D&D Problems

[dd.stevenson]

4d6 arrange to taste usually gives you one 18

Not "usually".

4d6 drop lowest six times has a roughly 10% chance of turning one or more 18.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I have to ask though. Why do you think exceptional Str is rare? 4d6 arrange to taste usually gives you one 18 which is most likely going into Str for any fighter type. Again due to balance issues a high Str trumps all considerations for fighter types.

Other than paladins I suppose due to Cha requirements.

Because the default method in 2E is 3d6 straight downt the line. 1E the default was 4d6 drop the lowest, but method 1 in 2E is 3d6. Even so, you still have to roll an 18 if you are using either method (even with 4d6 that is far from certain, plus you need to roll 00 on the percentile. That is rare.

 

[Cadence]

Ninja'd by [MENTION=6683099]dd.stevenson[/MENTION];

 

[Storminator]

Not "usually".

4d6 drop lowest six times has a roughly 10% chance of turning one or more 18.

When we played our 1e days, granted we were 15, we just rolled until we got a good character.

PS

 

[ExploderWizard]

Actually, I think that ExploderWizard's comment, when viewed at its most expansive, perfectly describes the predicament that wizards finds itself in today. Every problem they have, from their inability to convert cultural penetration into sales, right down to the 3e/4e split, can be seen as a problem with players who want (or who should want) to play D&D the brand but didn't care for the game.

Yeah thats pretty much it. When you start with such abstract roots such as D&D, and concepts like AC and HP which came from a warship game, and make these things sacred cows, there is little wiggle room to transform the nature of the game to one of significantly less abstraction. In other words, if you want to have a less abstract game, then it needs to start that way from the ground up.

Once you do that, it is brand new game. People have been kitbashing and pounding the D&D game into what they want it to be since it was published. There are so many models out there today that just leave D&D in the dust as a simulationist chassis to build upon.

I embrace the simple abstraction as part of the D&D identity. When a game with more character options, tactical combat complexity, and overall simulationism is desired I reach for it and play that instead of D&D. I can also still enjoy simply playing D&D as the abstract adventure rpg that it is, even with its "flaws". These "flaws and problems" are part of the game's identity.

 

[pemerton]

Actually, I think that ExploderWizard's comment, when viewed at its most expansive, perfectly describes the predicament that wizards finds itself in today. Every problem they have, from their inability to convert cultural penetration into sales, right down to the 3e/4e split, can be seen as a problem with players who want (or who should want) to play D&D the brand but didn't care for the game.

Are you counting all the story elements as "brand" rather than "game"?

 

[dd.stevenson]

Are you counting all the story elements as "brand" rather than "game"?

Depends. What does "story elements" mean in the context of a ttrpg?

 

[Bedrockgames]

No. I didn't say that. I said that a 1 st level fighter can kill a four hd creature (6 hd with exceptional Str) in one round.

Okay. That is fair. I thought you said six creatures for som reason. Can you show the math though, just do we are on the same page.

 

[Bedrockgames]

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I hich is most likely going into Str for any fighter type. Again due to balance issues a high Str trumps all considerations for fighter types.

Other than paladins I suppose due to Cha requirements.

2E does reward higher stats. I see that as a good thing though. A luck of the draw kind of thing. But if you are going to do two weapon fighting, a high dex is advised as well.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

When we played our 1e days, granted we were 15, we just rolled until we got a good character.

PS

I once asked a DM who said we could do just that. "Why don't we just pick the stats we want then?" and was accused of trying to cheat... no really....