Low tier game.

[Tiltowait]

This is something I wanted to throw up a while back but I've been too busy. Better late than never.

Rules:
All 3.5 official WotC sources not intended for a specific campaign setting are allowed. All other sources are not allowed.
Level 8, 32 PB, standard WBL.
All classes and abilities of Tier 3 and higher are banned. That means no using feats or items to get martial adept maneuvers, soulmelds, and so forth.

I haven't run an online game before, so let me know if I've forgotten anything important.

[Ziltoid]

This sounds interesting

Regarding character creation: are Flaws and Traits allowed?


Now to dig up that tier list...

[Tiltowait]

No. Here are the allowed classes:

Adept, Aristocrat, Barbarian, CA Ninja, Commoner, CW Samurai, Expert, Fighter, Healer, Hexblade, Knight, Marshal, Monk, OA Samurai, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Rokugan Ninja, Scout, Soulknife, Spellthief, Swashbuckler, Warmage, Warlock, Warrior.

Because someone pointed it out I've corrected the character rules.

[xaotiq1]

How do you feel about Superior Unarmed Strike from ToB? It gives no maneuvers, but does increase unarmed damage as one levels.

[Ziltoid]

No. Here are the allowed classes:

Adept, Aristocrat, Barbarian, CA Ninja, Commoner, CW Samurai, Expert, Fighter, Healer, Hexblade, Knight, Marshal, Monk, OA Samurai, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Rokugan Ninja, Scout, Soulknife, Spellthief, Swashbuckler, Warmage, Warlock, Warrior.

Because someone pointed it out I've corrected the character rules.

Mmh, either a Swift Hunter or a Imperious Command/lockdown warrior sound like fun with those options


2 questions:
1) How do PrCs fit into the tier system?
2) Where is Rokugan Ninja located?

[Tiltowait]

How do you feel about Superior Unarmed Strike from ToB? It gives no maneuvers, but does increase unarmed damage as one levels.

I'll think about it. I don't really see any problem with it. The intent here is to see how well the weaker classes do or do not manage on their own so anything that gives them the abilities of a stronger class goes against the spirit of the game.

2 questions:
1) How do PrCs fit into the tier system?
2) Where is Rokugan Ninja located?

As far as I know they don't. It depends on what you are trying to do. Consider my response to xaotiq also directed at you.

I believe it's located in a 3rd edition sourcebook so it isn't allowed. That was just a list of everything in tier 4, 5, or 6.

[Ziltoid]

How do you feel about Superior Unarmed Strike from ToB? It gives no maneuvers, but does increase unarmed damage as one levels.

I'll think about it. I don't really see any problem with it. The intent here is to see how well the weaker classes do or do not manage on their own so anything that gives them the abilities of a stronger class goes against the spirit of the game.

2 questions:
1) How do PrCs fit into the tier system?
2) Where is Rokugan Ninja located?

As far as I know they don't. It depends on what you are trying to do. Consider my response to xaotiq also directed at you.

I believe it's located in a 3rd edition sourcebook so it isn't allowed. That was just a list of everything in tier 4, 5, or 6.

Gotcha, I'll stay away from Warmage/Rainbow Servant shenanigans

[Tiltowait]

Are there really only two people that are interested in this or am I just not giving it enough time?

[InnaBinder]

Potentially interested in a Hexblade.  Sidenote: Your comments so far indicate Rokugan Ninja is both allowed and forbidden.

[xaotiq1]

Are there really only two people that are interested in this or am I just not giving it enough time?

Option B. 

[VennDygrem]

It's only been a few hours and you posted on a Saturday. Weekends are notoriously slow for PbP. I might be interested, given some time to think things over.

[JohnnyMayHymn]

I know it's not on the list, but is Dragonfire Adept Tier 3 or 4? (I've heard both; but, for the purposes of this game)

[xaotiq1]

How are we handling Hit Points? Are we doing straight rolls, taking averages or what?

[VennDygrem]

I'm curious about something. Would a race that was originally published in a campaign-specific book, such as Changeling, but which was later published in an open-content book (in this case, Monster Manual III), be allowed? I realize that if it were allowed, the racial feats would still be off limits, but this is hypothetical at this point anyway.

[Ziltoid]

What's the ruling on Extra Spell, guys?

Any errata/FAQ/clarification/DM fiat on whether it allows access to spells outside your class list?

