3e too complicated ?

[kipran]

I s it just me, or is 3e becoming more and more complicated. It seems that you just can't complete a task without reading a rule in some rulebook, and it takes ages (well, not ages, but about 30 minutes) to create a new character because of all the skills, feats and so on.
Where are the happy days of basic D&D?

 

[haiiro]

...and it takes ages (well, not ages, but about 30 minutes) to create a new character because of all the skills, feats and so on.

I can happily spend hours on character creation -- poring over lots of different books, considering options, trying out different builds, working on background, etc. That's one of my favorite aspects of 3e (and other games with a wealth of material available, like GURPS).

If you want it to take less time, just limit the number of books available/allowed in your game. Heck, trim down to just the core rules and you can be up and running in very little time (depending on your familiarity with the books).

 

[Mercule]

Heh, if you have a problem with 3E character creation, you should try some other systems. Mage is longer, especially if you use Merits and Flaws. Shadowrun even longer. Hero/Champions is the longest most people are willing to sit still for.

Of course, if you really want to test your endurance, create a "persona" in Aria. Hope you've got 8 hours for your basic fighter -- for newbies, I could probably do it in a couple of hours.

No 3E isn't the 5 minute character generation of 1E, but I'll trade that for the flexibility the system offers.

 

[Cedric]

Heh, if you have a problem with 3E character creation, you should try some other systems.

Mythus: Dangerous Journeys...just 6 easy steps!

Sound off if you know what I'm talking about.

Cedric

 

[Gossamerblade]

Complicated? I think 3e is much easier than the previous incarnations.

Before 3e, I usually only did Fantasy Hero, and occasionally AD&D or GURPS. 3e is so much more exciting because the rules are clearer and we can stick to the action more, rather than get bogged down in debates.

 

[Piratecat]

in game, I think 3e is a LOT easier to adjudicate than previous editions. It is tougher for new players to make PCs, though; more options means more choices.

 

[CRGreathouse]

First-level characters don't take that long to make in my experience. Granted, when the players came to me and said, "We want to play a one-shot. Now." it was more difficult, because they ended up being 14th level (they insisted on rolling a random race, class, and level) and I had to make magic items and a one-shot quest for them... but we still finished creating them in an hour.

 

[Cedric]

Random race, class and level one shot...nice idea!

Cedric

 

[rounser]

3E definitely has a significantly higher "churn rate" required to create NPCs than earlier editions, unless you take shortcuts (which everyone does - computer program NPC generators, ignoring skill point distributions, using the pre-gen tables in the DMG etc.). The payoff is that with more character generation and levelling options, you end up with happier players.

Come 4E, I'd like to see more effort put into the streamlined generation of NPC stats, perhaps even by involving a more involved generation system for PCs than for NPCs. After all, that's the way people are using the game, may as well have the next edition reflect that.

 

[Starman]

For most NPCs, though, I don't think you need to fully stat them. Give them the standard ability spread. Figure their BAB and saves. Slap a couple of feats and skills on and you're good to go. For the majority of NPCs, this is good enough. Who cares if it isn't wholly accurate? You might want to fully stat your BBEG as you would a PC, though.

Starman