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I think that at it's core, D&D really only needs 3 classes. All other classes are really just a combination of those 3. 1) the Fighter/Martial class. This is a guy that doesn't use magic, but has a great non-magical skillset at his disposal. The martial class includes options that allow you...

A few thoughts on optimization: A perfect game system would allow for total customizability of your character, but with perfect balance. In other words, players should be able to build exactly the character they imagine, but they shouldn't be able to build a character that is better in every...

steeldragons I think the easiest way to explain these unusual effects might be to say they are caused by unique artifacts, ancient magical items made with knowledge that has long since been lost to time. If the players want to reproduce the effect the simplest way would be for them to identify...

I like your system, it's nice and simple and converts vancian magic to points magic quickly and easily, if that's what you want to do. Personally, I'm not the hugest fan of Vancian magic either. It's good for 1 or 2 classes but I like having other options too. Here's two alternate magic...

wikipedia will be your friend here!

Well a 'gamist' is a specific type of role-player. A 'gamer' to me more refers someone who likes and plays computer/video games. As in; I used to be a big gamer, but now I'm more of a gamist RPGer =p I'd say that 4E is a 'gamey' type of system for the reason you mention: for example the...

Well 'gamey' would describe the feeling of a game (or else the taste of wild meat!), whereas 'gamist' to me describes a person.

The degree to which one is gamist to me just means how much fun the player derives specifically from overcoming challenges in the game. This would be opposed to, for example, the simulationist; how much fun one has by simulating a world with detail and verisimilitude; and the role-player; how...

Well unless the players legitimately go out of their way to ensure that enemies are downed but not actually killed then I wouldn't just let a magic user say 'I go around and slit everything's throat, how many spells do I get back?' Otherwise yeah, it could easily get abusive (and also not that...

I'm always on the lookout for ideas to make magical gear more mechanically interesting, and, well, magical. The standard +1-5 to hit/damage is pretty boring, and I like the gear that has more unique benefits. Here are a few mechanical items of my own devising to get the ball rolling (the fluff...

Awarding experience for gold is the default but it's not the only option, as I said in every post. If players want to play characters motivated by something else and want to have different long term goals, certainly you can reward that with experience just as much as you reward gold, or you...

First point: Clever players who are role playing mercenary-type adventurers should certainly and obviously try to negotiate the best offer before rescuing the princess. Heroic types may not be as concerned with their cash reward--and that's what makes them heroic. The lesser reward their...

Not entirely, because rescuing the princess would most likely entail a sizable cash reward from the grateful king, plus prestige and fame that could certainly be translated into much greater rewards over the long run. As for abandoning the wounded comrade, certainly players always have this...

I use a modified OD&D system. The point of XP is to reward players for overcoming challenges, however sometimes the difficulty can be highly subjective, so figuring out how much XP to give can be difficult. Especially if the PCs find a clever way to bypass, nullify, or completely obliterate a...

Careful... with that line of thinking people might stop thinking they even need a book if they can and should come up with everything themselves.

I like opposed rolls, but it has to be counter-acted by reducing HP of PCs and monsters alike in order to not have combat take up too much time per session. The combat in 4th edition where it could take a dozen attacks or more to kill anything besides minions is obviously not in the least bit...

I think the DM should be able to roll dice if he wants. It adds to the dramatic tension at the table too when the players know that the DM is about to make a roll that will impact their fate. Don't get the hate for opposed rolls either.

The real problem with 'encounter' and 'daily' powers is that they make no sense for non-magical classes. If a fighter can swing his sword in a special way to do three times as much damage once any time he wants, why can't he do it every time? It's a disassociated mechanic; it disrupts...

I think that out-of-combat healing should be able to be done by any class, though different classes may do it in different ways. Rangers/Druids should be masters of herblore healing, while fighters/rogues/wizards/etc can always purchase healing potions. All classes should have an option to get...

I prefer flatter progression. A high level character that exists in the world should still be able to at least be hurt or hindered by things he encountered at first level. In the past, advancing up to 12th level or so suddenly made it so that goblins and orcs no longer existed. At 1st-5th...