If there was one thing about 3rdE that you could change, what would it be?

[hong]

I agree with the sentiment. Too many Prestige Classes are simply better than the class or classes that are given up in lieu of advancing in the PrC. However, I think it's more a problem of those making the PrC's than the system itself. I get the feeling that no matter how the PrC system is changed, it'll still be abused. I mean, I've seen people complain that this or that PrC is unbalanced, and come to find out that they allowed the player to start out in the PrC instead of gaining it through prereqs. You'll never be able to devise a system that is literally foolproof; they'll always find a way to screw with it.

What might have been good, though, is if they'd put the material on designing prestige classes in the DMG, as opposed to an article in Dragon. I agree, there's no way you're going to be able to enforce quality control on all the PrC-happy people out there (cough, including me ) but you could make an effort to point them in the right direction.

 

[Coredump]

Well, in the last couple of days, Hong and I have totally disagreed in a couple of threads.

But I must say, I totally *agree* with him about the HP/critical issue.




As for change, I would change the multiclassing mechanic.
ie. In Star Wars, when you multiclass, you do *not* get all the starting feats of the second class, you have to choose one.
I really hate the min/max feel of grabbing one level of this, and one level of that for all the first level freebies.

 

[Emiricol]

All the "what would you change" posts.

 

[Theuderic]

oh ya that's real intelligent......heheheheheh I get it hehehehehehe...........

 

[Destil]

Accualy, I think I figured out something that could make nearly everyone happy:

More Variant Rules!

More behind the curtian guidelines. More examples of changing things to suit your game. Discussions of Alingment less D&D. Extrapolations about other magic systems. In short, make the game books all read more like the manual of the planes [Probibly the best 3E book to date, because it's so versitile].

Sure, these things should be kept out of the players handbook, just because it would be more clutter and would be too encuraging to get players to suggest changes just to become more powerful. But the DMG should have a huge chapter, dealing with how to change anything in the PH, including suggestions, alternate rules and explnations of why and how the existing rules work. More on building and altering monsters in the MM would be nice, as well.

 

[mirzabah]

And speaking of which, bring back bearded dwarf women. None of this shaving business!

There's nothing wrong with a bit of exposed dwarven female chin ... amongst consenting adults, of course.

 

[mirzabah]

I guess the only thing I'd change would be drop the number of PC classes from 11 to 4: the cleric, the fighter, the rogue, and the wizard. Then maybe give them all bonus feats. After that, I'd prolly make all the Class Features into feats, and let the characters choose what path they wanted to follow. Certain class features would have prerequisites of course.

I second that.

 

[mirzabah]

My official vote is not enough pictures of D size breasted women in almost no clothing. Did they forget about their 1st ed. roots?

No, they just figured that Avalanche Press would ... *ahem* ... fill that niche. In spades.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Originally posted by Genysys
I guess the only thing I'd change would be drop the number of PC classes from 11 to 4: the cleric, the fighter, the rogue, and the wizard. Then maybe give them all bonus feats. After that, I'd prolly make all the Class Features into feats, and let the characters choose what path they wanted to follow. Certain class features would have prerequisites of course.

Agreed. Druid, Paladin, and Monk should be prestige classes. They perfectly fit the description of a prestige class as outlined in the DMG, right down to alignment and roleplaying restrictions. Ranger should be eliminated--if you want a wilderness fighter, make a Fighter and take Track. Rage should be a feat, eliminating the need for the Barbarian class. Bard is already just a rogue/sorcerer. The Sorcerer class itself can be culled or made into a prestige class. Or, better, make the base magic class Sorcerer and Wizard (a scholar who quantifies and studies magic) the prestige class.

The rogue should get 8 skill points per level, the others 4. Craft, Perform, Profession, and other "hobby" skills should be open to all classes. Break out the Perform skill, just like the Knowledge skill. Tumbling should be removed, replaced by applications of the Mobility feat (based on Reflex save instead of Tumbling skill check). Cartwheeling and gymnastics for entertainment purposes should be covered by Perform: acrobatics (giving synergy bonus to Mobility checks).

Change the magic system. Make it a bit more... magical. More random. More mysterious. Sorcerers should be able to make up spell effects on the fly. Kind of like the Mage system, or even MERPS. Only Wizards should be able to guarantee exact results with a particular Spell formula.

I also agree with what's been said about the races, particularly with regards to the skill system.

Not that I think D&D is horribly broken--just answering the call for ideas.

-z

 

[Snoweel]

I declare Colonel Hardisson and Hong my heros for this thread.
IMO, they completely get it.

BTW Colonel, your mandatory multiclassing rule for ME spellcasters is one of the most simple and brilliant ideas I have seen in a long time. One tiny nudge and 3E is a low magic game with zero balance issues. BRAVO

Where can I find the Colonel's rule?

And what does ME stand for?