D&D 5E (2014) D&D compared to Bespoke Genre TTRPGs

[dave2008]

I was very happy with d20 Modern, d20 Future and Star Wars Saga. I didn't buy 3pp products so I can't tell.

Like I said, not my experience, but I am glad you liked them.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

That sounds interesting. Still easier (and likely more fun) for me an my group to play 5e modern or space than try the Fantasy system. I personally wouldn't want to play a system without hit points for example.

Sure it's easier, and it may well suit your group more, to play D&D in Space rather than an SF RPG. But don't be deluded into thinking you are having the same experience.

 

[dave2008]

Sure it's easier, and it may well suit your group more, to play D&D in Space rather than an SF RPG. But don't be deluded into thinking you are having the same experience.

I wouldn't be trying to have the same experience, but I would likely be having a better one! And isn't that really the point?

No system can give me 100% of what I want. So we mix and match rules so that our group can have a the best possible experience.

 

[Ixal]

I highly doubt that you can run horror in D&D.
Horror depends on a feeling of powerlessness and D&D is hardwired to make PCs powerful, both in how the mechanics work and how the PCs progress. And as everything is tied to level you can't have the PCs not progress and thus become stronger in combat. You have to always use enemies way above the level of the PCs, but that causes other problems as so much is tied to level.

This is also a reason why I think D&D is also bad for modern games. In modern or scifi games (Horro, too) skills become more important as there is more things you can interact with, even if its just because we are more familiar with that setting. And Skills in D&D are imo not very well done, both in how PCs gain skills and how they work (tied to your combat level for example).
And because of HP bloat you also always have the case where the PC can walk through heavy suppression fire just fine, only losing a bit of HP which are easy to replace in D&D, and start punching or stabbing the gunner when in reality you would seek cover and running through it is close to suicide. And because we are familiar with modern settings such differences in behaviour is very noticeable.

The level and HP bloat also affect other things. When a PC is level 10, why would he care what some guardsmen says? They can do nothing against him unless they suddenly turn into level 10 guards for no reason. And in a war game you also have the problem that the PCs can only ever meet level appropriate enemies even in a chaotic field battle because enemies of lower level are no threat and (much) higher level enemies guaranteed TPKs.

Heists are imo also not very well done in D&D because of the skill issue mentioned above and because of the PCs staying and combat power, so very often "cracking skulls" is a valid and usable solution, supported by the game mechanics, which goes counter the idea of a heist.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I wouldn't be trying to have the same experience, but I would likely be having a better one!

"Better" is subjective. Given that most SF RPGs have much more deadly combat than D&D, it provides more reward for players to resolve situations using diplomacy. Which, you might be shocked to learn, some players prefer.

No system can give me 100% of what I want. So we mix and match rules so that our group can have a the best possible experience.

But if the space combat from FASA Trek (which is awesome) gives me what I want, and the ground combat from FASA Trek gives me what I want, why should I involve D&D?

 

[Imaro]

"Better" is subjective. Given that most SF RPGs have much more deadly combat than D&D, it provides more reward for players to resolve situations using diplomacy. Which, you might be shocked to learn, some players prefer.

Sort of like... "fun" or "sucks"??

 

[Imaro]

But if the space combat from FASA Trek (which is awesome) gives me what I want, and the ground combat from FASA Trek gives me what I want, why should I involve D&D?

You shouldn't... though to be fair...I don't think anyone is arguing that you should.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Sort of like... "fun" or "sucks"??

Apart from the D&D 5e ship combat rules, which objectively suck, being an unplayable pile of bantha poodoo.

 

[Imaro]

Apart from the D&D 5e ship combat rules, which objectively suck. Being an unplayable pile of bantha poodoo.

Again my group and I used the D&D ship combat rules from Saltmarsh and they were perfectly playable... was their something in particular that didn't work for you?

 

[Umbran]

Except that “play XYZ indie game instead of D&D” is frequently given as advice when someone wonders how to add a dynamic to their D&D game.

So, the advice is for a GM at a particular table, not to a designer trying to make the Next Big Game.

When I am considering what to run for my next campaign, for my table, I have no need to turn a focused game into a Big Tent game, because I am in a small tent!