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Message: <blockquote data-quote="LostSoul" data-source="post: 5870045" data-attributes="member: 386">I think that's a fair list.  I run a hack of 4E and I've made some changes that deal with these issues - in a way that works for my personal tastes.[sblock]1. I changed the game system to apply a system-governed cost to time.  In the game there are NPC groups called "Lairs".  As time passes they grow more and more powerful and their reach across the map expands.  This makes it harder and harder for PCs to achieve their goals - and goals are how PCs gain XP and progress past certain level thresholds ("tier bands" is what I call them).The 15-minute adventuring day still exists, but it's not always an optimal solution.2. I use a combat system that's detailed but not abstract: you have to describe what your character's doing and we resolve that action instead of an abstract rules module like "Trip", "Grapple", or "Spinning Sweep".Since monsters are varied combat becomes varied, i.e. wolves fight differently than do giants.3. As part of the above, martial encounter powers rely on fictional, in-game trigger conditions that must be met before they can be used.  They can be used at-will as long as the condition is met.  Thus it doesn't feel like you're casting "Spinning Sweep"; it feels like you're setting up a combat manoeuvre.4. I limited the modifiers to a small list and let the fictional, in-game weight of various actions handle the rest.  e.g. If someone puts you in an arm lock, you can't use that arm.5. Rounds go by much quicker, and because of morale checks, combats don't last as many rounds as a general rule.6. Martial healing powers are now explicitly magical.7. Since we resolve actions instead of rules modules, there's no need to define special attacks - every attack can be considered "special".8. I've explicitly defined how and when you use page 42 - when you use those DCs and damage expressions.  Hmm, not so much for damage expressions.9. Minions represent non-combatants.  Haven't touched elites or solos as there's little grind left in the system - morale checks deal with that.10. Haven't done anything there.  Still a problem.  Not that big a problem, though.[/sblock]More changes:[sblock]1. PC generation is by rolling 3d6 in order, then assigning a 16 to one stat.  There is no option to dump stats in such a system.2. There's no assumption that you will fight equal-level NPCs; players choose the level of risk they are willing to have their PCs meet.  2nd-level PCs can end up against 11th-level monsters (as happened two sessions ago), and the reverse is also possible (and more likely).3. Because of the above, magic items aren't required; what they do is allow the players to take on greater risk (for greater reward).4. Haven't changed this, may have made it worse (because of how morale checks work).5. Didn't write the books, so this is something I can't change. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />6. Haven't fixed this, though I've changed it.  Any check can be associated with any stat, as long as it makes sense.  Reaction rolls increase the value of charisma - it's probably the most important stat, since most encounters begin with a reaction roll modified by Cha mod.[/sblock]</blockquote>

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