Tiny Non-Level Character Companion

[lars_alexander]

This companion introduces non-level characters in addition to expanded rules for 0-level characters. Non-level characters are usually created, and played by the GM, while 0-level characters may be created, and played by players.

http://www.basicfantasy.org/showcase.cgi?sid=58

0-level characters may gain experience levels, and get initiated into a character class by either a mentor, self-initiation, or by a deity (usually clerics.)

Discuss the supplement in this thread.

[Longman]

This has just come up in my own PbP game. I have opted for 500 exp to go from 0-level to 1st level, rather than 250.

I would only do something like this if the players were expressing a genuine interest in having the new character as a retainer or a hireling of some kind, and it would be fun to see the character go up to 1st level. Most NPCs would either be NM or an actual character with levels, as you have said.

Also, I'd have the stats assigned while the character was still 0-level rather than waiting til they got to 1st level. It might make a difference to ability rolls and how the character developed generally. Also it would be weird to invest all this attention on to a character, only to roll them up and find out they were really hopeless.

Finally, I'd handle initiation totally as an RP thing without rules, unless the person was joining a druid or another magic order. (I'm very fond of druids).

I've played druidical initiation sequences all the way up to 9th level. Players love them. The trial of fire, the trial of water, etc.

In one game, I also had an initiation prerequisite for a druid to go to 5th level which was that he had to help a 0-level character get the 500 exp to go from 0 level to 1st level. He had to initiate them into the order before he could make progress himself.

But for a fighter or a thief I'm not sure I would worry about such rules unless the player really seemed to want it.

[-1warrior]

Edited. I don't think what I posted belongs here.

[shadowmane]

A Knight or Paladin taking on a Squire would work great for this. The Squire would have no fighting ability, and would probably be a boy of between 8 and 12 years old. He spends his time taking care of the War Horse. Or the Riding Horse. Or he is charged with keeping the Knight's sword cleaned and polished. Or perhaps he's in charge of the Knight's clothing chest. Maybe he's the Shield bearer, responsible for keeping the shield cleaned, painted and polished.

For the Thief, he's the hungry little homeless vagabond who has latched on to the character. Perhaps he was caught stealing something from the Thief, and the Thief had mercy on him, deciding to take him under his wing and teach him for his own good.

Magic User and Cleric are pretty self explanitory. Which leaves other classes that you can come up with ideas for. The Ranger, for instance. I'm drawing a blank on that one, but I'm sure someone could come up with something.

[Dimirag]

A time ago our d&d group reached a demon infested town with only one survivor, a kid (Bil), the ranger took mercy on him and give him a broadsword and sent him to the group's base by walking over his steps because a man that walks over his steps gains the nature's wisdom, after some weeks the group came back to the base and found the kid living there, not only that, the kid made the whole travel walking backwards (he took literally the ranger's words).
Months later the group needed an extra member, and out of the shadows the kid arose, he presented himself as Bil of the Forest, a Ranger. The ranger's player with another player and the GM had planned that the rangers trained Bil into a first level ranger over the course of time.

[-1warrior]

Neat story.

[lars_alexander]

Thank you all for your input!

I use the house rules as a GM. My players run their normal player characters starting at 1st level. I was thinking about what defines a player character, and what defines a non-player character. Within the game system it's usally a set of classes, ability scores, and level progression. Whereas NPCs can be monsters, or anything the GM comes up with.
I wanted a simple set of house-rules that integrated into the existing system. You may tweak it to better work with your group's game, of course.

As a GM I usually do not write down ability scores for NPCs, unless they're important. If a player runs a 0-level retainer it should be enough to just write down a few key words, and add scores later. They wouldn't be hopeless, because the GM (me) is rather fair, and would use the method described in the supplement with the character's description as modifier to the ability scores.
But I see the point in rolling scores during character creation.

[lars_alexander]

R2 of the Tiny Non-level Character Companion

Minor corrections of tlmbued letters in various words.

[Dimirag]

-The file reads as "Tiny Magic Companion" once opened.

-I think the Saving Throw for 0-LVL NPC issue was resolved in the 3rd edition of the core rules.

-The way the rules are expressed makes it to me a little confusing to read, specially for the examples continuity.

It first says that the npc needs 250xp + initiation to reach level 1 in the class. But self initiation requires the npc having 1st level, and having 1st level already means the npc is initiated.

I would make the supplement follow this path:
-Creation
-Initiation
-Gaining First Level.

I would make the 50% of 2nd level XP cost the base cost for initiation after with a master and then modify time and XP cost based on other training types.

"A 0-level character needs 250 experience points to attain 1st level, and some kind of initiation the gain access to one of the character classes."

Shouldn't be: "to gain access"?

The initiation by deity rules makes really hard to npc to become clerics, why not to give a rough guide for all classes and let the GM to fill the exact requisites for class "acceptance"?

[lars_alexander]

Thanks for pointing these things out to me. I'll revise the text and add examples to clarify initiation and self-initiation.