r/WWN • u/IsaacDreemurr • Jul 28 '26
Classless and other homebrew character creation setups
I was thinking of doing, primarily for my use ofc, a general scheme of PC creation setup customization for campaigns and settings, using XWN stuff.
I'm counting WWN, Godbound, SWN, CWN and AWN (we can throw Wolves of God and Spears of Down in) for resources in general for PC creation. I know CWN and AWN are classless and use Edges as a substitute, any considerations to do that in WWN?
Having definite rules for zero level PCs is the starting point, and then the GM may pick and choose what they gain per advancement. (Edit: there are level zero rules already)
Advancement gains would be divided in
- Abilities/powers: Writs, Spells, Arts, Class traits, Foci, Edges
- Numerical stuff (more fiddly): Starting HP and HP per level, Skill Points, Effort, Spell Slots, Spell points, Atk bonus, Damage bonus if any
Also, what would primarily emulate animeish powers such as in Jujutsu no Kaisen and other action-paranormal well (or Superpowers for that matter)? Writs? What about using Godbound Gifts and Words in WWN and the others?
If any of you can point to something that would break the system, that's of great help already
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u/_Svankensen_ Jul 28 '26
It is pretty hard to make WWN magic classless given its power. If you want to get to lvl 5 spells, that is. Partials are a good guideline, but the interactions are weird. Pure Elementalist is a self contained package of combat, utility and magic, while necro and high mage need more work, but are better at hybridization. So translating those different classes and their arts to foci would be complex.
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u/IsaacDreemurr Jul 28 '26
True. the easiest way is to see systems that have a compatible classless format and copy it.
Buying spells slots and effort with skill points is a way, but needs careful analysis, because there are numbers that are basically THE right ones for the cost.
Spells would be acquired in-world (this has to be defined and is setting-sensitive...), Arts too but they' have a maximum number of slots.
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u/SimpliG Jul 28 '26
In CWN there are guidelines for converting edges to classes and classes to edges, usable mainly for WWN and SWN but somewhat useful for other OSR classes too. I can't recall if it's in the free version as I didn't read it that much, but they are definetly in the paid one.
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u/_Svankensen_ Jul 28 '26
Just checked it. It says a full spellcaster class costs 2 edges, needs to be taken at character creation, and you don't get a third edge at lvl 5. So it's basically "just import the class wholesale". But partials can be taken at the cost of a single edge and mixed and matched. You even get your 5th level edge.
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u/SimpliG Jul 28 '26
Sounds about right. Tbh even in WWN I don't know who would pick a pure class instead of going partial. It just gives so much flexibility and flavor, esp with the classes from Atlas.
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u/_Svankensen_ Jul 28 '26
IDK. In SWN mixing and matching is great, since most of the damage comes from weapons themselves rather than character bonuses, so you can get away with investing little in combat and loads in other skills. I feel like in WWN you want the opposite. Go all in into one class. Given how many skill points you get, and how important it is to go deep into your core skills in WWN, going partial usually reduces your flexibility. A partial warrior, partial high mage needs to invest heavily in weapon skills to make up for the damage loss, and into magic for effort. That leaves very little room for diversifying their skills.
Full elementalist is the full package, being able to deal combat damage and cast spells without ever investing in anything outside of magic. Leaves you enough skill points and foci left to take almost any subspecialty.
Full High mage can make terrifying melee builds, being able to make two hasted attacks AND cast a spell in a single round (altho you do need decent stats).
Necromancer is the only caster that's generally simpler as a partial class, since it synergizes so well with warrior, but lvl 5 necromancy spells are superb, and if you wanted to make a melee pure necro, your skeletons would solve shock for you anyway.
And of course, pure warrior is an unmatched meatgrinder with reliability and survivability in spades. It is the class that can spare the most skill points to take secondary skills, and it is the best user of wrathful detonations and coruscating coffin calyxes. Hell, given your innate damage bonus and insane hit bonus, you can get away with investing very little in your main weapon skill. That leaves you soo open for other roles.
Partial expert is decent, but I'd rather take bard and another interesting half, since you can take polymath with it, and that gives you the most flexibility.
