A generic system idea: Would it be workable? [Archive] - Wizards Community

A generic system idea: Would it be workable? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
sooperspook
04-26-05, 04:37 AM A little background history : I've been working on a generic d20ish system for a while now. I had a look as the version given in the UA and, while it seemed ok , it wasnt really what i was looking for. Then i found d20 Modern. I really like the occupations (i used to play Warhammer RPG :D ), talents and base classes. Then i played with the system a little more.
This is what i came up with.

Hit Dice: HD will be based on creature type with the option to improve it using feats/talents.

Saves: Good,Bad, Medium saves will be based on race ( a little similar to original D&Ds race classes)

Class abilities: All class abilities will be either talents or feats.

BAB: Will be based on creature type with options to improve it through feats and talents.

BDB(Base Defense Bonus): Same as BAB.

Skills: Again based on creature type. Furthermore , for PC races, Craft and Proffesion are the only class skills. Other class skills may be granted depending on the occupation chosen.

Feats: In addition to the normal feats per character level, a character also gains a feat at every even numbered level. (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc). Most of the feats from the PHB will be available with some added/replaced by ones from d20 Mod (such as Combat Martial Arts replacing Improved Unarmed Combat)

Talents: Most of the Talents available from the d20 Modern as well as Urban Arcana etc.. Talents are gained at 1st level and every odd numbered level.(st, 3rd, 5th etc...)

The main problem is what to do about spellcasters? I was thinking of making a talent which grants spellcasting. maybe startng with 0&1st level spells and additional levels with more talents. problem: how do i deal with caster levels? i had previously thought about using incantations (watered down) and skill checks to replace the vancian system casting.

what does everyone think about this? any advice?

thanks all.
sooperspook
04-27-05, 03:07 AM Hmmm... Should i take from the lack of head shots taken in my direction that people don't think my idea too rediculous?
Eliza_Stormwhisper
04-27-05, 05:25 AM Ever heard of GURPS?
sooperspook
04-27-05, 06:39 PM GURS? Heard of it, Yes. Know how it works, No. Is it similar?
Sonn Athion
04-28-05, 12:22 AM Ever heard of GURPS?

Buahaha, GURPS is great
Masterful_Norg
04-28-05, 01:29 AM GURPS is a bit different from what you've got here. Personally I play an altered version of D20 Anime (sans feats, progessions, and with skills done a bit differently) and its the most versatile system I've ever played, though for some players and DMs it may be too versatile. What you're suggesting seems to be a very good subsequent step after the introduction of the Generic Classes and I hope to hear more about it in the future.
sooperspook
04-29-05, 01:55 PM Well , heres a little example of how I plan on handling the base PC races. With a few examples of Talents that would modify the base abilities.

Hit Dice: Humanoids d6.
* Talent : Resilient- Change hit die to the next higher die to a maximum of d12.

Saves: Elves-Fort Poor, Ref Good, Will Med; Dwarf- Fort Good, Ref Poor, Will Med, Human-Fort,Ref,Will variable.
*Talent: Resistant-Your Medium save now progresses as Good.

BAB: All use poor progression (as wizard).
*Talent: Combat Training- BAB improves to Medium.

BDB: Same as BAB.
*Talent: Defensive Training- as BAB

Skills: Humanoid - base skills Craft, Proffession. Gains 4 + Int. mod. per level. X4 at 1st level.
*Occupation- Warrior: Add Intimidate, Ride and Swim to skill list. Gain Armour Proficiency in Light Armour. Gain 1 Weapon Group Proficiency.
*Talent- Skilled : Gain an additional skill point per level from now on.

I was also thinking of adding generic Flaws to duplicate some of the base classes weaknesses. example: Studious- You spent most of your time studying and neglecting your physical health- Hit Die drops by 1 step (min.d4)

If i make spellcasting a Talent, a player could build a basic wizard by taking:-
Talent: Spellcaster,
Occupation:Wizards Apprentice,
Feat: Obtain Familiar,
Flaw: Studious,
Feat(from the flaw): Scribe Scroll.

