D20 Arcanum

I actually meant the reverse. You seem to go away more from D&D by removing a lot of creatures an creating a whole bunch of classes that way.

Let me be a bit more specific. I created but only one new class: The Engineer. Which is the all out tech class.
This does make more magic classes available, but even in Arcanum tech is new.
I made tech however more generally available for all, by making it so that a rise in ranks in crafts skills would allow for a rise in TA. Thus even a fighter can take a few crafts (I have one at the moment) and seriously go up.
Those that specialise in TA get USR - Uncontrollable Spell Resistance. This SR effects all targeted spells. This means that stuff like fireball (or fire flash for Arcanum only players) will work against a techie, but things like harm and heal spells (among many others) don't.
MA causes TA devices to malfunction and possibly destroy them. This is done with a new thing called Disruption Chance. This is unlike Arcanum, mainly as this can now also be used as a bonus (in Arcanum a rise in MA mainly seems negative, whereas TA has positive and negative sides) and is easier to implement. Certainly as Crit failure chances can not work in small percentages as it is a D20 system.
Futhermore, this way the system looks at both sides more. Instead of a more one sided few of the ineffectiveness or effectiveness of magic.

This is the basis of my new Campaign Setting. All calculations are already done and staying in the middle so no TA or MA increase, also seems to make quite a strong character. That in itself is also a nice addition to the system as Arcanumm leaves less room for that.

Viellicht ist es möglich weiter zu redenen in PM. Ich überleg mir ob ich dich die files sollte geben... aber ich kenn dich nog nicht ganz güt und sicher nicht die andere Leute.

 

I actually, once upon a time and before my computer did it's impression of Ophelia, was writing a RPG system based upon the actual rules of the game. I didn't get too far, but...

Actually, I may restart it, but I'll use a combination of the Blue Rose rules and some stuff from my True20 books. (For those not in the know, Blue Rose was what gave rise to True20, which I feel is far superior to normal d20.)

If I get anywhere, I'll make a thread so people can look at it and play it if they like.

 

d20 modern technologist class

technologist


A technologist is a man on the cutting edge of the industrial age, a pioneer of modern science.
Allways striving to out do one another techs are swapping parts and combining fucntions, resulting in amazing

...sometimes disaterous ideas. Items rangind from a simple elctric lamp to a high tech flamethrower or mechanized

armor, technology is a a magic all its own.



Abilities
A techs best attribute is his intellegence score, the higher the better bonus he has on all of his creation rolls.
wisdom, how ever is a valued skill, it allows for a thoughtful pause before lighting new volatile compounds.


Hit die
Techs gain 1d6 Hp/level, adding con modifier.

Action points
techs get 5 + 1 1/2 the pc level


Class skills
profession, read write language, draft schematics knowledge mechanics,chemistry,metalurgy,electricity,demolitions,
repair, research,search,speak language, tactics, forgery, tumble, jump, climb,disable device,

starting feat
2 feats if human plus simple weapon proficiency

schools of technology


chemistry
this school provides basic understanding and practice of most chemicals and poisons. acids, concentrated

venom,chloroform,hallucinagenics,sedatives and other chemicals, just discuss with your GM.

electrical
this school provides basic understanding of elcetrical theory, electricity can be use to power items like lamps

and generators, enhance weaponry, even aid in healing.

explosives
this school provides the basic understanding of blowing things and people the fuck up. straight forward, you make

things go boom.

gunsmithing
this school provides the basic understanding of the construction and operations of firearms. from the lowley

flintlock to the mighty mechanized rifle, from the looking glass rifle to the blade launcher....from the

window....to the wallll.

herbology
this school provides basic understanding of natural herbal compunds that can be used in healing, minor scrapes and

burns, to even bringing back the dead.

mechanical
this school provides the basic understanding of moving mechanical parts. from a simple pocket watch to fancy night

vision goggles.

blacksmithing
this school provides the basic understanding of working metals to create weapons and armor from alloy metals.

theraputics
this school provides the basic understanding of tonics and oils that enhance your natural attributes. this is a

limited but efective school of technology.

scientific improviastion

by spending 1 action point a tech can combine commoon objects to make a one use item for the function desired.(

key,rig a generator,pipe rifle etc) only items that can be used multiple times may be emulated, explosives , for

example can only be used once , so this ability does not apply.

techs start with only one feat and simple weapon proficiency, however, they are proficient in any weapon

or armor they create, any weapon made by a tech is considered an exotic weapon.at every other level, starting at

first, a tech gets to pick one talen from any tree. a tch gains a uses his wisdom modifer and his intelligence

modifier, combine with his craft level to determing his tech proficiency.a tech level of 1-30 may choose from the

basic talent trees, a tech level of 31to 60 may choose from the intermediate tree, 61-100 may choose from the

advanced tree, special izing in one school gains a + 5 bonus to you craft check for making your tech items. a tech

is allowed to forgoe the selection of bonus feats to gain another talent, he can only do this as many times as his

intellegence modifier.

