D&D needs improvement

[buzz]

It is entirely possible to read a set of rules, but not see the flaws in those rules until you begin to play them. That is one of the reasons that professional designers playtest.

If the OP were talking about subtle issues he saw arise in play, you might have a point.

Regardless, even if it took some time playing for him to see that he really didn't like the way D&D handled... well, pretty much everything, why are you insisting he be saddled with the system going forward? Sell your books on ebay or Amazon, and go find a different game.

Break out of the dysfunction. Stop playing games you don't like. Give your money to publishers who provide what you want.

And if you must stick with D&D for whatever gawdawful reason, don't complain about it in General. Suck it up, and go to the House Rules forum and start asking how to enact the changes you want. "I'd prefer if armor worked like X. Anyone got any ideas on how to make this work in D&D, and how it might affect the system?" There's a community here of tens of thousands of users who will happily offer suggestioons.

 

[buzz]

RC, would you just stop playing 3.x already? Seriously, you really don't seem to like it. Try something new, or just go back and play 1e/2e. Tons of people still play the older editions.

EDIT: I sincererly mean this in a helpful way, not a snarky way. Life is too short for bad gaming, man!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

HERO 5th Edition Über Alles!

 

[Drowbane]

5.5 on the Troll-o-matic!

"D&D needs improvement"
"D&D isn't the game for me"

 

[DonTadow]

The great thing about 3.5 is that someone took out the little man who jumped out of the 2.0 and put a gun to your head forcing you to follow every single rule. You cna do experience how you want to do it. You can do classes how yu want, you can knock out a of 0. True d20 is still 3.5 it just takes out and simplifies things. NOthings ever going oto be perfect.

 

[Squire James]

Maybe not acrobatics, but I've seen video of people doing cartwheels and handsprings in authentic plate. If it's very well-fit (and the person is strong) it can be done and is a good demonstration that plate armor doesn't make you a shuffling tank.

I'm sure those people doing acrobatics in full plate could probably do a lot better if they weren't wearing all that pesky armor...

 

[Felix]

Re: Initiative and Wisdom

This addresses the OP's contention that Wisdom should define how people react to combat situations.

The short answer: It already does.

A PC is only ever called upon to roll for initiative (Dex check) when they are aware of the enemy. In the event of an ambush on the PCs, the PCs roll Spot and Listen checks (Wisdom based) to beat the ambushers' Hide and Move Silently rolls. Those PCs who notice the enemy may roll for initiative during the Suprise round. Those who do not notice the enemy may not go, and must wait for the First Round of combat to make a move.

So even if the dexterous Rogue has a higher initiative than the wise Cleric, if the Cleric went in the Suprise round and the Rogue did not... then his high wisdom allowed him to react faster than the rogue.

-----

Wisdom drives what you are aware of in combat.
Dexterity drives how quickly you react to what you're already aware of.

Make sense?

 

[Raven Crowking]

RC, would you just stop playing 3.x already? Seriously, you really don't seem to like it. Try something new, or just go back and play 1e/2e. Tons of people still play the older editions.

EDIT: I sincererly mean this in a helpful way, not a snarky way. Life is too short for bad gaming, man!

3.X overarching crunch is better. Earlier fluff is better. My specific crunch is better for me. My Frankengame is far better (for my purposes) than your prepackaged, genetically pure game ever will be.

 

[Raven Crowking]

I'm sure those people doing acrobatics in full plate could probably do a lot better if they weren't wearing all that pesky armor...

Hey, that's smart. I wish I had said that.

 

[Hypersmurf]

In D&D, skills can overcome the limitations of armour, and you can do acrobatic in armour if you spend the skill points to do it.

Well, if by "do acrobatic" you mean "use the Tumble skill", you can't, really.

TUMBLE (DEX; TRAINED ONLY; ARMOR CHECK PENALTY)
You can’t use this skill if your speed has been reduced by armor.

... unless you're a dwarf.

-Hyp.