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Author Topic: The Arena (DnD 3.5)  (Read 19598 times)

Araph

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The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« on: April 21, 2012, 07:33:01 pm »

Currently Planned Games:


Meta-Info

Intro Stuff:
There are a couple of DnD campaigns going on throughout the forums, but this is a slightly different way of playing. If people are interested in playing, it'd be a nearly plotless game; the idea is that somehow or another, your characters are fighting in the arena of the gods. They may have been a gladiator in their life and were brought to the arena upon their death, or maybe they were a great wizard who passed away before reaching his goal of ultimate arcane power and is fighting for another chance at life. The setting takes itself seriously, though; it's not an OotS-style let's-lampshade-hang-the-rules game.

Playing and DMing:
You can have as many characters as you'd like, and you can import previous characters (as in, from previous games) to compete. Also, there are to be multiple dungeon masters: anyone can play and DM, but they must be doing them in seperate sessions. Sessions would be organized on a case-by-case basis, wherein a DM will say 'hey, anybody want to have a session <insert time here>?' or a player will say 'hey, anybody willing to DM a session <insert other time here>?' and then everybody will figure out when they can make it work.

Just as players must have fleshed out characters, dungeon masters need to impersonate one of the gods organizing a battle. While that doesn't particularly matter for in-game talk, the arena map and final reward should reflect the domain and personality of the god in question. In addition, any sub-plots need to have some bearing on the god giving the quest, whether it's for entertainment or to gain influence in whichever world it takes place in.

Setting and Plots:
The central hub of the entire game is The Arena, the place of bloody entertainment for divinities. Contestants volunteer from the ranks of deceased mortals for prizes and boons from the gods, whether it be divine aid for loved ones still on the material plane or a chance to return to life for a second time. Each battle can consist of anything from one on one combat to teams of veteran adventurers engaging in epic warfare. Still other times, contests of stealth and skill occur, with the arena reforming into a place full of twists and turns, where an enemy could disappear into the labyrinth only to strike again when you least expect it.

In some cases, divine beings have need of mortal champions. Combatants may be chosen to go on missions to one of the countless worlds on the material plane to do the deity's work, whatever it may be. In these cases, the person DMing as the god should have a short plot figured out that could be completed in a few sessions.



Character Information

Character Creation:
We'll be going mostly with 32-point builds, and non-core and homebrewed stuff is allowed or disallowed based on the DM whose game you're playing in. Equipment-wise, you'll typically be able to spend an amount of gold fitting for a person of your character's level; the exact amount is up to the dungeon master who is running the session you create the character for.

Level Tiers:
Characters are allowed into sessions typically by tiers; each tier contains two levels. When you create a character for a session, you start at the lower level of the tier, but preexisting characters can be either level to be eligible to fight.
Spoiler: Tier List (click to show/hide)
Like all other rules, changes can be made at the DM's discretion. For example, a group of tier 3 wizards wouldn't be allowed to fight a group of tier 3 fighters. However, in challenges that only allow one archetype, tiers would keep the contestants within the same power range.

Death:
In this campaign, death doesn't affect characters to the same degree as other campaigns. While any stat penalties death normally has are in effect here, the deceased PC's spirit simply returns to the arena without needing to be resurrected. This precludes them from rejoining any ongoing adventures unless they are resurrected in the same mini-campaign, but they can still fight in arena matches and join future adventures.



People willing to DM:
Araph
Skyrunner
Adwarf

People willing to play:
King of the Weasels
Skyrunner
Cthulhu
Araph
Doomblade187
Powder Miner
Grek
ExKirby
Da Dwarf Lord
Adwarf
« Last Edit: April 23, 2012, 07:18:37 pm by Araph »
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Azthor

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2012, 07:35:19 pm »

Given the gameplay scale, I take it we'd be going Epic?
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King_of_the_weasels

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2012, 07:37:36 pm »

I've been wanting to do something like this for a while.  I'll join up.
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Skyrunner

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2012, 07:38:45 pm »

So... can I be the Mailman? Three hundred something damage per round? xD
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Araph

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2012, 07:42:03 pm »

Well, it'd vary. The starting level could be pretty much whatever the general consensus is, and would change depending on whatever the players and DMs agree to. I was thinking that their could be different tiers of characters, and if you started lower you'd have way better equipment than if you were starting at a high level by the time you reach the higher level. That'd give a motivation to start with lowish level characters, but leave the option of playing higher level characters from the beginning.

So... can I be the Mailman? Three hundred something damage per round? xD
Sure! For your first fight, you'll be squaring off against this Ancient Dire Legendary Paragon Pseudonatural Prismatic Dragon over here... :P
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Cthulhu

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2012, 07:44:00 pm »

I might be interested in joining this.  It'd be a fun way to experiment with various character concepts without heavy time commitments.
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Azthor

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2012, 07:45:38 pm »

Well, it'd vary. The starting level could be pretty much whatever the general consensus is, and would change depending on whatever the players and DMs agree to. I was thinking that their could be different tiers of characters, and if you started lower you'd have way better equipment than if you were starting at a high level by the time you reach the higher level. That'd give a motivation to start with lowish level characters, but leave the option of playing higher level characters from the beginning.

So... can I be the Mailman? Three hundred something damage per round? xD
Sure! For your first fight, you'll be squaring off against this Ancient Dire Legendary Paragon Pseudonatural Prismatic Dragon over here... :P

There are far scarier things.
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Skyrunner

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2012, 07:45:59 pm »

Quote
Sure! For your first fight, you'll be squaring off against this Ancient Dire Legendary Paragon Pseudonatural Prismatic Dragon over here... :P

Really?
I can totally do this, Araph. I can.

