EXAMPLES OF RESTRUCTURE

To help those who are going to be helping build ED&D, here's how I see the way it could be nice to restructure. We have to start finding problems, analysing the impact of them on the game, find a solution and then analyse the impact of the solution itself on the game. At the times it won't be easy to balance, but I'm sure we can find a much better way than the Copyrighters, since we're not doing it for money, and that's the key to it all.

Let's talk about a case like polymorphing, one of the greatest DM's headaches ever. The problem is not with the spell (Only) because the problem is the MTGzation (magicthegatherization) of D&D. As such, IMHO, it's the combination of supplements and lack of a process of monster creation that sets polymorphing as such a problem. It took the Copyrighters 3 years to find a (lousy) solution, a complete reorganization of the rules. Here's my solution and Blaken's, keeping polymorphing fun to play:

ANCIENT POLYMORPH SPELL

Polymorph
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Willing living creature touched
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

This spell functions like alter self, except that you change the willing subject into another form of living creature. The new form may be of the same type as the subject or any of the following types: aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant, or vermin. The assumed form can’t have more Hit Dice than your caster level (or the subject’s HD, whichever is lower), to a maximum of 15 HD at 15th level. You can’t cause a subject to assume a form smaller than Fine, nor can you cause a subject to assume an incorporeal or gaseous form. The subject’s creature type and subtype (if any) change to match the new form.

Upon changing, the subject regains lost hit points as if it had rested for a night (though this healing does not restore temporary ability damage and provide other benefits of resting; and changing back does not heal the subject further). If slain, the subject reverts to its original form, though it remains dead.

The subject gains the Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores of the new form but retains its own Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. It also gains all extraordinary special attacks possessed by the form but does not gain the extraordinary special qualities possessed by the new form or any supernatural or spell-like abilities.

Incorporeal or gaseous creatures are immune to being polymorphed, and a creature with the shapechanger subtype can revert to its natural form as a standard action.

Material Component: An empty cocoon.

ED&D POLYMORPH SPELL

Polymorph
Transmutation

Level: Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Willing living creature touched
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

This spell functions like alter self, except that you change the willing subject into another form of living creature. The new form may be of the same type as the subject or any of the following types: aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant, or vermin. The assumed form can’t have more Hit Dice than half your caster level, to a maximum of 10 HD at 20th level. You can’t cause a subject to assume a form smaller than Fine, nor can you cause a subject to assume an incorporeal or gaseous form. The subject’s creature type and subtype (if any) change to match the new form.

Upon changing, the subject regains lost hit points as if it had rested for a night (though this healing does not restore temporary ability damage and provide other benefits of resting; and changing back does not heal the subject further). If slain, the subject reverts to its original form, though it remains dead.

The subject gains the Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores of the new form but retains its own Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. It also gains all extraordinary special attacks possessed by the form but does not gain the extraordinary special qualities possessed by the new form or any supernatural or spell-like abilities.

Incorporeal or gaseous creatures are immune to being polymorphed, and a creature with the shapechanger subtype can revert to its natural form as a standard action.

Material Component: An empty cocoon.

See? Now isn't this freaking simple? Was it really necessary to have gazillion pages written about it and whole 4 part page section on a site and a new supplement book? So this is what I find it's really improving the game, simple, short (when possible) and concise trimmering of the game rules, mainting fun and balancing the power one class might have and that is not advisable or fun for the other classes. :)