Pixiedragon
2012-05-14, 03:57 PM
I haven't posted here in quite a while, but I hoped it might be possible to find some help here. :)
I DM a group of 4 players online (DM+4), we play D&D 3.5 but the combat has always been problematic with all the dice rolls, and it's getting worse now the players are reaching the higher levels. I guess everyone who has played 3.5 knows how long rolls can take. :p
There is also an additional problem of cheating. None of the players has admitted outright they cheat often, but 2 out of the 4 players always seem so get the high roll at just the right time, and the low rolls when it's a 'useless' roll. By now the 3rd player has admitted to fudging his rolls when he feels at a large disatvantage by the other 2 players, and the 4th has proposed to create our own combatsystem because he's getting so tired of being utterly and completely gimped compared to the others, even though he has a legendary (!) weapon.
Yes, I've adressed the problem of cheating more than once, both individually and in the group, and the trouble caused by it, not to mention the immense distrust created between the players. No one can roll a high number without having it questioned, even if the questioning happens offscreen. Still, because we play online it's very difficult to see whether someone is cheating or just is plain lucky. Not to mention the fact that we really are all adults (me being pretty much the youngest even, as DM!) and should know better.
While creating our own combatsystem has the advantage of catering to our every need, it's a lot of work and I don't really feel like doing so if there already is a combatsystem would simplify the combat and reduce cheating by simply requiring less rolls.
I've been looking around a bit, I wouldn't mind switching from 3.5 to a completely different system like GURPS, and I've checked with the group whether they minded (they didn't, but preferably a system with additional sourcebooks or easily adaptable with existing sourcebooks). Though as I've never played it I'm not sure how much better it works compared to 3.5, and I really could use some advice here. :) So are there any game systems that would work better for us than 3.5?
I DM a group of 4 players online (DM+4), we play D&D 3.5 but the combat has always been problematic with all the dice rolls, and it's getting worse now the players are reaching the higher levels. I guess everyone who has played 3.5 knows how long rolls can take. :p
There is also an additional problem of cheating. None of the players has admitted outright they cheat often, but 2 out of the 4 players always seem so get the high roll at just the right time, and the low rolls when it's a 'useless' roll. By now the 3rd player has admitted to fudging his rolls when he feels at a large disatvantage by the other 2 players, and the 4th has proposed to create our own combatsystem because he's getting so tired of being utterly and completely gimped compared to the others, even though he has a legendary (!) weapon.
Yes, I've adressed the problem of cheating more than once, both individually and in the group, and the trouble caused by it, not to mention the immense distrust created between the players. No one can roll a high number without having it questioned, even if the questioning happens offscreen. Still, because we play online it's very difficult to see whether someone is cheating or just is plain lucky. Not to mention the fact that we really are all adults (me being pretty much the youngest even, as DM!) and should know better.
While creating our own combatsystem has the advantage of catering to our every need, it's a lot of work and I don't really feel like doing so if there already is a combatsystem would simplify the combat and reduce cheating by simply requiring less rolls.
I've been looking around a bit, I wouldn't mind switching from 3.5 to a completely different system like GURPS, and I've checked with the group whether they minded (they didn't, but preferably a system with additional sourcebooks or easily adaptable with existing sourcebooks). Though as I've never played it I'm not sure how much better it works compared to 3.5, and I really could use some advice here. :) So are there any game systems that would work better for us than 3.5?