What D&Disms have you never liked?

[Ariosto]

using components but then you control spell access with an economy of rarity and cost for the components, how difficult and how much time to gather, and maintaining there freshness etc. It has a classic alchemical feel to it... but it becomes regulated by economic factors ... that is a pretty complex and subtle tool.

As I understand it, that was a key part of how magic worked in Arneson's campaign. (Learning the formulas for spells was not a result of, but a requirement for, attaining a new level of power.)

 

[Garthanos]

I know this. Other players often do not.

I personally see your average bard as a Jack of All Trades, or a magical con artist, or - in one game I play, my tiefling bard's powers are described as his raw personality, his intimidating aura, his glare being the Vicious Mockery. A lot like a Warlord, backed up with a bit of magic.

There is one other element....

Enchantments.... incantation and chant... are all rooted in rythms directly connected to music.... the rythms and cycles of nature in Tolkein were directly conjured in song as part of the creation story for Middle Earth... Tough guy Aragorn sang in joy over his greatest accomplishments.

 

[Pseudonym]

I agree with most of the D&Disms mentioned.

My personal list consist of mainly those things that have been removed from prior editions such as:

Item restrictions on rangers and paladins, leading to such questions as "If a ranger can only own what he can carry, how can he own a mount?"

Related to that, a paladin's loss of paladinhood for violating his oaths. The idea had the seed for an interesting story element, but seems to be very wrapped up in D&D-ness that created a situation where the situation devolved in to 'let's screw the paladin' and inevitable scenarios wherein the poor PC ends up reenacting Sophie's Choice with orc babies.

Also related, wishes and this idea in D&D that the power that governs such magic has the personality of a sociopathic child. It's one thing when a wish is being granted on a character's behalf by an effrit or djinn who may have some reason to cleave to the letter rather than spirit of a wish, but stories are legion of people casting wish only to have the DM act as if it was his personal duty to warp it, eg. wishing that "I wish I had a magic sword in my hand right now" only to be told the sword appears, transfixig the middle of your palm as the DM rolls his damage dice.

 

[Azgulor]

1. Level-draining undead. In my worlds, vampires drink blood. They don't suck people dry by touching them.

2. The X-mas Tree effect. Magic Items in D&D are about as special as an underwear sale at Wal-Mart.

3. Vancian Magic (Although Arcana Evolved finally came up with a version I could tolerate).

4. Ever escalating AC's rather than armor as DR.

 

[Hussar]

The race thing did bring something up for me that I've complained about for a long time:

- slavish adherence to Tolkien races. I hated it when 3e gave us a core that not only had all the same PC races as 2e, but actually brought back the half-orc. Although, at least that one wasn't really Tolkienesque in my mind. Why did it take thirty years to get scaley folk in core? I would have been perfectly happy with kobold, but, dragonborn will have to do.

In addition to keeping the Tolkien races, we were also gifted with Tolkien style racial relations too. Why do dwarves and elves only tolerate each other? One lives in forests, the other underground, they likely rarely even have contact, let alone enough contact to actively dislike each other. It's only so 'cos papa Tolkien said so.

 

[Mercule]

Unfortunately, many gamers took the idea and ran with it, making it fairly pervasive.

Oh, and they're not effing bards, either.

On a similar note, and something fairly new.... Half-elves get social bonuses? WTF? These are guys who used to be marginalized by both races. Now they're the freaking ambassadors?

 

[Garthanos]

HPs - I hate death spiral systems where the PCs get increasingly penalized as they get hurt. D&D HPs may not be realistic but its fun.

You don't have to worry about death spirals being realistic by the way its another myth. Med (Discovery channel - I know fluffy source) and Fed/Military studies (actually read online) indicated people seem to operate at close to full capacity or actually
94%+)... till the heat of danger and adrenaline wears off.

Games that target depressing inevitability of conflict should all implement death spirals but not even the real world likes them.

 

[Wormwood]

On a similar note, and something fairly new.... Half-elves get social bonuses? WTF? These are guys who used to be marginalized by both races. Now they're the freaking ambassadors?

They're humans with flair and elves with balls.

What's not to like?

 

[Garthanos]

On a similar note, and something fairly new.... Half-elves get social bonuses? WTF? These are guys who used to be marginalized by both races. Now they're the freaking ambassadors?

Charismatic Dragon-lance character was I thought responsible for that...

 

[Votan]

Charismatic Dragon-lance character was I thought responsible for that...

Seems like odd timing as these bonuses were added between 3.0 and 3.5 D&D, IIRC. The bigger issue was that the Half-Elf lacked a good niche and tended to be underpowered so it was hard to find a good way improve them that did not go too far in the other direction.

The most charismatic DL character was, so far as I can tell, a pure elf.