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Although the games are far to different to port anything over wholesale, I would like to see D&D to take some cues from Houses of the Blooded. That game is all about the social game, jockeying for political position, and even managing your lands.

Last time I address you directly Tannager. I told you what failings 4E has and been very forthright in all my answers, to which you told me "nuh uh." You aren't listening and I think you know it. I have even praised what 4E was good at, but I don't think you listened to that either, choosing to...

Ah, got it. You're a fanatic. There's no reasoning with you.

My hope is that 5E will have point buy, but with the caveat that all ability scores are equally useful/needed by a character. If you want to excel in Str, be prepared to pay that cost. The idea is there in 3E with the increasing cost in point buy but fails in that my wizard just doesn't need any...

You're being deliberately obtuse here. I just said what 3E/Pathfinder has that 4E doesn't and you ask it slightly differently? Very well. The 4E character sheet has extremely limited options to anything outside of combat and when you get the options, it is either to take this specific...

Well, I don't disagree with your disagreement. The occasional situation that is difficult for one or another character, fine. But to have entire categories of monsters be immune to the rogue by default is poor game design. Sometimes the DM wants to run a dungeon with lots of undead (or...

I feel your argument is that with enough work you CAN pound a round peg in a square hole. That's true. It isn't the kind of game that is possible with 4E, but that it isn't the best choice for a large number of former D&D players. If 4E was awesome at running these types of games, Pathfinder...

More generally than just the noble diplomat, it comes down to skills, feats, spells, class features and abilities that can be used either specifically or with creativity outside of combat. In addition, if we are talking 3E, a multi-class and prestige system to combine classes into the features I...

I've been a DM for 30 years. I can handle running any edition of D&D to the best it is. However, just because you can put a saddle on a giraffe doesn't make it a horse. Skill challenges are a great way to throw dice at stuff which isn't hit points and monsters. It's great for a single diplomacy...

I once played in a game where I had a character whose highest stat was 13, and then only because of a racial modifier. It wasn't fun. The mechanics of the game should never entice you into having your own character die. I have also played in games with cheaters. Once the stat is on their sheet...

I can see your point. I wouldn't kick a game to the curb if it didn't have straight numerical bonuses. But, I don't see the numerical bonuses as being WRONG. I don't mind a D&D game that can cater to people who want to just throw dice as well as accommodate those who want a nuanced story full of...

Remember, I tried really hard to love 4E, I really did. If I wanted to run a non-combat session in 4E with a lot of stealth, diplomacy and court intrigue, I might as well tell my players to not bother bringing their character sheets, books or dice. 4E has skills and feats, which are great. It...

Feats are great. People want to feel like their character is different than everybody else's. Feats are a simple way to do that. If you give all the benefits, all the time then you get 2 problems. First, the fighter isn't very differentiated. You're special ability is... nothing! The second is...

Another add to say, do away with XP. I recall reading how, in 3rd Edition they calculated the XP with the idea that the characters would have 3 or 4 encounters a session, then that would accumulate enough XP to raise level after about 4 game sessions. I read that and immediately asked myself...

Iconic example of characters? Yes. The names of historic characters in spells? No, or at least put the name at the end so it doesn't mess up alphabetizing if I choose to have my own game world. What both 3E and 4E didn't have? The only thing worth keeping from 1E? The extended examples of play...

Let me add my story, which I feel is more middle-of-the-road. I am 41, and have been playing since age 10, the basic red box. There were long periods over the years where I didn't or couldn't play, but it was always in my heart. When 3rd edition was announced, and it wasn't TSR, I was...

TL;DR I got through page 4 and never saw what I was thinking expressed: #1) Before we can discuss balance, we must first decide what IS balance. To decided what balance is we must discuss what D&D is. I think the best description for D&D that would suit most people is that it is a story and a...

A couple of things I would like to add to my previous post. These aren't in the beginning of the book, but important changes I'd like to see mid-book. The standard (but not required) way of doing encounters is scene-based. In any fantasy media it isn't important how the rooms are connected or...

To take a look at traps, we have to take a look at the overall game as well and what is fun and what isn't. A spike pit in the middle of a hallway in an abandoned tomb: Either a useless waste of time or DM cruelty. You can use that spike pit to set up 3 scenarios, though. #1, the kobolds in the...

My 5E ideal A lot of good thoughts, but most seem to lack the punch of a whole new edition. Table of Contents: Chapter I Obligatory what is roleplaying, how to roleplay, using dice, etc. Chapter II Creating a character -Select a background and a concept. --Sample backgrounds, concepts and how...