using all the rules of Next, and you can approach something similar to 3e in complexity.  Not as much, but close.

But can it emulate a more basic character too?  What does it look like when you don't play with feats or background skills/lore?

One of the key metrics for how simple B/X was is that you could put your character on a postcard.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you a "basic" fighter in Next (assume he'll take the warrior path at level three, instead of the maneuver heavy gladiator), and therefore when you gain levels, you aren't really adding a whole lot to the character sheet.

Dude, you have exquisite penmanship.

It's almost fontlike!

Quote from: Imp;684251It's almost fontlike!

Almost


Doods, I wanted you to be able to read it

What I really want to see is a Moldvay 3rd-level Fighter next to a 3rd-level Magic-user. Then underneath that a 3e 3rd-level Fighter next to a 3rd-level Wizard, and then a 4e 3rd-level Fighter next to a 3rd-level Wizard, and finally a 5e 3rd-level Fighter next to a 3rd-level Wizard.

I've been gaming since the mid-80's and I just picked up Mongoose's Traveller on the recommendation of the owner of my FLGS. I must have jerked off three or four times while I was making my first two characters. Then I started reading the rest of the book. Yeah. No. I think a lot of casual players are like that.

While in time I think games with complexity like 3e and 4e can be very popular, players must first get past that book of rules wall. I think a game that allows a new player to start with a character that fits on one side of an index card will always be more successful than those like 3e and 4e. Without an influx of casuals who may become consistent hobbyists, we will remain a Balkanized community

Quote from: JasperAK;684253What I really want to see is a Moldvay 3rd-level Fighter next to a 3rd-level Magic-user. Then underneath that a 3e 3rd-level Fighter next to a 3rd-level Wizard, and then a 4e 3rd-level Fighter next to a 3rd-level Wizard, and finally a 5e 3rd-level Fighter next to a 3rd-level Wizard.

I don't play 4e, so sorry I can't do that one.  And I did humans for everything, because in B/X, there isn't an option to have a fighter and another race.  Oh, and I don't have lore in the Next sheets.   If you choose to play with Lore, you just note down 2 of them, like "trade" and "forbidden"

What are these special abilities.

action surge?
second wind?

This is sounding like 4e powers already.

CAN I JUST HAVE A FUCKING FIGHTER WITH A SWORD TO HITS THINGS ALREADY?!?!!

Quote from: 1989;684269What are these special abilities.

action surge?
second wind?

This is sounding like 4e powers already.

CAN I JUST HAVE A FUCKING FIGHTER WITH A SWORD TO HITS THINGS ALREADY?!?!!

Action surge: take another action.  Need to do a short (1 hour) or long (8 hour) rest before you can do it again.

Second Wind: once per day, heal up to 1/2 of your HP max.

Thanks. I didn't think anyone would do it. Its strikes me that when shown this way, they don't 'look' all that different from each other. I suspect that a 4e character wouldn't look that different if its powers were only listed and not typed out in full.

The Next stat block looks pretty bearable to me, and if most of the fighter abilities have descriptions that short, consider me more optimistic than before.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;684248using all the rules of Next, and you can approach something similar to 3e in complexity.  Not as much, but close.

But can it emulate a more basic character too?  What does it look like when you don't play with feats or background skills/lore?

One of the key metrics for how simple B/X was is that you could put your character on a postcard.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you a "basic" fighter in Next (assume he'll take the warrior path at level three, instead of the maneuver heavy gladiator), and therefore when you gain levels, you aren't really adding a whole lot to the character sheet.

Yeah I really don't care for that kind of "Simple."  My first character sheets were AD&D.  They are far more detailed than that. In fact it was one of my favorite things to do, was to detail a character sheet.

Quote from: hamstertamer;684283Yeah I really don't care for that kind of "Simple."  My first character sheets were AD&D.  They are far more detailed than that. In fact it was one of my favorite things to do, was to detail a character sheet.

Well, that's the most streamlined and simple that you can get.  The actual official character sheet is much more detailed.

Quote from: JasperAK;684272Thanks. I didn't think anyone would do it. Its strikes me that when shown this way, they don't 'look' all that different from each other. I suspect that a 4e character wouldn't look that different if its powers were only listed and not typed out in full.

I don't know how you could do it.  For example, each of the powers in Next can be summarized in a quick short one liner.

Second wind: heal 1/2 max hp 1x/day
Action surge: +1 action 1x/short rest


I have no idea how to shorten:

QuoteDaily ✦ Polymorph, Primal
Minor Action Personal
Effect: You assume the guardian form of the willow sentinel
until the end of the encounter. While you are in this
form, you can negate being pulled, pushed, or slid. In
addition, any ally gains a +2 power bonus to Fortitude
while adjacent to you.
Once during this encounter, you can make the following
weapon attack while you are in this form.
Immediate Interrupt Melee 1
Trigger: An enemy adjacent to you makes an attack roll
against your ally
Target: The triggering enemy
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage, and the target
takes a –4 penalty to the triggering attack roll.
Miss: Half damage, and the target takes a –2 penalty to the
triggering attack roll.

That's pretty awesome Sac, thanks for putting the effort into that.

I'd also be curious as to how long each character takes to make. A B/X character takes all of 3-4 minutes, I recall taking our 3e characters home after the first session so we could work out feat trees and skills and such on our own time.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;684271Action surge: take another action.  Need to do a short (1 hour) or long (8 hour) rest before you can do it again.

Second Wind: once per day, heal up to 1/2 of your HP max.

Eek. Those once per day abilities bug me if there's no in-game logic for why I can't take my other action until 12:01 a.m.