Would you play D&D if the sacred cows were sacrificed?

Gundark

Explorer

• Sep 19, 2006

• #1

Due to some discussion on other threads I got asking a question. If say 4th ed comes out and all of the sacred cows get slaughtered (hit points, AC, levels, etc) would you play? For the sake of arguement the new D&D plays very well without the Sacred cows. What sacred cows could you not live without? What are the "must have SCs?

 

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Mouseferatu

Hero

• Sep 19, 2006

• #2

To be D&D, the game must have classes and it must have levels. There may be other sacred cows I'd insist on keeping, but those are the two that spring to mind. While it would be tricky, I think you could still make it D&D without hit points or the current AC system.

I'm not saying you couldn't have a perfectly good fantasy RPG without classes and levels. It just wouldn't be D&D.

 

B

Baron Opal

First Post

• Sep 19, 2006

• #3

Arr! If too many o' them cows be butchered, then that thar be RuneQuest for me, matey! No difference between 'em.

 

Nonlethal Force

First Post

• Sep 19, 2006

• #4

I don't know if I would mind. Like the vampire rodent up there ... It'd have to resemble D&D in some form like levels or the like.

But I could give up on things like AC, vancian magic, BAB, ability scores, etc so long as there was something put in place that made sense.

I voted neutral. I wouldn't immediately hate it out-of-hand. But I'd have to see it to know if I'd like it.

 

LeifVignirsson

First Post

• Sep 19, 2006

• #5

You know, everyone said this sort of thing when Iron Heroes came out, it was the signal of the end of 3rd edition all together and the start of a new way of thinking.

I really don't think that they will toss out the things that made it D&D (classes, hps, ac) but I think they will be more than happy to provide in black and white how each person can run a game with option heavy rules... You play B style game; you use X, Y, and Z rules. You play Y game; you use A, B and C rules...

Just a hunch, of course. I have heard the rumblings that everything is out of control in D&D, it is far too much like a video game and less like the beloved pen and paper style. I still play it, I still love it, but I see where people hack into optimization like video gamers use a Gameshark, Codebreaker or anything else to tweak the limits of what a game was designed to do... Do I fault that? No. But others do and I think they are out to make a new edition to try and control this...

 

Herobizkit

Adventurer

• Sep 19, 2006

• #6

The d20 mechanic is an excellent system. I could well do without vancian magic. Classes and levels are about the only sacred cow that you'd pretty much HAVE to keep, though I much prefer a skills-based character set. I also enjoy systems that allow you to make your character the way you want it without having to wait for the really good perks, or at least earning points to buy new advantages, powers, or what have you... something like the old Skills & Powers supplement from AD&D 2.5.

 

pawsplay

Hero

• Sep 19, 2006

• #7

D&D is D&D. If there is too much bovine carnage, then the game really has to stand on its own, and the bar has been set pretty high. Further, it would probably result in a proliferation of Caves & Critters knockoffs.

 

Nonlethal Force

First Post

• Sep 19, 2006

• #8

pawsplay said:

bovine carnage

Click to expand...

Sweet expression. Two thumbs up.

 

Glyfair

Explorer

• Sep 19, 2006

• #9

Mouseferatu said:

I'm not saying you couldn't have a perfectly good fantasy RPG without classes and levels. It just wouldn't be D&D.

Click to expand...

I think this is the key point. It wouldn't be D&D without the true sacred cows.

Would I play this non-D&D system? Possibly, but probably not. There are plenty of other systems I could play (including 3.5 D&D and other variations of D&D), and I feel no desire right now to play another RPG.

Oddly enough, the poll options don't answer the question. I might like the game. I might even love it. I wouldn't play it though. Hate & love don't really enter into whether I'd play it (OK, if I hated it, I wouldn't play it for certain).

 

Last edited: Sep 19, 2006

Angel Tarragon

Dawn Dragon

• Sep 19, 2006

• #10

I think I wouldn't like it - thaey have been the standard for a long time now. It would be an entirely new game and I am not sure if I would be able to get into it.