D&D N. I. M. B. Y.

[Mark]

What have you removed from past editions of the rules?


What have you removed from this edition of rules?


What would you remove for the next edition of the rules?


What would you definitely not want to see added to the rules?

 

[kaomera]

What have you removed from past editions of the rules?

In 1e AD&D I ignored a lot of rules and mis-understood probably just as many. I wasn't fond of allowing stuff from Dragon magazine into my games, but that was largely because it was usually presented as a kind of fiat accompli by players, and I didn't really consider everything published in Dragon to be 100% "official". I didn't allow psionic PCs and only used them for a very small number of monsters (specifically the Mind Flayer, Thought Eater and the Intellect Devourer; and I didn't use the rules as written even then). I only allowed one of any specific magic item (with two minor exceptions) in my campaign. There where several other things (like the unarmed combat rules) that both I and my players simply ignored. Can't think of anything else specific, but I'm sure there was lots...

What have you removed from this edition of rules?

Psionics; I brought it "back" into the game at one point, but I've since decided not to bother. Incarnum and the Tome of Magic. Pretty much any actual crunch from BOVD and BOED. I was really thrilled with Bo9S when it came out, but I've since decided not to use it except in a specifically-themed campaign (if one ever comes up). Um, probably tons of other stuff that I'm not remembering...

What would you remove for the next edition of the rules?

Who knows...

What would you definitely not want to see added to the rules?

Nothing? Everything? It's all optional, really; I haven't worried much about what was "official" and what not since the early 80s. At the same time more stuff means more stuff that a given player may think is awesome but I OTOT may not want to deal with. And I hate having to tell my players "no".

 

[Thunderfoot]

Call me a traditionalist, but this whole expanding feat chain is starting to get a little old. It makes combat miniature intensive and adds time to combat that could otherwise be handwaved. I would hope that a new edition would see it altered in some way to make it less of a grid combat simulation and harken back to role-playing.

I like the level system and neat class packages (otherwise I'd play something else). Skills instead of proficiencies was a good idea all around and PrCs are just a way for powergamers to get their freak on.

But I don't think a new edition can really solve the problems of D&D, there are some marketing issues that are involved that will always be a problem; namely, D&D is a big ticket item in a small ticket market. RPGs are a tiny niche but the D&D name has so dominated the landscape that big revenues are always expected. Instead of putting out a well defined highly successful product, marketing demands multiple high dollar revenue makers. (Quantity over quality)

And though the OGL was a great tool to shape the industry, I feel it may have been the goose that laid the golden eggs that someone mistakenly cooked for Christmas dinner. The market was so glutted with poorly written material that anything that had usuable material was immediately called good, regardless of actual quality. I fear that the industry is heading for another meltdown and with the superiority of computer gaming experiences that are now available to people, I fear true role-play might be in for a long readjustment period.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

I removed the rule that said the players don't have to buy the DM dinner. I removed it so thoroughly that most people are unaware that it ever existed.

Later
silver

 

[jdrakeh]

What have you removed from past editions of the rules?

In AD&D 1e/2e we removed weapon speed, movement in inches, grappling rules (supplanted by system of simple attribute checks), psionics (AD&D 1e), and demi-human races.

What have you removed from this edition of rules?

Attacks of opportunity and associated references in feats and spells.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

In Third Edition I remove class skills, multiclass restrictions, and the core nonhuman races when I'm not running in Eberron - even if I'm running a setting which normally has them, like Planescape. Other nonhuman races are fine, but I hate those core bastards. Tolkienesque crap.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

In earlier editions, we generally ignored weapon speeds and encumberances.

I haven't axed anything from the current edition, but I've modified a thing or two.

 

[Steel_Wind]

1st edition: at various times we removed (and used) weapon speed factor, racial level limits, training. Ultimately, we removed 1st edition from our gaming group and left it behind for Rolemaster.

2nd edition: We removed 2nd edition from our gaming group. We never played it. We never missed it. We did, however, purchase TSR setting material, which we used often.

3rd/3.5 edition: Nothing. We use all of the core system and most expansions. Books not in use: UA, Dragon Magic, Magic of Incarnum. Tome of Magic has not seen regular use. Every other WotC hardcover is in use, RAW.

 

[WayneLigon]

What have you removed from past editions of the rules?

Weapons speeds
Initiative
A handfull of spells
sex-based ability score limits
racial restrictions for class and level
unarmed combat
Later in 2E, we made all divine casters spontaneous casters. Didn't hurt balance at all.
rolled hit points at first level
treaure = XP

What have you removed from this edition of rules?

Multiclassing restrictions
Favored class restrictions

What would you remove for the next edition of the rules?

Vancian magic
divine/arcane divide
ability scores
Multiclassing restrictions
Favored class restrictions
Prestige classes (Like the concept but I think there's a better way to implement it)
many tactical maneuvers and conditions would be moved to an optional Advanced Combat chapter
A number of magic items and spells
Undead turning as it is now

What would you definitely not want to see added to the rules?

Anything that brought it closer to previous editions. They're dead, gone and buried. Let 'em lie. Time to move on.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

In AD&D 1e/2e we removed weapon speed, movement in inches, grappling rules (supplanted by system of simple attribute checks), psionics (AD&D 1e), and demi-human races.

Swap "demihuman races" for "fiddly encumbrance" rules, and that's our house rule list.

In 3E, I run an AoO-lite game, since I don't have the interest or the ability (in pbp games) to use a grid or miniatures. The world has failed to end as a result.