Would D&D be easier if...

[Voadam]

You might be interested in the gestalt class concept in the 3.x UA which reduces the number of classes to three IIRC.

I can imagine a variant to this where the PC starts as a gestalt class and joins a PrC later on. It's not to my cup of tea though. YMMV.

You are thinking of the three generic classes in UA.

Gestalt is a different option in UA where you get the abilities of two classes for every level.

 

[Zander]

You are thinking of the three generic classes in UA.

True. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Odhanan]

I think D&D would be easier to learn if Wizards made a book that was actually designbed for beginners...

There is the Basic Game. But I agree: that would be cool to have a starting D&D book sufficient on its own and for a while (i.e. more than Basic Game offers) for newbies to the game. I already have a list of possible customers for such a book. The reason I don't offer the BGame to these children is because it's a marketing joke ("play three times with the game and buy our nifty three core books!" ). On a long-term marketing point of view, it would make much more sense to have an entirely usable beginners' game playable on its own more than a few times.

 

[Crothian]

At least its not gurps.

Ya, thankfully its not a game that has some of the best suppliments in the RPG industry......

 

[Spell]

i vote for classes, too. i can't stand the fat that there are hundreds and hundreds of feats out there

 

[Crothian]

i vote for classes, too. i can't stand the fat that there are hundreds and hundreds of feats out there

Most of them are optional. So if you don't like that many don'.t use them.

 

[Bloodstone Press]

Actually, I prefer less classes (including the elimination of all PrCs) with the addition of Talents/Feata ala Grim Tales/d20 Modern.

I like that too. That's why I developed the Primal Heroes line of core classes. There are only six core classes in the series, and each features a slot-based advancement system similar to the fighter feats or d20 Modern talents. With these classes there is no need for prestige classes and you can customize your hero at 1st level.
Available now:
Primal Heroes: The Savage
Primal Heroes: The Sentinel
Primal Heroes: The Knave

Coming Soon:
Primal Heroes: The Magus
Primal Heroes: The Sibyl
Primal Heroes: The Warlord

 

[Ranger REG]

I think D&D would be easier to learn if Wizards made a book that was actually designbed for beginners......

IIRC, back in 1999, many of us prefer NOT to dumbed down the rules.

The end result: We got a rulebook worthy of a place in a law libary.

Seriously, the book is easy to read, if your regular reading level is 9th grade or higher (joes off the street have an average reading level of 4th grade).

If you want to do a rulebook for beginners, don't include all the standard rules. That's why 1st-grade mathematic books don't have algebra chapters. You have to master it in stages.

As for the prestige classes, they're not part of the standard rules but a plug-n-play variant rules that only your DM can allow.

 

[Crothian]

IIRC, back in 1999, many of us prefer NOT to dumbed down the rules.

The end result: We got a rulebook worthy of a place in a law libary.

Look what you did!!

 

[Ranger REG]

Look what you did!!

Oh, right! Blame me! Like I wanted my rulebook to begin with:

"See Allen. See Allen roll dice. See Allen roll dice for his character's ability scores. There's Strength, Dexterity,...."