D&D 4E What Rules Do You Want to See in 4E?

[KarinsDad]

Personally, I am bothered somewhat by the "Bigger, Better, Badder, Broken" aspect of recent WotC books.

So, I was wondering which rules or meta-rules (rules about rulse) would make your game more enjoyable.

For me, I dislike the concept of a Prestige Class for every situation.


I think taking most of the special abilities (from PrCs) and feats in the game and making them into feat trees would work better. Give each core class some more feats and the ability to gain those special abilities without going into a PrC.

That way, the really uber feats and PrC special abilities could be at or near the end of a feat tree as opposed to picked up at level one or four or (or level six because a PrC was taken) or some such.

PrCs should be few and far between (IMO). They should be for things like multiclassing two core classes, not for every silly idea that pops into somebody's head.


I also think that every PrC should have a significant downside to getting in. For example, virtually every spell casting PrC (except multiclassing ones like Mystic Theurge types which have already paid a penalty) should have no spell casting advancement for level one in the PrC. Getting a PrC would then not be like shopping for clothes and picking out the PrC du jour would not occur as often. PrCs would be more special and more "in character" and not only to gain cool new abilities. PrCs should have pros and cons, not just pros.

Another thing would be to have additional feats for all core classes that are lost if a PrC is taken (which only occurs for a select few classes today) and of course, this meshes in well with the idea of having more feat trees of special abilities (and even some potent feats in the game today which should be in a tree, but are mostly standalone).


Rules that you think should be looked at by WotC?

 

[RigaMortus2]

For me, I dislike the concept of a Prestige Class for every situation.

I see your point. I think there should be no XP penalty for multiclassing. So you can freely build the type of character you want by dipping into classes here and there.

I think Prestige Classes should exist, but be something more special. Harder to get into. Setting specific.

 

[Alpha Polaris]

I see your point. I think there should be no XP penalty for multiclassing.

Ouch. Do you even imagine the kind of saving throw such a build would get ?

 

[Elethiomel]

Ouch. Do you even imagine the kind of saving throw such a build would get ?

As long as we're talking 4E we could change the way saving throws stack, too. Count levels in classes that have "Good" fort save. Look up the "Good" fort save for a character of that level. Count levels in classes that have "Poor" fort save. Look up the "Poor" fort save for a character of that level. Add.

 

[KarinsDad]

Now that I am thinking about it, I also like the concept of some auto-skill boosts. Specifically, I think that some (not all) opposed skills should gradually go up in levels automatically, just like BAB. For example, Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive.

The Wizard is 20th level and is incapable of looking up and spotting a not so well hidden monster when he enters a cave is strange. But, he has not used his BAB for the last 15 levels (except maybe for an occasional Ray) and it still keeps climbing. Huh?

I would think that with all of the Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive rolls that many DMs ask players to make, that the Wizard would actually be using those skills.

 

[Salthorae]

Not to sound rude, but why are people so eager for yet another rule's overhaul? Is everyone really all that eager to go out and respend their money on yet another set of books detailing the game world in a new ruleset yet again?

DM Fiat, House rule, monkey around with 3.5,but please don't keep up the "4e" stuff

 

[FireLance]

Caster level should stack, like BAB, base saves, hit points, and skill points.

Unified spell slot acquisition table. Classes that have more spell slots (e.g. domain spell slots for clerics, extra spell slots for sorcerers and specialist wizards) should have them as class abilities, so spellcasters who multiclass from these classes will have to give up spell slots, too. For example, sorcerers could gain 1 bonus 1st-level slot at 1st level, a second bonus 1st-level slot at 2nd level, 1 bonus 2nd-level slot at 4th level and another at 5th level, and so on.

Fewer spell slots that refresh more often (not necessarily encounter-based). This would cut down on the complexity of higher-level spellcasters.

"Buff slots" - a limitation on the number of continuous spell effects that a spellcaster can maintain (the user of a potion would be considered the "spellcaster" for this purpose). This would cut down on the complexity of buff spell interaction.

More scalable feats, like the draconic feats in Complete Arcane, Races of the Dragon, and Dragon Magic.

Staggered racial benefits, similar to those that were done for the raptorans and dragonborn. This could partly solve the problem of Level Adjustment as more powerful races simply take longer to acquire all their racial abilities. It also allows some racial abilities of core races to scale with level and be more relevant at high level.

 

[FireLance]

Now that I am thinking about it, I also like the concept of some auto-skill boosts. Specifically, I think that some (not all) opposed skills should gradually go up in levels automatically, just like BAB. For example, Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive.

One possible system is for everyone to automatically gain base ranks in every skill (at a faster rate for class skills), and additional skill points per level (no four times at first level) for some customization.

 

[Ace]

I'd like an integrated level based defense bonus and better saves so that a PC doesn't need the big 4 (*) to be competitive.

(*) big 4

vest/cloak resistance

amulet natural armor

ring of deflection

magic armor/ bracers

 

[Nifft]

Meta-Rules I want in 4e:

Explicit Genre Notes -- "Cinematic", "Normal" and "Gritty" sidebars for each core mechanic. Example: Armor.

• Gritty: Armor as DR/fatigue, plus rules for armor deterioration and repair.
• Normal: Implications of armor, notes on "stealthy", nautical and city-based campaigns.
• Cinematic: Defense bonus for each class.

Builder Classes -- I love Racial Paragons, and I'd like to see similar (and similarly brief) "membership"-based prestige classes, instead of the 10-level "Elite Sandwich Maker" silliness we have now.

I'd like to see Basic and Advanced classes, and no multi-classing penalties. Talent Trees are cool, too.



Cheers, -- N