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<blockquote data-quote="JohnSnow" data-source="post: 3075977" data-attributes="member: 32164">Short answer: D&amp;D without the sacred cows isn't D&amp;D.Long version: Very few of the things in D&amp;D truly are &quot;sacred cows.&quot;So, the question is, what are the sacred cows? Offhand, I'd go with only the following:- d20 for task resolution- dice rolls for damage- hit points for tracking damage- saving throws for avoiding &quot;bad stuff&quot;- 6 ability scores (Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha)- Classes &amp; Levels that determine combat effectiveness and other special abilities.- humans, dwarves, halflings and elves as core races (there may be others, but these 4 will always be there)That's it. I don't think specific classes, arcane/divine magic, spell slots, AC, or anything else is a true &quot;sacred cow.&quot; While the concept of &quot;Saving Throws&quot; is, the specific ones are not. The skill and feat systems certainly aren't. IMO, D&amp;D will never have skill-based attack bonuses, or do away with hit points, dump the d20, or go classless or level-less. It just wouldn't BE D&amp;D.I could see Defense replacing AC, armor as DR, a different magic system, different classes, revisions to the skill or feat system, et cetera. I imagine there will always be some form of &quot;magic-user&quot; class, a &quot;fighting man&quot; class, and a &quot;thief-like&quot; class. I imagine BAB will stay and stay a class feature, as it's a very elegant way of handling &quot;to hit&quot; rolls.Beyond that, I wouldn't dare speculate.And as long as it held the above cows, I'd still play it. Which is why I still think of my Iron Heroes games as &quot;D&amp;D.&quot; It shares all those cows.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="JohnSnow, post: 3075977, member: 32164"] Short answer: D&D without the sacred cows isn't D&D. Long version: Very few of the things in D&D truly are "sacred cows." So, the question is, what are the sacred cows? Offhand, I'd go with [i]only[/i] the following: - d20 for task resolution - dice rolls for damage - hit points for tracking damage - saving throws for avoiding "bad stuff" - 6 ability scores (Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha) - Classes & Levels that determine combat effectiveness and other special abilities. - humans, dwarves, halflings and elves as core races (there may be others, but these 4 will always be there) That's it. I don't think specific classes, arcane/divine magic, spell slots, AC, or anything else is a true "sacred cow." While the concept of "Saving Throws" is, the specific ones are not. The skill and feat systems certainly aren't. IMO, D&D will never have skill-based attack bonuses, or do away with hit points, dump the d20, or go classless or level-less. It just wouldn't BE D&D. I could see Defense replacing AC, armor as DR, a different magic system, different classes, revisions to the skill or feat system, et cetera. I imagine there will always be some form of "magic-user" class, a "fighting man" class, and a "thief-like" class. I imagine BAB will stay and stay a class feature, as it's a very elegant way of handling "to hit" rolls. Beyond that, I wouldn't dare speculate. And as long as it held the above cows, I'd still play it. Which is why I still think of my [i]Iron Heroes[/i] games as "D&D." It shares all those cows. [/QUOTE]

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