Rules You Wish Existed

[Benejeseret]

Maybe you are a realist...maybe you prefer verisimilitude...but there must be some rules you wish existed.

I am hoping to compile a list that I can peruse an think about adding in to enhance my games. Join In!


1) Initiative Bonus to Ranged Weapons
- all things being equal by core RAW twin brothers 40' away from each other with weapons drawn (spear for one and a drawn and notched crossbow to the other) in a duel to first blood....Half the time the spearman can charge 40' and try to impale the second BEFORE the crossbow weilder can twitch a finger. I have always thought most ranged weapons should have an inherent initiative boost.

2) Opposed diplomacy checks and wild empathy checks

[SpikeFightwicky]

3) The ability to physically interact with a large or bigger foe other than 'Grapple'.

[Azerian Kelimon]

Spekaing of which, the ability to create combat actions on the fly. Like using one of the tarrasque's barbs to get on top of it and execute a diving kick.

[Project_Mayhem]

Decent reach, or something that made weopon choice more situational.

I mean, while a recent thread reasonably established that a greatsword is normally better than a dagger, there should be situations where it sucks beyond belief - not just in a grapple.

[Morty]

6) Some penalties for being low on hit points.

[Miraqariftsky]

How about multiple damage types per weapon?

Take for example the greataxe and the spear.

Greataxe:
Slashing 1d12
Piercing 1d4
Bludgeoning 1d6

Spear:
Slashing 1d4
Piercing 1d8
Bludgeoning 1d6

[Sstoopidtallkid]

More weapons usable at multiple ranges.
A combat system that makes it so if I send a military unit after the PCs it doesn't have to be 5 levels lower than them to avoid killing one.

[Squash Monster]

8) Default rules for climbing monsters. Because at some point, somebody's going to want to climb up the Tarrasque.

[RandomLunatic]

9) Basic comprehension of the PHB is requiredi n order to play.

For a couple ofp layers in my current group, I have to explain how initiative works. How attack rolls work. How damage rolls work. How spellcasting works. Every. Single. Session.

[Azerian Kelimon]

DC for appropiate "terrain" + (CON + DEX)/2 + modifiers appeared somewhere and seems to work somewhat.

[valadil]

10) Something to trump tumble.

11) More than 10 HP to go from 0 to dead for high con characters.

Also, I disagree with ranged combat getting an initiative bonus. Even though combat rounds are 6 seconds you are moving and shooting constantly. It's just that at low levels you have 1 chance to land a blow over the course of 6 seconds. If the archer loses initiative, he probably did take some shots while the other guy charged, they just missed and aren't rolled. Aside from that, archers are dex based and therefore more likely to have high initiative anyway.

[Baxbart]

9) Basic comprehension of the PHB is requiredi n order to play.

For a couple ofp layers in my current group, I have to explain how initiative works. How attack rolls work. How damage rolls work. How spellcasting works. Every. Single. Session.

Hehehe....


Try doing that for nearly 10 years. I don't know how my players do it... but half of them still don't have the slightest clue what they're doing.

[Frosty]

10) Something to trump tumble.

11) More than 10 HP to go from 0 to dead for high con characters.

10 is already addressed in 3.0 with the Knight or the Crusader.
11 will be addressed in 4.0, and there has already been an article on it I believe.

[valadil]

10 is already addressed in 3.0 with the Knight or the Crusader.

I meant something anyone could do. Like a resist tumble roll. As it is, sufficiently high tumble avoids attacks of opportunity, but a couple classes (which I've never even seen played) can stop it entirely? Why not just go back to rock paper scissor?

[ashmanonar]

9) Basic comprehension of the PHB is requiredi n order to play.

For a couple ofp layers in my current group, I have to explain how initiative works. How attack rolls work. How damage rolls work. How spellcasting works. Every. Single. Session.

Indeed. That gets annoying fast.

[Nohwl]

there should be a rule saying i can overrule the DM.

[Frosty]

I meant something anyone could do. Like a resist tumble roll. As it is, sufficiently high tumble avoids attacks of opportunity, but a couple classes (which I've never even seen played) can stop it entirely? Why not just go back to rock paper scissor?

Knights make it so the Tumble DC goes up by the number of Knight levels the character has.

The Crusader has a stance that makes *all* movement provoke AoOs.

[bugsysservant]

12. (I think) Few or no flat skill DCs, ESPECIALLY not when other people are involved. Someone brought up tumble, and diplomacy is famous, but ultimately the concept of a flat DC is pretty shaky.

13. More differentiation in weapon choice. Because there are really only a few weapons that really work well. You can go greatsword, spiked chain, and maybe a few more, but there should really be more to weapons than one that is indisputably "best"

14. Non Level based casting. Here is where I will probably be stoned, but I actually really like the idea behind epic level casting, just not its obscenely broken implementation. I would really like to see a system of spell casting based on skill checks, with a certain skill cap per level. You could run metamagic by having it increase the DC. Now people will probably point out a dozen things wrong with this, but I still think that it would be a really cool thing to have if done properly. Also, it would get rid of the "You took a level. Suddenly you know 200 more spells overnight!" Since it would be more gradual.