schematics

as lon as a tech has the required tech level, he can choose a schematic off these lists and build it with the

required parts. makeing new schematics will be done with gm approval.

basic herbology

healing salve- ginka root, kadura stem

fatigue restore- coca leaves, tobacco leaves

poison cure- venom, kadura stem

intermideate herbology

fatigue limiter- fatigue restore, witchbane

accelerate healing- healing salve,coca leaves

wonder drug- accelrate healing,poppy flowers

cure all- wonder drug, big chief snake oil

advance herbology

invigorator- fatigue restorer, accelerate healing

miracle cure- wonder drug,fortifier

reanimator- cure all, large capacitor


chemistry

basic chemistry

strong poison- floor cleaner,rat poison

charges- electrolyte solution, metal plates

animal scent- bromide,perfume

intermediate chemistry

corrosive acid- sulfur, carbolic acid

hallucinite- mushrooms,tonic

advanced

paralyzer- potassium chloride, srtong poison

anaesthitizer- hallucinite, bromide


electrical

basic electrical

electric light- filament,lantern

lemon-potato charges- lemons, potatos

charged ring- copper ring, capacitor

flow spectrometer- small elctrical parts, compass

intermediate elcetrical

shocking staff- staff, large capacitor

chapeau of magnetic conversion- top hat, electrical coil

healing jacket- leather armor, electrical harness

advanced electrical

charged sword- balanced sword, large capacitor

electro armour- electrical harness, basic plate mail

flow disrupter- electrical harness, steel shield

magnetized boots- steel boots, electrical coil

generator-

explosive

basic explosive

fuel- wine, yeast

bullets- saltpeter, charcoal

molotov cocktail- fuel, bottle, rags

flash grenade- magnesium, wine

smoke grenade- fertilizer, sugar

stun grenade- chloroform, saltpeter

intermediate explosive

fragmentaion grenade- blackpowder,nails, metal can

fire obstruction- kerosene, soap

dynamite- nitroglycerin, saltpeter

smoke grenade- fertilizer, sugar

stun grenade- chloroform, saltpeter

advanced explosive

flamethrower- fire obstruction, repeater rifle

knock out gas- stun grenade, anasthisizer

mustard gas- fragmentation grenade, corrosive acid

pyrotechnic bow- fire obstruction, compound bow

time bomb- dynamite, clock parts


gun smithy

basic gunsmithy

hand crafted flintlock- broken flintlock, metal tube

fine revolver- revolver chamber, broken flintlock

repeater rifle- revolver chamber, hunting rifle

hushed firearm- revolver/ rifle,engine muffler

intermediate gunsmithy

looking glass rifle- looking glass, hunting rifle

hand cannon- fine revolver, metal tube

elaphant gun- hunting rifle, large pipe

scatter gun- nails, hand cannon

long range pistol- fine revolver, loking glass

advanced gunsmithy

mechanized gun- clockwork parts,repeater rifle

rifled cannon- pure ore, hand cannon

charged accelerater- elctrical coil, repeater rifle

blade launcher- elephant gun, fine steel dagger

high velocity pistol- long range pistol, pure ore


mechanical

basice mechanical

short wave communicator

clockwork arm- clock work parts, metal gauntlet

spike trap- railroad spike,small springs

trap springer- metal casing, small spring

auto skeleton key- small spring, lock pick

eye gear- pocket watch pars, glasses

compound bow- bow, clockwork parts


intermediate mechanical

clock work decoy- clockwork parts, manequin

mechanized arachnid- clockwork parts

steam powered arm- clockwork arm, pressure gauge

explosive decoy- clockwork decoy, fragmentation grenade

goggled helmet- eyegear, helmet

advanced mechanical

mechanical horse- clock parts,saddle

healing arachnid- mechanized arachnid, healing salve,fatigue restorer

gyro copter-clockwork parts,mining cart,pure ore,lemon-potato chares


blacksmithing

basice blacksmithing

pure ore- iron ore, steel plate

balanced sword- pure ore

feather weight weapon- melee weapon, magnesium

feather weight chainmail- chainmail, magnesium


intermediate blacksmithing

reinforced armor- pure ore, plate mail

battle gauntlets- gauntlet,railroad spike

mobile armor- leather armor, pure ore

magnetized shield- steel shield, electrical coil


advanced blacksmithing

mechanized plate- palte mail, clockwork parts, dwarven steel

elite leather- mobile armor, dwarven steel

elite weapon- melee weapon, dwarven steel, balanced sword

unbreakable armor- pure ore, feather weight armor


therapeutics

basic therapeutics

truth serem- wine,mushrooms

tonic of physical prowress- dwarven ale, ginka root

tonice of persuasion- wine, kadura stem

intemediate therapeutics

tonic of awareness- ginka root, tobacco leaves

tonic of enhanced intelect- ginka root,fish oil

tonic of resistance- dwarven ale, night shade

tonic of wisdom- tobacco, kdura stem

