Troll Lord Games

In another post serl said

I have numerous ways of stat modification so I find I do not need an automatic method just granted to the players. If they want to change their character, they can seek out the means in-game or they can play a different one. That sounds extreme, but I feel strongly that the emphasis of playing should move away from what is written down and more onto what can be done with what is written down.

I have been looking for a way to say just that for while now. Gone are the days in my game that players look at me and say"I'm this level now so that means I get this bonus right? Almost all such things are handled in game. Mages seek out new spells from hundreds of differant sources constantly. Hungry for ever more powerful magics the spend effort in game for new spells and more powerful ones.

Warriors seek out weapon masters and ancient books on the art of combat or train in schools or under heroes of the past who now no longer have the ability to fight due to age but who still have knowledge enough to train the next generation.

If the mage finds that his magic ability is limited by his natural reasoning then he reads books on mind puzzles and riddles while waiting on the party. Fighters lift weights and drink hardy brews in the effort to increase there natural strength and constitution.

Feats of skill and prowess are no longer gained because a book says so. Now they are earned based on what the characters do and how they use what they already have.

Thanks Serl for once again hitting something dead on that I have been trying to explain to others but lacked the right words. I really do think the game plays so much better if everything is based on the characters and what they do more than what it says they should get on some table. I don't mind the tables as long as everyone I play with realizes that tables are examples of what can be not laws on what will be.

or as one of my players who I just so happen to be married to says" watch out for those tables in the players guide. He uses them to beat the holy crap out of us with"

or as another player at the table says" Your not going to give me higher level spells just because it says I can cast them are you? Fook!! Fine my character goes and reads a book!"