[BRC]

12. (I think) Few or no flat skill DCs, ESPECIALLY not when other people are involved. Someone brought up tumble, and diplomacy is famous, but ultimately the concept of a flat DC is pretty shaky.

13. More differentiation in weapon choice. Because there are really only a few weapons that really work well. You can go greatsword, spiked chain, and maybe a few more, but there should really be more to weapons than one that is indisputably "best"

14. Non Level based casting. Here is where I will probably be stoned, but I actually really like the idea behind epic level casting, just not its obscenely broken implementation. I would really like to see a system of spell casting based on skill checks, with a certain skill cap per level. You could run metamagic by having it increase the DC. Now people will probably point out a dozen things wrong with this, but I still think that it would be a really cool thing to have if done properly. Also, it would get rid of the "You took a level. Suddenly you know 200 more spells overnight!" Since it would be more gradual.

Flat Skill DC's: Are okay for some checks, with bonuses for getting above (With the Craft Check, you score above the DC and end up making the sword faster or wasting less metal then you thought, saving some money).
Weapon Differentation: I agree, A Greatsword should not be as easy to wield as a Shortsword.
Non-Level Based Casting: yesplease, In shadowrun you used a skill to cast spells which affected the spells effect and succsess. It's not easy getting the laws of physics to sit down and shut up.

[Dan_Hemmens]

As I've discussed at length elsewhere, I'd like to see weapons go one way or the other. Either make them all the same, or make the choice something other than "good weapon or less good weapon".

[Azerian Kelimon]

Seems like 4e finally decided to go somewhere with that. Wether it's an abominable monstrosity or teh goodzorz, we'll know soon.

[BRC]

A link between Succsess and effect. Right now they are seperate, sucsess is Pass/fail and effect is independant of how well you succeeded. Example, attack roll, you stab somebody with a spear, whether you barely hit them (1 over their AC) or hit them solidly ( 10 above their AC) has no effect on the damage you deal.

[Indon]

Spekaing of which, the ability to create combat actions on the fly. Like using one of the tarrasque's barbs to get on top of it and execute a diving kick.

Yeah, a good combat stunt system'd be nice.

Other than that, there's not much I'd ask of 3.x D&D.

[Frosty]

14. Non Level based casting. Here is where I will probably be stoned, but I actually really like the idea behind epic level casting, just not its obscenely broken implementation. I would really like to see a system of spell casting based on skill checks, with a certain skill cap per level. You could run metamagic by having it increase the DC. Now people will probably point out a dozen things wrong with this, but I still think that it would be a really cool thing to have if done properly. Also, it would get rid of the "You took a level. Suddenly you know 200 more spells overnight!" Since it would be more gradual.

I think Truenamers already do this somewhat.

[Indon]

Spekaing of which, the ability to create combat actions on the fly. Like using one of the tarrasque's barbs to get on top of it and execute a diving kick.

Yeah, a good combat stunt system'd be nice.

Other than that, there's not much I'd ask of 3.x D&D.

[Emperor Tippy]

I think Truenamers already do this somewhat.

Yes but Truenamers suck. They have great flavor and were a good idea but they just suck.

[ryuteki]

I'd love to see rules for chasing down a runner (or running together in a pack) that actually make sense. Initiative and turn-based movement are anathema to these two concepts, so having a tested overlay set of "chase rules" would be great. You would basically shift from a static terrain map to a "chase grid" in which position tests and relative movement would be the important determiner, I'd think. Right now, it's possible to place a transparent square barrier 30' on each side, and have two people without Reach who both move 30' NEVER able to catch one another. ...the barrier doesn't need to be transparent of course, but transparency provides absolute positioning knowledge and therefore prevents the ambush argument. :P

[Irreverent Fool]

Maybe you are a realist...maybe you prefer verisimilitude...but there must be some rules you wish existed.

I am hoping to compile a list that I can peruse an think about adding in to enhance my games. Join In!


1) Initiative Bonus to Ranged Weapons
- all things being equal by core RAW twin brothers 40' away from each other with weapons drawn (spear for one and a drawn and notched crossbow to the other) in a duel to first blood....Half the time the spearman can charge 40' and try to impale the second BEFORE the crossbow weilder can twitch a finger. I have always thought most ranged weapons should have an inherent initiative boost.

In ancient times, anyone with a missile weapon ready fired before anyone could engage in melee. Many miniature wargames still have this rule, but D&D no longer does. My siblings and I busted out the "D&D Basic Set" (which was meant as an intro to AD&D the other day and found this quaint rule. Essentially, anyone with a ranged weapon gets a 'surprise round'.

The downside? You can't fire into melee. Ever.

[Parvum]

15. No more level adjustment, with LA buyback replaced with HD buyback.

16. Humans have a level adjustment of +3.

[EvilElitest]

Balanced classes and uses for all of them

An economy system that works
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