Changing the rules (d20 Modern)

[jezter6]

I'd like to see d20Modern become more...True20.

No classes, just talent trees. Talents which give a bonus, but open up other talent trees. No more fixed abilities at level x of class y, just pick your feat or talent and move on. No cookie cutter PCs.

And damage! No more hitpoints, but speed up true20 even more with a single roll+damage mechanic.

 

[Klaus]

To be honest I don't mind the wealth system, I have enough fun just doing my own finances (thus that is why my wife keeps the bills). I don't want to have to worry about financies for a fictional character. Do I think the system could be streamlined a little, yes. But it was done that way for the reason above.

Salcor

Agreed.

 

[Ranger REG]

I'd like to see d20Modern become more...True20.

Even better. WotC buys Green Ronin.

*evil laugh*

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Change the skill system to the new Saga system (skills are +1/2 level, +5 trained, +5 skill focus).

The one thing I would absolutely keep is the d20 Modern class structure (generic basic to specific advanced to focused prestige).

EDIT: I was thinking of the base d20 Modern rules when I wrote this, not the campaign models. If you're including those, then ABSOLUTELY the a-number one thing I would change is to replace the Vancian per day spellcasting with a system similar to the Force powers in SW Saga. That's much more important than the skills.

 

[jezter6]

Even better. WotC buys Green Ronin.

*evil laugh*

Never! I would like to see more support from GR and the licensees of True20 and Superlink, but would never in my right mind ask for it to become the train wreck that is WotC.

Besides, let them have D&D. I have no use for it, and the more broken they make it the more fun I get to have laughing at it.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Must Change: Skills. The way skills are currently run is way too limiting. I'd much prefer Skill Groups, but that's not a surprise given what I've authored.

Must Keep: Talents. The idea of Talents is awesome, though the actual write ups could be better. Just look at the new Star Wars for examples of how awesome, and flexible, Talents can really be.

 

[Psion]

Must Change: Skills. The way skills are currently run is way too limiting.

That's an interesting observation. I too have come to find that, after much actual play, that sticking with D&D-level division of skills in a modern/future game is somewhat less than satisfying. I've avoided the "D20 Modern should be a clone of my favorite game" style pimping in favor of examining what could make a better D20 Modern, but I really think that D20 Modern could learn a few things from Spycraft and True20 in this regard. Namely as in Spycraft and True20, the game could really afford to roll some of the skills together into more logical groupings (like grouping spot and listen skills, grouping athletic and acrobatic type skills).

I also find that keeping the D&D the 2/4/8 (or 3/5/9) skill point pattern may be a bit limiting. Physical skills are skills too.

 

[Salcor]

With the skills, one of the thing I find interesting is the number of skill points. It seems to me that on average an average 20th-21st century member of society has a more diverse group of skills than your average 16th-17 century member of society. Now in some area that the 16th century person is employed in they are very well versed. But shear number of skills your 17 year old or your housewife has is really amazing. I think that the number of skill points should be seriously increased, perhaps add a mechanic like Shadowrun for knowledge skills. Skill groups would probably not be a bad thing, although allow for focused skills as well. Also, as a house rule I have been allowing players to increase skills from other classes they have taken as class skills. It never made sense to me that you can't increase a certain skill set because you are accepting that 'class' this level.

Salcor

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

With the skills, one of the thing I find interesting is the number of skill points. It seems to me that on average an average 20th-21st century member of society has a more diverse group of skills than your average 16th-17 century member of society. Now in some area that the 16th century person is employed in they are very well versed. But shear number of skills your 17 year old or your housewife has is really amazing. I think that the number of skill points should be seriously increased, perhaps add a mechanic like Shadowrun for knowledge skills. Skill groups would probably not be a bad thing, although allow for focused skills as well. Also, as a house rule I have been allowing players to increase skills from other classes they have taken as class skills. It never made sense to me that you can't increase a certain skill set because you are accepting that 'class' this level.

Salcor

Well, you can, it just costs more. Maybe cross class skill cost was just a wrong idea in the first place. You rarely see someone training a skill cross-class, it is just to expensive.
Maybe cross class skills should just be limited to the 1.5 + 1/2 level limit, and that's it. Multiclassing basically removes this penalty pretty fast, but is that really so unbalancing? It's not as if you get a skill for free...

 

[Psion]

Well, you can, it just costs more. Maybe cross class skill cost was just a wrong idea in the first place. You rarely see someone training a skill cross-class, it is just to expensive.
Maybe cross class skills should just be limited to the 1.5 + 1/2 level limit, and that's it. Multiclassing basically removes this penalty pretty fast, but is that really so unbalancing? It's not as if you get a skill for free...

I agree few people pay cross class -- it's too harh. But I think lifting the cross class makes multiclassing too good at getting around cross-class limits.

The compromise I have used in various games is the ability to easily add class skills. D20 Modern already has such a method (occupations), though I am not opposed to expanding the concept or using it in other ways.