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Let me get this straight: everytime I apply a general rule to a specific situation I'm creating an 'entirely new rule'? Sorry, but I disagree. Either that, or you're using the word 'rule' in a way that deviates markedly from standard English usage. (Btw, your analogy with species is...

The DM already has the necessary rules to adjudicate the situation. The situation is covered by the rules of the game. If you want to label that 'ad hoccing', then fine. But normally the charge of 'ad hoccing' is levelled against 'incomplete' games (games that do not even provide general...

The difference is astonishingly simple, and is not as abritary as you seem to suggest. 'Ad hoccing' occurs when you come up with an entirely new rule to cover a situation previously not covered by the rules. Applying general principles to specific cases occurs when a general rule, which...

The system is not perfect, as the example of strength best illustrates. I think viewing the prime as 'training' works better for attributes like dexterity, intelligence, wisdom, and charisma. It makes less sense with strength and constitution. Despite this bug, though, it allows for some...

I'm well aware of the meaning of the term 'ad hoc'. Which is precisely why I think that the term is inaccurate. The application of general principles to specific cases is not 'ad hoc'. Yet it also does not require extensive specific rules.

Didn't disagree? Well, I'm being picky now. But my objection had more to do with the inaccuracy of the term.

You're on holidays already? Lucky bugger. I understand and appreciate your position based on our previous discussions -- which is why I'm mystified that you would use the term 'ad hoccing' to describe a kind and style of game that you happen not to personally like.

Yes, you are. You're in 'the grip of a theory', so to speak, viz., that options require lots of detailed 'rules'. That's not the case. The fact that you interpreted my point as involving 'house rules' shows just how firmly gripped you are by this particular theory. Sorry.

Amusingly, you're conflating rules and options here -- precisely the thing I decried in my post. Nobody would argue that 3e has more rules than pre-3e D&D. And if you need written rules in order for you to think that you have more options, then I can understand why you think the way that you...

Good point. It's depressing how many people conflate 'rules' and 'options'.

?? I don't recall most monsters being like this at all. (Well, aside from the low-level critters like kobolds, goblins, etc. -- though that's hardly different in 3e.)

No. (That's your incorrect interpretation.)

That's not true. (Although you are right that the surviving Dunedain of the North -- the descendents of Arthedain/Arnor -- were true Dunedain.) The ruling stewards of Gondor (the House of Hurin) were of (almost) pure Dunedain stock (at least according to Tolkien). Denethor himself had a...

'Dunedain' means 'men of the West' in Sindarin ('grey elvish'). The 'Black Numenoreans' ('Mornumedain') were those Numenoreans who were corrupted during the Second Age, but survived the downfall of Numenor in various havens and colonies. The port of Umbar was a main base for the Black...

I used the 1e DMG 'secondary skill chart' for my (short) C&C campaign earlier this year. It worked just fine!

Right. Your ability scores are your 'natural abiilties', whereas the primes represent 'training'. So two PCs with 18 INT are both 'geniuses', but the PC with INT as a prime is also well educated.

Sheesh, I was just mentioning it, in case people were curious. (I certainly would not buy CZ for the skill system alone.)

Gygax's Castle Zagyg: Yggsburgh includes a skill system. The SIEGE system can act like a very nice simple 'skill bundle' system IME (a character with a Dex prime is skilled in 'dexterity-related' tasks).

I asked a very similar question over at dragonsfoot.org. It looks like it will not be available until just after Christmas (the revised version is supposed to be sent to the printers this Friday, and it will take at least 3 weeks for it to become available).

I agree. The class, as written, has always struck me as very poorly thought out.