Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Galdor_Ester 08-20-04, 10:17 AM	I have started having my players start play at 2nd level but I require that they use one of the NPC classes (warrior, expert, etc.) for first level for background. My players have loved it so far because it really helps with the background. If the player comes from a family of commoners, then he should have the skills of a commoner. The Blacksmith's son should have those skills as well. I want to see how other people feel about this ideal. Galdor Ester, he brings bad things to life!
Tempus665 08-20-04, 10:30 AM	Sounds like a neat idea, as long as your players agree. I know my players would hate it, but they've got attitude problems ;)
Galdor_Ester 08-20-04, 10:58 AM	I think it only works well if your group is more into role playing and use skills/feats heavily. It has been rewarding because the blacksmith's son can make armor/weapons for the party by renting a forge instead of buying equipment at the outrageous prices normally charged. This way they get masterwork items at standard gear prices. It helps for the wizard (a commoner) to then add magic to their items. That is why I started doing it. The players kept saying "but my character should know how to do that since it is in his background." Now they have the proper skills and feats. Galdor Ester, he brings bad things to life!
GothicDan 08-20-04, 01:49 PM	"The players kept saying "but my character should know how to do that since it is in his background."" *Blinks* If they were complaining about that, why didn't they put points in the right skills to start with, reflecting their characters' backgrounds? Seems a bit whiney to me. ;)
Galdor_Ester 08-20-04, 03:52 PM	Class skills verus cross-class. Not all the classes have Craft as a class skill. But a character background NPC class gives you access to them... There is also the role playing aspect of it. It makes the background creation much easier. Besides, it means I don't start them off at first level anymore... Galdor Ester, he brings bad things to life!
EmeraldFox 08-20-04, 04:09 PM	What my DM did with my friend was this. My friend wrote in his background that he was a lumberjack's son and that's what he did until he decided to adventure. So, my DM made him give his human fighter weapon focus(battleaxe), as one of his three 1st level feats since he already used an axe for years. Just a suggestion.
GothicDan 08-20-04, 04:10 PM	Oh, right. :) I sometimes forget about cross-class skills in stuff since I don't play 3E regularly. That was one of the few good things about starting at 0 level in 2E. You got some basic proficiencies based on your life/profession to begin with, and since you had no class, you didn't have any class-specific proficiencies. I think this could be adapted to 3E, too, if a DM really wanted to. But your campaign sounds fun, in my opinion. :) I'd love to play like a scribe or something.
Alisttair 08-20-04, 07:06 PM	I like the idea. It makes for great RP. Horrible powergaming though, but who cares....well some of my players....i mean most of them.....ah well...