D&D 3E/3.5 D&D 3e to be changed to new d20 rules? 4e coming!

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

*snorts, wakes up*

4th edition, you say? I better start a website!

LOL!!! You better hurry up before someone beats you to it!

 

[Crow]

IMO, DND is a great system. Its simple, yet complex enough to provide at least some realism, especially in combat.

The combat aspect is so great in fact, that my group doesn't even RP.

We play a minis game that just happens to be named Dungeons and Dragons, and uses the exact same rules, sorces, books, monsters, etc.

But sometimes in between battles we "pretend" to be some of the minis (the important ones that have lots of hitpoints and just all happen to be labeled as "player characters") so as to provide comic relief, and background (ie, how we got into it, where it is, why we are fighting, etc.) to the next battle we encounter.

And sometimes between encounters, we even use the random things, like skills, and equipment, and special abilities, that are on our characters sheets.

All joking aside, the bottom line is that 3E is great for fast, complex combat, but not so good at the non-combat side, unless you have a talented DM and some players who are willing to get "in character."

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

I've totally revised my theoretical "4th Edition Rules" for my home game, this being a conversion of 3e to the latest d20 system mechanics from Star Wars, Pulp Heroes, Shadowchasers and the upcoming d20 Modern rules, for a more LOW FANTASY grim-n-gritty feel...

I would appreciate any and all feedback on this project. Please visit the thread here to check it out:

http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3424

 

[RiggsWolfe]

My main feedback on your Vp/WP use is as follows.

Sneak attack is too powerful if it goes straight to Wound Points. A high level thief could wade through many other characters with little problem.

All it takes is using the bluff skill to feint and get in a sneak attack.

Also, about your reworking of armor. Arms and Armor has an optional system for using armor as DR, maybe you should look at their ideas.

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

My main feedback on your Vp/WP use is as follows.

Sneak attack is too powerful if it goes straight to Wound Points. A high level thief could wade through many other characters with little problem.

All it takes is using the bluff skill to feint and get in a sneak attack.

Also, about your reworking of armor. Arms and Armor has an optional system for using armor as DR, maybe you should look at their ideas.

Sneak Attacks changed to VP damage. Thanks!

Can you post the Arms & Armor DR rules here? My game store doesn't carry this. Is there something wrong with my existing rules for armor & DR?

 

[SableWyvern]

The only false dichotomy here is wackiness versus fun. Wackiness is not a problem.

Last week I was talking with one of my players - one who has played D&D for ten years - and at a certain point I told him that I saw another system that tried to fix the 'problems' with D&D. He asked, "What problems?". I answered, "You know, things like a warrior gets a heal spell and it's only a minor cure, while a wizard gets the same spell and he's at top HP, or like the same warrior gets shot by twelve crossbows and a catapult and still fights normally...". He looked at me blankly and said: "So?"

Complete agreeance here.

I moved to D&D from Rolemaster only just recently. I did so because I wanted a game system that was fast, simple and heroic. Both myself and my players are having a ball rediscovering the dungeon crawl. I love the insanity of HP (although I don't think they or healing are actually that hard to explain), the incredibly insane power-levels, and the pace at which combat moves.

When I play D&D, I feel comfortable allowing the players to tack on a cleric level with a minimum of fuss, or developing the alchemy skill without months of training. While my game is still serious, its a different kind of serious, where no-one is bothered by things that don't quite make sense.

That's not the only way that D&D can be played, but it's a system that allows that kind of play far better than many other games. Making it grittier will take some that away, and I think that ability to take things not quite so seriously is one of D&Ds greatest strengths.

IMHO, ultimately RM is the better game, because it allows me to play a grittier style that I prefer. But the change of pace that D&D has brought will be an absolute ball for the two or three years that the campaign runs, before I return to my trusty RM.

 

[hong]

Mooks != Paladin or knight types

Fine, point me to the characters in FOTR who wore plate armour. A knight is defined by their particular social class and relationship to the setting, not by their armour.

 

[Aaron2]

Fine, point me to the characters in FOTR who wore plate armour. A knight is defined by their particular social class and relationship to the setting, not by their armour.

Actors generally don't wear armor in movies because, if they do, you can't see their faces and they can't "act."

Look at the Judge Dredd movie. In the comics Dredd -never- takes off his helmet. He sleeps with it on. But Stalone was helmet less through most of the movie.

That's the nature of movies, not a general rule of fantasy.

Knights and armor go hand in hand. A knight was the only person capable of owning armor and not having it was dishonorable.

Aaron

 

[SableWyvern]

I don't recall any knights in FOTR.

But there's quite a few in the Two Towers and The Return of the King, and while I don't have their descriptions on hand, I recall envisioning them as being plated.

Then there are the myriad of Arthurian stories. And a myriad more classical stories in a similar vein.

Aaron2 makes a fine point. Full armour rarely makes it into movies (the biggest drawcard for me when I first heard of the Starship Troopers movie was the notion that I'd get to see guys in bounce armour doing their thing - the first of a few dissapointments). It is, however, prevalent in Western literature.

 

[Damror]

I agree with psion that game mechanics have been among the main reasons for DnD's success. However, I think the reward system of level advancement was a bigger factor than HP or AC.

Personally, I'd like to see a good DR system for armor. I've always thought that would be better. The dagger Vs platemal thing is a real problem though.

I don't think much of the heroic feel would be lost with a DR system for armor if it was balanced. I just don't know how such a system would work. I've looked at the Star Wars system a little and I don't really like it. Although, I haven't actually used it either.