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¤Ozan[Adm]
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Sat Dec 7, 2013 11:00 pm
Post #1
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- Posts:
- 174
- Group:
- Head Admins
- Member
- #11,311
- Joined:
- July 7, 2010
- Link to Inventory
- http://imythess.com/topic/890132/1/
- Link to Alt Registry
- http://imythess.com/topic/5094699/1/
- Link to Extended Description
- http://imythess.com/topic/890122/1/
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Custom Prestige Classes
There are many cases where a reasonable concept can't work very well within the current item system of Imythess, even with item modifications. In the past we've recommended that these misfortunate folks offer up a new prestige class in the Suggestions forum, but these ideas often belong to an overly specialized niche. The solution to these issues and many more is the custom prestige class (cPrC) system. This is a new feature on Imythess that lets you work with the forum's staff team to create a simple, unique prestige class of your own.
What is a Prestige Class (PrC), anyway? A Prestige Class (PrC) is a series of levels that you can buy to improve your abilities within a theme. The best PrCs will give you access to new abilities and synergize with each other instead of simply improving the capabilities you already had. To see examples of PrCs of varying quality, check out the Prestige Classes subforum of the Sales Counter. In general, more recently published PrCs tend to be the most solidly designed ones, as they were heavily crowd-sourced and reviewed by the staff and community over a several-month process. We understand that a system for custom PrCs, which dramatically changes the way that Imythessians can handle their characters, is a large undertaking. Everyone is going to want one, and for good reason. Therefore, we've had to place some limitations on who can get a custom PrC and what kind of PrC they can make.
Who can get a custom PrC? - The custom PrC system requires a lot of your effort and the staff's! With that in mind, we'd prefer if your custom PrC is for a character that is active, at least a few weeks old, and is unlikely to be removed in the near future. You need to have been actively RPing with that character in the past month leading up to the cPrC application.
- If you produce a custom PrC for a character, we would like for that character to be a long-term commitment. You can own 1 custom PrC per character.
- You should have at least 150 gold (preferably 200+ gold) on hand and unspent during the full review process for any custom PrC you pitch. This is so that we know you'd be fully committed to buying your custom PrC quickly after designing it, as opposed to some uncertain point in the future.
- You can't have more than 1 custom PrC concept in review. You have to wait for your first concept to be accepted or rejected before you can post a new one.
What kind of custom PrCs can I make? - Every single custom PrC you make needs to have a niche. Basically, what this means is that your abilities need to come together and create an in-character "atmosphere:" a specific theme that evokes actual imagery instead of just "being better at some general skill." Read more about this in the next post of these guidelines.
- You can make a completely new PrC concept that doesn't fit into Imythess' current game systems (for example, its skills and feats, existing PrCs, or spells). Just remember that it needs to have an in-character niche, too -- it can't just be a new addition to the game systems.
- You can make a new branch of an existing branching PrC (e.g. Necro Lord, Abyss Bound). Keep in mind that you'll keep the abilities that are common to all branches in that PrC, but you'll make new branch-specific abilities.
- You can't make a custom PrC that's too similar to an existing unbranching PrC (e.g. Resilient Knight, Charger). Staff reviewers will determine if your concept is "too similar." On the other hand, you have a bit of leeway when it comes to stepping on the toes of certain broad-appeal PrC abilities. For example, you could probably get away with an ability or two that's reminiscent of certain Raging Berserker abilities, as long as your version of the ability fits the cPrC's niche.
- You can't limit your custom PrC so that only you can own it. Accepted custom PrCs will be kept in the Accepted Custom PrCs board so that others can view and potentially buy them in the Sales Counter. Think of it like a Local Lore article that people can buy.
- You can make a cPrC that's an elemental substitution of an existing cPrC. You just have to run it through the cPrC review system and the element has to be similar to the cPrC's original element. Read the administrative ruling about it here.
Something has changed and I want a new cPrC! You may do one of two things in this case. Each character is allowed to own one cPrC made for that character, but if something has changed with your character that makes the niche that class belongs to no longer fit, you may choose to alter or discard it. This option is not to be used flippantly; please carefully consider doing either of these things before proceeding. - Resubmit the existing cPrC with the changes you wish to make. The entire cPrC will need to go through the same review process as though it was being submitted for the first time before any changes may be used. It does not require staff approval to go this route, so long as the core concept is not changed.
- You may choose to discard the existing cPrC. You must make a Staff Request topic and seek approval for this action, explaining the reasons why you feel this is necessary, before proceeding to create a new cPrC. If approved, you must sell off the old cPrC and may not own it on that character anymore. The old cPrC will remain in the Accepted cPrC forum, for purchase by any character EXCEPT the character for which it was originally created. At this point, you may submit a new cPrC for review as normal.
If you and your idea pass all those prerequisites, you can go ahead and consider the content of your custom PrC.
