Pre-game and "mother-may-I"s with the DM

[ariasderros]

This is the thread for pre-game.
And later, for "Can I do X? Pwetty Pwease!  " things directed at me. (PMs work too)

[sirpercival]

OK, so the question is: are ridiculous stat boosts worth being 1-2 levels behind?

Magic-blooded Half-minotaur Primordial Lesser Half-Giant is large size, +8 str, -4 dex, +6 con, +2 int, -2 wis, and +6 cha.

However, it requires +1 LA, so I would be level 2 +1 LA (and party at 3), then when we leveled up I'd pay off the XP and be level 2 (with party at 4).

EDIT: If I don't do this, then I'll probably just go for Magic-blooded Suli.

[McPoyo]

Depends, what kind of build are you going for?

[sirpercival]

Depends, what kind of build are you going for?

It's a wyrm warrior, melee monster (kinda literally).

EDIT:
Arias, next questions.  Since there's no alignment, how do [Exalted] & [Vile] feats work?  Also, if one took Ancestral Relic, would that count as the single magic item?

[ariasderros]

OK, so the question is: are ridiculous stat boosts worth being 1-2 levels behind?

Magic-blooded Half-minotaur Primordial Lesser Half-Giant is large size, +8 str, -4 dex, +6 con, +2 int, -2 wis, and +6 cha.

However, it requires +1 LA, so I would be level 2 +1 LA (and party at 3), then when we leveled up I'd pay off the XP and be level 2 (with party at 4).

EDIT: If I don't do this, then I'll probably just go for Magic-blooded Suli.

It is worse than that, actually, if you're just looking at the level.
You would be at 2, with a +1 LA, with the rest of the party being at 3, with much lower stats. Then you get to 3 , with a +1 LA, with the rest of the party being at 4, with much lower stats. Then, before the party hits 5, you spend 3,000XP on taking off your LA, leaving you at level 3 and ECL 3 at which point everyone else is 1,000XP away from level 5 (with much lower stats than yours still). And then you catch up by the time everyone else is level 7 thanks to "Experience is a River".

LA exists for a reason. It adds power. LA buyoff exists because the power added by low-LA templates / races starts to matter less at high level. + 8 Str and +6 Con, at this level, is pretty significant. By level 7, not-so-much.

I don't allow LA-buyoff because it is "teh-moar-powa-full!". I love that rule because the reason for it is spot freaking on (usually, some templates are better than others).


EDIT: I can't seem to find lesser half giant.

EDIT: EDIT: also to actually answer the question I forgot to, the racial variants in can be applied in most cases. I can't think of anything off the top of my head that wouldn't, but if the race-template interaction doesn't seem probable, I might ask for your ancestry documents.

[sirpercival]

It's basically taking 0 levels in the Half-Giant racial class from CPsi.

[ariasderros]

It's basically taking 0 levels in the Half-Giant racial class from CPsi.

The class grants you the racial traits at the first level, including the stat adjustments. Taking zero levels in a class grants zero abilities of the class, in this case that includes the racial traits.

Arias, next questions.  Since there's no alignment, how do [Exalted] & [Vile] feats work?  Also, if one took Ancestral Relic, would that count as the single magic item?

On the first, if the feat has a roleplay component, then it still does. Still have to abide by your Vows, still have to pay attention to your Lich and Dryad lovers. But the "Must be good-er than good, and badder than bad" are ignored, usually.

No, AR grants a magic item that, while can be amazing as you level up, and helps a lot even now, it is still costing you a feat. That's all the limitation that needs right there. A feat, and your 3rd level one at that, is a huge enough price. So it is an extra MI, independent  from any of your other starting gear.

[sirpercival]

It's basically taking 0 levels in the Half-Giant racial class from CPsi.

The class grants you the racial traits at the first level, including the stat adjustments. Taking zero levels in a class grants zero abilities of the class, in this case that includes the racial traits.

If you look at the way that actually works, you get "Class level 1" in their progression, which is the first level in your actual class, and you get the racial traits.  It's only at level 2 (if you take the level in Half-Giant) that you get the rest of the stuff at the cost of your class level.

Yay for edit-questions!

