Post/Author/DateTime	Post
polt 04-13-07, 03:04 PM	Okay, here's the deal. I recently bought the True20 system, which I LOVE. It fixes A LOT of what I really dislike about D&D. However, it obviously also causes some new problems. I really like classes. It's balanced, it gives you some fun abilities you might not would've taken if you had the choice, but now you got them because of your class, and that's cool. I like to be able to show my players a picture and go "This is a paladin, you can play this dude". However, I dislike HP, but it's simple and easy and really just a way to know when you're dead, so I can live with that. I HATE the spell system in D&D, it's the most stupid thing in the world. The only reason I play with it is because my friends seem to like it. While I love the true20 spell system, the actual amount of spells and content is pretty small, there's no feeling of earning those really powerful spells, there's not a lot of content. I like the way you cast spell, I don't like the limited amount of spells. And the very small number of spells you get access too. In D&D, I love there's a lot of fun spells out there, you get a lot of them. But I truly and utterly hate spells pr. day. I'll never play a spellcaster again because of it. There's other stuff I like about True20, and D&D. But that is my big issue. But now I'm thinking I want to DM a group, some kids maybe. And I don't know what system to choose? Should I go True20 or D&D? Should I choose one system and house rule the hell out of it? Should I find something else? What is best suited for kids? (Age 10-12) What are you guys' advice, opinions? About the systems, and about what I should do. Help me please.
Seeker95 04-13-07, 03:26 PM	I HATE the spell system in D&D, it's the most stupid thing in the world. The only reason I play with it is because my friends seem to like it.An easy way to use the existing spell system with kids (and grown-ups) is to use spell cards. You can pick (prepare) your cards (spells) each day, and you play (cast) whatever card (spell) you want, as long as you still have it in your hand (memorized).
polt 04-13-07, 04:25 PM	Well, I don't think I'll need to dumb it down really. The rules are easy enough to learn, especially D&D.
Einvaldurinn_mikli 04-13-07, 04:32 PM	Go with D&D and use Psionics as magic, just reflavor them.
polt 04-13-07, 04:32 PM	Go with D&D and use Psionics as magic, just reflavor them. Why psionics?
Einvaldurinn_mikli 04-13-07, 07:54 PM	Why psionics? It's intuitive, balanced and just darned cool. That's why. You did say that your biggest problem with D&D was Vancian magic right? Psionics uses a point system that is a lot easier to handle.
Yadot 04-13-07, 10:08 PM	Psionics is also slighty more balanced than its Arcane counterpart.
polt 04-14-07, 06:17 AM	Really? I heard psionics were way overpowered. We've never played with them, since we don't really like the flavour of psionics. I'll think it over. Isn't it the same as the UA spell point thing?
ieattrollsforbreakfast 04-14-07, 06:30 AM	Really? I heard psionics were way overpowered. We've never played with them, since we don't really like the flavour of psionics. I'll think it over. Isn't it the same as the UA spell point thing? The 'psionics are overpowered' argument is based on psionics of past editions (and people who haven't actually used the new one). The latest version of the rules, in the Expanded Psionics Handbook, are actually very good. It is a lot like the UA spell point system, but since it is built with that system in mind, it is better balanced. It's fairly easy to remove the flavour you don't like, none of it is integral to the rules.
polt 04-14-07, 06:35 AM	Alright, I have to check that out. Isn't the UA spell system balanced? Cause I looked that over, and it looks pretty cool.
ieattrollsforbreakfast 04-14-07, 06:46 AM	Alright, I have to check that out. Isn't the UA spell system balanced? Cause I looked that over, and it looks pretty cool. I don't know, I've never tried it. I have heard it had some issues with some of the spells not translating well, and it making sorcerers pretty redundant. I doubt it was anything too major, though.
polt 04-14-07, 06:47 AM	I don't know, I've never tried it. I have heard it had some issues with some of the spells not translating well, and it making sorcerers pretty redundant. I doubt it was anything too major, though. Well, noone really play a sorcerer in our games anyway, so that doesn't matter :) What I'm really getting at here is if I can use the spell point system, I don't have to get and read another book :D
Fallenangel359 04-14-07, 11:19 AM	the psionics system is considerably better built than spell points, as you can choose how much umph you can put into a spell, based on how many power points you burn. The max powerpoint burning is = to caster level. spell points lets you burn spell points to cast spells, and higher level spells uses more, but you can't control the umph Example... you can't cast a 9th level spell with using little mana, but also using little umph. Psionics also fixes the underpoweredness of casters at levels 1-3, to a certain degree. They have spellstuff that hit for d10 per power point you put in :P
polt 04-14-07, 11:56 AM	Actually you can from what I can tell. You can control damage in a lot of the damage spells.
Arrowhen 04-14-07, 12:14 PM	Okay, here's the deal. I recently bought the True20 system, which I LOVE. It fixes A LOT of what I really dislike about D&D. However, it obviously also causes some new problems. I really like classes. It's balanced, it gives you some fun abilities you might not would've taken if you had the choice, but now you got them because of your class, and that's cool. I like to be able to show my players a picture and go "This is a paladin, you can play this dude". Check out True20 Fantasy Paths (http://www.greenronin.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1001&Product_Code=grr9012e&Category_Code=true20), if you haven't already. It shows how to recreate the basic d20 classes with True20 and might be nice for new players who might be a bit overwhelmed by all the options that True20 allows them to pick from. While I love the true20 spell system, the actual amount of spells and content is pretty small, there's no feeling of earning those really powerful spells, there's not a lot of content. I like the way you cast spell, I don't like the limited amount of spells. And the very small number of spells you get access too. Remember that while there's a small amount of "spells", most of them let you do several different things. The Light Shaping power, for instance, lets you duplicate the effects of light, minor image, blur, *and* invisibility. Not bad, especially considering you can do all that at 1st level. Also remember that an Adept can spend a point of Conviction to gain a single use of a power she doesn't normally possess. (And Conviction is easy to come by: you automatically get one point a day and for the rest, all you have to do is act in character.) This increases an Adept's range of abilities considerably; she has certain Powers that she can all the time and limited access to others when she really needs them.