Top Ten Troll Question Part Two

(1). Should energy drain take away one level of experience points from the character? Yes or No? If no, what should level drain do?

I have house rules that require you to roll your Hit Dice to do stuff, as a measure of your vitality and power. So Energy Drain reduces your current Hit Dice pool. 


(2). Should the oil used in lanterns do significant damage (more than 1 hp in damage) if thrown on an opponent and set on fire? Yes or No? If yes, how much damage should it do?

1D3 per round, for 3 rds or until extinguished. 

(3). Should poison give a save or die roll, with a fail rolled indicating instant death? Yes or No? If no, how should game mechanics relating to poison work?

No. All poisons acting the same way is boring. There should be poisons that make you Chaotic, or insane, or induce full-body paralysis for a week. 


(4). Do characters die when they reach 0 hit points? Yes or No? If no, then at what point is a character dead?

Roll of the Grievous Injury table. Maybe you'll just lose an eye. And if you die, the reason is specific (Oooh! Gut wound! All your internal organs spill out onto the floor.)

It's sort of hard to explain how much more fun the game is to die in hilariously specific ways.

(5). Does the primary spell mechanic for a magic user consist of a "memorize and forget system" (aka Vancian)? Yes or No? If no, what alternative do you use?

Basically everyone is a 3e Sorcerer. 


(6). Should all weapons do 1d6 damage or should different weapons have varying dice (1d4, 1d8, etc...) for damage?

Variable damage. I also offer variable to-hit bonuses.  Choices with consequences are good. 


(7). Should a character that has a high ability score in their prime requisite receive an experience point bonus? Yes or No?

Sure. 

(8). Should a character with an strength of 18 constitution get a +3 bonus to hit points, or a +2 bonus to hit points, or a +1 bonus to hit points or no bonus to hit points? And should other ability scores grant similar bonuses to other game mechanics?

What crazy edition are you playing? I play Basic by the book in this regard. 

(9). Should a character have 1 unified saving throw number, or 3 saving throw types based on ability scores (reflex, fortitude, will), or 5 types based on potential game effects (magic wand, poison attacks)? or something else?

I have five generic Saves: Might, Fortitude, Dodge, Deflect, and Will. 

Deflect is modified by your Shield bonus to AC, not a stat. 

(10). Should a cleric get (A) 1 spell at 1st level  (B) no spells at 1st level (C) more than 1 spell at 1st level?

Bonus spells from high Wisdom at 1st level, if any.