EDIT: Can the elemental variants from the SRD be extrapolated to other versions?  For example, Earth seems to add +2 Str -2 Dex.

[ariasderros]

It's basically taking 0 levels in the Half-Giant racial class from CPsi.

The class grants you the racial traits at the first level, including the stat adjustments. Taking zero levels in a class grants zero abilities of the class, in this case that includes the racial traits.

If you look at the way that actually works, you get "Class level 1" in their progression, which is the first level in your actual class, and you get the racial traits.  It's only at level 2 (if you take the level in Half-Giant) that you get the rest of the stuff at the cost of your class level.

Firstly, whoa, I didn't realize until I hit the wrong button that I can "Modify" posts here as the Mod.

Ahh... I... see. That's wonky as heck. I'd heard the trick before, and it never made sense to me. The only class I'd ever heard of being level zero in was Risen Martyr. But now I see how that is written. I like Ardent, Ectopic Adept, and Synads, but that book does have some messed up stuff in it.

[sirpercival]

Seriously... I don't think I'm going to mess around with it.  Too complicated & too much junk.

To repost:

Yay for edit-questions!

EDIT: Can the elemental variants from the SRD be extrapolated to other versions?  For example, Earth seems to add +2 Str -2 Dex.

If so, I'll be doing a Magic-Blooded Earth Suli.

[ariasderros]

Can the elemental variants from the SRD be extrapolated to other versions?  For example, Earth seems to add +2 Str -2 Dex.

Sorry about missing that one.

Those variants also change other things about the races. At least the Dwarves get gimped.
In this case, I'd be fine with it just forcing the "Energy Strike (Su): Earthfoot (acid)" variant.
This case just seems way to thematically appropriate to deny.

[sirpercival]

Can the elemental variants from the SRD be extrapolated to other versions?  For example, Earth seems to add +2 Str -2 Dex.

Sorry about missing that one.

Those variants also change other things about the races.
In this case, I'd be fine with it just forcing the "Energy Strike (Su): Earthfoot (acid)" variant.
This case just seems way to thematically appropriate to deny.

Agreed, that works poifectly!

[McPoyo]

Two questions:
1) clarification request for dynamic magic items: how does the level up process work for those? Do we get to choose how the item improves, or is it done "behind-the-scenes" by the DM?

2) If choosing to play a necropolitan to start, does that mean we'd start 1 level and 1k xp behind the group (halfway to second level), or 1k xp away from 3rd level? Just checking options, though I doubt I'll go that route.

[ariasderros]

In reverse order, because I'm ornery like that.

2) If choosing to play a necropolitan to start, does that mean we'd start 1 level and 1k xp behind the group (halfway to second level), or 1k xp away from 3rd level? Just checking options, though I doubt I'll go that route.

Assuming you were born in the blight-lands (areas of the world to come, but I'm sure this one is obvious without much explanation), and thus would have had access to that template from the start, you would be at level 2, with 1k away from 3rd level.

FWIW: Warforged do exist. If anyone wants to play one. Most of the commoners will just think you're a Golem, which is very, very bad. As in, when you walk in to town, people run screaming. But it is allowed. It will all make sense as to why they exist in this world if you ever happen across one. And they feel inclined to explain themselves.

1) clarification request for dynamic magic items: how does the level up process work for those? Do we get to choose how the item improves, or is it done "behind-the-scenes" by the DM?

Fluff Answer: The item develops along with the wielder, unlocking its long-lost magic properties, though quite frequently, in the cases of items with documented history, the item develops in slightly different ways. Sometimes this is as minor of a difference as a belt that develops the ability to enhance a person in every way having historically augmented a warriors strength initially, to that same item augmenting a more agile persons alacrity first-most. Sometimes the difference is as great as a weapon using entirely different abilities all-together.

Crunch Answer: Certain things, like the example I'm trying to get done with of Belt of Battle + Belt of Magnificence (primarily, it'll have other stuff too) advances with a fairly set rate, though when it first starts granting bonuses to stats, you get to pick the order if it's on you. To your character, it just seems to develop in an as-needed way. Other items might show up that are what they are when you get them that you then get carte blanche to make it how you see fit (generally, weapons and armor but only maybe other things).
That said, feel free to design your own. I might put it in the world somewhere.


