This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

Author Topic: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?  (Read 5029 times)

Ghostmaker

  • Chlorine trifluoride
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4013
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #15 on: April 19, 2021, 01:49:45 PM »
Honestly, I liked 2E over BECMI for two reasons:

One, there was a little more complexity.

Two, I'll be honest, I hate the race-as-class thing. It just annoyed me.

Pat
BANNED

  • BANNED
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • ?
  • Posts: 5252
  • Rats do 0 damage
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #16 on: April 19, 2021, 02:50:02 PM »
Honestly, I liked 2E over BECMI for two reasons:

One, there was a little more complexity.

Two, I'll be honest, I hate the race-as-class thing. It just annoyed me.
That's one of the most trivial things to change.

Dwarf
  • No long bows or two-handed swords (or large weapons)
  • 9+ Con
  • 60 ft infravision
  • 2 in 6 detect slanted passages, traps, shifting walls, new construction
  • Speaks common, dwarvish, gnome, goblin, kobold (alternately, +3 skills)
  • +4 to all saves

Elf
  • 9+ Int
  • 60 ft infravision 60
  • 2 in 6 find secret/hidden doors
  • Cannot by paralyzed by ghouls
  • Speak common, elvish, gnolls, hobgoblins, orcs (alternately, +3 skills)

Halfling
  • Dex is always a prime
  • Weapon or armor must be "cut down" to their size
  • No long bows or two-handed swords
  • 9+ Dex, 9+ Con
  • +1 to hit with all missile weapons
  • -2 to AC against creatures larger than man-sized
  • +1 to individual initiative
  • 90% chance to vanish into woods or underbrush
  • 2 in 6 hide (must have cover, must remain absolutely still)

Double-classing rules
  • Combine both classes into a single combined class
  • HD: average, round down (d4,d8 = d6; feel free to use funny dice)
  • XP: add togther, -10% (2000+2500=4500, 4500/10=450, 4500-450~=4000)
  • Weapons, armor, attacks, saves: Best of either class
  • Abilities: All of both


« Last Edit: April 19, 2021, 02:58:41 PM by Pat »

Ghostmaker

  • Chlorine trifluoride
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4013
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #17 on: April 19, 2021, 02:55:30 PM »

Halfling
  • Dex is always a prime
  • Weapon or armor must be "cut down" to their size
  • No long bows or two-handed swords
  • 9+ Dex, 9+ Dex
  • +1 to hit with all missile weapons
  • -2 to AC against creatures larger than man-sized
  • +1 to individual initiative
  • 90% chance to vanish into woods or underbrush
  • 2 in 6 hide (must have cover, must remain absolutely still)
Pat, I dunno what kind of BECMI/2E game you run, but in my games we usually only have one Dexterity attribute. :D

Other than that, I like it.

Pat
BANNED

  • BANNED
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • ?
  • Posts: 5252
  • Rats do 0 damage
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #18 on: April 19, 2021, 03:01:36 PM »

Halfling
  • Dex is always a prime
  • Weapon or armor must be "cut down" to their size
  • No long bows or two-handed swords
  • 9+ Dex, 9+ Dex
  • +1 to hit with all missile weapons
  • -2 to AC against creatures larger than man-sized
  • +1 to individual initiative
  • 90% chance to vanish into woods or underbrush
  • 2 in 6 hide (must have cover, must remain absolutely still)
Pat, I dunno what kind of BECMI/2E game you run, but in my games we usually only have one Dexterity attribute. :D

Other than that, I like it.
Fixed (Con). B/X or BECMI is very easy to hack. New classes, separating out race and class, whatever. The lack of endless fiddly rules is a bonus.

Plus, the morale system is the best ever developed for D&D. Even when compared to 2e's version (which looks similar, but in practice is overly fiddly, with too many modifiers, and especially too many conditions that can trigger a check, in contrast to the very simple set of guidelines for Basic). People who import options from AD&D often import some of the complexity as well, which is generally a mistake.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2021, 03:03:07 PM by Pat »

jeff37923

  • Knight of Common Sense
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18318
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #19 on: April 19, 2021, 03:28:59 PM »
D&D - B/X, BECMI, Cyclopedia (because they are simple and elegant systems that do not require a lot of work), 3.0/3.5 (because the amount of non-WotC OGL material is vast and there are some real gems in there like the Iron Kingdoms setting)

Close to D&D - Pathfinder 1e (mainly because of the Fuck You response to WotC's 4e shitstorm), OSR (Labyrinth Lord/Advanced Labyrinth Lord, Basic Fantasy, and Old School Essentials)
"Meh."

