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General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
making 5E more "old school" (updated)
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<blockquote data-quote="Frankie1969" data-source="post: 7264082" data-attributes="member: 61252"><p>Over in the "What adventure are you playing?" poll thread, I started thinking about simulating older editions within 5E.</p><p></p><p>1st draft: focused mainly on making the mechanics match more. </p><p>2nd draft: I think it's more important to make <em>good</em> changes. </p><p>beta release: further simplification of classes.</p><p></p><p><strong>Advanced D&D, 5th Edition</strong></p><p></p><p>Ability Scores: roll 4d6k3.</p><p></p><p>Races: it can't be AD&D without a few minuses. Dwarf: -1 Dex. Elf: -1 Con. Gnome: -1 Wis. Halfling: -1 Str. Half-Orc: -1 Cha. The penalty reduces initial score AND maximum limit.</p><p>Half-Elf: replace Skill Versatility with Keen Senses (go detect secret doors like you're supposed to, quit asking about other skill check rolls).</p><p>Human: standard (vanilla becomes more palatable when the other options are all nerfed).</p><p></p><p>Follow the old complicated race/class limits if you want to.</p><p></p><p>Classes: there were just plain fewer choices in ye olden days. You picked your class and that was what you got.</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Cleric": Life Cleric, but replace Preserve Life with +1 use of Channel Divinity (aka Turn Undead only). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Fighter": Champion Fighter, and 1st level Fighting Style is Defense. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Magic-User": Evocation Wizard, but eliminate Sculpt Spells (in my day, you blew up your friends and you liked it). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Thief": Thief Rogue (note: skill checks are devalued). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Druid": Land Druid, but cannot use direct-damage cantrips (weapon-changing cantrips are allowed). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Paladin": Devotion Paladin, and 2nd level Fighting Style is Defense. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Ranger": Hunter Ranger, and 2nd level Fighting Style is Defense. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Illusionist": Illusion Wizard, but cannot use direct-damage cantrips. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Assassin": Assassin Rogue (note: skill checks are devalued). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Monk": Open Hand Monk, but replace Tranquility with "spend 3 ki points: cast Feign Death on self". </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Bard": Valor Bard, but Magical Secrets are only from Druid (and skill checks are devalued). </li> </ul><p></p><p>Character options:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Feats: of course not. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Multiclassing: follow the old complicated rules if you want to. Definitely no multi involving Paladin or Monk. </li> </ul><p></p><p> Equipment: see silly, excessive weapon list in followup post below.</p><p></p><p>Loot: use the DMG random item tables.</p><p></p><p>Skills: skills didn't exist at all in 1E, and were a very limited option in 2E. The DM should require fewer checks and just ad-lib it. Also, exercise veto authority over Background+Class combinations that don't fit the feel of the campaign. No, your ranger is not proficient in Thieves Tools.</p><p></p><p>Non-weapon proficiencies: 5E has those.</p><p></p><p>Healing: after a long rest, characters only regain hit dice. Recuperation requires time, potions, or a cleric.</p><p></p><p>Monsters: (at some point I'll go through my 1E Monster Manual and make 5E conversions of any that haven't been brought back yet.)</p><p></p><p>Wandering Monsters: 5E DMG has a few environment tables, and rules for making your own. Xanathar has a bunch more.</p><p></p><p>Followers & Loyalty: Thanks much to @<em><u><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=6899775" target="_blank">extralead</a></u></em> for pointing out that 5E DMG already has rules for this.</p><p></p><p>Hirelings: already in 5E PHB.</p><p></p><p>Strongholds: already in 5E DMG.</p><p></p><p>Psionics: no. We all know you faked that percentile roll.</p><p></p><p>Things I'm leaving out: weapon modifiers vs armor. weapon damage vs size. weapon & casting speed factors. changes to monsters, saving throws, etc.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Frankie1969, post: 7264082, member: 61252"] Over in the "What adventure are you playing?" poll thread, I started thinking about simulating older editions within 5E. 1st draft: focused mainly on making the mechanics match more. 2nd draft: I think it's more important to make [I]good[/I] changes. beta release: further simplification of classes. [B]Advanced D&D, 5th Edition[/B] Ability Scores: roll 4d6k3. Races: it can't be AD&D without a few minuses. Dwarf: -1 Dex. Elf: -1 Con. Gnome: -1 Wis. Halfling: -1 Str. Half-Orc: -1 Cha. The penalty reduces initial score AND maximum limit. Half-Elf: replace Skill Versatility with Keen Senses (go detect secret doors like you're supposed to, quit asking about other skill check rolls). Human: standard (vanilla becomes more palatable when the other options are all nerfed). Follow the old complicated race/class limits if you want to. Classes: there were just plain fewer choices in ye olden days. You picked your class and that was what you got. [LIST] [*]"Cleric": Life Cleric, but replace Preserve Life with +1 use of Channel Divinity (aka Turn Undead only). [*]"Fighter": Champion Fighter, and 1st level Fighting Style is Defense. [*]"Magic-User": Evocation Wizard, but eliminate Sculpt Spells (in my day, you blew up your friends and you liked it). [*]"Thief": Thief Rogue (note: skill checks are devalued). [*]"Druid": Land Druid, but cannot use direct-damage cantrips (weapon-changing cantrips are allowed). [*]"Paladin": Devotion Paladin, and 2nd level Fighting Style is Defense. [*]"Ranger": Hunter Ranger, and 2nd level Fighting Style is Defense. [*]"Illusionist": Illusion Wizard, but cannot use direct-damage cantrips. [*]"Assassin": Assassin Rogue (note: skill checks are devalued). [*]"Monk": Open Hand Monk, but replace Tranquility with "spend 3 ki points: cast Feign Death on self". [*]"Bard": Valor Bard, but Magical Secrets are only from Druid (and skill checks are devalued). [/LIST] Character options: [LIST] [*]Feats: of course not. [*]Multiclassing: follow the old complicated rules if you want to. Definitely no multi involving Paladin or Monk. [/LIST] Equipment: see silly, excessive weapon list in followup post below. Loot: use the DMG random item tables. Skills: skills didn't exist at all in 1E, and were a very limited option in 2E. The DM should require fewer checks and just ad-lib it. Also, exercise veto authority over Background+Class combinations that don't fit the feel of the campaign. No, your ranger is not proficient in Thieves Tools. Non-weapon proficiencies: 5E has those. Healing: after a long rest, characters only regain hit dice. Recuperation requires time, potions, or a cleric. Monsters: (at some point I'll go through my 1E Monster Manual and make 5E conversions of any that haven't been brought back yet.) Wandering Monsters: 5E DMG has a few environment tables, and rules for making your own. Xanathar has a bunch more. Followers & Loyalty: Thanks much to @[I][U][URL="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=6899775"]extralead[/URL][/U][/I] for pointing out that 5E DMG already has rules for this. Hirelings: already in 5E PHB. Strongholds: already in 5E DMG. Psionics: no. We all know you faked that percentile roll. Things I'm leaving out: weapon modifiers vs armor. weapon damage vs size. weapon & casting speed factors. changes to monsters, saving throws, etc. [/QUOTE]
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