Recent content by Basic Expert

All D&D designers have struggled with optimizing the math of the game. Look at Gygax who went from the simplistic 1d6 = 1HD/1 weapon hit of OD&D to adding Strength to damage, to variable weapon damage, to exceptional Strength bonuses, to specialization, to the munchkin-excesses of Unearthed...

A few of my tricks: 1. Ditch or minimize initiative. I've come to loathe WotC-style sequential initiative where everyone stops to generate initiative scores at the start of a fight and spends the next 15 minutes-1 hour stuck in the same dull sequence. Generally, the aggressors go first as a...

For me, a trilogy implies 3 strong movies without any major disappointments. Unfortunately, some many series have delivered two good installments only to be let down by a lackluster third. That leaves a few precious gems: Lord of the Rings. Conceived of as a unified whole. It has some rough...

I tend to agree. However, the modern playerbase likes the "press shiny button" modern game design while disliking the "why can't I press the shiny button all the time?" aspect of resource management. This is natural. Gamers, people really, will always try to maximize the upside while minimizing...

I played 2e from '88 to '92 or so, then very rarely thereafter. I played 1e for a few years previously and found 2e much improved but not improved enough. I was disappointed that there wasn't ascending AC, better skill system, or more useful saving throw system. I was really looking for 3e...

If you change it to more of a hit point pool/quest model, now you're moving back into 70s-era D&D territory, where in-dungeon resting and recovery was very much an exception. Hit point pools are strictly a "per delve" resource. If you run out, you die. The "lifetime hit point pool" has a bit of...

I don't see any advantage to a "lifetime hp" system. There wouldn't be any tension until characters got low on hit points, then their players would retire their characters and start fresh, no? See also: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Surely a kobold with 1,000 HP would tell you it has 1,000 HP. I would. Probably can't get him to shut up about it.

The best, and maybe the only good dungeon crawls I've ever been involved with, have had a party goal other than "explore the dungeon". I've never been a fan of old-style mega-dungeons wherein the dungeon crawling is the point. Put in a rescue the princess, find the magic sword, or seal the evil...

I have the rules, but I haven't had a chance to play this yet as our group has a full list of campaigns going or on the horizon. My question is how receptive players are towards random-talent leveling? My players aren't serious optimizers, but I don't know how much they would go for completely...

I second most of the advice presented here. Most great DMs start off as poor or mediocre DMs and work their way up. Over the years I've probably made every DM mistake possible. Nowadays, not so much. If you try to get better, you'll get better. If everyone is having fun, or at least engaged...

I had a 3E DM that created a campaign where equipment scarcity and attrition was to be a core theme. He was quickly flustered by the caster and monk-centric party he ended up with. I don't think weapon breakage adds anything to the game. If you want to 'force' the GWM fighter to use a...