So, been thinking of ways to simplify 3.X.
Problem 1:
Characters and villains dying in one roll, or botching an important roll. Kinda self-explanatory.
Solution 1:
[Hero] subtype-Characters and main NPCs get the [Hero] subtype, that grants them some version of action points, probably. Also some sort of "plot shield" that makes ganking them with sheer numbers really innefective, like nat 20s from non-heroes don't automatically hit them. Also, they're the only ones on the setting who can level up by gaining levels for quests/killing. Everybody else has to work for years/decades.
Fluff Reasoning: Characters and main NPCs are touched by fate or something like that.
Problem 2:
Numbers getting out of scale. One of the main problems I've witnessed in my years of 3.X, many times it's extremely easy to just stack different bonus from several sources to get out of the RNG completely. It also produces a somewhat boring minigame where people are trying to get every little bonus they can get their hands on and
Solution 2:
Cap the limits. A character of level X cannot have DCs higher than Y, saves higher than Z, bonus to attack rolls/AC higher than K, miss chances higher than N, etc. You can use whatever source you want to reach the limit, but you can't go over it unless you level up. Perhaps [heroes] can pick a certain characteristic where they can go overboard, so someone has exceptional attack bonus, and somebody else has exceptional fortitude, and so on. An artifact item's special ability may be to allow you to break such limits as well.
Fluff Reasoning: There's just how much you can pimp that spell or sharpen that blade before diminishing returns and saturation of energies start to kick in.
Just brainstorming for now. Would like to hear some opinions.