Is D&D outdated ?

[hong]

Hello, Shadowlord! Welcome to our friendly mailing list!

 

[Voneth]

I don't know Alternity,

Then you will be interested to know that as Alternity was being shut down, that WotC's biggest plug to Alternity players was "The new edition of DnD has borrowed a lot of concepts from Alternity, give 3e a try, you'lll feel like you're back home."

The "use one die mechanic (based off a d20) for everythig (not just non-weapon profiencies)" and the "get a number of skill points per level" came from Alternity. The subdual rules that include taking real hit point damage also was inspired by Alternity In some ways d20 is a streamlined version of the game.

And converting from and to d20 to Alternity wasn't that hard. Until WotC-post Hasbro got nerveous about an IP they don't publish anymore , there were several Alternity/d20 conversions on the web.

johnsemlak: Why does DnD feel funny to you now? As a avid non-DnD player for more than 17 years, who was left out in the cold because everyone had to play DnD or nothing, I can tell you that most of the things people like in 3e came from other rpgs out there. DnD isn't revoltionary, it's just catching up, which is why I came back.

And speaking of that long experience, the only rpgs (or wargames) that are "outdated" are those that stop getting supplements.

 

[Psion]

The "use one die mechanic (based off a d20) for everythig (not just non-weapon profiencies)" and the "get a number of skill points per level" came from Alternity.

Okay, though I'll note that the latter was done in Skills & Powers prior to alternity.

The subdual rules that include taking real hit point damage also was inspired by Alternity

I beg to differ. The subdual system much more strongly resembles the one that has been in place since 1st edition than the somewhat odd three-tiered damage system of Alternity.

 

[Afrodyte]

Well, one reason I think while the other RPGs would be "better" is because they came out after D&D, correct? Well, which do you think is easier, creating a masterpiece or improving upon the bits you don't like and copying the rest?

Although I understand your point, in my experience, many independent RPGs, aside from perhaps using dice (not even different types of dice), bear scarcely any resemblance to D&D at all.

 

[Psion]

Although I understand your point, in my experience, many independent RPGs, aside from perhaps using dice (not even different types of dice), bear scarcely any resemblance to D&D at all.

Oh? It may be a matter of degrees, but that statement rings false to me. MANY games use a standardized "roll+stat+skill >= TN" scheme, for example. Further, when 3e came out, fans of many independant systems made claims that D&D copied from their game... some of them even credible.

 

[Desdichado]

I can see where you're coming from. IMO, d20 Modern is the best d20 game out there and is certainly head and shoulders above D&D. Although the revisions to D&D will presumably incorporate much of what was good about d20 Modern.

 

[diaglo]

Well, one reason I think while the other RPGs would be "better" is because they came out after D&D, correct? Well, which do you think is easier, creating a masterpiece or improving upon the bits you don't like and copying the rest?

they broke the mold when they made Original D&D(1974). anything that has followed in its wake is just a poor imitation of the real thing.

 

[Psion]

I can see where you're coming from. IMO, d20 Modern is the best d20 game out there and is certainly head and shoulders above D&D.

(sputter)

Although the revisions to D&D will presumably incorporate much of what was good about d20 Modern.

And what would that be? Other than a few refined skills, the convention of getting a benefit at every level (though NOT the overly generic class structure) and perhaps the additions to the XP sytem, I don't see a whole lot in d20 Modern I would want to see in D&D. Some things are actively bad, like non-lethal combat.

 

[Psion]

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[DDK]

Is D&D outdated ?

Yes, it is. Go play something else.