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FAQ

• Are there any optional variant rules for TIER?

  Absolutely! TIER can be played by the standard rules, but there are also 10 additional variant rules. In the "Game Master Notes" chapter, you will find all 10 variant rules. They add more flavor and power to the game. A few variant rules are listed below:

  Arcade Edtion: After every battle, allow each player to roll a 1d20 die. Players will gain back lost HP and spell slots depending on their dice roll. For example, if a player rolls a "15", he may gain back three used spell slots and 30% of his HP. If a player rolls a "5", however, he may only gain back one used spell slot and 10% of his HP.

  Death Penalty: If a character dies, he can be revived with a Heal check DC 25. The Heal check must be performed within 2 minutes (20 rounds) of the victim’s death. If successful, the victim is stabilized at -1 hp.

  Combine spells with other spell casters to create new powerful spells during combat. When combining spells, add +1 DC and +1 attack roll for each additional spell caster involved and add the total damage/secondary effects of spells together. Use whichever character has the highest Spell DCs and attack roll and add combined bonuses to it. Combined spells always follow the characteristics (range, duration, area of effect, save, etc.) of the highest level spell involved.

  Last updated: Thu, Sep 27 2012 11:15 am EDT
• What are Masteries?

  Masteries are like feats, but much stronger. One Mastery is the equivalent of 3 or 4 feats combined. Read the Mastery below.

  Combat Movement I: Make 1 melee attack per round, as a standard action, while moving through an opponent’s threat area. If wielding two weapons, a double-weapon, or using unarmed strike with the Extra Attack Mastery, you gain one extra melee attack per round while moving that deals half damage. You can move both before and after your melee attack(s) provided the total distance moved does not exceed your base speed. You also do not provoke attacks of opportunity when leaving an opponent’s threat area. Pre-req: 16+ Dex.

  If you have played D&D 3.5, you will realize that this Mastery is the equivalent of Spring Attack. But Spring Attack required both Dodge and Mobility feats. For the Mastery above, you only need to have 16 Dex. This means that a level 1 character could begin playing TIER with this Mastery.

  Last updated: Wed, Aug 29 2012 11:18 am EDT
• What do you start the game with and what do you get at level-ups?

  You begin with 3 Masteries at 1st level, or 4 Masteries if you choose the Human race. You also begin with 80 ability score points, or 82 points depending on your race. You'll have HP, skill points, class skills, and +1 on all Saving Throws. Your exact statistics will be heavily influenced by how you invest your ability score points and what Masteries you choose.

  You gain HP, skills points, and a Saving Throw point at every level. You also gain a Mastery at almost every level. There are a few levels that you do not gain a Mastery. At these "dead-levels", you gain HP, skill points, 2 Saving Throw points, 2 new class skills, and a bonus ability score point.

  Last updated: Wed, Aug 29 2012 11:18 am EDT
• What kind of characters can you create and play in TIER?

  Below are posts from my TIER website that describe characters used during playtesting.

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  Original Character Builds« Thread Started on Oct 6, 2011, 10:49am »

  My first original TIER character was Oscar, a dwarf warrior/spellcaster. He fights with a 1 or 2 handed dwarven waraxe. He can also cast summoning spells. He often began a fight by summoning monsters next to himself so they could all fight together as allies. He was powerful and tough to kill because he had Masteries that allowed him to use his attack roll to block 3 physical attacks per round, block one spell per round, and reflect one spell per round back upon a spell caster. His alignment was lawful good.

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  Re: Original Character Builds« Reply #1 on Oct 6, 2011, 10:59am »

  My second original TIER character was a wild elf warrior who eventually transformed into a half-beast. He fought with an oversized greatclub and only attacked once per round. He was known for charging into opponents, dealing lots of damage, and using a particular Mastery which knocked opponents 15 feet away. One of the coolest things he did was knock an opponent into an earthquake fissure, and he couldn't climb out in time. So the fissure closed up and instantly killed him. He also had the Scent ability, so he was able to hunt down invisible creatures. His alignment was chaotic neutral.

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  Re: Original Character Builds« Reply #2 on Oct 31, 2011, 10:55am »

  We just started the future Ogre King campaign. My new original character is Icefist. He was a human left in the forest and raised by male fairies. He learned about nature and water magic. He also learned the languages of nature (Terran, Aquan, Auran, and Sylvan). He eventually transformed into a water elemental. He is named Icefist because he once defeated a foe by transforming his hands into blocks of ice and pummeling him. The crowd nicknamed him Icefist and he kept it because his fairy parents never named him.

  He talks very little and believes "actions speak louder than words". He travels the world seeking wisdom and understanding. He sometimes observes others or provides help when needed. However, he believes everything happens for a reason and only takes action if it is convenient and sensible. He does not seek trouble or work, he goes with the flow of nature.

