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5 months ago ::
Jan 22, 2013 - 8:09PM
#1
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Date Joined:
Nov 19, 2012
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First, I want to say that WotC letting us, the fans, into a playtest like this is an awesome thing, along the various Wandering Monster, Dragon's Eye View, and similar articles that give us a peek into the inner workings of the 5E development process.
HOWEVER...
What I've been reading a lot of lately is, essentially, how 5E is bending over backwards to pander to the original fans of D&D from the seventies. I'm certainly NOT trying to say anything bad about the old-schoolers who in several ways 'trained' me in the world of D&D and the greater tabletop RPG hobby, but I'm beginning to feel like the D&DN playtest is just WotC saying that the 3E/4E edition wars were too much for them, and that they're just going to rehash previous editions with a new system and try to make peace between all of D&D's different generations.
To clarify, I started in 3E, liked it, went on to 4E, liked it, finding both editions to have their pros and cons, and have so far massively enjoyed the 5E playtest.
But where's the stuff that makes this new edition, you know, NEW? I bought the AD&D core rulebooks out of a fascination with my hobby's origins (having a history degree kind of implies a fascination for the old), and I'm just as intrigued with the upcoming reprints of classic adventures that I've heard my old-schooler mentors speak of with such fondness.
But I don't want to see just the same old stuff that Gygax and all his (awesome) buddies back at TSR repackaged in new wrappers. I want to see something new, something original, something that will make gamers years from now say "Oh yeah, 2E gave us Dark Sun and thri-kreen, but it was in 5E when they added..."
Maybe I can sum it up by saying how I felt about Eberron when it came out years ago: It was mine (no, I'm not Keith Baker), it was a concept and a world that I could imerse myself in, without having all the baggage that Forgotten Realms and Dark Sun bring with their decades of life. Eberron was a wlrd that more reflected how my generation of gamers viewed fantasy, rather than the seventies mentality of Forgotten Realms or Dark Sun (for example).
I love the system they're letting us tinker with in 5E. However, I won't pay money just for a new system, I will pay money for a new experience.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 22, 2013 - 8:27PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Sep 20, 2004
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So far: bounded accuracy, skill dice, martial damage dice.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 22, 2013 - 8:57PM
#3
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Date Joined:
May 24, 2012
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It sounds to me like what you're asking for is a new setting to set 5E apart from previous editions. And while that is something that I think would be great, it's not at all what playtesting is about. Playtesting is about the game systems. We are helping to establish the rules of the game, not the setting.
I do hope we see a setting that is new and original and different from what we have seen before (in addition to a revival of what we have seen and loved before) but that is something you are probably going to have to wait a while for, and not something you will see in this playtest.
As for new systems, a couple were mentioned by Cyber-Dave, and I'd also add the Advantage/Disadvantage system to that.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 22, 2013 - 9:22PM
#4
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My hope for DnDN is that they take all the failurings and successes of each edition use those to reduce the amount of failuires this time...I'm waiting to see the modularity though.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 22, 2013 - 9:36PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jan 12, 2013
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I don't get it. You say you like the system but.... what? Once they release the Blade of the Unicord Warrior I'm sure that'll be enough originality for you. Its almost too much for me.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 22, 2013 - 11:30PM
#6
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Date Joined:
Jan 22, 2013
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First, I want to say that WotC letting us, the fans, into a playtest like this is an awesome thing, along the various Wandering Monster, Dragon's Eye View, and similar articles that give us a peek into the inner workings of the 5E development process.
HOWEVER...
What I've been reading a lot of lately is, essentially, how 5E is bending over backwards to pander to the original fans of D&D from the seventies. I'm certainly NOT trying to say anything bad about the old-schoolers who in several ways 'trained' me in the world of D&D and the greater tabletop RPG hobby, but I'm beginning to feel like the D&DN playtest is just WotC saying that the 3E/4E edition wars were too much for them, and that they're just going to rehash previous editions with a new system and try to make peace between all of D&D's different generations.
To clarify, I started in 3E, liked it, went on to 4E, liked it, finding both editions to have their pros and cons, and have so far massively enjoyed the 5E playtest.
But where's the stuff that makes this new edition, you know, NEW? I bought the AD&D core rulebooks out of a fascination with my hobby's origins (having a history degree kind of implies a fascination for the old), and I'm just as intrigued with the upcoming reprints of classic adventures that I've heard my old-schooler mentors speak of with such fondness.
But I don't want to see just the same old stuff that Gygax and all his (awesome) buddies back at TSR repackaged in new wrappers. I want to see something new, something original, something that will make gamers years from now say "Oh yeah, 2E gave us Dark Sun and thri-kreen, but it was in 5E when they added..."