JeffB

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 171
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #20 on: April 19, 2021, 04:16:21 PM »
I'm an "old or new" person.

Give me the original, or give me something fresh and different in gameplay/mechanics/outlook.

So I'm into OD&D (which also includes MCM, S&W) and I totally dig 13th Age & Dungeon World. I've got not use for 3E/5E whatsoever. With AD&D (both editions), I just use modules, setting material, Gary's advice (DMG) and accessories- as rulesets I can't be bothered with them.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2021, 04:18:00 PM by JeffB »

VisionStorm

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2184
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #21 on: April 19, 2021, 04:17:53 PM »
EDIT/PS: I totally HATE D&D's magic system, though, and would totally revamp it entirely. I'm currently working on an effect-based magic system that uses power points instead of spell slots for my own version of d20.

Sounds neat, you gotta basic framework you wanna share or is it still under wraps?

I'm still working out the kinks, plus some details might be specific to may own variant of the d20 system. But the basic idea is I'm defining all basic effects, like damage, healing, conditions, etc., as universal effects used to build powers, objects and hazards. Most effects follow simple criteria based on common characteristics. Damage is 1d6/effect level (save for half) for Instant Damage, for example, and conditions have a save DC of 8 + effect level, etc. An effect's level is equal to the level of the power, object or hazard generating it. Power Levels are divided by power category (Natural, Magic, Martial or Trained) and are based on your class and level, and modified by a related ability score.

Effects also have certain specifications, including Range, Duration, Advantages* and Limitations*. Ranges are divided into Self, Melee, Ranged or Area (Aura, Cone, Cubic/Spherical or Line), are balanced against each other (self and melee get a +1 effect level bonus, Ranged has longest range, Area types have shorter range and affects everyone, friend or foe), and range distance is increased by effect level. Duration is specified by the effect type and can be Instant, Timed (1 round/effect level by default), Sustained (consciously maintained) or Permanent (usually counts as multiple Advantages). Advantages improve the effect somehow, such as increasing its range/area (in doubles), making area effects discreet, increased duration (by one time unit: rounds, minutes, days, weeks, etc.), extra effects, etc. Each advantage requires a Limitation, such as increased power point cost (default for magic powers, unless caster has other ideas and GM allows it), increased Activation DC, increased activation time, cooldown periods between use, etc.

Access to magic is defined by various Effect Pools that have a certain theme and determine the types of effects you have access to. And specific effect and spec combinations have to be learned as Spells to be used effectively. Attempting to use an unknown spell is possible, but increases the power's Activation DC by +5, and increases its activation time by one time unit (standard action to full-round, full-round to one minute, etc.). Effect Pools may vary by setting and GMs may make up their own, but I have two types of pools developed so far to layout the basic groundwork and provide universal functionality applicable to most fantasy worlds. These types of effect pools include Domains and Incantations.

Domains handle your command over different aspects of reality. They are divided into six Spheres, containing two Domains each: Artificial (Creation, Enchantment), Dimensional (Space, Time), Elemental (Energy, Matter), Mental (Psychokinesis, Telepathy), Primal (Animals, Plants) and Vital (Death, Life). Incantations are focused on general categories of common effects, such as damage (Harm), bonuses (Bless), conditions (Curse), extrasensory effects (Divination), etc. The Harm incantation, for example, provides access to all damage effects in general, while the Energy domain would provide access only to energy damage (fire, cold, electricity), and the Telepathy domain would have access only to psychic damage. Energy and Telepathy would also have access to other types of effects as well, however, such as conditions (Blindness, Deafness or effects that control elementals for Energy, mental conditions for Telepathy), summon effects (elementals for energy, psychic creatures for telepathy), extrasensory (detect energy or elementals for Energy, mind-reading for Telepathy), and other stuff, while Harm only has access to damage.

