The point of the thread was older fans are so conservative in their views that's it's exhausting.
So, yes, you are right.
How is it "conversative" to know what we like and not want to try something we won't like when it is a waste of time???
And
please (just in case you're thinking it) don't throw the whole "How can you know you won't like it if you don't try it?" line; we aren't children. (Well, I suppose some
could be, but "older fans" implies adult IMO).
Just don't bemoan "Woe is I" when you aren't playing anything.
It is more that the game isn't going in the direction "we" prefer than "woe is I". Most of us accept that and either look for other systems, homebrew/ house-rule or own, or move on.
Here's a funny thing: if you don't want to read it, you don't
have to. There are plenty of threads on this forum I don't read, for example.
There are literally thousands of games out there. You've tried them all?
I know, right, what the heck! There's too many. And those that people suggest here, I look into, and don't work for me. Why would I "try them" anyway if I can tell from the mechanics, theme, jist, etc. that I won't like them?
...have you considered not pigeonholing yourself so much?
I'm not. I look at new systems all the time when people offer them. SotDL, Shadowdark, FTD, ToV, C&C, Nimble, 13th Age, Savage Worlds, OSE, DCC, LotR rpgs, etc. etc. etc. Many have good elements, some don't, most have elements I don't care for, or whatever. I'm not going to give you a detailed review of the dozens (lol heck maybe hundreds...) of systems I've looked at over the years. I preview them, read reviews, other peoples' input, etc.; I don't just dismiss them out of hand.
I mean, seriously, what's so perfect about AD&D's rules that no other game can't scratch the same itch?
Well, not "perfect" certainly, but what I enjoy, yes. There are elements of AD&D that d20 systems have simplified, sort of borrowing from B/X, like ability modifiers, which I prefer to AD&D's ability tables. There are sacred cows for AD&D (or D&D in general) which I would kill off in my ideal system, like ability
scores and CON mod to HP at every level. Some stuff from 2E is definite improvements from 1E, like initiative.
1. Tolkien-like. (I don't mind a couple "extra" races, but not the cantina scene many players seem to like where you can have any race at all practically.)
2. Limited player options as far as features, powers, etc. are concerned.
3. THAC0 (lol just kidding! I am fine with Ascending AC... I just couldn't resist throwing that in due to prior discussions in the thread.)
4. Class disparity. MUs begin weak, end strong, for example. You don't need balance everywhere--in fact, it is best if everything has a cost vs. gain weights. (One reason why I like item attunement in 5E, I just think too many basic things require attunement...).
Actuallly... here:
Tighten the numbers: d20 is too swingy, go to d12. Remove HP bloat and HP dependancy on CON. Cap ability modifers at +3. Decrease weapon damage. Limit levels to 10 or 12. Have proficiency begin at +9 and max at +5 (bring back the non-proficiency penalty of -2). And so on.
No ability scores, just modifiers. I am tired of players who have a STR 16 Half-Orc think they have a +5 strength modifier instead of STR 18 and a +4.
No bonus actions or reactions. No multiclassing.* (Maybe you can switch classes, but can't go back.)
Remove 65% of the races. And remove nearly ALL darkvision!
Kill the...
That sums up what I am looking for.
I mean, heck
@jasper just started (yet another) thread on how to make 5E "feel" like 1E. How many of those are we up to, now, anyway??
1E Feel for 5E
I just came off running Quests From the Infinite Staircase which is six 1E or basic D&D modules converted to 5E. This and other topics online gave me the topic. How to make 5E feel like 1E without a lot of major reworking or just things to adjust.
First. No hit point gains except for constitution bonus after tenth and this means the Tough feat is banned. On Beyond you with have figure you max HP for level 10. Then put that into the override max HP slot.
Second and this is easiest and will give you the most howls of evil dm. Turn on encumbrance and all resource tracking...
Some of those ideas are spot on, others I don't agree with as much personally. Which just goes to show (like with modern DND), there were near-infinite ways people played AD&D back then in 1E as well.
Anyway, houseruling 5E is a stop-gap solution for me. It makes 5E more bearable, even enjoyable at times, but man I would love to see something a full design-team could do that goes in a direction I can appreciate.
