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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Gothmog" data-source="post: 1173878" data-attributes="member: 317">True, not all D20 games are synonomous with D&D, but many are.  WOT, AU, SW D20, to name a few, all have the same feel and superheroic scale as D&D.  CoC and D20 Modern are somewhat different in the progression of characters, but characters in those games feel a little more like real people than the supermen of D&D.Psion, you raise some interesting points as well.First, WotC has claimed in the past that they plan to make D20 THE system everyone uses for any genre of game.  It can be ported to various styles with various degrees of success, but it best suited for heroic games.  Its hard to run a gritty, deadly, death is around the corner D&D game.  Other systems handle other genres better.For example, in horror, characters need to be decently capable at the start- not necessarily combat wise, but knowledge and skill wise.  The first 3 or 4 levels in Coc result in vastly underpowered characters, and after 8th or 9th level they begin to scoff at some of the CoC beasties (ghouls, deep ones) as long as they have a firearm.  It just doesn't have the right feel to me for horror, or CoC.The task resolution system of D20 + mods works pretty well at low and mid levels, but IME breaks down at high levels.  I have been toying with the idea of rolling 2d10 and adding them instead of a d20.  The caveat is that one of the dice would be a critical die, such that if a 10 was rolled, it is rolled again and added to the result- ad infinitum.  If a 1 is rolled, it is rolled again and subtracted from the result- ad infinitum.  This gives a more normal distribution to the results of actions, but also gives the possibility of exceptional success and failure.  I haven't tried it in play yet, but it might allay some of my doubts about the core mechanic of D20.As far as giving XP for roleplaying, I am the ONLY DM I know who routinely does this in D&D.  Most DMs IME don't want to fuss with it- they are afraid if they reward someone making an effort to roleplay, it will piss off the other players when they earn more.  Well, to me, someone who consistently puts forth the effort to roleplay well, DOES deserve more XP than people who sit idly by and only do something when its their turn to hack.  Its a personal preference issue, true, but something that I have seen crop up more in D&D than any other game- partly because the rules support this.  I typically don't even use the CR tables at all, just give out rewards for accomplishing objectives (about 50%), innovative playing (20%), and roleplaying (30%).Unfortunately, the hack-n-slash crowd is a majority.  Places like ENWorld make you forget about this- ENWorld is a bastion of reason and maturity in the gaming community compared to places such as the WotC boards and RPG.net.  There are some great story hours here, and doubtless some great players- but for a diametrically opposite POV, hop over to the Wizards boards, and you'll see nothing but hack-n-slash.  One isn't necessarily better than the other, but hack-n-slash isn't my style, and I try to avoid games where it predominates.  Unfortunately, most players you run into casually are more interested in maxing out their BAB, saves, or getting a +17 Hackmaster than developing a compelling character.</blockquote>

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