Some upcoming changes

[imported_Rasyr]

I thought that it might be a good to list some of the changes that I will be making to Novus in the version 0.4 release.

• Glossary - as you can see from the one of the sticky threads, I am adding a Glossary.
  
  
• Index - I am hoping to have, at least, a rudimentary index done up as well.
  
  
• Base Movement - One of the playtesters pointed out that the movement rates were extremely slow. It was then that I realized that I had made a mistake. We use to have a greater number of Action Points each round, so having a lower movement rate was okay. However, when I reduced the total number of Action Points, I forgot about adjusting the Movement Rates. So expect a change here.
  
  
• Class Descriptions -- There was apparently some confusion regarding the Favored Skills ability that some classes have as well as the Combat skills being Favored from the Combat Training talent. I have added text clarifying that the Favored Skills from those Talents/abilities are already listed and accounted for in the Favored Skill list. That you do not add more skills to the Favored Skill list. I have also indicated a "Magic Stat" from the two Prime stats listed for each Class (at least for the Magic Users, and specifically stated that if the Class does not have a Magic Stat indicated, then Intelligence should be treated as the Magic Stat.
  
  
• Spellcasting -- I have changed the name from Spellcraft to Spellcasting as there was apparently some confusion between Magecraft and Spellcraft. I have also changed the skill's associated stat from Will to the character's Magic Stat.
  
  
• Hit Points - clarified that you do get hits/lvl + Con Bonus at first level. Also realized that I was still using an old method for determining Monster Hits, so had to fix that.
  
  
• DEF - minor change on the level based bonus to DEF. Instead of "level divided by 2, rounded up", you now simply receive a +1 modifier on even numbered levels. Means that there will be some slight changes to DEF for PCs and Monsters alike.
  
  
• Stat Array -- I have made some adjustments to the stats in the Stat Array.
  
  
• Skill Costs and Maximum Skill Ranks -- I have adjusted the skill costs somewhat, mostly in the upper ranks range, and have also removed the maximum rank cap. I am in the process of considering a cap on how many ranks may be purchased each level, with the current thinking being 5 ranks per level until you reach a number of ranks equal to the Stat Value of the associated stat, and then only 1 rank per level from them on.
  
  
• Monster Stats - Some of the other changes made (such as the removal of the max rank caps), as well as realizing that I had forgotten to give monsters "Backgrounds", means that I have to update the Monster's numbers.
  
  
• Organizational Changes -- I will be making, at the very least, some organizational changes. For example, the Snag & Boon Tables will be at the back of the book with the character sheet. I am thinking of possibly moving some other things back there as well, but have not yet made a final decision.
  
  

[/list]

[gamewizard]

When will 0.4 be out? Hopefully soon... I'd like to see the changes before I started running a full game. I believe you said you are putting out a world system at some time, but I was planning on starting a campaign in the Pathfinder series. I believe 3.5 would convert over to Novus fairly easily. 

[imported_Rasyr]

I am pagemaking version 0.4 right now. I am working on the free version first. I am almost done the first time through. The next step is to add in the TOC and fix all of the p. xx in the manuscript, changing them to real numbers.

Once that is done, I will be handing it off to the playtesters to check for any last minute problems while I start pagemaking the deluxe version (will be putting some art into this version, and working on the index as well).

Then once both are done, I will update them on RPGNow. They should be up (barring any more problems -- spent half of this week wiping my HD and re-installing everything) sometime next week, or the week after...

[samwise7]

Yeah, converting D20 adventures over to Novus is pretty simple.  The playtests I've ran using Goodman Games modules went well.

[imported_Rasyr]

That was actually part of the design intent (to make conversion as easy as possible), especially for the monsters.