D&D 3E/3.5 3.5/4.0 Hybrid System, feedback requested

[Hereticus]

Hi All,
I am new to this forum, so if this had already been discussed to death, please point me to the appropriate thread.

I have been gaming since 1980, and had played AD&D, 2nd ed, 3.5 ed (passed 3.0), and now 4.0. Also worth noting is that I have never played an on-line game or any sort of video game.

I liked every system I had played in, after some initial criticisms. Not to rekindle a flame war, I have not been pleased with 4.0. Yes, I see some very nice things in it, and i want to keep it. Everything but the character class layout, it seems cold and sterile, the new classes seemed to be missing the fantasy element. I really like that the LA and HD were removed from character classes, and the skills seem so much simpler. I like the 3.5 feats better, and 4.0 rituals are useless.

That being said, I am in the process of trying to create a 3.5/4.0 hybrid system. The basic rules for 3.5 and 4.0 are not much different, what does differ are racial abilities, class abilities, skills and feats.

Races: I intend to keep most of the 4.0 content, and add more from earlier editions. Regarding races like Elves, there will be only three; Fey Elves, Grugash (sylvan/wild) elves, and Drow. As I stated in another thread, I do not give racial bonuses to stats, each race will be flexible enough to allow for all past variants.

Classes & Feats: Here I like the 3.5 system much better, but 4.0 can be fixed with some minor tweaks/additions. I am going to give two feats per level, and have included many of the class features from 3.5 into the 4.0 system. I have not yet looked at the PHB2, but will soon. I don not care for the 4.0 feats, so this list was changed and added to.

Spell System: There is not one in 4.0, but I am keeping the Wizard as is. I broke down the 3.5 system (arcane and divine spells) into 12 schools. All classes can choose to have some advancement in one school of 3.5 type spells.

That's an overview. I would appreciate any feedback on what others have done.

 

[Kerrick]

I'm sure this will get moved to the "Other RPG Discussion" section, but that's okay . Since you asked about other folks' systems, I've done a 3.5 revision of my own called Project Phoenix. I, like you, preferred 3.5 to 4E, so I decided to fix what was wrong with the system and make adjustments to the things that did work but needed help, then bind it all together into a cohesive whole.

 

[Hereticus]

I'm sure this will get moved to the "Other RPG Discussion" section, but that's okay.

I'm new hew, so I don't know the layout too well. The 3.5 Revisionist folder probably would've been a better place to post it.

Since you asked about other folks' systems, I've done a 3.5 revision of my own called Project Phoenix. I, like you, preferred 3.5 to 4E, so I decided to fix what was wrong with the system and make adjustments to the things that did work but needed help, then bind it all together into a cohesive whole.

Thanks for the links, I'll check it out.

What I thought was most broken was the LA/HD system for character races. I like what 4.0 had done, making them nearly equal. However I had noted that Dragonborne (their new invention) was treated a bit more equally than others.

 

[Odysseus]

Its not clear from your message as to whether you like 4E mechanics or not.
If you do , then changing, racial abilities, classes, feats and skills to suit your own needs is fine.
If you don't I think your better off sticking with 3.5, and trying to add elements of 4E you like.

 

[Piratecat]

Hey, welcome!

I'll slide this into a house rules forum, where this sort of game-building occurs.

 

[Hereticus]

Its not clear from your message as to whether you like 4E mechanics or not.

If you do , then changing, racial abilities, classes, feats and skills to suit your own needs is fine.

If you don't I think your better off sticking with 3.5, and trying to add elements of 4E you like.

My biggest problem with 4.0E is the character classes, which is probably the largest, most important single component.

The game will probably be 40% 3.5E, 40% 4.0E, and 20% house rules.

 

[Evilhalfling]

I had a lot of issues with skills - here is my attempt to consolidate 3.5 skills

Skills: (not confirmed, but more consolidated skills should = fewer trained skills)
All trained skills are used at level +3 ranks.
Consolidation:
Acrobatics (Balance & Tumble)
Athletics (Jump, Climb & Swim),
Perception (Spot & Listen);
Thievery (Pick Pockets & Escape Artist),
Stealth (Hide & Move Silently)

Rogues get 6 trained skills
Rangers get 4 trained skills
Bonus skills = Int bonus-1. Having an 8 or 9 Int does not reduce # of trained skills.

Tier Skills: Athletics, Diplomacy, Perception, Stealth, Survival; 2 pick knowledge skills.
+2-3 to any untrained Tier skill with each tier (not including the common tier)
1 new language is learned at each tier.
Multi-classing adds 1 new trained skill. (or 2 if rogue/by DM discretion)
Starting skills must be chosen from class skills. No restrictions of Int Bonus or Skills learned with a feat.

Tiers:
these tiers are some what arbitrary, spell casters tiers are a level behind, because their big jumps in power come from learning new spell levels.
Tier skills are just what every competent adventurer picks up in a lifetime of violence, exploration and surprises.
Tier Skills: Athletics, Diplomacy, Perception, Stealth, Survival; 2 pick knowledge skills.
Tier Benefits:[sblock]
Common: None.
Heroic: +1 enhancement to all ability scores. +3 to all untrained Tier skills
...Non spell casters and limited casters reach heroic tier @ 7th level
...Full spell casters reach heroic tier @ 8th level.
Adept: +1 more enhancement to all ability scores, +2 to all untrained Tier skills.
...Non-spell casters and limited casters reach heroic tier @ 10th level
...Full spell casters reach heroic tier @ 11th level.
Paragon: As above & skill bonus applies to all untrained knowledge skills. + benefits
...Non-spell casters and limited casters reach heroic tier @ 13th level
...Full spell casters reach heroic tier @ 14th level.
Epic Tier: As above + other benefits
...Non-spell casters and limited casters reach heroic tier @ 17th level
...Full spell casters reach heroic tier @ 18th level. (Level 8 or better spells)
[/sblock]