How to pre-design a character?

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Hi all,

Sorry I haven't been around in quite some time (busy with a new office). I see a lot of old names still here. And quite a few new ones.

Anyway, to the matter at hand.

How do you pre-design a character for NWN?

I have not had the opportunity, nor the priveledge of playing with 3rd edition rules and thus, do not know how to go about designing my character(s) for this vast new world of adventure.

I posted this in hopes of some guidance in this matter. I have already read all the official guides from Bioware and of course on this site, but I need to know more.

Such as:

1. How to allocate AP with-in the point-buy system (is there a program?)
2. How many feats do each class receive; and at what levels

I'm attempting to ready a monk as a first character (Quan Ji) and it would help a great deal if I knew where to begin.

As always, any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Immoral

 

I saw a video with one of the BioWare guys go through the whole character generation system once. Don't remember where though.

 

If you want to get a jump start, download the char gen from WotC here: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/ex20020218a#1
Award yourself 30 pts and experiment!
Not all the feats/skills and spells are in, download the Toolset Beta to see which are.

 

You get 30 points to add to your stats, which all start at 8.

Raising a stat costs:
9 = 1 point
10 = 2 points
11 = 3 points
12 = 4 points
13 = 5 points
14 = 6 points
15 = 8 points
16 = 10 points
17 = 13 points
18 = 16 points

Then apply racial modifiers.

All characters get 1 feat at level 1 and another at level 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18.

Fighters and Wizards get extra feats at some levels and Rangers also start with extra feats.

Humans get an extra feat at level 1.

 

If you need more info on 3rd edition, check out
http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/srd.html

Cullain

 

Here is my advice, and I have played and DM'ed 3E extensively.

As a monk, your most important stat is dex, followed by wis.
Str and con are important too, but for a monk it's dex dex dex.

Skills
Tumble is key for a monk, max it.
The usefullness of the other monk class skills depend on what kind of monk you wish to be, although most go for move silently and hide.

Feats
The best feats have prerequisites, and many of the prerequisites are weak. You take them so you can get the better feats later on.

The single best feat for a monk is spring attack, you need dodge and mobility to take it, plus 13+ dex, and +4 or better base attack bonus (level 6 for a monk)

The next best feat for a monk is Weapon Finesse. It allows you to use your dex bonus to your attacks instead of your str.
You can't take it at level 1 though.

Race:
Small races (hobbit or gnome) suck as monks. They get major penalties to damage and movement.
Elf is best, since they have +2 to dex, and for monks its all about the dex.

Possible 30 point buy elf monk

Str 10 (2 points)
Int 8 (0 points)
Wis 14 (6 points)
Con 12 (6 points -2 race)
Dex 20 (16 points + 2 race)
Chr 8 (0 points)

(note: these stats give 17 AC at level 1 unarmored, and AC 18 if you take dodge)

Feat:
Dodge

Skills
4 tumble
4 hide
4 move silently


Alternate (more well rounded version)

str 14 (6 points)
int 10 (2 points)
Wis 14 (6 points)
Dex 18 (10 points +2 race)
con 12 (6 points -2 race)
chr 8 (0 points)

You get more skill points, more damage from strength, but 2 less dex.


http://members.cox.net/zothar/

[This message has been edited by Zothar (edited June 12, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Zothar (edited June 12, 2002).]

 

I agree with everything Zothar said.
Just like to add a couple of things. Personally I would go for something like the 'Alternate'. Because:
1. It is really nice to have a couple of bonus points for strength to add that extra damage since weapon finesse just affects your attack roll.
2. With a str 10 you can't carry much loot till you drop your AC because of load (medium load means max dex of +3 for AC).


The only skill list I have seen from NWN did not include tumble which is very unfortunate. Hide and Move silently are at least in.

 

Do mind that Zothar's reply is for a PnP monk. For NWN it might be a bit different, for some skills and feats are not supported by NWN and the pace of the game might be different.

Nice explanations, I must admit that.

/me bows to the leader of the almighty YRF

 

The answer to this maybe in a thread somewhere but my search did find anything.

A quick question on the point buy. NWN has stated the official point allocation will be 30. ALFA stated a limit of 28 in the past. Will ALFA be increasing to 30 or staying at 28? Thanks for your help.