You must not underestimate the power of a cheesy wizard build.

((Even if I don't optimize, just give me 50 wizard levels and I'll kill anything you throw at me xD))

I just need Epic Mage Armor (+20 or more to AC), and the spell resistance giving spell (11+CL SR).
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bay12 lower boards IRC:irc.darkmyst.org @ #bay12lb
"Oh, they never lie. They dissemble, evade, prevaricate, confoud, confuse, distract, obscure, subtly misrepresent and willfully misunderstand with what often appears to be a positively gleeful relish ... but they never lie" -- Look To Windward

Azthor

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2012, 07:48:23 pm »

Quote
Sure! For your first fight, you'll be squaring off against this Ancient Dire Legendary Paragon Pseudonatural Prismatic Dragon over here... :P

Really?
I can totally do this, Araph. I can.

You must not underestimate the power of a cheesy wizard build.

((Even if I don't optimize, just give me 50 wizard levels and I'll kill anything you throw at me xD))

I just need Epic Mage Armor (+20 or more to AC), and the spell resistance giving spell (11+CL SR).

50th level? That is usually reserved for deities, which also tend to have 20 HD worth of Outsider. You underestimated the dragon though; while a 50th level wizard may have the resources to down it, the AC boost from Epic Mage Armor is REALLY measly in comparison to that monster...

Hint: the dragon has dozens of attack per round thanks to the spiced up HD and the Pseudonatural template granting additional limbs based on hit dice.
« Last Edit: April 21, 2012, 07:51:47 pm by Azthor »
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Skyrunner

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2012, 07:51:55 pm »

No, characters can get 50th level. It's in the Epic Level Handbook, but usually people don't do that.

Hmm..as for the armor, I can research a +50 one too.

...But the more efficient way is the Twinned Repeated Fell Drain Energy Drain it to death. With Arcane Thesis and Easy Metamagic, anything is possible.

Also, if I'm Epic, I can take Multispell for more than one quickened spell a round...



Anyhow, if this is Maptools, I can't attend ):
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bay12 lower boards IRC:irc.darkmyst.org @ #bay12lb
"Oh, they never lie. They dissemble, evade, prevaricate, confoud, confuse, distract, obscure, subtly misrepresent and willfully misunderstand with what often appears to be a positively gleeful relish ... but they never lie" -- Look To Windward

Araph

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2012, 07:52:47 pm »

Well, it'd vary. The starting level could be pretty much whatever the general consensus is, and would change depending on whatever the players and DMs agree to. I was thinking that their could be different tiers of characters, and if you started lower you'd have way better equipment than if you were starting at a high level by the time you reach the higher level. That'd give a motivation to start with lowish level characters, but leave the option of playing higher level characters from the beginning.

So... can I be the Mailman? Three hundred something damage per round? xD
Sure! For your first fight, you'll be squaring off against this Ancient Dire Legendary Paragon Pseudonatural Prismatic Dragon over here... :P

There are far scarier things.

Like what? Pun-pun?

Quote
Sure! For your first fight, you'll be squaring off against this Ancient Dire Legendary Paragon Pseudonatural Prismatic Dragon over here... :P

Really?
I can totally do this, Araph. I can.

You must not underestimate the power of a cheesy wizard build.

((Even if I don't optimize, just give me 50 wizard levels and I'll kill anything you throw at me xD))

I just need Epic Mage Armor (+20 or more to AC), and the spell resistance giving spell (11+CL SR).

Ah, you misunderstand me. In this case, you're starting at level 1 with no equipment.
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Skyrunner

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2012, 07:53:57 pm »

And I was pretty sure you said high level characters could be in existence. o_o

Level 1 characters are very, very puny... D:
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bay12 lower boards IRC:irc.darkmyst.org @ #bay12lb
"Oh, they never lie. They dissemble, evade, prevaricate, confoud, confuse, distract, obscure, subtly misrepresent and willfully misunderstand with what often appears to be a positively gleeful relish ... but they never lie" -- Look To Windward

Azthor

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2012, 07:57:10 pm »

Pun-Pun abuses faulty wording; you can achieve the same result with a basic religion check and asking Pazuzu for a Candle of Invocation then starting an Efreeti summoning loop. Rather, I am refering to perfectly plausible builds, not obvious exploits.
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Araph

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #13 on: April 21, 2012, 07:59:01 pm »

Anyhow, if this is Maptools, I can't attend ):
:(  How restricted is your access to sources of internet? Their must be some medium that you can access through which a game can take place.

And I was pretty sure you said high level characters could be in existence. o_o
High level characters can be played, I was just messing with you.

Level 1 characters are very, very puny... D:
And yes. Yes they are.

Pun-Pun abuses faulty wording; you can achieve the same result with a basic religion check and asking Pazuzu for a Candle of Invocation then starting an Efreeti summoning loop. Rather, I am refering to perfectly plausible builds, not obvious exploits.
I know it's a loophole, but Pun-Pun is the first thing I think of when I think 'most powerful being in DnD'.
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Skyrunner

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Re: The Arena (DnD 3.5)
« Reply #14 on: April 21, 2012, 08:00:38 pm »

o_O? Only my Maptools usage is restricted. So if we play with IRC, I probably can attend.

This arena game really has the possibility to attract powergamers >.> :P

It would be nice if you made a Play-BY-Post subdivision for people like me >.>
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bay12 lower boards IRC:irc.darkmyst.org @ #bay12lb
"Oh, they never lie. They dissemble, evade, prevaricate, confoud, confuse, distract, obscure, subtly misrepresent and willfully misunderstand with what often appears to be a positively gleeful relish ... but they never lie" -- Look To Windward
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