Five things that would change the game forever

[Emirikol]

Now that we're going on year 5, it's time to bring up the big pointless rules things that could change D&D forever. I consider these the largest and most pointless things about the game that D&D has faced since growing out of 1E:

1) Alignment is eliminated once and for all
2) Ability scores are no longer numbers but simply bonuses
3) All spells, songs, and psionics are simply arcane magic (i.e. god's do not grant spells, magic is just magic)
4) Skills fall into one of 12 categories instead of the oppressive number that's out there now
5) Every prestige class can also be a core class

Without being a house-rule's post, any other thoughts?

jh

 

[painandgreed]

Ever think you're just playing the wrong game to begin with?

 

[Zenodotus of Ephesus]

C.L.A.M.S.

(Class, Levels, Alignment, Magic System, and Skills)

 

[ForceUser]

C.L.A.M.S.

(Class, Levels, Alignment, Magic System, and Skills)

If these are things you'd rather go without, it's not D&D you want to play. Simple as that.

 

[Zenodotus of Ephesus]

If these are things you'd rather go without, it's not D&D you want to play. Simple as that.

Do without? Not me. I'm just listing the so-called sacred cows that always get mentioned in threads such as these. Personally, I'm all for leaving things well enough alone now that the game is in the supposed hands of more than just one company (OGL).

But, you know, you make an interesting point even if you don't realize it. The game of D&D is not all that similar to the game of D&D I began playing in the seventies. I've played in each edition and will play in the next, no doubt and no matter what it becomes, because I like the ability to find a large pool of players to join me.

And THAT is as "simple as that".

(And, btw, your sig brings some irony to your post. )

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Skills are something d&d never had in the current incarnation so changing them wouldn't be too big of a deal.

 

[Oryan77]

The only rules related thing I'd like to see eliminated from the game, which is completely impossible, are rules lawyers.

Get rid of rules lawyers and it fixes so many problems. I love players knowing rules (it helps a lot)...it's the players that have to be by-the-book or argumentative that bothers me.

Other than that, I don't have a problem with any rules in D&D. Some of the spell descriptions could be shortened, but that's my only gripe.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Skills are something d&d never had in the current incarnation so changing them wouldn't be too big of a deal.

It depends. Going back to a non-functional system like 2e or a system that only really had mechanics for combat (1e) would change the game rather dramatically. For the worse IMO.

 

[Conaill]

Ever think you're just playing the wrong game to begin with?

Constantly!

That being said, the changes Emirikol suggested wouldn't really make it any less D&D. No more so than several dozen other changes that have been made to D&D over the years, in any case. You'd still have classes and levels with exponential power increases. You'd still roll an attack roll to beat the opponent's AC. You'd still have vancian magic. All in all, it would still be very recognizeably D&D. Except minus some of the more pointless filligrees that most old-time D&D players don't even seem to recognize as pointless anymore...

 

[ForceUser]

I know! 4E needs to be a class-less, skill-less, spell-less, feat-less, level-less, gear-less game. We'll just sit in a circle and tell stories! And interrupt each other! And whoever can beat the snot out of the other guy wins!

Yay D&D!