Name 1 thing from AD&D and Second Edition and 3/3.5 that 4E doesn't have in core

[Daniel D. Fox]

Pretty simple and straightforward - keep it to one item per edition to keep the discussion concise, if you can.

I would have added original D&D, but I am not entirely familiar with anything outside of the red box.

If anything, this is an excellent exercise to help WotC, third-party developers and YOU to see what needs to be added to 4E via houserules or additional addendum.


AD&D - NPC/Hireling tables, I really miss these!

Second Edition - A crafting system that tells specifically in days how much and how long it takes to make an item

3/3.5 - permanency tables on what spells you can make permanent on a player

 

[jdrakeh]

Disliked Things

AD&D 1e: Multiple tables used to resolve single hits in combat.

AD&D 2e: THACO. 'Nuff said.

D&D 3x: Monk core class based loosely on Hollywood Kung Fu movies.

I hated all of these things in earlier editions

Missed Things

AD&D 1e: Monsters, mainly. I'd like to see monsters from the Fiend Folio redone for 4e.

AD&D 2e: Settings, mainly. I'd love to see Birthright and Darksun make a 4e comeback.

D&D 3.5: Rules for taint, corruption, and insanity from Heroes of Horror.

I like all of that stuff and want to see more.

 

[justanobody]

AD&D: Random encounters

2nd: Economic system

3.x: Ummm? Prestige classes?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

1Ed/2Ed/3Ed in general: True & meaningful multiclassing- the first 1Ed & 2Ed had 2 forms of multiclassing- multiclassing and dual classing. While similar, they had different effects. Dual classing is much more like 3.X multiclassing (though much more restricted), while the multiclassing of those editions most closely resembles gestalting. 3.X's default was, quite simply, the most flexible multiclassing rules of any edition of the game. 4Ed's dabbler system pales in comparison.

3Ed in particular: more than one meaningful role/archetype for arcane casters.

2Ed: Priests of specific Mithoi. I don't think any edition handled the wide variety of priestly archetypes and religious hierarchies better, though there are certain mechanics in 3.X I preferred.

1Ed: Psionics & Bards. Sure, they were optional rules in the appendices, but they were there.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Assuming this is more based off what you would want to see in 4e? Not just what is missing?

3.5:

Skill Points: I like the way skills are done in 4e, but would like skill points on-top of the current skill system.

I don't know the others intimately enough to say.

 

[Keefe the Thief]

1e: Obscure Language. Seriously, i like clean layout and clean text, but now and then a MM or setting book could whack me with Borgstrom-esque fluff text and i would smile and be happy.
However, not where you describe crunch.

3e: Affiliation System. Where are you? I´m here, waiting for you. Please, be written, and come to me.

 

[Runestar]

3e: liberal multiclassing system.

 

[Zustiur]

1st: creatures that die in one hit
2nd: several classes
3rd: 1000x current level XP table


-edit- alright, if you want to be picking about minions. Creatures that die in 2 hits. We either need 1 or 4-10 hits.

 

[el-remmen]

1st: Potion mixing result table (still use it)
2nd: A psionics system that did not just feel like spells by another name (I know it was 'broken', but we fixed it easily enough back in the day)
3rd: Detailed breakdown of skills

 

[VanRichten]

1ed: The flumph. First thing that came to mind.

2ed: Not sure.

3/3.5ed: Leadership feat. Actual multiclassing. I could go on for a while but you didn't want more than that.