Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Feather 08-29-05, 07:47 AM	I really like the idea of action points. It rescues my party from bad rolling chains, gives them cool little actions to do when they really want something to hit or become more impressive. Problem is, I don't like the method they're awarded in the Eberron system. Getting them at level ups and them using them from there on in seems dull to me. I want to be able to give these out as treasure, or rewards for roleplaying or cool acts. I'm even thinking of having gems that when combined with a cantrip can burn out the gem and bestow an action points. The gem could be called 'solid luck' or something. Does anyone else use action points and bestow them differently to the eberron method? I would like to give them out for rewarding the characters, but I've no idea how to fairly and consistently. I mean, isn't the whole point of an adventurers life to do consistently amazing and daring acts? How can you give action points for that? Basically, I need a solid code for when and where to give them out. Any ideas?
Mirage_1 08-29-05, 07:56 AM	I give my players 1 for each session that went well and if I think a player really did well an additional 1 for that session I then cap it at 3 + level to encourage them to actually use the points
Feather 08-29-05, 08:30 AM	I like the three add level cap. In the past I've had players that hoard their points, which is fair, I suppose, but it still didn't exactly feel right. What do you think about action point gems? You can sell them or use them (burn them out) They cannot be bought.
curan69 08-29-05, 09:40 AM	Our group is just starting to use action points. We decided to start with 3 per session, but you dont acumulate them. So its use them or lose them. its worked out well so far, I used two the other night but our sorceress didnt even use one. I used one in combat when i needed to tumble better than i did, but the other i used when i tried to jump a raging river and didnt want to get wet. ( and it worked!!)
jukar 08-29-05, 10:26 AM	I give my players Action Points. They gain 1 AP/2 levels, plus 1 AP for each point of CHA bonus they have. Once AP is spent, it's gone, but they do gain back AP equal to their CHA bonus each time they level up, in addition to any new AP they may have earned for gaining a level. Of course, I probably don't use AP in the same way as it is used in Eberron. I allow them to spend 1 AP to increase the result of a roll by 1, 1 AP to reduce the result of an opposing roll by 1, 2 AP to reroll a roll altogether, 3 AP to automatically stabilize themselves after being dropped below 0 HP, and 10 AP to activate a sort of uber-feat that each PC can learn from a master of the appropriate character class. And at the end of each session, I award bonus experience to players who don't use their AP. The drawback to this is that it causes players to hoard points. Particularly powerful or minmaxed characters usually NEVER have to use their AP much, and furthermore don't want to, because they are experience hogs. Meanwhile, players who have compromised power for flavor or RP tend to use it like crazy, often needing that 3 AP autostabilization. Since I've already implemented it into the campaign, there isn't much I can do about it, except for stopping the flow of bonus XP. But there you go, it's probably really out of canon, but that's how I use it.
Seraph of Babel 08-29-05, 11:22 AM	IMC, I give 1d4 action pts. for each level, if the PC has made some progression towards a stated long-term goal. For e.g., the warforged PC wants to father the warforged race (the creation method is long lost). So if he did something during a level to promote that end, such as doing a quest for the ur-priests who will provide the secrets of imbuing constructs with intelligence, then he gets the action pts. for that level. A PC with no long-term goals to RP gets no action pt.
mhr74 08-29-05, 11:31 AM	Problem is, I don't like the method they're awarded in the Eberron system. Getting them at level ups and them using them from there on in seems dull to me. I want to be able to give these out as treasure, or rewards for roleplaying or cool acts. I'm even thinking of having gems that when combined with a cantrip can burn out the gem and bestow an action points. The gem could be called 'solid luck' or something. Does anyone else use action points and bestow them differently to the eberron method? I would like to give them out for rewarding the characters, but I've no idea how to fairly and consistently. I mean, isn't the whole point of an adventurers life to do consistently amazing and daring acts? How can you give action points for that? Basically, I need a solid code for when and where to give them out. Any ideas? My buddy uses action points and doles them out for good RPing at the end of some adventure sessions. Just dole em out when you want but not too frequently.
Sildatorak 08-29-05, 04:19 PM	I find that action points have a lot in common with force points from Star Wars RPG. In SW, you get force points when you level (I believe) and I know you can get them for performing a dramatic, heroic action. It has to be in a situation where you are at real risk and there are meaningful concequences for your action to qualify for the force point.
