D&D Fan Edition

[Dan Albee]

If you could design the next edition of Dungeons and Dragons how would you do it?

More balance, less balance, modelled off of OD&D, 3.5, 4E, computer games, less crunch, more crunch, more fluff, more miniatures, less etc...

I thought it might be an interesting thread to read (if folks can leave the current edition wars out of it..note I placed this in "other RPGs").

Here is my answer:

Thinking about my own history with the game and various criticisms of EVERY edition, If I had the chance today, I would take AD&D and make a new edition from there. Clean up those rules without overdoing it. I like some of the consequence stuff like: a haste spell ages you. Because some of my rules might not be perfectly balanced my edition would tend toward rules-lite and probably include a fair amount of DM fiat or plenty of option for that.

Combining the nastalgia and good memories of AD&D as well as my current preferred DMing style and considering some of the brilliant ideas and changes made over the last 30 years of D&D editions I would create a fun, unbalanced encyclopedia-style game of fantasy inspiration!

Oh and thieves would roll percentile dice for their various rogue abilities, i just miss that!

Ok, I'm not looking for criticism of my edition, just hearing about yours... :)

Thanks.

[CourtFool]

My edition would be so vastly different from any other version of D&D, I do not think you could call it D&D.

Classes…gone!

[Dan Albee]

CourtFool wrote:

My edition would be so vastly different from any other version of D&D, I do not think you could call it D&D.

Classes…gone!

Sounds interesting... tell me more..

[CourtFool]

Dan Albee wrote:

CourtFool wrote:

My edition would be so vastly different from any other version of D&D, I do not think you could call it D&D.

Classes…gone!

Sounds interesting... tell me more..

(laughing) You are kidding, right?

[Mikaze]

Make 2E Planescape the official Planar Bible, with whatever good additions were made during 3E.(and possibly folding 4E's Feywild somewhere in there)

[fray]

I'd call it Providence and use the Providence rules.

[Dan Albee]

CourtFool wrote:

Dan Albee wrote:

CourtFool wrote:

My edition would be so vastly different from any other version of D&D, I do not think you could call it D&D.

Classes…gone!

Sounds interesting... tell me more..

(laughing) You are kidding, right?

No kidding. You could play some other game that doesn't use classes, but it sounds like you'd prefer D&D that way. Unless you're just pulling my chain.

Lets get creative, who knows maybe we'll strike gold...

[Dan Albee]

Mikaze wrote:

Make 2E Planescape the official Planar Bible, with whatever good additions were made during 3E.(and possibly folding 4E's Feywild somewhere in there)

Sounds cool. One of my favorite game sessions was an episode of the Great Modron March we played towards the end of 2nd edition.

[T'Ranchule]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't this kinda what Pathfinder already is? I mean, yes the system is being developed to suit Golarion and the stories it tells, but isn't the system also being made by D&D fans (both the Paizo staff and us punters) to make the improvements that are needed in the 3.5 ruleset and to maintain the game's spirit? Or am I missing the point entirely?

[CourtFool]

Dan Albee wrote:

Lets get creative, who knows maybe we'll strike gold...

Ah, youthful enthusiasm. How my cynical mind misses it.

[Callous Jack]

CourtFool wrote:

(laughing) You are kidding, right?

Ha! The one reaction you did not expect...

[CourtFool]

Callous Jack wrote:

Ha! The one reaction you did not expect...

It is the holy of holies.

[Numerian]

we play a homebrew system, but I doubt that it can ever be written cause the rules develop as we play, so you don't get skills/feats/spells when you level up but through roleplaying

at first your character is classless, ''base'' for skills/feats/spells is similar to epic spell seeds, they can be improved or be forgotten/atrophy depending on what our character does with them. Then the DM decides on the class, warrior, arcanist or rogue (rule of three) which can be changed easily. Class abilities/spells/feats/skills depend on a lot of factors, power of belief, lore learning, race/culture, activating innate powers (from bloodlines, previous incarnations etc.), training, membership in organizations (we play a lot in FR), grafts/items, pacts ...

[jdh417]

I actually did try to make up my own D&D-ish game. It was sort of classless (uncouth and rude, as well). Characters start with a previous profession and a current profession, for example you could be a gentleman thief turned local sheriff, or pirate turned arcane student. The only caveat was that if your profession involved magic, that would be your current profession. Your profession gave you a range of assumed skills and you could choose a couple to be good at.

Characters have a special ability, such as being able to use magic, or having super strength, or starting off with a magic weapon. There were limitations and drawbacks to go with the ability.

Characters also had status: physical (like Hot), personality (like Cruel), and circumstance (like Rich). Characters could use status in non-combat situations, but could also be called out on them and face having them diminished or enhanced.

Whatever. I finished a rough version, but never got to playtest it. I think my fan edition of D&D would be something like this:

The simple mechanics of Microlite D20
A wide range of class and race choices like from Pathfinder and 4e
A system that doesn't have to be played with miniatures
Removing feats and skills, except for those granted by race or class
Simplifing the magic system
Dividing up spells between instant and ritual (like 4e, I added another layer, ceremony, like for summoning a hurricane, but something like that requires a coven)
Simple spell desciptions and effects
Simplifing spell management (I used something like Spell Points. Spells drain a varying number of points depending on their power. Or perhaps a system involving a roll against an ability plus character level vs. the spell level.)

