D&D (2024) (+)One Big Thing I Would Change

[QuentinGeorge]

Not really, I still think that bounded accuracy/proficiency bonus are huge improvement on the first few editions. And I'd also require to have actual features for the first few levels, not just at lvl 1-2 then nothing but HP and more ''to-hit'' for 20+ levels. And it would also requires to have ability scores actually matters beyond the +X at every 2 points.

On the other hand, I feel 5e has too many things/resources/features going on at the same time. I feel there's too much emphasis on what's going on the character's sheet and not enough on activity to do in-fiction.

Honestly compressing the current game into 10 levels would be a massive improvement and match the lengths of most campaigns. Keep wishes for magic rings and genies, not as spells for players to cast!

 

[Jahydin]

Advantage and Disadvantage cancel out only on a one to one basis.

It's not that already? I'll be darned...

 

[Lojaan]

I would cut the number of spells in the game by at least half, ideally three quarters. Make spells that can have different effects when cast at different levels.

Eg. Burning hands, scorching ray and fireball could all be the same spell

 

[W'rkncacnter]

No static numerical bonus stacks with another static numerical bonus, ever.

...so your attack modifier is either your ability modifier or your proficiency bonus, whichever is higher? be careful what you wish for

anyway, my big change would be separating feats and ASIs (which, from what i've heard, wizards STILL isn't doing for some ungodly reason). deciding between an objective and easy to understand stat boost and varying your skill set in more statistically opaque ways just isn't fun to me at all, and i don't see any good reason to force a decision point between them (especially when the game's math relies on only ever taking ASIs anyway).

 

[Dausuul]

I've made this pitch... a few times now... But I'll say it again: Excise ability scores from the game. Scale up proficiency bonus to compensate. Skills remain, but become proficiency only. Saving throws can go back to Fort/Ref/Will.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

...so your attack modifier is either your ability modifier or your proficiency bonus, whichever is higher? be careful what you wish for

I mean, gotchas aren’t helpful, but also….sure? Magic weapons could also easily make you as good as an average person that is actually good with a weapon.

But no, I specified that calculations can stack with bonuses. Your attack modifier is you ability score mod + proficiency.

Still, I actually like the idea of your bonuses being the beater of, maybe? Hmm…

anyway, my big change would be separating feats and ASIs (which, from what i've heard, wizards STILL isn't doing for some ungodly reason). deciding between an objective and easy to understand stat boost and varying your skill set in more statistically opaque ways just isn't fun to me at all, and i don't see any good reason to force a decision point between them (especially when the game's math relies on only ever taking ASIs anyway).

Yeah that’s another good one.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I've made this pitch... a few times now... But I'll say it again: Excise ability scores from the game. Scale up proficiency bonus to compensate. Skills remain, but become proficiency only. Saving throws can go back to Fort/Ref/Will.

That really is a big change! Nice!

I kindof did this in the game I’ve written and am making a new version of, in that ability scores have nothing to do with your skills (and skills govern all actions). Instead, you can use attribute points to push bad checks up the success ladder, and to fuel special abilities.

So imagine if the wizard has Int Score spell points, and the Bard had Cha Dcore spell points, basically, and a level 3 wizard spell costs 3 Int to cast.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

I mean, gotchas aren’t helpful, but also….sure? Magic weapons could also easily make you as good as an average person that is actually good with a weapon.

But no, I specified that calculations can stack with bonuses. Your attack modifier is you ability score mod + proficiency.

Still, I actually like the idea of your bonuses being the beater of, maybe? Hmm…

it was more of a joke about phrasing then anything else, but i don't really like the idea anyway. i honestly don't really like how low a lot of 5e's numbers are - or perhaps more specifically, i don't really like how the low numbers mean the swinginess of the d20 makes what should be world-shattering badasses have unrealistically low odds of doing things they should be able to do quite consistently (unless you're a rogue or bard rolling their preferred skills, or an artificer using their tools, or you're using feats and took skill expert, you monster). that might be another big thing i'd think of changing - upping proficiency from quarter level plus one rounded up to half level rounded up...or maybe instead changing the d20 to, say, 2d10, to lower swinginess somewhat. the former would be a pretty big math change, and the latter would be...more then that. at that point it might just be better to use or make a different system entirely, which is why i probably wouldn't change it and didn't suggest it originally, but i think you could do some neat stuff with it.

Yeah that’s another good one.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

it was more of a joke about phrasing then anything else, but i don't really like the idea anyway. i honestly don't really like how low a lot of 5e's numbers are - or perhaps more specifically, i don't really like how the low numbers mean the swinginess of the d20 makes what should be world-shattering badasses have unrealistically low odds of doing things they should be able to do quite consistently (unless you're a rogue or bard rolling their preferred skills, or an artificer using their tools, or you're using feats and took skill expert, you monster). that might be another big thing i'd think of changing - upping proficiency from quarter level plus one rounded up to half level rounded up...or maybe instead changing the d20 to, say, 2d10, to lower swinginess somewhat. the former would be a pretty big math change, and the latter would be...more then that. at that point it might just be better to use or make a different system entirely, which is why i probably wouldn't change it and didn't suggest it originally, but i think you could do some neat stuff with it.

Ah yeah, fair. I wanted to murder 4e’s half level math and also massacre all the stacking bonuses…like all of them. I’d still be playing 4e if not for the bonuses math.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

Ah yeah, fair. I wanted to murder 4e’s half level math and also massacre all the stacking bonuses…like all of them. I’d still be playing 4e if not for the bonuses math.

yeah, that's also fair.