What do you think?
Masterful_Norg
04-29-05, 04:02 PM I really like that idea quite a bit. Though I do occupations such that a character gains a bonus to perform any check related to that occupation. Thus if you have a character in a modern setting who has the occupations Cop and Computer Technician both bonuses are cumulative for when you want to search police databases to find a criminal's identity. In my games an occupation can be anything that the player imagines which we both agree can be classified as something one does or a role one fills.
sooperspook
04-30-05, 06:28 AM I'm using the occupations from d20 Mod and Urban arcana.

Also i'm making feats/talents that allow a char to add other skills to their list.

so this seems ok? any ideas on how to do magic?

i was thinking of a watered down version of Incantations maybe
Masterful_Norg
05-01-05, 04:09 PM I prefer at will casting such as the Warlock's to incantations myself. Anime D20's system of Attributes and Defects provides a excellent means for a character to create his/her own spells. Seeing as you're aiming for higher versatility you might want to check it out (for free of course).
Ut-Napishtim
05-01-05, 04:18 PM Yeah, um... I've got to go with Eliza_Stormwhisper and Sonn Athion. GURPS is great, you could save yourself a lot of work if you're looking for a more generic system. You can actually download the basic rules for free with a little .pdf called GURPSLite over at their website. So if you want to take a look at it it pretty much costs you nothing, and you might like it.
weasel fierce
05-02-05, 04:00 AM If its intended as a generic system, ditch classes and experience levels. NEither lend themselves well to generic play.
Leave them as options for heroic or iconic play.
sooperspook
05-02-05, 04:45 AM Thing is , i like the level system. especially since it makes it easier for me to judge the relative difficulty of a combat encounter.
weasel fierce
05-02-05, 04:56 AM Balance is a myth ;)