[Pop'N'Fresh]

I wouldn't make my own, I'd use Savage Worlds by Pinnacle Entertainment Group.

You only need a d4, d6, d8, d10, and d12 and a deck of cards to play
No classes
17 skills total, 3-4 of which are not needed in fantasy games.
5 ability scores
Support for all genres of rpg including horror, sci-fi, modern, etc.
Edges (kinda like feats) to give your character unique abilities
Support for different types of supernatural powers (magic, psionics, etc)
No need for miniatures.
Treasure and magic items are not needed to have "powerful" characters

The best aspect of this game system is it's simplicity and speed. The rulebook is just over 100 pages, with the core rules only comprising about 20 pages or so, and the rest is stuff like a bestiary, edge descriptions, skill descriptions, and GM material. Players can pick it up in about 30 mins, GM's in about 1-2 hours.

Runs like a dream, focuses you on the story and roleplaying rather than rules minutia that bogs down most other games systems.

[Tranquilis]

D&D Fan Edition?

Castles and Crusades

[kessukoofah]

Dan Albee wrote:

If you could design the next edition of Dungeons and Dragons how would you do it?...

Alright, why not *rolls up sleeves*. here's the home system we play with, loosely based on 3.5 unless stated otherwise.

Magic:

Spoiler:

vancian magic system, GONE! it's now a spellcraft check based on the shape of the spell, number of targets, duration, etc. based on 8 differant spheres (fire, water, wind, earth, mind, body, space, time) that the mage (we called him the vancian for pure irony) gets access to 4 of. divine magic is a strict spell level to faithcraft DC of 17+(2*spell level) for now, may increase depending. This differance is due to the mage having more direct control over his spell while the gods decide what the cleric gets.

Skills:

Spoiler:

Created Faithcraft and added in Psicraft for balancing. combined intimidate and diplomacy into one skill, Persuade, that is to be roleplayed the way you want it to come out. if you want your barbarian to be eloquent, then so be it.

Classes:

Spoiler:

Ditched the Wizard and Sorceror (see Magic above) and added in Vancian. not much else here beyond some minor tweaking from this board, like the discussion about the animal companions, the trapfinding no longer only applying to rogues and the feat switching for the fighter.

Combat:

Spoiler:

There is greater emphasis on a more cinematic combat sequence, where it is more important that the player gets to do what he wants to then to make sure everyone get's the same number of actions each turn. if the monk wants to sweep-kick one mook, roll, jump over one and then drive her elbow into the nose of another, she should be able to do it in one round. monks should be fast. This would put a greater emphasis on description on the players part, and hopefully engage them more isntead of another boring session of "ok, i full attack it again, where's my 4 dice." nothing irritates me more (well maybe vancian magic, but we already sealt with that).

Races:

Spoiler:

The biggest change is in this section. first off, ditched the half-ork and half-elves, and added in Half-Giants renamed to Demi Giants. Dwarves are now an arctic barbarian race, ancestor worship and tattoos and the whole works. halflings are brutal, xenophobic and highly intelligent forest dwelling cannibals, including a mechanic for healing when they eat what they kill. elves are now an urban race competing directly with humans, and in fact are the more agressive and inventive of the two, while humans are now sneaky spying and diplomacy people. there are two kinds of Gnomes now, one that is the surface dwellers and one that can only live underground and turns to stone when exposed to any light at all. the ones on the surface are natural merchants, and all Gnomes eat rocks now. which is why they mine. they eat the rocks and sell the gems and whatnot. there are also 3 new races and the Thri-kreen.

Gods:

Spoiler:

The gods take a larger part in the game, and it actually comes down to them whether or not they grant spells. if the cleric pleases them they may randomly boost some spells, and if the cleric displeases him somehow, he can choose not to grant it. I realize that this mechanic will require some trust between DM and player, but I find it makes combat more interesting.

You'll notice that some of the changes are mostly in fluff, like elves no longer being tree-huggers. It is most likely also obvious that I prefer a high Magic setting. oh well.

[DitheringFool]

Less balance - it's about roleplaying not playing fair.

[Pat Payne]

Dan Albee wrote:

If you could design the next edition of Dungeons and Dragons how would you do it?

I gotta admit, someone already did that -- they called it "Castles and Crusades." :)

[EDIT IN] Dang -- Tranquilis already made the same point... :)

[ArchLich]

My fan edition is being written up currently in my free time. Hopefully I will have it complete (and released to the public) in a couple months. I have tried to make the game gritty, more low fantasy, improved economic sense and made it easier to GM.

So far, so good. My players are having a blast and I'm finding it extremely easy to run.

[joela]

fray wrote:

I'd call it Providence and use the Providence rules.

Providence?

[Jam412]

I would ditch the D20 worship. Switch to something like 7th sea or Deadlands system. Similar to Pop n' Fresh's idea.

[Jason Beardsley]

kessukoofah wrote:

Dan Albee wrote:

If you could design the next edition of Dungeons and Dragons how would you do it?...

Alright, why not *rolls up sleeves*. here's the home system we play with, loosely based on 3.5 unless stated otherwise.

Magic:
** spoiler omitted **

Skills:
** spoiler omitted **

Classes:
** spoiler omitted **

Combat:
** spoiler omitted **

Races:...

This sounds interesting. How does this work for you and your group? I'm interested in knowing more about this world of yours you play in especially..