Favorite D&D System?

This is a general open discussion for all ALFA, Neverwinter Nights, and Dungeons & Dragons topics.

Moderator: ALFA Administrators

Favorite D&D edition?

2e
6
20%
3.5e
7
23%
Pathfinder
5
17%
5e
12
40%
 
Total votes: 30

FoamBats4All
Githyanki
Posts: 1289
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:00 pm

Favorite D&D System?

Post by FoamBats4All »

Companion poll to Legends of Aria/Shards Online Post-Alpha. Curious what system of D&D people prefer. It sounded like people want any ALFA3 to be 5e, but it'd be good to get actual statistics for that.

Terrible editions are excluded because... yeah.
Magile
Otyugh
Posts: 920
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 7:00 pm
Location: The Big Nowhere

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by Magile »

I was speaking about combat systems with shad0wfax and FoamBats4All on voice. A big drawback from 5e is that it's very important on Encounter Abilities, Rituals, Advantage/Disadvantage and so on.

My suggestion, which made everyone pause and look at it in a different light, was turn-based combat. You step within a certain distance of hostility/a fight, you're brought into a turn-based system - similar to Divinity Original Sin, but ultimately allows for it to be scripted so that abilities per encounter, advantages and disadvantages could fire off properly and work. It would also allow for players to have a bit of time to think and, god help us if we pull it off, roleplay a bit in the middle of combat (something that is nearly impossible to do without a DM pausing every other second). This also allows a DM to plan out their fights as well, turning combat into a true PnP-feeling scenario, while also being legitimate PC gameplay.

I don't know if people would prefer that, but I know a lot of people would love to have that extra moment to think over their move, consider their actions, plan ahead of time and, well, not have to spastic worry about how the fight may possibly go and select the closest spell ASAP because combat is NOW and it's moving whether or not you want it to.
Part of ALFA since May 2000.
NWN 2 PC (BG): Layali Mae (Arcane Trickster)
NWN 2 PC (MS): Marius Lobhdain (Druid)
Curmudgeon in IRC wrote:(2:29:40 PM) Curmudgeon: The community wants 24/7 DM coverage, free xp, and a suit of mithral plate mail in every pchest.
shad0wfax
DM Admin
Posts: 679
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2012 4:57 am

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by shad0wfax »

I'm excited to build and DM for 2e.

I'm far less excited for 5e.
User avatar
Arianna
Tech Admin
Posts: 1660
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:28 pm
Location: Idaho PST

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by Arianna »

I would probably bow out if we move to 2e as opposed to 5e I really don't think we need to take a Step BACK in time
Current NWN2 PC: TSM- Lessa

HDM of Moonshae Server DM on BG
Builder Everywhere
DM times - 6:30-10 PM Saturdays PDT on MS . . other times as I show up
PM me on Discord if you want to be DMd on BG I have Monday nights available
Talk to me if you want to learn to build for NWN2

Tech Admin
shad0wfax
DM Admin
Posts: 679
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2012 4:57 am

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by shad0wfax »

That's funny to hear, given how many people have gone BACKWARD to NWN1...
FoamBats4All
Githyanki
Posts: 1289
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:00 pm

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by FoamBats4All »

Arianna wrote:I would probably bow out if we move to 2e as opposed to 5e I really don't think we need to take a Step BACK in time
2e is mostly there because I was surprised the support for it in voice. I don't see it realistically being an option going forward. That said, 2e and 3.5e are far easier to code than 5e. There's no rerolling, no roll-modifying mages, etc.
User avatar
Ithildur
Dungeon Master
Posts: 3548
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:46 am
Location: Best pizza town in the universe
Contact:

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by Ithildur »

I've always thought that a hybrid/localized turn based system might work well for alfa Magile, interesting you bring that up. I love the tension build up, tactical possibilities, and the smack talking/emoting that can happen during intense, deadly round by round combat. Not everyone's cup of tea I'm sure.

Editions... I'd love to get in on a 2e tabletop game sometime but it's not going to work for alfa if we're trying to bring more people in. 5e probably is the way forward for new blood; 3.5e still can draw a good crowd as well (Pathfinder is extremely successful) but lately I'm sort of in favor of/curious about a simpler ruleset that encourages creative, flexible and narrative resolution of situations more than mechanics and rules to the nth degree; 5e ironically is more like 2e in spirit from what I've heard.
Formerly: Aglaril Shaelara, Faerun's unlikeliest Bladesinger
Current main: Ky - something

It’s not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who actually is in the arena, who strives violently, who errs and comes up short again and again...who if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement, but who if he fails, fails while daring greatly.-T. Roosevelt
shad0wfax
DM Admin
Posts: 679
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2012 4:57 am

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by shad0wfax »

From a development standpoint, 2e and 3.5e allow us to remain true to the class abilities, skills, talents, feats, etc.

5e forces us to make many sacrifices in core abilities for character classes by replacing them with other "equivalents".

Logistically, 5e is much harder to develop for than 1e, 2e, 3e, 3.5e
FoamBats4All
Githyanki
Posts: 1289
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:00 pm

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by FoamBats4All »

Updated poll to let you choose 2 options.
User avatar
Ithildur
Dungeon Master
Posts: 3548
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:46 am
Location: Best pizza town in the universe
Contact:

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by Ithildur »

Wow. 3 way tie...
FoamBats4All wrote:Updated poll to let you choose 2 options.
In that case I voted for both 3.5 and 5e.
Formerly: Aglaril Shaelara, Faerun's unlikeliest Bladesinger
Current main: Ky - something

It’s not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who actually is in the arena, who strives violently, who errs and comes up short again and again...who if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement, but who if he fails, fails while daring greatly.-T. Roosevelt
User avatar
causk
Brown Bear
Posts: 231
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:53 pm

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by causk »

pathfinder?
FoamBats4All
Githyanki
Posts: 1289
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:00 pm

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by FoamBats4All »

causk wrote:pathfinder?
ALFA pillars explicitly say D&D. Though the community could change that, it'd be a more striking change.
User avatar
Ithildur
Dungeon Master
Posts: 3548
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:46 am
Location: Best pizza town in the universe
Contact:

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by Ithildur »

Pathfinder definitely is D&D foam, whatchutawkinabout? It's just not WOTC (which might be an improvement just for that alone)

Wouldn't mind PF either honestly; it's an improvement over 3.5e and probably a bit less work to convert if we're going by the book (combat manuevers vs grapple/trip/disarm/etc checks, PF is much more streamlined), but people (myself included) would need to familiarize themselves with a slightly different ruleset. Less of a shift than 5e obviously.
Formerly: Aglaril Shaelara, Faerun's unlikeliest Bladesinger
Current main: Ky - something

It’s not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who actually is in the arena, who strives violently, who errs and comes up short again and again...who if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement, but who if he fails, fails while daring greatly.-T. Roosevelt
Mikayla
Valsharess of ALFA
Posts: 3707
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:37 pm
Location: Qu'ellar Faen Tlabbar, Noble Room 7, Menzoberranzan, NorthUnderdark

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by Mikayla »

I would prefer to move forward, not backward, but if 5e cannot be properly coded, then 3.5 is fine.
ALFA1-NWN1: Sheyreiza Valakahsa
NWN2: Layla (aka Aliyah, Amira, Snake and others) and Vellya
NWN1-WD: Shein'n Valakasha
FoamBats4All
Githyanki
Posts: 1289
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:00 pm

Re: Favorite D&D System?

Post by FoamBats4All »

Uh, shit. Well, I went to add Pathfinder and accidentally wiped out the previous votes. But hey, there's Pathfinder. :doh:
Post Reply