If you like it, keep it. Its your game :)
Just be aware that it makes certain playstyles hard or nigh-impossible to emulate. If those are not styles or settings you are interested in, then there's nothing to worry about.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
sooperspook 04-26-05, 04:37 AM	A little background history : I've been working on a generic d20ish system for a while now. I had a look as the version given in the UA and, while it seemed ok , it wasnt really what i was looking for. Then i found d20 Modern. I really like the occupations (i used to play Warhammer RPG :D ), talents and base classes. Then i played with the system a little more. This is what i came up with. Hit Dice: HD will be based on creature type with the option to improve it using feats/talents. Saves: Good,Bad, Medium saves will be based on race ( a little similar to original D&Ds race classes) Class abilities: All class abilities will be either talents or feats. BAB: Will be based on creature type with options to improve it through feats and talents. BDB(Base Defense Bonus): Same as BAB. Skills: Again based on creature type. Furthermore , for PC races, Craft and Proffesion are the only class skills. Other class skills may be granted depending on the occupation chosen. Feats: In addition to the normal feats per character level, a character also gains a feat at every even numbered level. (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc). Most of the feats from the PHB will be available with some added/replaced by ones from d20 Mod (such as Combat Martial Arts replacing Improved Unarmed Combat) Talents: Most of the Talents available from the d20 Modern as well as Urban Arcana etc.. Talents are gained at 1st level and every odd numbered level.(st, 3rd, 5th etc...) The main problem is what to do about spellcasters? I was thinking of making a talent which grants spellcasting. maybe startng with 0&1st level spells and additional levels with more talents. problem: how do i deal with caster levels? i had previously thought about using incantations (watered down) and skill checks to replace the vancian system casting. what does everyone think about this? any advice? thanks all.
sooperspook 04-27-05, 03:07 AM	Hmmm... Should i take from the lack of head shots taken in my direction that people don't think my idea too rediculous?
Eliza_Stormwhisper 04-27-05, 05:25 AM	Ever heard of GURPS?
sooperspook 04-27-05, 06:39 PM	GURS? Heard of it, Yes. Know how it works, No. Is it similar?
Sonn Athion 04-28-05, 12:22 AM	Ever heard of GURPS? Buahaha, GURPS is great
Masterful_Norg 04-28-05, 01:29 AM	GURPS is a bit different from what you've got here. Personally I play an altered version of D20 Anime (sans feats, progessions, and with skills done a bit differently) and its the most versatile system I've ever played, though for some players and DMs it may be too versatile. What you're suggesting seems to be a very good subsequent step after the introduction of the Generic Classes and I hope to hear more about it in the future.
sooperspook 04-29-05, 01:55 PM	Well , heres a little example of how I plan on handling the base PC races. With a few examples of Talents that would modify the base abilities. Hit Dice: Humanoids d6. * Talent : Resilient- Change hit die to the next higher die to a maximum of d12. Saves: Elves-Fort Poor, Ref Good, Will Med; Dwarf- Fort Good, Ref Poor, Will Med, Human-Fort,Ref,Will variable. Talent: Resistant-Your Medium save now progresses as Good. BAB: All use poor progression (as wizard). Talent: Combat Training- BAB improves to Medium. BDB: Same as BAB. Talent: Defensive Training- as BAB Skills: Humanoid - base skills Craft, Proffession. Gains 4 + Int. mod. per level. X4 at 1st level. Occupation- Warrior: Add Intimidate, Ride and Swim to skill list. Gain Armour Proficiency in Light Armour. Gain 1 Weapon Group Proficiency. *Talent- Skilled : Gain an additional skill point per level from now on. I was also thinking of adding generic Flaws to duplicate some of the base classes weaknesses. example: Studious- You spent most of your time studying and neglecting your physical health- Hit Die drops by 1 step (min.d4) If i make spellcasting a Talent, a player could build a basic wizard by taking:- Talent: Spellcaster, Occupation:Wizards Apprentice, Feat: Obtain Familiar, Flaw: Studious, Feat(from the flaw): Scribe Scroll. What do you think?
Masterful_Norg 04-29-05, 04:02 PM	I really like that idea quite a bit. Though I do occupations such that a character gains a bonus to perform any check related to that occupation. Thus if you have a character in a modern setting who has the occupations Cop and Computer Technician both bonuses are cumulative for when you want to search police databases to find a criminal's identity. In my games an occupation can be anything that the player imagines which we both agree can be classified as something one does or a role one fills.
sooperspook 04-30-05, 06:28 AM	I'm using the occupations from d20 Mod and Urban arcana. Also i'm making feats/talents that allow a char to add other skills to their list. so this seems ok? any ideas on how to do magic? i was thinking of a watered down version of Incantations maybe
Masterful_Norg 05-01-05, 04:09 PM	I prefer at will casting such as the Warlock's to incantations myself. Anime D20's system of Attributes and Defects provides a excellent means for a character to create his/her own spells. Seeing as you're aiming for higher versatility you might want to check it out (for free of course).
Ut-Napishtim 05-01-05, 04:18 PM	Yeah, um... I've got to go with Eliza_Stormwhisper and Sonn Athion. GURPS is great, you could save yourself a lot of work if you're looking for a more generic system. You can actually download the basic rules for free with a little .pdf called GURPSLite over at their website. So if you want to take a look at it it pretty much costs you nothing, and you might like it.
weasel fierce 05-02-05, 04:00 AM	If its intended as a generic system, ditch classes and experience levels. NEither lend themselves well to generic play. Leave them as options for heroic or iconic play.
sooperspook 05-02-05, 04:45 AM	Thing is , i like the level system. especially since it makes it easier for me to judge the relative difficulty of a combat encounter.
weasel fierce 05-02-05, 04:56 AM	Balance is a myth ;) If you like it, keep it. Its your game :) Just be aware that it makes certain playstyles hard or nigh-impossible to emulate. If those are not styles or settings you are interested in, then there's nothing to worry about.