Personal Trainer - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Personal Trainer

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
new_fashion_guy
Oct 20, 2008 19:05:20 I'm working on a campaign that will bring characters from several times and places together. The first player has built a tricked out robot with lots of internal gear, which leaves me with the following issue: how could a character from the modern world spend his/her wealth down to get goodies even remotely as good?

So I came up with the idea of "personal trainer". This will only be available to Modern characters; D&D-type characters have magic as an advantage, and can buy magic items to make up for the difference.

The "personal trainer" allows Modern Characters to raise their Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution by 1 point for a purchase DC of 20. Considering this will only be available at start of play, and that the characters are starting at level 4 and so will only be able to afford a limited number of DC 20 items, does this seem overbalancing?
#2
new_fashion_guy
Oct 21, 2008 11:17:18 I'm thinking now that I need to boost the DC up, maybe to like 25, and allow a maximum of 2 purchases. Any opinions or suggestions?
#3
evilnerf
Oct 22, 2008 18:06:00 I take it you're using characters from Both D&D and d20 Modern

If so, bad idea. Your best bet is to just use d20 modern rules for both sets of people (use the basic classes and then others like Shadow Hunter, Soldier, Martial Artist, Mystic, etc to replicate the DnD classes) That way everyones on the same plane gameplay wise.

You really cant balance "Has a Giant Robot vs. Doesn't have a giant robot".
#4
new_fashion_guy
Oct 23, 2008 14:42:52
I take it you're using characters from Both D&D and d20 Modern

If so, bad idea. Your best bet is to just use d20 modern rules for both sets of people (use the basic classes and then others like Shadow Hunter, Soldier, Martial Artist, Mystic, etc to replicate the DnD classes) That way everyones on the same plane gameplay wise.

You really cant balance "Has a Giant Robot vs. Doesn't have a giant robot".

It's not D&D vs. Modern that's the problem. It's Future vs. Modern. My one PC so far is a robot, tricked out with internalized future gadgets. While it makes perfect sense that the D&D-ers will be carrying magic items worth as much as all those gadgets put together, what can a Modern character purchase, that makes sense to be walking around with, that costs upwards of $50,000?
#5
new_fashion_guy
Oct 23, 2008 14:43:47 BTW, there's no giant robots, starships, or vehicle class plasma weapons available at the start of the game.
#6
nobodez_here
Oct 23, 2008 21:48:47 Well, if you allow the gadget system for PL5 items (which is allowed per the gadget rules), then allow the Modern (ass opposed to future) PC use PL5 and early PL6 items. Also, crib from d20 Apoc for certain items.

