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Core Colosseum seeks fresh blood to spill(3.5 D&D)
Tossing in a 16
Spoiler
1. What game system are you running (D&D, Call of Cthulu, Palladium, GURPS, etc.), and if applicable what edition (Original, Classic, Revised, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 10th, etc.)?
D&D 3.5
2. What 'type' or variant of game will it be (i.e. "Shadow Chasers" or "Agents of Psi" for d20 Modern)? What is the setting for the game (eg. historic period, published or homebrewed campaign setting, alternate reality, modern world, etc.)?
Set in the world of gladius, a living setting
3. How many Players are you looking for? Will you be taking alternates, and if so, how many?
Infinite
4. What's the gaming medium (OOTS, chat, e-mail etc.)?
Wizard's board
5. What is the characters' starting status (i.e. experience level)?
level 3
6. How much gold or other starting funds will the characters begin with?
3000 gp
7. Are there any particular character classes, professions, orders, etc. that you want... or do not want? What are your rules on 'prestige' and/or homebrewed classes?
SRD core, anything within it goes.
8. What races, subraces, species, etc. are allowed for your game? Will you allow homebrewed races or species? 'Prestige' races or species?
No
9. By what method should Players generate their attributes/ability scores and Hit Points?
36pb
10. Does your game use alignment? What are your restrictions, if so?
When it is a function of mechanics.
11. Do you allow multi-classing, or have any particular rules in regards to it?
normal rules
12. Will you be doing all of the die rolling during the course of the game? Will die rolls be altered, or left to the honor system? If players can make die rolls, which ones do they make, how should they make the rolls, and how should they report them?
Pit and Quest lords do all rolling.
13. Are there any homebrewed or optional/variant rules that your Players should know about? If so, list and explain them, or provide relevant links to learn about these new rules.
14. Is a character background required? If so, how big? Are you looking for anything in particular (i.e. the backgrounds all ending up with the characters in the same city)?
If you want to, it is more fun.
15. Does your game involve a lot of hack & slash, puzzle solving, roleplaying, or a combination of the above?
H&S, with as much roleplaying as you want.
16. Are your Players restricted to particular rulebooks and supplements, or will you be allowing access to non-standard material? What sources can Players use for their characters?
Core
So, well there as been a longstanding game going on over on the wizard boards for quite a few years now.
It is run just off the SRD, but don't get the wrong impression. It is core purely for simplicity, and to induce interesting builds without requiring reading all of D&D 3.5.
It is well run, and in my opinion a fun game all around. The thing is, there are at the moment around 6ish players... and the game can take many more.
So, anyone want to reinvigorate a fun game with a deep history?
__________________
avatar by Szilard, thank you sir for the fine work!
Re: A Colosseum Based on Core? Why yes, I think I will!
The Core Coliseum is probably one of my favorite ways to play DnD. Optimizing characters and sending them into battle, as well as roleplaying on quests and miniquests is a lot of fun. This is one of the few ways I've still been engaged with DnD over many, many years, and the community, although small right now, is vibrant and full of friendly and intelligent people. Anybody who's interested is welcome to join.
It's worth noting that the balance between casters and non-casters is delicate but maintained-- between every fight your HP is replenished, you're true resurrected, status ailments are cured, etc, but you don't get to rest and regain spells or rage uses or anything like that. Every three fights you get rest for a day, regain spells, rage uses, etc. This is when you buy new equipment as well. Also, there's a cap on expendables (450 at ECL 3, 800 at ECL 4, 1250 at ECL 5, and so on) and you can only re-buy expendables at the end of every third fight.
I thought I'd bring in an example fight that I DMed recently that I really enjoyed and post it here so you guys can see what it's like. This is an ECL 3 battle between Uknits' character Adryll and The_Fred's character Risen Angin. Adryll is a Xeph Fighter with Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Musket, Rapid Reload, and Weapon Focus. He boasts impressive damage output at range and terrifying criticals. Anjin is a Half-Giant Kusari-Gama user with good Trip, Bull Rush, and Disarm, as well as a number of Power Stones he can use.
The battle is close and desperate! Read on if you are interested.
Risen Anjin (The_Fred) vs. Adryll (Uknits)
ECL 3, Arena, Normal Light
Begin in the front centre of my box with Power Stone of Skate in hand. Use that, then Biofeedback, then draw my Kusari-gama and moving out clockwise.
If we autospot, tap a Crawling Tattoo at him and then move to break LoS (but towards him if possible) then continue buffing and seeking cover as normal (moving towards him when I have the choice).
When I'm done buffing and I see him, attack to grapple (Charge when necessary), using my armour spikes for damage. The first grapple check I make, use Grip of Iron just to be on the safe side (note that it lasts two rounds).
If he provokes AoOs for moving, attack to trip. If he provokes AoOs for shooting, attack to disarm. If I drop my kusari-gama in the process, pick it up if I have the move spare, otherwise leave it.
If I can ever get adjacent to him by Running but couldn't otherwise, do it; it's worth losing the 1 AC to get close enough to threaten.
This guy can probably kill me in a couple of shots so it all hinges on getting to him quickly enough.
