Aspects of D&D that have made you fed up?

Oh but that frustrated me, too, that some GMs allow only a select few of the supplements. I want my options wide open. Even if it's not completely balanced. ;)

But then I don't play with minmaxers or the like.
 

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And tied to that, the magical shops where you can buy whatever you want.

Use the laws of economics (supply & demand) & commerce (cash or credit, sir?).

1) Just because something exists, doesn't mean its available for sale where you are right now.

2) Just because it is available for sale right here & now, doesn't mean it's for sale at the "Magister's Suggested Retail Price."

3) Just because you have something to sell, doesn't mean there is someone who can afford to buy it.

4) Just because you have something to sell and a willing buyer, doesn't mean he's willing to pay your price.

5) Even if the buyer and seller can agree on the deal in principle, doesn't mean the deal is legal.

Those 5 rules govern the economics of every game I've GMed, and it means that players are free to buy and sell, but they are bound by RW type restrictions.
 


I got hugely fed up with the level progression in 2E. At a certain point, around level 10-12 I believe, you need to singlehandedly defeat a dozen dragons to get enough XP to level up. And when you do, unless you're a spellcaster, there's almost no benefit whatsoever. I found that very frustrating.
The game system was trying to tell you something.
 



Aspects of D&D that have made you fed up?

The Entire 4th Edition line-up and the rules glut that WotC seems to think that is ok!!

People making unjustified slurs against 4e.

TSR produced an average of about five books per month for 2e. And in that time we had such stunning rules bloat as The Complete Book of Elves.

3.X put a throttle on the bloat - we only had a few books per month and the core system is simpler (although more detailed and thus heavier) than 2e. Even the most innocuous worldbook added bloat - taking Serpent Kingdoms as an example; an obscure 2004 worldbook - not only did it add spells and prestige classes, it also inflicted spells such as venomfire on the world and monsters such as the Sarrukh.

4e has averaged about one book per month - and has had three books in the whole of 2012, one of which was an adventure module (the disappointing Undermountain book). It has objectively less bloat than 2e or any of the versions of 3.X. And a simpler core than either AD&D or B/X.

4e marks D&D turning away from rules bloat and the splatbook, worldbook, and module for every season that has characterised (A)D&D since Lorraine Williams took over.
 


Over the economics thing? Sometimes, a different set of eyes...

And to be perfectly clear, those rules apply 100% of the time, even for mundane transactions.

It's unlikely, but if the party had found a Handy Haversack and wer trying to buy 10,000 torches, unless they were in the big city, it wouldn't be possible...and even there, it would take time, travel from shop to shop as they cleaned out one seller after another. And the guy selling the last 5 to be had would DEFINITELY be gouging them on the price.

If they tried buying a horse destined for Lord M'horvan's estate, they may not have enough money to do so, despite having just cleared out a bandit party.

And perhaps, in his domain, only members of his army are allowed to buy blackpowder...legally.
 

Yeah, I'm with you on the economics.

Just because it's in the book, doesn't mean somebody has one or that there's one kicking around the campaign world anywhere.

Even if someone has one or one is available somewhere, you have to find out who that someone is or where that somewhere is before you can seek your prize.

Even if you find the guy, he may not want to sell it. Or if you find the place, it may be in a secret room, a locked or trapped chest, or somewhere else that makes getting it inconvenient.
 
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