Unused tools?

[EricNoah]

D&D has more options than ever nowadays, and yet I realize that I have not ever (or very rarely)used some of the shiny new tools that came in the D&D toolbox. Examples:

*Prestige classes -- aside from one or two NPCs, I've never really used a prestige class. On the other hand, I like alternative core classes (small tweaks to standard classes, for example the cleric from UA that gets bardic knowledge instead of armor proficiency). Why don't I use PrCs? They seem like a pain in the butt -- I have to start thinking about it many many levels before I want to actually take the PrC and plan out skills, feats, etc. Hard to be spontaneous and react to what is going on in the campaign currently.
*Metamagic -- Other than energy substitution, I again have never really used it with PCs or NPCs. I think the cost is too high (a feat AND uses higher level spells up) and it has never really been worth the effort to explore different combinations of metamagic. I'd just rather use a higher level spell than a lower level spell with some stuff added to it.

On the other hand there's a lot of stuff I have used -- I love monster templates, I love advancing monsters and adding class levels to monsters, I like multiclassing characters in unusual ways, I like making magic items.

So how about you -- any tools you have yet to break out?

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

For me, its definitely metamagic. I'm with you in that I've used Energy Sub, but that's it. For some reason, it just doesn't interest me all that much.

 

[hong]

I've never used the DMG NPC stats, the random item generation tables, or the rules for communities.

 

[EricNoah]

I've never used the DMG NPC stats, the random item generation tables, or the rules for communities.

I'm with you on the NPC stats. Now, give me the same thing as stat blocks and I might use it. But a chart? That doesn't work for me.

 

[Azul]

My answer to this depends on whether I answer from a DM's perspective or from looking at what my players use.

I run a campaign with 8 regular players. They very rarely use prestige classes, exotic or unusual weapons from books other than the PHB or anything of that sort. Only one of my players seems to usually work towards a prestige class. The only thing they like to grab from other books tends to be new spells and occasionally a cool new feat.

As a DM, I tend to like to grab a little of this and a little of that. The main gaming tool I tend to not use is stock NPCs and stock monster stats. I have several rules lawyers with encyclopedic memories among my players, so I rarely if ever use any monster "straight out of the book" and I'd never consider using the NPCs included in the DMG and other WotC books. Unlike my players, I use oddball classes and prestige classes liberally for NPCs and monsters. I add class levels, tweak stats, and generally get creative with the mechanics to keep an element of mystery in the game.

The other DM tool I almost never use is premade adventures. They just never seem to fit into my campaign storylines. I might poach a few ideas but I haven't run a premade scenario in decades.

 

[rumblehed]

tools

*Metamagic -- Other than energy substitution, I again have never really used it with PCs or NPCs. I think the cost is too high (a feat AND uses higher level spells up) and it has never really been worth the effort to explore different combinations of metamagic. I'd just rather use a higher level spell than a lower level spell with some stuff added to it.

On the other hand there's a lot of stuff I have used -- I love monster templates, I love advancing monsters and adding class levels to monsters, I like multiclassing characters in unusual ways, I like making magic items.

So how about you -- any tools you have yet to break out?

I've found that even a low-level metamagic rod's worth the price and can free up that feat and spell slot, especially when designing NPC's. Far as monster templates go, I surprised a group of PC's with some Spellstitched undead a few sessions back. Had fun chasing them through the dark with what they thought were "just another group of zombies".

 

[kmdietri]

I agree with PrC... up to know but that has slowly begun to change.

Metamagic for sure I don't use, notable exception Quicken Spell when combined with Divine Metamagic from CD.

I don't use really any NPC creation stuff, usually go all from scratch...

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I use PrCs a lot as a GM and a player, tweaking to hit the optimal mechanical representation of a character concept. Major "boss" enemies (or allied, party-joining) usually have one or more PrCs in an unusual combination.

Metamagic... eh... it IS expensive. It's pretty good with some spells, but the only ways I've seen it heavily leveraged were with Divine Metamagic and the Artificer class. If I used D&D magic a lot when I GM, I'd probably try to find a good way to work it, but...


I don't use the DMG stock NPC tables; they're just too hard to read and annoying. Personally, I'd like a "Monster Manual of NPCs" with suitable CR villains (or allies) written up as monster entries. THAT I would use, at least when short of time.

I don't use the magic item tables, the wealth-by-level guidelines or the XP chart.

I don't use (many) dungeons and almost no standard traps.

 

[Imret]

I've never used the DMG NPC stats, the random item generation tables, or the rules for communities.

With you on all of the above. I'd sooner whip up a small town from scratch than explain why it has a 7th-level monk.

I rarely use metamagic, and never as a player, except for Extend Spell with the old-school stat-buff spells.

I've only used one PrC as a player - Bayushi Deceiver from OA - but I love them as a DM. But then, I'm sort of a crunch junkie, I love having new rule sets provided for me, and an all-new combo of abilities (because my players don't get to see a bunch of my books) always goes well for me. My players still shudder when "Monk of the Crescent Moon" (So sick of "ninja"!) comes up.

As for templates...I LOVE templates as a DM, except for the summon monster spells. I'm not sure if this changed for 3.5, since I'm not going to bow before the glaringly obvious money grab, but they seemed very happy to give you boatloads of templated monsters and not help out with it. Thus, I keep a handy-dandy guide of pre-altered celestial and fiending animals by my DM screen. Never used them as a player, since none of my group could agree what the ECL for "insectile" should be. BTW, if we just missed seeing it on the template entry, I'm gonna be an unhappy player.

I'm sure there are other tool sets I'm not thinking of, but it kind of boils down to the fact I'll use all sorts of PrCs, feats, and new spells, but very very rarely will I use the random material provided for me. The exception is "100 adventure ideas"...roll up 4 and combine them into a single thing. You get some pretty cool arcs that way.

 

[Menexenus]

Hi Eric. I'm maybe even more conservative about the fancy bells and whistles of 3rd edition than you are. I've never used a prestige class or a metamagic feat *or* a template as either a player or DM. I agree with you that often these extra bells and whistles just make everyone's life more difficult.

If there are those out there who enjoy these rules add-ons, more power to ya. But they're not for me.