As WotC reprints old books the D&D Rules Compendium comes up a lot.  What if they took it as the core concept for the new version of D&D?  Yes I know they won't but what if they did?  There'd be tweaks I'd like to see of course but what if BXCMI became the model for the rules and the Compendium became the model for the format?

I'd still like to see a little modernization.  Another stat generation option for instance.  Assuming we wanted a single 300 page hardback that was a complete and evergreen version of D&D what minor tweaks would you want to see?

I'd like to see a more unified high level character model.  I like Paladins and Knights and Druids (perhaps for magic-users and clerics) but I'd like Rangers and Assassins and Archmages too.  I don't think the weapon specialization rules would a good use of space so I'd want the selection of monsters and spells rounded out.  The optional skill system should mesh with the theives skills properly as a percentile system or d20.  I'd go percentile just to underline the difference between combat and other modes of play.  I'd also like notes on using humanoids as player characters in the monsters section and DM's section.  You'd have to spend your gold on training to get XP for it.  A section on map based play and programed DMless dungeon play would be nice too.  Actually a basic set buit around map based boardgame style DMless play might be a really good way to bring new people to the game and compete with Descent at the same time.

But really, other than tweaking things here and there to make it more comprehensive and broad, why not just use the Rules Compendium as the model for D&D Next?

Do you mean the Rules Cyclopedia?

Doh! Brain Fart!  Yeah!  That one!

They'd never do that because it would result in them getting all the money. I mean heck, even I'd check out an updated comprehensive BECMI. Then there'd be no more money for any other game company, and they're trying to be nice to the little guys for reasons.

No it wouldn't, once you bought it you'd have it and how many do you need?  Just one.  That's the problem though, you can't keep selling it unless you bring in new players.  Now personally I think a simpler more approachable core D&D would bring in new players.  It dispels the idea that D&D is this infinitely expansive and incomplete project.

Yes, sadly, I think that the RC was a case of a product being just too good to be allowed to live.

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