Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Add Reply
Making Monsters; Making Systems
Topic Started: Jun 30 2015, 08:07 AM (1,897 Views)
SporkMaster5000

that should be level 2 at that xp cost. I'll be the first to admit I threw shit at the wall and hoped it stuck, so yeah, not the smoothest system in the world. thanks for the feedback.

Quote:
 
The thing about a monster creation system that would be most helpful for me as a GM would be if it's fast.
I appreciate this goal, I really envisioned the monster building process to basically be "pick stuff and see how much exp it costs" rather than "pick a level and spend your xp budget." I recognize this isn't always helpful, but counting a total at the end just to get your level should be a touch faster than trying to spend an exp budget you decided on to start. not a perfect solution though, I know, especially if you're trying to fit a mold as with summoner.

Quote:
 
What if characteristics and skills had a flat cost, 250XP per characteristic/magic school and 150 per skill/size?
the problem with this is twofold. one, costs don't scale linearly for PCs because the effects don't scale linearly in play. making that 5th dot cost the same as the first makes it much easier to minmax, which can be dangerous, even on the other side of the screen. this was demonstrated with damage dice earlier.
two, I have no head for comparing numbers. I might believe there is a way to balance a linear price scale, but I can't even conceive of how to balance it with the modularity currently available. if the template-style build was the only way, it might be more doable, but that strikes me as profoundly boring. if anyone wants to crunch the numbers themselves and lay it out nice and slowly for me I'd be happy to shake down my numbers

Quote:
 
It would also be nice to have adjective-style templates like in FantasyCraft that could be slapped onto existing monsters for a large XP cost.
I have never played fantasycraft, but this seems like a great supplemental way to do monsters quick and dirty. I need to get off my butt and back to writing, spinning up some pre-costed things like this would probably make the system more attractive all-around. even just smaller tables with costs for skills/characteristics pre-calculated might help.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Doc
Member Avatar
Just a Guy
For purposes of comparing numbers, I went through Books 1 & 2 to calculate how much XP they'd need to spend to blitz through their classes as fast as possible (and noted optional feat costs), and put it in a small and simple PDF. Apologies in advance if any of my numbers are off.

Obviously, such characters would be sorta gimped and, in my own opinion, not doing it right. But it's a start, I think.
Edited by Doc, Aug 19 2015, 04:44 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Username

Nice PDF. I've considered about that myself but have always been too lazy to actually count it up.

It does seem to confirm what I already suspected, that class progression in Book 2 is generally much less experience heavy than it is in book 1.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Methodia
Member Avatar
Mediocre Overlord
Posting these here for good measure.

Monster Hunter Monster Traits
Edited by Methodia, Sep 23 2015, 10:10 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Eisenritter
Member Avatar
Old Iron Knight
...Quick complaint. We already have a definition for "elder dragon," and it's - get this - "really old fucking dragon." Might I suggest "Dragon Kin" for your trait, if it absolutely must be a defined trait instead of just buying Breath as a resource stat?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Methodia
Member Avatar
Mediocre Overlord
Oooh, that's a good point. I know what to do. I'll change it so the trait is to give you the static powers, but you still have to buy the resource points. So it pumps level up, I guess? Yeah. Sounds right.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Eisenritter
Member Avatar
Old Iron Knight
Problem if you do it that way is then you'll have to do it for every exalt. Might just be better to buy a resource stat and eyeball the appropriate powers, as we've been doing. Exalts are supposed to be threats, after all...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Methodia
Member Avatar
Mediocre Overlord
Well, the thing I'm going to be using it on are supposed to be threats. The one I'm planning on using it on is a massive draonic snake. It's not like I'm slapping it on not high tier things, I'm using it to make the threatening things actually threatening. Should you having to pay for the static powers in EXP with the trait work?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Eisenritter
Member Avatar
Old Iron Knight
Well, my argument is that a new trait is unnecessary, when simply adding the Resource Stat trait implies exaltation. Just give it that and the static abilities it qualifies for, yeah? Part of the package. The logic I used with the ones I made, anyway.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Methodia
Member Avatar
Mediocre Overlord
Alright, fair enough. I'll change it.


EDIT: Elder Dragon is changed, anything with a resource stat is considered one. Just to make it exempt from the King of Monsters feat.
Edited by Methodia, Sep 21 2015, 11:29 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create your own social network with a free forum.
Learn More · Register Now
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Homebrew · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Theme created by "Josh Hall/Alpha.". Find more great designs at the ZetaBoards Theme Zone.