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Vancian magic. Honestly, I think most of the problems of pre-4e (D&D) were due to LFQW. That is, we can fix it by changing how powerful spells are, how they scale, number of spells per level, etc. I got very sad when 5e was launched and Vancian magic wasn’t there. I met 4e before Vancian magic...

I don’t really consider athletic and acrobatic feats to be “improvising”. We have rules for that; free-form rules, but there’s clear guidance, requiring perhaps just checks. If you expend your “points” on this stuff, you’ll use it, that’s a promise. When I talk about improvising, I mean going...

Oh, I see. Forgive me if I was rude. In playstyle, I tend to play “safer but effective”. In terms of fluff, characters, world, etc. I go over-the-top, but there are some rules I won’t break. There’s also the following factor: I would spend all the time – up to his resurrection – thinking about...

You're choosing between an 1d2-1d3 or so damage (mostly fake) against 2d4 (using 2e rules). Not killing enemies trying to kill you faster tends to get you hurt. The only scenario when something like that is acceptable is when you don't want to kill the target, for some reason. And that would be...

The damage table is for when damage is needed. The very example told about a skill check and an effect (push). It could have more than that, but negating it exists is outright false. And that trope is lame on RPGs. If you want the guy dead, you use something appropriated. The PC won’t sound so...

Well, err… *Fades in* 4e has page 42. *Fades out* … Anyway, my honest opinion: Improvisation in combat is, basically, a spice: something to use occasionally. It is fun to see a new trick when no one expected it, but constant improvisation ruins the game for me, as DM and player. It often feels...

Hey, I want to ask something: In the near future, I’ll GM a game based around time-travel. I would use AD&D 2e for that, but I’ve wanted to leave D&D for a while, and these games seem very interesting. I plan to mix characters and adventures from many eras as the PCs travel around time trying...

Hum... I’m thinking a little more right now. While the idea of spell components is interesting, in order to be really flavorful the items must be valuable, so that tracking them has a purpose. Spells consuming rare ingredients is best served as the main spellcasting limitation: instead of...

Well, if you allow me, I would like to go back to the implement/material components discussion. Material components can work. I like them when they work. The problem is, D&D never was particularly interested in making it work. Most components are completely random and a pain to track...

I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but I think the essential word to understand “complex” games is options. People want options. Not only that, people want their chosen options to be special. Let’s look at an example: In AD&D 2e, the Gladiator actually has a few kits and one entire class in...

I’m still following the thread so thank you all for the concern. Honestly, I think like you: the DM must know the rules clearly, even if he/she wants to change things via house-rule. However, I don’t think leaving is an option because: 1) I was the one who brought the group together. 2)...

I don’t know exactly what would be the problem but… First: to be fair, I hate the word “noob”. A more appropriate term now would be “newbie”. Second: each person has his/her own learning curve when it’s about RPGs. If they are handling fine, then just continue what you was doing. If they show...

… That’s what I was saying: it really does depend on the writer. My comment was a personal preference statement. Written words do not have the same effects as spoken ones, so it may have sounded extreme, but I noted it was a “quibble”. Now, I disagree with one thing: There is a genre in which...

Oh, ok, let me clarify some things: I didn’t exactly told him, but we already had a friendly (really, friendly) discussion about another subject, so the main fear is to tone down the mood of the group. I was going to tell him, but I gave up thinking about this. However, if he does know it, then...

Ok people, I’ll share some of my pain with you. We’re playing 3.5. I’m not DMing it, my friend is. It’s a temporary situation until I finish the proper readings. However, something is taking off my inner peace. The table is using a mistake for ranged attacks: they are applying the Dex bonus to...

… Unless both exist on the same story. Then clarifying the situation seems a necessity. Yes, I do get that psionics is the sci-fi substitute for magic, but they are different in feel, description and definition – such as the anti-magic field argument. Distinctions are important: they tell how a...

Whenever psionics is magic or not does depend on the writer, sure. The author of a work has the right to tell what is happening in his reality. However, such a distinction is important. One example: let’s say that a setting has both magic and psionics, but they’re separate. An anti-magic field...

Sorry for taking so long, I was busy. No, that’s one possible definition of magic, and a very poor one, in my opinion. There are several things which can break the laws of physics – be supernatural – which includes but is not limited to: Magic; Psionics; Qi/Ki manipulation; Superheroes’...

… That’s my point: no need to have two magic items just for attacks. Anyway, I think Wrecan’s Gishes are good, too. Except for some names, their concepts sound interesting and flavorful. However, there is one quibble I have with Wrecan’s design: psionics being treated as magic. They are not...

Ok, I’m lost here. Are you talking about 4e’s Monk or this hypothetical Monk from Wrecan’s article? Because, as I remember, there was no need for both magic items for 4e’s monk. But, if the problem is that it doesn’t seem to fit, I think it’s just a presentation problem. I’m sure someone can...