Balancing weaker spellcasters in homemade campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Balancing weaker spellcasters in homemade campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mortificator
12-31-04, 01:57 PM I'm currently working on a new campaign setting for D&D, including new creatures (such as a whole new type of outsider), over 20 new prestige classes, 3 new base classes, and either modification or total elimination on current base classes. Currently, my biggest problem is clerics.

In the world I'm creating, magic is rare, arcanist are very few and far between, druids are found only in the furthest reaches of the land, thus leaving clerics as the only "normal" spellcasting class (barring bard, paladin, and ranger). However, the world has only recently had undead appear upon it, so I thought perhaps clerics should not start out being able to turn (perhaps a feat thet could take). Secondly, I've cut back their spells for two reasons. One, death is final in this world short of epic spellcasting, so no raise dead, ressurrection, etc. Two, the art of nercomancy is learned only by those who deal with demons, so no animate dead, create undead, etc.

Obviously, this cuts back on the cleric's biggest advantages, so I'm trying to decide on something to give back to make up for it, other than being the most numerous spellcasters on the world. Granted, useful on a campaign-scale, but not to the standard PC.
Sarig the Genie
12-31-04, 02:09 PM You could do it Eberron style; most people in the churches are adepts or experts, clerics are the rare champions of fate (:
RPGfish
12-31-04, 05:35 PM It depends on how common the undead are.
You could add a few extra abilities to the clerics, or just make them more able to fight.
DM Zoc
12-31-04, 07:59 PM Turning undead isn't a skill, though; all it requires is the faith of a true believer. A holy symbol, wielded with conviction, should protect you from the undead, whether or not you know what you're doing with it.

I suggest either include turning or don't; but don't make it a learned thing.

Maybe make it a "hidden" power. Don't let the player know that it works, but if they ever try it, make secret rolls (don't even let the player see which dice are being rolled).
Mortificator
12-31-04, 10:27 PM I like the idea of most "clerics" being adepts instead, though I'd still have to scratch animate dead and raise dead from their spell lists and replace them with other spells. However, that would make clerics a prestige class somewhat, so what about PCs? I doubt a player would want to start out as an adept, since they're quite weaker than other spellcasters.
Bearfoot
12-31-04, 10:37 PM Well, then, time for some brainstorming.

Perhaps PC clerics are chosen of the gods and therefore granted special abilities and such.

perhaps a cleric in your world is more akin to a paladin and has better fighting abilities.

Just tossing some ideas out here.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mortificator 12-31-04, 01:57 PM	I'm currently working on a new campaign setting for D&D, including new creatures (such as a whole new type of outsider), over 20 new prestige classes, 3 new base classes, and either modification or total elimination on current base classes. Currently, my biggest problem is clerics. In the world I'm creating, magic is rare, arcanist are very few and far between, druids are found only in the furthest reaches of the land, thus leaving clerics as the only "normal" spellcasting class (barring bard, paladin, and ranger). However, the world has only recently had undead appear upon it, so I thought perhaps clerics should not start out being able to turn (perhaps a feat thet could take). Secondly, I've cut back their spells for two reasons. One, death is final in this world short of epic spellcasting, so no raise dead, ressurrection, etc. Two, the art of nercomancy is learned only by those who deal with demons, so no animate dead, create undead, etc. Obviously, this cuts back on the cleric's biggest advantages, so I'm trying to decide on something to give back to make up for it, other than being the most numerous spellcasters on the world. Granted, useful on a campaign-scale, but not to the standard PC.
Sarig the Genie 12-31-04, 02:09 PM	You could do it Eberron style; most people in the churches are adepts or experts, clerics are the rare champions of fate (:
RPGfish 12-31-04, 05:35 PM	It depends on how common the undead are. You could add a few extra abilities to the clerics, or just make them more able to fight.
DM Zoc 12-31-04, 07:59 PM	Turning undead isn't a skill, though; all it requires is the faith of a true believer. A holy symbol, wielded with conviction, should protect you from the undead, whether or not you know what you're doing with it. I suggest either include turning or don't; but don't make it a learned thing. Maybe make it a "hidden" power. Don't let the player know that it works, but if they ever try it, make secret rolls (don't even let the player see which dice are being rolled).
Mortificator 12-31-04, 10:27 PM	I like the idea of most "clerics" being adepts instead, though I'd still have to scratch animate dead and raise dead from their spell lists and replace them with other spells. However, that would make clerics a prestige class somewhat, so what about PCs? I doubt a player would want to start out as an adept, since they're quite weaker than other spellcasters.
Bearfoot 12-31-04, 10:37 PM	Well, then, time for some brainstorming. Perhaps PC clerics are chosen of the gods and therefore granted special abilities and such. perhaps a cleric in your world is more akin to a paladin and has better fighting abilities. Just tossing some ideas out here.