Which D&D "cow" is least sacred?

[der_kluge]

Another sacred cow that needs to go is Paladin and Ranger as a core class. Drop that concept like a lead balloon, WoTC.

We're adults now; we can handle it.

Races, classes, levels, and hit points are all central to D&D. I voted for Vancian magic, because I believe D&D could remain D&D so long as those others are all maintained.

 

[Woas]

I voted Tolkeinesque Races. Mostly because this already is going by the wayside with all the Monster races we can play and such. It really isn't about Elves and dwarves anymore... we have Half-Orcs and such now and a slew of other new age races.

I'm fine and actually enjoy having other races instead of the norm... most of the races feel taggd on as it is (Half-Orc, Halfing, Gnome, Half-Elf..). I would like to see Lizardmen, merfolk, etc. more accessable I guess.

 

[Softwind]

Vancian magic, definitely. I think that magic should be a lot more flexible. I'm just too lazy to work out a solution.

 

[Steverooo]

Another sacred cow that needs to go is Paladin and Ranger as a core class. Drop that concept like a lead balloon, WoTC.

Absolutely *NOT*! There is currently no way to replicate either class. Until there is, the classes should remain...

The least-sacred cow, of course, is THAC0... It has already been done away with. The Class/Level system will probably be the last to go.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Personally I'd love to see Hit Points go, at least as we know them now. This is for three reasons:
1) It is ridiculous to think that a PC with 25%, 50%, or more of his hit points gone is going to fight as well as he did when he was fresh. I like Vampire and Shadowrun for assigning penalties when you take a certain damage threshold.
2) PC's shouldn't take damage the same way. A Dwarven Fighter with an 18 Con should be able to weather damage better than say an Elven Wizard with a Con of 8. Sure, Hit Points reflect that but I'd like to get away from hit points. Cyberpunk handles it well with the Body Type Modifier. The healthier you are the better you deal with shock and damage so you end up taking less than someone who isn't as healthy. Everyone uses the same condition monitor so it pays to be healthy.
3) There is no system to kill someone in a single shot or to knock them out easily. Again I like Vampire for their system in which greater accuracy contributes to greater damage. Crossbows and Firearms should command a healthy respect but try intimidating a 10th level Fighter with a Crossbow that only does 1d10 damage. He could easily take several shots and still be in fighting form. "HA-HA!!! I STILL HAVE 20 HIT POINTS LEFT". In a hit point system you can't reach a good balance of lethality. Either they are too lethal or too weak.

 

[Liolel]

It has to be Vancian Magic. There are several d20 systems that cast spells, or things like spells without using Vancian Magic system. Even though it is not magic specifically look at the Psionics handbook, a system of magic that doesn't use the Vancian Magic system. Even then there are other ways of doing it. Look at the elements of magic be en publishing. Vancian Magic is part of the flavor of D&D but it is the easiest to get rid of.

 

[ascendance]

What? Nobody's brought up AC? Whatever happened to hardcore advocates of armor as DR?

I would say... AC. From what I hear, Conan's got a very good system that fits perfectly within the framework of D&D.

 

[Mordane76]

I voted HP. IMO, this sacred cow of D&D has been weakened by the inclusion of Wound Points and Vitality in other d20 systems, and the concept of Massive Damage Threshold in d20 Modern. I believe either of these mechanics is superior in execution and conceptualization of "damage," however, D&D is supposed to be more fantastic, so I doubt a less abstract concept like WP/VP or MAS would be acceptable in a standard high fantasy D&D campaign, but would work great for a grittier campaign.


I also think alignment, while integrated into the game, really is a sacred cow that could be gotten rid of completely, and the concepts and definitions of "good" and "evil" could be left to the DM for uses of spells against them. However, ripping out the alignment system without some sort of substitute (like, perhaps, the Alliegences system from d20 Modern) might leave too much room for wiggling in the adjudication of protection, magic circle, and detect spells and other spells that rely on alignment.

 

[KB9JMQ]

I might have voted Tolkienesque races, but AFAIAC D&Ds races aren't remotely Tolkienesqe, and you can't get rid of something that isn't there.
glass.

This is why I voted the Tolkiensque option

 

[Sanackranib]

I said other. thinking about the dice. i wouldnt say that they are "sacred" we all like our various geometric shapes. but I wouldnt be surprised if we see fewer and fewer of the more exotic shapes.