[InnaBinder]

Just clarifying: Mearls' Hexblade Fix

(click to show/hide)

    The hexblade suffers a little because he came on the scene relatively early in 3.5's life. As R&D pushes the boundaries of the game, we learn that some things we thought were risky or potentially broken aren't. Other times, we learn things that look fine don't actually work in play. Armored mages fall into the first category. Them seem really powerful, but in the long run they aren't. Spells and magic items allow an unarmored mage to build great defenses. The spell mage armor is as good as medium armor, and its duration allows most mages to keep it active at all times. If you compare the hexblade to the duskblade from PH 2, you can see how the thinking has changed. If you want to boost the hexblade, I'd try the following changes:

    Good Fortitude save

    Curse ability usable 1 + the hexblade's Cha modifier per day

    Curse ability usable as a swift action

    Curse ability does not count as used if the target makes his saving throw

    Ability to cast in light or medium armor and while carrying a light shield or buckler

    At 6th level, the hexblade can cast one hexblade spell per day as a swift action, as long as its original casting time is a standard action or faster. He gains an additional use of this power at levels 8, 11, 14, and 18.

is off the table?  If so, I may have to consider Warlock instead.

[Tiltowait]

Potentially interested in a Hexblade.  Sidenote: Your comments so far indicate Rokugan Ninja is both allowed and forbidden.

I listed it because it was one of the classes listed at tier 4 or lower. I later realized it wasn't in an allowed source which takes precedence.

Option B. 

Just making sure. I will need to get used to things progressing more slowly.

I know it's not on the list, but is Dragonfire Adept Tier 3 or 4? (I've heard both; but, for the purposes of this game)

Good question. Is it even on the list? All I know about it is that they're a blaster that is absolutely terrible at blasting, no matter what. I admit, I lost interest at that point. For them to not be a tier 6 there must be something else to them but I have no idea what.

How are we handling Hit Points? Are we doing straight rolls, taking averages or what?

The usual, which is max at level 1 and average after.

I'm curious about something. Would a race that was originally published in a campaign-specific book, such as Changeling, but which was later published in an open-content book (in this case, Monster Manual III), be allowed? I realize that if it were allowed, the racial feats would still be off limits, but this is hypothetical at this point anyway.

Warforged and I think Shifters were also reprinted. That goes against the spirit of the rule, not because I have any problem with those races but because I don't know enough about that campaign setting to use elements from it.

What's the ruling on Extra Spell, guys?

Any errata/FAQ/clarification/DM fiat on whether it allows access to spells outside your class list?

I'm not sure if it works that way. Even if it does I'm inclined to say it doesn't as that also goes against the spirit of the game.

Just clarifying: Mearls' Hexblade Fix

(click to show/hide)

    The hexblade suffers a little because he came on the scene relatively early in 3.5's life. As R&D pushes the boundaries of the game, we learn that some things we thought were risky or potentially broken aren't. Other times, we learn things that look fine don't actually work in play. Armored mages fall into the first category. Them seem really powerful, but in the long run they aren't. Spells and magic items allow an unarmored mage to build great defenses. The spell mage armor is as good as medium armor, and its duration allows most mages to keep it active at all times. If you compare the hexblade to the duskblade from PH 2, you can see how the thinking has changed. If you want to boost the hexblade, I'd try the following changes:

    Good Fortitude save

    Curse ability usable 1 + the hexblade's Cha modifier per day

    Curse ability usable as a swift action

    Curse ability does not count as used if the target makes his saving throw

    Ability to cast in light or medium armor and while carrying a light shield or buckler

    At 6th level, the hexblade can cast one hexblade spell per day as a swift action, as long as its original casting time is a standard action or faster. He gains an additional use of this power at levels 8, 11, 14, and 18.

is off the table?  If so, I may have to consider Warlock instead.

I'll think about it. Most likely yes, but remind me how those abilities work normally?

[InnaBinder]

Standard Curse is 1/day, lost if saved against, and Standard action.

[Ziltoid]

I know it's not on the list, but is Dragonfire Adept Tier 3 or 4? (I've heard both; but, for the purposes of this game)

Good question. Is it even on the list? All I know about it is that they're a blaster that is absolutely terrible at blasting, no matter what. I admit, I lost interest at that point. For them to not be a tier 6 there must be something else to them but I have no idea what.

What's the ruling on Extra Spell, guys?

Any errata/FAQ/clarification/DM fiat on whether it allows access to spells outside your class list?

I'm not sure if it works that way. Even if it does I'm inclined to say it doesn't as that also goes against the spirit of the game.

I actually agree on it not working that way, but figured asking to make sure couldn´t hurt

As for the DFA, it´s all about battlefield control with the Entangling Exhalation feat and versatility through UMD



EDIT: Currently leaning towards a Kobold Warmage, depending on how much BC/utility I can grab through stuff like Eclectic Learning, Wyrm Wizard and UMD

[Tiltowait]

Standard Curse is 1/day, lost if saved against, and Standard action.

That's bad. Is everything else the same?

I actually agree on it not working that way, but figured asking to make sure couldn´t hurt

As for the DFA, it´s all about battlefield control with the Entangling Exhalation feat and versatility through UMD

That doesn't sound that impressive. Is there more to the class than that or is that really all they do?