* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : Mystara house rule: "Free" NPC classes Started at 02-13-06 11:03 AM by Spellweaver Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=586735 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : Spellweaver Date : 02-13-06 11:03 AM Thread Title : Mystara house rule: "Free" NPC classes Have been thinking about a new house rule for my Mystara campaign. My players like to dabble a bit in politics and trade and eventually take some levels in other classes such as the Expert and the Aristocrat NPC classes. But there is a problem. They are reluctant to take them because of the XP penalty for having extra classes. So, to sweeten the deal a little bit and encourage interesting career choices, I am contemplating removing the XP penalty for having these NPC classes. So, if the rogue wants to take an Expert level or two to reflect that he is a Darokin Diplomat-in-training or a merchant, and the barbarian wants to take a couple of Aristocrat levels to reflect his education in the finer arts of diplomacy and dominion rulership when he becomes a noble lord in e.g. Norworld, they can do so without suffering for the rest of their adventuring careers as they advance into Prestige Classes as well. What do you think? Anyone ever experiment with this? :-) Jesper -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : Gazza555 Date : 02-13-06 11:13 AM Not as such. The only time we used NPC classes was in a Kalamar game, where we started at 'level 0' in a NPC class and had to get 500 xp to get our first 'proper' level. I can't remember if we suffered an xp penalty (other than that 500 xp), but I don't think so. Regards Gary -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : Cthulhudrew Date : 02-13-06 12:31 PM It doesn't really sound like it would be unbalancing or anything- probably even a good idea. Considering that Prestige Classes don't count as far as XP penalties go (giving you all kinds of class abilities with the caveat that you have to meet the prerequisites), it doesn't seem too bad to make a class that has no special abilities (just some skill features, etc.) but no prereqs exempt as well. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 4] Author : Traianus Decius Aureus Date : 02-13-06 12:33 PM XP penalties only come into play in certain circumstances in 3.5E. As I understand the rules, a character may have multiple base classes and suffer no penalty if the classes are all within 2 levels of one another. A favored class does not factor into this, and prestige classes do not count either. Some examples: Human (has favored class any) Ftr 5/ Pal 2 has no XP penalty Human (has favored class any) Ftr 5/ Pal 2 / Ari 1 has no XP penalty either Human (has favored class any) Ftr 5/ Pal 2 / Cavalier 5 has no XP penalty either Human (has favored class any) Ftr 5/ Pal 5 / Ari 1 has XP penalty Wood Elf (favored class Wizard) Wzd 5/ Ftr 2 has no XP penalty Wood Elf (favored class Wizard) Sor 5/ Ftr 2 has XP penalty Wood Elf (favored class Wizard) Wzd 5/ Ftr 2 / Exp 3 has no XP penalty Its not a bad idea to make the NPC classes not cause an XP hit if your players like to add some levels of them, they are generally weaker than the PC classes (Expert being the only one of real use to a PC IMHO). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 09:24 AM.