The GM may determine which types of pools they allow, and restrict an entire type of they feel that they overlap or conflict too much. Or they can make up their own using Domains as a basic guideline (basically develop an underlying theme, and pick which effects are related to it by going through each effect category, which currently include: Aid, Conditions, Creation, Damage, Extrasensory, Healing, Restore, Traits, Transform and Travel).


*Names pending change, since they sound too much like character abilities, but basically the idea you can add extra stuff to a basic effect.

EDIT: Also forgot: Powers cost 1 power point to use by default, +1 per increased power point cost limitation selected, and may require an Activation Check, with a DC of 10 +5 per Advantage possessed by the power's effects. Some effects may have level requirements, and particularly high requirements count as selecting an Advantage.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2021, 04:23:26 PM by VisionStorm »

Reckall

  • Junghian alchemist
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2004
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #22 on: April 19, 2021, 04:41:48 PM »
Close to D&D - Pathfinder 1e (mainly because of the Fuck You response to WotC's 4e shitstorm)
I brought some changes from Pathfinder to my 3.5E games, but I found the fluff a bit more, dunno, "childish" if compared with 3/3.5E (I have some 3E era books that I never used, but I liked to read them anyway).

Having said that, how Pathfinder became the vice around 4E's balls will always be their crowning achievement  :)
For every idiot who denounces Ayn Rand as "intellectualism" there is an excellent DM who creates a "Bioshock" adventure.

Shasarak

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4032
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #23 on: April 19, 2021, 04:45:39 PM »
I think 3e was the pinnacle of DnD.
Who da Drow?  U da drow! - hedgehobbit

There will be poor always,
pathetically struggling,
look at the good things you've got! -  Jesus

Eric Diaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1115
    • http://methodsetmadness.blogspot.com.br/
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #24 on: April 19, 2021, 05:20:37 PM »
Does it have to be "official D&D"?

If positive:

- B/X if I want to travel light.
- Rules Cyclopedia if I get to choose one book only;
- If I can mix and match, add the 1e DMG, 2e MM and maybe the 5e PHB.

If I can pick D&D-like stuff and OSR:

- My own OSR neoclone, Dark Fantasy Basic.
- Something small and sweet (Knave, TBH 2, etc.)
- Shadow of the Demon Lord if I want lots of options.
Chaos Factory Books  - Dark fantasy RPGs and more!

Methods & Madness - my  D&D 5e / Old School / Game design blog.

VisionStorm

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2184
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #25 on: April 19, 2021, 05:55:44 PM »
I think 3e was the pinnacle of DnD.

FACTS all around!  8)

This Guy
BANNED

  • BANNED
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • ?
  • Posts: 642
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #26 on: April 19, 2021, 05:57:33 PM »
*Snipping cool stuff*

That is all pretty cool, hope the draft comes out good.  :D
I don't want to play with you.

Arnwolf666

  • Newbie
  • *
  • A
  • Posts: 43
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #27 on: April 19, 2021, 06:56:34 PM »
I like the Conan style type of play and I like the being on the edge of
Civilization facing the unknown.  I am starting to really like rq/coc playing more and more but I’m still a diehard b/x and rc player.

Mishihari

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • M
  • Posts: 990
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #28 on: April 19, 2021, 07:09:48 PM »
AD&D

Brad

  • Semper Qvantvm Potes
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3630
Re: What's Your Favorite Flavor of D&D?
« Reply #29 on: April 19, 2021, 08:45:35 PM »
As much as I want to say AD&D, what I probably really mean is AD&D like we played when I was in high school, well after 2nd edition had come out. That was truly the pinnacle of gaming in my mind, but in retrospect it was probably less about the rules than the play at the table. Consider one of the best games I played in was basically D&D using Rolemaster crit tables and Palladium classes and psionics. Back then that just seemed like what you did; everything is so delineated and “by the book” now in comparison...

If I have to actually pick a strictly BtB game, then it’s a toss up between Castles and Crusades and B/X.
It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.