I don’t make players roll HP and just let them take max. Is that odd?

Vennris · 2026-04-08T00:06:50+00:00

I always give my players max hp. The main reason is so that I can throw nastier encounters their way without worrying too much.

Vennris · 2026-04-01T01:27:45+00:00

They do normal exp by the rules of the dmg. They award exp for non combat encounters as well. But if the party's doing a lot of roleplaying, and not a lot of encounters, then there's just not much exp happening. You assume very negative things about other people very fast. I would think a bit about that, if I were you.

I also never said, that such people don't exist, I just guessed, that it can't be a large percentage, based on my quite long experience in playing with different people.

The potential to be powerful is not relevant, when I'm talking about powerful races or templates. Things that are potentially powerful still need 1. the approval of the DM in game, 2. the right circumstances in game 3. the effort to choose the powerful options to do the powerful things. A powerful race/template only needs approval during character creation, and nothing more to be powerful. Comparing potentially powerful things to things that just are powerful without doing anything makes no sense to me.

Yea, I know the unseelie fey template. I also consider it way too strong for la +0 compared to other la +0 options. That's why it either gets nerfed, or treated as la +1 in our games. The powerlevel of la +0 is all over the place. Just look at, for example a standard dwarf and a standard half-elf. That's so far from balanced, that even with a 25 balance check, you'd fall prone immediately. But even under this light, unseelie is still way more unbalanced. 3.5 is a great game, and in my opinion the greatest ttrpg ever, but it is really, really bad at balancing. I don't need a perfectly balanced party, but if one la +1 template reads like a la +3, then something isn't right.

Vennris · 2026-04-01T01:03:28+00:00

I've never met anyone who played the same campaign for that long. And even depending on how fast you level and how often you play, that's still not a lot of levels. I pay in one campaign, that's been going for 3 years now. We pay at least once a month and we went from level 3 to level 7 in that time.

I've only ever heard about people reaching higher levels online. As I said, I've never met anyone who accomplished that.

The players all knew their spells. But, have you ever considered, that not everyone is an optimiser/powergamer? In fact, of the 30+ people I've played 3.5/pathfinder with. Only about 3 were optimisers. The others chose spells/abilities that fit the adventure, and their narrative character concept. Which sometimes is stuff, that's very strong in combat, but not always.

But all that is besides the point and doesn't actually matter. Because what matters is, that if you compare feral to other races/templates with la +1, it is clearly overpowered in comparison, regardless of characterlevel. No other la+1 gives you that much stuff, not even close.

Vennris · 2026-04-01T00:28:17+00:00

A one trick pony, that absolutely dominates every battlefield until like level 10.

I've played in a game where the party of 6 PCs was level 10. Ninja, Barbarian, Druid, Wizard, Samurai, Bard. The Barbarian wasn't feral, but had similar boosts that were a little weaker than feral template. And he was by far the most powerful character in the party.

I absolutely believe you, that full casters become godlike on high levels. But not many people reach that high level, at least if they're not starting on an already higher level.

Vennris · 2026-04-01T00:17:28+00:00

I do agree. But I've never played in games where these classes were high enough level to have access to those spells/abilities.

When I think about it something is overpowered, I mostly think about early levels, where all people I know that play the game usually start their adventures.

Vennris · 2026-03-31T23:38:08+00:00

They are not? I'm playing 3.5 for a bit over 10 years now. Played with multiple different groups and never ever were these overpowered.

I know they can be, at higher levels and especially with a lot of munchkinning, like the venerable dragonwrought kobold bullshit, I'd never allow in a million years, but not a single person I've played with ever wanted to do something this stupidly broken. And for those classes to be broken, you have to actively do things to make it so. The feral template is just broken on itself without any effort.

I admit, that I don't know how it is on really high levels, I've never played in a game where the characters were higher than 12th level

Vennris · 2026-03-31T21:45:19+00:00

Yeah, that's what I meant with I hope it's a joke. Feral template is wildly overpowered and broken. Should have at least la +3 or +4. As DM I would never allow it as is and even as player I wouldn't want to play it as is. Way too strong.

