dimenion x question - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

dimenion x question

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
brokenoakleys
Apr 07, 2008 22:06:44 I'm going to run a variant of the dimension x campaign. One difference is going to be that ALL gates are somewhat unstable, with anywhere from DC 5-20 checks to avoid dimensional static, with the consequences of failure right out of the book (stunned, nauseous, lose con, etc.)

I'm considering giving each character a 'secret feat' that allows them to avoid those consequences, which is the reason they been selected to go on extra-dimensional adventures.

The feat will possibly include 1) +2 to fort saves for dimensional static; 2) only getting half the bad effects if they fail. Any other ideas for this 'secret feat'?

In order to keep the game balanced, (since they are getting an extra feat), I'm thinking they'll have to either 1) forgo a feat, 2) forgo 4 skill points, or 3) take a weakness of some sort.

Second question: should I penalize them in the above manner? If so, what should I do to balance the fact they are getting an extra feat?
#2
terjonwh
Apr 08, 2008 9:19:35
Second question: should I penalize them in the above manner? If so, what should I do to balance the fact they are getting an extra feat?

Don't do anything. Since the PCs will all have the feat they are all balanced. When comparing them to NPCs the extra feat will either not matter for the interaction between PC and NPC, or the NPC will have the feat as well.
#3
backstabbist
Apr 08, 2008 14:30:49 I agree.
The feat makes no difference to the NPC interaction.

The only reason you are having the PCs take the feat is because the campaign would otherwise penalize the PCs drasticly more than the NPC 'locals'.

Perhaps you should not call it a feat, since that seems to be the hangup.
Call it Training.
Those with the Dimentional Training get the benefits, but since those benefits have no effect on the Locals, the PCs would be greatly disadvantaged by losing a Feat for the training.

As you put it, the PCs already have an unfair disadvantage, they still might suffer dimentional effects that the locals wont, even with the Dimentional Training. Whether they have the training or not just determins if they PCs are severly handicapped or just disadvantaged compared to the Locals.

If you really need to call it a Feat,
give it to the PCs for free at 1st.
Then for balance give all NPCs the Karma Insurance Feat for free at first. Now the NPCs know that if they get a bogus afterlife, they can roll for a better post death situation by Karma Insurance.

Now everybody has a free useless feat, but the PCs still have to risk dimentional problems the NPCs dont, and the NPCs have too kick the bucket to benefit from thiers.
#4
brokenoakleys
Apr 12, 2008 15:47:18 Thanks to both of your for replying. I've decided not to penalize players by taking a feat away from them: they didn't choose it, no need to penalize them.

Whether NPC's have the 'double secret bonus feat' is variable in my campaign. There are going to be some beings, characters included, who have the 'gift' of being able to go between dimensions w/o suffering too many ill effects.

What I wound up doing is creating a series of consequences for suceeding failing a fort save, and bumping folks with the feat up one on the chart, but not giving them any bonus to the fort save itself. The chart is as follows:

Suceed roll by +10: no bad effects
Suceed roll by +5: shaken 1d4 rounds
Suceed roll: stunned 1d4 rounds
fail: nauseated 1d4 hours
fail 5 by or more: naueated 1d4 hours, lose 2d12 con
fail by 10 or more: go to -1 hp.

So a being with the 'double secret feat' who failed the roll by 2 would be stunned 1d4 rounds instead of being nauseated 1d4 rounds.

At higher levels it will be real easy to avoid negative effects, but I can easily compesate for that by creating higher DCs to save, throwing more NPC's with the double secret feat at the players, etc.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 brokenoakleys Apr 07, 2008 22:06:44	I'm going to run a variant of the dimension x campaign. One difference is going to be that ALL gates are somewhat unstable, with anywhere from DC 5-20 checks to avoid dimensional static, with the consequences of failure right out of the book (stunned, nauseous, lose con, etc.) I'm considering giving each character a 'secret feat' that allows them to avoid those consequences, which is the reason they been selected to go on extra-dimensional adventures. The feat will possibly include 1) +2 to fort saves for dimensional static; 2) only getting half the bad effects if they fail. Any other ideas for this 'secret feat'? In order to keep the game balanced, (since they are getting an extra feat), I'm thinking they'll have to either 1) forgo a feat, 2) forgo 4 skill points, or 3) take a weakness of some sort. Second question: should I penalize them in the above manner? If so, what should I do to balance the fact they are getting an extra feat?
#2 terjonwh Apr 08, 2008 9:19:35	Second question: should I penalize them in the above manner? If so, what should I do to balance the fact they are getting an extra feat? Don't do anything. Since the PCs will all have the feat they are all balanced. When comparing them to NPCs the extra feat will either not matter for the interaction between PC and NPC, or the NPC will have the feat as well.
#3 backstabbist Apr 08, 2008 14:30:49	I agree. The feat makes no difference to the NPC interaction. The only reason you are having the PCs take the feat is because the campaign would otherwise penalize the PCs drasticly more than the NPC 'locals'. Perhaps you should not call it a feat, since that seems to be the hangup. Call it Training. Those with the Dimentional Training get the benefits, but since those benefits have no effect on the Locals, the PCs would be greatly disadvantaged by losing a Feat for the training. As you put it, the PCs already have an unfair disadvantage, they still might suffer dimentional effects that the locals wont, even with the Dimentional Training. Whether they have the training or not just determins if they PCs are severly handicapped or just disadvantaged compared to the Locals. If you really need to call it a Feat, give it to the PCs for free at 1st. Then for balance give all NPCs the Karma Insurance Feat for free at first. Now the NPCs know that if they get a bogus afterlife, they can roll for a better post death situation by Karma Insurance. Now everybody has a free useless feat, but the PCs still have to risk dimentional problems the NPCs dont, and the NPCs have too kick the bucket to benefit from thiers.
#4 brokenoakleys Apr 12, 2008 15:47:18	Thanks to both of your for replying. I've decided not to penalize players by taking a feat away from them: they didn't choose it, no need to penalize them. Whether NPC's have the 'double secret bonus feat' is variable in my campaign. There are going to be some beings, characters included, who have the 'gift' of being able to go between dimensions w/o suffering too many ill effects. What I wound up doing is creating a series of consequences for suceeding failing a fort save, and bumping folks with the feat up one on the chart, but not giving them any bonus to the fort save itself. The chart is as follows: Suceed roll by +10: no bad effects Suceed roll by +5: shaken 1d4 rounds Suceed roll: stunned 1d4 rounds fail: nauseated 1d4 hours fail 5 by or more: naueated 1d4 hours, lose 2d12 con fail by 10 or more: go to -1 hp. So a being with the 'double secret feat' who failed the roll by 2 would be stunned 1d4 rounds instead of being nauseated 1d4 rounds. At higher levels it will be real easy to avoid negative effects, but I can easily compesate for that by creating higher DCs to save, throwing more NPC's with the double secret feat at the players, etc.