Crossing HackMaster with D20 D&D

[mhensley]

Has anyone here experimented with mixing some of the cooler things in HackMaster with 3rd edition D&D?

I think that 3rd edition could really benefit by some of HackMaster's additions. Some of the things that I see as being fun to use would be the 20 point kicker to hitpoints, honor points, penetration damage, and, of course, the d10000 critical hit table.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

I use the d10000 critical chart because, dammit, rolling that many d10s is just fun. I've thought about using pixies or gnomelings in sillier campaigns, but never got around to playing a silly campaign. I like the idea of the honor point system, but it's something that never really caught on.

I really like the dibs system

And I wouldn't be surprised if a few of the monsters from the hacklopedia or some of the magic items show up in a d20 campaign. Who wouldn't want to stab a weregoat with a dagger of vital organ seeking?

 

[thundershot]

I made a similar suggestion on the Kenzer boards some months ago, and was mobbed by people who were offended at the very thought. I'd love to use d20 and add some of the better elements of HackMaster, since my Players refuse to play it...

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Yeah, it has been tough at times to even mention d20/3e on the HM boards at Kenzer. There are a lot of people that absolutely seem to hate even the concept of HM and d20/3e meeting in any way whatsoever. I'm convinced that most of them haven't even looked at 3e, and are making knee-jerk reactions. Still, there are plenty more folk there who are more than willing to be flexible and friendly. And, it seems the vitriol against 3e/d20 has died down lately.

I've said plenty of times that HM is a great mine of ideas and useful bits for any version of D&D. The races and classes are easily ported into 3e, as are the elements mentioned above. I understand that HM's conceptual appeal is that it both parodies and puts to good use the old rule system, but I think much of it could work with the new edition easily, and still maintain that old-school feel.

 

[mmadsen]

Some of the things that I see as being fun to use would be the 20 point kicker to hitpoints, honor points, penetration damage, and, of course, the d10000 critical hit table.

If you want to stay a bit more d20, you can use a hit-point "kicker" equal to Con. That matches Star Wars' Wound/Vitality system -- without the complication of tracking two kinds of Hit Points.

Then, if you increase Crit Threat Ranges, you can use that d10,000 Crit Hit Table a lot.

 

[James McMurray]

We've used the fumble chart since the books came out, because its a lot more interesting than my old d6 version.

 

[mmadsen]

I've said plenty of times that HM is a great mine of ideas and useful bits for any version of D&D.

What are some of your favorite ideas from Hackmaster, ColonelHardisson (or anybody else)?

 

[Codragon]

Ideas

What are some of your favorite ideas from Hackmaster, ColonelHardisson (or anybody else)?

Even if you don't use any of the HM rules in 3E/d20, there are many charts and tables that are rules independent. The Hackmaster Game Master's Guide is like the 1E DMG on speed. The tables themselves provide plenty of ideas.

The are tables for:
Dungeon Dressing
Wilderness Dressing
Room contents
Random Dungeon Generation
Random Bartender Generation
Random Tavern Generation
Games of Chance / Gambling
Tavern Beverages and their effects
Metals (for different armors, etc.)
Poisons
Acids
Diseases
and more - that's just off the top of my head

Also, with only slight tweaking you can use the excellent spell mishap and critical fumble tables in your 3E/d20 game.

 

[Voadam]

I've only got one hacklopedia and the B1 module, but the monsters are very portable and easy to convert into 3e, and the descriptions of uses for parts from dead beasts can be fun, as they were in the 2e compendiums.

My understanding is the PH is full of spells that could be used, the DMG is full of items (you'd have to come up with creation prerequisites though) and the hacklopedias are full of fun monsters.

Given a dream budget of free hackmaster stuff I'd want to get the PH, Hacklopedia 5 (for the demons) the DMG, and the new spellslinger book, in that order.

I wouldn't expect any OGC or d20 hackmaster any time soon because it is all under license, and they use KoK for doing their d20 material.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Codragon and Voadam both point out the stuff I like the best - the non-system specific stuff (The Smart-Ass Smackdown Table, for example) and the monsters.