Revenge of the Firstborn — Turn-based 3.5e

[RPK]

I've been creating monthly posts going over various features and lore for the game. Here's this month's video, going over the major features of the druid.

[swbgtoc]

Equip and ride a war-horse, mastering mounted combat, a rarely-seen feature in overhead RPGs.

For that reason alone I'm interested

[Acrux]

I like your models, especially for the druid wildshapes.

[RPK]

I like your models, especially for the druid wildshapes.

Thanks

[RPK]

This month, I've created an explanation of how the crafting system works in Revenge of the Firstborn. Spoiler: it's a very accurate implementation of the P&P item creation rules.

You can read about it here.

[Spacekiddo]

But will it be lame and gay?

[RPK]

This month, as part of an overall UI refresh, I've rebuilt the character creation scene, both the environment it takes place in and the UI itself. You can check out below!

[RPK]

This month's update is centered around a couple of questions I get about the game pretty regularly. "How 'sandboxy' is the game?'" and "What house rules are implemented?"

You can learn about them at this link and view an FAQ I created for the game a few months ago.

[rusty_shackleford]

This month's update is centered around a couple of questions I get about the game pretty regularly. "How 'sandboxy' is the game?'" and "What house rules are implemented?"

You can learn about them at this link and view an FAQ I created for the game a few months ago.

The other common house rule that is implemented is the ability to have weapon finesse affect not just to hit bonus, but damage as well. Of course, this cuts both ways; It’s a boon for the party, but makes opposing finesse fighters more dangerous as well.

Aren't dex-based builds already considered superior to strength-based ones in 3.5e? I have far more experience with AD&D than 3.5e, so I can't say for certain.

Damage-Specific Armor Class
The last rule is one that is not as common in pen and paper because it makes combat more complicated. Fortunately, we can have the computer take care of those details for us. This rule was an optional rule included in the Player’s Handbook in AD&D 2e and in original D&D was very involved. I’m speaking, of course, of damage-specific armor class.

In original D&D, armor class was specific to each weapon and armor combination. I’ve never played this version, but it sounds very involved to keep track of all this data for each combatant!

The implementation in Revenge of the Firstborn is inspired by the optional rule in 2nd edition where each armor provided slightly different protection against each of the three damage types: bludgeoning, piercing and slashing.

This means that full plate is better at protecting against piercing and slashing attacks than it is against bludgeoning attacks. Similarly, chain mail is more effective against slashing weapons than it is against piercing weapons.

And that’s it! Like I said at the outset, I’m limiteing the house rules to try to keep the game as faithful to the SRD rules as I can. The game may evolve beyond that given feedback from you and others once the game goes live.

Great addition

[RPK]

This month's update is centered around a couple of questions I get about the game pretty regularly. "How 'sandboxy' is the game?'" and "What house rules are implemented?"

You can learn about them at this link and view an FAQ I created for the game a few months ago.

The other common house rule that is implemented is the ability to have weapon finesse affect not just to hit bonus, but damage as well. Of course, this cuts both ways; It’s a boon for the party, but makes opposing finesse fighters more dangerous as well.

Aren't dex-based builds already considered superior to strength-based ones in 3.5e? I have far more experience with AD&D than 3.5e, so I can't say for certain.

Damage-Specific Armor Class
The last rule is one that is not as common in pen and paper because it makes combat more complicated. Fortunately, we can have the computer take care of those details for us. This rule was an optional rule included in the Player’s Handbook in AD&D 2e and in original D&D was very involved. I’m speaking, of course, of damage-specific armor class.

In original D&D, armor class was specific to each weapon and armor combination. I’ve never played this version, but it sounds very involved to keep track of all this data for each combatant!

The implementation in Revenge of the Firstborn is inspired by the optional rule in 2nd edition where each armor provided slightly different protection against each of the three damage types: bludgeoning, piercing and slashing.

This means that full plate is better at protecting against piercing and slashing attacks than it is against bludgeoning attacks. Similarly, chain mail is more effective against slashing weapons than it is against piercing weapons.

And that’s it! Like I said at the outset, I’m limiteing the house rules to try to keep the game as faithful to the SRD rules as I can. The game may evolve beyond that given feedback from you and others once the game goes live.

Great addition

I think in some ways, yes, dex builds are favored. It let's you ignore strength almost entirely, whereas strength builds are going to need some dex too.

Strength builds do have their advantages, though. Power attack, optional attacks like trips and grapples rely on it.

Having said all that, I think giving players more options is never a bad thing even if it makes the balance between builds a little worse.

[Acrux]

Aren't dex-based builds already considered superior to strength-based ones in 3.5e?

That's sort of true, but it's more that DEX has more utility in general than STR in 3.5s. A character with high STR can still do more damage most of the time, especially 2-handed, except for some weird builds that usually require splat books. The mitigation for DEX builds typically relies on the feat tax prerequisites to get those abilities.


Also, I'm very excited for the damage-specific AC.

[RPK]

This month's update takes a deep dive into the martial classes in the game.


https://store.steampowered.com/news/app ... 7158941916

[RPK]

This month I decided to detail how the overland map works and some of the more interesting options for dungeon delving.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app ... 2944621007

[RPK]

This month, I've written up some details on everyone's favorite pastime... combat! You can check out details about how the game handles grappling, terrain and spell interactions at https://store.steampowered.com/news/app ... ?l=english.


