What is World of Warcraft d20 like?

[Joker]

I was thinking of playing a fairly cinematic campaign and was looking for a simplified d20 system.

WoW with it's 8 classes and and 4 races on each side and relatively streamlined spell and ability system I thought it would be a good choice.

However, I've only played the game and I don't know how that's translated into the tabletop version.

So I was wondering, is it what I think it is?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Well, for starters, it's not as simple as you might think. Every supplement has additional races and classes and prestige classes.

That said, if you're a WoW player, it's a pretty big info dump. A lot of the stuff in the books are things Chris Metzen has slipped in that haven't made it into the MMORPG yet. There's hints at what's behind the Graymane Wall in Gilneas, discussions about Undermine and Northrend, and so on.

 

[Psion]

Yeah, it's not simpler. It does a lot of things to D20 fantasy I like, like using the AE like spell system and using racial levels as a racial balancing mechanism. The things it does for D20 Fantasy are awesome if you want warcraft-type setting elements and AE-type rules elements (I do), but don't expect WoW-type rules elements.

 

[Joker]

Thanks, I went to the bookstore today to check out this mammoth tome.

I'll skim it some more but it sounds like I should look for something else.

Maybe I can trick my players into using Alternity. "It's d20 I swear. Look, everything is based around a d20."

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Actually, I would check out Castles & Crusades or True20. Both are derived from D20, but are more streamlined. C&C is the flavor of 1E or OD&D (more classes than you might want, though), while True20 is a ruleset that supports several different minisettings, although there's support for playing D&D-style fantasy with it.

I'd also look at Green Ronin's Black Company and Thieves World D20 set ups, both of which have rules changes. (As I understand it, Thieves World is closer to regular D&D, while Black Company strays further afield.)

 

[jdrakeh]

Actually, I would check out Castles & Crusades or True20. Both are derived from D20, but are more streamlined. C&C is the flavor of 1E or OD&D (more classes than you might want, though), while True20 is a ruleset that supports several different minisettings, although there's support for playing D&D-style fantasy with it.

I second those two suggestions.

I'd also look at Green Ronin's Black Company and Thieves World D20 set ups, both of which have rules changes. (As I understand it, Thieves World is closer to regular D&D, while Black Company strays further afield.)

And caution against these two, as neither is a self-contained game, but more of a setting-specific supplement for use with the D&D core books. That said, the Black Company book intrigued me enough to write up an errata document for it based on the official errata thread at the GR forums.

 

[Kunimatyu]

Like other posters have said, WoWRPG is not what you're looking for.

Not only does it bear little resemblence to the mechanics of the MMORPG(despite a veneer of such), it's not streamlined at all, and many of the feats and abilities aren't well-balanced with each other.

C&C and True20 go in different directions with their simplicity. In C&C, there are no feats, and you just take levels in your chosen class, making you mostly mechanically identical to another person playing that class(flavor, of course, can be a different story). In True20, there are three generic classes: Warrior, Expert, Adept, and you get a feat every level, and all of the old D&D class abilities have been turned into feats. Additionally, there's a heavy reliance on "Conviction" points that let the characters reroll failed rolls, emulate feats etc, so the feel is very cinematic.

I much prefer True20(can you tell?), because the freeform ability selection makes it easier for me to create the character in my head, but YMMV -- certainly, both C&C and True20 are good, and better at a more cinematic experience than WoWRPG.

 

[Joker]

Thanks for the suggestion guys. I'll check those books out at the bookstore.

 

[evildmguy]

Thanks, I went to the bookstore today to check out this mammoth tome.

I'll skim it some more but it sounds like I should look for something else.

Maybe I can trick my players into using Alternity. "It's d20 I swear. Look, everything is based around a d20."

I use Alternity for my current campaign and it is working out great! I can't say that enough. We are all having so much fun with it!

Good luck in whatever you do!

Have a good one! Take care!

edg

 

[Joker]

I use Alternity for my current campaign and it is working out great! I can't say that enough. We are all having so much fun with it!

Good luck in whatever you do!

Have a good one! Take care!

edg

You have no idea how much I want to use Alternity. It's such a good system and it saddens me and makes my cry at night that it wasn't continued.

And because my group is already stretched for playtime they don't want to try it.

I need clones of myself. Four would do nicely.