dcollins
Explorer
Perusing the new d20 Modern SRD (here: http://www.wizards.com/D20/article.asp?x=msrd ), particularly the "Combat" document, I noticed that the d20 Modern authors have made a few tweaks to D&D core rules which have spawned arguments in the past:
(1) "Partial Actions" have been deleted, leaving only the following action types: "Attack" (i.e., Standard) , "Move" (MEA), and "Full-Round". A surprise round gives you only an Attack action. A Charge is now definitely a Full-Round Action (as the D&D SRD, not PHB), but again you are allowed a special single-move Charge in a surprise round (as a D&D "partial charge").
(2) The d20 Modern haste spell no longer gives an extra action! It gives one extra attack with a full-round attack, or an extra 30 feet speed on a move. Casting an extra spell with it is specifically prohibited. (I notice that this then looks a lot like the speed weapon enhancement, except it's counter to the Sage's ruling that you can use speed without a full attack action.)
(3) The shield spell has been reduced to just give a +4 bonus to defense (AC) -- no +7 bonus, no apparent true cover, no bonus to saving throws.
So I'm wondering:
- Do other D&D players think these are quality changes?
- Do you think you'll change your D&D games to use these revised rulings?
- What will you do when interfacing D&D characters with d20 Modern characters, with some identically-named spells having different effects?
(1) "Partial Actions" have been deleted, leaving only the following action types: "Attack" (i.e., Standard) , "Move" (MEA), and "Full-Round". A surprise round gives you only an Attack action. A Charge is now definitely a Full-Round Action (as the D&D SRD, not PHB), but again you are allowed a special single-move Charge in a surprise round (as a D&D "partial charge").
(2) The d20 Modern haste spell no longer gives an extra action! It gives one extra attack with a full-round attack, or an extra 30 feet speed on a move. Casting an extra spell with it is specifically prohibited. (I notice that this then looks a lot like the speed weapon enhancement, except it's counter to the Sage's ruling that you can use speed without a full attack action.)
(3) The shield spell has been reduced to just give a +4 bonus to defense (AC) -- no +7 bonus, no apparent true cover, no bonus to saving throws.
So I'm wondering:
- Do other D&D players think these are quality changes?
- Do you think you'll change your D&D games to use these revised rulings?
- What will you do when interfacing D&D characters with d20 Modern characters, with some identically-named spells having different effects?