POLL: Would you play D&D without a Skill System?

[Technomancer]

I'd like to keep skills, but restrict it to just trained skills. Untrained skills that are merely extensions of natural abilities (Spot, Listen, Hide, Move Silently, etc) would be based solely on attributes. As would the trained-only skills, but they would not have ranks. They would just be based on the attributes as well.

 

[francisca]

I'm quite happy to play either way, though my preference is without a skill system. In my experience, D&D w/out and D&D w/ skills are related, but definitely different beasts, and the actual play is a bit of an apples and oranges, well, maybe lemons and limes comparison.

I also think highly of RQ2, which is skill-based system from the get-go, also distinctly different.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

No, I'd never play an RPG without some form of skill system. The current D&D skill system is by no means perfect, but it's acceptable. I'll need some more time to decide if the saga system is acceptable or not.

 

[Nifft]

I'd probably end up writing one.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Simia Saturnalia]

If it's the only game going, I guess. :/

Skills are for doing things outside of combat. A lack of skills means I have no way to meaningfully interact with the game world unless I'm smacking something with a dangerous bit of metal or casting spells on it; I'm just begging the GM for a treat. That's fine when you leave the dungeon for Town, where treasure is liquidated, supplies purchased, and training acquired so you can go beat up more gribblies, less so when you're doing other things as well.

I want the drama of that one d20 roll everyone leans in to watch to be as much about winning the Baron's aid for the upcoming war with an impassioned argument about the sanctity of the line of succession (along with suitable gifts of coin and promises of land) as it is about beating the lich's spell resistance. I want perfecting the highest and strongest arch in all the known world for the entrance of the temple I'm building to be as well supported as jamming a +3 longsword into a balor's fiery hide. I want the game that happens off the battlemat to be as much about my decisions as combat is. I want the strategic game to go with the tactical one. And I want to play with the rules set in those situations as I do in combat; a d20, my character sheet, and roleplaying in equal measure (at the best of times).

But that's just me, I guess.

 

[Jeysie]

No way. My group runs a lot of combat-light campaigns, plus we love coming up with unique solutions to things, so getting rid of the skill system would pretty much hose three-quarters of our play. If anything, I'd love to see the skill system expanded, and things like combat even made more skill-oriented, similar to the Fallout SPECIAL system.

Peace & Luv, Liz

 

[blargney the second]

I remember the arguments when we played D&D before skill systems... never again.

 

[McBard]

3.X's current scheme for scoring/balancing innate aptitude (Abilities) and training (Skills) is completely off. Its "double-hoop syndrome" forces a character with a DEX 18, for instance, to turn around and, again, invest in DEX-based endeavors that he should already be great at for having a DEX 18: balance, tumble, move silently skills.

So, you can end up being nearly the most naturally dextrous character around...but still unable to keep your balance on a floor with some rubble because of skill point shortage. In turn, some clod with a DEX 10 and (apparently) years of experience skating over rubble floors (see, he's got 10 ranks in Balance) can work wonders the guy with the Dexterity of Michael Jordon can't even attempt.

None of this is realistic, heroic, or fun...but do note how preciously "granular" it is.

 

[T. Foster]

Not only would I happily play a version of D&D without a skill system, I'd be very reluctant to play one with a skill system. Race, class, ability scores, common sense, and ad hoc judgment should be able to cover everything a skill system does with a lot less bookkeeping and rules-memorization required.

 

[Korgoth]

After two weeks of playing Moldvay Basic, I am *emphatically* in the "Good Riddance" camp.

I had no idea how much the d20 skill system was clogging up my D&D games until it was gone.

Moldvay is truly a gem! My favorite version, for sure.

I hope that WOTC will release it as a PDF... I think it's the only major version of the rules that isn't yet available for purchase electronically. That being said, it's still not that hard to get copies, though it's getting harder.