I'm not trying to start an mud slinging contest here so no snarky sutff. (not that I expect it from any of you).

I don't like using minis and it seems that a lot of (not all by any means)TP stuff is either garbage or breaks the system.  So I tend to like the core books minus the minis and  homebrew setting. AoO: don't like them and don't use them. I like using spell point system instead of the standard magic system. Crits are not confirmed and always do auto max damage times crit multuplier. I like less magic items, to me it shouldn't be possible to by many of the more powerfull magic weapons. Most magic items are heirlooms,taken from defeated enemy's, or found during adventuring. In large cities it may be possible to buy a +1 or +2 item but then it would likely not be advertised that seller had it.

What's your flavor of D&D.

I run a pretty standard game of D&D set in Eberron, with all the bells and whistles (meaning with lots of supplemental material). However, dragging 15 kg worth of books (core books, DMG2, MM3, XPH, Spell Compendium, Complete Books, Eberron CS, Races of Eberron, Explorer's Handbook, Player's Guide to Eberron, Sharn, Five Nations, Magic of Eberron), plus assorted notes and stuff, back and forth to the game sessions is getting a little old.

I do have a couple of house rules, but I do run with AoOs, grids, counters (instead of miniatures), and so on. So I guess I'm the anti-McCrow.

Next campaign I run will probably use the Red Hand of Doom adventure/campaign as a basis. I'd likely use just as many books, just replacing the Eberron stuff with FR stuff instead.

I don't really like D&D for multiple reasons so when I do play it is usually straight up whatever is around because I don't like the system enough to want to bother changing it and am playing only to do something with my friends.

Quote from: VarajI don't really like D&D for multiple reasons so when I do play it is usually straight up whatever is around because I don't like the system enough to want to bother changing it and am playing only to do something with my friends.

Yeah, if my current group wasn't playing D&D 3.5 right now I would like niot be playing it @ the moment. It is easier to find people who play it and it is a decent change of pace from our regular game.

awww...geez I just realized I posted this in the wrong form... oh well:o

I like my players to have a lot of sources, so I'll allow almost any book.  As long as I can look at it, either in print or as a pdf.  In ther past year or two this has become a bit of a problem becuaes I have so many books and pdfs.  So now I'm thinking of having a list of DM approved races and classes, with feats and magic items I'll stay pretty  easy going.  It is easier when their from WotC books though as E-Tools usually has support for it.

As to magic I usually run a pretty magic rich campaign, I am running in the Forgotten Realms.  In any city the characters can usually buy most magic items worth up to 4,000-5,000 gold pieces.  There are magic stores in the cities but they usually handle only limited use items like potions, scrolls and wands.  Now this limit does fluctuate depending on the size of the city and how it views magic.  Anything over and above that they have three choices; have it made, make it themselves, or find it while adventuring.

In battles I use a dry erase mat and minatures.  It helps to eliminate any confusion or misunderstandings.  I use the normal critical rules, you roll to confirm an dthem roll damage twice.  Attacks of opportunity I still use as it makes sense to me.  But the NPC's use them just as effectively as the players.

I make my NPC's up as if I was building a character for myself to play.  So if they have a big two handed weaponn then I'm going to be taking feats that increase its effectiveness.  Now I have run into problems with this since I equip my NPC's the same way I would making a character of that level.  So after a couple of encounters with groups of NPC's the party is swimming in armor and weapons.  I had one adventure where the party had to go into town and buy 2 wagons with horses just to haul their loot back home.  So now I've moved into having NPC's drink 2-3 potions before going into battle or getting spells cast on them by a NPC wizard.  I am also using more monsters instead of humaniods and making extensive use of templates.

Getting ready to start a campaign. It will be Eberron using heavily tweaked Arcana Evolved rules. I'll be running a converted Return to The Temple of Elemental Evil. I'll also be using chunks of Iron Heroes and the combat defence rules from the Malhavoc Best of D20 vol.1.

I like miniatures and AOO. I'm actually making AOO a bigger part of my game.

