Recreating Basic D&D with the OGL - Feedback Requested

[AnthonyRoberson]

Ok, with an old copy of Basic D&D in one hand and a copy of the SRD in the other, I have been working on creating an OGL-based version of the old game.

I'm doing it for my own purposes, but I was wondering. Would anyone else like to actually see such a creature? Is it a cool idea? Or a dumb one? Feedback would be much appreciated.

 

[Christian Walker]

Anthony,

Old school that I am, running an "Elf" character would be very cool. I think, however, that some work should be done to blend the Fighter and Magic User aspects of the class a bit more seamlessly. The 3E Sorcerer does this pretty well, so I'd reference it as a basis for working on the Elf.

Some creative fast talk would be required to explain why Dwarves and Halflings cannot be clerics, wizards, and thieves, but it is possible.

For example, Dwarven spirituality is a solemn, private affair. Worshipping alone or in small groups, Dwarven theology stresses a personal, intimate relationship with their deity. Being creatures of restraint and sensibility, Dwarves do not have clerics. Surely they have spiritual leaders, but holy men wandering about with flashy displays of holy magic is counter to Dwarven temperament.

Or something like that.

Do keep me posted on this project. I'm always looking for good ideas to run in Scrollworks.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I'd love to see it. Are you going to get rid of the feats and skills like BD&D or is it going to be a 3e game with classes like Dwarf? If you are going to cut away a lot of the extras I'd love to give it a run.

 

[mmadsen]

Just what is it you're trying to do? If you like Basic D&D, why don't you just play Basic D&D? If you like 3E, why don't you just play 3E? I'm assuming there are elements of each that you like, but you don't say.

 

[Aaron2]

I'm doing it for my own purposes, but I was wondering. Would anyone else like to actually see such a creature? Is it a cool idea? Or a dumb one? Feedback would be much appreciated.

This is really something that D&D needs. The Adventure Game just doesn't cut it since you can't make you own character, that's 99% of the fun of an RPG.

They I've been thinking is to pre-choose the feats and skill points for you each of the class and use multiclassing rules for the elf and hobbit.

For Ex: Dwarf will get Power attack and Cleave. Fighter will get point blank shot and expertise. Elf will be Wiz/Ftr/Wiz. He'll get 1d6 hit points (average of 1d10+1d4+1d4/3)

Level Bab 0th-level-spells 1rst
1 +0 2 -
2 +1 3 1
3 +2 4 2

Saves
Fort Refl Will
+1 +0 +1
+2 +0 +2
+2 +0 +3

OK, my charts are crappy, but you get the idea.


Aaron

 

[mmadsen]

Re: Re: Recreating Basic D&D with the OGL - Feedback Requested

This is really something that D&D needs. The Adventure Game just doesn't cut it since you can't make you own character, that's 99% of the fun of an RPG.

They I've been thinking is to pre-choose the feats and skill points for you each of the class and use multiclassing rules for the elf and hobbit.

If making your own character is 99% of the fun, why would you want to take away all the choices?

 

[AnthonyRoberson]

I'd love to see it. Are you going to get rid of the feats and skills like BD&D or is it going to be a 3e game with classes like Dwarf? If you are going to cut away a lot of the extras I'd love to give it a run.

That's right. I'm cutting out feats and skills, but I'm not using classes like dwarf and elf. The only class that I'm fumbling with right now is the rogue. I know this post was going to open up a can of worms and so I guess I'll pull back a little until I get a workable copy together and then I can post a link to it.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Re: Re: Re: Recreating Basic D&D with the OGL - Feedback Requested

If making your own character is 99% of the fun, why would you want to take away all the choices?

Simplify the game I'd guess. Just becuase you have more choices doesn't make the character creation more fun. If that was the case then making up GUPRS or HERO characters would be much more fun than making up an AD&D or 3e PC, but I don't think it is.

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

(Tried this earlier--let's see if I can post it before the site goes down again...)

Here's something I use in my Basic D&D campaign that might do the trick...

In place of FEATS, each time a character's BAB would improve, rather than automatically increasing it, instead allow him to choose one of the following (each may be chosen multiple times):

• +1 To General BAB
• +2 To Ranged BAB
• +1 to AC
• +1 HD

These would allow a customization of each character's fighting style, but would be fixed--rather than variable from round to round--and would simulate such things as expertise, focus, toughness, farshot, etc.

You could also add other options--such as +1 Melee Damage (i.e. power attack)--to suit your campaign.

You might even want to consider upping the Fighter's BAB a bit to compensate for the loss of FEATS.

 

[Rhianni]

As a previous poster stated. Why? If you want the nostalgia of the original then just play that. Your taking out feats which is a big part of d20 it almost seems like a different game.

Good luck to you though. Making games and changing rules can be fun in and of itself.