If I were a Modern PC, I'd want to make sure I had my truck, preferably a flex-fuel gas/electric hybrid (which is available in 2008), along with the ethanol still I need to keep it working, a solar powered battery charger, ammo, ammo-reloader, and extra bullets, powder, and primers, water purifiers, mastercraft firearms, gadget-heavy weapons and armor (to maximize the benefit while minimizing the penalties), and then bring other gear that is practical, but benefits from the stronger materials and better manufacturing of the modern era (nylon rope vs. hemp, backpacks that distribute weight better).
#7
new_fashion_guy
Oct 24, 2008 8:58:56 I guess what I'm looking for is something for the Modern non-combat character to spend his/her Wealth on that is useful and goes with the person. Can I get a critique of the idea in general; so far responses have all been alternatives to my Personal Trainer idea, which are fine, but what I'm looking for is an opinion on the idea itself. And if the opinion is "bad idea", an explanation of why it's bad/overbalanced, etc. Keep in mind D&D characters can get access to tomes that raise abilities permenantly, and Future characters can purchase cyberware or robot ability upgrades.
#8
kelvic_dup
Oct 26, 2008 13:40:57 The personal trainer idea is a two bladed sword as it can be both good and bad to the character.
The reason i say this is for the simple fact that with only two uses you can get two points on the abilities not bad now here is the bad part the dicision between what one they want the bonuses in but they only get a tottal of two and in the long run its good but also you have to look at the time and also the darection you want your game to go. as for the other things Yes the D&D is compatible with D20 but you have to think about how they can get their gear enchanted and how they would react with the world ie cell phone=deamon, fast food=tasty, gold=very rich and so on also they could get cut down very fast by any type of firearm even the 2d4 is fairly dangerous unless you customise the armor and give it a damage reduction bonus so the D&D characters arnt blown away befor they get within range for a spear or sword or whatever weapon they may be weilding.
But back on topic the idea in and of itself is not bad but a robot still surpasses even that you couls always allow certain mods to be only avalible to the modern player like extended mag, AP rounds, and so on and so forth.
#9
new_fashion_guy
Oct 27, 2008 8:36:42 Thanks for the feedback and suggestions.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 new_fashion_guy Oct 20, 2008 19:05:20	I'm working on a campaign that will bring characters from several times and places together. The first player has built a tricked out robot with lots of internal gear, which leaves me with the following issue: how could a character from the modern world spend his/her wealth down to get goodies even remotely as good? So I came up with the idea of "personal trainer". This will only be available to Modern characters; D&D-type characters have magic as an advantage, and can buy magic items to make up for the difference. The "personal trainer" allows Modern Characters to raise their Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution by 1 point for a purchase DC of 20. Considering this will only be available at start of play, and that the characters are starting at level 4 and so will only be able to afford a limited number of DC 20 items, does this seem overbalancing?
#2 new_fashion_guy Oct 21, 2008 11:17:18	I'm thinking now that I need to boost the DC up, maybe to like 25, and allow a maximum of 2 purchases. Any opinions or suggestions?
#3 evilnerf Oct 22, 2008 18:06:00	I take it you're using characters from Both D&D and d20 Modern If so, bad idea. Your best bet is to just use d20 modern rules for both sets of people (use the basic classes and then others like Shadow Hunter, Soldier, Martial Artist, Mystic, etc to replicate the DnD classes) That way everyones on the same plane gameplay wise. You really cant balance "Has a Giant Robot vs. Doesn't have a giant robot".
#4 new_fashion_guy Oct 23, 2008 14:42:52	I take it you're using characters from Both D&D and d20 Modern If so, bad idea. Your best bet is to just use d20 modern rules for both sets of people (use the basic classes and then others like Shadow Hunter, Soldier, Martial Artist, Mystic, etc to replicate the DnD classes) That way everyones on the same plane gameplay wise. You really cant balance "Has a Giant Robot vs. Doesn't have a giant robot". It's not D&D vs. Modern that's the problem. It's Future vs. Modern. My one PC so far is a robot, tricked out with internalized future gadgets. While it makes perfect sense that the D&D-ers will be carrying magic items worth as much as all those gadgets put together, what can a Modern character purchase, that makes sense to be walking around with, that costs upwards of $50,000?
#5 new_fashion_guy Oct 23, 2008 14:43:47	BTW, there's no giant robots, starships, or vehicle class plasma weapons available at the start of the game.
#6 nobodez_here Oct 23, 2008 21:48:47	Well, if you allow the gadget system for PL5 items (which is allowed per the gadget rules), then allow the Modern (ass opposed to future) PC use PL5 and early PL6 items. Also, crib from d20 Apoc for certain items. If I were a Modern PC, I'd want to make sure I had my truck, preferably a flex-fuel gas/electric hybrid (which is available in 2008), along with the ethanol still I need to keep it working, a solar powered battery charger, ammo, ammo-reloader, and extra bullets, powder, and primers, water purifiers, mastercraft firearms, gadget-heavy weapons and armor (to maximize the benefit while minimizing the penalties), and then bring other gear that is practical, but benefits from the stronger materials and better manufacturing of the modern era (nylon rope vs. hemp, backpacks that distribute weight better).
#7 new_fashion_guy Oct 24, 2008 8:58:56	I guess what I'm looking for is something for the Modern non-combat character to spend his/her Wealth on that is useful and goes with the person. Can I get a critique of the idea in general; so far responses have all been alternatives to my Personal Trainer idea, which are fine, but what I'm looking for is an opinion on the idea itself. And if the opinion is "bad idea", an explanation of why it's bad/overbalanced, etc. Keep in mind D&D characters can get access to tomes that raise abilities permenantly, and Future characters can purchase cyberware or robot ability upgrades.
#8 kelvic_dup Oct 26, 2008 13:40:57	The personal trainer idea is a two bladed sword as it can be both good and bad to the character. The reason i say this is for the simple fact that with only two uses you can get two points on the abilities not bad now here is the bad part the dicision between what one they want the bonuses in but they only get a tottal of two and in the long run its good but also you have to look at the time and also the darection you want your game to go. as for the other things Yes the D&D is compatible with D20 but you have to think about how they can get their gear enchanted and how they would react with the world ie cell phone=deamon, fast food=tasty, gold=very rich and so on also they could get cut down very fast by any type of firearm even the 2d4 is fairly dangerous unless you customise the armor and give it a damage reduction bonus so the D&D characters arnt blown away befor they get within range for a spear or sword or whatever weapon they may be weilding. But back on topic the idea in and of itself is not bad but a robot still surpasses even that you couls always allow certain mods to be only avalible to the modern player like extended mag, AP rounds, and so on and so forth.
#9 new_fashion_guy Oct 27, 2008 8:36:42	Thanks for the feedback and suggestions.