Veteran suffering Post D&D 3.5 Syndrome

[coffeedragon]

Hi
I've been playing D&D for many years through all its versions as DM and player.
I became disheartened with D&D3.5 and disbanded our group, but now i find myself haunted by the memories of the thrill of rolling a 20.

Is it possible to rekindle the old D&D fires, or is it time to try new rpg horizons? Can old D&D wardogs learn new tricks? Only time and the boards will tell...

[Mulsiphix]

Welcome to the community! For finding players the Player Registry (http://www.penandpapergames.com/forums/memberlist.php) is an invaluable tool and for recruiting players as a DM the Campaign Invitations (http://www.penandpapergames.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=17) forum is perfect. Please join us in on any of the various topics being discussed in the forums. For best results taking the initiative to contact players in your area should greatly increase your chances of finding others to game with. Many players are in groups that have openings but since they aren't the GM they don't go out of their way to recruit new players for the game. I wish you the best of luck in finding gaming bliss in the near future.

[Farcaster]

I became disheartened with D&D3.5 and disbanded our group, but now i find myself haunted by the memories of the thrill of rolling a 20.

Disheartened? Why so?

[Mulsiphix]

Is it possible to rekindle the old D&D fires, or is it time to try new rpg horizons? Can old D&D wardogs learn new tricks? Only time and the boards will tell...There is always hope. I think you need a change of setting. Try playing with a new group or two. Mix up the settings that you are used to. Try playing new races, multi-classes, or even full rule conversions like Arcana Unearthed, Arcana Evolved, Iron Heroes, The Book Of Iron Might, The Complete Book Of Eldrich Might, or the most classic of D&D 3.X settings, Ptolus. Branching out into other systems is also something worth looking to. But if you are as big a fan of D&D as you say you are, I wouldn't give up on it just yet. D&D has much to offer, even to those like myself who are not the most fond of class based systems. D&D is a very unique experience from other pen and paper games. If your not having fun while playing it, your playing it with the group of people ;)

[rabkala]

Welcome aboard.

I think there is always room to rekindle the fires that burned within you. When I get burned out DMing, playing in a game really does help me. When the D&D game seems same old and boring, I like to switch to modern/future for awhile. I have even switched game systems a few times, but always went back to D&D. It is more difficult to learn the new tricks, but maybe it's worth it.

:)

[cplmac]

Hello and welcome! I have heard comments from both sides of the fence for 3.x. If you are truely that down about the game, there is always the possibility of trying to find a group that still plays using 2e. Then you can do like I'm doing and waiting for the 4e books to come out and see if you like that system. If you don't, there's nothing that says that you can't continue to use 2e.

[nijineko]

i always found superhero settings sufficiently fantastic that i could get a change of pace, but still fill that need for the fantastic at the same time. hope you can find what you need here! it's one of the most likely places.

and welcome to the forum. nice to meet you. the kitty is pleased.

[razada]

welcome, this site has pleanty to offer to new members

[tesral]

I've got an Aunt-in-Law in your neck of the world. I do say you're the furthest from me of anyone I have seen yet. Good luck with finding a game.

[coffeedragon]

Disheartened? Why so?
I suppose it was mainly the fact that out of the 4 or 5 hours of our once a week game session, most of the evening got taken up in resolving combat - often a single fight! Even small, simple fights seemed to drag out painfully.

D&D has always been long-winded in combat, but it seemed to me that in v3 it got really bad.
And quite frankly, WotC changed so many of the spells in small but significant ways that I had to go and look up a spell every time a player cast something. I suppose it's the 'old dog' syndrome kicking in ;)

In the end I was having to look up rules every few minutes because there are so many fiddly rules for everything now!
If you are truely that down about the game, there is always the possibility of trying to find a group that still plays using 2e.
This is true. I still have lots of 2e books, but the downside there is that 2e was far more restrictive as far as level and class.
Having seen what other games are available and the freedom of choice they offer, I think I'll try the devil I don't know rather than the one I do:D... for now anyway!
i always found superhero settings sufficiently fantastic that i could get a change of pace, but still feel that need for the fantastic at the same time.
In fact I just got a copy of Mutants and Masterminds that Morton Stromgal suggested to me. It looks great and I'm keen to try it out once I'm familiar with the rules
I've got an Aunt-in-Law in your neck of the world. I do say you're the furthest from me of anyone I have seen yet. Good luck with finding a game.
lol. Thanks:rolleyes: Yes, it seems we have a fairly meager gaming community here in sunny SA, but i have a few potential raw recruits I'm hoping to bring into the fold:)
Thank you everyone for the warm welcome - this the most rpg fun I've had in ages!

[tesral]

lol. Thanks:rolleyes: Yes, it seems we have a fairly meager gaming community here in sunny SA, but i have a few potential raw recruits I'm hoping to bring into the fold:)
Thank you everyone for the warm welcome - this the most rpg fun I've had in ages!

At least you can read the books in English. We have a German player in the Friday night game at Oakland University. He said the editing on the German books was awful. Translations often did not make sense.

[nijineko]

posting to the forum is the most fun you've had rpg-wise in ages?!?! :eek: quick, somebody, hurry and find the poor soul a game!

[boulet]

Actually his question was about finding a game with a soul :D Welcome to the board Coffeedragon ! I'm glad for the geographical diversity. Do you know of any role playing games publisher in South Africa ?

[nijineko]

excellent point. but... if his soul needs soul, does that make him a cannibal? or just lonely? ^^

[rabkala]

I suppose it was mainly the fact that out of the 4 or 5 hours of our once a week game session, most of the evening got taken up in resolving combat - often a single fight! Even small, simple fights seemed to drag out painfully.

D&D has always been long-winded in combat, but it seemed to me that in v3 it got really bad.
And quite frankly, WotC changed so many of the spells in small but significant ways that I had to go and look up a spell every time a player cast something. I suppose it's the 'old dog' syndrome kicking in ;)

In the end I was having to look up rules every few minutes because there are so many fiddly rules for everything now!


I have heard the criticism of 3.x many times and must admit there is something to it. I consider myself very well versed in the system, but do see how those newer to the system would have difficulty, especially with the ever expanding supplements and such.

The holy grail of 4e is on the horizon, which appears to be greatly streamlined. If the Saga edition is an indication of the upcoming 4e, it should be a refreshing change.

There are many systems out there now. Many companies have different takes on RPG rules with less complexity. I would suggest trying a couple to see if they fit your style better.

Either way, it could rekindle the fires.

[nijineko]

join a few games here just to get a feel for different games. that might help as well!

[coffeedragon]

join a few games here just to get a feel for different games. that might help as well!
Heh, thanks but no thanks! As someone else on the boards mentioned, actual table-top gaming is quite different from online.
I think with the delicate state of my Gaming Soul, I'll stick to the format I'm familiar with! ;)

I have a copy of The Omni System, as well as Talislanta 4th edition which I'm happily wading through. Aside from a few queries on the combat mechanics, it's looking promising:D