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  Re: Original Character Builds« Reply #3 on Nov 15, 2011, 11:22pm »

  Hey it's Ryno! I just made my new level 16 character "Altier", a play on a few names and games. I'm a rogue mercenary. I'm always hidden in the shadows. My ability to blend in and hide is that beyond any peasant or creature of my nature. I pride myself in the Sneak abilities, for any of you who know what I'm talking about I think you will understand. Many have tried to find me but almost all have failed. Where others struggle, I survive, where others starve, I feast. Never trusting strangers, I survive on my abilities to get what I need; food, shelter, and all of the needs of any warrior. I need combat; it's what keeps me alive and kicking. The look on the enemy's face when my surprise dagger flies into his back is priceless. It feeds my need, my desire, and my fantasy! Always looking for new challenges, any and every competitor is welcomed...but beware my magic keeps me hidden and mobile so be careful what you wish for. Haaaahaahaa!!

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  Re: Original Character Builds« Reply #4 on Nov 16, 2011, 7:28pm »

  Hello people!! This is Hauru with the first exciting addition to SBB or Squeaks Broken Biauches.
  Well for this post Ill be describing my character in the current Ogre King campaign. So enters Rei'lae
  pronounced (rey-lay) the hidden terror of the seven seas. Rei'lae is a pirate by trade, a mage by practice, a crossdresser out of necessity. In the Ogre campaign he has managed to stay under the radar due to his skills at lying and disguise, most assume he is in fact a woman never knowing that they just spoke to a notorious criminal. As a mage he is no slouch either having a large expertise for not just casting but creating spells, he is currently the proud creator of twelve spells. At 16th level he has taken his slightly troublesome nature as an Aquatic Elf and turned it into one of his most deadly advantages as an Air Elemental; with a swim speed of 85ft, a land speed of 75ft, and a breakneck fly speed of 150ft there aren't many who can catch him or escape for that matter. His pride and joy on or off the field of battle is his ability to mess with others. Whether it be mocking them from behind the mask of his female persona, stalking them through storm torn oceans, running them down for a clean killing blow, or teleporting someone to the bottom of the sea to drown helplessly he ALWAYS does it with a smile.

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  Re: Original Character Builds« Reply #5 on Nov 19, 2011, 9:23pm »

  Hi everyone! I feel like introducing my first character, a level 2 Elf swordsman named Faendal. Every now and then he can avoid an attack from an enemy and if he is lucky enough, strike with his own sword. Constantly training gave him extra ordinary reflexes and the ability to strike an enemy's limb and hurt them more than usual. He walks around with a high and mighty attitude and calls himself the lands greatest swordsman.

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  Re: Original Character Builds« Reply #6 on Jan 4, 2012, 11:12pm »

  Most people make their characters based on comic book heroes or super creatures known in the common world...that's so unoriginal. I chose my friend Christian. He is a pretty boy with a quick tongue and is known for being very handsome and having very good moves with the ladies. Who wouldve known that Christian would turn into a badass lover in a role play game?!

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  Re: Original Character Builds« Reply #7 on Jan 20, 2012, 8:10pm »

  Our friend, Danny, created a hysterical character named Bahd. Bigbob001 said the following about it: "This game is hard to be bad at but is still challenging. Seriously, we made someone called Bahd character...and statistically he is really bad but he still manages to find ways to be useful - if not literaly then at least to provide some comic relief in an epic battle against a giant squid (he can't swim)."

  He's absolutely correct that Bahd is not the best character, but he's still fun and very useful. Bahd saved Christian's life at the beginning of the Future Ogre King campaign by riding a goat and charging into a demon that was grappling and killing Christian. Bahd also has unusual class skills that always come in handy when our other players can't hack it. And the funniest of all, Bahd has unusual favored enemies which means he can be a great asset when dealing with unusual monsters.

  Not every character can be the best, but we love this strange character, Bahd, and TIER wouldn't be the great game that it is if such a character was not possible.

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  Re: Original Character Builds« Reply #8 on Feb 24, 2012, 4:50pm »

  Hey everyone, my name is Adam. I currently have a character named Landon in Mike's campaign called the future Ogre King campaign. If you have been reading the logs about our campaign then you know his story. Landon is level 19 and is a master with his scimitar and shield making him a deadly combatant, but his secret weapon comes from his small armament of spells that he knows. Using his shield he is capable of blocking up to three attacks and one spell each round. With his scimitar he has a high chance for critical and if he gets lucky, maybe even a decapitation of his enemy. His favorite spells are divine power and blade barrier which he is constantly using. Because he is used to being in an army he is constantly trying to recruit more pirates and capture more ships. Currently he has been able to amass a group of 116 pirates and 2 captains to sail on his eight ships along with all his friends in the group.

