What do you want in DnD 4.0

[PlatinumJester]

Personally I want:

A few healing arcane spells
No level adjustment on the Hobgoblin
Evasion and Uncanny Dodge as feats
A non lawful class that focuses on fists.
Lethal damage dealt by Unarmed Strikes.
Speak Language and UMD as a class skill for wizard
Any class with a full BAB should be able to take Weapon Specialisation etc.
Paladins should be allowed to Neutral or Chaotic Good.
Fast Movement for Rangers.

[Leon]

for it to not show up at all for the next 10 years or so, do not want to change books again

[Kurald Galain]

I think we just discussed all this.

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50226

[Swooper]

There's a thread about just this on the first page here.

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50226

Besides, the ideas you posted sound more like house rules than a whole new system.

Edit: Ninja'd.... by a Beholder!? Man, I gotta work on my Spot.

[Citizen Joe]

I want a refund of all the money I spent on the last three editions

[Swooper]

That would actually rock. "Bring your used PHB 3.5 here, get a PHB 4.0 in return" - Making it actually affordable to switch editions.

Not that WotC would ever do that.

[valadil]

No offense intended, but I think some of your suggestions make more sense as houserules. Maybe a book. Certainly not a whole new version number.

What I'd like to see is everything treated as a skill. Well, not everything. Feats are good the way they are. But spells and BAB should be skills. I'd probably divide spells up so there was a separate skill for each school of magic. Basically your ranks in the appropriate spell skill would somehow determine your DCs.

I'd also like to see a better distinction between base classes and prestige classes. Paladin should not be a base class. It should be something you work towards and eventually achieve. I'd probably cut the classes down to fighter, arcane, divine, and skill monkey with the idea that everyone will probably get a prestige class after four or five levels. This change probably doesn't require a whole new version (using generic classes from UA as the only base classes may suffice) but it's still the kind of attitude I'd like to see later on.

[Citizen Joe]

Actually, a trade in system during the introductory phase at conventions would be a good marketing tool. Once your material is being used, then you can start adding on stuff.

Actually, it took a very long time to go from first to second edition, the switch to third was due to a change in ownership. I think they'll stick to 3.X and just keep issuing updates and expansions.

Hopefully, they won't drop the role playing aspect in favour of miniatures and cards. You want that superpowered wizard, well you need to get all these cards, randomly available in card packs... want to use that feat? you need a card for that... etc.

[Ichneumon]

I want Magic Missile to be a broken 9nth level spell.

[mostlyharmful]

I'd want the con score to matter a lot more in terms of hp, no more class specific Hit Dice, when you're all wandering around in the wild, hitting things and running away when they notice it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have one character with a d12 and anouther with a d4. Say twice level times constityution (minimum one) plus ten. Fighters suddenly care about more than just their strenght, mages don't fall over when the first squerill sneezes on them. Undead and constructs might use strengh instead or just a size and level based standerd.

[ALOR]

if thier going to put out 4.0 in the future then it better be a huge change. not just an update to 4.0 but new concepts, new magic system, a new feel all together. I won't be buying all new books if the only changes are that wizards can't cast time stop, or druids can't be giant lizards any more. i would imagine most people who've spent fists full of money on this game would agree that if thier gonna put out a 4.0 they need to make it a drastic change not just eye candy and new feats

[PlatinumJester]

OK If Wizards of the Coast were going to revamp DnD 3.5 what would you want changed? Thats more logical.

[Cybren]

I'd want the con score to matter a lot more in terms of hp, no more class specific Hit Dice, when you're all wandering around in the wild, hitting things and running away when they notice it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have one character with a d12 and anouther with a d4. Say twice level times constityution (minimum one) plus ten. Fighters suddenly care about more than just their strenght, mages don't fall over when the first squerill sneezes on them. Undead and constructs might use strengh instead or just a size and level based standerd.

People already care a whole lot about con.

[PlatinumJester]

Con is the only ability that all classes need.

[AtomicKitKat]

What, 3.6/75? Alignment unrestricted base classes(Prestige Classes can do that all they want), size-based HD sizes(ie, if you're Tiny, you take 1d3, Small 1d4, Medium 1d6, and go up/down 1 size of die per size category above/below), less racially biased Level Adjustments(Seriously, if you take away the LA on Hobgoblins, they're most certainly organised enough to have their own Lawful Evil tyrannies, sort of like the organised, evil rivals of dwarves.). Spells go from 1-8(Cantrips are free), with the power curve more evenly distributed(so about 2 spell levels every 5 character levels), some of the more broken spells thrown out(Polymorph series can stay. I really don't see that much trouble with it, as long as the DM restricts it to "You know intimate details about the monster, otherwise, spell fizzles.") SLAs cost XP to use, thereby reducing the amount of LA they would otherwise provide(not to mention making gated Wishes more dangerous to negotiate for). XP costs can actually level you down, so it becomes really important.

Con is the only ability that all classes need.

Need is too strong a term. I certainly don't need Constitution if I'm obliterating everything in my path before it even gets a turn. Constitution is more along the lines of "Everyone can benefit from it.", as opposed to say, Charisma(only spellcasters), or Dexterity(armour, Improved Initiative, flat Save bonus, enhancements to weapons/armour), or even Wisdom(only Divine casters, the Save can be mitigated as with Dex).

[Skjaldbakka]

I have heard on the rumormill that 4th is supposed to be announced soon (not the material, but the official intent to make 4th).

