Homebrew Setting: Magipunk (brainstorming -- input needed)

[Jackinthegreen]

How do you plan on handling ranged weapons?  I imagine you'll allow the usual bows and crossbows, but some sort of firearms would seem somewhat normal in here.  Heck, your dodger pic has the guy wielding a gun.

[sirpercival]

Yes, so that'll be handled when I do items (as will the Heavy Armor info), but I was figuring firearms would basically be magical energy weapons, where a clip is a wand of Lesser Orb X.  So, they're pretty expensive for run-of-the-mill people, but adventurers can afford them pretty easily after long.

[Sneaky_Sable]

Oh nice, stylish ranged pew-pew weapons!

[Sneaky_Sable]

Reserved for Energy Guns

Simple Recommendation: Base them off of bows / crossbows. Powered by energy gems rather then arrows / bolts. Each Energy Gem is good for 20 shots and then is discharged. Energy Guns deal Energy Damage based on the energy gem used to power them.

Perhaps there are five types of Energy Gem (For each energy type [discounting Force]), priced appropriately or price gouged appropriately. Go to the frozen north, ask for a Fire Crystal. Get laughed at.

More thoughts: Energy Gems can be recharged, but cost the same as buying a new one. They're cheap because the enchantment on them is incredibly specialized, and the gems used are essentially useless cast offs from Crystal Mages using the rest of the gem for an actual effect.

Standard and Enhanced Energy Gems: Standard energy gems deal energy damage. Enhanced Energy Gems either deal more damage OR have additional effects as per the Orb of... spells from Complete Arcana (Acid sickens, Cold blinds, Electricity entangles, Sound deafens, and Fire (SHOULD) set things on fire.)

[sirpercival]

I had been planning on having the clips be wands of Lesser Orb, but this may be neater.  Good call.

On a separate note: I have no idea how to price the heavy armors.  Any suggestions?

EDIT: I split this off into the brainstorming thread, to keep things nice and neat in the Items thread.

[Sneaky_Sable]

New Idea for Prestige Class: Reclaimer

Essentially someone who suits up, heads out of the domes, and reclaims swaths of wilderness so that construction teams can come by, plant the magic crystals, and make another dome. They'd be heavy enforcer kinda bad asses, and they'd get heavy armor proficiency to boot. Maybe as they go through the progression, they get class features to offset things like the Armor check penalty and the movement hit, indicating loads and loads of training in maneuvering in heavy armor. Capstone could be "Universal Heavy Armor Proficiency" that allows them to be proficient in, and apply their class bonuses to, every form of Heavy Armor in the campaign universe.

[sirpercival]

I like it!  I'll add it to my to-do list, down the line.

[sirpercival]

So, in creating this setting I've been trying to remove trap choices.  I've axed heavy armor, changed weapon focus, TWF, and toughness, and axed Monk and Fighter.

Are there any more common traps that need addressing?  I'd like to keep most options worth taking, and the ones you actually do take depend on your character concept.

[Sneaky_Sable]

You've failed to address Pit, Spike, and Poison Gas traps.

[sirpercival]

You've failed to address Pit, Spike, and Poison Gas traps.

[Garryl]

I've always felt that medium armor was a bit of a trap. It's only a small AC bonus over light armor (a breastplate is only 1 better than a chain shirt), but it still drops your speed by 1/3. It just never seems worth it, especially with full plate's mockery (3 points better armor bonus than a breastplate, and only 2 less Max Dex, too). Maybe a little something on that end, too?

[sirpercival]

Hmm... I'm not sure where to go with that, unless I completely rework all the armors to make them more like d20 modern-style or something.

Maybe if I re-partition the D&D armors into Light (light & medium) and Medium (medium & heavy), then give the Dreadnought free proficiency in one type of exotic armor?

That way medium armor would have the heavier armors, whereas the lighter mediums would go into light?

I dunno... alternatives?

[Sneaky_Sable]

Medium over Light armor isn't a trap, it's a choice. You don't want Medium Armor, don't buy into it. Stop at "Chain Shirt" like everyone else.

Medium Armor is decent for folks with doo-doo Dexterity scores who want to not get hit. The speed hit is a problem, unless you spend the money to lighten the armor. And there's the trade: Spend money to have your gear emulate the stats you want to have.

So how's this grab you: Hide Armor and Scale Mail no longer hit your speed. You keep your full 30, or whatever. Chainmail and Breastplates affect your speed as normal. Or just be a dwarf, and laugh at all those slow humans encumbered by armor.

<Dwarf (Played by Brian Blessed)> HAHAHA!

[Jackinthegreen]

Since you've combined many skills, will the masterwork tools rules still be in place?

[sirpercival]

Yep.

[sirpercival]

New Idea for Prestige Class: Reclaimer

Essentially someone who suits up, heads out of the domes, and reclaims swaths of wilderness so that construction teams can come by, plant the magic crystals, and make another dome. They'd be heavy enforcer kinda bad asses, and they'd get heavy armor proficiency to boot. Maybe as they go through the progression, they get class features to offset things like the Armor check penalty and the movement hit, indicating loads and loads of training in maneuvering in heavy armor. Capstone could be "Universal Heavy Armor Proficiency" that allows them to be proficient in, and apply their class bonuses to, every form of Heavy Armor in the campaign universe.

I did it!  You'll love it.   

[Sneaky_Sable]

I do! If I wasn't so psyched about the Biosynth I've already built, I'd build a Repo-Man, name him Duke Nukem, and win at D&D

[Nanshork]

Given Lifetorn Hulk, what's your ruling on Powerful Build and Natural Attacks?

[sirpercival]

Um... sure!  Why not. 

[Nanshork]

I'm interested in seeing where you go with the Metamorph prestige class.