advanced theapeutics

mind marvel- tonic of enhance intelect, kadura stem

enegizer- ginka root, tonic of awareness

revitalizer- kadura stem, tonic of resistance


tech feats

enhance object
pre req- none
effect- add +1 to any die roll for that item

augment item
pre req- 15 or more tech leve
effect- add 1 point of electric/fire/acid/shock/sonic damage to any weapon, or damage reistance of 5 vs that

elemnt to armor/ clothing

school mastery
pre req- tech skill of 61-100
effect- any item from the chosen school gains a +5 tech bonus

gear head
pre req- none
effect- you gain a bonus of 5 to your tech level, this feat can be taken mutiple times

 

OK - Before anyone jumps the guy, please don't flame him. I see useful information there and I don't even play d20 games.

Looks like you put some thought into that list, capnpeej.

 

thanks rroyo

it took me a few hours of cutting up the smart heroe, and took a ability for the scientist prestige class. i have never, ever, ever written a character class..... so be nice. i was tired of trying to convert a game or find one done. oh and the higher the tech value of the character is the spell failure, but i think like 10% of it should be spell resistance... i dunno ... i just love arcanum.

 

Because rroyo asked so nicely, I'll restrain myself from the desire to go 'grr argh die'. But only because rroyo asked.

I found some interesting Magic/Tech aptitude rules for Savage Worlds that could be used for Arcanum with a little hammering, I might have a shot later once I get some sleep... (ah blessed sleep, how you elude me...)

 

Seconded. This qualifies as useful information. I'd love to see a d20 game made from Arcanum.

 

why the restrained anger...is this subject just annoying? im not here that often so i guess i am missing something.

 

It's just that the thread has been dead for about a year and a half. Grave-digging is frowned upon here, unless, of course, you have useful information to add to an existing topic, it's a sticky, or a "Who needs a..." thread.

 

well ive always been partial to necromancy...open to feedback

 

Here in this Compressed .rar, you will find some .tga files from NWN (Classes, Class Features, Domains, Prestige Classes, Spells and Skills, etc.) that you might need for the D20 Arcanum.

 

thanks that was cool stuff. but my game is based in the d20 modern system, they already have a past setting, so it is easy to incorporate

 

The rules are very clear - useful information makes a gravedig okay. He's not gravedigging, he's resurrecting.

Why do a d20 Arcanum? d20 is extremely combat oriented. Arcanum should use a classless system, probably something homebrewed.

EDIT: Not that I'm biased against d20, or anything. My favorite PnP is Mutants and Masterminds, after all.

 

You can always place the d20 modern classes in the list of schemes, so that the character will spend it's own character points without demanding the player's time and energy. Perhaps you can even replace the backgrounds with the d20 modern occupations. So that you can choose one of those occupations in place of the backgrounds.

 

When I say we shouldn't have a classless system, I don't mean we should replace classes with professions. I mean that it would make more sense (especially in the Arcanum context) to have a straight point buy system.

 

Yes, that's a good idea. If this system is not working for Arcanum, we can always try using the BRP Rules then.

 

i was thinking of the backround idea. im using d20 modern because i know it and its easy. my only problem is a starting mage class, so i am going to work on a watered dow ncaster to replace the smart hero, ill work out a magic level like i did with the tech, but i fear that the spells would be fewer than all the tech talents. oh well they can suffer.

 

In the true manner of Arcanum, you need to make sure that playing a tech character is completely unfeasible unless you get some 3rd party sourcebooks.

 

And that (the class thing, uggah) is why I was using Blue Rose when I was trying to convert this. It's a very, very loose system, very feat-and-skill orientated.

I should totally go back and work on that again. If I can find it.

 

Honestly, if anyone was ever to do a tabletop for Arcanum, I would think it would follow the White Wolf models over D20.

The World of Darkness dot system I think would just lend itself more to the Arcanum feel, especially given the wonderful setting that is Mage. I don't think it would take too much work to adapt the Mage setting to more closely reflect the Arcanum spells or the Tech Colleges.

Backgrounds could work like the Mage Paths, Vampire Lodges, or Vampire Clans where you start with free dots in certain skills or attributes, or make certain abilities cheaper to learn.