Adryll's Tactics
Spoiler
Alright, this is not the best looking fight ever. Still, his AC and HP are both mediocre, so if I can get a couple good shots before he dominates me in melee, I may have a chance.
Star front and center with musket loaded and in hand. If seen round 1, shoot him. If not seen, move out clockwise, readying to shoot on sight.
Once seen, shoot while moving away, though don't move if it would put me more than 150' away, just shoot. Once in melee, stand if tripped and shoot. Try so 5' shift to avoid AoO, but if I can't, stay at 5' because getting hit by armour spikes is better than his Kusari Gama.
If grappled, escape with escape artist.
If he gets to melee, I'm dead, but if I see him early and he wastes time buffing, I may have a chance. Thanks for the run
Fight
Spoiler
Prefight Actions
Anjin
Gain Psionic Focus
Address Power Stones
Free Activity: Profession: 57gp ((10+9) * 3)
Adryll
Load Musket
Craft Blackmarket Weapons 60 gp
Round 0
Adryll at the front of box 1d4=1 with loaded musket.
Anjin at the front of box 1d4=4 with a power stone of skate in hand.
Adryll stands his grounds and fires, provoking a disarm AoO: 1d20+10=21, Adryll's attack roll: 1d20+9=10. Adryll is disarmed. Adryll picks up his weapon.
Anjin attacks to grab, 1d20+5=14 grabbing Adryll. Anjin manifests Grip of Iron and wins the opposed grapple check. He deals 1d3+4=5 damage.
Anjin wins! He gains 900 exp and 900+57 gp.
Adryll loses. He gains 300 exp and 300+60 gp.
Anjin
Time Between Fights: 2 hrs
Prebuffs/Ongoing Effects: none
Items Used: stone of force screen, stone of biofeedback, 1 tattoo chameleon
Spells or PP Used: 1 pp (grip of iron)
x/day Abilities Used: none
Free Activity: profession 57 gp
Adryll
Time Between Fights: 2 hrs
Prebuffs/Ongoing Effects: none
Items Used: fired three times and hit once. 3 powders used. 2d2-2=2. 3 bullets fired: 2 recovered, 1 mulched.
Spells or PP Used: none
x/day Abilities Used: none
Free Activity: craft 60 hp
__________________ Round 4: Eat Brains.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gavinfoxx
Well at least your houserule skill check fumbles have houseruled fumble confirmations.
Re: A Colosseum Based on Core? Why yes, I think I will!(3.5 D&D)
I do have to admit, the balance is surprising. Due to everyone being limited to core, openly broken combinations have mostly been weeded out. A few minor house rules later, and while you do have optimization, you don't have the same level of insanity heavy optimizers get into.
You fear the learning curve? Don't, it is easy, and the game scales up as you get into it.
Hell, my charicter Gart'ak is a stock barbarian(just got to fifth level), and he is kicking some major ass.
stealth bump
__________________
avatar by Szilard, thank you sir for the fine work!
Re: Core Colosseum seeks fresh blood to spill(3.5 D&D)
My drow wizard Nathas miniquested for RP a few cycles ago, but typically you'll be doing more arena fights than miniquests unless you're also pitlording to generate credits to spend on quests. You get one miniquest for free each level up.
Here's a recent-ish RP miniquest I did. It was good times all around.
EDIT: a note on what core means
Quote:
Core Rules - Definition of Core
Our definition of "Core" means everything that can be found in one of the following four sources (all D&D 3.5 sources): the Player's Handbook (PHB), the Dungeon Master's Guide (DMG), the Monster Manual (MM), and the 3.5 System Reference Documentl (SRD). Every D&D rule used in the Core Coliseum can be found in one of those four sources. In addition to that, you can pick anything listed in the Unearthed Arcana (see Rules of Gladius: Miscellaneous: Quick References) section by paying credits.
Core Rules - The System Reference Document
If you have the System Reference Documentl (SRD) only, you're missing out a few things. The Dungeon Master's Guide has one prestige class that's not in the SRD: the Red Wizard (page 193). The Monster Manual has the following races that are not in the SRD: Beholder and Gauth (page 25), Carrion Crawler (page 30), Displacer Beast and Displacer Beast Pack Lord (page 66), Githyanki (page 127), Githzerai (page 129), Kuo-Toa (page 163), Mind Flayer (page 186), the five types of Slaad (page 228), Umber Hulk (page 248), and the three types of Yuan-Ti (page 262). These races and the prestige class are all allowed in the Core Coliseum, even though they're not in the SRD.
Core Rules - Psionics Handbook Restrictions
Not everything in the Expanded Psionics Handbook can be used. The Hidden Talent feat (page 67) isn't in the SRD, and so cannot be taken. Similarly, the psionic Githyanki (page 10), psionic Githzerai (page 11), and Thri-Kreen (page 14) races aren't in the SRD, and thus cannot be used. Note that the non-psionic versions of the Githyanki and the Githzerai are in the Monster Manual, and so can be used; the restriction only applies to the psionic versions listed in the Expanded Psionics Handbook. Also note that besides minor name changes to several of the prestige classes, one prestige class (the Illithid Slayer) has become the Slayer, and now has one less prerequisite, in addition to being a much more flexible class.
