D&D SHOULD NOT have a defined atmosphere/style *Semi Rant*

[Aldarc]

Akrasia is right. For the same reason that poll results are to be taken with a grain of salt when they come from News Sites, poll results should be taken with a grain of salt when they come from a gaming site. The sort of people who actively participate in polls do not even remotely reflect in the populous of the site itself.

 

[Crothian]

Akrasia is right. For the same reason that poll results are to be taken with a grain of salt when they come from News Sites, poll results should be taken with a grain of salt when they come from a gaming site. The sort of people who actively participate in polls do not even remotely reflect in the populous of the site itself.

However in this instance I think we can trust the poll, unless you think that the people who come to the biggest and baddest d20 site on the net are not fans of d20.....

 

[Akrasia]

...In any event, tweaking 3e by removing or changing elements disconnects the modular nature of the system, making it more like 1e/2e in this regard. Since you like 1e/2e, why is this a problem?

Sorry, I don't understand this. 3e is not modular.

.
... those systems were horribly unbalanced in all kinds of ways. Since you liked that system why is it a problem for you if you modify 3e and it becomes unbalanced in a similar fashion? ...

... if you are a fan of 1e/2e, why are you concerned with maintaining "balance" (via the CR/Treasure guidelines) in 3e? 1e/2e made no pretense of balance, and you claim you loved that style of play. Why then is balance a big deal when you play 3e?

Ummm ... I think you're making assumptions about 1e (never played 2e) and my tastes here that are unwarranted.

I do indeed like the flavour of 1e AD&D material (and RC D&D). That doesn't mean that I love every aspect of the game. I don't play 1e or RC D&D anymore.

As for 'balance' issues concerning 3e, why shouldn't these be a concern? If I run a 3e campaign (and I've run two before), and I want to realize one of the system's much-touted advantages ('balance'), then maintaining this advantage is someting that I, as a 3e DM, should desire.

The fact that altering the system can have unintended consequences is thus a concern. Why does this confuse you?

As for your other points, well, I disagree with your understanding and characterization of the systems in question, but see no point in continuing to butt heads over that. You view those systems as horribly unbalanced, and I don't, etc.

 

[Crothian]

Sorry, I don't understand this. 3e is not modular.

Sure it is, there are options to be changed out all over the game.

 

[Akrasia]

However in this instance I think we can trust the poll, unless you think that the people who come to the biggest and baddest d20 site on the net are not fans of d20.....

I don't doubt that the majority of people who visit this site like d20.

I do doubt whether a poll conducted here will give you an accurate breakdown of the relative proportions who prefer 3e, 2e, other systems, etc.

 

[Aldarc]

Originally Posted by Crothian
However in this instance I think we can trust the poll, unless you think that the people who come to the biggest and baddest d20 site on the net are not fans of d20.....

I am not so sure about that. If I go to a site for Labrador Retrievers, what is the value of a poll that asks "What is your favorite type of dog?" There is no value, because the answer will be apparent. It is not so much d20 that seems to be in question, as it is the "defined atmosphere/style" that is.

 

[Akrasia]

Sure it is, there are options to be changed out all over the game.

I agree that the system can be altered, and that there are plenty of options that be used to tweak the game.

However, because most of the rules in 3e are interdependent, changing one part will have consequences elsewhere (often unforeseen ones). This is a design feature of 3e.

In contrast, a more modular system has components that operate relatively autonomously of each other.

 

[Desdichado]

Sorry, I don't understand this. 3e is not modular.

It most certainly is. Have you not seen Unearthed Arcana? Not to mention all the other supplements? The modularity of 3e (and d20 in general) is one of its greatest strengths as a system.

 

[Akrasia]

It most certainly is. Have you not seen Unearthed Arcana? Not to mention all the other supplements? The modularity of 3e (and d20 in general) is one of its greatest strengths as a system.

I own UA, and note that for most of the rule changes that are included, they explain other aspects of the game that you will need to take into account, and often also change, in order for the game to remain 'balanced'.

I don't deny the wealth of options available in various d20 supplements. That has nothing to do with the fact that 3e is a highly interdependent gaming system. And indeed, it was designed as such.

 

[argo]

Sorry, I don't understand this. 3e is not modular.

I couldn't disagree more. It has always seemed to me that 3e employed many of the fundamental principals of object oreinted design and, as a result, is wonderfully modular. Matter of fact, when I bother to list the strengths of the system "modular" is usually in the top three.

Just look at all the wildly different d20 and OGL products out there. Not modular?

Later.