D&D General What Is D&D Generally Bad At That You Wish It Was Better At?

[James Gasik]

On this:

The irony here, of course, is that one of the greatest strength fighters had in early editions was that they had really great saving throws. being modeled on the sword and sorcery heroes of pulp fiction, they could shrug off or just avoid all kinds of horrible effects. it was not until later that they were relegated to being only good at physical saves.

Yes, but that didn't kick in until higher levels. As a low level Fighter, you were more susceptible to say, Hold Person, than most everyone else.

 

[James Gasik]

D&D is generally "bad" at dexterity, agility, and swashbuckling.

The reason is, splitting agility between both Strength and Dexterity, creates mechanical death for the entire theme and tropes.

Strength itself must be agile, athletic, and the single go-to stat necessary for an agile character concept.

That wall climbing Rogue? Yeah, he should have arms of steel and a grip like a vise!

 

[James Gasik]

Honestly? I think Charisma shouldn't be an ability score. If we'd prefer social negotiation to be role played and not to be "roll Persuasion against made-up on the spot DC" (or worse, not allowing rolls at all, because c'mon guys, nobody would be so gullible as to buy a bridge", completely ignoring how gullible real people are, lol), then why do we even have a social attribute?

I'm of a similar mind when it comes to Intelligence or Wisdom- players are going to use their own intellects even if they try to "dumb it down", and some forms of play (puzzles & riddles) actually encourage that, and not many will be happy with a puzzle being solved with a quick die roll. I praised Earthdawn for having Perception and Willpower as stats instead, though they weren't brave enough to bypass Charisma (though at least they tried having a social combat system).

I mean, it's like some people want there to be stats to rate certain qualities, but they don't really want those qualities to be used for anything beyond saving throws!

 

[Theory of Games]

For me it's inability to represent differing settings. Right now and for some time too, D&D has felt like a powered up computer game - World of Warcraft or League of Legends. Using the D&D system as is doesn't fit settings like Conan or Middle Earth. A minor niggle but something that I think D&D is bad at.

I've done Conan's Hyborian Age with D&D (PF) before easily. Most Sword & Sorcery falls into D&D's rucksack. What problem were you having?

 

[Shiroiken]

For me it's inability to represent differing settings. Right now and for some time too, D&D has felt like a powered up computer game - World of Warcraft or League of Legends. Using the D&D system as is doesn't fit settings like Conan or Middle Earth. A minor niggle but something that I think D&D is bad at.

The issue is one that D&D specifically suffers from: it doesn't have a default setting. Unlike Pathfinder and other RPGs, D&D has mostly been designed to be "generic" enough to be used for numerous settings rather than a single one. This means that it doesn't really fit any specific theme or style particularly well, because it's supposed to be useful for all of them.

The only exception was 4E, which was designed hand in hand with the Nentir Vale/Points of Light setting. I wasn't a fan of it, but the concept of integrating the core rules with a setting is solid.

 

[overgeeked]

Honestly? I think Charisma shouldn't be an ability score. If we'd prefer social negotiation to be role played and not to be "roll Persuasion against made-up on the spot DC" (or worse, not allowing rolls at all, because c'mon guys, nobody would be so gullible as to buy a bridge", completely ignoring how gullible real people are, lol), then why do we even have a social attribute?

I'm of a similar mind when it comes to Intelligence or Wisdom- players are going to use their own intellects even if they try to "dumb it down", and some forms of play (puzzles & riddles) actually encourage that, and not many will be happy with a puzzle being solved with a quick die roll. I praised Earthdawn for having Perception and Willpower as stats instead, though they weren't brave enough to bypass Charisma (though at least they tried having a social combat system).

I mean, it's like some people want there to be stats to rate certain qualities, but they don't really want those qualities to be used for anything beyond saving throws!

I’m the same. Social interaction is pure role-playing. Charisma is for reaction rolls and followers/hirelings, nothing more. Int and Wis should be for mana and spellcasting, not as a floor or ceiling for the player.

 

[Voadam]

Non-spell based magic.

Throughout D&D editions most magic for players and monsters is built off the chassis of the spell system with most things replicating a spell effect, usually in a limited resource fashion (either spells, x/day, or similar).

I think paladins would generally work better narratively and in feel if they just had divine powers and not cut down cleric spell options. More lay on hands and auras and less cast lesser restoration.

 

[Reynard]

I wish D&D was good for playing at high levels.

I don't know. I think it's fine.

 

[Reynard]

Honestly? I think Charisma shouldn't be an ability score. If we'd prefer social negotiation to be role played and not to be "roll Persuasion against made-up on the spot DC" (or worse, not allowing rolls at all, because c'mon guys, nobody would be so gullible as to buy a bridge", completely ignoring how gullible real people are, lol), then why do we even have a social attribute?

I'm of a similar mind when it comes to Intelligence or Wisdom- players are going to use their own intellects even if they try to "dumb it down", and some forms of play (puzzles & riddles) actually encourage that, and not many will be happy with a puzzle being solved with a quick die roll. I praised Earthdawn for having Perception and Willpower as stats instead, though they weren't brave enough to bypass Charisma (though at least they tried having a social combat system).

I mean, it's like some people want there to be stats to rate certain qualities, but they don't really want those qualities to be used for anything beyond saving throws!

I'm not convinced play improves if your character can only be as charming,smart or sensible as the player.

 

[Reynard]

Another thing I wish D&D was better at because it is also a trope of the fantasy genre: wizard duels.