D&D General 6E But A + Thread

[Remathilis]

Don't threaten me with a good time.

Random charts are wonderful.

Yes, but but there is a fine line between using them for inspiration and being forced to roll for everything and being bound to the results. DMs have veto power over random rolls if it serves the flow of game (ignoring a random encounter roll against a weaken party or rolling an obvious imbalanced magic item treasure roll). A DM doesn't even need to ever randomly roll when designing an adventure if they don't want. Players should have the same option with their character choices.

 

[Remathilis]

Honestly, I've never seen it as much of an issue in D&D. Now, I only started with 3E, so "cheating" has always probavly been built in with 4d6 drop lowest and guidelines to let a PC reroll if it doesn't match the minimum threshold...but I've never seen anyone even consider a non-rolling option. It is as intrinsic to D&D as having Levels or resolving rolls with a d20.

3e was better at not penalizing bad rolls than AD&D. Bonuses start lower, ASI was built into character progression and stat boosting magic was assumed in the math. It wasn't perfect though, since high ability scores were baked into the math assumptions, but it was better at actually allowing those score to grow organically rather than relying on lucky rolls or DM magic to get them

 

[Remathilis]

Whereas I'd rather not get XP from killing things.

I'm haven't tracked XP for a decade and I haven't missed it, except for the bonus XP I would get for bringing snacks to game.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Whereas I'd rather not get XP from killing things.

What does that have to do with anything? Get your xp rewards from other stuff then. It's hardly an either/or situation.

 

[ECMO3]

Then what are Fighters getting that is comparable?

Because if the system isn't giving Fighters comparable--NOT identical, comparable--impact on the world, then you're openly admitting to "Well the Fighter just needs to be worse than everyone else."

I think non-casters should need to rely on wits and luck to be comparable to beings that use magic. They should have to work harderer to accomplish the same thing and should not have equivalent mechanical advantages..

I would not say "Fighter" because magical Fighters should be able to use magic to do more, and I think all players should have more and easier access to magic than the current system affords. But basic completely non-magical PCs, should be weaker mechanically IMO. To me that doesn't mean "worse" it just means weaker.

 

[Scribe]

Whereas I'd rather not get XP from killing things.

Which is what downtime is for!

 

[Micah Sweet]

I think non-casters should need to rely on wits and luck to be comparable to beings that use magic. They should have to work harderer to accomplish the same thing and should not have equivalent mechanical advantages..

I would not say "Fighter" because magical Fighters should be able to use magic to do more, and I think all players should have more and easier access to magic than the current system affords. But basic completely non-magical PCs, should be weaker mechanically IMO. To me that doesn't mean "worse" it just means weaker.

Ok. What does "work harder" mean mechanically to you? Is there a practical difference from using magic in play?

 

[Lanefan]

I want to focus on the adventure, not rolling to see if my class features work or if I'm going to tpk my own party. I certainly don't want to be taken out with friendly fire because Bob rolled a one on his lightning bolt. With friends like that...

Exactly, and that's part of what keeps it fun!

It also keeps it risky. When I ran the numbers a few years back on causes of PC death, "own party" was very high up the list (can't recall if it was first or second). This includes accidental deaths, intentional killings, fatal fumbles, and so forth including self-inflicted be it for heroic reasons (e.g. sacrificing self to save party) or not.

If I want an unserious game with random death and pvp, I'll play Toon, not D&D.

"Unserious game with random death and pvp" pretty much sums up low-level D&D for me.

The key word to remember there is "unserious". Methinks many here take the game, and their characters, faaaaar too seriously.

 

[ECMO3]

Are people generally satisfied with the PHB species of 5.5?

I am satisfied with them, but if I am making my wish list we just get rid of the distinctions between Race and Class and go back to Races being classes like in Basic.

So you can be a Human Fighter or a Human Wizard or an Elf that does some of both.

 

[Scribe]

I am satisfied with them, but if I am making my wish list we just get rid of the distinctions between Race and Class and go back to Races being classes like in Basic.

So you can be a Human Fighter or a Human Wizard or an Elf that does some of both.

Thats probably a bridge too far for a lot of folks.