AD&D 1E The worst thing about AD&D, and boy is it annoying

[Sacrosanct]

is the love for using the d4 die. Probably the least favorite die type of all, and man, was it all over AD&D (1e and 2e). What's that? You assumed I was going to say something else based on the title?

Nah, this isn't an edition war, but more tongue-in-cheek. Kinda sorta, because I think most of us can agree that the d4 should be used sparingly. But the title is certainly hyperbole. And yet its shows up way more than it should. It shows up in HP. It shows up in weapon damage a lot (d4, d4+1, 2d4), it shows up a lot in treasure tables (1-4 gems, 50-200 starting gold, 5-20 pp, etc.). It shows up in the most famous damage spell, magic missile. But where it really shows up is in monster damage. And in really weird ways. A lot of monsters have 1d4 for damage. Many have 2d4 (including monsters that use weapons, like troglodytes, when the weapon is 1d6). Several monsters have 5d4 (like a troll's bite). I have to ask myself, why? If you're rolling 5d4, why not just 2d10? Instead of 3d4, how about 2d6? People probably would rather roll 2d10 than a handful of d4s. Who has that many in their dice bag anyway?

Possibly the most annoying thing about all of it is that they had 15 years of D&D before 2e came out- 15 years to see how everyone hates the d4- and yet kept it everywhere.

Rant over

 

[Lidgar]

I thought for sure this was going to be yet another rant about initiative in 1e.

Imagine my surprise when it was about caltrops instead!

 

[conankeep]

It's all fun and games, but I feel this is legitimately an important consideration
I also believe both editions prior to AD&D and after it were less reliant on the 1d4?

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Well, I'm guessing the Royal Game of Ur is not your game.

 

[Jahydin]

Several monsters have 5d4 (like a troll's bite). I have to ask myself, why? If you're rolling 5d4, why not just 2d10? Instead of 3d4, how about 2d6? People probably would rather roll 2d10 than a handful of d4s.

To sell more dice sets of course!

Who has that many in their dice bag anyway?

What, don't we all have a sack of dice that rivals Santa's bag here?

 

[Byrd]

is the love for using the d4 die. Probably the least favorite die type of all, and man, was it all over AD&D (1e and 2e). What's that? You assumed I was going to say something else based on the title?

Nah, this isn't an edition war, but more tongue-in-cheek. Kinda sorta, because I think most of us can agree that the d4 should be used sparingly. But the title is certainly hyperbole. And yet its shows up way more than it should. It shows up in HP. It shows up in weapon damage a lot (d4, d4+1, 2d4), it shows up a lot in treasure tables (1-4 gems, 50-200 starting gold, 5-20 pp, etc.). It shows up in the most famous damage spell, magic missile. But where it really shows up is in monster damage. And in really weird ways. A lot of monsters have 1d4 for damage. Many have 2d4 (including monsters that use weapons, like troglodytes, when the weapon is 1d6). Several monsters have 5d4 (like a troll's bite). I have to ask myself, why? If you're rolling 5d4, why not just 2d10? Instead of 3d4, how about 2d6? People probably would rather roll 2d10 than a handful of d4s. Who has that many in their dice bag anyway?

Possibly the most annoying thing about all of it is that they had 15 years of D&D before 2e came out- 15 years to see how everyone hates the d4- and yet kept it everywhere.

Rant over

3d4 vs. 2d6 (etc.)
So you don't have to worry about adding any bonuses from an ability score?


< tangent >
Lovely, lovely caltrops.

One of my house rules for Planescape is an encounter table with the option of rolling different dice (d20/d8+d12/5d4)

The Lady of Pain is, of course, Number 1.

• Roll 9d4. If there are no 3's, The Lady of Pain appears.

< /tangent >

 

[Older Beholder]

Forcing players to use D4's was just a pyramid scheme.

 

[MGibster]

I thought for sure this was going to be yet another rant about initiative in 1e.

"Let's use weapon speed," my wife said moments before we divorced.

 

[cbwjm]

3d4 vs. 2d6 (etc.)
So you don't have to worry about adding any bonuses from an ability score?


< tangent >
Lovely, lovely caltrops.
View attachment 447633
One of my house rules for Planescape is an encounter table with the option of rolling different dice (d20/d8+d12/5d4)

The Lady of Pain is, of course, Number 1.

• Roll 9d4. If there are no 3's, The Lady of Pain appears.

< /tangent >

Why do so many of yours have blood on them? I'm pretty sure you're not actually meant to use them as caltrops.

I say replace d4s with the mighty d12, it doesn't get enough love in DnD.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I say replace d4s with the mighty d12, it doesn't get enough love in DnD.

Probably worth considering bumping each die type, except the d20, up one step. Makes the weakest characters slightly more robust on average, makes the weakest attacks more interesting.

The only place I see where this would break down is barbarian hit points. Bumping them up to a d20 hit point die is way too good. Maybe give them 2d8 hit points for each level instead.