Unused tools?

[jmucchiello]

I think metamagic feats are very good. Wizards who know their stuff just don't use Cone of Cold, Delayed Blast Fireball, etc. It's all about metamagicked Scorching Ray and Fireball (and now the Orb spells from Complete Arcane).

I'm amazed that metamagic feats are so unloved in this thread. Lot of good advice in that post by Doug.

I think the only thing I haven't really used as a whole is any of the pre-made artifacts from the DMG.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

Before UA, metamagic feats were missing from my games. Neither I, nor my players were using them. Then we used the meta's per day option and suddenly the clouds parted and the sun came out.

I've use templates very sparingly. Not sure why.

I dislike most PrC with a raging, volcanic passion. I think I'm just disgusted because most books, lately, have the blurb "24 new Prestige Classes!" on them. I end up thinking, "How about rules, feats, skills, other options to customize the BASE classes, instead?" I'd much rather mix and match abilities than use a PrC (many of which I wonder what the point of putting them in a book was).

Think that's why I love UA so much.

 

[AFGNCAAP]

It depends...

I think I've used bits & pieces of elements here & there, like metamagic feats, PrCs, etc., but nothing across the board all the time. There are certain PrCs that I don't use at all (too specific to a particular setting, or they introduce elements that I want to keep out, etc.), certain feats, etc.

However, I don't think I've really used the NPC stats in the DMG at all, much less in any other books, either (like Races of Stone or Enemies & Allies). More often than not, the pre-gens just don't fit w/ my style of campaign at all. Then again, I prefer to use have as few NPCs with levels in a PC class as possible (unless the NPCs are established regular characters, cohorts & other PC-linked NPCs, or notable foes/opponents/villains); I'll have the setting populated more with NPCs with levels in NPC classes instead. More or less to emphasize that the PCs are not "average" by any stretch of the means--the PCs have a greater chance of finding a Warrior rather than a Fighter, an Expert instead of a Rogue or Bard, or an Adept rather than a Cleric or Druid much less a Wizard or Sorcerer.

I tend to use PrCs fairly often, but mainly to fit a concept I have in mind rather than for a random element. The NPCs w/ PC class levels and a PrC or 2 have been designed that way from the beginning: the class combos are made to maximize their abilities alongside the PrC. An elf or half-elf bard/arcane archer, so the character can cast a fair # of spells (instead of being stuck w/ just some 1st-level spells for the 1st-level arcane spellcaster class, & have a bunch of fighter levels heaped on), cast those spells while wearing light armor (and realy use that high Dex bonus to full effect), and have some nifty other abilities in addition to the arcane archer abilities. Same thing in mind with an elf swashbuckler/wizard/bladedancer w/ a rapier (high Dex, high Int, spells in light armor, etc.), a cleric/sorcerer/mystic theurge (high Cha for arcane spells & turn undead), a ranger/assassin (use those favored enemy bonuses along with the death attacks), etc. However, all in all, it's so that the NPC really fits in with the concept that I have in mind--the NPC's well-known for doing X, so the NPC's abilities are focused towards doing X, and their abilities in W, Y, & Z aren't as good.

And, more often than not, I pretty much need to build those NPCs from scratch rather than lift them straight out of an existing source.

 

[Yair]

High levels.
Except for a single partially-run 15th level adventure, none of the campaigns I was in ever got to double digits. Some ended in a TPK, others died for lack of momentum, but none survived intact.
I have hopes for the current Ravenloft campaign, but just now as we are nearing 7th level I may be forced to leave it :\

Yair, on one of his rants

(On Topic: I actually tried a little bit of everything, though the low levels stymied some of the choices. Combat manueavers were probably the least used, I'll work on that...)

 

[Evilhalfling]

I haven't used many prestige classes, or third party source material.
using one feat or spell from 3rd party stuff seems like powergaming - if it is more powerful and ineffective if it is less. I havent used the 3.5 NPC tables, but I have used lots of the 3.0 NPC tables, although i would make changes. the 3. 5 tables seem like to much work compared to tweaking a few feats or skills form the 3.0 tables. I have only used prestige classes for organizations, never for simple mechanical advantages. I don't game as a player very often, so there is lots I have never used.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I'm amazed that metamagic feats are so unloved in this thread. Lot of good advice in that post by Doug.

I think the only thing I haven't really used as a whole is any of the pre-made artifacts from the DMG.

In my games, its not that I don't LIKE Metamagic. Heck, I love the stuff. For some reason, though, it just never gets used beyond Energy Sub. Even as DM, I just don't seem to use it.

 

[johnsemlak]

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

I find the NPC tables some of the most practical materail in the DMG.

YMMV I suppose.

Definitely use the rules for communities (as baselines of course).

Random Magic Item Generation tables--actually haven't actually rolled using those, but I believe the tables give you useful info on the items.

 

[beeber]

here's another vote *for* the npc tables--great for on the fly dm'ing.

never used: craft/profession skills and the spell slot system. i dm a group of 3 players, so they feel the need to maximize every skill selection, and craft/profession skills are basically fluff, not crunch. and for spells, even tho i love d&d i've killed the magic system and use a spell point system from s&s' adv. players guide. the spellcaster types in the party (2 of 3 players) love the versatility.

 

[johnsemlak]

Metamagic feats.

One usefull thing about Metamagic feats not considered here yet is that it may allow you to take advantage of a Wizard's limited spell selection of higher level spells.

A 9th level wizard in theory might only two 5th level spells in their spellbook--and possibly less of that wizard wants to use one of it's new spells on some handy lower level spell he hasn't learned yet. The same spellcaster with a high INT can cast 2 5th level spells (three if specialized).

However, using EMPOWER spell (casting a 3rd level spell at a 5ht level slot), a wizard can cast a powerful version of FIreball using a 5th level slot. So, if a wizard still has only 1-2 5th level spells in their spellbook, the use of empowered third level spell can increase the options a wizard has.

I find this very useful. My 9th level wizard still has a limited spellbook. When I reached 9th level, I could add 2 more spells, but there were several spells at the 3-4 level range I still wanted to learn. So, by combining my 1 5th level spell with some empowered 3rd level spells, I'm increasing my flexibility in spell options. I think.

 

[Psychic Warrior]

The npc charts in the 3.0 DMG were, ime, a godsend and I used them for months until I was comfortable with the new rules. The 3.5 ones were less useful as every one of them has a huge chunk of their equipment as cash. Oh well. There really wasn't enough difference between the two to warrent changing things there anyway.

I've personally never used Metamagic but some of my players have. I've also never used a prestige class but that is mainly because my Dm only allows the ones from the DMG (3.5) or the 'Complete' books - if you own it. Since I have no intention of buying any of them and I don't care for any of the PrC in the DMG I guess I'm stuck. As a DM I regularly encourage my players to pursue PrCs and a few have.

Combat rules get used extensively when I GM - grappling, trips, disarms, sundering, bull rushes - you name it at least one person has tried it (nearly all combat options have been used more than once). As a player (different group) I find less options are used but I still try to encourage them as they can make all the difference.