Why I don't play D&D anymore

[marune]

I find the two inseparable and do not limit the term encounter to describe only situations where dice rolling occurs.

Color is the "the forge" term for those situations were no mechanics are used (dice or others).

Different games have mechanics for different situations, in D&D we have a great support for fighting, some support for "social skills" but no support for my last example, chatting with the Innkeeper. The game I tried, Burning Wheel does give "XP" when you show some of your characters traits during acting; D&D doesn't have this.

Edit : Before you say that the DM can awards ad-hoc XP, this game I give in example really does have a mechanic to reward acting characters traits, you have to "buy" them, etc. I don't say it's a better game than D&D, I just say that this game support some kind of encounters that D&D don't.

 

[IcyCool]

Color is the "the forge" term for those situations were no mechanics are used (dice or others).

First you mention psionics as being troublesome, then you mention the forge. Sadly, things like that will get you less intelligent/useful discussion and more "you're playing the game wrong" comments.

Different games have mechanics for different situations, in D&D we have a great support for fighting, some support for "social skills" but no support for my last example, chatting with the Innkeeper. The game I tried, Burning Wheel does give "XP" when you show some of your characters traits during acting; D&D doesn't have this.

D&D does have an option for this, it's called "ad hoc xp". I have also often given out "RP" xp.

Edit - To throw another option into the pot, our group recently switched over to Earthdawn as a system, and have been loving it. I've also had some good fun with the Pendragon system. If you like Earthdawn, you might also like the Alternity system (I'm a huge fan).

 

[Mark CMG]

Color is the "the forge" term for those situations were no mechanics are used (dice or others).

Different games have mechanics for different situations, in D&D we have a great support for fighting, some support for "social skills" but no support for my last example, chatting with the Innkeeper. The game I tried, Burning Wheel does give "XP" when you show some of your characters traits during acting; D&D doesn't have this.

Edit : Before you say that the DM can awards ad-hoc XP, this game I give in example really does have a mechanic to reward acting characters traits, you have to "buy" them, etc. I don't say it's a better game than D&D, I just say that this game support some kind of encounters that D&D don't.

You simply assign an EL to any situation that warrants it. As said, I sometimes run the kind of game/campaign you espouse as your goal, so I cannot agree with your position that D&D doesn't allow for it. I've given you a couple of ideas on how to get there, too, but you don't seem interested in adjusting your style of play to achieve that end. This discussion doesn't seem to be about your original post or goals any longer.

 

[marune]

D&D does have an option for this, it's called "ad hoc xp". I have also often given out "RP" xp.

See my edit

 

[Crothian]

Edit : Before you say that the DM can awards ad-hoc XP, this game I give in example really does have a mechanic to reward acting characters traits, you have to "buy" them, etc. I don't say it's a better game than D&D, I just say that this game support some kind of encounters that D&D don't.

D&D does have a mechanic for it as you just stated. It might not be as well defined as Burning Wheel's but it is there. I play in games of D&D that have DM's rewarding playing character traits. D&D supports these types of encounters, just not as well as other games. But like erverything in every game it is up to the DM to use them.

 

[marune]

You simply assign an EL to any situation that warrants it. As said, I sometimes run the kind of game/campaign you espouse as your goal, so I cannot agree with your position that D&D doesn't allow for it. I've given you a couple of ideas on how to get there, too, but you don't seem interested in adjusting your style of play to achieve that end. This discussion doesn't seem to be about your original post or goals any longer.

Yeah, let's get back on topic.

I already said I have tweaked it for years, in my last campaign I didn't even really use XP.

However, what my experience as show me is that, if you get away from this basic assumption (the average of encounter / day) you'll find serious problems on the way. Also, since there isn't many place except "dungeon controled environment" where such a number of "mechanical encounter" can be done, I said that D&D don't support well many of classical adventurers "sports".

 

[marune]

D&D does have a mechanic for it as you just stated. It might not be as well defined as Burning Wheel's but it is there. I play in games of D&D that have DM's rewarding playing character traits. D&D supports these types of encounters, just not as well as other games. But like erverything in every game it is up to the DM to use them.

So my first idea was to add some minimal mechanics to have some guidelines for awarding XP. At first it sounds good, but at that point you hit another wall.

In D&D, advancement = levels, more levels = more powerful. Good acting of characters traits has nothing to do with getting more powerful.

 

[Crothian]

So my first idea was to add some minimal mechanics to have some guidelines for awarding XP. At first it sounds good, but at that point you hit another wall : "gamist" vs "narrativist" debate can begin...

In D&D, advancement = levels, more levels = more powerful. Good acting of characters traits has nothing to do with getting more powerful.

I never hit that wall, never even saw the wall, never even thought about that as a problem. D&D is obviously not for you, go play Burning wheel which is a very good game.

 

[Mark CMG]

Also, since there isn't many place except "dungeon controled environment" where such a number of "mechanical encounter" can be done, (. . .)

Well, I've already given an example to show that isn't the case. Certainly the example I gave allows for any of the encounters to culminate in any number of dice rolling situations (though I, once again, point out how this is a self-imposed limit of yours, not the game). You seem intent on ignoring advice that runs counter to the manner in which you use the game rules are the way in which you play the game. If someone tells me they always stub their toe on the front steps and I suggest they lift their foot higher, only to be told that they will always lift their foot only so high, I am at a loss how to help them further. If you want a different result, you need to change your approach.

 

[marune]

I never hit that wall, never even saw the wall, never even thought about that as a problem.

Ooops, I hope I will not ruin the game for you

I don't think D&D is a crap and BW a perfect game, like I said I really like many things about D&D and I hate all "LoTR-like detrimental magic" which BW has.