High Level Character Poll

[Loreweaver]

As you'll probably know (there's a thread about it here), we are looking at the best way to add mechanical progression for characters past level 8. One of the options which caught our attention was a system where characters don't get the normal benefits of levels but instead choose an extra feat each time they get enough XP to advance. This system, known as E8, is intended to let PCs develop into specialists without improving their overall abilities the way full levels would, so that even highly experienced characters have the sort of vulnerabilities you'd find on a fresh level 8 PC or something close to them.
To give an example, a character advancing to level 9 gets a general feat, extra HP and skillpoints, likely increases to their bab and saves, and depending on their class may receive extra abilities, improve existing abilities, strenghten followers and/or gain extra spellcasting ability. With E8, they'd just gain the general feat - which can then be used to improve any one of the other areas, such as by taking Skill Focus for instance.
Assuming there is enough feat variety, which we now think we can provide, it should allow for many more months of progression than what we expect out of an increased level cap. That said, we're not exactly sure of the best way to implement such a system. The thread linked to above lists a bunch of suggestions and that leads us to a questionnaire.

Feel free to elaborate on your answers or add missing options in your replies.

1. Which would have your preference?
a) Use normal NWN progression and raise the character level to a different maximum.
b) Don't raise the cap at all, level 8 is fine.
c) Levels past 8 should give PCs some extra skillpoints and HP but nothing else.
d) Levels past 8 should give PCs a bonus feat.

2. Assuming E8 happens, how would you see it organized?
a) All E8 feats are available to everyone as long as prerequisites are met, similar to the level 1-8 rules.
b) E8 feats are organized into thematic feat trees, where you develop your character towards an archetype.
c) E8 feats are organized into categories (e.g. General, Combat, Skill) and the category you can choose from alternates for balanced progression.
d) Characters can choose from a limited, random selection of feats each time to keep options manageable.

3. Should level 1-8 feats be available as E8 feat choices?
a) Yes, the more options the better.
b) No, E8 feats should have a different power level than standard feats.
c) The available 1-8 feats should depend on the character's class(es). For instance, only classes with 6+ skillpoints can take Skill Focus as E8 feat, and only classes with full BAB progression can take Weapon Focus after level 8.

4. Should there be a hard cap on the number of E8 feats a character can take?
a) Yes, progression should be finite.
b) No, the number of useful and characterful feats is the limiting factor.
c) It depends on the feat's type. For instance, passive bonuses should be capped but feats with more RP flavour than mechanical benefit should not count towards that.

5. Should there be a timed XP cap to slow progression past level 8?
a) No, a cap adds nothing at this point.
b) Yes, using the age-based system already in place.
c) Yes, but using an activity-based system.

6. Should your character's first E8 feat cost the same amount of XP to unlock as your character's tenth?
a) Yes, a fixed cost keeps things user-friendly.
b) No, each extra feat should cost more to slow down the rate of advancement.
c) No, the cost should be lower the further you are behind the PC with the most E8 feats, so that players can catch up to their power level.

7. Should all individual feats cost the same amount of XP to unlock?
a) Yes, a fixed cost keeps things user-friendly.
b) Yes, but an exception should be made for some cases to preserve class identity (e.g. cheaper combat feats chosen by fighters, skill feats for rogues and metamagic feats for wizards).
c) No, a feat's XP cost should depend on the PC's class, the feat's category, its power and all manner of like factors (e.g. half price for RP feats).

[Ostheim]

1) D
2) C
3) A
4) C
5) A
6) A
7) A

Glad to see this in the works.

[Vogelens]

1 - B
2 - A
3 - A
4 - A
5 - A
6 - A
7 - A

[Danuvis]

1) D
2) C
3) A
4) C
5) A
6) A
7) A

[Silver Snow]

1) D (With options to take Skills or HP, perhaps in the form of Skill and HP feats)
2) A
3) A
4) C (Skills and Spell Focuses having no cap, namely)
5) A
6) A
7) A

[Dawnbreak]

1) D
2) A
3) A
4) C
5) A
6) A
7) A

I think Silver Snow has hit the mark for what I personally would want and why I picked several of these answers.

Although, one comment I have is some of those feats that are mentioned in the other list could be, should be available during the first eight levels. For example, Weapon Panache, Flashy Display, Agile Blows, et cetera. They're very powerful, sure, but some builds may entirely rely on these feats, and getting them when you're already level 8 and beyond would prove to be mechanically pointless, in my view.
Granted, there's a lot of room for more flavor and roleplay, so that is always good.

Regardless, this is encouraging to see.

[Kerstman]

1) A
2) B
3) C
4) C
5) B
6) A (Only because I have to choose. I have a fourth option: give feats / skills a certain xp value. Once enough value has been achieved the feat/skill/whatever can be purchased. Some feats may be cheaper than others etc. See 7)
7) C

I applaud this poll and all the effort the Team is taking towards post-8 progress. When discussing this I always wonder how the PrC's will work out and I do it again because I do not see it reflected in these 7 questions. Or am I overlooking something?

Cheers
-K

[Xanthas]

1. D
2. A preferably or perhaps B with a pool of general feats that can be taken in exchange for feats in the tree.
3. A
4. A though as C seems to be preferred perhaps there could be separate caps for RP flavor and more mechanical feats? its an assumption but I'm guessing people want to avoid taking a flavor feat and feeling their character is weaker mechanically for it. Personally I do think there should be a point no more feats of any kind are taken simply to avoid characters becoming skilled to a ridiculous point in too many things.
5. A
6. A if there is a cap on the number of feats that can be taken and B if there isn't one.
7. A or perhaps C and instead of capping the number of feats it could be a cap on the amount of XP that can be earned to buy feats with.

[Feronius]

1. A
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. C
6. A
7. A

[Obsidian Sea]

1. C + D (an alternating combination whereby one level will grant a few HP and a few skill points, and the next will grant one feat)
2. B
3. B
4. A
5. C
6. B
7. A