Custom PrC design rules - When submitting your custom PrC pitch, you need to have all levels completely filled out and polished to a final format. If you want to pitch ideas or post a work in progress, feel free to do that in the Creative Corner.
- You have a maximum of 7 abilities that you can spread across a maximum of 5 levels. You can't have more than 2 abilities in a single level.
- Staff reviewers -- the same people who price everything else that's buyable on the board -- will determine the price of each level roughly based on its power. The maximum price a custom PrC level can be is 300 gold.
- If you edit your custom PrC, put the new copy in a new post. Don't edit the original post. This is so staff can track your changes.
To create a custom PrC, post in the Custom Prestige Classes forum and fill out the following format. You'll go through the review process, which is a casual, polite discussion with the staff about your PrC and its individual levels. Keep in mind the staff are huge fans of the community's work; they want your PrC to be super awesome (instead of just awesome). If they ask probing questions or are offering you options of other things you could do with your ability concepts, don't think of it like an attack. We're not out to get you, I swear!
Custom PrC format Please fill out this form and then paste it into the original post of your custom PrC topic. Notes are encased in <angled brackets>. - Code:
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[b]Prerequisites Checklist:[/b][list] [*] [b]Who am I?[/b] <What player name do you go by?> [*] [b]Is this character active, at least a few weeks old and unlikely to be removed in the near future?[/b] <Yes or No> [*] [b]Do I have at least 150 gold sitting on this character's account?[/b] <Yes or No>[/list]
[b]Why should you accept this custom PrC concept?[/b] <This is a short pitch. You don't need to introduce the PrC itself. What you do need to do is explain why we should give you the benefit of the doubt. Does the concept allow your character to do things it needs to do? Does it add a new dimension to the character or help expand its storyline? Please don't use more than 1 paragraph for your explanation.>
[hr] [center][big][b]Name of PrC[/b][/big] <It's best if your PrC name is self-explanatory (see existing PrC names for examples). Doesn't have to be, but consider people browsing custom PrCs.> [b]Custom PrC: [url=link to your character]Your Character Name[/url][/b]
[i]Flavor description of your custom PrC. Who are people who belong in this PrC? What, in general, does the PrC let them accomplish? Please keep this part down to only a few sentences.
Mention in this line whether the abilities are mostly magical or non-magical.[/i][/center] [b][u]Prerequisites[/u][/b][list] [*] <These are optional. Please limit them if you do want to have some. Alignment requirements are not allowed. IC flavor prereqs (such as the "special" prereqs in the Infused PrCs) are fine to have.>[/list]
<This is where your pricing table will go.>
[b][u]Level One[/u][/b][list] [*] [b]Name of Ability:[/b] Description. <You can use third person or second person to write your abilities, whichever one you prefer, as long as you're consistent throughout the PrC's ability descriptions.>[/list]
[b][u]Level Two[/u][/b][list] [*] [b]Name of Ability:[/b] Description. [/list]
[b][u]Level Three[/u][/b][list] [*] [b]Name of Ability:[/b] Description. [/list]
[b][u]Level Four[/u][/b][list] [*] [b]Name of Ability:[/b] Description. [/list]
[b][u]Level Five[/u][/b][list] [*] [b]Name of Ability:[/b] Description. [/list]
<Remember that you have a total of 7 abilities to spread across these 5 levels however you want.>
Even if your custom PrC has been approved, it can still be edited for whatever reason. To propose an edit to an accepted cPrC, you or a staff member can make a new topic in the Custom Prestige Classes forum that outlines the change. This doesn't count toward the "you can only have 1 PrC concept in review" rule.
Code for a blank pricing table Remember that only the staff can price your custom PrC. It's still your responsibility to add the pricing table to your PrC once they do agree on prices, though.
- Selling cost is your base price multiplied by 0.833
- If you get a decimal or a number that is not a multiple of 5 as your answer, round up to the nearest multiple of 5 (e.g. 62.5 rounds up to 65 gold).
- Code:
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[table=5,Training Costs,1][center][b]Level One[/b][/center][c][center][b]Level Two[/b][/center][c][center][b]Level Three[/b][/center][c][center][b]Level Four[/b][/center][c][center][b]Level Five[/b][/center][c][table=2]Buying[c]x[c]Selling[c]x[/table][c][table=2]Buying[c]x[c]Selling[c]x[/table] [c][table=2]Buying[c]x[c]Selling[c]x[/table] [c][table=2]Buying[c]x[c]Selling[c]x[/table] [c][table=2]Buying[c]x[c]Selling[c]x[/table] [/table]
Disclaimer:
Imythess is a very high-maintenance site and this particular feature requires an inordinate amount of the staff's time and effort to be redirected away from other things. While we're happy to do so if it means giving people the cPrCs they want, we hope you'll be understanding and patient when times are tough. When staff manpower is low or we're focused on pushing out an important board-wide project (such as Birthday Week), custom Prestige Classes are the first feature we stop working on as we downsize our efforts. This is because of their relative low priority combined with the amount of staff work they require.
