Sacred Cows You Hope Die?

[J. R. Scherer]

Strength = Weapon Skill. "I'm beefy strong, so I hit better than you, Mr. Dextrous Fencer, unless you take a special feat."

Good call.

Perhaps we could simply have BAB, but feats could be allow characters to do that with Strength, just like Weapon Finesse does currently with Dexterity...

 

[J. R. Scherer]

Sacred cows to kill:

This started in Eberron and carried over to SW Saga. No action points based on level! If you must have action points, have a refresh mechanic that does not require leveling up.

Get rid of random HP per level, just have flat per class total.

Level loss. Come up with alternate mechanic for Energy Drain; the most ridiculous and broken metagame monster ability of all time. You should NEVER HAVE TO LEVEL DOWN YOUR PC!!! EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Half Races- For the love of god let statistics for them die. You want to play a high-elf? Fine. Your stats are those of either human or elf. You choose. Your character's looks are up to you.
Magic Missile- Any spell that auto hits at 1st-level is broken. And having a Brooch of Shielding repel it? Dumb. Can we get a mulligan on magic missile please?
+1, +2, etc. Magic Weapons- Lame. My magic sword should shoot lightning or be wreathed in flames. If you want simple + items make them items of quality.
Spells- Detect Evil, Locate Object, etc. See ya spells that ruin games. Save or die effects? Bye bye.
Random Generation- You want to "roll your character" the old fashioned way with ability scores, hit points, and gold? Fine have at it. But don't require it. I want point buy and fixed hit points in the book. In fact, keep both as some people like that.

More good calls, particularly permanent level loss. That's quite possibly the most frustrating, un-fun thing I've ever encountered in a game. Vampires drain levels by punching people? That's nuts!

 

[J. R. Scherer]

The sacred cow I wouldn't mind seeing dropped? Tolkienism.

That's happening more and more all the time, I think with the new settings. Warforged and shifters don't strike me as being very 'Tolkien-ish', for example.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

In 30 years of D&D, the only mechanic that ever truly bugged me was Level loss- its just a pain, especially now with so many level-related interrelated features built into the 3.X system- Bonus Feats, HP, BAB, Saves, Stat boosts- that aren't on a nifty chart a la AD&D.

In recent years, 3.X has eroded my appreciation of mixed race PC races. "Halfs" just bug me these days...miscegenation of fantasy species should always require powerful magics, and the result should be individuals, not a race. Thus, I think the Bloodline/Heritage type approach is better.

"Tolkienism" for me has always been but one ingredient of the game...but then again, I've read many of the other inspirations for the game, like Vance's Dying Earth, Lieber's Fafhrd/Grey Mouser, and Moorcock's Eternal Champion stories, and see their influences everywhere.

Perhaps we could simply have BAB, but feats could be allow characters to do that with Strength, just like Weapon Finesse does currently with Dexterity...

That wouldn't be a bad idea.

The rest of the complaints seem to me part of the integral "D&D-ness" of the game.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Not so much things I'd like to see die but definitely things added.

I'd like to see Parry rules where Shields don't increase your AC but instead increase your ability to Parry.
Armor that takes damage as it is hit.
Characters that can actually survive by their skill with a sword rather than wearing armor.

Palladium has had these rules since the beginning and I've always thought that the addition of these rules to D&D would be a vast improvement to the system.

 

[Brennin Magalus]

The sacred cow I wouldn't mind seeing dropped? Tolkienism.

I agree. I prefer Birthright's take on elves and dwarves and I think halflings should be dropped from the game.

 

[Kent H]

I agree. I prefer Birthright's take on elves and dwarves and I think halflings should be dropped from the game.

Yes! I loved Birthright's Sidhe/Tuatha de Danaan style elves.

 

[Thurbane]

I have also rolled for ability scores going on 20 years (started with 1st edition in 1987), but one of the problems that arises is when one player wants to be a monk and rolls 14, 13, 12, 11, 11, 9, and the dude who wants to run a fighter rolls 18, 17, 17, 15, 13, 11.

…Know what I mean?

I see your point, but I've just always accepted that as part of the game.

Anyway, different strokes for different folks. Im starting to "get" why so many people prefer non-random ability scores.

 

[Doug McCrae]

I forgot my biggest one. The distinction between arcane and divine magic. Die, die, die!

Yeah, that's one I'd like to see the end of too. Maybe in 5e.