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Possible issues of a player switching Bard archetypes randomly with long rests?
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One of my players want to play a Bard with multiple-personalities. At every long-rest, the idea is that he randomly wakes up with one of his personalities. Each personality is very different from the other and each inherits a different Bard archetype. So, with every long rest, he uses a different char sheet. We would start with 2 personalities at level 3 (Lore and Glamour) and then work from there, possibly increasing if adequate. Our idea was to only change a few things between each sheet:
- Spell list
- Personality and Traits
- Subclass features
What are possible issues of doing this? Are there any red flags to look-out for regarding possible exploits?
dnd-5e bard
asked 53 mins ago
BlueMoon93
10.3k958112
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up vote
1
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favorite
One of my players want to play a Bard with multiple-personalities. At every long-rest, the idea is that he randomly wakes up with one of his personalities. Each personality is very different from the other and each inherits a different Bard archetype. So, with every long rest, he uses a different char sheet. We would start with 2 personalities at level 3 (Lore and Glamour) and then work from there, possibly increasing if adequate. Our idea was to only change a few things between each sheet:
- Spell list
- Personality and Traits
- Subclass features
What are possible issues of doing this? Are there any red flags to look-out for regarding possible exploits?
dnd-5e bard
asked 53 mins ago
BlueMoon93
10.3k958112
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
One of my players want to play a Bard with multiple-personalities. At every long-rest, the idea is that he randomly wakes up with one of his personalities. Each personality is very different from the other and each inherits a different Bard archetype. So, with every long rest, he uses a different char sheet. We would start with 2 personalities at level 3 (Lore and Glamour) and then work from there, possibly increasing if adequate. Our idea was to only change a few things between each sheet:
- Spell list
- Personality and Traits
- Subclass features
What are possible issues of doing this? Are there any red flags to look-out for regarding possible exploits?
dnd-5e bard
asked 53 mins ago
BlueMoon93
10.3k958112
One of my players want to play a Bard with multiple-personalities. At every long-rest, the idea is that he randomly wakes up with one of his personalities. Each personality is very different from the other and each inherits a different Bard archetype. So, with every long rest, he uses a different char sheet. We would start with 2 personalities at level 3 (Lore and Glamour) and then work from there, possibly increasing if adequate. Our idea was to only change a few things between each sheet:
- Spell list
- Personality and Traits
- Subclass features
What are possible issues of doing this? Are there any red flags to look-out for regarding possible exploits?
dnd-5e bard
dnd-5e bard
asked 53 mins ago
BlueMoon93
10.3k958112
asked 53 mins ago
BlueMoon93
10.3k958112
asked 53 mins ago
BlueMoon93
10.3k958112
asked 53 mins ago
BlueMoon93
10.3k958112
asked 53 mins ago
BlueMoon93
10.3k958112
10.3k958112
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
Mechanical complexity
Even playing a normal caster, the mechanical complexity of the spell library is not trivial to manage. With the subclass swapping, one'd effectively be doubling the difficulties of managing the most complex part of the character. The player'll also need to keep track of two different sets of College features (possibly more). I forecast human errors stemming from this increased mechanical burden to memorize.
Since you ask regarding exploits: the GM has a hard enough time remembering who knows which spell and has which power in normal gameplay. With this subclass switching deal, the player in question can slip in (accidentally or otherwise) features or spells that are exclusive to the wrong subclass. A GM can be alert about it, but it's definitely cognitively taxing for them as well. The swapping can also make content planning more difficult, as one can't rely on the character on eg. having a spell they took for just one of their personalities, or being capable in melee because they might wake up being a Lore Bard instead of a Valor Bard.
Having to level up two separate "branches" of the same character is another issue. If you do level-ups around the table, this can result in the Bard player being slower than the others.
Overall, this gimmick sounds to me like it's a fair amount of work for a small bit of novelty value. I would be very apprehensive about implementing this in actual gameplay.
answered 22 mins ago
kviiri
29.6k7110179
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
No exploits, but many disadvantages
As long as it is really random each morning, there is not much to exploit.
Even if he picks one each morning, it is just a tiny bit stronger than a usual bard.
Downsides
The bookkeeping alone would discourage me.
The inventory management is even worse, only some bards can use medium armor and shields.
Each prefers different equipment and play style.
answered 17 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
Mechanical complexity
Even playing a normal caster, the mechanical complexity of the spell library is not trivial to manage. With the subclass swapping, one'd effectively be doubling the difficulties of managing the most complex part of the character. The player'll also need to keep track of two different sets of College features (possibly more). I forecast human errors stemming from this increased mechanical burden to memorize.
Since you ask regarding exploits: the GM has a hard enough time remembering who knows which spell and has which power in normal gameplay. With this subclass switching deal, the player in question can slip in (accidentally or otherwise) features or spells that are exclusive to the wrong subclass. A GM can be alert about it, but it's definitely cognitively taxing for them as well. The swapping can also make content planning more difficult, as one can't rely on the character on eg. having a spell they took for just one of their personalities, or being capable in melee because they might wake up being a Lore Bard instead of a Valor Bard.
Having to level up two separate "branches" of the same character is another issue. If you do level-ups around the table, this can result in the Bard player being slower than the others.
