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But that's the point! The rulebook must present DCs for everything because 3E created the concept of a static difficulty! In prior editions, you always checked against your ability score. A proficiency check was made by rolling a d20 +/- modifiers; if you were equal to or less than your...

4E broadened the skill list by removing the really narrow ones that were pretty specific to a certain world or genre. In effect, the game is more universal than 3E is/was. They toned down a lot of the occupation specific skills as well (which is good because I'm a firm believer that...

And being that D&D assumes you're an adventurer and you're expected make X amount of money per level, profession has the worst skill point to actual value in the entire game. "Mechanically" appraisal can make you more money than profession. So can craft. The other skills keep you alive which...

Depends. Caster DC is tied to ability score so a bonus for them is better than a fighter's bonus to strength. I'd say bonuses were more important in 3E because you had to depend on so much stuff if you weren't a caster, especially dexterity and constitution as heavy armor grows progressively...

No, profession is literally useless by game mechanics. When I review a system, I take into account what the rules-as-written states. By RAW profession does absolutely nothing except make money for a week's worth of labor. Obviously no GM worth his salt plays RPG systems by-the-book entirely...

25 points is the elite array which is more than enough. Considering most monsters (those without character classes) are built using the common array, PCs with 25 points are effectively twice as capable as 90% of the default material. Modifying the way attributes are handled is a pitfall...

Mechanically, though, it's useless except for the rare prerequisite (I can't recall any prestige classes that actually do require it). After Gygax left, designers started adding more and more mechanics. It wasn't until 4th Edition that the designers finally realized "Hey, nobody's going to put...

3E and 4E assume you have a 5-man group. Most AD&D modules were written for 6 people. Basic would be written for up to 9 characters. Keep in mind that AD&D and Basic assumed you hired people (cannon fodder) to stop traps with their faces and offer themselves to monsters so you could sneak by...

From what I understand, both licenses can apply. The CC license allows people to reproduce and modify the work online. Nothing in the documents is PI. I've been sick all weekend and got nothing done. Cracking the whip this week.

Not in the core system; that's what the optional rules documents will be for. Book of humanoids half-orc will be easy to convert but I'll have to look over the options books carefully as their races could be customized with the whole points system. What will likely happen is I'll just provide...

Formatting. D&D has always had a problem with a decent format. There are still rules in AD&D that I didn't know about because you have to read every single paragraph to understand them. All of 4E's mechanics are contained in a giant box with bold lettering and bullets. I don't want to call...

The problem with the "traditional" fantasy races is that they're based on humans with human-like morals and sensibilities. The unfortunate fact is that the more non-human you make a race, the less players can connect with them. There was a whiplash over 4E making metallic dragons unaligned...

The next update will add the creative commons license so people can reproduce and modify the rules freely. The next update should be this Monday when my website goes live and it will contain the completed Encounters chapter and Hirelings and Henchmen chapter. From there, my last (and most time...

I don't see what the big complaint against level limits is. Your hit dice and class features pretty much cap at level 9 for the basic classes and from there you're only earning THAC0 and improved saving throws. Very, very few monsters have hit dice above 10 (and even fewer have HD above 13...

Take a black teabag, soak it, then rub it vigorously over a sheet of paper. Dip your fingers in some coffee and mash coffee grounds into a few choice spots to get a really yellowed parchment look. Hang it up to dry. Take your icons and arrange them in an image with a transparent background...

What do you mean by this? Dragons were much scarier as in when you saw one, you ran for the hills. Since hit points were lower and saves were based on your level, not ability scores, their breath weapon was positively lethal instead of an inconvenience. AD&D's dragons were pretty lethal at...

"Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to explore it." B2 cannot be completed by a level 1 party in a single go-through. It just can't unless Lady Luck calls you "son" and lives in your house. There are too many monsters, traps, and situatios that can outright kill the entire party...

I originally thought about this so I looked to other retro-game products to see what I could/couldn't say. Mythmere games specifically references D&D (several times) in their "About" page followed by a disclaimer saying they're not affiliated in any way. The actual product itself, mine...

Like Treebore said, I completely rewrite them. 2E's supplements were a mess in terms of formatting IMO. I'll be tackling the kits in a manner that allows quick reference without mixing fluff with mechanics.

FG&G is an attempt to compile the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition rules into a single open game product. The idea arose after reading the Old School Reference & Index Compilation which is an open game adaption of AD&D 1E. FG&G, like OSRIC, will be free for use and reference. The...