First timers impressions and questions

[Obadiah]

Hi all,

I am an experienced RPGer and after not role playing for a while I am looking to get back into it again (with my kids now).  So I had purchased HARP but while I loved much of the game I wasn't a massive fan of the combat system, finding it a bit heavy on the number crunching.  As such I am testing out Novus.  So I thought I would start this thread to share some of my thoughts on the game as a first timer in the Novus space.

So first up I thought I might ask a question on the Magecraft skills.  The rules say:
"Characters may also learn specific instances of this skill for other purposes. These include, but are not limited to Magecraft: Alchemy (the base skill used in item creation), Magecraft: Runes (used to make scrolls), Magecraft: Circles (used in creating Circles of Protection and Thaumaturgic Triangles for, among other things, summoning; see p. 82), and specific magically related lore skills, such as Magecraft: Undead Lore, Magecraft: Demon Lore and Magecraft: Devil Lore, just to name a few."

There doesn't seem to be a more definitive list of the various skills under Magecraft and how to use them - that is no rules on item creation, scroll creation, etc.  Am I missing them? (quite possible as I only just bought the rules yesterday).

My second observation is around the order of the book itself.  The character creation procedure is spelt out and the chapters start to follow that order.  It talks of character points being able to be spent on: skills, talents, combat moves, & spells. But when it comes to going through these, they are not all in the similar order. Skills discussion happens, then talents, but then it get interrupted with a discussion on money, equipment and encumberance,  and then into finishing your character.  Then we have a chapter on combat where combat moves forms a section within that chapter, and then magic, where spells for a part of that.  The order seems a bit out for me.  The flow of moving sequentially through the early part of the book to create a character gets lost.

Anyway, overall I am enjoying the concepts of the system.  I will roll up a few characters and see how it pans out, but I thought you might be interested in my initial thoughts.

Cheers!

[Sunwolf]

So first up I thought I might ask a question on the Magecraft skills.  The rules say:
"Characters may also learn specific instances of this skill for other purposes. These include, but are not limited to Magecraft: Alchemy (the base skill used in item creation), Magecraft: Runes (used to make scrolls), Magecraft: Circles (used in creating Circles of Protection and Thaumaturgic Triangles for, among other things, summoning; see p. 82), and specific magically related lore skills, such as Magecraft: Undead Lore, Magecraft: Demon Lore and Magecraft: Devil Lore, just to name a few."

There doesn't seem to be a more definitive list of the various skills under Magecraft and how to use them - that is no rules on item creation, scroll creation, etc.  Am I missing them? (quite possible as I only just bought the rules yesterday).

Welcome, always good to get a new member.

Libram Novus #10 has the Magic Item creation rules you are looking for.

[Obadiah]

Thanks.  I am hopeful that Novus will find that spot I am looking for - between old school AD&D (where I spent many, many years) and HARP. 

[imported_Rasyr]

Thanks.  I am hopeful that Novus will find that spot I am looking for - between old school AD&D (where I spent many, many years) and HARP. 

Welcome to the forums!  And I hope it hits that spot for you as well.

[Obadiah]

OK time for a stupid newbie question from the new guy.  When creating a character is created and you are choosing combat skills - does you give a skill against a weapon (eg mace) or a group of weapons (eg clubs)?

Also a question regarding paladins (from LN#9).  They don't appear to get any armour training first up.  Is that correct?

[imported_Rasyr]

OK time for a stupid newbie question from the new guy.  When creating a character is created and you are choosing combat skills - does you give a skill against a weapon (eg mace) or a group of weapons (eg clubs)?

You learn skill in the weapon group. That means you can use every weapon within that group.

Also a question regarding paladins (from LN#9).  They don't appear to get any armour training first up.  Is that correct?

Yes, that is correct. That is basically because their other capabilities required them to built in such a way that something had to be given up to keep them relatively balanced. In this case, it meant no Armor Training.

[Obadiah]

OK another question from me.  This time about the archery combat style. 

Ok so I assume that the character would have skills in Combat Skill: Bows.  Lets say at level 1 they have 6 ranks - 2 from background 4 from purchasing the skills.  Now I have decided they should buy the archery combat style.  So on the character sheet I assume this get recorded as Combat Skill: Archery.  So why would I want to put more than 1 rank into this?  I am not sure what additional benefit I get for additional ranks.  Advice welcome!

[Fidoric]

That's because the moves you learn with a ombat style are only usable with that style.
In other words, if you want to perform a double shot or any other combat move you have learned with your Archery style, you use the attack bonus of your Archery style, not that of your Bow skill.
I hope that makes sense?

To go further, if you want to use double shot with your Bow skill, you have to buy it specifically for that skill.

[Obadiah]

Thats great.  Thanks for the help.

[imported_Rasyr]

Additionally, a while ago, this very question was brought to my attention and the end result was Libram Novus #8, which reworked the combat styles to make them more attractive for purchasing and more relevant overall.

[Obadiah]

OK time for yet another question....

Looking at the warrior mage class.

They learn spells from the warior mage group at the Mj cost.  They learn from Wizardry at N cost.  What do they learn from the universal spell list at?

Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I can't seem to find the answer. 

[Obadiah]

And another one (sometimes I wonder whether I am thinking too hard about some of these things Cheers

[imported_Rasyr]

OK time for yet another question....

Looking at the warrior mage class.

They learn spells from the warior mage group at the Mj cost.  They learn from Wizardry at N cost.  What do they learn from the universal spell list at?

Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I can't seem to find the answer.

The reason you cannot find the answer is likely cause I forgot to actually mention it anyplace.

Universal Spells -- Use the best cost tier (i.e. Mj).

Don't forget that they have to learn a second Spellcasting skill that is NOT automatically Favored to learn Spells from the School of Magic that their Class List of spells comes from.

[imported_Rasyr]

And another one (sometimes I wonder whether I am thinking too hard about some of these things



Just the total number of skill ranks. Do not include Stat bonuses or other non-skill rank adjustments.

[Obadiah]

OK time for yet another question....

Looking at the warrior mage class.

They learn spells from the warior mage group at the Mj cost.  They learn from Wizardry at N cost.  What do they learn from the universal spell list at?

Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I can't seem to find the answer.

The reason you cannot find the answer is likely cause I forgot to actually mention it anyplace.

Universal Spells -- Use the best cost tier (i.e. Mj).

Don't forget that they have to learn a second Spellcasting skill that is NOT automatically Favored to learn Spells from the School of Magic that their Class List of spells comes from.

But they don't need a second spellcasting for universal do they?  I thought all spellcasters could cast from them as well as their main spellcasting group?