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Post by uptrainfan89 on Nov 25, 2013 10:48:10 GMT -9
Well in my infinite quest to find that perfect in depth dungeon crawl rule set, I got to thinking. Can D&D 4th edition be converted or bent a little to be turned in to a DM less dungeon crawl rule set? What are your guys thoughts and ideas on this?
The biggest reason I was thinking of trying this is I want a rule system with hero, enemy, and item/skill customization but also no real story line or DM. Sort of an advanced hack and slash.
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Post by cherno on Nov 25, 2013 11:09:40 GMT -9
I'd say it's certainly a good hoice. 4E can be played (actually, I think it's meant to be played) as a series of connected "encounters", with most being combat and some social interactions or skill checks thrown in (for, like, traversing a treacherous desert).
Since monsters tend to have at least one special attack that they can used once per combat encounter, I'd say it'd best to just make a deck of AI cards for each monster and then draw from it every time it activates, and then choose one of several action options depending on the circumstances (seeing enemy, being in melee range, etc).
Everything else can be randomized too. However, with all the status effects like stun, poison, bleeding and so on it might actually be too in-depth. Maybe Savage Worlds is better? From what I've heard, it'S more like a Tabletop miniatures game.
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Post by cowboyleland on Nov 25, 2013 11:18:23 GMT -9
I think it would work fine. Make the monster default "Uses best attack on nearest character(s)" and hack away!
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Post by oldschooldm on Nov 25, 2013 12:19:56 GMT -9
Actually, DMless D&D 4e (lite) was already designed by Wizards of the Coast - its in the Adventure Game series, such as The Legend of Drizzt. Good news is that you can download the rules for free, so they might give you some insights for adapting 4e/Essentials... www.wizards.com/dnd/files/LoD_Rulebook_EN.pdf
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Post by WackyAnne on Nov 25, 2013 12:59:47 GMT -9
Google D&D Solo or Solitaire, and you should find a few homebrew versions. I ran into this one (http://shiftkitty.angelfire.com/DDSolitaire.pdf) which the author seems to have put a lot of thought and work into. I've never run it though, having shifted to Pathfinder and more interested in fluff than crunch anyway.
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Post by uptrainfan89 on Nov 25, 2013 13:47:21 GMT -9
I'll have to try a few of these out lol. I've messed a bit with D&D 3.5 in the past with rpg's but decided it's about time I tried out 4th edition and figured it might be perfect for this idea. I've looked at the D&D board games a bit, they look really neat and are not too expensive on eBay, I seen there is three total and can be played together.
I was thinking if 4 the edition works for this I'd like to use fat dragons e-z dungeons maybe and other paper minis.
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Post by Parduz on Nov 25, 2013 13:59:53 GMT -9
My opinion (but my knowledge of D&D ends with 3.5e): If you're ok with "heroes against master", just like Descent, Heroquest and all the crawler where there's ONE player for the evil, i'd say that your best option is to grab a copy of "D&D Basic game (2004 or 2006 edition): you'll get an introductory D&D system with all the iconic stats, just some feats and a couple of abilities (you can get an idea from this PDF character sheetIt just cover 2 levels and then reccomend to grab the player manuals, but, admitted that you want level progression, you can tweak it easy. The rules are simplyfied as well, but i don't know if they're availabe online, 'cause the term "D&D basic game" returns a lot of wrong versions. If instead you want an AI, a DMless game, then the game linked works. I just hate it 'cause i feel it dumb and boring, but it sold well, so perhaps i'm the wrong. BGG is down for maintenance, so i can't recall the name of another try to make D&D (or betterm the D20 system) as a crawler, but i never tried it 'cause it was abandoned (i think 'cause the Adventure Game series.
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Post by glennwilliams on Nov 25, 2013 16:10:59 GMT -9
I'd go with the old Melee and Wizard originally from metagaming. IIRC, the rules are available online for free. Clean rules, easy combat and magic resolution. The problem I have with the adventure game series from Wizards is cost--but free rules might make it worth while. I just think the D&D system got wayyyyy tooooo complicated (ditto for Pathfinder)--I want fun not another masters thesis.
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Post by ghostgirl on Nov 25, 2013 16:20:17 GMT -9
In your quest you have tried and ruled out using Song of Blades and Heroes? and the dungeon expansion? If not it might be more of what you are looking for. If you have and it isnt what you are looking for then D&D (especially 4th edition with how tactical it is) has always had the ability to be played without a story using wandering monster tables and such.
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Post by Sirrob01 on Nov 25, 2013 21:23:13 GMT -9
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Post by Parduz on Nov 26, 2013 0:04:15 GMT -9
THAT was the "abandoned" one i was talking about.
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Post by uptrainfan89 on Nov 26, 2013 16:28:03 GMT -9
I haven't tried song of blades and hero's yet or the dungeon expansion, guess I'm not sure how its rule system works lol. I know I want to be able to stat out heros and enemies and have a wide range of spells/skills and customizable items and magic items (gotta love lots of loot), maybe even a store system and lvl system. I know I don't plan on running adventures or stuff like that and get rid of the DM, might make a little intro text to my games just for a little flavor, other than that just have a general rule for monster movement and targeting. I'm not sure what song of blades and hero's offers in those areas compared to D&D 4e lol?
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Post by cowboyleland on Nov 26, 2013 19:02:44 GMT -9
Song of Blades and Hero's is a lot of fun, but it is stripped right down for fast play. Not what you seem to be looking for. I think 4e will work fine once you work out an AI.
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Post by Sirrob01 on Nov 26, 2013 20:53:16 GMT -9
Dungeon bash uses a bunch of flow charts for monster reactions it might be what your looking for...I thought I had another set of rules for solo adventuring but I can't find them anymore....
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