Retraining?

[Li Shenron]

I dislike retraining rules as a strategic design concept. More generally, I dislike mechanics that "rewind" the character, including level drain (although I admit that the fear this possibility causes still has some appeal on me).

For just fixing honest mistakes, I prefer that players deal directly with the DM.

Therefore I hate having retraining rules in the core books... it prompts me to veto them, which is not usually nice.

 

[TerraDave]

I think retraining is a fine bolt-on option.

This.

And I am sure it will be. An option.

 

[El Mahdi]

I don't know if being a part of the core system is good or not, but I can see it working great as an add-on. I actually like the concept though, and have incoporated it as a houserule in my own 3.xE based game.

In the long run though, whether core or not, it's something very simple to add or ignore as one desires.

 

[Wormwood]

I didn't even *realize* there were retraining rules until I saw them in the character builder. I usually just let layers change whatever they want between sessions (or during a session if it doesn't slow down play).

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

We've always let people make small changes to their character just by asking the DM. Usually, there would be a limitation, such as you have three sessions to make a change before it's permanent, but it was always a judgement call. Basically, you're not stuck with choices you don't end up liking, but you can't change your character at will.

I think this system is better than having a hard-coded rule, but Organized play must have a hard-coded rule. I'd prefer that the rule be specific to organized play, and not part of the core, but I do recognize that it is needed.