[Starsinger]

I want them to:

• do away with alignments
• do away with prepared casters
• make multiclassing more viable
• make blasting an attractive option again
• Seperate fluff from crunch as much as possible for classes

[PlatinumJester]

Less crappy weapons. Who here has or does use bolas or a whip?
Also make Vorpal only available to certain weapons. Right now the only preqisite is the weapon has to be slashing. Right so you can make a Vorpal dagger or whip. WTF

[Skjaldbakka]

I want base weapons to matter.

[Attilargh]

I'd like Exotic weapons that are actually worth the feat.

[horseboy]

For them at actually playtest 4.0.

[Morty]

I want much less magic items, less powerful magic and viable TWF, sword-and-board and single weapon fighting. Especially the last one. Fighting with single weapon in other way than "Thog smash" is perfectly legitimate style of fighting, but it's non-existant in D&D.

[Mr the Geoff]

A revamp to the crafting system and a few more skill points thrown around too so it's actually viable to be a fighter/armoursmith, or a ranger/bowcrafter and not have to take 2 years out of your adventuring career just to make some masterwork mithril plate or that nice strength rated composite longbow.

[Telonius]

Polymorph series can stay. I really don't see that much trouble with it, as long as the DM restricts it to "You know intimate details about the monster, otherwise, spell fizzles.

Following that, in version 4.0, all Monster entries include DCs of the appropriate Knoweldge skill needed to polymorph into such a creature.

[thehothead]

I want SWORDPLAY. Not just hit stuff until it's dead or runs away.

I mean counterattacking, feints, precision, that sort of stuff.

[Swordguy]

For them at actually playtest 4.0.

They playtested 3.0. You're just not playing the way you're supposed to.



WISH LIST
I'd like a complete divorce from the Vancian magic system, and something more akin to Shadowrun magic - where every spell cast can drain you somewhat.

I'd like the "high fantasy" reigned in a bit. Magic has essentially become technology in D&D - it no longer feels "special". Seemingly everyone has access to magic.

If they're going to keep the class/level system, they need clearly defined class roles, and nothing that allows one class to completely supplant another. Knock, Divination Magic, and Invisibility anyone?

Put a blurb in the front of the book explaining that obsessive optimization and intentionally "breaking" the system while in-game should be grounds for removal from the game. You can do it "theoretically", but make it a rule that someone who does it to screw over other people needs to be removed. Play nice or don't play.

If they must keep feats, then let the damn things scale with level.

Make Bards useful.

Fix the "fixed DCs" system (ex. Diplomancy).

Have reasonable weights for things. While this has been partially fixed, I distinctly recall the 3.0 2-bladed sword. 25lbs, and it's 2, 3-lb shortswords stuck pommel-to-pommel. Where'd the other 19lbs come from?! Also, I own arming swords that weigh 3 lbs. They are clearly not shortswords...

Fix AC. Shields should be a lot of AC and no DR, and plate armor should be a little AC and a lot of DR. Let's put it this way...I can let you swing a real, sharp sword at me while I'm in my harness, and you're NOT going to get through the armor. Armor negates a large number of weapons. Deal with it. If all you have is a dagger, sucks to be you. You should grapple me and try to get a crit (through the gaps).

Vitality/wound system mandatory. 'Nuff said.

[Skjaldbakka]

Except armor as DR doesn't fit. The way you attack someone with armor is by attacking at the armor's weak points. Which effectively reduces your valid target areas. Which makes you harder to hit. What there needs to be is a mechanic for "screw this, I have a 25 strength, I want to just cleave THROUGH his armor, not try to find a weak point". Armor as AC, while allowing for sundering armor works better than armor as DR.

Not to mention that V/W + Armor as DR = Heavy armor guy is screwed.

Heavy Armor with Armor as DR lowers your AC (you can't benefit from a high dex), while at the same time doesn't protect you against attacks most of the time (armor as DR only protects against wound damage). Since D&D is supposed to model a period in which heavy armor is still 'in', this is a bad thing.

[Morty]

I'd like a complete divorce from the Vancian magic system, and something more akin to Shadowrun magic - where every spell cast can drain you somewhat.

These two aren't mutually exclusive, you know.

I'd like the "high fantasy" reigned in a bit. Magic has essentially become technology in D&D - it no longer feels "special". Seemingly everyone has access to magic.

Seconded.

[horseboy]

They playtested 3.0. You're just not playing the way you're supposed to.

If they had actually play tested it, I wouldn't have access to any of the several "I WIN" buttons for melee by second level.

Put a blurb in the front of the book explaining that obsessive optimization and intentionally "breaking" the system while in-game should be grounds for removal from the game. You can do it "theoretically", but make it a rule that someone who does it to screw over other people needs to be removed. Play nice or don't play.

Or better yet, actually put some thought into the rules to where it takes more effort to actually break the system than it takes to not break the system.

[Arbitrarity]

Except armor as DR doesn't fit. The way you attack someone with armor is by attacking at the armor's weak points. Which effectively reduces your valid target areas. Which makes you harder to hit. What there needs to be is a mechanic for "screw this, I have a 25 strength, I want to just cleave THROUGH his armor, not try to find a weak point". Armor as AC, while allowing for sundering armor works better than armor as DR.

Not to mention that V/W + Armor as DR = Heavy armor guy is screwed.

Heavy Armor with Armor as DR lowers your AC (you can't benefit from a high dex), while at the same time doesn't protect you against attacks most of the time (armor as DR only protects against wound damage). Since D&D is supposed to model a period in which heavy armor is still 'in', this is a bad thing.

Perhaps a style thing, where the attacker can select whether the armour is DR or armour bonus?