Feather 09-03-05, 01:29 AM	Seraph of Babel- I like that idea. Only problem is one of my evil party wants to become a god, and him following that storyline will result in my storyline being taken offtrack AGAIN.... Still, I'll consider it.
Tek 09-03-05, 01:48 AM	Er, yeah. I forgot this was not the Eberron boards. I just stick with the way Eberron uses AP's and it works fairly well. Rewarding them for Cha doesn't seem right to me.
Feather 09-03-05, 02:05 AM	Yeah, a good player uses a high cha stat for enough benefits that the other stat blocks. Sorcerors would also become pretty overpowered if you used the caster level 2 bonus there also.
jukar 09-03-05, 10:20 AM	Er, yeah. I forgot this was not the Eberron boards. I just stick with the way Eberron uses AP's and it works fairly well. Rewarding them for Cha doesn't seem right to me. You know, because Charisma is contributing so much else to a character. :rolleyes: Wouldn't want it to become too important or anything. After all, people might start dumping it, and we'd have a bunch of fighters running around with 8, 7, even 6 CHA, and no real penalty for it! Sure, they may not be the belle of the ball and be able to charm the pants off of people, but who cares? Eh, I'm just being spikey. Seriously, though, I've never had it become a problem, but then again, I limit the uses of AP, so sorcs can't just use their AP to bump up their CLs. If they could, though, I would probably agree.
Yak of Darkness 09-03-05, 12:41 PM	Never used AP in a game, although I'm still considering it for the new campaign starting up this fall. If I did, I'd award them the same way I did Drama Points in the Unisystem Buffy game the group played before (good RPG, too, if you ever get a chance to play). Everyone starts out with a set amount. Once played, they are gone. After an exceptionally momentous session (the killing of a big bad, a massive puzzle solved, etc.), everyone gets a bonus one. If, at any point, a player says or does something (in character, of course) that is so perfect in its heroism, or just crazy funny, they get another bonus one (limit one per session like this). Since D&D's a level-based game, I'd probably give out one upon gaining a level, too. Fits the system well enough.
Guy Humual 09-03-05, 04:57 PM	I really like the idea of action points. It rescues my party from bad rolling chains, gives them cool little actions to do when they really want something to hit or become more impressive. I like action points as well. It's one of the few things I liked about the d20 modern game. There's nothing worse then being at a critical junction in a story and rolling poorly. Problem is, I don't like the method they're awarded in the Eberron system. Getting them at level ups and them using them from there on in seems dull to me. I want to be able to give these out as treasure, or rewards for roleplaying or cool acts. I'm even thinking of having gems that when combined with a cantrip can burn out the gem and bestow an action points. The gem could be called 'solid luck' or something. I don't like the idea of giving them out as treasure but I do like the idea of giving them out as end of session rewards for accomplishing something significant, giving them as good RP rewards, or awarding them for doing something truly heroic in the game. Does anyone else use action points and bestow them differently to the eberron method? I would like to give them out for rewarding the characters, but I've no idea how to fairly and consistently. I mean, isn't the whole point of an adventurers life to do consistently amazing and daring acts? How can you give action points for that? Basically, I need a solid code for when and where to give them out. Any ideas? I think there needs to be a cap on action points. The idea of players hoarding them seems wrong to me somehow. It seems to me, that if you are constantly awarding action points in game, there needs to be some incentive to use them rather then stockpiling them. Ideally such a Cap should be based on level and reputation (does Eberron have reputation system?). In the absence of reputation use some other formula (like skill points per level + character level + cha mod) should be used. Action points awarded exceeding the Cap would be lost. Action points IMO should be use em' or loose em'. Keep in mind that I’m only recommending a Cap IF you plan on awarding action points in addition to those gained through level gain. Hope that helps :D
N-|) 09-03-05, 05:03 PM	The Eberron system has been working fine for me. When you level up you don't get to keep your old points so it keeps them from hoarding them.
Guy Humual 09-03-05, 05:25 PM	The Eberron system has been working fine for me. When you level up you don't get to keep your old points so it keeps them from hoarding them. So the Eberron system imposes it's own cap does it? Good to hear. I like the idea of action points, but I don't like the idea of people hoarding them and turning them into inaction points :rolleyes: .