Happy new year everyone!

[J1M]

Aren't dex-based builds already considered superior to strength-based ones in 3.5e?

That's sort of true, but it's more that DEX has more utility in general than STR in 3.5s. A character with high STR can still do more damage most of the time, especially 2-handed, except for some weird builds that usually require splat books. The mitigation for DEX builds typically relies on the feat tax prerequisites to get those abilities.


Also, I'm very excited for the damage-specific AC.

DEX is heavily favored. As is light armor.

Maybe STR has a place if you are playing some very narrow game where you need STR for carrying capacity, but you also ignore the volume of what you are lugging around and the magical solutions to those problems it would be better.

Even if you get a STR build on par with damage and other combat related stuff, DEX applies to more skills and initiative. There's a lot you can do with an extra turn.

[WhiteShark]

Even if you get a STR build on par with damage

What Dex build can out-damage a charging, power attacking Str build? From what I can remember of 3.5 charop, that was the standard high damage archetype outside of very specific builds.

[Finarfin]

This month, as part of an overall UI refresh, I've rebuilt the character creation scene, both the environment it takes place in and the UI itself. You can check out below!

I am a simple man.
I see Paladins, I buy your game.

[J1M]

Even if you get a STR build on par with damage

What Dex build can out-damage a charging, power attacking Str build? From what I can remember of 3.5 charop, that was the standard high damage archetype outside of very specific builds.

I could be mistaken. It's going to depend on which splat books are in play, but when one stat gives you attack, AC, and initiative bonuses I think it's just a question of how many feats that grant extra attacks per round are needed. Even if DEX doesn't add to damage, the DEX character can still wear a STR item. If combat ends in 2 rounds and the DEX character is always getting a turn first, it's still doing more damage in practice. Even if the STR character does more damage in an active turn.

Basically, my main point is that when people make comparisons about this they usually don't account for how short combat is and how much more output the higher initiative will result in.

[Norfleet]

The flipside is that your initiative is only as good as the slowest member of the party. Otherwise you just outrun everyone else and get isolated and pounded on when the enemy's turn starts after yours, before the rest of your party can coordinate. In TOEE, I would always delay everyone to the same point so that they would act as a unit.

[RPK]

Even if you get a STR build on par with damage

What Dex build can out-damage a charging, power attacking Str build? From what I can remember of 3.5 charop, that was the standard high damage archetype outside of very specific builds.

I could be mistaken. It's going to depend on which splat books are in play, but when one stat gives you attack, AC, and initiative bonuses I think it's just a question of how many feats that grant extra attacks per round are needed. Even if DEX doesn't add to damage, the DEX character can still wear a STR item. If combat ends in 2 rounds and the DEX character is always getting a turn first, it's still doing more damage in practice. Even if the STR character does more damage in an active turn.

Basically, my main point is that when people make comparisons about this they usually don't account for how short combat is and how much more output the higher initiative will result in.

This is an interesting discussion, but just for the record, there won't be any splat books in play in Revenge of the Firstborn. None of that stuff is covered by the SRD's OGL.

[rusty_shackleford]

This is an interesting discussion, but just for the record, there won't be any splat books in play in Revenge of the Firstborn. None of that stuff is covered by the SRD's OGL.

FWIW, there were a couple WotC splatbooks with OGL content, such as Unearthed Arcana and one of the Psionics books.

Yeah, the d20srd site has the list, quite short but eh:
https://www.d20srd.org/faq.htm#faq05

[Rand]

Also, ironic that 4E rules were criticised for being "too videogamey" yet D&D videogames ignored them completely, even going back to 3.5 instead.

Oh, no. They made one.
"Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale"
It was utter ****.

[RPK]

This is an interesting discussion, but just for the record, there won't be any splat books in play in Revenge of the Firstborn. None of that stuff is covered by the SRD's OGL.

FWIW, there were a couple WotC splatbooks with OGL content, such as Unearthed Arcana and one of the Psionics books.

Yeah, the d20srd site has the list, quite short but eh:
https://www.d20srd.org/faq.htm#faq05

I had no idea, that's interesting. I'll have to bookmark that so I can see what interesting stuff might be worth adding down the line.

thanks!

[Acrux]

It would be great if you could eventually add some things from the Epic Level Handbook. There were some neat things in that.

[DrSneed]

ping me when someone mods in the binder class in the next decade

[RPK]

Check out some of the details about the game's itemization in this month's steam update

[RPK]

This month I did a write up about some of the features I'm most excited about in the game - verticality and how it affects everything from exploration to combat. You can check it out here.

[roldet]

Sound types in character creation video seems better than bg3 lol. Looking forward to creating a proper sounding dwarf.

[RPK]

Hey everyone!

I’m super-excited to announce that the demo for Revenge of the Firstborn is live on steam!

You can check it out at

I’d love to hear your feedback on how things are coming along with the game.

I am just wrapping things up for the night, but will answer any questions you have tomorrow.

thanks, and I hope you have fun!

[Acrux]

I've only had time to play around with character creation a little bit, but it looks solid. I really like that you add a few different rolling options (I don't like point buy). I don't think I've seen another rpg that has 4d6 drop lowest!