D&D 5E Jonathan Tweet & Rob Heinsoo: Making their own 5th Edition?

Anthro78 · Apr 10, 2012

Variety is the spice of the gaming world. I wish the D&DNEXT folks would take a page from this playbook: stop trying to make a game for all people (or editions) and instead make a good game.

pemerton · Apr 10, 2012

Rel said:
I've been participating in the playtest for this and so far I really like it. I think it does a good job of riding the terrain between "traditional gaming" and "indy gaming" in a fun, innovative way.

If someone enjoys 4e because of the way in which it straddles those two positions, how does this new game compare? More indy? More trad? Or operating in different dimensions?

Rel · Apr 10, 2012

pemerton said:
If someone enjoys 4e because of the way in which it straddles those two positions, how does this new game compare? More indy? More trad? Or operating in different dimensions?

I'd say it skews more Indy than Trad compared to 4e.

I'd also say that it incorporates the things I like most from the various editions of D&D (including 4th) better than any game I've seen to date. Still has some rough edges and I also don't see it displacing my love for Savage Worlds anytime soon. But I definitely think it's a step in the right direction and I'm enjoying playing it.

Leif · Apr 10, 2012

Ok, I hate to admit it, but I'm kinda gettin' excited about this...

RoboCheney · Apr 10, 2012

Color me interested . . .

El Mahdi · Apr 10, 2012

It looks quite cool. Sounds like a wonderful, fully formed, high fantasy campaign (with sweeeeet artwork), and their favorite houserules in a workable system.

I'm seriously interested.

But I wouldn't call this a love letter to their favorite game...I'd say it's more in the epic realm of a Taj Mahal or cutting off one's own ear.

Jan van Leyden · Apr 10, 2012

There has already been some discussion of this game on RPG.net. Simon Rogers of Pelgrane Press even offered people to sign up for play test.

If you're interested...

Alphastream · Apr 10, 2012

As with D&D Next, playtesters of 13th Age aren't allowed to share details. There isn't a formal NDA, but the intent is the same. So, I can't say whether it is awesome or not, and no one else should without consent by the publisher or designers.

Mortellan said:
3rd edition and 4th edition era designers going retroclone already. Man, time is flying!

Keep in mind the original game is roughly 40 years old. There have been how many clothing/music/movie/etc. retro trends in that time? It shouldn't surprise us that it isn't just Wizards or Goodman looking at the past. I would argue that gaming companies (and not just D&D companies) have been very good at borrowing the best of the past. I would argue that most have been less capable, though not bad, at blending innovation with those efforts. I suspect that the industry has matured enough that we will see a more concerted blend of new and old in the future, in part because of D&D Next's very prominent example.

pauljathome · Apr 10, 2012

Leif said:
Ok, I hate to admit it, but I'm kinda gettin' excited about this...

Agreed.

Partly because of the designers involved. Partly because it sounds like they actually have a practical and useful focus. And partly because the world itself (together with the pictures) is sparking my interest.

It just seems a lot richer and more achievable than DndNext.

I'll definitely try to get into the next round of the playtest. And will very, very likely at least look at it when it comes out.

marketingman · Apr 10, 2012

Willing to give it a try when ready. It does have the triad of artwork, setting and good design team to pull in at least a read thru but it will depend on the ability of follow up products to deliver also.