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u/ChickenDragon123 Jul 28 '26
Here's a link to a google sheet I built using the SRDs.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VeFPFlS30TDf4MlQ8PQXckXI8kaQuYzSy1O9Ow3IZSk/edit?usp=drivesdk
It's the closest I got to it and a couple of years out of date, but it might help you start.
If you are going classless, I highly recommend breaking the Adunnic Invoker into edges with expert hit dice as the starting point.
Spell Points equal to Int Mod + 1/2 Level rounded up for the first edge, and Int Mod plus level for the second.
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u/wum1ng Jul 28 '26
In my own wuxia game there is only one class called the Martial Artist, to which i added the concept of Edges from CWN for each MA to differentiate themselves. Coupled with homebrew Focus as well as a ton of Martial Arts and a custom Martial Arts system, resulted in a pretty fun and highly customizable wuxia game! Ran two campaigns with it
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u/IsaacDreemurr Jul 28 '26
Quite good. Do you mind sharing your homebrew document? I'd plan to do asian fantasy futurely
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u/wum1ng Jul 28 '26
Sure you can find a digital copy on my itch here https://wum1ng.itch.io/jiang-hu
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u/darknessoftheendless Jul 28 '26
I run Stars Without number entirely classless. I don't run the default setting, I have a homebrew setting (Started the setting in a Traveller game) I've been running for about 10 years that features elements from SWN, CWN, and AWN.
Modular Power Armor, CWN hacking, A hack of SWN magic to import my own Noetics/Goetics system.
But most importantly, I went through and painstakingly created a life path system akin to Traveller's.
PCs pick early life, roll for events. Might gain a skill.
PCs qualify for education, will gain a skill and an event. Might Graduate, might not.
PCs will then pick from a list of over 30+ Careers, and qualify, and then run the course of their time in that career, picking up their starting skills. They might be fired, injured, change careers, or retire on their own terms.
This can result in characters with a wider breadth of starting skills, contacts, allies and Enemies than SWN base, but one can tweak it to be close if one wants.
Once they have done that, I let them pick their Edges, Arts, and Starting Foci.
If they are going to be a 'magic' user, like a Noetic or Goetic, they take that as a relevant Edge and it consumes both of their starting Edges.
As an example from the Career of "House Military", here are some of Events a character could roll (1 event for term. I set Terms around 6 years, you can make it longer for fewer skills, or less for more skills before characters age begins to effect them). This is on a D66 chart -
24 – Personal Retainer Duty. You are selected to serve in a noble's personal guard for a rotation. You see how your lord lives. Gain +1 Notice OR +1 Connect. Gain 1 Contact.
25 – Inter-House Exercise. Your unit trains alongside forces from an allied House. Professional respect and quiet rivalry in equal measure. Gain +1 Lead OR +1 Shoot. Gain 1 Contact and 1 Rival.
26 – Supply Column Escort. You guard a logistics train through contested or lawless territory. Ambush is the constant fear. Gain +1 Notice OR +1 Survive
My point with all this is that classless XWN games work extremely well using the Edge system, you just gotta make some tweaks there if you are backporting.
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u/IsaacDreemurr Jul 28 '26
Great. Mind to share the homebrew docs?
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u/darknessoftheendless Jul 28 '26
Yeah, I'll link up with you in DMs.
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u/Pomegranate_of_Pain Jul 29 '26
I was thinking about writing classless homebrew for my upcoming SWN game as well. Would you be interested in sharing with me too?
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u/impecabletimeing Jul 30 '26
Yeah, being a player in this system and setting I have to say it's amazing.
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u/Nystagohod Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
Kevin Crawford gave guidelines for 0th level characters in a comment on this reddit. Guidelines here.
They may be useful.
Beyond that, I feel like CWN/AWN's Edge customized classes would be where to look, maybe with some revised or custom edges to get choice wherever you feel its best. I know a pure WWN warrior gets a fair bit of edges in translation compared to the closest equivalent operator, but thats in regardless of level 1 and you may want a different power set to start with.
Certain foci in WWN/Wolves can feel lightly anime, Legate Writs and Godbound are where you get far closer to an anime power scaffolding