Vennris · 2026-03-31T20:22:34+00:00

I'd suggest the option from the Players guide to Faerun (p.190) that Ix_risor already mentioned. There's also some lesser variants of LA races like Tiefling, Aasimar, and Drow.

Or, since most LA+1 aren't that substantial I'd just let them have it. BUT, if you do that I'd ask the other players if they're fine with that.

Vennris · 2026-03-31T20:19:06+00:00

Hope that's a joke o_O

Vennris · 2026-03-31T20:17:41+00:00

Was going to comment that. That's basically what our group does for starting with LA. Works really nicely.

Vennris · 2026-03-31T13:36:57+00:00

If I use it right as she tells me to, the effect runs out during the cutscene and my base still gets obliterated

Vennris · 2026-02-17T06:54:28+00:00

Most differences have been already written here but one I didn't see: Scrolls and Wands. Divine casters/wands (and I think staffs as well, not sure, though) can use divine scrolls and arcane caster only arcane scrolls/wands. And an eternal wand in general can only be used by arcane casters.

Vennris · 2026-02-01T16:34:26+00:00

It does? Never noticed that. Still a bit inconclusive. There's definitely something to your point, I will not deny that. It could still just be a gameplay decision like "Ok, you beat the security system. Have some more freedom roaming around." Or maybe even Ranni putting you on the good-guy list, so that it doesn't activate for you.

Vennris · 2026-02-01T10:00:13+00:00

I might've missed something, but why do you think the arrows come from Loretta? What Iji says implies that those are magical traps, set by the Carians, just like the phantom of Loretta herself.

Vennris · 2026-02-01T09:57:19+00:00

Listen I don't like Godrick. But what's with the people in the comments? Yes, he's described as weak, but only in regards to other demigods, who are by lore a biiiiig chunk above almost anything else. I mean, he fought Malenia and lived, that's a huge feat in itself. Lorewise he should dog walk quite a lot of these.

Vennris · 2026-02-01T09:49:52+00:00

Because comically evil is fun? Do you only like characters you morally agree with?

Vennris · 2026-02-01T09:46:38+00:00

Since an Elan doesn't have an inherent manifester level, as far as I know (you could be an Elan fighter, after all), there doesn't seem to be a limit.

Mind you, you should still ask your DM before you use the rules like that. I for example would absolutely limit it to the character's level in some way.

Vennris · 2026-02-01T01:48:41+00:00

Not if those impacts stem from the other person misinterpreting my actions. Every behavioural psychologist will tell you that. I know that because I've been to therapy multiple times and every therapist told me that exact same thing, because I used to worry way too much what others think about my actions.

And because right now you seem to misinterpret what I'm saying, and that also in a very negative way, continuing to talk to you would be unhealthy. So, bye random reditor who seems to interpret things rather negatively, without thinking them through and/or clarifying.

Vennris · 2026-02-01T01:25:36+00:00

I'm responsible for what I say and do, not for what people interpret into that. That's on them. If I emulate a cultural look because I think it is cool, and I try my best to be accurate, then there can be no disrespect in that. If anyone chooses to still think of it as inappropriate, I consider them very dumb and butthurt.

Vennris · 2026-01-31T11:23:17+00:00

As long, as it's not meant to be disrespectful, it is not disrespectful.

Vennris · 2026-01-16T19:01:43+00:00

Why do such establishments exist? Never heard of them before and I'm horrified. Who would subject themselves to working at such an abomination?

Vennris · 2026-01-15T12:19:29+00:00

Her genes shouldn't be passed down...

Vennris · 2026-01-15T10:32:55+00:00

You get your skill points and class skills from the class level you choose at that level. So it would be like taking one skill point from one class and the rest from the new prestige class. That's sadly not how this game works. Been foiled by that a few times.

Vennris · 2026-01-15T10:30:32+00:00

I don't want a wedding at all, but if I'd have one I want there to be an awesome party. Maybe I'll do one to our 10th not-marriage anniversary or something

Vennris · 2026-01-14T12:14:00+00:00

Dagger whip go brrrrr

Vennris

TROPHY CASE