My Perfect d20

[Eternalknight]

You know, since discovering the True 20 rules, I have been in love. The idea behind the rules is brilliant, and it gives a real 'original D&D' feel to me. The rules are simple and seems to be modelled after old D&D but updated to d20.

However (there is always a however), the rules are, to put in nicely, messy. Green Ronin will probably (hopefully!) fix this in their print version, due out in the next few months. With the recent thread on '101 Days with the Rule Cyclopaedia' on RPG.net, it got me thinking about how cool it would be to 'fix' True 20 to give it even more of that old school feel, but keeping it d20. So, that's what I am going to do.

Effectively, this will be MY ideal version of d20. I don't expect anyone else to like it, and probably will never play it unless my players agree. I am going to take the aspects I like of every edition of D&D and various d20 games, and combine them into a cohesive whole.

If you were doing a similar project, what things would you pick? Or are you happy with D&D as it is?

 

[Balgus]

My perfect D20 came three years ago. I was hunting for a mini for my adventure when there it was- in a bin of various other dice. It caught the glint of the ligth and shimmered like a star. I bought it that day and it has not failed me yet. When the going gets tough, I just pull out the die and - Wham! conflict solved.

As for a description- it was a borealis white die. Clear- with colorful specks.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Call me whatever it is you call a fanboy a D20 DnD 3.X. I love the system. It feels more real to me than second edition. I have always felt that a character shouldn't get the same amount of XP for killing a kbolod while at 1st level and at 20th. It is CR that I like a lot, along with several other aspects of the game.

 

[Imret]

It really depends on the setting, for me. I could never play d20 for modern or future settings, a task I far prefer the Interlock system - and more specifically, the CP2020 version thereof - for.

That said, if I were to rework the d20 rules to create my ideal version of D&D, well, it would come out a lot like the homebrew world/house rules set I'm engaged in designing...

Starting at 3.5 (with 3.0 DR ), takes very liberally from Unearthed Arcana including the generic classes, feats every other character level (I'm a feat junkie), the Str/Dex combat in From Stone To Steel, armor as DR, Defence at 1/2 of BAB, WP/VP with Con damage in place of negative hit points, racial classes for anything with LA, Elements of Magic: Revised for the spell system, all wrapped up in and adjusted to a setting that evokes Dawnforge and Exalted and WHFRP and the Land (Thomas Covenant) and the rise of the Roman Empire all at once.

So...yeah. I guess I'd change D&D a bit.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Starting at 3.5 (with 3.0 DR ), takes very liberally from Unearthed Arcana including the generic classes, feats every other character level (I'm a feat junkie), the Str/Dex combat in From Stone To Steel, armor as DR, Defence at 1/2 of BAB, WP/VP with Con damage in place of negative hit points, racial classes for anything with LA, Elements of Magic: Revised for the spell system, all wrapped up in and adjusted to a setting that evokes Dawnforge and Exalted and WHFRP and the Land (Thomas Covenant) and the rise of the Roman Empire all at once.

That's quite a few familiar rules decisions there.

It's good to see Defense at 1/2 of BAB and feats every other character level worknig for others too. Two of the best changes I've ever made, along with Armour as DR, and +2 skill points every level for all. Oh, and a number of other things. Even so.

Sounds like one hell of a setting, by the way.

 

[Eternalknight]

I started my re-write today. The first thing I did was copy True 20 and get rid of every other die, and use only a d20. I am considering, however, only using other dice for damage rolls, but not sure.

The second thing I took a look at was ability scores. Every edition of D&D has the six ability scores, ranked (usually) 3-18. Most d20 games do this too. So, I am keeping the six abilities.

However, True20 does something different, and it was something that I considered doing over twelve months ago as well, but the people I spoke to at the time hated the idea. However, since this is MY d20 rules, I am gonna do it my way

When I first put the argument forward, I argued that ability scores (in the 3-18 sense) were redundant. After all, the ability scores are there just to determine what the final ability score modifier is; it is the ability score modifier that really counts. I had proposed to get rid of ability scores and just use the modifiers. Then True 20 came out and did that. So, that is what I am going to do.

There will be three methods to determine the scores.

Method I: Default array: +2, +2, +1, +1, +0, -1, arranged as desired.

Method II: Points buy: 5 points to spread between the six scores; scores can be assigned a negative number in order to gain bonus points (eg, a -1 score gives a 1 extra point). No score can be assigned a score below -4 or above +4.

Method III: Random roll. Haven't worked out how I am going to do this one yet.

So far it looks similar to True 20, and it is (I told you I was in love with the system). I am already working on in my head classes and races, and I think it will differ there somewhat.

 

[gamecat]

i like 3.0 - it was good before it was fixed.


BtW - what do i have to do to join you and nik in the magic project?

 

[Eternalknight]

i like 3.0 - it was good before it was fixed.


BtW - what do i have to do to join you and nik in the magic project?

Post good ideas, and lots of them Thats how nik got the job

 

[Gilwen]

Method III: Random roll. Haven't worked out how I am going to do this one

Use Fudge Dice, this would give you a range of -4 to +4
If you don't know what fudge dice are they are d6's that have the symbols '+', '-' and ' ' (blank) distributed on them. You could do the samething with regular d6's with say 1-2 = +, 3-4= - and 5-6 = blank (or whatever you feel would be fair.)
Gil

 

[Eternalknight]

Use Fudge Dice, this would give you a range of -4 to +4
If you don't know what fudge dice are they are d6's that have the symbols '+', '-' and ' ' (blank) distributed on them. You could do the samething with regular d6's with say 1-2 = +, 3-4= - and 5-6 = blank (or whatever you feel would be fair.)
Gil

Not a bad idea at all. I am still toying with the idea of only using a d20 though, and no other dice.