We run 100% off of Klooge.  That is to say, our DM has the entire module and maps in the Klooge software, and projects it on a screen.  Us players use laptops or a common mouse to move our characters on the screen.  This means means we can make movement EXACT, and not be tied to the 5x5 square concept, and we can also see the radius of our spells and light sources EXACTLY.  If a monster is slightly outside of our available light sources, then it's dark in that area (but not to the DM, who sees everything).

It's neat, but it has it's drawbacks.  Like a set-up and break-down time.  And the need for keeping character sheets updated in Klooge all the time.  And the lack of that personal feeling you get with miniatures or just words.

Quote from: MistwellWe run 100% off of Klooge.  That is to say, our DM has the entire module and maps in the Klooge software, and projects it on a screen.  Us players use laptops or a common mouse to move our characters on the screen.  This means means we can make movement EXACT, and not be tied to the 5x5 square concept, and we can also see the radius of our spells and light sources EXACTLY.  If a monster is slightly outside of our available light sources, then it's dark in that area (but not to the DM, who sees everything).

It's neat, but it has it's drawbacks.  Like a set-up and break-down time.  And the need for keeping character sheets updated in Klooge all the time.  And the lack of that personal feeling you get with miniatures or just words.

Sounds interesting.  My groups have always discussed how we could computerize our games more.

I play pretty much a straight DnD 3.5. I don't monkey around with the rules at all for the most part because I would rather play then write rules and if I needed to jack with them, then I would play something else. AoO's I have no problem with what-so-ever.

Quote from: KnightcrawlerAs to magic I usually run a pretty magic rich campaign, I am running in the Forgotten Realms.  In any city the characters can usually buy most magic items worth up to 4,000-5,000 gold pieces.  There are magic stores in the cities but they usually handle only limited use items like potions, scrolls and wands.

I run in Eberron, which is also pretty magic-rich (at least in places like Sharn, the city that makes Waterdeep look like a backwater ). I allow PCs to buy magic items, but they can't buy anything other than reasonably common scrolls, potions, and occasionally wands "over the counter." Well, they might get lucky and find someone who has something for sale, but generally magic items have to be commissioned. It's not hard finding someone willing to make most stuff in Sharn (at least as long as it can be made by someone 10th level or lower), but it does take time. The way I see it, people don't make items worth thousands of gold pieces without knowing they can sell them (or use them themselves), so most expensive items are made on commission.

QuoteSo after a couple of encounters with groups of NPC's the party is swimming in armor and weapons.

My PCs are currently slightly over-equipped (I reckon by about a level), but I'm working to rectify that with a couple of adventures where they won't get much treasure.

Quote from: DackeMy PCs are currently slightly over-equipped (I reckon by about a level), but I'm working to rectify that with a couple of adventures where they won't get much treasure.

Another thing you can do is make a lot of the treasure works of art and jewelry.  Perhaps some rugs and tapestries or even a small library of valuable books.  Things perhaps that the PC's might want to keep (especially if theirs wizrads or sorcerers) perhaps to decorate their own abode.  Or if their are characters that like to flaunt wealth include stuff you know that they'd rather keep and wear rather than sell.

I run a moderate* magic low-wealth D&D game with a bevy of house rules and changes to classes and spells to reinforce that.


* Some people describe it as "low" magic - but it is not truly low (as in Conan), as there are plenty of magical items around and some people throwing fireballs - there are just downsides to magic and the overall amount is far below D&D "standard".

Currently a heavily modified D&D with Game of Thrones combat (and most character classes), homebrew magic system, and homebrew setting. Magic items are incredibly rare, I've only used miniatures once (for a battle in a crowd scene that would have been too complicated to explain verbally), and players know that raise dead and the like are simply not available. It's been fun.

I have to say, and I think Mike will back me up on this, it really does not matter to me what system I am playing. We are playing 3.5 DND right now but it does not affect how I play. We tried Hero and that was out and out painful...but I played the same sort of role oriented character I always do.

Mike is just intimidated by Moonbeam and needs comfort.

Bill

Oh yeah, Willpax's post reminded me:

Despite running a role-playing heavy game, I LOVE tactical combat and believe environment and motivation are everything in a fight.  I have a ton of minis and use them for nearly every serious combat.