D&D 5E How freely can a setting mess with core D&D mechanics?

[dave2008]

Vancian magic or it’s not d&d to me

Not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing. IMO, vancian magic as a system works really well for a low magic setting as it is more restrictive. We just limit spells to 5th level (basically half caster's max) and anything higher is only available as a ritual. Now if you are talking about the uber powerful wizards from Jack Vance's work than that is something different.

 

[Arnwolf666]

Not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing. IMO, vancian magic as a system works really well for a low magic setting as it is more restrictive. We just limit spells to 5th level (basically half caster's max) and anything higher is only available as a ritual. Now if you are talking about the uber powerful wizards from Jack Vance's work than that is something different.

I am taking about the traditional d&d magic system

 

[dave2008]

I am taking about the traditional d&d magic system

OK, but do you think that you can't be low magic with the traditional D&D magic system or do you agree that you can have a low magic setting with traditional D&D magic system?

 

[Morrus]

My feeling is that being gonzo is fine, but changing things like bleeding alters the challenge factor of the game and isn't so much "gonzo" as "tension-removing". It's hard enough to die in D&D as it is.

 

[Arnwolf666]

OK, but do you think that you can't be low magic with the traditional D&D magic system or do you agree that you can have a low magic setting with traditional D&D magic system?

I think u can have whatever setting you want with vancian magic.

 

[Ath-kethin]

How so?

That would contradict the DMG, although not Eberrons core principles that everything D&D has a place in Eberron.

Is that still a core principle of Eberron? I haven't seen anything to the contrary, but they don't seem to be hyping it as much this go-round.

I won't get my 5e Eberron book for another week or so; can anyone who has it confirm whether the "everything has a place" statement is still there?

 

[GlassJaw]

I prefer it. I have no use for standard copy-paste/fantasy tropes anymore.

 

[Umbran]

Have you ever played in a setting where the rules of reality weren't quite the same as the default of D&D (or of whatever ruleset you were playing)?

Yep.

But how far can you step away from default rules before you get uncomfortable?

Uncomfortable? Never. Are you sure that's the word you want?

I would not be comfortable (and wouldn't agree to play) F.A.T.A.L. not because the game design is "distant" from some particular mechanical norm, but because it carries a pretty disgusting message.

But how far is too far?

It isn't about distance. It is about direction. Are the rules aligned with the intended play experience? Are the rules not annoyingly cumbersome? Then we are good.

 

[Fanaelialae]

At my group's table, there's not really such a thing as too much. There's probably a hypothetical limit out there, but I don't recall ever coming close.

For example, my friend is running a post-apocalyptic style fantasy game. He threw out all of the existing classes, races, and most of the weapons and homebrewed his own. It's all new stuff but it's still running on the 5e core. My Roach Priest still casts cleric spells. So on and so forth. For us, it's still 5e (albeit heavily modified), and we're having a blast with the campaign!

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I think a better question is "how much does it need too in order to make something feel fresh and new?"