I think I've lost my way.

[Grogg of the North]

So many years ago I started playing D&D. It was great. I joined a group in college; none of us really knew the rules but we had fun. We made decisions on the spot about rules. We didn't care if our choices were optimized. No matter what happened, we did our best to not say "No" when "Yes, but it will be difficult" would do. We just played and had fun.

But time marches on and the old group has graduated and gone their separate ways. I've found other groups and for the most part they've been good. But with each new group I've been with, the rules have taken more precedence. Character and role-playing have taken a back seat to power. And now I find myself saying "No" more and more often; becoming afraid that some of my players are cobbling together some sort of multi-class monster that I won't see coming until its too late.

And so I sit here now, staring at my campaign notes, wishing that there was some way for me to recapture the games of old. When I wouldn't have to sit at the table and listen to the GM and two players argue about the physics behind a falling book for a half hour. When no one cared what your classes were, so long as you were having fun.

Maybe I'm just nostalgia blind. But I'm curious what advice you have to give me enworld. What can I do?

 

[pogre]

I wish I had a solution for you, alas, I am in a similar boat. My malaise has meant I have not run an rpg campaign in over a year now. I have hopes for Next/5th to reinvigorate me.

Sorry for the lack of advice - I just wanted to commiserate.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

You might consider trying out a couple of rules-lite indie games. You can find enough of those online for free to get a taste for it.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Rules lite OSR game (Labyrinth Lord, Castles & Crusades, etc.) and/or a new group.

 

[Gilladian]

If you or most of your players prefer a "denser" rules system, but you want to stave off the "multiclass" monsters, think about playing E6 or E8 with 3.5 or Pathfinder.

Characters advance to whatever level (6th for E6 or "Epic 6th) and then stop. They gain a feat every 5,000 earned XP after that, but there are no spells over 3rd level nor character powers beyond 6th, nor many prestige classes or multiclassing, etc...

It has breathed new life into my game!

 

[halfjack]

Branch out and try some new games and maybe infuse the group with some new blood as well. Anyone can get in a rut -- you need to act deliberately to get out.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

And so I sit here now, staring at my campaign notes, wishing that there was some way for me to recapture the games of old. When I wouldn't have to sit at the table and listen to the GM and two players argue about the physics behind a falling book for a half hour. When no one cared what your classes were, so long as you were having fun.

Are you the GM or the player, in this situation? As the GM you have more control, and I'd simply suggest that you disallow everything but the core rules, requiring everything else be okayed by you before coming in. This is pretty much how I start all my games. I also require a hardcopy of any classes/spells/etc. I don't own.

This way you don't have to worry about being blindsided by anything. Feel free to take your time before giving an answer on anything. And if somehow something does make it in that turns out to be too strong, just take the player aside, explain the problem, and let him know he'll need to write out whatever it is that's causing the problem.

From what you've said I presume you're playing with adults now, so as long as you're fair and straightforward about it, there shouldn't be a problem.

If you're a player things are harder of course. Recently our own game has started up a talk about this, though. It just requires getting all the players involved in a more general discussion about the state of the game, and hopefully coming to some solutions that everyone can agree on.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

To paraphrase certain sportscasters, "Power Gamers gonna power game. You can't stop them, you can only hope to contain them." That will happen in any rules system. One way you can contain the issue is by controlling options. In my group, this is most often done one of 2 ways*:

1) Run Core only or some version of Core + Completes. Most typically exclude Psionics- usually 'cause they don't like the concept- and at least one guy only allows PHB base classes, while use of Feats, spells, equipment and PrCls from other sources is presumed OK.**

2) Players may use any rulebooks they want, but any given PC can only use the Core 3 plus 2 other Sourcebooks for Feats, spells & PrCls.**







* it's not actually done to rein in the power gamers, just to make things easie for the DMs in question

** So far, nobody save myself has ruled in the Spell Compendium, so that reins things in significantly

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

If you're a player things are harder of course. Recently our own game has started up a talk about this, though. It just requires getting all the players involved in a more general discussion about the state of the game, and hopefully coming to some solutions that everyone can agree on.

Yeah, this. It sounds like Grogg is a player, so I'm going to ask him...have you brought this up with anyone in your group buddy?

 

[scourger]

Try Savage Worlds.