D&D 5E What's the closest system to D&D Next that is currently available?

ferratus · Sep 23, 2012

Ratskinner said:
Y'know. As much 2e stunk up the joint rules-wise. I still have more fond memories of that edition than any other.

I've found that 2e works a lot better if you ignore everything with (optional) in front of it. Oh, and put in ascending AC.

Quickleaf · Sep 23, 2012

Just so it doesn't get lost: Does anyone know when the next 5e playtest packet is supposed to be released?

I'm looking at ways I could run 5e yet still create the feel of an abundance of classes with just the six that are being publicly playtested now. IOW, how might I suggest players approximate their favorite classes? (with the minimum amount of home brewing) Are there'd multi-classing rules out there, either being playtested or unofficially done by the community?

My sense is that just by homebrewing a "wilderness/nature themed" background & a "Leader" specialty, plus multi-classing, that most classes could be covered.

tsadkiel · Sep 23, 2012

Quickleaf said:
Just so it doesn't get lost: Does anyone know when the next 5e playtest packet is supposed to be released?

October. Sorry, I don't have a cite handy, but I'm sure someone will drop by with one soon.

The Shadow · Sep 23, 2012

For me, Next comes across as 3e rules with a strong 2e feel... and a good chunk of pleasing new stuff. Since - apart from the actual rules! - I enjoyed 2e quite a bit, I'm really digging Next.

And yes, they've repeatedly said that the next packet will be out sometime in October.

While you won't really be able to kludge whatever sort of ranger (for example) they're going to come up with, you can certainly fake an earlier-edition ranger by making up a suitable background and taking an appropriate specialty.

Likewise, a War domain cleric is close enough to a paladin to tide you over, I'd think.

Mattachine · Sep 23, 2012

DDN reminds me of AD&D mixed with 4e.

the Jester · Sep 23, 2012

So far, the playtest material reminds me of the child of BECMI and 3e.

Greg K · Sep 23, 2012

It reminds me of a poor implementation of 2e concepts combined with poorly done alternate presentation of 4e concepts.

slobo777 · Sep 23, 2012

the Jester said:
So far, the playtest material reminds me of the child of BECMI and 3e.

That's my feeling too.

I'd recommend to OP to try and have fun with playtest material as-is plus homebrew rather than battle against differences (that may or may not be important to the group) in other versions. It's difficult to tell which parts of 5E appeal to you, and thus which is really the "closest" version for your purposes. If you like at-will spells and the hit dice healing for instance, only 4E really has both (although I think Pathfinder has at-will spells for PCs).

Sir Robilar · Sep 23, 2012

Since the abundance of classes seems important to you I'd recommend the Radiance RPG. It's fresh, has 30 classes and the PDF version is free.

Radiance RPG

Quickleaf · Sep 23, 2012

Wow! Answers are all over the place...

2e + 3e
1e + 4e
BECMI + 3e
2e + 4e
Radiance

I'm not sure what to take away from that

Maybe just that 5e feels like a mix of old school D&D and streamlined new school design philosophies?

slobo777 said:
I'd recommend to OP to try and have fun with playtest material as-is plus homebrew rather than battle against differences (that may or may not be important to the group) in other versions. It's difficult to tell which parts of 5E appeal to you, and thus which is really the "closest" version for your purposes. If you like at-will spells and the hit dice healing for instance, only 4E really has both (although I think Pathfinder has at-will spells for PCs).

Yeah, what I like is that it feels like classic D&D, appears that I could run the game (particularly combat) pretty quick, and doesn't overwhelm players with powers and sticks to special abilities that are actually meaningful. I've got a big group that meets intermittently, so I need to be able to run an adventure in one session. Also, no one is that interested in learning a new game system - when they want to play D&D they want familiar trappings - which Next does have.