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