D&D 3E/3.5 Conceptual Problems with 3E/3.5E and Desired Solutions for 4E

[Roman]

Ok, so the other 4E threads are talking about streamlining mechanics or adding more options, etcetera, but this thread is for those that have some conceptual issues with 3E/3.5E and would like to see them solved or mitigated in 4E.

So... what are your biggest conceptual problems with 3E/3.5E? How would you like to see them addressed? Even if you are able to ultimately get past it in the game, does anything in particular jar you or your fellow players in the 'this is completely nonsensical' way and would like to consequently see dealt with?

 

[JVisgaitis]

Weights for weapons and equipment are way over the top. Those need to be brought down to reasonable levels. No way in hell someone could wield a 15 lb. weapon.

Edit: I type like a git.

 

[Roman]

For me, one such conceptional pet peevee is the fact that the Wisdom ability score modifies the completely and utterly unrelated senses/perception and willpower, as well as common sense, intuition and emotional maturity. All ability scores are amalgamations of other subscores, but this one is particularly disparate indeed consisting of absolutely unrelated subscores. I would be happy if wisdom were either separated into multiple ability scores (ideally only two, but ones that make conceptual sense) or if some of the current attributes of wisdom would be moved to other ability scores to make it more coherent. For example, senses could be moved under dexterity, where they are not ideal, but conceptually much more sensible than under wisdom.

 

[Psion]

My first thought was you ask 10 board members this question and you will get, oh, 12 different answers.

And as evidence, I'll offer that I disagree with your assessment of wisdom. Could you split them up? Sure. But I think it's perfectly fair to lump in awareness of your surroundings with willpower (awareness of self, I guess). Certainly much better than (shudder) dexterity.

 

[WayneLigon]

Weights for weapons and equipment are way over the top. Those need to be brought down to reasonable levels. No way in hell someone could wield a 25 lb. weapon.

The heaviest wpn in the PHB is an Orc double axe at 15 lbs. What weighs 25 lbs that isn't an exotic, non-human weapon or something built for a Large creature?

 

[JVisgaitis]

The heaviest wpn in the PHB is an Orc double axe at 15 lbs. What weighs 25 lbs that isn't an exotic, non-human weapon or something built for a Large creature?

Sorry, I fat fingered that. I meant 15 lbs.

 

[DaveyJones]

Sorry, I fat fingered that. I meant 15 lbs.

this is part of the concepts that linger from previous editions.

encumbrance is more than weight.

otherwise you end up with an elf carrying 40 full quivers of arrows and 12 bows.
edit: and still being able to fire multiple times.

 

[Roman]

My first thought was you ask 10 board members this question and you will get, oh, 12 different answers.

And as evidence, I'll offer that I disagree with your assessment of wisdom. Could you split them up? Sure. But I think it's perfectly fair to lump in awareness of your surroundings with willpower (awareness of self, I guess). Certainly much better than (shudder) dexterity.

It would probably be best just to split it up, but although not perfect a transfer of senses under dexterity, which already deals with such senses-dependent phenonema as hand-eye coordination, reactions and reflexes, is surely much more conceptually sound than lumping them with willpower.

 

[Ferghis]

Too many classes and choices. I have no real problem with them, but I'd like 3-4 basic classes with default powers stated, so that statblocks only have to state their variance from those defaults. Someone says I have a 8th level fighter, I know what that means without discussing choices for 10 minutes. And all other classes become variants of those classes. Every level should have a significant power up.

Too many spells, and too many that create too much bookkeeping. I love the vancian system, but I would pare it down to about one spell per spellcaster level, and allow only one or two spells to affect a character at once, to limit buffing. Limit spell duration to game concepts such as "one attack," "one encounter," or "a day."

There are a few stats that I really don't understand. Why is Reflex different from Dex? I'd love the stats brought down to 6: Physique, Agility, Size, Mind, Character and Age. Split HP up into physical- and luck-based. Recover the latter more quickly.

 

[Estlor]

Personally I think they need to address the idea of spell casting and multiclassing and how doing the latter completely nerfs the former.

I don't think it would be entirely unreasonable if the "how many spells I can cast a day" mechanic was separate from the "what level of spells I know" mechanic allowing you to have a caster level that was the sum of caster level bonuses from multiple sources. For example, full caster classes (sorcerer, wizard, cleric, druid) might be 1 for 1, while half casters (bard, rangers, paladins) would be 1 per 2 and non-casters might be 1 for 3 or 1 for 4. My 5th level wizard/3rd level cleric would have access to spells that a 5th level wizard and 3rd level cleric would have access to, but he would be able to cast a number of spells per day equal to an 8th level caster (and have eight dice for scaling spells).