Newbie Questions

[Krensky]

It will still be more powerful, and you loose access to all sorts of fun things for making unique characters.

But it's your game. If you want to replace them with bonus feats, additional feats should probably cost 2.5 or 3 for non-species, and 3.5 or 4 for species feats.

If you're looking for solo play to entertain yourself, I'd recommend trying one or two characters and using Mythic. It should be more rewarding then just running through an adventure. That said, without a GM controlling GM AD use FC suffers.

[MatrexsVigil]

It will still be more powerful, and you loose access to all sorts of fun things for making unique characters.

Well, I will test it out myself with some new characters.  I will probably include specialties for the one group but only a limited set to not over whelm them.

[Morgenstern]

Well, the specialty creation guidelines on the Wiki seem to indicate that a specialty is worth 7 design points.  A feat is a single design point, unless it's a specialty feat, and then it's two.  Seven bonus feats at character creation seems a bit much! 

I guess I'll make up a 'generic' specialty if needed using this system that all characters can take and be done with it.

Hero Specialty

(2) Two Bonus non-Species Feats
(1) Up lowest Attribute by 1
(1) A set of Paired Skills
(3) Extra starting AD

The bonus feat for 1 point is kinda a gimme (it's actually al little more complicated - the 1 point is paying for the range of choices not the feat itself)

A second feat is (much) more like 3 points.

You could cancel getting a Specialty and just take 3 feats - it's pretty close to the right range in terms of exchange, but it would still make me nervous. At the very least I'd require all three feats come from different trees...

[Typhon]

I think you're over reacting to the specialty bit.
Took me a little bit to figure out the character creation but it is a lot less complex/convoluted than D&D has been. Making a couple characters on your own with a new system, yhea, it's going to be a little confusing at first. My main complaint was trying to find all the @)&%^#&Q@ orc racial options (since they're not listed per race applicable to but all mashed together alphabetically).

[Doublebond]

My main complaint was trying to find all the @)&%^#&Q@ orc racial options (since they're not listed per race applicable to but all mashed together alphabetically).

Didn't I waste several hours of my life trying to help with this?

[paddyfool]

Back to the starting gear: one way to make it cheaper is to have your first set of armour be Crude for the 25% discount (in return for the armour itself being more easily destroyed). 

Also, @Krensky: Backpacks do have an established cost and benefit (10 silver & +2 Str for calculating carrying capacity).  Bedrolls, similarly, provide Cold Resistance 4 in return for 5 silver.

I'd dispense with the Sack and Pouch, make the armour crude, and spend the 10 silver this nets on a backpack for this character; you've got to be able to haul away the loot, after all.

[Gentry]

Krensky's alluding to a previous conversation dating back to the initial release of the game, which essentially netted the following concept:

If you want a piece of gear that provides no mechanical benefit, just say you have it, and it costs nothing.

By this rationale, the Backpack in the rules is a nice framed jobbie with the waist strap, and gets the +2 carrying bonus, but you could just say you've got a cheap-o bargain knapsack that doesn't provide any such bonus, and therefore conceivably waive the cost of the thing. That's more or less a house rule, so GMs and their players should be clear with each other on it. It can't really exist as a blanket rule, either (I've got a non-beneficial Batering Ram!), but it's a conversation that's been had, so certain groups may find adopting such a house rule to their benefit.

[Banesfinger]

My main complaint was trying to find all the @)&%^#&Q@ orc racial options (since they're not listed per race applicable to but all mashed together alphabetically).

Didn't I waste several hours of my life trying to help with this?

Very nice Doublebond.
I also wish there was a table (similar to 4e) that listed all the feats, along with a prerequisite (e.g. must be Orc, Dex 15, etc) and a short description of the feat.  This table makes choosing feats much easier/faster (instead of having to go through and read each feat individually).

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

(I've got a non-beneficial Batering Ram!)

I would so let a player have that. 

[Coyote0273]

(I've got a non-beneficial Batering Ram!)

I would so let a player have that. 

Get Siege Supremacy, then you can have a Giant or Ogre wielding dual Ballista's for weapons.

[Gentry]

non-beneficial free ballistae?

[Krensky]

It's a non-functioning display model. 

[Jake]

It's inflatable. We have a jar in back with a Gust of Wind spell effect and we're going to pump that baby up on Memorial Day weekend. Try and move some of these Hondas before next years models come in.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

non-beneficial free ballistae?

Aka a log, a broken statue, or your most thick-headed friend. 

[Typhon]

My main complaint was trying to find all the @)&%^#&Q@ orc racial options (since they're not listed per race applicable to but all mashed together alphabetically).

Didn't I waste several hours of my life trying to help with this?

You did that after the first time I mentioned it  Thanks again, btw!