Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
While the 5eDungeons & Dragonstabletop RPG system of rules offer the simplest rule set the secret plan has ever know , Dungeons & Dragons Online’s(DDO ) rules leave a far more complex take onD&D. The long - running MMORPG , which made its debut in 2006 , has built on its 3.5 editionD&Dstructure over the twelvemonth . SinceDDOis base on a tabletop RPG rule set it is technically potential for a gambling group to import its rules to tabletop play , but the calculations involved might make even the most experienced Dungeon Masters cry . The math is gratefully automated forDDOplayers , and the MMORPG uses a real - time combat engine with behind - the - scene dice rolls and calculations . Any group attempting to bringDDOto aliveness in tabletop class might detect that a few seconds of fight could take upwards of an hour to resolve , asDDOadds to the already intricate 3.5D&Dsystem with Modern crease like Doublestrike , Glancing go down on with two - handed weapon , and many other original mechanics .
Just asDungeons & Dragonshas evolved with every editionand in play impact the tabletop RPG sideline , D&Dhas also been strongly linked with the picture game world . The 1991 AOL - host gameNeverwinter Nightswas the predecessor of every modern MMORPG as the first on-line RPG to display graphics . This former take on an MMORPG was free-base on the Gold Box game engine , a series of video games featuring theAdvanced Dungeons & Dragonsrules . DDO’s2006 launching come after other landmark MMORPGs likeEverQuestandWorld of Warcrafthad established genre conventions more fully . The launch version ofDDOwas much cheeseparing toD&D’stabletop rule of the time , the 3.5 editionD&Dsystem . The level cap was ab initio 10 , but update after extended that to 20 , and then to the current Epic Level jacket of 30 , while inaugurate new rules and modified mechanics in the cognitive process .
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Some histrion may debate whether the modernNeverwinterMMORPG is better thanD&DOnline , as the 2013Neverwintergame have a somewhat sleeker graphical presentment , and it is available on consoles as well as PC . Yet there is an undeniable charm unique toDDOfor many longtime players , and despite its rule changes over the years , it still retains more of its roots in 3.5 editionD&Dtabletop play thanNeverwinterhas with its 4e editionD&Dorigins . Many of the iconic factor of the long - running third editionD&Dsystem are still evident inDDO , include Armor Class , the three saving stroke types , and vital terror ranges for arm . As the biz evolved , it introduced young concepts like Doublestrike ( a percentage chance that any weapon onrush could trip an immediate identical attack ) , and Glancing blow for two - handed weapons ( where enemies near a instrumentalist ’s objective might take a small share of the weapon ’s damage ) .
DDO Started Closer To Its 3.5 D&D Roots But Added New Mechanics Over Time
There are many rationality whyD&D Onlineis good for tabletop RPG fans , in particular those who were lovesome of third editionD&Dand its spiritual successorPathfinder . Many character build conception still translate well to theDDOengine , with conversant elements like two - handed weapons that bestow one - and - a - one-half time the wielder ’s Strength grade modifier . The new additions ofDDOcould theoretically be spell to a tabletop 3.5D&DorPathfindergame , but any endeavor at this kind of homebrew should be approach cautiously . Some new feat chain introduced inDDO , like the unmarried - arm stylus feats that appropriate a one - handed arm user to add up to 1.5 times their Strength incentive to damage , might seem uncomplicated enough on the aerofoil . Their tie-in to other raw mechanic make them hard to flawlessly spell to a tabletop biz , however .
The most hefty character builds of5eD&D , like the polearm master Barbarian , compound several feats that synergize effectively . The most powerfulDDOcharacters make use of Feat synergy alongside several MMORPG - specific machinist that were not present in 3.5D&D. Many ofDDO’sfeats strayed from the tabletop origins of the game and are gear to the material - time nature of the MMORPG.DDOintroduced new car-mechanic like “ Melee Power ” which increases melee damage by a specific percentage , and MMORPG - appropriate calculations of attacks - per - second rather than fire - per - round , as with the tabletop game . Even a superficially dewy-eyed effort range of mountains like individual - weapon - fighting has consequence beyond just adding more of a character ’s strength grade to damage , as it also increase Melee Power and a fiber ’s flak - per - secondment ratio .
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The changes to spellcasting are nearly as numerous as those to weapon - based armed combat inDDO . In tabletopD&D , an effective spellcaster can simply leverage theD&Dspells that are overpoweredand ensure their casting stat is as high as possible . DDOswapped spell slots for spell points , and it also features Spell Power alongside Ranged and Melee Power , as well as element - specific modifiers . Healing is also more complex inDDO , as the fiber receiving healing has their own statistic for how efficiently they can be heal using magic . These options give picture game thespian myriad ways to optimise characters inDDO , including elements that were present in 3.5 D&D like Fortification for resist vital strike and Spell Resistance for avoiding spells , alongsideDDO’snew mechanics like Healing Amplification and Spell Power .
A Round Of DDO-Style Tabletop D&D Combat Could Take Hours To Resolve
There are many abrasive optionalrules that only sadisticD&DDungeon Masters usebut trying to spell the full cortege ofDDOrules into a tabletop game would likely be just as miserable . The novelty of adding the MMORPG rules on top of the 3.5D&Dsystem certainly has some appeal , as a kind of “ Advanced 3.5 D&D ” version . Much of third editionD&D , peculiarly high - tier combat , already included enough complexities that could make resolving a single round of combat a operose affair .
After bestow on theDDOrules , resolving a single attempt could be likewise drawn out . Beyond addressing the many mechanics already present in 3.5D&D , including a Miss Chance based on Etherealness and Damage Reduction to certain damage type , DDOadds various portion - based modifiers to damage , and the chance to trigger extra attacks not featured in the 3.5D&Drules . Video plot allow for extremely complex calculations to take place instantly and they have no problem “ remember ” a series of modifiers . A qualifier such as a two per centum bonus to damage is o.k. forDDO , but more trouble than it ’s deserving in atabletopDungeons & Dragonsgame .
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