What Game Mechanics Have You "Borrowed" From 2E?

[Torm]

My gaming group occasionally has reason to make a "called shot", so I have tended to borrow the old 2E -4 penalty for doing so. Happened last Sunday, in fact.

What other 2E mechanics that aren't in 3/3.5 have you grandfathered in or adapted to suit?

 

[Shemeska]

Every so often I'll use some of the expansive rules regarding spell alterations on various planes. I've usually only used bits and pieces of them in long term campaigns, but I've gone crazy in oneshot games before with spell keys, power keys, other effects on specific schools of magic, etc.

I never played 2e, so I'm just picking the mechanics that are primarily interesting from purely a flavor perspective, which is what 2e was best at, and which 3e oftentimes lacks.

I've had one player lament not having called shots in 3e, but I don't know much about them.

 

[frankthedm]

My gaming group occasionally has reason to make a "called shot", so I have tended to borrow the old 2E -4 penalty for doing so. Happened last Sunday, in fact.

What other 2E mechanics that aren't in 3/3.5 have you grandfathered in or adapted to suit?

I just reinstalled magic's sharp teeth.

I ripped out most saftey features Wotc stuck on spells like Fly and put back the chance to fatally teleport into solid matter on a teleport mishap.

 

[Torm]

I've had one player lament not having called shots in 3e, but I don't know much about them.

Called shots are an excellent way to handle certain things players want to do - like use a bow to shoot an opponent in the hand to disarm them or keep them from doing something, rather than using potentially lethal, general damage. The downside to allowing them, and I'm pretty sure the reason they aren't in 3E, is that called shots to the head become the order of the day - leading to either "too easy" kills, or roleplay situations that are too unrealistic. "You hit him in the eyeball for enough damage to kill a 2 HD creature. But he's.... okay?"

I only allow them on a case-by-case basis, to avoid this. If I wanted to put them back in general use, I would probably, instead, figure out the AC and hp for the specific body part, as though that part were a separate creature, and allow them to attack as normal.

 

[Davelozzi]

Like Torm, I sometimes use called shots but it's kind of a case by case thing. I don't think that there's really any other 2e rules that I use.

I would use reflecting lightning bolts and fireballs expanding to fill the space but my players don't want to.

 

[el-remmen]

I just reinstalled magic's sharp teeth.

I ripped out most saftey features Wotc stuck on spells like Fly and put back the chance to fatally teleport into solid matter on a teleport mishap.

yeah, my fireballs are still 33,000 cubic feet of death, and lightning bolts can bounce back if they don't do enough damage to break through. And dispelled while flying? Oops!

For a full list of my changes/additions see: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Changes+to+Core+Spells

 

[el-remmen]

Oh, and no clerics - all specialty priests.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Oh, and no clerics - all specialty priests.

[pimp on]

Have you taken a look at the Priest of the Celestial Spheres? It's essentially a product that takes the concepts behind the old specialty priests, and builds a 3E class around them. You can find it here: http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=352&products_id=4882&

[pimp off]

To answer the actual question... While I've considered bringing back some of the concepts from 2E, I haven't as yet done so. If I ever do, it's most likely to, as Frank said, remove some of the "safety features" from spells.

Oh, wait, I did bring back one. Grease is still highly flammable.

 

[el-remmen]

[pimp on]

Have you taken a look at the Priest of the Celestial Spheres? It's essentially a product that takes the concepts behind the old specialty priests, and builds a 3E class around them. You can find it here: http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=352&products_id=4882&

[pimp off]

No, but since I planned to re-tweak all the classes I came up with after my current 5 year long campaign finally ends (no use in changing rules on people when we have at most 3 sessions to go), I will now.

And remember, keep that pimp hand strong. . .

 

[jdrakeh]

My gaming group occasionally has reason to make a "called shot", so I have tended to borrow the old 2E -4 penalty for doing so. Happened last Sunday, in fact.

Yep. That's the only big one for me.