Maybe I can sum it up by saying how I felt about Eberron when it came out years ago: It was mine (no, I'm not Keith Baker), it was a concept and a world that I could imerse myself in, without having all the baggage that Forgotten Realms and Dark Sun bring with their decades of life. Eberron was a wlrd that more reflected how my generation of gamers viewed fantasy, rather than the seventies mentality of Forgotten Realms or Dark Sun (for example).
I love the system they're letting us tinker with in 5E. However, I won't pay money just for a new system, I will pay money for a new experience.
I would have to say, I am enjoying DnD Next "old school" approach, relying on simplified "expandable" mechanics, with a focus on role playing and "rullings not rules". I was an avid 2nd edition player, I introduced many of my friends (more than ten) to gaming using 2nd edition. When 3rd editon came out I was heart broken, everything I had ever believed about gaming seemed to have been tossed aside for rules, rules and more rules. IfYOU really desire to play a game that is as different as it could possibly be from the original D&D (Core, 1st edition, 2nd edition) then play 3.5 or 4th edition, I am sure you will find what you are looking for.
As for me, I intend to spend every free moment guiding DnD Next into a role-play oriented, lite rules system. Will it be different from 2nd edition? Of course it will.
I enjoy the fast paced, lightweight combat system, the quick and easy advantage/disadvatage system...I like skill dice. Not sure how I feel about Martial Damage Dice...the name needs to change, what was wrong with "Expertise Dice" ... or say "Tactical Dice"?
I am glad Next is going to be lightweight, would be super to see a single book RPG system, like the old D&D core book that had everything you needed to run to level 30...."window.parent.tinyMCE.get('post_content').onLoad.dispatch();" contenteditable="true" />
| 8.8 |
My House Rules!
(roll the d20)
*click to roll* | 8.8 |
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5 months ago ::
Jan 22, 2013 - 11:38PM
#7
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Date Joined:
Oct 11, 2009
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So far: bounded accuracy, skill dice, martial damage dice.
Plus Advantage/Disadvantage & the magic item customization attributes.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 22, 2013 - 11:41PM
#8
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Date Joined:
May 17, 2009
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I'm sorry, DDN is not what you're looking for.
You, as I, want something new, but that is not on the table, now.
Seriously, though, you should check out the PbP Haven. You might also like Real Adventures, IF you're cool. | Knights of W.T.F.- Silver Spur Winner | |
4enclave, a place where 4e fans can talk 4e in peace.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 23, 2013 - 12:44AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Jun 21, 2012
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@Dramox This does highlight what actually makes a game distinct: the settings. Mechanically almost any old rubbish will do, it's the crazy places we go and the crazy things we get up to that's important and I wholeheartedly agree that 5e needs its own setting. Forgotten Realms is cool and well loved, so as a default setting to wrap around the core that's fine - like Greyhawk was for 3e. It's a great fluff strategy to include relatively neutral setting that gives just enough flavour to draw folks in but not so much that it dictates creativity. That way, you've got just enough fluff to inform the mechanics without any need to explain where it comes from or the genre as a whole. Thing about Dark Sun and Eberron and Planescape and 4e's thing (what's it called?) is they're not neutral enough to provide padding for mechanics because they require explanation in their own right. When I think generic fantasy that needs little to no explanation, I go to places like Forgotten Realms and Greyhawk. I definitely don't think Eberron. The setting is great but it's not generic enough for the core and that's what we need in the initial release of 5e. I wouldn't complain if the edgier setting comes out more or less alongside the core books though. So yeah if the thing you're using to mark each edition is the setting, you're out of luck here. That'll come, but it's a lil early. Mechanically there are some intriguing things going on but I'd rather not get into another of those discussions and it doesn't appear to be the thing you're asking.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 23, 2013 - 3:45AM
#10
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Date Joined:
Mar 11, 2008
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Next is not AD&D. Nor is it 3rd, 4th, or BMCMI. Next is an advancement of the game, taking the best aspects of earlier editions and adding new mechanics such as Expertise Dice (or whatever they end up calling it), Dis/Advantage, and Skill Dice. It has a new concept, Bounded Accuracy, to base character progression on.
I think the problem is how it feels. The current playtest is still working on the basics, meaning it has to work for all styles of play. It's going to feel more like AD&D, which was much simpler than 3rd and 4th. More rules will become available, but they will likely be Modules in the Advanced setting since they will not fit every style of play.
Be patient. If Wizards fulfills it's goals, then Next will run the gambit from simple to complex, appealing to the styles of all editions.
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