Is D&D 3.X intended to be played "as written"?

[BryonD]

By contrast, 3e was a breath of fresh air - reading rule books that expressly expect and encourage the DM to change things to suit their game. Written right there in the books!

Extensions within the 3e framework are relatively easy, changes to fundamentals of the framework are relatively harder because of the greater interconnectivity of the rules. But the fact is the 3e rules expect and allow - nay encourage - gamers to NOT play 'as written', but to make the changes they want to for greater fun.

Cheers

I think you are right.

3E is formally a stand alone game that can be played just as written.
But it was DEVELOPED with the full understanding and expectation (and even encouragement) that it would be modified.

 

[DragonLancer]

Yes, they are designed to be played as written, but the rules are also just guidelines that individual DM's can tweak or change as they need to for their campaigns.

 

[Umbran]

Add another to the vote of "it is intended to be played as written, but the designers understood that many would not do so".

 

[Psion]

I'm not sure I understand the original question.

They are designed to be used "as written" inasmuch as most rules are designed assuming that the other supporting rules are also in place.

But the rules also recognize that the DM is free to change aspects of the rules, omit optional rules, add rules, and so forth.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Add another to the vote of "it is intended to be played as written, but the designers understood that many would not do so".

That's my take on it, too.

 

[diaglo]

it was intended to be played as written. it is codified to accomodate the rules that way.

you can add, tweak, change, omit, all you want. but it does mean you have to make adjustments elsewhere in the rules that are tied in...


example: you want to get rid of AoO. that means some changes to feats. some shift in class abilities. some changes to certain special abilities of monsters (like the hydra) etc...

not earth shattering. and probably for most not a big shift.

but it still means having to be mindful of them ahead of time mostly.

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

AD&D (1e), which was laced through with dire warnings that you change any of the rules contained therein at your peril! That was designed to be played 'as written' and woe betide anyone who did otherwise

Huh?

 

[Raven Crowking]

Because I compare it with AD&D (1e), which was laced through with dire warnings that you change any of the rules contained therein at your peril! That was designed to be played 'as written' and woe betide anyone who did otherwise Of course, most of us probably changed what we fancied anyway.

Actually, 1e suggests that the DM change rules to suit taste, repeatedly, but warns that one understand why the rules are as they were written prior to making changes. I once quoted at length from the 1e DMG to demonstrate that fact, and I am not above doing it again.

3e does a fairly good job of letting you know why the rules are the way they are, but it a bit short on guidance for modification. I would argue that 3e is designed to be played by the RAW, not because WotC didn't know that some people would change things to taste (the OGL facilitates this wonderfully), but because playing by RAW sells more books for WotC.


RC

 

[Plane Sailing]

Actually, 1e suggests that the DM change rules to suit taste, repeatedly, but warns that one understand why the rules are as they were written prior to making changes. I once quoted at length from the 1e DMG to demonstrate that fact, and I am not above doing it again.

In that case I'm probably mixing up things from the 1e rules with pronouncements that Gygax made in the fantasy magazines of the day - It was quarter of a century or so ago, so I don't feel too bad if my memory is hazy!

However, even if it wasn't written into the 1e rulebooks, the designer pronouncements of the day was 'don't change it'.

Cheers

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

However, even if it wasn't written into the 1e rulebooks, the designer pronouncements of the day was 'don't change it'.

Please read the first few pages of the 1e DMG again.