While we'll always do our best to review your cPrCs as promptly as we can, please be aware that during these tough times it may take weeks for a response. That being said, if you're concerned that your review is taking too long, it might be helpful to politely ask a staff member what's going on and they'll explain what's taking priority over cPrC reviews. Your courtesy is very much appreciated!
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¤Ozan[Adm]
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Sun Feb 16, 2014 2:17 pm
Post #2
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- Posts:
- 174
- Group:
- Head Admins
- Member
- #11,311
- Joined:
- July 7, 2010
- Link to Inventory
- http://imythess.com/topic/890132/1/
- Link to Alt Registry
- http://imythess.com/topic/5094699/1/
- Link to Extended Description
- http://imythess.com/topic/890122/1/
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So now you might be wondering how you can increase your chances of getting your custom PrC idea through review. Before I answer that, I want to stress that you're not going to be hurt at all by trying something out. The worst case scenario would be that the staff would politely explain exactly why your PrC isn't going to work and then suggest ways to make it work. You have nothing to lose by diving right into this feature!
That being said, you still might wonder if there are any custom PrC concepts that just flat-out won't work. These are situations where a custom PrC is considered untenable and isn't likely to make it through review. If your cPrC idea doesn't fit any of these points, great! If you're not sure, that's fine too, post it up and we'll tell you!
Untenable Custom PrCs - cPrCs that don't have a niche. When you look at a custom PrC, both its in-character descriptions ("fluff") and its game mechanics ("crunch") should combine to give that PrC a unique identity. When you look at a custom PrC, you should almost be able to picture a specific type of person that uses it -- what they look like, their mannerisms -- instead of just an archetype. A common symptom of a nicheless PrC is that when you briefly describe it, you're prone to saying something like "this PrC is about being better at X" with X being a general activity like spellcasting, swordsmanship, etc.
I recommend that if you want a custom PrC based around "being better at something," you instead narrow your idea down to a specific style within that broad category. For example, if you want a martial artist PrC, don't just make a "being better at martial arts" PrC; those abilities are going to be dull. Instead, create your own trademark style of martial arts. Outline its capabilities using your abilities, and presto! You're on the right track.
- cPrCs that have a lot of "hard counters" or are centrally focused on them. For anyone who wants to make an "Anti-Whatever" or a "Something Hunter" PrC, please read this first! A hard counter is a type of game mechanic that completely shuts down one or all of a certain enemy's capabilities. For example, an ability that prevents spellcasting would be considered a hard counter to mages who rely on that capability. Keep in mind that conflict is what builds the best stories! Don't you agree that it would be a lot less fun to totally prevent your opponent from fighting back instead of, for example, forcing them to make a tough choice, giving yourself the upper-hand against them, or simply messing with them? So you can still make an "Anti-Whatever" or "Something Hunter" cPrC, just be careful and don't fill it with boring hard counters or it won't be accepted.
Beyond that, here are some general tips that might be useful to you.
General Tips - Always try an idea if you're really excited about it, even if it might toe the line. We'd rather you press on the edges of the system to make what you want instead of feeling limited by a set of vague tips. The staff will do their very best to work with you and help you get the PrC you want.
- Do check some existing PrCs and cPrCs first to get a basic sense of how they're structured and written. A great place to start is looking at some custom PrCs that have already been accepted.
- Don't waste ability slots just to upgrade previously learned abilities. We don't even allow this in normal PrCs nowadays. The only exception is if your "ability improvement" adds significant utility to the ability -- in other words, it makes the ability do something new. If you want progressive improvement of a single ability, add at the end of the ability's description something like "At Level 3, this ability expands in such-and-such way, and so on."
- Try not to use language that evokes pen-and-paper systems like Dungeons and Dragons: phrases like "suffers penalties to" or "gains a bonus in." It's awkward and doesn't really say anything useful for Imy's purposes.
- Don't worry too much about ability durations. The staff will help you hammer those out. As a general rule, nowadays we prefer to list durations in "number of combat posts" or "number of times it can be used per fight." We no longer use "number of times per day it can be used" or "number of times per topic," as those are extremely limiting.
- Avoid basing your entire cPrC around a single gimmick. What happens if I say "no, that gimmick can't be done?" If I were to remove one part of your PrC and the whole thing crumbles, that means you fell into this trap. (Not to say it's impossible to make a gimmick PrC successfully).
- You shouldn't use the custom PrCs feature to try to get certain things easier than you might have otherwise. For example, it can't be a way for you to get a unique item or non-magically buff your character in random, arbitrary ways. Your PrC needs to have a clear focus.
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