Action points at Level 20 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Action points at Level 20 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
nYshak
02-21-06, 02:39 PM Hi there,

me and my group are taking a look at Eberron right now and like the idea of action points. However we never do epic levels. Instead we tend to retire our characters upon when they reach the original D&D level cap (20). Yet before we do that we always play for a long time at maximum level.

So here's my simple question:

In Eberron characters replenish their pool of action points by achieving a new level. But what do I do when said characters reach 20 and stay there? How are they able to come by new, fresh points?

PS: sorry if this has been asked a trillion times, but the search function seems to have been disabled for the moment
Riznar
02-21-06, 02:41 PM I don't think this could have been asked a trillion times because I've never heard of someone doing this. :P

Anyway, if your characters just hang out at level 20, just have their action points refill every 20,000 exp they "gain"
nYshak
02-21-06, 03:09 PM Whoops :)

Everybody else is going nuts about epic levels or what? Well, nobody in my group wants to one-hit dragons so epic levels simply are not for us.

Anyway thanks for the reply. Guess I could have figured this out by myself.
DanjaNinja
02-21-06, 03:15 PM Or just replenish action points every session. Not necessarilly to full, maybe just a single extra action point, so they still feel a need to conserve but they don't run out.
nastynate
02-21-06, 03:23 PM My players and I utilize action points for almost everything. I give them out as a DM for good role-playing, heroic acts, or exceptional feats of skill, rather than XP bonuses. My players utilize them every session, primarily for saving throws and skill checks, and only occasionally for attack rolls or auto-stabilization. I do limit the number of AP to one per round, so that somebody can't go nuts with their Bladebearer of the Valenar or Darguun Mauler feats during a full attack however.

I do not subscribe to the whole concept of individual xp rewards because I like to keep all the players on even ground when it comes to their level. Additionally I do not use automatic successes or failures on d20 rolls (totally unrealistic in my eyes, and the PCs love the complete absence of fumbles), so my players (in an environment where a natural 20 does not mean automatic success) have whole-heartedly embraced the action dice as a means to do the "impossible."

Given that only the PCs have AP, they alone are capable of deeds beyond their means. Heroes draw upon reserved of strength, will, or luck to overcome challenges normal men cannot. My players have totally bought into the fact they their characters are truly special individuals, and AP are the key.

All you need to do to make AP an attractive option is to first reward them and second provide an effective incentive to utilize them. The only significant impact it has had on the game as far as I've seen has been consistantly successful saves, skill checks, and the near obsolete status of the heal skill. but aren't the heroes suppossed to dodge bullets, and pull through against all odds? In short just reward AP for other things, besides level gaining. AP become an attractive reward if you really sell them, particularly if you have no intention of granting experience after level twenty.
nYshak
02-21-06, 04:17 PM The only significant impact it has had on the game as far as I've seen has been consistantly successful saves, skill checks, and the near obsolete status of the heal skill. but aren't the heroes suppossed to dodge bullets, and pull through against all odds? In short just reward AP for other things, besides level gaining. AP become an attractive reward if you really sell them, particularly if you have no intention of granting experience after level twenty.

I'll do what Riznar has proposed. They won't be able to gain levels beyond 20, but its no big deal to continue to distribute XP. Of course, I do not reward XP for fighting / killing only. We've always paid more XP for actual roleplay (hence we never used epic levels).
The point for me doing this is, that I don't want even more consistantly successful saves than what a level 20 character is already capable of. AP should be used when it really matters and not to bolster almost any roll. But that could start a hole new discussion so I'll stop here.
Once again, thanks for your answers.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
nYshak 02-21-06, 02:39 PM	Hi there, me and my group are taking a look at Eberron right now and like the idea of action points. However we never do epic levels. Instead we tend to retire our characters upon when they reach the original D&D level cap (20). Yet before we do that we always play for a long time at maximum level. So here's my simple question: In Eberron characters replenish their pool of action points by achieving a new level. But what do I do when said characters reach 20 and stay there? How are they able to come by new, fresh points? PS: sorry if this has been asked a trillion times, but the search function seems to have been disabled for the moment
Riznar 02-21-06, 02:41 PM	I don't think this could have been asked a trillion times because I've never heard of someone doing this. :P Anyway, if your characters just hang out at level 20, just have their action points refill every 20,000 exp they "gain"
nYshak 02-21-06, 03:09 PM	Whoops :) Everybody else is going nuts about epic levels or what? Well, nobody in my group wants to one-hit dragons so epic levels simply are not for us. Anyway thanks for the reply. Guess I could have figured this out by myself.
DanjaNinja 02-21-06, 03:15 PM	Or just replenish action points every session. Not necessarilly to full, maybe just a single extra action point, so they still feel a need to conserve but they don't run out.
nastynate 02-21-06, 03:23 PM	My players and I utilize action points for almost everything. I give them out as a DM for good role-playing, heroic acts, or exceptional feats of skill, rather than XP bonuses. My players utilize them every session, primarily for saving throws and skill checks, and only occasionally for attack rolls or auto-stabilization. I do limit the number of AP to one per round, so that somebody can't go nuts with their Bladebearer of the Valenar or Darguun Mauler feats during a full attack however. I do not subscribe to the whole concept of individual xp rewards because I like to keep all the players on even ground when it comes to their level. Additionally I do not use automatic successes or failures on d20 rolls (totally unrealistic in my eyes, and the PCs love the complete absence of fumbles), so my players (in an environment where a natural 20 does not mean automatic success) have whole-heartedly embraced the action dice as a means to do the "impossible." Given that only the PCs have AP, they alone are capable of deeds beyond their means. Heroes draw upon reserved of strength, will, or luck to overcome challenges normal men cannot. My players have totally bought into the fact they their characters are truly special individuals, and AP are the key. All you need to do to make AP an attractive option is to first reward them and second provide an effective incentive to utilize them. The only significant impact it has had on the game as far as I've seen has been consistantly successful saves, skill checks, and the near obsolete status of the heal skill. but aren't the heroes suppossed to dodge bullets, and pull through against all odds? In short just reward AP for other things, besides level gaining. AP become an attractive reward if you really sell them, particularly if you have no intention of granting experience after level twenty.
nYshak 02-21-06, 04:17 PM	The only significant impact it has had on the game as far as I've seen has been consistantly successful saves, skill checks, and the near obsolete status of the heal skill. but aren't the heroes suppossed to dodge bullets, and pull through against all odds? In short just reward AP for other things, besides level gaining. AP become an attractive reward if you really sell them, particularly if you have no intention of granting experience after level twenty. I'll do what Riznar has proposed. They won't be able to gain levels beyond 20, but its no big deal to continue to distribute XP. Of course, I do not reward XP for fighting / killing only. We've always paid more XP for actual roleplay (hence we never used epic levels). The point for me doing this is, that I don't want even more consistantly successful saves than what a level 20 character is already capable of. AP should be used when it really matters and not to bolster almost any roll. But that could start a hole new discussion so I'll stop here. Once again, thanks for your answers.