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As is happens, that’s exactly what I do in The Fantasy Engine, my 4e-inspired game. All situational modifiers are either Boons (+2 to skill ranks) or Banes (+2 to difficulty). They cancel each other or before being applied. Boon 3 + Bane 2 is Boon 1, for example. Things that impact rolls...

A variation of 4e that used advantage and disadvantage in the same manner as 5e is not a game I would purchase or run. 4e has a problem with too many small modifiers at times. I don't feel like the solution of no modifiers would work with a more tactical system such as 4e.

Thanks! I don’t have access to the AGE version, but I’ll download my copy of the older from DTRPG.

Which version of Blue Rose? AGE or the original True20?

I like how you think. This is what I do in my game. It is not a fully Players Roll Everything game, but they do roll against fixed DCs for most actions, including combat. I like giving that agency to the players.

While do agree that Perception is a very handy skill to have, it wasn't a must get for all characters in my own 4e games, either. As long as a couple of folks have it, you are likely good. But, as a GM, I am of the mind that you don't lock vital clues and information behind a potential failed...

Agreed! While I prefer Damage Reduction to the AC system for most of my games, I really don't want it to replace AC in my D&D-like D20 fantasy. I like that AC is fast and easy, which helps in the more complex fights of 4e. As for weapons as implements and the issues that they and other cases...

As in, the players roll to attack vs. the foe's defenses, and when the attack is returned, the player rolls their defenses against the foe's attack score as DC?

For my game, The Fantasy Engine, I am trying to use this approach for some abilities. I do hand out more encounter actions, and so I like the idea of mixing and matching more specific abilities and more general abilities. You are right, it can be a fine line. But I like the idea that characters...

All my players took to action points quite easily. After I added the ability to use spent powers, the typical mix was one-third of the time using expended powers, two-thirds using the extra action. There was certainly hoarding at times, but I also gave out one per encounter, rather than...

Yes, indeed. And their access to maneuvers were mostly random. I played a crusader through Strahd back in the day, and it was incredibly fun.

That is pretty much how stances work in 4e.

When I ran 4e D&D I allowed players to spend an action point to use an expended power. I liked it so much the concept is baked into my 4e-inspired game.

As a counter to what I wrote above about simple options in the 800 Pound Gorilla RPG, above, I also agree with this. Some people do need simple options, such as the EMT example above. And, some newbies work best with simple options. But, it is not a given that newbs need simple options...

As the biggest, most well known RPG by a long shot, it makes sense to me that D&D would have options that cater to people who either prefer simple options, or are new to RPGs in general. And, perhaps 4e could have used some of that in the core rules, rather than the Essentials. I am really not a...

That's the nature of RPGs, really. RPGs, from one to the next, have different forms of abstraction for different things. Some have abstract hit points, some have detailed wound systems. Some have highly narrative combat, some have highly detailed combat. Some have detailed action systems, some...

Dude, every time 4e and dailies come up, or even in other editions, you rag on dailies and how you’d remove them from the game. On and on. And I love you for it! 😄 Daily power in 4e didn’t quite work for me. It’s like my brain favored a time frame for renewable powers, per encounter, and going...

Oh, I know. All too well. In writing a 4e inspired RPG, I am rewriting sections of rules in order to avoid WotC's legal eye falling upon me. It can be quite the mental gymnastics, and could be avoided if I had a real SRD. I have a lot of respect to those who write true retroclones from scratch.

Now that so much has passed, for good, ill, or (most likely) in between, this is why I keep coming back to these threads on Kyle's interviews. I want 4e D&D put into CC so much I can taste it.

Now that the 5.1 SRD us released to a CC license, I hope they follow through on releasing older SRDs as they said might happen. I know I am in the minority, but I'd love to get the 4e SRD out into a non-naughty word license.