EDIT:
 

Magic-blooded Earth Suli Wyrm Warrior 3

You linked Spark. YOU LINKED SPARK! I am really, really glad I put in that "please link" thing now. Because I have asked about doing that before, and not only did I not get a response telling me how to do so, I didn't get a response at all.

[ariasderros]

@ InnaBinder
(A) Wow, that was fast.
(B) Except the skills come from a houseruled set.

@ all
As a point of clarification for everyone, flaws and traits that affect old skills affect the new ones when using them for that purpose. e.g. Hard of Hearing normally forces a penalty to Listen checks, here it applies a penalty to Perception checks using your hearing, and it  normally grants a bonus to Spot checks, here it applies a bonus to Perception checks using your eyes.

[InnaBinder]

@ InnaBinder
(A) Wow, that was fast.
(B) Except the skills come from a houseruled set.

@ all
As a point of clarification for everyone, flaws and traits that affect old skills affect the new ones when using them for that purpose. e.g. Hard of Hearing normally forces a penalty to Listen checks, here it applies a penalty to Perception checks using your hearing, and it  normally grants a bonus to Spot checks, here it applies a bonus to Perception checks using your eyes.

How are Honest and Polite to work under the houserule, exactly?

[ariasderros]

How are Honest and Polite to work under the houserule, exactly?

Honest grants a +1 bonus to Persuasion when trying to negotiate with someone or convince them to agree to something or do something, so long as you are trying to "sweet talk" them, not threaten or lie. It causes you to take a -1 penalty to Persuasion when trying to lie, and to Perception rolls to read peoples body language and read in to their under-tone.
Because  "You are naturally straightforward and sincere. This quality helps you persuade people to your viewpoint, but you have difficulty telling lies and seeing deception in others".

Polite grants a +1 bonus to Persuasion when trying to negotiate with someone or convince them to agree to something or do something, so long as you are trying to "sweet talk" them, not threaten or lie. It causes you to take a -2 penalty to Persuasion when trying to get what you want from someone using threats, or when trying to cow someone.
Because "You are courteous and well spoken".

In-game, these traits operate mechanically the same as they otherwise would without the houseruled skill re-write is the intent.

[sirpercival]

EDIT:
 

Magic-blooded Earth Suli Wyrm Warrior 3

You linked Spark. YOU LINKED SPARK! I am really, really glad I put in that "please link" thing now. Because I have asked about doing that before, and not only did I not get a response telling me how to do so, I didn't get a response at all.

Lol.  There's no one place, but most things exist somewhere on the interwebs.  I simply google until I find something that matches the printed version and go with that. 

[Jackinthegreen]

My first thoughts were primordial half-giant (not sure on whether to take the racial class since you seem to have allowed the lesser version) and either archivist or warlock.  I also pondered a warforged artificer with one of the racial subs of course, but I'm wondering about that now given your explanation of the warforged in this setting.

Speaking of artificer, you mentioned psionic transparency, so would psi arty be on the table?  You've made the biggest nerf to that in the form of magical item nerfs and having to work our butts off for it, but that does sound more interesting.

Edit: Or there's the halfling cleric/rogue alchemist build.  There's a feat in Dragon 357 called Sacred Outlaw, which stacks cleric and rogue levels for the purposes of turn undead as well as sneak attack.  Prereqs: SA 2d6, ability to turn undead.  Assuming I could take the feat, the halfling rogue sub levels in RotW would allow 2d6 SA damage at level 1, but only on ranged attacks.  Would that work as prereqs for Sacred Outlaw?  The mainstays of the build are Grenadier and Mad Alchemist from PHB2 and Shaped Splash from Races of Eberron.

[phaedrusxy]

My first thoughts were primordial half-giant (not sure on whether to take the racial class since you seem to have allowed the lesser version) and either archivist or warlock.

Dude... let me tell you about the greatest archivist race there is... THE ABOLETH! Yes, that's right, the giant fish dudes. Because the write-up for their racial memory in Oslecamo's monster class for them is AWESOME! Seriously, go Aboleth Archivist, take the Deceivingly Innocent Form feat and Knowledge Devotion, and never look back. I think given the flavor of the world, it could fit in surprisingly well, also.