Core Three Only?

[Quasqueton]

My game is core only. It makes me chuckle when people speak of core only as “limiting” or “limited”. All those books beyond the core three are completely unnecessary. Imagine if they were never published – you’d still have a full and fun game.

If you think core only is limiting, how did you play during the first year of the game? How are you playing today – you know there will be more books out in the coming months. Were you playing a limited game last year? Last month? Is your game limited today (tomorrow's books aren't in your game yet)?

Quasqueton

 

[kigmatzomat]

Heck, my campaign started with just the PHB, we had to wait for the DMG and MM. Fortunately, those 1st printing 3.0 PHBs included a small list of critters and I'm the kind of DM who makes bandits' armor, weapons, and beer money be the treasure at low levels.

I added the splat books over time and have since allowed a handful of 3.5 things that had no 3.0 equivalent (e.g. scout) but they are pretty sparse. I'd say that about 95% of the game is still core/SRD material with most of the extra stuff being of my own creation.

And, for the record, most of the party still has their original characters. The cleric was retired at level 20 a few months back in favor of a scout (the player loves scouts in every game system). Oh and the monk was retired after being reincarnated as an elf but swapped out for a fighter but that was back at 6th level and was due to the player being displeased at the unfortunate change to his character. (We let the dice roll and he got elf. Might've been different if he'd become a centaur)

 

[Endur]

Core only is fine. I've done it several times. Keeps the game simpler and makes it faster. Don't need lots of books at the table.

For play balance, core + 1 book of the player's choice works well.

 

[Seeten]

My current campaign is using the Core 3 Rulebooks only. After a few years allowing any book someone happened to pick up see table time (along with the eventual brokeness) we decided to pare it down to the basics. So far we're chugging along fine, though the temptation has come up once or twice.

Has anyone else tried this austere but low-complexity approach to their game?

Yawn.

 

[KarinsDad]

Interesting how playing the game as written (i.e. core) seems almost anathema to some people.


In our next campaign, I am limiting the PCs to 9 books (plus DMG PrCs): PHB, XPH, Players Guide to Faerun, FRCS, Complete Adventurer, Complete Arcane, Complete Divine, Complete Warrior, and Spell Compendium. I considered this a reasonable compromise (and not nearly as restrictive as playing core only).

Several of the players noted that the next PC they wanted to play had elements from other books in them. So, I relented and allowed each player to pull in one feat or PrC from a single different book (along with its prereqs). House rule: if a player uses something from one of the other books, the player is responsible for bringing that book to the gaming session.

However, carrying a dozen books to a gaming session is reasonable. Carrying the two dozen that I was doing earlier is not. 3X DND has bloated beyond manageability.


WotC should join the 21st century and create electronic books with advanced search capabilities. Carrying a single laptop is much easier than carrying a heavy backpack and a heavy large briefcase.

 

[Quasqueton]

Yawn.

This makes me guffaw. You realize this kind of statement says nothing good, interesting, or impressive about you?

Quasqueton

 

[Darklone]

This makes guffaw. You realize this kind of statement says nothing good, interesting, or impressive about you?

Quasqueton

Shhh, it was a secret but now you told him!

I'm fine with the three core books only... as long as I get my MM wildelves.

 

[Technik4]

I would be happy to play Core 3 in a Greyhawk campaign. In a FR campaign, I think it makes sense to have access to more powerful magic, and would at least allow FRCS, Magic of Faerun, Races of Faerun, and Player's Guide to Faerun. I've never played Eberron, so no comment.

In a homebrew world, I would expect there to be the Core 3 + bits of other books that fit the flavor of the world.


I think its dumb to just allow anything with WotC on it in your game - the books represent possibilities, not what is in every campaign...

 

[Rel]

Yawn.

Seeten, don't post in this thread again.

 

[IcyCool]

Core only is perfectly fine, and allows a large variety of options and plenty of fun. Go for it.