Ravenloft vs. Call of Chtulu

[DnDChick]

First, CoC d20 is wonderfully done, and has some feats and skills that should have been in DnD3e (Sleight of Hand and Skill Emphasis, for instance).

FYI, DnD does have the 'Skill Focus' Feat, which is the same as 'Skill Emphasis' in CofCD20 except it only addes +2 to a skill rather than +3.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

[mmadsen]

Skill Focus

First, CoC d20 is wonderfully done, and has some feats and skills that should have been in DnD3e (Sleight of Hand and Skill Emphasis, for instance).

Frankly, I think Skill Focus should provide +3 to any one skill (as Skill Emphasis) or +2 to any two skills (as any of the innumerable skill-bonus Feats). Do I really need page after page of skill couplings listed as separate Feats?

 

[mmadsen]

Jo just decide if you want a more in-your face horror, or a psychological descent into insanity. Decide if you want chain guns or vorpal swords. Decide if you want Shoggoths or Goblins. Then pick accordingly.

Your first point, in-your-face horror vs. descent into insanity, describes the two games well. When it comes to chain guns vs. vorpal swords and Shoggoths vs. Goblins, really, you can mix and match those without losing anything.

For instance, you can play Call of Cthulhu in a D&D setting, if you remove all the spellcasting classes. It should play like a classic Robert E. Howard Conan tale. Or you can introduce non-mythos monsters into a modern setting. Goblins can be plenty creepy if they're coming at you with garden tools. And we know you can introduce Shoggoths into D&D; that's one of the selling points of the book.

 

[BadMojo]

FYI, DnD does have the 'Skill Focus' Feat, which is the same as 'Skill Emphasis' in CofCD20 except it only addes +2 to a skill rather than +3.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

I think many DM's have already House Ruled "Skill Focus" to add +3 to one skill. As it stands, "Skill Focus" is rather ill-conceived. I believe Monte has already stated that he gives +3 on SF in his own game.

Mmadsen definitely has a point about the proliferation of +2 to two Skills feats. It seems like these feats are fast becoming nothing more than filler material.

Hey, I like a good tangent as much as the next guy/gal.