Throwing Open the Floodgate

[Remathilis]

Ok, I've decided to allow (with a few exceptions) everything WotC has published for D&D 3.5.

I have a few exceptions right now: nothing world-specific to a setting (Red Wizards, Dragonmarks), No Incarnum, Tome of Battle, or Tome of Magic (I don't own them and don't feel like learning them). As of right now, I'm not allowing warforged either (they don't exist IMC, yet). Oh, and I have the right to ban or modify specific classes, feats, or such I find too powerful (looks at Radiant Servant). Lastly, no power-combos (like Mystic Theuge/Ur Priest)

However, everything else is golden. Gray elf wizards (with substitution levels), Goliath Warlocks, Githyanki Duskblades, shifter samurai, spellscale ultimate magi, Whisper Gnome Wilderness Rogues, etc.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever just gone all out and allowed everything or nearly everything. How's it worked for you?

 

[I'm A Banana]

Most of the time. Especially in my PS games, but often I will let the PC's create characters and then figure out how they get together.

I've had varied reactions. Most are pretty excited, but with an eye toward whatever kind of theme the group wants, they steer away from the wackiest possible combo and instead gravitate toward what would be cool for their characters. Some (especially those not used to playing wide-open) instantly go to Savage Species and see how many times they can augment a deinonychus's natural attacks.

 

[cmrscorpio]

My experience with such a thing is that it inherently causes the powergamer streak in all players to come to the front. Actual roleplay becomes almost totally absent. The players take on too much of a "Look at this coolthing I am and can do" mentality. This absolutley killed a recent attempt at a Planescape campaign I recently tried.

 

[Crothian]

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever just gone all out and allowed everything or nearly everything. How's it worked for you?

I threw open the third party flood gates. I said I'd allow anything and I've got the books to back that up. I told the players they could pick their stats. And here is what I got:

Elf Akashic
Human Fighter Iajutsu master
Halfing Mage Blade

I think stat wise they had about 30 point buy.

The moral of the story is that it depends on the players.

 

[Hairy Minotaur]

The moral of the story is that it depends on the players.

I completely agree, I'm blessed with a group that averages about 15 years of RPGs apiece. They've all been in campaigns that feature a power gamer or spotlight hog, and while they like to choose interesting combinations of race and classes, I too allow anything even non-WOTC stuff. My current campaign has:

Tiefling - warlock/rogue
Centaur - shifter
Human - scout
Human - bard
Ogre - barbarian
Ogre - dragon shaman

And they'd all rather roll the dice than try to figure out what feats to take for the next 12 levels.