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  Re: Original Character Builds« Reply #9 on Mar 18, 2012, 11:38am »

  I am currently developing a corporal undead being who summons both monsters and undead creatures to fight for him as he creates traps and special weapons during battles. Outside of battle, he becomes everyone's best friend due to his ability to create magical items for the party at half the cost and in half the time. He will also have a trusty animal companion at his side to help protect him during battle and to be his best friend. Lastly he will have the domains "Healing" and "Destruction" (funny because they are polar opposites). Most of the party will appreciate the healing spells. Destruction allows him to create earthquakes, but more importantly he can heal himself with the negative energy spells that undead thrive on.

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  Rafael, the undead dual-wielder« Reply #10 on Mar 18, 2012, 4:33pm »

  My new character is a corporeal undead gray elf named Rafael. He's level 22 and fights using a pair of sais. He also has 2 cleric domains: Destruction and Knowledge.

  As a young elf, he was very intelligent and unwillingly elected to be a researcher and scholar for his people. He dreamed of being a warrior, but his body was weak and frail. Nobody wanted to train him because of his frailty, so he trained himself while conducting research.

  He occasionally went on adventures with warrior groups as a guide, but never as a warrior. As he grew older, he was allowed more freedom to explore the world and gather research in far off lands. This also allowed him to test his "fighting skills" from time to time.

  One day, however, Rafael took a risk and traveled to an unknown land. It was previously a land of many tribes, but wars between tribes tore the land apart and years passed by, turning the once thriving land into a paradise for undead.

  Rafael conducted research there, but soon ran into trouble with the undead. He failed to escape, fought bravely, and was inevitably captured. The undead leader decided he was worth keeping and gave Rafael a simple choice: pledge your allegiance to me or die. Rafael did not want to die, so he pledged his allegiance to the undead leader. As a result, Rafael transformed into a corporeal undead creature.

  Looking hideous and feeling repulsive, Rafael considered it a curse. But as time passed, he realized that becoming an undead creature was the ultimate blessing. His frail body was no more. He could now fight as a true warrior with a strong mind and newly improved body.

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  Ranged character« Reply #11 on Apr 4, 2012, 5:23pm »

  Hey everyone,

  So in the Ogre King campaign, Michael decided to allow us to have two characters. We can not use them at the same time mind you. So, for my second character I decided to go ranged. He is a level 21 alien that uses two magical pistols that he does not have to reload. He is capable of doing 9 attacks in a full round action or do a circle strike where he can hit everyone once in a 30 foot radius. He also has two cleric domains: Healing and Hunting. Most characters at this point would have some way of flying, but I decided not to do that. To compensate for it he has high skill checks in balance, jump, and tumble.

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  Amador Vida, the Divine Surrealist« Reply #12 on Apr 11, 2012, 10:59am »

  I created a new character which will be an NPC in the Ogre King campaign. He is a human Surrealist. He is a spiritual being made of pure energy. He casts Divine Magic, which allows him to heal/buff up allies and smite evil foes with powerful spells like "Firestorm, Flame Strike, and Holy Smite".

  Attached is a 3-page document containing his full background story. Download and enjoy

  Please login to download attachments.

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  Re: Original Character Builds« Reply #13 on May 10, 2012, 3:39pm »

  Years ago when I first created TIER, I made an elf monk who had the Cleric Domains Sun and War. He spent his entire life training to become a fire elemental. He was taught that fire represented love, purity, rebirth, and other positive connotations. However, he lived a depressing life. He witnessed countless deaths and destruction all because of enemies who used fire.

  When he was close to becoming a fire elemental, he ventured out in a preemptive strike to defeat an arch enemy spell caster and prevent further harm to innocent people. Unfortunately, his arch enemy was using clairvoyance to spy upon the fire monk.

  The arch enemy spell caster left at the exact same time to attack the fire monk's homeland. He used powerful magic to summon a colossal fire elemental. The creature destroyed half the city and killed many innocent people. The fire monk returned from his failed journey and defeated both the creature and spell caster, but the damage was already done.

  After defeating his enemies, the fire monk was angry and felt cheated by his teachers and the world. He failed to save his people from harm and the element of fire was to blame. Reluctantly, he transformed into a fire elemental, the one creature he hated the most.

  His training was complete, but his true journey had just begun. He spent the rest of eternity traveling the world to fight and end wars. His goal was to use his most hated gift to help others and redeem his failed past.

  « Last Edit: May 10, 2012, 3:40pm by http://www.tier-rpg.com/index.cgi… »

  Last updated: Thu, Sep 27 2012 11:15 am EDT
• Are there Masteries that work well together?

  YES. There are many Masteries that work very well together.
  Vicious Opportunist and Opportunity Shot are a great example.
  Vicious Opportunist makes enemies provoke attacks of opportunity more often.
  Opportunity Shot allows players to make more attacks of opportunity per round.

  This is just one example. There are multiple Masteries that work well together. Find them and post about it.

  Read more: http://www.tier-rpg.com/index.cgi…

  Last updated: Thu, Sep 27 2012 11:15 am EDT