Need Help To Make/Find My Perfect D&D

[AslanC]

Hey there,

I don't know where else to turn, so I have come here.

I am looking to run a D&D campaign soon and as I sat down to read 3.5 and Pathfinder, I found myself wanting to rip my eyes out at the "crunch". Then I looked at Red Box Fantasy and Basic Fantasy Role Playing and they were too simple.

Let me explain what I mean.

I like a LOT of things about 3.5 (was mostly a 2e player back in the day). The things I like are;

1] A wide variety of classes, I like classes and am not a Fighter, Mage and Thief covers everything type of guy. I like stuff like Jesters and Amazons, etc...

2] I LOVE class and racial abilities, especially stuff that you gain as the levels go up.

3] I am not unfond of Feats, but you need a certain amount of control with them.

4] Huge fan of E6, think it is a fantastic way to game in D&D.

The stuff I don't like in 3.5 is;

1] The skills and their crunch...ugh... too complicated and impedes fast and fun play for me.

2] The OVER importance of Feats and specifically Meta-Magic Feats.

3] The spells, too much

4] Psionics... see number 3

5] All the cumbersome action, half action, ready action, attack of opportunity, etc...

6] The insane amount of prep the DM has to do to avoid TPK with building encounters, etc... I have a life and not enough hours to prep to that level.

So what I am looking for is a D&D that let's me have the stuff I like and minimizes the stuff I don't.

Does such a thing exist? Is there something I am missing like a super fast and fun version of d20?

Help?

Thanks!

 

[GX.Sigma]

Check out the D&D Next playtest at dndnext.com. It's a bit unfinished (the skills and feats especially), but it sounds a lot like what you want.

 

[Stormonu]

You might also want to look into Castles and Crusades. I'd describe it as what could have been one direction 2E went to become "3E".

 

[MichaelSomething]

The Pathfinder Beginner Box is also an option worth considering...

 

[Quickleaf]

I think several systems could work for you.

D&D Next
An OSR retro-clone
Warhammer Fantasy
Radiance
13th Age

What do you mean by "the spells, too much"?

 

[AslanC]

I think several systems could work for you.

D&D Next
An OSR retro-clone
Warhammer Fantasy
Radiance
13th Age

What do you mean by "the spells, too much"?

My problem with D&D Next is in the latest playtest they start talking about the changes they made to movement and actions and blah, blah, blah... I THINK what I need is something that joins the Class variety and depth of 3.5 with the simplicity of AD&D... I know, I know, who'd have ever thought those two words would go together in a sentance that wasn't "AD&D lacks simplicity".

As for "the spell, too much"... I mean holy crap man, I want to just play a cleric and get spells, or a mage and get spells, not have endless spheres and schools, etc...

Yeah so ... the simplicity of AD&D with the class (abilities mostly)/racial abilities diversity of 3.5

Oh and a calm version of Feats.

Maybe backgrounds instead of skills too.

Also is there an EASIER way to build encounters? I find it time consuming and tiresome as is.

 

[Ahnehnois]

13th Age definitely jumps out at me as having meaningful variety in its classes, only 10 levels, a simpler system than skills. It's not out yet, but I'd keep my eye on it. My preferences aren't all that different from yours, and I find it best to try and take some version of the d20 system and cut out or replace undesirable elements.

 

[AslanC]

13th Age definitely jumps out at me as having meaningful variety in its classes, only 10 levels, a simpler system than skills. It's not out yet, but I'd keep my eye on it. My preferences aren't all that different from yours, and I find it best to try and take some version of the d20 system and cut out or replace undesirable elements.

Looks cool, but alas we start the new campaign this Monday

 

[Ahnehnois]

Looks cool, but alas we start the new campaign this Monday

So you're starting a campaign in a week and you haven't decided on a rule system? You must be good at improvisation.

 

[AslanC]

So you're starting a campaign in a week and you haven't decided on a rule system? You must be good at improvisation.

Story and setting always trump rules for us and yes, I am damn good at improvisational GMing, which is why I like a more streamlined and less crunchy D&D