One neat thing about 'old school' D&D is the prominence and importance of player character niches. Each class had its area of expertise and was necessary for the success of the party. 3.x has diminished the value of the niche with multi-classing and other rules.
Now, I am not saying I don't like options. I do. But at the same time, I wonder if we could 'go back' and return to a time when there was a Fighter, a Cleric, a Rogue(Thief) and a Wizard in the party and each one was essential.
Probably not.
I guess that's the real motivation behind this: recently I have begun to realize that, while a good game, D&D isn't the D&D I grew up with anymore. And I am not even an OD&D or even AD&D guy. I am a BECM/RC D&D guy for the most part (we played 2e but my formative years were with the BECM sets). And I don't begrudge the new generation their formative game, any more than I begrudge the true grognards theirs.
I just miss niche protection, saves versus death and the slow crawl up the level ladder.
Now, I am not saying I don't like options. I do. But at the same time, I wonder if we could 'go back' and return to a time when there was a Fighter, a Cleric, a Rogue(Thief) and a Wizard in the party and each one was essential.
Probably not.
I guess that's the real motivation behind this: recently I have begun to realize that, while a good game, D&D isn't the D&D I grew up with anymore. And I am not even an OD&D or even AD&D guy. I am a BECM/RC D&D guy for the most part (we played 2e but my formative years were with the BECM sets). And I don't begrudge the new generation their formative game, any more than I begrudge the true grognards theirs.
I just miss niche protection, saves versus death and the slow crawl up the level ladder.