to your list, like 3points to raise it, called Skills. For each raise, it is a point bonus to skills. EX: I put 12 AP on SKills, I now have 4 skill points per level to put on stuff like bluff, knowledge and such. For the lack of stat bonuses, make it 4 points to raise and keep the original modifier bonus thing.
M-bark 03-21-08, 08:39 AM	There is a thread in the House Rule board (I think) where someone has made a Single Class system (or rather, a classless system). You might want to check that out.