Core Rules - Banned Material
There are a few exceptions, like the Gate spell. We have found that spell to be completely abusable and over-the-top, and so--by unanimous Council vote--we have decided to ban the Gate spell in all its forms. There are other house rules and restrictions which can all be found in the Rules of Gladius: Miscellaneous.
There's also some specific rules that allow non-core Unearthed Arcana into the coliseum.
__________________ Round 4: Eat Brains.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gavinfoxx
Well at least your houserule skill check fumbles have houseruled fumble confirmations.
Re: Core Colosseum seeks fresh blood to spill(3.5 D&D)
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobthe6th
follow the link... mini quests are a thing, but they tend to be for resources such as allies or prc prerequisites.
Although as blazinghand said, you can miniquest (or even full 3-week quests) for RP as well if you want.
Once we get enough people, I hope to be able to introduce the new (well, never-before-played, it's been a few years since I designed it, which I suppose makes it my first homebrew) guild system, which will also focus heavily on miniquests and quests and even campaigns (which can last up to 15 weeks).
So while the main focus is the arena, there's definitely room for questing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by blazinghand
You get one miniquest for free each level up.
I think you're misunderstanding that: You get one miniquest or quest per level (note that a successful quest will probably raise you to the next level or put you near there anyway), plus the ability to repeat a failed non-RP (mini)quest, but you still need to "pay" for it with credits (for a quest) or a double activation (for a miniquest). Free quests won't be available until the Guild system is implemented.
Ever want to try your hand at optimizing, but dislike heavy emphasis on splatbooks and/or the rocket tag phenomenon?
Come visit the Core Coliseum today, for a totally different style of optimization.
Re: Core Colosseum seeks fresh blood to spill(3.5 D&D)
No really, this is a cool game. You would think core is limiting... but it isn't. Ya, you have to work a bit for it, but when you do make something powerful and interesting you feel accomplished.
__________________
avatar by Szilard, thank you sir for the fine work!
Re: Core Colosseum seeks fresh blood to spill(3.5 D&D)
I thought I'd lend my support for CoCo
To answer some questions that came up:
It's core not so much for simplicity, as for cost/balance - there is zero cost to play, you can join with just the free SRD - no weird splatbooks and exploits.
Things that are commonly abused have been houseruled with a very short, effective list of houserules (Gate items, etc)
Casters are limited to 1/3 of their spells for each fight, and everyone fights 3 fights in a "cycle" simulating the designed "this is how many encounters you should have each day" to prevent "novas".
This type of balance lets a few classes that are traditionally viewed as weaker, really shine - having wilder's ability to wild surge, or increased spells per day from sorceror, are great.
There are options to go above and beyond core rules via what else is in the SRD (ie, unearthed arcana), to allow tweaking and customizing.
Some of the quests get quite involved - and there are occasionally campaigns!
You'd be shocked at how imaginative you can get just with core rules
Here are some creative builds: Half-Sahuagin mutant, half-bronze dragon, advanced with dragon hit die to large sized - with 4 arms and super strength, wings, and a ton of "extras" this guy shows a great outside-the-box way to build a successful melee combatant.
Here is a wizard, with an imp, and a leadership ally, with an imp, all with UMD, so that even the imps can use wands... crafted by the wizard. Each round a rain of spells is possible...
A mad cleric of insane madness? Check the links at the bottom for a TON of miniquests looking for roleplay, corpses to animate, foes to ... enlighten...
you'd be surprised how clever you can be--and are forced to be--when constrained by the same set of rules that everyone else is using. In this setting, poison is a valid, achievable tactic; direct damage spells are incredibly valuable, and Psion:kineticists are incredibly potent. You fight other players, with complex tactics, or are paired with monsters of CR = your ECL. One on one ECL3 vs a CR3 monster can be ridiculously challenging - and calls for great tactics! Check out the tactics that one character had for a random CR4 encounter -- he didn't know he was fighting a vampire, and still an ECL4 psychic warrior almost defeats a vampire bugbear in single combat!
The possibilities are endless, not limited - and the community is phenomenal. I encourage you to come check it out, and at least post and say hello, and see what kind of greeting you get. It's always overwhelming to start something new, in a new place - but this is the core rules of the best edition of D&D out there. Come stop by the Core Coliseum and give it a try!
Re: Core Colosseum seeks fresh blood to spill(3.5 D&D)
to quote:
Quote:
Our definition of "Core" means everything that can be found in one of the following four sources (all D&D 3.5 sources): the Player's Handbook (PHB), the Dungeon Master's Guide (DMG), the Monster Manual (MM), and the 3.5 System Reference Document (SRD). Every D&D rule used in the Core Coliseum can be found in one of those four sources. In addition to that, you can pick anything listed in the Unearthed Arcana section by paying credits.
So essentially PHB, DMG, MMI, EPH, and some parts of UA. Though all of the UA stuff costs credits (rewards for running fights for other players or otherwise helping to maintain the arena).
__________________
avatar by Szilard, thank you sir for the fine work!
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