Overall, this gimmick sounds to me like it's a fair amount of work for a small bit of novelty value. I would be very apprehensive about implementing this in actual gameplay.
answered 22 mins ago
kviiri
29.6k7110179
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
Mechanical complexity
Even playing a normal caster, the mechanical complexity of the spell library is not trivial to manage. With the subclass swapping, one'd effectively be doubling the difficulties of managing the most complex part of the character. The player'll also need to keep track of two different sets of College features (possibly more). I forecast human errors stemming from this increased mechanical burden to memorize.
Since you ask regarding exploits: the GM has a hard enough time remembering who knows which spell and has which power in normal gameplay. With this subclass switching deal, the player in question can slip in (accidentally or otherwise) features or spells that are exclusive to the wrong subclass. A GM can be alert about it, but it's definitely cognitively taxing for them as well. The swapping can also make content planning more difficult, as one can't rely on the character on eg. having a spell they took for just one of their personalities, or being capable in melee because they might wake up being a Lore Bard instead of a Valor Bard.
Having to level up two separate "branches" of the same character is another issue. If you do level-ups around the table, this can result in the Bard player being slower than the others.
Overall, this gimmick sounds to me like it's a fair amount of work for a small bit of novelty value. I would be very apprehensive about implementing this in actual gameplay.
answered 22 mins ago
kviiri
29.6k7110179
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
Mechanical complexity
Even playing a normal caster, the mechanical complexity of the spell library is not trivial to manage. With the subclass swapping, one'd effectively be doubling the difficulties of managing the most complex part of the character. The player'll also need to keep track of two different sets of College features (possibly more). I forecast human errors stemming from this increased mechanical burden to memorize.
Since you ask regarding exploits: the GM has a hard enough time remembering who knows which spell and has which power in normal gameplay. With this subclass switching deal, the player in question can slip in (accidentally or otherwise) features or spells that are exclusive to the wrong subclass. A GM can be alert about it, but it's definitely cognitively taxing for them as well. The swapping can also make content planning more difficult, as one can't rely on the character on eg. having a spell they took for just one of their personalities, or being capable in melee because they might wake up being a Lore Bard instead of a Valor Bard.
Having to level up two separate "branches" of the same character is another issue. If you do level-ups around the table, this can result in the Bard player being slower than the others.
Overall, this gimmick sounds to me like it's a fair amount of work for a small bit of novelty value. I would be very apprehensive about implementing this in actual gameplay.
answered 22 mins ago
kviiri
29.6k7110179
Mechanical complexity
Even playing a normal caster, the mechanical complexity of the spell library is not trivial to manage. With the subclass swapping, one'd effectively be doubling the difficulties of managing the most complex part of the character. The player'll also need to keep track of two different sets of College features (possibly more). I forecast human errors stemming from this increased mechanical burden to memorize.
Since you ask regarding exploits: the GM has a hard enough time remembering who knows which spell and has which power in normal gameplay. With this subclass switching deal, the player in question can slip in (accidentally or otherwise) features or spells that are exclusive to the wrong subclass. A GM can be alert about it, but it's definitely cognitively taxing for them as well. The swapping can also make content planning more difficult, as one can't rely on the character on eg. having a spell they took for just one of their personalities, or being capable in melee because they might wake up being a Lore Bard instead of a Valor Bard.
Having to level up two separate "branches" of the same character is another issue. If you do level-ups around the table, this can result in the Bard player being slower than the others.
Overall, this gimmick sounds to me like it's a fair amount of work for a small bit of novelty value. I would be very apprehensive about implementing this in actual gameplay.
answered 22 mins ago
kviiri
29.6k7110179
edited 17 mins ago
answered 22 mins ago
kviiri
29.6k7110179
answered 22 mins ago
kviiri
29.6k7110179
answered 22 mins ago
kviiri
29.6k7110179
29.6k7110179
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
No exploits, but many disadvantages
As long as it is really random each morning, there is not much to exploit.
Even if he picks one each morning, it is just a tiny bit stronger than a usual bard.
Downsides
The bookkeeping alone would discourage me.
The inventory management is even worse, only some bards can use medium armor and shields.
Each prefers different equipment and play style.
answered 17 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
No exploits, but many disadvantages
As long as it is really random each morning, there is not much to exploit.
Even if he picks one each morning, it is just a tiny bit stronger than a usual bard.
Downsides
The bookkeeping alone would discourage me.
The inventory management is even worse, only some bards can use medium armor and shields.
Each prefers different equipment and play style.
answered 17 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
No exploits, but many disadvantages
As long as it is really random each morning, there is not much to exploit.
Even if he picks one each morning, it is just a tiny bit stronger than a usual bard.
Downsides
The bookkeeping alone would discourage me.
The inventory management is even worse, only some bards can use medium armor and shields.
Each prefers different equipment and play style.
answered 17 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
No exploits, but many disadvantages
As long as it is really random each morning, there is not much to exploit.
Even if he picks one each morning, it is just a tiny bit stronger than a usual bard.
Downsides
The bookkeeping alone would discourage me.
The inventory management is even worse, only some bards can use medium armor and shields.
Each prefers different equipment and play style.
answered 17 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
answered 17 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
answered 17 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
answered 17 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
24.1k1089179
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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