All D20 Is Broken

[Crothian]

Have you tried to run a low-magic game? I did, and was slapped around by the system. I had to change the campaign world to accomodate the system. Which worked okay, I just wasn't expecting it.

Most of what I run is considered low magic.

 

[Crothian]

Out of the box, by the book, assuming that inventiveness of players is a constant accross systems and thus makes all systems equal in that regard, you will play both as peasants and as superheroes and as everything in between unless you MAKE it otherwise.

I think this is where we are having problems. You think first level characters are peseants and high level ones are super heroes. I don't see it that way. But ya, if you are assuming the characters are going from peasants to super heroes over the course of 20 levels, that is really going to effect the way the game runs. But I see it just as compitancy and ability. The same as in other games I run. like for instance White Wolf.

 

[3catcircus]

D&D. Star Wars. Forgotten Realms. Eberron. Modern.

Any D20 based game I've played past level 7 or 8 just seems to get way broken.

Once you're higher than that, no combat goes on longer than 4 or 5 rounds...nothing like the big gun-fights in movies, or long, elaborite lighsaber duels in Star Wars.

What can make the game simpler and less bogged down...and what will make the characters capable, but not have two superfighters square off for an epic 2-round combat?

Funny - our characters are all 13th - 14th level and a single combat can last anywhere from one round that takes 2 hours to complete up to 10 rounds that only takes 20 minutes, or even a single round that takes 5 minutes, depending upon what our DM intends the fight to be. Sounds like your GM isn't properly balancing encounters.

 

[Mortellan]

I know what the original poster is trying to say and sympathize to an extent. Maybe an alternative means of spreading the attacks around would be the Shadowrun method. One pass through the entire initiative order, then repeat for those with multiple actions. *shrug*

 

[Shadowbane2]

D&D. Star Wars. Forgotten Realms. Eberron. Modern.

Once you're higher than that, no combat goes on longer than 4 or 5 rounds...nothing like the big gun-fights in movies, or long, elaborite lighsaber duels in Star Wars.

What can make the game simpler and less bogged down...and what will make the characters capable, but not have two superfighters square off for an epic 2-round combat?

I'd like to see the game your're playing.

 

[Morgenstern]

I think some people throw around the word "broken" with casual ease these days.

Funny - I was thinking people throw "All d20" around way, way too causally .

'Cause I know he's not talking about Spycraft .

 

[LostSoul]

Most of what I run is considered low magic.

Cool. What did you replace the Wizard, Sorcerer, Cleric, and Druid classes with?

 

[Crothian]

Cool. What did you replace the Wizard, Sorcerer, Cleric, and Druid classes with?

I played Thieves World

 

[BiggusGeekus]

These books are actually quite passive and even Biggus Geekus can take them in a fight. So, don't be forced to do anything by the books, the people should control the game.

Yeah!



... hey!


Anyway, I don't see why people just nerf experience rewards. Let the PCs get up to level 3 normally and then hand out gimpy exp. The only book you should be a slave to is Kama Sutra.

 

[BadMojo]

Well, I just played a game last week involving characters between levels 10-12. This is a long running campaign, and we've had many battles that made it past a half dozen rounds.

We've actually had a few that looked like they would turn out to be TPK's. The longer fights weren't tedious at all, and it *is* quite easy to add cinematic elements to your game. My monk has a relatively high tumble score, so it may be time to try some Matrix style wire-fu.