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There are some interesting concepts in the dungeons and dragons 5th ed. that would go well with becmi dungeons and dragons...
Saving throws are now a bonus that adds every few levels so you roll d20 against a dc check and add bonus. That removes the need for tables of saving throw progression for each class/race.
Changing becmi can involve simply providing a bonus (lets say +2) each level, you allocate the points to saving throw slots as you progress. This makes your character unique. Bruenor the warrior might allocate all saving throw bonuses for the first ten levels to the save vs breath weapon slot making him a brutal dragon fighter.
As a save goes, it could just as well be a number of hitpoints in damage you can ignore. Bruenor could ignore twenty points of breath weapon damage. This means a save attack would be allocated x hitpoints damage and your save bonus ignores y hitpoints meaning your pc would take x-y in damage.
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...with Immortal giving rules for playing nearly godlike...characters.
So, in other words, Pathfinder (or 4E) lite?
(I kid, I kid)
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Basic Expert Companion Master Immortal
A set of box sets that ran concurrently with 1e and 2e AD&D, offering a somewhat simpler game. Basic was level 1-3, Expert 4-14, Companion 15-25, and Master 26-36, with Immortal giving rules for playing nearly godlike post-level 36 characters.
Ah! OK, thanks!
I actually know what those are - I just never saw them abbreviated like that (or, at all actually :)
Normally, when someone uses an abbreviation like this, they explain it and/or write it out the first time it is used to make sure everyone knows what is being talked about.
OK, I'm up to speed now ... carry on!
BECMI is actually the edition that I started D&D (and all roleplaying) with.
Same here.
My gut feel so far is 5E feels a lot like BECMI if you took BECMI and made these changes:
- separate races and classes
- 20 level progression instead of 36
- more races and classes to choose without level limits
- ascending armor class
- saves based on ability scores vs. distinct saves vs. poison, etc.
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BECMI is actually the edition that I started D&D (and all roleplaying) with.Same here.
My gut feel so far is 5E feels a lot like BECMI if you took BECMI and made these changes:
- separate races and classes
- 20 level progression instead of 36
- more races and classes to choose without level limits
- ascending armor class
- saves based on ability scores vs. distinct saves vs. poison, etc.
Saw Saving throws replaced with a level cumulative bonus that could be divided amongst the saving throw options as player desires.
In becmi you get one nineth level spell as an eighteenth level wizard. So 36 levels has benifits...particularly if we enjoy providing non humans with metaclass (elf forester: fighter/wizard) that way they can advance to eighteenth level in each class. It means we can take 9d8 Hit dice as a fighter and another 9d4 as a wizard so they have better hp...and cumulative save bonuses would pool quicker (+4/metaclass level). And exp progression costs is doubled. You could take two wizards to form a meta class doubling spell casting power.
The problem is hit roll progression charts. If we replace these with some cumulative hit roll bonus should it come from your cumulative save bonuses?
I love that at level 20 in 5th you only ever get 1 8th level slot and 1 9th.
Right now I like BECMI better than DDN/5e. BECMI was simpler overall, especially the BEC part. BECMI was smoother going for me...
However, I can't say it was the first system I learned...but when it came around and I read the Basic book, I have to say NO system has impressed me this much until the Pathfinder Beginner box came out.
The Expert book just added icing to the cake, the the Companion book were the candles.
Master wasn't bad, but wasn't as awesome for me as the three previous sets...and I was never something I really got too deep into.
DDN/5e is the current thing, still giving it a go...but it feels more like a mix of 3e and 4e lite to me rather than something from BECMI era...
But that's probably just me.
I love that at level 20 in 5th you only ever get 1 8th level slot and 1 9th.
Frankly, I was disappointed that WotC didn't keep the spell progression tables like they were in the final (Oct. 2013) playtest packet. Wizards/Clerics/Druids only got 1 slot for 6, 7, 8 and 9 level spells, while Bards topped out at 5th level spells not 9th level like they are in the PHB.
DDN/5e is the current thing, still giving it a go...but it feels more like a mix of 3e and 4e lite to me rather than something from BECMI era...But that's probably just me.
No, I agree.
5E doesn't really fell all that old-school to me, either. Yes, it has faster combat like the old days and it is somewhat more lethal than modern games (still nothing like early editions) but that is pretty much it as far as I can tell. PC's still feel like mini super heroes running around with an endless array of "cool" powers, some with horrible names that make me cringe...I'm looking at you "Action Surge!!!!".
Frankly, I was disappointed that WotC didn't keep the spell progression tables like they were in the final (Oct. 2013) playtest packet. Wizards/Clerics/Druids only got 1 slot for 6, 7, 8 and 9 level spells, while Bards topped out at 5th level spells not 9th level like they are in the PHB.
I could go with a single level 7th slot but at lesat 2 6th level slots if I were looking to compromise. Did they explain why bards got that drastic of a bump?