D&D General My "Perfect D&D" Would Include...

[Reynard]

Which of the elements in the poll would your personal "perfect D&D" include?

Note: these are all the things I could think of off the top of my head while setting this poll up, so I probably missed a bunch of stuff. I tried to hit the highlights of all the editions.

 

[Pedantic]

The thing I keep saying is a set of objective skill DCs. Tell me exactly how hard it is to open non-magical locks or climb a stone wall with appropriate handhold/piton modifiers.

Let me make characters that are good enough at skills to translate them directly into always on abilities, and accept that challenge/adventure design will warp around them.

 

[Reynard]

The thing I keep saying is a set of objective skill DCs. Tell me exactly how hard it is to open non-magical locks or climb a stone wall with appropriate handhold/piton modifiers.

Let me make characters that are good enough at skills to translate them directly into always on abilities, and accept that challenge/adventure design will warp around them.

Yup, there is one I forgot that I also prefer in any game with skills. Dammit.

 

[Maxperson]

Hah! I love how only 3 have voted for "something I forgot" when almost nobody remembers everything.

 

[The Old Crow]

I would like Level Based Saving Throws; heroes get better at resisting effects the higher they get in level.

 

[Reynard]

I forgot to put THAC0 on the list...

 

[Scribe]

Nice list. If anything all of this discussion has had me thinking, and this list really made it obvious.

I just dont care for 5e, I want to go back to 3.5/PF1, and refine that system, not gut it.

As to using these results. Will be interesting if anything definitive comes out.

 

[Retreater]

A combination of most of these, even if contradictory. The thing is that there isn't a "perfect" edition for me. Every game, every group, every campaign theme, may need to be supported by unique mechanics.

 

[Reynard]

I would like Level Based Saving Throws; heroes get better at resisting effects the higher they get in level.

For clarity you mean like AD&D, rather than increasing DCs basically meaning the chances stay the same?

 

[schneeland]

I think my perfect edition would be start from B/X D&D (including its focus on classic fantasy races and archetypes and the focus on exploration and emergent gameplay/story) and then modify it quite heavily:

• Unified resolution system (probably 2d6+/-X or d6 dice pool)
• Basic degrees of success (probably: failure, success at a cost, success, critical success)
• System for extended tasks (can probably be built on skill challenges)
• Simple skill system usable both in and out of combat
• Revised spellcasting system (probably with some sort of channeling/drain mechanic)
• Slot-based inventory system
• Simple system for depletable resources
• Less steep HP curve
• Simple system for critical injuries

Some parts that just need to be tweaked a bit would be:

• The travel and exploration system, including rules for changes in the weather
• Procedures for generating new adventures and corresponding rumors by dice roll
• More unique attacks for monsters
• Trimming the fat from the spell list
• Attribute list might be only 4 or 5 attributes

 

[tetrasodium]

I forgot to put THAC0 on the list...

Thac0 is just AC with the math for Prof/Bab+attrib+d20 for each roll already on your sheet. With all wotc's focus on simplicity it's weird that they didn't put it on the sheet

Spoiler: for example

or if you need entries for multiple weapons here is an example of a two line one

 

[Vaalingrade]

Just my top 5:

• Encounter-based abilities
• Feats
• Plenty of species
• Complex martials
• No XP

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Thac0 is just AC with the math for Prof/Bab+attrib+d20 for each roll already on your sheet. With all wotc's focus on simplicity it's weird that they didn't put it on the sheet

Spoiler: for example

View attachment 272657

View attachment 272656
or if you need entries for multiple weapons here is an example of a two line one
View attachment 272655

THAC0 being based on descending AC is a major reason why. It's not that it's pre-calculated (though that's its own kettle of fish), it's that it's counter-intuitive and almost immediately leads to weirdness, especially when AC becomes negative.

 

[tetrasodium]

THAC0 being based on descending AC is a major reason why. It's not that it's pre-calculated (though that's its own kettle of fish), it's that it's counter-intuitive and almost immediately leads to weirdness, especially when AC becomes negative.

The ascending/descending AC is irrelevant to it being "AC with the math for Prof/Bab+attrib+d20 for each roll already on your sheet" Naming the chart thac15 or whatever the sweet spot is would have about as much impact as changing the term for Base attack Bonus to proficiency bonus where there are slight mechanical differences for a similar concept.
edit: it avoided all the fumbling of

it avoided all the fumbling of "lets see d20 is 11 plus 5 DM:"[ac is 13 that hits]"plus 4 DM:"[ac is 13 how much damage did you do?]"plus one DM:"[you hit roll damage Bob]"umm.... I got 21, DM:"[you hit roll damage Bob]"does that .. that hits? cool! DM:"[yes roll damage]"
It accomplished that because all of that was done at levelup or things like switching out equipment

 

[CreamCloud0]

i'd have voted for fixed(or an established default at the very least) species modifiers if that were on the list.

i didn't vote for 'species as class' because i know it means something different to what i'm about to say but species that is treated as a secondary class, having it's own parallel progression of abilities that expand and improve as you level up so that your elf becomes more elfy or dwarf more dwarfy and choice of exclusive species feats.

 

[Mind of tempest]

more insanity, no elves, some explanation of how dragons connect to sorcerous magic(arcane dragons maybe?)

 

[The Old Crow]

For clarity you mean like AD&D, rather than increasing DCs basically meaning the chances stay the same?

Similar to that, though don't want different save charts for every class. Mostly I dislike having saving throws that never ever get better with experience, like 5e has. I also didn't care much for 3/3.5 saves with the growing disparity between good and poor saves. I would want everyone to use the same base chart that improved with level, and if ability score modifiers add in that alone gives enough variation, but maybe they could have a +2 on a "good" save..

 

[CreamCloud0]

i note that you have dis/advantage on the options but not situational (edit: individual stacking) numerical bonuses/negatives.

 

[Reynard]

i note that you have dis/advantage on the options but not situational numerical bonuses/negatives.

that seems like the baseline.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

I felt dirty clicking on proficiency bonus, and need to clarify that I support it for the sake of the elegance of the underused "DM determines under the particular circumstances a character who normally couldn't can apply proficiency" and "floating matching of skill proficiencies with different ability bonuses" options, am only mildly positive on it as the regular basis for skill bonuses and such, and abhor the mad love WotC developed late in 5e's life for just using it as the answer to all number questions.